WO2023233753A1

WO2023233753A1 - Fuel supply device

Info

Publication number: WO2023233753A1
Application number: PCT/JP2023/009727
Authority: WO
Inventors: 悟塚田; 孝夫鵤木
Original assignee: 株式会社ミツバ
Priority date: 2022-05-30
Filing date: 2023-03-13
Publication date: 2023-12-07
Also published as: JP2023175250A

Abstract

The present invention provides a fuel supply device that can be disposed in a space-saving manner, that enables an increase in fuel supply efficiency, and that enables an increase in fuel suction efficiency.　Provided is a fuel supply device 1 which supplies fuel to a fuel tank 2, said fuel supply device 1 comprising: a flange member 30 which has an oval contour and which covers an opening 2b that is in a side wall surface part 2c of the fuel tank; a fuel pump 10 which is disposed inside the fuel tank along a placement surface 30a of the flange member; a pump accommodation member 20 which accommodates the fuel pump and which is attached to the flange member; a fuel flow path accommodation part 70 inside which is disposed a fuel flow path that passes through the flange member in the thickness direction and which protrudes into the fuel tank from the placement surface; discharge piping 34a which is outside the fuel tank; and an external connector 33 which is outside the fuel tank. The long axis direction of the oval contour of the flange member is inclined.

Description

fuel supply device

The present invention relates to a fuel supply device.

For example, a vehicle fuel supply device for supplying fuel from a fuel tank to an engine is known. As described in Patent Document 1, a fuel supply device disposed at the bottom of a fuel tank is known. The fuel supply device includes a fuel pump that sucks fuel stored in a fuel tank through an intake port and pumps it to the engine, and a filter that is attached to the intake port to prevent foreign matter from entering the fuel pump. ing.

The fuel supply device includes, for example, a cylindrical cup (exterior body) containing a fuel pump, and a pressure regulator attached to the cup. The fuel pump discharges fuel through a discharge port (fuel outlet pipe). The pressure regulator prevents the pressure of fuel supplied from the fuel supply device to the internal combustion engine from becoming excessive. For this reason, the pressure regulator is provided in the middle of the flow path from the exhaust port of the fuel pump to the internal combustion engine.

In this fuel supply device, the fuel pump and the cup (exterior body) are arranged with their axes parallel to the wall and bottom of the fuel tank. The cup and the flange (lid member) that attaches the cup and pressure regulator to the tank are made of resin, for example.

Japanese Patent Application Publication No. 2005-233067

However, when installing a fuel supply device in a fuel tank that is placed across the vehicle body frame installed at the front and rear of the vehicle, there is not enough space inside the tank, so a fuel supply device that can be installed in a small space is required. It was getting worse. At the same time, there was a need to improve this problem, as fuel may be unevenly distributed in a fuel tank with insufficient space and the fuel may not be sucked properly. Furthermore, if the engine is downsized in order to save space, there is a possibility that the fuel supply efficiency of the fuel supply device to the engine will be reduced, and there has been a desire to improve this.

The present invention has been made in view of the above circumstances, and aims to achieve the object of providing a fuel supply device that can be arranged in a space-saving manner, improves fuel supply efficiency, and improves fuel suction efficiency. be.

(1) A fuel supply device according to one embodiment of the present invention includes:
A fuel supply device that is attached to a fuel tank and supplies the fuel in the fuel tank to the outside of the fuel tank,
a flange member having an oval profile that covers an opening in the fuel tank;
a fuel pump disposed within the fuel tank with a longitudinal direction along the arrangement surface of the flange member exposed within the fuel tank and the long axis direction of the oval contour of the flange member;
a cylindrical pump housing member that houses the fuel pump and is attached to the flange member;
A fuel flow path that penetrates the flange member in the thickness direction and supplies the fuel sent from the fuel pump to the outside of the fuel tank is disposed inside and protrudes into the fuel tank from the arrangement surface. A storage section,
Equipped with
The flange member is attached to the opening disposed on the side wall surface of the fuel tank, and is also inclined so that one end of the long axis of the oval profile is upward and the other end is downward.
This solved the above problem.

According to the above configuration, the flange member having an oval profile is attached to the side wall of the fuel tank in an inclined state, and the fuel inlet of the fuel pump and the filter connected to the fuel inlet are attached to the bottom of the fuel tank. By being located at the lowest part of the fuel tank, even if the fuel stored in the fuel tank decreases, it is easy to suck in the necessary fuel and supply it to the engine, etc. Moreover, even if the internal space of a fuel tank that is placed across the vehicle body frame provided at the front and rear of the vehicle is small, the fuel supply device can be installed in a space-saving position where fuel can be supplied. Become. Moreover, in this case, it is possible to place the fuel supply device on the side wall surface that straddles the vehicle body frame, so even in a two-wheeled vehicle that is often exposed, the aesthetic appearance of the vehicle is not compromised, and the design is desired. Even in a two-wheeled vehicle, etc., the arrangement can be made so that the appearance thereof is not affected.

(2) The fuel supply device of the present invention has the following features in (1) above:
The fuel pump has one longitudinal end connected to the fuel flow path accommodating section, a filter connected to the fuel inlet at the other end via a connecting pipe section, and the fuel flow path accommodating section located above and above. The fuel pump is arranged to be inclined so that the fuel intake port thereof is directed downward;
be able to.

According to the above configuration, the fuel pump is inclined so that even if the liquid level of the fuel stored in the fuel tank falls, the fuel suction port, the connecting pipe section, and the filter can suck the fuel. By aligning the axis of the fuel pump with the longitudinal direction of the oval profile of the flange member, it becomes possible to form an opening in the side wall surface without the bottom surface of the fuel tank interfering with the flange member. As a result, even if the amount of fuel stored in a fuel tank with a small internal space is extremely reduced, it becomes easy to suck in the necessary fuel and supply it to the engine and the like.

(3) In the above (2), the fuel supply device of the present invention has the following features:
The filter is disposed close to a lowermost portion of the bottom portion of the fuel tank.
be able to.

According to the above configuration, even in a fuel tank with a small internal space, even when the amount of fuel stored in the fuel tank is extremely reduced, it is easy to suck in the necessary fuel and supply it to the engine, etc.

(4) In the above (3), the fuel supply device of the present invention has the following features:
The main surface of the plate-shaped filter is arranged along the longitudinal direction of the fuel pump, and is arranged along the arrangement surface of the flange member.
be able to.

According to the above configuration, even if the liquid level of the fuel stored in the fuel tank falls, fuel can be sucked from the filter located at the inclined lower position. Furthermore, when assembling the fuel supply device to the fuel tank, when inserting the fuel supply device from the motor-side end of the fuel pump that protrudes from the flange member into the tank opening, the filter further protrudes from the motor-side end of the fuel pump. This can prevent damage caused by direct contact with the opening. Therefore, it is possible to improve the workability when attaching the fuel supply device to the fuel tank.

(5) In the above (4), the fuel supply device of the present invention has the following features:
The plate-shaped filter has a main surface arranged along a side wall surface of the fuel tank.
be able to.

According to the above configuration, even in a fuel tank with a small internal space, by arranging a filter that is larger than the fuel pump when viewed in the thickness direction of the flange member along the side wall surface, the fuel stored in the fuel tank can be Even if the amount of fuel is extremely reduced, it is easy to draw in the necessary fuel and supply it to the engine, etc. That is, the space of the fuel supply device can be saved.

(6) In the above (5), the fuel supply device of the present invention has the following features:
The connecting pipe portion is bent from an end of the fuel pump toward a main surface of the filter.
be able to.

According to the above configuration, by bending the connecting pipe portion protruding in the axial direction of the fuel pump from the end of the fuel pump in the radial direction toward the main surface of the filter, the fuel pump A larger filter can be connected to the fuel inlet. As a result, even in a fuel tank with a small internal space, it is possible to arrange a filter that is larger than the fuel pump when viewed in the thickness direction of the flange member along the arrangement surface and side wall surface of the flange member. That is, the space of the fuel supply device can be saved.

(7) In the above (6), the fuel supply device of the present invention has the following features:
The flange member is configured such that the fuel intake port is located at a lowermost portion of the bottom portion of the fuel tank when viewed from above, and the fuel flow path accommodating portion is located at the lowermost portion of the bottom portion of the fuel tank when viewed from above. placed at a position corresponding to the convex portion that slopes upward from the bottom,
be able to.

According to the above configuration, even if the liquid level of the fuel stored in the fuel tank falls, fuel can be inhaled from the fuel intake port via the filter located at the inclined downward position. Furthermore, since the fuel flow path accommodating portion is located at a position corresponding to the convex portion inclined upward from the lowest portion, the bottom surface portion of the fuel tank does not interfere with the flange member. As a result, even if the amount of fuel stored in a fuel tank with a small internal space is extremely reduced, it becomes easy to suck in the necessary fuel and supply it to the engine and the like.

(8) In the above (7), the fuel supply device of the present invention has the following features:
The flange member has a fixed protrusion around the opening, and the fixed protrusion is located below the obliquely fixed flange member.
be able to.

According to the above configuration, even when a load is applied to the oval-shaped opening that causes the oval-shaped flange member to move along the opening contour, the flange member rotates with respect to the opening. No such displacement occurs. Furthermore, by positioning the fixed protrusion below the inclined flange member, the aesthetic appearance of two-wheeled vehicles that are often exposed will not be impaired, and even those that require good design will not have an impact on the appearance of two-wheeled vehicles. It can be arranged so that it does not affect the

(9) In the above (8), the fuel supply device of the present invention includes:
A discharge pipe is provided outside the fuel tank and connected to the fuel flow path and extending along the arrangement surface of the flange member and the oval contour long axis direction,
the discharge piping is arranged obliquely along the long axis direction of the oval contour of the flange member;
be able to.

According to the above configuration, it is possible to cope with the miniaturization of the fuel tank and the reduction in the area of the bottom surface where clearance is insufficient, and the discharge pipe can be moved outside the fuel tank from a position on the inside when viewed from the outside of the vehicle. By protruding, the aesthetic appearance of a two-wheeled vehicle with a large amount of exposure is not impaired, and even in a two-wheeled vehicle that requires good design, the arrangement can be made without affecting the appearance of the vehicle.

(10) In the above (9), the fuel supply device of the present invention includes:
an external connector is provided that extends outside the fuel tank along the arrangement surface of the flange member and along the longitudinal axis of the oval profile and is connected to wiring that supplies power to the fuel pump from outside the fuel tank;
the external connector is arranged obliquely along the long axis direction of the oval contour of the flange member;
be able to.

According to the above configuration, it is possible to cope with the miniaturization of the fuel tank where there is insufficient clearance and the reduction in the area of the bottom part, and it is also possible to accommodate the external connector from the inside position when viewed from the outside of the vehicle to the outside of the fuel tank. By protruding, the aesthetic appearance of a two-wheeled vehicle with a large amount of exposure is not impaired, and even in a two-wheeled vehicle that requires good design, the arrangement can be made without affecting the appearance of the vehicle.

