JP6804616B1 - Fuel supply device - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To appropriately arrange a direction of a discharge pipe while optimizing the installation direction of a fuel supply device. SOLUTION: A fuel pump for pressurizing and discharging fuel, a filter for filtering fuel, and a regulator for adjusting the pressure of the discharged fuel are supported in the fuel tank by a flange attached to the inside of the fuel tank. , A fuel supply device including a plate-shaped plate portion that closes the opening of the annular portion of the flange, and a discharge pipe that penetrates the plate portion and has a pipe portion that has a curved flow path on the outside of the fuel tank. [Selection diagram] Fig. 3

Description

The present application relates to a fuel supply device.

Among the fuel supply devices for vehicles, the fuel supply device used for vehicles such as motorcycles is inserted into the inside of the fuel tank through the opening on the bottom of the fuel tank due to the structure of the vehicle body, and stands up from the bottom of the fuel tank. It is often installed.

As such a fuel supply device, the device described in Patent Document 1 is known. In the fuel supply device of Patent Document 1, a flange having an annular portion and a bottom plate portion is provided for installing the fuel supply device in the opening of the fuel tank. The fuel pump, filter, and regulator, which are the components of the fuel supply device, are fixed by a case and a flange that accommodate them. The fuel pump sucks in the fuel inside the fuel tank, pressurizes it, and supplies it to the outside of the fuel tank. The fuel is filtered by a filter before it is sucked by the fuel pump. The pressure of the fuel pressurized by the fuel tank is adjusted by the regulator.

Patent No. 6250154

In the fuel supply device described in Patent Document 1, the pressure-adjusted fuel is discharged to the outside of the fuel tank by a discharge pipe. The discharge pipe is connected to the outlet of the regulator, penetrates the flange, and then turns at a right angle on the outside of the fuel tank to guide the fuel. The discharge pipe that discharges the pressurized fuel to the outside of the fuel tank is integrally molded with the flange and the resin material.

The flange is provided with irregularities to which the filter, fuel pump, and regulator are fitted and fixed, and is integrally molded together with the discharge pipe. Therefore, the direction in which the fuel of the discharge pipe is guided is fixed with respect to the installation direction of the fuel supply device.

Generally, the fuel supply device is provided with an electric connector for an electric signal for driving a fuel pump, a liquid level detector for detecting the liquid level inside the fuel tank, and fuel eccentrically provided from the center of the fuel supply device. A suction part and the like are provided.

It is desirable that the electric connector, liquid level detector, fuel suction part, etc. be provided in the optimum direction for each vehicle.

The size and shape of the fuel tank, the mounting layout, and the mounting position of the fuel supply device may change for each vehicle. In addition, the engine specifications and the mounting layout on the vehicle body may change for each vehicle. In such a case, it is necessary to change the direction of guiding the fuel in the discharge pipe of the fuel supply device. When the installation direction of the fuel supply device inside the fuel tank is fixed, the direction in which the fuel of the discharge pipe is guided is also fixed. In order to change the direction in which the fuel of the discharge pipe is guided, it is necessary to prepare a flange provided with the discharge pipe in another direction.

In order to change the direction of the discharge pipe desired for the convenience of the layout of the fuel tank and the engine for each vehicle of the motorcycle, it is possible to design and manufacture a flange in which the direction of the discharge pipe is changed for each vehicle. However, additional design costs, mold making costs, parts management costs, etc. are required, and the cost of the fuel supply device increases.

This application has been made to solve the above-mentioned problems, and is a fuel supply device capable of appropriately arranging the direction of the discharge pipe of the flange while optimizing the installation direction of the fuel supply device. The purpose is to obtain while suppressing the cost increase.

The fuel supply device according to the present application includes a fuel pump that sucks in the fuel inside the fuel tank, boosts the pressure and discharges the fuel, a filter that filters the fuel sucked by the fuel pump, and a regulator that adjusts the pressure of the fuel discharged by the fuel pump. , Has an annular ring that is attached to the opening of the fuel tank, a flange that supports the fuel pump, filter and regulator located inside the fuel tank, and an opening that is attached to the ring of the flange. A plate-shaped plate portion for closing and a discharge pipe having a pipe portion that penetrates the plate portion and discharges fuel discharged from the regulator to the outside of the fuel tank and has a curved flow path outside the fuel tank are provided. , The opening inside the annular portion is formed in a circular shape, the plate portion is formed in a disk shape, the pipe portion penetrates the center of the plate portion, and the connection portion between the pipe portion and the regulator rotates relative to each other. It is connected as possible.

According to the fuel supply device according to the present application, regardless of the installation direction of the fuel supply device, by using the discharge pipe having a plate portion, the parts of the discharge pipe are changed or the position of the discharge pipe is rotated and fixed. The discharge pipe can be set in the desired direction. As a result, it is possible to contribute to cost reduction while maintaining the performance of the fuel supply device.

