JP2000145564A - Fuel supplying device - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To facilitate maintenance and improve versatility by mounting a fuel supplying device which is housed in a fuel tank exposed to a bottom surface side of a vehicle and which is provided with a fuel pump for supplying fuel to an engine, freely to dismount from the bottom surface side of the vehicle to the fuel tank. SOLUTION: A fuel tank 2 is disposed on a lower side of a rear seat in a vehicle, and a fuel pump 3 and a high pressure filter 5 are disposed on its bottom surface 2b side. In the high pressure filter 5, its flange 5a is mounted on an installing part 2a of the fuel tank 2 freely to dismount. The attaching part 2a is protruded from a bottom surface 2b of the fuel tank 2 upward, and it is taken in consideration so that a pipe passage 7 drawn out from the high pressure filter 5 is not protruded from the bottom surface of the vehicle downward. When the high pressure filter 5 is dismounted from the fuel tank 2, the high pressure filter 5, the fuel pump, and the like are integratedly dismounted through the opening part, and thereby making it possible to facilitate maintenance without dismounting the fuel tank 2.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a fuel supply device provided in a fuel tank for sucking fuel from the fuel tank.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art FIG. 7 and FIG.
It is a figure explaining the conventional fuel supply device (fuel pump unit) described in No. 61 publication. As shown in FIG. 7, a fuel tank 101 is provided below a rear seat of the vehicle, and a fuel supply device 102 including a pump and a filter for sucking fuel is provided in the fuel tank 101. As shown in FIG. 7, the fuel supply device 102 includes an engine 10
4 is connected to a conduit 103 for feeding fuel.

[0003] As shown in FIG. 8, a fuel supply device 102 is attached to a sub-tank 105 housed in a tank 101. This sub-tank 105 is designed so that fuel can always be supplied via the fuel supply device 102 even when the vehicle is tilted, and excess fuel supplied by the fuel supply device 102 is directly stored in the sub-tank 105. By returning the fuel, the fuel in the sub tank 105 is not always run out.

[0004] As shown in FIG.
It is supported via a support 106 attached to the upper surface side of the tank 101. Upper end 10 of sub tank 105
5a is inserted into an opening 106a formed in the support 106, and the sub-tank 105 is urged downward by a compression spring 107 interposed between the sub-tank 105 and the support 106. When the support 106 is removed from the tank 101 and pulled upward in FIG. 8, the sub tank 105 and the fuel feeding device 102 can be removed from the tank 101 together with the support 106. This makes it possible to remove parts required for maintenance at once, thereby improving the efficiency of maintenance work.

[0005] Further, the support member 106 and the sub tank 105 are not fixed to each other, and the upper end portion 105a and the opening 106a are not fixed.
The reason why the sub-tank 105 and the support member 106 are engaged with each other is in consideration of the deformation of the tank 101. That is, when a resin-made tank is used as the tank 101, the tank 101 expands and contracts due to the amount and temperature of the fuel in the tank 101 or the pressure difference between the inside and outside of the tank.
The distance between the top surface and the bottom surface of 1 usually fluctuates by several cm or more (for example, about 60 mm). For this reason, a mechanism that allows free vertical relative movement between the support 106 and the sub tank 105 so as not to apply excessive stress to the tank 101 and the fuel supply device 102 is adopted.

[0006]

However, as described above, although the tank 101 is installed below the rear seat, a non-removable partition is provided between the rear seat and the tank. As described above, when the fuel supply device 102 is detached during maintenance, the tank 1
It is necessary to pull out the fuel supply device 102 from the upper surface side of the fuel tank 01. For this reason, at the time of maintenance, it is necessary to first remove the entire tank 101 from the vehicle, and then remove the fuel supply device 102 from the tank 101 in the manner described above. Therefore, maintenance work becomes complicated.

Further, in order to cope with deformation of the tank 101, a complicated mechanism using a spring or the like is required, and the number of failure factors caused by such a mechanism increases.

Further, since a structure is employed in which fuel sucked in from the bottom side of the tank 101 is sent out from the top side of the tank, the fuel supply device is inevitably increased in the vertical direction. Further, since the length from the top surface to the bottom surface of the tank varies depending on the type of tank, it is necessary to change the structure according to the type of tank.