According to the present invention, it is possible to provide a fuel supply device that can be arranged in a space-saving manner, can improve fuel supply efficiency, and can improve fuel suction efficiency.

1 is a perspective view showing a first embodiment of a fuel supply device according to the present invention. 1 is a sectional view showing a first embodiment of a fuel supply device according to the present invention. It is a perspective view showing a flange member in a 1st embodiment of the fuel supply device concerning the present invention. FIG. 2 is a perspective view showing a pump housing member in the first embodiment of the fuel supply device according to the present invention. FIG. 2 is a perspective view showing a guide rail structure of a pump housing member in the first embodiment of the fuel supply device according to the present invention. FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view along the YZ plane showing the vertical guide rail structure in the first embodiment of the fuel supply device according to the present invention. FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view along the YZ plane showing the vertical guide rail structure in the first embodiment of the fuel supply device according to the present invention. FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view along the XZ plane showing the vertical guide rail structure in the first embodiment of the fuel supply device according to the present invention. 1 is a sectional view taken along the XY plane showing a guide rail structure in the first embodiment of the fuel supply device according to the present invention. FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing a state in which the first embodiment of the fuel supply device according to the present invention is attached to a fuel tank. FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view along the YZ plane showing another example of the vertical guide rail structure in the first embodiment of the fuel supply device according to the present invention. FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view along the YZ plane showing another example of the vertical guide rail structure in the first embodiment of the fuel supply device according to the present invention.

Hereinafter, a first embodiment of a fuel supply device according to the present invention will be described based on the drawings.
FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing a fuel supply device in this embodiment, and FIG. 2 is a sectional view showing the fuel supply device in this embodiment. In the figure, reference numeral 1 indicates a fuel supply device.
In the following description, the central axis of the fuel pump 10 (described later) is referred to as the central axis C (see FIG. 2), and the direction along the central axis C is referred to as the mounting direction (sliding direction; The direction perpendicular to the mounting direction along the arrangement surface of the flange member 30 that closes the opening 2b formed in the side wall surface portion 2c of 2 is called the cross direction (Y direction), and the normal direction to the arrangement surface is the opposite direction. (Z direction).

<Fuel supply device>
The fuel supply device 1 according to this embodiment is attached to a vehicle such as a motorcycle or a four-wheeled vehicle. The fuel supply device 1 is of a so-called sub-type. As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, the fuel supply device 1 is inserted through an opening 2b formed in a side wall 2c close to the bottom 2a (see FIG. 10) of the fuel tank 2, and It is attached to the side wall surface portion 2c. The fuel supply device 1 includes a fuel pump 10 disposed in a fuel tank 2 , a cup (pump housing member) 20 that includes (accommodates) the fuel pump 10 , and supports the fuel pump 10 together with the cup 20 . The flange unit (flange member) 30 is installed flush with the side wall surface portion 2c of the flange unit 30, and the pressure regulator 45 is installed inside the flange unit 30.

That is, the fuel supply device 1 according to the present embodiment includes a flange member 30 that covers the opening 2b opened in the side wall surface 2c close to the bottom surface 2a of the fuel tank 2, and a flange member 30 that covers the opening 2b opened in the side wall surface 2c adjacent to the bottom surface 2a of the fuel tank 2. The fuel pump 10 is disposed near the bottom part 2a on the lower side in the Z direction inside the fuel tank 2 in a horizontal position along the arrangement surface 30a, and the cylindrical cylinder that accommodates the fuel pump 10 and is attached to the flange member 30 The pump housing member 20, the filter 14a connected to the fuel pump 10, the inlet cover 50 connected to the pump housing member 20, and the flange member 30 and the pump housing member 20 as will be described later, are aligned with each other in the X direction. A guide rail structure 100 that regulates the mounting direction in which the flange member 30 is slid and mounted along the arrangement surface 30a of the flange member 30, and a guide rail structure 100 that locks the flange member 30 and the pump housing member 20 to each other at a position where the slide ends in the mounting direction. and a snap-fit structure 200 for regulating the position.

<Fuel pump>
The fuel pump 10 is formed in a cylindrical shape with the central axis C direction aligned with the X direction. The fuel pump 10 includes a motor section 11 disposed on the left side in FIGS. 1 and 2, and a pump section 12 disposed on the right side in FIGS. 1 and 2. The outer peripheral surface of the fuel pump 10 is formed by a cylindrical housing case 13 made of metal, for example. Housing case 13 supports motor section 11 and pump section 12 from the outside.

Note that the right side in the figure means the right side in the X direction, that is, the fuel suction side along the arrangement surface 30a of the flange member 30 and the axial direction of the fuel pump 10. Moreover, the left side similarly means the left side in the X direction, that is, the fuel discharge side along the arrangement surface 30a of the flange member 30 and the axial direction of the fuel pump 10.
For the motor section 11, for example, a DC motor 11a with a brush (not shown) is used.
The motor section 11 has an output shaft 15 at the center in the radial direction that extends along the downward direction. The output shaft 15 extends from the left side of the motor section 11 to the right side of the pump section 12. The output shaft 15 coincides with the axis of a cylinder that is the outer shape of the fuel pump 10.

The pump section 12 uses a non-displacement pump having an impeller 16. In addition to the impeller 16, the pump section 12 includes an impeller case 18 formed to cover the entire impeller 16.
The impeller 16 is a disc-shaped member made of resin, for example. An insertion hole 16a is formed in the radial center of the impeller 16. The output shaft 15 of the DC motor 11a is inserted through the insertion hole 16a. The output shaft 15 is arranged so that its axial direction is in the X direction.

A plurality of blade portions (not shown) are formed on the outer peripheral side of the left and right surfaces of the impeller 16. The space between the plurality of blade portions passes through the left and right surfaces of the impeller 16. Furthermore, a fuel passage hole (not shown) that penetrates the left and right surfaces of the impeller 16 is formed between the insertion hole 16a of the impeller 16 and the blade portion (not shown). When the DC motor 11a is driven and the impeller 16 rotates, fuel passes through a fuel passage hole (not shown) and is pumped from the right side of the impeller 16 toward the left side.

The impeller case 18 is formed to cover the left surface, right surface, and outer periphery of the impeller 16. The lower end of the housing case 13 is caulked to the outer peripheral edge of the right side of the impeller case 18. Further, a fuel inlet 14 is formed on the outer peripheral side of the right surface of the impeller case 18 and projects toward the right. Furthermore, the impeller case 18 is formed with a communication hole (not shown) that penetrates in the X direction, and the communication hole (not shown) communicates with the fuel intake port 14 . As a result, fuel is pumped into the pump section 12 via the fuel intake port 14 and the communication hole (not shown). An inlet cover 50 is attached to the cup 20 on the right side of the fuel pump 10 as described above.

A discharge port 51 is formed on the left side of the housing case 13. The exhaust port 51 communicates with a fuel flow path 71 formed in a fuel flow path accommodating portion (regulator accommodating portion) 70 .
A power supply terminal 19 connected to a power source for driving the pump section 12 is formed on the left side of the housing case 13 . The power supply terminals 19 are formed at both ends of the oval contour of the flange portion 32, which will be described later, in a direction along the short axis (Y direction). The power supply terminal 19 is arranged closer to the arrangement surface 30a than the top (end) of the regulator accommodating part 70. The power supply terminal 19 will be described later.

An outlet cover 17 is provided on the right side of the motor section 11. The outlet cover 17 is made of resin, for example. The outlet cover 17 is integrated with the flange member 30. The outlet cover 17 contacts the fuel pump 10 housed in a cylindrical cup 20. The outlet cover 17 is integrated with a regulator accommodating portion 70 that stands up from the arrangement surface 30a of the flange member 30, as will be described later.

The outlet cover 17 is formed into a rectangular parallelepiped shape that stands up from the arrangement surface 30a. The outlet cover 17 is configured to maintain the state in which the fuel pump 10 is housed in the cup 20 when the flange member 30 and the cup 20 are engaged with each other by a snap fit structure 200 described later. Note that the outlet cover 17 may have other shapes as long as the fuel pump 10 can be maintained in a stored state with respect to the cup 20.
The outlet cover 17 is formed with a contact surface 17a that contacts the cup 20 and the fuel pump 10. The contact surface 17a is a flat surface facing the cup 20 and the fuel pump 10 in the X direction. The contact surface 17a is formed to extend in the Z direction.

<Inlet cover>
The inlet cover 50 is disposed further to the right in FIG. 1 from the right end of the cylindrical cup 20. The inlet cover 50 is attached to the cup 20 so as to surround the right end of the cup 20. Furthermore, a fuel inlet 14 through which fuel flows into the fuel pump 10 is located inside the lower part of the inlet cover 50.
A check valve (not shown) communicating with the fuel intake port 14 may be housed inside the inlet cover 50 . The check valve is for preventing the fuel flowing in from the fuel intake port 14 from flowing backward.

A liquid level detector for detecting the level of the fuel stored in the fuel tank 2 may be attached to the inlet cover 50. A primary filter (filter) 14a is connected to the fuel intake port 14. Filter 14a is housed in inlet cover 50. The filter 14a is located at the lowest position within the fuel tank 2. Note that the inlet cover 50 is opened on the side opposite to the cup 20 in the X direction, so that the fuel in the fuel tank 2 can flow therein. The primary filter 14a will be described later.

<Cup (pump housing member)>
The cup (pump accommodating member) 20 is made of, for example, a highly durable resin and is formed into a bottomed cylindrical shape having an opening toward the regulator accommodating portion 70 on the left side in the X direction. That is, the cup 20 is attached so as to accommodate the fuel pump 10 therein. The cup 20 is integrally formed with a cylindrical portion 22 that is fitted onto the fuel pump 10 and an end wall 21 that is formed to close an opening at the right end of the cylindrical portion 22 .

A plate-shaped locking piece 202 is formed on the cylindrical portion 22 of the cup 20 and extends toward the right side in the X direction. The locking piece 202 is formed at the top of the cylindrical portion 22 so that its outer periphery extends in the axial direction. The locking piece 202 has a covering piece 220 that extends to the upper end of the regulator accommodating portion 70 . The locking piece 202 will be described later.
The cylindrical portion 22 of the cup 20 may be provided with a window portion 23 that opens on the outer peripheral surface. A plurality of window portions 23 may be formed. A guide rail structure 100 that is slidable relative to the flange member 30 is formed at the lower part of the cylindrical portion 22 of the cup 20 .

