JPH09202149A - Fuel tank, and fuel residual measuring instrument of the fuel tank - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a fuel tank, and a fuel residual measuring instrument of the fuel tank capable of measuring the residual amount of the fuel left in the fuel tank with excellent accuracy by remarkably suppressing oscillation of the fuel surface. SOLUTION: A partitioning member 15 to partition a tank in the vertical direction is provided in a fuel tank 1. The partitioning member 15 is provided with an auxiliary plate 17 to reinforce the bending rigidity of the partitioning member 15. In addition, a flat plate-shaped weight member 19 is provided approximately in a center part on its upper surface. Oscillation of the liquid surface is suppressed by pressing the surface of the fuel F with the total weight of the partitioning member 15, the auxiliary plate 17, and the weight member 19.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a fuel tank for accommodating fuel in a vehicle equipped with an internal combustion engine, and more particularly to a fuel tank capable of measuring the remaining amount of fuel remaining in the fuel tank with high accuracy. The present invention relates to a fuel residual quantity measuring device for a tank and a fuel tank.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art For example, a vehicle equipped with an internal combustion engine is provided with a fuel tank for containing fuel to be supplied to the internal combustion engine. This fuel tank is generally provided with a fuel remaining amount measuring device for measuring the remaining amount of remaining fuel. The residual fuel amount remaining in the fuel tank, which is measured by the residual fuel amount measuring device, is generally displayed on a residual fuel gauge provided inside the vehicle compartment. The driver of the vehicle knows the fuel remaining amount in the fuel tank by reading the indicated value of the fuel fuel gauge, and refuels before the fuel remaining amount becomes empty.

Here, a conventional fuel remaining amount measuring device will be described with reference to FIG. 13. A fuel tank 101 mounted on a vehicle has a fuel sender unit 103 for measuring the remaining fuel amount in the fuel tank. It is provided. The unit 103 includes a float 105 provided in the fuel tank 101 and the float 105.
A float arm 109 that rotatably supports the arm shaft 107 as a fulcrum, a winding resistor 111, and a contact arm 113 that is connected to the float arm 109 and slides on the winding resistor 111 with the arm shaft 107 as a fulcrum. ing. With this configuration, the position of the float 105, that is, the position of the fuel liquid level is converted into an electric resistance value and detected.
Then, the detected remaining fuel amount in the fuel tank 101 is displayed on a fuel remaining amount gauge (not shown) provided in the vehicle compartment.

[0004]

However, in the conventional fuel remaining amount measuring device described above, the acceleration and deceleration of the vehicle,
Due to a change in the attitude of the vehicle due to vibration, inclination of a road, or the like, an error may occur in the remaining amount of fuel displayed on the fuel gauge. The reason for this is that when the posture of the vehicle changes as described above, the fuel liquid level housed in the fuel tank 101 attached to the vehicle greatly oscillates, and accordingly the float 105 moves up and down, As a result, the electric resistance value corresponding to the position of the fuel level changes.

Therefore, conventionally, when a high-viscosity silicon damper is provided in the pointer driving portion of the fuel gauge or when the electric resistance value is converted into the remaining fuel amount, the input electric resistance value is sequentially integrated and predetermined. The response of the pointer of the fuel gauge is slowed down by using a means for obtaining the remaining fuel amount based on the integrated value of the electric resistance within the time. However, if the responsiveness of the pointer of the fuel gauge is slowed down by using such a means, for example, when the fuel tank 101 is completely replenished with fuel, the pointer of the fuel gauge is turned to the normal indication after turning on the ignition switch. There is a new problem that the followability of the pointer of the fuel gauge is impaired because it takes time to show the value. Under these circumstances, it has been a long time since the development of a new technology that can fundamentally solve the problem of suppressing the fluctuation of the fuel level that causes the measurement error of the remaining fuel amount among the parties concerned. It was long-awaited.

The present invention has been made in view of the above-mentioned circumstances, and it is possible to measure the remaining amount of fuel in the fuel tank with high accuracy by dramatically suppressing the fluctuation of the fuel level. An object of the present invention is to provide a fuel tank and a fuel residual amount measuring device for the fuel tank that can be used.

[0007]

In order to solve the above-mentioned problems, the invention of claim 1 comprises a tank main body for containing a fuel,
A flexible partition member provided in the tank body so as to partition the inside of the tank body in the vertical direction and to cover the liquid surface of the fuel; and a weight member provided in a central portion of the partition member. The point is to be equipped with.