It is a side view of the fuel supply device which concerns on Embodiment 1. FIG. It is a top view of the fuel supply device which concerns on Embodiment 1. FIG. FIG. 5 is a cross-sectional view taken along the line AA of FIG. 2 of the fuel supply device according to the first embodiment. It is a perspective view from the lower surface of the fuel supply device which concerns on Embodiment 1. FIG. It is a bottom view which installed the fuel supply device in the fuel tank which concerns on Embodiment 1. FIG. FIG. 5 is a bottom view of the case where the fuel supply device is installed in the fuel tank and the discharge pipe is tilted by 45 degrees according to the first embodiment. It is sectional drawing which installed the fuel supply device in the fuel tank which concerns on Embodiment 2. FIG. FIG. 5 is a cross-sectional view of the fuel tank according to the second embodiment when the fuel supply device is tilted and installed. It is a side view of the fuel supply device which concerns on a comparative example. It is a top view of the fuel supply device which concerns on a comparative example. FIG. 5 is a cross-sectional view taken along the line BB of FIG. 10 of a fuel supply device according to a comparative example. It is a bottom view which installed the fuel supply device in the fuel tank which concerns on a comparative example. It is a bottom view of the case where the fuel supply device is installed in the fuel tank and the discharge pipe is tilted 45 degrees according to the comparative example. It is sectional drawing which installed the fuel supply device in the fuel tank which concerns on a comparative example. It is sectional drawing which concerns on the comparative example, when the fuel supply device is tilted and installed in the fuel tank.

Among the fuel supply devices for vehicles, the fuel supply devices used for vehicles such as motorcycles are often installed in the openings on the bottom surface of the fuel tank.

[Comparison example]
The fuel supply device described in Patent Document 1 and its known additional functions will be described with reference to the drawings as comparative examples. FIG. 9 is a side view of the fuel supply device 31 according to the comparative example. FIG. 10 is a top view of the fuel supply device 31 according to the comparative example. FIG. 11 is a cross-sectional view taken along the line BB of FIG. 10 of the fuel supply device 31 according to a comparative example. In FIG. 11, the liquid level detector 10 is omitted. In any of the drawings of FIGS. 9 to 11, the front of the vehicle is indicated by F and the rear of the vehicle is indicated by R.

The fuel supply device 31 according to the comparative example includes a fuel pump 4 that sucks in fuel inside the fuel tank 21, boosts and discharges the fuel, a filter 3 that filters the fuel sucked by the fuel pump 4, and a fuel discharged by the fuel pump 4. A regulator 7 for adjusting the pressure of the fuel pump is provided. The flange 38 attached to the opening of the fuel tank 21 has an annular portion 38a, a bottom 38b, and a first case body 38c, and further allows the fuel discharged from the regulator 7 to penetrate the bottom 38b and penetrate the fuel tank 21. It has a discharge pipe portion 38d that leads to the outside of the above, and 38a, 38b, 38c, and 38d are integrally molded with a resin material. The discharge pipe portion 38d includes a through pipe portion 38d1 penetrating the bottom portion 38b and an outer pipe portion 38d2 in which the flow path bends and extends outside the fuel tank 21.

The fuel pump 4, the filter 3, and the regulator 7 arranged in the fuel tank 21 are fixed to the inside of the fuel tank 21 by being fitted into the unevenness of the bottom 38b of the flange 38. The first case body 38c is also snap-fitted to the second case body 36, and the fuel pump 4, the filter 3 and the regulator 7 are also fixed by the first case body 38c and the second case body 36. ing.

<Liquid level detector>
In general, the fuel supply device 31 often includes a liquid level detector 10 that detects the liquid level height inside the fuel tank 21. 9 and 10 show an example of mounting the liquid level detector 10.

The liquid level detector 10 is a sensor that detects the angle of the float 10a that rises and falls according to the amount of fuel inside the fuel tank 21, the arm 10b that follows the movement of the float 10a, and the arm 10b that is rotatably held. It is composed of an arm holder 10c with a built-in arm holder. The sensor built in the arm holder 10c increases or decreases the resistance value of the circuit board (not shown) and detects the angle of the arm. The liquid level detector so that the angle at which the arm 10b to which the float 10a is connected rotates is in the vehicle front-rear direction (F direction or R direction in the figure) where the influence of the fuel swing inside the fuel tank due to the running of the vehicle is small. Ideally, 10 should be placed. However, the liquid level detector 10 is attached to the second case body 36, which is a component of the fuel supply device 31, and the second case body 36 is fixed to the first case body 38c of the flange 38 by a snap fit. Since the first case body 38c of the flange 38 and the discharge pipe portion 38d are integrally molded, the angle formed by the direction of the outer pipe portion 38d2 of the discharge pipe portion 38d and the movable direction of the float 10a and the arm 10b is fixed. Will be done.

