JP2009068667A - Fuel cutoff valve - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To improve assembly workability of a casing body and bottom plate when assembling a casing of a fuel cutoff valve. <P>SOLUTION: A fuel cutoff valve 10 primarily comprises a casing 20, a float mechanism 50 and spring 70. The casing 20 consists of a casing body 30 and a bottom plate 35. An engaging hole provided in the casing body 30 includes a hole guide part whose hole width gets smaller in an inserting direction so that an engaging claw is guided to the hole guide part for leading to the circumferential center to be engaged with it. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2009,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to a fuel cutoff valve that is attached to an upper part of a fuel tank and that opens and closes a connection passage that connects the inside and outside of the fuel tank to cut off communication between the fuel tank and the outside.

  Conventionally, this type of fuel shut-off valve allows fuel vapor to escape to the canister during refueling, and prevents the fuel from flowing out by closing the connection passage when fuel is supplied to a predetermined liquid level. Yes. In such a fuel cutoff valve, a float is disposed in a valve chamber of a casing, and a connection passage to the outside is opened and closed by raising and lowering by float buoyancy. The float is seated on the bottom plate by engaging the engaging claw of the bottom plate with the engaging hole of the casing body (Patent Documents 1 and 2).

  However, in the prior art, as shown in FIG. 12 (cross-section of FIG. 4B-B), the width W of the engagement hole 132b of the casing main body 130 (distance between the side surfaces 133 of the engagement holes) is not changed. Since the claw 135a is also rectangular, when the center of the engagement claw 135a of the bottom plate 135 is slightly displaced from the center of the engagement hole 132b of the casing body 130 when assembled as shown in FIG. There is a problem that 135a cannot be inserted into the engagement hole 132b in the insertion direction F.

JP 2001-82270 A JP 2007-120490 A

  An object of the present invention is to provide a fuel cutoff valve that improves the assemblability of the bottom and the casing, in view of solving the problems of the conventional technology.

The present invention, which has been made to solve the problems, is characterized by claim 1 or claim 2.

  When fuel is supplied to a fuel tank using the fuel cutoff valve according to the present invention and reaches a predetermined liquid level in the fuel tank, the float rises by buoyancy due to the fuel flowing into the valve chamber. The float 51 is disposed in the valve chamber 30 </ b> S by engaging the casing body 30 and the bottom plate 35. And since the hole guide part 32d is formed in the engagement hole 35a of the casing main body 30, even if the center of the engagement claw 35a and the center of the engagement hole 32b generate | occur | produce, the engagement claw 35a is engaged. Guided to the center of the joint hole 32b, the assembling property can be improved. Further, the same effect can be obtained by providing a claw guide portion 35Be on the engagement claw 35Ba. Furthermore, when the guide portion is provided for both the engaging claw and the engaging hole, a region for correcting the circumferential displacement is widened, and the assembling property is further improved.

In order to further clarify the configuration and operation of the present invention described above, preferred embodiments of the present invention will be described below.
A. First Embodiment (1) Schematic Configuration of Fuel Shutoff Valve 10 FIG. 1 is a side view showing a fuel shutoff valve 10 attached to an upper portion of a fuel tank FT of an automobile according to an embodiment of the present invention, and FIG. 10 is a plan view, and FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view taken along line 3-3 in FIG. In FIG. 1, the surface of the fuel tank FT is formed of a composite resin material containing polyethylene, and a mounting hole FTb is formed in the tank upper wall FTa. A fuel shut-off valve 10 is attached to the tank upper wall FTa in a state where the lower part thereof enters the attachment hole FTb. The fuel cutoff valve 10 regulates the flow of fuel in the fuel tank FT to the canister when the vehicle is tilted or swings.

(2) Configuration of Each Part of Fuel Shutoff Valve 10 In FIG. 3, the fuel cutoff valve 10 includes a casing 20, a float mechanism 50, and a spring 70 as main components. The casing 20 includes a casing main body 30, a bottom plate 35, and a lid body 40. A space surrounded by the casing main body 30 and the bottom plate 35 is a valve chamber 30S, and the valve chamber 30S is supported by a spring 70. The float mechanism 50 is accommodated.

