JP2012057557A - Fuel filter mounting structure - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a fuel filter mounting structure, having a simple structure and capable of easily connecting a fuel inlet pipe and a fuel outlet pipe to each other via one clip.SOLUTION: In the fuel filter mounting structure, a fuel inlet pipe 12 projected from a lower part of a fuel supply module M and a fuel outlet pipe 15 projected from an upper part of a fuel filter F are fitted and connected to each other in a liquid-tight manner. One of the fuel inlet pipe 12 and the fuel outlet pipe 15 is defined as a first connection pipe, and the other as a second connection pipe. A closing end wall 18 is provided in the first connection pipe on the side opposite to the second connection pipe, and a pair of locking claws 23 are formed on both side faces of the second connection pipe. The first and second connection pipes are connected to each other via a clip 25 consisting of a clip base 25a abutted on the closing end wall 18, and a pair of clip arms 25b, 25b which extend in a bent manner from both ends of the clip base 25a, have locking holes 24 to be engaged with the locking claws 23, 23 in their fore ends, and hold both side faces of the second connection pipe.

Description

  The present invention mainly relates to a structure for attaching a fuel filter to a fuel supply module that is installed in a fuel tank of a vehicle and supplies fuel in the fuel tank to an engine, and more particularly, a fuel projecting from a lower portion of the fuel supply module. The present invention relates to an improvement in a structure in which an intake pipe and a fuel outlet pipe protruding from the upper part of a fuel filter are connected in a liquid-tight manner.

  Such a fuel filter mounting structure has already been known as disclosed in Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. H10-228707.

JP 2009-162156 A

  In the conventional fuel filter mounting structure, a mounting shaft protrudes from the lower end surface of the fuel module, a bracket formed integrally with the fuel outlet pipe is fitted to the mounting shaft, and an E-ring for preventing the removal of the mounting shaft. Or a circlip is attached to the mounting shaft.

  In such a fuel filter mounting structure, the mounting shaft and bracket must be specially formed on the fuel supply module and the fuel outlet pipe, so the structure is complicated and it is difficult to reduce the cost.

  The present invention has been made in view of such circumstances, and the fuel intake pipe and the fuel outlet pipe are mutually connected by a single clip without specially forming the mounting shaft and the bracket on the fuel supply module or the fuel outlet pipe. An object is to provide a fuel filter mounting structure that can be easily connected and is simple in structure and inexpensive.

  In order to achieve the above object, according to the present invention, a fuel intake pipe projecting from a lower part of a fuel supply module and a fuel outlet pipe projecting from an upper part of a fuel filter are connected in a liquid-tight manner to each other. In this fuel filter mounting structure, one of the fuel intake pipe and the fuel outlet pipe is a first connecting pipe and the other is a second connecting pipe, and the first connecting pipe is closed on the opposite side of the second connecting pipe. An end wall is provided, and a pair of locking claws are formed on both side surfaces of the second connecting pipe, a clip base that abuts against the closed end wall, a bent extension from both ends of the clip base, and the engagement at the tip. The first and second connecting pipes are connected to each other by a clip comprising a pair of clip arms having a locking hole that engages with a pawl and sandwiching both side surfaces of the second connecting pipe. It is characterized by. The first and second connecting pipes respectively correspond to a fuel intake pipe 12 and a fuel outlet pipe 15 in an embodiment of the present invention described later.

  According to the present invention, in addition to the first feature, a positioning protrusion and a positioning hole which engage with each other on the outer surface of the closed end wall and the clip base to prevent relative rotation of the first and second connecting pipes. The second feature is that each is provided.

  According to the first feature of the present invention, the fitting state of the first and second connecting pipes can be maintained only by mounting a single clip from the first connecting pipe to the second connecting pipe. This can contribute to the simplification of the fuel filter mounting structure and the cost reduction.

  According to the second feature of the present invention, the engagement of the positioning hole and the positioning projection prevents relative rotation of the first and second connecting pipes fitted to each other, thereby maintaining a predetermined posture of the fuel filter. In addition, the clip is supported at three points, that is, a pair of locking claws and one positioning projection, and can be prevented from falling off due to vibration. In addition, the angle at which the fuel filter is attached to the fuel supply module can be easily changed without changing the first and second connecting pipes, only by changing the orientation of the positioning hole provided in the clip base of the clip. Various types of fuel tanks can be easily and inexpensively handled.

1 is a partially longitudinal side view showing a fuel supply module with a fuel filter according to the present invention attached to a fuel tank. The enlarged side view of the fuel filter attachment part in FIG. The disassembled perspective view of the said fuel filter attachment part. The perspective view which shows the modification (A) of a clip in the said fuel filter attachment part, (B).

  Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the accompanying drawings.

