JP5598250B2 - Vehicle fuel system parts protection device - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention relates to a fuel system component protection device for a vehicle, and more particularly to a vehicle fuel system component protection device suitable for protecting a fuel system component such as a fuel pipe of an internal combustion engine mounted on a vehicle from an impact when a collision occurs. .

  In a vehicle equipped with an internal combustion engine, it is necessary to prevent fuel from leaking from fuel system parts such as a fuel pipe and a fuel tank even if the vehicle is damaged due to a collision or the like. Therefore, technology to reduce damage to fuel system parts by concentrating the destruction site due to impact load at the time of collision (hereinafter simply referred to as impact load) on a specific vehicle-mounted part and absorbing energy in the destroyed part. There is.

  For example, in order to protect the fuel filter disposed on the rear side of the battery, a protrusion that protrudes toward the rear end surface of the battery is provided on the front side of the protector that surrounds the fuel filter. There is known a device in which the rear end portion is broken (see, for example, Patent Document 1).

  Also, a protector that protects the fuel system part that is a high-pressure fuel pump is provided with a protrusion that protrudes toward the highly rigid part of the fuel system part, and when the fuel system part and the protector approach due to an impact load, the protective member Even if the protrusion of the bumper hits the high-rigidity portion and the protective member does not hit or hit the low-rigidity portion of the fuel system component, it is known that the impact can be suppressed small (see, for example, Patent Document 2) ).

  On the other hand, in a multi-cylinder internal combustion engine, an EGR cooler (exhaust cooler) constituting a part of an EGR (Exhaust Gas Recirculation) device is placed side by side near the rear end of the engine body, It is known that an EGR valve case mounting seat is provided at the upper portion of the intake branch passage wall so that the EGR valve protrudes from the side upper portion of the engine body (see, for example, Patent Document 3).

Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 06-280710 JP 2007-138847 A JP 2007-085301 A

  However, the conventional fuel system parts protection device for a vehicle as described above is of a protection form that reduces damage to the fuel system parts by a protector. The engine and the dashboard (the vehicle compartment side and the engine on the rear side of the engine room). Sufficient protection of the fuel system parts between them when a large impact (for example, impact at the time of a vehicle collision) with deformation of the vehicle body is applied to the extent that the wall portion that divides the room side approaches There was a possibility that it could not be done.

  Further, in the case where the EGR cooler is horizontally placed behind the rear end portion as in the above-described conventional internal combustion engine, the EGR cooler is disposed behind the upper end of the rear end portion of the engine in the short direction of the cylinder head. Because the engine was placed in a parallel position, the impact load tends to concentrate on the rear end of the engine when a large impact is applied that causes deformation of the vehicle body so that the engine and dashboard are close to or abut against each other. There is a possibility that a fuel system component, for example, a high-pressure pump disposed in the cylinder may be damaged, and even a high-pressure fuel pipe or an in-cylinder injector (fuel injection valve) in the vicinity thereof may be damaged. That is, when there is a high-pressure fuel pipe or a high-pressure fuel pump near the rear end of the engine, it has been very difficult to prevent fuel leakage from the high-pressure fuel pipe at the time of a collision.

  Accordingly, the present invention provides a fuel system component protection device for a vehicle that can easily and accurately protect a fuel system component even when the fuel system component is disposed on the rear end side of the engine. It is.

  In order to solve the above problems, a vehicle fuel system component protecting apparatus according to the present invention includes (1) an internal combustion engine with an exhaust gas recirculation device and a vehicle drive system including a fuel system component mounted to supply fuel to the internal combustion engine. A vehicle body-side facing member that constitutes a part of a vehicle on which the vehicle driving device is mounted and faces the internal combustion engine from the rear side in the vehicle front-rear direction, and the vehicle driving device and the vehicle body-side facing member When the internal combustion engine and the vehicle body side facing member are relatively displaced by an impact load that is disposed and acts on the vehicle, the impact due to the impact load is absorbed by deformation between the internal combustion engine and the vehicle body side facing member. A fuel system component protection device for a vehicle that protects the fuel system component by the impact absorbing member when the impact load is applied to the vehicle. An exhaust gas recirculation pipe that recirculates exhaust gas from the exhaust pipe of the combustion engine to the intake pipe side; an exhaust cooler having a case portion that houses a part of the exhaust gas recirculation pipe; and the exhaust gas recirculation in cooperation with the exhaust gas recirculation pipe A connection support member interposed between the exhaust cooler and the internal combustion engine so that a cooler is supported by the internal combustion engine with a gap therebetween is configured as a part of the shock absorbing member, and The exhaust cooler is mounted in an inclined posture with respect to the internal combustion engine so that the height position in the cylinder central axis direction of one end and the other end in the longitudinal direction of the case portion is different from each other. And

