JP3872209B2 - Fuel tank - Google Patents

Description

[0001]
[Technical field to which the invention belongs]
The present invention relates to a fuel tank, and more particularly, to a protective structure for a fuel supply unit provided in the fuel tank.
[0002]
[Prior art]
A fuel tank, which is a fuel tank for automobiles, is installed at a location that is not easily affected by heat from the engine. Generally, in the case of a front engine, it is arranged at the lower part of the rear seat.
FIG. 4 is an external view showing an example of a fuel tank. In FIG. 4, a fuel pump mounting hole is provided on the upper surface of the fuel tank A, and a base plate (corresponding to a support member) is provided from the fuel pump mounting hole. An upper plate (FIG. 6) composed of a metal plate disposed on the upper surface of the base plate B is inserted by inserting a fuel pump (a member indicated by a symbol P used in FIG. 5) supported by a member indicated by a symbol B in FIG. The member indicated by reference numeral C) is fastened to the upper surface of the fuel tank A to support the fuel pump P integrally with the fuel tank A (for example, Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 58-15756, Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. Hei. 3-67057).
FIG. 5 is a perspective view showing a support structure of a fuel pump P fastened to the upper surface of the fuel tank A. In the figure, the fuel pump P is attached to a resin base plate B placed on the upper surface of the fuel tank A. It is attached to the integrated support bracket B1. As shown in FIG. 6, the base plate B is clamped and fixed by placing a metal upper plate C on the upper surface and fastening the upper plate C to the upper surface of the fuel tank A.
As shown in FIGS. 4 to 6, the base plate B has ends such as a discharge pipe D for discharging fuel from the fuel pump P and a return pipe E for introducing excess fuel from the engine. is there. In addition, in FIG. 4, the code | symbol F is for introduce | transducing a fuel in the chamber of the side in which a fuel pump is located from the chamber in the side where a fuel pump is located in the case of the fuel tank of the structure divided | segmented into two chambers on either side In this configuration, for example, as shown in FIG. 4, a protrusion is provided at the center of the lower surface in order to prevent interference with transmission devices such as a drive shaft (not shown) arranged under the floor. It is used for a fuel tank having a bowl-shaped bottom.
[0003]
[Problems to be solved by the invention]
By the way, since the various pipes protrude upward from the base plate B, for example, when the fuel tank A is pushed forward by an impact force from the rear, as shown by an arrow G in FIG. It may collide with the lower surface of the pan H. In this case, it is not preferable because various pipes are broken and damaged and the fuel supply is interrupted. Such damage to the pipes can also occur when the pipes come into contact with other members during transportation or assembly of the fuel tank.
On the other hand, the base plate B supporting the fuel pump P is sealed between the upper surface of the fuel tank A by the upper plate C to seal the fuel pump mounting hole. The upper plate C that presses and holds is formed in a ring shape so as to be fastened around the fuel pump mounting hole, and the rigidity for ensuring the sealing performance of the base plate B, that is, the base plate B is fixed to the fuel tank A. In order to secure the pressing force for contacting the upper surface, it is necessary to increase the plate thickness considerably, which may cause an increase in material cost and weight.
[0004]
In view of the problems in the conventional fuel tank, particularly the fuel pump support structure provided in the fuel tank, it is an object of the present invention to reliably protect various pipes protruding from the support portion of the fuel pump. An object of the present invention is to provide a fuel tank having a configuration capable of ensuring the sealing performance of a resin base plate used for a support portion of a pump.
[0005]
[Means for Solving the Problems]
In order to achieve this object, the invention according to claim 1 supports the fuel pump and extends from the fuel pump with respect to a tank shell disposed near the floor pan of the vehicle body and having a fuel pump mounting hole formed on the wall surface. A fuel having a structure in which a resin support member with a discharged discharge pipe and a return pipe protruding from the upper surface is placed, and the resin support member is pressed and held by a metal plate surrounding the periphery of the fuel pump mounting hole. In the tank, the metal plate is provided with a protect member having a base integrated at least over the one part on the floor pan side and the one part facing the floor pan so as to bridge the metal plate, The protection member has a top portion protruding upward from the base portion, the side facing the floor pan of the vehicle body on the discharge pipe or the return pipe. It is characterized in that it is shaped to protrude toward the floor pan side than Npaipu.