  First, in FIG. 1, a fuel supply module M for supplying the fuel in the fuel tank T to the fuel injection valve I of the engine is attached to the ceiling wall Ta of the fuel tank T mounted on a vehicle such as a motorcycle. The fuel supply module M has a module case 1 made of synthetic resin. The module case 1 is stacked on the ceiling wall Ta of the fuel tank T with the seal member 2 interposed therebetween, and is integrally attached to a lower surface of the mounting flange 4 and a mounting flange 4 fixed by a plurality of welding bolts 3a and nuts 3b. A cylindrical case upper 5 formed and disposed in the fuel tank T through the opening Tb of the ceiling wall Ta of the fuel tank T, and a bottomed cylindrical case bottom 6 coupled to the lower end of the case upper 5 The electric fuel pump 7 is accommodated and held in the case upper 5 and the case bottom 6. On the upper surface of the mounting flange 4, a fuel supply pipe 8 for sending the fuel discharged from the fuel pump 7 to the fuel injection valve I and a coupler 10 for holding a power supply terminal 9 connected to the motor portion of the fuel pump 7 are formed.

  A fuel suction pipe 12 is integrally projected on the bottom wall 6 a of the case bottom 6, and a suction port 13 of the fuel pump 7 is fitted into the upper portion of the fuel suction pipe 12. A fuel outlet pipe 15 of a fuel filter F disposed at the bottom of the fuel tank T is connected to the fuel suction pipe 12. The connection structure will be described with reference to FIGS.

  The fuel suction pipe 12 is formed in an L-shape by a vertical portion 12a that is formed integrally with the bottom wall 6a of the case bottom 6 and protrudes downward, and a horizontal portion 12b that is bent to one side from the lower end of the vertical portion 12a. I am doing. The front end portion of the horizontal portion 12b is a small-diameter male fitting portion 16, and a seal member 17 is mounted on the outer periphery thereof. The horizontal portion 12b has a closed end wall 18 on the side opposite to the male fitting portion 16, and a positioning projection 19 having a square cross section is formed on the outer surface of the closed end wall 18.

  On the other hand, the fuel filter F includes a support bone 20 made of synthetic resin extending in the horizontal direction, a vertically flat bag-like filter element 21 arranged around the support bone 20, and an upper layer of the filter element 21. The fuel outlet pipe 15 made of a synthetic resin that penetrates the part and the fuel outlet pipe 15 and the support bone 20 are welded to each other so as to sandwich the upper layer part of the filter element 21. The fuel outlet pipe 15 is formed in an L shape by a vertical portion 15a which is welded to the support bone 20 and stands and a horizontal portion 15b which is bent to one side from the upper end of the vertical portion 15a. A pair of locking claws 23, 23 are projected from both the left and right side surfaces. In addition, a female fitting portion 22 is formed in the opening at the tip of the horizontal portion 15 b, and the male fitting portion 16 is liquid-tightly fitted thereto via a seal member 17.

A clip 25 is used to maintain the fitting state of the male fitting portion 16 and the female fitting portion 22. The clip 25 is made of a spring steel plate, has a positioning hole 26 that engages with the positioning protrusion 19 of the horizontal portion 12b of the fuel suction pipe 12, and has a clip base 25a that contacts the closed end wall 18 of the horizontal portion 12b. The clip base 25a is bent and extended from both ends, and has locking holes 24, 24 for engaging with the locking claws 23, 23 of the horizontal portion 15b of the fuel outlet pipe 15 at both ends of the clip base 25a. A pair of clip arms 25b, 25b that elastically sandwich the surface is formed, and the tip portions of the clip arms 25b, 25b beyond the locking holes 24, 24 can easily receive the fuel suction pipe 12 therebetween. Each is curved outward.
The clip 25 connects the fuel intake pipe 12 and the fuel outlet pipe 15 into which the male fitting portion 16 and the female fitting portion 22 are fitted.

  As shown in FIGS. 3 and 4A and 4B, a plurality of types of clips 25 are prepared in which the positions of the rectangular positioning holes 26 provided in the clip base 25a are different.

  Next, the operation of this embodiment will be described.

  When the fuel pump 7 is operated, the fuel stored in the fuel tank T is filtered by the filter element 21 of the fuel filter F, and is sucked into the fuel pump 7 through the fuel outlet pipe 15 and the fuel suction pipe 12, and the fuel pressure is increased. The fuel is discharged into the supply pipe 8 and injected from the fuel injection valve I into the intake system of the engine.

