Claims:WE CLAIM
1. A fuel pump mounting assembly (400) for a vehicle (100), the fuel pump mounting assembly (400) comprising: a bracket (200) having a plate (210), the plate (210) having at least one aperture (220a) made therethrough for detachably attaching the bracket (200) on an engine (160) of the vehicle (100); and a mounting structure (290) formed on the plate (210), the mounting structure (290) configured to receive a fuel pump (300) thereby fixedly mounting the fuel pump (300) on the vehicle (100).

2. The fuel pump mounting assembly (400) as claimed in claim 1, wherein the plate comprises two apertures (220a, 220b) wherein at least one of the apertures coincides with an aperture (520d) of a mounting bracket (500) for a secondary air injection valve (600) thereby fastening the bracket (200) and the mounting bracket (500) on the cylinder by a fastening means.

3. The fuel pump mounting assembly (400) as claimed in claim 1, wherein the mounting structure (290) comprises a first mounting sleeve (230) having a tubular body (230a), and an insertion hole (230b) made therein such that a first fixating loop (360) formed on the fuel pump (300) is positioned and fixed on the tubular body (230a) by a fastening means (420) inserted through the first fixating loop (360) in the insertion hole (230b).

4. The fuel pump mounting assembly (400) as claimed in claim 1, wherein the mounting structure (290) comprises a second mounting sleeve (240) having a tubular body (240a), and an insertion hole (240b) made therein such that a second fixating loop (370) formed on the fuel pump (300) is positioned and fixed on the tubular body (240a) by a fastening means (410) inserted through the fixating loop (370) in the insertion hole (240b).

5. The fuel pump mounting assembly (400) as claimed in claims 2 and 3, wherein the second mounting sleeve (240) is substantially perpendicular to the first mounting sleeve (230).

6. The fuel pump mounting assembly (400) as claimed as claimed in claim 1, the bracket (200) comprises a receptacle (250) formed on the plate and configured to receive an adaptor (260) connecting the fuel pump (300) and a fuel injector.

7. The fuel pump mounting assembly (400) as claimed in claim 5, wherein the receptacle (250) is substantially parallel and adjacent to the first mounting sleeve (230).

8. The fuel pump mounting assembly (400) as claimed in claim 1, wherein the bracket (200) is detachably attached on a cylinder head (160a) of the engine (160).

9. The fuel pump mounting assembly (400) as claimed in claim 1, wherein, the bracket (200) is detachably attached on a cylinder block of the engine (160)

