JP2006220081A - Fuel feeding device - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To remove static electricity generated due to friction between a delivery pipe and a fuel in a fuel feeding device. <P>SOLUTION: In the fuel feeding device 1, a conductive layer 16 connected to a ground is formed on the inner peripheral surface 11a of the delivery pipe 11 fitted to a cover body 5 closing the opening of a fuel tank 2. Thus, the static electricity generated due to friction between the delivery pipe 11 and the fuel can be eliminated from the conductive layer 16. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2006,JPO&NCIPI

Description

  The present invention relates to a fuel supply apparatus.

  Conventionally, various fuel supply devices have been proposed. Patent Document 1 discloses a fuel supply apparatus as an example.

The fuel supply device of the above publication is integrally provided with a lid and a fuel pump, and is attached to the fuel tank so as to close the opening of the fuel tank by the lid. The lid is provided with a discharge pipe connected to the fuel pump. In this fuel supply apparatus, the fuel pump is disposed in the fuel tank, sucks the fuel in the fuel tank, and discharges it outside the fuel tank via the discharge pipe.
JP 2004-353167 A

  In such a fuel supply device, when the fuel passes through the discharge pipe, static electricity may be generated due to friction between the fuel and the discharge pipe, which may cause the discharge pipe and the lid to be charged. is there.

  The present invention has been made in view of the above circumstances, and an object thereof is to make it possible to remove static electricity generated by friction between a discharge pipe and fuel in a fuel supply device.

  In order to achieve the above object, the invention of claim 1 is characterized in that, in the fuel supply device, a conductive portion connected to the ground is provided on the inner peripheral surface of the discharge pipe.

  The invention of claim 2 is configured such that, in the invention of claim 1, the conductive portion extends to the outer surface of the lid.

  Further, the invention of claim 3 is that, in the fuel supply device, the lid and the discharge pipe are integrally formed of a conductive material.

  According to the first aspect of the present invention, static electricity generated by friction between the discharge pipe and the fuel can be removed from the conductive portion connected to the ground provided on the inner peripheral surface of the discharge pipe.

  According to the second aspect of the present invention, since the conductive portion extends to the outer surface of the lid, the conductive portion can be more easily grounded, for example, by attaching a ground wire to the outer surface of the lid.

  According to the invention of claim 3, static electricity generated by friction between the discharge pipe and the fuel is removed from the integral member of the cover body and the discharge pipe by integrally forming the cover body and the discharge pipe with the conductive material. can do. Further, since the lid body and the discharge pipe are integrally formed of a conductive material, the lid body and the discharge pipe can be easily manufactured as compared with the case where the lid body and the discharge pipe are separate.

  (First Embodiment) A first embodiment of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings. In this embodiment, a system for supplying fuel to an automobile engine as an internal combustion engine is illustrated.

  FIG. 1 is a diagram showing a schematic configuration of a system including a fuel supply device of the present embodiment. As shown in FIG. 1, the fuel supply device 1 is mounted in a fuel tank 2 mounted on a vehicle. The fuel supply device 1 is a so-called non-return type fuel supply device that has only a fuel pipe 3 for supplying fuel to an engine (not shown) and has no return pipe.

  The fuel supply device 1 includes a hanging body 4 and a lid 5, and is attached so that an opening 2 b provided on the upper wall 2 a of the fuel tank 2 is closed by the lid 5.

  The hanging body 4 is provided in contact with the bottom surface 2c of the fuel tank 2, and integrally includes a fuel pump 6, a suction filter 7, a filter 8, a regulator (not shown), and the like.

  A suction filter 7 is connected to a suction port (not shown) of the fuel pump 6, and a filter 8 is connected to a discharge port (not shown) via a connection pipe 9. The filter 8 is connected to a discharge pipe 11 (to be described later) via a connection pipe 10. The fuel pump 6 thus piped sucks and discharges fuel via the suction filter 7. The discharged fuel is supplied to the engine via the connection pipe 9, the filter 8, the connection pipe 10, the discharge pipe 11, and the fuel pipe 3.

  The lid 5 is a member that closes the opening 2b of the fuel tank 2. The lid 5 is connected to a discharge pipe 11 for connecting the fuel pipe 3 and a connector for energizing electrical components such as the fuel pump 6. 12 are provided.

  FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view showing the discharge pipe 11 and its surroundings. As shown in FIG. 2, the discharge pipe 11 is provided through the lid 5. The discharge pipe 11 is formed in an elbow shape, and has an inlet 13 that opens below the lid 5 and an outlet 14 that opens laterally above the lid 5. The connection pipe 10 is attached to the inflow port 13, and the fuel pipe 3 is attached to the outflow port 14.

