JP2943722B2 - Fuel tank pipe mounting structure - Google Patents

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a fuel tank pipe mounting structure, and more particularly to a fuel tank pipe mounting structure suitable for mounting a fuel pipe or a pipe for evaporating fuel to an automobile fuel tank. Construction.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, for example, Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 8-49614
As disclosed in Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. H10-260, there is known a pipe mounting structure suitable for mounting a fuel pipe on a fuel tank. The above specification discloses a structure in which a fuel pipe is attached to a fuel pump disposed in a fuel tank.

[0003] The above-described conventional structure covers a joint fitted to an opening provided in a fuel pump, a fuel pipe connected to a side surface of the joint, and a joint for restricting displacement of the joint in a detaching direction. And a stopper member fixed to the upper surface of the fuel pump in the closed state.
The stopper member has an opening for inserting the fuel pipe in a predetermined direction. The fuel pipe extends in a predetermined direction through the opening.

In mounting the fuel pipe to the fuel tank, the height at which the mounting portion of the fuel pipe projects from the wall surface of the fuel tank (hereinafter referred to as the mounting height).
, The higher the space efficiency can be secured around the fuel tank. For this reason, it is desirable that the mounting height of the fuel pipe be as low as possible. In the above-mentioned conventional structure, since the pipe retaining mechanism is not built in the joint portion, the mounting height can be suppressed low. Therefore, according to the above-described conventional structure, high space efficiency can be realized around the fuel tank.

[0005]

The direction in which the fuel pipe extends from the fuel tank usually differs depending on the type of vehicle. Therefore, it is desirable that the mounting structure of the fuel pipe with respect to the fuel tank allows the fuel pipe to rotate in the extending direction. However, in the above conventional structure, the extending direction of the fuel pipe is determined by the opening position of the stopper member. For this reason, the conventional structure cannot allow the fuel pipe to rotate in the extending direction.

[0006] As a structure for allowing the rotation of the pipe at the mounting portion of the pipe, there has been conventionally known a quick joint in which a joint portion has a built-in retaining mechanism. However, since this type of joint has a built-in retaining mechanism, it is difficult to reduce the mounting height. As described above, depending on the conventional pipe mounting structure, it has not always been easy to allow rotation of the pipe and to reduce the mounting height.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention has been made in view of the above points, and has a fuel tank pipe mounting structure capable of allowing rotation of a pipe mounted on a fuel tank and suppressing the mounting height of the pipe to be low. The purpose is to provide.

[0008]

The above object is achieved by the present invention.
As described in the above, in a structure in which a pipe is attached to an opening communicating with a fuel tank, when the pipe is fitted with a fitting portion fitted with the opening, and the opening is fitted with the fitting portion. A stopper which is located outside the opening, and which engages with the stopper without inhibiting rotation of the pipe around an axis; and And a clip holding portion that holds the opening in the vicinity of the opening so as not to separate from the opening.

In the present invention, the pipe is connected to an opening communicating with the fuel tank at a fitting portion thereof. When the clip is engaged with the stopper of the pipe, the pipe cannot be removed from the opening. The stopper and the clip can be realized without requiring a large thickness.
For this reason, according to the structure of the present invention, the distance by which the pipe projects from the opening, that is, the mounting height of the pipe can be reduced. The stopper does not inhibit the rotation of the pipe. For this reason, according to the structure of the present invention, the rotation of the pipe can be allowed in a state where the pipe is attached to the opening.

[0010]

FIG. 1 is an exploded perspective view of a fuel pump cap 10 and a fuel pipe joint 12 connected by a pipe mounting structure according to one embodiment of the present invention. As shown in FIG.
A connector 13 and an opening 14 are formed. The connector 13 controls a pump motor built in the fuel pump,
Used to electrically connect to external equipment. The opening 14 communicates with a pump chamber of the fuel pump as described later.

Around the opening 14, the clip holding portion 1
6 are provided. The clip holding section 16 has a clip insertion window 18 on one side thereof. The clip insertion window 18 has a bottom surface 20, a top surface 22, and two side surfaces 2.
The opening is surrounded by four directions 4 and 26.

