JP2011025854A - Pipe connector for fuel tank - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To reduce the number of components by eliminating a sealing member from a pipe connector 10 for a fuel tank, and to simplify the constitution of the connector. <P>SOLUTION: This pipe connector 10 for a fuel tank includes a connection body 11 for connecting a fuel supply pipe 11, and a check valve 20 mounted to the connection body 11. The connection body 11 includes a connecting tube 12, a passage forming member 18 having a discharge port 18c integrally formed with the connecting tube 12, and a tank fixing part 14. The check valve 20 has a valve element 27, a spring 28, and a valve supporting member 22 slidably supporting the valve element 27 and supporting one end of the spring 28. The valve supporting member 22 is mounted to the connection body 11 via a valve supporting mechanism. The valve supporting mechanism has a supporting part 19 formed on the connection body 11 side, and a supported part 23 formed on the passage forming member 18 side, and is coupled by a mechanical engagement mechanism with pawls of the supporting part 19 and the supported part 23. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2011,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to a fuel tank pipe connector for connecting a fuel supply pipe for supplying fuel to a fuel tank.

  Conventionally, as this kind of fuel tank pipe connection body, there has been known one provided with a check valve for preventing the fuel from returning to the outside due to the increased tank internal pressure when refueling is stopped. (For example, Patent Documents 1 and 2). The fuel tank pipe connection body includes a connection main body welded to the fuel tank at a flange portion surrounding the tank opening of the fuel tank and connected to the fuel supply pipe, and a check valve attached to the connection main body. . The check valve includes a passage forming member connected to an end of the connection body via a seal member such as an O-ring or by welding such as a laser, a valve body that opens and closes a discharge port of the passage forming member, and a valve body And a spring for biasing the valve in the valve closing direction. In such a configuration, when fuel is supplied from the fuel supply pipe, the fuel flows through the passage of the connection main body and the passage of the passage forming member, and opens the check valve body against the urging force of the spring. To be supplied.

  However, in the conventional technique, the passage forming member and the connection main body are coupled with each other and the sealing property therebetween is secured by a sealing member or laser welding. For this reason, there is a problem that a seal member is required, the welding operation by the laser is troublesome, and the configuration for holding the seal member and the configuration for welding become complicated.

JP 2004-345365 A JP 2008-62878 A

  An object of the present invention is to provide a fuel tank pipe connector having a simple structure while eliminating the sealing member and reducing the number of parts, in view of solving the problems of the conventional technology.

  SUMMARY An advantage of some aspects of the invention is to solve at least a part of the problems described above, and the invention can be implemented as the following forms or application examples.

[Application Example 1]
Application Example 1 is a fuel tank pipe connection comprising a connection body fixed to the fuel tank so as to surround the tank opening of the fuel tank and connecting a fuel supply pipe, and a check valve attached to the connection body. In the body,
The connection body includes a connection pipe having a pipe connected to one end of the fuel supply pipe, a passage forming member formed integrally with the connection pipe and having a passage to the fuel tank, and the connection pipe A flange integrally projecting from the outer peripheral part of the body, and a tank fixing part having a welding end welded to the outer peripheral part of the flange so as to close the tank opening of the fuel tank,
The passage forming member has a discharge port formed at one end of the passage, and a seal portion formed at an opening peripheral portion of the discharge port,
The check valve includes a valve body that opens and closes the discharge port, a spring that urges the valve body in a valve closing direction, a valve support member that supports the valve body slidably and supports one end of the spring. And
The valve support member is externally mounted on the passage forming member and attached to the connection main body via a valve support mechanism. The valve support mechanism includes a support portion formed on the connection main body side, and a valve support member side. It has the formed supported part, It is connected by the engagement mechanism of the said support part and the said supported part, It is characterized by the above-mentioned.

  In the fuel tank pipe connector of Application Example 1, the fuel tank is welded to the fuel tank at the tank fixing portion of the connection body, the fuel pipe is connected to the connection pipe, and the passage forming member is integrally connected to the connection pipe. ing. The discharge port of the passage forming member is opened and closed by a check valve by the fuel flowing through the fuel supply pipe. The check valve includes a valve support member, a valve body, and a spring. The valve support member slidably guides the valve body and urges the valve body in the valve closing direction by supporting one end of the spring.