  Such a discharge pipe 11 includes a pipe body 15 and a conductive layer 16 that is a conductive portion formed on the inner peripheral surface 15 a of the pipe body 15. The pipe body 15 is integrally formed with the lid 5 by a non-conductive resin. The conductive layer 16 is formed of, for example, a conductive resin, covers the inner peripheral surface 15 a of the pipe body 15, and configures the inner peripheral surface 11 a of the discharge pipe 11. Further, the conductive layer 16 extends on the outer surface of the pipe body 15 at the tip of the inlet 13 and the tip of the outlet 14. Such a conductive layer 16 is formed by a coding process or a resin molding process.

  Next, the ground path 18 that connects the conductive layer 16 of the discharge pipe 11 to a vehicle ground electrode (not shown) will be described. First, the connection pipe 10 attached to the inlet 13 of the discharge pipe 11 is a nylon tube, and the inner peripheral surface thereof is formed of a conductive material. The inner peripheral surface of the connection pipe 10 is connected to the conductive layer 16 at the inlet 13 of the discharge pipe 11. The fuel supply device 1 is provided with a ground wire 19 for the discharge pipe 11. A terminal 20 provided at one end of the ground wire 19 is fitted between the connection pipe 10 and the discharge pipe 11, while the other end of the ground wire 19 is connected to the connector 12. The ground wire 19 is connected via a connector 12 to a ground wire (not shown) on the vehicle side. The vehicle-side ground wire is connected to a ground electrode. Thus, in the present embodiment, the ground path 18 is formed from the conductive layer 16 to the vehicle ground electrode via the connection pipe 10, the ground wire 19, and the vehicle-side ground wire.

  In such a configuration, the fuel discharged from the fuel pump 6 to the engine passes through the discharge pipe 11. At this time, static electricity may be generated due to friction between the fuel and the conductive layer 16 constituting the inner peripheral surface 11 a of the discharge pipe 11. The static electricity moves through the conductive layer 16 and moves to the inner peripheral surface of the connection pipe 10, and then moves to the ground electrode through the ground wire 19 and the vehicle-side ground wire, and is removed. That is, in this embodiment, the conductive layer 16 connected to the ground is formed on the inner peripheral surface 11a of the discharge pipe 11, so that static electricity generated by friction between the discharge pipe 11 and the fuel is removed from the conductive layer 16. can do.

  (Second Embodiment) Next, a second embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. Note that, in the fuel supply device according to the present embodiment, the same parts as those in the above embodiment are denoted by the same reference numerals, and description thereof is omitted (same in the following embodiments).

  FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view showing the discharge pipe 21 and its surroundings according to the present embodiment. In the present embodiment, the conductive portion of the discharge pipe 21 is different from that of the first embodiment. As shown in FIG. 3, a pipe member 26 that is a conductive portion formed of a conductive resin is fitted into the pipe body 15 of the discharge pipe 21 of the present embodiment. The pipe member 26 includes a pipe member 26 a fitted into the pipe body 15 from the inlet 13 of the discharge pipe 21, and a pipe member 26 b fitted into the pipe body 15 from the outlet 14 of the discharge pipe 21. Two are provided. These pipe members 26 a and 26 b are connected to each other at an inner portion of the bent portion 15 b of the pipe body 15. The pipe members 26a and 26b cover the area of the inner peripheral surface 15a of the pipe body 15 excluding the outer area 21c of the bent portion 15b. In this structure, a region 21 c that is not covered with the pipe member 26 on the inner peripheral surface 21 a of the discharge pipe 21 is surrounded by the pipe member 26. Moreover, the pipe members 26a and 26b protrude outside the inflow port 13 and the outflow port 14, respectively.

  In such a configuration, static electricity generated by friction between the pipe member 26 of the discharge pipe 21 and the fuel moves through the pipe member 26 and moves to the inner peripheral surface of the connection pipe 10, and the ground wire 19 and the vehicle side It moves to the ground electrode through the ground wire and is removed. At this time, the static electricity generated in the region 21c of the discharge pipe 21 that is not covered by the pipe member 26 moves to the surrounding pipe member 26 through the fuel and flows to the ground electrode because the fuel is conductive. Moving. Thus, also in this embodiment, since the pipe member 26 connected to the ground is provided on the inner peripheral surface 21a of the discharge pipe 21, the pipe member 26 generates friction due to the friction between the discharge pipe 21 and the fuel. Static electricity can be removed.

  Thus, the conductive portion (the pipe member 16 in this embodiment) may not be provided over the entire inner peripheral surface 21a of the discharge pipe 21.

