Inventors:
Dave Dokas - Ann Arbor MI, US
International Classification:
F04B017/00
Abstract:
A fuel pump is provided that is submersible within a fuel, for example, within a fuel tank of an automotive vehicle and is particularly suited for use with high alcohol content fuels that tend to contain ionic species. The fuel pump comprises an electric motor that includes a commutator and a negative brush electrode that is connected to a negative terminal of an external power supply. The electric motor is at least partially disposed within a metal shell that is in contact with the fuel. The metal shell is also connected to the negative terminal of the external power supply. During operation, a negative electrical potential is applied to the metal shell to preferentially react with ions within the fuel. In this manner, the metal shell serves as a sacrificial anode to reduce the concentration of ionic species in the fuel, thereby decreasing reactions with the brush electrode and extending the useful life of the fuel pump.