JP7429160B2 - cover member - Google Patents

Description

The present invention relates to a cover member that covers the outer surface of a lid that is attached to an opening of a vehicle fuel tank.

Patent Document 1 discloses the following technology regarding a fuel supply device mounted in an upper opening of a fuel tank mounted on a vehicle. As shown in FIG. 9(a), in the fuel tank 100, a substantially cylindrical opening 110 is integrally provided in the upper wall of the tank body 160, and a fixing member is provided on the outer periphery of the opening 110. An annular thread ring 600 is fixed. Further, above the opening 110, a disk-shaped pump flange 220 (fuel pump flange) is provided as a closing member. The outer periphery of the pump flange 220 is held between the upper surface of the opening 110 and the inner periphery of the lock nut 230 around the entire circumference, and the pump flange 220 closes the opening 110 from above. . An annular lower cover 700 made of resin and forming a resin cover is provided on the upper side of the tank body 160 on the outer periphery of the opening 110. The lower cover 700 surrounds the entire periphery of the opening 110. I'm here.

On the upper side of the lower cover 700, a substantially disc-shaped upper cover 800 made of resin and forming a resin cover is provided. The upper cover 800 is provided with a disk-shaped top part 810 in the upper part and a cylindrical peripheral part 820 in the lower part, and the peripheral part 820 extends from the entire circumference of the top part 810 to the lower side. It has been extended. The top part 810 covers the upper side of the lower cover 700 (erected part 710), and the peripheral part 820 is arranged on the outer peripheral side of the lower cover 700 (the outer peripheral side of the raised part 710), and the peripheral part 820 covers the upper side of the lower cover 700 (erected part 710). closes the upper side of the lower cover 700.

As shown in FIG. 9(b), the upper cover 800 is integrally provided with a rectangular frame-shaped upper fitting part 830 on the other side of the peripheral part 820, and the upright part of the lower cover 700 The upper cover 800 is fitted to the lower fitting part 720 formed in the lower cover 710 .

Further, Patent Document 2 discloses the following technology regarding the structure of the opening of the fuel tank 100. As shown in FIG. 10, the opening structure of the fuel tank 100 has a locking hole 320 in the form of a wide hole 330 and a narrow hole 340 fixed to the opening of the fuel tank 100 connected in the circumferential direction. It consists of a retaining ring 300, a locking ring 400 that sandwiches the pump flange 220 with the retaining ring 300, and a protector 500 that is attached to cover a fuel pump (not shown). The locking pawl 420 formed on the lock ring 400 can be inserted into and removed from the wide hole 330 of the lock ring 300, and when inserted into the narrow hole 340, it engages with the edge of the narrow hole 340. The lock ring 400 is fixed to the lock ring 300. A stopper 510 is formed on the protector 500, and when the protector 500 is inserted into the wide hole 330 of the locking ring 300, the locking pawl 420 of the lock ring 400 in the narrow hole 340 is displaced to the wide hole 330 of the locking ring 300. It regulates things.

Japanese Patent Application Publication No. 2010-241253 Japanese Patent Application Publication No. 2016-113085

By the way, the cover or protector that protects the outer surface of the fuel supply device (fuel pump, etc.) mounted in the upper opening of the fuel tank mounted on a vehicle has the following features: It is required to prevent hot air or liquid from contacting the fuel supply system.

Furthermore, when performing maintenance such as replacing the fuel pump, it is necessary to attach and remove the cover or protector, but if you wish to perform maintenance without removing the fuel tank from the vehicle, you can turn up the carpet under the seat and attach it to the floor panel. It is necessary to insert your hand through the service hole that has been formed. Generally, the opening of the service hole is small, and the work space for replacing the fuel pump is very narrow.

The technique of Patent Document 1 is very effective in preventing hot air or liquid from coming into contact with the fuel supply device, but the upper fitting part in which the upper cover 800 and the lower cover 700 are formed on the side surfaces 830 and the lower fitting part 720, it takes time to search for the fitting part from the service hole. Furthermore, when removing the upper cover 800 from the lower cover 700, it is necessary to temporarily elastically deform the upper fitting part 830 to separate the lower fitting part 720 from inside the upper fitting part 830. The workability of removing the upper cover 800 by inserting one's hand through a small service hole is extremely poor.

On the other hand, with the technology of Patent Document 2, it is easy to find the fastening part of the protector from the service hole, but since the top of the fuel supply device is open, hot air or liquid comes into contact with the fuel supply device such as the fuel pump. However, there is a risk that the fuel supply system will deteriorate further. Further, in the technique of Patent Document 2, replacing the fuel supply device requires attaching and detaching nuts at three locations, and there still remains a problem from the viewpoint of workability.

