This invention relates to fuel pumps and, more particu¬ larly, to a crash orthy fuel pump capable of withstanding extreme forces such as occur during a crash without leaking fuel.

Because of their location in the engine compartment of an automobile, fuel pumps are susceptible to damage during a crash as the result of being struck by debris flying about in the compartment. As a consequence, fuel leaks from the pump may occur. The presence of gasoline in the engine compartment due to a broken fuel pump creates a great risk of fire and potential harm to both the vehicle and its occupants.

Federal Motor. Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS).30 was issued in an attempt to reduce the hazards attendant the loca¬ tion of the fuel pump in the engine compartment by requiring that the risk of damage to a fuel pump during a crash be minimized. To comply with this standard, various schemes have been proposed to shield the fuel pump or otherwise pro- tect it from flying debris. However, these protective shields add weight to the vehicle, may be difficult to fit into already crowded engine compartments, and may not always prevent an object from striking a fuel pump. Summary of the Invention Among the several objects of the present invention may be noted the provision of a fuel pump improvement by which the fuel pump is made crashworthy; the provision of such an improvement by which a leak proof seal is formed between the pump body and the pumping element of the pump; the provision., of such an improvement in which ease of assembly of the fuel pump is also facilitated; and the provision of such an improvement by which the pump has essentially the same envelope as a conventional non-crashworthy fuel pump so as to be readily installed in the engine compartment of a vehicle and take up substantially the same volume.

Briefly, the improvement of the present invention com¬ prises means for sealingly enclosing the outer margin of a fuel pump diaphragm to form a fluid seal between the pumping

chamber of the fuel pump and the fuel pump body. Further, means are formed on either the fuel pump body or a housing for the means for flexing the diaphragm to clamp the body and the housing together to form a unified fuel pump assembl Other objects and features will be in part apparent and in part pointed out hereinafter. Brief Description of the Drawings

Figure 1 is a sectional view of a fuel pump installable in the engine compartment of a. vehicle; Figures 2 and.3 are sectional, views of a portion of a fuel pump illustrating a first embodiment of the improvement of the present invention; and

Figure 4 is a sectional view of a portion of a. fuel pump illustrating a second embodiment of the improvement of the present invention.

Corresponding reference characters indicate correspondin parts throughout the several, views of the. drawings. Description of Preferred Embodiments

Referring to the drawings, a uel pump F for use in an automotive fuel system comprises a pump body, generally indicated B, which is of one-piece, thin-walled, sheet metal construction. Body B has a first portion PI in which are formed two integral deep-drawn cylindrical cup-shaped pro¬ jections, one of which is partially shown in Figure 1 and is indicated by reference numeral 1. One of the projections defines an intake cavity, for the fuel pump and the other projection defines a discharge cavity for the pump. A properly oriented check, valve (not shown) is located in each cavity to control fuel flow into and out of the fuel pump and appropriate fittings (also not shown) are located at the outer end of each projection for connecting the fuel pump into the fuel system. Check valves and fittings of the type shown in United States patent 3,096,722 to Fitzgerald et al, issued July 9, 1963, are illustrative of those which may be used in fuel pump F.

Body B has a second portion P2 of a shallow cup-shape, having an end wall 3 and a flaring annular peripheral wall 5 forming a fuel pumping chamber 7. One end of each cavity_JL

is in fluid communication with the pumping chamber. The lower end of body P2 is open, and a lip 9 is _. formed around the periphery of this open end.

An annular diaphragm 11 closes pumping chamber 7. The diaphragm consists of a relatively thin disk of flexible, fuel-resistant material, such as a suitable synthetic rubber. In its. unstressed condition the diaphragm is. essentially flat. The diaphragm is insertable into the open end of the second portion of body B. As shown in Figure 1, the lip 9 of the pump body bends over the outer margin of the diaphragm to clamp the diaphragm within the pump body. The entire outer margin of the diaphragm is so clamped and the result is a fluid-tight seal between the pump body and the diaphragm. Means, indicated generally 13,. flex diaphragm 11 to pump fuel into and out of pumping chamber 7 through the respective intake and discharge cavities. Means 13 comprises a diaphragm actuating rod 15 and a spring 17. Diaphragm 11 is sandwiched between a pair of backing plates 19 and 21 respectively. Rod 15 extends through the backing plates and the diaphragm and the end of the rod is spun over. One. end of spring 17 seats against the underside of plate 21. A rocker arm 23 is operable by an engine driven eccentric cam (not shown) . The inner, end of the rocker arm is attached to the other end of rod 15 and pulls the rod downward as it is rocked by the cam. This pulls diaphragm 11 downwardly and creates the intake stroke of the pump. Spring 17 pushes the dia¬ phragm upwardly at the end of the intake stroke to produce the discharge stroke of the pump.

Means 13 is housed in a housing 25. . The housing has a hollow conical pump head 26. The pump head has an outwardly extending circumferential rim 27, the upper face of which is downwardly and outwardly sloped. At the base of the slope is a shallow groove 29. The groove and slope form a seat for the diaphragm/pump body assembly and, in particular, the slope and groove are shaped to accomodate the diaphragm assembly.

A means indicated generally.31 clamps body B and housing 25 together to form a unified fuel pump assembly. As shown

C CO t t I- ¹

Cπ O Ui 0 Cπ

y

portion of the band and the upper portion of the band is then pressed or bent over the top surface of the diaphragm to complete the assembly.

Clamping means.39' further comprises a lip 9'. formed around the periphery of the open end of body portion P2. Lip 9',. unlike the lip 9 previously described, is long enough so when the body and housing portions of the. fuel pump are assembled, the lip, when crimped as shown in Figure 4, bears against the underside of rim 27 to hold the body and housing portions of the fuel pump together. . The band 43/diaphragm 11 assembly is thus clamped between the body and the housing with the band conforming to the shape of the body and the housing at its respective upper and lower ends. Again, the leak integrity necessary, for crashworthi- new of the fuel pump is achieved as is. ease of assembly.

In. view of the above, it will be seen that the several objects of the invention are achieved and other advantageous results obtained.

. As. various changes could be made in the above construc- tions without departing from the scope of the invention, it is intended that all matter contained in the above, descrip¬ tion and shown in the accompanying drawing shall be inter¬ preted as illustrative and not in a limiting sense.