JP4462487B2 - Fuel tank support structure for vehicle - Google Patents

Description

  According to the present invention, a pair of outward flanges projecting from a tank body and seam-welded, and a reinforcing body that has a U-shaped cross section and is externally fitted to the both outward flanges, are integrally fastened to the vehicle body side. The present invention relates to a fuel tank support structure in a vehicle.

  Conventionally, there is a fuel tank support structure in the vehicle described in Patent Document 1 below. According to this publication, the fuel tank support structure includes a pair of tank bodies that can store fuel and a pair of upper and lower tank members that constitute the tank body, and are superposed and seam welded to each other. An outward flange, a sheet metal reinforcement body having a U-shaped cross-section and externally fitted to the both outward flanges, and a projecting end side and a reinforcement body from the seam welded portion of the both outward flanges. A fastener that penetrates and integrally fastens to the vehicle body side, and the reinforcing body is externally fitted to the projecting end sides of the outward flanges so as to be separated from the seam welded portion in the width direction of the outward flange. Yes.

  The fuel tank is supported on the vehicle body side by the outward flanges, the reinforcing body, and the fastener.

JP-A-11-147423

  By the way, as for the both outward flanges of the prior art, only the protruding end side in the width direction is reinforced by the reinforcing body. The projecting end sides of the both outward flanges and the reinforcing body are fastened to the vehicle body side. For this reason, a large bending stress tends to be generated on the base side of the outward flange that is not reinforced by the reinforcing body, and thus the support strength of the fuel tank to the vehicle body side may be insufficient.

  Therefore, it is conceivable that the reinforcing body is externally fitted to both outward flanges so as to straddle the seam welded portion, and the respective portions in the width direction of the both outward flanges are entirely reinforced by the reinforcing body. .

  However, even with the above configuration, the following problems may occur.

  That is, when both the outward flanges are seam-welded, generally, both the outward flanges are rolled with a pair of electrodes sandwiched between them, and an electric current is passed between these electrode rollers. At this time, in general, the outer surfaces of the two outward flanges are slightly concave, convex, and burr.

  For this reason, when it is set as the said structure, the inner surface of both the opposing pieces which comprise the said reinforcement body press-contacts with the said convex part and burr | flash in the outer surface of the said both outward flange. Then, due to the reaction force from the pressure contact portion, the free end side of each of the facing pieces is bent in a direction away from the outer surfaces of the two outward flanges, and tends to be separated from these outer surfaces.

  As a result, the reinforcement on the base side of the both outward flanges is insufficient even by the reinforcing body. If the above configuration is used simply, stress concentration may occur on the base side of both outward flanges. For this reason, it is not easy to make the support of the fuel tank to the vehicle body side stronger.

  The present invention has been made paying attention to the above-described circumstances, and the object of the present invention is to provide a pair of outward flanges projecting from a tank body and seam-welded, and the cross-section is U-shaped in cross section. In the case where the reinforcement body fitted to both outward flanges is integrally fastened to the vehicle body side, the fuel tank is more firmly supported on the vehicle body side.

The invention of claim 1 includes a pair of outward flanges 7 and 8 projecting from the tank body 4 and overlapped with each other and seam-welded, and the both outward flanges 7 and 8 have a U-shaped cross section. A sheet metal reinforcing body 12 to be externally fitted, and a fastening that penetrates through the projecting end side 13 and the reinforcing body 12 from the seam welded portion 9 in both the outward flanges 7 and 8 and is integrally fastened to the vehicle body 2 side. In a fuel tank support structure in a vehicle including the tool 14,
The seam welding portion 9 is fitted a reinforcing member 12 in the both outward flanges 7,8 to straddle the inner surface of the reinforcing member 12 so that the inner surface of a portion 26 of the reinforcing member 12 is moved away from the seam weld 9 While the middle portion of the reinforcing body 12 corresponding to the portion 26 of the reinforcing body 12 is bent , the other portion 27 of the inner surface of the reinforcing body 12 is connected to the protruding end side 13 of the outward flanges 7 and 8 and the outward flange 7. , 8 are in pressure contact with the respective outer surfaces of the seam welded portion 9 and the base side 28.

  In the invention of claim 2, in addition to the invention of claim 1, other portions 27 of the inner surface of the reinforcing body 12 are respectively provided on the outer surfaces of the projecting end side 13 and the base side 28 of the outward flanges 7, 8. It is designed to come into pressure contact with the surface.

