JP3387283B2 - Fuel tank swirl tank 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 swirling tank structure for a fuel tank mounted on a vehicle such as an automobile.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art In a fuel tank mounted on a vehicle such as an automobile, the fuel absorbability is improved when the vehicle is turning, in which the liquid motion of the fuel in the tank body is large, or when the vehicle starts or brakes. In order to secure the
As shown in Japanese Patent No. 28, a swirl tank serving as a fuel reservoir is arranged at the bottom of the tank main body, and the fuel in the tank main body is fed from the swirl tank together with return fuel returned to the swirl tank by a return pipe. It is inhaled and led out to the feed pipe.

Further, in a structure in which the tank main body is long in the front-rear direction of the vehicle body, the liquid movement of the fuel in the front-rear direction is large at the time of starting or braking of the vehicle, and accordingly, the needle shake due to the vertical swing of the float of the fuel gauge. Since it becomes large, the float is arranged with the feed pump in the swirling tank in which the fuel liquid motion is small even when the vehicle is started or braked in order to ensure the gauge performance.

[0004]

When the float of the fuel gauge is arranged in the swirl tank together with the feed pump as described above, the swirl tank has no choice but to have a large volume. Since the return fuel with a high fuel temperature returning from the pipe is returned, if the volume of the swirl tank is large, the amount of the retained return fuel with a high fuel temperature increases, and as a result, the fuel inside the tank body from the peripheral side wall of the swirl tank increases. The degree of heat transfer to the tank increases and the temperature of the fuel in the tank body rises, which is disadvantageous in terms of vapor countermeasures.

Therefore, according to the present invention, even if the volume of the swirling tank becomes large by providing a feed system member such as a feed pump and a float of a fuel gauge in the swirling tank, the return fuel having a high temperature inside the swirling tank is provided. Reduce the amount of stay,
Provided is a swirling tank structure of a fuel tank capable of suppressing an increase in the temperature of fuel in the tank body.

[0006]

According to a first aspect of the present invention, there is provided a fuel supply in which a swirl tank disposed at the bottom of a tank body is provided with a feed system member and a return pipe for returning return fuel. The tank is divided into a tank and a float arrangement tank which is adjacent to the fuel supply tank and communicates with the inside of the tank body, and in which a float of a fuel gauge is arranged, and the peripheral side walls of the fuel supply tank are multiplexed at appropriate intervals. To form a main fuel passage connecting the fuel supply tank and the inside of the tank body between the multiple walls, and supplying fuel to the peripheral side wall of the float arrangement tank.
Appropriate spacing outside the main fuel passage formed between multiple walls of the tank
With the float installed outside the main fuel passage.
A secondary fuel passage connecting the tank and the tank body
Is characterized by.

According to the first aspect of the present invention, since the fuel supply tank for returning the return fuel is partitioned from the float arrangement tank and has a small volume, the amount of return fuel accumulated in the fuel supply tank is reduced. Therefore, heat transfer from the peripheral side wall of the fuel supply tank to the fuel in the tank body can be reduced as much as possible.

Further, since the main fuel passage is formed in the peripheral side portion of the fuel supply tank and the fuel in the tank body flows into the fuel supply tank from the main fuel passage, the main fuel passage in the main fuel passage is The fuel can be used to thermally separate the return fuel in the fuel supply tank and the fuel in the tank body.

[0009]

Further, the fuel flows from the tank body into the main fuel passage and the sub fuel passage, and multiple heat separation zones are formed outside the fuel supply tank by the fuel in the main fuel passage and the fuel in the sub fuel passage. Since it is formed, the heat separation between the return fuel in the fuel supply tank and the fuel in the tank body can be favorably performed.

[0011] In the second aspect is characterized in that according to the main fuel passage and the secondary fuel passage according to claim 1, formed over the entire circumference side facing the tank body of the fuel supply tank .

According to the second aspect of the present invention, the heat separation zone formed by the fuel in the main fuel passage and the fuel in the auxiliary fuel passage is formed outside the fuel supply tank in multiple layers. Since it is formed over the entire circumference side facing the inside of the main body, the heat separation between the return fuel in the fuel supply tank and the fuel in the tank main body can be more favorably performed.