The clip holding section 16 is provided with the clip insertion window 1.
Abutment 2 having the same surface height as the bottom surface 20 of the clip 8
8, 30 are provided. In addition, the clip holding unit 16
At a position facing the clip insertion window 18 with the opening 14 interposed therebetween, it has the same plate thickness as the upper surface 22 of the clip insertion window 18,
Further, a clip locking portion 32 provided at the same height is provided. The clip engaging portion 32 is connected to the clip contact portions 28 and 30 via the wall forming portion 34 except for both end portions thereof. In the clip holding portion 16, the wall surface on the opening 14 side of the bottom surface 20, the wall surface on the opening 14 side of the clip contact portions 28 and 30, and the opening 14 on the wall surface forming portion 34.
The side wall forms a circular wall around the opening 14 around the opening 14. Hereinafter, this wall surface is referred to as a circular wall surface 36.

The joint 12 of the fuel pipe is
4, a flange-type stopper portion 38 formed on the upper portion of the fitting portion 37, a main body portion 40 formed on the upper portion of the flange-type stopper portion 38, and Fir tree part 4 fixed to the side
2 is provided. Fitting part 37 and fir tree part 42
Are both annular members. The fitting part 37 and the fur tree part 42 are communicated inside the main body part 40.

The flange type stopper 38 is an annular member having an outer diameter substantially equal to the inner diameter of the circular wall surface 36 and a plate thickness equal to the plate thickness of the bottom surface 20 and the stopper contact portions 28 and 30. The joint 12 is assembled to the cap 10 by fitting the fitting portion 37 into the opening 14. When the joint 12 is properly assembled to the cap 10, the upper surface of the flange type stopper portion 38
The height is the same as the surface of the clip contact portions 28 and 30.

The joint 12 and the cap 10 are fixed by a clip 44. The clip 44 includes an inserted portion 46 having the same thickness as the opening height of the clip insertion window 18 and the same width as the opening width of the clip insertion window 18,
An insertion restricting portion 48 having a height greater than the opening height of the clip insertion window 18 is provided. Also, clip 4
4 has a notch 5 having an arc-shaped opening having substantially the same diameter as the main body 40 of the joint 12 and an opening having substantially the same width as the wall forming portion 34.
0 is formed.

After the joint 12 is assembled to the cap 10, the clip 44 is inserted from the clip insertion window 18 until the insertion restricting portion 48 comes into contact with the clip holding portion 16. When the clip 44 is inserted as described above, the distal end of the inserted portion 46 of the clip 44 comes into contact with the clip contact portions 28 and 3.
0 and the clip engaging portion 32, and the notch 50 of the clip 44 is fitted around the main body 40 of the joint 12.

FIG. 2 is a front view of a fuel pump 60 including the cap 10 shown in FIG. 1 as a constituent element. FIG.
This shows a state where the fuel pump 60 is assembled inside the fuel tank 62. As shown in FIG. 2, the fuel tank 62 has an opening 63 for inserting the fuel pump 60 from above. Around the opening 63,
Gasket 6 for ensuring sealing around opening 63
4 are provided. The fuel pump 60 is connected to the fuel tank 6.
2 through the opening 63 so that the gasket 64 is sandwiched between the wall surface of the
Inserted inside.

A metal plate 6 is provided on the upper part of the cap 10.
5 are provided. The metal plate 65 has a plurality of bolt holes 66 around it. On the other hand, the fuel tank 62
Are provided with a plurality of retainers 67 at positions corresponding to the bolt holes. The metal plate 65 is fixed to the fuel tank 62 by screwing a bolt 68 inserted into a bolt hole 66 to a retainer 67. When the metal plate 65 is fixed to the fuel tank 62 as described above, the gap between the periphery of the cap 10 and the gasket 64
In addition, an appropriate pressing force is generated between the gasket 64 and the fuel tank 62, and an appropriate sealing property is secured around the opening 63.

The fuel pump 60 has a suction filter 70 having an opening near the bottom of the fuel tank 62. Further, the fuel pump 60 includes a pump mechanism, a pump motor, and a fuel filter therein. The fuel in the fuel tank 62 is drawn into the fuel pump 60 from the suction filter 70 when the pump mechanism is driven by the pump motor. Then, the fuel discharged from the pump mechanism passes through a fuel filter, and is then pressure-fed to a fuel discharge passage 72 shown in FIG.