The lower end of the cup 20 is in contact with the flange member 30. On the lower side of the cup 20 in the Z direction, a thick sliding portion 24 having a sliding surface 20a serving as a lower end surface is formed as described later. The slide surface 20a is parallel to the arrangement surface 30a and extends in the XY direction. Further, the dimension in the Y direction of the slide portion 24 in which the slide surface 20a is formed is smaller than the dimension in the Y direction of the cylindrical portion 22 that accommodates the fuel pump 10. Furthermore, the dimension of the sliding portion 24 in the X direction is smaller than the dimension of the cylindrical portion 22 that accommodates the fuel pump 10 in the X direction. That is, the slide portion 24 is formed so as to be substantially hidden by the cylindrical portion 22 of the cup 20 when viewed in the Z direction.

Note that the dimension in the X direction of the slide surface 20a formed on the slide portion 24 is smaller than the dimension in the X direction of the cylindrical portion 22 that houses the fuel pump 10, as will be described later. As will be described later, the dimension in the Z direction of the slide portion 24, that is, the thickness, is such that even if a groove is formed as the guide rail structure 100, the flange member 30 and the cup 20 can slide, and the fuel pump 10 can be held. It is assumed that the strength is as strong as possible.

<Flange unit>
The flange unit (flange member) 30 is made of, for example, resin with excellent oil resistance. The flange unit 30 includes a plate-shaped flange portion 32 that closes the opening 2b, a fuel flow path accommodating portion (regulator accommodating portion) 70 of the flange portion 32 that is erected facing inward of the fuel tank 2, and a flange portion 32 of the flange portion 32. It has a cylindrical portion 34 that extends outward from the fuel tank 2, and an external connector 33 that is spaced apart from the cylindrical portion 34 and extends outward from the fuel tank 2 on the flange portion 32.

The flange portion 32 has a contour shape corresponding to the contour shape of the opening portion 2b. In this embodiment, the flange portion 32 has an oval contour shape when viewed from above. The flange portion 32 has an arrangement surface 30 a formed inside the fuel tank 2 . A regulator accommodating portion 70 is provided upright in the flange portion 32 at a position eccentric from the center in the longitudinal direction of the oval contour shape when viewed from above. Here, the oval contour shape means an oval shape or an elliptical shape.
The long axis direction of the oval contour of the flange portion 32 coincides with the X direction. That is, in the fuel pump 10, the central axis C direction coincides with the long axis direction of the oval contour shape.

A circumferential groove portion 32a that projects upward is formed in the flange portion 32 at a portion corresponding to the opening portion 2b of the fuel tank 2. Then, the flange unit 30 is inserted into the opening 2b from the outside of the fuel tank 2, and the flange part 32 of the flange unit 30 is brought into contact with a fixing member (not shown) from the outside on the side wall surface part 2c of the fuel tank 2, and this is fixed. The member is fastened and fixed to the fuel tank 2 with bolts (not shown).
The flange portion 32 has a fixed convex portion 32g at a position corresponding to the periphery of the opening 2b, and this fixed convex portion 32g is located below the flange member 30 that is obliquely fixed.

Then, the lower side of the flange portion 32 in FIG. 1 (cylindrical portion 34, external connector 33, etc.) is exposed to the outside of the fuel tank 2. Further, the upper side of the flange portion 32 in FIG. 1 (regulator accommodating portion 70, etc.) is in a state where it can be immersed in the fuel in the fuel tank 2. A seal member 32b made of rubber or the like is provided between the flange portion 32 and the side wall surface portion 2c of the fuel tank 2, and sealing performance between the fuel supply device 1 and the fuel tank 2 can be ensured.

In the flange portion 32, the circumferential groove portion 32a is closer to the regulator accommodating portion 70 than the end wall 21 in the long axis direction (X direction) of the oval contour shape of the flange member 30. That is, the circumferential groove portion 32a has a portion hidden by the cylindrical portion 22 of the cup 20 when viewed in the Z direction.

The regulator accommodating portion 70 is erected in the Z direction from the arrangement surface 30a of the flange portion 32, and has a fuel flow path 71 formed therein. The fuel flow path 71 penetrates the flange portion 32 in the thickness direction and communicates with the inside of the cylindrical portion 34 . The fuel flow path 71 extends in the Z direction. The pressure regulator 45 is housed near the top (end) of the regulator housing portion 70 that is farthest from the placement surface 30a.
The regulator housing portion 70 includes a cylindrical cylindrical portion 70d that stands upright in the Z direction from the arrangement surface 30a of the flange portion 32, and a plurality of support plate portions 70e that are formed toward the outside in the radial direction of the cylindrical portion 70d. have The cylinder portion 70d and the support plate portion 70e are integrally formed. The proximal ends of the cylindrical portion 70d and the support plate portion 70e are both formed integrally with the flange portion 32.

The regulator accommodating portion 70 is disposed offset from the center position of the oval contour shape of the flange portion 32 in its long axis direction, that is, in the X direction. In the long axis direction (X direction) of the oval contour shape of the flange portion 32, the fuel pump 10 is arranged so as to extend in a direction opposite to the direction in which the regulator housing portion 70 is displaced from the center position. That is, the fuel pump 10 is connected to a position facing the center of the oval contour of the flange portion 32 of the regulator housing portion 70. The fuel pump 10 is connected to the side of the flange portion 32 of the regulator housing portion 70 that is close to the center of the oval contour.

A plurality of terminals 72 connected to the external connector 33 by power supply lines are arranged at positions spaced apart from the center of the oval contour of the flange portion 32 of the regulator housing portion 70. The terminal 72 will be described later.

The pressure regulator 45 is housed in a holding recess 73 that communicates with the fuel flow path 71. The holding recess 73 is located at the upper end of the fuel flow path 71 in the Z direction. The holding recess 73 has an opening 73 a that opens into the fuel tank 2 at the top (end) of the regulator housing 70 . The pressure regulator 45 is fixed to the holding recess 73 by a protrusion 221 formed in the Y direction of the opening 73a. The convex portion 221 protrudes upward in the Z direction at a position on the Y direction side of the periphery of the opening 73a. The convex portion 221 is a thermally caulked portion.

<Pressure regulator>
The pressure regulator 45 is for keeping the fuel pressure of the fuel flowing in the fuel flow path 71 below a certain value. The pressure regulator 45 is formed in a cylindrical shape. The outer peripheral surface of the pressure regulator 45 is fitted into the inner peripheral surface of the holding recess 73. The outer shape of the pressure regulator 45 substantially matches the inner shape of the holding recess 73.
Therefore, the pressure regulator 45 is reliably held in the holding recess 73. This suppresses rattling of the pressure regulator 45.

Further, a fuel inlet (not shown) provided below the pressure regulator 45 communicates with the fuel flow path 71.
A portion of the fuel flow path 71 below the holding recess 73 in the Z direction and above the arrangement surface 30a communicates with the exhaust port 51 via a discharge flow path 71b that communicates and branches in the X direction. The pressure regulator 45 communicates with the exhaust port 51 via the fuel flow path 71 and the exhaust flow path 71b. Furthermore, an O-ring (not shown) is provided between the pressure regulator 45 and the bottom of the holding recess 73 to ensure sealing performance.

When the fuel pressure in the fuel flow path 71 becomes higher than a predetermined pressure, an on-off valve (not shown) provided in the pressure regulator 45 is pushed up by the fuel filling the fuel flow path 71. Then, the fuel flows into the pressure regulator 45 from below and is discharged into the fuel tank 2 from the upper opening 73a of the pressure regulator 45. When the fuel is discharged into the fuel tank 2, the fuel pressure in the fuel flow path 71 is reduced. When the fuel pressure in the fuel flow path 71 returns to a normal value, the discharge of fuel from the pressure regulator 45 is stopped. As a result, the fuel pressure in the fuel flow path 71 becomes below a certain value.

The lower end of the fuel flow path 71 in the Z direction passes through the flange portion 32 and extends into the cylindrical portion 34 . A discharge pipe 34a formed in the X direction along the flange portion 32 is connected to the lower end of the cylindrical portion 34 in the Z direction. The direction in which the discharge pipe 34a extends coincides with the axial direction of the fuel pump 10.
The fuel flow path 71 communicates with a second flow path 71c formed in the discharge pipe 34a from the cylinder portion 34 at the lower end of the cylinder portion 34 in the Z direction. The outer end of the second flow path 71c communicates with the internal combustion engine 57 via the secondary filter 56. The cylinder portion 34 and the discharge pipe 34a are integrally molded on the flange portion 32.

<Filter>
A primary filter (filter) 14a is disposed on the inlet cover 50 in a vertical manner along the side wall surface 2c of the fuel tank 2. The primary filter 14a is for filtering the fuel pumped into the fuel pump 10. The primary filter 14a is formed into a substantially plate shape. The main surface of the primary filter 14a is arranged along the arrangement surface 30a of the flange member 30. The primary filter 14a is, for example, a suction filter. The primary filter 14a is formed into a bag shape by overlapping a pair of filter media (not shown) and welding the outer edges. The mesh diameter of the primary filter 14a is, for example, 70 μm. The arrangement of the primary filter 14a will be described later.

On the other hand, the secondary filter 56 provided between the discharge pipe 34a and the internal combustion engine 57 is for filtering the fuel filtered by the primary filter 14a with higher precision before supplying it to the internal combustion engine 57. be. The mesh diameter of the secondary filter 56 is smaller than the mesh diameter of the primary filter 14a, for example, 10 μm.

An external connector 33 provided on the lower side of the flange portion 32, that is, a location exposed to the outside of the fuel tank 2, has an external connector (not shown) connected to an external power source (not shown), a control device (not shown), etc. ) are fitted together. The external connector 33 is a rectangular cylindrical member when viewed from the X direction. The external connector 33 opens from the lower side of the flange portion 32 at a position spaced apart in the Z direction by the support portion 33d. The external connector 33 has a connector fitting portion 33a that opens toward the outside in the radial direction, which is the long axis direction of the oval contour shape of the flange member 30.

A connector terminal 33b that connects the inside and outside of the fuel tank 2 is provided inside the connector fitting part 33a. The connector terminal 33b is a member made of metal such as copper. The connector terminal 33b passes through the flange portion 32 and is electrically connected to a terminal 72 and a liquid level detector provided near the base of the regulator housing portion 70. The terminal 72 is arranged at the base end of the outer periphery of the cylindrical portion 70d of the regulator housing portion 70. The terminal 72 is located at a position outside the center in the long axis direction of the oval contour shape of the flange part 32 of the cylindrical part 70d, and outside in the short axis direction, when viewed in the thickness direction (Z direction) of the flange part 32. Each is placed.

The terminal 72 opens upward in the Z direction along the cylindrical portion 70d. The terminals 72 are electrically connected to the power supply terminals 19 of the motor section 11 via harnesses (lead wires) 59, respectively.
The terminal 72 is arranged at a position closer to the arrangement surface 30a than the top (end) of the regulator housing section 70.
The external power supply and control device are electrically connected to the motor section 11 by the external connector 33, the terminal 72, the regulator housing section 70, a harness (lead wire) 59 routed around the outer periphery of the fuel pump 10, and the power supply terminal 19. Ru.

