JPH0565639U - Joint structure of container and pipe - Google Patents

Abstract

(57) [Summary] [Purpose] To obtain a joint structure between a metal fuel tank and a metal breather pipe, in which the sealing property at the joint is secured, the joint strength is improved, and no pollution occurs due to no use of solder. [Configuration] Outer pipe 6 obtained by dividing the breather pipe 1
A flange portion 7 is integrally formed with the outer pipe 6 at an end portion of the outer pipe 6 on the fuel tank 2 side of the inner pipe 11 and the inner pipe 11, and the flange portion 7 is the wall portion 2 a of the fuel tank 2.
It is joined by projection welding while ensuring the sealing property. Inside the fuel tank 2, the inner pipe 11 is fitted and held in the outer pipe 6, and a seal member 12 seals between the outer pipe 6 and the inner pipe 11.

Description

[Detailed description of the device]

[0001]

[Industrial applications]

 The present invention relates to a joint structure between a metal container and a metal pipe, and more particularly to a joint structure between a fuel tank and a breather pipe in a vehicle or the like.

[0002]

[Prior Art]

 A fuel tank in a vehicle or the like is provided with an inlet pipe for fuel supply and a breather pipe for regulating the pressure in the tank during fuel supply and detecting the fuel supply amount. A part of this breather pipe is inserted into the tank, one end of the insertion portion is opened at the upper limit liquid level of the fuel in the fuel tank, and the other end is near the fuel inlet of the inlet pipe. Is attached to the fuel tank above to contact.

In particular, when joining a fuel tank made of metal and a breather pipe made of metal, a flange is previously attached to the middle part of the breather pipe and the flange and the tank are joined by spot welding, for example. In order to maintain the airtight state between the breather pipe and the above tank, a joining method has been widely used in which solder is used to perform a full circumference seal.

On the other hand, in Japanese Patent Publication No. 63-36878, an expanded portion is formed at one end of a metal tube, and the metal tube is inserted into a through hole provided at a joining point of a mating metal plate. A technique for joining the expanded portion of the metal pipe to the inner periphery of the through hole by projection welding is disclosed, but the disclosed technique is for joining the metal pipe to one side of the metal plate. However, it does not disclose a joining structure between the metal plate and the metal tube in a metal tube that is joined by penetrating the metal plate.

Further, in a fuel tank made of synthetic resin, a pipe in the fuel tank made of synthetic resin, which is composed of a tubular portion opened in the fuel tank and a pipe fitted in the tubular portion, Although a joining means has been proposed, the joining means is completely different from the joining method, the sealing function, and the like, in the configuration for penetrating and joining the metal pipe to the wall portion of the metal fuel tank.

[0006]

[Problems to be solved by the device]

 However, in the conventional technology in which the entire circumference is sealed by solder at the joint between the metal breather pipe and the metal fuel tank, lead pollution in the solder is prevented during the cleaning process after soldering. The treatment cost of the cleaning wastewater for this purpose is enormous, and further, the soldering process for sealing the entire circumference requires skilled workers, resulting in low mass productivity.

Therefore, it was considered that a flange portion was previously attached to the middle portion of the breather pipe made of metal, and the flange portion and the flange portion were welded together by projection welding to secure the sealability without using solder.

However, if the flange portion provided in the middle of the breather pipe is to be projection-welded to the wall portion of the fuel tank, the projection welding using a normal electrode is required unless the electrodes of the projection welding device are divided. There was a problem that I could not do it.

In view of the above, according to the present invention, the projection welding using the normal electrode ensures the sealing property when the metal pipe penetrates through the wall portion of the metal container and is bonded, and the bonding strength is also improved. The purpose is to be secured.

[0010]

[Means for Solving the Problems]

 In order to achieve the above-mentioned object, the present invention divides a pipe into an outer side and an inner side of a container, and an outer pipe on the outer side is provided with a flange part for joining the pipe to the container. It is intended to secure the sealing property between the pipe and the container and to improve the joint strength by integrally forming and performing projection welding to the container through the flange portion.

Specifically, the invention of claim 1 is a joint structure of a metal container and a metal pipe extending through a wall portion of the container, wherein the pipe is provided outside the container. And an outer pipe provided inside the container and fitted into the outer pipe. The outer pipe is integrally formed with the outer pipe at the end portion on the wall side of the container. And a flange portion formed on the inner wall of the container, which is attached to the wall portion of the container by projection welding at the flange portion, and the inner pipe is held by the wall portion of the container or the outer pipe at the end portion on the outer pipe side. The inner peripheral surface of the outer pipe and the outer peripheral surface of the inner pipe are sealed by a sealing means.