10. A bracket (200) for mounting a fuel pump (300) on a vehicle (100) comprising: a plate (210) having at least one aperture (220a) made therethrough; a mounting structure (290) formed on the plate (210), the mounting structure (290) extending substantially away from the plate (210), said mounting structure (290) including one or more mounting sleeves (230, 240); and a receptacle (250) disposed intermediately between said plate (210) and said mounting structure (290).
, Description:FIELD OF THE INVENTION
[001] The present invention generally relates to fuel pumps fitted on vehicles and more particularly to a bracket for mounting the fuel pump on the vehicle.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[002] Due to rising pollution concerns and existence of better technologies to cope with the rising pollution, carburetors and mechanical pump systems were replaced by fuel injection systems having electric fuel pumps. In such fuel injection systems, a fuel injector is typically connected with an electric fuel pump by a fuel hose wherein the electric fuel pump supplies controlled amount of fuel from a fuel tank to the fuel injector. A major advantage of such electric fuel pump is that it can be controlled by an Electronic Control Unit (ECU) which can be configured to control the amount of fuel supplied to the fuel injector and eventually to an engine of the vehicle. Such controlled flow of fuel reduces fuel consumption and a better combustion of fuel inside the engine thereby reducing pollution.
[003] However, since the electric fuel pumps are typically adapted inside the fuel tank, problem of accommodating the fuel pumps arose in vehicles having small/ compact fuel tanks. Accommodating the fuel pumps inside the compact fuel tanks significantly reduces useable fuel volume of the fuel tanks and further compromised structural stiffness of the fuel tanks. Due to this, systems were developed such that the electric fuel pumps could be mounted outside the fuel tank of the vehicle.
[004] One approach discloses an assembly of a fuel pump in a saddle-ride type vehicle in which the fuel pump is mounted behind the cylinder portion of a vertically oriented engine. A bracket is attached to the crank case cover by means of bolts, to mount the fuel pump above the crank case. The bracket covers the fuel pump in sideways. However, serviceability of this external fuel pump is a problem. Further, it is difficult to assemble hoses from and to the fuel pump and to a fuel pump coupler. Yet another disadvantage lies in direct exposure of the fuel pump to heat generated from the engine.
[005] In another approach a mounting structure for a two wheeled vehicle in which an inline fuel pump is used for supplying fuel to an engine is disclosed. The inline fuel pump is attached to a main frame by means of two mounting brackets - one L shaped bracket holding the fuel pump by means of fasteners and other a Z shaped bracket being fixed to the main frame. The two mounting brackets are connected to each other by means of fasteners. A major concern in such mounting structure is the requirement and use of multiple components. Further, difficulty in assembling hoses from and to the fuel pump is also a problem. These factors also lead to the difficulty in serviceability of the fuel pump.
[006] Another major drawback of externally mounted fuel pump is that the servicing involves removal of the entire fuel tank assembly and its surrounding parts in order to access the fuel pump. This increases service time, and dis-assembly and assembly time. Further, since most fuel pump brackets are of a cantilever type, an overhanged construction of the fuel pump mounting bracket may not withstand load of the fuel pump assembly for longer duration.
[007] Hence, there is a need in the art for a bracket for mounting the fuel pump which addresses at least the aforementioned problems.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[008] In one aspect, the present invention is directed to a fuel pump mounting assembly for a vehicle. The fuel pump mounting assembly has a bracket which has a plate having at least one aperture made therethrough for detachably attaching the bracket on an engine of the vehicle, and a mounting structure formed on the plate. The mounting structure is configured to receive a fuel pump thereby fixedly mounting the fuel pump on the vehicle.
[009] In an embodiment of the present invention, the plate has two apertures wherein at least one of the apertures coincides with an aperture of a mounting bracket for a secondary air intake valve thereby fastening the bracket and the mounting bracket on the cylinder by a fastening means.
[010] In yet another embodiment of the present invention, the mounting structure has a first mounting sleeve. The first mounting sleeve has a tubular body, and an insertion hole made therein such that a first fixating loop formed on the fuel pump is positioned and fixed on the tubular body by a fastening means inserted through the fixating loop in the insertion hole.
[011] In another embodiment of the present invention, the mounting structure comprises a second mounting sleeve. The second mounting sleeve has a tubular body, and an insertion hole made therein such that a second fixating loop formed on the fuel pump is positioned and fixed on the tubular body by a fastening means inserted through the fixating loop in the insertion hole. In an embodiment of the present invention, the second mounting sleeve is substantially perpendicular to the first mounting sleeve.
