JP4144528B2 - Fuel supply device - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention relates to a fuel supply apparatus, and is suitable for application to a fuel supply apparatus that supplies fuel in a fuel tank to the outside of the fuel tank, for example.

  2. Description of the Related Art A fuel supply device that supplies fuel stably even when the remaining amount of fuel in a fuel tank decreases is known (see Patent Document 1). In this type of fuel supply device, there is one that always presses the bottom of the sub tank of the fuel supply device against the inner bottom wall of the fuel tank (see FIG. 6).

  As shown in FIG. 6, the fuel supply device constitutes a biasing means such as a spring (not shown) that can be expanded and contracted between the lid 1 a that covers the opening of the upper wall 2 of the fuel tank and the sub tank 30. By this urging means, the packing 39 provided at the bottom of the sub tank 30 presses the reinforcing plate 4 on the inner bottom wall 3 of the fuel tank.

  The lid 1a is assembled to the opening of the upper wall 2 of the fuel tank with a presser plate (not shown) via the packing 2a.

A liquid level gauge 50 is attached to the sub tank 30, and the remaining amount of fuel in the fuel tank is represented by E (zero) to F (full tank) state depending on the position of the float 53. FIG. 6 shows a position corresponding to E (zero).
JP 2003-172218 A

  If the vehicle on which the fuel tank is mounted travels suddenly, starts suddenly, turns, etc., the fuel swings in the fuel tank. When this fuel swinging force is generated, in the conventional configuration, there is a possibility that the bottom portion of the sub-tank 30 may move back and forth and left and right due to the fuel swinging force. In some cases, the float position of the level gauge 50 may indicate an erroneous instruction.

  The present invention has been made in consideration of such circumstances, and an object of the present invention is to prevent the bottom portion of the sub tank from being displaced due to a fuel swinging force generated when the vehicle suddenly stops.

  Another object of the present invention is to provide a fuel supply device that can prevent the bottom of the sub-tank from being displaced due to the fuel swinging force generated when the vehicle is suddenly stopped, etc., and can prevent erroneous indication of the liquid level gauge.

According to the first aspect of the present invention, in the fuel supply device that supplies the fuel in the fuel tank to the outside of the fuel tank, the lid that covers the opening of the fuel tank and the fuel pump that discharges the sucked fuel can be accommodated. And a reinforcing plate provided on the inner bottom wall of the fuel tank where the bottom of the sub- tank is reciprocally movable relative to the lid, and the bottom of the sub-tank does not protrude from the periphery. a reinforcing plate having, a regulating member for regulating the relative position between the bottom and the reinforcing plate of the sub-tank, has a protrusion on one of the bottom and the reinforcing plates of the sub-tank, fitted to a protrusion on the other It is characterized by comprising a regulating member having a stepped portion and a liquid level gauge provided in the sub tank and indicating the remaining amount of fuel in the fuel tank .

According to this, in the fuel supply device that supplies the fuel in the fuel tank to the outside of the fuel tank, the fuel tank includes a lid that covers the opening of the fuel tank and a sub-tank that can reciprocate relative to the lid. . Further, a bottom portion of the sub-tank, since each of the reinforcing plates provided inside the bottom wall of the fuel tank is provided with a regulating member for regulating the relative positions of both the sub-tank by the fuel oscillating force generated at the time of sudden stop of the vehicle Deviations such as front, back, left and right of the bottom can be prevented.
According to the first aspect of the present invention, it is suitable to be applied to a fuel supply apparatus including a sub tank having a liquid level indicator that indicates the remaining amount of fuel in the fuel tank. Accordingly, it is possible to prevent the sub-tank of the bottom of the sub-tank from being displaced forward / backward, left / right, etc. due to the fuel swinging force generated when the vehicle is suddenly stopped, etc., so that it is possible to prevent erroneous indication of the liquid level gauge. Therefore, an accurate remaining amount can be instructed.

According to claim 2 of the present invention, collision detection section is an elastic body provided on the bottom of the sub-tank, the step portion is characterized by a hole formed in the reinforcing plate.

According to claim 3 of the present invention, the step difference portion is provided at the bottom of the sub-tank, the protruding portion is characterized in that provided in the reinforcing plate.

According to the fourth aspect of the present invention , the step portion is provided at the bottom portion of the sub-tank and includes a substantially cylindrical elastic body that engages with the step portion, and the projecting portion is provided on the reinforcing plate, An elastic body is fitted on the outer periphery.