According to the first aspect of the present invention, a load that is the sum of the partition member and the weight member is applied to the liquid surface of the fuel, and the partition member that exhibits this load presses while covering the liquid surface of the fuel. Therefore, for the fuel in the fuel tank,
Even if the vehicle posture changes due to vehicle acceleration / deceleration, vibration, road inclination, etc., its movement is restricted by the pressing force of the partition member,
Fluctuations in the fuel level are suppressed at a high level.

A second aspect of the present invention is characterized in that the weight member is covered with a fuel-proof coating integrally with the partition member.

According to the invention of claim 2, since the weight member is covered with the partition member integrally with the fuel-resistant coating, the partition member and the weight member are in direct contact with the fuel. As a result, it becomes unnecessary to consider the fuel resistance as the material of the partition member and the weight member, and the degree of freedom in selecting the material can be improved.

Further, the invention of claim 3 is characterized in that it further comprises a flat plate-shaped auxiliary member which is provided along with the partition member and reinforces the bending rigidity of the partition member.

According to the invention of claim 3, since the bending rigidity of the partition member is reinforced by the auxiliary member, as a result,
Fluctuations such as waviness of the fuel liquid surface are more effectively suppressed.

Further, the invention of claim 4 is summarized in that the weight member is covered with the partition member and the auxiliary member integrally with a fuel-resistant coating.

A fifth aspect of the invention is characterized in that the weight member is made by forming a thick central portion of the partition member.

According to the invention of claim 5, since the weight member is formed by forming the central portion of the partition member to be thick, it is not necessary to separately prepare the weight member, and as a result, the number of parts is reduced. The number of steps can be reduced, and the step of providing the weight member as another member can be reduced.

Further, the invention of claim 6 is characterized in that the weight member is provided so as to project downward from a lower general surface of the partition member.

According to the invention of claim 6, since the weight member is provided so as to project downward from the lower general surface of the partition member, the center of gravity of the partition member including the weight member is described above. Compared with the invention described in claims 1 to 5, it moves downward. As a result, when the liquid level of the fuel swings and the partition member is tilted, the component of gravity at the center of gravity acts in a direction to restore the tilt of the partition member. As a result, in addition to the effect of suppressing the fluctuation of the fuel liquid level due to the increase in weight, the effect of the inclination restoration accompanying the downward movement of the center of gravity is synergistically exerted, and the fluctuation of the fuel liquid surface is caused. It will be dramatically suppressed.

Further, in the invention of claim 7, the weight member is provided with an extension portion extending downward from a lower general surface of the partition member, connected to the extension portion, and provided at the end portion in the projecting direction. The gist is that it is provided with an enlarged part.

Therefore, according to the invention of claim 8, the tank main body for accommodating the fuel and the inside of the tank main body are divided in the vertical direction, and the flexible structure is provided on the tank main body so as to cover the liquid surface of the fuel. Partition member, an extension member provided at a central portion of the partition member and extending vertically downward with respect to the partition member, a bar-shaped member having one end supported by the extension member, and a bar-shaped member provided on the bar-shaped member. A flow receiving member that receives the flow of fuel to rotate and move the rod-shaped member, a pendulum type weight member provided on the rod-shaped member, and a regulation unit that regulates the rotational movement of the rod-shaped member within a predetermined range. The point is to be prepared.

According to the eighth aspect of the invention, in the pendulum type weight member, the flow receiving member effectively receives the flow of the fuel and moves when the liquid level of the fuel swings and the partition member tends to incline. With this, the partition member moves in a direction to restore the inclination.
Therefore, the center of gravity of the partition member or the like as a whole acts so as to appropriately move in the direction in which the inclination of the partition member is restored. As a result, in addition to the effect of suppressing the fluctuation of the fuel liquid level due to the increase in weight, the effect of the tilt restoration accompanying the appropriate movement of the center of gravity is synergistically exerted, and the fluctuation of the fuel liquid surface is caused. It will be further dramatically suppressed.

Further, the invention of claim 9 is such that the tank main body for accommodating the fuel and the inside of the tank main body are partitioned in the vertical direction, and the flexibility is provided in the tank main body so as to cover the liquid surface of the fuel. And a weight member provided in a central portion of the partition member, and a variation detecting means for detecting a level variation of the central portion of the partition member is provided in the tank body. .

According to the ninth aspect of the present invention, a load that is the sum of the partition member and the weight member is applied to the liquid surface of the fuel, and the partition member that exhibits this load presses while covering the liquid surface of the fuel. Therefore, with respect to the fuel in the fuel tank, even if the vehicle posture changes due to vehicle acceleration / deceleration, vibration, road inclination, etc., the movement of the fuel is restricted by the pressing force of the partition member, and the liquid level of the fuel sways. Movement is suppressed at a high level. At this time, if the liquid level of the fuel is measured by the fluctuation detecting means, it is possible to obtain a highly accurate residual fuel amount in which the detection error is largely suppressed.

