JP3326242B2 - Support structure for pump installed inside liquid tank - Google Patents

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION The present invention relates to a case where a pump is provided inside a liquid tank, and this pump is connected to a supply pipe for supplying the liquid in the liquid tank to the outside via a buffer means. The present invention relates to a support structure for an internally provided pump for use in a vehicle.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art In general, when a pump in a liquid tank is provided and the liquid in the liquid tank is supplied to the outside through a supply pipe, the vibration accompanying the operation of the pump causes the supply of the liquid through the supply pipe. May be transmitted to target. Further, when the liquid tank is not a stationary type but is provided in a traveling vehicle such as an automobile, the pump may be relatively displaced by an impact during traveling. Further, the volume of the liquid in the liquid tank fluctuates due to fluctuations in the outside air temperature and the like, and the wall portion of the liquid tank bends, so that the pump may be displaced relatively.

For this reason, when a pump is provided in a liquid tank, the discharge port of the pump and the upstream end of the supply pipe are conventionally provided with a buffer means for the purpose of interrupting the vibration transmission and absorbing the relative displacement. The connection is performed via a. As shown in FIG. 3, a support structure for a pump provided inside a liquid tank of this type is particularly well known particularly in a fuel tank of an automobile. In this embodiment, a bracket 3 extending downward inside the fuel tank 1 is fixed to a mounting plate 2 for closing an upper opening 1a of the fuel tank 1, and a fuel pump 4 is mounted on a lower end 3a of the bracket 3. Thus, the discharge port 4a is supported so as to face upward. Then, the upstream end 5a of the supply pipe 5 penetrating through the mounting plate 2 and inserted into the fuel tank 1 is positioned at a position above a predetermined distance from the discharge port 4a, and the discharge port 4a and the upstream end 5a are positioned. Are connected to each other via a flexible hose 6. That is, the fuel pump 4 and the supply pipe 5 are connected to a flexible hose 6 as a buffer means.
Are connected via

[0004]

By the way, in the above-mentioned conventional structure for supporting a pump provided inside a liquid tank, particularly when the liquid tank is a fuel tank for an automobile, the liquid tank is disposed above the fuel tank. While there is a demand to increase the capacity of the rear trunk, there is a restriction that the minimum ground height of the rear part must be equal to or more than a predetermined value. For this reason, it is required to reduce the vertical dimension of the fuel tank as much as possible.

However, the above conventional fuel tank 1
In addition to the upper and lower dimensions of the fuel pump 4 itself,
An internal height corresponding to the vertical dimension of the buffer means is required.
That is, the discharge port 4a and the upstream end 5a of the supply pipe 5
, A wrap margin for connecting the flexible hose 6 to the upstream end 5a, and a wrap margin for the flexible hose 6 and the discharge port 4a side are required. Accordingly, the internal height of the fuel tank 1 increases.

In addition, the cushioning means using the flexible hose 6 has a functional disadvantage that the relative displacement of the fuel pump 4 in the vertical direction cannot be sufficiently absorbed. Is required for press-fitting into the supply pipe 5 and the discharge port 4a side of the fuel pump 4, and there is also a disadvantage that the assembling work becomes complicated.

[0007] The present invention has been made in view of such circumstances, and an object of the present invention is to reduce the vertical dimension of a liquid tank having an internally disposed pump. Therefore, an object of the present invention is to improve a buffer function and an assembling workability.

[0008]

According to a first aspect of the present invention, a pump for supplying a liquid in a liquid tank to an object to be supplied is disposed inside the liquid tank. The upstream end of the supply pipe connecting the liquid tank and the supply target is fixed to face inward through the liquid tank, while the discharge port of the pump is separated from the upstream end of the supply pipe. It is assumed that the pump is supported by the liquid tank in a state, and the discharge port and the upstream end of the supply pipe are connected to each other via buffer means for absorbing the relative displacement of the pump. In this, a partition is fitted inside the outer peripheral surface of the cylindrical body in a liquid-tight manner and slidably in the axial direction to partition the interior of the cylindrical body in the axial direction. Body, a buffer chamber defined by the partition body in the tubular body on the supply pipe side, and having a cross-sectional area larger than an opening area of an upstream end of the supply pipe, and one end penetrating the partition body. The buffer chamber has a communication hole whose other end is open to the pump side. The partition and the pump are connected to each other so that the other end of the communication hole and the discharge port communicate with each other in a liquid-tight manner.

