JP7169732B2 - Fuel tank mounting structure - Google Patents

Description

The present invention relates to a fuel tank mounting structure for mounting a fuel tank on a vehicle body, which has excellent flame resistance.

Resin fuel tanks are used for automobiles because they contribute to weight reduction and expansion of the interior space of the vehicle. 10 and 11, a plurality of support brackets 300 are formed integrally with a tank body 200 of a fuel tank 100 for storing fuel. A structure is disclosed in which a bolt 700 is inserted into a fixing portion of the vehicle body 500 and tightened to a nut 800 fixed to the vehicle body 500 (Fig. 4 of Patent Document 1). Support bracket 300 is formed so as to protrude horizontally from the side surface of fuel tank 100 , and metal collar 400 passing through support bracket 300 is attached to insertion hole (bolt hole) 310 for bolt 700 . (Patent document 1)

As shown in FIG. 11 (enlarged view of portion B in FIG. 10), the metal collar 400 includes a cylindrical tubular main body 410 and an annular flange portion 420 extending radially outward from the outer circumference of the tubular main body 410. It is a metal fitting with a collar consisting of. The flange portion 420 is arranged on the surface of the support bracket 300 opposite to the fixing portion of the vehicle body 500 (lower surface in the vertical direction of the vehicle).

JP 2011-194916 A

By the way, in the structure of attaching the resin tank to the vehicle body, when the lower part of the main body of the fuel tank 100 is exposed to flame, the flame heats the flange portion 420 and softens the resin constituting the support bracket 300. In the worst case, fuel tank 100 may fall off if fuel tank 100 is fixed to vehicle body 500 or melts.

On the other hand, in response to the occurrence of the above problems, it is conceivable to install a heat damage protector that covers the bottom surface. Become.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION Accordingly, it is an object of the present invention to provide a fuel tank attachment structure for attaching a fuel tank to a vehicle body, which has excellent flame resistance.

In order to solve the above problems, the present invention of claim 1 is a fuel tank mounting structure for mounting a fuel tank made of resin to a vehicle body, comprising: a fixing piece integrally formed with a tank body for storing fuel; a metal collar having a cylinder body inserted through a through hole provided in the piece, and a flange portion disposed on the opposite side of the fixed piece from the vehicle body and extending radially outward from the outer circumference of the cylinder body; a fastening member that is inserted through the metal collar and fixes the tank body to the vehicle body; and an outer flange portion having an inclined portion extending in a direction away from the side of the fixing piece opposite to the vehicle body.

In the first aspect of the present invention, the flange portion of the metal collar includes: a contact portion that contacts a surface of the fixed piece opposite to the vehicle body; Since the outer flange portion has an inclined portion extending in a direction away from the side opposite to the side, the outer flange portion that is not in contact with the fixed piece exposes a region slightly away from the vicinity of the cylinder body directly to the flame. can be prevented.

When the lower portion of the fuel tank body is exposed to flames, the metal collar is overheated by the flames, and the heat softens and melts the fixing piece that is in contact with the flange portion of the metal collar. The piece deforms downward due to the weight of the fuel tank, but since the flange portion of the metal collar has an outer flange portion, the contact portion of the fixed piece with the flange portion extends from the outer circumference of the contact portion to the diameter of the contact portion. It moves to the outer flange portion which is formed in the direction outward.

As a result, it is possible to prevent the fixing piece and the flange portion of the metal collar from continuing to contact at one point. , even if it continues to melt, the fall of the fuel tank can be delayed and the flame resistance can be improved. In addition, the installation space for the heat damage protector becomes unnecessary, and the increase in weight and cost associated with the installation of the heat damage protector can be suppressed.

According to a second aspect of the present invention, there is provided a fuel tank mounting structure in which the inclined portion has a linear shape and/or a shape having a convex arc. According to the second aspect of the present invention, the inclined portion has a linear shape and/or a shape having a convex arc. , The contact portion between the fixed piece and the inclined portion moves stepwise or continuously to the outer flange portion (tank body side of the fuel tank), preventing continuous melting at one point and preventing the fuel tank from falling It can be delayed and flame resistance can be improved. The arc may be part of a circle or part of an ellipse. Also, straight lines and arcs may be combined.