The tenth aspect of the invention is characterized by further comprising display means for displaying the level fluctuation detected by the fluctuation detecting means.

According to the invention of claim 10, the display means comprises:
Almost unaffected by disturbances such as changes in vehicle attitude,
It is possible to faithfully reproduce the remaining amount of fuel remaining in the fuel tank.

[0025]

BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION Embodiments of a fuel tank and a fuel remaining amount measuring device for a fuel tank according to the present invention will be described below in detail with reference to the drawings.

FIGS. 1 and 2 are schematic structural views showing a fuel tank and a fuel remaining amount measuring apparatus for the fuel tank according to the present invention, and FIGS. 3 to 7 are main parts of the fuel tank according to the present invention. FIG. 1 is an enlarged cross-sectional view showing a plurality of embodiments, FIGS. 8 to 9 are diagrams for explaining a fuel tank according to the present invention, and FIG.
0 to 12 are diagrams for explaining the operation of the fuel tank according to the present invention. In the present embodiment, common members are designated by the same reference numerals, and duplicated description thereof will be omitted.

First, an embodiment of a fuel tank according to the present invention will be described by exemplifying a fuel tank of a vehicle having an internal combustion engine as a fuel tank.

As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, a fuel tank 1 provided below a rear seat of a vehicle constitutes a lower side portion of the fuel tank 1, and an outer side of the fuel tank 1 is open at the open side end thereof. A lower container 5 formed by forming a first flange 9 extending horizontally in the direction, and an upper part of the fuel tank 1,
The upper container 3 formed with a second flange 7 that extends horizontally in the outward direction over the entire circumference at the open end is shown in close contact with the first and second flanges 7 and 9 in the middle. It is fastened with bolts. The lower container 5 of the fuel tank 1 is integrally formed with a fuel inflow passage 11 that extends obliquely upward through a portion that extends horizontally from the side wall of the lower container 5. An inflow port 13 into which the fuel F of the vehicle flows in is provided at an extension side end portion of the fuel inflow passage 11. The fuel inflow passage 11 may be provided with a hole in the side wall portion of the lower container 5 in which the fuel inflow passage 11 is formed, and the fuel outflow passage 11 may be attached to this hole in a liquid-tight state. Regarding the shape of the fuel tank 1, the upper surface of the upper container 3 and the lower surface of the lower container 5 have substantially the same dimensions, and the first and second flanges 7 and 9 that are the mating surfaces are larger than the upper and lower surfaces. It is formed so as to have a hexagonal cross-section having dimensions.

Further, in the fuel tank 1, the liquid surface of the fuel F is covered inside the fuel tank 1 in a state of being in close contact,
A partition member 15 is provided which functions to block the contact between the fuel F and the air layer. The partition member 15 prevents vaporization of the fuel F inside the fuel tank 1 in advance, and therefore, during refueling, vaporized fuel gas is diffused into the atmosphere via the fuel filling port of the fuel tank 1. As a result, air pollution resulting from the emission of fuel gas can be prevented in advance. This partition member 15
As shown in FIG. 9, it is composed of a rectangular film-like body, and the outer peripheral edge portion of the holding portion 16 is sandwiched between the first and second flanges 7 and 9 and held. Is formed over the entire circumference thereof, while a rectangular auxiliary plate 17 having a function of suppressing the undulation of the fuel F by reinforcing the bending rigidity of the partition member 15 is formed in the substantially central portion thereof.
Is provided. Further, the auxiliary plate 17 is provided with a flat plate-like weight member 19 such as a metal such as lead having a high specific gravity at a substantially central portion on the upper surface thereof.