Further, since the fuel must be sucked up from the bottom side of the tank 101 to the top surface of the tank, the head becomes large and an extra load is imposed on the pump. In addition, when the fuel in the tank is small, a large amount of fuel is required. There is also a problem that the fuel supply start characteristic is delayed as compared with the case where fuel is present.

An object of the present invention is to provide a fuel supply device which is easy to maintain and has high versatility.

[0011]

According to a first aspect of the present invention, an engine is housed in a fuel tank (2) exposed on the bottom side of a vehicle (100), and the fuel in the fuel tank (2) is stored in an engine. In the fuel supply device provided with a fuel pump (3) for supplying fuel toward the vehicle, the fuel supply device is detachably attached to the fuel tank (2) from the bottom side of the vehicle (100).

According to the present invention, the fuel supply device can be attached and detached from the bottom side of the vehicle without removing the fuel tank (2), so that maintenance of the fuel supply device can be facilitated. Since there is no need to adjust the height dimension of the fuel supply device to the fuel tank (2),
A highly versatile fuel supply device can be obtained. Further, since the entire fuel supply device can be installed at a low position in the fuel tank (2), the fuel supply device can be physically separated from the vehicle compartment, and the fuel supply device can be disposed even when the fuel is low. Since it can be immersed inside, the noise of the passenger compartment can be reduced.

According to a second aspect of the present invention, in the fuel supply device according to the first aspect, a fuel pipe (7) discharged to the outside of the fuel tank (2) by the fuel pump (3).
Is drawn out from the bottom side of the fuel tank (2).

According to the present invention, since the fuel sucked from the lower part of the fuel tank (2) is discharged from the bottom surface side of the fuel tank (2), the fuel supply device can be made compact. Further, since it is not necessary to connect the fuel supply device to the upper portion of the fuel tank (2), it is not necessary to employ a complicated mechanism in consideration of the deformation of the fuel tank (2). Furthermore, since the fuel lift can be reduced, the burden on the fuel pump (3) can be reduced, and the fuel can be supplied smoothly.

According to a third aspect of the present invention, in the fuel supply device according to the first or second aspect, the filters (4, 5) housed in the fuel tank (2) and filtering the fuel.
It is provided with.

According to the present invention, the filter (4, 5) can be attached to the vehicle (100) without removing the fuel tank (2).
The filter (4, 4) can be easily attached and detached from the bottom side.
5) Exchange and maintenance can be performed.

According to a fourth aspect of the present invention, in the fuel supply device according to any one of the first to third aspects, the fuel is stored in a fuel tank (2) and a part of the fuel is returned. It has a pressure regulator (14) for controlling the pressure of the fuel discharged to the outside of the tank (2).

According to the present invention, the pressure regulator (14) can be connected to the vehicle (100) without removing the fuel tank (2).
The pressure regulator (1
4) Maintenance can be performed.

According to a fifth aspect of the present invention, in the fuel supply device according to any one of the first to fourth aspects, the entire fuel supply device is integrally detachable from the fuel tank (2). is there.

According to the present invention, since the entire fuel supply device can be attached and detached at a time, maintenance is further facilitated.

According to a sixth aspect of the present invention, in the fuel supply device according to any one of the first to fifth aspects, the fuel tank (2) is made of resin.

According to the present invention, it is possible to eliminate a complicated mechanism in consideration of deformation of the resin fuel tank (2).

According to a seventh aspect of the present invention, in the fuel supply device according to any one of the first to sixth aspects, light in a direction inclined with respect to the oil level of the fuel in the fuel tank (2) is provided. It has a light projecting means (8) for projecting light and a light receiving means (9) for receiving light passing through the oil surface, and based on an amount of light received by the light receiving means (9), a remaining amount of fuel in the fuel tank (2). And a light projecting means (8) or a light receiving means (9) can be attached to and detached from the fuel tank (2) integrally with the fuel pump (3).

According to the present invention, by removing the fuel pump (3) from the fuel tank (2), the light emitting means (8) or the light receiving means (9) can be removed at the same time. ) Or maintenance of the light receiving means (9) can be easily performed.

