JP2012188939A - Fuel supply unit - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a fuel supply unit, in which a discharge pipe and a fuel pump can be easily and securely fitted to a cover member and, therefore, fitting man-hours and the number of parts items can be reduced.SOLUTION: The discharge pipe 14 structuring the fuel supply unit 10 includes: a hook 32 provided in an outer peripheral surface and elastically deformable in the radial direction; and a flange part 26 enlarged in radius relative to the outer peripheral surface. When the discharge pipe 14 is inserted into an insertion hole 24 of the cover member 22 installed in a fuel tank 12, the flange part 26 abuts on a surface 22a of the cover member 22, and the hook 32 is engaged with an engagement hole 48 of a housing 16 connected to a fuel pump 18. With this structure, the cover member 22 and the housing 16 are integrally connected to each other through the discharge pipe 14.

Description

  The present invention relates to a fuel supply unit for supplying fuel from a fuel tank of a vehicle to an internal combustion engine.

  Conventionally, a fuel supply unit for supplying fuel from a fuel tank to a fuel injection device in a vehicle has been used. Such a fuel supply unit includes, for example, a pump unit having a pump capable of sucking and discharging fuel, and a housing for fixing the pump unit to a fuel tank, and the pump unit is connected through an opening. The discharge pipe disposed inside the fuel tank and connected to the housing is fixed to a lid member that closes the opening of the fuel tank. A fuel pipe is connected to the discharge pipe, and fuel is supplied to the fuel injection device of the internal combustion engine through the fuel pipe.

  The present applicant has proposed a fuel supply unit that can be connected by inserting a discharge pipe into a discharge port of the housing while fixing the housing to the lid member with a screw via a flange (Patent Document 1). reference).

JP 2007-224882 A

  The present invention has been made in connection with the above proposal, and can easily and reliably assemble the discharge pipe and the fuel pump to the lid member, and further reduce the number of assembling steps and the number of parts. It is an object to provide a fuel supply unit capable of performing

In order to achieve the above-described object, the present invention provides a lid member that is attached to and closes an opening of a fuel tank, a fuel pump that is held by the lid member and that sucks and discharges fuel, and is connected to the fuel pump. In a fuel supply unit comprising a flow path forming member having a flow path through which fuel flows, and a discharge pipe connected to the flow path forming member for discharging fuel to the outside of the lid member,
The lid member includes a first contact portion that contacts the discharge pipe;
A second contact portion that contacts the housing;
With
The lid member is sandwiched in the axial direction between the discharge pipe and the flow path forming member via the first and second abutting portions, and the engaging section of the discharge pipe and the flow path forming member It is fixed by being engaged with.

  According to the present invention, the lid member attached to the fuel tank includes a first contact portion that contacts the discharge pipe, and a second contact portion that contacts the flow path forming member connected to the fuel pump, The lid member is sandwiched between the discharge pipe and the flow path forming member via the first and second contact portions, and is connected to each other under the engaging action of the engaging portion.

  Accordingly, since the discharge pipe, the lid member, and the flow path forming member can be fixed integrally by a simple assembly operation in which the discharge pipe and the flow path forming member are engaged by the engaging portion, the fuel supply Assembling work of the unit can be simplified, and as a result, it is possible to improve the assembling property. In addition, in order to connect the discharge pipe, the lid member, and the flow path forming member to each other, for example, it is not necessary to use a connecting means such as a screw. be able to.

  Further, the first and second contact portions may be formed in an annular shape so as to face the flow path. Thereby, when connecting a discharge pipe, a cover member, and a flow-path formation member mutually, the said flow path can be connected reliably.

  Further, the engaging portion may be arranged so as to overlap with at least one of the first contact portion and the second contact portion in the axial direction. Thereby, when the discharge pipe and the flow path forming member are connected to each other via the engaging portion, the connecting force is applied to at least one of the first contact portion and the second contact portion. The connecting force of the discharge pipe, the lid member, and the flow path forming member can be further strengthened, and as a result, the connection of the flow path from which the fuel is discharged can be reliably performed.

  Furthermore, the engaging portion may be a hook that is elastically deformable in the radial direction. As a result, the discharge pipe can be easily engaged with the flow path forming member, and can be connected in a state where relative displacement in the axial direction is restricted.

  According to the present invention, the following effects can be obtained.