On the other hand, ultrasonic waves are directed toward the weight member 19 at substantially the central portion of the upper container 3 of the fuel tank 1.
Alternatively, a fuel liquid level detector 21 is provided which detects the liquid level of the fuel F by emitting electromagnetic waves such as infrared light and receiving the reflected waves and measuring the time from the emission to the reception. The ultrasonic waves or electromagnetic waves are radiated toward the central portion of the partition member 15. That is, the liquid level measurement point is set at the central portion of the partition member 15. This is because the central portion of the partition member 15 normally coincides with the center of gravity, and the partition member 15 tries to rotate around the center of gravity. Therefore, when the liquid level of the fuel F swings, the central portion of the partition member 15 is rotated. Is due to the least level fluctuations. The liquid level of the fuel F detected by the fuel level detector 21 is connected to a fuel level gauge provided in a combination meter (not shown) via terminals 23a and 23b. As a result, the liquid level of the fuel F detected by the fuel level detector 21 is displayed on the fuel level gauge and the fuel level is detected.
The occupant of the vehicle is informed of the remaining amount of. Here, the liquid level of the fuel F detected by the fuel level detector 21 is actually the level of the upper surface of the weight member 19,
Is different from the liquid level of. However, if the fuel level detector 21 is set to offset so that the liquid level detection level becomes zero when the remaining amount of the fuel F is zero, the upper surface level of the weight member 19 is replaced with the liquid level of the fuel F. Therefore, there is no practical problem.

Next, the partition member 15 and the auxiliary plate 1 described above.
7 and a plurality of embodiments of the weight body 20 including the weight member 19 and the like will be described in more detail with reference to FIGS. 3 to 7.

First, the first embodiment of the weight body 20 will be described. As shown in FIG. 3, the partition member 15 has a cloth woven material 27 such as nylon fiber or tetron fiber and has elasticity such as NBR rubber. Polymer material 25a, 2 which is excellent in oil resistance
It is configured by sandwiching between 5b. Therefore, the partition member 15 is excellent in flexibility and strength, and is also excellent in liquid-tightness and air-tightness, and has oil resistance against fuel such as gasoline,
It also has excellent corrosion resistance and durability. However, since the partition member 15 has excellent flexibility, the partition member 15 alone cannot effectively suppress the fluctuation of the liquid surface of the fuel F. Therefore, a flat plate-shaped auxiliary plate 17 made of, for example, resin such as polyethylene is attached to the upper surface of the partition member 15. The auxiliary plate 17 has rigidity enough to prevent the liquid surface of the fuel F from waviness and maintain a flat state. As a result, the partition member 15 whose bending rigidity is reinforced by the auxiliary plate 17 can effectively suppress the fluctuation of the liquid surface of the fuel F. In addition, the auxiliary plate 17
Are formed to have a size slightly smaller than the bottom surface or the top surface of the fuel tank 1. Accordingly, in the fuel tank 1, the auxiliary plate 17 is supported by the partition member 15 and is supported by the partition member 15 from when the remaining amount of the fuel F is small to when the fuel F is full.
It is possible to smoothly move so as to change the position of the liquid surface following the change of the liquid surface position. Further, the auxiliary plate 17
Is chamfered on the corners of all sides existing on its outer circumference. As a result, even if the auxiliary plate 17 is strongly pressed against the partition member 15, the partition member 1
Eliminates the fear of damaging 5.

The above-mentioned weight member 19 is attached to the auxiliary plate 17 having the above-described structure, and the partition member 15,
The auxiliary plate 17 and the weight member 19 form a weight body 20. Therefore, with respect to the liquid level of the fuel F, the weight 2
When a load of 0 is applied, the weight body 20 presses while covering the liquid surface of the fuel F almost all over. Here, for example, due to a change in the posture of the vehicle, acceleration / deceleration, etc., the fuel F
Considering the case where acceleration is applied from the outside,
The fuel F, which is a liquid, tends to settle in the most stable position with respect to an external force by freely changing its existing position in the fuel tank 1 which is a closed space. This hinders the measurement of the remaining fuel amount with good followability and high accuracy. Therefore, as described above, by pressing the liquid surface of the fuel F while covering it almost entirely by the weight body 20, the movement of the fuel F in the fuel tank 1 is restrained, and this causes the detection error of the remaining fuel amount. Can be suppressed.

In order to fix the partition member 15 to the fuel tank 1 while maintaining the liquid tightness, the sandwiching portion 16 is formed with first and second flanges 7 and 9, respectively, as shown in FIG. First and second bulging portions 33 and 35, which fit into the first and second recessed portions 29 and 31, respectively, are formed over the entire circumference of the outer peripheral edge portion of the partition member 15. Therefore, in the step of connecting the lower container 5 and the upper container 3 with the bolts in the first and second flanges 3 and 5 in the middle, the partition member 15 is interposed between the first and second flanges 3 and 5. Holding part 16
By sandwiching and fixing, the liquid tightness and the air tightness between the first and second flanges 7 and 9 serving as the joint portion of the fuel tank 1 are more firmly established.

Next, as a second embodiment of the weight body 20,
As shown in FIG. 4, the cloth woven material 27, the auxiliary plate 17, and the weight member 19 are laminated and positioned, and N
It is also possible to mold the polymeric materials 25a, 25b such as BR rubber so as to integrally cover them. With this configuration, in the assembling process of the weight body 20, this attaching process can be omitted as compared with the first embodiment in which the weight member 19 is attached in the post process.

