JP2012086728A - Fuel tank structure - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a fuel tank structure which suppresses an inclination of a shifting portion of a fuel tank to enable a volume of the fuel tank to increase sufficiently.SOLUTION: The fuel tank 14 has a bellows portion 22 and a shifting portion 24 formed inside thereof. An increase in an internal pressure of the fuel tank 14 causes the shifting portion 24 to shift upward. A plurality of elastic members 26 that come in contact with both of the shifting portion 24 and a floor panel 18 are fixed to the shifting portion 24. When the shifting portion 24 shifts upward, therefore, the elastic members 26 are compressed. Even if the bellows portion 22 is not uniform in its flexibility, an inclination of the shifting portion 24 at its upward shift is suppressed. This allows the volume of the fuel tank 14 to increase sufficiently.

Description

  The present invention relates to a fuel tank structure.

  In a fuel tank structure provided in a vehicle such as an automobile, for example, as described in Patent Document 1, an upper wall portion is provided that makes the tank volume variable by elastically deforming in response to an increase in the internal pressure of the fuel tank. There is.

  By the way, in a fuel tank structure in which a part of the fuel tank is displaced so that the volume of the fuel tank is variable, for example, if there is a slight non-uniformity in the flexibility (ease of displacement) of the displaced portion, the specific part becomes large. Since the displacement is caused to expand and contract, the displacement portion may be inclined and displaced, and the volume of the fuel tank may not be increased sufficiently.

JP 2009-30539 A

  In view of the above facts, an object of the present invention is to obtain a fuel tank structure capable of sufficiently increasing the volume of the fuel tank by suppressing the inclination of the displacement portion of the fuel tank.

  According to the first aspect of the present invention, a fuel tank that can accommodate fuel therein, and an outer wall of the fuel tank that is annularly formed to partition the outer wall, and one of the partitioned parts can be displaced relative to the other by deformation. A displacement portion that increases the volume of the fuel tank by the displacement of the displacement portion, the displacement portion, and a facing portion of the vehicle body that faces the displacement portion, and a displacement portion when the displacement portion is displaced, And an elastic member disposed so as to equalize the amount of displacement of the displacement portion by being elastically deformed by being sandwiched between the opposing portion.

  In this fuel tank structure, a displacement portion is formed on the outer wall of the fuel tank by a deformed portion formed in an annular shape on the outer wall of the fuel tank. When the internal pressure of the fuel tank becomes relatively large with respect to the external pressure, the deforming portion is deformed to displace the displacing portion and increase the volume of the fuel tank.

  An elastic member is disposed between the displacement portion and the facing portion of the vehicle body. The elastic member is sandwiched between the displacement portion and the facing portion and elastically deformed when the displacement portion is displaced and approaches the facing portion, thereby uniformizing the amount of displacement of the displacement portion. Therefore, by appropriately setting the elasticity of the elastic member, the displacement portion is displaced while the inclination is suppressed. As a result, the volume of the fuel tank can be sufficiently increased as compared with the case where the displacement portion is inclined.

  According to a second aspect of the present invention, in the first aspect of the present invention, the rigidity of the elastic member is higher than that of the elastic member, and the elastic member is disposed between the displacement portion and the facing portion. A restricting member that contacts both of the parts and restricts the displacement of the displacement part to a predetermined range.

  That is, when the displacement portion is about to be displaced excessively, the restricting member disposed between the displacement portion and the facing portion comes into contact with both the displacement portion and the facing portion, and restricts the displacement of the displacement portion to a predetermined range. . Excessive displacement of the deformed portion is suppressed, and the durability of the fuel tank is improved.

  According to a third aspect of the present invention, in the first or second aspect of the present invention, at least two of the elastic members are disposed so as to surround the center of the displacement portion when the displacement portion is viewed in the displacement direction. Has been.

  Thus, when at least two elastic members are arranged so as to surround the center of the displacement portion, the inclination of the displacement portion during displacement can be further suppressed, and the volume of the fuel tank can be increased more sufficiently. It becomes.

  According to a fourth aspect of the present invention, in the third aspect of the present invention, the limiting member is arranged at the center of the displacement portion.

  According to a fifth aspect of the invention, in the third aspect of the invention, the limiting member is integrated with the elastic member.

