JP7336822B2 - vehicle structure - Google Patents

Description

The present invention relates to a vehicle structure having a fuel supply path.

Patent Document 1 discloses a structure of a fuel supply path extending from a fuel tank of a vehicle to an engine. The fuel supply path of Patent Document 1 includes a floor-side fuel pipe connected to the engine and a tank-side fuel pipe connected to the fuel tank. The floor-side fuel pipe and the tank-side fuel pipe are connected by a plug-in joint. Also, the floor-side fuel pipe is fixed to the floor with a clamp.

Patent Document 2 discloses a structure in which a joint between a resin fuel hose and a metal fuel pipe is fixed to the back side of the dashboard. The joint is protected by a cover member.

JP 2012-111281 A JP 2019-14315 A

In recent years, the conditions for pole side impact tests have become stricter. In a configuration in which the fuel supply path is routed on the side of the vehicle, there is a risk that the joint will be damaged and fuel will leak when the pole collides with the side of the vehicle. As a countermeasure, it is conceivable to provide a cover to protect the joint. However, there are problems such as an increase in cost and weight due to an increase in the number of parts, and a decrease in productivity of the vehicle due to the trouble of mounting. As another countermeasure, it is conceivable to route the fuel supply passage in the center in the vehicle width direction. However, depending on the vehicle type, it may not be possible to route the fuel supply path in the center in the vehicle width direction due to the layout of other configurations.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION In view of the above circumstances, one object of the present invention is to provide a vehicle capable of suppressing fuel leakage in the event of a side collision without using an additional member such as a cover in a configuration in which a fuel supply passage is routed on the side of the vehicle. It is to provide structure.

A vehicle structure according to one aspect of the present invention includes:
A vehicle structure comprising a fuel supply passage for supplying fuel from a fuel tank of the vehicle to an engine,
The fuel supply path is
a suction tube extending from the fuel tank;
a fuel pipe connected to the suction tube and extending to the engine;
a connecting member that connects the suction tube and the fuel pipe;
a clamp for locking at least part of the fuel pipe on a side member arranged on the side of the vehicle;
The connecting member is arranged on the inner side in the vehicle width direction of the clamp.

According to the above configuration, fuel leakage is effectively suppressed in the event of a side collision of the vehicle. In the above configuration, the clamp is provided on the side member, and the connecting member is arranged on the inner side of the clamp in the vehicle width direction. Therefore, in the event of a side collision of the vehicle, stress directed toward the center in the vehicle width direction first acts on the clamps provided on the side members. The highly rigid fuel pipe moves toward the inside of the vehicle together with the clamp. At this time, the suction tube bends, and the connecting member moves rapidly inward in the vehicle width direction together with the clamp. As a result, since the impact of the side collision is not directly input to the connecting member, damage to the connecting member is suppressed, and fuel leakage due to the damage is suppressed.

FIG. 1 is a schematic configuration diagram of a vehicle structure according to Embodiment 1. FIG. FIG. 2 is a schematic configuration diagram of a connecting member. FIG. 3 is a diagram for explaining the behavior of each part of the fuel supply passage at the time of a pole side collision. FIG. 4 is a schematic configuration diagram of the vehicle structure according to the second embodiment.

A vehicle structure 1 according to an embodiment of the present invention will be described below with reference to FIGS. 1 to 4. FIG. The same reference numerals in the drawings indicate the same names. The arrows in the diagram indicate "FR" for the front of the vehicle, "RR" for the rear of the vehicle, "UP" for the top of the vehicle, "LWR" for the bottom of the vehicle, "LH" for the left of the vehicle, and "RH" for the right of the vehicle. show. The present invention is not limited to these examples, but is indicated by the scope of the claims, and is intended to include all modifications within the meaning and scope of equivalents of the scope of the claims.

<Embodiment 1>
≪Overall composition≫
FIG. 1 is a view of the vehicle structure 1 of this example as viewed from below the vehicle. The member arranged on the right side of the paper surface of FIG. 1 and extending in the vertical direction of the paper surface is the side member 7 on the left side of the vehicle. Therefore, the right side of the paper surface is the outer side in the vehicle width direction, and the left side of the paper surface is the inner side in the vehicle width direction. As shown in FIG. 1, the vehicle structure 1 includes a fuel supply passage 2 that supplies fuel from a fuel tank 8 to an engine (not shown). The fuel supply path 2 includes a suction tube 3 , a fuel pipe 4 , a connecting member 5 and a clamp 6 . One of the characteristics of the vehicle structure 1 of this example is that the connecting member 5 is located on the inner side of the clamp 6 in the vehicle width direction. Hereinafter, each configuration of the vehicle structure 1 of this example will be described in detail.

≪Suction tube≫
The suction tube 3 is a tube-shaped member whose one end is open to the inside of the fuel tank 8 and sucks fuel out of the fuel tank 8 . The suction tube 3 is made of resin such as vinyl. It is preferable that the suction tube 3 has some degree of flexibility.

≪Fuel piping≫
The fuel pipe 4 is a pipe line connected to the other end of the suction tube 3 and extending to the engine. The fuel pipe 4 of this example is arranged so as to extend in the vehicle length direction on the lateral side of the vehicle. The fuel pipe 4 is made of metal such as steel, and has higher rigidity than the suction tube 3 . The fuel pipe 4 of this example includes a curved portion 4R that curves outward in the vehicle width direction in the vicinity of the end connected to the suction tube 3 . This curved portion 4R is locked by a clamp 6, which will be described later.

≪Connecting member≫
The connecting member 5 is a bayonet type joint, a so-called quick joint. In this example, as shown in FIG. 2, the connecting member 5 is composed of a first joint portion 51 provided at the end of the suction tube 3 and a second joint portion 52 provided at the end of the fuel pipe 4. ing.