<Electrical connector>
Further, the fuel supply device 31 is provided with an electric connector (not shown) for input / output of an electric signal for driving the fuel pump 4 and an electric signal for notifying the liquid level height inside the fuel tank 21 on the flange. It is common to have. As for the installation direction of the electric connector, an appropriate arrangement direction is examined according to the ease of insertion and removal of the connector related to the ease of maintenance, the arrangement state of the electric wiring determined from the positions of other parts, and the like. As a result of examining an appropriate arrangement direction, the electric connector is not provided in the center of the fuel supply device, and is often provided eccentrically from the center of the fuel supply device.

<Fuel suction part>
Further, the fuel supply device 31 is provided with a fuel suction portion 3a of the filter 3 for sucking fuel at the lower part of the filter 3. The fuel suction unit 3a is provided under the filter 3 directly below the fuel pump 4 built in the fuel supply device 31, and is often provided eccentrically from the center of the fuel supply device 31.

Since the fuel suction portion 3a is provided in the lower part of the fuel supply device 31, the fuel suction portion 3a can be easily sucked even when the fuel inside the fuel tank 21 is low. However, when the vehicle accelerates, the fuel moves to the rear of the fuel tank 21 due to the acceleration of the vehicle, and the liquid level of the fuel changes. At this time, it is desirable that the fuel suction portion 3a is located on the rear side of the vehicle body (R side in the figure) below the fuel supply device 31. This is because even when the amount of fuel is small, it is possible to prevent the fuel from being poorly sucked and the engine output from being lowered because the fuel collects around the fuel suction portion 3a during acceleration. When the vehicle is decelerating, it is conceivable that fuel will collect on the front side of the vehicle body (F side in the figure) on the opposite side of the fuel suction portion 3a, but in this case, even if the engine output may decrease due to poor fuel suction. , Not a big problem. This is because it is not unnatural even if the engine output decreases during deceleration.

<Outer pipe part>
The size, shape, mounting layout, and mounting position of the fuel supply device 31 of the fuel tank 21 may change for each vehicle. In addition, the engine specifications and the mounting layout on the vehicle body may change for each vehicle. In such a case, it may be necessary to change the direction in which the fuel of the outer pipe portion 38d2 of the discharge pipe portion 38d of the fuel supply device 31 is guided.

FIG. 12 is a bottom view in which the fuel supply device 31 is installed in the fuel tank 21 according to the comparative example. FIG. 13 is. It is a bottom view of the case where the fuel supply device 31 is installed in the fuel tank 21 and the discharge pipe is tilted by 45 degrees according to the comparative example.

FIG. 12 shows a fuel supply device 31 suitable when the fuel pipe from the fuel supply device 31 to the engine is in front of the vehicle. Of the discharge pipe portion 38d integrally molded with the flange 38 of the fuel supply device 31, the outer pipe portion 38d2 extends to the front of the vehicle (in the F direction in the figure).

The liquid level detector 10 of the fuel supply device 31 is set so that the arm 10b that follows the movement of the float 10a extends to the front side (F side in the figure) of the vehicle to detect the liquid level height. .. Further, the fuel suction portion 3a of the filter 3 is provided on the rear side of the vehicle (R side in the figure), and is set so as to prevent a fuel suction failure when the vehicle is accelerated. Further, the electric connector (not shown) is provided in an appropriate arrangement direction according to the arrangement state of the electric wiring determined from the positions of other parts.

As shown in FIG. 12, when the fuel supply device 31 optimized according to various layouts of the vehicle is mounted on another vehicle in which the fuel pipe to the engine is tilted 45 degrees in front of the vehicle, for example. It is shown in FIG. Prioritizing the direction of the fuel pipe, the outer pipe portion 38d2 of the discharge pipe portion 38d was set in the direction tilted 45 degrees forward of the vehicle. Since the fuel supply device 31 is installed in this way, the liquid level detector 10 extends in the direction in which the arm 10b that follows the movement of the float 10a is tilted 46 degrees forward of the vehicle. Therefore, the float 10a of the liquid level detector 10 is affected by the swing of the fuel inside the fuel tank 21 in the left-right direction of the vehicle, and the arm 10b that follows the movement of the float 10a frequently moves up and down. The possibility of deteriorating the sensor built in the arm holder 10c increases. In addition, since the fuel suction portion 3a of the filter 3 is set at an angle of 45 degrees, not on the rear side of the vehicle, the possibility of poor fuel suction during acceleration increases. It is also possible that the installation layout of the electrical connector may not be optimal due to the surrounding wiring layout.

As described above, the mounting direction of the fuel supply device 31 is restricted by the mounting direction of the electric connector, the mounting direction of the liquid level detector, the mounting direction of the fuel suction portion 3a of the filter 3, and the like. On the other hand, when the mounted vehicle is changed, it may be required to change the direction of the outer pipe portion 38d2 of the discharge pipe portion 38d according to the layout change of the fuel tank, the fuel supply device, and the engine. In this case, since the flange 38 is an integrally molded part, the relationship between the installation direction of the fuel supply device 31 and the direction of the outer pipe portion 38d2 cannot be changed, and a conflict of priority occurs between the two. ..

