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 housing of a feed pump, and more specifically to a plurality of passageways that are integrally formed within the housing of the feed pump.

Background of the invention:
[0002] US 6264831 BA describes an integrated fuel filter and fuel pump assembly with a water separation capability that includes a fuel filter housing and a fuel filter element placed within the fuel filter housing. The fuel filter housing includes an outer surface with a connection interface for a fuel pump. This connection interface includes a fuel inlet port and mounting provisions for threaded fasteners. The fuel pump which completes the integrated assembly includes a fuel inlet and a fuel exit which is directly connected to the flow inlet of the housing. Further, the fuel pump is directly mounted to the outer surface of the housing in a unitized-type of arrangement. The upper endplate for the filter element is enlarged so as to extend beyond the outer diameter of the filter element and additionally serve as a closing lid for the housing. A standpipe is mounted into the base of the housing and a knob, which is threadedly received by the upper end of the standpipe, provides the clamping mechanism for pressing the upper endplate tight against the upper end of the housing in order to complete the sealed interface.

Brief description of the accompanying drawing:
[0003] An embodiment of the disclosure is described with reference to the following accompanying drawing:
[0004] FIG. 1 illustrates a schematic diagram of a feed pump depicting a plurality of passageways that are integrally formed within a housing of the feed pump in one embodiment of the invention.

Detailed description of the embodiments:
[0005] FIG. 1 illustrates a feed pump 100 positioned within a fuel tank of a vehicle. The feed pump 100 comprises a housing 110, and a first tubular passageway 120 integrally formed within the housing 110. The first tubular passageway 120 extends from an outlet 130 of the feed pump 100 to an inlet 140 of a fuel filter 150 and is adapted to channel fuel from the outlet of the feed pump 100 to the inlet 140 of the fuel filter 150. A check valve 165 is positioned in the first tubular passageway 120 between the outlet 130 of the feed pump 100 and the inlet 140 of the fuel filter 150 and controls a flow of fuel from the outlet 130 of the feed pump 100 to the inlet 140 of the fuel filter 150. A second tubular passageway 160 is integrally formed within the housing 110. The second tubular passageway 160 extends from the outlet 130 of the feed pump 100 to an inlet of a fuel reservoir 170 and is adapted to channel fuel from the outlet 130 of the feed pump 100 to the inlet of the fuel reservoir 170. A jet pump 180 is positioned in the second tubular passageway 160 between the outlet 130 of the feed pump 100 and the inlet of the fuel reservoir 170 and channelizes a flow of fuel from the outlet 130 of the feed pump 100 to the inlet of the fuel reservoir 170.

[0006] FIG. 1 illustrates a feed pump 100 that is positioned within the fuel tank of the vehicle. The feed pump 100 that is positioned within the fuel tank of the vehicle draws fuel from within the fuel tank and delivers the fuel to a high pressure fuel pump for further pressurization and delivery to a fuel injector of an engine. In an exemplary embodiment, the feed pump 100 comprises a housing 110. A first tubular passageway 120 is integrally formed within the housing 110 of the feed pump 100. More specifically, the first tubular passageway 120 is integrally formed within the housing 110 of the feed pump 100 and constitutes a portion of the housing 110 of the feed pump 100 as a unitary assembly. The first tubular passageway 120 that is integrally formed within the housing 110 of the feed pump 100 extends from an outlet of the feed pump 100 to an inlet of a fuel filter 150. The first tubular passageway 120 is adapted to channel fuel from the outlet of the feed pump 100 to the inlet of the fuel filter 150 via the first tubular passageway 120 that is integrally formed within the housing 110 of the feed pump 100.

[0007] In an exemplary embodiment, a check valve 165 is positioned in the first tubular passageway 120 and located between the outlet of the feed pump 160 and the inlet of the fuel filter 150. The check valve 165 is adapted to control a flow of fuel from the outlet of the feed pump 100 to the inlet of the fuel filter 150. In an exemplary embodiment, a second tubular passageway 160 is integrally formed within the housing 110. More specifically, the second tubular passageway 160 extends from the outlet of the feed pump 100 and an inlet of the fuel reservoir 170. The second tubular passageway 160 is adapted to channel fuel from the outlet of the feed pump 100 to the inlet of the fuel reservoir 170. A jet pump 180 is positioned in the second tubular passageway 160 and is positioned between the outlet of the feed pump 100 and the inlet of the fuel reservoir 170. The jet pump 180 channelizes the flow of fuel from the outlet of the feed pump 100 to the inlet of the fuel reservoir 170. A working of the jet pump 180 is known to a person skilled in the art and hence will not be explained in further detail below.

