JP3283992B2 - Oil tank for vehicle - Google Patents

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to an improvement in an oil tank used in a hydraulic system for steering in a vehicle, switching a transmission, and adjusting the height of a vehicle body.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art In general, in a motor vehicle, a hydraulic control system is used for power steering of a vehicle body, automatic switching of a transmission mechanism, or adjustment of the height of the vehicle body during running, and the like. To a predetermined actuator for steering operation, switching or adjusting operation.

Hitherto, in the above-mentioned hydraulic system, a filter member for treating circulating oil has been provided at the bottom of the container, and an oil strainer for handling replenishing oil has been provided vertically on the cover body. Although oil tanks have been used, recently, a filter member having both functions has been used from the viewpoint of simplification of the configuration and cost reduction.

FIG. 5 shows one of those currently used, in which a cup-shaped container 1 and a dish-shaped lid 2 which is fixed in contact with the container 1 are made of synthetic resin (polyamide, polyester, polyethylene). , Polypropylene, etc.), an outlet pipe 1a is protruded at the center of the bottom wall of the container 1, and a return pipe 1b is protruded at the periphery, and surrounds a base opening of the outlet pipe 1a. In this manner, annular positioning ridges 1c are provided inside and outside at predetermined intervals, and on the bottom wall, the ceiling wall 3a made of the same synthetic resin as the container 1 and covering the upper end and a plurality of A synthetic resin net of 100 mesh or 200 mesh on the inner periphery of a cylindrical frame 3 composed of a thin pillar 3b and a widened brim 3c at the lower end;
A filter element e on which a filter medium 4 such as a wire mesh or a thin nonwoven fabric is stretched is fitted with the lower end flange 3c fitted between the inner and outer double positioning ridges 1c, and is fixed by ultrasonic welding.

At the time of use, the cap 2a is removed from the lid 2, and a required amount of oil is stored in the container 1 (to the extent that the oil level is located between a pair of level projections 1d provided on the peripheral wall).
By the operation of the pump, the oil in the container 1 is purified while traversing the filtration element e (some of which is already in the element), sent to the required actuator through the outlet pipe 1a, and the oil in the circuit is removed. It is returned to the peripheral part of the element in the container 1 via the return pipe 1b.

[0006]

By the way, in the above-mentioned conventional oil tank, since there is nothing covering the outside of the filtration element e in the upper part of the return pipe 1b, the oil which has returned through the circuit has passed through the pipe 1b. This impinges directly on the filter medium 4 and accelerates the clogging of that part. On the other hand, when there is a sudden outflow or inflow of oil based on an instantaneous steering operation, foreign particles that have entered the oil However, there is a risk that the oil may pass through the filter medium 4 without being removed, and the oil level may vibrate violently, making it difficult to check the remaining oil state through the container 1 from outside.

Accordingly, the present invention disperses the oil flowing into the container from the return pipe in the peripheral direction of the filtration element to prevent local clogging of the filter medium, while reducing the force when the oil flows in rapidly. The purpose is to relieve and prevent foreign particles from passing through.

[0008]

According to the present invention, there is provided a container comprising a synthetic resin container and a lid having a detachable cap. The container has an outlet pipe in the center of a bottom wall and a side wall. An oil tank for vehicles equipped with a return pipe around the periphery and a filter element that also serves as a strainer for replenishing oil.The filter element is made of synthetic resin, a ceiling wall covering the upper end, a plurality of pillars, and a flange at the lower end. A filter medium such as a mesh or a non-woven fabric is stretched around the inner periphery of the cylindrical frame, and a part of the periphery of the brim has a required width and a height that almost matches the frame. A guide member consisting of a horizontal piece extending toward the peripheral wall is formed integrally, and the filter element is formed so that a frame surrounds a base end opening of the outlet pipe and the guide member stands up inside the return pipe. Fixed on the wall It is characterized.

[0009]

1 to 4 show an embodiment of the present invention. Reference numerals 11 and 12 denote a cup-shaped container made of a synthetic resin such as polyamide, polyester, polyethylene and polypropylene, and a dish-shaped container. Lid, lid 1
The cap 2 has a cap 12a removably attached to the top and a small hole 12b for ventilation at the neck, and is abutted against the upper open end of the container 11, and is fixed by means of friction bonding, adhesion, or the like.

The container 11 has an outlet pipe 11 at the center of the bottom wall.
a, return pipes 11b project downward from the periphery thereof (the return pipe 11b may be the bottom of the peripheral wall), and an annular positioning ridge is formed on the bottom wall so as to surround the base opening of the outlet pipe 11a. A pair of upper and lower oil level projections 11d are provided at predetermined height positions on the peripheral wall.

