JP2002106439A - Fuel pump unit equipped with level detector - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a fuel pump unit equipped with a level detector capable of reducing cost by lessening number of parts. SOLUTION: The fuel pump unit is provided with a circuit board 2 outputting a detected value accompanied with fluctuation of a float 1 floating on liquid level, a level detector 4 equipped with a frame 3 holding the circuit board 2 and a fuel pump case 6 equipped with an fuel pump 5 feeding liquid and also integrally formed with the frame 3 and the fuel pump case 6.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a fuel pump unit having a liquid level detecting device provided in a fuel tank of a vehicle or the like.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, a liquid level detecting device has been disclosed in
Japanese Patent No. 22240 discloses a float provided with sliding contacts, the float being guided by a circuit board and moving, and detecting the liquid level by sliding contact of the sliding contacts on the circuit board; Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 62-165529 discloses that a float is provided with a magnet, the float is guided by a case for storing the float and moves, and a reed switch provided on a circuit board detects a magnetic field of the magnet. And a sliding contact that moves with the movement of the float via a float arm, as shown in Japanese Utility Model Application Laid-Open No. 6-16824, and this float is pivoted about the pivot point of the float arm. There is one that detects the liquid level by moving and slidingly contacting the sliding contact on the circuit board.

In recent years, instead of providing only a liquid level detecting device in a fuel tank, there is a fuel pump unit mounted in a fuel pump or the like and provided in the fuel tank (Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 11-294282, Kaihei 11
-294283).

[0004]

However, even in the case of a fuel pump unit, individually completed liquid level detecting devices, fuel pumps, etc. are provided in a fuel pump case, which is a mounting member for mounting the liquid level detecting device, the fuel pump, and the like. Had to be installed. For this reason, for example, the liquid level detection device requires a dedicated frame to constitute the liquid level detection device, and the parts are assembled to this frame and then attached to the fuel pump case. Because of the necessity, the number of parts is large, and it has been difficult to reduce the cost. Therefore, an object of the present invention is to provide a fuel pump unit including a liquid level detection device capable of reducing the number of parts and reducing costs.

[0005]

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION In order to achieve the above object, the present invention provides a liquid circuit comprising a circuit board for outputting a detection value according to a change in a float floating on a liquid surface, and a frame holding the circuit board. It is provided with a surface detecting device and a mounting member to which a fuel pump for delivering a liquid is mounted, wherein the frame and the mounting member are integrally formed.

Further, the float moves while being guided by the circuit board.

Further, the circuit board is provided along a longitudinal direction of the fuel pump.

Further, a frame auxiliary member attached to the frame is provided, and the circuit board is held by the frame and the frame auxiliary member.

[0009]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS A fuel pump unit provided with a liquid level detecting device according to the present invention includes a circuit board 2 for outputting a detection value according to a fluctuation of a float 1 floating on a liquid level,
And a mounting member 6 to which a fuel pump 5 for delivering liquid is attached.
And the frame 3 and the mounting member 6 are integrally formed. With such a configuration, it is possible to provide a fuel pump unit including a liquid level detection device capable of reducing the number of components and achieving cost reduction.

The float 1 is guided by the circuit board 2 and moves. With such a configuration, it is possible to provide a fuel pump unit including a liquid level detection device capable of reducing the number of components and achieving cost reduction.

Further, the circuit board 2 is provided along the longitudinal direction of the fuel pump 5. With this configuration, the circuit board of the liquid level detecting device and the fuel pump can be arranged close to each other, so that a fuel pump unit having a compact liquid level detecting device can be provided.

Also, a frame auxiliary member 15 attached to the frame 3 is provided, and the circuit board 2 is held by the frame 3 and the frame auxiliary member 15. With this configuration, it is possible to provide a fuel pump unit provided with a liquid level detecting device capable of firmly holding even an elongated circuit board.

[0013]

Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1 shows a first embodiment of the present invention.