The present invention solves the above problems and provides a cover member that prevents hot air or liquid from coming into contact with a lid attached to the opening of a vehicle fuel tank, and that is easy to attach and detach and has excellent workability. The present invention according to claim 1 provides an outer surface of a lid to be attached to the opening of a fuel tank for a vehicle, which has an opening in the upper part and a locking ring is fixed to the opening edge of the opening. The cover member has an upper surface portion and a side surface portion formed downward continuously from the upper surface portion. A cover member comprising a downwardly projecting protrusion and a plurality of engagement parts each having a claw at the tip of the protrusion for attaching the cover member to a locking ring . It is.

In the present invention according to claim 1, the cover member has an opening at an upper part, and a locking ring is fixed to the opening edge of the opening. Since the lid is covered, the cover member can prevent hot air or liquid from coming into contact with the lid.

Further, it has an upper surface part and a side surface part formed downward continuously from the upper surface part, and the outer peripheral edge of the locking ring is passed from above to below on the back surface of the upper surface part to lock the cover member. The cover member is fixed to the opening edge of the fuel tank opening because it has a protrusion that protrudes downward for attachment to the ring, and multiple engagement parts that have claws at the tip of the protrusion. By passing the outer circumferential edge of the locking ring through the claw portion of the engaging portion and attaching and detaching, the cover member can be easily attached and detached without performing the fitting work using bolts and nuts in Patent Document 2. , has excellent workability.

Furthermore, since the engaging part is formed on the back side of the top surface part, it is easy to attach and detach the cover member even in a small service hole formed in the floor panel without having to reach the side of the cover member. Maintenance such as fuel pump replacement can be performed efficiently.

According to a second aspect of the present invention, there is provided a cover member in which a recess is formed in a portion of the upper surface where the engaging portion is formed below.

According to the second aspect of the present invention, in the upper surface portion, a recess is formed at a portion where the engaging portion is formed below, so that the location where the engaging portion is formed can be easily found. In addition, the recessed portion makes it easy to press with the abdomen of a finger, and by pressing the recessed portion, the engaging portion can be easily attached and detached from the locking ring, and the cover member can be easily attached and detached.

The present invention according to claim 3 is a cover member in which a handle portion that projects upward and extends toward the side surface portion is formed at a portion of the upper surface portion where the engaging portion is formed below.

In the third aspect of the present invention, in the upper surface portion, a handle portion that protrudes upward and extends in the direction of the side surface portion is formed at the portion where the engaging portion is formed below. You can easily find out where it is formed. Moreover, by grasping the handle part with fingers and moving it up and down, the engaging part can be attached to and detached from the locking ring, and the cover member can be easily attached and detached.

According to a fourth aspect of the present invention, the handle portion is a cover member that is formed lower on the side surface side. In the fourth aspect of the present invention, the side surface of the handle is formed low, so that when the cover member is taken in and out of the service hole formed in the floor panel, the side surface of the handle is lower than the edge of the service hole. The cover member can be easily attached and detached.

According to a fifth aspect of the present invention, there is provided a cover member in which a substantially linear groove portion is formed on the upper surface portion at a portion other than the portion where the engaging portion is formed below.

In the present invention according to claim 5, since the substantially linear groove is formed in the upper surface of the cover member at a portion other than the portion where the engaging portion is formed below, the cover member can be moved from the groove as a base point. It can be deformed, and the cover member can be easily attached and detached.

The present invention according to claim 6 is characterized in that the upper surface portion has a housing portion formed in a portion other than the portion where the engaging portion is formed below, and the housing portion is formed in the groove portion so as to protrude upward. This is a cover member formed on an upper surface portion that is not covered by the cover.

According to the sixth aspect of the present invention, the upper surface of the cover member is formed with a housing portion whose upper surface portion projects upward, so that, for example, a fuel supply portion or a fuel supply hose that projects upward from the top surface of the lid is provided. etc., and prevent contact with hot air or liquid. Further, since the housing portion is formed by partially protruding a portion of the upper surface portion, the cover member can be manufactured compactly.

Furthermore, since the accommodating part is formed in a part other than the part where the engaging part is formed downward, there is no need to form the engaging part unnecessarily long downward, which reduces the mechanical strength of the engaging part. can be prevented.

Furthermore, since the groove is formed on the upper surface of the cover member where the housing is not formed, it is possible to prevent the protruding corners of the housing from hindering the deformation of the cover member from the groove. can.