The fuel discharge passage 72 is formed in a part of the fuel filter holding member 74. A coupling portion 76 is fitted to the fuel filter holding member 74 at a position communicating with the fuel discharge passage 72. The coupling portion 76 is a cylindrical member extending below the cap 10 and is formed integrally with the cap 10. The upper end of the connecting portion 76 is the same as that shown in FIG.
The opening 14 shown in FIG.

The joint 12 is attached to the opening 14 as described above. As shown in FIG. 2, the fuel pump 60 is used in a state where the main tube 78 is fitted to the far tree portion 42 of the joint 12. The other end of the main tube 78 is connected to a fuel injection valve (not shown). Therefore, the fuel tank 62 is controlled by the fuel pump 60.
Fuel pumped from inside is supplied to the fuel injection valve through the main tube 78.

FIG. 3 is an enlarged view of the vicinity of the connecting portion 76 shown in FIG. FIG. 3 shows the fuel pump 60 as shown in FIG.
Corresponds to a cross-sectional view obtained when cut along a straight line III-III shown in FIG. As shown in FIG. 3, an O-ring 80 is interposed at the lower end of
A stopper 82 for preventing the 0 from coming off is mounted. O
The ring 80 is connected to the fuel filter holding member 74 by the connecting portion 76.
When it is mounted on the device, it intervenes between them to ensure proper sealing.

In the vicinity of the upper end of the connecting portion 76, FIG.
O-ring 84 and spacer 8 in this order from below.
6, an O-ring 88 and a stopper 90 are provided. The stopper 90 is a member that prevents the O-rings 84 and 88 and the spacer 88 from being detached from the joint portion 76 when the joint 12 is attached or detached. Also, the spacer 86
Is a member for securing a predetermined interval between the O-ring 84 and the O-ring 88. O-rings 84 and 88
When the joint 12 is mounted on the connecting portion 76, the joint 12 is interposed between them to ensure proper sealing.

As described above, in the structure of the present embodiment, the flange type stopper portion 38 of the joint 12 is a member having an outer diameter substantially equal to the inner diameter of the circular wall surface 36 of the clip holding portion 16. Therefore, the flange type stopper 38 and the circular wall surface 36 do not prevent the joint 12 from rotating around the axis of the fitting portion 37 at all. Also, clip 4
4 is fitted to the main body 40 at an arc-shaped portion having the same diameter as the main body 40. For this reason, the main body 40 and the clip 44 do not prevent the joint 12 from rotating around the axis of the fitting portion 37 at all. Furthermore, joint 1
No member that prevents the fitting portion 37 from rotating around the axis is provided at the connection portion between the second fitting portion 37 and the coupling portion 76. Therefore, according to the structure of this embodiment, the joint 1
2 can easily rotate around the axis of the fitting portion 37 while being attached to the cap 10.

The direction in which the main tube 78 should extend from the fuel tank 62 is not the same for all types of vehicles. Therefore, in order to share the fuel pump 60 and other parts for various types of vehicles, the main tube 78 is required.
It is desirable that the extending direction of the can be freely set. According to the mounting structure of this embodiment, the extending direction of the main tube can be freely changed without any replacement of components. For this reason, the mounting structure of the present embodiment is effective in sharing parts for a plurality of vehicle types.

In the process of assembling the vehicle, it is necessary to evaluate the sealing performance of the path from the fuel pump 60 to the main tube 78 before assembling the fuel pump 60 to the fuel tank 62. Therefore, the fuel pump 60 is assembled to the fuel tank 62 after the joint 12 to which the main tube 78 is connected is mounted on the cap 10.

Therefore, during the process of assembling the vehicle, it is necessary to transport the fuel pump 60 to which the joint 12 and the main tube 78 are mounted. When transporting the fuel pump 60 in such a form, if the extending direction of the main tube 78 is fixed, the transporting posture of the fuel pump 60 is limited, which may complicate the transport operation.
On the other hand, according to the structure of the present embodiment, since the extending direction of the main tube 78 can be freely changed, a free transfer posture can be taken. In this regard, the structure of the present embodiment is also effective in improving the transfer workability of the fuel pump 60.

In the present embodiment, the clip 44
The mechanism for preventing the joint 12 from coming off is realized by combining the flange 12 and the flange type stopper portion 38. The clip 44 and the flange-type stopper 38 are both members that can be realized without requiring a large thickness. Therefore, according to the structure of this embodiment, the joint 1
2 can be kept sufficiently low.

