JP2005219678A - Fuel tank for vehicle - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a fuel tank that can stably supply fuel even when a liquid level is lowered, is easily manufactured, and excellent in economical efficiency, concerning the fuel tank for a vehicle mounted on a truck, a passenger car, and the like. <P>SOLUTION: At front and rear two positions on a bottom portion in a tank 3, a baffle plates 10 for damming back fuel with lowered liquid level are fixed. A reserve area 4 surrounded by the baffle plates 10 and an inner wall surface of the tank 3 is ensured. Near a lower portion of each baffle plate 10, a hole portion 4 for making the fuel flowing into the reserve area 4 is provided, and a check valve 16 for preventing an outflow of the fuel from the reserve area is attached to the hole portion 14. On the other hand, a feeding pipe 20 for sending the fuel to an engine and a return pipe 22 for returning excessive fuel from the engine are communicated to the inside of the tank, and end portions of these pipe are projected into the reserve area 4. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2005,JPO&NCIPI

Description

  The present invention relates to a vehicle fuel tank mounted on a truck, a passenger car, or the like.

  A fuel tank (a tank for liquid fuel such as gasoline, light oil, and heavy oil) installed in a vehicle is a supply pipe that sends fuel to the engine due to the deviation of the fuel when the fuel level is low and the liquid level drops. The suction port at the tip may be separated from the fuel level. As an improvement measure, when the fuel level is decreased and the liquid level is lowered, a sub-tank (auxiliary tank) is installed on the bottom surface of the fuel tank as in Patent Documents 1 to 3 to ensure fuel supply. Such measures are taken.

  Usually, as in Patent Document 1 and Patent Document 2, the sub tank is welded to the bottom surface of the fuel tank by spot welding. Further, as shown in FIG. 4, the vehicle fuel tank of Patent Document 3 has an auxiliary tank 43 fixed in a fuel tank 41 via a stay 42 (attachment member) and both sides of the auxiliary tank 43 via a resin clip. The surface 44 is coupled to the stay 42 and the stay 42 is spot welded to the bottom surface 45 of the tank floor portion.

Japanese Utility Model Publication No.4-110619 JP 2002-321537 A JP 2002-67711 A

  When spot welding the back surface of the sub-tank to the bottom surface of the fuel tank, there is a problem in that spot welding may be peeled off unless the connection by spot welding is performed in a balanced manner. Further, depending on the structure of the tank such as a cylindrical fuel tank, it is necessary to weld the sub-tank deep inside. In such a structure, the welding work is particularly difficult. Further, the joining via the stay requires a joining between the stay and the fuel tank, and a joining between the stay and the auxiliary tank, so that there is a problem that the joining structure and work are complicated.

  The present invention has been made in view of the above problems, and it is an object of the present invention to provide a fuel tank that can stably supply fuel even when the liquid level is lowered, and that is easy to manufacture and excellent in economy.

  As shown in FIG. 1, the vehicular fuel tank according to the present invention fixes baffle plates 10 for damming the fuel whose liquid level has been lowered at two locations before and after the bottom in the tank 3. A reserve region 4 surrounded by the inner wall surface of the tank 3 is secured, and a hole 14 for inflow of fuel into the reserve region 4 is provided in each baffle plate 10, and the reserve is provided in the hole 14. A check valve 16 is installed to prevent the fuel from flowing out of the region, while a feed pipe 20 for sending fuel to the engine and a return pipe 22 for returning surplus fuel from the engine are inserted into the tank, This is a configuration in which the end portion is plunged into the reserve region 4.

  The tank 3 has a cylindrical shape in which the front part and the rear part are closed, and the cross section that divides the tank into the front and rear is a round shape.

  Further, the baffle plate 10 has a configuration in which a flange portion 11 is bent at a portion in contact with the inner wall surface of the tank 3 in an outwardly perpendicular direction, and the flange portion is fixed to the inner wall surface of the tank.

  The vehicular fuel tank according to the present invention has a configuration in which a part of the baffle plate 10 is formed to project and the hole 14 is provided in the projecting surface portion 26.

  According to the vehicle fuel tank of the present invention, a baffle plate is fixed in the tank to secure a reserve area, a check valve is attached to a hole provided in the baffle plate, and the supply pipe and the return pipe are reserved. Since the structure that has entered the region is adopted, the fuel can be stably supplied even when the liquid level is lowered, and it is easy to manufacture, excellent in economy, and excellent in strength.

