JP4248075B2 - Fuel supply device - Google Patents

Description

[0001]
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to an in-tank type fuel supply device, and more particularly to a technique that is effective when applied to a fuel supply device of a type attached from the bottom side of a fuel tank.
[0002]
[Prior art]
2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, as a fuel supply device for a motorcycle or a four-wheeled vehicle, a so-called in-tank in which a fuel pump, a strainer, or the like is disposed in a fuel tank as disclosed in Japanese Patent Laid-Open Nos. Type devices are widely used. Such an in-tank type fuel supply device is roughly divided into a unit attached from the bottom opening 52 of the fuel tank 51 as shown in Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 10-213036 shown in FIG. In some cases, a unit is placed on the bottom of the fuel tank 61 as disclosed in JP-A-8-225023.
[0003]
Here, in the apparatus of FIG. 5, the sub tank 54 is attached on the set plate 53, and the fuel pump 55 is disposed therein via the pump holder 60. A suction port 55a is provided at the lower portion of the fuel pump 55, and a fuel filter 56 is attached thereto. A feed pipe 57 is drawn from the upper part of the fuel pump 55 and connected to the vehicle body side pipe 59 via a fuel outflow prevention valve 58. In this case, the valve opening pressure from the fuel pump 55 side of the valve 58 is set to be larger than the total maximum value of the fuel head pressure and the pressure inside the fuel tank 51 so that the fuel does not flow out or scatter due to the siphon phenomenon. Has been taken into account.
[0004]
On the other hand, in the apparatus of FIG. 6, the swirl tank body 63 is attached to the bottom surface of the fuel tank 61 via the bracket 62. A lid 64 is attached to the upper surface of the swirl tank main body 63. A pump support 65 is provided inside the main body 63, and an opening 69 is formed in the lid body 64 correspondingly. A curved convex portion 67 and a pressing plate 68 are formed in the opening 69 to press the fuel pump 66 placed on the pump support base 65. Then, the fuel pump 66 is sandwiched and fixed between the lid body 64 and the main body 63 by using the curved convex portion 67 and the pressing plate 68.
[0005]
[Problems to be solved by the invention]
However, since the fuel supply device as shown in FIG. 5 is configured to fix the fuel pump 55 on the pump holder 60, there is a problem that the stability against vibration of the fuel pump 55 is low. In this case, a method of fixing the fuel pump 55 to the sub tank 54 or the set plate 53 with a stay has been proposed so that the stability of the pump is increased. However, the reinforcement of the stay level cannot secure sufficient stability, but there is a problem that the number of parts is increased and the cost is increased. Further, if sufficient reinforcement is to be performed, it is necessary to use a reinforcing material having a considerably high strength, and there is a problem in that the size and weight of the apparatus cannot be avoided.
[0006]
On the other hand, in the apparatus as shown in FIG. 6, since the fuel pump 66 is supported by the pump support base 65, the stability is higher than that of the above-described apparatus. However, since the apparatus of FIG. 6 employs a configuration in which the pump 66 is sandwiched and fixed between the lid body 64 and the main body 63, the pressure regulator provided at the rear stage of the fuel pump is disposed outside the swirl tank (sub tank). Therefore, when the apparatus is applied to a so-called returnless system in which the pressure regulator is arranged on the fuel tank side and the fuel return pipe is eliminated, the return fuel is returned to the outside of the sub tank. For this reason, although the sub tank is provided, there is a problem that the fuel in the sub tank is discharged outside the sub tank so that the function of the sub tank cannot be fully utilized.
[0007]
An object of the present invention is to provide a fuel supply apparatus that can stably supply fuel, is resistant to vibration, is small, and is easy to install.
