JP2006143143A - Fuel tank - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a resin-made fuel tank which is capable of preventing noise attributable to the abrupt flow of fuel and sufficiently securing a flow passage of fuel, being manufactured at low cost and prevented in breakage. <P>SOLUTION: A plurality of flow interference bodies are erected toward the hollow inside of a tank body from at least one of the upper bottom side of an upper split body and the lower bottom side of a lower split body of a fuel tank, each flow interference body is integrated with the tank body, and the flow interference bodies are separated from one another. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2006,JPO&NCIPI

Description

  The present invention relates to a resin fuel tank disposed in a vehicle.

  As a fuel tank for vehicles, what is formed with various materials, such as metal and resin, is known. Of these, the fuel tank made of a resin material is lighter in weight than that made of a metal material, and is effective in improving the fuel efficiency of the vehicle.

  By the way, when the vehicle is suddenly braked (for example, when suddenly decelerating), the fuel inside the fuel tank suddenly flows, and the fuel that has flowed hits the wall surface of the fuel tank, generating noise. In recent years, the noise reduction of the engine has progressed, and it has become a problem that the noise caused by the rapid flow of fuel gives the passenger an unpleasant feeling. For this reason, in order to suppress a rapid flow of fuel, a method of extending a plate-like flow interference body on the bottom surface of the fuel tank has been developed. In this case, when the fuel in the fuel tank flows, it abuts against and interferes with the plate-like interference body, so that the rapid flow of the fuel is alleviated and the generation of noise is suppressed.

  When the plate-like fluid interference body is attached to the fuel tank, for example, in a metal fuel tank, the fluid interference body can be screwed to the tank body or welded to be integrated. However, it is difficult for a resin fuel tank to be integrated by screwing or welding (welding) the fluid interference body due to dimensional accuracy and airtightness. Therefore, generally, the tank body and the flow interference body are integrally formed.

  By the way, if the plate-like flow interference body is extended to the bottom surface of the fuel tank, the rapid flow of the fuel interferes and noise is reduced. On the other hand, the flow of the fuel is blocked by the flow interference body. When the remaining amount of the fuel is small, there is a problem that the fuel does not easily reach the vicinity of the fuel pump. For this reason, a method has been developed in which a hole-like passage portion that allows fuel flow is provided in a portion of the plate-like flow interference body in the vicinity of the bottom surface of the fuel tank (for example, Patent Document 1). According to this method, since the fuel flow path can be secured, the fuel pump reaches the vicinity of the fuel pump even when the remaining amount of fuel is small.

  Here, when the flow interference body is integrally formed with the tank body and the flow interference body is provided with a hole-like passage portion, an undercut shape is generated in the flow interference body portion of the fuel tank. In order to mold a fuel tank having an undercut shape, it is necessary to provide a slide core in the mold, which increases the cost required for the mold.

Further, when the plate-like flow interference body is extended over a wide area on the bottom surface of the fuel tank, the strength of the bottom surface of the fuel tank is increased by the plate-like flow interference body. For this reason, when the fuel tank pulsates, the fuel tank is difficult to deform, excessive stress is applied to the boundary portion between the base of the flow interference body and the bottom surface of the fuel tank, and the flow interference body is damaged. Could have occurred.
US Patent Application Publication No. 2002 / 0011271A1

  The present invention has been made in view of the above circumstances, and is a resin fuel tank in which noise caused by a rapid flow of fuel is prevented, and a fuel flow path is sufficiently secured and manufactured at low cost. An object of the present invention is to provide a fuel tank that is prevented from being damaged.

  The fuel tank of the present invention that solves the above problems is made of a resin material, and is a hollow tank body in which the upper and lower bodies are hermetically integrated, and the upper body. A flow interference body group consisting of a plurality of flow interference bodies standing from at least one of the bottom surface and the lower bottom surface of the lower split body toward the hollow interior of the tank body, each flow interference body, It is formed integrally with the tank body, and the flow interference bodies are arranged apart from each other.