[012] In a further embodiment of the present invention, the bracket has a receptacle formed on the plate and configured to receive an adaptor connecting the fuel pump and a fuel injector. In an embodiment of the present invention, the receptacle is substantially parallel and adjacent to the first mounting sleeve.
[013] In another embodiment of the invention, the bracket is detachably mounted on a cylinder head of the engine. In yet another embodiment, the bracket is detachably attached on a cylinder block of the engine.
[014] In another aspect, the present invention discloses a bracket for mounting a fuel pump on a vehicle, wherein the bracket has a plate having at least one aperture made therethrough. The bracket further has a mounting structure formed on the plate wherein the mounting structure extends substantially away from the plate. In another embodiment, the mounting structure includes one or more mounting sleeves. The bracket further has a receptacle disposed intermediately between the plate and the mounting structure.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[015] Reference will be made to embodiments of the invention, examples of which may be illustrated in accompanying figures. These figures are intended to be illustrative, not limiting. Although the invention is generally described in context of these embodiments, it should be understood that it is not intended to limit the scope of the invention to these particular embodiments.
Figure 1 shows a vehicle having a fuel pump mounting assembly in accordance with an embodiment of the invention.
Figure 2 shows unconnected parts of the fuel pump mounting assembly in accordance with an embodiment of the invention.
Figure 3 shows connected parts of the fuel pump mounting assembly in accordance with an embodiment of the invention.
Figure 4 shows a bracket for mounting the fuel pump in accordance with an embodiment of the invention.
Figure 5 shows a typical fuel pump.
Figure 6 shows an exploded view of the fuel pump mounting assembly in accordance with an embodiment of the invention.
Figure 7 shows an assembled view of the fuel pump mounting assembly in accordance with an embodiment of the invention.
Figure 8 shows a typical bracket for mounting a Secondary Air Injection (SAI) valve.
Figure 9 shows the fuel pump mounting assembly along with a SAI bracket mounted on the cylinder of an engine in accordance with an embodiment of the invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
[016] The present invention relates to a fuel pump mounting assembly for mounting a fuel pump on a vehicle.
[017] Figure 1 shows a perspective view of a vehicle 100. The vehicle 100 is a two-wheeler motorcycle which seats two persons over a front seat 140 and a rear seat 150. The vehicle 100 has a substantially vertically disposed compact petrol tank 120. Between the petrol tank 120 and the front seat 140, the vehicle 200 has a floor board 130. Right below the floor board 130, the vehicle 100 has a fuel pump mounting assembly 400 coupled to the engine 160 (shown in figure 2) in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention. On its front, the vehicle 100 has a maneuvering handle 110 coupled to its front wheel. On rear side, the vehicle 100 has a rear wheel and a rear foot rest 190. The vehicle 100 is thus made to stay in a riding ready position over a center stand 180.
[018] Figures 6 and 7 show the fuel pump mounting assembly 400 in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention. The fuel pump mounting assembly 400 has a fuel pump 300, an adaptor 260, and a bracket 200 for mounting the fuel pump 300 together with the adaptor 260.
[019] Referring now to Figure 5, the fuel pump 300 includes a motor unit, a pump unit, a housing 320, a pump cover 380, and an electrical connector 310. The pump cover 380 extends between a first end 380a and a second end 380b. In the fuel pump 300, the motor unit and the pump unit are accommodated in a space formed by the housing 320 and the pump cover 380. The electrical connector 310 housed inside the housing 320 receives power from a fuel pump driver module and supplies power to the motor unit. The fuel pump 300 sucks fuel from the fuel tank 120 through an intake port 330 connected to the fuel tank 120 by a first fuel hose 330a (shown in Figure 3). The pump unit pressurizes the sucked fuel and supplies controlled amount of high-pressured fuel to the engine 160 of the vehicle through an outlet 350. In this regard, as shown in Figure 6, the outlet 350 is coupled with an adaptor 260. The adaptor 260 has an inlet 270 configured to be coupled with the outlet 350 of the fuel pump 300, and an outlet 280 for supplying high pressured fuel from the fuel pump 300 to a fuel injector. Thus, the fuel injector receives high pressured fuel from the outlet 280 of the adaptor and supplies it further to engine 160 of the vehicle 100. Further, as shown in Figure 3, the fuel tank 120 is also connected to the fuel pump 300 by a second fuel hose 340a wherein excess fuel is returned to the fuel tank 120 from the fuel pump 300 by a return port 340.
[020] Now referring to Figure 4, the bracket 200 has a plate 210 having a planar surface 210a, at least one aperture 220a made therethrough on the plate 210 and a mounting structure 290. As shown in Figure 3, the aperture 220a is used for detachably attaching the bracket 200 on the engine 160 by using fastening means like screws, nuts, bolts etc. In an embodiment, the aperture 220a is used for detachably attaching the bracket 200 on a cylinder head 160a of the engine 160. In another embodiment, the aperture 220a is used for detachably attaching the bracket 200 on a cylinder block of the engine 160. The mounting structure 290 is formed on the plate 210, and configured to receive the fuel pump 300 to fixedly mount the fuel pump 300 on the vehicle 100.