The fuel tank 62 is provided below the floor of the vehicle. For this reason, a large capacity on the floor is secured,
In addition, in order to secure a large capacity of the fuel tank 62, it is more advantageous that the mounting height of the joint 12 is lower. As described above, according to the structure of the present embodiment, the mounting height of the joint 12 can be kept low. Therefore, according to the structure of this embodiment, a large volume on the floor and a large volume of the fuel tank 62 can be secured.

Further, according to the structure of this embodiment, it is determined whether or not the clip 44 is engaged with the clip holding portion 16.
That is, it can be easily visually determined whether or not a state necessary to prevent the joint 12 from coming off is formed. For this reason, according to the structure of the present embodiment, the inspection work can be facilitated.

In the structure of the present embodiment, a play equal to the size of the gap generated between the clip 44 and the flange type stopper 38 is allowed in the joint 12 assembled to the cap 10. Further, the gap generated between the clip 44 and the flange-type stopper 38 is determined by the thickness of the clip 44 and the thickness of the flange-type stopper 38. The thickness of the clip 44, and
The thickness of the flange-type stopper portion 38 can be relatively easily controlled in the processing step.

Therefore, according to the structure of the present embodiment, the amount of backlash generated in the joint 12 can be suppressed to a small value. If the play allowed in the joint 12 is small, O
Damage to the rings 84 and 88 can be reduced. In this regard, the structure of this embodiment is different from the O-rings 84, 8
8 is also effective in suppressing deterioration.

In the above embodiment, a flange-type stopper portion 38 having a larger diameter than the main body portion 40 is formed in the joint 12, and the large-diameter portion is pressed by the clip 44 so that the joint 12 is formed. Although the present invention is not limited to this, the present invention is not limited to this. For example, an annular groove-type stopper portion having a smaller diameter than the main body portion 40 is formed in the joint 12 and the annular groove is formed. The joint 12 may be prevented from coming off by locking the clip to the joint.

In the above-described embodiment, the flange-type stopper 38 is an annular member surrounding the main body 40. However, the flange-type stopper 38 does not necessarily have to be annular. A similar function may be realized by a stopper portion having a plurality of engaging projections.

Further, in the above embodiment, the main tube 78 functioning as a fuel pipe is connected to the fuel pump 60.
However, the present invention is not limited to this. For example, an evaporative fuel derivation pipe for guiding the evaporative fuel generated in the fuel tank 62 to a canister or the like may be used.
It may be attached to the fuel tank 62.

In the above embodiment, the main tube 78 and the joint 12 correspond to the "pipe" according to the first aspect, and the flange type stopper 38 corresponds to the "stopper" according to the first aspect. doing. Next, a second embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIG. FIG. 4 is an enlarged view of the joint 100 and the engaging portion 102 used in this embodiment. In FIG. 4, the same components as those shown in FIGS. 1 to 3 are denoted by the same reference numerals, and description thereof will be omitted.

In this embodiment, the joint 100 is
The main body 104 is provided. The far tree unit 106 is fixed to the main body 104. Fir tree part 10
6, a main tube 78 is mounted. Also,
The joint 100 is provided at the lower part of the main body 104 with the fitting portion 1.
08. Inside the fitting portion 108, in order from the top in FIG.
An O-ring 114 and a stopper 116 are provided. The stopper 116 is a member that prevents the O-rings 110 and 114 and the spacer 112 from being detached from the coupling portion 108 when the joint 100 is attached or detached. The spacer 112 is a member for securing a predetermined interval between the O-ring 110 and the O-ring 114. The O-rings 110 and 114 are connected to the joint 100 by the joint 102.
When it is mounted on the device, it intervenes between them to ensure proper sealing.

A flange type stopper portion 118 is formed between the main body portion 104 and the fitting portion 108 of the joint 100. The flange-type stopper portion 118 is an annular member having an outer diameter substantially equal to the inner diameter of the circular wall surface 36 of the clip holding portion 16. In addition, flange type stopper 1
A rib 120 is formed around 18 around the periphery thereof.

The engaging portion 102 has an opening 122 having an inner diameter slightly larger than the outer diameter of the fitting portion 108 of the joint 100. Further, the engaging portion 102 has an inserted portion 124 having an outer diameter substantially equal to the inner diameter of the fitting portion 108.
It has. The joint 100 is attached to the coupling part 102 such that the inserted part 124 is accommodated inside the fitting part 108 and the fitting part 108 is accommodated inside the opening 122.

