JP6107575B2 - Fuel supply system - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention relates to a fuel supply apparatus having a resin filler neck that forms a fuel passage for guiding fuel to a fuel tank, a seal ring, and a metal retainer.

  The fuel refueling device is a device at a location where a fuel pipe that guides fuel to a fuel tank of an automobile is connected and a fuel gun is inserted. The fuel cap is usually screwed into a screw portion formed on the inner peripheral surface of the fuel supply device except when fuel is supplied.

  At present, fuel fillers are becoming mainstream in that filler necks are made of metal instead of resin because of the reduction of mass and the improvement of the degree of freedom of shape. When the filler neck is made of resin, in order to achieve both fuel permeation resistance and impact resistance, the barrier layer prevents fuel permeation and the outer layer has an outer layer with excellent impact resistance on the outer peripheral surface of the barrier layer. May be used.

  In order to prevent deformation of the seal portion due to contact with the fuel gun, a metal retainer is covered and mounted around the opening that contacts and seals with the gasket of the fuel cap. A seal ring is sandwiched between the resin filler neck and the metal retainer to prevent the fuel or fuel vapor from flowing out of the vehicle. (Patent Document 1).

Special table 2011-511906

    In the case of a resin filler neck, the strength is inferior to that of a metal, so the strength is ensured by providing a thickness. However, when the thickness of the filler neck is increased, there is a problem that the entire filler neck including the opening becomes large, and a space is required.

  SUMMARY An advantage of some aspects of the invention is to solve at least a part of the problems described above, and the invention can be implemented as the following forms or application examples.

[Application Example 1]
A fuel refueling device attached to a fuel filler port of a vehicle,
A resin filler neck having an introduction part having an opening to which a fuel cap is attached, forming a connection path connecting the vehicle exterior and the fuel tank;
An annular seal portion for sealing with the gasket of the fuel cap, a first outer peripheral portion provided continuously from the seal portion, and the diameter of the first outer peripheral portion is increased in the outer diameter direction to the outer peripheral side of the introduction portion. A metal retainer having a second outer peripheral portion located,
A seal ring is inserted into an annular recess formed in the outer peripheral surface of the introduction portion, and is sandwiched between the inner peripheral surface of the second outer peripheral portion,
The introduction part includes an opening forming part that forms an opening end of the opening part, and an enlarged diameter part that is larger than the outer diameter of the opening forming part and is formed from the opening forming part toward the fuel tank side. Become
The first outer peripheral portion of the retainer is along the outer peripheral surface of the opening forming portion, the second outer peripheral portion is along the outer peripheral surface of the enlarged diameter portion,
The annular recess is formed in the enlarged diameter portion, and the first outer peripheral portion (34a) of the retainer (30) is opened from the outer periphery of the seal portion (31) to the opening of the filler neck (20). It is characterized by being bent in a U shape so as to sandwich the end (27b) .

  As another application example, the filler neck may be a first resin layer that is a barrier layer and a second resin layer. Furthermore, the annular recess into which the seal ring is inserted can be formed only on the second resin layer so that the first resin layer is not exposed to the outer diameter side.

  According to the application example 1, the annular recess into which the seal ring of the filler neck is inserted is formed at a position facing the second outer peripheral portion whose diameter is larger than that of the first outer peripheral portion of the retainer. That is, since the outer diameter of the end of the opening of the fuel supply device can be reduced, space can be saved.

  According to the other application examples, the retainer is firmly fixed by providing the filler neck with the opening forming portion and the enlarged diameter portion corresponding to the first outer peripheral portion and the second outer peripheral portion of the retainer. It is difficult for deformation to occur. Further, by configuring the filler neck with two or more kinds of resins, that is, a barrier layer and impact resistance, a fuel supply device having higher fuel permeability can be obtained. Furthermore, the first resin layer as a barrier layer is not thinned and the fuel permeation resistance is improved because the annular recess of the enlarged diameter portion formed by the second resin layer has a depth in the inner diameter direction that does not reach the first resin layer. Is not reduced.

FIG. 1 is a schematic configuration diagram in which a fuel refueling device is assembled to a fuel tank. FIG. 2 is an axial sectional view of the fuel supply device. FIG. 3 is an exploded perspective view of the fuel supply device.

Hereinafter, an embodiment of the present invention will be described based on examples.
FIG. 1 is a schematic configuration diagram in which a fuel refueling device 10 is assembled to a fuel tank FT. The fuel refueling device 10 forms a fuel supply passage 10P that supplies fuel to the fuel tank FT from the outside of the vehicle (in this specification, the direction opposite to the direction from the fuel cap FC toward the fuel tank FT). The filler neck 20, the resin fuel pipe 50, and the tank connecting member 60 are mainly configured.