  According to the vehicle fuel tank of the present invention, since the tank has a round shape, in addition to the above effects, a fuel tank with excellent strength can be obtained in combination with the baffle plate, and the baffle plate can be easily and easily incorporated. There is an effect that can be done.

  According to the vehicle fuel tank of the present invention, since the flange portion formed on the baffle plate is fixed to the inner wall surface of the tank, the baffle plate can be easily attached and the strength of the tank can be obtained.

  According to the vehicle fuel tank of the present invention, since the hole is provided in the projecting surface portion of the baffle plate, there is an effect that the strength of the baffle plate is favorably maintained.

  Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1 is an explanatory view of a vehicle fuel tank 2 according to an embodiment. This fuel tank is mounted on the side of a vehicle such as a truck, and the left side in FIG. 1 is the front side of the vehicle. As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, the fuel tank 2 is configured such that the body of the tank 3 is cylindrical and the front part and the rear part are closed, and includes a front side part 8, a cylindrical part 6, and a rear side part 9. . The cylindrical section 6 has a circular vertical cross section that divides the tank 3 into the front and rear.

  Inside the fuel tank 2 is provided a reserve region 4 that can collect fuel intensively when the amount of fuel decreases and the liquid level decreases. The fuel tank 2 is provided with a fuel injection port (not shown). The fuel tank 2 is made of steel.

  As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, a pair of baffle plates 10 are provided in the fuel tank 2 at two locations before and after the bottom of the tank 3 in order to stop the movement of the fuel whose liquid level has decreased. Arranged and fixed. A reserve region 4 for storing fuel is secured in a range surrounded by the baffle plate 10 and the inner wall surface of the cylindrical portion 6 of the tank 3. In the vicinity of the lower portion of the baffle plate 10, a hole portion 14 for inflow of fuel is provided, and a check valve 16 for preventing outflow of fuel from the reserve region is attached to the hole portion 14.

  As shown in FIG. 3, the baffle plate 10 is a steel plate having an arcuate substrate portion 25 surrounded by an arc portion 12 and a linear flat portion 13 and a flange portion 11. The arc portion 12 of the baffle plate 10 has the same radius of curvature as the cylindrical portion 6 of the tank 3, and the flange portion 11 of the baffle plate 10 is in close contact with the inner surface of the cylindrical portion 6 of the tank. The flange portion 11 has a shape in which the substrate portion 25 is bent in a right-angle direction from the arc portion 12, and convex portions for positioning of spot welding (S) are provided at six positions of the end portion of the flange portion 11. A portion 15 is formed.

  Further, the baffle plate 10 is formed with an extruded convex portion 24 obtained by extruding the central portion of the substrate portion 25 in the direction opposite to the flange portion 11. The extrusion convex part 24 is formed in a trapezoidal cross section and serves also to reinforce the baffle plate 10. The flat projecting surface portion 26 formed at the tip of the extruding convex portion 24 is provided with the hole portion 14 at a position slightly below the center, and in a state of covering the hole portion 14, A check valve 16 is attached. The check valve 16 is fixed to the reserve region 4 side of the hole 14 (on the side opposite to the direction of the flange 11) at two upper portions by fastening tools 28 such as screws and rivets. The check valve 16 is flexible and opens and closes the hole 14 by the movement of fuel.

  As described above, the hole 14 and the check valve 16 provided in the baffle plate 10 are arranged in the vicinity of the lower portion of the central portion of the baffle plate 10, and the central portion of the baffle plate 10 is formed in the circular fuel tank 2. Since the fuel inflow hole 14 is provided here, the fuel can be efficiently introduced when the liquid level is lowered. Further, since the baffle plate supports the inner wall surface of the lower part of the tank in a perpendicular direction, it effectively functions as a reinforcing member that reinforces the vicinity of the lower part of the fuel tank to which a fuel load is applied.

  The baffle plates 10 are respectively arranged at positions that divide the front and rear range of the tank 3 into approximately three equal parts, and form a reserve region 4 at the center of the tank 3. Each baffle plate 10 is disposed facing each other, the flange portion 11 is positioned outwardly of the tank 3, and the check valve 16 is positioned on the reserve region 4 side. The check valve 16 (check valve) is a valve having a mechanism for preventing a reverse flow so that the flow of fluid is in one direction, and there are other types such as a swing, a lift, and a ball. The check valve 16 causes the fuel to flow into the reserve region 4 through the hole 14, but the fuel in the reserve region 4 does not flow out of the hole 14.