According to a third aspect of the present invention, the outer end portion of the main fuel passage according to the first or second aspect is closed by an end wall, and the lower portion of the end wall connects the main fuel passage and the inside of the tank body. It is characterized by the provision of an opening.

According to the third aspect of the present invention, the outer end of the main fuel passage is closed by the end wall, and the fuel of the tank main body flows into the main fuel passage through the opening at the lower end wall. Therefore, this end wall can regulate the mutual flow of the return fuel in the main fuel passage and the fuel in the tank body, and can improve the heat separability.

According to a fourth aspect of the present invention, the rear wall of the fuel supply tank according to the first to third aspects is formed higher than the front wall, and
It is characterized in that the left and right side walls are formed so as to gradually increase in height from the front wall side to the rear wall side so that the upper edges thereof are obliquely connected to the front wall upper edge and the rear wall upper edge.

According to the structure of claim 4 , the rear wall of the fuel supply tank is formed higher than the front wall, and the left and right side walls are formed gradually higher from the front wall side toward the rear wall side. Therefore, when the vehicle is suddenly braked, the fuel in the tank main body is prevented from flowing over the rear wall and the left and right side walls and flowing into the fuel supply tank, and the return fuel in the fuel supply tank is prevented from overflowing into the tank main body. be able to.

[0017]

BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION Embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail below with reference to the drawings.

In FIG. 4, reference numeral 1 denotes a tank main body which is elongated in the front-rear direction, and a swirl tank 2 having a substantially rectangular box shape having an open upper portion is arranged at a substantially central portion of the bottom of the tank main body 1.

As shown in FIGS. 1 to 3, the swirl tank 2 has a fuel supply tank 4 in which a return pipe 6 and a feed pump 7 as a feed system member are arranged by a partition wall 3 in the central portion.
The fuel gauge unit 8 is divided into a float placement tank 5 and a float placement tank 5 in which the float 9 is placed.

Incidentally, F is a fuel filter connected to the feed pump 7.

The peripheral side wall of the fuel supply tank 4 is formed in multiple layers at appropriate intervals, and a main fuel passage 10 for connecting the fuel supply tank 4 and the inside of the tank body 1 is formed between the multiple walls.

In this embodiment, the front wall 11 of the fuel supply tank 4 is
Is formed in multiple by the inner wall 11a and the outer wall 11b,
The left side wall 12 is multiply formed by the inner wall 12a and the outer wall 12b, and the main fuel passage 10 is formed from the front wall 11 to the left side wall 12.

The outer wall 12b of the left side wall 12 is an inner wall 12 on the way.
The outer end of the main fuel passage 10 is closed as an end wall 12c formed by bending and connecting to the a side, and an opening 13 for communicating the main fuel passage 10 with the inside of the tank body 1 is formed in the lower portion of the end wall 12c. Is provided so that the fuel in the tank body 1 flows into the main fuel passage 10 from the bottom side through the opening 13.

The end of the inner wall 11a of the front wall 11 is separated from the partition wall 3, and a fuel inflow portion 14 is formed between the end of the inner wall 11a and the partition wall 3.

The front wall 11 and the left side wall 12 of the fuel supply tank 4
The inner walls 11a, 12a of the
b and the partition wall 3 which is the right side wall of the fuel supply tank 10 and is formed at the same height.

The rear wall 15 of the fuel supply tank 10 is the front wall 1
The outer wall 11b of No. 1 is approximately twice as high as
The outer wall 12b and the partition wall 3 of the left side wall 12 are directed from the outer wall 11b side toward the rear wall 15 side so that their upper edges are obliquely connected to the outer wall 11b upper edge and the rear wall 15 upper edge of the front wall 11. It is gradually higher.

The inner wall 11a of the front wall 11 is formed so as to be slightly inclined so that the fuel inflow portion 14 side becomes low. At the same liquid level as the inner wall 11a, the main fuel passage 10 is crossed over the inclined upper edge of the inner wall 11a. The fuel flows from the fuel supply tank 4 into the fuel supply tank 4, and the inner wall 11a functions as a baffle plate during turning and braking, and the return fuel in the fuel supply tank 4 is prevented from flowing to the main fuel passage 10 side as much as possible. I can do it.

