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 disclosure relates to a vibration dampening assembly for a reservoir of a Fuel Supply Module (FSM) inside a fuel tank.

Background of the invention:
[0002] In existing FSM designs running vibrations can transfer through the reservoir bottom contact with fuel tank. To cut the vibration transfer path rubber dampeners are used but holding the rubber dampeners by means of interference fit or by adhesive bonding is there in the market.

[0003] According to a prior art US5046471 an arrangement for feeding of fuel from supply tank to internal combustion engine of power vehicle is disclosed. The arrangement for feeding of fuel to an internal combustion engine of a power vehicle comprises a supply tank having a tank bottom, a feeding aggregate arranged in the supply tank, a receiving part holding the feeding aggregate, a holder mounted on the tank bottom, and vibration damping unit through which the receiving part is connected with the holding ring, the vibration damping unit including a metal spring and a rubber elastic buffer through which the metal spring is mounted on at least one of the receiving part and the holder.

Brief description of the accompanying drawings:
[0004] An embodiment of the disclosure is described with reference to the following accompanying drawing,
[0005] Fig. 1 illustrates a vibration dampening assembly for a reservoir of a Fuel Supply Module (FSM) inside a fuel tank, according to an embodiment of the present invention, and
[0006] Fig. 2 illustrates a use of driving tool for assembling said vibration dampening assembly to said reservoir, according to an embodiment of the present invention.

Detailed description of the embodiments:
[0007] Fig. 1 illustrates a vibration dampening assembly for a reservoir of a Fuel Supply Module (FSM) inside a fuel tank, according to an embodiment of the present invention. The FSM 100 comprises a mounting lid 102, a fuel pump, pressure regulator, filters, reservoir 104, fuel level sensor 106 and connecting paths for supplying fuel to engine and receiving return fuel. The components of the FSM 100 are not explained for being state of the art and the present invention must not be limited to the same as well. The vibration dampening assembly 110 comprises, at least one support member 120 which is positioned between an external surface 108 of the reservoir 104 and an internal surface of the fuel tank (not shown), characterized in that, the at least one support member 120 comprises a flexible plate 122, a first surface 112 of the flexible plate 122 to be in contact with the internal surface of the fuel tank. The at least one support member 120 also comprises a neck portion 118 projecting from a second surface 116 of the flexible plate 122 which is opposite to the first surface 112. An annular portion 114 provided on the neck portion 118. The neck portion 118 comprises dimensions smaller than the flexible plate 122 and the annular portion 114 and connects the flexible plate 122 and the annular portion 114. The vibration dampening assembly 110 also comprises at least one holder 130 defined on the bottom external surface 108 of the reservoir 104 to receive and lock the at least one support member 120.

[0008] According to an embodiment of the present invention, at least two grooves 126 are defined on the annular portion 114. The at least two grooves 126 are on opposite ends of the annular portion 114. Further, at least two protrusions 124 are defined on opposite sides of the neck portion 118 facing away from each other.

[0009] In accordance to an embodiment of the present invention, an inverted reservoir 104 is shown on right of the FSM 100. The bottom external surface 108 of the reservoir 104 is clearly shown with three vibration dampening assemblies 110 where the support member 120 is fixed/assembled inside the holder 130. The at least one holder 130 comprises a boundary wall 128 projecting from external surface 108 of the reservoir 104 and two ends of the boundary wall 128 is designed in manner to provide an opening to a region 132. The opening is defined between two ends of the boundary wall 128. A free peripheral end of the boundary wall 128, which is away from the external surface 108 of the reservoir 104 or away from the connection with the reservoir 104, comprises shoulders 136 perpendicular to the boundary wall 128 and projects between the region 132 formed by the boundary wall 128. A guide profile 134 is defined on the external surface 108 but at interior of the region 132. The at least one holder 130 also comprises at least two indents 138 on internal surface 140 of the boundary wall 128 at the end of the shoulders 136.