  The baffle plate 10 is welded to the inner wall surface of the cylindrical portion 6 of the tank 3. At this time, spot welding is performed using the central portion of the convex portion 15 of the flange portion 11 as a guide for the spot allowance (S). For this reason, welding (usually spot welding) near the bottom surface of the cylindrical portion 6 of the baffle plate 10 is visible and the welding position is accurately determined, and the welding operation of the flange portion 11 can be performed easily and quickly. On the other hand, the sub-tank used in the above prior art has a more complicated structure than the baffle plate, and welding to the bottom surface of the tank (spot welding) also involves welding the bottom surface of the sub-tank, which is difficult to see. As a result, the work is difficult and difficult. After the baffle plate 10 is welded, the front side surface portion 8 and the rear side surface portion 9 are fixed to the cylindrical portion 6 by welding.

  Further, in order to secure a reserve area in the central portion of the tank, the sub-tank needs to be fixed to the central portion of the fuel tank, but the baffle plate 10 is attached to both sides of the central portion. It will be attached to the position where the center of vibration is off, and it is less affected by vibration and has excellent durability.

  A feeding pipe 20 is attached to the front side and a return pipe 22 is attached to the tank 3 via a fixed support plate 18 at two locations on the upper part of the cylindrical portion 6 of the fuel tank 2. The feed pipe 20 is a pipe that sends the fuel sucked from the reserve area 4 to the engine, and the return pipe 22 is a pipe that returns the fuel excessively supplied to the engine to the reserve area 4. The suction port 21 of the feed pipe 20 is disposed at a substantially central position of the reserve region 4, and the discharge port 23 of the return pipe 22 is disposed at a position closer to the rear than the feed pipe 20.

  The fixed support plate 18 has a hole 17 at the center, and the feed pipe 20 is inserted and fixed in the hole 17 and the return pipe 22 is similarly inserted and fixed. The feed pipe 20 is inserted through a passage hole provided at a position slightly lower than the uppermost portion of the cylindrical portion 6 of the tank 3, and the fixed support plate 18 is fixed to the surface of the tank. The same applies to the fixed support plate 18 to which the return pipe 22 is attached. The feed pipe 20 and the return pipe 22 are attached at a position slightly lower than the uppermost part of the cylindrical portion 6 of the tank 3 to ensure a clearance at the top of the tank 3.

  In addition, as shown in FIG. 2, the feed pipe 20 and the return pipe 22 are slightly bent at the intermediate part and vertically enter the reserve area 4. Then, the suction port 21 at the lower end portion of the feed pipe 20 and the discharge port 23 at the lower end portion of the return pipe 22 are respectively inserted into positions near the bottom portion in the reserve region 4. In this way, the feed pipe 20 and the return pipe 22 are respectively inserted and joined to the holes 17 provided in the fixed support plate 18 and joined to the cylindrical part 6 of the tank 3, and each joined part is welded (brazed). ).

  As shown in FIG. 1, the reserve area 4 is a closed area surrounded by two baffle plates 10 and an inner wall surface in the vicinity of the lower part of the tank 3, and the upper part is opened and the periphery is closed. In addition, the reserve region 4 is provided at a substantially central portion before and after the fuel tank 2. The fuel tank 2 is mounted on, for example, a side portion of a truck frame. When the fuel tank 2 is attached, the fuel tank 2 is fixed to the frame with a bracket or the like interposed therebetween.

  Here, the movement of the fuel in the fuel tank 2 when the vehicle is traveling will be described. First, when the reserve area 4 is not provided, as shown in FIG. 1, when the vehicle is accelerated, the fuel in the fuel tank 2 is shifted to the rear in the traveling direction, and the liquid level is lowered toward the rear and becomes higher toward the rear. An inclined surface (B) is formed. Further, when the vehicle is decelerated, the fuel in the fuel tank 2 is shifted forward in the traveling direction, and the liquid level forms an inclined surface (D) that rises forward and decreases toward the rear. When the vehicle turns, for example, when turning a curve, the fuel in the fuel tank is shifted to the right or left in the traveling direction.

  Next, the case where the reserve area 4 is provided will be described. When the amount of fuel is large, the reserve area 4 is submerged in the fuel. At this time, the baffle plate 10 also serves to prevent the fuel from shaking and moving forward and backward as the vehicle travels. The function of the reserve area 4 is exhibited from the time when the fuel is reduced and the reserve area 4 is exposed from the liquid level. At this time, the fuel moves back and forth in the fuel tank 2 along with acceleration and deceleration during traveling of the vehicle, and the fuel moving toward the baffle plate 10 flows into the reserve region 4 from the hole portion 14.