  In this section, the reference numerals appended to the above terms are not to be construed as limiting the technical scope of the present invention to the section “Example” described later or the contents of the drawings.

  The effects of the present invention are as follows.

According to the first aspect of the present invention, there is provided a pair of outward flanges projecting from a tank body, overlapped with each other and seam-welded, and a sheet metal reinforcement having a U-shaped cross section and being externally fitted to the outward flanges. In a fuel tank support structure in a vehicle comprising: a body, and a fastener that penetrates through the projecting end side and the reinforcing body from the seam welded portions in the both outward flanges and is integrally fastened to the vehicle body side,
The reinforcing body is fitted over the outward flanges so as to straddle the seam welded portion, and a part of the inner surface of the reinforcing body corresponding to a part of the inner surface of the reinforcing body is separated from the seam welded portion . While the middle part is bent , the other part of the inner surface of the reinforcing body is in pressure contact with the outer surface of the projecting end side of the two outward flanges and the outer surface of the base part side of the seam welded part of the two outward flanges. I have to.

  That is, even if some protrusions or burrs are generated on the outer surface of the seam welded portion by seam welding, the other portions of the inner surface of the reinforcing body are not Press contact with the outer surfaces of the protruding end side and the base side.

  For this reason, it is prevented that each part in the width direction of the both outward flanges is entirely reinforced by the reinforcing body, and stress concentration occurs in any of the width direction parts of the both outward flanges, Therefore, the fuel tank is more firmly supported on the vehicle body side.

  According to a second aspect of the present invention, the other part of the inner surface of the reinforcing body is brought into surface contact with the outer surfaces of the projecting end side and the base side of the two outward flanges.

  For this reason, as described above, it is more reliably prevented that stress concentration occurs in any part of the widthwise direction of the two outward flanges as the reinforcing body comes into surface contact with the outer surfaces of the two outward flanges. Therefore, the fuel tank is more firmly supported on the vehicle body side.

  Here, if the pressure contact portion between the reinforcing body and both outward flanges is point-contacted, the contact pressure becomes high at this contact portion, the rust preventive paint is easily peeled off, and rust is easily generated. However, since the surface contact is made as described above, the generation of the rust is prevented.

  The present invention relates to a fuel tank support structure for a vehicle, comprising: a pair of outward flanges projecting from a tank body and seam-welded; and a reinforcing body having a U-shaped cross section and being externally fitted to the outward flanges. The best mode for carrying out the present invention is to realize the purpose of more firmly supporting the fuel tank to the vehicle body side when the vehicle body is integrally fastened. It is as follows.

  That is, a pair of outward flanges projecting from the tank body and overlapped with each other and seam-welded, a sheet metal reinforcement body having a U-shaped cross section and externally fitted to the both outward flanges, and the both A fastener that penetrates the protruding end side and the reinforcing body from the seam welded portion of the outward flange and is integrally fastened to the vehicle body side is provided.

A reinforcing body is externally fitted to the outward flanges so as to straddle the seam welded portion. The middle part of the reinforcement body corresponding to a part of the inner surface of the reinforcement body is bent so that a part of the inner surface of the reinforcement body is separated from the seam welded portion , while the other part of the inner surface of the reinforcement body is The outer end surfaces of the both outward flanges are in pressure contact with the outer surfaces of the both outward flanges and the base portion side of the seam welded portion.

  In order to explain the present invention in more detail, an embodiment thereof will be described with reference to the accompanying drawings.

  1-3, reference numeral 1 denotes a vehicle exemplified as an automobile, and an arrow Fr indicates the front of the vehicle 1 in the traveling direction.

  A sheet metal fuel tank 3 is supported on the vehicle body 2 of the vehicle 1. The fuel tank 3 has a tank body 4 that can store fuel therein. The tank body 4 has an upper tank member 5 that forms an upper part and opens downward, and a lower tank member 6 that forms a lower part and opens upward. The tank members 6 are separated from each other.

  Outward flanges 7 and 8 are integrally formed at the respective opening edges of the upper tank member 5 and the lower tank member 6, and the outward flanges 7 and 8 are projected substantially horizontally. The two outward flanges 7 and 8 are overlapped with each other, and the intermediate portions in the width direction of the two outward flanges 7 and 8 are seam welded. The seam welded portion 9 is the longitudinal direction of the two outward flanges 7 and 8. Is provided throughout.