  With this configuration, the exhaust cooler extends both in the cylinder central axis direction and in the direction perpendicular thereto between the vehicle body side facing member and the end portion of the internal combustion engine facing it, so that the length of the exhaust cooler and While a sufficient exhaust cooling area is secured, an exhaust cooler and an exhaust for supporting the exhaust cooler and the internal combustion engine are supported when a large impact is applied that causes deformation of the vehicle body such that the internal combustion engine and the vehicle body facing member are close to or in contact with each other. The reflux pipe and the connecting support member are plastically deformed, and the exhaust cooler between the internal combustion engine and the vehicle body side facing member is pushed in a wide range from the upper side to the center side in the cylinder central axis direction (so-called crushable zone). It is crushed and the energy of the big impact is fully absorbed. Therefore, it is avoided that the impact is concentrated on the end portion side of the internal combustion engine facing the vehicle body side facing member, particularly on the upper side where the fuel system component is mounted, and the vehicle body side facing member and the fuel system component interfere with each other. Therefore, even when the fuel system part is arranged on the end side of the internal combustion engine facing the vehicle body side facing member, the fuel system part can be easily and accurately protected. Is possible.

  In the fuel system component protecting apparatus for a vehicle of the present invention, (2) the fuel system component compresses the exhaust cooler when the internal combustion engine and the vehicle body side facing member are relatively displaced by at least the impact load. It is desirable to arrange on the outer side with respect to the reduced area to be reduced.

  With this configuration, even when a large impact is applied that causes deformation of the vehicle body such that the internal combustion engine and the vehicle body facing member are close to or in contact with each other, the fuel system parts outside the reduced region are placed between the internal combustion engine and the vehicle body facing member. It is protected without being crushed.

In the fuel system component protecting apparatus for a vehicle according to the present invention, (3) the fuel system component pressurizes the fuel to a high pressure and supplies the fuel to a plurality of cylinders of the internal combustion engine; and the high pressure fuel A high-pressure delivery pipe extending along the plurality of cylinders to store the fuel pressurized by the pump and distribute the fuel to the plurality of cylinders, and the fuel pressurized by the high-pressure fuel pump to the high-pressure fuel It is preferable that the high-pressure fuel pipe is connected to the high-pressure delivery pipe in a direction substantially orthogonal to the high-pressure delivery pipe.

  With this configuration, the connection position of the high-pressure fuel pipe to the high-pressure delivery pipe can be easily separated from the end of the internal combustion engine facing the vehicle body-side facing member, and the shock absorbing member, the vehicle body-side facing member, the fuel system component, Interference can be more effectively suppressed.

  In the case of the above (3), (4) one end portion of the exhaust cooler in the longitudinal direction of the case portion is located above the high-pressure delivery pipe in the cylinder central axis direction, and the longitudinal direction of the case portion It is preferable that the other end of is located on the lower side of the cylinder central axis direction from the high-pressure delivery pipe.

  With this configuration, the exhaust cooler between the internal combustion engine and the vehicle body side facing member is crushed in a wide range from the upper side to the center side in the cylinder central axis direction, but it is possible to arrange the exhaust cooler so as not to interfere with the high pressure delivery pipe. .

  Further, in the case of the above (4), (5) a valve open state that allows the exhaust gas to recirculate from the exhaust pipe side to the intake pipe side of the internal combustion engine at one end in the longitudinal direction of the case portion and the internal combustion engine An exhaust gas recirculation control valve that can be switched to a closed valve state that restricts recirculation of the exhaust gas from the exhaust pipe side to the intake pipe side of the engine is mounted, and the exhaust gas recirculation control valve includes the high pressure fuel pump, the high pressure delivery pipe It is preferable that the high-pressure fuel pipe is located on the rear side in the vehicle front-rear direction and is arranged on the upper side in the cylinder central axis direction from the high-pressure delivery pipe.

  With this configuration, not only the exhaust cooler but also the exhaust recirculation control valve can be arranged so as not to interfere with the high-pressure delivery pipe.

In any of the above cases, (6) the vehicle drive device includes an electric motor that cooperates with the internal combustion engine, and a power cable that supplies electric power to the electric motor, and a part of the power cable is configured to absorb the shock. As a part of the member, disposed between the internal combustion engine and the vehicle body-side facing member so as to be compressed together with the exhaust cooler when the internal combustion engine and the vehicle body-side facing member are relatively displaced by the impact load. Preferably it is.

  With this configuration, the power cable also functions as a part of the shock absorbing member, and even a large shock energy can be sufficiently absorbed. It can be protected accurately.

  Further, in the case of the above (6), (7) the internal combustion engine is mounted on the vehicle in a vertically placed state, and the vehicle drive device includes the electric motor and is located on the rear side in the vehicle longitudinal direction from the internal combustion engine. It is preferable to include a hybrid transmission disposed and an inverter assembly disposed on one side of the vehicle in the left-right direction with respect to the hybrid transmission and connected to the electric motor via the power cable.