  According to claim 5 of the present invention, the fuel tank is made of metal.

  According to this, the fuel tank is made of metal and has a relatively high rigidity. A relatively rigid fuel tank can be manufactured at a low cost with a relatively simple structure without complicated pressing.

  For example, by using a reinforcing plate separately from the inner bottom wall of a metal fuel tank, it is not necessary to press a relatively rigid fuel tank in a complicated manner. Can do.

  DESCRIPTION OF EMBODIMENTS Hereinafter, embodiments in which a fuel supply device of the present invention is embodied will be described with reference to the drawings.

(First embodiment)
FIG. 1 is a side view showing a structure of a fuel supply apparatus according to the present embodiment and showing a mounting structure of a fuel supply apparatus housed in a partially shown fuel tank. FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view showing the reinforcing plate in FIG. FIG. 3 is a plan view showing the reinforcing plate in FIG. 1.

  As shown in FIG. 1, the fuel supply device 10 includes a lid 1 a, a fuel pump that sucks up and discharges fuel (not shown), a sub tank 30, and a liquid level gauge 50. The fuel pump is accommodated in the sub tank 30.

  The lid portion 1a is formed in a substantially disc shape, and is attached to the upper wall 2 of the fuel tank 1 so as to cover an opening (hereinafter referred to as an accommodation hole) of the fuel tank 1. Other members such as the fuel pump and the sub tank 30 are accommodated in the fuel tank 1. The fuel tank 1 includes an upper lid 2 and a bottom lid 3 and may be made of resin or metal. Hereinafter, in this embodiment, it is assumed that the fuel tank 1 is made of metal, and the upper lid 2 and the bottom lid 3 are integrally and airtightly formed by welding or the like. The lid 1a is made of resin.

  Between the lid 1a and the sub-tank 30, an extendable support column having a biasing means such as a spring (not shown) is formed, and one of the lid 1a and the sub-tank 30 guides the other in the axial direction. It is assembled. Further, the lid portion 1a and the sub tank 30 are urged in directions away from each other by the urging means. Thereby, in a state where the fuel supply device 10 is assembled to the fuel tank 1, the bottom portion of the sub tank 30 is pressed against the inner bottom wall of the bottom lid 3 of the fuel tank 1.

  Note that the accommodation hole is provided in the upper lid 2 of the fuel tank 1 for inserting other members such as the sub tank 30 and is larger than the outer diameter of the sub tank 30 and smaller than the outer diameter of the lid portion 1a.

  As shown in FIG. 1, the flange 10 is assembled with a fuel discharge pipe 10p, a connector 10c, and the like. The fuel discharge pipe 10p and the connector 10c may be integrally formed with the lid 1a. The fuel discharge pipe 10p is a pipe that supplies the fuel discharged from the fuel pump to the outside of the fuel tank 1. The connector 10c has a wiring member (hereinafter referred to as a lead wire) that is electrically connected. The lead wire extends from the connector 10c to the fuel pump and is connected to the fuel pump, and a liquid level gauge (hereinafter referred to as a sender gauge) from the connector 10c. ) The lead wire extends to 50 and is connected. The connector 10c supplies a drive current to the fuel pump and outputs a detection signal of the sender gauge 50.

  Inside the sub tank 30, a pump module (not shown) and a suction filter (not shown) are accommodated. The pump module includes a fuel filter (not shown), a fuel pump 21, and a pressure regulator (not shown). The fuel filter has a filter case including a case body and a cover portion (not shown) and a filter element, and covers the outside of the fuel pump in the circumferential direction. The case body and the cover part are fixed by, for example, welding. The inflow port of the case body is fitted with the discharge port of the fuel pump. The filter element removes foreign matters contained in the fuel discharged from the fuel pump. The fuel pump is accommodated vertically in the sub tank 30 with the fuel discharge side upward in the gravity direction and the fuel suction side downward in the gravity direction. The fuel pump accommodates a motor (not shown) inside, and generates a fuel suction input by a rotating member such as an impeller that rotates together with the motor. The pressure regulator has an inlet connected to an outlet (not shown) of the case body. The pressure regulator adjusts the pressure of the fuel discharged from the fuel pump and from which foreign matter has been removed by the filter element. The fuel whose pressure is adjusted flows to the fuel discharge pipe 10p. The suction filter is connected to the suction port of the fuel pump and is in contact with the bottom inner wall of the sub tank 30. The suction filter has an outer periphery covered with a non-woven fabric, and removes relatively large foreign substances contained in the fuel sucked from the sub tank 30 by the fuel pump. Here, a jet pump (not shown) for supplying fuel into the sub tank 30 is attached to the outside of the sub tank 30. The jet pump is supplied with the high-pressure fuel taken out from the middle of the boosting unit by the fuel pump, and injects the high-pressure fuel from a nozzle (not shown) to a suction port (not shown) of the sub tank 30. Note that surplus fuel discharged from the pressure regulator or surplus fuel returned from the engine side may be supplied, and the surplus fuel may be ejected from the nozzle toward the suction port. The jet pump supplies the fuel in the fuel tank 1 into the sub tank 30 by the suction pressure generated by jetting the fuel. Thereby, even if the amount of fuel in the fuel tank 1 decreases, the sub tank 30 is filled with fuel.

