JP5257698B2 - Fuel filter device for vehicle engine - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention relates to a fuel filter device for a vehicle engine, and more particularly, to a vehicle having a mounting structure capable of protecting a fuel filter by avoiding contact between a fuel filter mounted in an engine room of the vehicle and vehicle components. The present invention relates to a fuel filter device for an engine.

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, a fuel filter device for a diesel engine is disposed in an engine room with good maintainability because a drainage operation of the fuel filter is required. For this reason, the fuel filter mounted in the engine room is often arranged behind the vehicle parts.
In this case, when the vehicle receives an impact (load) from the front of the vehicle to the outside, the fuel filter needs to be protected so that it does not come into contact with the vehicle parts moving to the rear of the vehicle.
In order to solve these problems, in the conventional fuel filter device, in order to protect the fuel filter from an external load, a strong protector that covers the entire circumference of the fuel filter disposed behind the battery of the vehicle part is provided. There are some which protect the fuel filter from coming into contact with the vehicle parts by fixing a strong protector to the rear end of the battery tray.

JP-A-6-280710

However, the structure described in Patent Document 1 requires a strong protector that surrounds the entire circumference of the fuel filter in order to protect the fuel filter, and there is a problem in that the number of parts, cost increase, and weight increase occur. is there.
Moreover, since it is necessary to arrange | position a protector so that the circumference | surroundings of a fuel filter may be enclosed, there exists a problem in which the space which arrange | positions the fuel filter mounted in an engine room is restrict | limited.

  In the fuel filter device for a vehicle engine disposed in the engine room of the vehicle, the present invention improves the mountability of the fuel filter in the engine room and protects the fuel filter when a load is applied from the outside. The purpose is to do.

  According to the present invention, a side member is disposed on a vehicle width direction side portion of an engine room covered with an engine hood, and a side brace extending in a vehicle vertical direction is disposed on a front end portion of the side member. A cylindrical strut tower is disposed rearward and on the outer side in the vehicle width direction of the side member, and vehicle parts are placed on the side of the strut tower in a space sandwiched between the side brace and the strut tower in the vehicle front-rear direction. A fuel filter that filters fuel supplied to the engine so as to overlap the vehicle parts in the vehicle front-rear direction and disposed on the side of the strut tower. In the fuel filter device for a vehicle engine attached to the strut tower via a filter bracket, the filter bra The upper wall portion extending horizontally from the fixed portion fixed to the upper surface portion of the strut tower toward the inside of the vehicle and the connecting portion of the upper wall portion at the inner side of the vehicle are disposed below the vehicle along the fuel filter. It is formed in a substantially L shape consisting of a vertical wall portion that extends, extends in the vehicle front-rear direction to support the vehicle component, and is connected to the side brace, the upper wall portion of the filter bracket, and the vicinity of the connection portion of the vertical wall portion. A support bracket to be connected is provided, and the support bracket has a first connection part connected to the side brace and a second connection part connected to the filter bracket, and the vehicle component and the support bracket are inclined forward. The second connecting portion is arranged at a position higher than the first connecting portion in the vertical direction.

According to the fuel filter device for a vehicle engine of the present invention, when the side brace receives an impact from the front of the vehicle, the support bracket and the vehicle parts that are inclined forward by the movement of the side brace to the rear of the vehicle are moved to the rear of the vehicle. Move to stand up. As a result, since the vehicle component rises obliquely upward, the amount of movement of the vehicle component to the rear of the vehicle can be reduced.
Furthermore, in the fuel filter device for a vehicle engine according to the present invention, when the vehicle part moves so as to rise rearward of the vehicle, the filter bracket is connected to the filter bracket portion to which the second connection portion of the support bracket is connected. And a force for pushing the filter bracket toward the rear of the vehicle are input. As a result, a force for moving the vertical wall portion upward is applied to the filter bracket by the pushing-up force, and a force for moving the vertical wall portion backward is applied by the pushing force to the rear.
Further, in the fuel filter device for a vehicle engine according to the present invention, when a pushing-up force is applied to the filter bracket portion to which the second connecting portion of the support bracket is connected, the pushing-up force and the pushing-up force are generated around the fixed portion. By the moment, the vertical wall portion of the filter bracket that is separated from the fixed portion toward the inside of the vehicle can be pushed upward. Accordingly, the fuel filter disposed along the vertical wall portion of the filter bracket can be moved so as to rotate upward of the vehicle, and contact between the fuel filter and the vehicle component can be avoided.
Furthermore, in the fuel filter device for a vehicle engine according to the present invention, a force pushing backward acts on the filter bracket portion to which the second connecting portion of the support bracket is connected, so the filter bracket is moved to the inside of the vehicle on the fixed portion. A moment to be generated is generated, and the filter bracket and the fuel filter can be moved to the inside of the vehicle starting from the fixed portion, and contact between the fuel filter and the vehicle parts can be avoided.
Therefore, the fuel filter device for a vehicle engine according to the present invention moves the fuel filter to the upper side of the vehicle without providing a strong protector on the entire periphery of the fuel filter when receiving an impact from the front of the vehicle. The fuel filter can be moved inward, so that the fuel filter can be prevented from coming into contact with the vehicle parts, and the fuel filter can be protected.