In order to solve this problem, it is possible to manufacture a new flange 38 in which the direction of the outer pipe portion 38d2 is changed for each vehicle. However, additional costs such as design cost, mold making cost, and parts management cost of a new flange 38 having a large-scale and complicated shape are required, and the cost of the fuel supply device 31 increases.

If the direction of the outer pipe portion 38d2 is optimized without manufacturing a new flange 38 in order to reduce the cost, the installation direction of the liquid level detector 10, the installation direction of the fuel suction portion 3a of the filter 3, and the installation of the electric connector The layout may not be optimal. Further, if the mounting direction of the fuel supply device 31 is fixed and the change in the direction of the outer pipe portion 38d2 is not permitted for each vehicle type, the fuel pipe connected from the outer pipe portion 38d2 to the engine becomes longer depending on the vehicle, and the fuel supply system It may hinder the overall compactness and weight reduction.

<Fuel storage structure>
14 and 15 show a fuel storage structure of a comparative example of the fuel supply device 31. FIG. 1 is a cross-sectional view in which a fuel supply device 31 is installed in a fuel tank 21 according to a comparative example. FIG. 15 is a cross-sectional view of the fuel tank 21 according to the comparative example when the fuel supply device 31 is tilted and installed. In both the drawings of FIGS. 14 and 15, the front of the vehicle is indicated by F and the rear of the vehicle is indicated by R.

In FIG. 14, the fuel supply device 31 has a first case body 38c integrally molded as a flange 38. The first case body 38c, together with the annular portion 38a and the bottom portion 38b, forms a cup-shaped fuel storage structure. Therefore, fuel is accumulated by the amount of the internal volume 32 of the flange 38. Even if the fuel level in the fuel tank 21 tilts during sudden acceleration / deceleration or sharp turning in the vehicle and the fuel runs out from the vicinity of the fuel supply device 31, the fuel having this internal volume 32 (the portion indicated by the diagonal line in FIG. 14) can be used. Fuel retention performance is ensured by temporarily sucking up. Therefore, it is possible to prevent the engine output from being lowered due to poor fuel suction during sudden acceleration / deceleration and sudden turning. However, in the fuel supply device 31, the first case body 38c and the second case body 36 are assembled by a snap fit having a slit between them, and the airtightness is not maintained. Therefore, in the fuel storage structure, only the internal volume 32 of about 1/3 to 1/4 below the fuel supply device 31 can be secured, and the fuel holding performance is limited.

FIG. 15 shows a diagram in which the fuel supply device 31 according to the comparative example is attached to a fuel tank 22 different from that of FIG. 14 having an inclined bottom surface. Since the fuel supply device 31 is mounted perpendicular to the bottom surface to be mounted, when the bottom surface is inclined, the fuel supply device 31 is also mounted in an inclined state. At this time, since the flange 38 is tilted, the internal volume 33 of the flange 38 (the portion shown by the diagonal line in FIG. 15) is reduced as compared with the case where the fuel supply device 31 is mounted perpendicular to the liquid surface. When the inclination angle shown in FIG. 5 is 25 degrees, the internal volume 33 is reduced by about 50% as compared with the case where it is mounted perpendicular to the liquid surface. Since the degree of decrease in the internal volume 33 increases as the inclination angle increases, the fuel holding performance is lower in the case of the fuel tank 22 having an inclined bottom surface.

1. 1. Embodiment 1
The fuel supply device 1 according to the first embodiment will be described with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1 is a side view of the fuel supply device 1 according to the first embodiment. FIG. 2 is a top view of the fuel supply device 1 according to the first embodiment. FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view taken along the line AA of FIG. 2 of the fuel supply device 1 according to the first embodiment. In FIG. 3, the liquid level detector 10 is omitted. In any of the drawings of FIGS. 1 to 3, the front of the vehicle is indicated by F and the rear of the vehicle is indicated by R.

The fuel supply device 1 adjusts the fuel pump 4 that sucks in the fuel inside the fuel tank 21, boosts and discharges the fuel, the filter 3 that filters the fuel sucked in by the fuel pump 4, and the pressure of the fuel discharged by the fuel pump 4. A fuel pump 4 having an annular portion 8a attached to the opening of the fuel tank 21 and a flange 8 for supporting the filter 3 and the regulator 7 and a flange, which are arranged inside the fuel tank 21. The plate-shaped plate portion 13b attached to the annular portion 8a that closes the opening of the annular portion 8a and the fuel discharged from the regulator 7 through the plate portion 13b are discharged to the outside of the fuel tank 21 to form the fuel tank 21. It is provided with a discharge pipe 13 having a pipe portion 13a whose flow path is curved on the outside.

