Fuel pump

Abstract

The present invention, in one form, is a fuel pump having increased pump inlet suction and outlet pressures as compared to known fuel pumps. Such pressure increases enable use of one fuel pump even with an engine including multiple cylinder banks, and facilitates elimination of vapor and air bubbles in the fuel. The fuel pump also does not include small, or narrow passages that are prone to be clogged by dirt or the like. More specifically, and in one embodiment, the fuel pump includes a pump housing including an inlet and an outlet. An inlet nozzle extends from the inlet, and an outlet nozzle extends from the outlet. The inlet nozzle is configured to be coupled to a fuel line extending from a fuel tank, and the outlet nozzle is configured to be coupled to a fuel line extending to the engine block. The pump further includes first and second pump inlet covers. Each cover includes an air nozzle. The air nozzles are configured to be coupled to air lines extending from select cylinders of the engine as described below in more detail. The covers and the housing form first and second pumping chambers. The pump also includes a first check valve located within the inlet nozzle and a second check valve located within the outlet nozzle. A first diaphragm and a first spring are located in the first pumping chamber, and a second diaphragm and a second spring are located in the second pumping chamber. The first pumping chamber is in flow communication with a passage through the inlet nozzle, and the second pumping chamber is in flow communication with a passage through the outlet nozzle. The first pumping chamber is in flow communication with the second pumping chamber via a check valve.

1 . A fuel pump comprising: 
 a pump housing comprising an inlet, a first pumping chamber in flow communication with said inlet, a second pumping chamber in flow communication with said first pumping chamber, and an outlet in flow communication with said second pumping chamber; and    a valve intermediate said first pumping chamber and said second pumping chamber.    
     
     
         2 . A fuel pump in accordance with  claim 1  further comprising a first diaphragm in said first pumping chamber.  
     
     
         3 . A fuel pump in accordance with  claim 2  wherein said pump housing further comprises a first nozzle comprising an air passage extending therethrough, said air passage in flow communication with said first diaphragm.  
     
     
         4 . A fuel pump in accordance with  claim 1  further comprising a second diaphragm in said second pumping chamber.  
     
     
         5 . A fuel pump in accordance with  claim 4  wherein said pump housing further comprises a second nozzle comprising an air passage extending therethrough, said air passage in flow communication with said second diaphragm.  
     
     
         6 . A fuel pump in accordance with  claim 1  comprising a first check valve located in said inlet.  
     
     
         7 . A fuel pump in accordance with  claim 1  comprising a second check valve located in said outlet.  
     
     
         8 . A fuel pump in accordance with  claim 1  comprising a inlet nozzle extending from said housing inlet, and an outlet nozzle extending from said housing outlet.  
     
     
         9 . A fuel pump in accordance with  claim 8  comprising a first check valve in said inlet nozzle and a second check valve in said outlet nozzle.  
     
     
         10 . A fuel pump comprising: 
 a pump housing comprising an inlet, a first pumping chamber in flow communication with said inlet, a second pumping chamber in flow communication with said first pumping chamber, and an outlet in flow communication with said second pumping chamber;    a first pump inlet cover secured to said pump housing and covering said first pumping chamber; and    a second pump inlet cover secured to said pump housing and covering said second pumping chamber.    
     
     
         11 . A fuel pump in accordance with  claim 10  wherein said first pump inlet cover comprises a first nozzle and an air passage extending through said nozzle.  
     
     
         12 . A fuel pump in accordance with  claim 10  wherein said second pump inlet cover comprises a second nozzle and an air passage extending through said nozzle.  
     
     
         13 . A fuel pump in accordance with  claim 10  comprising a valve intermediate said first pumping chamber and said second pumping chamber.  
     
     
         14 . A fuel pump in accordance with  claim 10  further comprising a first diaphragm in said first pumping chamber.  
     
     
         15 . A fuel pump in accordance with  claim 14  wherein said first pump inlet cover comprises a first nozzle and an air passage extending through said first nozzle, said air passage in flow communication with said first diaphragm.  
     
     
         16 . A fuel pump in accordance with  claim 10  further comprising a second diaphragm in said second pumping chamber.  
     
     
         17 . A fuel pump in accordance with  claim 16  wherein said second pump inlet cover comprises a second nozzle and an air passage extending through said second nozzle, said air passage in flow communication with said second diaphragm.  
     
     
         18 . A fuel pump in accordance with  claim 10  comprising a first check valve located in said inlet.  
     
     
         19 . A fuel pump in accordance with  claim 10  comprising a second check valve located in said outlet.  
     
     
         20 . A fuel pump in accordance with  claim 10  comprising a inlet nozzle extending from said housing inlet, and an outlet nozzle extending from said housing outlet.  
     
     
         21 . A fuel pump in accordance with  claim 20  comprising a first check valve in said inlet nozzle and a second check valve in said outlet nozzle.