The first joint portion 51 includes a tube portion 510 bent in an L shape and a joint tubular portion 511 . The suction tube 3 is fitted to one end of the tube portion 510 and connected by thermal caulking. A joint tubular portion 511 is provided at the other end of the pipe portion 510 . The joint tube portion 511 is provided with a pair of engagement holes 512 that communicate with the inside and outside of the tube.

The second joint portion 52 includes an annularly bulging bulge portion 520 and a spring-like retainer 521 . Claw portions 522 are formed on the retainer 521 . When the tip of the second joint portion 52 is inserted into the first joint portion 51, the bulge portion 520 seals the gap in the joint tubular portion 511, and the claw portion 522 fits into the engagement hole 512 of the joint tubular portion 511. , both joint portions 51 and 52 are connected. When disconnecting the joint portions 51 and 52 , the retainer 521 is jammed and the second joint portion 52 is pulled out from the first joint portion 51 .

≪Clamp≫
The clamp 6 is a member that fixes the fuel pipe 4 to a predetermined position on the vehicle. A known configuration can be used for the clamp 6 . The clamp 6 of this example includes a band portion arranged around the outer periphery of the fuel pipe 4 and an attachment portion formed at the end of the band portion. At least a part of the fuel pipe 4 is fixed at a predetermined position of the vehicle by arranging the belt portion around the outer circumference of the fuel pipe 4 and fixing the mounting portion to the vehicle body by using a clip, welding, or the like. Here, the number of clamps 6 is not particularly limited. For example, another clamp 6 may be provided on the front side of the vehicle, not shown in FIG.

The clamp 6 in this example is attached to a lateral member of the vehicle. The side members are members that form the vehicle frame and extend in the vehicle length direction. Examples of side members include side members 7 and rockers (also called side sills). The side member in this example is the side member 7 . The side member 7 is a hat-shaped member having an opening on the upper side of the vehicle.

The side member 7 has a projecting portion 70 that protrudes outward in the vehicle width direction. The protruding portion 70 is a portion arranged outside the other portions of the side member 7 in the vehicle width direction. The clamp 6 is fixed to the wall surface of the projecting portion 70 on the inner side of the vehicle.

The clamp 6 of this example locks the emission hose 40 and the brake tube 41 together with the fuel pipe 4 to the side member 7 . By doing so, the number of clamps for locking the emission hose 40 and the brake tube 41 to the vehicle body can be reduced. Of course, the clamp 6 may lock other hoses, tubes, cables, etc. together with the fuel pipe 4 .

≪Behavior of each part of the fuel supply path at the time of side collision≫
Next, with reference to FIG. 3, the behavior of the connecting member 5 at the time of a pole side collision will be described. In FIG. 3, the emission hose 40 and the brake tube 41 are omitted. When the pole 9 collides with the protruding portion 70 of the side member 7 on the side of the vehicle, the impact acts in the direction of the white arrow. Depending on the strength of the impact, the projecting portion 70 may be recessed inward in the vehicle width direction. At this time, since the connecting member 5 is arranged at a position spaced inward in the vehicle width direction from the projecting portion 70 , a direct impact does not act on the connecting member 5 .

In this example, since the clamp 6 is provided on the projecting portion 70, the clamp 6 also moves inward when the projecting portion 70 is recessed inward. Since the fuel pipe 4 locked by the clamp 6 is made of rigid steel, it tends to move inward while maintaining its shape. At this time, the flexible suction tube 3 bends, and the connecting member 5 moves rapidly inward along with the clamp 6 . As a result, since the impact of the side collision is not directly input to the connecting member 5, damage to the connecting member 5 is suppressed, and fuel leakage due to the damage is suppressed.

Even if the pole 9 collides with a portion of the side member 7 other than the projecting portion 70, damage to the connecting member 5 can be suppressed. This is because the connecting member 5 is located away from the side member 7 , and the impact of the deformation of the side member 7 is less likely to act on the connecting member 5 . Further, when the side member 7 is deformed due to the impact, the clamp 6 first moves inward in the vehicle width direction, and accordingly the connecting member 5 also quickly moves inward in the vehicle width direction.

<Embodiment 2>
In Embodiment 1, the vehicle structure 1 including the L-shaped connecting member 5 has been described. On the other hand, in Embodiment 2, a vehicle structure 1 including a linear connecting member 5 will be described.

As shown in FIG. 4, when using a linear connecting member 5, it is preferable to arrange the connecting member 5 so that its axis is oriented in the vehicle width direction. This is because the impact of the side impact is easily transmitted to the suction tube 3 via the connecting member 5 , and the suction tube 3 bends, thereby suppressing damage to the connecting member 5 .

Reference Signs List 1 vehicle structure 2 fuel supply path 3 suction tube 4 fuel pipe 4R curved portion 40 emission hose 41 brake tube 5 connecting member 51 first joint portion 510 pipe portion 511 joint tubular portion 512 engagement hole 52 second joint Part 520 Bulge Part 521 Retainer 522 Claw Part 6 Clamp 7 Side Member (side member) 70 Projecting Part 8 Fuel Tank 9 Pole

Claims (1)

A vehicle structure comprising a fuel supply passage for supplying fuel from a fuel tank of the vehicle to an engine,
The fuel supply path is
a suction tube extending from the fuel tank;
a fuel pipe connected to the suction tube and extending to the engine;
a connecting member that connects the suction tube and the fuel pipe;
a clamp for locking at least part of the fuel pipe on a side member arranged on the side of the vehicle;
The side member is a side member having a projecting portion that bulges outward in the vehicle width direction,
The clamp is fixed to a wall surface on the vehicle inner side of the projecting portion,
The vehicle structure in which the connecting member is arranged on the inner side in the vehicle width direction of the clamp.

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