  That is, the number and arrangement of the limiting members are not particularly limited. However, if the limiting members are arranged at the center of the displacement portion as described in claim 4, it is possible to limit excessive displacement of the displacement portion with one limiting member. Become. Further, as described in claim 5, when the limiting member is integrated with the elastic member, the elastic member and the limiting member can be arranged in a narrow range.

  According to a sixth aspect of the present invention, in the first to fifth aspects of the present invention, the deforming portion is a bellows portion formed in a frame shape on the top surface of the fuel tank, and the inside of the bellows portion. The displacement portion is configured as described above.

  Thus, a displacement part is comprised inside this bellows part by forming a bellows part in frame shape in the top | upper surface of a fuel tank. The bellows portion does not need to be formed so as to surround the entire fuel tank, and has a simple structure.

  Since the present invention has the above configuration, it is possible to sufficiently increase the volume of the fuel tank by suppressing the inclination of the displacement portion of the fuel tank.

It is a perspective view which shows the fuel tank structure of 1st Embodiment of this invention. FIGS. 2A and 2B are cross-sectional views of the fuel tank structure according to the first embodiment of the present invention, taken along line 2-2 in FIG. It is. It is sectional drawing which shows the fuel tank structure of a comparative example with the cross section similar to FIG. 2, (A) is a state in which the displacement part is not rising, (B) is a state in which the displacement part is rising. (A)-(C) are all top views which show arrangement | positioning of the elastic member in the fuel tank structure of 1st Embodiment of this invention. It is sectional drawing which expands and shows the fuel tank structure of 2nd Embodiment of this invention partially with an elastic member and its vicinity, (A) is the state which the displacement part has not risen, (B) is a displacement part. It is in a rising state. It is sectional drawing which expands and shows the fuel tank structure of 3rd Embodiment of this invention partially with an elastic member and its vicinity, (A) is a state which the displacement part has not risen, (B) is a displacement part. It is in a rising state. It is sectional drawing which shows the fuel tank structure of 4th Embodiment of this invention in the state which the displacement part has not raised. It is sectional drawing which shows the fuel tank structure of 5th Embodiment of this invention in the state which the displacement part has not raised. It is sectional drawing which shows the fuel tank structure of 6th Embodiment of this invention in the state which the displacement part has not raised. It is sectional drawing which shows the fuel tank structure of 7th Embodiment of this invention in the state which the displacement part has not raised.

  1 and 2 show a fuel tank structure 12 according to a first embodiment of the present invention. The fuel tank structure 12 includes a fuel tank 14 that can accommodate the fuel GS therein. The shape of the fuel tank 14 is not particularly limited, but in the present embodiment, it is formed in a substantially rectangular parallelepiped box shape.

  An inlet pipe (not shown) is connected to the fuel tank 14, and fuel can be supplied through the inlet pipe. The fuel tank 14 is provided with a fuel pump and a delivery pipe for delivering fuel to the engine.

  A plurality of (two in FIG. 1 and FIG. 2) tank band recesses 16 are formed in the bottom surface 14B of the fuel tank 14 by being partially recessed upward. An intermediate portion of a tank band 25 described later is fitted into the tank band recess 16. And the fuel tank 14 is attached to a vehicle body by fixing the both ends of the tank band 25 to a vehicle body.

  As can be seen from FIG. 2A, the floor panel 18 of the vehicle body faces the fuel tank 14 at a predetermined interval above the fuel tank 14 when attached to the vehicle body. A spacer 20 is attached to the top surface 14T of the fuel tank 14 in the vicinity of the corner portion 14C, and a predetermined gap 30 is maintained between the top surface 14T of the fuel tank 14 and the floor panel 18. .

  A frame-shaped (rectangular) bellows portion 22 having a size smaller than that of the top surface 14T is formed on the top surface 14T of the fuel tank 14 when viewed from above (in plan view). As shown in FIGS. 2 (A) and 2 (B), the bellows portion 22 is formed by making the top surface 14T wave-like up and down, and constitutes a deformation portion of the present invention.

  The outer wall of the fuel tank 14 is substantially divided into two regions by the bellows portion 22, and the inside of the bellows portion 22 is a substantially flat displacement portion 24. The displacement portion 24 is located at a position lower than the top surface 14T of the fuel tank 14 (portion outside the bellows portion 22). However, when the internal pressure of the fuel tank 14 rises, the bellows portion 22 is deformed, and the displacement portion 24 is Displace upward. Thereby, the volume of the fuel tank 14 is increased, and an excessive increase in the internal pressure of the fuel tank 14 is suppressed.

