JP6979235B2 - Fuel tank - Google Patents

Description

The present invention relates to a fuel tank mounted on a vehicle.

In the fuel tank mounted on the vehicle, the liquid fuel stored in the tank is in a state where it is easy to move. Therefore, when the vehicle suddenly accelerates or decelerates in a state different from the normal running of the vehicle (such as when the impact of a collision is applied to the vehicle), the liquid fuel violently shakes in the tank due to inertia and is placed in the tank. There was a possibility of vigorously colliding with a device such as a leveling valve and damaging the device. Therefore, in order to solve this problem, Patent Document 1 discloses a vehicle-mounted tank provided with a valve maintenance plate that covers the side surface of the leveling valve arranged in the tank.

Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication No. 2012-66660 (published on April 5, 2012)

Here, the valve maintenance plate disclosed in Patent Document 1 is arranged so as to block the front of the vehicle, which is the direction in which the liquid fuel is most strongly pushed against the leveling valve at the time of a vehicle front collision. On the other hand, the baffle plate (also called a wave-eliminating plate) arranged so as to block between the leveling valve and the liquid level of the liquid fuel against the vertical movement of the liquid fuel that occurs when the vehicle suddenly accelerates or decelerates. ) Plays a role in protecting the leveling valve.

However, when the vertical vibration of the liquid fuel is intense, the liquid fuel vigorously collides with the baffle plate and the baffle plate is greatly deformed. Then, due to this deformation, the baffle plate may collide with the leveling valve, and the leveling valve may be deformed or damaged.

The present invention has been made in view of the above problems, and an object of the present invention is to prevent deformation and damage of the equipment in the fuel tank due to the vibration of the liquid fuel that occurs when the vehicle suddenly accelerates and decelerates. There is something in it.

In order to solve the above problems, the fuel tank according to one aspect of the present invention is a fuel tank for storing liquid fuel mounted on a vehicle, and the fuel tank main body is inside the fuel tank. A protected device that requires protection from impact on the vehicle and a baffle plate that prevents the liquid fuel from swaying when the vehicle is running are arranged, and the area of the baffle plate facing the protected device is The baffle plate is formed as a low-rigidity region having a lower rigidity than a region not facing the protected device, and a cut extending in a predetermined direction is formed in the low-rigidity region.

According to the above configuration, the region of the baffle plate facing the protected device is formed as a low-rigidity region. Therefore, even if the baffle plate is deformed due to the vibration of the liquid fuel and the low-rigidity region of the baffle plate collides with the equipment to be protected, the low-rigidity region is easily deformed to give an impact to the equipment to be protected. Can be absorbed. Therefore, it is possible to effectively prevent deformation and damage of the protected equipment due to the vibration of the liquid fuel.

Further, according to the above configuration, the region around the cut in the baffle plate has a lower rigidity than the other regions in the low rigidity region.

Therefore, even if the low-rigidity region collides with the protected device, the low-rigidity region, particularly the peripheral region of the cut, is easily deformed, so that the impact applied to the protected device can be absorbed more effectively. Therefore, it is possible to more effectively prevent deformation and damage of the protected equipment due to the vibration of the liquid fuel.

Further, in the fuel tank according to one aspect of the present invention, the cut includes a first cut extended in the first direction and a second cut extended in a second direction different from the first direction. The first cut and the second cut intersect.

According to the above configuration, the peripheral region of the baffle plate where the first cut and the second cut intersect is even less rigid than the other regions in the low rigidity region. Further, the peripheral region of the intersecting portion has lower rigidity than the peripheral region of the cut when only one cut is formed.

Therefore, even if the low-rigidity region collides with the equipment to be protected, the impact applied to the equipment to be protected can be more effectively absorbed by easily deforming the peripheral region of the intersection. Therefore, it is possible to more effectively prevent deformation and damage of the protected device due to the vibration of the liquid fuel.

Further, in the fuel tank according to one aspect of the present invention, the baffle plate is arranged so as to be horizontal when the fuel tank is mounted on the vehicle. According to the above configuration, the baffle plate is arranged between the device to be protected and the liquid level of the liquid fuel in the state where the fuel tank is mounted on the vehicle.

Therefore, even if the baffle plate is displaced vertically upward due to the vertical vibration of the liquid fuel and the low-rigidity region of the baffle plate collides with the device to be protected, the low-rigidity region is easily deformed to protect the baffle plate. It can absorb the impact applied to the target device. Therefore, it is possible to effectively prevent the deformation and damage of the protected equipment due to the vibration of the liquid fuel, particularly the vibration in the vertical direction.

According to one aspect of the present invention, by forming a low-rigidity region on the baffle plate, deformation / damage of the equipment to be protected due to the vibration of the liquid fuel that occurs when the vehicle suddenly accelerates / decelerates is effectively performed. Can be prevented.