  A plurality of sheet metal reinforcing bodies 12 which are bent and formed so as to have a U-shaped cross-section and are fitted on the outward flanges 7 and 8 from the outside of the protruding ends are provided. Further, the projecting end side 13 of the both outward flanges 7 and 8 with respect to the seam welded portion 9 and the reinforcing bodies 12 are penetrated, respectively, and these 12 and 13 are passed through the vehicle body 2 side cross member. A fastener 14 for fastening to the lower surface is provided.

  The reinforcing body 12 includes a pair of facing pieces 16 and 16 facing each other, and a bent portion 17 that integrally connects one end edges of the facing pieces 16 and 16 to each other. A notch 18 is formed in the middle portion of the bent portion 17 in the longitudinal direction. Moreover, the edge part 16a by the side of the free end of each said opposing piece 16 is bent in the direction which mutually leaves | separates. These edge portions 16a and 16a improve the rigidity of the respective free ends of the opposing pieces 16. Further, both end edges 16a, 16a are formed in a trumpet shape, and serve as guides when the reinforcing body 12 is externally fitted to the outward flanges 7, 8.

  The fastener 14 has an axis 19 that is substantially orthogonal to the outward flanges 7 and 8. The fastener 14 passes through the through holes 20 formed in the vehicle body 2, the protruding end side 13 of the outward flanges 7 and 8, and the opposing pieces 16 of the reinforcing body 12. The bolt 21 is inserted from below, the nut 22 is fixed to the vehicle body 2 and is screwed into the bolt 21 from below, and is interposed between the reinforcing body 12 and the head of the bolt 21. And a disk-shaped washer 23.

  The reinforcing body 12 is externally fitted to the outward flanges 7 and 8 so as to straddle the seam welded portion 9. In this case, each part 26 of the inner surface of each opposing piece 16, 16 of the reinforcing body 12 is separated from the seam welded part 9 with a slight gap C therebetween. On the other hand, the other portions 27 on the inner surfaces of the opposing pieces 16 and 16 of the reinforcing body 12 are respectively the protruding end sides 13 of the outward flanges 7 and 8 and the seam welded portions of the outward flanges 7 and 8. It is supposed that the outer surface of the base portion side 28 is in contact with the outer surface of the base portion 28 and is in pressure contact therewith.

  In all the drawings, a midway portion of each facing piece 16 corresponding to the portion 26 of each facing piece 16 of the reinforcing body 12 is bent by press working, and the gap C is formed by this bending.

  In the free state of the reinforcing body 12 shown in FIG. 4, the free ends of the facing pieces 16 approach each other due to the bending of the facing pieces 16 described above. As a result, the second spacing between the inner surfaces of the opposing ends 16, 16 is larger than the first spacing dimension L1 between the inner surfaces of the opposing pieces 16, 16 on the bent portion 17 side of the reinforcing body 12. The dimension L2 is made small.

  The first separation dimension L1 is substantially constant around the through hole 20 in each of the opposing pieces 16, and the second separation dimension L2 is substantially the same as the thickness dimension H3 of the outward flanges 7 and 8. ing. Further, the separation dimension between the inner surfaces of the opposing pieces 16 and 16 is linearly decreased gradually from the portion 26 toward the free end side of the opposing pieces 16 and 16 to be the second separation dimension L2.

  As shown in FIG. 1-3, in a state where the reinforcing body 12 is fitted to the both outward flanges 7, 8, the both outward flanges 7, 8 and the reinforcing body 12 are connected to the vehicle body 2 side by a fastener 14. When tightened to each other, the opposing pieces 16 of the reinforcing body 12 are elastically deformed and approach the outer surfaces of the outward flanges 7 and 8 as a whole. In this case, a portion 26 of the inner surface of the reinforcing body 12 is kept away from the seam welded portion 9 with a slight gap C as described above, while the other portion 27 of the inner surface of the reinforcing body 12 is The outer flanges 7 and 8 are brought into pressure contact with the outer surfaces of the projecting end side 13 and the base side 28 respectively.