The present invention according to claim 7 is characterized in that the upper surface portion has an accommodating portion formed in a portion other than the portion where the engaging portion is formed below, the accommodating portion protruding upward, and the accommodating portion is formed on one side surface. an accommodating opening, and an inclined part whose surface facing the accommodating opening is formed at an acute angle with respect to the upper surface; This is a cover member formed on the upper surface portion, the upper surface portion of the accommodating portion, and the inclined portion.

In the present invention according to claim 7, the upper surface of the cover member has an upper surface projecting upwardly and an accommodating opening formed on one side, and a surface facing the accommodating opening facing the upper surface. Since the accommodating part is formed with a sloped part formed at an acute angle, for example, when a pressure sensor or the like is installed horizontally on the lid, the lead wire part from the fuel tank side should be tilted. The connection part of the pressure sensor with the vehicle side can be arranged in the opening of the housing part formed on the side surface.

Furthermore, since the accommodating part is formed in a part other than the part where the engaging part is formed downward, there is no need to form the engaging part unnecessarily long downward, which reduces the mechanical strength of the engaging part. can be prevented.

Furthermore, since the groove is formed in a substantially straight line between the upper surface and the upper surface of the housing, or between the upper surface and the upper surface of the housing and the sloped part, the cover member can also be formed when the groove passes through the housing. It is possible to prevent the deformation of the material from being hindered.

The present invention according to claim 8 provides a cover member in which a notch is formed in the upper surface of the front side of the opening of the accommodating part, and an expandable part that can be opened and closed in the vertical direction is formed by the notch. be.

For example, at the connection part of the pressure sensor with the vehicle side, the jack part of the pressure sensor may be exposed to the front side from the opening of the accommodating part, and the jack part may interfere with attaching and detaching the cover member. There is. Further, if an opening is formed in the upper surface of the cover member corresponding to the jack portion, there is a high possibility that hot air or liquid will come into contact with the lid.

In the eighth aspect of the present invention, a notch is formed in the upper surface of the front side of the opening of the housing, and the opening forms an expandable part that can be opened and closed in the vertical direction. By expanding the front side of the cover member vertically, it is possible to prevent the jack portion and the like from interfering with attaching and detaching the cover member. Further, after the cover member is attached, the top of the lid can be protected by the expanding portion, so deterioration of the lid due to contact with hot air or liquid can be suppressed.

The present invention according to claim 9 provides a cover member in which the thickness of the expanded portion is formed thinner than other portions of the upper surface portion. In the ninth aspect of the present invention, the thickness of the deployable portion is formed thinner than the other portions of the upper surface of the cover member, so that the deployable portion can be easily opened and closed in the vertical direction, and hot air or Deterioration of the lid due to contact with liquid can be suppressed.

According to a tenth aspect of the present invention, the cover member is provided with a flange portion that is continuous with the periphery of the side portion and is formed outward.

The outer surface of a fuel tank other than the opening may be covered with a heat insulating material in order to suppress a rise in temperature inside the tank due to hot air from the outside. In the tenth aspect of the present invention, since the cover member is provided with a flange formed outwardly continuously from the periphery of the side surface, when the cover member is attached to the locking ring of the fuel tank, The flange of the cover member can be made to cover the heat insulating material, and hot air or liquid can be prevented from entering through the gap between the cover member and the fuel tank.

In the eleventh aspect of the present invention, the cover member is made of thermoplastic olefin elastomer (TPO). The cover member is required to handle hot air, such as air heated by heat from the engine, catalyst device, or road surface, and liquid, such as acidic liquid from the outside of the vehicle or from the passenger compartment.

In the eleventh aspect of the present invention, since the cover member is made of thermoplastic olefin elastomer (TPO), the cover member can be lightweight and has excellent heat resistance and acid resistance.

The cover member has an opening at the top and covers the outer surface of a lid that is attached to the opening of a fuel tank for a vehicle in which a locking ring is fixed to the opening edge of the opening. Alternatively, it is possible to prevent liquid from coming into contact with the lid.

Further, it has an upper surface part and a side surface part formed downward continuously from the upper surface part, and a protrusion part protruding downward for attaching the cover member to the locking ring and a protrusion part on the back surface of the upper surface part. Since a plurality of engaging parts each having a claw part are formed at the tip of the part, the claw part of the engaging part can be attached to and removed from the locking ring fixed to the opening edge of the opening of the fuel tank. This allows the cover member to be easily attached and detached, resulting in extremely high workability.

Furthermore, since the engaging part is formed on the back side of the upper surface part, the cover member can be easily attached and detached even in a small service hole formed in the floor panel, and it is possible to easily attach and detach the cover member for purposes such as replacing the fuel pump. Maintenance can be performed efficiently.