  A plurality of elastic members 26 are fixed to the upper surface of the displacement portion 24 as shown in FIG. In the present embodiment, the elastic members 26 are each formed in a columnar shape, and the height H1 thereof is equal to or slightly lower than the distance D1 between the displacement portion 24 and the floor panel 18. Therefore, the elastic member 26 is in contact with both the displacement portion 24 and the floor panel 18.

  As can be seen from FIG. 1, in the present embodiment, four elastic members 26 are fixed in the vicinity of the corners of the displacement portion 24 so as to surround the center 24 </ b> C when the displacement portion 24 is viewed in plan. . In addition, the method of fixing the elastic member 26 to the displacement part 24 is not specifically limited, The adhesion | attachment using an adhesive agent may be sufficient, and you may fix by engagement and fitting.

  Further, a limiting member 28 is fixed to the upper surface of the displacement portion 24. In the present embodiment, the limiting member 28 is formed in a columnar shape (or a substantially rectangular parallelepiped block shape). The height H <b> 2 of the limiting member 28 is set lower than the distance D <b> 1 between the displacement portion 24 and the floor panel 18, and a predetermined gap 32 is formed between the upper surface of the limiting member 28 and the floor panel 18. When the displacement part 24 moves up, the gap 32 is eliminated. Then, when the upper surface of the limiting member 28 comes into contact with the floor panel 18, the rising amount of the displacement portion 24 is limited to a predetermined range (the height of the gap 32).

  Next, the operation of the fuel tank structure 12 of this embodiment will be described.

  In the fuel tank 14 of the present embodiment, a bellows portion 22 is formed on the top surface 14T. In the normal state, as shown in FIG. 2A, the displacement portion 24 is at a position that forms a predetermined distance D1 with the floor panel 18. Here, when the internal pressure of the fuel tank 14 rises, as shown in FIG. 2B, the bellows portion 22 is deformed and the displacement portion 24 rises. Thereby, the volume of the fuel tank 14 is increased, and an excessive increase in the internal pressure of the fuel tank 14 is suppressed.

  Here, FIG. 3A shows a fuel tank structure 152 of a comparative example. The fuel tank structure 152 of the comparative example is the same as the fuel tank structure 12 of the first embodiment in that the fuel tank 14 includes the bellows portion 22 and the displacement portion 24, but the elastic member 26 and the limiting member 28 are different. The difference is that it is not provided. In the fuel tank structure 152 of the comparative example, the same members as those of the fuel tank structure 12 of the first embodiment are denoted by the same reference numerals.

  In the fuel tank structure 152 of the comparative example, for example, even if the flexibility of the bellows portion 22 is slightly uneven, the displacement portion 24 may rise while being inclined as shown in FIG. And if the displacement part 24 inclines in this way, the capacity | capacitance of the fuel tank 14 cannot fully be enlarged.

  On the other hand, in the fuel tank structure 12 of the first embodiment, the elastic member 26 is disposed between the displacement portion 24 and the floor panel 18. For this reason, when the displacement part 24 tries to rise, the elastic member 26 is sandwiched between the displacement part 24 and the floor panel 18 and elastically deformed as shown in FIG. In other words, the rise of the displacement part 24 depends on the elasticity (ease of deformation) of the elastic member 26. Therefore, even if the flexibility of the bellows portion 22 is not uniform, the unevenness is not affected when the displacement portion 24 rises. For example, even if the bellows portion 22 has a locally fragile portion, local deformation of the fragile portion is suppressed by the elastic member 26 in the vicinity of the fragile portion. That is, in the fuel tank structure 12 of the first embodiment, the amount of ascending of the displacement portion 24 is made uniform (approaching uniformly), so that the inclination is suppressed (preferably not inclined) and the floor Ascending while maintaining a state parallel to the panel 18. Thereby, compared with the fuel tank structure 152 of the comparative example, the capacity of the fuel tank 14 can be sufficiently increased.

  Further, in particular, the fuel tank 14 is preset in size so that the volume increase amount when the displacement portion 24 rises becomes a predetermined amount, but when the displacement portion 24 rises without tilting in this way. The actual increase in the volume of the fuel tank 14 can be made to coincide with the specified increase in volume.