  According to the above configuration, the reinforcing body 12 is externally fitted to the outward flanges 7 and 8 so as to straddle the seam welded portion 9, and a part 26 of the inner surface of the reinforcing body 12 is separated from the seam welded portion 9, while The other part 27 of the inner surface of the reinforcing body 12 is located on the outer surface of the projecting end side 13 of the outward flanges 7 and 8 and the base side 28 of the seam welded part 9 of the outward flanges 7 and 8. Each is in pressure contact.

  That is, even if some protrusions or burrs are generated on the outer surface of the seam welded portion 9 by seam welding, the other portion 27 of the inner surface of the reinforcing body 12 is not The protruding flanges 7 and 8 are in pressure contact with the outer surfaces of the protruding end 13 and the base 28, respectively.

  For this reason, the widthwise portions of the outward flanges 7 and 8 are entirely reinforced by the reinforcing body 12, and stress concentration occurs in any of the widthwise portions of the outward flanges 7 and 8. Occurrence is prevented, so that the fuel tank 3 is more firmly supported on the vehicle body 2 side.

  Further, as described above, the other portion 27 of the inner surface of the reinforcing body 12 is brought into surface contact with the outer surfaces of the projecting end side 13 and the base side 28 of the outward flanges 7 and 8, respectively. .

  For this reason, as described above, stress concentration occurs in any part of the widthwise direction of the two outward flanges 7 and 8 because the reinforcing body 12 is in surface contact with the outer surfaces of the two outward flanges 7 and 8. This is prevented more reliably, and therefore the support of the fuel tank 3 to the vehicle body 2 side is further strengthened.

  Here, if the pressure contact portion between the reinforcing body 12 and both outward flanges 7 and 8 is assumed to be point contact, the contact pressure becomes high at this contact portion, the rust preventive paint is easily peeled off, and rust is generated. It becomes easy. However, since the surface contact is made as described above, the generation of the rust is prevented.

  Further, as described above, the middle portions of the facing pieces 16 of the reinforcing body 12 corresponding to the part 26 of the inner surface of the reinforcing body 12 are bent so that the gap C is formed.

  For this reason, a portion 26 of the inner surface of the reinforcing body 12 is separated from the seam welded portion 9 with a slight gap C, while the other portion 27 of the inner surface of the reinforcing body 12 is projected from the outward flanges 7 and 8. The configuration in which the outer surfaces of the end side 13 and the base side 28 are brought into surface contact with and pressed against each other can be obtained by simply bending the opposing pieces 16 of the reinforcing body 12 as described above. Therefore, the support structure of the fuel tank 3 is simplified accordingly.

  Although the above is based on the illustrated example, the portion where the other portion 27 of the inner surface of the reinforcing body 12 is in pressure contact with the outer surfaces of the two outward flanges 7 and 8 may be point contact or line contact.

FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view taken along line 1-1 in FIG. 3. It is a partial top view of a vehicle. FIG. 3 is a partially enlarged partial cutaway view of FIG. 2. FIG. 2 is a development view of a part of FIG. 1.

Explanation of symbols

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Vehicle 2 Car body 3 Fuel tank 4 Tank main body 7 Outward flange 8 Outward flange 9 Seam welding part 12 Reinforcement body 13 Projection end side 14 Fastener 16 Opposing piece 16a Edge edge 17 Bending part 18 Notch 26 Part 27 Other part 28 Base side L1 First spacing dimension L2 Second spacing dimension H3 Thickness dimension C Clearance

Claims (2)

A pair of outward flanges projecting from the tank body and overlapped with each other and seam-welded, a sheet metal reinforcement body having a U-shaped cross section and externally fitted to the both outward flanges, and both outward faces In the fuel tank support structure in a vehicle, comprising a fastener that penetrates the protruding end side and the reinforcing body from the seam welded portion of the flange and is integrally fastened to the vehicle body side.
The reinforcing body is fitted over the outward flanges so as to straddle the seam welded portion, and a part of the inner surface of the reinforcing body corresponding to a part of the inner surface of the reinforcing body is separated from the seam welded portion . While the middle part is bent , the other part of the inner surface of the reinforcing body is in pressure contact with the outer surface of the projecting end side of the two outward flanges and the outer surface of the base part side of the seam welded part of the two outward flanges. A fuel tank support structure in a vehicle, characterized in that   2. The fuel in a vehicle according to claim 1, wherein the other part of the inner surface of the reinforcing body is brought into surface contact with the outer surfaces of the projecting end side and the base side of the two outward flanges. Tank support structure.

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