According to a second aspect of the present invention, in the above-mentioned first aspect, the sealing means is formed on the inner peripheral surface of the end portion on the flange portion side of the outer pipe, and the inner diameter increases toward the opening of the end portion. The inner peripheral surface of the taper and the outer peripheral surface of the inner pipe on the outer pipe side end portion, and the taper outer peripheral surface portion whose outer diameter is reduced toward the opening of the end portion so as to be in close contact with the inner taper inner surface. It consists of and.

According to a third aspect of the present invention, in the above-mentioned first aspect, the sealing means is configured such that a part of the inner peripheral surface of the outer pipe at the flange side end is an outer periphery of the inner pipe at the outer pipe side end. The caulking part is formed so as to be crimped annularly over the entire surface.

According to a fourth aspect of the invention, there is provided a breather according to the first to third aspects, wherein the container is a fuel tank for storing liquid fuel, and the pipe extends through a wall portion of the fuel tank. Use a pipe.

[0015]

[Action]

 According to the configuration of the invention of claim 1, the metal pipe joined to the metal container is divided into an outer side and an inner side of the above-mentioned container, and the flange portion is integrally formed on the outer pipe. Projection welding is possible on the wall of the container at the flange, which ensures the sealability between the outer pipe and the wall of the container, and also the joint strength.

Further, since the seal is provided between the outer pipe and the inner pipe fitted and connected to the outer pipe, the airtightness of the pipe is secured.

According to the configuration of the invention of claim 2, when the end portion of the inner pipe is fitted in the end portion on the flange portion side of the outer pipe, the taper inner peripheral surface portion formed on the inner peripheral surface of the end portion of the outer pipe is provided with the inner portion. Since the tapered outer peripheral surface portion formed on the outer peripheral surface of the end portion of the pipe is fitted in a close contact state, this close contact state provides a seal between the outer pipe and the inner pipe without using a sealing material such as an O-ring.

According to the structure of the invention of claim 3, a part of the inner peripheral surface of the outer pipe at the end portion on the flange portion side is entirely crimped to the outer peripheral surface of the inner pipe at the outer pipe end portion. Since they are pressure-bonded in an annular shape over the entire length, the pressure contact allows the outer pipe and the inner pipe to be sealed without using a sealing material such as an O-ring.

According to the invention of claim 4, among the outer pipe and the inner pipe forming the breather pipe, the flange portion of the outer pipe can be projection welded to the wall portion of the fuel tank, and the outer pipe and the fuel tank can be welded. The sealability and connection strength with the wall of the breather pipe are secured, and the airtightness of the breather pipe itself is secured.

[0020]

【Example】

 Next, an embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.

(Embodiment 1) In Embodiment 1 of the present invention shown in FIG. 1, a breather pipe 1 as a metal pipe has one end of the breather pipe 1 of a fuel tank 2 as a metal container of a vehicle or the like. The breather pipe 1 is joined to the fuel tank 2 so that one end of the breather pipe 1 is opened at the upper limit liquid level position 3 in the tank 2 through the tank wall portion 2a, and the other end of the breather pipe 1 is connected to the fuel tank 2 The inlet pipe 4 for supplying the fuel is communicated with the inside of the inlet 4a.

The liquid surface position 3 a rises as fuel is supplied into the tank 2 from the oil supply nozzle 5 inserted into the inlet 4 a of the inlet pipe 4, and when the supply is continued, the liquid surface position 3 a rises. 3a reaches the upper limit liquid surface position 3, and the internal pressure above the fuel in the fuel tank 2 rises to become the internal pressure A which exceeds the atmospheric pressure B.

When the internal pressure A in the fuel tank 2 exceeds the atmospheric pressure B, the fuel supplied into the fuel tank 2 flows backward through the breather pipe 1 toward the inlet pipe 4, and the inlet It flows into the inlet pipe 4 near the inlet 4a of the pipe 4. Refueling is automatically stopped when the leaked fuel is detected by a sensor 5a provided in a refueling nozzle 5 inserted into the inlet 4a of the inlet pipe 4. Therefore, the airtightness of the breather pipe 1 and the sealing property at the joint between the breather pipe 1 and the fuel tank 2 must be ensured.