As a third embodiment of the weight body 20,
As shown in FIG. 5, a cloth woven material 27 and an auxiliary plate 17 are laminated and positioned, and a polymeric material 25a, 25b such as NBR rubber is integrally molded on this, During the molding process, the polymer material 2 is applied to the corresponding portion when the weight member 19 is positioned in the second embodiment.
5a, 25b for each thick portion 26a, 26b
The weight body 20 can also be configured by forming the. With this configuration, the number of parts can be reduced by omitting the weight member 19 as a separate member used in the first and second embodiments.

Further, as a fourth embodiment of the weight body 20, as shown in FIG. 6, a cloth woven material 27 is provided on the upper surface of the auxiliary plate 17.
Are stacked and positioned, and an abutting portion 37 that abuts the auxiliary plate 17 with respect to the lower surface of the auxiliary plate 17, an extension portion 39 extending at a right angle from the vicinity of the center of the abutting portion 37, and an extension portion 39. A protruding weight member 43 having an enlarged portion 41 connected at right angles to the opposite side and having a substantially H-shaped cross section.
The contact portions 37 of the above are placed in contact with each other, and the polymeric materials 25a, 25 such as NBR rubber are attached to these members.
It is also possible to form the weight body 20 including the protruding portion 45 protruding from the lower general surface of the mold body by molding so as to integrally cover b. By doing so, the center of gravity G of the weight body 20 as a whole is equal to
As compared with the embodiment, it moves downward, whereby the component force of gravity at the center of gravity G of the partition member 15 when the liquid surface of the fuel F swings and the partition member 15 inclines. The partition member 15 acts in a direction to restore the inclination, and as a result, in addition to the effect of preventing the fuel F from rocking as the weight increases,
Can be returned from the inclined state to the horizontal state in a short time.

As a fifth embodiment of the weight body 20, as shown in FIG. 7, a cloth woven material 27 is provided on the upper surface of the auxiliary plate 17.
Are stacked and positioned, and the NB
The polymer material 25a, 25b such as R rubber is molded so as to integrally cover. Further, at a substantially central portion of the polymer material 25b formed by molding the lower surface of the auxiliary plate 17, an extension portion 47 extending vertically downward from the general surface of the polymer material 25b and an extension side end portion of the extension portion 47 are provided. A pair of support sides 49 that are provided and stand up along the longitudinal direction of the auxiliary plate 17 at an acute angle with respect to the extension portion 47;
The pair of protrusions 51 provided at the tip ends of the pair of support sides 49 are integrally formed of the same material as the polymer material 25b. Instead of the above-described embodiment, a fixing portion located along the lower surface of the auxiliary plate 17, an extension portion extending vertically downward from the fixing portion, and an extension side end portion of the extension portion, A pair of supporting portions that respectively stand up along the longitudinal direction of the auxiliary plate at an acute angle with respect to the pair of supporting portions, and a pair of projecting portions that are respectively provided at the tip end portions of the pair of supporting portions have rigidity suitable for becoming a core material. It is also possible to integrally form the material and to mold the lower surfaces of these members and the auxiliary plate 17 so as to integrally coat the polymer material 25b. In this way, the auxiliary plate 17
The rigidity of the portion extended from the lower surface of is significantly improved. One end of a rod-shaped member 55 is supported by a pin 53 at the extension side end of the extension portion 47, whereby the rod-shaped member 55 is rotatable about the pin 53 in the longitudinal direction of the auxiliary plate 17. Has become. However, the rod-shaped member 55 is
When it moves to a predetermined angle of an acute angle with respect to the extension portion 47, it comes into contact with the above-mentioned pair of projecting portions 51 to restrict the movement range thereof. The rod-shaped member 55 has a tip portion,
A pendulum type weight member 59 is provided, and four blade-shaped members 57 that are arranged orthogonal to each other so as to effectively receive the flow of the fuel F are provided in an intermediate portion thereof. According to the weight body 20 configured as described above,
The center of gravity G of the weight body 20 as a whole is such that when the liquid surface of the fuel F swings and the partition member 15 tends to incline, the blade-shaped member 5
7 effectively receives the flow of the fuel F and the pendulum type weight member 5
9 acts to move the partition member 15 in a direction to restore the inclination of the partition member 15. As a result, in addition to the effect of preventing the fuel F from rocking due to the increase in weight, the partition member 15 is moved along with the movement of the fuel F. It is possible to prevent the inclination of the partition member 15 from occurring, and it is possible to quickly return the partition member 15 from the tilted state to the horizontal state even when the partition member 15 is tilted.