  FIG. 4 is an exploded sectional view of the fuel cutoff valve 10. The casing body 30 has a cup shape surrounded by a ceiling wall portion 31 and a side wall portion 32, and a lower portion thereof is an opening 30a. A passage forming protrusion 31a is formed in the center of the ceiling wall 31 so as to project downward. A connection passage 31b connected to the valve chamber 30S is formed through the passage forming protrusion 31a. Yes. The valve chamber 30S side of the connection passage 31b is a seal portion 31c. The side wall 32 is formed with a vent hole 32a for connecting the inside of the fuel tank FT and the valve chamber 30S, and an engagement hole 32b for attaching the bottom plate 35 is formed. The bottom plate 35 is a member that closes the opening 30 a of the casing body 30, and the engagement claw 35 a formed on the outer peripheral portion of the bottom plate 35 engages with the engagement hole 32 b of the casing body 30, thereby opening the opening 30 a of the casing body 30. It is mounted to close. On the upper surface of the bottom plate 35, a spring support portion 35 c for supporting the communication hole 35 b and the lower end of the spring 70 is formed.

  FIG. 5 is a cross-sectional view taken along the line BB in FIG. In FIG. 5, a hole guide portion 32 d is formed so that the engagement hole 32 b of the casing body 30 becomes narrower toward the center of the casing body 30.

  The lid body 40 includes a lid body 41, a tube body portion 42 projecting laterally from the center of the lid body 41, a flange 43 formed on the outer periphery of the lid body 41, and a support portion 44, and these are integrated. Forming. The tube part 42 is formed with a lid side passage 42a. One end of the lid side passage 42a is connected to the valve chamber 30S of the casing body 30 through the connection passage 31b, and the other end is on the canister (not shown) side. Connected to. The support portion 44 is a cylindrical body that is formed at the lower portion of the lid main body 41 and that fits and supports the upper portion of the casing main body 30. The support portion 44 is formed with a locking hole 44a. The locking hole 44 a is locked to a locking claw 32 c formed in the side wall portion 32 of the casing body 30, so that the lid body 40 holds the casing body 30. Further, an outer welded portion 43 a that is welded to the tank upper wall FTa of the fuel tank FT is formed at the lower end portion of the flange 43.

  The float mechanism 50 includes a float 51. The float 51 is configured in a container shape including an upper wall portion 51a and a cylindrical side wall 51b formed downward from the outer periphery of the upper wall portion 51a, and the buoyancy for generating buoyancy in the inner space. It is chamber 51S. A guide protrusion 51 c is formed on the outer periphery of the float 51. The guide protrusions 51c are provided on the side wall 51b of the float 51 so as to protrude in eight ribs at equal intervals in the circumferential direction and in a rib shape in the vertical direction. A spring 70 is disposed in the buoyancy chamber 51 </ b> S of the float 51. The spring 70 urges the float 51 upward by being interposed between one end of the float 51 and the upper surface of the bottom plate 35. A substantially conical valve portion 52 projects from the top of the float 51. The valve portion 52 is configured to open and close the connection passage 31b by moving up and down the float 51 to and from the seal portion 31c.

(4) Operation and effect of the embodiment The configuration of the fuel cutoff valve 10 of the above embodiment provides the following effects.
(4) -1 In FIGS. 4 and 6, when the bottom plate 35 is inserted into the casing body 30, the engaging claws 35 a bend and a restoring force (direction F in which the engaging claws 35 a are inserted into the engaging holes 32 b) works. At this time, since the engagement hole 32b has the hole guide portion 32d (guide portion), even if the center of the engagement claw 35a and the center of the engagement hole 32b are misaligned, the engagement claw 35a remains in the hole guide portion. Since it is guided to the circumferential center of the engagement hole 32b by 32d, the assembling property can be improved (the engagement claw 35a is guided in the direction G).