In order to facilitate understanding of the present invention, reference numerals in the accompanying drawings are appended in parentheses, but the present invention is not limited to the illustrated embodiment.

[0026]

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS First Embodiment A first embodiment of a fuel supply device according to the present invention will be described below with reference to FIGS.

As shown in FIGS. 1 to 3, a resin fuel tank 2 for storing fuel such as gasoline is attached below a rear seat in a vehicle interior 1 provided in the vehicle 100 (FIG. 2).
), On the bottom surface 2 b side of the fuel tank 2, a fuel pump 3 for sucking up the fuel in the tank 2, a filter 4 for filtering fuel flowing toward the fuel pump 3, and filtering fuel discharged from the fuel pump 3. A high-pressure filter 5 is attached.

As shown in FIG. 3, the high-pressure filter 5 is detachably attached to the attachment portion 2a of the tank 2 via the flange 5a. Mounting part 2a of tank 2
Is the bottom surface 2 of the tank 2 exposed on the bottom side of the vehicle 100
The pipe 7 is formed at a position deeper one step from b, so that the conduit 7 drawn from the high-pressure filter 5 is designed not to protrude from the bottom surface of the vehicle. on the other hand,
The pump 3 is attached to the high-pressure filter 5.

When the fuel pump 3 is driven, the fuel in the tank 2 is filtered by the filter 4, the pipe 6 connected to the filter 4,
It flows in the order of the pump 3 and the high-pressure filter 5, and is further supplied to an engine (not shown) via a pipe 7 connected to the output side of the high-pressure filter 5.

As shown in FIG. 3, the pump 3 and the filter 4
A partition 11 is provided around the high-pressure filter 5 and the like. Even when the vehicle 100 is inclined,
The suction port of the filter 4 is immersed in the fuel so that the fuel can always be supplied to the engine, and the inside of the partition wall 11 functions as a sub-tank. Although not shown, the excess fuel pumped up by the pump 3 and returned via the pressure regulator is returned directly from the bottom surface 2b of the tank 2 into the partition 11 as in the normal case.

As shown in FIGS. 1 and 3, a light emitting element 8 is mounted on the upper surface of the pump 3 and a light receiving element 9 for receiving light emitted from the light emitting element 8 is mounted on the upper surface 2c of the tank 2. . As shown in FIG.
The light receiving element 9 functions as a measuring device for measuring the remaining amount of fuel. That is, as shown in FIG. 4A, when the fuel is filled in the tank 2 (full), the light beam 13 emitted from the light emitting element 8 is directed to the light receiving element 9 and The light quantity received at 9 becomes maximum. FIG. 4 (b)
As shown in the figure, due to the refraction of light caused by the difference in the refractive index between fuel and air as the amount of fuel decreases, the light beam 13 from the light emitting element 8 deviates from the light receiving element 9 and the amount of light received by the light receiving element 9 decreases. I do. Therefore, by monitoring the amount of light received by the light receiving element 9, the remaining amount of fuel can be measured.

Next, a maintenance work procedure in the fuel supply device according to the first embodiment will be described. The filter 4 and the high-pressure filter 5 need to be replaced at regular intervals due to their functions. In some cases, maintenance of the pump 3 and the light emitting element 8 is required.

As described above, in the first embodiment, the high-pressure filter 5 is detachably mounted on the bottom surface 2b of the pump 2 exposed on the bottom surface of the vehicle 100. For this reason, when the flange 5 a of the high-pressure filter 5 is removed from the mounting portion 2 a of the tank 2, the high-pressure filter 5, the pump 3, the pipe 6, the filter 4, and the light emitting element 8 are connected to the vehicle 100 via the opening 2 A of the tank 2. It can be taken out integrally from the bottom side. In this case, it is not necessary to remove the tank 2 from the vehicle body in advance, so that maintenance of the apparatus can be performed very easily. In addition, the entire device is
Since it is attached to the bottom surface 2b side, there is no need to pay attention to the deformation of the tank 2 as in the conventional device, and therefore it is not necessary to provide a special mechanism for integrally removing the device. .

