Electrically operated pump assembly with an externally installed control circuit

• US 5,454,697 A
• Filed: 03/22/1994
• Issued: 10/03/1995
• Est. Priority Date: 03/24/1993
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Aisan Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
• Original Assignee: Aisan Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
• Inventors: Nakanishi, Shingo
• Primary Examiner(s): Bertsch, Richard A.
• Assistant Examiner(s): WICKER, WILLIAM
• Application Number:
  US08/215,598
• Time in Patent Office: 560 Days
• Field of Search: 417/423.3, 417/423.7, 417/423.8, 417/423.14, 417/366, 417/369, 310/68 R, 310/64, 123/497, 123/509
• US Class Current: 417/423.3
• CPC Class Codes: F02M 2037/085 Electric circuits therefor
• CPC Class Codes: F02M 37/10 submerged in fuel, e.g. in reservoir
• CPC Class Codes: F04D 13/06 the pump being electrically driven
• CPC Class Codes: F04D 29/5813 Cooling the control unit
• CPC Class Codes: F04D 5/002 Regenerative pumps for elastic fluids F04D23/008
• CPC Class Codes: H02K 11/00 Structural association of dynamo-electric machines with electric components or with devices for shielding, monitoring or protection casings, enclosures or supports H02K5/00
• CPC Class Codes: H02K 11/02 for suppression of electromagnetic interference
• CPC Class Codes: H02K 11/33 Drive circuits, e.g. power electronics H02K11/38 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H02K 29/08 using magnetic effect devices, e.g. Hall-plates, magneto-resistors H02K29/12 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H02K 5/12 specially adapted for operating in liquid or gas combined with cooling arrangements H02K9/00

Abstract

An in-tank type electrically operated fuel pump assembly includes an electric motor which is controlled by a control circuit located externally of a pump housing and adjacent to a passage through which fuel is fed from the pump. A case in which the control circuit is enclosed is not subjected to a high pressure, assuring stable protection of the control circuit for a long period of time. Furthermore, the control circuit is effectively cooled by the flowing fuel.

Claims

1. An electrically operated pump assembly for use in a fuel tank comprising:

a pump section;

an electric motor section for driving said pump section;

a housing in which said pump section and the electric motor section are enclosed, said housing being located in the fuel tank;

a control circuit for controlling said electric motor section; and

a case for enclosing said control circuit, said case being located in the fuel tank externally of said housing and adjacent to a passage through which fuel from said pump section flows.

2. The pump assembly as defined in claim 1, wherein parts of electronic components of said control circuit which produce heat are fixedly mounted on a wall of said case which is in contact with said passage.

3. The pump assembly as defined in claim 2, wherein the passage adjacent to which said case is located comprises a fuel delivery pipe.

4. The pump assembly as defined in claim 2, wherein the passage adjacent to which said case is located comprises a portion of said housing and said case is fixed to said housing.

5. The pump assembly as defined in claim 2, wherein said case is formed in a part of a flange for installing said electrically operated pump in the fuel tank.