The fuel pump unit provided with the liquid level detecting device of the present invention comprises a float 1 floating on the liquid level,
A liquid level detecting device 4 having a circuit board 2 for guiding the movement of the liquid crystal panel, a frame 3 for holding the upper side of the circuit board 2, a fuel pump 5 for delivering liquid, and a synthetic resin to which the fuel pump 5 is attached. And a fuel pump case 6 as an attachment member, and the frame 3 and the fuel pump case 6 are integrally formed.

The float 1 has a cylindrical shape, and has a hole 7 in the center thereof through which the circuit board 2 passes. In this hole 7,
A sliding contact 8 that slides on a fixed electrode (not shown) formed on the surface of the circuit board 2 is provided. The circuit board 2 is made of an oil-resistant insulating member, and has an elongated rectangular plate shape. A terminal 9 is connected to the upper end of the circuit board 2.
Are guided by the circuit board 2 with the fluctuation of the liquid level of the float 1 by the lead wire 10, the male connector 27 and the female connector 28 connected thereto, and output the detected value. The upper side of the circuit board 2 is held in a press-fit state in a frame 3 made of a synthetic resin, and is securely fixed to a concave portion 11 provided in the frame 3 by being filled with a filler 12 made of a soft synthetic resin.

The main parts of the float 1 and the circuit board 2 are housed in a housing 13 formed by the frame 3, and the opening 14 of the housing 13 is closed by a frame auxiliary member 15 made of synthetic resin. ing. In this embodiment, the lower side of the circuit board 2 is held in a hole 16 provided in the frame auxiliary member 15 in a press-fit state. That is, in the present embodiment, the circuit board 2 includes the frame 3 and the frame auxiliary member 15.
And the circuit board 2 is securely held. Note that the frame auxiliary member 15 is fixed to the frame 3 by, for example, a structure in which a general locking claw and an engaging portion for locking the locking claw are provided and fixed.

The fuel pump 5 is for sending out the fuel in a fuel tank (not shown) to the outside of the fuel tank, has a cylindrical shape, and has a fuel filter 17 on the lower side for removing foreign matter. The fuel pump case 6 is made of a synthetic resin, has a cylindrical shape, and houses the fuel pump 5 in a storage portion 18 in the cylinder. It is fixed so as not to come off from the storage portion 18 by a ring-shaped holding member 19 described later. The fuel pump case 6 is provided with a notch 20, and a pipe 21 connected to the fuel filter 17 is exposed from the notch 20.

Fuel pump case 6 with frame 3
Has a plurality of elastic pieces 22 provided with locking claws 22a on the upper side thereof. A plurality of holes 26 each having an engaging portion 25 for engaging with the engaging claw 22a are formed in a cylindrical portion 24 that protrudes downward in the drawing from a disk-shaped bracket 23 that closes the opening of the fuel tank. . The cylindrical portion 24 is fixed to the bracket 23 by welding. Around the bracket 23, a flange-like flange portion 23a that protrudes in the outer peripheral direction is provided.
The fuel pump case 6 can be attached to the cylindrical portion 24 by locking the locking claw 22a and the engaging portion 25. In addition, a holding member 19 is provided between the fuel pump case 6 and the cylindrical portion 24 to prevent the fuel pump 5 from moving from the storage portion 18 of the fuel pump case 6 and coming off.

Reference numeral 29 denotes a pressure regulator, and reference numeral 30 denotes a valve housing for a fuel cutoff valve.

By integrally forming the frame 3 and the fuel pump case 6 with a synthetic resin, the number of parts can be reduced as compared with the case where the liquid level detecting device and the fuel pump unit are separately formed and assembled. , Cost reduction can be achieved.

In this embodiment, the circuit board 2 is provided along the longitudinal direction of the fuel pump 5, and the liquid level detecting device 4
The circuit board 2 and the fuel pump 5 can be arranged close to each other. In particular, the fuel pump 5 can be made compact in the circumferential direction perpendicular to the longitudinal direction, and the opening provided in the fuel tank used when the fuel pump 5 is mounted in the fuel tank can be reduced.

Next, a second embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIG. The same and corresponding parts as those in the first embodiment are denoted by the same reference numerals, and detailed description thereof will be omitted.

