Fuel pump chamber with contamination control

摘要

An electric-operated fuel pump (20) has a vaned impeller (28, 28') that is disposed within a pumping chamber (27) for rotation about an axis (21). The pumping chamber has a main channel (42) extending arcuately about the axis to one axial side of the impeller. The main channel has a radially outer margin that opens (58) along at least a portion of the channel's arcuate extent to an adjoining contaminant collection channel (56) which extends arcuately about the axis and which is effective, as the pumping element rotates, to collect certain fluid-entrained particulates expelled from the main channel and to convey such collected particulates toward the pump outlet (40). A sump (72) is disposed at the end of the contaminant collection channel proximate the outlet. The impeller (28') has a ring (70) girdling the impeller vanes (52) with a radially inner surface that is slightly concave in axial cross section.