Next, the operation of the fuel tank according to the first to fifth embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to FIGS. 10 to 12.

First, the operation of the fuel tank according to the first to third embodiments will be described in comparison with the mode in which the weight member 19 or the thick portion 26 is not provided. FIG. 10 shows an auxiliary plate 1 in which the weight member 19 or the thick portion 26 is not provided.
7 shows an outline. In the figure, the partition member 15 is omitted for simplicity.

As shown in FIG. 10, in the auxiliary plate 17 in which the weight member 19 or the thick portion 26 is not provided,
For example, in the assembly process, when the attachment position of the auxiliary plate 17 to the partition member 15 is deviated from the center of the partition member 15 or the thickness of the auxiliary plate 17 is not uniform, the center position C of the partition member 15 is , The amount of deviation Δx between the center of gravity G and the auxiliary plate 17 attached to the partition member 15
Occurs. Here, since the partition member 15 tries to rotate about the center of gravity G, in the present invention in which the liquid level measuring point is provided at the center position C of the partition member 15,
When the partition member 15 is tilted by, for example, the angle α, the level fluctuation at the center position C becomes larger than the level fluctuation at the center of gravity G, which may hinder the detection of the remaining amount of the fuel F with high accuracy. there were. In addition, even if the attachment position of the auxiliary plate 17 to the partition member 15 coincides with the center of the partition member 15 and the thickness of the auxiliary plate 17 is uniform, the total weight of the auxiliary plate 17 and the partition member 15 is compared. In the case of a relatively light weight, it was difficult to suppress the level fluctuation of the fuel F at a high level.

On the other hand, as shown in FIG. 11, in the case of the auxiliary plate 17 in which the weight member 19 or the thick portion 26 is provided, in the same manner as described above, in the assembling process of the weight body 20, the partitioning is performed. The attachment position of the auxiliary plate 17 to the member 15 is displaced from the center of the partition member 15, or the auxiliary plate 17
Even if the thickness of the partition member 15 is not uniform, the center position C of the partition member 15 and the auxiliary plate 17 can be adjusted by managing the weight member 19 or the installation position of the thick portion 26 so as to coincide with the center of the partition member 15. The amount of deviation Δx from the center of gravity G attached to the partition member 15 decreases to an almost negligible level. Therefore, when the partition member 15 is tilted by the angle α as described above, the level fluctuation at the center position C is almost the same as the level fluctuation at the center of gravity G. Further, the weight of the weight body 20 including the partition member 15, the auxiliary plate 17, and the weight member 19 is applied to the liquid surface of the fuel F,
Since the weight body 20 presses the liquid surface of the fuel F while covering almost the entire liquid surface, the movement of the fuel F in the fuel tank 1 is restricted, and the liquid surface fluctuation of the fuel F is suppressed at a high level. At this time, if the liquid level of the fuel F is measured by the fuel level detector 21, the level fluctuation suppressing action at the liquid level measurement point due to the reduction of the deviation amount Δx described above,
The effect of suppressing the fluctuation of the fuel F due to the increase in weight is synergistically exerted, and as a result, it is possible to obtain a highly accurate residual fuel amount in which the detection error is significantly suppressed.

Next, the operation of the fuel tank according to the fourth embodiment of the present invention will be described. As shown in FIG. 12, the protruding weight member 43 is located below the lower general surface of the mold body. There is. Therefore, the center of gravity G of the weight body 20 as a whole is located below as compared with the first to third embodiments described above. As a result, when the liquid level of the fuel F swings and the auxiliary plate 17 is inclined by the angle β, the component of gravity at the center of gravity G acts in a direction to restore the inclination of the partition member 15. That is, the above-mentioned shift amount Δ
In addition to the level fluctuation suppressing action at the liquid level measurement point due to the reduction of x and the fluctuation suppressing action of the fuel F due to the weight increase as described above, the tilt restoring action accompanying the downward movement of the center of gravity G is also performed. And will be played synergistically. At this time, if the liquid level of the fuel F is measured by the fuel level detector 21, even if the auxiliary plate 17 is inclined, the auxiliary plate 17 can be returned from the inclined state to the horizontal state in a short time. As a result, it is possible to obtain a highly accurate residual fuel amount with drastically suppressed detection error.