It is a figure which shows the schematic structure of the fuel tank which concerns on one Embodiment of this invention. It is a top view which shows the schematic structure of the baffle plate which concerns on one Embodiment of this invention. (A) is a figure which shows the outline of the internal structure of the said fuel tank. (B) is a figure which shows the state which the said baffle plate was deformed. (A) is a figure which shows the outline of the internal structure of the fuel tank in the case where the conventional baffle plate is provided in the said fuel tank. (B) and (c) are diagrams showing a deformed state of the conventional baffle plate shown in (a).

<Overview of fuel tank>
First, the outline of the fuel tank 1 according to the embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIG. FIG. 1 is a diagram showing a schematic configuration of a fuel tank 1. Note that FIG. 1 shows the fuel tank 1 mounted on the vehicle. In the following, for convenience of explanation, the vertically upper side is referred to as an upper side and the vertically lower side is referred to as a lower side.

The fuel tank 1 is a box-shaped vehicle device for storing liquid fuel, and as shown in FIG. 1, includes an upper tank 1a, a lower tank 1b, a leveling valve 10 (protected device), and a baffle plate 20. There is.

The upper tank 1a is a box-shaped metal member having an opening formed therein, and a flange is provided on the outer edge of the opening. Further, the lower tank 1b is also a box-shaped metal member having an opening formed therein, and a flange is provided on the outer edge of the opening. The shape and size of the opening of the upper tank 1a correspond to the shape and size of the opening of the lower tank 1b, and the opening of the upper tank 1a is overlapped with the opening of the lower tank 1b to overlap the flange of the upper tank 1a and the lower tank. The main body (fuel tank main body) of the fuel tank 1 is formed by seam welding the flange of 1b.

When the fuel tank 1 is mounted on the vehicle, the upper tank 1a is arranged on the upper side and the lower tank 1b is on the lower side, and the bottom wall of the upper tank 1a becomes the upper wall of the fuel tank 1 and the lower tank 1b. The bottom wall of the fuel tank 1 becomes the bottom wall of the fuel tank 1. Further, the side wall in the longitudinal direction of the fuel tank 1 is arranged in the vehicle width direction, and the side wall in the lateral direction is arranged in the front-rear direction of the vehicle.

A leveling valve 10 and a baffle plate 20 are arranged in the inside 1c of the fuel tank 1. The leveling valve 10 is a substantially columnar device constituting the fuel tank 1, and its side surface is fixed to a bracket 11 (see FIGS. 3 and 4) provided on the inner wall surface of the upper wall of the fuel tank 1. Therefore, it is arranged so as to be suspended from the upper wall in the inside 1c of the fuel tank 1.

A tube 12 communicating with the outside of the fuel tank 1 is connected to the side surface of the leveling valve 10. Normally, by communicating the inside 1c of the fuel tank 1 with the tube 12, it is possible to bleed the air inside the fuel tank 1 when the fuel tank 1 is replenished with liquid fuel. Further, as another device to be protected, a float valve (not shown) may be mounted in the same form as the leveling valve 10. When the pressure inside the fuel tank 1 rises, the float valve discharges air from the inside 1c of the fuel tank 1 to a canister (not shown) mounted on the outside of the fuel tank 1 to suppress the rise in the internal pressure. It is a device.

The baffle plate 20 is a metal plate-shaped member having a plurality of holes 23 formed therein, which is provided to prevent the liquid fuel from swaying when the vehicle is running. Further, fixing portions 22 are formed at both ends of the baffle plate 20 in the lateral direction (X direction in FIG. 2). By fixing these two fixing portions 22 to the inner wall surface of the upper wall of the fuel tank 1, the baffle plate 20 is horizontally arranged so as to be suspended from the upper wall in the inner 1c of the fuel tank 1 (FIG. 3).

That is, in the inside 1c of the fuel tank 1, the leveling valve 10 is sandwiched between the upper wall of the fuel tank 1 and the baffle plate 20, and the leveling valve 10 and the baffle plate 20 face each other.

<Structure of baffle plate>
Next, the structure of the baffle plate 20 according to the embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIG. FIG. 2 is a plan view showing a schematic configuration of the baffle plate 20. As shown in FIG. 2, the baffle plate 20 is formed with a rectangular low-rigidity region 21 having substantially the same shape as the baffle plate 20 in a plan view.

The low-rigidity region 21 is a region having lower rigidity than the region other than the low-rigidity region 21 in the baffle plate 20 (the region in the baffle plate that does not face the device to be protected). The low-rigidity region 21 is formed with a first cut 21b (cut), a second cut 21c (cut), six third cuts 21d, and two fourth cuts 21e, and four deformation tolerances are allowed by these cuts. The portion 21a is formed.

