JP2007303347A - Fuel supply system - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a fuel supply system suppressing emission of operation sounds produced in the fuel supply system to the outside of a case. <P>SOLUTION: In this fuel supply system 20 installed in a fuel tank and provided with a motor-driven fuel pump 21 delivering fuel in the fuel tank 100 to the outside of the fuel tank 100, the case 41 with the fuel pump 21 stored and an opening part 46a for inserting the power supply connector 73 of the fuel pump 21 formed, and a cover 80 covering the opening part 46a of the case 41, are provided. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2008,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to a fuel supply device that is used while being accommodated in a fuel tank.

  2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, a fuel supply device that is used while being contained in a fuel tank is known (Patent Document 1).

This fuel supply device has a case that houses an electric fuel pump that discharges the fuel in the fuel tank to the outside of the fuel tank, and an electric power supply that supplies electric power to the electric fuel pump on the outer wall surface of the case An opening through which the connector can be inserted is formed. Accordingly, the power feeding connector can be connected to the electric fuel pump while the case is accommodated in the electric fuel pump.
JP 2004-124936 A

  When the conventional fuel supply device is operated, an operation sound (for example, high-frequency sound) is generated from the fuel pump, and the operation sound is discharged out of the case through the opening. When the operating sound is released from the case, there is a problem that the operating sound reaches the vehicle interior.

  In particular, since the opening is formed on the ceiling side end face of the fuel tank of the case, when the liquid level of the fuel in the fuel tank falls, the opening is exposed from the liquid and the operation reaches the vehicle interior The volume of the sound will increase.

  The present invention has been made in view of the above points, and an object of the present invention is to provide a fuel supply device that suppresses release of operating noise generated in the fuel supply device to the outside of the case.

According to the first aspect of the present invention, in the fuel supply device comprising: an electric fuel pump provided in the fuel tank and discharging the fuel in the fuel tank to the outside of the fuel tank;
It is characterized in that a fuel pump is accommodated and a case in which an opening through which a power feed connector of the fuel pump can be inserted is formed, and a cover that covers the opening of the case.

  According to the present invention, since the cover that covers the opening through which the power feeding connector can be inserted is provided in the case that houses the electric fuel pump, the operating noise generated in the case is released outside the case through the opening. Can be suppressed.

  According to a second aspect of the present invention, the cover is formed with a locking portion for locking the lead wire connected to the power supply connector.

  According to the present invention, the lead wire is locked by the locking portion, whereby unnecessary movement of the lead wire due to vibration of the vehicle can be prevented, and consequently problems such as disconnection of the lead wire can be prevented.

  According to a third aspect of the present invention, the locking portion is a hole or a groove formed in the side surface of the cover. According to the present invention, the lead wire can be locked with a simple structure such as a hole or groove on the side surface of the cover, and unnecessary movement of the lead wire due to vehicle vibration can be prevented. As a result, problems such as disconnection of lead wires can be prevented.

  According to the fourth aspect of the present invention, a protrusion is formed in one of the cover and the case, and a fitting hole into which the protrusion is fitted is formed in the other. According to this invention, it can prevent that a cover will slip | deviate from an opening part by the vibration of a vehicle.

  According to the fifth aspect of the present invention, a claw portion that locks the fitting hole when the fitting hole is inserted into the protruding portion is formed at the tip of the protruding portion.

  According to the present invention, it is possible to prevent the cover from being displaced or removed from the opening due to the vibration of the vehicle.

  According to the sixth aspect of the present invention, the cover has a main body that covers the opening of the case, and a collar formed around the main body, and the collar is formed around the opening. A locking claw for locking the collar portion is formed when moved along the outer wall surface of the case while being in contact with the outer wall surface.

  According to the present invention, it is possible to prevent the cover from being displaced or removed from the opening due to the vibration of the vehicle.

  Hereinafter, a plurality of embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.

(First embodiment)
A fuel supply apparatus according to a first embodiment of the present invention is shown in FIG. The pump module 1 includes an attachment member 10, a fuel discharge pipe 14, an electrical connector 70, a metal pipe 13, a spring 12, a sub tank 30, a bellows pipe 15, a fuel supply device 20, and the like.