[021] In an embodiment of the invention, the plate 210 has two apertures, a first aperture 220a and a second aperture 220b. As described hereinbefore and as shown in Figure 3, the first aperture 220a is used for detachably attaching the bracket 200 on the engine 160 by using fastening means like screws, nuts, bolts etc. Now referring to Figure 2, a mounting bracket 500 is provided on the vehicle 100 in order for a Secondary Air Injection (SAI) valve to be mounted thereon (shown in Figure 3). As shown in Figure 8, the mounting bracket 500 has a plate 510 and apertures 520a, 520b, 520c, 520d made therethrough for fastening the mounting bracket on the engine 160 of the vehicle 100. In this regard, the second aperture 220b of the plate 210 coincides with the aperture 520a of the mounting bracket 500 whereby the bracket 200 and the mounting bracket 500 are detachably attached on the engine 160 in a space-saving configuration through a single fastening means passing through the apertures 220b, 520a. Thus, as shown in Figure 3, the SAI valve 600 is mounted on the mounting bracket (not shown in Figure 3) such that the SAI valve is just below the bracket 200.
[022] In another embodiment of the invention, as shown in Figure 4, the mounting structure 290 extends substantially away from the plate 210. The mounting structure 290 has a first mounting sleeve 230 and a second mounting sleeve 240. The first mounting sleeve 230 has a tubular body 230a and an insertion hole 230b made in the tubular body. Similarly, the second mounting sleeve 240 has a tubular body 240a and an insertion hole (not shown). Corresponding to each of the mounting sleeves 230, 240, a fixating loop 360, 370 is provided on the fuel pump 300 such that the fuel pump 300 when positioned on the bracket 200, each of the fixating loops 360, 370 coincides with each of the insertion holes 230b. In this regard, as shown in Figure 5, a first fixating loop 360 is provided on the pump cover 380 and a second fixating loop 370 is provided on the housing 320. Referring to Figures 6 and 7, while mounting the fuel pump 300 on the bracket 200, the first fixating loop 360 provided on fuel pump 300 is positioned above the first mounting sleeve 230 such that the first fixating loop 360 and the insertion hole 230b coincide with each other. Thereafter, a fastening means 420 is passed through the fixating loop 360 into the insertion hole 230b thereby mounting the fuel pump 300 on the bracket 200. Similarly, while mounting the fuel pump 300 on the bracket 200, the second fixating loop 370 provided on fuel pump 300 is positioned above the second mounting sleeve 240 such that the second fixating loop 370 and the insertion hole of the second mounting sleeve 240 coincide with each other. Thereafter, a fastening means 410 is passed through the fixating loop 370 into the insertion hole of the second mounting sleeve 240 thereby further mounting the fuel pump 300 on the bracket 200. In an embodiment of the invention, the fastening means 410, 420 is screws, nuts, bolts etc. Further, as shown in Figure 4, the second mounting sleeve 240 is substantially perpendicular to the first mounting sleeve 230. Consequently, as shown in Figure 6, axis of the second fixating loop 370 is substantially perpendicular to axis of the first fixating loop 360. It may be noted that while the present invention has been described with two mounting sleeves 230, 240, it will be apparent to a person skilled in the art to use one mounting sleeve or more than two mounting sleeves. Also, number of mounting sleeves may vary according to shape and configuration of the fuel pump 300.
[023] In a further embodiment of the invention, as shown in Figures 4, 6 and 7, the bracket 200 has a receptacle 250 formed and configured to receive the adaptor 260 explained hereinabove. As shown in Figure 4, the receptacle 250 being substantially parallel and adjacent to the first mounting sleeve 230, and being intermediately disposed between the plate 210 and the mounting structure 290, is formed to have a slit 250a along its length. Such longitudinal slit 250a allows the outlet 280 of the adaptor 260 to be inserted and sit inside the receptacle 250.
[024] Advantageously, since fuel pump according to present invention is mounted on the cylinder head of the engine, time involved in assembling and dis-assembling of the fuel pump is considerably reduced. Also, assembly and di-assembly of the hoses to and from the fuel pump becomes convenient whereby serviceability of the fuel pump is enhanced. Further, since the number of parts involved in the fuel pump mounting assembly of the present invention is substantially less, this reduces the cost of parts involved, total weight of the fuel pump mounting assembly, time required to assemble the fuel pump over the bracket, and replacement costs in case of any damage involved. Furthermore, since the fuel pump is mounted on the cylinder head of the engine, and since the exhaust system of the vehicle is on the opposite side of the engine, heat impact to the fuel pump due to the exhaust system is reduced. Additionally, since aperture of the bracket of the pump assembly and the aperture of the mounting bracket are made to coincide, this reduces the amount of space required to mount two major components of the vehicle.
[025] While the present invention has been described with respect to certain embodiments, it will be apparent to those skilled in the art that various changes and modification may be made without departing from the scope of the invention as defined in the following claims.