The fuel tank of the present invention is preferably configured as described in (1) to (4) below.
(1) The flow interference bodies provided in the same split are arranged in a staggered pattern.
(2) The flow interference body group is provided at a position corresponding to the lower flow interference body among the one lower flow interference body provided in the lower split body and the upper split body. At least one pair of interfering bodies composed of two upper flow interfering bodies is formed.
(3) The protruding end portion of the lower flow interference body and the protruding end portion of the upper flow interference body overlap each other.
(4) The protruding end portions of the flow interference bodies have different protruding heights.

  The fuel tank of the present invention includes a flow interference body group, so that the flow of fuel interferes. For this reason, the noise resulting from the flow of fuel at the time of sudden braking or the like can be suppressed.

  Further, in the fuel tank of the present invention, the plurality of flow interference bodies constituting the flow interference body group are arranged so as to be separated from each other, and therefore the gap between the flow interference bodies forms a passage portion. For this reason, it is not necessary to provide a passage part in the flow interference body, and it is not necessary to form the fuel tank (flow interference body) in an undercut shape. Therefore, the fuel tank can be manufactured at low cost.

  Furthermore, since the flow interference members are provided separately from each other, the deformation of the fuel tank during intake pulsation or the like is not hindered. Therefore, damage to the flow interference body is avoided.

  When the fuel tank of the present invention is configured as described in (1) above, the flow interference bodies provided in the same split are arranged in a staggered pattern, so that the fuel tank is deformed. In this case, the ends of the adjacent flow interference bodies do not interfere with each other. For this reason, the fuel tank is more easily deformed, and the above-described problems such as breakage of the flow interference body are more reliably avoided.

  At this time, if the ends of the adjacent flow interference bodies overlap each other, the flow interference bodies can be disposed over a wide area (in the direction crossing the vertical direction) in the hollow interior of the fuel tank, and the flow of the fuel can be increased. There is no hindrance. For this reason, the rapid flow of fuel can be prevented over a wide area, and noise can be more reliably reduced.

  When the fuel tank of the present invention is configured as described in (2) above, the hollow interior is narrowed in the vertical direction by the interference body pair. In other words, the flow interference body is disposed over a wide area (vertically) in the hollow interior of the fuel tank. For this reason, the rapid flow of fuel can be prevented over a wide area, and noise can be reduced more reliably.

  When the fuel tank of the present invention is configured as described in (3) above, if the protruding end portions of the upper flow interference body and the lower flow interference body are overlapped, rapid fuel flow is prevented over a wider area. can do.

  When the fuel tank of the present invention is configured as described in (4) above, it is possible to prevent the flow interference bodies from resonating when the fuel comes into contact with the flow interference bodies. When resonance between the flow interference bodies is prevented, noise generated when the fuel flows is further reduced.

  The fuel tank of the present invention can be formed using various known resin materials having low gas permeability. Further, other divisions other than the upper division and the lower division may be integrated according to the design of the fuel tank.

  Although the fuel tank of the present invention can be formed by various known resin molding methods, for example, when formed by a method such as injection molding or injection press molding, a large hollow interior (volume of the fuel tank) is secured. However, a flow interference body group can be provided.

  The flow interfering body may be provided on either the upper side body or the lower side body, but by providing both the upper side body and the lower side body, the rapid flow of fuel can be more reliably interfered, Noise caused by rapid fuel flow can be reduced more reliably.

  The flow interference body can be formed in various shapes typified by a narrow plate shape or a rod shape. Moreover, you may provide a rib etc. in a flow interference body separately. If the flow interference body is provided with ribs, the strength of the flow interference body can be secured, the flow of fuel in multiple directions can be interfered by one flow interference body, or the flow direction of fuel can be guided by the flow interference body. it can.

  Hereinafter, a fuel tank of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.

