JP2022148381A - Fuel supply device - Google Patents

Abstract

To reduce sliding resistance upon inserting a locking part into a mounting hole, in a fuel supply device.SOLUTION: A fuel supply device 1 comprises a liquid level detector 7 having an elastically deformable locking piece 15 inserted into a mounting hole 8 of a mounting part 9, and the locking piece 15 has, at its tip, a locking projection 16 that when inserted into the mounting hole 8, is locked to the mounting part 9 to be in a locked state. The mounting part 9 comprises a restriction piece 22 facing the locking piece 15 in an unlocking direction of releasing the locked state. The restriction piece 22 is erected from the peripheral edge of the mounting hole 8 and extends toward the center direction of the mounting hole 8; when the locking piece 15 is inserted into the mounting hole 8, contacts the locking piece 15 and bends in a direction away from the center of the mounting hole 8 to allow the insertion; and when the locking projection 16 is in the locked state, returns from the bent state.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 2

Description

The present invention relates to a fuel supply system in which a liquid level detector is attached by a snap-fit method.

Conventionally, there is known a fuel supply device in which a liquid level detector of a fuel tank is attached to a mounting portion by a snap-fit method (see Patent Document 1). In the fuel supply device of Patent Document 1, the liquid level detector detects the position of the liquid level in the fuel tank based on the rotational position of a rotating body that is connected via an arm to a float that floats on the liquid level in the fuel tank. is adopted. In order to attach the liquid level detector to the mounting portion of the fuel supply device, the liquid level detector is provided with a locking portion that is locked to the mounting portion in a snap-fit manner.

Further, in this fuel supply device, the mounting portion is provided with an unlocking restricting portion that prevents the unlocking of the locking portion of the liquid level detector. The unlocking restricting portion comes into contact with the locking portion when the locking portion is about to be displaced in the unlocking direction due to an impact applied to the fuel supply device due to vibration or the like of the vehicle in which the fuel feeding device is mounted. By restricting the displacement of the locking portion, the locking portion is prevented from coming off the mounting portion.

Japanese Patent No. 6362264

However, in the fuel supply device of Patent Literature 1, when the liquid level detector is mounted and the locking portion is inserted into the mounting hole of the mounting portion, the locking portion does not contact the unlocking restriction portion and the inner wall of the mounting hole. inserted while touching the Therefore, the insertability is not necessarily good due to the sliding resistance caused by the contact during insertion, and there is a possibility that burrs may be generated due to the sliding during insertion.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION An object of the present invention is to reduce the sliding resistance when inserting a locking portion into a mounting hole in a fuel supply device in view of the problems of the prior art.

The fuel supply system of the present invention includes a liquid level detector that detects the position of the liquid level in the fuel tank based on the rotational position of a rotating body that is connected via an arm to a float that floats on the liquid level in the fuel tank. , and a mounting portion having a mounting hole to which the liquid level detector is mounted,
The liquid level detector includes an elastically deformable locking piece inserted into the mounting hole,
When the direction of insertion into the mounting hole is defined as a first direction and the direction opposite to the direction of insertion is defined as a second direction, the locking piece extends outwardly of the mounting hole in a direction intersecting with the first direction. Equipped with a locking portion having a locking projection extending at the tip,
When the locking piece is inserted into the mounting hole, the locking projection is locked to the surface of the mounting portion on the first direction side to be in a locked state,
the mounting portion includes an unlocking restriction portion facing the locking portion in an unlocking direction for releasing the locked state of the locking projection;
In the unlocking direction, a first distance from one inner surface of the mounting hole to the other inner surface is greater than the width of the locking portion, and the unlocking restricting portion extends from the one inner surface of the mounting hole. In the fuel supply device, wherein the second distance to the portion is smaller than the width of the locking portion,
The unlocking restricting portion constitutes part or all of an elastically deformable restricting piece,
The regulating piece is erected from a peripheral edge of the mounting hole and extends toward the center of the mounting hole, and contacts the locking portion when the locking portion is inserted into the mounting hole, thereby and to allow the insertion thereof, and to return from the bent state when the locking projection is in the locking state.