  That is, the lid member is provided with a first contact portion that contacts the discharge pipe and a second contact portion that contacts the flow path forming member connected to the fuel pump, and the first and second contact portions are interposed therebetween. The lid member is sandwiched between the discharge pipe and the flow path forming member, and is connected to each other under the engaging action of the engaging portion, thereby engaging the discharge pipe and the flow path forming member. Since the discharge pipe, the lid member, and the flow path forming member can be fixed integrally with a simple operation, the assembly of the fuel supply unit can be improved, and a screw or the like can be connected for connection. Since it is not necessary to prepare the means separately, the number of parts constituting the fuel supply unit can be reduced.

It is a whole block diagram which shows the state with which the fuel supply unit which concerns on embodiment of this invention was mounted | worn with the fuel tank. It is an expanded sectional view which shows the discharge pipe vicinity in the fuel supply unit of FIG. FIG. 3 is an exploded cross-sectional view showing a state where the fuel supply unit of FIG. 2 is removed from a fuel tank.

  Preferred embodiments of the fuel supply unit according to the present invention will be described below and described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings.

  In FIG. 1, reference numeral 10 indicates a fuel supply unit according to an embodiment of the present invention.

  As shown in FIGS. 1 to 3, the fuel supply unit 10 includes a discharge pipe 14 fixed to the bottom wall of the fuel tank 12, and a housing (flow path forming member) 16 connected to the discharge pipe 14. And a fuel pump 18 connected to the housing 16.

  The discharge pipe 14 is formed in a cylindrical shape having a through-hole (flow path) 20 penetrating in the axial direction (arrows A and B directions), one end of which is inserted into a discharge port 46 of the housing 16 to be described later. The end portion is inserted into and protrudes through the insertion hole 24 of the lid member 22 attached to the bottom wall of the fuel tank 12.

  The discharge pipe 14 is provided with a flange portion 26 whose diameter is increased radially outward from a substantially central outer peripheral surface along the axial direction, and one end portion of the discharge pipe 14 is connected to the fuel tank 12 via a lid member 22. When it is inserted inside, it abuts on the surface 22a of the lid member 22. That is, the contact portion between the flange portion 26 and the surface 22a of the lid member 22 is the first contact portion.

  Further, a first seal ring 28 is attached to the outer peripheral surface of the discharge pipe 14 via an annular groove at a position on the other end side (arrow A direction) with respect to the flange portion 26. On the other end side (in the direction of arrow A), the second seal ring 30 is mounted via an annular groove. The first and second seal rings 28 and 30 are made of, for example, an elastic material such as rubber, and the first seal ring 28 is discharged when the discharge pipe 14 is inserted into the discharge passage 36 of the housing 16. The second seal ring 30 contacts the inner peripheral surface of the passage 36 when the discharge pipe 14 is inserted into the insertion hole 24 of the lid member 22. Thus, leakage of fuel to the outside through the housing 16 and the lid member 22 and the discharge pipe 14 is prevented.

  The discharge pipe 14 is formed such that the outer peripheral diameter of the portion where the first seal ring 28 is attached is larger than the outer peripheral diameter of the portion where the second seal ring 30 is attached.

  Further, a plurality of hooks (engaging portions) 32 that are elastically deformable in the radial direction are provided on the outer peripheral surface of the discharge pipe 14 at a position between the first seal ring 28 and the second seal ring 30. The hook 32 has an end joined to the outer peripheral surface, and is formed in a tapered shape in which the diameter gradually increases from the end toward the one end of the discharge pipe 14 (in the direction of arrow B). Further, the hooks 32 are provided apart from each other along the circumferential direction of the outer peripheral surface of the discharge pipe 14.

  The housing 16 is formed in a substantially L-shaped cross section, and a fuel pump 18 is connected to one end portion, and a discharge pipe 14 and a pressure regulating valve 34 capable of adjusting the fuel pressure are connected to the other end portion. A discharge passage 36 through which the fuel discharged from the fuel pump 18 flows is formed inside the housing 16, and a fuel discharge portion 38 of the fuel pump 18 is connected to one end of the discharge passage 36.