In the first embodiment, the movement of the float 1 is guided by the circuit board 2, but in the second embodiment, the float 31 is accommodated in the first storage chamber 32 formed in the frame 3.
Is movably stored. Further, the circuit board 2 is provided in a second storage chamber 33 different from the first storage chamber 32, and the fuel pump unit including the liquid level detecting device of the present embodiment includes the first and second storage chambers. The frame 3 provided with the storage chambers 32 and 33 and the fuel pump case 6 are integrally formed.

The float 31 is cylindrical and has a magnet 34 at the center. The circuit board 2 is provided with a reed switch 37 in the form of an elongated rectangular plate. In the first embodiment, the sliding contact 8 provided on the float 1 is in contact with the fixed electrode provided on the circuit board 2, but in the second embodiment,
The change in the liquid level can be detected without the magnet 34 provided on the float 31 coming into contact with the reed switch 37 provided on the circuit board 2.

The lower openings in the drawings of the first and second storage chambers 32 and 33 are closed by a frame auxiliary member 35 made of synthetic resin. In the present embodiment, the lower side of the circuit board 2 is held in a hole 36 provided in the frame auxiliary member 35 in a press-fit state. That is, in the present embodiment, the circuit board 2 is securely held by the frame 3 and the frame auxiliary member 35. Note that the frame auxiliary member 35 is fixed to the frame 3 by, for example, a structure in which a general locking claw and an engaging portion for locking the locking claw are provided and fixed.

By integrally forming the frame 3 and the fuel pump case 6 with synthetic resin, the number of parts can be reduced as compared with the case where the liquid level detecting device and the fuel pump unit are separately formed, and the cost can be reduced. Reduction can be achieved.

Also, in this embodiment, as in the first embodiment, the circuit board 2 is provided along the longitudinal direction of the fuel pump 5, and the circuit board 2 of the liquid level detecting device 4 and the fuel pump 5 are placed close to each other. Can be arranged. In particular, the fuel pump 5 can be made compact in the circumferential direction perpendicular to the longitudinal direction, and the opening provided in the fuel tank used when the fuel pump 5 is mounted in the fuel tank can be reduced.

Next, a third embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS. In addition, the same reference numerals are given to the same and corresponding parts as those in the above-described embodiments, and the detailed description thereof will be omitted.

In this embodiment, a float arm 39 interlocking with a float 38 floating on the liquid surface of a fuel tank (not shown) is provided.
An arm holder 40 that moves in accordance with the rotation of the float arm 39; a frame 3 and a frame auxiliary member 41 that rotatably support the arm holder 40;
And a sliding plate 44, which is a sliding member provided with a sliding contact 43 sliding on the circuit board 42 and fixed to the arm holder 40, to change the liquid level. As the sliding contact 43 slides on the circuit board 42 via the float 38, the float arm 39, and the arm holder 40, voltage fluctuations caused by a resistor (not shown) provided on the circuit board 42 are caused by lead wires (not shown). Are output to an external circuit (not shown).

The float arm 39 is in the form of a metal rod and has a float 38 made of a synthetic resin floating on the liquid surface at its tip. The arm holder 40 is made of a synthetic resin and holds the float arm 39.

The arm holder 40 has two shaft portions 45 that are spaced apart from each other. The shaft portions 24 are formed at both ends on the same axis in the arm holder 40.
The shaft portion 45 is a pivot of the float arm 39.

The frame 3 and the frame auxiliary member 41 are made of a synthetic resin.
A window 46 is provided as shown by
And a part of the arm holder 40 is exposed. The frame 3 includes a wall 52 surrounding the circuit board 42, and has a box shape opened to the left as shown in FIG. Each of the frame 3 and the frame auxiliary member 41 has an arm holder 4
0 is rotatably supported.

The frame auxiliary member 41 is provided with a plurality of elastic pieces 48 provided with locking claws 47, and the frame 3 is provided with the same number of locking portions 49 with which the locking claws 47 are engaged. .