  (Third Embodiment) Next, a third embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.

  FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view showing the discharge pipe 31 and its surroundings according to the present embodiment. In the present embodiment, the discharge pipe 31 is different from the first embodiment. As shown in FIG. 4, the discharge pipe 31 of the present embodiment is a separate member from the lid 5 and is entirely formed of a conductive resin. An uneven portion 31 b is formed on the outer peripheral portion of the discharge pipe 31, and the discharge pipe 31 is fixed to the lid body 5 by fitting the uneven portion 31 b and the uneven portion 5 a formed on the lid body 5. ing. Such a mounting structure is realized by insert molding.

  Since the entire discharge pipe 31 is formed of a conductive resin, the entire discharge pipe 31 including the inner peripheral surface 31a functions as a conductive portion.

  In such a configuration, static electricity generated by friction between the inner peripheral surface 31a of the discharge pipe 31 and the fuel moves on the inner peripheral surface 31a and moves to the inner peripheral surface of the connection pipe 10 (see FIG. 1). It moves to the ground electrode through the ground wire 19 and the ground wire on the vehicle side and is removed. As described above, also in the present embodiment, the entire inner peripheral surface 31a of the discharge pipe 31 is formed of a conductive material and connected to the ground, so that the discharge pipe 31, fuel, and the fuel are discharged from the inner peripheral surface 31a of the discharge pipe 31. The static electricity generated by the friction can be removed.

  (Fourth Embodiment) Next, a fourth embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.

  FIG. 5 is a cross-sectional view showing the discharge pipe 41 and its surroundings according to the present embodiment. In the present embodiment, the discharge pipe 41 is different from that of the third embodiment. As shown in FIG. 5, the discharge pipe 41 of the present embodiment is a separate member from the lid 5 and is entirely formed of a conductive resin. The discharge pipe 41 is fitted and attached to the hole 5b of the lid 5. At this time, the hole 5b is sandwiched between the pair of flanges 41b and 41c formed in the discharge pipe 41 in the vertical direction. Further, an O-ring 42 is fitted on the discharge pipe 41 between the flanges 41 b and 41 c, and the gap between the lid 5 and the discharge pipe 41 is sealed by the O-ring 42.

  Since the entire discharge pipe 41 is formed of a conductive resin, the entire discharge pipe 41 including its inner peripheral surface functions as a conductive portion, as in the third embodiment.

  In such a configuration, static electricity generated by friction between the inner peripheral surface of the discharge pipe 41 and the fuel moves on the inner peripheral surface of the discharge pipe 41 and moves to the inner peripheral surface of the connection pipe 10 (see FIG. 1). Then, it moves to the ground electrode through the ground wire 19 and the ground wire on the vehicle side and is removed. As described above, also in the present embodiment, the entire inner peripheral surface of the discharge pipe 41 is formed of a conductive material and connected to the ground, so that the discharge pipe 41 and the fuel are connected from the inner peripheral surface of the discharge pipe 41. Static electricity generated by friction can be removed.

  (Fifth Embodiment) Next, a fifth embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.

  FIG. 6 is a cross-sectional view showing the discharge pipe 51 and its surroundings according to the present embodiment. In the present embodiment, the conductive layer 16 that is a conductive portion is different from the first embodiment. As shown in FIG. 6, in the present embodiment, the conductive layer 16 formed on the discharge pipe 51 passes through the outer surface of the inlet 13 of the pipe body 15 to the rear surface 5 d constituting the outer surface 5 c of the lid body 5. Has been extended.

  In such a configuration, for example, the terminal 20 of the ground wire 19 can be attached to the conductive layer 16 located on the lid 5.

  In such a configuration, static electricity generated by friction between the inner peripheral surface 51a of the discharge pipe 51 and the fuel moves through the conductive layer 16 and moves to the ground wire 19, and the ground wire 19 and the ground wire on the vehicle side are connected. It moves through to the ground electrode and is removed. Thus, also in this embodiment, static electricity generated by friction between the discharge pipe 51 and the fuel can be removed from the conductive layer 16.

  In the present embodiment, the conductive layer 16 that is a conductive portion extends to the outer surface 5 c of the lid body 5, whereby the ground wire 19 is attached to the conductive layer 16 located on the outer surface 5 c of the lid body 5. The conductive layer 16 can be connected to the ground more easily.

  (Sixth Embodiment) Next, a sixth embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.

  FIG. 7 is a cross-sectional view showing the discharge pipe 61 and its surroundings according to the present embodiment. In the present embodiment, the discharge pipe 61 is different from the first embodiment. As shown in FIG. 7, the discharge pipe 61 and the lid 5 of the present embodiment are integrally formed of a conductive resin. In this structure, the discharge pipe 61 and the entire lid 5 are the conductive portion 62.