  The attachment member 10 is formed in a disk shape, and is a lid that covers an opening formed in a ceiling portion of the fuel tank 100 formed of resin. The attachment member 10 is locked and attached to the opening. Other components of the pump module 1 are accommodated in the fuel tank 100. The sub tank 30 is accommodated in the fuel tank 100, and the fuel supply device 20 is accommodated in the sub tank 30.

  A fuel discharge pipe 14 and an electrical connector 70 are integrally molded with the mounting member 10 by resin. Alternatively, the fuel discharge pipe 14 and the electrical connector 70 may be assembled to the mounting member 10 as separate parts. The fuel discharge pipe 14 is a pipe that supplies the fuel in the sub tank 30 sucked and discharged by the fuel pump 21 to the outside of the fuel tank 100. The electrical connector 70 is electrically connected to the power receiving connector 71 through a power supply line 72 and a power supply connector 73, and supplies power to the fuel pump 21.

  One end of the metal pipe 13 is press-fitted into a cylindrical pipe support portion 11 formed on the mounting member 10, and the other end is loosely inserted into a pipe support portion 31 formed on the sub tank 30. The spring 12 biases the attachment member 10 and the sub tank 30 away from each other. With such a configuration, even if the resin fuel tank 100 expands and contracts due to a change in internal pressure or a change in the amount of fuel due to a temperature change, the bottom of the sub tank 30 is brought into the inner bottom of the fuel tank 100 by the biasing force of the spring 12. Always pressed.

  The upper side of the sub tank 30 (the ceiling side of the fuel tank 100) is open. A nozzle section (not shown) is installed outside the bottom side of the sub tank 30. The nozzle portion injects part of the fuel discharged by the fuel pump 21 toward a fuel inflow portion (not shown) formed in the sub tank 30. The fuel in the fuel tank 100 is sucked into the sub tank 30 by the suction pressure generated at this time. The nozzle portion installed in the sub tank 30 constitutes a so-called jet pump. The sub-tank 30 is provided with a valve member (not shown) that prevents the fuel pumped up by the jet pump from flowing out of the sub-tank 30, so that even if the amount of fuel in the fuel tank 100 decreases, the sub-tank 30 The interior of 30 is filled with fuel.

  The fuel supply device 20 includes a fuel pump 21, a suction filter 26, a fuel filter 40, a pressure regulator 60, and the like. The suction filter 26 collects relatively large foreign matters contained in the fuel sucked from the sub tank 30 by the fuel pump 21. The pressure regulator 60 adjusts the pressure of the fuel discharged from the fuel pump 21 and flowing out from the fuel filter 40 to a predetermined pressure. The fuel filter 40 collects relatively small foreign matters contained in the fuel discharged from the fuel pump 21.

  The fuel pump 21 includes an electric motor 22 and a pump unit 23 that is rotationally driven by the electric motor 22. The pump unit 23 is, for example, an impeller having blade pieces on the outer peripheral edge, and a fuel suction force is generated when the impeller is rotationally driven by the electric motor 22. A resin cover 24 that is a part of the pump unit 23 and accommodates the electric motor 22 is provided on the upper portion of the electric motor 22. The resin cover 24 is formed with a discharge portion 25 from which the fuel sucked by the pump portion 23 is discharged. The fuel sucked and pressurized by the fuel pump 21 from the sub tank 30 is discharged from the discharge portion 25 and partly injected from the nozzle portion (not shown) installed outside the bottom side of the sub tank 30. A fuel inflow portion 46 of the filter case 41 is fitted to the inner peripheral side of the discharge portion 25. The inner peripheral wall of the discharge part 25 and the outer peripheral wall of the fuel inflow part 46 of the filter case 41 are sealed with an O-ring.

  In addition to the discharge portion 25, a power receiving connector 71 is formed on the resin cover 24 so as to protrude toward the ceiling of the fuel tank 100. The power receiving connector 71 has a recess for accommodating the power feeding connector 73. The power receiving connector 71 is provided with a snap-fit mechanism that fixes the power feeding connector 73 when the power feeding connector 73 is inserted into the recess. The power supply line 72 is an electric wire that electrically connects the electrical connector 70 and the power supply connector 73.

  The fuel filter 40 includes a filter case 41, a fuel outflow portion 45, and a filter element 48. The snap ring 51 is fitted in the lower opening of the case body 42. The snap ring 51 locks the fuel pump 21 and prevents the fuel pump 21 from dropping from the filter case 41. The filter element 48 is, for example, a filter paper formed on a honeycomb or chrysanthemum, and is accommodated in the filter case 41.