  In order to attach the fuel filter F to the fuel supply module M, first, the male fitting portion 16 of the fuel intake pipe 12 of the fuel supply module M is connected to the female fitting portion 22 of the fuel outlet pipe 15 of the fuel filter F, and the seal member 17. Then, the horizontal portion 12b and the horizontal portion 15b of the fuel outlet pipe 15 are sequentially sandwiched from the closed end wall 18 side of the fuel suction pipe 12 by the pair of clip arms 25b, 25b of the clip 25. Thus, when the clip 25 is fully pushed in, the clip base 25a abuts against the closed end wall 18 of the fuel intake pipe 12 with the positioning hole 26 engaged with the positioning projection 19, and the clip arms 25b and 25b are simultaneously moved. Due to the elastic clamping force, the locking holes 24, 24 are engaged with the locking claws 23, 23 of the horizontal portion 15 b of the fuel outlet pipe 15. The engagement of the locking holes 24 and 24 and the locking claws 23 and 23 prevents the clip 25 from being detached from the fuel suction pipe 12 and the fuel outlet pipe 15, and the fuel suction pipe 12 and the fuel outlet. The connected state of the tube 15 is maintained. Further, the engagement of the positioning hole 26 and the positioning protrusion 19 prevents relative rotation of the male fitting portion 16 and the female fitting portion 22 that are fitted to each other, thereby holding the fuel filter F in a predetermined posture. be able to. Furthermore, the clip 25 is supported at three points of the pair of locking claws 23, 23 and one positioning projection 19, and can be prevented from falling off due to vibration.

  Incidentally, depending on the shape of the fuel tank T to which the fuel supply module M is attached, it is necessary to change the mounting posture of the fuel filter F with respect to the fuel supply module M. In such a case, the clip 25 having the positioning hole 26 corresponding to the desired posture of the fuel filter F is selected from a plurality of types of clips 25 prepared in advance as shown in FIGS. 3 and 4A and 4B. By connecting the fuel intake pipe 12 and the fuel outlet pipe 15 with this, the fuel filter F can be held in a desired posture. Therefore, the angle at which the fuel filter F is attached to the fuel supply module M can be easily changed without changing the fuel intake pipe 12 and the fuel outlet pipe 15, and the fuel tank T of various shapes can be easily and inexpensively handled. can do.

  To remove the fuel filter F from the fuel supply module M for cleaning or replacement, both the clip arms 25b and 25b of the clip 25 are opened against the elastic force, and the locking holes 24 and 24 are opened. If the clip 25 is pulled out to the closed end wall 18 side of the fuel suction pipe 12 after being detached from the locking claws 23, 23, the positioning hole 26 can be detached from the positioning projection 19, and then the male fitting portion 16. And the female fitting portion 22 may be separated.

  Even when the catching claws 23, 23 may be damaged when the fuel filter F is removed, the catching claws 23, 23 are formed on the outer surface of the fuel outlet pipe 15 of the fuel filter F. Only the relatively inexpensive fuel filter F needs to be replaced with a new one, and the expensive fuel supply module M can be used as before and is economical.

  The present invention is not limited to the above embodiment, and various design changes can be made without departing from the scope of the invention. For example, the male fitting portion 16 can be provided on the fuel outlet pipe 15 side, and the female fitting portion 22 can be provided on the fuel intake pipe 12 side. Further, the latching claws 23, 23 can be provided on the fuel intake pipe 12 side, the positioning projection 19 can be provided on the fuel outlet pipe 15 side, and the clip 25 can be attached to the fuel intake pipe 12 from the fuel outlet pipe 15 side. Further, the closed end wall 18 may be provided with a pair of circular cross-section positioning protrusions in place of the square cross-section positioning protrusion 19, and a pair of corresponding round holes may be provided in the clip base 25 a of the clip 25.

M ... Fuel supply module F ... Fuel filter 12 ... Fuel intake pipe (first connecting pipe)
15 .... Fuel outlet pipe (second connecting pipe)
18... Closed end wall 19... Positioning protrusion 23... Locking claw 24... Locking hole 25. .... Positioning holes

Claims (2)

A fuel intake pipe (12) protruding from the lower part of the fuel supply module (M) and a fuel outlet pipe (15) protruding from the upper part of the fuel filter (F) are connected in a liquid-tight manner to each other. In the fuel filter mounting structure,
One of the fuel intake pipe (12) and the fuel outlet pipe (15) is a first connection pipe and the other is a second connection pipe. The first connection pipe has a closed end wall (18) on the opposite side of the second connection pipe. And a clip base (25a) that abuts against the closed end wall (18), and a clip base (25a). A pair of clip arms that bend and extend from both ends of the tube, and have locking holes (24, 24) that engage with the locking claws (23, 23) at the tip, and sandwich both side surfaces of the second connecting pipe A fuel filter mounting structure, wherein the first and second connecting pipes are connected to each other by a clip (25) comprising (25b, 25b). The fuel filter mounting structure according to claim 1,
A positioning projection (19) and a positioning hole (26) that engage with each other to prevent relative rotation of the first and second connecting pipes are formed on the outer surface of the closed end wall (18) and the clip base (25a). A fuel filter mounting structure, characterized in that each is provided.

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