  Further, the connecting pipe body is sealed to the outside by being welded to the fuel tank at the welding end of the end portion of the flange protruding from the outer peripheral portion thereof. Further, since the passage forming member that is opened and closed by the check valve is formed integrally with the connecting pipe body, there is no connection portion between them, and the discharge port is directly opened and closed by the valve body. Therefore, since the fuel tank pipe connection body is formed with one part between the fuel tank and the discharge port opened and closed by the check valve, it does not require a sealing member such as an O-ring, and the number of parts is reduced. Can be reduced.

  Further, the fuel tank pipe connecting body ensures sealing performance in the passage to the connecting pipe body and the check valve, and does not require sealing performance in the valve support mechanism. It can be easily attached to the connection body by a mechanical engagement mechanism by a valve support mechanism provided with a portion.

[Application Example 2]
In Application Example 2, the support portion includes a support cylinder projecting in a cylindrical shape from the flange with a predetermined gap from the outer peripheral surface of the passage forming member, and a support window notched in the support cylinder. And the supported portion includes a support inner cylinder inserted into the predetermined gap, and a fitting groove that is integral with the support inner cylinder and that fits the support cylinder on an outer peripheral side of the support inner cylinder. And a support outer cylinder formed concentrically, and an engaging claw that is cantilevered on the support outer cylinder and engages with the support cylinder by entering the support window. . In this configuration, the valve support member can regulate the displacement with respect to the shaft by fitting the support tube of the support portion into the fitting groove of the supported portion. Further, since the support outer cylinder is a cylindrical body integrally formed over the entire circumference, an engagement claw formed in a cantilever manner from one end portion of the cylindrical body can be firmly formed, and the valve support member is rattled. It is hard to produce.

[Application Example 3]
In Application Example 3, the valve body includes an upper surface portion having a seat surface that opens and closes the discharge port, and a cylindrical guide tube protruding from an outer peripheral portion of the upper surface portion, and the valve support member includes the guide A plurality of guide members arranged at predetermined intervals on the entire circumference so as to guide the cylinder in the sliding direction; and a bottom support portion connected to one end of the plurality of guide members and supporting one end of the spring. It is the composition which is. With this configuration, the valve support member not only supports the spring that biases the valve body, but also serves as a guide portion that guides the valve body in the opening and closing direction, so the number of parts can be reduced and the configuration can be reduced. It will be easy. Moreover, since the plurality of guide members are arranged so as to surround the outer periphery of the valve body and guide the valve body in the sliding direction, the opening / closing operation can be performed in a stable posture.

It is the schematic which shows the fuel supply apparatus for supplying a fuel to the fuel tank of a motor vehicle. It is sectional drawing to which the fuel tank pipe connection body of the fuel tank was expanded. FIG. 2 is a perspective view showing a fuel tank pipe connector partially broken and exploded. It is a perspective view explaining the vicinity of a valve support mechanism. It is sectional drawing which shows the vicinity of a valve support mechanism. It is explanatory drawing explaining the state before attaching a valve support member to a connection main part. It is explanatory drawing explaining an effect | action of the pipe connection body for fuel tanks. It is sectional drawing which shows the pipe connection body for fuel tanks of the fuel tank concerning another Example.

(1) Schematic Configuration of Refueling Device FS FIG. 1 is a schematic view showing a fueling device FS for supplying fuel to a fuel tank FT of an automobile. As shown in FIG. 1, the fueling device FS is connected to a fuel tank FT, and sends fuel supplied from a fueling gun (not shown) to the fuel tank FT through a fuel supply pipe, and is opened and closed by a fuel cap FC. A filler neck FN having an inlet, a metal or resin inlet pipe IP connected to one end of the filler neck FN, a rubber inlet hose H connected to the inlet pipe IP, and one end of the inlet hose H And a fuel tank pipe connector 10 welded to the fuel tank FT, and a fuel tank pipe connector 10. A check valve 20 is mounted on the fuel tank side of the fuel tank connector 10. The inlet hose H is press-fitted into the fuel tank pipe connector 10 and fastened by a clamp CP. Note that a breather pipe (not shown) is connected to the fuel tank FT at the filler neck FN. With the configuration of the fueling device FS, when the fuel cap FC is removed during fueling and fuel is injected from the fueling gun into the filler neck FN, the fuel flows through the inlet pipe IP, the inlet hose H, and the fuel tank connector 10. Further, the check valve 20 is opened and supplied to the fuel tank FT.

(2) Configuration of Each Unit The configuration of each unit will be described below.
(2) -1 Fuel tank FT
The fuel tank FT is formed of a plurality of resin layers including a barrier layer formed of an ethylene vinyl alcohol copolymer (EVOH) excellent in fuel permeation resistance and an outer layer formed of polyethylene (PE). . A tank opening FTa is formed in the upper part of the side wall of the fuel tank FT, and a fuel tank pipe connector 10 is welded so as to surround the tank opening FTa.