According to a third aspect of the present invention, there is provided a fuel tank mounting structure for mounting a resin fuel tank to a vehicle body, comprising: a fixing piece integrally formed with a tank body for storing fuel; and a through hole provided in the fixing piece. a metal collar having a cylinder body inserted through the body, a flange portion disposed on the opposite side of the fixed piece from the vehicle body and extending radially outward from the outer periphery of the cylinder body, and being inserted through the metal collar, a fastening member for fixing the tank body to the vehicle body, the fixing piece having a thick portion in the vicinity of the through hole in the vehicle body downward direction or the vehicle body vertical direction, and the flange portion of the metal collar being the thick portion of the fixing piece. The fuel tank mounting structure is characterized by having a contact portion that contacts the thick portion, and an outer flange portion that extends radially outward from the outer periphery of the contact portion.

When the lower portion of the fuel tank body is exposed to flames, the metal collar is overheated by the flames, and the heat softens and softens the thick portion of the fixing piece that is in contact with the flange portion of the metal collar. Once melted, the fixed piece deforms downward under the weight of the fuel tank. In the third aspect of the present invention, the fixed piece has a thick portion near the through hole in the downward direction of the vehicle or in the vertical direction of the vehicle, and the flange portion of the metal collar abuts against the thick portion of the fixed piece. and an outer flange portion extending radially outward from the outer periphery of the contact portion. It abuts on the outer flange portion (tank body side of the fuel tank).

As a result, the contact portion between the flange portion of the metal collar and the fixed piece moves toward the main body of the fuel tank, so that it is possible to prevent the fixed piece and the flange portion of the metal collar from continuously contacting each other at one point. Even if the fixing piece in contact with the contact portion of the flange portion of the metal collar melts and continues to melt, the fall of the fuel tank can be delayed and flame resistance is improved. be able to. In addition, the installation space for the heat damage protector becomes unnecessary, and the increase in weight and cost associated with the installation of the heat damage protector can be suppressed.

In the fuel tank mounting structure described above, when viewed from below the vehicle, the portion of the fixed piece near the main body of the cylinder is covered with the flange portion of the metal collar. In the flange portion, the surface of the fixed piece of the fuel tank opposite to the vehicle body contacts the contact portion of the flange portion and does not contact the outer flange portion.
Therefore, the outer flange portion can prevent a region of the fixing piece slightly away from the vicinity of the cylinder main body from being directly exposed to the flame.

Also, since the outer flange portion is not in contact with the fixed piece, the metal collar is heated by the flame, and this heat softens and melts the fixed piece that is in contact with the contact portion of the flange portion of the metal collar. Even if the fixed piece is deformed downward due to the weight of the fuel tank, the deformed fixed piece moves further from the outer circumference of the contact portion to the outer flange portion formed radially outward.
As a result, the fixing piece in contact with the contact portion of the flange portion of the metal collar is softened and melted, and even if the melting continues, the fixed piece is still in contact with the outer flange portion, That is, by moving the abutting portion of the fixing piece against the flange from the abutting portion to the outer flange portion (tank body side of the fuel tank), the fall of the fuel tank can be delayed, and the flame resistance can be improved. can.

FIG. 2 is a schematic view from below the vehicle showing a state in which the fuel tank is attached to the vehicle body; FIG. 2 is a schematic view of the mounting structure of the fuel tank showing the first embodiment of the present invention as viewed from below the vehicle, and is an enlarged view of part A in FIG. 1; 1 is a schematic cross-sectional view of a fuel tank mounting structure when the fuel tank is mounted to the vehicle body according to the first embodiment of the present invention (cross section taken along line XX in FIG. 2); 1 is a schematic cross-sectional view of a mounting structure of a fuel tank according to the first embodiment of the present invention when fixing pieces of the fuel tank are deformed (cross section taken along line XX of FIG. 2); FIG. FIG. 3 is a schematic cross-sectional view of the fuel tank mounting structure according to the first embodiment of the present invention when the deformation of the fixing piece of the fuel tank has progressed further (cross section taken along the line XX in FIG. 2); FIG. 2 is a schematic view of a fuel tank mounting structure according to a second embodiment of the present invention as viewed from below the vehicle, and is an enlarged view of part A in FIG. 1; FIG. 7 is a schematic sectional view of the mounting structure of the fuel tank when the fuel tank is mounted to the vehicle body according to the second embodiment of the present invention (cross section taken along line XX in FIG. 6). FIG. 7 is a schematic sectional view of the mounting structure of the fuel tank according to the second embodiment of the present invention when the fixing piece of the fuel tank is deformed (cross section taken along line XX in FIG. 6). FIG. 7 is a schematic sectional view of the mounting structure of the fuel tank according to the second embodiment of the present invention when deformation of the fixing piece of the fuel tank has progressed further (cross section taken along line XX in FIG. 6). and FIG. 11 is a cross-sectional view showing a conventional fuel tank attached to a vehicle body. FIG. 11 is an enlarged view of a portion B of FIG. 10;