B. Second Embodiment FIG. 7 is a cross-sectional view of a bottom plate 35B according to a second embodiment, corresponding to the CC cross section of the first embodiment and FIG. This embodiment is characterized by a claw guide portion 35Be of the engaging claw 35Ba. As the engagement hole 132b of the casing body 30B, the same one as that of the prior art and FIG. 12 is applied. The claw guide portion 35Be is formed so that the claw width decreases toward the center. Even in this structure, as in the first embodiment, the engagement claw 35Ba is guided toward the circumferential center of the engagement hole by the claw guide portion 35Be (guide portion) of the engagement claw 35Ba, so that the assembly performance is improved. To do.

C. Third Embodiment FIG. 8 is a cross-sectional view of a casing main body 30C and a bottom plate 35C according to a third embodiment, corresponding to the AA cross section of the first embodiment and FIG. This embodiment is different from the first embodiment in that the engaging claw 35Ca is engaged with the engaging hole 32Cb from the inside of the casing body 30C. In this embodiment, as in the first and second embodiments, a guide portion for guiding the engaging claw 35Ca to the center in the circumferential direction of the engaging hole 32Cb may be provided in the engaging claw 35Ca or the engaging hole 32Cb. good.

D. Fourth Embodiment FIG. 9 is a cross-sectional view of a casing body 30D and a bottom plate 35D according to a fourth embodiment, corresponding to the AA cross section of the first embodiment and FIG. This embodiment is different from the first embodiment in that the engagement hole 35Df of the bottom plate 35D is engaged with the engagement claw 32De of the casing body 30D. In this embodiment, contrary to the first and second embodiments, a guide portion for guiding the engagement hole 35Df to the center in the circumferential direction of the engagement claw 32De is provided in the engagement claw 32De or the engagement hole 35Df. And
As an example, the engagement hole 35Df is formed with a hole guide portion 35Dg whose hole width becomes narrower in the radially outward direction (FIG. 10). Since the engagement hole 35Df has the hole guide portion 35Dg, even if the center of the engagement claw 32De and the center of the engagement hole 35Df are misaligned, the engagement hole 35Df is moved by the hole guide portion 35Dg. Since it is guided to the center in the circumferential direction, the assemblability can be improved (the engagement hole 35Df is guided in the direction G). In this embodiment, the hole guide portion 35Dg is provided in the engagement hole 35Df of the bottom plate 35D. However, the engagement hole 35Df is provided in the circumferential direction of the engagement claw 32De in the engagement claw 32De of the casing body 30 as in the second embodiment. You may provide the guide part which guides to the center.

  FIG. 11 is a cross-sectional view of the casing body 30E and the bottom plate 35E according to the fifth embodiment, corresponding to the AA cross section of the first embodiment and FIG. This embodiment is different from the fourth embodiment in that the engagement hole 35Ef is formed at the bottom of the bottom plate 35E. In this case, the engagement hole 35Ef may be formed with a hole guide portion whose hole width is narrowed in the downward direction, or a claw guide portion where the claw width in the circumferential direction of the engagement claw 32Ee is narrowed. May be.

  The present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiments, and can be implemented in various modes without departing from the scope of the invention. For example, you may provide a guide part in both an engaging claw and an engaging hole. In this case, the area for correcting the deviation in the circumferential direction becomes wider, and the assembling property is further improved.

It is a side view which shows the fuel cutoff valve attached to the upper part of the fuel tank of the motor vehicle concerning 1st Example of this invention. It is a top view of a fuel cutoff valve. It is sectional drawing along the AA line of FIG. It is sectional drawing which decomposed | disassembled the fuel cutoff valve. It is sectional drawing along the BB line of FIG. It is explanatory drawing explaining the assembly | attachment operation | movement of the casing main body 30 and the baseplate 35 of 1st Example. It is sectional drawing of the baseplate 35B concerning 2nd Example, and is a figure equivalent to CC cross section of 1st Example and FIG. It is sectional drawing of the casing main body 30C and the bottom plate 35C concerning 3rd Example, It is a figure corresponded in the AA cross section of 1st Example and FIG. It is sectional drawing of casing main body 30D concerning 4th Example, and baseplate 35D, It is a figure equivalent to AA cross section of 1st Example and FIG. It is explanatory drawing explaining the assembly | attachment operation | movement of casing main body 30D and bottom plate 35D of 4th Example. It is sectional drawing of the casing main body 30E concerning 5th Example, and the baseplate 35E, It is a figure corresponded in the AA cross section of 1st Example and FIG. It is sectional drawing of the casing main body 130 concerning a prior art, and is a figure corresponded in 1st Example and BB cross section of FIG. It is explanatory drawing explaining the assembly | attachment operation | movement of the casing main body 130 and the baseplate 135 of a prior art.

