Fuel supply apparatus

Abstract

A fuel supplying apparatus comprising a fuel pump 4 disposed within a fuel tank 1 for pumping fuel to an injector, a pressure regulator 6 for discharging an excess amount of fuel out of the fuel from the fuel pump 4 into the fuel tank 1 as an excess fuel, a fuel filter 5 disposed within a flow path connected between the fuel pump 4 and the pressure regulator 6 upstream of the pressure regulator 6 and having a filter element 12 accommodated within an electrically insulating housing 13 for filtering the fuel discharged from said fuel pump 4 , characterized by a grounding device comprising an electrically conductive protector 24 or an electrically conductive member 25 for providing an earth to the filter element 12 , whereby an electrostatic electricity generated while the fuel is passing through the filter element can be ensured to be dissipated, allowing a stable fuel supply.

1. A fuel supplying apparatus comprising a fuel pump disposed within a fuel tank for pumping fuel to an injector of an internal combustion engine;
 a pressure regulator disposed within said fuel tank for discharging an excess amount of fuel out of the fuel from said fuel pump into said fuel tank as an excess fuel from a fuel path;  
 a fuel filter disposed within a flow path connected between said fuel pump and said pressure regulator upstream of said pressure regulator and having , comprising an electrically insulating lower housing and a filter element accommodated within an  said electrically insulating lower housing for filtering the fuel discharged from said fuel pump; and  
 a grounding device contacting said filter element for taking a grounding earth  dissipating electrostatic energy from said filter element.  
 
     
     
       2. A fuel supplying apparatus as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein said grounding device comprises a protector made of an electrically conductive material and electrically contacting said filter element and an electrically conductive member for electrically connecting said protector and said  a grounding terminal of said  an electrical connector. 
     
     
       3. A fuel supplying apparatus as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein said filter element having an electrical conductivity  is electrically conductive due to an electrically conductive material mixed therein, and said grounding device comprising an electrically conductive member for electrically connection  connecting said filter element having an electrical conductivity  and a grounding terminal of said  an electrical connector. 
     
     
       4. A fuel supplying apparatus as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein said grounding device is supported by a  said electrically insulating lower housing of said filter element , and said grounding device includes a protector made of an electrically conductive material and electrically contacting said filter element, and an intermediate terminal having one end electrically contacting with said protector of said filter element  and the other end connected to said  a grounding terminal of said  an electrical connector. 
     
     
       5. A fuel supplying apparatus as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein said grounding device is supported by a  said electrically insulating lower housing of said filter element , and said grounding device includes a protector made of an electrically conductive material and electrically contacting said filter element, and an intermediate terminal having one end electrically contacting with said protector of said filter element  through a grounding spring and the other end connected to said  a grounding terminal of said  an electrical connector. 
     
     
       6. A fuel supplying apparatus as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein said grounding device comprises a protector made of an electrically conductive material and electrically contacting said filter element, a contact pawl formed on a  said protector of an filter element , an intermediate terminal supported by an inner circumferential wall of said electrically insulating lower housing of said fuel filter  and having one end engaging with said contact pawl and a contact piece engaging the other end of the said intermediate terminal and secured and connected to a minus side  negative terminal of said fuel pump and connected to said  a grounding terminal of said  an electrical connector. 
     
     
       7. A fuel supplying apparatus comprising:
   a fuel pump disposed within a fuel tank for pumping fuel to an injector of an internal combustion engine;        a fuel filter disposed within said fuel tank downstream of said fuel pump, said fuel filter comprising an electrically insulating lower housing and a filter element accommodated within said electrically insulating lower housing for filtering the fuel discharged from said fuel pump; and        a grounding device contacting said filter element for dissipating electrostatic energy from said filter element.     
     
     
       8. A fuel supplying apparatus as claimed in  claim 7 , wherein said filter element has an electrical conductivity due to an electrically conductive material mixed therein, and said grounding device is electrically connected directly to said filter element. 
     
     
       9. A fuel supplying apparatus as claimed in  claim 7 , wherein said grounding device is electrically connected directly to said filter element. 
     
     
       10. A fuel supplying apparatus as claimed in  claim 7 , wherein said grounding device is supported by said electrically insulating lower housing of said filter element and includes an intermediate terminal having one end electrically contacting with said filter element and the other end connected to a grounding terminal of an electrical connector. 
     
     
       11. A fuel supplying apparatus as claimed by  claim 7 , wherein said grounding device is supported by said electrically insulating lower housing of said filter element and includes an intermediate terminal having one end electrically contacting with said filter element through a grounding spring and the other end connected to a grounding terminal of an electrical connector. 
     
     
       12. A fuel supplying apparatus as claimed in  claim 7 , wherein said grounding device is disposed in a bottom portion of said electrically insulating lower housing. 
     
     
       13. A fuel supplying apparatus as claimed in  claim 7 , wherein said grounding device is inserted into said electrically insulating lower housing from outside and secured thereto. 
     
     
       14. A fuel supplying apparatus as claimed in  claim 11 , wherein said grounding device is inserted into said electrically insulating lower housing from outside and secured thereto. 
     
     
       15. A fuel supplying apparatus as claimed in  claim 7 , wherein said fuel filter further comprises an electrically insulating upper housing coupled to said electrically insulating lower housing.