JP4346283B2 - Fuel tank - Google Patents

Description

[0001]
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to a fuel tank mounted on a vehicle such as an automobile, and more particularly to a fuel tank that is provided with a measure for removing fuel when the vehicle is dismantled.
[0002]
[Prior art]
When a car is dismantled, fuel is extracted from the fuel tank in order to prevent environmental pollution and to ensure work safety. As a method for extracting fuel, it is common to make a hole in the bottom of the fuel tank by using a drilling tool such as a pointed tool or a hole saw, and let fuel flow out of the hole and collect it in an appropriate tank. Such fuel extraction is described in, for example, Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 9-309592 and Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 10-113898.
[0003]
[Problems to be solved by the invention]
Incidentally, a fuel pump is housed inside the fuel tank, and a baffle for sound insulation is provided. For this reason, in order to extract the fuel satisfactorily, it is necessary to make a hole in the wall surface of the fuel tank avoiding the fuel pump and the baffle. However, it is difficult to discriminate the position of the fuel pump and baffle from the outside, and these positions differ depending on the vehicle type, so the selection of the drilling position has to rely on the knowledge and experience of the operator. there were.
[0004]
Further, since the fuel tank of a rear-wheel drive vehicle or a four-wheel drive vehicle has a shape in which the bottom part is divided into two so as to straddle the propeller shaft, it is necessary to drill at least two places in order to extract all the fuel. In addition, in the fuel tank having many inclined surfaces on the wall surface, the drilling tool may escape due to the inclined surfaces, and good drilling may not be performed, making the drilling operation and fuel extraction more difficult.
[0005]
OBJECT OF THE INVENTION
The present invention has been made in view of the above-described conventional situation, and when removing fuel during vehicle dismantling processing, it does not depend on the skill level of the operator, and drills holes at appropriate locations on the wall surface. An object of the present invention is to provide a fuel tank that can be easily and reliably performed, and that can perform fuel extraction well.
[0006]
[Means for Solving the Problems]
According to a first aspect of the present invention, there is provided a fuel tank according to a first aspect of the present invention, wherein a marking indicating a drilling position by a drilling tool is provided on the tank wall surface, and the marking has a pointed shape that is a cross-sectional shape having an R at an opening edge and is a drilling tool A configuration in which a concave portion for guiding the tip of the tool is provided , and a fracture promoting portion for concentrating stress at the time of drilling is provided in the contour portion of the marking, and the marking is formed simultaneously with the tank wall as claimed in claim 2 and it has, and a means for solving the conventional problems with the above configuration.
[0007]
In the above structure, as the drilling tool, it pointed shape engineering tools for performing drilling by piercing the wall of the fuel tank is used.
[0008]
As a matter of course, the stamp is formed at an appropriate position avoiding the fuel pump and the baffle in the fuel tank. Although the shape of the stamp is not particularly limited, it has a predetermined size so that it can be easily seen, and a center portion for aligning the drilling tool may be displayed within the range. In addition, it is preferable to provide R on the uneven portions formed by engraving so that cracks do not occur during molding and the strength of the tank wall surface is not impaired. Furthermore, the stamp may be formed at a plurality of locations depending on the uneven shape of the wall surface of the fuel tank, and may be provided with a symbol such as a number or an appropriate pattern for indicating the number of holes to be punched.
[0009]
Here, the fuel tank is manufactured by, for example, blow molding in the case of resin, and is manufactured by joining, for example, a press-formed upper panel and lower panel in the case of metal. Therefore, in the case of a resin fuel tank, the engraving can be formed on the wall surface at the same time as the molding of the fuel tank by providing the engraving forming portion in the blow molding die. Can be formed simultaneously with the molding of the lower panel, for example, by providing a stamp forming part in the press molding die of the lower panel. In addition, the manufacturing method of a fuel tank is not limited.
[0010]
In addition, as the breakage promoting portion provided in the contour portion of the stamp, for example, a notch can be provided, and in this case as well, there is no predetermined crack so as not to cause cracks during molding and to impair the strength of the tank wall surface. It is preferable to secure a thickness and to have a cross-sectional shape having R. Furthermore, even in the recess to guide the tip of the drilling tool, it shall be the cross-sectional shape also having R.
[0012]
【The invention's effect】
According to the fuel tank according to claim 1 of the present invention, by providing a mark indicating the drilling position on the tank wall surface, it is not affected by the skill level of the operator when removing fuel in the vehicle dismantling process. In addition, it is possible to easily and surely drill holes at appropriate locations on the wall surface without interfering with fuel pumps, baffles, etc. in the fuel tank and the drilling tool, and this makes it possible to remove fuel well. It is possible to reduce the working time and improve the fuel recovery rate. Furthermore, the use of the marking makes it possible to maintain the display function for a very long time compared to the display using a seal or paint.
In addition, the fuel tank has a cross-sectional shape having an R at the opening edge and a recess for guiding the tip of a pointed tool that is a drilling tool, so that no cracks occur during molding and In addition to not damaging the strength of the tank wall surface, the drilling tool can be positioned more easily, and even if the drilling position or its vicinity is an inclined surface, the drilling tool does not escape by the inclined surface, Drilling can be performed reliably.
Further, since the fuel tank is provided with the fracture promoting portion in the contoured portion of the stamp, for example, even when the tip of the pointed tool is worn, stress concentration is caused in the fracture promoting portion when drilling. The tank wall surface can be broken along the breakage promoting portion, whereby a hole corresponding to the contour of the marking can be formed.
[0013]
According to the fuel tank of claim 2 of the present invention, the same effect as in claim 1 can be obtained, and the stamp is formed at the same time as the tank wall surface, so that a process for forming the stamp is particularly provided. There is no need, the marking can be easily formed, the increase in cost can be prevented, and the thickness of the stamped portion can be easily secured on the tank wall where a predetermined thickness is required. .
[0017]
【Example】
A fuel tank 1 shown in FIG. 1A is mounted on a rear-wheel drive vehicle or a four-wheel drive vehicle, and is a saddle type with a bottom divided into two so as to straddle a propeller shaft at the bottom of the vehicle body. It is a tank. The fuel tank 1 is formed with markings 3 and 3 indicating the drilling position by the drilling tool T on the tank bottom walls 2 and 2 divided into two of the wall surfaces.
[0018]
Here, as shown in FIG. 3, a fuel pump 10 is accommodated in the fuel tank 1 and a baffle for sound insulation is provided. For this reason, for example, when drilling is performed at the position of the fuel pump 10 as indicated by the phantom line in FIG. 3, satisfactory drilling is naturally impossible, and the drilling tool T is also damaged. Therefore, as shown by the solid line in FIG. 3, it is necessary to make a hole at a position avoiding the fuel pump 10 and the like, and the position of the marking 3 is set correspondingly.
[0019]
The engraving 3 has a circular shape as shown in FIGS. 1B and 1C, and a downwardly open recess 4 for guiding the tip of the drilling tool T is formed at the center. A fracture promoting portion 5 for concentrating stress at the time is provided. Further, in this embodiment, in order to make holes in two places, a number 6 indicating the number of holes (2) is displayed. The specific size of the stamp 3 is about 80 to 120 mm in diameter.
[0020]
The concave portion 4, the fracture promoting portion 5 and the numeral 6 that are concave and convex in the stamp 3 have a predetermined thickness so that cracks do not occur during molding and the strength of the tank bottom wall 2 is not impaired. In addition, the cross-sectional shape has R. In particular, as shown in the enlarged view, the breakage promoting portion 5 has a concave shape on the outer surface of the tank and a convex shape on the inner surface of the tank.
[0021]
The inscription 3 is formed simultaneously with the tank 1 or the tank bottom wall 2 according to the material forming the fuel tank 1. The resin fuel tank 1 is manufactured by, for example, a blow molding apparatus shown in FIG. That is, the parison P injected from the injection head 50 is sandwiched between a pair of molds 51, 52, and air is pressurized and supplied into the molds 51, 52 to expand the parison P along the inner surface of the mold, and then the parison. P is cured to form a fuel tank 1. At this time, the stamp 3 can be formed on the tank bottom wall 2 by providing the stamp forming part 51A on the inner surface of one mold 51 for molding the tank bottom wall side.
[0022]
The metal fuel tank 1 is manufactured by, for example, a press apparatus shown in FIG. That is, a metal plate is formed into a lower panel LP having a predetermined shape (drawing) using an upper die 61 provided with a pad 60 and a lower die 62 opposite to the upper die 61, and the metal plate is formed into a predetermined shape using a similar upper and lower die not shown. The fuel tank 1 is formed by joining the two panels together by welding or the like. At this time, the marking 3 can be formed on the tank bottom wall 2 by providing the marking forming portions 61A and 62A at the opposing portions of the upper and lower molds 61 and 62 for molding the lower panel LP.
[0023]
Thus, if the stamp 3 is formed simultaneously with the fuel tank 1 or the tank bottom wall 2, the step of forming the stamp 3 becomes unnecessary, and the stamp 3 can be easily formed, and the cost is increased. Can be prevented. Further, it is possible to provide the stamp 3 after molding the fuel tank 1 or the tank bottom wall 2, but in the case of the resin fuel tank 1 in particular, the thickness of the tank bottom wall 2 is reduced by forming the stamp 3. In consideration of the decrease, the fuel tank 1 or the tank bottom wall 2 must be formed. On the other hand, if the stamp 3 is formed at the same time, it is easy to ensure a predetermined thickness in the portion of the stamp 3.