The four deformation allowing portions 21a are substantially rectangular in plan view, specifically, parts having a shape like a door that can be opened and closed with two hinges, and all have the same shape and size. The four deformation allowable portions 21a are arranged in a grid pattern in the low rigidity region 21.

Further, in the deformation allowable portion 21a, the longitudinal side surface of the deformation allowable portion 21a is parallel to the longitudinal side surface of the baffle plate 20, and the lateral side surface of the deformation allowable portion 21a in the lateral direction is the lateral side of the baffle plate 20. It is arranged so as to be parallel to the side surface. Further, in each of the four deformation allowable portions 21a, a portion near an orthogonal portion (details will be described later) between the first cut 21b and the second cut 21c faces the leveling valve 10.

Even if the liquid fuel violently shakes due to the sudden acceleration / deceleration of the vehicle and one or more deformation allowable portions 21a collide with the leveling valve 10, the portion of the deformation allowable portion 21a that collides with the leveling valve 10 (near the above orthogonal portion). The impact applied to the leveling valve 10 is absorbed by the easy deformation of the portion). Further, the portion corresponding to the hinge in the one or more deformation allowable portions 21a is easily bent or curved, and a part or all of the deformation allowable portions 21a protrudes downward from the horizontal plane of the baffle plate 20 for leveling. The impact applied to the valve 10 is absorbed.

Both the first and second cuts 21b and 21c are formed in an elongated rectangular shape in a plan view. The first cut 21b extends in the X direction (longitudinal direction of the low-rigidity region 21: the first direction), and the second cut 21c extends in the Y direction (the lateral direction of the low-rigidity region 21: the second direction different from the first direction). Direction). Further, the first cut 21b and the second cut 21c are orthogonal to each other (intersect) so that the position of the intersection of these two cuts coincides with the position of the central axis (not shown) of the leveling valve 10 in a plan view. The first cut 21b and the second cut 21c are formed.

The six third cuts 21d are formed in a long and narrow rectangular shape in a plan view like the first and second cuts 21b and 21c. Of the six third cuts 21d, the three third cuts 21d extend to one end of the low rigidity region 21 in the longitudinal direction so as to be continuous in the X direction. Further, the remaining three third cuts 21d extend to the other end of the low rigidity region 21 in the longitudinal direction so as to be continuous in the X direction. Further, of the three third cuts 21d formed at the longitudinal end of the low rigidity region 21, the third cut 21d formed in the center in a plan view is orthogonal to the second cut 21c.

The two fourth cuts 21e are formed in a concave shape in a plan view. The cut portion extending in the Y direction of the fourth cut 21e is formed at the end of the low rigidity region 21 in the lateral direction and is orthogonal to the first cut 21b. Further, two cut portions extending in the X direction of the fourth cut 21e are formed at both ends of the low rigidity region 21 in the longitudinal direction.

By forming the first to fourth cuts 21b, 21c, 21d, and 21e in this way, the four deformation allowable portions 21a described above are formed. Further, in the baffle plate 20, the region near the third cut 21d and the region near the fourth cut 21e (excluding the deformation allowable portion 21a) also have lower rigidity than the regions other than the low rigidity region 21. Therefore, even if these regions are easily deformed when the leveling valve 10 collides with the deformation allowable portion 21a, the impact applied to the leveling valve 10 is absorbed.

The shape and size of the low-rigidity region 21 are not limited to the case of the present embodiment, and the design may be arbitrarily changed according to the shape, size and arrangement of the leveling valve 10. Further, regarding the shape / size of the first to fourth cuts 21b / 21c / 21d / 21e, the shape / size of the deformation allowable portion 21a, and the number of the third cut 21d / deformation allowable portion 21a, the leveling valve 10 The design may be arbitrarily changed according to the shape.

Specifically, it is not always necessary that the first cut 21b and the second cut 21c are orthogonal to each other as in the present embodiment, and the first cut 21b and the second cut 21c may intersect with each other. Further, it is not always necessary that the first cut 21b is extended in the X direction and the second cut 21c is extended in the Y direction as in the present embodiment, so that the first cut 21b and the second cut 21c intersect with each other. In addition, each of the first cut 21b and the second cut 21c may be stretched in a predetermined direction.

Further, the first to fourth cuts 21b, 21c, 21d, and 21e may not be formed in the low rigidity region 21 of the baffle plate 20. Specifically, only the first and second cuts 21b and 21c may be formed, or only one of the first cut 21b and the second cut 21c may be formed. Further, a portion of the baffle plate 20 corresponding to the low-rigidity region 21 may be hollowed out, and a film made of a resin such as plastic may be attached to the portion (not shown). In this case, the film portion becomes a new low-rigidity region 21. In other words, the region of the baffle plate 20 facing the leveling valve 10 may have a lower rigidity than the region not facing the leveling valve 10.

