JP2017115793A - Fuel tank - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a fuel tank which enables improvement of the fuel residual amount detection accuracy of a sender gauge.SOLUTION: A built-in support pillar 14 is fixed to a substantially center of a fuel tank body 12 in a plan (a vehicle vertical direction) view at an area between an upper wall 22 and a bottom wall 18 of the fuel tank body 12. As a result, deformation of the fuel tank body 12, in particular the bottom wall 18 is inhibited. Thus, a sender gauge 16 fixed to the built-in support pillar 14 for maintaining a space between the upper wall 22 and the bottom wall 18 is inhibited from being displaced relative to a liquid surface of a fuel F in conjunction with deformation of the fuel tank body 12, and the fuel residual amount detection accuracy is improved.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 1

Description

  The present invention relates to a fuel tank.

  2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, a fuel tank is provided with a float-type sender gauge for detecting the remaining amount of fuel. For example, the fuel tank is attached to a pump module disposed on the bottom wall of the fuel tank (for example, Patent Documents). 1).

JP 2012-17963 A

  By the way, when the fuel tank is resin-molded, the fuel tank may be deformed by a change in the internal pressure of the fuel tank. In particular, the bottom wall of the fuel tank on which the weight of the fuel acts is greatly deformed, so that the relative position of the fuel level with respect to the sender gauge in the fuel tank changes, and the accuracy of remaining fuel detection in the sender gauge is reduced. It was.

  In other words, there is room for improvement in the detection accuracy of the remaining fuel amount of the sender gauge in the resin fuel tank.

  In view of the above facts, the present invention has an object to provide a fuel tank with improved fuel gauge detection accuracy of a sender gauge.

  According to the first aspect of the present invention, a resin-made fuel tank main body in which fuel is stored in an interior surrounded by a bottom wall, a side wall, and an upper wall is disposed inside the fuel tank main body, and one end is formed on the upper wall. The other end is fixed to the bottom wall, the columnar body extending from the upper wall to the bottom wall, and fixed to the columnar body, based on the relative positional relationship with the liquid level of the fuel A fuel capacity remaining in the fuel tank body is detected.

  According to this configuration, the columnar body is disposed between the bottom wall and the upper wall of the resin fuel tank body, one end of the columnar body is fixed to the upper wall of the fuel tank body, and the other end is the fuel. It is fixed to the bottom wall of the tank body. That is, since the upper wall and the bottom wall of the fuel tank body are supported by the columnar body, the deformation of the upper wall and the bottom wall due to the change in the internal pressure of the fuel tank body is suppressed. In particular, since the sender gauge is fixed to a columnar body fixed between the upper wall and the bottom wall, relative displacement with respect to the liquid level of the fuel accompanying deformation of the fuel tank body is suppressed. Therefore, the sender gauge can accurately detect the remaining amount of fuel based on the position of the fuel liquid level.

  Since the fuel tank of the first aspect of the present invention has the above-described configuration, the accuracy of detection of the remaining amount of fuel by the sender gauge is improved.

It is a longitudinal cross-sectional view (AA sectional view taken on the line in FIG. 2) of the fuel tank which concerns on one Embodiment of this invention. It is a cross-sectional view (BB sectional view in Drawing 1) of a fuel tank concerning one embodiment of the present invention. It is a perspective view which shows the built-in support | pillar and sender gauge which concern on one Embodiment of this invention. It is. It is CC sectional view taken on the line of FIG.

  A fuel tank according to an embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS. In addition, each figure is typical and the illustration with a low relevance to the present invention is omitted. Further, the arrow FR indicates the front of the vehicle, the arrow W indicates the vehicle width direction, and the arrow UP indicates the vehicle upper direction.

(Constitution)
As shown in FIG. 1, the fuel tank 10 according to the present embodiment includes a fuel tank body 12 in which fuel F is stored, a built-in support column 14 disposed inside the fuel tank body 12, and a built-in support column 14. And a sender gauge 16 attached thereto.

  As shown in FIG. 1, the fuel tank body 12 includes a bottom wall 18, a side wall 20, and an upper wall 22, and has a structure for storing the fuel F in a closed space surrounded by these.

  Inside the fuel tank main body 12, a resin built-in support column 14 is disposed between the bottom wall 18 and the upper wall 22. As shown in FIG. 3, the built-in column 14 has a cylindrical portion 24 that extends from the upper side to the lower side of the vehicle at the center portion. As shown in FIG. 1, the length (height) of the cylindrical portion 24 in the vehicle vertical direction coincides with the vehicle vertical length (height) from the bottom wall 18 to the upper wall 22 of the fuel tank body 12. .

  As shown in FIG. 3, an upper flange portion 26 and a lower flange portion 28 are formed on the upper end and the lower end of the cylindrical portion 24, respectively. . In addition, at approximately the center in the vertical direction of the cylindrical portion 24, the first middle flange portion 30 and the second middle portion that extend radially outward from the cylindrical portion 24 at two predetermined intervals and have a circular outer shape in plan view. A flange portion 32 is formed. The first middle flange portion 30 and the second middle flange portion 32 are formed with a smaller diameter than the upper flange portion 26 and the lower flange portion 28.

