JP2009209842A - Pump module - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a pump module easily installable in a fuel tank by passing through an opening in the upper surface of the fuel tank while having a large-sized suction filter. <P>SOLUTION: In this pump module 10, the minimum value of the distance between a pair of tangents of a profile line C which simultaneously involves a plate 70 for holding a fuel pump 30 and the suction filter 40 is larger than the diameter D of the opening 102 of the fuel tank 100, the pair of tangents being opposed to each other with respect to the profile line C and parallel to each other. The suction filter 40 is formed foldably about a predetermined bent line B on the suction filter 40. The position of the bent line B is so set that the minimum distance when the suction filter 40 is folded is smaller than the diameter dimension of the opening 102. Consequently, the pump module 10 is easily installable in the fuel tank 100 by passing through the opening 102 formed in the fuel tank 100 while having the large-sized suction filter. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2009,JPO&INPIT

Description

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, a so-called in-tank type pump module that is installed in a fuel tank of a vehicle or the like and sucks and discharges fuel in the fuel tank by a fuel pump and sends it out of the fuel tank is known. The pump module combines a fuel pump, a suction filter, a fuel filter and the like into one part. A suction filter is attached to the suction side of the fuel pump, and a fuel filter is attached to the discharge side of the fuel pump. The fuel that has passed through the fuel filter is sent out of the fuel tank. The fuel tank may be formed in a flat shape having a low height in response to a restriction on an installation space in a vehicle on which the fuel tank is mounted, in particular, a restriction on a height direction dimension of the vehicle. For the pump module used in such a fuel tank, it is required to reduce the height direction, that is, the vertical dimension. On the other hand, the fuel pump provided in the pump module is generally a centrifugal pump driven by a motor, that is, a pump in which the impeller is fixed to one end of a rotor shaft that is a drive shaft of the motor and the pump shape is an elongated cylindrical shape. . If such a fuel pump is placed vertically, that is, if the axial direction of the rotor shaft is aligned with the vertical direction of the vehicle, the vertical dimension of the pump module becomes large and cannot be installed in a flat fuel tank. Therefore, in the flat fuel tank pump module, it is considered that the fuel pump rotor shaft is set in the horizontal direction of the vehicle, in other words, in the direction along the bottom surface of the flat fuel tank. (See Patent Document 1).
JP 2004-137986 A

  In the pump module of the above-mentioned patent document, a fuel filter is provided, and a flange is further provided on the downstream side of the fuel filter. The flange is attached so as to close an opening hole provided in the upper surface of the fuel tank, includes a fuel passage for sending the fuel that has passed through the fuel filter out of the fuel tank, and holds the pump module. The pump module of the above-mentioned patent document includes a sub-tank having a bottomed opening, and a fuel pump, a suction filter, and a fuel filter are accommodated in the sub-tank. The sub tank is formed in a shape that can pass through the opening hole of the fuel tank, and the pump module is installed in the fuel tank by inserting the sub tank into the fuel tank through the opening hole. Since the sub-tank is always filled with fuel, the fuel pump can easily suck the fuel through the suction filter.

  There is also a pump module that does not include a sub tank. In this case, the fuel pump needs to suck the fuel in the fuel tank directly through the suction filter. In a flat fuel tank, when the amount of fuel decreases, a part of the suction filter may be exposed outside the fuel when the vehicle is inclined. Therefore, in a pump module that does not include a sub-tank, it is necessary to enlarge the suction filter so that the fuel can be reliably sucked up regardless of the vehicle inclination direction. Further, the fuel pump is placed horizontally corresponding to the flat fuel tank. Since the suction filter is increased in size and the fuel pump is placed horizontally, the size of the pump module, that is, the planar shape when installed on the bottom surface of the fuel tank, is the opening on the upper surface of the fuel tank. It becomes larger than the hole, making it difficult to install the pump module in the fuel tank.

  The present invention has been made in view of the above problems, and provides a pump module that can be easily installed in a fuel tank by passing through an opening hole on the upper surface of the fuel tank while having a large suction filter. For the purpose.

  In order to achieve the above object, the present invention employs the following technical means.