It is a top view of the cover member of the 1st embodiment of this invention. FIG. 3 is a plan view of the cover member viewed from the back side. It is a perspective view of a locking ring. It is a perspective view of a lock ring. FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view taken along the line XX in FIG. 1, and is a diagram showing other members assembled. FIG. 3 is a perspective view of a second embodiment of the invention. FIG. 7 is a plan view of the cover member of FIG. 6; FIG. 8 is a cross-sectional view taken along the YY line in FIG. 7, and is a diagram showing other members assembled. It is a conventional fuel supply device, (a) is a sectional view, and (b) is a perspective view (Patent Document 1). This is a conventional fuel tank opening structure (Patent Document 2).

A first embodiment embodying the present invention will be described based on FIGS. 1 to 5. The first embodiment includes a fuel tank 1 made of resin, a locking ring 3 made of metal, a lid 2 attached to an opening edge 12 of an opening 11 of the fuel tank 1, and an outer surface of the lid 2. A cover member 5 is provided. Note that the fuel tank 1 is arranged under a floor panel that constitutes the floor of the vehicle, and spaced apart from the floor panel.

Further, the lid 2 is attached to the lock ring 3 by a lock ring 4, which will be described later. In the following description, the fuel tank 1, lid 2, lock ring 3, and lock ring 4 that constitute this embodiment will be briefly explained in order, and finally the cover member 5 will be explained in detail. After that, attachment of the lid 2 to the fuel tank 1 and attachment and detachment of the cover member 5 to the locking ring 3 will be explained.

The fuel tank 1 is mainly made of high-density polyethylene (HDPE) molded using a blow molding method, and the barrier layer, which has extremely low fuel permeability, is made of, for example, ethylene-vinyl alcohol copolymer (EvOH). From the inside of the resin fuel tank, it has a 6-layer structure of 4 types: main material/adhesive layer/barrier layer/adhesive layer/recycled material layer/main material structure. Note that five layers of three types, ie, main material/adhesive layer/barrier layer/adhesive layer/main material, may be used. Furthermore, any synthetic resin that can be blow molded, such as polypropylene or polyamide, can be used.

As shown in FIG. 5, a circular opening 11 is formed in the upper part of the fuel tank 1. As shown in FIG. A seal groove 14 is formed in an opening surface 13 that is the upper surface of an opening edge 12 of the opening 11, and an O-ring 15 is attached to the seal groove 14. Further, the portion of the fuel tank 1 except for the vicinity of the opening 11 is covered with a heat insulating material 8.

Next, the lid 2 will be explained. The lid 2 is removably attached by a lock ring 4, which will be described later, and covers the opening 11 of the fuel tank 1 by closing it. As shown in FIG. 5, the lid 2 has a cylindrical portion 21, a flange portion 22, a fuel supply portion 23, and a connector portion 24. The lid 2 is made of resin and is integrally molded with the fuel supply section 23 and a portion of the connector section 24 other than the conductive section such as the terminal. As the material, POM (polyacetal), which is excellent in cost effectiveness, was used.

The cylindrical portion 21 of the lid 2 is a cylindrical portion of the lid 2, and a flange portion 22 is formed on the upper portion of the cylindrical portion 21, and the flange portion 22 projects outward. The cylindrical portion 21 fits into the opening 11 of the fuel tank 1.

The fuel supply section 23 of the lid 2 has a hollow tube through which the fuel stored in the fuel tank 1 passes. One end of the fuel supply section 23 is connected to a fuel pump (not shown) installed in the fuel tank 1. Moreover, one end of the hose 9 is connected to the other end, and the other end of the hose 9 is connected to the engine.

The connector portion 24 of the lid 2 extends vertically and penetrates the flange portion 22. The lower end of the connector portion 24 is connected to the fuel pump by a plurality of lead wires (not shown).

Next, the locking ring 3 will be explained. As shown in FIGS. 3 and 5, the locking ring 3 has an annular shape as a whole. An inner peripheral edge of the locking ring 3 is embedded in the fuel tank 1. The outer circumferential edge 31 of the locking ring 3 has a plate shape that is flush with the upper surface of the opening surface 13 of the opening 11 of the fuel tank 1, and is located on the outer circumferential side of the opening surface 13 of the opening 11 of the fuel tank 1. It's sticking out. The outer peripheral edge 31 of the locking ring 3 is provided with eight locking holes 32 having substantially the same shape and being through holes, spaced at substantially equal angles in the circumferential direction. Each locking hole 32 has a shape in which a wide hole 33 and a narrow hole 34 are connected in the circumferential direction, and the narrow hole 34 is formed forward of the wide hole 33 in the clockwise direction in plan view. ing. Note that the number of locking holes 32 is not limited to eight.

