Description:Complete Specification:
The following specification describes and ascertains the nature of this invention and the manner in which it is to be performed.

Field of the invention:
[0001] The present invention relates to a fuel supply module and more particularly to the snap lock arrangement between the fuel supply pump housing and the fuel level sensor holder.

Background of the invention:
[0002] Vehicle includes a fuel supply system comprising a fuel tank, a fuel pump that pumps the fuel from the fuel tank to an engine of the vehicle to support the operation of the engine and other components such as fuel level sensor, fuel pressure regulator, fuel injectors, fuel filters and the like. The fuel pump is mounted within the vehicle fuel tank as part of assembly that may include other components of the fuel system, such as fuel level sensor. Some modules or assembly have been mounted in the fuel tank by a mounting flange received in an opening of the fuel tank and secured to the wall of the fuel tank. The fuel supply pump is fixed on the flange and the fuel level sensor is arranged on the fuel supply pump. Due to developments in the design and requirements from different customers, the arrangement of the fuel level sensor on the supply pump create hurdles.

[0003] According to a prior art US10962401, a liquid fuel level sensing device disclosed herein may include: a holder; an arm fixed to the holder; a cover fixed to the holder to cover the arm; and a float connected to the arm outside the holder. The holder may include a bottom portion and a first snap fit structure, which may include a pair of support portions provided with an interval there between and provided on the bottom portion. First and second interval portions may be provided between the pair of support portions, the first interval portion may hold the arm, and the second interval portion may be provided above the first interval portion and be narrower than a width of the arm held in the first interval portion. The cover may include a deformation restricting portion provided at a position facing an outer surface of at least one of the pair of support portions.

Brief description of the accompanying drawings:
[0004] An embodiment of the disclosure is described with reference to the following accompanying drawings.
[0005] Fig. 1 illustrates an exploded view of a fuel supply module, according to an embodiment of the present invention.
[0006] Fig. 2 illustrates an assembled view of the fuel supply module, according to an embodiment of the present invention.

Detailed description of the embodiments:
[0007] Fig. 1 illustrates an exploded view of a fuel supply module 102, according to an embodiment of the present invention. The fuel supply module 102 comprises an assembly disposed in the fuel tank. The fuel supply modules 102 comprise a flange 104 having a delivery port 106 and a housing 108 which is coupled to the flange 104. The housing 108 encloses a fuel supply pump 110 and comprises a fuel supply path 112 which connects an outlet of the fuel supply pump 110 to the delivery port 106. The fuel supply modules 102 also comprise the fuel level sensor holder 114 which comprises plurality of locking slots 116 (preferably a pair of locking slots) which holds a fuel level sensor 118, characterized in that, the fuel level sensor holder 114 is detachably attached with the housing 108.

[0008] In the fuel supply module 102, the fuel level sensor holder 114 is detachably attached to the housing 108 using a first snap lock arrangement 224 (shown in Fig. 2) comprising engagement of a first slot 120 and first protrusion 122. The fuel level sensor holder 114 comprises any one of a first slots 120 and first protrusions 122 and the housing 108 comprises other of the first slots 120 and the first protrusions 122. The first snap lock arrangement 224 brings modularity in fuel level sensor 118 with robust assembly mechanism, for which a separate plastic component designed with unique assembly mechanism to withstand all boundary conditions. The geometry of the first snap lock arrangement 224 is designed in such a way that locking takes place at four positions.

[0009] According to an embodiment of the present invention, the fuel supply module 102 comprises the housing 108 of the fuel supply pump 110. The housing 108 is detachably attached to the flange 104 using a second snap lock arrangement 226 (shown in Fig. 2) comprising engagement of a second slots 124 and second protrusions 126. The housing 108 comprises at least three asymmetrically arranged any of the second slots 124 and second protrusions 126 and the flange 104 comprises other of the second slots 124 and second protrusions 126. The second snap lock arrangement 226 is achieved using the locking engagement of the second slots 124 and second protrusions 126 with each other. The flange 104 consists of an inlet port and the delivery port 106, which allows the entry of the fuel and discharge of the fuel. The robust snap lock design has high dislodging force which withstands the fatigue and momentum load without failure.