The frame 3 and the frame auxiliary member 41 are temporarily fixed by assembling the locking claws 47 and the locking portions 49 provided on the frame 3 and the frame auxiliary member 41, respectively. Fix by welding.

The frame 3 is provided with an elastic piece 51 having a locking claw 50 for locking the circuit board 42 made of ceramic, and the circuit board 42 is fixed to the frame 3. Also in this embodiment, the frame 3 and the fuel pump case 6
By integrally forming the synthetic resin, the number of parts can be reduced and the cost can be reduced as compared with the case where the liquid level detecting device and the fuel pump unit are separately formed.

Next, a fourth embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIG. In addition, the same reference numerals are given to the same and corresponding parts as those in the above-described embodiments, and the detailed description thereof will be omitted.

In each of the above embodiments, the fuel pump case 6 to which the fuel pump 5 is directly mounted and the frame 3 of the liquid level detecting device 4 are integrally formed. Thus, the cylindrical portion 24 as an attachment member to which the fuel pump 5 is attached and the frame 3 of the liquid level detection device 4 are integrally formed.

The fuel pump case 6 has a plurality of locking claws 22a near the lower side. In the cylindrical portion 24, a plurality of holes 26 each having an engaging portion 25 for engaging the engaging claw 22a are formed. By providing grooves (not shown) on both sides of the hole 26,
An elastic piece 26a is formed. When the locking claw 22a is locked to the engaging portion 25, the elastic piece 26a is deformed.

Although the cylindrical portion 24 has a cylindrical shape in this embodiment, the present invention is not limited to this shape. The cylindrical portion 24 is provided on the bracket 23 and can be any arbitrary member as long as it supports the fuel pump 5. The shape may be selected.

As described above, the frame 3 and the cylindrical portion 24 are
By integrally forming the synthetic resin, the number of parts can be reduced and the cost can be reduced as compared with the case where the liquid level detecting device and the fuel pump unit are separately formed.

In this embodiment, as in the above embodiments,
The circuit board 2 is provided along the longitudinal direction of the cylindrical portion 24, and the circuit board 2 of the liquid level detecting device 4 and the cylindrical portion 24 can be arranged close to each other. In particular, the size can be reduced in the circumferential direction perpendicular to the longitudinal direction of the cylindrical portion 24, and the opening provided in the fuel tank used for mounting in the fuel tank can be reduced.

[0042]

As described above, according to the present invention, it is possible to provide a fuel pump unit provided with a liquid level detecting device capable of achieving the initial object and reducing the number of parts.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a sectional view of a first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a sectional view of a second embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 3 is a side view of a third embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 4 is a sectional view of the embodiment.

FIG. 5 is a side view of a fourth embodiment of the present invention.

[Explanation of symbols]

 DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Float 2 Circuit board 3 Frame 4 Liquid level detecting device 5 Fuel pump 6 Mounting member 15 Frame auxiliary member 23 Bracket 23a Flange 24 Cylindrical part 31 Float 32 First storage room 33 Second storage room 34 Magnet 35 Frame auxiliary member 38 Float 39 Float arm 40 Arm holder 41 Frame auxiliary member 42 Circuit board

──────────────────────────────────────────────────続 き Continued on the front page (51) Int.Cl. ⁷ Identification symbol FI Theme coat ゛ (Reference) G01F 23/60 G01F 23/62 J23 / 62 B60K 15/02 Z

Claims (4)

[Claims] 1. A liquid level detecting device comprising: a circuit board for outputting a detection value according to a change in a float floating on a liquid level; a frame for holding the circuit board; and a fuel pump for sending liquid. A fuel pump unit comprising a liquid level detecting device, comprising a mounting member, wherein the frame and the mounting member are integrally formed. 2. The fuel pump unit according to claim 1, wherein the float moves while being guided by the circuit board. 3. The fuel pump unit according to claim 1, wherein the circuit board is provided along a longitudinal direction of the fuel pump. 4. A frame assisting member attached to the frame, wherein the circuit board is held by the frame and the frame assisting member.
A fuel pump unit comprising the liquid level detecting device according to any one of claims 1 to 3.