Example 1
The fuel tank of Example 1 is an example in which a flow interference body is disposed on the lower part body and includes the above configurations (1) and (4). FIG. 1 is a perspective view schematically showing the lower part of the fuel tank of the first embodiment. FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view schematically showing a cross section of the fuel tank of the first embodiment as viewed from the side surface A direction in FIG. FIG. 3 is a top view schematically showing the lower body of the fuel tank according to the first embodiment as viewed from the direction of the upper surface B in FIG. Hereinafter, in this specification, the terms “up”, “down”, “left”, “right”, “front”, and “rear” refer to “upper, lower, left, right, front, and rear” shown in FIG.

  In the fuel tank of Example 1, the tank body 1 is formed in a long shape having a hollow inside. The fuel tank is disposed in the vehicle with the short direction facing forward and backward. The tank body 1 is made of a resin material having excellent fuel barrier properties, and includes two bodies, an upper body 10 and a lower body 11. The upper part body 10 and the lower part part 11 are separately formed by injection press molding in a box shape. The box-shaped upper body 10 and the lower body 11 are welded so that the openings face each other and are airtightly integrated.

  A sub tank 2 is formed in a substantially central portion of the lower tank 11 of the fuel tank. The sub-tank 2 is a portion that accommodates a tip portion of a fuel pump (not shown) for supplying fuel to the engine. The sub-tank 2 includes a standing wall formed in a spiral shape, and a fuel flow path is formed in a gap 20 between an inner peripheral portion and an outer peripheral portion of the standing wall. Fuel flows into the sub tank 2 through a flow path. Since the fuel flow path is overlapped by the outer portion of the standing wall, the fuel that has once flowed into the sub tank 2 is difficult to flow out of the sub tank 2. For this reason, for example, even when the vehicle body is tilted when the fuel remaining amount in the fuel tank decreases, the fuel is held inside the sub tank 2. Accordingly, the fuel can surely reach the fuel pump disposed in the sub tank 2.

  On the left and right sides of the sub-tank 2 in the lower body 11, the flow interference bodies 3 formed in a narrow plate shape are arranged in a line. Each of the flow interference bodies 3 is formed in a substantially trapezoidal shape whose flat surface becomes narrower toward the top. The flow interference body 3 extends upward (in the direction of the hollow interior 13) from the lower bottom surface 12 of the lower split body 11 with the flat plate surface facing forward and backward. In the fuel tank of this embodiment, the flow interference bodies 3 are arranged in a total of seven, three on the left side of the sub tank 2 and four on the right side. The first interference body 40, the second interference body 41, the third interference body 42, the fourth interference body 43, the fifth interference body 44, and the sixth interference are directed from the left end side to the right end side of each flow interference body 3. The body 45 and the seventh interference body 46 are called. In the fuel tank of the present embodiment, the seven fluid interference bodies 3 constitute a fluid interference body group. In the present embodiment, the sub tank 2 and the flow interference body 3 are made of the same resin material as that of the tank body 1.

  Adjacent flow interference bodies 3 are arranged in a staggered pattern alternately in the front-rear direction. That is, as shown in FIG. 3, the first interference body 40, the third interference body 42, the fourth interference body 43, and the sixth interference body 45 are composed of the second interference body 41, the fifth interference body 44, and The seventh interference body 46 is disposed slightly behind the seventh interference body 46. Therefore, the adjacent flow interference bodies 3 are spaced apart from each other in the front-rear direction. Further, as shown in FIG. 2, the adjacent flow interference bodies 3 are adjacent to each other among the lower portions of the flat plate surface (for example, the lower right portion of the first interference body 40 and the second interference body 41. Are arranged so as to overlap each other.

  Furthermore, in this fuel tank, as shown in FIG. 2, the protruding heights of the first interference body 40 to the seventh interference body 46 are different from each other, and are arranged closer to the sub tank 2, that is, closer to the center of the tank body 1. The projecting height is higher as it is more. In addition, the protrusion height of the flow interference body 3 here refers to the vertical length of the flow interference body 3 in the hollow interior 13 of the tank body 1. That is, as the protruding end 30 of the flow interference body 3 is farther away from the bottom surface of the body (the upper body 10 or the lower body 11) on which the flow interference body 3 is disposed, the flow interference body 3 protrudes. Height increases.

