Lifting Piston Fuel Pump and Method for Starting and Operating a Motor Vehicle Heating System

Abstract

The invention relates to a reciprocating piston fuel pump ( 16 ), in particular for an automotive heater ( 10 ) which is driven electromagnetically and is provided for delivering liquid fuel, having a damping element ( 34 ) comprising an elastomer ( 36 ) for damping pulsations created by the reciprocating piston fuel pump ( 16 ). According to this invention, means ( 22, 46, 48, 50 ) for heating the elastomer ( 36 ) are provided. The invention also relates to a method for starting and operating an automotive heater ( 10 ) that is operated with liquid fuel and has a burner ( 14 ) and a reciprocating piston fuel pump ( 16 ) with a damping element ( 34 ) comprising an elastomer ( 36 ) for damping pulsations created by the reciprocating piston fuel pump ( 16 ). According to this invention, the elastomer ( 36 ) is already heated before ignition of the burner ( 14 ).

1 . Reciprocating piston fuel pump ( 16 ), in particular for an automotive heater ( 10 ) which is driven electromagnetically and is provided for delivering liquid fuel, having a damping element ( 34 ) comprising an elastomer ( 36 ) for damping pulsations created by the reciprocating piston fuel pump ( 16 ), characterized in that means ( 22 ,  46 ,  48 ,  50 ) are provided for heating the elastomer ( 36 ). 
   
   
       2 . Reciprocating piston fuel pump according to  claim 1 , characterized in that means ( 22 ,  46 ,  48 ,  50 ) for heating the elastomer comprise and electric heater ( 46 ). 
   
   
       3 . Reciprocating piston fuel pump according to  claim 1  or  2 , characterized in that the means ( 22 ,  46 ,  48 ,  50 ) for heating the elastomer comprise a winding ( 22 ) of the electromagnetic drive of the reciprocating piston fuel pump ( 16 ). 
   
   
       4 . Reciprocating piston fuel pump according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that a material ( 50 ) having a low thermal conductivity is provided in an area between the elastomer ( 36 ) and the environment. 
   
   
       5 . Reciprocating piston fuel pump according to  claim 3 , characterized in that material ( 48 ) having a high thermal conductivity is provided in an area between the winding ( 22 ) and the elastomer ( 36 ). 
   
   
       6 . Method for starting and operating an automotive heater ( 10 ) that is operated with liquid fuel and has a burner ( 14 ) and a reciprocating piston fuel pump ( 16 ) with a damping element ( 34 ) comprising an elastomer ( 36 ) for damping pulsations created by the reciprocating piston fuel pump ( 16 ), characterized in that the elastomer ( 36 ) is already heated before ignition of the burner ( 14 ). 
   
   
       7 . Method according to  claim 6 , characterized in that the elastomer ( 36 ) is heated by an electric heating device ( 46 ). 
   
   
       8 . Method according to  claim 6  or  7 , characterized in that the elastomer ( 36 ) is heated by a winding ( 22 ) of an electromagnetic drive of the reciprocating piston fuel pump ( 16 ).