The fuel supply device 1 sucks the fuel inside the fuel tank 21 from the fuel suction portion 3a of the filter 3, removes foreign matter by the filter 3, and then sucks the fuel into the fuel pump 4 to boost the pressure. The pressure of the fuel discharged from the fuel pump is adjusted by the regulator 7 so as to suppress pulsation due to the operation of the fuel pump and to have an appropriate pressure to be supplied to the fuel injection device of the engine. The excess fuel is discharged from the regulator 7, returned to the fuel tank 21, and is supplied to the suction port 3a of the filter 3 again. The pressure-adjusted fuel passes through the pressurized fuel flow path 11 connected to the regulator 7, is introduced from the pressurized fuel flow path outlet 11a into the pipe portion 13a of the discharge pipe 13. Since the pressurized fuel flow path outlet 11a and the pipe portion 13a are rotatably fitted, there is a possibility that a small amount of fuel may leak between these two pipes. However, since this fitting portion is inside the fuel supply device 1, even if the fuel leaks, the fuel does not leak to the outside of the fuel supply device 1.

The pressure-adjusted fuel passes through the plate portion 13b through the through pipe portion 13a1, and then the flow path is bent at a right angle on the outside of the fuel tank 21 and sent to the outer pipe portion 13a2 to be guided to the engine of the vehicle. Be taken.

<Case>
The flange 8 supports a case 6 that houses and fixes the fuel pump 4, the filter 3, and the regulator 7. The case 6 has a structure for fixing the fuel pump 4, the filter 3, the regulator 7, and the pressurized fuel flow path from the side surface, and the flange 8 indirectly supports these parts via the case 6. It will be.

By fixing the fuel pump 4, the filter 3, the regulator 7, and the like in the case 6, it is not necessary to fix these parts by the flange 8, and these parts are also fixed to the plate portion 13b of the discharge pipe 13 forming the bottom plate of the flange. It is not necessary to provide unevenness for fixing the parts. Thereby, the mounting direction of the plate portion 13b of the discharge pipe 13 forming the bottom plate of the flange can be freely set regardless of the mounting direction of the components such as the fuel pump 4, the filter 3, and the regulator 7. Further, since the case 6 can support a position closer to the center of gravity of each component than the plate portion 13b, it is easy to fix and it is possible to support with high rigidity.

The fixing method of each component is not limited to the fixing by the case 6, and a fixing overhang for fixing the component directly from the flange 8 may be provided. Each component may be fixed from below with the flange 8, and each component may be fixed from above with the cap 5 by using the case 6 fixed to the flange 8 and the cap 5 fixed to the case 6 in the vertical direction. Alternatively, each component may be fixed at the same time from below with the flange 8, from above with the cap 5, and from the side with the case 6.

<Liquid level detector>
The fuel supply device 1 according to the first embodiment includes a liquid level detector 10 that detects the liquid level height inside the fuel tank 21. The structure of the liquid level detector and the desired mounting direction are the same as in the comparative example, and the angle at which the arm 10b to which the float 10a is connected rotates is less affected by the fluctuation of the fuel inside the fuel tank due to the running of the vehicle. Ideally, the liquid level detector 10 is arranged so as to face the vehicle front-rear direction (F direction or R direction in the figure). The liquid level detector 10 is attached to the case 6 which is a component of the fuel supply device 1, and the case 6 is fixed to the flange 8. The flange 8 and the discharge pipe 13 are separate parts.

<Electrical connector>
The fuel supply device 1 according to the first embodiment includes an electric connector (not shown). Although the description is omitted in FIGS. 1 to 4, an electric connector can be provided overhanging the outer edge of the flange 8. Regarding the installation direction of the electric connector, the appropriate placement direction is considered according to the ease of insertion and removal of the connector related to the ease of maintenance, the placement status of the electrical wiring determined from the position of other parts, etc. , The same as the comparative example.

<Fuel suction part>
In the fuel supply device 1 according to the first embodiment, the fuel suction portion 3a of the filter 3 for sucking fuel is provided in the lower part of the filter 3. Due to the acceleration of the vehicle, the fuel moves to the rear of the fuel tank 21 and the liquid level of the fuel changes. At this time, it is desirable that the fuel suction portion 3a is on the rear side of the vehicle body (R side in the figure) at the lower part of the fuel supply device 31, as in the comparative example.

<Outer pipe part>
The pipe portion 13a of the discharge pipe 13 of the fuel supply device 1 according to the first embodiment is integrally formed with the plate portion 13b.

By integrally molding the pipe portion 13a and the plate portion 13b, the airtightness between the through pipe portion 13a1 and the plate portion 13b can be maintained, and fuel leakage to the outside of the fuel supply device 1 can be prevented. In addition, by integrally molding, the manufacturing cost of parts can be reduced as compared with the case of using separate parts, and the process of managing, assembling, and joining multiple parts can be omitted, so that the assembly cost can be reduced. ..

Airtightness can be maintained even when these are not integrally molded and are made into separate parts. The through pipe portion 13a1 of the discharge pipe 13 may be press-fitted into the plate portion 13b in a tightly fitted state. The two may be joined by a method of fixing by welding the resin parts, adhering them, or connecting them via packing. By these methods, the airtightness between the through pipe portion 13a1 and the plate portion 13b can be maintained, and the fuel can be prevented from leaking to the outside of the fuel tank 21.