[0008] In an exemplary embodiment, the first tubular passageway 120 and the second tubular passageway 160 are integrally formed within the housing 110 during a casting of the housing 110 of the feed pump 100. More specifically, the first tubular passageway 120 and the second tubular passageway 160 are cast with the body of the feed pump 100 during the casting stage of the feed pump 100 itself such that the first tubular passageway 120 and the second tubular passageway 160 constitute an integral assembly with the body of the feed pump 100. Therefore, the first tubular passageway 120 and the second tubular passageway 160 need not be disengaged from the body of the feed pump 100 once they are formed with the body of the feed pump 100.

[0009] A working of the feed pump 100 is described as an example. Pressurized fuel from the outlet of the feed pump 100 is channeled to the inlet of the fuel filter 156 via the first tubular passageway 120 that constitutes an integral assembly with the body of the feed pump 100. As the first tubular passageway 120 constitutes an integral assembly with the body of the feed pump 100, the external piping ducts that are secured between the outlet of the feed pump 100 and the inlet of the fuel filter 150 may be avoided. In addition, a length of the first tubular passageway 120 that is integrally formed in the body of the feed pump 100 is much shorter than a length of the external piping ducts that are coupled between the outlet of the feed pump 100 and the inlet of the fuel filter 150. In another exemplary embodiment, pressurized fuel from the outlet of the feed pump 100 is channeled to the inlet of the jet pump 180 and thereon to the inlet of the fuel reservoir 170 where the pressurized fuel is discharged. The pressurized fuel from the outlet of the feed pump 100 is channeled to the inlet of the jet pump 180 via the second tubular passageway 160 that constitutes an integral assembly with the body of the feed pump 100. As the second tubular passageway 160 constitutes an integral assembly with the body of the feed pump 100, the external piping ducts that are secured between the outlet of the feed pump 100 and the inlet of the jet pump 180 may be avoided. In addition, a length of the second tubular passageway 160 that is integrally formed in the body of the feed pump 100 is much shorter than a length of the external piping ducts that are coupled between the outlet of the feed pump 100 and the inlet of the jet pump 180 and thereon to the inlet of the fuel reservoir 160.

[0010] 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 modifications 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 feed pump (100) positioned within a fuel tank of a vehicle, said feed pump (100) comprising:
a housing (110); characterized in that
a first tubular passageway (120) integrally formed within said housing (110), said first tubular passageway (120) extending from an outlet (130) of said feed pump (100) to an inlet (140) of a fuel filter (150) and adapted to channel fuel from the outlet (130) of said feed pump (100) to the inlet (140) of said fuel filter (150), and a check valve (165) that is positioned in the first tubular passageway (120) between the outlet (130) of said feed pump (100) and the inlet (140) of said fuel filter (150) and controls a flow of fuel from the outlet (130) of said feed pump (100) to the inlet (140) of said fuel filter (150).

2. The feed pump (100) in accordance with Claim 2 further comprising a second tubular passageway (160) integrally formed within said housing (110), said second tubular passageway (160) extending from the outlet (130) of said feed pump (100) to an inlet of a fuel reservoir (170) and adapted to channel fuel from the outlet (130) of said feed pump (100) to the inlet of said fuel reservoir (170), and a jet pump (180) that is positioned in the second tubular passageway (160) between the outlet (130) of said feed pump (100) and the inlet of said fuel reservoir (170) and channelizes a flow of fuel from the outlet (130) of said feed pump (100) to the inlet of said fuel reservoir (170).

3. The feed pump (100) in accordance with Claim 2 wherein said first tubular passageway (120) and said second tubular passageway (160) are integrally formed within said housing (110) during a casting of said housing (110) of said feed pump (100).