With this configuration, the power cable can be easily arranged so as to be compressed together with the exhaust cooler when the internal combustion engine and the vehicle body-side facing member are relatively displaced by an impact load .

  According to the present invention, the exhaust cooler in the inclined posture extends in both the cylinder central axis direction and the direction orthogonal thereto, so that the length of the exhaust cooler and the exhaust cooling area are sufficiently secured. The exhaust cooler, the exhaust gas recirculation pipe, and the connection support member are plastically deformed when a large impact is applied so that the vehicle body side facing member comes close to or abuts, and the exhaust gas is discharged between the internal combustion engine and the vehicle body side facing member. Since the cooler is crushed in a wide range from the upper side to the center side in the cylinder center axis direction so that the energy of a large impact is sufficiently absorbed, the end of the internal combustion engine facing the vehicle body side facing member Side, especially the upper side where the fuel system parts are installed, and avoiding the impact from concentrating and effectively suppressing the interference between the vehicle body side facing member and the fuel system parts. To provide a fuel system component protection device for a vehicle that can easily and accurately protect a fuel system component even when the fuel system component is disposed on the end side of the internal combustion engine that faces the engine. it can.

1 is a schematic plan view showing a schematic configuration of a fuel system component protection device for a vehicle according to an embodiment of the present invention. 1 is a schematic plan view of a fuel system component protection device for a vehicle according to an embodiment of the present invention. 1 is a schematic rear view of a fuel system component protecting apparatus for a vehicle according to an embodiment of the present invention. 1 is a schematic side view of a fuel system component protecting apparatus for a vehicle according to an embodiment of the present invention.

  Hereinafter, preferred embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.

  1 to 4 show a fuel system component protecting apparatus for a vehicle according to an embodiment of the present invention.

  In the present embodiment, the present invention is applied to a so-called FR (front engine / rear drive) type hybrid vehicle. Conventionally, a V-type 6-cylinder engine and a corresponding hybrid transmission are mounted. The platform (combined chassis frame, body, suspension, steering, etc.) is mounted with a vertical 4-cylinder engine and a corresponding hybrid transmission for downsizing, and the rear end of the engine It is the structure which has arrange | positioned the protection apparatus of the fuel system components of this embodiment.

  As shown in FIG. 1, the vehicle of the present embodiment (the whole is not shown) is not shown in detail, but includes a platform 11 having a front engine room 15 and a central compartment 16 and an engine room. 15 and a vertically mounted engine 12 mounted on the platform 11 via a mounting device (not shown), and a hybrid drive device together with the engine 12 in a state of being integrally coupled to the lower end side of the rear end of the engine 12 13 (vehicle drive device), and a power train (not shown) that transmits power to the drive wheels after the hybrid drive device 13 are provided.

  The engine 12 is a multi-cylinder internal combustion engine in which four (plural) cylinders 12c are arranged in series (in-line) on an engine body 12M including a cylinder block 12a and a cylinder head 12b. A piston is housed to form a combustion chamber, and a crankshaft is connected to a plurality of pistons via connecting rods. Further, an intake valve and an exhaust valve and a valve operating mechanism for opening and closing them are provided on the upper side of the combustion chamber of the plurality of cylinders 12c. Note that the piston crank mechanism, the valve mechanism, the ignition device, and the like of the engine 12 are configured in the same manner as known ones and will not be described in detail here.

  In the upper part on the rear end side of the engine 12, as a fuel system part for supplying high-pressure fuel for in-cylinder injection into the engine 12, a high-pressure fuel pump 21, a high-pressure delivery pipe 22, a high-pressure fuel pipe 23, and a plurality of unillustrated In-cylinder injectors are provided. Further, as a fuel system part for supplying low-pressure fuel for port injection into the engine 12 on the vehicle front side from the high-pressure fuel pump 21 and the high-pressure fuel pipe 23, the low-pressure delivery pipe 25 and a plurality of port injections are provided. An injector is provided.

Here, the high-pressure fuel pump 21 pressurizes fuel consumed by the engine 12, such as gasoline, to high pressure and supplies it to a plurality of cylinders. For example, a known plunger and a drive cam that reciprocates it, a check valve, It is composed of an electromagnetic spill valve or the like. The high pressure delivery pipe 22 stores the fuel pressurized by the high pressure fuel pump 21 and distributes the fuel to a plurality of in-cylinder injectors provided corresponding to the plurality of cylinders of the engine 12. This is a relatively high-rigidity part that extends in the vehicle front-rear direction along the plurality of cylinders (side wall surfaces of the cylinder block) and has a cast pipe as a main component. The high-pressure fuel pipe 23 is a metal pipe that supplies the fuel pressurized by the high-pressure fuel pump 21 from the high-pressure fuel pump 21 to the high-pressure delivery pipe 22 and is made of a material having a relatively high toughness or high ductility. The low-pressure delivery pipe 25 is manufactured by bending or brazing a relatively thin sheet metal, for example, and a plurality of port injection injectors (not shown) provided corresponding to a plurality of cylinders of the engine 12. The vehicle 12 extends in the vehicle front-rear direction along a plurality of cylinders of the engine 12 so as to distribute fuel.