According to a second aspect of the present invention, in the first aspect of the present invention, the partition body is maintained such that the other end of the communication hole of the partition body is in fluid communication with the discharge port of the pump. An elastic body is provided which urges in a direction of pressing against the discharge port side. The partition and the pump are connected to each other by this elastic body.

[0010]

According to the above-mentioned structure, according to the first aspect of the present invention,
By the operation of the pump, the liquid in the liquid tank is supplied from the discharge port to the buffer chamber through the communication hole, and the liquid in the buffer chamber enters the supply pipe from the upstream end of the supply pipe and is supplied to the supply target. When the pump causes relative displacement due to vibration or the like, since the pump and the partition are connected to each other, the partition moves integrally with the pump along the inner peripheral surface of the cylindrical body. Thereby, the relative displacement of the pump is allowed, and the transmission of vibration from the pump to the supply pipe is also cut off. At this time, the cross-sectional area of the buffer chamber is formed to be larger than the opening area of the upstream end of the supply pipe, and the cross-sectional area of the liquid from the buffer chamber to the supply pipe is sharply reduced. When the liquid flows into the upstream end of the pipe, it receives resistance and the hydraulic pressure in the buffer chamber increases, and this hydraulic pressure acts in a direction to push the partition body back. As a result, the pump that has been relatively displaced is restored. In the case of this support structure, the vertical dimensions required to allow the relative displacement of the pump are substantially only the vertical dimensions of the buffer chamber. The need for the wrap margin is eliminated, and the height of the inside of the liquid tank is reduced as much as both lap margins become unnecessary.

According to the second aspect of the present invention, in addition to the function of the first aspect of the present invention, an elastic body for pressing the partition body toward the discharge port of the pump is provided.
It is not necessary to integrally connect the partition body and the pump. Therefore, the labor for connecting the two at the time of assembly is not required, so that the work is facilitated. Further, in this case, since the partition body is always pressed against the discharge port side of the pump by the elastic body, the pump is relatively displaced to a side away from the supply pipe due to, for example, a change in outside air temperature. Also, the discharge port and the communication hole of the partition body are maintained in a state of communicating in a liquid-tight manner.

[0012]

Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings.

FIGS. 1 and 2 show an embodiment in which the liquid tank of the present invention is applied to a fuel tank 11 for an automobile. Reference numeral 12 denotes an upper surface opening 11a of the fuel tank 11 for closing and sealing. Mounting plate,
A main pipe 13 is fixed to the mounting plate 12 and serves as a supply pipe for supplying the fuel in the fuel tank 11 to the engine. A cylindrical bracket 14 is fixed to a lower surface of the mounting plate 12. Fuel pumps located in the bracket 14, 16
Is the fuel pump 15 and the mounting plate 12
Between the bracket 14 inserted into the bracket 14 between the
Reference numeral 1 denotes a buffer chamber defined between the partition 16 and the mounting plate 12, and reference numeral 17 denotes an elastic body which is disposed in the buffer chamber 21 and biases the partition 16 toward the fuel pump 15. It is a coil spring. The partition 1
6, the coil spring 17, and the buffer chamber 21 constitute a buffer means A.

The mounting plate 12 is fixed to the upper wall 11a of the fuel tank 11 by bolts 12a penetrating the surrounding area. The upstream end 13a of the main pipe 13 penetrates through the mounting plate 12 from above to below, and is fixed in a state of being opened downward, and the downstream end 13a of the main pipe 13 is fixed.
b is connected to a fuel supply device of the engine by a pipe not shown.