As described above, in the first embodiment, the maintenance of the fuel supply device and the maintenance of
The replacement of the filters 4 and 5 can be performed, and the number of failure factors based on a complicated mechanism can be reduced. Further, since the fuel sucked in on the bottom surface 2b side of the tank 2 is discharged from the bottom surface 2b side of the tank 2, the whole fuel supply device can be made compact. Further, since it is not necessary to match the vertical size of the entire fuel supply device with the vertical size of the tank, a versatile fuel supply device can be easily obtained.

Further, in the first embodiment, the fuel supply device can be made compact in the vertical direction, and the pipe 7 for discharging the fuel from the tank 2 is provided on the bottom surface 2b side of the tank 2. Since it is attached, the entire apparatus can be inevitably installed near the bottom of the tank 2. Thus, the device can be physically located farther from the rear seat, and the device is immersed in fuel even when the fuel in the tank 2 is reduced. For this reason, it is difficult for the sound generated from the device to be transmitted to the outside of the tank 2, and it is possible to reduce noise in the vehicle cabin due to the fuel supply device.

Further, in the first embodiment, the tank 2
Since the pipe 7 is drawn out from the bottom surface 2b side, even when the fuel in the tank 2 is reduced, it is not necessary to pump the fuel to the upper part of the tank as in the conventional device, and the fuel path to the engine can be reduced. It can be kept small. Therefore, even if the fuel in the tank 2 decreases, the same starting characteristics as when the tank 2 is filled with a large amount of fuel can be obtained, and the pump 3 can be downsized by the reduced head. Is also possible. Further, the temperature of the fuel in the tank 2 increases as it goes upward from the bottom surface. But,
In the conventional device, since the device is configured to be detachable from the upper portion of the tank, the returned fuel is inevitably returned to the upper portion of the tank, which is a high-temperature portion.
In the first embodiment, the fuel sucked from the lower part of the tank 2 can be returned to the lower part of the tank 2. Therefore, there is an advantage that the temperature rise of the upper oil level in the tank 2 is reduced, and the amount of fuel vaporized and escaping from the upper oil layer is also reduced.

In the first embodiment, the bottom surface 2 of the tank 2
b is partially recessed so that the pipeline 7 does not protrude from the bottom of the vehicle, but instead of recessing the tank 2, a cover that covers the drawn pipeline 7 from the bottom of the vehicle is provided. It may be provided.

Further, the positions of the light emitting element 8 and the light receiving element 9 may be interchanged.

Second Embodiment A second embodiment of the fuel supply device according to the present invention will be described with reference to FIG.
An embodiment will be described. The same components as those in the first embodiment are denoted by the same reference numerals, and description thereof will be omitted.

As shown in FIG. 5, in the second embodiment, instead of the light emitting element 8 and the light receiving element 9 shown in FIG. Mirror 1 on the inner wall surface of the upper surface 2c
2 is attached. In the second embodiment, the light emitted from the light emitting element 8A is reflected by the reflecting mirror 12, and
The light enters the light receiving element 9A. On the basis of the amount of light received by the light receiving element 9A, the tank 2 is moved in accordance with the same principle as in the first embodiment.
It is possible to measure the remaining amount of fuel in the inside. In the second embodiment, the light receiving element 9A is attached to the pump 3. Therefore, by removing the fuel supply device from the bottom side of the vehicle 100, not only the light emitting element 8A but also the light receiving element 9A is removed.
There is an advantage that maintenance and replacement of A can be performed.

Third Embodiment Hereinafter, a third embodiment of the fuel supply device according to the present invention will be described with reference to FIG.
An embodiment will be described.

As shown in FIG. 6, in the third embodiment, a fuel pump 3A for pumping up the fuel in the tank 2 and a fuel flowing toward the fuel pump 3A are filtered on the bottom side in the fuel tank 2. A filter 4A, a high-pressure filter 5A for filtering fuel discharged from the fuel pump 3A, and a pressure regulator 14 for keeping the pressure of the fuel discharged from the high-pressure filter 5A constant are housed. As in the first embodiment, the fuel supply device including the pump 3A, the filter 4A, the high-pressure filter 5A, and the pressure regulator 14 can be integrally removed from the bottom surface of the tank 2 exposed on the bottom surface of the vehicle. it can.