It is a top view of an engine room. (Example) It is the expansion perspective view which looked at the fuel filter from the vehicle left front side. (Example) It is the expanded side view which looked at the fuel filter from the vehicle right side. (Example) It is a perspective view which shows the load input to the filter bracket with which a fuel filter is assembled | attached. (Example) It is an enlarged front view before a deformation | transformation of a fuel filter apparatus. (Example) It is an enlarged front view after deformation | transformation of a fuel filter apparatus. (Example) It is a front view of the filter bracket explaining the deformation due to the upward load. (Example) It is an enlarged plan view before a fuel filter device is deformed. (Example) It is an enlarged plan view after deformation | transformation of a fuel filter apparatus. (Example) It is a top view of the filter bracket explaining the deformation | transformation by a back load. (Example)

The fuel filter device for a vehicle engine according to the present invention reduces the amount of movement of vehicle components arranged in front of the fuel filter to the rear of the vehicle when receiving an impact (load) from the front of the vehicle, and attaches the fuel filter. By moving the bracket to the rear of the vehicle, above the vehicle, and inside the vehicle, contact between the fuel filter and the vehicle parts is avoided, and the fuel filter is protected.
Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings.

1 to 10 show an embodiment of the present invention. In FIG. 1, 1 is a vehicle, 2 is a right side member, 3 is a left side member, 4 is a right side brace, 5 is a left side brace, 6 is an upper member, 7 is a lower member, 8 is a right fender apron, and 9 is a left fender. Apron, 10 is a right strut tower, 11 is a left strut tower, 12 is a dash panel, 13 is a front right wheel, 14 is a front left wheel, 15 is a right headlamp, 16 is a left headlamp, and 17 is an engine room.
The vehicle 1 is used for a vehicle in an engine room 17 surrounded by a front upper cross member 6 and a lower cross member 7, a right fender apron 8 and a left fender apron 9 on the side in the vehicle width direction, and a rear dash panel 12. An engine (hereinafter referred to as “engine”) 18 and a transmission 19 are mounted. The engine room 17 is covered with an engine hood 20 (shown by a solid line in FIG. 3), and the right side member 2 and the left side member 3 are disposed on the side in the vehicle width direction, and the right side member 2 and the left side member 3 A right side brace 4 and a left side brace 5 extending in the vehicle vertical direction are disposed at the front end, and an upper member 6 is disposed at the upper ends of the right side brace 4 and the left side brace 5. A right fender apron 8 and a left fender apron 9 are formed integrally with the right fender apron 8 and the left fender apron 9 on the rear side of the right side brace 4 and the left side brace 5 and outside the right side member 2 and the left side member 3 in the vehicle width direction. The right strut tower 10 and the left strut tower 11 are arranged.