  According to the fuel tank of the present embodiment, by having a flow interference body group in which a plurality of flow interference bodies 3 are erected, the space in which fuel flows inside the tank body 1 is covered by the flow interference body group. . For this reason, the rapid flow of fuel at the time of sudden braking is interfered, and noise resulting from the rapid flow of fuel is suppressed.

  Further, since the flow interference bodies 3 constituting the flow interference body group are provided apart from each other, a gap between the adjacent flow interference bodies 3 becomes a fuel flow path, and a separate passage is provided for each flow interference body 3. There is no need to provide a section. Therefore, it is not necessary to form the flow interference body 3 in an undercut shape, and the manufacturing cost is greatly reduced. Further, since the flow interference bodies 3 are separated from each other, the fuel tank is easily deformed, and an excessive stress is not applied to the boundary portion between the tank main body 1 and the flow interference body 3, and the flow is prevented. Problems such as damage to the interference body 3 are avoided.

  Further, in the fuel tank of the present invention, the flow interference body 3 has a flat surface facing the front-rear direction of the vehicle, that is, the traveling direction of the vehicle. For this reason, the space in which the fuel flows inside the tank body 1 is covered over a wide area by the flow interference body group. For this reason, the rapid flow of the fuel can be interfered over a wide area by the flow interference body 3, and the noise derived from the rapid flow of the fuel can be reliably suppressed.

  Furthermore, since the flow interference bodies 3 are arranged in a staggered pattern, the adjacent flow interference bodies 3 do not interfere with each other even when the fuel tank is deformed, and the deformation of the fuel tank is prevented. Absent. Accordingly, problems such as breakage of the flow interference body 3 are avoided. In addition, since the flow interference bodies 3 are arranged in a staggered pattern, the flow interference bodies 3 constituting the flow interference body group are arranged in a relatively narrow region in the front-rear direction. Therefore, rapid fuel flow in the front-rear direction (vehicle traveling direction) is further less likely to occur. Since the adjacent flow interference bodies 3 overlap in the front-rear direction, which is the traveling direction of the vehicle, the space in which the fuel flows during sudden braking is covered by the flow interference body 3 over a wide area. For this reason, the rapid flow of fuel during sudden braking is more reliably suppressed, and the generation of noise is more reliably suppressed.

  In the fuel tank of the present embodiment, the flat surface of the flow interference body 3 is formed in a substantially trapezoidal shape that becomes narrower toward the protruding end 30. This is because it is easier to remove the mold than the mold, to facilitate the molding and to increase the accuracy of the molding. Depending on the shape of the tank main body 1 and the like, the shape of the flow interference body 3 may be a shape in which the flat plate surface extends substantially in the same width.

  In the fuel tank of this embodiment, the protruding heights of the flow interference bodies 3 are different from each other. For this reason, even when the fuel comes into contact with each flow interference body 3, each flow interference body 3 does not resonate. For this reason, in the fuel tank of the present embodiment, noise caused by the rapid flow of fuel is reduced.

  Further, in the fuel tank of the present embodiment, the protruding height of the flow interference body 3 is larger as it is provided at a portion closer to the center of the tank body 1. By increasing the protruding height of the flow interference body 3 provided in the central portion of the tank body 1, the fuel flow generated in the fuel tank at the time of sudden braking is divided into right and left at the central portion. Therefore, the flow rate of the fuel can be further reduced, and noise resulting from the rapid flow of the fuel can be further reduced. Furthermore, by reducing the protruding height of the flow interference body 3 provided on the side, the amount of resin material required for the fuel tank can be reduced, the fuel tank can be reduced in weight, and the manufacturing cost can be reduced. There is.

  In the fuel tank of this embodiment, each flow interference body 3 extends upward (in a substantially vertical direction from the lower bottom surface 12), but a part or all of it is inclined or curved in the front-rear direction or the side. It may be extended. In this case as well, the rapid flow of fuel can be suppressed by the flow interference body 3, and noise can be reduced.