Next, the lock ring 4 will be explained. As shown in FIG. 4, the lock ring 4, like the locking ring 3, has an annular shape as a whole. The lock ring 4 has an annular plate-shaped main body portion 41 and eight engaging claw portions 42, the same number as the locking holes 32 of the locking ring 3. The eight engaging claws 42 have the same shape and size, and are arranged at substantially equal angles in the circumferential direction. The engagement claw portion 42 includes a leg portion 43 extending downward from the outer peripheral edge of the main body portion 41 and a lock ring claw extending radially inward from the tip of the leg portion 43 (towards the center of the lock ring 4). 44.

Finally, the cover member 5 will be explained. The cover member 5 is attached to a locking ring 3 attached to an opening edge 12 of an opening 11 of the fuel tank 1, and covers the outer surface of the lid 2 from above and from the sides. For the cover member 5, in order to protect the lid 2 from hot air and liquid, it is desirable to use a material with excellent heat insulation and acid resistance, and in the first embodiment, a thermoplastic olefin elastomer (TPO) is used. It was formed by

As shown in FIG. 1, FIG. 2, and FIG. 5, the cover member 5 includes an upper surface portion 51, a side surface portion 52 formed downward continuously from the upper surface portion 51, and an outer surface continuous to the periphery of the side surface portion 52. It has a flange portion 53 formed in the direction, and a protrusion portion 55 that protrudes downward for attaching the cover member 5 to the locking ring 3 on the back surface of the upper surface portion 51, and a claw at the tip portion of the protrusion portion 55. Three engaging portions 54 having portions 56 are formed. Note that the broken line arc shown in FIGS. 1 and 2 indicates the outermost periphery of the outer peripheral edge 31 of the locking ring 3 when the cover member 5 is attached to the locking ring 3.

The upper surface portion 51 is formed into a disk shape except for the portion where the first accommodating portion 60 is formed. Further, the side surface portion 52 extends downward from the outer peripheral edge of the upper surface portion 51. Note that the upper surface portion 51 is not limited to a disk shape.

The first accommodating section 60 has an upper surface so that it can accommodate the fuel supply section 23 of the lid 2 and the hose 9 connected to the fuel supply section 23 from above when the cover member 5 is attached. A portion 51 is formed to protrude upward. Furthermore, an end opening 69 that serves as a passage for the hose 9 is formed at the outer end of the first accommodating portion 60 .

Further, two through holes 66 are formed in the upper surface portion 51 so that the connector portion 24 of the lid 2 can pass through the upper surface portion 51 when the cover member 5 is attached. Note that the number of through holes 66 is not limited to two.

The engaging portion 54 is formed downward from the back surface of the upper surface portion 51, as shown in FIGS. 2 and 5. The engaging portion 54 has a protruding portion 55 that protrudes downward, and a claw portion 56 that is formed radially inward at the tip of the protruding portion 55.

The engaging portion 54 is arranged on the circumference, and when the cover member 5 is attached to the locking ring 3, the inside of the protruding portion 55 is arranged outside the outer peripheral edge 31 of the locking ring 3. , guide the cover member 5 in the horizontal direction. Further, by disposing the claw portion 56 below the locking ring 3, the cover member 5 can be attached to and detached from the locking ring 3.

The cover member 5 is attached to and removed from the locking ring 3 by bending the protruding portion 55 of the engaging portion 54 outward and moving the claw portion 56 up and down on the outer peripheral edge of the locking ring 3.

The engaging portions 54 are formed at three locations on the circumference. Note that the number of engaging portions 54 is not limited to three. However, in consideration of securely fixing the cover member 5 to the locking ring 3 and workability when attaching and detaching the cover member 5, it is not desirable to arrange a large number of engaging parts 54, and three or so are arranged evenly. It is appropriate to do so. Note that the position where the engaging portion 54 is formed is determined by also taking into account the positions of the first accommodating portion 60, the through hole 66, and the like.

Further, in FIG. 2, protrusions 55 are formed extending on both sides of the claw portion 56 in the circumferential direction of the engaging portion 54, but this is because the protrusions 55 reliably guide the cover member 5 in the horizontal direction. This is done in consideration of the ease with which the claw portion 56 moves up and down the outer peripheral edge portion 31 of the locking ring 3 during attachment and detachment.

As shown in FIG. 5, an inclined surface 67 is formed on the lower surface of the claw portion 56 of the engaging portion 54. As shown in FIG. By forming the inclined surface 67, when the cover member 5 is attached to the locking ring 3, the protruding portion 55 can be easily bent outward, and the workability of attachment can be improved.

