JP2007298316A - Lid structure of liquid level detector - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a lid structure of a liquid level detector capable of preventing deformation of a terminal due to stress of resin and hence preventing deformation of a lid. <P>SOLUTION: In the lid structure of the liquid level detector including the lid 3 attached so as to close an opening 1 of a fuel tank 2 and the terminal 5 provided to the lid 3, the terminal 5 includes a plate-like outer terminal part 5a at least part of which is exposed outside the fuel tank 2 and a bar-like inner terminal part 5b at least part of which is exposed in the fuel tank 2. The outer terminal part 5a and the inner terminal part 5b are connected and fixed, and the sectional shape of the inner terminal part 5b is made circular. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2008,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to a lid structure of a liquid level detecting device including a fuel tank having an opening, a lid mounted so as to close the opening, and a terminal provided on the lid.

The lid structure of this type of liquid level detection device is obtained by integrally forming a metal terminal on a resin lid (flange) in the liquid level detection device (see, for example, Patent Document 1).
Japanese Utility Model Publication No. 62-121514

  By the way, in the lid structure of the conventional liquid level detection device, the lid is molded using a thermosetting resin together with the metal terminal. Due to this molding, there is a problem that the terminal is deformed in a direction perpendicular to the longitudinal direction due to the stress of the resin, and as a result, the lid is deformed.

  Accordingly, an object of the present invention is to provide a lid structure of a liquid level detection device capable of suppressing deformation of a terminal due to a stress of a resin, and thus suppressing deformation of the lid.

  In order to achieve the above object, the present invention provides a lid structure of a liquid level detection device comprising a lid mounted so as to close an opening of a fuel tank, and a terminal provided on the lid. A plate-like outer terminal portion that is partially exposed outside the fuel tank and a rod-shaped inner terminal portion that is partially exposed inside the fuel tank, and connects the outer terminal portion and the inner terminal portion. While fixing, the cross-sectional shape of the said inner side terminal part is made into the shape which cannot change easily to the orthogonal | vertical direction with respect to the longitudinal direction of the said inner side terminal part.

  The inner terminal portion has a circular cross-sectional shape.

  Further, a sealing material is provided between the outer terminal portion and the lid.

  According to the first aspect of the present invention, there is provided a lid structure of a liquid level detection device capable of achieving an intended purpose, suppressing deformation of a terminal due to resin stress, and thus suppressing deformation of the lid. Can be provided.

  According to the second aspect, a complicated operation is not required to form the inner terminal portion, and an increase in manufacturing cost can be suppressed.

  According to claim 3, in addition to the effects of claims 1 and 2, a liquid capable of preventing fuel from leaking out of the fuel tank from between the terminal and the lid made of resin. The lid structure of the surface detection device can be provided.

  Hereinafter, the lid structure of the liquid level detection device according to the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.

  The lid structure of the liquid level detection device of the present embodiment is applied to a fuel tank used for storing liquid fuel in a vehicle such as an automobile. The fuel tank 2 has an opening 1. A lid 3 that is mounted so as to close the opening 1, a packing 4 that seals between the opening 1 and the lid 3, and a terminal 5 that is provided on the lid 3 are provided.

  The fuel tank 2 is made of metal and stores liquid fuel such as gasoline therein. The fuel tank 2 is provided with an opening 1. The opening 1 has a circular shape, and a liquid level detection device or a pump module (not shown) is inserted into the fuel tank 2 through the opening 1.

  The lid 3 is a circular plate-like body made of synthetic resin. The lid 3 closes the circular opening 1. In the present embodiment, a holding portion 3 a that holds a liquid level detection device (not shown) is formed to protrude from the lower surface of the lid 3. The holding portion 3a has a rectangular cross section. In addition, on the upper portion of the lid body 3, there is provided an unbroken collar portion 3 b that extends in the circumferential direction.

  The packing 4 prevents the permeation of fuel and is made of, for example, fluororubber. The packing 4 has a thick flat ring shape, and when the lid 3 is attached to the fuel tank 2, it is located on the outer periphery of the lid and below the flange 3b. 1 and the lid 3 are provided so as to close the gap.

  The terminal 5 is composed of an outer terminal portion 5a and an inner terminal portion 5b, and each is made of metal mainly composed of copper. The outer terminal portion 5a and the inner terminal portion 5b are connected and fixed by welding.