[0010] According to an embodiment of the present invention, the support member 120 comprises a hole 142 or a depression on the first surface 112 of the flexible plate 122 for insertion of a driving tool. The driving tool is used in assembling the at least one support member 120 inside the at least one holder 130. The support member 120 is insertable in the region 132 of the holder 130 through the opening. On insertion, the support member 120 is guided by the shoulders 136 till stopped by an internal surface 140 of the boundary wall 128. The shoulders 136 gets accommodated in a gap formed by the neck portion 118 and locks movement of the support member 120 in direction perpendicular to the direction of insertion.

[0011] According to an embodiment of the present invention, the support member 120 is rotatable within the region 132 by predetermined degree such that the at least two protrusion 124 on the neck portion 118 mates with respective at least two indents 138 inside the region 132.

[0012] According to an embodiment of the present invention, the at least two grooves 126 on the annular portion 114 are positioned across opposite ends of the guide profile 134 at the end of the insertion. The rotation of the support member 120 around a central axis of the annular portion 114 moves the at least two grooves 126 away from the guide profile 134 and arrests any movement in the direction of insertion.

[0013] According to an embodiment of the present invention, the at least three of the support members 120 are assembled with respective holders 130 on external surface 108 of the reservoir 104. Specifically, the support members 120 are assembled at the bottom peripheral edge of the reservoir 104. The boundary wall 128 is U shaped profile but not limited to the same. Further, a transfer of vibration is damped from FSM 100 to the fuel tank and the fuel tank to the FSM 100.

[0014] In accordance to an embodiment of the present invention, the FSM 100 is installable in vehicle such as comprising a two-wheeler such as a motorcycle, a moped, etc., a three-wheeler such as an Auto-rickshaw, a four-wheeler such as car, and other vehicles such as trucks, buses, snow mobiles, motorboats, and the like.

[0015] Fig. 2 illustrates a use of driving tool for assembling said vibration dampening assembly to said reservoir, according to an embodiment of the present invention. The bottom external surface 108 of the reservoir 104 is shown being assembled with the vibration dampening assembly 110. A method of assembly is disclosed. A driving tool such as an Allen key 202 is used for assembly process. In a first step, the Allen key 202 is inserted in the hole 142 provided in the support member 120 and inserted sideways in a manner that the at least two grooves 126 and the guide profile 134 are aligned. In other words, the axis of the columnar shaped guide profile 134 and the axis of the two grooves 126 are colinear/co-axial. In a next step, the flexible plate 122 is inserted inside the holder 130. During insertion, the flexible plate 122 remains on top of the shoulders 136 of the boundary wall 128 of the holder 130 and the annular portion 114 remains below the shoulder 136. The support member 120 is slide into the region 132 over the shoulders 136. The shoulder 136 gets accommodated in the gap formed by the neck portion 118. Once the flexible plate 122 is inserted to the end of the region 132 where the annular portion 114 touches the internal surface 140 of the boundary wall 128, the two grooves 126 gets positioned over the ends of the guide profile 134. The length of the guide profile 134 is equal to the distance between the two grooves 126 of the annular portion 114. In a next step, the Allen key 202 is rotated by a predetermined degree such as 90 degrees, which repositions the two grooves 126 away from the guide profile 134. The Allen key 202 is then removed. In the last step, when the flexible plate 122 is rotated, the two protrusions 124 on the neck portion 118 mates with the two indents 138 inside the region 132. The two indents 138 are designed on the boundary wall 128. The support member 120 is locked in the direction of the insertion due to the rotation. The support member 120 is locked in upward movement, i.e. the direction perpendicular to the external surface 108 of the reservoir 104, due to positioning of the shoulder 136 between the annular portion 114 and the second surface 116 of the flexible plate 122.