  The filter case 41 as a case described in claim 1 includes a case main body 42 and a lid 46 and is formed in a cylindrical shape. The case body 42 includes an inner cylinder 42 a that covers the outer periphery of the fuel pump 21 and is in contact with the fuel pump 21, an outer cylinder 42 b that is installed on the outer periphery side of the inner cylinder 42 a, and a fuel inflow portion 44. The case main body 42 is integrally formed of resin. A disc-shaped lid 46 is provided on the upper portion of the case body 42.

  The inner cylinder 42a covers the entire circumference of the fuel pump 21, and the outer cylinder 42b is installed on the outer peripheral side of the inner cylinder 42a and covers the entire circumference of the inner cylinder 42a. The bottom part of the inner cylinder 42a and the outer cylinder 42b is couple | bonded. The fuel inflow portion 44 is formed in a cylindrical shape and is integrally formed with the inner cylinder 42a and resin. A check valve 50 is installed in the fuel inflow portion 44. The check valve 50 prevents the fuel discharged from the fuel pump 21 from returning to the fuel pump 21.

  An outlet opening 43 through which the fuel that has passed through the filter element 48 flows out is formed below the outer cylinder 42b of the case body 42. The fuel outflow portion 45 is integrally formed with the outer cylinder 42 b and resin, and the outlet opening 43 is connected to an outflow passage 45 a formed in the fuel outflow portion 45. The fuel from which foreign matters have been removed through the filter element 48 is adjusted to a predetermined pressure by the pressure regulator 60 and flows out from the fuel outflow portion 45. The fuel that has flowed out is discharged from the fuel discharge pipe 14 through the bellows pipe 15.

  The lid portion 46 is formed with an opening 46 a that allows the power feeding connector 73 to be connected to the power receiving connector 71 after the lid portion 46 is attached to the case body 42. 2 and 3, the cover 46 is provided with a cover 80 that covers the opening 46a. The effect by providing the cover 80 which covers the opening part 46a in the cover part 46 is mentioned later.

  The cover 80 includes a cover main body 81 and a collar portion 83. As shown in FIGS. 2 and 3, the cover main body 81 is formed in a dome shape so as to cover the opening 46 a, and four collars 83 are formed around the cover main body 81. Each brim 83 is formed with a fitting hole 84 into which a fitting protrusion 46b provided around the opening 46a can be inserted. By fitting the fitting projection 46 b into the fitting hole 84, the cover 80 can be fixed to the lid portion 46.

  A specific structure for fixing the cover 80 to the lid 46 will be described with reference to FIG. FIG. 4A shows a state before the cover 80 is attached to the lid portion 46, and FIG. 4B shows a state after the cover 80 is attached to the lid portion 46.

  As shown in FIG. 4A, a fitting protrusion 46b is provided around the opening 46a. The fitting protrusion 46b includes a column 46c and a claw 46d, and is integrally formed with the lid 46. At least two struts 46 c and 46 c are provided for one fitting hole 84 formed in the collar portion 83. The two struts 46c and 46c form a set of fitting protrusions 46b. The interval between the two struts 46 c and 46 c is narrower than the hole diameter of the fitting hole 84 in order to insert the two struts 46 c and 46 c into the fitting hole 84. And the nail | claw part 46d and 46d are provided in the front-end | tip of each support | pillar 46c and 46c. The distance from the claw portion 46 d provided on one support column 46 c to the claw portion 46 d provided on the other support column 46 c is larger than the hole diameter of the fitting hole 84.

  The fitting holes 84 can be fitted into the fitting projections 46b by aligning the four fitting holes 84 with the four sets of fitting projections 46b and pushing the collar 83 from above. When the fitting hole 84 is pushed into the fitting projection 46b, the distance between the claw portions 46d and 46d is larger than the hole diameter of the fitting hole 84, so that the columns 46c and 46c supporting the claw portions 46d and 46d are bent. Mu Thereby, the two claw portions 46 d and 46 d can pass through the fitting hole 84. Further, when the fitting hole 84 is pushed in, the claw portions 46d and 46d pass through the fitting hole 84, and the bent columns 46c and 46c return to the original state. As a result, the columns 46 c and 46 c are in a state as shown in FIG. 4B, and the cover 80 is fixed to the lid portion 46. As described above, since the cover 80 is fixed to the lid portion 46, the cover 80 is not displaced from the opening portion 46a or the cover 80 is not detached from the lid portion 46 due to the vibration of the vehicle.