(2) -2 Pipe connection body 10 for fuel tank
FIG. 2 is an enlarged cross-sectional view of the fuel tank pipe connector 10 of the fuel tank FT. The fuel tank pipe connector 10 includes a connection body 11 and a check valve 20. The connection main body 11 includes a connection pipe body 12, a tank fixing portion 14, and a passage forming member 18, which are integrally formed by two-color molding.

  FIG. 3 is a perspective view of the fuel tank pipe connector 10 partially broken and disassembled. The connecting tube 12 includes a tube 12a. Inside the tube body 12a is a passage 12b. One end of the tube body 12a is a retaining portion 12c for retaining the inlet hose H (FIG. 1) by being expanded from the outer peripheral end of the tube body 12a. A flange 12d is formed at the other end of the tube body 12a. The connecting tube 12 is formed of a modified PE and a resin material that reacts and adheres by heat during injection molding, for example, polyamide (PA) such as nylon-12. The tank fixing portion 14 is integrally formed on the outer wall of the connecting pipe body 12 by two-color molding, and has a cylindrical portion 14a, a flange 14b extended from the outer periphery of one end of the cylindrical portion 14a, and an annular end on one end surface of the flange 14b. And a welding end 14c provided in a protruding manner. The tank fixing portion 14 is made of modified polyethylene (hereinafter, modified PE) that can be thermally welded to the fuel tank FT. Modified PE is a resin material in which a polar functional group, for example, a functional group modified with maleic acid is added to polyethylene (PE).

  The passage forming member 18 is formed integrally with the connecting pipe 12 and forms a passage in the fuel tank FT, and includes a passage forming member main body 18a. The passage forming member main body 18a forms a passage 18b connected to the passage 12b. The end of the passage forming member 18 is a seal portion 18d along the discharge port 18c and the peripheral edge of the discharge port 18c, and is opened and closed by a check valve 20.

  In FIG. 2, the check valve 20 mainly includes a valve support member 22 attached to the passage forming member 18 via a valve support mechanism, a valve body 27, and a spring 28. The discharge port 18c at one end is opened and closed by the valve body 27.

  4 is a perspective view illustrating the vicinity of the valve support mechanism, FIG. 5 is a cross-sectional view illustrating the vicinity of the valve support mechanism, and FIG. 6 is an explanatory view illustrating a state before the valve support member 22 is assembled to the connection body 11. is there. The valve support member 22 is externally mounted on the passage forming member 18 and is attached to the connection body 11 via a valve support mechanism. The valve support mechanism includes a support portion 19 formed on the connection body 11 side and a supported portion 23 formed on the passage forming member 18 side, and mechanical engagement by a claw between the support portion 19 and the supported portion 23. It is connected by a joint mechanism. That is, the support portion 19 includes a support cylinder 19a projecting in a cylindrical shape from the flange 14b with a predetermined gap from the outer peripheral surface of the passage forming member 18, and a support window 19b formed in the support cylinder 19a. I have. The supported portion 23 forms a support inner cylinder 23a inserted into the predetermined gap, and a fitting groove 23c that is integral with the support inner cylinder 23a and that fits the support cylinder 19a on the outer peripheral side of the support inner cylinder 23a. A support outer cylinder 23b formed concentrically with the support cylinder 19b, and an engagement claw 23d that is cantilevered on the support outer cylinder 23b and engages with the support cylinder 19a by entering the support window 19b. Both sides of the engaging claw 23d are slits 23e to facilitate elastic deformation of the cantilever claw.

  In FIG. 3, the valve support member 22 is connected and formed at one end of a plurality of guide members 25 and eight guide members 25 arranged at predetermined intervals on the entire circumference so as to guide the valve body 27 in the sliding direction. And a bottom support portion 26 that supports one end of the spring 28. The bottom support portion 26 includes a disk-shaped bottom plate portion 26a, a spring receiving portion 26b that supports one end of the spring 28, and a positioning projection 24c.

  The valve body 27 has a cup shape formed of an upper surface portion 27a and a guide tube 27b, and opens and closes the discharge port 18c when the seat surface 27c is separated from the seal portion. The spring 28 urges the valve body 27 in the valve closing direction, one end is supported by the spring receiving portion 26b of the bottom support portion 26, the positioning is performed by the positioning projection 24c, and the valve body 27 is moved by the other end. Energized.