On the other hand, a box-shaped socket portion 16 into which the leg portion 7a of the feed pump 7 is inserted is formed integrally with the lower portion of the central portion of the rear wall 15 and the bottom portion thereof. The feed pump 7 is fixed by fitting the legs 7a.

The portion of the rear wall 15 where the socket portion 16 is provided has a notch portion 17 formed to have a low height, and a hook portion 18 is integrally formed on the back surface thereof to lock the feed pump 7. From the notch 17 to the hook 18
The feed pump 7 is securely fixed by inserting the hook 7c of the locking lever 7b into the hook portion 18 by inserting it to the side.

Further, the box-shaped shield portion 19 having a height higher than that of the rear wall 15 is integrally formed so as to surround the portion where the notch portion 17 and the hook portion 18 of the rear wall 15 are formed. The periphery of the attachment portion of the feed pump 7 is hidden.

A drain hole 19 is provided at the bottom of the shielding portion 19.
By providing a, the fuel that has entered the shielding portion 19 is returned to the inside of the tank body 1.

On the other hand, the peripheral side wall of the float arranging tank 5, specifically, the front wall 21 is provided outside the main fuel passage 10 at an appropriate interval so as to extend to the middle of the outer wall 12b of the left side wall 12, Outside the main fuel passage 10, a sub fuel passage 20 that connects the float arrangement tank 5 and the inside of the tank body 1 is formed.

The outer end of the sub fuel passage 20 is opened so that the fuel in the tank body 1 can freely flow in.

Further, in this embodiment, the outer wall 11b of the front wall 11 of the fuel supply tank 4 is extended into the float arrangement tank 5 so that the auxiliary fuel passage 20 extends to the front portion of the float arrangement tank 5, An end of the extended portion 11c of 11b is separated from the right side wall 22 of the float arrangement tank 5 to form a fuel inflow portion 24.

The extended portion 11c is formed such that the upper edge thereof is inclined from the extended base portion to the vicinity of the bottom of the terminal to form the outer wall 11b.
At the same liquid level as above, the fuel flows from the auxiliary fuel passage 20 into the float arrangement tank 5 over the inclined upper edge of the extension portion 11c, and the extension portion 11c serves as a baffle plate during turning and braking. By functioning, the fuel in the float arrangement tank 5 can be prevented as much as possible from flowing out into the tank body 1 via the sub fuel passage 20.

The open end of the return pipe 6 is arranged near the filter F on the partition wall 3 side, and the main fuel passage 1
0 and the auxiliary fuel passage 20 are set so as to surround the side where the open end of the return pipe 6 is provided.

In FIGS. 1 and 3, reference numerals 25 and 26 are integrally formed on the left and right side edges of the bottom of the swirl tank 2, and are engaged with a fixed seat portion (not shown) provided at the bottom of the tank body 1. Indicates a stop.

According to the structure of the above-described embodiment, the return fuel having a high fuel temperature is returned from the fuel supply device on the engine side (not shown) through the return pipe 6 into the fuel supply tank 4 of the swirl tank 2 and stays there. Is fed to the feed pipe (not shown) by the feed pump 7 together with the fuel in the tank body 1 which flows in through the main fuel passage 10.

Here, the fuel supply tank 4 in which the return fuel is returned is partitioned by the partition wall 3 from the float arrangement tank 5 in which the float 9 of the fuel gauge unit 8 is arranged so that the volume is reduced and the fuel supply tank 4 is placed in the fuel supply tank 4. Since the return fuel to be returned is quickly sucked by the feed pump 7 and sent to the feed pipe, the amount of return fuel accumulated in the fuel supply tank 4 can be reduced, and therefore, the fuel supply can be reduced. Heat transfer from the peripheral side wall of the tank 4 to the relatively low temperature fuel in the tank body 1 can be minimized.

In addition to the fact that heat transfer to the fuel in the tank body 1 can be reduced by reducing the stay amount of the return fuel as described above, the fuel supply tank 4
Of the main fuel passage 10 from the front wall 11 to the left side wall 12 at inner and outer walls 11a, 11b and 12a, 12b, respectively.
And the fuel in the tank body 1 forms the main fuel passage 1
Since the fuel in the main fuel passage 10 is made to flow into the fuel supply tank 4 via 0, the return fuel in the fuel supply tank 4 and the fuel in the tank body 1 are thermally separated. Therefore, it is possible to prevent the temperature of the relatively low temperature fuel in the tank body 1 from rising due to the heat of the return fuel, and it is possible to effectively take measures against vapor.