  In such a configuration, static electricity generated by friction between the inner peripheral surface 61 a of the discharge pipe 61 and the fuel moves through the conductive portion 62 to the ground wire 19, and moves to the ground electrode through the ground wire 19. Removed. Thus, also in this embodiment, since the lid 5 and the discharge pipe 61 are integrally formed of the conductive material, the friction between the discharge pipe 61 and the fuel is obtained from the integral member of the lid 5 and the discharge pipe 61. The static electricity generated by can be removed.

  Further, since the lid body 5 and the discharge pipe 61 are integrally formed of a conductive material, the lid body 5 and the discharge pipe 61 can be easily manufactured as compared with the case where the lid body and the discharge pipe are separate. .

  The present invention can be embodied in another embodiment as follows. In other embodiments described below, the same operations and effects as in the above embodiments can be obtained.

  (1) In each of the above embodiments, the fuel pipe 3 may be used as a ground wire on the vehicle side. In this case, a nylon tube whose inner peripheral surface is formed of a conductive material is adopted as the fuel pipe 3, and each of the conductive pipes is connected to the outlet 14 of the discharge pipes 11, 21, 31, 41, 51, 61. And the fuel pipe 3 may be connected.

  (2) In the above embodiments, the non-return type fuel supply device 1 has been described as an example. However, the fuel supply device 1 may be a return type. In the return type fuel supply device, as shown in FIG. 8, a return pipe 72 is provided on the lid 5 in addition to the discharge pipe 71. Similarly to the discharge pipe 71, the return pipe 72 is preferably provided with a conductive portion connected to the inner peripheral surface 72a. FIG. 8 shows an example in which the configuration of the discharge pipe 31 described in the third embodiment is applied to the return pipe 72 and the entire return pipe 72 is formed of a conductive material. In this case, the entire return pipe 72 including the inner peripheral surface 72a functions as a conductive portion. Of course, the discharge pipe 71, the return pipe 72, and the lid 5 may be integrally formed of a conductive material.

  Further, technical ideas other than the claims that can be grasped from the above embodiment will be described together with the effects thereof.

  In the fuel supply device according to claim 1 or 2, it is preferable that the conductive portion is constituted by a conductive layer or a pipe member.

  By doing so, the pipe body, which is the part of the discharge pipe other than the conductive part, can be formed of a relatively inexpensive non-conductive resin, which is advantageous in terms of cost.

The figure which shows schematic structure of the system containing the fuel supply apparatus of 1st Embodiment of this invention. Sectional drawing which shows a discharge pipe and its periphery. Sectional drawing which shows the discharge pipe of the 2nd Embodiment of this invention, and its periphery. Sectional drawing which shows the discharge pipe of the 3rd Embodiment of this invention, and its periphery. Sectional drawing which shows the discharge pipe of the 4th Embodiment of this invention, and its periphery. Sectional drawing which shows the discharge pipe of the 5th Embodiment of this invention, and its periphery. Sectional drawing which shows the discharge pipe of the 6th Embodiment of this invention, and its periphery. Sectional drawing which shows the discharge pipe of another embodiment of this invention, and its periphery.

Explanation of symbols

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Fuel supply apparatus 2 Fuel tank 2b Opening 5 Lid body 6 Fuel pump 11 Discharge pipe 16 Conductive layer (conductive part)
21 Discharge pipe 26 Pipe member (conductive part)
31 Discharge pipe (conductive part)
41 Discharge pipe (conductive part)
51 Discharge pipe 61 Discharge pipe 62 Conductive part 71 Discharge pipe

Claims (3)

A lid attached to the fuel tank and closing the opening of the fuel tank;
A fuel pump provided in the fuel tank for sucking and discharging the fuel in the fuel tank;
A discharge pipe provided on the lid for discharging the fuel discharged from the fuel pump out of the fuel tank;
A fuel supply device comprising:
A fuel supply apparatus comprising a conductive portion connected to the ground on an inner peripheral surface of the discharge pipe.   The fuel supply device according to claim 1, wherein the conductive portion extends to an outer surface of the lid. A lid attached to the fuel tank and closing the opening of the fuel tank;
A fuel pump provided in the fuel tank for sucking and discharging the fuel in the fuel tank;
A discharge pipe provided on the lid for discharging the fuel discharged from the fuel pump out of the fuel tank;
A fuel supply device comprising:
A fuel supply device, wherein the lid and the discharge pipe are integrally formed of a conductive material.

Images