The engine 18 includes a fuel filter device 21. The fuel filter device 21 is a state in which an electrical component 22, which is a vehicle part, protrudes from the side of the left strut tower 11 to the inside of the vehicle in a space sandwiched between the left side brace 5 and the left strut tower 11 in the vehicle longitudinal direction. It is arranged with. A fuel filter 23 that filters fuel supplied to the engine 18 is disposed on the side of the left strut tower 11 on the vehicle inner side so as to overlap the electrical component 22 in the vehicle front-rear direction. As shown in FIGS. 2 and 3, the fuel filter 23 includes a fuel pipe connector 25 at the upper end of a cylindrical filter body 24 and a wiring 26 at the lower end of the filter body 24. The fuel filter 23 is attached to the left strut tower 11 via a filter bracket 27.
As shown in FIG. 4, the filter bracket 27 includes an upper wall portion 30 that extends horizontally from a fixed portion 29 fixed to the upper surface portion 28 of the left strut tower 11 toward the vehicle inner side (the vehicle right side in FIG. 4), The upper wall portion 30 is formed in a substantially L shape including a vertical wall portion 32 extending downward from the connecting portion 31 at the vehicle inner end along the fuel filter 23. As shown in FIG. 8, the filter bracket 27 includes two fixing bolts in which two fixing portions 29 extending and branched to the vehicle outer side (the vehicle left side) of the upper wall portion 30 are attached to the upper surface portion 28 of the left strut tower 11. The fixing bolts 34 are fastened to the respective parts 33.
As shown in FIG. 4, the filter bracket 27 is provided with a filter mounting portion 35 for mounting the fuel filter 23. The fuel filter 23 is provided with a filter-side mounting portion 36 on the upper part of a filter body 24 formed in a cylindrical shape. The fuel filter 23 is attached to the filter mounting portion 35 of the filter bracket 27 by the filter mounting bolt 37 at the filter side mounting portion 36.

As shown in FIGS. 2 and 3, the fuel filter device 21 is provided with a support bracket 38 that supports an electrical component 22 of a vehicle part. The support bracket 38 extends in the vehicle front-rear direction and is coupled to the left side brace 5 and the vicinity of the connection portion 31 of the upper wall portion 30 and the vertical wall portion 32 of the filter bracket 27. The support bracket 38 includes a support portion 39 that extends in the vehicle front-rear direction and supports the electrical component 22, a first connection portion 40 that is connected to the left side brace 5, and a second connection portion 41 that is connected to the filter bracket 27. Have.
The left side brace 5 is provided with a brace side first connecting portion 42 that connects the first connecting portion 40. The filter bracket 27 is provided with a bracket-side second connecting portion 43 that connects the second connecting portion 41. As shown in FIG. 4, the bracket-side second connecting portion 43 is provided at the front end of a flat plate-like extension piece 44 that extends forward from the vicinity of the connection portion 31 of the vertical wall portion 32 of the filter bracket 27. . As shown in FIG. 2, the bracket side second connecting portion 43 of the filter bracket 27 attached to the left strut tower 11 is positioned higher in the vehicle vertical direction than the brace side first connecting portion 42 of the left side brace 5. Be placed.
The support bracket 38 supports the electrical component 22 on the support portion 39, and connects the first connection portion 40 on the front side of the support portion 39 to the brace side first connection portion 42 of the left side brace 5 with the first connection bolt 45. The second connecting portion 41 on the rear side of the portion 39 is connected to the bracket side second connecting portion 43 of the filter bracket 27 by the second connecting bolt 46. The support bracket 38 that supports the electrical component 22 is disposed diagonally forward and downward because the bracket-side second connecting portion 43 of the filter bracket 27 is disposed at a position higher than the brace-side first connecting portion 42 of the left side brace 5. It is connected to the left side brace 5 and the filter bracket 27 in a state where it is inclined to the right.
Accordingly, the fuel filter device 21 tilts the electrical component 22 and the support bracket 38 forward, and arranges the second connecting portion 41 at a position higher than the first connecting portion 40 in the vertical direction.