FIG. 3 shows the filtration element e and the vessel 11
A cylindrical frame 13 is formed of a ceiling wall 13a covering the upper end, a plurality of pillars 13b, and an annular expanding brim 13c at the lower end. A filter medium 14 such as a synthetic resin net or a wire net or a thin nonwoven fabric of a fine mesh of about 100 mesh to 200 mesh is stretched by insert molding, and a part of a peripheral edge of the lower end collar 13c is provided on a part thereof. A vertical piece 15a having a required width (about two to three times the inner diameter of the return pipe) and having substantially the same height as the frame and flat or curved along the collar 13c as shown in the figure, and housed in the container from its upper end. Then, an oil guide member 15 having an inverted L-shape is formed integrally with the horizontal piece 15b extending outwardly to such an extent as to approach the peripheral wall.

As shown in FIG. 4, the filter element e is held by a welding jig T, the vertical piece 15a of the guide member 15 is located inside the return pipe 11b, and the horizontal piece 15b is
In a state of being located above 1b, the lower end collar 13c is fitted between the inner and outer positioning ridges 11c, ultrasonic waves are transmitted to the collar 13c via the jig T, and are fixed on the bottom wall. At this time, the jig T is sandwiched between the frame and the guide member 15, in other words, the filtering element e is stably supported by the jig T. First, the filtering element e is placed on the bottom wall. It is easier to perform the assembling work than the conventional one in which the jig is placed on a predetermined position and then the jig is welded.

Thus, the oil filled in the container 11 at the time of use crosses the filter medium 14 of the filter element e by the operation of the pump (a part of the oil has already entered the clean side element). The oil is purified and sent to the actuator side through the outlet pipe 11a, and the oil in the circuit flows into the container 11 through the return pipe 11b.

In this case, the oil flowing from the return pipe 11b does not immediately hit the filter medium 14 of the filter element, but a part of the oil hits the vertical piece 15a of the guide member 15, and the other hits the horizontal piece 15b. The filter medium 14 is turned around and crosses the filter medium 14 at a portion away from the return pipe 11b, so that the filter medium 14 near the return pipe 11b is not clogged. In addition, even if the oil quickly flows out of the container 11 and suddenly flows into the container 11 by the instantaneous operation of the handle, the momentum is alleviated by the vertical pieces 15a and the horizontal pieces 15b of the guide member 15, and a large wave is formed. Without being dispersed uniformly around the filtration element e.

[0015]

According to the present invention, since the oil tank for a vehicle of the type in which a filter element serving also as an oil strainer for replenishing oil is provided inside a container made of synthetic resin as described above, a hydraulic circuit is provided. The oil flowing into the container from the return pipe through the return pipe can be turned around the filtration element by the guide member, and the return oil does not locally hit the filter medium as in the related art. Clogging can be prevented, and even if oil suddenly flows into the container from the return pipe due to instantaneous operation of the handle, etc., the momentum is reduced by the guide member so that the oil slowly accumulates. None, foreign particles can be prevented from passing through the filter medium, and the filter element can be stably supported, facilitating assembly work.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a sectional view of an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a plan view partially cut along the line XX of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a perspective view of a filtration element according to the present invention.

FIG. 4 is a partial cross-sectional view showing a state when the filtration element is assembled.

FIG. 5 is a sectional view of a conventional product.

[Explanation of symbols]

 DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 11 Container 11a Outlet pipe 11b Return pipe 11c Positioning ridge 12 Lid 12a Cap 13 Frame 13a Ceiling wall 13b Column 13c Collar 14 Filter medium 15 Guide member 15a Vertical piece 15b Horizontal piece e Filtration element

Claims (1)

(57) [Claims] 1. A container made of a synthetic resin, comprising a container and a lid having a detachable cap. The container has an outlet pipe in the center of a bottom wall, a return pipe on a side peripheral portion, and an oil for replenishing oil inside. In an oil tank for a vehicle provided with a filtration element also serving as a strainer, the filtration element is made of synthetic resin and has a ceiling wall covering an upper end, a plurality of pillars, and a mesh at the inner periphery of a cylindrical frame body having a lower end brim. A filter member such as a nonwoven fabric is stretched and a guide member consisting of a vertical piece whose height is almost the same as the frame and a horizontal piece extending from the upper end toward the peripheral wall of the container is integrated with a part of the periphery of the brim. A vehicular oil, wherein the filter element is fixed on a bottom wall such that a frame surrounds a base end opening of the outlet pipe and a guide member stands inside the return pipe. tank.