The terminal 72 is formed so that the two harnesses (lead wires) 59 can be routed in a direction away from the arrangement surface 30a. The two harnesses (lead wires) 59 intersect near the top (end) of the regulator housing section 70. That is, the harness 59 connected to the terminal 72 on one side of the center of the cylindrical portion 70d in the Y direction is connected to the power supply terminal 19 on the other side of the center of the cylindrical portion 70d in the Y direction. Further, the harness 59 connected to the terminal 72 on the other side in the Y direction from the center of the cylindrical portion 70d is connected to the power supply terminal 19 on one side in the Y direction from the center of the cylindrical portion 70d.

Furthermore, the two harnesses (lead wires) 59 have different lengths. In FIG. 1, the harness 59 connected to the terminal 72 on the back side of the paper is longer than the harness 59 connected to the terminal 72 on the front side of the paper. In other words, the harness 59 connected to the power supply terminal on the back side of the paper is shorter than the harness 59 connected to the power supply terminal 19 on the front side of the paper. As a result, the two harnesses 59 that cross near the top (end) of the regulator accommodating portion 70 are separated from each other and do not come into contact with each other. Thereby, an existing compatible fuel pump 10 can be used.

FIG. 3 is a perspective view showing the flange member 30 in this embodiment together with the guide rail structure. FIG. 4 is a perspective view showing the cup (pump housing member) 20 in this embodiment. FIG. 5 is a perspective view showing the guide rail structure of the cup (pump accommodating member) 20 in this embodiment. 5 and 4 are perspective views of the cup (pump accommodating member) 20 viewed from the slide surface 20a side. FIG. 6 is a cross-sectional view in the YZ direction showing the vertical guide rail structure 110 in the guide rail structure 100 in this embodiment. FIG. 6 is a cross-sectional view at a position corresponding to the guiding surface 120a. FIG. 7 is a cross-sectional view in the YZ direction showing the vertical guide rail structure 110 in the guide rail structure 100 in this embodiment. FIG. 7 is a cross-sectional view at a position corresponding to the fixed surface 120c.
FIG. 8 is a cross-sectional view in the XZ direction showing the vertical guide rail structure 110 in the guide rail structure 100 in this embodiment. FIG. 9 is a cross-sectional view in the XY direction showing the vertical guide rail structure 110 and the horizontal guide rail structure 150 in the guide rail structure 100 in this embodiment.

<Guide rail structure>
In the guide rail structure 100, the flange member 30 and the cup 20 housing the fuel pump 10 are attached to each other by sliding them in the X direction.
The guide rail structure 100 is arranged on the arrangement surface 30a of the flange member 30 and the slide surface 20a of the slide portion 24 of the cup 20, which face and contact each other.

As shown in FIGS. 3 to 9, the guide rail structure 100 includes one vertical guide rail structure (first guide part) 110 and two horizontal guide rail structures (second guide part) 150. have One vertical guide rail structure 110 and two horizontal guide rail structures 150 both extend in the X direction. One vertical guide rail structure 110 and two horizontal guide rail structures 150 are arranged parallel to each other.

Further, the two horizontal guide rail structures 150 are arranged apart from each other on both sides of the one vertical guide rail structure 110 in the Y direction. The horizontal guide rail structure 150 allows the positions of the flange member 30 and the cup 20 to be mutually restricted in the Y direction when sliding. Further, the vertical guide rail structure 110 allows the positions of the flange member 30 and the cup 20 to be mutually restricted in the X direction and the Y direction when sliding. Here, the outer side in the Y direction means the direction from the vertical guide rail structure 110 to the horizontal guide rail structures 150 on both sides along the Y direction.

In this embodiment, the vertical guide rail structure (first guide part) 110 and the horizontal guide rail structure (second guide part) 150 are formed on the flange member 30 and the sliding part 24 of the cup 20, respectively. The vertical guide rail structure 110 and the horizontal guide rail structure 150 are arranged on the arrangement surface 30a of the flange member 30 and the sliding surface 20a of the cup 20, which face each other and are in contact with each other.

<Vertical guide rail structure>
The vertical guide rail structure 110 positions the flange member 30 and the pump housing member 20 in at least the X direction and the Z direction. The vertical guide rail structure 110 includes a vertical rail portion 111 formed on the arrangement surface 30a of the flange member 30, and a vertical guide portion 112 formed on the slide surface 20a.

<Vertical rail part>
The vertical rail portion 111 is formed as a linear protrusion that projects upward in the Z direction from the arrangement surface 30a and extends in the X direction. The vertical rail portion 111 has a substantially T-shaped cross-sectional profile in the YZ direction. The vertical rail portion 111 includes a base portion 113 that stands upright from the arrangement surface 30a, and a protrusion that extends from the base portion 113 in the Z direction and is formed at the Z direction tip 115 of the vertical rail portion 111 so as to protrude from both sides in the Y direction. 117. That is, in the vertical rail portion 111, the Y-direction dimension of the tip 115 is larger than the Y-direction dimension of the base portion 113. In the vertical rail portion 111, the Y-direction dimension of the tip 115 becomes larger toward both sides in the Y-direction with respect to the base portion 113.

The Y-direction dimension of the base 113 is the same from the arrangement surface 30a upward in the Z-direction to the lower end of the protrusion 117. The Y direction dimension of the base portion 113 is formed to be approximately equal over the entire length of the vertical rail portion 111 in the X direction.
The top end surface 111a of the vertical rail portion 111 in the Z direction is formed flush with the XY plane, and the height of the vertical rail portion 111 in the Z direction from the placement surface 30a is substantially uniform.

The protruding portion 117 is formed along the entire length of the vertical rail portion 111 in the X direction. The protruding portion 117 is formed along the entire length of the vertical rail portion 111 in the X direction. The protruding portion 117 is formed symmetrically with respect to the center of the vertical rail portion 111 in the Y direction. The protrusion 117 protrudes from the base 113 on both sides in the Y direction and is formed into a protrusion having a rectangular cross section in the YZ direction. The two protrusions 117 are formed in the same shape in the Y direction. The lower surface 119 of the protruding portion 117 protrudes from the base portion 113 in the Y direction, and serves as a contact surface 119 that contacts a contact surface 120 of the vertical guide portion 112, which will be described later.
The contact surface 119 is formed in a planar shape over the entire length in the X direction and the Y direction. The contact surface 119 is formed parallel to the arrangement surface 30a over the entire length in the X direction and the Y direction.

<Vertical guide section>
Two vertical guide portions 112 are formed on both sides of the vertical rail portion 111 in the Y direction, parallel to the vertical rail portion 111 . Each of the vertical guide parts 112 is formed as a linear protrusion that projects downward from the slide part 24 in the Z direction and extends in the X direction. The vertical guide portions 112 are both formed so that their lower ends (tips) in the Z direction coincide with each other as the slide surface 20a and are flush with each other. The two vertical guide parts 112 are spaced apart from each other in the Y direction, and both are formed in a linear shape extending in the X direction so as to sandwich the vertical rail part 111 therebetween. That is, the two vertical guide parts 112 are formed so that the gap in the Y direction becomes a groove that opens as an opening 116 in the slide surface 20a. The two vertical guide parts 112 are formed symmetrically in the Y direction with respect to the center of the vertical rail part 111 in the Y direction.

The groove between the two vertical guide parts 112 also opens on the side end surface 24a of the slide part 24 that is close to the regulator accommodating part 70 in the X direction. The groove between the two vertical guide portions 112 also opens in a side end surface 24c of the slide portion 24 that is spaced apart from the regulator housing portion 70 in the X direction. The groove between the two vertical guide parts 112 opens to the sliding surface 20a of the sliding part 24 over almost the entire length in the Y direction.

A top and bottom surface 112a of the groove between the two vertical guide portions 112 is a plane parallel to the slide surface 20a and the arrangement surface 30a. At the downward ends of the two vertical guide parts 112 in the Z direction, protrusions 118 are formed that protrude in a direction in which they approach each other. That is, in each vertical guide portion 112, the protruding portion 118 protrudes in the Y direction toward the base portion 113 of the vertical rail portion 111.
Each of the two vertical guide portions 112 has a substantially L-shaped cross-sectional profile in the YZ direction. Similarly, the cross-sectional shape of the vertical guide portion 112 opening at the side end surface 24a corresponds to the shape along the circumference of the contour shape of the vertical rail portion 111 in the same direction.

The groove formed by the two vertical guide portions 112 includes a top and bottom surface 112a that faces the top end surface 111a and is furthest upward in the Z direction from the slide surface 20a, and a groove that extends downward in the Z direction from both ends of the top and bottom surface 112a in the Y direction. an opening 116 formed in the slide surface 20a at the lower end of the side surface 114 in the Z direction, and protrusions 118 formed on both sides in the Y direction so as to reduce the groove width of the opening 116. , has.

The protruding portion 118 is formed over the entire length of the vertical guide portion 112 in the X direction. The protruding part 118 protrudes from the side surface 114 facing in the Y direction so that both sides of the opening part 116 are narrow, and the upper surface protruding from the side surface 114 in the Y direction contacts the contact surface 119 of the vertical rail part 111. This becomes surface 120. The Z-direction distance between the contact surface 120 and the slide surface 20a changes in the X-direction as described later. Accordingly, in the X direction, the height in the Z direction from the top-bottom surface 112a to the contact surface 120 changes in the X direction to be equal to the height in the Z direction of the side surface 114.

<Contact surface>
The contact surface 120 is formed over the entire length of the vertical guide portion 112 in the X direction.
Here, the contact surface 120 has three regions in the X direction, as shown in FIG. Specifically, in the X direction, from the side end surface 24a to the side end surface 24c of the contact surface 120, there are a guiding surface 120a, an inclined surface 120b as an inclined section, and a fixed surface 120c as a fixed section.

The guiding surface 120a is formed on the contact surface 120 at a position close to the side end surface 24a where the groove opens in the X direction. The guide surface 120a is formed at a position where the flange member 30 and the cup 20 first come into contact when the flange member 30 and the cup 20 slide, that is, at the tip of the vertical guide portion 112 in the mounting direction (X direction). The guide surface 120a is parallel to the slide surface 20a and the arrangement surface 30a. The distance in the Z direction between the guide surface 120a and the slide surface 20a is smaller than the distance in the Z direction between the arrangement surface 30a and the contact surface 119. In other words, the thickness dimension in the Z direction of the protruding portion 118 corresponding to the guide surface 120a is smaller than the height dimension in the Z direction of the base portion 113.