As described above, the fuel filter device 21 of the engine 18 has a structure in which the support bracket 38 of the electrical component 22 is tilted forward and connected to the left side brace 5 and the filter bracket 27. Therefore, as shown in FIG. When the brace 5 receives an impact (external load Fout) from the front of the vehicle, the support bracket 38 and the electrical component 22 that are tilted forward due to the movement of the left side brace 5 toward the rear of the vehicle causes the load to be directed obliquely rearward and upward. When (F) acts, the vehicle moves so as to rise backward.
As a result, the electrical component 22 rises obliquely upward in the vehicle, and the amount of movement of the electrical component 22 toward the rear of the vehicle can be reduced.
Further, as shown in FIG. 4, when the electric filter 22 moves so that the electrical component 22 rises rearward of the vehicle by a load (F) obliquely upward and rearward, the fuel filter device 21 has a second connecting portion 41 of the support bracket 38. The bracket side second connecting portion 43 of the filter bracket 27 to be connected has a force (= load) for pushing the filter bracket 27 upward (hereinafter referred to as “upward load (Fy)”), and the filter bracket 27. A force (= load) (hereinafter referred to as “rear load (Fx)”) to be pushed rearward of the vehicle is input.
As a result, as shown in FIGS. 5 to 7, the filter bracket 27 is subjected to a force for moving the vertical wall portion 32 upward of the vehicle by the upward load (Fy). As shown in FIG. 10, a force to move the vehicle rearward is applied by the rear load (Fx).
In addition, the fuel filter device 21 supports the electrical component 22 in the vicinity of the connection portion 31 of the filter bracket 27 including the upper wall portion 30 extending horizontally from the two fixed portions 29 and the vertical wall portion 32 extending below the vehicle. By connecting the second connecting portion 41 of the bracket 38, as shown in FIGS. 5 to 7, the second connecting portion 41 of the support bracket 38 is connected to the bracket-side second connecting portion 43 of the filter bracket 27. When the load (Fy) is applied, the upper load (Fy) and the moment (M1 = Fy * L1) generated around the fixed portion 29 due to the upper load (Fy) move away from the fixed portion 29 toward the inside of the vehicle. The vertical wall portion 32 of the filter bracket 27 can be pushed upward in the vehicle.
Accordingly, the fuel filter 23 disposed along the vertical wall portion 32 of the filter bracket 27 can be moved so as to rotate upward in the vehicle, and contact between the fuel filter 23 and the electrical component 22 is avoided. be able to.
Further, as shown in FIGS. 8 to 10, in the fuel filter device 21, a rear load (Fx) acts on the bracket-side second connection portion 43 of the filter bracket 27 to which the second connection portion 41 of the support bracket 38 is connected. Therefore, moments {M2 = (Fx / 2) * L1} for moving the filter bracket 27 to the inside of the vehicle are generated in the two fixed portions 29, respectively, and the filter bracket 27 and the fuel filter start from the fixed portion 29. 23 can be moved to the inside of the vehicle, and contact between the fuel filter 23 and the electrical component 22 can be avoided.
Therefore, the fuel filter device 21 is configured so that the fuel filter 23 is placed above the vehicle without providing a strong protector around the entire circumference of the fuel filter 23 when receiving an impact (external load Fout) from the front of the vehicle. The fuel filter 23 can be moved and moved to the inside of the vehicle, the contact of the fuel filter 23 from the electrical component 22 can be avoided, and the fuel filter 23 can be protected.

As shown in FIG. 1, in the fuel filter device 21, the left strut tower 11 is disposed approximately in the center in the vehicle front-rear direction in the engine room 17.
As a result, as shown in FIG. 3, the fuel filter device 21 is configured so that the engine hood 20 that covers the upper portion of the engine room 17 when the vehicle 1 receives an impact (external load Fout) from the front is the vehicle in the engine room 17. It is deformed into a "<" shape at the center of the vehicle in the front-rear direction (indicated by a dashed line in Fig. 3), and the space above the vehicle in the left strut tower 11 can be increased by the deformation of the front hood 20. A sufficient space for jumping up the fuel filter 23 upward of the vehicle can be secured.
Therefore, since this fuel filter device 21 can secure a sufficient space for jumping the fuel filter 23 upwards of the vehicle, the fuel filter 23 can be reliably splashed upwards of the vehicle, and contact with the electrical component 22 Thus, the fuel filter 23 can be protected.