  A fuel cap FC is screwed and attached to the screw portion 28 inside the filler neck 20 on the vehicle outer side of the filler neck 20. When supplying fuel to the fuel tank FT from the outside of the vehicle, the fuel cap FC is removed, and the nozzle of the fuel gun is inserted through the annular retainer 30 to a position where fuel can be supplied to supply the fuel. In this case, the nozzle of the fueling gun is guided while hitting the gun guide member 40 arranged on the inner peripheral side of the filler neck 20.

  FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view of the fuel supply apparatus. FIG. 3 is an exploded perspective view of the fuel supply device. The filler neck 20 is made of a first resin layer 20a made of PA (polyamide) as a barrier layer for preventing permeation of fuel, and made of PE (polyethylene) which is laminated on the outer peripheral surface of the first resin layer 20a to improve impact resistance. The second resin layer 20b is formed by injection molding. An introduction portion 22 that forms a connection path 21 that connects the outside of the vehicle and the fuel tank FT, a neck diameter-reduced portion 23, a main body forming portion 24, and a pipe connection portion 25 are formed mainly from the outside of the vehicle. The main body forming part 24 is formed continuously so that the outer diameter and the inner diameter are smaller than those of the introducing part 22 and the diameter gradually decreases from the introducing part 22 to the main body forming part 24. Further, a step portion 24a for assembling a gun guide member 40, which will be described later, is provided with three places and two engaging recesses 24b.

  The pipe connecting portion 25 has a smaller outer diameter and inner diameter than the main body forming portion 24, is continuously formed with the main body forming portion 24 toward the fuel tank FT side, and a plurality of annular shapes into which the fuel pipe 50 is press-fitted on the outer periphery. It has a protrusion 25a. An outflow hole 26 through which fuel flows out to the fuel pipe 50 is formed at the tip of the pipe connection portion 25. In the present embodiment, the annular projecting portion 25a at the front end makes the first resin layer 20a harder than the second resin layer 20b project to the outermost surface, thereby facilitating the press fitting of the fuel pipe 50. Further, since the second resin layer 20b is not exposed to the fuel tank FT side, the fuel permeation resistance is good.

  The cylindrical opening 27 of the filler neck 20 is formed by an opening forming portion 27a. The front end on the vehicle exterior side of the opening forming portion 27a has an opening end 27b over which a retainer 30 described later covers. On the fuel tank FT side of the opening forming portion 27a, an enlarged diameter portion 27c having an outer diameter larger than that of the opening forming portion 27a is formed. An annular recess 27d of an annular groove is formed on the outer peripheral surface of the enlarged diameter portion 27c in the radial direction. In the present embodiment, the annular recess 27d is provided only in the second resin layer 20b without allowing the groove to reach the first resin layer 20a.

  The retainer 30 is made of metal such as SUS (stainless steel), and has a planar seal portion 31 that is inclined toward the fuel tank FT side on the inner peripheral side and protrudes in an annular shape. As shown in FIG. 2, when the fuel cap FC is attached, the gasket FCa of the fuel cap FC comes into contact with the seal portion 31 to prevent the fuel vapor from leaking out of the vehicle. The seal portion 31 forms an injection hole 32 into which a fuel gun is inserted, and an inner end of the seal portion 31 is bent from the seal portion 31 toward the fuel tank FT in the axial direction of the injection hole 32. A peripheral end 33 is formed. On the outer periphery of the seal portion 31, an outer peripheral portion 34 is bent and formed in a substantially U shape in the axial direction from the vehicle outer side so as to sandwich the opening end 27b of the filler neck 20. The end portion of the seal portion 31 is in contact with the end portion of the first resin layer 20a at the opening end 27b in the axial direction.

  The outer peripheral portion 34 includes a first outer peripheral portion 34a along the outer peripheral surface of the opening forming portion 27a of the filler neck 20 and a second outer peripheral portion having a larger outer diameter than the first outer peripheral portion 34a along the outer periphery of the enlarged diameter portion 27c. 34b. The inner peripheral surface of the second outer peripheral portion 34b faces the annular concave portion 27d of the enlarged diameter portion 27c, and the rubber seal ring 70 inserted into the annular concave portion 27d is connected to the second outer peripheral portion and the enlarged diameter portion 27c. Hold and hold. In this embodiment, the seal ring 70 is an O-ring, and each ring can also be applied.