  A pump module according to claim 1 of the present invention is a fuel pump that is installed in a fuel tank and supplies fuel inside the fuel tank to the outside, and a suction filter that is provided on the suction side of the fuel pump and filters the fuel. The pump module includes a fuel tank that is inserted into the fuel tank through an opening provided in the upper wall of the fuel tank in a state where the fuel tank is mounted on the vehicle, and is a wall facing the upper wall. The minimum distance that is the minimum value of the distance between a pair of tangents that are installed on the lower wall of the fuel tank and that are tangents of the contour line of the planar shape on the lower wall and that are opposed to each other across the contour line and parallel to each other is an opening hole When the fuel pump is installed in the fuel tank, the rotor shaft of the drive motor is substantially parallel to the lower wall, and the suction filter is It is formed so as to be foldable around a predetermined folding line on the filter, and the folding line position is set so that the minimum distance when the suction filter is folded around the folding line is smaller than the diameter dimension of the opening hole. It is characterized by that.

  In the above-described configuration, when the suction filter is folded around the predetermined folding line on the suction filter by the action of an external force, the planar shape of the pump module is partially reduced as compared to before folding. As a result, the minimum distance, which is the minimum value of the distance between a pair of tangents that are tangent to the pump module planar shape contour line, are opposed to each other across the contour line, and are parallel to each other, is smaller than the diameter dimension of the aperture. Then, the pump module can pass through the opening hole of the fuel tank by moving the pump module in the tangential direction when the distance between the pair of tangents becomes the minimum value. That is, the pump module can be inserted into the fuel tank through the opening hole on the upper surface of the fuel tank by folding the suction filter with some means by applying an external force. When the external force applied to the suction filter is removed after the pump module enters the fuel tank, the suction filter expands and returns to its original shape.

  As described above, a pump module that can be easily installed in the fuel tank through the opening hole on the upper surface of the fuel tank can be provided.

  The pump module according to claim 2 of the present invention is characterized in that the folding line is substantially parallel to the rotor shaft.

  The fuel pump is formed in a cylindrical shape extending in the axial direction of the rotor shaft of the motor. For this reason, as a fuel pump alone, when passing through the opening hole of the fuel tank, the movement along the axial direction of the rotor shaft is more difficult to move in the direction perpendicular to the axial direction of the rotor shaft. Easy to pass. That is, when the fuel pump passes through the opening hole, the gap between the fuel pump and the opening hole is large. Therefore, by forming the folding line of the suction filter parallel to the rotor shaft of the fuel pump, the pump module can pass through the opening of the fuel tank with the suction filter folded more reliably.

  Hereinafter, an embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings, taking as an example a case where the present invention is applied to a pump module 10 attached to a fuel tank 100 mounted on an automobile.

  As shown in FIG. 1, the pump module 10 according to an embodiment of the present invention is configured as a single component by integrating the flange 20, the fuel pump 30, the suction filter 40, the fuel filter 40, and the like. As shown in FIG. 1, the pump module 10 is fixed to the fuel tank 100 by fixing the flange 20 to the upper wall 101 while fitting the flange 20 into a fitting hole 102 provided in the upper wall 101 of the fuel tank 100. .

  The fuel tank 100 is made of, for example, a resin material. In the state where the fuel tank 100 is mounted on the automobile, the upper side of FIG. 1 is the upper side of the automobile. That is, the pump module 10 is attached to the upper wall 101 on the upper side when the fuel tank 100 is mounted on an automobile.

  Below, the structure of the pump module 10 is demonstrated.

  The flange 20 is formed in a disk shape by molding a resin material, and has a discharge port 22 and an electrical connector 23. The discharge port 22 is a fuel outlet as the fuel tank 100. From here, the fuel pressurized by the fuel pump 30 provided in the pump module 10 is delivered. The electrical connector 23 is for supplying electric power to a drive motor (not shown) of the fuel pump 30 described later. As shown in FIG. 1, the flange 20 is provided with a fitting portion 21. The fitting portion 21 is formed in a flat cylindrical shape coaxial with the flange 20. The fitting portion 21 is formed in a shape that fits into a circular opening hole 102 provided in the upper wall 101 of the fuel tank 100. As shown in FIG. 1, a fuel filter 50 is provided inside the fuel tank 100 of the flange 20. The fuel filter 50 incorporates a filter medium (not shown) made of, for example, non-woven fabric and collects foreign matters in the fuel by passing fuel discharged from a fuel pump 30 (described later) provided in the pump module 10. It is for cleaning. As shown in FIG. 1, the inlet 51 of the fuel filter 50 communicates with the discharge port of the fuel pump 30 via a connection pipe 90. As shown in FIG. 1, the outlet 52 of the fuel filter 50 communicates with the discharge port 22 of the flange 20. The connection pipe 90 is formed from a resin or rubber pipe.