As shown in FIGS. 7 and 8, the fuel filter device 21 is configured such that the second connecting portion 41 of the support bracket 38 is connected to the bracket-side second connecting portion of the extending portion 44 provided on the vertical wall portion 32 of the filter bracket 27. 43.
As a result, the fuel filter device 21 maximizes the distance (L1) in the vehicle width direction from the bracket-side second connecting portion 43 to the fixed portion 29 in the filter bracket 27, as shown in FIGS. When the upper load (Fy) and the rear load (Fx) are input to the bracket-side second connecting portion 43, moments generated around the fixed portion 29 (M1 = Fy * L1 and M2 = Fx * L1) ) Can be maximized, and the vertical wall portion 32 of the filter bracket 27 can be further moved to the vehicle upper side and the vehicle inner side with the fixing portion 29 of the filter bracket 27 as the center.
As a result, the fuel filter device 21 can move the fuel filter 23 disposed along the vertical wall portion 32 so as to rotate further upward in the vehicle. The contact between the electrical component 23 and the electrical component 22 can be avoided.
Therefore, since this fuel filter device 21 can move the fuel filter 23 further above the vehicle and inside the vehicle, contact with the electrical component 22 can be reliably avoided, and the fuel filter 23 is protected. be able to.

As shown in FIG. 4, the upper wall portion 30 of the filter bracket 27 transitions from the fixed portion 29 to the connecting portion 31 on the vehicle inner side when the width dimension of the fixed portion 29 is W1 and the width dimension of the connecting portion 31 is W2. As a result, it is formed in a shape (W1> W2) in which the dimension in the longitudinal direction of the vehicle becomes gradually smaller.
Since the filter bracket 27 has the smallest dimension in the vehicle front-rear direction in the vicinity of the connection part 31 between the upper wall part 30 and the vertical wall part 32, the dimension in the vehicle front-rear direction in the vicinity of the connection part 31 is smaller than the other parts. Accordingly, the strength and rigidity in the direction in which both the upper wall portion 30 and the vertical wall portion 32 open are reduced in the vicinity of the connection portion 31.
Therefore, since the strength and rigidity of the filter bracket 27 in the opening direction in the vicinity of the connection portion 31 between the upper wall portion 30 and the vertical wall portion 32 are reduced, the bracket side second connection portion is provided as shown in FIGS. When an upward load (Fy) is input to 43 and the vertical wall portion 32 is pushed upward, the vertical wall portion 32 is more easily opened upward from the vehicle, and the fuel filter 23 is moved to rotate further upward. Can be made.
Therefore, the fuel filter device 21 minimizes the dimension W2 in the vehicle front-rear direction in the vicinity of the connection portion 31 between the upper wall portion 30 and the vertical wall portion 32, and prevents the upper wall portion 30 and the vertical wall portion 32 from opening. By reducing the strength and rigidity, the vertical wall portion 32 can be pushed up to rotate further upward in the vehicle, and the fuel filter 23 can be moved further upward in the vehicle to protect the fuel filter 23. .

As shown in FIG. 4 and FIG. 10, the vertical wall portion 32 of the filter bracket 27 includes a bracket-side second connection portion 43 that extends forward of the vehicle and connects the second connection portion 41 of the support bracket 38. A flat plate-like extending piece 44 is provided, and in the middle of the extending direction of the extending piece 44, a deformation with low rigidity that deforms to the inside of the vehicle when a rear load (Fx) acts on the bracket side second connecting portion 43. A portion 47 is provided, and the deformable portion 47 and the fuel filter 23 are disposed so as to overlap in the vehicle width direction.
Accordingly, the fuel filter device 21 can deform the extending piece 44 to the vehicle inner side when a rear load (Fx) is applied to the bracket-side second connecting portion 43. Further, the fuel filter device 21 was able to move the filter bracket 27 to the inside of the vehicle by the rear load (Fx) and the moment (M2), but using the deformation of the extending piece 44 to the inside of the vehicle, The fuel filter 23 can be pushed further into the vehicle by the deformation of the extension piece 44.
Therefore, the fuel filter device 21 can push the fuel filter 23 further to the inside of the vehicle due to the deformation of the extension piece 44, can avoid contact with the electrical component 22, and can protect the fuel filter 23. .