The breather pipe 1 applied to the present invention includes an outer pipe provided outside the fuel tank 2 and an inner pipe provided inside the fuel tank 2 and fitted in the outer pipe while maintaining a sealing property. It is divided into pipes and.

As shown in FIG. 2, the outer pipe 6 in this embodiment has a flange portion 7 integrally formed with the outer pipe 6 at the end portion on the side joined to the wall portion 2a of the fuel tank 2. The flange portion 7 is provided with an annular projection 8 which serves as a projection when the outer pipe 6 is projection welded to the wall portion 2a of the fuel tank 2.

In this embodiment, as shown in FIG. 3, the outer pipe 6 is provided with a through hole 9 through which the breather pipe 1 formed in the wall portion 2 a of the fuel tank 2 passes. The flange portion 7 is inserted from the inside toward the outside and contacts the wall portion 2a of the fuel tank 2. In this state, the flange portion 7 is joined to the wall portion 2a by projection welding. ..

By this projection welding, the annular projection 8 formed on the flange portion 7 is melted to form an annular nugget 10 between the flange portion 7 and the wall portion 2a of the fuel tank 2 and The pipe 6 is firmly joined to the fuel tank 2 and the sealing property between the outer pipe 6 and the fuel tank 2 is ensured.

Next, the inner pipe 11 located inside the fuel tank 2 is fitted into the end portion of the outer pipe 6 on the wall 2 a side of the fuel tank 2, and is connected to the outer pipe 6. The breather pipe 1 is configured by being provided.

A seal is provided between the inner peripheral surface of the outer pipe 6 and the outer peripheral surface of the inner pipe 11, and the breather pipe 1 is divided into the outer pipe 6 and the inner pipe 11. Despite this, the overall breather pipe is assured of sealing performance on the outside and inside of the pipe wall.

In this embodiment, the seal between the inner peripheral surface of the outer pipe 6 and the outer peripheral surface of the inner pipe 11 is a seal member such as an O-ring, which is fitted between the inner pipe and the outer pipe. A sealing function is given by 12.

The inner pipe 11 has a length reaching the upper limit liquid level 3 of the fuel in the fuel tank 2 from the fitting portion into the outer pipe 6, and further, the outer side of the inner pipe 11 is A bracket 13 is provided at the end on the pipe 6 side, and the inner pipe 11 is held by the bracket 13 being joined to the wall 2a of the fuel tank 2. In this embodiment, the bracket 13 is a plate-shaped bracket 13 attached to the outer peripheral wall of the inner pipe 11 and extending in all directions, and each of its front ends is joined to the inner surface of the wall portion 2a of the fuel tank 2. However, the shape and the number of the brackets 13 are arbitrary, and the brackets 13 may be joined to the outer pipe 6 at the ends thereof.

Embodiment 2 Embodiment 2 of the present invention is shown in FIG. In this embodiment, the inner peripheral surface of the end portion of the outer pipe 6a on the wall portion 2a side of the fuel tank 2 is formed as a tapered inner peripheral surface portion 14 whose inner diameter gradually increases toward the opening of the end portion. The outer peripheral surface at the end portion of the inner pipe 11a fitted into the pipe 6a is formed into a tapered outer peripheral surface portion 15 whose outer diameter is gradually reduced toward the end opening so as to be in close contact with the taper inner peripheral surface portion 14. The taper inner peripheral surface portion 14 and the taper outer peripheral surface portion 15 constitute the sealing means in the present invention.

Therefore, in this embodiment, as the inner pipe 11a is fitted into the outer pipe 6a, a close contact action between the taper inner peripheral surface portion 14 and the taper outer peripheral surface portion 15 is exerted, and this close contact action is caused. As a result, the inner peripheral surface of the outer pipe 6a and the outer peripheral surface of the inner pipe 11a are satisfactorily sealed without requiring the sealing member 12 as in the first embodiment.

A flange portion 7 is formed on the outer pipe 6a integrally with the outer pipe 6a, and the flange portion 7 is sealed to the wall portion 2a of the fuel tank 2 by projection welding. Since the mounting is the same as in the first embodiment, the description is omitted.