  The sub tank 30 is formed in a substantially cylindrical shape having a bottom. The sub-tank 30 has a stepped portion on the side wall 31 in which a part in the circumferential direction is recessed radially inward. The sub tank 30 is formed in a substantially cylindrical shape except for the step portion. On the other hand, the step portion is formed substantially flat. As shown in FIG. 1, a sender gauge 50 (specifically, a sensor unit 51) is disposed at the stepped portion. By forming a flat stepped portion on the sub tank 30, the projected area of the sub tank 30 is reduced, and the occupied area necessary for installing the sub tank 30 is reduced.

  Here, the mounting structure of the fuel supply device 10 of the present embodiment will be described below. As shown in FIG. 1, the lid portion 1a is assembled to the accommodation hole of the upper lid 2 of the fuel tank 1 with a presser plate (not shown) via the packing 2a. On the other hand, the attachment structure between the bottom of the sub tank 30 and the inner bottom wall of the bottom lid 3 of the fuel tank 1 is as follows. A rubber packing 39 protrudes from the bottom of the sub-tank 30, and the packing 39 is formed in a substantially cylindrical shape. A reinforcing plate 4 having a locking hole 4 a is provided on the inner bottom wall of the bottom lid 3, and the locking hole 4 a is arranged so as to be aligned with the packing 39. As a result, the packing 39 and the locking hole 4a are engaged, whereby the relative position between the bottom of the sub tank 30 and the inner bottom wall of the bottom cover 3 of the fuel tank 1 is regulated. The packing 39 and the locking hole 4a are provided in three sets of three as shown in FIGS. It is sufficient that at least one set of each one is provided.

  Here, the packing 39 constitutes a substantially cylindrical elastic body. The packing 39 and the locking hole 4 a of the reinforcing plate 4 constitute a regulating member that regulates the relative position between the bottom of the sub tank 30 and the inner bottom wall of the bottom lid 3 of the fuel tank 1.

  As shown in FIG. 1, the sender gauge 50 includes a sensor unit 51, an arm member 52, and a float 53 attached to the tip of the arm unit. The float 53 floats on the fuel in the fuel tank 1. The arm member 52 rotates around the end on the sensor 51 side. A plurality of conductive patterns having different resistance values are formed on the sensor unit 51, and the end of the arm member 52 on the side opposite to the float can be in contact with the conductive pattern of the sensor unit 51. When the float 53 floating on the fuel in the fuel tank 1 moves according to the remaining amount of fuel, the arm member 52 rotates as the float 53 moves. As a result, the contact state between the arm member 52 and the conductive pattern of the sensor unit 51 changes, and the remaining amount of fuel in the fuel tank 1 is detected. The detected remaining amount of fuel is output as an electrical signal to the ECU as control means (not shown) via the connector 10c. Here, the sensor unit 51, the arm member 52, and the float 53 constitute a protruding portion that protrudes from the sub tank 30 in a substantially radial direction. As shown in FIG. 1, the outer shape of the sub-tank 30 on the opposite side to the projecting portion in the diametrical direction is formed in an arc shape, and has an insertion property when the sub-tank 30 is inserted from the fuel tank housing hole. Improvements are being made.