The pressure regulator 14 drives the internal switching valve so that the fuel path returns to the injection path 15 and the fuel path 16 returns to the tank 2.
This is for adjusting the hydraulic pressure on the path 15 side to be constant by switching between the two sides. When the pressure regulator 14 is stored in the tank 2 as described above,
It is indispensable when placing a pressure regulator outside the tank,
There is an advantage that the external piping for returning the fuel can be eliminated.

However, in general, the pressure regulator frequently performs a valve switching operation, so that the pressure regulator generates a loud noise. For this reason, when the pressure regulator is housed in the fuel tank near the rear seat, there is a problem that the noise of the vehicle compartment tends to increase. However, in the third embodiment, the entire device including the pressure regulator 14 can be installed at the lower part of the tank 2, so that the physical distance between the device and the cabin can be increased, and the fuel consumption can be reduced. In such a case, the device can be immersed in the fuel. Therefore, the noise generated from the fuel supply device, particularly the pressure regulator 14, can be effectively attenuated, thereby suppressing the noise in the passenger compartment.

In the third embodiment, the fuel supply device is detachably installed from the bottom surface of the tank 2 exposed at the bottom of the vehicle, so that maintenance of the device is easy or the entire device is made compact. The first thing that can be done
The same effect as that of the embodiment can be obtained. Further, as described above, noise caused by the pressure regulator 14 can be suppressed.

In the present specification, the term "fuel supply device" means a device including a fuel pump for sucking at least fuel in a fuel tank.

[0047]

According to the present invention, the fuel supply device can be attached and detached from the bottom side of the vehicle without removing the fuel tank, so that maintenance of the fuel supply device can be facilitated. Since it is not necessary to adjust the height dimension of the supply device to the fuel tank, a highly versatile fuel supply device can be obtained. Further, since the entire fuel supply device can be installed at a low position in the fuel tank, it is possible to physically separate the fuel supply device from the vehicle compartment and to immerse the fuel supply device in the fuel even when the fuel is low. Therefore, the noise in the passenger compartment can be reduced.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a diagram showing a first embodiment of a fuel supply device according to the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a diagram showing an arrangement of a vehicle compartment and a fuel tank.

FIG. 3 is a partially enlarged view of FIG. 1;

4A and 4B are diagrams illustrating a principle of measuring a remaining amount of fuel in a fuel tank, wherein FIG. 4A is a diagram illustrating a full state, and FIG. 4B is a diagram illustrating a state in which fuel is reduced.

FIG. 5 is a diagram showing a fuel supply device according to a second embodiment.

FIG. 6 is a diagram showing a fuel supply device according to a third embodiment.

FIG. 7 is a diagram illustrating a conventional fuel supply device.

FIG. 8 is a diagram showing a mounting mechanism of a conventional fuel supply device.

[Explanation of symbols]

 2 Fuel tank 3 Fuel pump 4 Filter 5 High pressure filter 7 Pipeline 14 Pressure regulator 100 Vehicle

Claims (7)

[Claims] 1. A fuel supply device comprising a fuel pump housed in a fuel tank exposed on the bottom side of a vehicle and supplying fuel in the fuel tank toward an engine, wherein: A fuel supply device, which is detachably attached from a bottom surface side of the vehicle. 2. The fuel supply device according to claim 1, wherein a pipe for fuel discharged from the fuel tank by the fuel pump is drawn out from the bottom surface side of the fuel tank. . 3. The fuel supply device according to claim 1, further comprising a filter housed in the fuel tank and filtering the fuel. 4. A pressure regulator which is housed in the fuel tank and controls a pressure of the fuel discharged to the outside of the fuel tank by returning a part of the fuel. The fuel supply device according to any one of claims 1 to 3. 5. The fuel supply device according to claim 1, wherein the entire fuel supply device is integrally detachable from the fuel tank. 6. The fuel supply device according to claim 1, wherein the fuel tank is made of resin. 7. A light projecting means for projecting light in a direction inclined with respect to an oil level of fuel in the fuel tank, and a light receiving means for receiving light passing through the oil level. Measuring means for measuring the remaining amount of fuel in the fuel tank based on the amount of received light, wherein the light projecting means or the light receiving means is integrally detachable with the fuel pump with respect to the fuel tank; The fuel supply device according to any one of claims 1 to 6, wherein: