JP4616528B2 - Fuel tank opening mounting retainer - Google Patents

Description

[0001]
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to a fuel tank opening mounting retainer, and in particular, holds a lid-like support body that covers a cylindrical opening formed in a fuel tank and engages the outside of the opening to open the support body. The present invention relates to a retainer composed of an annular member fixed to a portion.
[0002]
[Prior art]
A plurality of openings are formed in a fuel tank mounted on an automobile or the like, and various mounting parts such as a fuel pump are accommodated through the openings. Then, a lid-like support that supports these mounting parts is mounted so as to cover the cylindrical opening of the fuel tank, the retainer of the annular member is engaged with the outside of the opening, and the support is opened. It is comprised so that it may be fixed to. This general opening structure is disclosed in, for example, Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 62-53228. The fixing cap described in the publication corresponds to the above-described retainer. On the outer surface of the fixing cap, as shown in FIG. 6 of the publication, the mouth and neck (opening) of the fuel tank A plurality of grooves are formed for convenience when screwing together.
[0003]
In addition, unlike the fixing cap described in the above publication, a cap having a plurality of ribs formed on the outer surface of the retainer is also used for the convenience of mounting in the opening of the fuel tank and the reinforcement of the resin retainer. ing. When the retainer is mounted in the opening of the fuel tank, a jig is disposed outside the retainer, and the retainer is screwed into the opening with a predetermined torque by rotating the jig. It is configured.
[0004]
[Problems to be solved by the invention]
However, because the support held by the retainer is connected to a pipe joint or a tube connected to a fuel pump or the like, it is not easy to rotationally drive the retainer jig. It is an obstacle. Further, when the jig is driven to rotate, it is necessary to confirm the rotational position of the retainer. In particular, in the case of automation, it is necessary to configure the retainer so that the rotational position of the retainer can be automatically detected.
[0005]
Therefore, the present invention holds a lid-like support that covers a cylindrical opening formed in the fuel tank, and engages the outside of the opening to fix the support to the opening. In a mounting retainer, it is an object to provide a retainer that can be easily mounted in an opening without causing any trouble in rotational driving by a jig.
[0006]
Furthermore, an object of the present invention is to provide a fuel tank opening mounting retainer capable of easily detecting the rotational position in addition to the above.
[0007]
[Means for Solving the Problems]
In order to solve the above-mentioned problems, the present invention, as described in claim 1, holds a lid-like support body that covers a cylindrical opening formed in a fuel tank, and relates to the outside of the opening. And a fuel tank opening mounting retainer comprising an annular member for fixing the support to the opening, wherein the annular member engages the outside of the opening, and and an annular flange portion extending inwardly from one open end, thereby forming a plurality of ribs radially over the entire circumference on the outer surface of the flange portion, the cylindrical body continuously to the plurality of ribs A plurality of ribs parallel to the central axis of the cylindrical body part are formed on the outer peripheral surface of the cylindrical part over the entire circumference, and the cylindrical body part has a predetermined interval between adjacent ribs of the plurality of ribs . forming a plurality of external teeth parallel to the central axis, uniform by the plurality of ribs and the external teeth of the plurality of It is obtained by the configuring the external gear pitch. The means for engaging the annular member with the outside of the opening may be a means for screwing a screw part formed inside the annular member with a screw part formed outside the opening.
[0009]
According to a second aspect of the present invention, the annular member may include at least one position detection rib formed at a predetermined position on the outer surface of the flange portion. Further, as described in claim 3 , the annular member may include an annular rib formed so as to connect the plurality of ribs to the inner peripheral side of the outer surface of the flange portion.
[0010]
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
Hereinafter, preferred embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1 shows an embodiment of an opening structure including an opening mounting retainer for a fuel tank according to the present invention. FIG. In the fuel tank of this embodiment, for example, a fuel tank body 1 is formed by blow molding a resin member, and a cylindrical opening 1h is integrally formed.
[0011]
First, the configuration in the vicinity of the opening 1h will be described. As shown in FIG. 2, a cylindrical portion 1e extending outward from the fuel tank body 1 at the opening 1h, and an opening from the tip of the cylindrical portion 1e. A flange portion 1b extends in the direction of increasing the diameter of 1h, and a mounting surface of a lid-like support 4 described later is formed. Although the fuel tank main body 1 is formed of a resin member, the configuration thereof is not directly related to the present invention, and thus the description thereof is omitted.
[0012]
In this embodiment, as shown in FIG. 2, an annular groove 1c is formed over the entire outer periphery of the flange portion 1b, and an annular seal member 3 such as rubber is disposed in the annular groove 1c. . In addition, it is good also as forming the level | step difference (not shown) open | released outside without forming an annular groove, and arrange | positioning the sealing member 3 to this level | step difference. Furthermore, the annular holding member 2 is fixed so as to surround the opening 1h. The holding member 2 is also made of resin, and has a step portion 2d formed inside thereof, and is disposed so as to contact the lower surface and side surface of the flange portion 1b and the outer surface of the cylindrical portion 1e.
[0013]
A mounting member (not shown) is attached to the back side, and a support body 4 having a plurality of pipe joints 6 and tubes 7 and a connector 8 (FIG. 1) attached to the front side is a seal member 3 on the flange portion 1b. It is fixed by the retainer 5 in a state of being placed via That is, the retainer 5 is engaged with the holding member 2, and the support body 4 is fixed in close contact with the seal member 3.
[0014]
As shown in FIG. 2, the retainer 5 is a resin-made annular member including a cylindrical body portion 5 a and an annular flange portion 5 b extending inward (center direction) from one opening end thereof. A screw portion 5s is formed on the inner side. The screw portion 5s and the screw portion 2s of the holding member 2 arranged outside the opening 1h are screwed together so that the cylindrical portion 5a is engaged with the holding member 2.
[0015]
Further, a plurality of ribs 5c are formed radially on the outer surface of the flange portion 5b of the retainer 5 as shown in FIG. 1, and the outer peripheral surface of the cylindrical portion 5a is continuous with these ribs 5c. In addition, a plurality of ribs 5d parallel to the central axis of the cylindrical portion 5a are formed over the entire circumference. Furthermore, in this embodiment, the annular rib 5f is formed on the inner peripheral side of the outer surface of the flange portion 5b so as to connect the plurality of ribs 5c, and the retainer 5 can be formed thin by these ribs. Weight reduction is possible.
[0016]
Then, among the plurality of ribs 5d parallel to the central axis of the cylindrical part 5a, a plurality of external teeth 5e parallel to the central axis of the cylindrical part 5a are formed at a predetermined interval between adjacent ribs, and these The external gear 5e and the plurality of ribs 5d constitute an external gear with a uniform pitch as shown in FIG. The external teeth 5e of the present embodiment need only be of a length that can mesh with a drive gear 10 and the like described later, and thus are formed shorter than the rib 5d as shown in FIG. 3, but the same length as the rib 5d. It is good. Alternatively, the rib 5c and the rib 5d may be formed separately, but in the present embodiment, as shown in FIG. 3, the rib 5d is formed continuously and integrally with the radial rib 5c. Sufficient strength can be easily secured to retain the L-shape of the retainer 5.
[0017]
Further, as shown in FIGS. 1 and 3, the retainer 5 of the present embodiment is formed with position detecting ribs 5p at predetermined positions on the outer surface of the flange portion 5b. The position detection rib 5p serves to measure the rotational drive amount when the retainer 5 is rotationally driven. When the retainer 5 reaches a predetermined rotational drive amount, the rotational drive of the retainer 5 is reliably stopped. can do. In the present embodiment, the position detection rib 5p is provided at only one place, but may be provided at a plurality of places.
[0018]
The assembly process in the fuel tank configured as described above will be described. After the seal member 3 is accommodated in the annular groove 1c and the support body 4 is placed thereon as shown in FIG. 5 is mounted. Then, when the cylindrical body portion 5 a of the retainer 5 is screwed to the holding member 2, the support body 4 is closely fixed to the upper surface of the flange portion 1 b via the seal member 3. Then, with respect to the external teeth 5e and the ribs 5d of the retainer 5 constituting the external gear, as shown by a two-dot chain line in FIG. 1 and FIG. 12 is meshed. Among these, the drive gear 10 is connected to a rotary drive device (not shown), and the auxiliary gears 11 and 12 are supported so as to be freely rotatable. In this case, the jig such as the drive gear 10 is appropriately arranged without contacting the pipe joint 6 and the tube 7 as shown in FIG.
[0019]
Thus, when the drive gear 10 is rotationally driven by a rotational drive device (not shown), the retainer 5 meshing with the drive gear 10 is rotationally driven, and the retainer 5 is sequentially screwed to the holding member 2. Therefore, the rotation of the retainer 5 by the drive gear 10 and the like can be smoothly performed, and the retainer 5 can be attached to the holding member 2 outside the opening 1h appropriately and easily. Further, since the position detection rib 5p can be configured to stop the rotation drive when the retainer 5 reaches a predetermined rotation drive amount, the retainer 5 can be automatically tightened with a predetermined torque. Become.
[0020]
【The invention's effect】
Since this invention is comprised as mentioned above, there exist the following effects. That is, in the fuel tank opening mounting retainer of the present invention, as described in claim 1, a cylindrical body portion that engages with the outside of the opening section, and an inward extension from one opening end of the cylindrical body section. And a plurality of ribs are formed radially on the outer surface of the flange portion, and the outer peripheral surface of the cylindrical body portion is continuous with the plurality of ribs. A plurality of ribs parallel to the central axis of the cylindrical body portion are formed over the entire circumference, and a plurality of ribs parallel to the central axis of the cylindrical body portion are provided at predetermined intervals between adjacent ribs of the plurality of ribs. of which external teeth are formed, since the outer gear of uniform pitch is composed of a plurality of external teeth and a plurality of ribs, rotating the retainer ring member by a jig consisting of gears meshing with the external teeth wheel If driven, the retainer can be attached to the opening appropriately and easily. Moreover, the retainer can be formed of a resin material, and the weight can be reduced while maintaining the strength by the plurality of ribs.
[0022]
Furthermore, by providing the position detecting rib as described in claim 2 , the rotational position of the retainer can be easily detected, so that the retainer can be automatically tightened with a predetermined torque.
[0023]
Further, by providing the annular rib as described in claim 3 , it is possible to further reduce the weight while maintaining the strength as the retainer.
[Brief description of the drawings]
FIG. 1 is a plan view showing an opening of a fuel tank including an opening mounting retainer according to an embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 2 is an enlarged cross-sectional view showing a part of an opening of a fuel tank including an opening mounting retainer according to an embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 3 is an enlarged perspective view showing a part of an opening mounting retainer according to an embodiment of the present invention.
[Explanation of symbols]
1 fuel tank body, 1b flange part, 1e cylindrical part,
2 holding member, 3 sealing member, 4 support body, 5 retainer,
5a cylinder part, 5b flange part, 5p position detecting rib,
5e external teeth, 6 fittings, 7 tubes, 8 connectors,
10 drive gear, 11, 12 auxiliary gear

Claims (3)

A fuel tank opening comprising an annular member that holds a lid-like support covering a cylindrical opening formed in the fuel tank and engages the outside of the opening to fix the support to the opening. in part mounting retainer includes the annular member includes a cylindrical portion which engages the outer side of the opening, an annular flange portion extending from one open end of the tubular body portion on the inner side, the flange portion A plurality of ribs are formed radially on the outer surface of the cylindrical body, and the outer peripheral surface of the cylindrical body portion is continuous with the plurality of ribs and is parallel to the central axis of the cylindrical body portion. forming a plurality of ribs, at predetermined intervals between the ribs of adjacent of the plurality of ribs to form a plurality of parallel external teeth to the central axis of the cylindrical body portion, said plurality and external teeth of said plurality of opening of the fuel tank, characterized in that it constitutes an outer gear having a uniform pitch by the ribs Wearing a retainer. It said annular member, opening mounting the retainer of the fuel tank according to claim 1, characterized by comprising an outer surface at least one of the position detecting rib formed at a predetermined position on the flange portion. It said annular member, opening mounting the retainer of the fuel tank according to claim 1, comprising the formed annular rib so as to connect the plurality of ribs on the inner peripheral side of the outer surface of the flange portion.

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