  As shown in FIG. 3, a groove 82 is formed on the side surface of the cover main body 81. The groove 82 is for locking the power supply line 72 that connects the power supply connector 73 and the electrical connector 70. By locking the power supply line 72 with the groove 82, it is possible to prevent the power supply line 72 from moving unnecessarily due to the vibration of the vehicle, so that problems such as disconnection of the power supply line 72 can be prevented. The part for locking the power supply line 72 may not be the groove 82. For example, a hole may be used.

  Next, the function and effect obtained by providing the cover 46 covering the opening 46a on the lid 46 will be described in detail.

  In the fuel pump 21 of the present embodiment, that is, in the fuel pump 21 of a type in which the pump portion 23 made of an impeller having blade pieces on the outer peripheral edge is rotationally driven by the electric motor 22 and sucks fuel, the impeller is rotated at high speed. Then, an operation sound (for example, high frequency sound) is generated from the pump unit 23.

  Further, since the fuel pump 21 is accommodated in the filter case 41, an opening 46 a into which the power supply connector 73 can be inserted is formed in the lid portion 46 of the filter case 41. For this reason, the high frequency sound generated in the pump part 23 is emitted outside the filter case 41 through the opening 46a of the lid part 46, and there is a problem that the emitted high frequency sound reaches the vehicle interior.

  In particular, since the opening 46a is formed on the lid 46, in other words, on the ceiling side of the fuel tank 100, the opening 46a is exposed from the liquid when the fuel level in the fuel tank 100 decreases. As a result, the volume of the high-frequency sound that reaches the passenger compartment increases.

  Therefore, in this embodiment, it is possible to suppress the high-frequency sound generated in the pump unit 23 from being released to the outside of the filter case 41 with a simple structure in which the cover 80 that covers the opening 46a of the lid 46 is provided. .

  The shape of the cover main body 81 may be any shape as long as the opening 46a can be covered. For example, the cross section may be rectangular.

(Second Embodiment)
Next, a fuel supply device according to a second embodiment will be described. Here, only the feature points different from the first embodiment will be described. In addition, the same function thing as 1st Embodiment attaches | subjects the same code | symbol as 1st Embodiment. FIG. 5 is a plan view of the lid portion 46, and FIG. 6 is a side view of the lid portion 46 and the cover 80.

  In the second embodiment, the shape of the cover 80 is different from that of the first embodiment. In particular, the structure for fixing the cover 80 to the lid 46 is different.

  The cover 80 includes a cover body 81 and first to fifth collar portions 83a, 83b, 83c, 83d, and 83e. As shown in FIG. 5, the first to fourth collar portions 83 a, 83 b, 83 c, 83 d are formed one by one at the four corners of the cover body 81. The fifth collar portion 83e is formed between the first and fourth collar portions 83a and 83d.

  On the other hand, the first to fifth collars 83a, 83b, 83c, 83d, and 83e can be locked to the outer wall surface of the lid 46 when the cover 46 covers the opening 46a. Locking claws 47a, 47b, 47c, 47d, and 47e are formed.

  Next, a procedure for attaching the cover 80 to the lid 46 will be described. First, the cover 80 is placed on the cover so that the first collar portion 83a is positioned between the first and second locking claws 47a and 47b, and the fourth collar portion 83d is positioned between the third and fourth locking claws 47c and 47d. 46 is brought into contact with the outer wall surface of 46. At this time, the first to fifth collar portions 83 a, 83 b, 83 c, 83 d, and 83 e are all in contact with the outer wall surface of the lid portion 46. Next, the cover 80 is moved along the lid 46 while the first to fifth collars 83 a, 83 b, 83 c, 83 d, and 83 e are in contact with the outer wall surface of the lid 46. Then, since the first to fifth collar portions 83a, 83b, 83c, 83d, and 83e are locked to the first to fifth locking claws 47a, 47b, 47c, 47d, and 47e, the cover 80 is attached to the lid portion 46. Fixed. At this time, the power supply line 72 is taken out via a groove portion 82 formed on the side surface of the cover 80.