  In the fuel tank of the present invention, the protruding height and width direction (left and right direction) length of the flow interference body 3, the number of flow interference bodies 3 disposed, etc., depend on the shape of the tank body 1 and the degree of noise suppression desired. Can be set as appropriate. That is, when the protruding height of each flow interference body 3 is increased, the hollow interior 13 of the tank body 1 is further narrowed in the vertical direction, and the length in the width direction (left-right direction) of the flow interference body 3 is increased or the flow interference is increased. When the number of the bodies 3 is increased, the hollow interior 13 of the tank body 1 is further narrowed in the width direction (left-right direction).

(Example 2)
The fuel tank of the second embodiment is an example having the above-described configurations (1), (2), and (4). The fuel tank of the second embodiment is implemented except for the shape and arrangement position of the flow interference body 3. It is formed in the same manner as in Example 1. FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view schematically showing the fuel tank according to the second embodiment as viewed from the same direction as the arrow A in FIG.

  The fuel tank of the present embodiment includes the same lower body 11 as that of the first embodiment. In the upper body 10, the eighth interference bodies 50 to 50 are located at positions corresponding to the first interference body 40 to the seventh interference body 46 (lower flow interference body) provided in the lower body 11. A fourteenth interference body 56 (upper flow interference body) is provided. In the fuel tank of this embodiment, the first interference body 40 and the eighth interference body 50, the second interference body 41 and the ninth interference body 51, the third interference body 42 and the tenth interference body 52, the fourth interference body 43, The eleventh interference body 53, the fifth interference body 44 and the twelfth interference body 54, the sixth interference body 45 and the thirteenth interference body 55, and the seventh interference body 46 and the fourteenth interference body 56 constitute an interference body pair. Has been.

  In the fuel tank of this embodiment, a total of 7 pairs of interference bodies are provided. By these seven pairs of interference bodies, the hollow interior 13 of the tank body 1 is narrowed in the vertical direction. Further, the protruding end portion 31 of the upper flow interference body (for example, the eighth interference body 50) and the protruding end portion 30 of the lower flow interference body (for example, the first interference body 40) constituting each pair of interference bodies are respectively They are separated in the vertical direction.

  Further, in the fuel tank of the present embodiment, the first interference body 40, the third interference body 42, the fourth interference body 43, the sixth interference body 45, the ninth interference body 51, the twelfth interference body 54, and the fourteenth interference body. The body 56 is slightly behind the second interference body 41, the fifth interference body 44, the seventh interference body 46, the eighth interference body 50, the tenth interference body 52, the eleventh interference body 53, and the thirteenth interference body 55. It is shifted and arranged. Therefore, the flow interference bodies 3 that are provided in the same division and are adjacent to each other are arranged in a staggered pattern in the front-rear direction (the traveling direction of the vehicle), and the upper flow interference bodies that constitute each pair of interference bodies The lower flow interference bodies are arranged in a staggered pattern alternately in the front-rear direction.

  In the fuel tank of the present embodiment, the flow interference body 3 constitutes 7 pairs of interference bodies, and the hollow interior 13 of the tank body 1 is narrowed in the vertical direction by each interference body pair. For this reason, the space in which the fuel flows in the fuel tank is covered with the flow interference body group over a wider area than that in the first embodiment. For this reason, the rapid flow of fuel at the time of sudden braking is further reliably suppressed.

  In addition, the flow interference bodies 3 provided adjacent to each other in the same division, and the upper flow interference body and the lower flow interference body constituting each pair of the interference bodies are arranged in a staggered pattern alternately in the front-rear direction. ing. For this reason, when the fuel tank is deformed, the flow interference bodies 3 adjacent in the vertical direction or the horizontal direction do not interfere with each other, and the deformation of the fuel tank is not hindered. Therefore, as described above, problems such as breakage of the flow interference body 3 are avoided.