Then, the operation of the fuel tank according to the fifth embodiment of the present invention will be described. As shown in FIG. 7, in the pendulum type weight member 59, the liquid level of the fuel F swings and the partition member 15 is removed. When attempting to incline, the blade-shaped member 57 causes the fuel F
The partition member 1 as it moves by effectively receiving the flow of
Move in the direction to restore the inclination of 5. Therefore, the center of gravity G of the weight body 20 as a whole acts so as to appropriately move in the direction in which the inclination of the partition member 15 is restored.
That is, in addition to the level fluctuation suppressing action at the liquid level measuring point due to the reduction of the deviation amount Δx and the fluctuation suppressing action of the fuel F due to the weight increase as described above, the center of gravity G further moves appropriately. Therefore, the tilt restoring action is synergistically achieved. At this time, if the liquid level of the fuel F is measured by the fuel liquid level detector 21, the inclination of the auxiliary plate 17 is sufficiently suppressed even if the auxiliary plate 17 tries to incline, and the auxiliary plate 17 is Even when the vehicle tilts, the auxiliary plate 17 quickly returns from the tilted state to the horizontal state, and as a result, it is possible to obtain a highly accurate residual fuel amount in which the detection error is further dramatically suppressed. .

Finally, in the present embodiment, the fuel tank according to the present invention has been described by exemplifying the fuel tank of a vehicle having an internal combustion engine as the fuel tank, but the present invention is not limited to this. Instead, it can be applied to a wide range of fields such as a fuel tank of an aircraft equipped with an internal combustion engine, a fuel tank of agricultural equipment such as a tractor equipped with an internal combustion engine, and the like.

[0046]

According to the invention of claim 1, a load that is the sum of the partition member and the weight member is applied to the liquid surface of the fuel, and the partition member exhibiting this load covers the fuel liquid surface. Since the fuel is pressed, the movement of the fuel in the fuel tank is restricted by the pressing force of the partition member even if the vehicle posture changes due to vehicle acceleration / deceleration, vibration, road inclination, etc. Rocking is suppressed at a high level.

Further, according to the invention of claim 2, since the weight member is covered with the partition member integrally with the fuel resistant coating, therefore, the partition member and the weight member are:
There is no direct contact with the fuel, which results in
It is not necessary to consider fuel resistance as the material of the partition member and the weight member, and the degree of freedom in selecting the material can be improved.

Further, according to the invention of claim 3, since the bending rigidity of the partition member is reinforced by the auxiliary member, as a result, the fluctuation of the fuel liquid surface such as waviness is further effectively suppressed.

Further, according to the invention of claim 5, since the weight member is formed by forming the central portion of the partition member to be thick, it is not necessary to separately prepare the weight member, and as a result, The number of parts can be reduced, and the step of providing a weight member as a separate member can be reduced.

Further, according to the invention of claim 6, since the weight member is provided so as to project downward from the lower general surface of the partition member, the center of gravity of the partition member including the weight member is Compared with the above-mentioned inventions according to claims 1 to 5, it moves downward. As a result, when the liquid level of the fuel swings and the partition member is tilted, the component of gravity at the center of gravity acts in a direction to restore the tilt of the partition member. As a result, in addition to the effect of suppressing the fluctuation of the fuel liquid level due to the increase in weight, the effect of the inclination restoration accompanying the downward movement of the center of gravity is synergistically exerted, and the fluctuation of the fuel liquid surface is caused. It will be dramatically suppressed.

According to the invention of claim 8, the pendulum type weight member effectively receives the flow of fuel by the flow receiving member when the liquid level of the fuel swings and the partition member tends to incline. As the partition member moves, the partition member moves in a direction to restore the inclination. Therefore, the center of gravity of the partition member or the like as a whole acts so as to appropriately move in the direction in which the inclination of the partition member is restored. As a result, in addition to the effect of suppressing the fluctuation of the fuel liquid level due to the increase in weight, the effect of the tilt restoration accompanying the appropriate movement of the center of gravity is synergistically exerted, and the fluctuation of the fuel liquid surface is caused. It will be further dramatically suppressed.

Further, according to the invention of claim 9, a load that is the sum of the partition member and the weight member is applied to the liquid surface of the fuel, and the partition member exhibiting this load covers the liquid surface of the fuel. Since the fuel in the fuel tank is pressed while moving, the movement of the fuel is restrained by the pressing force of the partition member even if the vehicle posture changes due to vehicle acceleration / deceleration, vibration, road inclination, etc. Surface swing is suppressed at a high level.
At this time, if the liquid level of the fuel is measured by the fluctuation detecting means, it is possible to obtain a highly accurate residual fuel amount in which the detection error is largely suppressed.