The inclined surface (inclined portion) 120b is formed on the contact surface 120 at a position between the side end surface 24a and the side end surface 24c in the X direction, and at a position spaced apart from the side end surface 24a and the side end surface 24c in the X direction. Ru. The inclined surface 120b is inclined in the X direction from the side end surface 24a toward the side end surface 24c so as to be spaced apart from the slide surface 20a. That is, the inclined surface 120b is inclined so as to approach the top and bottom surface 112a in the X direction as it goes from the side end surface 24a to the side end surface 24c. The inclined surface 120b is formed above the protrusion 118 in the Z direction continuously from the guide surface 120a. The inclined surface 120b is located at a position where the flange member 30 and the cup 20 come into contact following the guide surface 120a when the flange member 30 and the cup 20 slide, that is, in the mounting direction (X direction) as the vertical guide portion 112. It is formed in the middle of the day.
Although the inclined surface (inclined portion) 120b can be formed as a draft when molding the flange member 30, it is preferable to form it intentionally in order to accurately regulate the position.

The distance in the Z direction between the inclined surface 120b and the slide surface 20a is equal to the distance in the Z direction between the guide surface 120a and the slide surface 20a at a position adjacent to the guide surface 120a. That is, the Z-direction thickness dimension of the protruding portion 118 corresponding to the inclined surface 120b is smaller than the Z-direction height dimension of the base portion 113. The distance in the Z direction between the inclined surface 120b and the slide surface 20a is equal to the distance in the Z direction between the fixed surface 120c and the slide surface 20a at a position adjacent to the fixed surface 120c, which will be described later. That is, the Z-direction thickness dimension of the protruding portion 118 corresponding to the inclined surface 120b is approximately equal to the Z-direction height dimension of the base portion 113.

The fixing surface 120c is formed at a position of the contact surface 120 close to the side end surface 24c where the groove opens at the end in the X direction. The fixing surface 120c is formed to open in the side end surface 24c in the X direction. The fixing surface 120c is formed at the position where the flange member 30 and the cup 20 finally come into contact when the flange member 30 and the cup 20 slide, that is, at the base end in the mounting direction (X direction) as the vertical guide portion 112. . The fixed surface 120c is parallel to the slide surface 20a and the arrangement surface 30a. The distance in the Z direction between the fixed surface 120c and the slide surface 20a is approximately equal to the distance in the Z direction between the arrangement surface 30a and the contact surface 119. That is, the Z-direction thickness dimension of the protruding portion 118 corresponding to the fixed surface 120c is approximately equal to the Z-direction height dimension of the base portion 113.

<Horizontal guide rail structure>
The lateral guide rail structure 150 positions the flange member 30 and the pump housing member 20 at least in the X direction. The horizontal guide rail structure 150 is formed in a straight line extending in the X direction. Two horizontal guide rail structures 150 are formed on both sides of the vertical guide rail structure 110 in the Y direction. The horizontal guide rail structure 150 is formed apart from the vertical guide rail structure 110 in the Y direction. The two horizontal guide rail structures 150 are formed symmetrically in the Y direction with respect to the vertical guide rail structure 110.

One of the horizontal guide rail structures 150 includes a horizontal rail portion 151 formed on the arrangement surface 30a of the flange member 30, a horizontal inner guide portion (horizontal guide portion) 152 formed on the slide surface 20a, and a horizontal guide portion 152 formed on the slide surface 20a. and a lateral outer guide portion (lateral guide portion) 153.
In the lateral guide rail structure 150, the lateral inner guide part 152, the lateral rail part 151, and the lateral outer guide part 153 are spaced apart from the vertical guide rail structure 110 in the Y direction in this order.

<Horizontal rail section>
The horizontal rail portion 151 is formed as a linear protrusion that projects upward in the Z direction from the arrangement surface 30a and extends in the X direction. The horizontal rail portion 151 has a substantially rectangular cross-sectional profile in the YZ direction.
The horizontal rail portion 151 has a uniform length in the X direction and a uniform dimension in the Y direction. The horizontal rail portion 151 is formed to have a full length in the X direction and a uniform dimension in the Z direction.

The horizontal rail portion 151 is erected from the arrangement surface 30a, and among the side surfaces in the Y direction, a surface facing toward the vertical rail portion 111 serves as a horizontal contact surface (contact surface) 155. The lateral contact surface 155 is a plane extending in the XZ plane. The lateral contact surface 155 is formed along the entire length of the lateral rail portion 151 in the X direction.
Note that in the two horizontal guide rail structures 150 located on both sides of the vertical guide rail structure 110 in the Y direction, the horizontal contact surfaces 155 face each other in the Y direction.

The tip of the horizontal rail portion 151 in the Z direction is formed as a top end surface 151a parallel to the arrangement surface 30a over the entire length in the X direction. The height of the horizontal rail portion 151 in the Z direction, that is, the height from the arrangement surface 30a to the top end surface 151a, is uniform over the entire length in the X direction. The Z-direction height of the horizontal rail portion 151 can be made the same as the Z-direction height from the slide surface 20a to the top and bottom surface 152a, which will be described later.

<Horizontal guide section>
The lateral inner guide portion 152 and the lateral outer guide portion 153 are formed on both sides of the lateral rail portion 151 in the Y direction, both parallel to the lateral rail portion 151 . Both the lateral inner guide portion 152 and the lateral outer guide portion 153 are formed as linear protrusions that protrude downward in the Z direction from the slide portion 24 and extend in the X direction. The inner lateral guide part 152 and the outer lateral guide part 153 are both formed so that their lower ends in the Z direction coincide with the slide surface 20a and are flush with each other.

The lateral inner guide part 152 and the lateral outer guide part 153 are spaced apart from each other in the Y direction, and both are formed in a linear shape extending in the X direction so as to sandwich the vertical rail part 111. That is, the lateral inner guide portion 152 and the lateral outer guide portion 153 are formed in a groove shape that opens as an opening 156 in the slide surface 20a between the two in the Y direction. The two vertical guide parts 112 are formed symmetrically in the Y direction with respect to the center of the vertical rail part 111 in the Y direction.

The groove between the lateral inner guide section 152 and the lateral outer guide section 153 also opens on the side end surface 24a of the slide section 24 adjacent to the regulator housing section 70 in the X direction. The groove between the lateral inner guide section 152 and the lateral outer guide section 153 also opens at the side end surface 24c of the slide section 24 that is spaced apart from the regulator accommodating section 70 in the X direction. The groove between the lateral inner guide part 152 and the lateral outer guide part 153 opens to the sliding surface 20a of the sliding part 24 over almost the entire length in the Y direction.
A top and bottom surface 152a of the groove between the lateral inner guide portion 152 and the lateral outer guide portion 153 is a plane parallel to the slide surface 20a and the arrangement surface 30a.

The lateral outer guide portion 153 has a substantially rectangular cross-sectional profile in the YZ direction.
The lateral outer guide portion 153 has a uniform length in the X direction and a uniform dimension in the Y direction. The lateral outer guide portion 153 is formed to have a full length in the X direction and a uniform dimension in the Z direction.

The lateral inner guide portion 152 has a substantially rectangular cross-sectional profile in the YZ direction. The lateral inner guide portion 152 has a uniform length in the X direction and a uniform dimension in the Z direction.

The grooves formed by the lateral inner guide part 152 and the lateral outer guide part 153 are formed by a top and bottom surface 152a that faces the top end surface 151a and is farthest upward in the Z direction from the slide surface 20a, and a groove that extends from both ends of the top and bottom surface 152a in the Y direction to the Z direction. A side surface 154 of the lateral outer guide portion 153 as a side surface that hangs downward to the opening 156, and a lateral contact surface of the lateral inner guide portion 152 as a side surface that hangs downward in the Z direction from both ends of the top and bottom surface 152a in the Y direction to the opening 156. (contact surface) 158.

<Horizontal contact surface>
The lateral contact surface (contact surface) 158 has a plane extending along the XZ plane. The lateral contact surface 158 is formed over the entire length of the lateral inner guide portion 152 in the X direction.
Here, the lateral contact surface 158 has three regions in the X direction, as shown in FIG. Specifically, the lateral contact surface 158 includes, from the side end surface 24a to the side end surface 24c in the X direction, a lateral guide surface 158a, a lateral inclined surface 158b as an inclined section, and a lateral fixed surface 158c as a fixed section.

The lateral guide surface 158a is formed at a position of the lateral contact surface 158 close to the side end surface 24a where the groove opens in the X direction. The lateral guide surface 158a is formed at the position where the flange member 30 and the cup 20 first come into contact when the flange member 30 and the cup 20 slide, that is, on the distal end side in the mounting direction (X direction) as the lateral inner guide portion 152. Ru. The lateral guide surface 158a is along the XY plane orthogonal to the slide surface 20a and the placement surface 30a. The distance in the Y direction between the horizontal guide surface 158a and the vertical guide rail structure 110 is constant over the entire length of the horizontal guide surface 158a in the X direction. That is, the Y direction thickness dimension of the lateral inner guide portion 152 corresponding to the lateral guide surface 158a is constant over the entire length of the lateral guide surface 158a in the X direction.

The lateral inclined surface (slanted portion) 158b is formed at a position of the lateral contact surface 158 between the side end surface 24a and the side end surface 24c in the X direction and at a position spaced apart from the side end surface 24a and the side end surface 24c in the X direction. Ru. The horizontally inclined surface 158b is inclined so as to move away from the vertical guide rail structure 110 in the Y direction as it goes from the side end surface 24a to the side end surface 24c in the X direction. That is, the lateral inclined surface 158b is inclined so as to approach the lateral outer guide portion 153 in the Y direction from the side end surface 24a toward the side end surface 24c. The lateral inclined surface 158b is formed on the outside of the lateral inner guide portion 152 in the Y direction continuously from the lateral guide surface 158a. The horizontally inclined surface 158b is located at a position where the flange member 30 and the cup 20 come into contact following the horizontal guiding surface 158a when the flange member 30 and the cup 20 slide, that is, in the mounting direction (X direction) as the horizontal inner guide portion 152. It is formed in the middle of

The distance in the Y direction between the horizontal inclined surface 158b and the vertical guide rail structure 110 is equal to the distance in the Y direction between the horizontal guiding surface 158a and the vertical guide rail structure 110 at a position adjacent to the horizontal guiding surface 158a. In other words, the Y direction thickness dimension of the lateral inner guide section 152 corresponding to the lateral inclined surface 158b is equal to the Y direction thickness dimension of the lateral inner guide section 152 corresponding to the lateral guide surface 158a at a position adjacent to the lateral guide surface 158a. . The distance in the Y direction between the horizontal inclined surface 158b and the vertical guide rail structure 110 is equal to the distance in the Y direction between the horizontal fixed surface 158c and the vertical guide rail structure 110 at a position adjacent to the horizontal fixed surface 158c, which will be described later. That is, the Y-direction thickness dimension of the lateral inner guide portion 152 corresponding to the lateral inclined surface 158b is approximately equal to the Y-direction thickness dimension of the lateral inner guide portion 152 corresponding to the lateral fixed surface 158c.