According to the fuel supply device 1 according to the first embodiment, regardless of the installation direction of the fuel supply device 1, by using the discharge pipe 13 having the plate portion 13b, the parts of the discharge pipe 13 can be changed or the discharge pipe 13 can be used. The outer pipe portion 13a2 can be set in a desired direction by rotating and fixing the position of. This makes it possible to contribute to cost reduction of the entire fuel supply system while maintaining the performance of the fuel supply device 1. By manufacturing and assembling a new discharge pipe 13 in which the direction of the outer pipe portion 13a2 is changed, the direction of the outer pipe portion 13a2 can be installed in an appropriate direction, but the design cost of the new discharge pipe 13 is increased. Mold costs, parts management costs, etc. may be incurred. However, since the parts are smaller and simpler than the flange 38 of the comparative example, the cost is reduced as compared with the production of the new flange 38 of the comparative example.

The plate portion 13b of the discharge pipe 13 has a shape in which the bottom surface of the flange 8 is covered by closing the opening of the flange 8. As a mounting method, there are methods such as fixing by welding resin parts, fixing by an adhesive, and fixing by snap-fit via packing. Since the plate portion 13b of the discharge pipe 13 can be fixed to the flange 8 after being rotated in an arbitrary direction around the through pipe portion 13a1, the outer pipe portion 13a2 can be fixed regardless of the mounting direction of the fuel supply device. Can be fixed in any direction. When assembling the fuel supply device 1, the angle at which the outer pipe portion 13a2 of the discharge pipe 13 is directed may be regulated by a jig for each vehicle type.

In the fuel supply device 1 according to the first embodiment, the through pipe portion 13a1 penetrates the plate portion 13b and extends in a direction orthogonal to the plate portion 13b, and the through pipe portion 13a1 and the outside of the fuel tank 21. It has an outer pipe portion 13a2 extending in a direction intersecting the extending direction of the penetrating pipe portion 13a1.

Since the through pipe portion 13a1 extends in the direction orthogonal to the plate portion 13b, even if the plate portion 13b is rotated, the pressure-adjusted fuel can be discharged from the pressurized fuel flow path outlet 11a to the pipe of the discharge pipe 13. It can be introduced into the unit 13a. By rotating the plate portion 13b, the direction of the outer pipe portion 13a2 intersecting with the through pipe portion 13a1 can be installed in an appropriate direction. Even if the through pipe portion 13a1 does not extend in the direction orthogonal to the plate portion 13b, a new discharge pipe 13 in which the direction of the outer pipe portion 13a2 is changed is manufactured and assembled to form the outer pipe portion 13a2. Can be installed in an appropriate direction.

The opening inside the annular portion 8a of the flange 8 is formed in a circular shape, the plate portion 13b is formed in a disk shape, the pipe portion 13a penetrates the center of the plate portion 13b, and the pipe portion 13a and the regulator 7 are connected to each other. The connecting portion is connected so as to be relatively rotatable.

Since the opening inside the annular portion 8a of the flange 8 is formed in a circular shape, the plate portion 13b is formed in a disk shape, and the pipe portion 13a penetrates the center of the plate portion 13b, the plate portion 13b No matter how it rotates, the opening of the flange 8 can be closed in the same way. Therefore, the outer pipe portion 13a2 can be set in an appropriate direction by rotating the plate portion 13b around the through pipe portion 13a1.

In FIGS. 1 to 3, the plate portion 13b is formed in a circular shape, but the plate portion 13b does not have to be circular. Even polygonal shapes such as equilateral triangles, squares, regular hexagons, and regular octagons can be rotated at predetermined angles, so that the outer pipe portion 13a2 can be set in a desired direction.

Here, FIGS. 4 to 6 will be described. FIG. 4 is a perspective view from the lower surface of the fuel supply device 1 according to the first embodiment. FIG. 5 is a bottom view in which the fuel supply device 1 is installed in the fuel tank 21 according to the first embodiment. FIG. 6 is a bottom view of the case where the fuel supply device is installed in the fuel tank and the discharge pipe is tilted by 45 degrees according to the first embodiment.

In any of the drawings of FIGS. 4 to 6, the front of the vehicle is indicated by F and the rear of the vehicle is indicated by R. The state of the float 10a and the arm 10b of the liquid level detector 10 when the amount of fuel in the fuel tank 21 is increased or decreased is shown by a broken line and a solid line. It shows how the outer pipe portion 13a2 of the discharge pipe 13 can be set in an arbitrary direction by rotating the plate portion 13b regardless of the setting direction of the fuel supply device 1.

In FIG. 4, the solid line shows a situation in which the discharge pipe 13 does not change the setting direction of the fuel supply device 1 and the plate portion 13b is rotated to change the direction of the outer pipe portion 13a2 from the front of the vehicle (F side in the figure). Is indicated by a broken line.