[0008]
[Means for Solving the Problems]
The fuel supply device of the present invention is a fuel supply device that is assembled into the fuel tank from an opening in the bottom surface of the fuel tank, and includes a bottom plate portion formed so as to close the opening, and the bottom plate on the bottom plate portion. And a flange member that forms a sub-tank in the fuel tank, and is disposed in the space by being attached to the bottom plate portion, and has a fuel on the lower side. A fuel pump provided with a suction port, a strainer attached to the bottom plate portion via a joint and disposed in the space, and purifying the fuel from the fuel pump, and attached to the joint and into the space A pressure regulator that adjusts the pressure of the fuel that is disposed and supplied to the engine, and is attached to the upper portion of the side wall of the flange member, and the fuel pump And a lid for holding the upper part of the serial strainer, the lid forming a space of the sub tank to the interior of the flange member is characterized by holding the upper portion of the strainer and the fuel pump.
[0009]
Thereby, a flange member and a subtank can be integrated, and reduction of a number of parts and improvement of workability | operativity can be aimed at. In addition, since the lid body holds the upper part of the fuel pump, the fuel pump is held up and down, and a fuel supply device having a structure resistant to vibration can be realized.
[0010]
In this case, the fuel supply device may further include a fuel purification strainer, and the fuel pump and the strainer may be disposed in the space. The fuel supply device may further include a pressure regulator for adjusting a fuel supply pressure, and the fuel pump and the pressure regulator may be disposed in the space. As a result, the entire apparatus is reduced in size, and the apparatus can be installed simply by attaching the module to the fuel tank.
[0011]
Further, the pressure regulator may be a returnless type pressure regulator. Thereby, the return fuel is returned into the sub tank, the fuel in the sub tank can be used without waste, and the fuel can be stably supplied to the engine.
[0013]
The fuel supply device may be provided with a lid attached to the upper portion of the side wall, and the lid may be provided with a connecting member having a fuel flow path for connecting the fuel pump and the strainer. As a result, the lid also serves as the fuel flow path, so that the number of parts can be reduced and the apparatus can be downsized. In this case, the connecting member may be configured to hold the upper portions of the fuel pump and the strainer, whereby the fuel pump and the strainer are held at the upper portion, and a configuration that is resistant to vibration can be realized. Become.
[0014]
Further, a lid attached to the upper portion of the side wall portion may be provided in the fuel supply device, and a connection member provided with a fuel flow path connecting the fuel pump and the pressure regulator may be provided on the lid. As a result, the lid also serves as the fuel flow path, so that the number of parts can be reduced and the apparatus can be downsized. In this case, the connecting member may be configured to hold the upper part of the fuel pump and the upper side of the pressure regulator, so that the fuel pump and the pressure regulator are held on the upper part to realize a structure resistant to vibration. Is possible.
[0015]
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
(Embodiment 1)
Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1 is an explanatory view showing an attachment state of a fuel supply apparatus according to Embodiment 1 of the present invention, FIG. 2 is a perspective view showing a part of the fuel supply apparatus in a cutaway state, and FIG. It is explanatory drawing which shows the outline | summary of the cross section along the -A line.
[0016]
The fuel supply device 1 (hereinafter abbreviated as “device 1” as appropriate) is an in-tank type gasoline supply device for motorcycles, and has an opening formed in the bottom surface 2a of the fuel tank 2 as shown in FIG. 3 is attached from the lower side of the fuel tank 2. In this case, as shown in FIG. 2, the apparatus 1 accommodates a fuel pump 5, a strainer 6, a pressure regulator 7, etc. in a cup-shaped flange (flange member) 4 and closes it with a lid (lid body) 40. It has a modularized configuration. The fuel 42 sucked up by the fuel pump 5 is purified by the strainer 6 and adjusted to a predetermined pressure by the pressure regulator 7, and then the fuel 42 is supplied to the engine via the fuel pipe 43.
[0017]
Here, the flange 4 is formed of a synthetic resin, and includes a bottom plate (bottom plate portion) 4a constituting the bottom portion and a side wall portion 4b formed integrally with the bottom plate 4a. Then, the apparatus 1 is attached to the fuel tank 2 by attaching the bottom plate 4 a to the opening 3 in an oil tight manner via the packing 8. That is, the fuel supply apparatus 1 according to the present invention can be installed simply by attaching the module to the fuel tank 2, thereby improving the attachment workability.