  Next, the operation of the present embodiment having the above-described configuration will be described. When the engine is driven and a drive current is supplied from the electrical connector 10c to the fuel pump, the fuel pump sucks the fuel in the sub tank 30 and removes foreign matter, and then discharges the fuel to the engine side through the fuel discharge pipe 10p. To do. When the fuel returned from the engine side through the fuel return pipe passes through the jet pump and is injected toward the suction port of the sub tank 30, the fuel in the fuel tank 1 is sucked up by the generated suction pressure. The liquid level in the sub tank 30 is lifted with respect to the outside of the sub tank 30 by the suction pressure of the jet pump, and is maintained at a predetermined height. Even in the case of turning or steep slope running with the liquid level in the fuel tank 1 lowered, the sub-tank 30 is pressed against the inner bottom wall of the bottom cover 3 of the fuel tank 1 so that the fuel pump The fuel in the sub-tank 30 is sucked in without causing a poor suction, and the fuel is continuously supplied to the engine.

  Next, functions and effects of the present embodiment will be described. (1) In a fuel supply device 10 that supplies fuel in the fuel tank 1 to the outside of the fuel tank 1, a lid portion 1a that covers the accommodation hole of the fuel tank 1, and a lid And a sub-tank 30 that can reciprocate relative to the portion 1a. Furthermore, since the regulating members 39 and 4a for regulating the relative positions of the sub tank 30 and the inner bottom wall of the bottom lid 3 of the fuel tank 1 are provided, respectively, the fuel swinging force generated when the vehicle suddenly stops or the like is provided. Deviations such as front, rear, left and right of the bottom of the sub tank 30 can be prevented.

  (2) As a regulating member for regulating the relative position between the bottom of the sub tank 30 and the inner bottom wall of the fuel tank 1, a substantially cylindrical packing 39 provided at the bottom of the sub tank 30, and the inner bottom wall of the fuel tank 1 The reinforcing plate 4 is provided with a locking hole 4 a that engages with the packing 39.

  (3) In the present embodiment, the fuel tank is made of metal, and the metal tank has a relatively high rigidity. In order to install a regulating member that regulates the relative position between the bottom of the sub tank 30 and the inner bottom wall of the fuel tank 1, by using the reinforcing plate 4 separately from the inner bottom wall of the bottom cover 3 of the metal fuel tank, Since it is not necessary to press the fuel tank 1 having a relatively high rigidity in a complicated manner, the fuel tank 1 can be manufactured at a low cost with a relatively simple structure.

  The fuel tank 1 may be made of metal or resin.

  (4) The sub tank 30 is provided with a liquid level gauge 50 indicating the remaining amount of fuel in the fuel tank 1. The level gauge 50 detects the remaining amount of fuel based on the position of the float 53, for example, the float 53 floats on the fuel. In the present embodiment, since there is a regulating member that regulates the relative position between the bottom of the sub tank 30 and the inner bottom wall of the fuel tank 1, the front, back, left, right, etc. of the bottom of the sub tank 30 due to the fuel swinging force generated when the vehicle suddenly stops, etc. Can be prevented. Accordingly, it is possible to prevent erroneous indication of the liquid level gauge 50. As a result, an accurate remaining amount can be instructed.

  (5) In the fuel supply device, the lid portion 1a and the sub tank 30 are urged away from each other by the urging means. On the other hand, the fuel supply device 10 is attached to the fuel tank 1 in such a manner that the lid 1a is attached to the upper lid 2 via the packing 2a, and the bottom of the sub tank 30 is attached to the bottom lid 3 (specifically, the reinforcing plate) via the packing 39. 4), the elastic packings 2a and 39 allow the urging force of the urging means to be relaxed without acting directly on the upper lid 2 and the bottom lid 3. Thereby, even if the strength of the base material of the fuel tank is a resin material or the like that is relatively smaller than that of metal or the like, rigidity can be ensured.

(Second Embodiment)
Hereinafter, other embodiments to which the present invention is applied will be described. In the following embodiments, the same or equivalent components as those in the above embodiment are denoted by the same reference numerals, and description thereof will not be repeated.

  In the present embodiment, as shown in FIG. 4, the mounting structure is such that the stepped portion 31 a formed at the bottom of the sub-tank 30 engages the protruding portion 104 a of the reinforcing plate 104. FIG. 4 is a schematic cross-sectional view showing a fuel supply device mounting structure according to this embodiment. As shown in FIG. 4, the protrusion 104a is formed by pressing the reinforcing plate 104 into a protrusion shape. This can be easily press-worked by stamping the protrusion-shaped protrusion 104 a on the flat reinforcing plate 104. Further, the sub tank 30 is generally made of resin, and it is relatively easy to resin-mold a stepped portion having a step formed at the bottom.