[0006]
According to a second aspect of the present invention, in the fuel tank according to the first aspect, the protect member has a hat-like cross-sectional shape from the top to the base.
[0007]
According to a third aspect of the present invention, in the fuel tank according to the first aspect, the protect member has a piece protruding upward from the base, and the piece of the piece is disposed on the side facing the floor pan. It is characterized in that the face plate facing the floor pan is integrated.
[0008]
According to a fourth aspect of the present invention, in the fuel tank according to the first aspect, in addition to the floor pan side of the metal plate and the piece opposed to the metal plate, the protect member faces each piece perpendicularly. A base portion is integrated across the one portion, and a second protect member having a top portion protruding upward from the base portion is provided.
[0009]
[Action]
In the first aspect of the invention, the base portion is integrated across the floor pan side piece and the piece facing the metal plate, and the top portion protruding upward from the base portion discharges from the side facing the floor pan. Since a protect member that is shaped to protrude toward the floor pan side than the pipe and return pipe is provided, when the fuel tank is displaced toward the floor pan side, the protect member is more than the discharge pipe or return pipe. It is possible to prevent the pipes from abutting against the floor pan by contacting the floor pan first. Moreover, when the protect member abuts against the floor pan, the protect member base is integrated from the side facing the floor pan to the one side facing the floor pan, so that the protect member itself is deformed. The rigidity is increased and the strength to protect the pipe can be secured. Furthermore, the protection member is provided so that the base portion is integrated and bridged to the metal plate across the one part of the metal plate on the floor pan side and the opposite side thereof , so that the metal plate is prevented from being lifted. Therefore, the pressing support of the resin support member can be ensured.
[0010]
In the second aspect of the present invention, the cross-sectional shape is a hat shape, so that the cross-section rigidity can be increased and the protection of the pipe when the fuel tank is displaced to the floor pan side can be improved.
[0011]
In the invention according to claim 3, it is possible to cause the face plate to receive an impact when the fuel tank is displaced to the floor pan side only by providing a face plate facing the floor pan on the floor pan side in the piece protruding upward from the base portion. Since it can do, it can improve the protection of a pipe by simple structure, and can raise the rigidity of a metal plate.
[0012]
In the invention according to claim 4, in addition to the protect member in which the base portion straddling the floor pan side and the one portion on the opposite side is integrated, the base portion straddles in a direction orthogonal to the direction in which the base portion of the protect member straddles. By providing the second protect member, it is possible to improve the pipe protection even when the fuel tank is displaced in a plurality of directions.
[0013]
【Example】
The details of the present invention will be described below with reference to the illustrated embodiments.
FIGS. 1 and 2 are a side view and a plan view for explaining a main configuration of a fuel tank according to an embodiment of the present invention, in which the fuel tank 1 is similar to the configuration shown in FIG. The fuel pump mounting hole 1B is formed in the upper wall of the tank shell 1A. In the fuel pump mounting hole 1B, as in the configuration shown in FIG. 6, a fuel pump P supported by a resin base plate (denoted by symbol B used in FIG. 6 for convenience) corresponding to a resin support member. The upper plate 3 made of a metal plate is disposed on the upper surface of the base plate B, and the upper plate 3 is fastened to a bolt (not shown) protruding from the tank shell 1A side. Has been.
[0014]
As shown in FIG. 2, the upper plate 3 is formed in a ring shape surrounding the periphery of the fuel pump mounting hole 1 </ b> B, and one of the upper plates 3 is on the floor pan 2 side (the side indicated by reference numeral FF for convenience). And the protection member 4 is provided ranging over the one part which opposes this.
As shown in FIG. 1, the protect member 4 has a base 4A placed on one side of the upper plate 3 on the side facing the floor pan 2 and on the side facing the floor pan 2, and spot welding or fastening. And has a top portion 4B protruding upward from the base portion 4A.