A clip holding portion 16 is formed around the opening 122 in the same manner as in the first embodiment. After the joint 100 is attached to the joint 102, the clip 44 is inserted into the clip holder 16, and is fixed to the joint 102.

In the structure of this embodiment, a portion where the clip 44 and the main body 104 are engaged, a portion where the circular wall surface 36 and the flange type stopper 118 are engaged, and a fitting portion 108 and the opening 122 and Neither portion engaging with the inserted portion 124 inhibits rotation of the joint 100. Further, according to the structure of the present embodiment, as in the case of the above-described first embodiment, a mechanism for preventing the joint 100 from coming off can be realized without requiring a large mounting height for the joint 100. Therefore, according to the structure of the present embodiment, the same excellent effects as those of the structure of the above-described first embodiment can be obtained.

In this embodiment, the rib 120
Of the rib 12 and the dimensional tolerance of the circular wall 36
0 and the outer diameter r _{120 of the} rib 120 and the inner diameter R ₃₆ of the circular wall 36 when the circular wall 36 fluctuates within the tolerance range.
Is set so that the difference R ₃₆ −r ₁₂₀ does not become larger than the predetermined value α, that is, the relationship R ₃₆ −r ₁₂₀ ≦ α is always established.

In the present embodiment, the dimensional tolerance of the fitting portion 108 and the dimensional tolerance of the
8 and the opening 122 fluctuate within the tolerance range, the inner diameter R ₁₂₂ of the opening ₁₂₂ and the outer diameter r of the fitting portion 108
_{108 so} that the difference R ₁₂₂ -r ₁₀₈ does not become smaller than a predetermined value β (> α), that is, R ₁₂₂ -r ₁₀₈ ≧
The relationship β (> α) is set so as to always hold.

According to the above conditions, the gap between the rib 120 and the circular wall surface 36 is larger between the opening 122 and the fitting portion 108 than the gap between the opening 122 and the fitting portion 108. It is possible to reliably prevent foreign bodies having a physique from entering. If foreign matter larger than the distance between the opening 122 and the fitting part 108 enters the space between the opening part 122 and the fitting part 108, inconveniences such as deterioration of the O-rings 110 and 114 are promoted due to the influence of the foreign matter. On the other hand, according to the structure of the present embodiment,
Such an inconvenience can be reliably prevented. Therefore, according to the structure of the present embodiment, high durability can be ensured despite the structure in which a gap is formed between the fitting portion 108 and the opening 122.

The structure of the present embodiment is similar to the structure of the first embodiment in that the structure of the stopper is not limited to the flange shape and that the structure can be applied to the structure for mounting the evaporative fuel discharge pipe. is there. In the above embodiment, the main tube 78 and the joint 100 correspond to the “pipe” according to the first aspect, and the flange-type stopper 118 corresponds to the “stopper” according to the first aspect. .

[0046]

As described above, according to the first aspect of the present invention, it is possible to allow the rotation of the pipe attached to the opening while reducing the mounting height of the pipe. Therefore, according to the structure of the present invention, high space efficiency can be ensured around the fuel tank, and the parts around the pipe and the opening can be shared for various types of vehicles.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a perspective view illustrating a pipe mounting structure according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a front view of a fuel pump using the structure shown in FIG.

FIG. 3 is an enlarged view of a main part of the fuel pump shown in FIG. 2;

FIG. 4 is a view illustrating a pipe mounting structure according to a second embodiment of the present invention.

[Explanation of symbols]

 DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 10 Cap 12,100 Joint 14 Opening 16 Clip holding part 18 Clip insertion window 37,108 Fitting part 38,118 Flange type stopper part 40,104 Body part 42 Fir tree part 44 Clip 60 Fuel pump 62 Fuel tank 64,102 Joint 78 Main tube 120 Rib

Claims (1)

(57) [Claims] 1. A structure for attaching a pipe to an opening communicating with a fuel tank, wherein the pipe has a fitting part fitted to the opening, and the pipe fitted to the opening. A stopper that is located outside the opening, and a clip that engages with the stopper without inhibiting rotation of the pipe around an axis; And a clip holding portion for holding the opening near the opening so as not to be detached from the opening.