<Contrast with conventional baffle plate>
Next, with reference to FIGS. 3 and 4, the leveling valve 10 is arranged in the case where the baffle plate 20 is arranged in the inside 1c of the fuel tank 1 and the case where the conventional baffle plate 100 is arranged. Explain the presence / absence and degree of deformation / damage.

FIG. 3A is a diagram showing an outline of the internal structure of the fuel tank 1. FIG. 3B is a diagram showing a deformed state of the baffle plate 20. Further, FIG. 4A is a diagram showing an outline of the internal structure of the fuel tank 1 when the conventional baffle plate 100 (hereinafter, abbreviated as “baffle plate 100”) is provided in the fuel tank 1. be. 4 (b) and 4 (c) are views showing a deformed state of the baffle plate 100.

The baffle plate 100 is abbreviated as the baffle plate 20 except that the first to fourth cuts 21b, 21c, 21d, and 21e are not formed, that is, the low rigidity region 21 is not formed (not shown). It has the same shape and size. Further, the arrangement position of the baffle plate 100 in the inside 1c of the fuel tank 1 is substantially the same as the arrangement position of the baffle plate 20.

When the liquid fuel violently shakes due to the sudden acceleration / deceleration of the vehicle, a force is applied to each part of the baffle plate 100 due to the collision of the liquid fuel (see the arrows shown in FIGS. 4B and 4). Then, the baffle plate 100 is greatly deformed from the normal state shown in FIG. 4 (a) as shown in FIG. 4 (b) or (c), and the region of the baffle plate 100 facing the leveling valve 10 is the leveling valve. It will collide with 10.

At this time, since the rigidity of the baffle plate 100 is substantially the same over all the regions, the region facing the leveling valve 10 does not deform much even if it collides with the leveling valve 10. Therefore, the leveling valve 10 is deformed and damaged as shown in FIGS. 4 (b) and 4 (c).

On the other hand, when the liquid fuel is similarly violently shaken due to the sudden acceleration / deceleration of the vehicle, the baffle plate 20 is greatly deformed from the normal state shown in FIG. 3 (a) to the normal state shown in FIG. 3 (b). However, since the leveling valve 10 collides with the deformation allowable portion 21a formed in the low rigidity region 21, the deformation allowable portion 21a is downward from the main body of the baffle plate 20 as shown in FIG. 3 (b). Causes protruding deformation. Since the impact applied to the leveling valve 10 is reduced by this deformation, the leveling valve 10 is not deformed or damaged.

From the above, it can be seen that by arranging the baffle plate 20 having the low rigidity region 21 formed in the inside 1c of the fuel tank 1, the leveling valve 10 can be prevented from being deformed or damaged due to the vibration of the liquid fuel.

<Modification example>
The low-rigidity region 21 of the baffle plate 20 does not necessarily have to face the leveling valve 10, and may face the fuel pump (not shown) or the leveling gauge (not shown). In other words, by arranging the baffle plate 20 on which the low-rigidity region 21 is formed in the inside 1c of the fuel tank 1, any device that requires protection from the impact on the main body of the fuel tank 1 (device to be protected). It is only necessary to prevent deformation and damage of the fuel.

Further, the baffle plate 20 does not have to be arranged so as to be horizontal with the inside 1c of the fuel tank 1 in a state where the fuel tank 1 is mounted on the vehicle. The baffle plate 20 may be arranged so as to be perpendicular to the inside 1c of the fuel tank 1 when the fuel tank 1 is mounted on the vehicle (not shown). In other words, the baffle plate 20 may be arranged in any arrangement as long as the low rigidity region 21 is arranged so as to face the leveling valve 10.

<Additional notes>
The present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiments, and various modifications can be made within the scope of the claims, and the embodiments obtained by appropriately combining the technical means disclosed in the different embodiments. Is also included in the technical scope of the present invention.

1 Fuel tank 1c Internal 10 Leveling valve (equipment to be protected)
20 Baffle plate 21 Low rigidity region 21b First cut (cut)
21c 2nd cut (cut)

Claims (3)

A fuel tank for storing liquid fuel mounted on a vehicle.
Inside the fuel tank, a device to be protected that requires protection from impact on the fuel tank body and a baffle plate that prevents the liquid fuel from swaying when the vehicle is running are arranged.
The region of the baffle plate facing the protected device is formed as a low-rigidity region having lower rigidity than the region of the baffle plate not facing the protected device.
A fuel tank characterized in that a cut extending in a predetermined direction is formed in the low rigidity region. The cut includes a first cut stretched in the first direction and a second cut stretched in a second direction different from the first direction.
The fuel tank according to claim 1, wherein the first cut and the second cut intersect. The fuel tank according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the baffle plate is arranged so as to be horizontal when the fuel tank is mounted on the vehicle.

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