According to the present invention, even if the engaging portion is about to be displaced in the unlocking direction due to vibrations of the vehicle in which the fuel supply device is mounted, the engaging portion abuts against the release restricting portion, thereby suppressing this displacement. As a result, it is possible to maintain the locking state of the locking projection with respect to the mounting portion and prevent the liquid level detector from coming off the mounting portion.

In addition, when the locking piece is inserted into the mounting hole, the locking portion abuts against the restricting piece, and this contact causes the restricting piece to bend, thereby reducing the sliding resistance between the locking portion and the restricting piece. Therefore, it is possible to improve the insertability of the locking portion into the mounting hole.

In the present invention, the regulating piece has an intersection portion whose direction in which it abuts against the locking portion and bends when the locking portion is inserted into the mounting hole is a direction that intersects the unlocking direction. The crossing portion is a surface that abuts against the locking portion when the locking portion in the locked state is displaced in the unlocking direction, and extends along the crossing direction as viewed in the second direction. A cross abutment surface may be provided which is a flat surface.

According to this, when the engaging portion is displaced in the unlocking direction due to vibration of the vehicle in which the fuel supply device is mounted, and comes into contact with the intersecting contact surface of the intersecting portion of the restricting piece, the engaging portion is displaced. Compared to the easiness of bending in the unlocking direction of the restricting piece when the portion of the restricting piece that abuts is the surface facing the bending direction of the restricting piece, the intersecting portion is less likely to bend in the unlocking direction. Release of the locking projection can be effectively suppressed.

It is a front view of a fuel supply system concerning one embodiment of the present invention. 3(a) to 3(c) are perspective views showing in chronological order how a liquid level detector is attached to the attachment portion of the fuel supply device of FIG. 1. FIG. (a) to (c) are diagrams corresponding to FIGS. 2(a) to (c), respectively, and each of (a) to (c) shows a locking piece of the liquid level detector. The portion of the mounting portion and the locking piece are shown in the D2 direction arrow views (a)-1, (b)-1, and (c)-1 of FIG. (a)-2, (b)-2, (c)-2 and BB cross-sectional views on the left (a)-3, (b)-3, (c)-3. FIG. 3(c)-2 is an enlarged cross-sectional view taken along the line AA.

Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1 shows a fuel supply system according to one embodiment of the invention. This fuel supply device 1 supplies fuel based on the rotation position of a device body 3 attached to a bottom plate 2 of a fuel tank and a rotating body 6 connected via an arm 5 to a float 4 floating on the liquid surface in the fuel tank. It comprises a liquid level detector 7 for detecting the position of the liquid level in the tank, and a mounting portion 9 having a mounting hole 8 to which the liquid level detector 7 is mounted.

The apparatus main body 3 is provided with a pump 10 for pumping up fuel in the fuel tank and pumping it to an internal combustion engine (not shown), and a motor 11 for driving the pump 10 . The motor 11 is provided with a pair of lead wires 12 . A pair of lead wires 12 are connected to an external power source or the like via a connector 13 and supply power to the motor 11 . The pump 10 pumps up fuel and supplies it to the internal combustion engine via a filter unit (not shown).

One end of the arm 5 is rotatably engaged with the float 4 about an axis extending in the horizontal direction (perpendicular to the paper in FIG. 1), and the other end rotates integrally with the rotor 6. Connected as you get. The liquid level detector 7 generates a detection signal of the liquid level of the fuel according to the rotational position of the rotor 6 . The liquid level detector 7 is supplied with power through a pair of lead wires 14 connected to a connector 13, and outputs a detection signal to the control device of the internal combustion engine.

2A to 2C show how the liquid level detector 7 is attached to the attachment portion 9 of the fuel supply device 1 in chronological order. FIGS. 3(a) to 3(c) are a view in the direction of arrow D2 in FIG. 2 showing states corresponding to the states of FIGS. It is a cross-sectional view.

As shown in these figures, the liquid level detector 7 has an elastically deformable locking piece 15 inserted into the mounting hole 8 of the mounting portion 9 of the fuel supply device 1 . However, in FIGS. 2(a) to 2(c), only the locking piece 15 of the liquid level detector 7 is shown. 3(a) to 3(c) show only the locking piece 15 portion of the liquid level detector 7 and the liquid level detector 7 portion to which the locking piece 15 is fixed. .