The lateral fixing surface 158c is formed at a position of the lateral contact surface 158 close to the side end surface 24c where the groove opens at the end in the X direction. The lateral fixing surface 158c is formed to open in the side end surface 24c in the X direction. The lateral fixing surface 158c is located at a position at which the flange member 30 and the cup 20 come into contact with each other when the flange member 30 and the cup 20 slide, that is, at the mounting direction (X direction) base as the lateral inner guide portion 152. formed at the edges. The lateral fixing surface 158c is along the XY plane orthogonal to the slide surface 20a and the placement surface 30a. The distance in the Y direction between the horizontal fixing surface 158c and the vertical guide rail structure 110 is constant over the entire length of the horizontal fixing surface 158c in the X direction. The distance in the Y direction between the horizontal fixing surface 158c and the vertical guide rail structure 110 is larger than the distance in the Y direction between the horizontal guiding surface 158a and the vertical guide rail structure 110. That is, the Y direction thickness dimension of the lateral inner guide portion 152 corresponding to the lateral fixing surface 158c is constant over the entire length of the lateral fixing surface 158c in the X direction. The Y-direction thickness dimension of the lateral inner guide portion 152 corresponding to the lateral fixing surface 158c is larger than the Y-direction thickness dimension of the lateral inner guide portion 152 corresponding to the lateral guiding surface 158a.

Here, the two horizontal inner guide portions 152 located on both outer sides in the Y direction of the vertical guide rail structure 110 are arranged so that the horizontal fixing surfaces 158c are located on both outer sides in the Y direction than the horizontal guiding surfaces 158a. The inclined surface 158b is inclined. That is, in the two horizontal guide rail structures 150, the distance between the two horizontal inclined surfaces 158b in the Y direction increases from the side end surface 24a toward the side end surface 24cb in the X direction. Furthermore, in the two horizontal guide rail structures 150, the spacing between the lateral fixing surfaces 158c in the Y direction is larger than the spacing between the lateral guiding surfaces 158a in the Y direction. Thereby, the lateral contact surface 155 that contacts the lateral contact surface 158 is pressed outward in the Y direction at the final time when the flange member 30 and the cup 20 slide. In other words, the contact pressure between the lateral inner guide portion 152 and the lateral rail portion 151 in the Y direction increases due to the lateral inclined surface 158b.

The horizontally inclined surface 158b and the inclined surface 120b are aligned in the X direction. In other words, the arrangement of the boundary between the lateral guiding surface 158a and the lateral inclined surface 158b in the X direction matches the boundary between the guiding surface 120a and the inclined surface 120b.
Similarly, the arrangement of the boundary between the horizontal fixed surface 158c and the horizontal inclined surface 158b in the X direction coincides with the boundary between the fixed surface 120c and the inclined surface 120b.

The fixing surface 120c is formed as one surface of a groove that opens in the contact surface 120 at a position close to the side end surface 24c.
The lateral fixing surface 158c is formed as one surface of a groove that opens in the lateral contact surface 158 at a position close to the side end surface 24c.

As shown in FIG. 4, the slide portion 24 has a side end surface 24c, which is an end portion in the X direction, formed in a curved shape along an arrangement side surface 30c that is the outline of the arrangement surface 30a of the flange member 30. The arrangement side surface 30c has an oval contour shape when viewed in the Z direction. That is, the side end surface 24c is formed into an elliptical curved portion, that is, a substantially arc shape when viewed in the Z direction.

Furthermore, two vertical guide portions 112 are formed on the side end surface 24c so as to form a groove whose innermost end in the X direction is opened as an opening 116c. That is, the two vertical guide portions 112 are formed in the shape of a groove that is open in three directions. At the same time, the side end surface 24c is formed in a groove shape in which the innermost end of the lateral guide portion 152 in the X direction opens as an opening 152c.

<Snap fit structure>
The snap-fit structure 200 locks the flange member 30 and the pump accommodating member 20 to each other at a position where the slide ends in the X direction (attachment direction) to regulate their positions. A plurality of snap-fit structures 200 may be provided spaced apart in the circumferential direction of the cylindrical portion 22. In this embodiment, the snap fit structure 200 is provided at three locations.

The snap-fit structure 200 is provided at two locations: at the top of the regulator accommodating portion 70 and near the placement surface 30a on both sides of the pump accommodating member 20 in the Y direction. The snap-fit structure 200 has three locking pieces 202, 212, 212 and corresponding locking protrusions 203, 213, 213.
The locking piece 202, the locking piece 212, and the locking piece 212 all protrude from the pump housing member 20 toward the regulator housing portion 70 in the X direction.
The locking piece 202 is formed at the top of the regulator accommodating portion 70 . The locking pieces 212 and the locking pieces 212 are provided at both sides of the pump housing member 20 in the Y direction near the placement surface 30a.

The locking piece 202 extends in the X direction so as to span the top of the regulator housing section 70. The locking piece 202 is connected to the top in the Z direction, that is, the top of the cylindrical portion 22 that is shaped like a cylinder around the central axis C along the X direction. The locking piece 202 has a predetermined dimension in the Y direction. The locking piece 202 is formed into a curved surface that is continuous with the cylindrical surface of the tube portion 22. The locking piece 202 has an opening 201 formed therein. Opening 201 has a substantially rectangular profile. The opening 201 is located approximately at the center of the locking piece 202 in the Y direction. The opening 201 opens upward and downward in the Z direction, and passes through the locking piece 202 in the Z direction. The locking piece 202 and the opening 201 are arranged at a position where the vertical guide rail structure 110 is extended in the X direction when viewed in the Z direction.

The locking convex portion 203 is formed at the top of the regulator accommodating portion 70. The locking protrusion 203 is formed at the top of the outlet cover 17 in the Z direction. The locking convex portion 203 is formed at a position farther away from the pump housing member 20 than the contact surface 17a in the X direction. The locking protrusion 203 is formed at a position closer to the pump housing member 20 than the opening 73a in the X direction. The locking convex portion 203 protrudes upward in the Z direction and is inserted into the opening 201 so that the locking piece 202 can be locked. The locking convex portion 203 is arranged at a position where the vertical guide rail structure 110 is extended in the X direction when viewed in the Z direction. The contour shape of the locking convex portion 203 when viewed in the Z direction is the same as the shape of the opening portion 201. The locking convex portion 203 has an inclined surface formed at a position spaced apart from the regulator accommodating portion 70 in the X direction, and the locking piece 202 facilitates the locking operation when the opening 201 is locked.

The locking piece 202 has a covering piece 220 that extends further in the X direction from the opening 201 to a position above the opening 73a. The covering piece 220 overlaps the opening 73a when viewed in the Z direction. The covering piece 220 has a gap between it and the edge of the opening 73a. In other words, the covering piece 220 does not contact the entire circumference of the opening 73a, but only overlaps, and does not close the opening 73a. The covering piece 220 can come into contact with a convex portion 221 formed at a side position in the Y direction of the opening 73a.

The covering piece 220 does not block the opening 73a and does not obstruct the fuel being discharged from the pressure regulator 45 into the fuel tank 2. At the same time, the covering piece 220 does not block the opening 73a and does not obstruct the fuel being discharged from the pressure regulator 45 into the fuel tank 2. Intrusion of foreign matter can be suppressed. In this way, the covering piece 220 serving as a foreign matter prevention member is integrated with the locking piece 202, and the number of parts can be reduced.
Further, the harness (lead wire) 59 is routed at a position farther away from the arrangement surface 30a in the Z direction than the covering piece 220. The harness (lead wire) 59 crosses at a position further away from the arrangement surface 30a in the Z direction than the covering piece 220.

The locking pieces 212 and the locking pieces 212 are formed on both sides of the cylindrical portion 22 in the Y direction when viewed from above. The locking piece 212 and the locking piece 212 extend from the side end surface 24a of the slide portion 24 in the X direction. The locking piece 212 and the locking piece 212 are formed into a flat plate shape having a predetermined thickness in the Z direction. The locking piece 212 and the locking piece 212 have predetermined dimensions in the Y direction. The locking pieces 212 each have an opening 211 of the same shape. The opening 211 has a substantially rectangular profile. The opening 211 is located approximately at the center of the locking piece 212 in the Y direction. The opening 211 opens upward and downward in the Z direction, and passes through the locking piece 212 in the Z direction. Both the locking piece 212 and the opening 211 are arranged at a position where the horizontal guide rail structure 150 is extended in the X direction when viewed in the Z direction.

The locking convex portions 213 are all erected upward in the Z direction from the arrangement surface 30a, and are inserted into the opening 211 to allow the locking piece 212 to lock. The contour shape of the locking convex portion 213 when viewed in the Z direction is the same shape as the opening portion 211. The locking convex portion 213 has an inclined surface formed at a position spaced apart from the regulator accommodating portion 70 in the X direction, and the locking piece 212 facilitates the locking operation when the opening 211 is locked. The locking convex portion 213 is arranged at the end of the horizontal rail portion 151 of the horizontal guide rail structure 150 in the X direction. The locking convex portion 213 has an inclined surface formed at a position spaced apart from the regulator accommodating portion 70 in the X direction, and the locking piece 212 facilitates the locking operation when the opening 211 is locked.

Furthermore, the length of the locking piece 212 in the X direction is determined when the sliding start end on the right side of the vertical rail portion 111 shown in FIGS. 1 to 3 reaches the inclined surface 120b when the flange member 30 and the cup 20 slide. At the same time, the tip of the locking piece 212 in the X direction is set so as to reach the locking protrusion 203. Furthermore, the position of the opening 211 in the locking piece 212 in the X direction is such that when the flange member 30 and the cup 20 slide, the sliding start end on the right side of the vertical rail portion 111 shown in FIGS. 1 to 3 reaches the fixed surface 120c. After that, the opening 211 and the locking protrusion 213 are set to lock at the same time.

Similarly, the length of the locking piece 202 in the X direction and the position of the opening 201 in the locking piece 202 in the X direction are at an angle with respect to the sliding start end of the vertical rail portion 111 when the flange member 30 and the cup 20 slide. It is set corresponding to the position with respect to surface 120b.
Similarly, the length of the locking piece 212 in the X direction and the position of the opening 211 in the locking piece 212 in the This corresponds to the position of the inclined surface 158b in the X direction. Further, the length of the locking piece 202 in the X direction and the position of the opening 201 in the locking piece 202 in the X direction correspond to the slide start end of the horizontal rail portion 151 and the position of the horizontal slope surface 158b in the X direction.

That is, when the positioning of the flange member 30 and the cup 20 by the contact surface 120 and the lateral contact surface 158 is completed, the openings 201 and 211 and the locking protrusions 203 and 213 are locked so that the respective X direction positions are set. is set.

Next, the guide rail structure 100 when assembling the flange member 30 and the cup 20 by sliding will be described.

<Assembling the guide rail structure by sliding>
To assemble the flange member 30 and the cup 20, the guide rail structure 100 is assembled with the fuel pump 10 housed in the cup 20.
First, the position where the slide surface 20a contacts the arrangement surface 30a is set so that the vertical rail portion 111 and the vertical guide portion 112 are aligned along the same straight line.
In this state, the cup 20 and the regulator accommodating portion 70 of the flange member 30 are moved in the X direction so that they approach each other.

