In conventional fuel tanks, the fuel is taken from a point adjacent the bottom of the tank: this enables the pick-up of fuel even when the level of fuel in the tank is low.

However, it is common for water and/or sediment to accumulate on the bottom of the tank: at all times, therefore, there is the risk of water and/or sediment being taken up with the fuel.

I have now devised a fuel pick-up arrangement which substantially alleviates the above problem.

In accordance with the present invention, there is provided a pick-up arrangement for a fuel tank, comprising a float arranged for rising and falling with the level of fuel in the tank, and a fuel pick-up duct having its free end coupled to the float.

In one embodiment, the float is mounted to a pivoted arm and the fuel pick-up duct comprises a pipe which is mounted to this pivoted arm. Instead, the pivoted arm may have a hollow interior forming the pick-up duct, or the pick-up duct may comprise a pipe extending along the interior of the arm.

A flexible tube connects the pick-up duct or pipe to an outlet of the tank. Preferably the free end of the pick-up duct or pipe is fitted with a filter.

In another embodiment, the float is arranged to slide vertically and the pick-up duct comprises a length of flexible tubing having its free end coupled to the float. Preferably this flexible tubing is coiled around the slide, which may comprise a pair of vertical rods. Preferably the assembly of float, pick-up pipe and slide are enclosed within a filter.

Also in accordance with the present invention, there is provided a fuel tank having a pick-up arrangement which comprises a float arranged for rising and falling with the level of fuel in the tank, and a fuel pick-up duct having its

free, inlet end coupled to the float.

Embodiments of the present invention will now be described by way of examples only and with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: FIGURE 1 is a diagrammatic section through a vehicle fuel tank, showing conventional pick-up arrangements; FIGURE 2 is a view of a first embodiment of fuel pick- up in accordance with the present invention; and FIGURE 3 is a sectional view of a vehicle fuel tank fitted with a second embodiment of pick-up in accordance with the present invention.

Referring to Figure 1 of the drawings, in a conventional vehicle fuel tank 10 the fuel pick-up pipe 12 either enters the bottom of the tank (as at A) or enters the top of the tank and extends down to the bottom (as at B). The tank 10 comprises an enclosed vessel having an inlet (not shown) for fuel, the inlet being provided with a closure. A float 14 is pivoted to a bracket 16 at the top of the tank, via a rotary sensor, to indicate the level of fuel F in the tank.

It will be noted that the end of the pick-up pipe 12, for the entry of fuel to be fed to the engine, is in both cases at a fixed position adjacent the bottom of the tank, such that there is a risk at all times of the fuel picked up being contaminated with water or sediment S which accumulate on the bottom of the tank 10.

Referring to Figure 2, in one embodiment of the present invention, the fuel pick-up pipe 12 is instead coupled to the pivoted arm 13 of the float 14: the enclosed tank is itself omitted from Figure 2. Thus, the pick-up pipe 12 extends along the arm 13 and is fixed to it, for example by brackets 11. At its lower end, the pick-up pipe 12 is fitted with a filter 15, shown here as cylindrical in form and made of a micro-mesh sheet. At its upper end, the pick-up pipe 12 is connected by a length of flexible tubing 18 to the pipe 20 which fees fuel to the vehicle fuel pump. In a modification, the pick-up pipe may extend along the interior of the arm 13, or the hollow

interior of the arm 13 may form the pick-up duct.

Referring to Figure 3, in a second embodiment of the present invention, a float 22 is mounted on two vertical rods 24, for sliding movement up and down according to the level of the fuel F in the tank 10. The pick-up pipe 12 comprises a flexible tube which is coiled around the slide rods 24 and has its lower end attached to the float 22 and its upper end attached to the pipe 20 which feeds fuel to the vehicle fuel pump. A cylindrical filter 26, of micro-mesh sheet material, encloses the arrangement of slide rods 24, float 22 and pick-up pipe 10.

It will be appreciated that, in the embodiments of the invention which have been described with reference to Figures 2 and 3, the fuel entry or pick-up end of the pick-up pipe 10 is always adjacent the surface of the fuel F in the tank: for most of the time, therefore, the pick-up point is at a level substantially above the bottom of the tank and therefore free of the risk of contamination from the water and sediment which accumulate on the bottom of the tank.