In particular, in this embodiment, the front wall 21 of the float arranging tank 5 is extended outside the main fuel passage 10 at an appropriate interval, and the inside of the tank body 1 and the float are provided outside the main fuel passage 10. Since the auxiliary fuel passage 20 that communicates with the arrangement tank 5 is formed, the fuel inside the main fuel passage 10 and the auxiliary fuel passage 20 are formed outside the front side portion and the left side portion of the fuel supply tank 4.
Multiple heat separation zones will be formed with the fuel inside,
As a result, the heat separation between the return fuel in the fuel supply tank 4 and the fuel in the tank body 1 can be more favorably performed.

The outer end portion of the main fuel passage 10 is closed by an end wall 12c, and the main fuel passage 1 is provided below the end wall 12c.
0 and the inside of the tank main body 1 are provided with an opening 13 so that the fuel in the tank main body 1 flows into the main fuel passage 10 through the opening 13. Fuel including return fuel inside and tank body 1
Mutual flow with the fuel inside can be regulated, and the heat separability can be further improved.

Further, the rear wall 15 of the fuel supply tank 4 is the front wall 11
The outer wall 11b of the front wall 11 is formed to be approximately twice as high as the outer wall 11b of the front wall 11, and the partition walls 3 serving as the outer wall 12b of the left side wall 12 and the right side wall have upper edges thereof. Since the outer wall 11b and the rear wall 15 are formed so as to be obliquely connected to each other, the fuel in the tank main body 1 is filled with the fuel in the rear wall 15 and the left and right side walls even when the vehicle is suddenly braked. It is possible to avoid that the return fuel in the fuel supply tank 4 overflows into the tank body 1 by flowing over the fuel cells 11b and 3 and flowing into the fuel supply tank 4, and the temperature of the fuel in the tank body 1 is increased. It is possible to prevent rising.

The filter F is positioned between the open end of the return pipe 6 and the inner walls 11a, 12a, and the front wall 11 and the left side wall 12 near the open end of the return pipe 6 are provided. Since the main fuel passage 10 and the sub fuel passage 20 are formed in this, heat transfer can be further reduced.

FIG. 5 shows a second embodiment of the present invention. In the second embodiment, the main fuel passage 10 is provided from the rear wall 15 of the fuel supply tank 4 to the rear wall 23 of the float arrangement tank 5. The auxiliary fuel passage 2 is extended to the right end.
The reference numeral 0 also extends outside the main fuel passage 10 up to the right end of the rear wall 23 of the float arrangement tank 5.

Therefore, according to the structure of the second embodiment, multiple heat separation zones are formed outside the fuel supply tank 4 by the fuel in the main fuel passage 10 and the fuel in the auxiliary fuel passage 20. Since it is formed over the entire circumference of the fuel supply tank 4 facing the inside of the tank main body 1, the return fuel in the fuel supply tank 4 and the fuel in the tank main body 1 can be thermally separated more satisfactorily. be able to.

In the above embodiment, the feed pump 7
Although it is separate from the fuel gauge unit 8, the feed pump 7 may be assembled to the stay 8a of the fuel gauge unit 8.

Further, the feed pump may be arranged outside the tank body 1.

[0049]

As described above, according to the present invention, the following effects can be obtained.

According to the first aspect of the present invention, since the fuel supply tank for returning the return fuel is partitioned by the partition wall from the float arrangement tank in which the float of the fuel gauge is arranged to reduce the volume, the return inside the fuel supply tank is performed. The amount of retained fuel can be reduced, and heat transfer from the peripheral side wall of the fuel supply tank to the fuel in the tank body can be reduced as much as possible to suppress the temperature rise of the fuel in the tank body. .