As shown in FIG. 3, the top portion 4B is folded at a predetermined height after a part of the base portion 4A placed on one portion of the upper plate 3 is bent upward, and is cross-sectionally hat-shaped. Is formed. The predetermined height in this case is the position of the opening end of the discharge pipe (indicated by the symbol D used in FIG. 6 for convenience) and the return pipe (indicated by the symbol E used in FIG. 6 for convenience) in FIG. The height is substantially the same, and the height satisfies a so-called protective wall function that prevents external force from acting on the pipes D and E.
As shown in FIG. 1, the side of the top 4 </ b> B that faces the floor pan 2 is protruded toward the floor pan 2 side from the opening ends of the discharge pipe D and the return pipe E protruding from the upper surface of the base plate B. It is. The top surface of the top portion 4B is inclined so as to descend from the floor pan 2 side toward the trunk room side following the shape of the floor pan 2, and a power source for a fuel pump or the like is provided between the bottom surface of the floor pan 2 and the bottom surface. A gap serving as an insertion point for the supply wire harness 5 is formed.
[0015]
Since the present embodiment is configured as described above, when the fuel pump P is inserted into the fuel pump mounting hole 1B formed in the tank shell 1A, the base plate B supporting the fuel pump P is the tank shell 1A. Placed on top.
The base plate B is pressed and held while being clamped by the upper plate 3 fastened to the tank shell 1A.
[0016]
In the upper plate 3, the protect member 4 is integrated in the ring-shaped piece portion so as to straddle the side portion facing the floor pan 2 and the one portion facing the floor pan 2. Therefore, the pressure holding force to the base plate B generated when the tank shell 2 is fastened can be maintained. Accordingly, the base plate B can be in close contact with the periphery of the fuel pump mounting hole 1B of the tank shell 1A, and the sealing performance of the base plate B can be ensured.
[0017]
On the other hand, when an external force is applied to the fuel tank 1 and the fuel tank 1 is displaced to the floor pan 2 side, the protect member 4 is placed before the discharge pipe D and the return pipe E protruding from the upper surface of the base plate B. It hits the floor pan 2.
That is, the protect member 4 has a top 4B that faces the floor pan 2 and protrudes toward the floor pan 2 rather than the discharge pipe D and the return pipe E, so that the fuel tank 1 is deformed when the fuel tank 1 collides. When moving toward the second side, the pipes D and E can come into contact with the floor pan 2 before coming into contact with the floor pan 2 due to the facing relationship with the floor pan 2.
Since the protect member 4 has a direction in which one part of the upper plate 3 straddles the parallel direction to the displacement direction of the fuel tank 1, the protect member 4 has a direction that can ensure rigidity against an impact when the fuel tank 1 collides with the floor pan 2. Thus, deformation or breakage of the pipes D and E is prevented, and the pipes D and E are protected.
[0018]
In addition, there is an opportunity for deformation or breakage of the discharge pipe D or the return pipe E when the base plate B supporting the fuel pump is transported or assembled. In this case, the protection member 4 is protected. Since it becomes a wall, it can prevent that external force acts on each pipe D and E directly.
[0019]
According to the embodiment as described above, the cross-sectional rigidity of the upper plate 3 can be improved and the upper can be improved only by making the direction straddling the one part of the upper plate 3 parallel to the direction in which the fuel tank 1 moves by the impact force generated at the time of collision. It is possible to achieve both protection of the discharge pipe D and the return pipe E protruding from the plate 3.
[0020]
Needless to say, the present invention is not limited to the configuration of the above embodiment. For example, as a configuration of the protection member, an angle piece in which a base portion is integrated with an upper plate is used instead of a cross-sectional hat shape, and the floor pan 2 is opposed to a portion protruding upward. A face plate facing in parallel with the floor pan may be provided on the side.
According to such a configuration, in addition to the effects obtained in the above embodiment, when the fuel tank moves to the floor pan side, if the face plate on the top of the protect member hits the floor pan, the angle piece It is possible to prevent the impact force from concentrating and acting on a part of the floor pan and prevent the floor pan from cracking.
[0021]
Further, the protection member is not limited to being installed along the direction parallel to the moving direction of the fuel tank as in the embodiment shown in FIGS. 1 to 3, but the second protection member is arranged in a direction perpendicular to this direction. It is also possible to provide a member. Thereby, the discharge pipe and the return pipe protruding from the upper plate can be protected regardless of the direction of the external force acting on the fuel tank.