  Furthermore, six vertical ribs 34 extending from the upper flange portion 26 to the lower flange portion 28 along the axial direction (vehicle vertical direction) of the cylindrical portion 24 are formed in the built-in support column 14. In the following description, when the vertical ribs 34 are distinguished, they may be referred to as first to sixth vertical ribs 34A to 34F, respectively.

  As shown in FIG. 3, the vertical ribs 34 are formed to protrude from the cylindrical portion 24 in four directions orthogonal to each other in a plan view (the vehicle vertical direction). The first vertical ribs 34 </ b> A and the second vertical ribs 34 </ b> B are plan views. Are formed in parallel with each other at a predetermined interval. A third vertical rib 34C and a fourth vertical rib 34D project from the first vertical rib 34A and the second vertical rib 34B so as to be symmetrical with respect to the cylindrical portion 24 in plan view. In addition, a fifth vertical rib 34E and a sixth vertical rib 34F are formed to protrude in the radial direction of the cylindrical portion 24 orthogonal to the protruding direction of the first to fourth vertical ribs 34A to 34D in plan view.

  The vertical rib 34 includes a trapezoidal upper wall portion 36 formed from the upper flange portion 26 to the first middle flange portion 30, and a square-shaped medium formed from the first middle flange portion 30 to the second middle flange portion 32. A wall portion 38 and a trapezoidal lower wall portion 40 formed from the second middle flange portion 32 to the lower flange portion 28 are provided. In addition, when distinguishing this upper wall part 36, the middle wall part 38, and the lower wall part 40 by the 1st-6th vertical rib 34A-34F, it attaches AF respectively after a reference number.

  As shown in FIGS. 3 and 4, in the first middle flange portion 30 and the second middle flange portion 32, between the first vertical rib 34A and the second vertical rib 34B, a later-described sender gauge 16 is provided. Holes 42A and 42B for fitting the sender gauge main body 44 are formed.

  In the built-in support column 14 thus formed, the upper surface of the upper flange portion 26 is fixed to the upper wall 22 of the fuel tank body 12, and the lower surface of the lower flange portion 28 is fixed to the bottom wall 18 of the fuel tank body 12. Thus, the fuel tank body 12 is fixed inside. Further, in the plan view of the fuel tank 10, as shown in FIG. In FIG. 2, reference numeral 60 indicates a pump module.

  When the fuel tank 10 is molded, the built-in column 14 is welded to the molten resin sheet formed on the lower mold, and the upper mold is closed by closing the upper mold and the lower mold. The built-in support column 14 is welded to the molten resin sheet. In this way, the built-in support column 14 is welded to the bottom wall 18 and the top wall 22 of the fuel tank 10.

  The sender gauge 16 fixed to the built-in support column 14 is attached to a substantially rectangular sender gauge main body 44, a substantially U-shaped shaft body 46 supported to be swingable with respect to the sender gauge main body 44, and a tip of the shaft body 46. The float 48 is formed.

  As shown in FIG. 3, the sender gauge main body 44 is formed in a rectangular shape, and the distance (height) between the upper surface 44A and the lower surface 44B is the first middle flange portion 30 and the second middle flange portion of the built-in support column 14. 32 is formed to be equal to the distance of 32. The distance (width) between the side surface 44C and the side surface 44D of the sender gauge body 44 is equal to the distance between the first vertical rib 34A (inner wall portion 38A) and the second vertical rib 34B (inner wall portion 38B) of the built-in support column 14. Is formed.

  Further, as shown in FIG. 3 and FIG. 4, the claw portions that protrude on the upper surface 44 </ b> A and the lower surface 44 </ b> B of the sender gauge body 44 upward and downward, respectively, and are inserted (fitted) into the holes 42 </ b> A and 42 </ b> B of the built-in support column 14. 50A and 50B are formed.

  Therefore, the sender gauge main body 44 can be inserted from the rear surface 44E into the recess 52 surrounded by the first middle flange portion 30, the second middle flange portion 32, the first vertical rib 34A, and the second vertical rib 34B of the built-in support column 14. Yes. As shown in FIG. 4, when the rear surface 44E is brought into contact with the cylindrical portion 24 by inserting the sender gauge main body 44 into the recess 52, the claw portions 50A and 50B formed on the upper surface 44A and the lower surface 44B are respectively It is configured to be inserted (fitted) into holes 42A and 42B formed in the first middle flange portion 30 and the second flange portion 32.

  In addition, the shaft body 46 slidably held by the sender gauge body 44 includes a first portion 54 extending from the front surface 44F of the sender gauge body 44 in a direction orthogonal to the front surface 44F, and a right angle at the tip of the first portion 54. A second part 56 that bends and extends in a direction orthogonal to the first part 54, and a third part 58 that is bent at a right angle at the tip of the second part 56 and extends in the opposite direction in parallel to the first part 54. ing. A float 48 is attached to the third portion 58. Therefore, the float 48 located on the liquid level of the fuel F is swingable in the direction of arrow C around the first portion 54 of the shaft body 46 by the vertical movement of the liquid level of the fuel F.