Regarding the holding of the inner pipe 11a, similarly to the first embodiment, the inner pipe 11a may be held by the wall portion 2a of the fuel tank 2 or the outer pipe 6a via the bracket 13 provided on the inner pipe 11a. Alternatively, the taper inner peripheral surface portion 14 and the taper outer peripheral surface portion 15 may be provided with engaging portions such as partial screws or bayonet, respectively, and the engaging portions may hold the engaging portions.

(Embodiment 3) FIG. 5 shows Embodiment 3 of the present invention. In this embodiment, the sealing means is such that a part of the inner peripheral surface of the outer pipe 6b at the end on the flange portion 7 side is an inner pipe. The caulking portion 16 is formed so as to be crimped in an annular shape over the entire circumference of the outer peripheral surface of the end portion 11b of the outer pipe 6b.

Specifically, the upper and lower ranges of the inner peripheral surface of the outer pipe 6b located at the opening end on the flange portion 7 side are tapered in such a manner that the inner diameter slightly expands toward the opening, as in the second embodiment. The inner peripheral surface portion 14a is formed such that the inner diameter in the vertical range of the inner peripheral surface extending a predetermined dimension above the inner peripheral surface portion 14a is slightly larger than the basic outer diameter of the inner pipe 11b. On the other hand, the inner pipe 11b bulges outward in the radial direction over the entire circumference in the vertical range near the open end of the outer peripheral surface, and the end portion of the inner pipe 11b is bulged outward on the outer peripheral surface of this bulging portion. A tapered outer peripheral surface portion 15a is formed so as to be in close contact with the tapered inner peripheral surface portion 14a while being fitted in the outer pipe 6b.

When the end portion of the inner pipe 11b is fitted into the end opening of the outer pipe 6b on the flange portion 7 side, the taper outer peripheral surface portion 15a of the inner pipe 11b becomes the taper inner peripheral surface portion of the outer pipe 6b. The taper outer peripheral surface portion 15a and the taper inner peripheral surface portion 14a are brought into close contact with each other by abutting against 14a. In this close contact state, when the portion of the outer pipe 6b overlapping the inner pipe 11b is caulked strongly inward in the radial direction over the entire circumference, the crimped portion of the outer pipe 6b is directed inward in the radial direction over the entire circumference. As a result, the caulked portion 16 is formed on the outer peripheral pipe 6b. At this time, the inner peripheral portion of the caulking portion 16 is in a state of being crimped to the outer peripheral portion of the inner pipe 11b over the entire circumference, so that a space between the two pipes 6b and 11b is a sealing member such as an O-ring as in the first embodiment. Without using No. 12, the inner and outer peripheral parts can be well sealed by the above-mentioned pressure bonding state. In addition, in this embodiment, since the sealing action due to the close contact between the tapered outer peripheral surface portion 15a of the inner pipe 11b and the tapered inner peripheral surface portion 14a of the outer pipe 6b is also used, the two pipes 6b and 11b are connected to each other. The sealability in is even higher.

Further, in this embodiment, since the outer pipe 6b is strongly caulked, the portion of the inner pipe 11b pressed by the inner peripheral portion of the caulking portion 16 is also recessed radially inward over the entire circumference. The inner pipe 11b is fixed to the outer pipe 6b because the caulking portion 16 is fitted in the recessed portion. Therefore, in this embodiment, the caulking portion 16 functions not only as a sealing means between the pipes 6b and 11b but also as a holding means for the inner pipe 11b. As a result, in the above-described first and second embodiments. The bracket 13 as a holding means can be omitted to further reduce the number of parts.

In each of the above embodiments, the flange portion 7 of the outer pipes 6, 6a, 6b is located inside the fuel tank 2 around the through hole 9 formed in the wall portion 2a of the fuel tank 2. Although it is joined to the wall 2a, it may be joined to the wall 2a from the outside of the fuel tank 2.

Further, although the above description has been made on the joint structure of the breather pipe 1 and the fuel tank 2, the configuration of the present invention uses a metal pipe other than the breather pipe to obtain good sealability and joint strength. Needless to say, it is also applicable when joining to a metal container such as a tank.

[0042]

[Effect of the device]

 As described above, according to the invention of claim 1, the metal pipe joined to the metal container is divided into the outer side and the inner side of the container, so that the flange portion is formed on the outer pipe. Are integrally formed and projection welded to the wall of the container at the flange, and the outer pipe and the inner pipe are sealed by a sealing means, so that the pipe and the wall of the container are The overall sealing property between the pipes is secured, the joint strength is also improved, and excellent load resistance against external force in the pipe is obtained.