[0018]
The interior of the flange 4 is a space. In the fuel supply device 1 according to the present invention, this space accommodates the fuel pump 5 and the like and also functions as a sub tank 16. That is, the flange 4 also has a so-called reservoir function, so that the fuel 42 sucked by the fuel pump 5 is temporarily stored in the flange 4 so as not to cause inconvenience in the fuel supply due to the slope or the shaking of the vehicle body. It has become. In this case, when installing the sub-tank, a plurality of parts are conventionally used as in the apparatus of FIG. 5, but the apparatus 1 achieves this with only the flange 4. For this reason, in the said apparatus 1, the number of parts is reduced by the part and the reduction of cost is aimed at.
[0019]
Moreover, it can be said that the flange 4 functions as the sub tank 16, in other words, the apparatus 1 accommodates all the main components in the sub tank 16. That is, in the fuel supply device 1 according to the present invention, the fuel pump 5, the strainer 6, and the pressure regulator 7 are accommodated in the sub-tank 16, thereby achieving downsizing of the entire module.
[0020]
A fuel inlet 17 for introducing the fuel 42 into the sub tank 16 is formed in the side wall 4 b of the flange 4. In the device 1, the inside of the fuel intake port 17 has a labyrinth structure so that the fuel 42 does not easily flow out of the sub tank 16. That is, the fuel inlet 17 is provided with a partition wall 18 extending in the circumferential direction from the opening 17 a inside the flange 4, and a labyrinth 19 is formed by this and the inner wall of the flange 4. Accordingly, the fuel 42 once flowing into the sub tank 16 is prevented by the labyrinth 19 and does not easily flow out of the tank.
[0021]
A synthetic resin lid 40 is attached to the top of the flange 4 as shown in FIGS. A connecting member 41 having a fuel flow path formed therein is integrally formed on the lower surface side of the lid 40. When the lid 40 is attached to the flange 4, the connecting member 41 is connected to the fuel pump 5 and the strainer 6. And the two are connected by an internal fuel flow path. For this reason, piping conventionally provided separately for the connection of both can be omitted, and the number of parts and assembly man-hours can be reduced. In addition, since the lid 40 and the connection member 41 are integrated, the entire apparatus can be reduced in size.
[0022]
Further, the upper portions of the fuel pump 5 and the strainer 6 are held by the lid 40. That is, the lid 40 also functions as a support member for the fuel pump 5 and the strainer 6, and the apparatus 1 is configured to hold them up and down. Therefore, it is more resistant to vibration than conventional devices, and the configuration is realized without increasing the number of components without using a stay or the like.
[0023]
Further, a fuel suction port 10 is provided below the fuel pump 5 so as to take in the fuel 42 from the bottom of the sub tank 16. In this case, a filter 13 is attached to the fuel inlet 10 to remove coarse dust in the fuel 42.
[0024]
On the other hand, the apparatus 1 is used in a fuel supply system employing a so-called returnless system, and a pressure regulator 7 is provided on the fuel supply apparatus side. In the apparatus 1, a joint 12 is attached to the lower part of the strainer 6, and a pressure regulator 7 is connected to the joint 12. In this case, the pressure regulator 7 is also disposed in the sub tank 16, and all return fuel from the pressure regulator 7 is returned to the sub tank 16. Therefore, in the fuel supply apparatus 1 according to the present invention, waste such as returning the fuel 42 in the sub tank 16 to the outside of the sub tank 16 can be eliminated, and the fuel can be stably supplied to the engine.