The fuel pump 30 includes a motor (not shown) therein, and an impeller is fixed to a rotor shaft (not shown) that is a shaft of a rotor of the motor. When electric power is supplied to the motor and the rotor shaft rotates to drive the impeller, the fuel pump 30 sucks fuel from the suction port 31, pressurizes the sucked fuel, and discharges it from the discharge port 32. With the pump module 10 attached to the fuel tank 100, the fuel pump 30 is arranged with the central axis R of the rotor shaft (not shown) parallel to the lower wall 103 of the fuel tank 100, as shown in FIG. (So-called fuel pump horizontal type). The fuel pump 30 is fixed to the plate 70 as shown in FIG. The plate 70 is formed by molding a resin material. As shown in FIG. 1, the plate 70 is held by the flange 20 via a support column 80 and a spring 90. The column 80 is formed in a round bar shape from a metal material. As shown in FIG. 1, one end of the support column 80 is fixed to the flange 20, and the other end of the support column 80 is fitted in the hole 71a of the support portion 71 of the plate 70 so as to be movable in the axial direction. Yes. With this structure, the plate 70 can be adjusted with respect to the flange 20 in the vertical direction of the fuel tank 100, that is, in the vertical direction in FIG. Between the support portion 71 of the plate 70 and the flange, a spring 90 is arranged coaxially with the support 80 on the outer peripheral side of the support 80. A coil spring is used as the spring 90. Since the spring 90 is mounted in a compressed state, the spring 90 always urges the plate 70 downward in FIG. 1, in other words, toward the lower wall 103 of the fuel tank 100. As a result, the plate 70, that is, the fuel pump 30 is always placed in a state of being pressed against the lower wall 103 of the fuel tank 100.

  A suction filter 40 is attached to the suction port 31 of the fuel pump 30 as shown in FIG. The suction filter 40 is for capturing foreign matter contained in the fuel in the fuel tank 100 and preventing the foreign matter from being sucked into the fuel pump 30. The pump module 10 according to an embodiment of the present invention does not include a sub tank that houses the fuel pump 30 and the suction filter 40. Therefore, the shape of the suction filter 40 is increased so that the fuel pump 30 can reliably suck the fuel even if the attitude of the fuel tank 100 changes with the attitude change of the automobile while the automobile is running and the liquid level is inclined. It is set. That is, the shape of the suction filter 40 is set so as to contact a wider range on the lower wall 103 of the fuel tank 100.

  The pump module 10 according to an embodiment of the present invention is installed in the fuel tank 100. Specifically, the plate 70 holding and fixing the fuel pump 20 and the suction filter 40 are in close contact with the lower wall 103 of the fuel tank 100. The planar shape of the pump module 10 in FIG. 2 is a shape that simultaneously includes the contour line of the suction filter 40 and the contour line of the plate 70 in FIG. That is, the outline C is indicated by a solid line in FIG. As shown in FIG. 3, the minimum value of the distance between the tangents of the pair of contour lines C that are opposed to each other with the contour line C therebetween and parallel to each other is a distance L3. In the pump module 10 according to the embodiment of the present invention, since the shape of the suction filter 40 is large as described above, the distance L3 is larger than the diameter D of the opening hole 102 of the fuel tank 100. Yes. Accordingly, the pump module 10 cannot pass through the opening hole 102 of the fuel tank 100 if the pump module 10 remains in a planar shape when installed in the fuel tank 100. In other words, the fuel tank 100 cannot be mounted.

  Therefore, in the pump module 10 according to the embodiment of the present invention, the suction filter 40 is configured to be foldable along the folding line B on the suction filter 40. As a result, when the pump module 10 is mounted in the fuel tank 100, the planar shape of the pump module 10 is temporarily changed to a shape that can pass through the opening 102 of the fuel tank 100 by folding the suction filter 40. Thus, it can be inserted into the fuel tank 100.