  The engine 12 includes an EGR device 40 (exhaust gas recirculation device) that recirculates and recirculates part of the exhaust gas from the exhaust manifold 32 (exhaust pipe) side to the intake manifold 31 side. The EGR device 40 has an EGR gas passage 41 that bypasses the combustion chamber in each cylinder of the engine 12 and extends from the exhaust passage in the exhaust manifold 32 to the intake passage in the intake manifold 31, and this EGR gas passage. An electromagnetic EGR valve 42 (exhaust gas recirculation control valve) that adjusts the recirculation amount of EGR gas and an EGR cooler 45 that cools the EGR gas passing through the EGR gas passage 41 are provided in the middle of 41.

  The EGR gas passage 41 is an exhaust gas recirculation passage that recirculates part of the exhaust gas as EGR gas from the exhaust passage side to the intake passage side of the engine 12, and a part of the EGR gas passage 41 is an EGR cooler 45 (exhaust cooling EGR gas cooling passage in the vessel. That is, the EGR gas passage 41 includes an exhaust side EGR pipe 44 (a part of the exhaust gas recirculation pipe), an EGR cooler 45, and an intake side EGR pipe interposed between the intake manifold 31 (intake pipe) and the exhaust manifold 32. 46 (a part of the exhaust gas recirculation pipe) are connected to each other and formed inside them.

  The EGR cooler 45 can cool the EGR gas by heat exchange between the cooling water from the engine 12 and the EGR gas from the EGR gas passage 41 side. Specifically, the EGR cooler 45 includes a plurality of flat exhaust cooling pipes 47 (part of the exhaust gas recirculation pipes) interposed between the EGR pipes 44 and 46 in parallel with each other, and around these exhaust cooling pipes 47. And a metal case 49 having a substantially rectangular parallelepiped shape for accommodating a plurality of exhaust cooling pipes 47 so as to form a cooling water passage 48. The case portion 49 of the EGR cooler 45 is supplied with a cooling water introduction pipe portion 52 that introduces the cooling water that has passed through the water jacket of the engine 12 into the cooling water passage 48, and the cooling water that has passed through the cooling water passage 48. The cooling water discharge pipe part 51 which returns to the upstream part of 12 water jackets is connected integrally.

  The cooling water introduction pipe 52 and the cooling water discharge pipe 51 are interposed between the engine body 12M of the engine 12 and the sheet metal case 49 of the EGR cooler 45, and cooperate with the EGR pipes 44 and 46. The engine body 12M and the case portion 49 of the EGR cooler 45 are functioned as a plurality of connection support members for connecting the engine body 12M and the case portion 49 of the EGR cooler 45 so that the EGR cooler 45 is supported by the engine 12 with a predetermined front-rear gap. Yes. Needless to say, the connection support member may be a support mounting plate or the like instead of piping such as the cooling water introduction pipe portion 52 and the cooling water discharge pipe portion 51.

  The EGR valve 42 is fixed to one end portion 49a in the longitudinal direction of the case portion 49 of the EGR cooler 45, and is interposed between the EGR cooler 45 and the EGR pipe 46 on the intake side. Between the exhaust manifold 32 to the intake manifold 31 side and the closed state to limit the exhaust gas recirculation from the exhaust manifold 32 side of the engine 12 to the intake manifold 31 side. Yes. A part of the EGR gas passage 41 between the EGR cooler 45 and the intake manifold 31 is formed as an openable / closable passage by the EGR valve 42 and the EGR pipe 46. The EGR pipe 46 is connected to, for example, an EGR gas distribution pipe (not shown) built in the intake manifold 31 so that EGR gas is distributed and supplied from the EGR gas distribution pipe to each of a plurality of cylinders of the engine 12. It has become.

  By the way, the dashboard 61 (the vehicle body side facing member, a part of the platform 11) that forms the wall surface 61 a on the vehicle rear side of the engine room 15 constitutes a part of the platform 11 and the engine 12 mounted on the platform 11. It is opposed to the rear end portion with a relatively small separation distance in the vehicle front-rear direction.

  The exhaust side EGR pipe 44, the EGR cooler 45, the EGR valve 42 and the intake side EGR pipe 46 that form the EGR gas passage 41, the cooling water introduction pipe portion 52 that forms the cooling water passage together with the EGR cooler 45, and the cooling Each of the water discharge pipe portions 51 is disposed in a relatively narrow space region (compression region) between the rear end portion of the engine 12 and the dashboard 61 in the front-rear direction.