At this time, the slide start end on the right side of the vertical rail portion 111 shown in FIGS. 1 to 3 is inserted into the groove formed by the two vertical guide portions 112, 112 from the opening of the side end surface 24a. At the same time, the protrusions 117 on both sides in the Y direction are inserted into the groove opening in the side end surface 24a, which is the slide starting end, so that they are above the protrusions 118. Immediately after insertion, the contact surface 120 of the protrusion 117 is the guiding surface 120a, so as shown in FIG. The surface 120 is a state in which there is room for movement in the Z direction.

At the same time, insert the right slide starting end of the lateral rail portion 151 shown in FIGS. 1 to 3 into the groove formed by the lateral inner guide portion 152 and the lateral outer guide portion 153 from the opening in the side end surface 24a. Immediately after insertion, the lateral contact surface 158 of the lateral inner guide portion 152 is the lateral guiding surface 158a, so as shown in FIG. 6, the lateral contact surface 155 and the lateral contact surface 158 do not contact each other, or The horizontal contact surface 155 and the horizontal contact surface 158 are in a state where there is room for movement in the Y direction.

Further, the cup 20 and the regulator accommodating portion 70 are slid in the X direction so that they approach each other. Here, the slide starting end on the right side of the vertical rail portion 111 comes into contact with the inclined surface 120b. The contact surface 119 has a constant distance in the Z direction from the arrangement surface 30a. Furthermore, the thickness of the protrusion 118 in the Z direction increases along the slope of the slope 120b. Therefore, as the slide moves, the protrusion 117 presses the protrusion 118 downward in the Z direction. Therefore, the vertical guide portion 112 is pressed downward in the Z direction.

At the same time, when the cup 20 and the flange member 30 are slid, the lateral contact surface 155 comes into contact with the lateral inclined surface 158b at the sliding start end on the right side of the lateral rail portion 151 shown in FIGS. 1 to 3. Here, the distance of the horizontal contact surface 155 of the horizontal rail portion 151 from the vertical guide rail structure 110 in the Y direction is constant. Further, in the two horizontal rail portions 151, the distance between the two horizontal contact surfaces 155 in the Y direction is constant. Furthermore, the thickness of the lateral inner guide portion 152 increases outward in the Y direction along the slope of the lateral inclined surface 158b. That is, in the two lateral inner guide portions 152, the distance between the two lateral inclined surfaces 158b in the Y direction increases toward the sliding end. Therefore, as the slide moves, the lateral contact surface 155 is pressed outward in the Y direction from the lateral inclined surface 158b. Therefore, both of the two horizontal rail portions 151 are pressed outward in the Y direction from the two horizontal inner guide portions 152. The two lateral inner guide portions 152 are both pressed inward in the Y direction from the two lateral rail portions 151.

Furthermore, the cup 20 and the regulator accommodating portion 70 are slid in the X direction so that they approach each other. Then, the slide start end on the right side of the vertical rail portion 111 approaches the slide end of the vertical guide portion 112. The contact surface 119 comes into contact with the fixed surface 120c, and the protrusion 118 is pressed downward in the Z direction from the protrusion 117.
At the sliding end, the protrusion 118 is sandwiched between the contact surface 119 of the protrusion 117 and the arrangement surface 30a. Furthermore, the protrusion 117 is sandwiched between the top and bottom surfaces 112a and the fixing surface 120c. As a result, the protrusion 117 and the protrusion 118 are fixed in a press-fitted state.
In other words, the protrusion 118 is fixed in a regulated position in the Z direction defined by the arrangement surface 30a and the contact surface 120c. In other words, the positions of the cup 20 and the flange member 30 in the Z direction are defined with the slide surface 20a in contact with the arrangement surface 30a.

At the same time, when the cup 20 and the flange member 30 are slid, the sliding start end of the lateral rail portion 151 approaches the sliding end of the lateral inner guide portion 152. The lateral contact surface 155 abuts the lateral fixing surface 158c, and the lateral rail portion 151 is pressed outward in the Y direction from the lateral inner guide portion 152. The two lateral rail sections 151 are pressed outward in the Y direction, which is opposite to each other, from the lateral inner guide section 152 with which they abut. Here, in the two horizontal rail portions 151, the distance between the two horizontal contact surfaces 155 in the Y direction is constant. In the two lateral inner guide portions 152, the distance between the two lateral fixing surfaces 158c in the Y direction increases toward the sliding end. Therefore, the two horizontal rail portions 151 are placed in the state defined by the Y-direction position defined between the two horizontal fixed surfaces 158c and the Y-direction position defined between the two horizontal contact surfaces 155. The position of the two lateral inner guide portions 152 is regulated. The two lateral inner guide portions 152 are both pressed inward in the Y direction from the two lateral rail portions 151, and their positions in the Y direction are fixed in a press-fitted state.

In addition, when the slide starting end of the vertical rail portion 111 contacts the inclined surface 120b while the cup 20 and the flange member 30 are sliding, the sliding starting end of the horizontal rail portion 151 contacts the horizontal inclined surface 158b. Further, when the slide starting end of the vertical rail portion 111 contacts the fixed surface 120c, the sliding starting end of the horizontal rail portion 151 contacts the horizontal fixed surface 158c. In other words, the positions of the inclined surface 120b and the horizontally inclined surface 158b during sliding correspond to each other in the X direction.
In this way, the guide rail structure 100 having the vertical rail portion 111 having a T-shaped cross section can maintain the balance between the flange member 30 and the cup 20.

Next, the snap-fit structure 200 when assembling the flange member 30 and the cup 20 by sliding will be described.

<Snap fit structure when sliding>
When the cup 20 and the flange member 30 are slid, the guide rail structure 100 restricts the sliding of the cup 20 and the flange member 30 from each other in the X direction.
At this time, the locking pieces 202, 212, 212 ride on the locking projections 203, 213, 213 according to the slide, and then the locking projections 203, 213, 213 are inserted into the openings 201, 211, 211. be done.

In the middle of sliding the cup 20 and the flange member 30, when the sliding starting end of the vertical rail portion 111 contacts the inclined surface 120b and the sliding starting end of the horizontal rail portion 151 touches the horizontal inclined surface 158b, the locking piece 212 , 212 abut on the locking protrusions 213, 213. That is, the positions of the locking piece 212 and the locking protrusion 213 when sliding correspond to the inclined surface 120b and the horizontally inclined surface 158b in the X direction.
When the pressing force with which the slide starting end of the vertical rail part 111 is pressed by the inclined surface 120b increases, and the pressing force with which the sliding starting end of the horizontal rail part 151 is pressed by the horizontal inclined surface 158b increases, the locking piece 212 and the locking protrusion 213 are maintained in contact.

When the slide starting end of the vertical rail section 111 is pressed by the fixing surface 120c and the sliding starting end of the horizontal rail section 151 is pressed by the horizontal fixing surface 158c, the locking protrusions 203, 213, 213 open. 201, 211, 211. Thereby, the cup 20 and the flange member 30 are fixed by the snap fit structure 200 that is locked to each other.
In the locking piece 202, the covering piece 220 is in contact with the locking protrusion 203 prior to the start of contact between the locking piece 212 and the locking protrusion 213 during sliding. The covering piece 220 has a positional relationship with the opening 73a, regardless of the locking by the snap-fit structure 200.

Thereafter, the two harnesses (lead wires) 59 are connected to the terminal 72 and the power supply terminal 19, and the filter 14a is further connected to the fuel intake port 14 via the connecting pipe portion 14b. Finally, the assembled fuel supply device 1 is fitted into the opening 2b and fixed to the fuel tank 2 using a predetermined sealing member, fixing member, etc.

Further, when the cup (pump housing member) 20 and the flange member 30 are assembled, the circumferential groove portion 32a is positioned closer to the center of the flange portion 32 than the end wall 21 of the cup 20 in the X direction. It is formed. Thereby, the outer contour of the flange member 30 viewed in the Z direction can be reduced in size.

FIG. 10 is a perspective view showing how the fuel supply device in this embodiment is attached to the fuel tank.
The fuel supply device 1 of this embodiment is attached to a side wall portion 2c located near the bottom portion 2a of the fuel tank 2, as shown in FIG. The opening 2b opens to the side wall surface 2c of the fuel tank 2. At the same time, the opening 2b is formed such that the long axis of the oval contour shape of the flange member 30 (oval contour long axis) and the axis that coincides with the central axis C of the fuel pump are diagonally downward.

At this time, the fuel inlet 14 is arranged at an angle so that it is at the lowest point in the fuel pump 10. At the same time, at this time, the filter 14a can be located at the lowest part (lowest part) 2a1 of the bottom part 2a of the fuel tank 2. Further, the filter 14a is connected to the fuel inlet 14 via a connecting pipe portion 14b bent in an L-shape from the fuel inlet 14. The filter 14a is arranged diagonally upward so that the longitudinal direction of the filter 14a rises from the lowest part 2a1 connected to the connecting pipe part 14b along the side wall part 2c, intersecting an axis line that coincides with the central axis C of the fuel pump. It is placed at an angle.

The fuel pump 10 in the fuel tank 2 has one longitudinal end connected to the regulator accommodating part 70, and a primary filter 14a connected to the fuel intake port 14 at the other end via the connecting pipe part 04b. , so that the regulator accommodating portion 70 side is upward and the fuel intake port 14 side is downward.

The fuel pump 10 is inclined so that even if the liquid level of the fuel stored in the fuel tank 2 falls, the fuel suction port 14, the connecting pipe portion 14b, and the primary filter 14a can suck the fuel. At the same time, since the axis C of the fuel pump 10 and the longitudinal direction of the oval contour shape of the flange member 30 coincide with each other and are inclined, the bottom part 2a of the fuel tank 2 can open the opening 2b without interfering with the flange member 30. It is formed on the side wall surface portion 2c.

The main surface of the plate-shaped primary filter 14a is arranged along the longitudinal direction of the fuel pump 10. The connecting pipe portion 14b is bent from the end of the fuel pump 10 toward the main surface of the primary filter 14a. That is, the connecting pipe portion 14b protruding from the end of the fuel pump 10 in the axial direction thereof is bent in the radial direction of the fuel pump 10 toward the main surface of the primary filter 14a. A primary filter 14a having a larger area than the fuel pump 10 when viewed in the thickness direction of the flange member 30 is connected to the fuel intake port 14.

In the flange member 30, the fuel inlet 14 is located corresponding to the lowest part 2a1 of the bottom part 2a of the fuel tank 2 when viewed from above, and the regulator accommodating part 70 is located at the lowest part of the bottom part 2a of the fuel tank 2. It is arranged at a position corresponding to the convex portion 2a2 that is inclined upward from 2a1.