  The gun guide member 40 is made of a resin such as POM (polyacetal) or PA (polyamide), and as shown in FIGS. 2 and 3, the diameter of the gun guide member 40 is reduced while being inclined toward the inner diameter side. The reduced diameter portion 42 and the lead-out hole forming portion 43 that forms the lead-out hole 43a are continuously formed. In this embodiment, the inner diameter of the outlet hole forming portion 43 is about half of the inner diameter of the main body forming portion 24, and the oil gun is supported on the inner peripheral surface of the outlet hole forming portion 43 when the fuel gun is inserted. Easy inner diameter.

  As shown in FIG. 2, an engagement step portion 41 b is formed at the end of the opening of the cylindrical portion 41 so as to protrude three locations in the outer diameter direction, and is inserted into the step portion 24 a of the filler neck 20. Thus, the fuel tank FT is prevented from falling off and the rotation is restricted. Further, the cylindrical portion 41 is provided with two cantilevered elastically deformable claw portions 44 at opposite positions, and when the gun guide member 40 is inserted into the filler neck 20 for assembly. After the claw portion 44 is elastically deformed inward, the claw portion 44 is restored and inserted into the engagement concave portion 24b to prevent the gun guide member 40 from being pulled out.

  Next, the connection structure on the fuel tank FT side will be described. As shown in FIG. 1, the fuel pipe 50 is press-fitted into a tank-side connection portion 61 having a bamboo shoot shape having an outer diameter larger than the inner diameter of the fuel pipe 50 of the tank connection member 60. The tank side connection portion 61 is welded to the fuel tank FT by the flange portion 62. A portion that protrudes into the fuel tank FT has a check valve 63 to prevent back flow of fuel during fuel supply.

  As an assembling procedure, the gun guide member 40 is inserted into the injection molded filler neck 20, the seal ring 70 is assembled on the outer peripheral side of the filler neck 20, and the retainer 30 is assembled to the opening end 27b. The retainer 30 is welded and fixed between the first outer peripheral portion 34a and the opening forming portion 27a and the second outer peripheral portion 34b and the enlarged diameter portion 27c by a laser, a hot plate, or the like.

  With the configuration described above, the following effects can be obtained. Since the seal ring 70 is inserted and sandwiched in the annular recess 27d of the introduction portion 22 facing the second outer peripheral portion 34b of the retainer 30, there is no seal ring 70 in the radial direction of the first outer peripheral portion 34a. The outer diameter of the outer peripheral portion 34a can be reduced, and the opening of the filler neck 20 can be saved. Moreover, since the outer diameter of the 1st outer peripheral part 34a which is opening of the filler neck 20 can be made small, the magnitude | size of the cover part FCb of the fuel cap FC which covers the 1st outer peripheral part 34a can also be made small. The cover portion FCb prevents sand and dust from entering the opening of the filler neck 20 from the outside. Further, when the distance between the cover part FCb and the first outer peripheral part 34a is very small, a fire due to static electricity is caused by conducting electricity through the human body, the fuel cap FC, the retainer 30, and the filler neck 20 when the fuel cap FC is detached. Can be prevented.

  In addition, an opening forming portion 27 a and an enlarged diameter portion 27 c are formed in the introduction portion 22 of the filler neck 20 corresponding to the shapes of the first outer peripheral portion 34 a and the second outer peripheral portion 34 b of the retainer 30, respectively. Since the retainer 30 is supported by the filler neck 20 because it covers the shape of the filler neck 20, it is difficult to deform when the retainer 30 comes into contact with the fuel gun.

  The filler neck 20 can also be composed of a first resin layer 20a that is a barrier layer that prevents fuel permeation and a second resin layer 20b that is laminated on the outer periphery thereof. When the first resin layer 20a, which is a barrier layer, has insufficient impact resistance, for example, by providing the second resin layer 20b made of PE (polyethylene), both high barrier properties and impact resistance are achieved. be able to.

  Furthermore, since the annular recess 27d for inserting the seal ring 70 is formed only in the second resin layer 20b by the enlarged diameter portion 27c, the first resin layer 20a as the barrier layer is not made thin, and the fuel-resistant permeation is prevented. Sex can be maintained.

  In addition, this invention is not restricted to the said Example, It is possible to implement in a various aspect in the range which does not deviate from the summary. In this embodiment, the filler neck 20 is molded by resin injection, but may be produced by extrusion molding or blow molding.

