Dual fuel delivery module system for multi-chambered or multiple automotive fuel tanks

• US 6,371,153 B1
• Filed: 03/16/2001
• Issued: 04/16/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 03/16/2001
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Robert Bosch Corporation (Robert Bosch GmbH)
• Original Assignee: Robert Bosch Corporation (Robert Bosch GmbH)
• Inventors: Wickett, Paul, Fischerkeller, Rolf
• Primary Examiner(s): Rivell, John
• Application Number:
  US09/809,801
• Time in Patent Office: 396 Days
• Field of Search: 137/265, 137/574, 137/576, 137/565.22, 137/565.33, 123/509, 123/514
• US Class Current: 137/265
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 15/00 Arrangement in connection with fuel supply of combustion engines or other fuel consuming energy converters, e.g. fuel cells; Mounting or construction of fuel tanks tanks in general B65D, F17C; supplying combustion engines with combustible mixtures or constituents F02M
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 15/073 Tank construction specially adapted to the vehicle B60K15/077 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 15/077 with means modifying or controlling distribution or motion of fuel, e.g. to prevent noise, surge, splash or fuel starvation
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 2015/03105 with supplementary interior tanks inside the fuel tank
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 2015/03118 Multiple tanks, i.e. two or more separate tanks
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 2015/03138 Pumping means between the compartments
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 2015/03144 Fluid connections between the tanks
• CPC Class Codes: F02M 37/0058 Returnless fuel systems, i.e. the fuel return lines are not entering the fuel tank
• CPC Class Codes: F02M 37/0094 Saddle tanks; Tanks having partition walls
• CPC Class Codes: F02M 37/025 Feeding by means of a liquid fuel-driven jet pump jet pumps per se F04F
• CPC Class Codes: F02M 37/106 the pump being installed in a sub-tank
• CPC Class Codes: F02M 37/18 characterised by provision of main and auxiliary pumps
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 137/4841 With cross connecting passage
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 137/86075 And jet-aspiration type pump
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 137/86163 Parallel

Abstract

A fuel system including first and second tank portions, first and second fuel pumps in the first and second tank portions, respectively, a first crossover fuel line for transferring fuel from the second tank portion to the first tank portion, and a second crossover fuel line for transferring fuel from the first tank portion to the second tank portion. In one aspect of the invention the first and second tank portions define a bifurcated tank and the first and second crossover fuel lines are housed completely within the bifurcated tank. In another aspect of the invention, the first and second crossover fuel lines extend partially outside the bifurcated tank.

Claims

1. A fuel system comprising:

first and second tank portions;

first and second fuel pumps in the first and second tank portions, respectively;

a first crossover fuel line for transferring fuel from the second tank portion to the first tank portion;

a second crossover fuel line for transferring fuel from the first tank portion to the second tank portion;

a first jet pump in the first tank portion communicating with the first crossover fuel line for pulling fuel through the first crossover fuel line; and

a second jet pump in the second tank portion communicating with the second crossover fuel line for pulling fuel through the second crossover fuel line.

2. The fuel system of claim 1, wherein the first and second tank portions define a bifurcated tank.

3. The fuel system of claim 2, wherein the first and second crossover fuel lines are housed completely within the bifurcated tank.

4. The fuel system of claim 2, wherein the first and second crossover fuel lines extend partially outside the bifurcated tank.

5. The fuel system of claim 1, further comprising:

a priming line communicating between the first and second tank portions independently of the first and second fuel crossover lines to transfer fuel between the first and second tank portions when one of the first and second tank portions has been emptied.

6. The fuel system of claim 1, further comprising:

a first fuel reservoir in the first tank portion from which the first fuel pump can draw fuel; and

a second fuel reservoir in the second tank portion from which the second fuel pump can draw fuel.

7. The fuel system of claim 6, wherein the first and second jet pumps include respective first and second outlets communicating with the first and second reservoirs, respectively.