  When the rising amount of the displacement part 24 reaches a predetermined amount, the upper surface of the limiting member 28 comes into contact with the floor panel 18 and the rising of the displacement part 24 is restricted. Thereby, the excessive deformation | transformation of the fuel tank 14 can be suppressed and reliability improves.

  Although the position and number of the limiting members 28 are not limited to those described above, even if there is a slight difference in the amount of deformation of the plurality of elastic members 26 at the center 24C of the displacement portion 24, the plurality of elastic members 26 The amount of displacement is the same as the average amount of deformation. For this reason, it becomes possible to restrict | limit a displacement amount with one balance member 28 with sufficient balance.

  In the above example, as shown in FIG. 4A, the elastic member 26 surrounds the center 24 </ b> C of the displacement portion 24 by disposing the four elastic members 26 in the vicinity of the corner portion of the displacement portion 24. However, the arrangement in which the elastic member 26 surrounds the center 24C of the displacement portion 24 is not limited to that shown in FIG. For example, as shown in FIG. 4B, a configuration in which three elastic members 26 are used and these elastic members 26 are located at the apexes of a triangle surrounding the center 24C may be used. Further, as shown in FIG. 4C, a plurality of elastic members 26 (three in FIG. 4C but may be two or more) may be linear with a center 24C in between. The structure arrange | positioned may be sufficient.

  In any case, when at least two elastic members 26 are disposed so as to surround the center 24C of the displacement portion 24, the rising amount of the displacement portion 24 is made more uniform and the inclination of the displacement portion 24 is effectively reduced. Since it can suppress, the volume of the fuel tank 14 can be increased more fully. Furthermore, the number of the elastic members 26 is only one, and for example, the elastic member 26 may have a cylindrical shape (cylindrical or polygonal cylindrical shape) surrounding the center 24C. As long as it substantially surrounds the center 24C, it may have a shape in which a part of the cylindrical shape is opened (substantially C-shaped or substantially U-shaped in a plan view).

  5 (A) and 5 (B), a fuel tank structure 42 according to a second embodiment of the present invention is shown partially enlarged. In FIG. 2, the overall configuration of the fuel tank structure 42 is the same as that of the first embodiment, and thus illustration thereof is omitted.

  In the fuel tank structure 42 of the second embodiment, the limiting members 48 are attached to and integrated with each of the elastic members 46, and the number of the elastic members 46 and the limiting members 48 is the same. The restricting member 48 has a pedestal portion 48B that is formed in a plate shape and is fixed to the displacement portion 24 of the fuel tank 14, and a column portion 48P that is erected upward from the pedestal portion 48B. A gap 32 is formed between the support column 48 </ b> P and the floor panel 18.

  The elastic member 46 is formed in a cylindrical shape capable of accommodating the column portion 48P therein, and is in contact with both the pedestal portion 48B and the floor panel 18.

  The fuel tank structure 42 of the second embodiment having such a configuration also has the same effect as the fuel tank structure 42 of the first embodiment, but in particular, as shown in FIG. When the displacement amount of the portion 24 reaches a predetermined amount, the upper end of the support column portion 48P of the limiting member 48 comes into contact with the floor panel 18 and restricts the rise of the displacement portion 24.

  6 (A) and 6 (B), a fuel tank structure 52 according to a third embodiment of the present invention is shown partially enlarged. Also in the third embodiment, similarly to the second embodiment, the limiting member 58 is attached to and integrated with each of the elastic members 56, and the number of the elastic members 56 and the limiting members 58 is the same. Further, since the overall configuration of the fuel tank structure 52 is the same as that of the first embodiment, the illustration is omitted.

  In the fuel tank structure 52 of the third embodiment, the limiting member 58 includes a pedestal portion 58B that is formed in a plate shape and is fixed to the displacement portion 24 of the fuel tank 14, and a cylinder that is erected upward from the pedestal portion 58B. A cylindrical portion 58C is provided. A gap 32 is formed between the cylinder portion 58 </ b> C and the floor panel 18.

  The elastic member 56 is formed in a columnar shape and is disposed inside the cylindrical portion 58C. An engaging convex portion 58K that is erected from the pedestal portion 58B is engaged with an engaging concave portion 56K formed at the bottom of the elastic member 56, so that it does not inadvertently come off or be displaced from the pedestal portion 58B. It has become. The elastic member 56 is in contact with both the pedestal portion 58B and the floor panel 18. Further, the outer diameter of the elastic member 56 is smaller than the inner diameter of the cylindrical portion 58C, and as can be seen from FIG. 6B, when the elastic member 56 is compressed up and down, it is pushed sideways. A space for is configured.