As shown in FIG. 3(a), the locking piece 15 is defined to be inserted into the mounting hole 8 in the first direction D1, and the direction opposite to the insertion direction is defined as the second direction D2. A locking portion 17 having a locking projection 16 extending outward from the mounting hole 8 in a crossing direction is provided at the tip.

The locking protrusion 16 is configured to be locked to the surface 18 of the mounting portion 9 on the first direction D1 side when the locking piece 15 is inserted into the mounting hole 8 . The mounting portion 9 includes an unlocking restricting portion 19 facing the locking portion 17 in the unlocking direction D3 (see FIGS. 3(c)-2 and 4) for releasing the locked state of the locking projection 16. .

FIG. 4 shows an enlarged sectional view taken along line AA of FIG. 3(c)-2. As shown in FIG. 4, the first distance R1 from one inner surface 20 to the other inner surface 21 of the mounting hole 8 in the unlocking direction D3 of the locking protrusion 16 is greater than the width W of the locking portion 17. A second distance R<b>2 from one inner surface 20 of the mounting hole 8 to the unlocking restricting portion 19 is smaller than the width W of the locking portion 17 . The unlocking restricting portion 19 constitutes part or all of the elastically deformable restricting piece 22 .

The restricting piece 22 is erected from the periphery of the mounting hole 8 and extends toward the center of the mounting hole 8 (particularly, see FIG. 2A). and bends in a direction away from the center of the mounting hole 8 in the second direction D2 view (see FIG. 3(a)) to allow the insertion (see FIGS. 2(b) and 3(b)). When the stop projection 16 engages with the surface 18 of the mounting portion 9 on the first direction D1 side to enter the locked state, the bent state returns (see FIGS. 2(c) and 3(c)). configured as

In addition, the direction in which the restricting piece 22 abuts on the locking portion 17 and bends when the locking portion 17 is inserted into the mounting hole 8 is a crossing direction that intersects the unlocking direction D3 of the locking projection 16 . A portion 23 is provided (see FIG. 3(b) and FIG. 4). The intersecting portion 23 is a surface that contacts the engaging portion 17 when the engaging portion 17 in the locked state is displaced in the unlocking direction D3, and is a surface along the intersecting direction in the second direction view D2. A cross abutment surface 24 is provided.

As shown in FIG. 2(a), in addition to the locking piece 15, the liquid level detector 7 is inserted into the fixing hole 25 of the mounting portion 9, and the tip portion thereof is fixed by snap-fitting. Two fixing pieces 26 are provided. The unlocking directions of these fixing pieces 26 are opposite to each other and perpendicular to the unlocking direction D3 of the locking piece 15 .

In this configuration, when the liquid level detector 7 is attached to the attachment portion 9 of the fuel supply device 1, as shown in FIGS. Position the tip in the mounting hole 8 and the fixing hole 25 . At this time, the locking piece 15 is bent toward the other inner surface 21 of the mounting hole 8 due to the contact of the locking portion 17 with the inner surface 20 of the mounting hole 8 . Each fixing piece 26 also contacts the inner surface of the fixing hole 25 and similarly bends.

Next, the tip portions of the locking piece 15 and each fixed piece 26 are inserted into the mounting hole 8 and each fixed hole 25 in the first direction D1. At this time, as shown in FIGS. 2(b) and 3(b), the engaging portion 17 abuts against the restricting piece 22 and pushes the restricting piece 22 apart in the direction of the arrow in FIG. 3(b)-1. At this time, the restricting piece 22 abuts against the engaging portion 17 and bends in a direction away from the center of the mounting hole 8 as viewed in the second direction D2, thereby permitting the insertion.

Further, the liquid level detector 7 is pushed in the first direction D1 until the locking portion 17 of the locking piece 15 completely passes through the mounting hole 8 and the end face 27 of the liquid level detector 7 contacts the mounting portion 9. The locking piece 15 and each fixed piece 26 are moved in the first direction D1.

As a result, as shown in FIGS. 2(c) and 3(c), the locking piece 15 is restored from the bent state, so that the locking projection 16 of the locking piece 15 is positioned at the first position of the mounting portion 9. It is locked to the surface 18 on the direction D1 side and is in a locked state. Similarly, the fixing piece 26 is also locked to the mounting portion 9 by a snap fit method. This completes the attachment of the liquid level detector 7 to the attachment portion 9 of the fuel supply device 1 .