The flange member 30 has a fixed convex portion 32g at a position corresponding to the periphery of the opening 2b, and this fixed convex portion 32g is located below the obliquely fixed flange member 30.

<Operation of fuel supply device>
Next, a method of operating the fuel supply device 1 will be explained.
First, the fuel supply device 1 is attached to the fuel tank 2, and the fuel tank 2 is filled with fuel. Then, the fuel supply device 1 is immersed in the fuel.
Then, fuel flows into the flange unit 30 mainly through the gap between the opening 73a formed in the regulator accommodating part 70 of the flange unit 30 and the covering piece 220, and the fuel is stored in the holding recess 73 and the like. .

In this state, when the motor unit 11 is driven to operate the fuel pump 10, fuel is pumped into the fuel intake port 14 of the fuel pump 10 via the primary filter 14a.
The fuel pumped into the fuel pump 10 is pumped toward the discharge port 51 by rotation of the impeller 16.
The fuel pressure-fed toward the exhaust port 51 is sent to the fuel flow path 71 via the check valve and the exhaust flow path 71b. Thereafter, the fuel passes through the cylindrical portion 34 and is discharged from the discharge pipe 34a. The fuel discharged from the discharge pipe 34a passes through the secondary filter 56 and is sent under pressure to the internal combustion engine 57.

When the fuel pressure in the fuel flow path 71 becomes higher than a predetermined pressure, the fuel filled in the fuel flow path 71 is discharged into the fuel tank 2 by the pressure regulator 45. As a result, the fuel pressure in the fuel flow path 71 is reduced, and the fuel pressure in the fuel flow path 71 becomes below a certain value. Therefore, the fuel passes through the fuel flow path 71 and the cylindrical portion 34, and is discharged from the discharge pipe 34a while the fuel pressure is maintained below a certain value. That is, the pressure regulator 45 maintains the pressure of the fuel discharged from the fuel tank 2 via the fuel supply device 1 below a certain value.

According to the configuration of this embodiment, even if the liquid level of fuel stored in the fuel tank 2 falls, fuel can be taken in from the fuel intake port 14 via the primary filter 14a located at an inclined downward position. Become. In addition, since the regulator accommodating portion 70 is located at a position corresponding to the convex portion 2a2 that is inclined and higher than the lowest portion 2a1 of the bottom portion 2a of the fuel tank 2, the bottom portion 2a of the fuel tank 2 interferes with the flange member 30. There's nothing to do. As a result, even if the amount of fuel stored in the fuel tank 2 is extremely reduced in the fuel tank 2 having a small internal space, it is easy to suck in the necessary fuel and supply it to the internal combustion engine 57 such as the engine.

By disposing the flange member 30 so as to cover the opening 2b provided in the side wall surface portion 2c, which is located close to the bottom surface portion 2a where the remaining fuel remains until the end, in the fuel tank 2, the side wall surface portion 2c is positioned inside the saddle shape. Since the discharge pipe 34a is routed along the longitudinal direction of the oval profile of the flange member 30, the aesthetic appearance of the two-wheeled vehicle, which is often exposed, is not impaired. , it becomes possible to efficiently suck fuel and efficiently supply fuel to the internal combustion engine 57.

Furthermore, in this embodiment, by forming the outline of the flange member 30 smaller than that of the fuel pump 10 in the X direction, the primary filter 14a, which is the end of the fuel pump 10 protruding from the flange member 30, is connected to the fuel tank. When inserting the fuel supply device 1 into the opening 2b of 2, it is easy to prevent the regulator housing 70, the fuel pump 10, and the primary filter 14a from coming into direct contact with the opening 2b and being damaged. This makes it possible to improve workability when attaching the fuel supply device 1 to the fuel tank 2.

Using the guide rail structure 100 and the snap fit structure 200, the flange member 30 and the cup 20 are fixed by fitting by the vertical rail part 111 and the vertical guide part 112, and the horizontal rail part 151 and the horizontal guide parts 152, 153. Therefore, it is possible to improve the strength by providing higher rigidity than a structure that locks only with a snap fit.

Since the flange member 30 and the cup 20 are separate members, even if the diameter of the fuel pump 10 is changed to a different type, the same flange member 30 can be used easily.

Since the flange member 30 and the cup 20 are attached and fixed by the three guide rail structures 100 extending in the X direction, the impact resistance of the fuel supply device 1 can be improved.
Moreover, the flange member 30 and the cup 20 can be attached and fixed simply by sliding them in the X direction using the guide rail structure 100.

The guide rail structure 100 and the snap fit structure 200 are slid together so that the positions of the locking piece 212 and the locking protrusion 213 when sliding correspond to the inclined surface 120b and the horizontally inclined surface 158b in the X direction. Since the configuration is such that the positions in the X direction correspond to each other when the flange member 30 and the cup 20 are attached and fixed, it is necessary to set the position of the flange member 30 and the cup 20, and to lock and fix the flange member 30 and the cup 20. can be done at the same time. Therefore, the work process for attaching and fixing can be simplified, the number of work processes can be reduced, and work efficiency can be improved.

This improves work efficiency and reduces work loss in production activities, thereby achieving Goal 7 of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) led by the United Nations. and contribute to Goal 8: “Promote sustained, inclusive and sustainable economic growth, full and productive employment and decent work for all”. becomes possible.

In this embodiment, the guide rail structure 100 has a configuration in which a vertical rail portion 111 and a horizontal rail portion 151 are formed on the flange member 30, and a vertical guide portion 112 and horizontal guide portions 152 and 153 are formed on the cup 20. However, conversely, it is also possible to adopt a configuration in which the vertical rail portion 111 and the horizontal rail portion 151 are formed on the cup 20, and the vertical guide portion 112 and the horizontal guide portions 152 and 153 are formed on the flange member 30.

Further, although the one vertical guide rail structure 110 and the two horizontal guide rail structures 150 are configured to be parallel and have substantially equal lengths in the X direction, the present invention is not limited to this. For example, it may be configured to include the above-described vertical guide rail structure 110 and a horizontal guide rail structure 150 whose length in the X direction is shortened only at the end of the slide.

Furthermore, the vertical guide rail structure 110 and the horizontal guide rail structure 150 may be offset in the X direction so that they do not overlap each other when viewed in the Y direction. In this case, the vertical guide rail structure 110 with a shorter length in the X direction can be arranged only at the slide start end, and the horizontal guide rail structure 150 with a shorter length in the X direction can be arranged only at the slide end.

Alternatively, a configuration having one vertical guide rail structure 110 and one horizontal guide rail structure 150 may be used.
In this case, the vertical guide rail structure 110 with a shorter length in the X direction can be arranged only at the slide start end, and the horizontal guide rail structure 150 with a shorter length in the X direction can be arranged only at the slide end.

Alternatively, as shown in FIG. 11, the end faces of the protrusions 117 and 118 in the Y-Z direction are not rectangular, and as a vertical guide rail structure 110, the contact surface 119 and the contact surfaces 120a, 120b, 120c are arranged on the arrangement surface 30a. It is also possible to have a configuration that is inclined with respect to the slide surface 20a.

Furthermore, as shown in FIG. 12, the guide rail structure 100 has a configuration in which the protrusions 117 and 118 that contact each other in the vertical rail part 111 and the vertical guide part 112 protrude only in one direction in the Y direction. It is also possible to form them apart in the direction so as to have a function as a lateral guide rail.

1...Fuel supply device 2...Fuel tank 2a...Bottom part 2a1...Lowest part (lowest part)
2a2...Convex part 2b...Opening part 2c...Side wall surface part 10...Fuel pump 14...Fuel intake port 14a...Primary filter (filter)
14b...Connecting pipe portion 20...Cup (pump housing member)
20a...Sliding surface 24...Sliding parts 24a, 24c...Side end surface 30...Flange unit (flange member)
30a...Arrangement surface 32...Flange portion 32g...Fixed convex portion 33...External connector 34a...Discharge piping 45...Pressure regulator 70...Fuel flow path accommodating part (regulator accommodating part)
71...Fuel flow path 100...Guide rail structure C...Central axis

Claims

A fuel supply device that is attached to a fuel tank and supplies the fuel in the fuel tank to the outside of the fuel tank,
a flange member having an oval profile that covers an opening in the fuel tank;
a fuel pump disposed within the fuel tank with a longitudinal direction along the arrangement surface of the flange member exposed within the fuel tank and the long axis direction of the oval contour of the flange member;
a cylindrical pump housing member that houses the fuel pump and is attached to the flange member;
A fuel flow path that penetrates the flange member in the thickness direction and supplies the fuel sent from the fuel pump to the outside of the fuel tank is disposed inside and protrudes into the fuel tank from the arrangement surface. A storage section,
Equipped with
The flange member is attached to the opening disposed on the side wall surface of the fuel tank, and is also inclined so that one end of the long axis of the oval profile is upward and the other end is downward.
A fuel supply device characterized by:
The fuel pump has one longitudinal end connected to the fuel flow path accommodating section, a filter connected to the fuel inlet at the other end via a connecting pipe section, and the fuel flow path accommodating section located above and above. The fuel pump is arranged to be inclined so that the fuel intake port thereof is directed downward;
The fuel supply device according to claim 1, characterized in that:
The filter is disposed close to a lowermost portion of the bottom portion of the fuel tank.
The fuel supply device according to claim 2, characterized in that:
4. The fuel supply device according to claim 3, wherein the plate-shaped filter is arranged so that its main surface is arranged along the longitudinal direction of the fuel pump and along the arrangement surface of the flange member. .
5. The fuel supply device according to claim 4, wherein the plate-shaped filter has a main surface disposed along a side wall surface of the fuel tank.
The connecting pipe portion is bent from an end of the fuel pump toward a main surface of the filter.
The fuel supply device according to claim 5, characterized in that:
The flange member is configured such that the fuel intake port is located at a lowermost portion of the bottom portion of the fuel tank when viewed from above, and the fuel flow path accommodating portion is located at the lowermost portion of the bottom portion of the fuel tank when viewed from above. placed at a position corresponding to the convex portion that slopes upward from the bottom,
The fuel supply device according to claim 6, characterized in that:
The flange member has a fixed protrusion around the opening, and the fixed protrusion is located below the obliquely fixed flange member.
The fuel supply device according to claim 7, characterized in that:
A discharge pipe is provided outside the fuel tank and connected to the fuel flow path and extending along the arrangement surface of the flange member and the oval contour long axis direction,
the discharge piping is arranged obliquely along the long axis direction of the oval contour of the flange member;
9. The fuel supply device according to claim 8.
an external connector is provided that extends outside the fuel tank along the arrangement surface of the flange member and along the longitudinal axis of the oval profile and is connected to wiring that supplies power to the fuel pump from outside the fuel tank;
the external connector is arranged obliquely along the long axis direction of the oval contour of the flange member;
10. The fuel supply device according to claim 9.