  The fuel tank structure 52 of the third embodiment configured as described above has the same operational effects as the fuel tank structure 12 of the first embodiment and the fuel tank structure 42 of the second embodiment. As shown in FIG. 6B, when the displacement amount of the displacement portion 24 reaches a predetermined amount, the upper end of the cylinder portion 58C of the restriction member 58 comes into contact with the floor panel 18 and restricts the rise of the displacement portion 24.

  In both the second embodiment and the third embodiment, since the elastic member and the limiting member are substantially integrated, the elastic member and the limiting member can be arranged even in a narrow space.

  FIG. 7 shows a fuel tank structure 62 according to a fourth embodiment of the present invention. In the fourth embodiment, the same components and members as those in the first embodiment are denoted by the same reference numerals, and detailed description thereof is omitted.

  In the fuel tank structure 62 of the fourth embodiment, the limiting member 28 is provided outside the elastic member 26. The number of limiting members 28 is plural (preferably the same as the number of elastic members 26). Thus, although the number and arrangement | positioning of the limiting member 28 differ in 4th Embodiment, it is set as the structure similar to 1st Embodiment except this.

  Also in the fuel tank structure 62 of the fourth embodiment configured as described above, the same operational effects as the fuel tank structure 12 of the first embodiment are exhibited. Further, when the displacement amount of the displacement portion 24 reaches a predetermined amount, the restricting member 28 comes into contact with the floor panel 18 and the rise of the displacement portion 24 is restricted.

  FIG. 8 shows a fuel tank structure 72 according to a fifth embodiment of the present invention. Also in the fifth embodiment, the same components and members as those in the first embodiment are denoted by the same reference numerals, and detailed description thereof is omitted.

  In the fuel tank 74 of the fifth embodiment, a bellows portion 82 is formed so as to surround the fuel tank 74 along the four side surfaces 74S. A tank upper layer portion 76 above the bellows portion 82 and a lower tank. A lower layer 78. The tank lower layer part 78 is supported from below by the tank band 25. The fuel tank 74 is attached to the vehicle body by fixing both ends of the tank band 25 to the vehicle body. The floor panel 18 is formed with a recess 18 </ b> H that can partially accommodate the upper portion of the fuel tank 74.

  A plurality of elastic members 26 are fixed to the top surface 74T of the fuel tank 74 in the same manner as the fuel tank structure 12 of the first embodiment. The height H <b> 1 of the elastic member 26 is equal to the distance D <b> 1 of the gap 30, and the elastic member 26 is in contact with both the top surface 94 </ b> T of the fuel tank 94 and the floor panel 18.

  In the center of the top surface 74T of the fuel tank 74, the limiting member 28 is fixed. The height H <b> 2 of the limiting member 28 is set lower than the distance D <b> 1 of the gap 30, and a predetermined gap 32 is formed between the limiting member 28 and the cover member 104.

  In the fuel tank structure 72 of the fifth embodiment configured as described above, when the internal pressure of the fuel tank 74 rises, the bellows portion 22 extends and the tank upper layer portion 76 rises (the tank upper layer portion 76 is displaced according to the present invention). Part). As a result, the volume of the fuel tank 74 is increased, and an excessive increase in internal pressure of the fuel tank 74 is suppressed.

  When the tank upper layer 76 rises, the elastic member 26 is sandwiched between the top surface 74T of the fuel tank 74 and the floor panel 18 and is compressed and deformed. For this reason, the inclination of the tank upper layer portion 76 is suppressed, and the capacity of the fuel tank 74 can be sufficiently increased. Further, the excessive rise of the tank upper layer portion 76 is limited to a predetermined amount when the limiting member 28 contacts the floor panel 18.

  FIG. 9 shows a fuel tank structure 92 according to a sixth embodiment of the present invention. In the sixth embodiment, the same components and members as those in the first embodiment or the fifth embodiment are denoted by the same reference numerals, and detailed description thereof is omitted.