  On the other hand, the other end portion of the housing 16 is formed at a substantially right angle with respect to the one end portion, and includes a first holder portion 40 to which the discharge pipe 14 is attached and a second holder portion 42 to which the pressure adjusting valve 34 is attached. Prepare. The first holder part 40 is formed in a cylindrical shape having a first flow path 44 therein, and the first flow path 44 includes a discharge passage 36 and a discharge port 46 opened at an end of the first holder part 40. Is communicated. Since the discharge pipe 14 is inserted into the discharge port 46, the discharge passage 36 communicates with the discharge pipe 14 through the first flow path 44.

  In the first holder portion 40, a plurality of engagement holes 48 are formed at a predetermined distance along the axial direction (the direction of the arrow A) from the end of the discharge port 46. One holder portion 40 penetrates from the outer peripheral surface to the discharge port 46 in the radial direction. A plurality of engagement holes 48 are provided apart from each other along the circumferential direction of the first holder part 40. And when the discharge pipe 14 is inserted with respect to the 1st holder part 40, the hook 32 is engaged with the engagement hole 48, and it followed the axial direction of the discharge pipe 14 with respect to the said 1st holder part 40. A connected state in which the displacement is restricted (see FIG. 2).

  The second holder part 42 is formed substantially parallel to the first holder part 40, the second flow path 50 is formed therein, and the discharge passage 36 and the pressure regulating valve 34 are communicated with each other. The pressure adjusting valve 34 is provided for the purpose of supplying the fuel at a constant pressure to the fuel injection valve through the fuel supply unit 10.

  The fuel pump 18 includes an electric motor (not shown) that is driven to rotate under energization and a pump (not shown) that is driven by the electric motor in the casing 52. A fuel suction portion 54 for sucking fuel into the inside is formed, and a fuel discharge portion 38 that is inserted into the discharge passage 36 of the housing 16 and discharges the fuel to the outside is formed at the other end on the housing 16 side. Is done. The fuel suction portion 54 and the fuel discharge portion 38 protrude in the axial direction with respect to one end portion and the other end portion of the casing 52, respectively.

  Next, the lid member 22 that closes the opening 56 of the fuel tank 12 will be described.

  The lid member 22 is formed in a plate shape so as to close the opening 56 of the fuel tank 12. An insertion hole 24 penetrating in the thickness direction is formed at the center of the lid member 22, and an annular wall 58 standing in the axial direction from the outer peripheral surface of the insertion hole 24 is formed. The annular wall 58 is substantially orthogonal to the back surface 22b of the lid member 22 on the fuel pump 18 side (arrow A direction) and is formed in a cylindrical shape with a predetermined height.

  The discharge pipe 14 is inserted into the insertion hole 24 from the surface 22a side (arrow B direction) of the lid member 22, and the flange portion 26 is positioned and locked by contacting the surface 22a. That is, one end portion of the discharge pipe 14 protrudes toward the front surface 22 a (arrow B direction) of the lid member 22, and the other end portion protrudes toward the back surface 22 b side (arrow A direction) of the lid member 22. Arranged inside. The other end of the housing 16 abuts on the end of the annular wall 58. That is, the contact portion between the end portion of the first holder portion 40 in the housing 16 and the annular wall 58 of the lid member 22 is the second contact portion.

  The fuel supply unit 10 according to the embodiment of the present invention is basically configured as described above. Next, an assembly method for assembling the fuel supply unit 10 to the lid member 22 will be described. explain.

  First, as shown in FIG. 3, in a state where the fuel pump 18 is connected to one end of the housing 16, the first holder portion 40 of the housing 16 is coaxial with the insertion hole 24 of the lid member 22. It arrange | positions and the edge part of this 1st holder part 40 is contact | abutted with respect to the annular wall 58 of the cover member 22. FIG.

  Next, the other end portion of the discharge pipe 14 is inserted into the insertion hole 24 from the surface 22a side (arrow B direction) of the lid member 22, and is inserted until the flange portion 26 contacts the surface 22a. As a result, the discharge pipe 14 is sequentially inserted into the insertion hole 24 of the lid member 22, the annular wall 58 and the discharge port 46 of the housing 16, and the hook inserted into the discharge port 46 in a state of being elastically deformed radially inward. 32 is returned to the radially outward direction at the position facing the engagement hole 48 and engaged with the engagement hole 48.