(3) Assembly of fuel tank pipe connector 10 and attachment to fuel tank FT In FIG. 3, in order to assemble fuel tank pipe connector 10, spring 28 and The valve body 27 is inserted. Next, the support part 19 is inserted in alignment with the fitting groove 23 c of the supported part 23. In such an operation of inserting the support portion 19 into the fitting groove 23c, the engagement claw 23d of the supported portion 23 is elastically deformed, gets over the support engagement portion 19c, and is inserted into the support window 19b. As a result, the valve support member 22 is prevented from being removed from the connection body 11, and the check valve 20 is assembled to the connection body 11.

  As shown in FIG. 1, in order to fix the fuel tank pipe connector 10 to the fuel tank FT, the welding end 14c of the connection body 11 and the peripheral edge of the tank opening FTa of the fuel tank FT are melted by a hot plate or the like. Thereafter, the welding end 14c is pressed against the peripheral edge of the tank opening FTa. Since the outer layer of the fuel tank FT is formed of PE, it is thermally welded to the welding end 14c formed of the modified PE. Further, the inlet hose H is press-fitted into the connection main body 11 of the fuel tank pipe connection body 10 and is further fastened with a clamp CP to connect the inlet hose H to the fuel tank pipe connection body 10.

(4) Operation of fuel tank pipe connector 10 In the configuration of the check valve 20, when the check valve 20 is closed, the fuel and fuel vapor in the fuel tank FT pass through the inlet hose H, the inlet pipe IP, and the like. It is prevented from being released to the outside. On the other hand, when fuel is supplied through the inlet pipe IP, the inlet hose H, and the fuel tank pipe connector 10 during refueling, the fuel passes from the passage 12b of the fuel tank connector 10 to the passage 18b of the passage forming member 18. To reach the valve body 27. Then, when the force from the fuel applied to the valve body 27 exceeds the urging force of the spring 28, the valve body 27 is opened, the fuel is discharged through the discharge port 18c, and further from the gap of the guide member 25 into the fuel tank FT. To be supplied.

(5) Operation and effect of embodiment The following operation and effect are achieved by the configuration of the above embodiment.

(5) -1 In FIG. 2, the connecting pipe body 12 is welded to the fuel tank FT at the welding end 14c at the end of the flange 14b of the tank fixing portion 14 projecting from the outer peripheral portion thereof. Are sealed. Further, since the passage forming member 18 opened and closed by the check valve 20 is formed integrally with the connecting pipe body 12, there is no connection portion therebetween, and the discharge port 18 c is directly opened and closed by the valve body 27. The Therefore, the fuel tank pipe connector 10 is formed as a single part between the fuel tank FT and the discharge port 18c opened and closed by the check valve 20, and does not require a seal member such as an O-ring. The number of parts can be reduced.

(5) -2 In FIG. 3, the fuel tank pipe connecting body 10 ensures sealing performance in the passage to the connecting pipe body 12 and the check valve 20, and does not require sealing performance in the valve support mechanism. The valve support member 22 can be easily attached to the connection body 11 by a mechanical engagement mechanism using a valve support mechanism including the support portion 19 and the supported portion 23.

(5) -3 By fitting the support cylinder 19a of the support portion 19 into the fitting groove 23c of the supported portion 23, the valve support member 22 can regulate the displacement with respect to the shaft. Moreover, since the support outer cylinder 23b is a cylinder integrally formed over the entire circumference, the engagement claw 23d formed cantilevered from one end of the cylinder can be firmly formed, and the valve support member 22 is less likely to rattle.

(5) -4 The valve support member 22 not only supports the spring 28 that urges the valve element 27 but also serves as the guide member 25 that guides the valve element 27 in the opening and closing direction, thereby reducing the number of parts. Can be configured easily. Moreover, since the plurality of guide members 25 are arranged so as to surround the outer periphery of the valve body 27 and guide the valve body 27 in the sliding direction, the opening / closing operation can be performed in a stable posture.

(5) -5 As shown in FIG. 7, the support portion 19 of the connecting tube 12 is made of polyamide, and the support outer cylinder 23b of the valve support member 22 is made of polyacetal having a fuel swellability smaller than that of polyamide. Therefore, even if the support cylinder 19a of the support portion 19 swells and expands in the outer peripheral direction, it is pressed from the outer peripheral side by the support outer cylinder 23b of the valve support member 22 having a low fuel swellability. It is difficult for the claw 23d to come off from the support window 19b.