[0016] According to the present invention, a positive mechanical locked support member 120 (or rubber dampener) between the reservoir 104 and tank base is provided. The positive mechanical lock is designed to arrest the support member 120 to remain locked in the assembly position. The support member 120 (can also be referred to as rubber dampener) is handled with standard Allen key 202 and is slide into the opening formed by boundary wall 128 in reservoir 104, locking interface with minimum interference slide in. Also the guide profile 134 slide into the grooves 126. The support member 120 is rotated by Allen key 202 so that the protrusion 124 at the neck portion 118 get locked into the indents 138. The present invention plays big role in cutting down the vibration transfer path, also holds firmly by means of mechanical lock.

[0017] It should be understood that 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 vibration dampening assembly (110) for a reservoir (104) of a Fuel Supply Module (FSM) (100) inside a fuel tank, said vibration dampening assembly (110) comprises,
at least one support member (120), which is positioned between an external surface (108) of said reservoir (104) and an internal surface of said fuel tank, characterized in that, said at least one support member (120) comprises
a flexible plate (122), a first surface (112) of said flexible plate (122) to be in contact with said internal surface of said fuel tank;
a neck portion (118) projecting from a second surface (116) of said flexible plate (122) which is opposite to said first surface (112), and
an annular portion (114) provided on said neck portion (118), wherein said neck portion (118) comprises dimensions smaller than said flexible plate (122) and said annular portion (114); and
at least one holder (130) defined on said external surface (108) of said reservoir (104) to receive and lock said at least one support member (120).

2. The vibration dampening assembly (110) as claimed in claim 1, wherein at least two grooves (126) are defined opposite ends of said of said annular portion (114).

3. The vibration dampening assembly (110) as claimed in claim 1, wherein at least two protrusions (124) are defined on opposite sides of said neck portion (118) facing away from each other.

4. The vibration dampening assembly (110) as claimed in claim 1, wherein said at least one holder (130) comprises,
a boundary wall (128) projecting from said external surface (108) of said reservoir (104), wherein two ends of said boundary wall (128) designed in a manner to provide an opening to a region (132),
a free peripheral end of said boundary wall (128), which is away from said external surface (108) of said reservoir (104), comprises shoulders (136) perpendicular to said boundary wall (128);
a guide profile (134) defined at interior of said region (132), and
at least two indents (138) defined on internal surface (140) of said boundary wall (128) at the end of said shoulders (136).

5. The vibration dampening assembly (110) as claimed in claim 4, wherein said support member (120) comprises a hole (142) on said first surface (112) for insertion of a driving tool, said driving tool is used in assembling said at least one support member (120) inside said at least one holder (130).

6. The vibration dampening assembly (110) as claimed in claim 4, wherein said support member (120) is insertable in said region (132) of said holder (130) through said opening, wherein on insertion, said support member (120) is guided by said shoulders (136) till stopped by an internal surface (140) of said boundary wall (128), wherein said shoulder (136) gets accommodated in a gap formed by said neck portion (118) and locks movement of said support member (120) in direction perpendicular to said direction of insertion.

7. The vibration dampening assembly (110) as claimed in claim 6, wherein said support member (120) is rotatable within said region (132) by predetermined degree such that said at least two protrusions (124) on said neck portion (118) mates with respective at least two indents (138) in said region (132).

8. The vibration dampening assembly (110) as claimed in claim 6, wherein said at least two grooves (126) on said annular portion (114) are positioned across opposite ends of said guide profile (134) at the end of said insertion, and a rotation of said support member (120) around a central axis of said annular portion (114) moves said at least two grooves (126) away from said guide profile (134) and arrests any movement in the direction of insertion.

9. The vibration dampening assembly (110) as claimed in claim 1, wherein at least three of said support members (120) are assembled with respective holders (130) on said external surface (108) of said reservoir (104).

10. The vibration dampening assembly (110) as claimed in claim 1, wherein a transfer of vibration is damped from FSM (100) to said fuel tank and said fuel tank to said FSM (100).