JPH0640933B2 - Fuel tank filter - Google Patents

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION [Industrial field of application] The present invention is to attach dust to water, ice, lumps of ice, etc. in fuel sucked by being attached to the tip of a suction pipe inserted into a fuel tank such as a gasoline tank of an automobile. The present invention relates to a filter for a fuel tank used for filtering impurities.

[Prior Art] A suction pipe that is inserted into a gasoline tank of an automobile is usually equipped with a filter in order to prevent suction of impurities.

Conventionally, this filter was made of corrosion-resistant metal, but due to lack of manufacturability and high cost, many automobiles nowadays have a synthetic resin frame on a metal or synthetic resin net body. A filter that is integrally formed by inserting the filter into the mold has come to be used.

As a filter integrally molded with this synthetic resin, for example, Japanese Utility Model Publication Nos. 52-37915 and 53-
Those disclosed in the publications such as No. 42840 and No. 55-55784 are known and put into practical use.

The filters according to these conventional proposals are made of a metal frame as a main body and are made of synthetic resin as compared with the filters so far to improve moldability, and at the same time, a means for stopping the net body at the time of molding the frame. Is provided, or is integrally molded and inserted, and the fastening is simplified, so that the manufacturability can be improved.

However, even in the case of this filter made of synthetic resin, sufficient solution has not yet been obtained in terms of manufacturability, and there is room for improvement, and structural improvement is required depending on the place of use.

[Problems to be Solved by the Invention] The present invention relates to the above-described conventional filter, that is, a filter formed by insert-molding a mesh body into a substantially tubular shape when the frame is made of synthetic resin. It was researched and developed in consideration of various problems. That is, one of the objects of the present invention is to improve the manufacturability of the filter itself by eliminating the frame which is formed in order to hold the filtering net in a predetermined shape in the conventional filter and to hold the filtering function. In addition, this frame eliminates the conventional reduction of the effective filtration area, substantially enlarges the filtration area, and further imparts flexibility to the filter itself to enhance deformability, for example, when mounting. It is intended to provide a filter for a fuel tank, which adapts to the deformation of the fuel tank when it comes into contact with the bottom of the tank or the like and is forced to deform, thereby exhibiting an effective filtering function.

Further, the present invention aims to provide a fuel tank filter which improves productivity in addition to ease of manufacture and can be provided at a lower cost than a conventional synthetic resin filter for insert-molding a net body. Is.

Furthermore, the present invention provides a filter for a fuel tank which, in addition to the above deformability, ensures the flexibility of the net body and thereby is not easily damaged when an external force is applied, and which has excellent durability. It is a thing.

[Means for Solving the Problems] The present invention was developed based on the above-mentioned object, and is characterized by a bag-like filtration for a mounting body which is fitted and fitted to the tip portion of the suction pipe. Inside of the net body is formed by tightly fixing the openings of the net body and attaching the net body in a suspended manner, while continuously connecting a shape-holding frame body having spiral spring arms that vertically expand and contract below the mounting body. The present invention is to provide a filter for a fuel tank, characterized in that the net body is expanded and held in a bag shape by the shape holding frame body.

That is, in the filter of the present invention, a net-like body is formed into a simple bag-like shape by eliminating the streak-shaped support frame assembled in order to have a filtration function by holding the net-like body in a fixed shape, generally in a tubular shape, to have a filtering function. The opening of the bag-like mesh is tightly fixed to the mounting body for mounting on the suction pipe and attached in a hanging manner, while the shape-retaining body connected to the mounting body is enclosed inside the mesh. It is in a filter that retains its bag-like shape.

The shape-retaining frame body is desired to have an outer shape suitable for supporting the bag-shaped net body in a swelled shape from the inside, and also to be deformed according to the deformation of the net body, and to give the restorability to it. It is desired to have elasticity.

Further, this shape-holding frame body secures a sufficient space inside so that fuel such as gasoline that has penetrated through the mesh body and is easily guided to the suction pipe and does not impair the permeability of the mesh body. Suitable are, for example, linear ones.

[Operation] Now, the filter of the present invention configured as described above is attached to the tip of the suction pipe and inserted into the fuel tank. This filter is passed through the entire surface of the bag-shaped net when sucking by the pipe. The fuel will be filtered and delivered. During the suction, the net body is held in a swelled state by the shape-holding body housed inside, and the entire surface effectively functions as a filtering surface.

Further, in the case where the net body portion is pressed against the bottom surface or side surface of the fuel tank or the tank is deformed by external pressure and the net body portion is pressed by this, the shape retaining frame body is used. It will be deformed to deal with external pressure and avoid its damage.