[First embodiment]
A mounting structure for a fuel tank 1 according to a first embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS. 1 to 5. FIG.
The fuel tank 1, as shown in FIG. The fixed piece 3 is formed with a through hole 31 (FIG. 3) through which a tubular body 41 of the metal collar 4, which will be described in detail later, is inserted. Although not shown in detail, the fuel tank 1 is arranged between the cross members 6, 6 which are arranged at a predetermined interval in the longitudinal direction of the vehicle, and as shown in FIG. After inserting the cylindrical body 41 of the metal collar 4 from below the vehicle body 5, using a metal bolt 7 and a nut 8 as fastening members, the bolt 7 is inserted through the washer 9 into the cylindrical body 41 of the metal collar 4. , and the fixing piece 3 is attached to a predetermined fixing point of each cross member 6 , 6 by a nut 8 and fixed.

Note that the fuel tank 1 shown in FIG. 1 has a planar rectangular tank body 2, which is symmetrical in the front, rear, and width directions of the vehicle. It can also be shaped.

Further, the shape of the fixing pieces 3 can be appropriately selected, and the number, size and thickness thereof can also be appropriately selected within a range in which the fuel tank 1 can be fixed. It should be noted that the thicker the fixing piece 3, the more difficult it is to soften and melt even when exposed to flames, and the better the flame resistance, but the greater the weight.

The fuel tank 1 is a container for storing fuel such as gasoline to be supplied to the engine, and is a molded body made of resin containing high-density polyethylene as a main component.

The metal collar 4 is made of a metal such as iron, an iron alloy, or stainless steel, which is superior in flame resistance and heat resistance to the resin forming the fuel tank 1 . The metal collar 4 has a cylinder body 41 and a flange portion 42 below the cylinder body 41 and extending radially outward of the cylinder body 41 . In FIG. 2, the flange portion 42 of the metal collar 4 has a circular shape, but it may have a different shape such as a polygonal shape.

As shown in FIG. 3 , on the cylinder body 41 side of the flange portion 42 , a contact portion 43 that contacts the surface of the fixing piece 3 opposite to the vehicle body 5 , and a contact portion 43 radially outward from the outer circumference of the contact portion 43 . A sloping portion 45 is formed in which the sloping portion 45 widens in a direction away from the side of the fixing piece 3 opposite to the vehicle body 5 . Furthermore, a flange portion 46 is formed at the end portion of the inclined portion 45 opposite to the contact portion 43 and extends radially outward. The angled portion 45 or the angled portion 45 and the collar portion 46 form the outer flange portion 44 . Note that the collar portion 46 is not necessarily required from the spirit of the present invention, but is provided from the viewpoint of forming the inclined portion 45 with high accuracy by press working or the like.

As shown in FIGS. 2 and 3, the flange portion 42 of the metal collar 4 has a large area covering the lower side of the fixed piece 3, so that the region of the fixed piece 3 in the vicinity of the cylinder main body 41 of the metal collar 4 is particularly large. can be prevented from being exposed to flames.

Next, the movement of the fixed piece 3 and the function of the outer flange portion 44 of the flange portion 42 of the metal collar 4 when the lower portion of the vehicle body 5 is exposed to flames will be described with reference to FIGS. 4 and 5. FIG.
When the lower portion of the vehicle body 5 is exposed to flames and the flange portion 42 of the metal collar 4 is heated, the flange portion 42 of the fixed piece 3 abuts against it. The resin begins to soften and melt. As a result, the fixing piece 3 is deformed downward due to the weight of the fuel tank 1 in which fuel is stored.