These EGR pipes 44, 46, EGR cooler 45, EGR valve 42, cooling water introduction pipe portion 52 and cooling water discharge pipe portion 51 are subjected to a large impact load (for example, a large impact load as in a collision) on the vehicle platform 11. act, when the engine 12 and dashboard 61 by the impact load is relatively displaced so as to approach each other, by producing plastic deformation and / or elastic deformation in the compression direction by the impact load between the respective engine 12 and dashboard 61 It is an impact absorbing member that absorbs the energy of impact due to the impact load, and as a whole, an impact absorbing mechanism 50 that also serves as a main part of the EGR device 40 is configured. The shock absorbing mechanism 50 is deformed so as to absorb the energy of the shock when a large shock load is applied to the vehicle, and is a fuel system component disposed close to the rear end side of the engine 12, that is, the high pressure fuel pump 21. The high pressure delivery pipe 22, the high pressure fuel pipe 23 and the plurality of in-cylinder injectors are protected.

  Here, the high-pressure fuel pump 21, the high-pressure delivery pipe 22, the high-pressure fuel pipe 23, and the plurality of in-cylinder injectors, and the low-pressure delivery pipe 25 and the plurality of port injectors, which are fuel system components, are at least a platform. When the engine 12 and the dashboard 61 approach each other due to a large impact load applied to the engine 11, the EGR cooler 45 is disposed on the outer side with respect to the reduction region between the engine 12 and the dashboard 61 that contracts to compress the EGR cooler 45. ing.

  Further, the rear end of the high pressure delivery pipe 22 is located in front of the rear end of the engine 12, and even if the engine 12 and the dashboard 61 are close enough to contact each other, the rear end of the high pressure delivery pipe 22 However, the arrangement of piping / wirings is selected so that the non-metal part or the low-rigidity part is in contact with the high-rigidity part or the shock absorbing member even if it does not directly interfere with the high-rigidity part or the shock absorbing member.

  The high-pressure fuel pipe 23 has a lower end portion 23 a connected in a vertical direction substantially orthogonal to the high-pressure delivery pipe 22 and an upper end portion 23 b connected to the discharge portion 21 p of the high-pressure fuel pump 21. As extending substantially vertically. The lower end portion 23a, which is a connecting portion of the high-pressure fuel pipe 23 to the high-pressure delivery pipe 22, is disposed within the range of the side surface of the engine 12 when the engine 12 is viewed in a direction orthogonal to the cylinder center axis direction D. And, it is located on the vehicle front side from the rear end position of the high-pressure delivery pipe 22.

  The EGR cooler 45 is configured such that the height position in the cylinder center axis direction D (see FIG. 3) differs between the one end 49a side and the other end 49b side in the longitudinal direction of the case portion 49. It is mounted in an inclined posture with respect to the main body 12M.

  Specifically, one end portion 49 a in the longitudinal direction of the case portion 49 of the EGR cooler 45 is located above the high-pressure delivery pipe 22 in the cylinder center axis direction D, and the longitudinal direction of the case portion 49 of the EGR cooler 45 The other end 49b is located on the lower side in the cylinder center axis direction D from the high-pressure delivery pipe 22. In addition, the EGR valve 42 fixed to the longitudinal end portion 49a of the case portion 49 is located on the rear side in the vehicle front-rear direction with respect to the high-pressure fuel pump 21, the high-pressure delivery pipe 22, and the high-pressure fuel pipe 23, and is also high-pressure delivery. It is arranged above the pipe 22 in the cylinder center axis direction D. Here, the inclination angle at which the longitudinal direction of the EGR cooler 45 inclines with respect to the direction orthogonal to the cylinder center axis direction D is a collision test (for example, a frontal collision test of a vehicle or a front side of a vehicle on the high-pressure delivery pipe side is a barrier ( It is set based on the experimental result such as a test to collide with the Offset Deformable Barrier), but the vertical positional relationship of the one end 49a and the other end 49b in the longitudinal direction of the case 49 with respect to the high pressure delivery pipe 22 is satisfied. It is good.

  On the other hand, the hybrid drive device 13 in the present embodiment is connected to the first generator motor MG1 (motor) and the second generator motor MG2 (motor) that cooperate with the engine 12 and a hybrid battery (not shown), and is connected from direct current to alternating current. Inverter assembly 71 that can be converted into a voltage and its voltage and frequency can be controlled, and a plurality of power cables 72 and 73 that connect inverter assembly 71 and generator motors MG1 and MG2 are configured. .

  The power cables 72 and 73 are thick cables in which wires for high voltage and large current are covered with an insulator and a protective cover as compared with other wirings in the vehicle. The power cables 72 and 73 are shock absorbing mechanisms. The engine 12 and the dashboard 61 are compressed so as to be compressed together with the EGR cooler 45 or the like when the engine 12 and the dashboard 61 are relatively displaced by a large impact load acting on the platform 11 as an impact absorbing member constituting a part of the engine 50. It is arranged between.