In addition to the fact that the heat transfer to the fuel in the tank body can be reduced by reducing the stay amount of the return fuel in this way, the main fuel passage is formed in the peripheral side portion of the fuel supply tank. As a result, the fuel in the tank body flows into the fuel supply tank from the main fuel passage,
With the fuel in the main fuel passage, the return fuel in the fuel supply tank and the fuel in the tank body can be thermally separated, and the effect of suppressing the temperature rise of the fuel in the tank body is further improved and good vapor countermeasures can be taken. Can be done.

Moreover, since the auxiliary fuel passage that connects the float arrangement tank and the inside of the tank body is provided outside the main fuel passage provided on the peripheral side portion of the fuel supply tank, the peripheral side portion of the fuel supply tank is provided. A multiple heat separation zone is formed by the fuel in the main fuel passage and the fuel in the auxiliary fuel passage, so that the heat separation between the return fuel in the fuel supply tank and the fuel in the tank body can be further improved. You can

According to the second aspect of the present invention , the heat separation zone formed in multiple layers on the outer side of the fuel supply tank by the fuel in the main fuel passage and the fuel in the auxiliary fuel passage is formed in the tank body of the fuel supply tank. Since it is formed over the entire circumference side that faces, the heat separation between the return fuel in the fuel supply tank and the fuel in the tank main body can be performed better.

According to the third aspect , the outer end portion of the main fuel passage is closed by the end wall so that the fuel in the tank main body flows into the main fuel passage through the opening provided in the lower portion of the end wall. Therefore, the end wall can regulate the mutual flow of the fuel including the return fuel in the main fuel passage and the fuel in the tank main body, and the heat separation can be further improved.

According to the fourth aspect , the rear wall of the fuel supply tank is formed higher than the front wall, and the left and right side walls are gradually raised from the front wall side toward the rear wall side. It is possible to prevent the fuel in the tank body from crossing over the rear wall and the left and right side walls and flowing into the fuel supply tank at the time of sudden braking, and the return fuel in the fuel supply tank overflowing into the tank body. Therefore, it is possible to thoroughly take measures against vapor.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a plan view showing a first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a sectional view taken along the line AA of FIG.

FIG. 3 is a perspective view showing a swirling tank of the same embodiment.

FIG. 4 is a side view of a fuel tank including the swirl tank of the same embodiment.

FIG. 5 is a plan view showing a second embodiment of the present invention.

[Explanation of symbols]

1 tank body 2 swirling tanks 4 Fuel supply tank 5 float placement tanks 6 Return pipe 7 feed pump 8 fuel gauge 9 floats 10 Main fuel passage 11 Front wall of fuel supply tank 3,12 Left and right side walls of fuel supply tank 12c end wall 13 openings 15 Fuel supply tank rear wall

Claims (4)

(57) [Claims] 1. A fuel supply tank in which a feed system member is arranged and a return pipe for returning return fuel is arranged in a swirl tank arranged at the bottom of a tank body, and a tank adjacent to the fuel supply tank. It is connected to the main body and is divided into a float arrangement tank in which the float of the fuel gauge is arranged, and the peripheral side wall of the fuel supply tank is multiply formed at appropriate intervals, and fuel is supplied between the multiple walls. A main fuel passage that connects the tank and the inside of the tank body is formed , and the float arrangement is also provided.
The main fuel passage is formed by forming the peripheral wall of the tank between multiple walls of the fuel supply tank.
This main fuel passage is installed outside the road at an appropriate interval.
Connecting the float arrangement tank and the inside of the tank body outside the path
A swirling tank structure for a fuel tank, characterized by having an auxiliary fuel passage . 2. A main fuel passage and the secondary fuel and the passage, turning reservoir structure of the fuel tank according to claim 1, characterized in that formed over the entire circumference side facing the tank body of the fuel supply tank. 3. An outer wall of the main fuel passage is closed by an end wall,
3. The swirling tank structure for a fuel tank according to claim 1, wherein an opening that connects the main fuel passage and the inside of the tank body is provided in a lower portion of the end wall. 4. The rear wall of the fuel supply tank is formed to be higher than the front wall, and the left and right side walls are rearward from the front wall side so that their upper edges are obliquely connected to the upper edge of the front wall and the upper edge of the rear wall. turning reservoir structure of a fuel tank according to any one of claims 1 to 3, characterized in that it has gradually increased formed toward the wall.