  Even with the cover 80 having such a structure, the cover 80 is not displaced from the opening 46a or the cover 80 is not detached from the lid 46 due to the vibration of the vehicle.

(Third embodiment)
In the first and second embodiments, the embodiment in which the cover 80 is attached to the lid 46, that is, the opening 46a provided in the upper portion of the filter case 41 has been described. Where is the opening 46a provided? There may be.

  For example, the cover 80 is attached to the filter case 41 in which the fuel pump 21 is disposed horizontally and the opening 46 a through which the power supply connector 73 can be inserted is provided in the horizontal direction of the filter case 41. There may be.

  Even with this type of filter case 41, there is an effect of suppressing the release of sound generated from the fuel pump 21.

(Fourth embodiment)
In the first to third embodiments, the case described in claim 1 has been described as the filter case 41 that accommodates the fuel pump 21, the filter element 48, and the like. However, the case described in claim 1 is simply used. It is good also as a case which accommodates only the fuel pump 21. Even if it is attached to the opening 46a formed in this case so as to cover the cover 80 applied in the first to third embodiments, the release of sound generated from the fuel pump 21 can be suppressed.

It is sectional drawing which shows the fuel supply apparatus by 1st Embodiment. It is a top view of the filter case of FIG. It is a side view of the filter case upper part of FIG. (A) is a principal part sectional view of a cover part and a cover which showed the state before attaching a cover to the cover part of a filter case, and (b) is a principal part of a cover part and a cover which showed the state after attachment. FIG. It is a top view of the filter case upper part of the fuel supply apparatus by 2nd Embodiment. It is a side view of the filter case upper part of FIG.

Explanation of symbols

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Pump module, 10 Mounting member, 11 Pipe support part, 12 Spring, 13 Metal pipe, 14 Fuel discharge pipe, 15 Bellows pipe, 20 Fuel supply apparatus, 21 Fuel pump, 22 Electric motor, 23 Pump part, 24 Resin cover, 25 Discharge part, 26 Suction filter, 30 Sub tank, 31 Pipe support part, 40 Fuel filter, 41 Filter case, 42 Case body, 42a Inner cylinder, 42b Outer cylinder, 43 Outlet opening, 44 Fuel inflow part, 45 Fuel outflow part, 45a Outflow passageway, 46 lid portion, 46a opening, 46b fitting protrusion, 46c strut, 46d claw portion, 47a first locking claw, 47b second locking claw, 47c third locking claw, 47d fourth engagement Stopper, 47e Fifth stop pawl, 48 Filter element, 50 Check valve, 51 Snap ring, 60 Pressure regulator, 70 Electrical connector, 71 Power receiving connector, 72 Feed line, 73 Feed connector, 80 Cover, 81 Cover body, 82 Groove, 83 collar, 83a 1st collar, 83b 2nd collar, 83c 3rd collar , 83d Fourth collar part, 83e Fifth collar part, 84 Fitting hole, 100 Fuel tank

Claims (6)

In a fuel supply device comprising an electric fuel pump provided in a fuel tank and discharging the fuel in the fuel tank to the outside of the fuel tank,
A case in which the fuel pump is accommodated and an opening through which a power feeding connector of the fuel pump can be inserted is formed;
A fuel supply device comprising: a cover that covers the opening of the case. The fuel supply device according to claim 1,
The fuel supply apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the cover is formed with a locking portion that locks a lead wire connected to the power supply connector. The fuel supply device according to claim 2,
The fuel supply device according to claim 1, wherein the locking portion is a hole or a groove formed in a side surface of the cover. In the fuel supply device according to any one of claims 1 to 3,
One of the cover and the case is formed with a protrusion, and the other is formed with a fitting hole into which the protrusion is fitted. The fuel supply device according to claim 4, wherein
The fuel supply device according to claim 1, wherein a claw portion that locks the fitting hole when the fitting hole is inserted into the protruding portion is formed at a tip portion of the protruding portion. In the fuel supply device according to any one of claims 1 to 3,
The cover has a cover main body that covers the opening of the case, and a flange formed around the cover main body,
Around the opening is formed a locking claw for locking the collar when the collar is moved along the outer wall of the case while contacting the outer wall of the case. The fuel supply apparatus characterized by the above-mentioned.

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