[0024]
The fuel tank 1 can maintain the display function for a very long period of time as compared with the case where, for example, a seal or paint is used, by adopting the marking 3 as an indication of the drilling position by the drilling tool T. .
[0025]
When the fuel is extracted in the dismantling process of the automobile, as shown in FIG. 2, a fuel recovery apparatus 71 is used which places the automobile C on the mount 70 and is provided with a drilling tool T that can be moved up and down. The fuel recovery device 71 includes a tank for recovering the fuel that has flowed out of the fuel tank 1, and includes a position adjusting means for moving the drilling tool T or the device itself in the horizontal direction in order to position the drilling tool T and the marking 3 with each other. I have.
[0026]
As the drilling tool T, a conventionally known tool can be used. For example, a pointed tool that pierces the tank bottom wall 2 is used. In this case, although the drilling tool T is used in different ways depending on the shape and the like, it may be either one that allows fuel to flow out while being pierced, or one that causes fuel to flow out by being pulled out after being pierced.
[0027]
And when extracting fuel from the fuel tank 1, the front-end | tip of the drilling tool T is positioned in the recessed part 4 of the center of the stamp 3, and the drilling tool T is raised. At this time, in the fuel tank 1, the tip of the drilling tool T enters the recess 4 of the stamp 3, the drilling tool T is guided in the vertical direction, and the drilling tool T is connected to the fuel pump 10 and the like in the fuel tank 1. The tank bottom wall 2 is drilled without any interference. In addition, since the number of holes is clearly indicated by the numeral 6 in the engraving 3, a predetermined number of holes are definitely made when the operator confirms this.
[0028]
Further, as shown in FIG. 4, even when the drilling position on the tank bottom wall 2 is an inclined surface, the drilling tool T is reliably guided in the vertical direction by the concave portion 4 of the inscription 3, so that the drilling tool T is formed on the inclined surface. Without escaping, a reliable drilling is performed.
[0029]
Further, in the fuel tank 1, the breakage promoting portion 5 is provided in the contour portion of the marking 3, so that even if the tip of the drilling tool T is worn and the good piercing is not performed, the drilling tool T is used. Stress concentration occurs in the fracture promoting portion 5 due to the pressing force, and the bottom wall of the tank breaks in the fracture promoting portion 5, and as a result, a clean hole having the marking 3 as an outline can be reliably formed.
[0030]
As described above, in the fuel tank 1 of this embodiment, when removing fuel in the dismantling process of the automobile, it is easy to make a hole in an appropriate portion of the tank bottom wall without depending on the skill level of the operator. In addition, the fuel can be removed in a short time, and the fuel recovery rate can be increased.
[0031]
FIG. 5 is a view showing the fuel tank 1 having a heat shielding cover 20 at the bottom. The cover 20 can be provided with an inscription as in the above embodiment, and the inscription can be simultaneously formed with the cover 20. In this case, in removing the fuel, it is not necessary to remove the cover 20, and the tank 20 is perforated together with the cover 20. In this case, the same operation and effect as in the above embodiment can be obtained.
[0032]
In addition, the structure of the fuel tank according to the present invention is not limited to the above embodiment, and for example, the shape of the engraving and the display content can be changed. Further, the position of the marking is not limited to the tank bottom wall, and the position of the marking on the tank wall surface can be selected according to the attitude of the fuel tank at the time of fuel extraction.
[Brief description of the drawings]
FIG. 1 is a diagram for explaining an embodiment of a fuel tank according to the present invention, and is a perspective view (a) showing a bottom portion of the fuel tank, a plan view (b) of a stamped portion, and a sectional view (c) of a stamped portion ).
FIG. 2 is a side view illustrating fuel extraction.
FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view illustrating a drilling position for a fuel tank.
FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view illustrating a case where the drilling position is an inclined surface.
FIG. 5 is a perspective view illustrating a fuel tank provided with a cover at the bottom.
FIG. 6 is a cross-sectional view showing a blow molding apparatus for manufacturing a resin fuel tank.
FIG. 7 is a cross-sectional view illustrating a press device for manufacturing a metal fuel tank.
[Explanation of symbols]
1 Fuel tank 2 Tank bottom wall (wall surface)
3 Engraving 4 Recess 5 Destruction Promotion Section 20 Cover T Drilling Tool

Claims (2)

The tank wall, a marking indicating the drilling position by the drilling tool is provided, said marking, a recess for guiding the tip of the cusp-shaped tool is a drilling tool provided with a sectional shape having an R to the opening edge, engraved contour A fuel tank characterized in that a fracture promoting portion is provided in a portion to concentrate stress when drilling .   2. The fuel tank according to claim 1, wherein the stamp is formed simultaneously with the tank wall surface.

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