  The engine 12 is mounted vertically on the vehicle platform 11, the hybrid transmission 14 is disposed on the rear side in the vehicle front-rear direction with respect to the engine 12, and the inverter assembly 71 is arranged in the vehicle left-right direction with respect to the hybrid transmission 14. It is arranged on one side. Accordingly, the power cables 72 and 73 are mounted in a curved shape that extends from one side in the vehicle left-right direction to the center side and is convex between the hybrid transmission 14 and the inverter assembly 71 upward in the vertical direction. 2 and 3, these power cables 72 and 73 pass above the hybrid transmission 14 and through one end 49 a in the longitudinal direction of the case portion 49 of the EGR cooler 45 and the rear side of the EGR valve 42. It is an implementation form.

  Next, the operation will be described.

  In the fuel system component protecting apparatus for a vehicle according to the present embodiment configured as described above, the EGR cooler 45 includes the cylinder center axis direction D between the dashboard 61 and the rear end portion of the engine 12 facing the dashboard 61, and the EGR cooler 45. Since the cylinder head 12b that is orthogonal to each other has an inclined posture that extends in the short direction, the length of the EGR cooler 45 and the exhaust cooling area are sufficiently secured.

  On the other hand, when the engine 12 and the dashboard 11 shown in phantom lines in FIG. 2 are subjected to a large impact on the vehicle platform 11 that causes deformation of the vehicle body such that the engine 12 and the dashboard 61 are close to or in contact with each other, The EGR cooler 45 and the EGR pipes 44 and 46 that support the engine 12 on the engine 12, the cooling water introduction pipe portion 52, and the cooling water discharge pipe portion 51 are plastically deformed, and the EGR cooler between the engine 12 and the dashboard 61. 45 is crushed as a crushable zone over a wide range from the upper side to the center side in the cylinder center axis direction D, and the energy of a large impact is sufficiently absorbed. Therefore, it is possible to avoid the impact from concentrating on the rear end side of the engine 12 facing the dashboard 61, in particular, on the upper side where the fuel system parts are mounted, and the dashboard 61, the high pressure fuel pump 21, the high pressure delivery. Interference with the fuel system parts such as the pipe 22, the high pressure fuel pipe 23, and a plurality of in-cylinder injectors (hereinafter referred to as fuel system parts such as the high pressure fuel pump 21) is also effectively suppressed. Therefore, even when fuel system parts such as the high-pressure fuel pump 21 are arranged on the rear end side of the engine 12 facing the dashboard 61, the fuel system parts such as the high-pressure fuel pump 21 can be easily and accurately located. Can be protected.

  In particular, in the present embodiment, the fuel system components such as the high-pressure fuel pump 21 have a reduced area that contracts to compress the EGR cooler 45 when the engine 12 and the dashboard 61 are relatively displaced by at least an impact load. Since the engine 12 and the dashboard 61 are close to each other or come into contact with each other, the fuel system parts outside the reduced area are separated from the engine 12 even if a large impact accompanied by deformation of the vehicle body is applied. It will not be crushed between the dashboards 61 and will be properly protected.

  Further, since the high-pressure fuel pipe 23 is connected in a direction substantially orthogonal to the high-pressure delivery pipe 22, the connection position of the high-pressure fuel pipe 23 to the high-pressure delivery pipe 22 is set behind the engine 12 facing the dashboard 61. It is possible to easily separate from the end portion to the front side, and interference between the EGR cooler 45 and the like as the shock absorbing member and the dashboard 61 and the fuel system parts such as the high-pressure fuel pump 21 can be more effectively suppressed.

  In addition, one end portion 49 a of the case portion 49 of the EGR cooler 45 is positioned above the high-pressure delivery pipe 22 in the cylinder center axis direction D, and the other end portion 49 b of the case portion 49 is positioned in the cylinder center axis line from the high-pressure delivery pipe 22. Since it is located on the lower side in the direction D, the EGR cooler 45 between the engine 12 and the dashboard 61 is crushed in a wide range of crushable zones from the upper side to the center side in the cylinder center axis direction D. At the same time, an arrangement that does not easily interfere with the high-pressure delivery pipe 22 is possible.

  An EGR valve 42 attached to one end portion 49a in the longitudinal direction of the case portion 49 of the EGR cooler 45 is located on the rear side in the vehicle front-rear direction with respect to the fuel system components such as the high-pressure fuel pump 21, and also has a high-pressure delivery. Since the pipe 22 is arranged above the cylinder center axis direction D, not only the EGR cooler 45 but also the EGR valve 42 can be arranged so as not to interfere with the high-pressure delivery pipe 22.

  In addition, since the power cables 72 and 73 are disposed between the engine 12 and the dashboard 61 as a part of the impact absorbing member, even if a large impact is applied to the platform 11, the energy of the impact is sufficiently obtained. Absorbable. Therefore, fuel system components such as the high-pressure fuel pump 21 disposed on the rear end side of the engine 12 can be more accurately protected without separately providing a dedicated shock absorbing member.