  In the fuel tank of the present embodiment, the protruding end portion 31 of the upper flow interference body and the protruding end portion 30 of the lower flow interference body constituting the pair of interference bodies are separated from each other in the vertical direction. For this reason, although the hollow interior 13 of the tank body 1 is narrowed up and down by the interference body pair, the fuel flow path is not blocked. Therefore, the rapid flow of the fuel interferes to suppress the generation of noise, and the fuel flow path is sufficiently secured.

(Example 3)
The fuel tank of the present embodiment is an example having the above-described configurations (1), (2), and (4), and is formed in the same manner as that of the second embodiment except for the shape of the flow interference body 3. FIG. 5 is a cross-sectional view schematically showing the fuel tank according to the third embodiment viewed from the same direction as the arrow A in FIG.

  In the fuel tank of the present embodiment, the protruding heights of the upper interference bodies adjacent to each other and the protruding heights of the lower interference bodies adjacent to each other are alternately increased and decreased. For example, the protrusion height of the first interference body 40 and the third interference body 42 is larger than the protrusion height of the second interference body 41, and the protrusion height of the ninth interference body 51 is the eighth interference body 50 and the tenth interference height. The protrusion height of the interference body 52 is larger. Therefore, a gap formed in the interference body pair, that is, a gap between the upper flow interference body and the lower flow interference body is arranged in a zigzag shape. For this reason, the rapid flow of the fuel is efficiently interfered, and the generation of noise is reliably suppressed. For example, as shown in FIG. 6, the protruding end portion 31 of the upper flow interference body and the protruding end portion 30 of the lower flow interference body may overlap each other in the front-rear direction. In this case, the hollow interior 13 of the tank body 1 is narrowed in the vertical direction, and it is possible to more reliably reduce the generation of noise by more reliably interfering with the rapid flow of fuel. Further, in this case, the protruding end portion 31 of the upper flow interference body and the protruding end portion 30 of the lower flow interference body are arranged so as to be displaced from each other in the front-rear direction. The flow path is sufficiently secured.

2 is a cross-sectional view schematically illustrating a lower split body and a flow interference body group in the fuel tank of Example 1. FIG. FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view schematically showing the fuel tank of Example 1 as viewed from the direction of arrow A in FIG. 1. FIG. 2 is a top view schematically showing a state in which a lower split body and a flow interference body group in the fuel tank of Example 1 are viewed from the direction of arrow B in FIG. 1. It is sectional drawing which represents typically a mode that the fuel tank of Example 2 was seen from the same direction as the arrow A direction in FIG. It is sectional drawing which represents typically a mode that the fuel tank of Example 3 was seen from the same direction as the arrow A direction in FIG. It is sectional drawing which represents typically a mode that the other example of the fuel tank of this invention was seen from the same direction as the arrow A direction in FIG.

Explanation of symbols

1: Tank body 11: Upper part 12: Lower part 13: Hollow interior 3: Flow interference body

Claims (5)

A hollow tank body made of a resin material, wherein the upper and lower bodies are hermetically integrated, an upper surface of the upper body, and a lower surface of the lower body A flow interference body group consisting of a plurality of flow interference bodies standing from at least one of the tank body toward the hollow interior of the tank body,
Each of the flow interference bodies is formed integrally with the tank body,
The fuel tank is characterized in that the flow interference bodies are spaced apart from each other.   The fuel tank according to claim 1, wherein the flow interference bodies provided in the same split are arranged in a staggered pattern.   The flow interference body group includes one lower flow interference body provided in the lower split body, and one upper flow interference body provided at a position corresponding to the lower flow interference body in the upper split body. The fuel tank according to claim 1 or 2, wherein at least a pair of interfering bodies comprising a flow interfering body is formed.   The fuel tank according to claim 3, wherein the protruding end portion of the lower flow interference body and the protruding end portion of the upper flow interference body overlap each other.   The fuel tank according to claim 1, wherein the protruding end portions of the flow interference bodies have different protruding heights.

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