As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, a recess 57 is formed in the upper surface portion 51 at a portion where the engaging portion 54 is formed below. The recessed portion 57 was formed in an arcuate shape. By forming the recess 57, it is possible to easily find the place where the engaging part 54 is formed, and because of the recess 57, it is easy to press with the pad of a finger. Since it can be easily removed from the locking ring 3, the cover member 5 can be easily attached and detached.

As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, a handle portion 58 that projects upward and extends in the direction of the side surface portion 52 is formed at a portion of the upper surface portion 51 where the engaging portion 54 is formed below. There is. By forming the handle portion 58, the location where the engaging portion 54 is formed can be easily found, and by grasping the handle portion 58 and moving the handle portion 58 up and down, the engaging portion 54 can be locked. Since it can be attached to and detached from the ring 3, the cover member 5 can be easily attached and detached.

Further, as shown in FIG. 5, the handle portion 58 is formed lower on the side surface portion 52 side. Since the handle portion 58 is formed low on the side surface portion 52 side, when the cover member 5 is inserted into or taken out from the service hole formed in the floor panel (not shown), the side surface portion 52 side of the handle portion 58 is lower than the edge portion of the service hole. The cover member 5 can be easily attached and detached.

In addition, in this embodiment, although the recessed part 57 and the handle part 58 are formed at the same time, the recessed part 57 and the handle part 58 may be formed only at one side.

As shown in FIG. 1, the upper surface portion 51 of the cover member 5 has a linear groove portion 59 at a portion other than the portion where the engaging portion 54 is formed below and the portion where the first accommodating portion 60 is formed. It is formed. By forming the groove portion 59, the cover member 5 can be deformed using the groove portion 59 as a starting point, so that the cover member 5 can be easily attached and detached.

Next, attachment of the lid 2 to the fuel tank 1 and attachment and detachment of the cover member 5 will be explained. As shown in FIG. 5, in order to attach the lid 2 on which the fuel pump etc. are attached to the fuel tank 1, an O-ring is first inserted into the sealing groove 14 formed in the opening surface 13 on the upper surface of the opening 11 of the fuel tank 1. Insert 15. Then, the cylindrical portion 21 of the lid 2 is inserted through the opening edge 12 of the opening 11 of the fuel tank 1, and the flange portion 22 is placed on the opening surface 13.

After that, insert the engaging claw part 42 of the lock ring 4 into the wide hole 33 of the locking hole 32 of the lock ring 3 from above, and insert the main body part 41 of the lock ring 4 into the upper surface of the edge of the lid 2. Place it on. Next, the lock ring 4 is rotated clockwise relative to the locking ring 3. Accordingly, the engaging claw portion 42 moves from the wide hole 33 to the narrow hole 34, and the lock ring claw portion 44 of the engaging claw portion 42 comes into contact with the lower surface of the outer peripheral edge portion 31 of the locking ring 3. As a result, the O-ring 15 is crushed and the gap between the opening 11 and the lid 2 is reliably sealed.

Next, the hose 9 from the engine side is inserted through the end opening 69 of the cover member 5, and the hose 9 is connected to the fuel supply portion 23 formed on the lid 2. Then, the cover member 5 is placed so that the through hole 66 of the cover member 5 and the first accommodating portion 60 are aligned with the connector portion 24, fuel supply portion 23, and hose 9 of the lid 2.

When the recess 57 or the handle 58 is pressed, force is exerted outwardly on the engaging portion 54 of the cover member 5 by the inclined surface 67 of the claw portion 56, and the protruding portion 55 is accordingly bent slightly outward. Since the cover member 5 is pressed from above, the claw portion 56 passes through the outer peripheral edge 31 of the locking ring 3 from above to below. After passing, the force acting on the outside is released, and the bending of the protrusion 55 is released. As a result, the engaging portion 54 can be fixed to the outer peripheral edge 31 of the locking ring 3. This operation is performed on all three engaging portions 54 formed on the cover member 5.

Note that when pressing the recess 57 or the handle 58 of the cover member 5, if the groove 59 is pressed at the same time, the upper surface 51 of the cover member 5 is slightly deformed using the groove 59 as a reference point, and the claw of the engaging portion 54 is pressed. Since the portion 56 can be deformed to move outward, the engaging portion 54 can be more easily fixed to the outer peripheral edge 31 of the locking ring 3.

When the cover member 5 is attached to the locking ring 3, the flange portion 53 of the cover member 5 abuts so as to cover the heat insulating material 8 covering the fuel tank 1. As a result, it is possible to suppress hot air or liquid from entering through the gap between the cover member 5 and the fuel tank 1.