FIG. 5 shows a fuel supply device 1 suitable when the fuel pipe from the fuel supply device 1 to the engine is in front of the vehicle. The plate portion 13b of the discharge pipe 13 is fixed to the flange 8 of the fuel supply device 1. Of the pipe portions 13a integrally molded with the plate portion 13b, the outer pipe portion 13a2 extends to the front of the vehicle (in the F direction in the figure).

The liquid level detector 10 of the fuel supply device 1 is set so that the arm 10b that follows the movement of the float 10a extends to the front side (F side in the figure) of the vehicle to detect the liquid level height. .. Further, the fuel suction portion 3a of the filter 3 is provided on the rear side of the vehicle (R side in the figure), and is set so as to prevent a fuel suction failure when the vehicle is accelerated. Further, the electric connector (not shown) is provided in an appropriate arrangement direction according to the arrangement state of the electric wiring determined from the positions of other parts.

As shown in FIG. 5, a case where the fuel supply device 1 optimized according to various layouts of the vehicle is mounted on another vehicle in which the fuel pipe to the engine is tilted 45 degrees in front of the vehicle, for example, It is shown in FIG. In order to apply to the direction of the fuel pipe, the outer pipe portion 13a2 of the pipe portion 13a is set in the direction tilted 45 degrees forward of the vehicle. Since the plate portion 13b of the discharge pipe 13 is rotated and installed without changing the mounting direction of the fuel supply device 1, the liquid level detector 10 has an arm 10b that follows the movement of the float 10a of the vehicle. It extends to the front side. Therefore, the float 10a of the liquid level detector 10 is not affected by the swing of the fuel inside the fuel tank 21 in the left-right direction of the vehicle, and the arm 10b that follows the movement of the float 10a frequently moves up and down. , It is possible to prevent the sensor built in the arm holder 10c from being deteriorated. In addition, since the fuel suction portion 3a of the filter 3 is maintained on the rear side of the vehicle, the possibility of poor fuel suction during acceleration is reduced. In addition, it is possible to prevent the installation layout of the electric connector from being forced to move depending on the direction of the fuel pipe and becoming unoptimal due to the surrounding wiring layout.

Here, the case 6 may be formed integrally with the flange 8. Cost reduction is possible by integrating them. Further, the case 6 and the flange 8 do not need to be fixed, which leads to the improvement of the airtightness between the case 6 and the flange 8. In addition, the work of combining and fixing the case 6 and the flange 8 becomes unnecessary, and the cost of the manufacturing process can be reduced.

In the fuel supply device 1 of the first embodiment, as shown in FIG. 3, the diameter Df of the inner circumference of the annular portion 8a of the flange 8 can be set to the diameter Dc or more of the inner wall of the case 6.

When the case 6 and the flange 8 are integrally formed by setting the diameter Df of the inner circumference of the annular portion 8a of the flange 8 to be equal to or larger than the diameter Dc of the inner wall of the case 6, or the case 6 and the flange 8 are assembled. After being installed, the fuel pump 4, the filter 3, and the regulator 7 are assembled and fixed in the case 6. If the diameter Df of the inner wall of the annular portion 8a of the flange 8 has a size equal to or larger than the diameter Dc of the inner wall of the case 6, each component can be smoothly inserted and fixed into the case 6. is there.

At this time, the diameter of the plate portion 13b that closes the opening of the annular portion 8a of the flange 8 is further equal to or larger than the diameter Df of the inner wall of the annular portion 8a of the flange 8. This is because it is necessary for the plate portion 13b to close the opening of the annular portion 8a of the flange 8 with sufficient strength while maintaining airtightness.

In FIGS. 1, 3 and 8, the plate portion 13b shows a structure in which the opening of the annular portion 8a of the flange 8 is closed from below, but the plate portion 13b may be configured to close the opening of the annular portion 8a from above. In that case, the pressure of the pressurized fuel of the fuel supply device 1 presses the plate portion 13b from above and presses it against the annular portion 8a of the flange 8, so that the airtightness can be more easily maintained.

In FIGS. 1 to 4, the fuel supply device 1 is provided on the bottom wall of the fuel tank 21. When mounting on a two-wheeled vehicle, the space that can be mounted is limited, and the engine is often placed below the fuel tank 21, so such a placement is low cost and compact. is there. However, the attachment of the fuel supply device 1 is not limited to this form. It is also possible to attach the fuel tank 21 to the opening on the slanted surface, or to install the fuel supply device 1 so as to hang downward from the opening on the upper surface.

2. 2. Embodiment 2
The fuel supply device 2 according to the second embodiment will be described with reference to FIGS. 7 and 8. FIG. 7 is a cross-sectional view in which the fuel supply device 2 is installed in the fuel tank 21 according to the second embodiment. FIG. 8 is a cross-sectional view of the fuel tank 22 according to the second embodiment when the fuel supply device 2 is tilted and installed. In any of the drawings of FIGS. 7 and 8, the front of the vehicle is indicated by F and the rear of the vehicle is indicated by R.