  As described above, the fuel passes through the hole 14 and pushes the check valve 16 open to flow into the reserve region 4, but the fuel in the reserve region 4 is prevented from flowing out by the check valve 16. Further, the fuel can flow into the reserve region 4 beyond the upper end portion of the baffle plate 10.

  As shown in FIG. 1, the fuel stored in the reserve region 4 is inclined rearward in the traveling direction when the vehicle is accelerated to form a liquid surface of the inclined surface (A), and when the vehicle is decelerated, the fuel in the traveling direction is The liquid surface of the inclined surface (C) is formed at a distance. At this time, the central portion of the reserve region 4 is considered to have the same liquid level height during acceleration and deceleration, and the position of the suction port 21 of the feed pipe 20 is set near the central portion. Further, as shown in FIG. 2, when the vehicle turns left and right, the fuel in the reserve region 4 forms the liquid level of the inclined surfaces (E) and (F).

  By providing the reserve area 4, even when the fuel level is reduced and the liquid level is lowered, the fuel is concentrated and collected in the reserve area 4. At this time, the suction port 21 of the feed pipe 20 captures the liquid level of the fuel in the reserve region 4 and, as shown in FIG. A) Since it is located under (B), the fuel can be sucked in suitably.

  Further, even when the vehicle turns left and right, as shown in FIG. 2, the suction port 21 of the feed pipe 20 is located below the inclined surfaces (E) and (F) that are the liquid level of the fuel in the reserve region 4. So you can inhale this fuel. For this reason, when the reserve region 4 is provided, the liquid level around the suction port 21 of the feed pipe 20 can be made higher than when the reserve region 4 is not provided, so that the air is absorbed from the so-called suction port 21. This can prevent the “air kami” phenomenon.

  Therefore, the vehicle fuel tank according to the above embodiment has an effect that stable fuel supply can be performed even when the fuel level decreases and the liquid level decreases. In the production of the fuel tank, the baffle plate can be easily and easily welded to the inside of the tank, which is excellent in economic efficiency, and the effect of reinforcing the tank by the baffle plate can be obtained. In addition, the fuel tank has a round shape, which is structurally high in strength, stable in the baffle plate, and has a favorable shape in that fuel with a lowered liquid level is concentrated in the center of the bottom.

  In the invention according to the above-described embodiment, the fuel tank is round. However, the present invention can also be applied to a rectangular fuel tank such as a rectangular parallelepiped, and similar effects can be expected. The feed pipe 20 can be applied even to a feed pipe having a fuel pump attached to the lower end. The fuel tank 2 can be applied to vehicles other than trucks such as passenger cars. The material of the fuel tank 2 can be applied to those made of light metal, synthetic resin, etc. in addition to steel.

It is explanatory drawing of the fuel tank which concerns on embodiment of this invention. It is AA sectional drawing of the fuel tank which concerns on embodiment. It is a figure which shows the baffle board which concerns on embodiment, (a) is explanatory drawing which looked at the baffle board from the front (a flange part is a partial expanded view), (b) is a top view, (c) is a side view. . It is a figure which shows the fuel tank which concerns on a prior art example.

Explanation of symbols

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 2 Vehicle fuel tank 3 Tank 4 Reserve area 10 Baffle plate 11 Flange part 14 Hole part 16 Check valve 20 Feed pipe 22 Return pipe 26 Projection surface part

Claims (4)

The baffle plates that dam the fuel whose liquid level has dropped are fixed at two locations before and after the bottom of the tank, and a reserve area surrounded by these baffle plates and the inner wall surface of the tank is secured.
While each baffle plate is provided with a hole for inflow of fuel into the reserve area, and a check valve for preventing the fuel from flowing out from the reserve area is attached to the hole,
A fuel for a vehicle characterized in that a feed pipe for sending fuel to the engine and a return pipe for returning surplus fuel from the engine are inserted into the tank and the ends of these pipes are plunged into the reserve area. tank.   2. The vehicle fuel tank according to claim 1, wherein the tank has a cylindrical shape in which a front portion and a rear portion are closed, and a cross section dividing the tank into a front and a rear is a round shape.   2. The baffle plate according to claim 1, wherein a flange portion is bent at a position in contact with the inner wall surface of the tank in a direction perpendicular to the outside, and the flange portion is fixed to the inner wall surface of the tank. The vehicle fuel tank according to 2.   4. The vehicle fuel tank according to claim 1, wherein a part of the baffle plate is formed to project and the hole is provided in the projecting surface portion. 5.

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