On the other hand, when removing the cover member 5, grasp the handle part 58 with your fingers, apply force diagonally downward in the outward direction, and push the claw part 56 of the engaging part 54 to the outside of the outer peripheral edge part 31 of the locking ring 3. , and then lift the handle portion 58. As a result, the claw portion 56 of the engaging portion 54 can be passed upward from below the outer peripheral edge 31 of the locking ring 3, and the cover member 5 can be removed from the locking ring 3.

In addition, when the handle part 58 is not formed, the concave part 57 is pressed diagonally downward in the outward direction with, for example, the abdomen of the thumb, and the claw part 56 of the engaging part 54 is pressed against the outer peripheral edge of the locking ring 3. The cover member 5 can be removed from the locking ring 3 by moving it to the outside of the portion 31 and then pulling up the side surface portion 52 side with another finger, for example, the index finger.

Next, a second embodiment embodying the present invention will be described based on FIGS. 6 to 8. The second embodiment differs from the first embodiment described above in the following two points. The first point is that the second accommodating part 61 is formed on the upper surface part 51 different from the first accommodating part 60, and the upper surface part 51 on the front side of the accommodating part opening 62 of the second accommodating part 61 has a notch. A portion 64 is formed, and a deployable portion 65 that can be opened and closed in the vertical direction is formed by the notch portion 64.

The second point is that the groove portion 59 is also formed in the upper surface portion 51, the upper surface portion 68 of the second housing portion 61, and the inclined portion 63. Note that the slope portion 63 does not need to be formed.

In the second embodiment, the pressure sensor 6 is housed in the second housing section 61 . Further, in the pressure sensor 6, a jack portion 71 connected to a terminal portion connected to, for example, an ECU (Electronic Control Unit) is arranged in a space above the deployment portion 65.

The second accommodating part 61 is formed so that the upper surface part 51 protrudes upward similarly to the first accommodating part 60 described above. The second accommodating part 61 has an accommodating opening 62 formed on one substantially perpendicular side surface, and an inclined part 63 formed at an acute angle with respect to the upper surface part 51 on the surface facing the accommodating opening 62. has been done.

Furthermore, as shown in FIG. 7, a substantially H-shaped notch 64 is formed in the upper surface 51 on the front side of the housing opening 62. As shown in FIG. As shown in FIG. 8, the expanded portion 65 formed in the cutout portion 64 is formed thinner than the upper surface portion 51 other than the expanded portion 65, and the expanded portion 65 is formed in the notch portion 64 in the vertical direction. It can be opened and closed.

Furthermore, the groove portion 59 is linearly formed in the upper surface portion 51, the upper surface portion 68 of the second housing portion 61, and the inclined portion 63. As a result, the cover member 5 can be deformed by the groove portion 59 even when the second accommodating portion 61 is formed to protrude upward.

Next, attachment of the lid 2 to the fuel tank 1 and attachment and detachment of the cover member 5 will be explained. To attach the lid 2 on which the fuel pump etc. are attached to the fuel tank 1, first insert an O-ring into the seal groove 14 formed on the upper surface of the opening 11 of the fuel tank 1, as in the first embodiment described above. Insert 15. Then, the lid 2 is placed on the upper surface of the opening edge 12 of the opening 11 of the fuel tank 1. Thereafter, the lid 2 is fixed to the opening 11 of the fuel tank 1 using the lock ring 4.

Next, the hose 9 from the engine side is inserted through the end opening 69 of the cover member 5, and the hose 9 is connected to the fuel supply portion 23 formed on the lid 2. Then, the cover member 5 is placed so that the through hole 66 of the cover member 5 and the first accommodating portion 60 are aligned with the connector portion 24, fuel supply portion 23, and hose 9 of the lid 2.

When the second accommodating part 61 is pressed downward, the expanding part 65 is opened upward by the jack part 71 of the pressure sensor 6 mounted on the lid 2, so that the jack part 71 of the pressure sensor 6 is 5 can pass through the developing section 65 of No. 5. Further, as shown in FIG. 8, since the deployable portion 65 is formed thinner than the upper surface portion 51, it can be bent in an arc shape with the tip of the deployable portion 65 facing upward, and the jack portion 71 can be easily opened. pass through.

Next, when the concave portion 57 or the handle portion 58 is pressed, force is applied to the engaging portion 54 of the cover member 5 outwardly by the inclined surface 67 of the claw portion 56, and the protruding portion 55 is accordingly bent slightly outward. Since the cover member 5 is pressed from above, the claw portion 56 passes through the outer peripheral edge 31 of the locking ring 3 from above to below. After passing, the force acting on the outside is released, and the bending of the protrusion 55 is released. As a result, the engaging portion 54 can be fixed to the outer peripheral edge 31 of the locking ring 3. This operation is performed on all three engaging portions 54 formed on the cover member 5.