<Fuel storage structure>
In FIG. 7, the fuel supply device 2 according to the second embodiment has a case 6 integrally molded with the flange 8. Further, it has a plate portion 13b of a discharge pipe 13 that closes the opening of the flange 8. The plate portion 13b of the discharge pipe 13 has a shape of covering the bottom surface of the flange 8 by closing the opening of the flange 8, and together with the flange 8 and the case 6, has a cup-shaped shape to form a fuel storage structure. ing. That is, it has an outer wall for storing fuel up to the upper part of the case 6.

Therefore, fuel is stored by the amount of the internal volume 14 of the fuel storage structure. Even if the fuel level in the fuel tank 21 tilts during sudden acceleration / deceleration or sharp turning in the vehicle and the fuel runs out from the vicinity of the fuel supply device 2, the fuel having this internal volume 14 (the portion indicated by the diagonal line in FIG. 7) can be used. Fuel retention performance is ensured by temporarily sucking up. Therefore, it is possible to prevent the engine output from being lowered due to poor fuel suction during sudden acceleration / deceleration and sudden turning. Moreover, in the fuel supply device 2, airtightness is maintained up to the upper part of the case 6, and in the fuel storage structure, almost the entire internal volume 14 of the fuel supply device 2 can be secured, and the fuel holding performance is sufficiently secured. ..

FIG. 8 shows a case where the fuel supply device 2 according to the second embodiment is attached to a fuel tank 22 different from that of FIG. 7 whose bottom surface is inclined. Since the fuel supply device 2 is mounted perpendicular to the bottom surface to be mounted, when the bottom surface is inclined, the fuel supply device 2 is also mounted in an inclined state. At this time, as the flange 8 is inclined, the internal volume 15 (the portion shown by the diagonal line in FIG. 8) of the fuel storage structure formed by the plate portion 13b, the flange 8, and the case 6 of the discharge pipe 13 is inclined as shown in FIG. When the angle is 25 °, the decrease is only about 16% as compared with the case where the liquid surface is mounted perpendicularly. Therefore, by having the outer wall for storing fuel up to the upper part of the case 6, the fuel holding performance of the fuel supply device 2 is ensured even when the fuel tank 22 is attached to the fuel tank 22 whose bottom surface is inclined. Therefore, it is possible to prevent the engine output from being lowered due to poor fuel suction during sudden acceleration / deceleration and sudden turning.

Although the present application describes various exemplary embodiments and examples, the various features, embodiments, and functions described in one or more embodiments are applications of a particular embodiment. It is not limited to, but can be applied to embodiments alone or in various combinations. Therefore, innumerable variations not illustrated are envisioned within the scope of the techniques disclosed herein. For example, it is assumed that at least one component is modified, added or omitted, and further, at least one component is extracted and combined with the components of other embodiments.

1, 2 Fuel supply device, 3 filters, 4 fuel pumps, 6 cases, 7 regulators, 8 flanges, 8a annular part, 10 liquid level detectors, 13 discharge pipes, 13a pipe parts, 13b plate parts, 21 fuel tanks

Claims (9)

A fuel pump that sucks in fuel inside the fuel tank, boosts it, and discharges it.
A filter that filters the fuel sucked by the fuel pump,
A regulator that adjusts the pressure of the fuel discharged by the fuel pump, and
The fuel pump, the filter, and the flange supporting the regulator, which have an annular portion attached to the opening of the fuel tank and are arranged inside the fuel tank.
A plate-shaped plate portion attached to the annular portion of the flange that closes the opening of the annular portion and fuel discharged from the regulator through the plate portion are discharged to the outside of the fuel tank to obtain the fuel. A discharge pipe having a pipe portion having a curved flow path on the outside of the tank .
The opening inside the annular portion is formed in a circular shape.
The plate portion is formed in a disk shape.
The pipe portion penetrates the center of the plate portion and
A fuel supply device in which the connection portion between the pipe portion and the regulator is connected so as to be relatively rotatable . The pipe portion extends in a direction that penetrates the plate portion and intersects a tubular through pipe portion that extends in a direction orthogonal to the plate portion and an extension direction of the through pipe portion on the outside of the fuel tank. The fuel supply device according to claim 1, further comprising an outer pipe portion. The fuel supply device according to claim 1 or 2 , wherein the pipe portion is integrally formed with the plate portion. The fuel supply device according to any one of claims 1 to 3 , further comprising a case for accommodating and fixing the fuel pump, the filter, and the regulator, the case being supported by the flange. The fuel supply device according to claim 4 , wherein the case is integrally formed with the flange. A liquid level detecting device for detecting the liquid level inside the fuel tank is provided.
The fuel supply device according to claim 4 or 5 , wherein the liquid level detection device is fixed to the case. The fuel supply device according to any one of claims 4 to 6 , wherein the case has an outer wall for storing fuel up to the upper part of the case. The fuel supply device according to any one of claims 4 to 7 , wherein the diameter of the inner circumference of the annular portion is equal to or larger than the diameter of the inner wall of the case. The fuel supply device according to any one of claims 1 to 8 , wherein the opening of the fuel tank is provided on the bottom wall of the fuel tank.

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