  Below, the structure of the suction filter 40 which is the characteristic of the pump module 10 by one Embodiment of this invention is demonstrated.

  As shown in FIG. 4, the suction filter 40 includes a bag-like filter element 41 and a frame body 42 that is disposed so as to be wrapped inside the filter element 41 and that supports the filter element 41. The suction filter 40 has a substantially L-shaped planar shape as shown in FIG. As a result, the area on the lower wall 103 of the fuel tank 100, that is, the area that acts as a fuel inlet is increased. The filter element 41 is formed from a woven fabric made of a chemical fiber or the like. The frame body 42 is formed in a substantially ladder shape as shown in FIG. 4 by molding a resin material. The frame body 42 includes a flexible portion 44 that is adjacent to the frame portion 43 in the middle of the frame portion 43 and has lower rigidity than the frame portion 43. As shown in FIG. 5, the flexible portion 44 is formed thinner than the frame portion 43 (that is, t <b> 2 <t <b> 1), whereby the rigidity of the flexible portion 44 is the rigidity of the frame portion 43. Is lower than. As shown in FIG. 4, one flexible portion 44 is provided at each end of the frame body 42.

  Here, a case where an external force F acts on the suction filter 40 is considered. Specifically, when an external force F acts in the thickness direction of the frame portion 43 as shown in FIG. 5 at the free end of the frame 42 opposite to the side connected to the suction port 31 of the fuel pump 30. think of. The suction filter 40 can be regarded as a cantilever whose one end is connected to and supported by the suction port 31 of the fuel pump 30. Therefore, when an external force F acts on the free end of the suction filter 40, bending stress is generated in the suction filter 40, specifically, the frame body 42. At this time, if the rigidity of the frame body 42 is uniform, the frame body 42 is deformed into an arcuate arc shape. However, in the suction filter 40 that is a feature of the pump module 10 according to the embodiment of the present invention, the frame body 42 is provided with a flexible portion 44 having lower rigidity than the surroundings. That is, since the rigidity of the frame body 42 is not uniform, the amount of deformation of the flexible portion 44 increases, and the flexible portion 44 is intensively elastically deformed in the direction indicated by the arrow in FIG. It bends in the plate | board thickness direction along the folding line B shown in FIG. Since the filter element 41 disposed outside the frame body 42 is formed of a woven fabric made of chemical fiber or the like and has flexibility, it easily follows the elastic deformation of the frame body 42. Thereby, the suction filter 40 is folded along the folding line B. Here, the flexible portion 44 formed on the frame body 42 performs a function of easily elastically deforming the frame body 42, that is, a function of a notch for inducing stress concentration. On the other hand, when the external force F no longer acts, the flexible portion 44 is restored to its original straight shape by its elastic force. That is, the suction filter 40 is extended in a planar shape as shown in FIG.

  A shape when the suction filter 40 is folded along the folding line B by applying an external force F to the suction filter 40 is indicated by a two-dot chain line in FIG. FIG. 2 shows a state in which the portion below the folding line B of the suction filter 40 stands up on the upper side of the drawing. In other words, the portion below the folding line B of the suction filter 40 is rotated 90 degrees around the folding line B. The contour line of the pump module 10 when a part of the suction filter 40 is folded along the folding line B is the contour line D in FIG. As shown in FIG. 6, the minimum value of the distance between the tangent lines of the pair of contour lines D that are opposed to each other with the contour line D in between and parallel to each other is a distance L2. The distance L2 is smaller than the diameter D of the opening hole 102 of the fuel tank 100. Therefore, the pump module 10 can pass through the opening hole 102 of the fuel tank 100 in a state where a part of the suction filter 40 is folded along the folding line B. That is, the pump module 10 can be mounted in the fuel tank 100. After the suction filter 40 passes through the opening hole 102 of the fuel tank 100, when the external force F that folded the suction filter 40 is removed, the flexible portion 44 is restored to the original straight shape by the elastic force. The suction filter 40 is expanded in a planar shape as shown in FIG. 2 and becomes a normal usable state as the suction filter 40.