  The sender gauge 16 detects the remaining amount of fuel by outputting a voltage corresponding to the rotational position of the float 48 (shaft body 46) (liquid level of the fuel F) to an ECU (not shown).

(Function)
The operation (operation) of the fuel tank 10 according to this embodiment will be described.

  When the internal pressure of the fuel tank body 12 varies, the fuel tank body 12 is deformed. For example, when the internal pressure of the fuel tank main body 12 increases due to an increase in temperature or the like, the fuel tank body 12 expands. At this time, the bottom wall 18 on which the weight of the fuel F acts varies most greatly.

  However, in the fuel tank main body 12, the upper flange portion 26 and the lower flange portion 28 of the built-in support column 14 are welded to the bottom wall 18 and the upper wall 22, respectively. That is, the built-in support column 14 having a vehicle vertical length (height) equal to the distance between the upper wall 22 and the bottom wall 18 supports the upper wall 22 and the bottom wall 18.

  Although the built-in support column 14 is made of resin, since six vertical ribs 34 extending in the axial direction are formed around the cylindrical portion 24 extending from the top wall 22 to the bottom wall 18, Sufficient rigidity is ensured. Further, since the built-in support column 14 has the first middle flange portion 30 and the second middle flange portion 32 formed between the upper flange portion 26 and the lower flange portion 28 in the vehicle vertical direction of the cylindrical portion 24, the vertical rib 34. Is prevented from being deformed. That is, the rigidity of the built-in support 14 is further improved.

  The built-in support column 14 having sufficient rigidity and having the vehicle vertical length (height) equal to the distance between the upper wall 22 and the bottom wall 18 is provided between the upper wall 22 and the bottom wall 18 of the fuel tank body 12. Therefore, the deformation of the fuel tank main body 12 is suppressed. In particular, in the portion welded to the built-in support column 14, fluctuations in the distance (distance) between the upper wall 22 and the bottom wall 18 are suppressed.

  Further, as shown in FIG. 2, the built-in support column 14 is disposed substantially at the center of the fuel tank body 12 (the bottom wall 18 and the upper wall 22) in plan view. Therefore, even when the fuel tank body 12 is deformed as the internal pressure of the fuel tank body 12 varies, the deformation of the upper wall 22 and the bottom wall 18 is most suppressed. For example, when the fuel tank body 12 is inflated and deformed, as shown in FIG. 1, the bottom wall 18 having the largest deformation amount due to the weight of the fuel acts on the upper wall 22 via the built-in support column 14. Since it is fixed, it is suppressed to a small deformation between the center position and the side wall 20 (refer to the bottom wall 18 shown in FIGS. 1 and 2 by a chain line).

  Thus, since the deformation of the fuel tank body 12 is suppressed, the sender gauge 16 is fixed to the built-in support column 14 (having a predetermined rigidity) that maintains the distance between the upper wall 22 and the bottom wall 18. The sender gauge 16 is restrained from being displaced relative to the liquid level of the fuel F. That is, the detection accuracy of the remaining amount of fuel in the sender gauge 16 is improved.

  In particular, since the sender gauge 16 is disposed at a central position (between the first middle flange portion 30 and the second middle flange portion 32) in the vertical direction of the built-in support column 14, the sender gauge 16 is disposed at the bottom wall 18 of the fuel tank body 12. The detection accuracy of the remaining amount of fuel is improved as compared with the case where it is disposed on the side or the upper wall 22 side.

  In the fuel tank 10, the sender gauge 16 (sender gauge body 44) is fitted to the built-in column 14 by inserting the claws 50 </ b> A and 50 </ b> B of the sender gauge body 44 of the sender gauge 16 into the holes 42 </ b> A and 42 </ b> B of the built-in column 14. doing. Therefore, no other mounting parts are required to fix the sender gauge 16 to the built-in support column 14.

  Further, since the holes 42A and 42B are provided in the first middle flange portion 30 and the second middle flange portion 32, it is unnecessary to form a hole or notch for attaching the sender gauge 16 to the cylindrical portion 24 or the vertical rib 34. Become. Therefore, the rigidity of the cylindrical portion 24 and the vertical rib 34 can be increased. That is, the rigidity of the built-in column 14 can be increased while ensuring the ease of mounting the sender gauge 16 to the built-in column 14.

  In the present embodiment, the built-in support column 14 is described as being made of resin, but the present invention is not limited to this. For example, it may be made of metal.

10 Fuel tank 12 Fuel tank body 14 Built-in support column (columnar body)
16 Sender gauge 18 Bottom wall 20 Side wall 22 Upper wall

Claims (1)

A resin fuel tank main body in which fuel is stored in an interior surrounded by a bottom wall, a side wall, and an upper wall, and disposed inside the fuel tank main body, with one end fixed to the upper wall and the other end fixed to the bottom A columnar body fixed to a wall and extending from the top wall to the bottom wall;
A sender gauge fixed to the columnar body and detecting a fuel capacity remaining in the fuel tank body based on a relative positional relationship with a liquid level of the fuel;
With fuel tank.

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