When this attachment is completed, the crossing abutment surfaces 24 of the crossing portions 23 of the respective restricting pieces 22 are aligned with the ends of the locking portions 17 of the locking pieces 15 opposite to the locking projections 16 and on the distal end side. It faces the face portion.

Therefore, when an external force acts on the liquid level detector 7 and the locking piece 15 is about to be displaced in the unlocking direction D3 with respect to the mounting portion 9, even if the locking piece 15 is displaced to some extent, the above-mentioned respective states of the locking piece 15 are prevented. Since the surface portion abuts on the crossing abutting surface 24 of the restricting piece 22, further displacement is restricted. Therefore, the locking projection 16 of the locking piece 15 deviates from the surface 18 of the mounting portion 9 on the first direction D1 side toward the mounting hole 8 and the locking of the locking projection 16 with respect to the surface 18 is released. no.

As described above, according to the present embodiment, even when the locking portion 17 is about to be displaced in the unlocking direction D3 due to vibration or the like of the vehicle in which the fuel supply device 1 is mounted, the locking portion 17 can be locked. By contacting the release restricting portion 19 and suppressing this displacement, the locking projection 16 can be kept locked to the mounting portion 9 and the liquid level detector 7 can be prevented from coming off the mounting portion 9 . can.

Also, when the locking piece 15 is inserted into the mounting hole 8 , the locking portion 17 abuts against the restricting piece 22 . Since the sliding resistance is reduced, the insertability of the locking portion 17 into the mounting hole 8 can be improved.

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1... Fuel supply apparatus, 2... Bottom plate, 3... Device main body, 4... Float, 5... Arm, 6... Rotating body, 7... Liquid level detector, 8... Mounting hole, 9... Mounting part, 10... Pump, 11 Motor 12 Lead wire 13 Connector 14 Lead wire 15 Locking piece 16 Locking protrusion 17 Locking portion 18 Surface 19 Unlocking restricting portion 20 Inner surface , 21... inner surface, 22... regulation piece, 23... intersection portion, 24... intersection contact surface, 25... fixing hole, 26... fixing piece, 27... end surface.

Claims (2)

a liquid level detector for detecting the position of the liquid level in the fuel tank based on the rotational position of a rotating body connected via an arm to a float floating on the liquid level in the fuel tank; and the liquid level detector attached thereto. A fuel supply device comprising a mounting portion having a mounting hole for
The liquid level detector includes an elastically deformable locking piece inserted into the mounting hole,
When the direction of insertion into the mounting hole is defined as a first direction and the direction opposite to the direction of insertion is defined as a second direction, the locking piece extends outwardly of the mounting hole in a direction intersecting with the first direction. Equipped with a locking portion having a locking projection extending at the tip,
When the locking piece is inserted into the mounting hole, the locking projection is locked to the surface of the mounting portion on the first direction side to be in a locked state,
the mounting portion includes an unlocking restriction portion facing the locking portion in an unlocking direction for releasing the locked state of the locking projection;
In the unlocking direction, a first distance from one inner surface of the mounting hole to the other inner surface is greater than the width of the locking portion, and the unlocking restricting portion extends from the one inner surface of the mounting hole. In the fuel supply device, wherein the second distance to the portion is smaller than the width of the locking portion,
The unlocking restricting portion constitutes part or all of an elastically deformable restricting piece,
The restricting piece is erected from a peripheral edge of the mounting hole and extends toward the center of the mounting hole, and contacts the locking portion when the locking portion is inserted into the mounting hole, thereby is bent in a direction away from the center of the mounting hole to allow the insertion thereof, and the locking projection returns from the bent state when the locking projection is in the locked state. . the restricting piece includes an intersecting portion in which a direction in which the restricting piece is flexed by coming into contact with the engaging portion when the engaging portion is inserted into the mounting hole is an intersecting direction that intersects the unlocking direction;
The intersecting portion is a surface that abuts against the engaging portion when the engaging portion in the locked state is displaced in the unlocking direction, and extends along the intersecting direction as viewed in the second direction. 2. The fuel delivery system of claim 1, comprising cross-abutment surfaces that are surfaces.

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