The bracket 14 is connected to the main pipe 1
3 has a cross-sectional area larger than the opening area of the upstream end 13a and capable of accommodating the fuel pump 15, and is arranged so that the cylinder axis X is in the vertical direction. And
A mounting flange 14a bent to the outer peripheral side is formed integrally with the upper end opening edge.
a is fixed to the lower surface of the mounting plate 12.
The lower edge 14b of the bracket 14 extends to a predetermined position slightly above the lower wall 11b of the fuel tank 11. An opening 14c is formed in a lower outer peripheral surface of the bracket 14 on a side (the right side in FIG. 2) corresponding to the lateral suction port 15a of the fuel pump 15, and a circumferential direction 3 of a portion excluding the opening 14c is formed. Locking projections 14c, 14c are formed at the respective positions. A bottomed cylindrical lower bracket 18 for closing the lower end opening edge 14b is attached to the bracket 14 by being locked by the locking projections 14c. That is, the cylindrical wall portion 18a of the lower bracket 18
Are formed at predetermined positions, three locking holes 18b, 18b are formed therethrough, and the locking projections 14c corresponding to the respective locking holes 18b are locked to move the lower bracket 18 downward. The position is fixed so that it does not.
A hole 18d is formed in the bottom wall portion 18c of the lower bracket 18 so as to penetrate vertically.
At 8d, a mount rubber 19 for supporting the lower surface of the fuel pump 15 is fitted and fixed in position.

The fuel pump 15 has a lower surface supported by the mount rubber 19 and is arranged vertically, and a discharge pipe 15c is formed to protrude upward at the center of the upper surface of the pump body 15b. A spherical head 15d is formed at the upper end of the discharge pipe 15c, and a discharge port 15e that opens upward is formed in the head 15d.

The partition 16 is formed in a disk shape, and is disposed in the bracket 14 above the fuel pump 15. An O-ring 20 is fitted on the outer peripheral surface of the partition 16, and the partition 16 is slidable in the cylinder axis X direction with respect to the inner peripheral surface of the bracket 14 via the O-ring 20. It is fitted inside. The interior of the bracket 14 is vertically partitioned by the partition 16, and a buffer chamber 21 having a cross-sectional area larger than the opening area of the upstream end 13 a of the main pipe 13 between the partition 16 and the mounting plate 12. Is defined. A communication hole 16a is provided at the center of the partition body 16.
Are formed to penetrate along the cylinder axis X. The partition 16 on the lower end side of the communication hole 16a is formed with a concave surface 16b having a shape corresponding to the head 15d of the discharge pipe 15c, and the concave surface 16b is provided with the head 15d of the discharge pipe 15c. It is abutted via the seal packing 22 in the fitted state. Thereby, the fuel pump 15
The discharge port 15e and the communication hole 16a communicate with each other in a liquid-tight manner in a state in which the displacement of the partition 16 in the left-right direction of FIG.

The coil spring 17 is connected to the buffer chamber 2
1 and is disposed between the mounting plate 12 and the partition 16 in a compressed state by a predetermined amount. As a result, the partition 16 is pressed toward the fuel pump 15 to maintain the liquid tightness between the concave surface 16b and the head 15e of the discharge pipe 15c.

In FIG. 1, reference numeral 23 denotes a filter, and this filter 23 is connected to the suction port 15 of the fuel pump 15.
The fuel which is attached to the suction port 15a and is sucked into the suction port 15a is in a state where foreign matter is removed. In the figure, reference numeral 24 denotes a filter protector.
The filter 23 is protected by preventing the fuel tank 11 from coming into contact with the lower wall portion 11b.

Next, the operation and effect of the embodiment having the above configuration will be described.

The operation of the fuel pump 15 causes the fuel stored in the fuel tank 11 to be filtered by the filter 23.
Through the suction port 15a, and this is
Discharged from 5e. The discharged fuel is used as the partition 16
Is supplied to the buffer chamber 21 through the communication hole 16a. After the fuel is filled in the buffer chamber 21, the fuel is supplied to the engine through the main pipe 13. At this time, even if the fuel pump 15 operates to cause vertical vibration, the lower surface of the fuel pump 15 is supported by the mount rubber 19 and the discharge pipe 15a and the main pipe 13 are separated from each other. Vibration transmission from the pump 15 to the main pipe 13 can be cut off, and vertical vibration of the fuel pump 15 can be reliably prevented from being transmitted to the engine to be supplied via the main pipe 13. In addition, since the partition 16 is vertically displaced against the coil spring 17 in response to the vertical vibration of the fuel pump 15 to expand and contract the buffer chamber 21, the buffer chamber 21 is added to the compression restoring force of the coil spring 17. The vertical vibration of the fuel pump 15 can be effectively absorbed under the influence of the fluctuation of the internal hydraulic pressure. In addition, at this time, since the concave surface 16b of the partition 16 is pressed against the head 15d by the coil spring 17, the discharge port 15e and the communication hole 1 are connected.
6a can be reliably maintained in a liquid-tight state.