  In the pump module 10 according to the embodiment of the present invention described above, the contour line C that simultaneously includes the plate 70 holding the fuel pump 30 and the suction filter 40, which is a planar contour line on the lower wall 103 of the fuel tank 100. However, the minimum value of the distance between a pair of contour lines C that are opposed and parallel to each other with the contour line C therebetween is set to be larger than the diameter D of the opening hole 102 of the fuel tank 100, and the fuel pump 30 is connected to the fuel tank 100. The rotor shaft R of the drive motor is substantially parallel to the lower wall in the state of being installed inside, and the suction filter 40 is formed so as to be foldable about a predetermined folding line B on the suction filter 40, and the folding curve B position is The minimum distance when the suction filter 40 is folded about the folding line B is smaller than the diameter dimension of the opening hole 102. And configured to be set so that fence. Accordingly, it is possible to provide the pump module 10 that can be easily installed in the fuel tank 100 through the opening hole 102 of the upper wall 101 of the fuel tank 100 while having a large suction filter.

  In the pump module 10 according to the embodiment of the present invention described above, the plate thickness of the flexible portion 44 provided on the frame body 42 of the suction filter 40 is made thinner than that of the frame portion 43. Both may be set smaller than the frame portion 43.

  Moreover, in the pump module 10 by one Embodiment of this invention demonstrated above, although the planar shape of the suction filter 40 is made into substantially L shape, it does not need to restrict to L shape and may be another shape. Further, the folding curve B when the suction filter 40 is folded when the pump module 10 is installed in the fuel tank 100 is arranged such that the pump module can pass through the opening due to the shape of the suction filter, the diameter of the opening, and the like. It may be set as appropriate.

  In addition, the pump module 10 according to the embodiment of the present invention described above does not include a pressure regulator that adjusts the fuel pressure discharged from the fuel pump 30 to a predetermined value, but may include a pressure regulator. For example, the fuel pump 30 may be installed in the middle of the fuel passage from the discharge port 32 of the fuel pump 30 to the inlet of the fuel filter 50 or may be built in the fuel pump 30.

It is a side view of pump module 10 in one embodiment to which the present invention is applied concretely. It is II arrow directional view in FIG. 2 is a plan view of a suction filter 40 of the pump module 10. FIG. 3 is a plan view illustrating the configuration of a suction filter 40. FIG. It is the VV sectional view taken on the line in FIG. 2 is a plan view of a suction filter 40 of the pump module 10. FIG.

Explanation of symbols

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 10 Pump module 20 Flange 21 Fitting part 22 Discharge port 23 Electrical connector 30 Fuel pump 31 Suction port 32 Discharge port 40 Suction filter 41 Filter element 42 Frame body 43 Frame part 44 Flexible part 45 Connector 50 Fuel filter 51 Inlet 52 Outlet 60 Connection pipe 70 Plate 71 Support part 71a Hole 80 Post 90 Spring 100 Fuel tank 101 Upper surface 102 Open hole 103 Lower wall A Contour line B Folding curve C Contour line D Diameter F External force L1, L2 Distance t1, t2 Plate thickness

Claims (2)

A fuel pump installed in the fuel tank and supplying fuel inside the fuel tank to the outside;
A suction filter provided on the suction side of the fuel pump for filtering fuel,
The fuel tank is inserted into the fuel tank through an opening provided in an upper wall of the fuel tank in a state where the fuel tank is mounted on a vehicle, and is disposed under the fuel tank which is a wall facing the upper wall. Installed on the wall,
The minimum distance, which is the minimum value of the distance between a pair of tangent lines that are tangent to a planar contour line on the lower wall and are opposed to each other with the contour line in between and parallel to each other, is larger than the diameter dimension of the opening hole. Set larger,
In the state where the fuel pump is installed in the fuel tank, the rotor shaft of the drive motor is substantially parallel to the lower wall,
The suction filter is formed to be foldable around a predetermined folding line on the suction filter,
The pump module according to claim 1, wherein the folding line position is set such that the minimum distance when the suction filter is folded with the folding line as an axis is smaller than a diameter dimension of the opening hole.   The pump module according to claim 1, wherein the folding line is substantially parallel to the rotor shaft.

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