Further, the power cables 72 and 73 interposed between the inverter assembly 71 arranged on one side in the vehicle lateral direction with respect to the hybrid transmission 14 and the generator motors MG1 and MG2 of the hybrid transmission 14 include an EGR cooler 45 and a dashboard. 61, and the relative position between the EGR cooler 45 and the EGR valve 42 can be set as appropriate. Therefore, when the engine 12 and the dashboard 61 are relatively displaced by an impact load , the power cables 72 and 73 are connected to the EGR. It can be easily and reliably compressed together with the cooler 45, and the required shock absorbing ability can be obtained.

  As described above, in the fuel system component protecting apparatus for a vehicle according to the present embodiment, the EGR cooler 45 in the inclined posture extends in the cylinder center axis direction D and in the direction orthogonal thereto, so that the length of the EGR cooler 45 and the exhaust gas are exhausted. When a large impact is applied to the platform 11 so that the cooling area is sufficiently secured and the engine 12 and the dashboard 61 are close to or in contact with each other, the EGR cooler 45, the EGR pipes 44 and 46, and the cooling water introduction pipe portion 52 and the cooling water discharge pipe 51 are plastically deformed, and the EGR cooler 45 between the engine 12 and the dashboard 61 is crushed in a wide range from the upper side to the center side in the cylinder center axis direction D, resulting in a large impact. Is sufficiently absorbed, so that the rear end side of the engine 12 facing the dashboard 61, It is possible to avoid the impact from concentrating on the upper side where the fuel system parts such as the high-pressure fuel pump 21 are installed, and the dashboard 61 and the fuel system parts such as the high-pressure fuel pump 21 interfere with each other. Even when fuel system parts such as the high-pressure fuel pump 21 are disposed on the rear end side of the engine 12 facing the dashboard 61, the fuel system parts such as the high-pressure fuel pump 21 are disposed. It is possible to provide a fuel system component protecting apparatus for a vehicle that can be easily and accurately protected.

  In the fuel system component protection device for a vehicle according to the above-described embodiment, the EGR cooler 45, the EGR pipes 44 and 46, the cooling water introduction pipe portion 52, and the cooling water discharge pipe portion 51 are each caused by plastic deformation of metal. Although the impact energy is absorbed, the rubber elastic portion may be partially included. The case portion 49 of the EGR cooler 45 has a substantially rectangular parallelepiped shape, but may have another shape such as a cylindrical shape. Further, when the EGR cooler 45 is crushed entirely by a large impact load, the EGR cooler 45 and the engine 12 can be configured so long as partial plastic deformation starts in the piping, the connection support portion, and the like prior to the crushing. A gap in the front-rear direction may be partially formed between the rear end portion and the two portions may be in close proximity or in contact with each other. Further, the cooling water introduction pipe part 52 and the cooling water discharge pipe part 51 are not necessarily integral with the case part 49, respectively. For example, the cooling water introduction pipe part 52 is formed integrally with the cylinder head 12b of the engine 12. Alternatively, the cooling water introduction pipe portion 52 and the cooling water discharge pipe portion 51 may each be constituted by an elastic or flexible hose or the like. Of course, as described above, the connection support member interposed between the engine 12 and the EGR cooler 45 is not a piping such as the cooling water introduction pipe portion 52 and the cooling water discharge pipe portion 51 but a supporting mounting plate or the like. May be.

  As described above, the fuel system component protecting apparatus for a vehicle according to the present invention is configured such that the exhaust cooler in the inclined posture extends in the cylinder central axis direction and the direction orthogonal thereto, thereby increasing the length of the exhaust cooler and the exhaust gas. While the cooling area is sufficiently secured, the exhaust cooler, the exhaust recirculation pipe, and the connection support member are plastically deformed when a large impact is applied so that the internal combustion engine and the vehicle body side facing member are close to or in contact with each other. The exhaust cooler is crushed in a wide range from the upper side to the center side in the cylinder center axis direction so that the energy of a large impact is sufficiently absorbed. While avoiding that the impact concentrates on the end side, especially the upper side where the fuel system parts are equipped, it effectively suppresses the interference between the vehicle body side facing member and the fuel system parts, Provided is a fuel system component protection device for a vehicle that can easily and accurately protect a fuel system component even when the fuel system component is disposed on the end side of the internal combustion engine facing the body side facing member. It is useful for general fuel system parts protecting devices for vehicles suitable for protecting fuel system parts such as fuel piping of an internal combustion engine mounted on a vehicle from an impact when a collision occurs. It is.