Further, even if an impact load is applied to the automobile equipped with the fuel tank 11 during traveling and the fuel pump 15 is relatively displaced relatively vertically in the vertical direction due to its inertia, the partition 16 is not moved up and down. By displacing, the relative displacement of the fuel pump 15 can be allowed, and the relative displacement is caused by the flow resistance when flowing from the buffer chamber 21 to the upstream end 13 a of the main pipe and the compression restoring force of the coil spring 17. Absorption can restore the fuel pump 15 to its original position. That is, the fuel flows from the buffer chamber 21 to the main pipe 13.
When the fuel flows into the main pipe 13, the upstream end 13 a of the main pipe 13 receives a resistance because the sectional area of the fuel passage is suddenly narrowed. Suppressed by force.
The partition 16 and the fuel pump 15 are pushed back at a stage when these suppressing forces exceed the inertial force. Also in this case, similarly to the above, the coil spring 1
By the compression restoring force of 7, the space between the concave surface 16b of the partition body 16 and the discharge port 15e can be reliably maintained in a liquid-tight state. Moreover, the fuel pump 15 and the partition 16
Are in contact with each other by fitting the spherical head 15d and the concave surface 16b, so that even if the relative displacement direction of the fuel pump 15 is slightly Can be reliably maintained in the vertical direction, and the communication hole 16a and the discharge port 15e can be reliably maintained in a communicating state.

Further, in this embodiment, as described above,
Since the partition body 16 is always pressed against the discharge pipe 15 d of the fuel pump 15 by the coil spring 17, the fuel pump 15 moves away from the upstream end 13 a of the main pipe 13 due to, for example, a change in outside air temperature. Even in the case of relative displacement, the discharge port 15
e and the concave surface 16b of the partition body 16 can be kept in a liquid-tightly contacted state, and the communication hole 16a and the discharge port 15e can be kept in a reliably connected state.

In the case of the buffer means A of this embodiment,
Since the vertical dimension required to allow the relative displacement of the fuel pump 15 only needs to be substantially the vertical dimension of the buffer chamber 21, the flexible hose 6 (FIG.
2), which is unnecessary in the conventional support structure using the conventional fuel cell system, and the internal height of the fuel tank 11 can be reduced to the extent that the need for both laps is eliminated.

The fuel pump 15 in this embodiment is assembled by first mounting the bracket 14 on the mounting plate 12 before mounting the fuel pump 11 on the fuel tank 11.
And the coil spring 1
7 and the partition 16 are assembled. Next, the fuel pump 15 is inserted and the discharge pipe 15c is brought into contact with the partition body 16 via the seal packing 22. On the other hand, the lower surface of the fuel pump 15 is attached to the lower bracket 18 fitted with the mount rubber 19 as described above. It is supported by being locked to a bracket 14. And as a whole,
The mounting plate 12 is positioned in the fuel tank 11 and the mounting plate 12 is fixed, thereby completing the assembly.

In this embodiment, since the partition 16 and the fuel pump 15 are separated from each other in this embodiment, the coil spring 17, the partition 16 and the fuel pump 15 can be individually assembled. Each member can be assembled accurately. In this case, the flexible hose 6 (FIG.
(See FIG. 3) into the upstream end 5a of the supply pipe 5 and the like.

It should be noted that the present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiment, but includes various other modifications. That is, in the above embodiment, the partition body 16 and the discharge pipe 15c of the fuel pump 15 are kept in contact with each other by the coil spring 17 while being in contact with each other. However, the present invention is not limited to this. The body fuel pump may be formed integrally. In this case, the coil spring 17 as an elastic body may be omitted. That is, since the partition body and the fuel pump are integrated, the partition body is also integrally displaced by the relative displacement of the fuel pump, and the displacement causes the volume of the buffer chamber to fluctuate and the internal fluid pressure to fluctuate. This is because the hydraulic pressure acts in a direction to restore the fuel pump after the relative displacement. Furthermore, even in this case, since the press-fitting work of the flexible hose in the conventional support structure is not required,
Work for assembling can be easily performed.

In the above-described embodiment, the upstream end 13a of the main pipe 13 and the discharge port 15e are arranged so as to be vertically opposed to each other. However, the present invention is not limited to this, and the upstream end is opened laterally into the buffer chamber 21. May be arranged as follows.