[0025]
Further, the lower portion of the joint 12 is connected to a fuel supply port 15 provided on the lower surface of the flange 4. A fuel pipe 43 is connected to the fuel supply port 15. Thus, the fuel 42 sucked up by the fuel pump 5 is sent to the fuel feed port 15 via the connecting member 41, the strainer 6, and the joint 12, and is sent from here to the engine via the fuel pipe 43. At this time, the fuel sent to the fuel pipe 43 is regulated by the pressure regulator 7, and the surplus fuel at this time is returned into the sub tank 16 as described above.
[0026]
As described above, according to the fuel supply device 1 of the present invention, the flange 4 that is a member attached to the fuel tank 2 is configured as a container for equipment such as the fuel pump 5, and the device is used as a sub tank 16. The entire system has been modularized to reduce the size of equipment and the number of parts and man-hours. In addition, since the lid 40 of the apparatus has the role of the connection member 41 and the role of the support member for the fuel pump 5 and the like, a configuration that is resistant to vibration can be realized without increasing the number of components. Furthermore, by disposing the pressure regulator 7 in the sub tank 16, surplus fuel is returned into the sub tank 16, so that the fuel 42 in the sub tank 16 can be used without waste, and stable fuel supply can be realized.
[0027]
(Embodiment 2)
Next, the fuel supply apparatus 100 which is Embodiment 2 of this invention is demonstrated. FIG. 4 is an explanatory diagram showing an outline of the configuration, and corresponds to FIG. 3 in the first embodiment. In addition, the same code | symbol is attached | subjected about the member and part similar to the apparatus 1 of Embodiment 1, and the detail is abbreviate | omitted.
[0028]
The device 100 is an abbreviation for the lid 40 in the device 1, and the upper surface of the flange 4 is in an open state. Further, the fuel pump 5 and the strainer 6 are connected by a connection tube 44 instead of the connection member 41. Tube connection portions 5 a and 6 a are provided at the upper portions of the fuel pump 5 and the strainer 6, respectively, and the connection between them is connected by a connection tube 44. In this case, in the apparatus 100, the lid 40 that holds the upper part of the fuel pump 5 and the strainer 6 does not exist, but the number of parts can be reduced accordingly.
[0029]
It goes without saying that the present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiment, and various modifications can be made without departing from the scope of the invention.
[0030]
For example, in the above-described embodiment, the fuel pump 5 and the strainer 6 are connected by the connecting member 41 and the connecting tube 44. However, the pressure regulator 7 is disposed in front of the strainer 6, and the fuel pump 5 and the pressure regulator 7 are connected. The (joint 12) may be connected or held by the connecting member 41 or the connecting tube 44. In this case, the strainer 6 is not necessarily installed in the flange 4, and this is the same as the pressure regulator 7 in the above-described embodiment.
[0031]
In the above-described embodiment, the fuel supply device for motorcycles has been described as an example. However, the object of application of the present invention is not limited to motorcycles, and operations such as four-wheeled vehicles, golf carts, lawn mowers, etc. The present invention can be widely applied as a fuel supply device for machines using an internal combustion engine as a drive source, such as industrial vehicles, industrial machines, and portable generators. The fuel to be supplied is not limited to gasoline, and may be light oil or kerosene.
[0032]
【The invention's effect】
According to the fuel supply device of the present invention, the flange member provided with the bottom plate and the side wall portion is attached from the lower side of the fuel tank, and the space in the side wall portion functions as a sub tank in the fuel tank. The subtank can be integrated, and the number of parts can be reduced and workability can be improved. In addition, since the fuel pump and at least one of the strainer and the pressure regulator are arranged in the space, the entire apparatus is reduced in size, and the apparatus can be installed simply by attaching the module to the fuel tank. It becomes possible to improve the work efficiency.
[0033]
Furthermore, by arranging a returnless type pressure regulator in the space, the return fuel is returned into the sub tank, so that the fuel in the sub tank can be used without waste, and the fuel is stably supplied to the engine. It becomes possible.
[0034]
On the other hand, by providing a lid for holding the upper part of the fuel pump at the upper part of the side wall part, the fuel pump is held up and down, and a structure resistant to vibration can be realized.