[0022]
【The invention's effect】
According to the first aspect of the present invention, the base portion is integrated across the piece of the metal plate on the floor pan side and the piece facing the same, and the floor portion is opposed to the floor pan out of the top portion protruding upward from the base portion. Since the protection member has a shape that protrudes toward the floor pan side from the discharge pipe and return pipe, when the fuel tank is displaced toward the floor pan side, the protection member is connected to the discharge pipe and return pipe. It can contact | abut to a floor pan ahead of a pipe, and it can prevent that each pipe strikes against a floor pan. Moreover, when the protect member abuts against the floor pan, the protect member base is integrated from the side facing the floor pan to the one side facing the floor pan, so that the protect member itself is deformed. The rigidity is increased and the strength to protect the pipe can be secured. Furthermore, the protection member is provided so that the base portion is integrated and bridged to the metal plate across the one part of the metal plate on the floor pan side and the opposite side thereof , so that the metal plate is prevented from being lifted. Therefore, the pressing support of the resin support member can be ensured. Thus, various pipes protruding from the support portion of the fuel pump can be reliably protected, and the sealing performance of the resin base plate used for the support portion of the fuel pump can be ensured.
[0023]
According to the second aspect of the present invention, since the cross-sectional shape is a hat shape, the cross-sectional rigidity can be increased and the protection of the pipe when the fuel tank is displaced to the floor pan side can be improved.
[0024]
According to the third aspect of the present invention, the impact when the fuel tank is displaced to the floor pan side is received by the face plate only by providing the face plate facing the floor pan on the floor pan side of the piece protruding upward from the base portion. Therefore, the simple structure can improve the protection of the pipe and increase the rigidity of the metal plate.
[0025]
According to the fourth aspect of the present invention, in addition to the protect member in which the base portion straddling the floor pan side and the one portion on the opposite side is integrated, the base portion in a direction orthogonal to the direction in which the base portion of the protect member straddles. By providing the second protect member straddling the pipe, it is possible to improve the protection of the pipe even when the fuel tank is displaced in a plurality of directions.
[Brief description of the drawings]
FIG. 1 is a side view for explaining a main configuration of a fuel tank according to an embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 2 is a plan view of the main configuration shown in FIG.
3 is a perspective view for explaining a configuration of a protect member used in the main part shown in FIG. 1. FIG.
FIG. 4 is an external view for explaining a conventional structure of a fuel tank.
5 is a perspective view for explaining a support structure of a fuel pump installed in the fuel tank shown in FIG. 4. FIG.
6 is a side view for explaining a fuel pump support portion structure in the fuel tank shown in FIG. 4; FIG.
[Explanation of symbols]
DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Fuel tank 1A Tank shell 1B Fuel pump mounting hole 2 Floor pan 3 Upper plate which consists of metal plates 4 Protective member 4A Base part 4B Top part B Base plate made of resin D Discharge pipe E Return pipe

Claims (4)

Resin with a discharge pipe and return pipe protruding from the upper surface that supports the fuel pump and extends from the fuel pump to the tank shell that is located near the floor pan of the vehicle body and has a fuel pump mounting hole on the wall In a fuel tank having a structure in which a support member made of resin is placed and the resin support member is pressed and held by a metal plate surrounding the periphery of the fuel pump mounting hole.
The metal plate is provided so that at least a part on the floor pan side and a protect member in which a base is integrated across the one part facing the floor pan are bridged to the metal plate. The fuel tank is characterized in that, of the top portion protruding upward from the base portion, the side facing the floor pan of the vehicle body is shaped to protrude toward the floor pan side rather than the discharge pipe or return pipe. The fuel tank according to claim 1,
The fuel tank according to claim 1, wherein the protect member has a hat-like cross-sectional shape from the top to the base. The fuel tank according to claim 1,
The protect member has a piece protruding upward from the base, and a face plate facing the floor pan is integrated on the side of the piece facing the floor pan. Fuel tank. The fuel tank according to claim 1,
The protect member has a base portion that is integrated between the one portion facing the floor pan side of the metal plate and the one portion facing the floor pan. A fuel tank comprising a second protection member having a protruding top.

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