At this time, the flange portion 42 is formed with an inclined portion 45 that expands radially outward from the outer periphery of the contact portion 43 and extends away from the side of the fixed piece 3 opposite to the vehicle body 5 . , the contact portion between the fixed piece 3 and the flange portion 42 moves toward the inclined portion 45, as shown in FIG. On the other hand, on the opposite side of the fixed piece 3 from the tank body 2, the resin near the cylinder body 41 of the metal collar 4 melts, but the weight of the fuel tank 1 causes the fixed piece 3 to deform downward, and the flange portion away from 42, i.e. out of contact.

Furthermore, when the flange portion 42 of the metal collar 4 is heated, the resin of the fixed piece 3 is in contact with the flange portion 42 of the fixed piece 3 , that is, the contact portion 43 of the flange portion 42 and part of the inclined portion 45 . begins to soften and melt. As a result, the fixing piece 3 is deformed further downward by the weight of the fuel tank 1 in which the fuel is stored.

As a result, as shown in FIG. 5, the abutment portion between the fixing piece 3 and the flange portion 42 of the metal collar 4 is shifted toward the inclined portion 45 and the flange portion 46, and further outward from FIG. side). Moreover, the phenomenon that the resin in the vicinity of the tubular body 41 of the metal collar 4 in the fixing piece 3 separates from the flange portion 42 becomes conspicuous.

Therefore, by providing the inclined portion 45 at the contact portion between the flange portion 42 of the metal collar 4 and the fixed piece 3, the deformation of the fixed piece 3 due to the weight of the fuel tank 1 causes the inclined portion 45 side (fuel tank 1), it is possible to prevent continuous melting in one place, delay the fall of the fuel tank 1, and improve the flame resistance. In addition, the installation space for the heat damage protector becomes unnecessary, and the increase in weight and cost associated with the installation of the heat damage protector can be suppressed.

[Second embodiment]
A mounting structure for a fuel tank 1 according to a second embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS. 1, 2, and 6 to 9. FIG. The second embodiment of the present invention differs from the first embodiment in that, first, it relates to the fixing piece 3. The fixing piece 3 has a thick portion 32 in the vicinity of the through hole 31 in the downward direction of the vehicle body. Secondly, the flange portion 42 of the metal collar 4 is in contact with the contact portion 43 that contacts the surface of the thick portion 32 of the fixed piece 3 opposite to the vehicle body 5. Although it has an outer flange portion 44 extending radially outward from the outer periphery of the portion 43 , the outer flange portion 44 is not formed with an inclined portion 45 . Regarding the second embodiment, the method of attaching the fuel tank 1 and the fixing piece 3 to the cross member 6 of the vehicle body 5 is the same as in the first embodiment. Also, the thick portion 32 may be formed in the vertical direction of the vehicle body.

As shown in FIG. 7, after inserting the tubular body 41 of the metal collar 4 into the through hole 31 of the fixed piece 3 from below the vehicle body 5, the metal bolt 7 is inserted into the tubular body of the metal collar 4 through the washer 9. It is inserted into the body 41 from below the vehicle body 5 , and the fixing pieces 3 are attached and fixed to predetermined fixing points of the cross members 6 , 6 by nuts 8 . At this time, the thick portion 32 of the fixed piece 3 contacts the flange portion 42 of the metal collar 4 . Here, a portion of the flange portion 42 with which the thick portion 32 abuts is called a contact portion 43 of the flange portion 42, and the other portion is called an outer flange portion 44 of the flange portion 42. As shown in FIG.

Next, the relationship between the movement of the fixing piece 3 and the outer flange portion 44 of the flange portion 42 of the metal collar 4 when the lower portion of the vehicle body 5 is exposed to flames will be described with reference to FIGS. 8 and 9. .
When the lower portion of the vehicle body 5 is exposed to flames and the flange portion 42 of the metal collar 4 is heated, the portion of the fixing piece 3 in contact with the flange portion 42, that is, the fixing piece at the contact portion 43 of the flange portion 42 The resin of the thick portion 32 of 3 begins to soften and melt. As a result, the fixing piece 3 is deformed downward due to the weight of the fuel tank 1 in which fuel is stored.

At this time, as shown in FIG. 8, the abutting portion between the fixed piece 3 and the flange portion 42 moves toward the outer flange portion 44 of the fuel tank 1 on the side of the tank body 2 . On the other hand, on the opposite side of the fixed piece 3 from the tank body 2, the resin near the cylinder body 41 of the metal collar 4 melts, but the weight of the fuel tank 1 causes the fixed piece 3 to deform downward, and the flange portion away from 42, i.e. out of contact.