  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. FIG. 8 is a cross-sectional view showing a fuel tank pipe connector 10B of a fuel tank according to another embodiment. As shown in FIG. 8, as another modification, the connection main body 11B includes a tank fixing portion and a connection pipe body made of a single resin material such as polyethylene, and a passage 12Bb of the connection pipe body 12B. Alternatively, the reinforcing tube 15B formed of a metal tube may be attached to the structure.

  In the above embodiment, the engagement claw is formed on the valve support member side and the support window is formed on the connection main body side. However, the present invention is not limited to this, and any mechanical engagement mechanism is supported by the valve support member. An engaging claw may be formed on the connection main body side of the window.

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 10 ... Fuel tank pipe connection body 11 ... Connection main body 12 ... Connection pipe body 12a ... Pipe body 12b ... Passage 12c ... Part 12d ... Flange 14 ... Tank fixing part 14a ... Cylindrical part 14b ... Flange 14c ... Weld end 18 ... Passage Forming member 18a ... passage forming member main body 18b ... passage 18c ... discharge port 18d ... seal part 19 ... support part 19a ... support cylinder 19b ... support window 19c ... support engagement part 20 ... check valve 22 ... valve support member 23 ... covered Support portion 23a ... Support inner cylinder 23b ... Support outer cylinder 23c ... Fitting groove 23d ... Engagement claw 23e ... Slit 24c ... Positioning projection 25 ... Guide member 26 ... Bottom support portion 26a ... Bottom plate portion 26b ... Spring receiving portion 27 ... Valve body 27a ... Upper surface portion 27b ... Guide cylinder 27c ... Seat surface 28 ... Spring CP ... Clamp FC ... Fuel cap FN ... Filler neck S ... lubricator FT ... Fuel tank FTa ... tank opening H ... Inlet hose IP ... inlet pipe

Claims (3)

A connection body (11) fixed to the fuel tank (FT) so as to surround a tank opening (FTa) of the fuel tank (FT) and connecting a fuel supply pipe, and a check mounted on the connection body (11) In a fuel tank pipe connection comprising a valve (20),
The connection body (11) is formed integrally with a connection pipe body (12) having a pipe body (12a) connected to one end of the fuel supply pipe, and a connection pipe body (12). ), A flange (14b) integrally projecting from the outer periphery of the connecting pipe (12), and a fuel tank ( A tank fixing part (14) having a welding end (14c) welded so as to close a tank opening (FTa) of FT),
The passage forming member (18) has a discharge port (18c) formed at one end of the passage (18b) and a seal portion (18d) formed at the opening peripheral edge of the discharge port (18c). ,
The check valve (20) includes a valve body (27) that opens and closes the discharge port (18c), a spring (28) that biases the valve body (27) in the valve closing direction, and the valve body (27 And a valve support member (22) for supporting one end of the spring (28).
The valve support member (22) is externally mounted on the passage forming member (18) and is attached to the connection body (11) via a valve support mechanism, and the valve support mechanism is disposed on the connection body (11) side. It has the formed support part (19) and the supported part (23) formed on the valve support member (22) side, and the mechanical part of the support part (19) and the supported part (23) A pipe connection body for a fuel tank, which is connected by an engagement mechanism. The fuel tank pipe connector according to claim 1,
The support portion (19) includes a support cylinder (19a) projecting in a cylindrical shape from the flange (14b) with a predetermined gap from the outer peripheral surface of the passage forming member (18), and the support cylinder (19a). And a support window (19b) formed in the notch,
The supported portion (23) is integrated with the supporting inner cylinder (23a) inserted into the predetermined gap and the supporting inner cylinder (23a), and is supported on the outer peripheral side of the supporting inner cylinder (23a). A support outer cylinder (23b) formed concentrically so as to form a fitting groove (23c) into which the cylinder (19a) is fitted, and the support window (19b) formed in a cantilever manner on the support outer cylinder (23b). 19b) A fuel tank pipe connector including an engaging claw (23d) that engages with the support cylinder (19a) by rushing into 19b). In the fuel tank pipe connector according to claim 2,
The valve body (27) includes an upper surface portion (27a) having a seat surface (27c) for opening and closing the discharge port (18c), and a cylindrical guide tube (27b) protruding from the outer peripheral portion of the upper surface portion (27a). And
The valve support member (22) includes a plurality of guide members (25) arranged with a predetermined gap around the entire circumference so as to guide the guide tube (27b) in the sliding direction, and a plurality of guide members (25). And a bottom support portion (26) that is connected to one end of the spring and supports one end of the spring (28).

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