Further, the projection welding between the flange portion and the wall portion of the container can be performed by an ordinary projection welding device.

Further, although the pipe is divided into the outer pipe and the inner pipe, the outer pipe and the inner pipe are mutually sealed, so that the airtightness of the pipe is secured.

Further, the sealing property between the container and the pipe joined to the wall of the container is obtained by the projection welding at the time of the above joining, and since the entire circumference seal by the solder is not necessary, pollution caused by the use of the solder is avoided. Occurrence can be eliminated.

According to the second aspect of the present invention, the sealing means is composed of the taper inner peripheral surface portion of the outer pipe and the taper outer peripheral surface portion of the inner pipe that closely adheres to the taper inner peripheral surface portion. Depending on the condition, good sealing can be achieved between the outer pipe and the inner pipe. This eliminates the need for small parts such as O-rings as a sealing member, which reduces the number of parts and facilitates the handling of parts during joining work.

According to the third aspect of the present invention, the sealing means is constituted by the caulking portion formed so that a part of the inner peripheral surface of the outer pipe is crimped to the outer peripheral surface of the inner pipe. Thus, a good seal can be achieved between the outer pipe and the inner pipe. This eliminates the need for small parts such as O-rings as sealing members, and facilitates the handling of parts during joining work. It is also possible to fix the inner pipe to the outer pipe by the above crimping, and the inner pipe can be held by crimping so that the inner peripheral portion of the outer pipe digs into the outer peripheral surface of the inner pipe. In this case, the holding member for the inner pipe is not necessary, the number of parts is further reduced, and the parts can be handled more easily during the joining work.

According to the invention of claim 4, the effects of the inventions of claims 1 to 3 can be obtained in the joint structure of the metal fuel tank and the metal breather pipe.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a sectional view of an essential part for explaining an overall configuration of a fuel tank and a breather pipe according to a first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a partially cutaway front view of an outer pipe.

FIG. 3 is a vertical cross-sectional view showing a seal structure between an outer pipe and an inner pipe.

FIG. 4 is a view corresponding to FIG. 3 showing a second embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 5 is a view corresponding to FIG. 3 showing a third embodiment of the present invention.

[Explanation of symbols]

 1 breather pipe (pipe) 2 fuel tank (container) 2a wall part 3 upper limit liquid level position 4 inlet pipe 6, 6a, 6b outer pipe 7 flange part 9 through hole 11, 11a, 11b inner pipe 12 sealing member (sealing means) 13 brackets 14 and 14a taper inner peripheral surface portion (sealing means) 15, 15a taper outer peripheral surface portion (〃) 16 caulking portion (sealing means)

Claims (4)

[Scope of utility model registration request] 1. A joint structure of a metal container and a metal pipe extending through a wall of the container, wherein the pipe is an outer pipe provided outside the container, and The inner pipe is provided inside and is fitted into the outer pipe. The outer pipe has a flange portion integrally formed with the outer pipe at an end portion on the wall side of the container. Part is attached to the wall part of the container by projection welding, the inner pipe is held by the wall part of the container or the outer pipe at the outer pipe side end part, and the inner peripheral surface of the outer pipe and the A joint structure between a container and a pipe, characterized in that the inner pipe is sealed with an outer peripheral surface by a sealing means. 2. The joint structure of a container and a pipe according to claim 1, wherein the sealing means is formed on the inner peripheral surface of the flange-side end of the outer pipe, and the inner diameter increases toward the opening of the end. A tapered inner peripheral surface portion and an outer peripheral surface of the inner pipe on the outer pipe side end portion, and a taper outer peripheral surface portion having an outer diameter reduced toward the opening of the end portion so as to be in close contact with the tapered inner peripheral surface portion. A structure for joining a container and a pipe, which is characterized in that: 3. The joint structure of a container and a pipe according to claim 1, wherein the sealing means has a part of an inner peripheral surface of an end portion of the outer pipe on the flange portion side and an outer periphery of the inner pipe on the outer pipe side end portion. A joint structure of a container and a pipe, characterized in that it is constituted by a caulking portion which is formed so as to be crimped in an annular shape over the entire surface. 4. The joint structure of a container and a pipe according to claim 1, 2 or 3, wherein the container is a fuel tank for storing liquid fuel, and the pipe extends through a wall portion of the fuel tank. A joint structure between a container and a pipe, which is a breather pipe.