  Here, the stepped portion 31a and the protruding portion 104a can be fitted to each other, and the bottom portion of the sub tank 30 and the inner bottom wall of the bottom lid 3 of the fuel tank 1 are regulating members that regulate the relative positions of both. Constitute. Even if it is such a structure, the effect similar to 1st Embodiment can be acquired.

(Third embodiment)
In the present embodiment, as shown in FIG. 5, the stepped portion 38 formed at the bottom of the sub tank 30 and the protruding portion 204 a of the reinforcing plate 204 are engaged through a packing 139. FIG. 5 is a schematic cross-sectional view showing the fuel supply device mounting structure according to the present embodiment. As shown in FIG. 5, the protrusion 204a is formed by pressing the reinforcing plate 4 into a burring protrusion shape. This can be easily and inexpensively pressed by so-called burring the protruding portion 204a in the shape of a burring on the planar reinforcing plate 104. Further, the inner periphery of the packing 139 is fitted into the protruding portion 204 a and the outer periphery is engaged with the stepped portion 38.

  Here, the stepped portion 38, the protruding portion 204a, and the packing 139 constitute a regulating member that regulates the relative position between the bottom portion of the sub tank 30 and the inner bottom wall of the bottom lid 3 of the fuel tank 1. Even if it is such a structure, the effect similar to 1st Embodiment can be acquired.

(Other embodiments)
In the present embodiment described above, the fuel tank 1 is described as being made of metal, but may be made of resin.

  In the present embodiment described above, the liquid level gauge 50 indicating the remaining amount of fuel in the fuel tank 1 has been described as having the float 53 floating in the fuel. Any structure may be used as long as the level gauge has a structure in which the fuel remaining amount may be erroneously instructed due to vibration or the like due to the detachment.

It is a figure which shows the structure of the fuel supply apparatus concerning the 1st Embodiment of this invention, Comprising: It is a side view which shows the attachment structure of the fuel supply apparatus accommodated in the inside of the fuel tank shown partially. It is sectional drawing which shows the reinforcement plate in FIG. It is a top view which shows the reinforcement plate in FIG. It is typical sectional drawing which shows the attachment structure of the fuel supply apparatus concerning 2nd Embodiment. It is typical sectional drawing which shows the attachment structure of the fuel supply apparatus concerning 3rd Embodiment. It is a figure which shows the structure of the conventional fuel supply apparatus, Comprising: It is a side view which shows the attachment structure of the fuel supply apparatus accommodated in the inside of the fuel tank shown partially.

Explanation of symbols

1 Fuel tank 1a Lid 2 Upper lid 3 Bottom lid 4 Reinforcement plate 4a Locking hole (hole)
DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 10 Fuel supply apparatus 10p Fuel discharge pipe 10c Connector 30 Sub tank 31 Side wall 39 Packing (elastic body)
50 Sender gauge
53 Float

Claims (7)

In the fuel supply device that supplies the fuel in the fuel tank to the outside of the fuel tank,
A lid that covers the opening of the fuel tank;
A sub-tank that can accommodate a fuel pump that discharges the sucked fuel and is capable of reciprocating relative to the lid;
A reinforcing plate provided on an inner bottom wall of the fuel tank in which the bottom of the sub tank is located, and a reinforcing plate having a size such that the bottom of the sub tank does not protrude from the periphery thereof;
A regulating member that regulates the relative position between the bottom of the sub tank and the reinforcing plate , wherein one of the bottom of the sub tank and the reinforcing plate has a protruding portion, and the other is fitted into the protruding portion. A regulating member having a stepped portion,
A liquid level gauge provided in the sub-tank and indicating the remaining amount of fuel in the fuel tank;
A fuel supply device comprising: Before SL protrusion is an elastic body provided on the bottom of the sub-tank,
The fuel supply device according to claim 1, wherein the stepped portion is a hole provided in the reinforcing plate. Before SL stepped portion is provided on the bottom of the sub-tank,
The fuel supply device according to claim 1, wherein the protrusion is provided on the reinforcing plate. Before SL stepped portion is provided on the bottom of the sub-tank,
An approximately cylindrical elastic body that engages with the stepped portion;
The protrusion is provided on the reinforcing plate;
The fuel supply apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the elastic body is fitted to an outer periphery of the protruding portion.   The fuel supply device according to any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein the fuel tank is made of metal. The fuel supply device according to any one of claims 1 to 5, wherein at least one set of the projecting portion and the stepped portion is provided . The fuel supply device according to any one of claims 1 to 6, wherein the projecting portion is disposed at a predetermined interval with respect to an axis of the sub tank .

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