[0035]
Also, by providing a connecting member with a fuel flow path that connects the fuel pump and strainer or between the fuel pump and the pressure regulator at the top of the side wall, the lid also serves as the fuel flow path, reducing the number of parts And miniaturization of the apparatus. Furthermore, the connecting member holds the upper part of the fuel pump and the strainer or the upper part of the fuel pump and the pressure regulator, so that the fuel pump and the strainer or the fuel pump and the pressure regulator are held at the upper part, thereby realizing a structure resistant to vibration. It becomes possible.
[Brief description of the drawings]
FIG. 1 is an explanatory view showing an attachment state of a fuel supply apparatus according to a first embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 2 is a perspective view showing a part of a fuel supply apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention in a cutaway manner.
FIG. 3 is an explanatory diagram showing an outline of a cross section along the line AA in FIG. 2;
FIG. 4 is an explanatory diagram showing an outline of a configuration of a fuel supply device according to a second embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 5 is an explanatory view showing an example of a conventional fuel supply device.
FIG. 6 is an explanatory view showing another example of a conventional fuel supply device.
[Explanation of symbols]
DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Fuel supply apparatus 2 Fuel tank 2a Bottom face 3 Opening 4 Flange (flange member)
4a Bottom plate (bottom plate part)
4b Side wall part 5 Fuel pump 5a Tube connection part 6 Strainer 6a Tube connection part 7 Pressure regulator 8 Packing 10 Fuel suction port 12 Joint 13 Filter 15 Fuel feed port 16 Sub tank 17 Fuel intake port 17a Opening part 18 Bulkhead 19 Labyrinth 40 Lid ( Lid)
41 Connecting member 42 Fuel 43 Fuel piping 44 Connecting tube 51 Fuel tank 52 Bottom opening 53 Set plate 54 Sub tank 55 Fuel pump 55a Suction port 56 Fuel filter 57 Feed pipe 58 Fuel outflow prevention valve 59 Car body side piping 60 Pump holder 61 Fuel Tank 62 Bracket 63 Swivel tank body 64 Cover body 65 Pump support base 66 Pump 67 Curved convex part 68 Holding plate 69 Opening part

Claims (8)

A fuel supply device assembled into the fuel tank from an opening at the bottom of the fuel tank,
A flange having a bottom plate portion formed so as to close the opening and a side wall portion formed integrally with the bottom plate portion on the bottom plate portion, and a space in the side wall portion forms a sub tank in the fuel tank. Members,
A fuel pump attached to the bottom plate and disposed in the space, and provided with a fuel suction port on the lower side;
A strainer attached to the bottom plate part via a joint and disposed in the space, for purifying fuel from the fuel pump;
A pressure regulator attached to the joint and disposed in the space for adjusting the pressure of fuel supplied to the engine;
It is attached to the upper part of the side wall of the flange member, and has a lid for holding the upper part of the fuel pump and the strainer,
The fuel supply apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the lid body that forms a space of the sub tank in the flange member holds the upper part of the fuel pump and the strainer . 2. The fuel supply apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein the pressure regulator is a returnless type pressure regulator. 2. The fuel supply apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein return fuel from the pressure regulator is returned into the space. 4. The fuel supply device according to claim 1, wherein the lid includes a connecting member having a fuel flow path that connects the fuel pump and the strainer. 5. apparatus. 5. The fuel supply apparatus according to claim 4 , wherein the connection member holds upper portions of the fuel pump and the strainer. 4. The fuel supply device according to claim 1, wherein the lid includes a connection member having a fuel flow path that connects between the fuel pump and the pressure regulator. 5. Fuel supply device. 7. The fuel supply apparatus according to claim 6 , wherein the connection member holds an upper part of the fuel pump and an upper part of the pressure regulator. The fuel supply device according to any one of claims 1 to 7 , wherein the side wall portion has a fuel intake port having a labyrinth structure.

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