Next, the present invention will be described with reference to the illustrated embodiments and the features thereof will be described in detail.

[Embodiment] The drawings show one embodiment of the filter according to the present invention. FIG. 1 is a central longitudinal front view, FIG. 2 is a plan view, and FIG. 3 is a front view of a mounting body, FIG. 3 is a plan view of FIG. 3, FIG. 5 is a bottom view of the same, and FIG. 6 is an exploded front view of a main portion in a cross section in the center.

Reference numeral 1 in the figure is a suction pipe 2 inserted into the fuel tank.
The reference numeral 3 designates a mounting body to be mounted on the front end portion, 3 is a net body that wraps the front end portion of the pipe 2 through the mounting body 1, and 4 is a mounting cover for fixing the net body to the mounting body 1.

The mounting body is formed of a synthetic resin material, and in this embodiment, a cylindrical mounting portion 1a for fitting into the pipe 2 and a fastening portion 1b of the net body 3 protruding from the outer peripheral surface of the lower end of the mounting portion in a brim shape. And a press-fitting portion 1b, in which one end of the mounting portion 1a is extended to form a tubular shape, and the vertical pressing slit 5 is provided.
Further, a cylindrical protection cylinder 7 provided so as to surround the pressing portion 6 and a shape holding frame 8 extending downward so as to surround the protection cylinder 7 are integrally provided.

The mounting portion 1a has an inner diameter adapted to the outer diameter of the suction pipe 2, and an inner wall surface near the upper end is provided with an annular recess 9 for fitting the expanded diameter portion 2a of the pipe and preventing the pipe from coming off. The upper end opening is made somewhat thin and several vertical slits 10 are provided to facilitate the insertion of the pipe 2, and a mounting cover 4 described later is fixed in the middle of the length of the outer peripheral surface. An annular locking portion 11 is provided.

The fastening portion 1b is provided with a step portion 12 for firmly holding the opening portion of the mesh body 3 on the upper surface of the brim, and the pressing portion 6 is provided at the center portion of the lower surface.
, And a protective cylinder 7 is concentrically provided so as to surround it.

The shape holding frame body 8 is for holding the swelling of the net body inside the net body when the net body 3 is fastened to the mounting body 1. In this embodiment, the shape holding frame body 8 of the fastening portion 1b is provided. Protective cylinder 7 from the bottom
Two elastic spring arms 8a are extended in a spiral shape so as to surround the outside, and a ring body 8b is connected to the tip of this arm in parallel with the fastening portion 1b at a distance. It is installed and configured.

When the shape retaining frame body 8 is in a normal state, the spring arm 8a is extended to push down the ring body 8b, and when pressed from below, the arm is contracted to bring the ring body 8b to the outer peripheral surface of the protective cylinder 7. When the arm 8a receives an external pressure from the side, the arm 8a is bent so that the arm 8a can be moved to the side from a position directly below the fastening portion to be deformed.

On the other hand, the mounting cover 4 is formed by using a thermoplastic synthetic resin having appropriate rigidity and elasticity as the material of the mounting body 1, and here, the mounting cover 4 is made to substantially conform to the shape of the fastening portion 1b of the mounting body. In addition, a locking cylinder portion 4a that is formed into a disc shape and protrudes upward is provided in the central portion, and a skirt-shaped holding portion 4b that protrudes downward is provided on the outer peripheral edge portion.

The locking tubular portion 4a is formed to have a thickness that is gradually fitted to the mounting portion 1a, and is thinned toward the upper end to increase flexibility, and a number-shaped slit 13 is provided vertically to provide spring property. I am doing it.

The one holding portion 4b is formed to have an inner diameter capable of surrounding the step portion 12 provided in the fastening portion 1b, and the hanging length is made to match the height of this step portion.

With respect to the mounting body 1 and the mounting cover 4 configured as described above, the net body 3 here is formed into a bag shape by welding from two synthetic resin net pieces 3a and 3b which are simply sheet-like. There is.

FIG. 6 shows the state before the formation of the mesh body 3. The description will be given with reference to this drawing. First, one mesh piece 3a is formed.
A through hole 14 is formed in the through hole 14, the through hole 14 is passed through the mounting portion 1a of the mounting body 1, and the mesh piece 3a is attached to the upper surface of the fastening portion 1b.

Next, the mounting cover 4 is also passed through the mounting portion 1a so as to cover the mesh piece 3a, and the locking cylinder portion 4a whose upper end is narrowed is forcedly passed through the locking portion 11 of the mounting portion 1a. Department
It is hooked and fixed to 11, and by this fixing, the peripheral portion of the through hole 14 is bent while being bent between the holding portion 4b and the holding portion 1b provided with the step portion 12, and one mesh body 3a Install.