  Thereby, the movement of the discharge pipe 14 in the axial direction (arrow A, B direction) with respect to the housing 16 is restricted, the housing 16 and the discharge pipe 14 are connected, and the lid member 22 is connected to the flange of the discharge pipe 14. The lid member 22 is moved between the discharge pipe 14 and the housing 16 whose relative displacement in the axial direction has already been regulated since the portion 26 is sandwiched between the first holder portion 40 of the housing 16. There is no. That is, the discharge pipe 14 is inserted into the discharge port 46 of the housing 16 through the insertion hole 24 of the lid member 22, and the discharge pipe 14, the lid member 22, and the hook pipe 32 are engaged with the engagement hole 48. It becomes possible to connect the housing 16 integrally. Specifically, the lid member 22 is sandwiched between the discharge pipe 14 and the housing 16 and is connected to each other.

  In other words, by attaching the discharge pipe 14, the discharge pipe 14, the lid member 22, and the housing 16 can be connected with one touch.

  As a result, the assembling work of the fuel pump 18 can be simplified, and the assembling property can be improved.

  Further, since it is not necessary to use a connecting means such as a screw for connecting the discharge pipe 14, the lid member 22 and the housing 16 to each other, the number of parts is reduced as compared with the fuel supply unit according to the prior art. be able to.

  Further, the hook 32 contacts the contact portion (first contact portion) between the flange portion 26 of the discharge pipe 14 and the lid member 22, the first holder portion 40 of the housing 16, and the annular wall 58 of the lid member 22. Since it is arranged so as to overlap with at least one of the contact portions (second contact portions) in the axial direction, the connection is urged in the axial direction when the hook 32 and the engagement hole 48 are engaged. A force is reliably and suitably applied to the contact portion, and the connection force of the discharge pipe 14, the lid member 22, and the housing 16 can be further strengthened. As a result, the discharge passage 36 through which the fuel is discharged, the first flow path 44, and the through hole 20 can be reliably connected, and the fuel can be supplied to the outside of the fuel tank 12 without leaking. It becomes.

  Next, the operation and effect of the fuel supply unit 10 assembled as described above will be briefly described.

  First, in the fuel pump 18 of the fuel supply unit 10, the pump is driven to rotate by driving an electric motor based on a control signal from a controller (not shown), and the fuel in the fuel tank 12 passes through a filter (not shown). Then, the fuel is supplied from the fuel suction portion 54 to the fuel pump 18. Then, the fuel is discharged from the fuel discharge portion 38 by the pump of the fuel pump 18, flows through the discharge passage 36 to the through hole 20 of the discharge pipe 14, and is supplied to the fuel injection valve through a tube (not shown). . The fuel flowing through the discharge passage 36 is always adjusted to a predetermined pressure by the pressure adjustment valve 34.

  In addition, the fuel supply unit according to the present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiment, and various configurations can be adopted without departing from the gist of the present invention.

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 10 ... Fuel supply unit 12 ... Fuel tank 14 ... Discharge pipe 16 ... Housing 18 ... Fuel pump 20 ... Through-hole 22 ... Cover member 24 ... Insertion hole 26 ... Flange part 32 ... Hook 36 ... Discharge passage 40 ... 1st holder part 42 ... second holder part 46 ... discharge port 48 ... engagement hole 56 ... opening part 58 ... annular wall

Claims (4)

A lid member mounted and closed at the opening of the fuel tank, a fuel pump held by the lid member for sucking and discharging fuel, and a flow path forming member connected to the fuel pump and having a flow path through which the fuel flows And a fuel supply unit comprising a discharge pipe connected to the flow path forming member for discharging fuel to the outside of the lid member,
The lid member includes a first contact portion that contacts the discharge pipe;
A second contact portion that contacts the housing;
With
The lid member is sandwiched in the axial direction between the discharge pipe and the flow path forming member via the first and second abutting portions, and the engaging section of the discharge pipe and the flow path forming member The fuel supply unit is fixed by being engaged with the fuel supply unit. The fuel supply unit according to claim 1, wherein
The fuel supply unit, wherein the first and second contact portions are formed in an annular shape so as to face the flow path. The fuel supply unit according to claim 1 or 2,
The fuel supply unit, wherein the engagement portion is arranged to overlap with at least one of the first contact portion and the second contact portion in the axial direction. The fuel supply unit according to any one of claims 1 to 3,
The fuel supply unit according to claim 1, wherein the engaging portion includes a hook that is elastically deformable in a radial direction.

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