In the above-described embodiment, the partition 16 is disposed on the fuel pump 15. However, the present invention is not limited to this, and another intermediate device may be provided between the discharge port 15e of the fuel pump 15 and the partition 16. The partition member 16 itself may be formed by a housing of an intermediate device.

In the above embodiment, the partition 16 and the O
Although the ring 20 and the seal packing 22 are separate bodies, the present invention is not limited to this. For example, the three members 16, 20, and 22 may be integrally formed of a soft synthetic resin to form an integral component.

Further, in the above-described embodiment, the structure for supporting the fuel pump in the fuel tank for an automobile has been described. However, the present invention is not limited to this, and if the pump is provided in a liquid tank for storing liquid, It can be applied to any of them.

[0032]

As described above, according to the first aspect of the present invention, the upstream end of the supply pipe and the discharge port of the pump are separated from each other. Since the buffer chamber is expanded and contracted by the partition connected to the discharge port, the vertical dimension required to allow relative displacement of the pump is substantially the same as the vertical dimension of the buffer chamber. The need for both laps required in the conventional support structure using a flexible hose can be eliminated, and the height of the inside of the liquid tank can be reduced by the elimination of the need for both laps. Moreover,
Since the vibration of the pump itself is buffered by the fluctuation of the liquid pressure in the buffer chamber, the relative displacement of the pump is absorbed,
Restoration can be performed, the buffer function can be improved, and the press-fitting work of the flexible hose required in the above-mentioned conventional support structure can be omitted, so that the assembling workability can be improved. it can.

According to the second aspect of the present invention, in addition to the effect of the first aspect of the present invention, the partition body is provided with an elastic body for pressing the partition body toward the discharge port of the pump. It is not necessary to connect the pump and the
For this reason, since there is no need to connect both at the time of assembling, the assembling work can be facilitated.
Also in this case, since the partitioning body is always pressed against the discharge port side of the pump by the elastic body, the pump is relatively displaced to a side away from the supply pipe due to, for example, a change in outside air temperature. Even in such a case, the discharge port and the communication hole of the partition body can be maintained in a state of communicating in a liquid-tight manner.

[Brief description of the drawings]

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

FIG. 2 is a partially enlarged view of FIG.

FIG. 3 is a diagram corresponding to FIG. 1 of a conventional support structure.

[Explanation of symbols]

 Reference Signs List 11 fuel tank (liquid tank) 13 main pipe (supply pipe) 14 cylindrical bracket (bracket) 15 fuel pump (pump) 16 partition 16a communication hole 17 coil spring (elastic body) 18 lower bracket (bracket) 21 buffer chamber A Buffer means

Claims (2)

(57) [Claims] 1. A pump for feeding a liquid in a liquid tank to a supply target is disposed inside the liquid tank,
The upstream end of the supply pipe connecting the liquid tank and the supply target is fixed to face inward through the liquid tank, while the discharge port of the pump is separated from the upstream end of the supply pipe. The pump provided inside the liquid tank is supported by the liquid tank in a state, and the discharge port and the upstream end of the supply pipe are connected to each other via buffer means for absorbing the relative displacement of the pump. In the supporting structure, the buffering means may include a tubular body attached to an inner wall surface of the liquid tank such that an upstream end of the supply pipe communicates and extends inward of the liquid tank; A partition member which is liquid-tightly fitted to the peripheral surface and is slidably fitted in the cylinder axis direction to partition the inside of the cylindrical body in the cylinder axis direction; and a cylinder on the supply pipe side by the partition body. Opening area defined at the upstream end of the supply pipe defined in the body A buffer chamber having a larger cross-sectional area; and a communication hole penetrating the partition body, one end of which is provided in the buffer chamber, and the other end of which is open to the pump side. A support structure for a pump provided inside a liquid tank, wherein the partition body and the pump are connected to each other so that the outlet and the outlet communicate with each other in a liquid-tight manner. 2. The elasticity according to claim 1, wherein the other end of the communication hole of the partition body is urged in a direction of pressing the partition body toward the discharge port so as to maintain a state in which the other end of the communication hole is in fluid communication with the discharge port of the pump. A support structure for a pump provided inside the liquid tank, wherein the partition body and the pump are connected to each other by the elastic body.