  Similarly to the fuel tank 74 of the fourth embodiment, the fuel tank 94 of the fifth embodiment also has a bellows portion 102 having a shape surrounding the side surface 94S, and has a tank upper layer portion 96 and a tank lower layer portion 98. However, unlike the fourth embodiment, the tank upper layer portion 96 cannot be displaced in the vertical direction with respect to the floor panel 18 by a mounting member (not shown). The floor panel 18 is formed with a recess 18 </ b> H that partially accommodates the upper portion of the fuel tank 94. With the fuel tank 74 attached to the vehicle body, the top surface 94T of the fuel tank 94 is in contact with the floor panel 18 directly or via a spacer (not shown) in the recess 18H.

  A cover member 104 is disposed below the tank lower layer 98 in parallel with the bottom surface 94B of the fuel tank 94. A predetermined gap 30 is formed between the cover member 104 and the bottom surface 94 </ b> B of the fuel tank 94. And it is attached to the floor panel 18 with the attachment member which is not shown in figure.

  A plurality of elastic members 26 are fixed to the bottom surface 94 </ b> B of the fuel tank 94. The height H <b> 1 of the elastic member 26 is equal to the distance D <b> 1 of the gap 30, and the elastic member 26 is in contact with both the bottom surface 94 </ b> B of the fuel tank 94 and the cover member 104.

  In the center of the bottom surface 94B of the fuel tank 94, a limiting member 28 is fixed. The height H <b> 2 of the limiting member 28 is set lower than the distance D <b> 1 of the gap 30, and a predetermined gap 32 is formed between the limiting member 28 and the cover member 104.

  In the fuel tank structure 92 of the sixth embodiment having such a configuration, when the internal pressure of the fuel tank 94 rises, the bellows part 22 extends and the tank lower part 98 descends (the tank lower part 98 is displaced according to the present invention). Part). As a result, the volume of the fuel tank 94 is increased, and an excessive increase in internal pressure of the fuel tank 94 is suppressed.

  When the tank lower layer 98 descends, the elastic member 26 is sandwiched between the bottom surface 94B of the fuel tank 94 and the cover member 104, and is compressed and deformed. For this reason, the inclination of the tank lower layer part 98 is suppressed, and the capacity of the fuel tank 94 can be sufficiently increased. Further, the excessive lowering of the tank lower layer portion 98 is limited to a predetermined amount when the limiting member 28 contacts the cover member 104.

  FIG. 10 shows a fuel tank structure 112 according to a seventh embodiment of the present invention. In the seventh embodiment, the same components and members as those in the first embodiment or the fifth embodiment are denoted by the same reference numerals, and detailed description thereof is omitted.

  In the fuel tank 114 of the seventh embodiment, two bellows portions 122 are arranged in parallel in the horizontal direction. A portion between the bellows portions 122 is a tank intermediate layer portion 116 having a predetermined rigidity. Each outer side of the bellows portion 122 is a tank outer frame layer portion 118. The fuel tank 114 is supported by a plurality (two in FIG. 10) of tank bands 25 in the tank intermediate layer portion 116. The fuel tank 114 is attached to the floor panel 18 by fixing the tank band 25 to the floor panel 18.

  The floor panel 18 is formed with a recess 18H that accommodates the fuel tank 114. The side surface of the recess 18H forms a predetermined gap 30 between the side surface 114S of the fuel tank 114 and the opposing surface 18F that faces the surface 18F. It has become. In addition, a spacer (not shown) is disposed between the tank intermediate layer 116 and the recess 18H as necessary, and the tank intermediate layer 116 is held at a predetermined position with respect to the floor panel 18.

  A plurality of elastic members 26 are fixed to the side surface 114 </ b> S of the fuel tank 114. The height H1 of the elastic member 26 (in this embodiment, the protruding length that protrudes laterally from the side surface 114S of the fuel tank 114) is equal to the interval D1 of the gap 30, and the elastic member 26 is the side surface 114S of the fuel tank 114. And the floor panel 18 facing surface 18F.

  A limiting member 28 is fixed to the center of the side surface 114S of the fuel tank 114. The height H2 of the limiting member 28 is shorter than the interval D1 of the gap 30 and a predetermined gap 32 is formed between the limiting member 28 and the facing surface 18F.

  In the fuel tank structure 112 of the seventh embodiment configured as described above, when the internal pressure of the fuel tank 114 rises, the bellows portion 122 extends and the tank outer frame layer portion 118 is displaced outward. As a result, the volume of the fuel tank 114 is increased, and an excessive increase in the internal pressure of the fuel tank 114 is suppressed.