At this time, the expanded portion 65 finishes passing through the jack portion 71 and returns to its original shape, thereby covering the surface of the flange portion 22 of the lid 2 below the jack portion 71. As a result, deterioration of the lid 2 due to contact with hot air or liquid can be suppressed. Finally, the terminal portion connected to the ECU is connected to the jack portion 71 of the pressure sensor 6.

On the other hand, when removing the cover member 5, the terminal portion connected to the ECU is removed from the jack portion 71 of the pressure sensor 6. Then, hold the handle part 58 between your fingers and push it diagonally downward in the outward direction to move the claw part 56 of the engaging part 54 to the outside of the outer peripheral edge part 31 of the locking ring 3, and then lift the handle part 58. . As a result, the claw portion 56 of the engaging portion 54 can be passed upward from below the outer peripheral edge 31 of the locking ring 3, and the cover member 5 can be removed from the locking ring 3.

At this time, the unfolded portion 65 easily passes through the jack portion 71 by bending the tip of the unfolded portion 65 in a downward arc. Then, when the second housing section 61 is lifted, the jack section 71 passes through the deployment section 65.

When attaching and detaching the cover member 5 described above, it is possible to attach and detach the cover member 5 more easily by pressing the groove portion 59 at the same time.

The present invention is not limited to the embodiments described above, and various changes can be made without departing from the purpose of the present invention.

For example, in the first and second embodiments described above, the lid 2 is attached to the locking ring 3 buried in the fuel tank 1 using the lock ring 4, but other methods may be used.

1 Fuel tank 2 Lid 3 Locking ring 4 Lock ring 5 Cover member 11 Opening 12 Opening edge 31 Outer periphery 51 Top surface 52 Side surface 53 Flange 54 Engagement portion 55 Projection 56 Claw 57 Recess 58 Handle 59 Groove 60 First accommodating part 61 Second accommodating part 62 accommodating part opening 63 Inclined part 64 Notch part 65 Expanded part 67 Inclined surface 68 accommodating part upper surface part

Claims (11)

A cover member that covers the outer surface of a lid that is attached to the opening of a fuel tank for a vehicle, the lid having an opening at the top and a locking ring fixed to the opening edge of the opening,
The cover member has an upper surface portion and a side surface portion that is continuous with and formed downward from the upper surface portion,
The back surface of the upper surface part includes a protrusion that protrudes downward for allowing the outer peripheral edge of the locking ring to pass from above to below and attaching the cover member to the locking ring, and a tip of the protrusion. A cover member characterized in that a plurality of engaging portions each having a claw portion are formed at a plurality of locations. The cover member according to claim 1, wherein a recess is formed in a portion of the upper surface portion where the engaging portion is formed below. 3. The handle according to claim 1 or 2, wherein a handle portion that projects upward and extends in the direction of the side surface portion is formed in a portion of the upper surface portion where the engaging portion is formed below. cover member. The cover member according to claim 3, wherein the handle portion is formed lower on the side surface portion side. The cover member according to any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein a substantially linear groove is formed in a portion of the upper surface portion other than a portion where the engaging portion is formed below. A accommodating portion of the upper surface portion that protrudes upward is formed in a portion of the upper surface portion other than a portion where the engaging portion is formed below, and the groove portion is formed in a portion of the upper surface where the accommodating portion is not formed. The cover member according to claim 5, wherein the cover member is formed in a portion. A accommodating part from which the upper surface part protrudes upward is formed in a part of the upper surface part other than the part where the engaging part is formed below, and the accommodating part is a accommodating part formed on one side surface. an opening, and an inclined part whose surface facing the opening of the accommodating part is formed at an acute angle with respect to the upper surface; The cover member according to claim 5, wherein the cover member is formed on the upper surface portion, the upper surface portion of the accommodating portion, and the inclined portion. 8. The cover according to claim 7, wherein a notch is formed in the upper surface portion of the accommodating portion in front of the accommodating opening, and the notch forms an expanding portion that can be opened and closed in the vertical direction. Element. 9. The cover member according to claim 8, wherein the expanded portion is thinner than other portions of the upper surface portion. The cover member according to any one of claims 1 to 9, wherein the cover member includes a flange portion that is formed in an outward direction continuously from a peripheral edge of the side surface portion. The cover member according to any one of claims 1 to 10, wherein the cover member is made of thermoplastic olefin elastomer (TPO).

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