According to the tenth aspect of the invention, the display means can faithfully reproduce the residual fuel amount remaining in the fuel tank with almost no influence of disturbance such as a change in the posture of the vehicle. It has an extremely excellent effect.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a schematic configuration diagram showing a fuel tank and a fuel remaining amount measuring device for a fuel tank according to the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a schematic configuration diagram showing a fuel tank and a fuel remaining amount measuring device for the fuel tank according to the present invention.

FIG. 3 is a diagram showing a main part of a fuel tank according to the present invention.

FIG. 4 is a diagram showing a main part of a fuel tank according to the present invention.

FIG. 5 is a diagram showing a main part of a fuel tank according to the present invention.

FIG. 6 is a diagram showing a main part of a fuel tank according to the present invention.

FIG. 7 is a diagram showing a main part of a fuel tank according to the present invention.

FIG. 8 is a diagram for explaining a fuel tank according to the present invention.

FIG. 9 is a diagram for explaining a fuel tank according to the present invention.

FIG. 10 is a diagram for explaining the operation of the fuel tank according to the present invention.

FIG. 11 is a diagram for explaining the operation of the fuel tank according to the present invention.

FIG. 12 is a diagram for explaining the operation of the fuel tank according to the present invention.

FIG. 13 is a schematic configuration diagram of a fuel remaining amount measuring apparatus for a fuel tank according to a conventional example.

[Explanation of reference numerals] 1 fuel tank 3,5 upper container, lower container 7,9 flange 11 fuel inflow path 13 inflow port 15 partition member 17 auxiliary plate 19 weight member 20 weight body 21 fuel level detector 23 terminal 25 high Molecular material 26 Thick part 27 Cloth woven material 29, 31 1st, 2nd recessed part 33, 35 1st, 2nd bulge part 37 Contact part 39 Extension part 41 Enlarged part 43 Projection type weight member 45 Projection part 47 Extension Part 49 Supporting side 51 Projection part 53 Pin 55 Bar-shaped member 57 Wing-shaped member 59 Pendulum type weight member

 ─────────────────────────────────────────────────── ─── Continuation of the front page (72) Inventor Ichiro Kataoka 1500, Onjuku, Susono-shi, Shizuoka Prefecture, Yazaki General Industry Co., Ltd. (72) Inventor, Kunimitsu Aoki 1500, Onjuku, Susono-shi, Shizuoka Prefecture

Claims (10)

[Claims] 1. A tank main body for containing a fuel, a flexible partition member provided in the tank main body so as to vertically divide the inside of the tank main body, and cover the liquid surface of the fuel, A fuel tank, comprising: a weight member provided at a central portion of the partition member. 2. The fuel tank according to claim 1, wherein the weight member is covered with a fuel-resistant cover integrally with the partition member. 3. The fuel tank according to claim 1, further comprising a flat plate-shaped auxiliary member that is provided along with the partition member and that reinforces the bending rigidity of the partition member. 4. The fuel tank according to claim 3, wherein the weight member is covered with a covering member having fuel resistance integrally with the partition member and the auxiliary member. 5. The fuel tank according to claim 1, wherein the weight member is formed by forming a thick central portion of the partition member. 6. The fuel tank according to claim 1, wherein the weight member is provided so as to protrude downward from a lower general surface of the partition member. 7. The weight member includes an extension portion that extends downward from a lower general surface of the partition member, and an enlarged portion that is connected to the extension portion and that is provided at the end in the projecting direction. The fuel tank according to claim 6, wherein: 8. A tank main body for accommodating fuel, a flexible partition member provided in the tank main body so as to divide the inside of the tank main body in a vertical direction and to cover a liquid surface of the fuel, An extension member that is provided at a central portion of the partition member and extends vertically downward with respect to the partition member, a rod-shaped member whose one end is supported by the extension member, and a rod-shaped member that is provided on the rod-shaped member and receives the flow of fuel. A flow receiving member for rotating the rod-shaped member, a pendulum type weight member provided on the rod-shaped member, and a regulating means for regulating the rotational movement of the rod-shaped member within a predetermined range. Fuel tank. 9. A tank main body for accommodating fuel, a flexible partitioning member provided in the tank main body so as to vertically divide the inside of the tank main body and cover the liquid surface of the fuel, A fuel remaining amount measurement for a fuel tank, comprising: a weight member provided at a central portion of the partition member; and variation detection means for detecting a level variation of the central portion of the partition member provided in the tank body. apparatus. 10. The fuel remaining amount measuring apparatus for a fuel tank according to claim 9, further comprising display means for displaying the level fluctuation detected by the fluctuation detecting means.