11 Platform 12 Engine (Internal combustion engine)
12M Engine body 12b Cylinder head 12c Cylinder 13 Hybrid drive device (vehicle drive device)
14 Hybrid transmission 15 Engine room 21 High-pressure fuel pump (fuel system parts)
22 High pressure delivery pipe (fuel system parts)
23 High-pressure fuel pipe (fuel system parts)
25 Low pressure delivery pipe (fuel system parts)
31 Intake manifold (intake pipe)
32 Exhaust manifold (exhaust pipe)
40 EGR device (exhaust gas recirculation device)
41 EGR gas passage 42 EGR valve (exhaust gas recirculation control valve)
44, 46 EGR pipe (part of the exhaust gas recirculation pipe)
45 EGR cooler (exhaust cooler)
47 Exhaust cooling pipe (part of exhaust recirculation pipe)
48 Cooling water passage 49 Case part 49a One end part 49b Other end part 50 Shock absorption mechanism 51 Cooling water discharge pipe part (connection support member)
52 Cooling water introduction pipe (connection support member)
61 Dashboard (part of platform, body side facing member)
71 Inverter assembly 72, 73 Power cable MG1, MG2 Generator motor (motor)

Claims (6)

An internal combustion engine with an exhaust gas recirculation device, a vehicle drive device including a fuel system component mounted to supply fuel to the internal combustion engine, and a part of a vehicle on which the vehicle drive device is mounted, A vehicle body side facing member facing from the rear side in the vehicle front-rear direction is disposed between the vehicle driving device and the vehicle body side facing member, and the internal combustion engine and the vehicle body side facing member are relatively moved by an impact load acting on the vehicle. An impact absorbing member that absorbs an impact caused by the impact load by being deformed between the internal combustion engine and the vehicle body side facing member when displaced, and when the impact load acts on the vehicle, the impact absorption A fuel system component protection device for a vehicle that protects the fuel system component with a member,
In cooperation with the exhaust gas recirculation pipe, the exhaust gas recirculation pipe that recirculates the exhaust gas from the exhaust pipe of the internal combustion engine to the intake pipe side, the exhaust cooler having a case portion that houses a part of the exhaust gas recirculation pipe, and the exhaust gas recirculation pipe A connection support member interposed between the exhaust cooler and the internal combustion engine so as to support the exhaust cooler with a gap in the internal combustion engine is configured as a part of the shock absorbing member, respectively.
The fuel system component pressurizes the fuel to a high pressure and supplies the fuel to a plurality of cylinders of the internal combustion engine; stores the fuel pressurized by the high pressure fuel pump and distributes the fuel to the plurality of cylinders A high-pressure delivery pipe that extends along the plurality of cylinders, and a high-pressure fuel pipe that supplies the fuel pressurized by the high-pressure fuel pump from the high-pressure fuel pump to the high-pressure delivery pipe,
One end portion in the longitudinal direction of the case portion is located above the high-pressure delivery pipe in the cylinder center axis direction, and the other end portion in the longitudinal direction of the case portion is in the cylinder center axis direction from the high-pressure delivery pipe. The vehicle exhaust system cooler is mounted in an inclined posture with respect to the internal combustion engine so as to be positioned on the lower side of the vehicle.   The fuel system component is disposed on the outer side with respect to a reduced region that contracts to compress the exhaust cooler when the internal combustion engine and the vehicle body side facing member are relatively displaced by at least the impact load. The fuel system component protecting apparatus for a vehicle according to claim 1. 3. The fuel system component protecting device for a vehicle according to claim 1, wherein the high- pressure fuel pipe is connected in a direction substantially orthogonal to the high-pressure delivery pipe. 4. A valve-open state allowing the exhaust gas to recirculate from the exhaust pipe side to the intake pipe side of the internal combustion engine at one end in the longitudinal direction of the case part, and the exhaust from the exhaust pipe side to the intake pipe side of the internal combustion engine Equipped with an exhaust recirculation control valve that can be switched to a closed state that restricts gas recirculation,
The exhaust gas recirculation control valve is located on the rear side in the vehicle front-rear direction with respect to the high-pressure fuel pump, the high-pressure delivery pipe, and the high-pressure fuel pipe, and above the high-pressure delivery pipe in the cylinder center axis direction. 4. The fuel system component protecting apparatus for a vehicle according to claim 1, wherein the apparatus is disposed. The vehicle drive device includes an electric motor that cooperates with the internal combustion engine, and a power cable that supplies electric power to the electric motor,
The internal combustion engine and a part of the power cable are compressed together with the exhaust cooler when the internal combustion engine and the vehicle body side facing member are relatively displaced by the impact load as a part of the impact absorbing member. 5. The fuel system parts protecting device for a vehicle according to claim 1, wherein the device is disposed between the vehicle body side facing members. 6. The internal combustion engine is mounted on the vehicle in a vertical position;
The vehicle drive device includes the electric motor and is disposed on the rear side in the vehicle front-rear direction from the internal combustion engine, and is disposed on one side in the vehicle left-right direction with respect to the hybrid transmission, and the power is supplied to the electric motor. 6. The fuel system component protecting apparatus for a vehicle according to claim 5, comprising an inverter assembly connected via a cable.

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