  The outer terminal portion 5a is a plate-like body and is formed by pressing or the like. A part of the outer terminal portion 5 a is exposed to the outside of the fuel tank 2, in other words, a part of the outer terminal part 5 a is embedded in the lid 3 and a part of the outer terminal part 5 a is exposed to the outside of the fuel tank 2. A connector (not shown) is connected to a portion where the outer terminal portion 5a is exposed, and is electrically connected to the outside. In the present embodiment, a bent portion 5a1 bent in the left direction in FIG. 2 is provided at a portion where the outer terminal portion 5a is exposed. Moreover, the through-hole 5a2 which penetrated was provided in the embedded part in the cover body 3 of the outer side terminal part 5a. The resin constituting the lid body 3 enters the through hole 5a2, and the outer terminal portion 5a is fixed to the lid body 3 while preventing displacement. In the present embodiment, the shape of the through hole 5a2 is circular. However, the shape of the through hole 5a2 is not limited to a circle, and can be arbitrarily set. In addition, the number of through holes 5a2 can be arbitrarily set. Further, a sealing material (not shown) is provided between the outer terminal portion 5a and the lid body 3 to prevent fuel from leaking out of the fuel tank from between the outer terminal portion 5a and the lid body 3. It is.

  The inner terminal portion 5b is rod-shaped and has a shape that is not easily deformed in the vertical direction with respect to the longitudinal direction thereof. In the present embodiment, the cross-sectional shape in the direction perpendicular to the longitudinal direction is circular. A linear material having a circular cross-sectional shape is cut into a predetermined length. A part of the inner terminal portion 5 b is exposed in the fuel tank 2, in other words, a part of the inner terminal part 5 b is embedded in the lid body 3 and a part of the inner terminal part 5 b is exposed inside the fuel tank 2. In particular, the inner terminal portion 5 b is embedded in the holding portion 3 a portion of the lid 3. A liquid level detecting device (not shown) is connected to and electrically connected to the exposed portion of the inner terminal portion 5b. In the present embodiment, chamfering is applied to the tip of the exposed portion of the inner terminal portion 5b so that the connection with the liquid level detection device is easy. Note that the sealing material is not provided between the inner terminal portion 5 b and the lid 3.

  As described above, the terminal 5 includes the outer terminal portion 5a and the rod-shaped inner terminal portion 5b, and the outer terminal portion 5a and the inner terminal portion 5b are connected and fixed, and the inner terminal portion 5b has a cross-sectional shape that is the inner terminal portion. Since the shape is difficult to be deformed in the direction perpendicular to the longitudinal direction of 5b, even if the cover is used together with the terminal 5, the terminal, particularly the inner terminal portion 5b is not easily deformed by the stress of the resin, and thus the lid The deformation of the body 3 can be suppressed.

  Moreover, since the cross-sectional shape of the inner terminal portion 5b is circular as in the present embodiment, by forming the circular linear material by cutting, for example, depending on the model, the holding portion 3a of the lid body 3 When the lengths are different, the length of the linear material can be changed as appropriate to cope with the length of the holding portion 3a of the lid 3 of the model to be applied. In the case of a plate-like terminal as in the prior art, a die for pressing the terminal for each model to be applied is required. According to this embodiment, the terminal is pressed for each model to be applied. A mold is not required, and the manufacturing cost can be reduced. Furthermore, by making the cross-sectional shape of the inner terminal portion 5b circular, complicated work such as press work can be eliminated to obtain a circular end surface shape, and an increase in manufacturing cost can be suppressed.

  Further, as described above, by providing the sealing material between the outer terminal portion 5a and the lid body 3, the fuel is supplied from the terminal 5 (outer terminal portion 5a) and the lid body 3 to the fuel tank 2. It is possible to prevent leakage to the outside.

  The cross-sectional shape that is difficult to be deformed in the vertical direction with respect to the longitudinal direction of the inner terminal portion 5b is not limited to a circle, but a square as shown in FIG. 4 or a U-shape as shown in FIG. A shape, a V shape (L shape) as shown in FIG. 6, a U shape as shown in FIG. In addition, a semicircular arc shape may be sufficient as a modification of U shape shown in FIG.

Sectional drawing of the cover body structure of the liquid level detection apparatus of the 1st Embodiment of this invention. Sectional drawing of the AA line in FIG. Sectional drawing of the BB line in FIG. Sectional drawing of the modification of an inner side terminal part. Sectional drawing of the modification of an inner side terminal part. Sectional drawing of the modification of an inner side terminal part. Sectional drawing of the modification of an inner side terminal part.

Explanation of symbols

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Opening 2 Fuel tank 3 Cover body 5 Terminal 5a Outer terminal part 5b, 15b, 25b, 35b, 45b Inner terminal part

Claims (3)

In a lid structure of a liquid level detection device comprising a lid mounted so as to close an opening of a fuel tank and a terminal provided on the lid, a part of the terminal is exposed outside the fuel tank. A plate-shaped outer terminal portion and a rod-shaped inner terminal portion that is partially exposed in the fuel tank, and connecting and fixing the outer terminal portion and the inner terminal portion, and a cross-sectional shape of the inner terminal portion The lid structure of the liquid level detection device is characterized in that the shape is difficult to deform in a direction perpendicular to the longitudinal direction of the inner terminal portion. The lid structure of the liquid level detection device according to claim 1, wherein the inner terminal portion has a circular cross-sectional shape. The lid structure of the liquid level detection device according to claim 1, wherein a sealing material is provided between the outer terminal portion and the lid.

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