By fitting the mounting cover 4, the one net 3a is attached to the mounting body 1.
After attaching the other net piece 3b, the shape holding frame body 8 of the mounting body is exposed from above, and when it is pressed to reduce it, it is brought into contact with the previously attached net piece 3a. The mesh pieces which are in contact with each other at appropriate positions surrounding the frame body 8 are heat-welded in a circular shape, and the excess portion is cut off leaving the welded portion 15 to form the bag-like mesh body 3.

FIG. 1 shows the shape-retaining frame body 8 which is reduced after the mesh body 3 is formed.
Shows a state in which is restored by the spring force of the spring arm 8a,
The net body 3 formed by welding the two net pieces together expands like a bag and functions as a filter.

By the way, in the above-mentioned embodiment, the case where the shape retaining frame body 8 is integrally formed so as to hang down from the lower surface of the fastening portion 1b in accordance with the molding of the mounting body 1, but this shape retaining frame body is a separate body. It does not prevent you from assembling later.

It should be noted that the fact that the mounting body and the mounting cover are made of synthetic resin takes into consideration moldability and corrosion resistance, and this consideration is the same when the shape-holding frame body is molded separately. Is.

[Advantages of the Invention] The present invention has been described above with reference to the embodiments. The filter having the above-described configuration is a suction pipe 2 that is inserted into a fuel tank.
It is mounted at a predetermined position in the tank by being attached to the tip portion of the pipe, and when used for attachment to the suction pipe, the pipe tip portion is inserted into the attachment portion 1a of the attachment body, and the expanded diameter portion 2a thereof is attached.
Is fitted in the concave portion 9. At this time, at the same time, the upper end opening is welded to the peripheral surface of the pipe and the tip of the pipe is passed through the pinching portion 6, so that stable mounting is performed.

Now, according to the present invention having the above-mentioned configuration, the device for the suction pipe is not only easy and reliable, but also the net body fixed to the mounting body is provided in the supporting frame like a conventional filter. Since the entire surface is exposed without being inserted and filtration is possible, the effective filtration area can be maximized, and in addition, the substantial shape is smaller than conventional ones. There is an advantage that can be.

Further, in the filter of the present invention, since the net body is elastically supported from the inside by the shape retainer enclosed inside, compared with the conventional filter that is inserted into the support frame and integrated with this frame. Since the net itself is free, there is flexibility in deformation. For example, if the net comes into contact with the wall surface of the fuel tank and is compressed, or if the tank itself is deformed by external pressure and the net is deformed, the spring arm bends. In order to allow this, stable use is possible without the risk that it will be damaged, or that the fitting with the pipe will be distorted and that fuel will infiltrate from there, and sometimes it will fall off.

Further, the shape-retaining frame body is convenient because the elastic restoring force further enhances the above-mentioned effect and the shape can be always kept in the optimum state. .

In particular, the deformability of the mesh body is good because this type of filter is generally installed close to the bottom of the tank, and even if it is pressed against the bottom of the tank during the installation work, it does not cause any abnormalities. It functions in a state, has an effect on stability, and at the same time has an effect because it is flexible in terms of workability, and it is a great place to contribute to the production of automobiles and the like.

Although the method of fixing the net body by fitting the mounting cover is disclosed in the above embodiment, the net body may be fixed to the mounting body by other means, for example, directly by an adhesive, or May be fixed by heat welding, and the fixing method can be freely selected within a range satisfying the conditions of not separating and not forming a gap into which fuel flows.

[Brief description of drawings]

The drawings show an embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 1 is a central longitudinal front view, FIG. 2 is a plan view, FIG. 3 is a front view of a mounting body, FIG. The figure is also a bottom view, FIG. 6 is an exploded front view in which a main part is a cross section in the center, and FIG. 7 is a plan view of a mounting cover. 1 ... Wearing body, 2 ... Suction pipe, 3 ... Filtration mesh body, 8 ... Shape holding frame body, 8a ... Spring arm

Claims (1)

[Claims] Claim: What is claimed is: 1. A bag-shaped filtration net body is tightly fixed to a mounting body fitted and mounted on the tip of a suction pipe, and is attached in a suspended manner, while the mounting body is below the mounting body. A shape-holding frame body having a spiral spring arm that expands and contracts up and down is continuously provided and housed inside the net body, and the net body is expanded and held in a bag shape by the shape-holding frame body. A featured fuel tank filter.