Furthermore, when the flange portion 42 of the metal collar 4 is heated, the resin in contact with the flange portion 42 of the fixed piece 3 begins to soften and melt. As a result, the fixing piece 3 is deformed further downward by the weight of the fuel tank 1 in which the fuel is stored.

As a result, as shown in FIG. 9, the abutting portion between the fixing piece 3 and the flange portion 42 of the metal collar 4 moves toward the outer flange portion 44, further outward (toward the tank main body 2 of the fuel tank 1) from FIG. will move. Moreover, the phenomenon that the resin in the vicinity of the tubular body 41 of the metal collar 4 in the fixing piece 3 separates from the flange portion 42 becomes conspicuous.

Therefore, the contact portion between the flange portion 42 of the metal collar 4 and the fixed piece 3 should be provided in the vicinity of the through hole 31 of the fixed piece 3 , and the flange portion 42 of the metal collar 4 should Since the outer flange portion 44 extends radially outward from the outer periphery of the thick portion 32 and the contact portion 43, the outer flange portion 44 is deformed due to the weight of the fuel tank 1 and the fixing piece 3 is deformed. Since it will move to the 44 side (tank main body 2 side of the fuel tank 1), it is possible to prevent continuous melting at one place, delay the fall of the fuel tank 1, and improve the flame resistance. can. In addition, the installation space for the heat damage protector becomes unnecessary, and the increase in weight and cost associated with the installation of the heat damage protector can be suppressed.

The mounting structure of the fuel tank of the present invention is a simple configuration in which the shape of the metal collar is changed compared to the conventional metal collar, and the flame resistance can be improved without increasing the number of parts, and the weight is reduced. Increases can be very small. Also, an increase in cost can be suppressed. Furthermore, since the fuel tank installation work is substantially the same as in the case of using a conventional metal collar, there is no reduction in productivity.

The implementation of the present invention is not limited to the above embodiments, and various modifications are possible without departing from the object of the present invention.

In the above-described first embodiment, the inclined portion 45 of the outer flange portion 44 has a single linear shape as shown in FIG. may be made to increase the degree of separation from the opposite side. Further, the degree of separation from the side of the fixing piece opposite to the vehicle body may be increased stepwise.

In the above-described second embodiment, the outer flange portion 44 is not formed with the inclined portion 45, but as in the first embodiment, the outer flange portion 44 is provided with the inclined portion 45 (the structure of the paragraph above). including) may be formed.

1 fuel tank
2 Tank body 3 Fixed piece 31 Through hole 32 Thick part 4 Metal collar 41 Cylinder body 42 Flange part 43 Contact part 44 Outer flange part 45 Inclined part 46 Flange part 5 Vehicle body 6 Cross member 7 Bolt 8 Nut 9 Washer

Claims (3)

A fuel tank mounting structure for mounting a resin fuel tank to a vehicle body,
a fixed piece integrally formed with a tank body that stores fuel;
A cylinder body inserted through a through hole provided in the fixed piece, and a flange portion disposed on the opposite side of the fixed piece from the vehicle body and extending radially outward from the outer circumference of the cylinder body. a metal collar having
a fastening member that is inserted through the metal collar and fixes the tank body to the vehicle body,
The flange portion of the metal collar is
a contact portion that contacts a surface of the fixed piece opposite to the vehicle body;
An outer flange portion having an inclined portion extending in a direction away from the side of the fixed piece opposite to the vehicle body is provided radially outward from the outer periphery of the contact portion. Mounting structure of the fuel tank. 2. The fuel tank mounting structure according to claim 1, wherein said inclined portion has a linear shape and/or a shape having a convex arc. A fuel tank mounting structure for mounting a resin fuel tank to a vehicle body,
a fixed piece integrally formed with a tank body that stores fuel;
A cylinder body inserted through a through hole provided in the fixed piece, and a flange portion disposed on the opposite side of the fixed piece from the vehicle body and extending radially outward from the outer circumference of the cylinder body. a metal collar having
a fastening member that is inserted through the metal collar and fixes the tank body to the vehicle body,
The fixing piece has a thick portion near the through hole in the vehicle body downward direction or the vehicle body vertical direction,
The flange portion of the metal collar is
a contact portion that contacts the thick portion of the fixed piece;
A mounting structure for a fuel tank, comprising an outer flange portion extending radially outward from an outer periphery of the contact portion.

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