As shown in FIG. 1, the support bracket 38 is substantially straight in the vehicle front-rear direction from the first connection portion 40 to the second connection portion 41 through a support portion 39 that supports the electrical component 22 in a vehicle plan view. They are arranged side by side.
When the left side brace 5 receives an impact (external load Fout) from the front of the vehicle, the fuel filter device 21 is in plan view of the vehicle along with the movement of the left side brace 5 and the first connecting portion 40 toward the rear of the vehicle. Thus, the electrical component 22 can be moved in a substantially straight line toward the second connecting portion 41.
As a result, the fuel filter device 21 makes the impact (external load Fout) that the left side brace 5 receives from the front of the vehicle substantially straight as a load (F) from the first connecting portion 40 to the second connecting portion 41 of the support bracket 38. It can be transmitted efficiently.
Therefore, the fuel filter device 21 can reliably apply the rear load (Fx) and the upper load (Fy) to the bracket-side second connecting portion 43, so that the fuel filter 23 is located above the vehicle and inside the vehicle. Therefore, the fuel filter 23 can be prevented from coming into contact with the electrical component 22, and the fuel filter 23 can be protected.

  In the fuel filter device for a vehicle engine according to the present invention, when an impact is received from the front of the vehicle, the fuel filter is moved to the upper side of the vehicle and moved to the inner side of the vehicle, so that the fuel filter is brought into contact with the vehicle parts. This can be avoided and protect the fuel filter, and can also be applied to an internal combustion engine using gasoline as a fuel in which the fuel filter is disposed in the engine room.

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Vehicle 2 Right side member 3 Left side member 4 Right side brace 5 Left side brace 10 Right strut tower 11 Left strut tower 18 Vehicle engine (engine)
DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 19 Transmission 20 Engine hood 21 Fuel filter apparatus 22 Electrical component 23 Fuel filter 27 Filter bracket 29 Fixed part 30 Upper wall part 31 Connection part 32 Vertical wall part 38 Support bracket 40 1st connection part 41 2nd connection part 42 Brace side 1st 1 connecting portion 43 bracket side second connecting portion 44 extending piece 47 deforming portion

Claims (6)

A side member is disposed on the vehicle width direction side part of the engine room covered with the engine hood,
A side brace extending in the vehicle vertical direction is disposed at the front end of the side member,
A cylindrical strut tower is disposed behind the side brace and outside the side member in the vehicle width direction,
A vehicle component is disposed in a space between the side brace and the strut tower in the vehicle front-rear direction so as to protrude from the side of the strut tower toward the inside of the vehicle,
A fuel filter for filtering fuel supplied to the engine is disposed on the side of the strut tower so as to overlap the vehicle parts in the vehicle longitudinal direction,
The fuel filter is a fuel filter device for a vehicle engine that is attached to the strut tower via a filter bracket.
The filter bracket extends downwardly along the fuel filter from an upper wall portion extending horizontally from the fixed portion fixed to the upper surface portion of the strut tower toward the vehicle inner side, and a connection portion of the vehicle inner end of the upper wall portion. Formed in a substantially L-shape consisting of a vertical wall extending to
Supporting the vehicle parts and extending in the vehicle front-rear direction, provided with a support bracket connected to the side brace and the upper wall portion of the filter bracket and the vicinity of the connection portion of the vertical wall portion,
The support bracket has a first connection portion connected to the side brace and a second connection portion connected to the filter bracket,
A fuel filter device for a vehicle engine, wherein the vehicle component and the support bracket are tilted forward, and the second connecting portion is disposed at a position higher than the first connecting portion in the vertical direction.   2. The fuel filter device for a vehicle engine according to claim 1, wherein the strut tower is disposed substantially in the center of the vehicle front-rear direction in the engine room.   The fuel filter device for a vehicle engine according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the second connecting portion of the support bracket is connected to a vertical wall portion of the filter bracket.   The fuel filter for a vehicle engine according to claim 3, wherein the upper wall portion of the filter bracket has a shape in which the dimension in the vehicle front-rear direction gradually decreases as the vehicle moves from the fixed portion to the vehicle inner side. apparatus.   The vertical wall portion of the filter bracket is provided with a flat plate-like extending piece that extends forward of the vehicle and is suspended from the second connecting portion. The extending piece has an external load applied to the second connecting portion. 4. A deformable portion that deforms inside the vehicle when the engine acts is provided, and the deformable portion and the fuel filter are disposed so as to overlap in the vehicle width direction. The fuel filter device for a vehicle engine according to one item.   The said support bracket is arrange | positioned from the 1st connection part to the said 2nd connection part in the vehicle front-back direction so that it might be arrange | positioned in the substantially straight line through the said vehicle components by planar view of a vehicle. The fuel filter device for a vehicle engine according to any one of claims 5 to 6.

Images