[0010] In the fuel supply module 102, for detachably attaching the flange 104 with the fuel supply pump 110, a three similar second snap lock arrangement 226 interface positioned radially in different angle and the snap lock is positioned in different orientations next to the hydraulic flow path which is arranged near the flange 104. By placing the second snap lock arrangement 226 near the hydraulic flow path counteracts the pressure momentum. The negative angle snap lock hook design in such a way that when ignition is ON, the snap lock hooks get hold of cover against the hydraulic flow direction, which ensures surface contact and avoid the snap lock flowering concern. Designing of the snap lock in asymmetrical orientations counteract the torsional load due to ignition ON and OFF.

[0011] According to an embodiment of the present invention, the fuel supply path 112 is designed independently from a fuel level sensor holder 114. Due to independent design of the fuel supply path 112, the fuel level sensor holder 114 is removable or detachable from the housing 108, which otherwise is part of the fuel level sensor holder 114.

[0012] Fig. 2 illustrates an assembled view of the fuel supply module, according to an embodiment of the present invention. In other words, when all the components are assembled together using snap-lock arrangement. For simplicity, different components of the fuel supply module are explained using the numerals from Fig. 1. Here, the fuel level sensor holder 114 is detachably attached with the housing 108 using the first snap lock arrangement 224 by engaging the first slots 120 and first protrusions 122. The housing 108 is detachably attached with the flange 104 using the second snap lock arrangement 226 by engaging the second slots 124 and second protrusions 126. The fuel level sensor holder 114 if not required is detachable from the housing 108 as they are fixed with the first snap lock arrangement 224.

[0013] The fuel supply module 102 is used with or without fuel level sensor 104 due to the modularity solution. In other words, a modular fuel level sensor holder 114 and snap lock arrangement 224 with the housing 108 of the fuel supply module 102 is provided. Here, the fuel level sensor holder 114 is designed to have interface fit with the positioning feature in the pump housing 108 as well. This ensure that fuel level sensor 118 has high dislodging force having a unique snap lock geometry. The pump housing 108 has a unique snap lock interface with six face guides having unique positioning feature with interference fit assembly mechanism. The snap lock concept proposed with unique design to make the fuel level sensor holder 114 guided on the six faces and snap locked. The proposed design of snap lock and the engagement of the slots and protrusions takes care of customer requirements. In the present situation if the customer requirement demands the arrangement of the fuel level sensor 118 not on the housing 108, then the same is possible by, or can be easily fulfilled by detaching the fuel level sensor holder 114.

[0014] It should be understood that the embodiments explained in the description above are only illustrative and do not limit the scope of this invention. Many such embodiments and other modification and changes in the embodiment explained in the description are envisaged. The scope of the invention is only limited by the scope of the claims.
, Claims:We Claim:
1. A fuel supply module (102) of a vehicle, comprises:
a flange (104) comprising a delivery port (106);
a housing (108) coupled to said flange (104), wherein said housing (108) encloses a fuel supply pump (110) and comprises a fuel supply path (112) connecting an outlet of said fuel supply pump (110) to said delivery port (106), and;
a fuel level sensor holder (114) on said housing (108), said fuel level sensor holder (114) comprises a plurality of locking slots (116) to hold a fuel level sensor (118), characterized in that,
said fuel level sensor holder (114) is detachably arranged with said housing (108).

2. The fuel supply module (102) as claimed in claim 1, wherein said detachable arrangement is achieved using a first snap-lock arrangement (224) comprising engagement of a first slots (120) and a first protrusions (122).

3. The fuel supply module (102) as claimed in claim 2, wherein said fuel level sensor holder (114) comprises any one of said first slots (120) and said first protrusions (122).

4. The fuel supply module (102) as claimed in claim 3, wherein said housing (108) comprises other of said first slots (120) and said first protrusions (122).

5. The fuel supply module (102) as claimed in claim 1, wherein said fuel supply path (112) is independently designed from said fuel level sensor holder (114).

6. The fuel supply module (102) as claimed in claim 1, wherein said housing (108) and said flange (104) are connected using a second snap lock arrangement (226).

7. The fuel supply module (102) as claimed in claim 6, wherein said second snap lock arrangement (226) comprises at least three asymmetrically arranged any of a second slots (124) and second protrusions (126) on said housing (108) and said flange (104) comprises other of said second slots (124) and second protrusions (126), and flange (104) is detachably arranged with said housing (108) by engagement of said second slots (124) and said second protrusions (126).