  The layer structure is not limited to the two layers in the above embodiment, but may be a single layer of PA (polyamide) or HDPE (high density polyethylene). Further, PE or the like may be laminated on the inner layer of the first resin layer 20a to form three layers, and further, an adhesive layer, a conductive layer, or the like may be provided to form a filler neck having a layer configuration of three or more layers. As for the resin material, the first resin layer 20a, which is a barrier layer, is made of PA, but a layer in which an inner layer made of PE (polyethylene) is laminated using EVOH (ethylene vinyl alcohol) that prevents other fuel permeation is used. May be.

  In the above embodiment, corresponding to the shape of the first outer peripheral portion 34 a and the second outer peripheral portion 34 b of the metal retainer 30, the opening forming portion 27 a and the enlarged diameter portion 27 c are formed in the introduction portion 22 of the filler neck 20. However, the opening forming portion 27a is not provided, and only the enlarged diameter portion 27c may be used.

  In the present embodiment, the screw portion 28 screwed with the fuel cap FC is formed on the inner periphery of the filler neck 20, but the screw portion 28 is provided at a portion where the seal portion 31 of the metal retainer 30 is extended. It may be provided, and various layer configurations may be combined.

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 10 ... Fuel supply apparatus 10P ... Fuel supply path 20 ... Filler neck 20a ... 1st resin layer 20b ... 2nd resin layer 21 ... Connection path 22 ... Introducing part 23. ..Neck diameter-reduced part 24... Main body forming part 24 a... Step part 24 b .. engaging recess 25 .. pipe connecting part 25 a. Opening portion 27a ... Opening forming portion 27b ... Open end 27c ... Diameter enlarged portion 27d ... Annular recess 28 ... Screw portion 30 ... Retainer 31 ... Seal portion 32 ... Injection Hole 33 ... Inner peripheral edge 34 ... Outer peripheral part 34a ... First outer peripheral part 34b ... Second outer peripheral part 40 ... Gun guide member 41 ... Cylindrical part 41a ... Introducing hole 41b ... Engagement step part 42 ... Reduced diameter part 43 ... Lead-out hole forming part 43a ... Hole 44 ... Claw 50 ... Fuel pipe 60 ... Tank connection member 61 ... Tank side connection 62 ... Flange 63 ... Check valve 70 ... Seal ring FC ...・ Fuel cap FCa ・ ・ ・ Gasket FCb ・ ・ ・ Cover part FT ・ ・ ・ Fuel tank

Claims (3)

A fuel refueling device (10) attached to a fuel filler port of a vehicle,
A resin filler neck (22) having an introduction part (22) having an opening part (27) in which a fuel cap (FC) is formed, which forms a connection path (10P) connecting the outside of the vehicle and the fuel tank (FT). 20)
An annular seal portion (31) for sealing with the gasket (FCa) of the fuel cap (FC), a first outer peripheral portion (34a) provided continuously from the seal portion (31), and the first outer peripheral portion A metal retainer (30) having a second outer peripheral portion (34b) that is expanded in the outer diameter direction from (34a) and is positioned on the outer peripheral side of the introduction portion (22),
A seal ring (70) is inserted into an annular recess (27d) formed on the outer peripheral surface of the introduction portion (22), and is sandwiched between the inner peripheral surface of the second outer peripheral portion (34b),
The introduction part (22) includes an opening forming part (27a) forming an opening end (27b) of the opening part (27) and an opening forming part (27a) larger than the outer diameter of the opening forming part (27a). 27a) and an enlarged diameter portion (27c) formed toward the fuel tank (FT) side,
The first outer peripheral portion (34a) of the retainer (30) is along the outer peripheral surface of the opening forming portion (27a), and the second outer peripheral portion (34b) is on the outer peripheral surface of the enlarged diameter portion (27c). Along
The annular recess (27d) is formed in the enlarged diameter portion (27c) ,
The first outer peripheral portion (34a) of the retainer (30) is bent and formed in a U shape so as to sandwich the opening end (27b) of the filler neck (20) from the outer periphery of the seal portion (31). There is a fuel refueling device. The fuel refueling device according to claim 1,
The filler neck (20) includes at least two layers of a first resin layer (20a) for preventing permeation of fuel to the outside and a second resin layer (20b) disposed on the outer periphery of the first resin layer (20a). A fuel refueling device comprising: The fuel supply device according to claim 2,
The expanded diameter portion (27c) is formed by expanding the diameter of the second resin layer (20b),
The fuel supply device, wherein the annular recess (27d) has a depth that does not reach the first resin layer (20a) in the inner diameter direction.

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