  When the tank outer frame layer portion 118 is displaced outward, the elastic member 26 is sandwiched between the side surface 114S of the fuel tank 114 and the facing surface 18F of the floor panel 18 and elastically deforms. For this reason, the inclination of the tank outer frame layer portion 118 is suppressed, and the capacity of the fuel tank 114 can be increased to ten parts. Excessive displacement of the tank outer frame layer portion 118 is limited to a predetermined amount when the limiting member 28 contacts the facing surface 18F.

  In the fifth to seventh embodiments, the deformed portion of the present invention is formed as the bellows portions 82, 102, 122 so as to surround the fuel tank as a whole, so that the fuel tank when the bellows portion is deformed is formed. The volume increase amount is larger than that in the first embodiment. On the other hand, in the first to fourth embodiments, the deformed portion is formed in an annular shape on the top surface 14T of the fuel tank 14, and it is not necessary to form the fuel tank 14 so as to entirely surround it. The deformation part and the displacement part can be configured with a simple structure.

  The deformed portion of the present invention is not limited to the above-described bellows portion. For example, a part of the outer wall of the fuel tank (around the displacement portion) is folded so that the outer wall is partially doubled or tripled. A deformable portion configured to overlap may be used. In the deformed portion folded in this way, when the internal pressure of the fuel tank rises, the overlap of the folded portions is eliminated and the displacement portion is displaced.

  In each of the above embodiments, an example is given in which the limiting member 28 is fixed to the displacement portion of the fuel tank. However, the limiting member may be fixed to the floor panel 18 (or the cover member 104). In short, when a part (displacement part) of the fuel tank is displaced, it may be sandwiched between the displacement part and the floor panel 18 (or the cover member 104) to make elastic contact.

  Similarly, the limiting member 28 does not need to be fixed to the fuel tank, and may be fixed to the floor panel 18 (or the cover member 104).

12 Fuel tank structure 14 Fuel tank 16 Recess 18 for tank band Floor panel 18H Recess 18F Opposing surface (opposing part)
22 bellows part (deformation part)
24 Displacement 24C Center 26 Elastic member 28 Restriction member 30 Gap 32 Gap 42 Fuel tank structure 46 Elastic member 48 Restriction member 52 Fuel tank structure 56 Elastic member 58 Restriction member 62 Fuel tank structure 72 Fuel tank structure 74 Fuel tank 76 Tank upper layer (Displacement part)
82 bellows part (deformation part)
92 Fuel tank structure 94 Fuel tank 96 Tank upper layer 98 Tank lower layer (displacement)
102 bellows part 104 cover member (opposite part)
112 Fuel tank structure 114 Fuel tank 116 Tank intermediate layer portion 118 Tank outer frame layer portion (displacement portion)
122 bellows

Claims (6)

A fuel tank capable of containing fuel, and
A deformed portion that is formed in an annular shape on the outer wall of the fuel tank and partitions the outer wall, and the deformed portion is a displacement portion that can be displaced relative to the other by deformation, and the displacement of the displaced portion increases the volume of the fuel tank. When,
The amount of displacement of the displacement portion is made uniform by elastically deforming between the displacement portion and the facing portion of the vehicle body facing the displacement portion by being sandwiched between the displacement portion and the facing portion when the displacement portion is displaced. An elastic member arranged to
Having fuel tank structure.   A restriction that is higher in rigidity than the elastic member and is disposed between the displacement portion and the facing portion, and contacts both the displacement portion and the facing portion due to the displacement of the displacement portion to limit the displacement of the displacement portion to a predetermined range. The fuel tank structure according to claim 1, further comprising a member.   3. The fuel tank structure according to claim 1, wherein at least two of the elastic members are disposed so as to surround a center of the displacement portion when the displacement portion is viewed in the displacement direction.   The fuel tank structure according to claim 3, wherein the limiting member is disposed at a center of the displacement portion.   The fuel tank structure according to claim 2 or 3, wherein the restriction member is integrated with the elastic member. The deforming portion is a bellows portion formed in a frame shape on the top surface of the fuel tank,
The fuel tank structure according to any one of claims 1 to 5, wherein the displacement portion is configured inside the bellows portion.

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