8. The fuel system of claim 1, further comprising:

a first suction port in the second tank portion, the first suction port communicating with the first crossover fuel line; and

a second suction port in the first tank portion, the second suction port communicating with the second crossover fuel line.

9. The fuel system of claim 8, wherein the first and second suction ports include first and second filters, respectively, for filtering fuel entering the first and second crossover fuel lines.

10. A fuel system comprising:

first and second tank portions;

a first fuel reservoir in the first tank portion;

a second fuel reservoir in the second tank portion;

first and second fuel pumps in the first and second tank portions, respectively, the first fuel pump drawing fuel from one of the first tank portion and the first reservoir and the second fuel pump drawing fuel from one of the second tank portion and the second reservoir;

a first crossover fuel line for transferring fuel from the second tank portion to the first tank portion;

a second crossover fuel line for transferring fuel from the first tank portion to the second tank portion;

a first jet pump in the first tank portion communicating with the first crossover fuel line for pulling fuel through the first crossover fuel line, the first jet pump having an outlet communicating with the first reservoir; and

a second jet pump in the second tank portion communicating with the second crossover fuel line for pulling fuel through the second crossover fuel line, the second jet pump having an outlet communicating with the second reservoir.

11. The fuel system of claim 10, further comprising:

a first suction port in the second tank portion, the first suction port communicating with the first crossover fuel line; and

a second suction port in the first tank portion, the second suction port communicating with the second crossover fuel line.

12. The fuel system of claim 10, further comprising:

a priming line for delivering fuel to the second fuel pump after partial filling of the first tank portion.

13. The fuel system of claim 10, wherein the first and second tank portions define a bifurcated tank.

14. The fuel system of claim 13, wherein the first and second crossover fuel lines are housed completely within the bifurcated tank.

15. The fuel system of claim 13, wherein the first and second crossover fuel lines extend partially outside the bifurcated tank.

16. A method of delivering fuel to an engine from a fuel tank having a first fuel pump module in a first tank portion and a second fuel pump module in a second tank portion, the first fuel pump module including a first fuel pump, a first jet pump, and a first crossover fuel line communicating between the second tank portion and the first tank portion, and the second fuel pump module including a second fuel pump, a second jet pump, and a second crossover fuel line communicating between the first tank portion and the second tank portion, the method comprising:

transferring fuel from the second tank portion to the first tank portion through the first crossover fuel line in response to suction generated by only the first jet pump;

pumping fuel from the first tank portion to the engine with the first fuel pump;

transferring fuel from the first tank portion to the second tank portion through the second crossover fuel line in response to suction generated by only the second jet pump; and

pumping fuel from the second tank portion to the engine with the second fuel pump.

17. The method of claim 16, wherein all of the pumping and transferring steps occur substantially simultaneously.

18. The method of claim 16, wherein each of the pumping and transferring steps occur substantially continuously during operation of the engine.

19. The method of claim 16, wherein the transferring steps include filtering the fuel as the fuel enters the first and second crossover fuel lines.

20. The method of claim 16, wherein the transferring steps include routing the fuel out of the tank and back into the tank.

21. A fuel system comprising:

a first fuel pump module having a fuel pump, a jet pump, and a crossover fuel line;

a second fuel pump module having a fuel pump, a jet pump, and a crossover fuel line; and

a priming line communicating between the first and second fuel pump modules independently of the crossover lines to transfer fuel between the first and second fuel pump modules.

22. The fuel system of claim 21, wherein the jet pump of the first fuel pump module does not communicate with the crossover line of the second fuel pump module, and wherein the jet pump of the second fuel pump module does not communicate with the crossover line of the first fuel pump module.

23. The fuel system of claim 21, wherein there is no fluid communication between the crossover line of the first fuel pump module and the crossover line of the second fuel pump module.

24. The fuel system of claim 21, wherein the fuel pump modules are operable independently of one another.

25. The fuel system of claim 21, wherein the jet pump of the first fuel pump module is powered only by the fuel pump of the first fuel pump module, and wherein the jet pump of the second fuel pump module is powered only by the fuel pump of the second fuel pump module.