Explanation of symbols

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 10 ... Fuel cutoff valve 20 ... Casing 30 ... Casing main body 30B ... Casing main body 30C ... Casing main body 30D ... Casing main body 30E ... Casing main body 30S ... Valve chamber 30a. ..Opening 31 ... Ceiling wall portion 31a ... Passage forming projection 31b ... Connection passage 31c ... Seal portion 32 ... Side wall portion 32a ... Vent hole 32b ... engagement hole 32Cb ... engaging hole 32c ... locking claw 32De ... engaging claw 32Ee ... engaging claw 35 ... bottom plate 35B ... bottom plate 35C ... bottom plate 35D ... bottom plate 35E .. .Bottom plate 35a ... engagement claw 35Ba ... engagement claw
35Ca ... engaging claw 35b ... communication hole 35c ... spring support 35d ... hole guide 35Be ... claw guide 35Df ... engagement hole 35Ef ... engagement hole 35Dg. ..Hole guide part 40 ... Ladder 41 ... Led body 42 ... Tube part 42a ... Ladder side passage 43 ... Flange 43a ... Outer welding part 44 ... Support part 44a ... Locking hole 50 ... Float mechanism 51 ... Float 51S ... Buoyancy chamber 51a ... Upper wall part 51b ... Side wall 51c ... Guide protrusion 52 ... Valve part 70. .. Spring FT ... Fuel tank FTa ... Tank upper wall FTb ... Mounting hole

Claims (3)

A fuel cutoff valve that is mounted on the upper part of the fuel tank (FT) and that opens and closes a connection passage (31b) that connects the inside of the fuel tank (FT) and the outside to cut off the communication between the fuel tank (FT) and the outside. ,
A casing (20) having a valve chamber (30S) connected to the connection passage (31b) and a seal portion (31c) provided facing the connection passage (31b);
It is housed in the valve chamber (30S), moves up and down according to the fuel level in the fuel tank (FT), and opens and closes the connection passage (31b) by being attached to and detached from the seal portion (31c). A float (51) having a valve part (52),
The casing (20) includes a casing body (30) and a bottom plate (35) engaged with the casing body and on which a float (50) is seated,
Engagement holes (32b, 32Cb) are formed in the casing (20), and engagement claws (35a, 35Ba, 35Ca) engageable with the engagement holes (32b, 32Cb) are formed in the bottom plate (35). And
At least one of the engagement hole and the engagement claw is formed with a guide portion (32d, 35Be) for guiding the engagement claw to the center in the circumferential direction of the engagement hole. Fuel shut-off valve. A fuel cutoff valve that is mounted on the upper part of the fuel tank (FT) and that opens and closes a connection passage (31b) that connects the inside of the fuel tank (FT) and the outside to cut off the communication between the fuel tank (FT) and the outside. ,
A casing (20) having a valve chamber (30S) connected to the connection passage (31b) and a seal portion (31c) provided facing the connection passage (31b);
It is housed in the valve chamber (30S), moves up and down according to the fuel level in the fuel tank (FT), and opens and closes the connection passage (31b) by being attached to and detached from the seal portion (31c). A float (51) having a valve part (52),
The casing (20) includes a casing body (30) and a bottom plate (35) engaged with the casing body and on which a float (50) is seated,
The bottom plate (35) is formed with engagement holes (35Df, 35Ef), and the casing (20) is formed with engagement claws (32De, 35Ee) engageable with the engagement holes (35Df, 35Ef).
At least one of the engagement hole and the engagement claw is formed with a guide portion (35Dg) for guiding the engagement hole to the circumferential center of the engagement claw. valve. The fuel cutoff valve according to claim 1 or 2,
A fuel cutoff valve characterized in that both the engagement hole and the engagement claw have guide portions.