JP5652074B2 - Fuel supply device - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention relates to a fuel supply device that is mounted on a fuel tank and supplies fuel to the outside of the fuel tank.

  2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, a fuel supply device that discharges fuel from a pump unit disposed in a fuel tank toward the outside of the fuel tank is known.

  As a kind of such a fuel supply device, Patent Document 1 discloses that the fuel discharged from the pump unit and diverted flows into the pressure regulator from the return passage in the fuel tank, thereby adjusting the pressure of the discharged fuel. An apparatus for adjusting is disclosed. Further, as another type of fuel supply device, Patent Document 2 discloses that the fuel discharged from the pump unit and diverted outside the fuel tank is allowed to flow from the return passage into the pressure regulator to thereby reduce the pressure of the discharged fuel. An apparatus for adjusting is disclosed.

JP 2008-248801 A JP-A-8-135543

  Here, in the apparatus of Patent Document 1, it is assumed that the fuel discharged from the pump unit is divided outside the fuel tank as in Patent Document 2, and then flows into the return passage in the fuel tank. In such an assumed configuration, it is conceivable that the diverted fuel outside the fuel tank flows into the return passage in the fuel tank through the flange attached to the fuel tank. In this case, the position of the pump unit integrated with the pressure regulator as in Patent Document 1 is determined for each product, so the return path provided between the regulator and the flange is acceptable. It is desirable to be able to adjust both end positions by forming with a flexible tube. However, since such a flexible tube is likely to be bent, there is a concern that vapor may be generated in the fuel flowing into the pressure regulator from the return passage, thereby reducing the pressure regulation performance of the regulator. Therefore, if the return path provided between the pressure regulator integrated with the pump unit and the flange is formed by a rigid pipe, the arrangement position of the pump unit is limited, which causes a decrease in versatility. End up.

  Accordingly, it is an object of the present invention to provide a fuel supply device that improves both versatility and ensures both pressure regulation performance of the pressure regulator.

According to the first aspect of the present invention, a flange mounted on the fuel tank, a pump unit disposed in the fuel tank and discharging fuel toward the outside of the fuel tank, and discharged from the pump unit and outside the fuel tank A return passage through which the diverted fuel flows in through the flange is partitioned inside, a column that connects the flange and the pump unit, and a fuel that is positioned on the outlet side of the return passage in the fuel tank, A pressure regulator that adjusts the pressure of the fuel discharged from the pump unit by flowing in from the return passage, and an intermediate member that is assembled to the support and to which the pressure regulator is assembled on the outlet side of the return passage , The intermediate member houses the pressure regulator and returns The communication passage for throttling fuel flow than the road, as well as partitions therein, a ridge that extends to protrude to the inside to the fuel flow direction in the communication passage has.

  According to this invention, the fuel discharged from the pump unit and diverted outside the fuel tank flows into the pressure regulator in the fuel tank through the flange attached to the fuel tank. Here, the diversion fuel outside the fuel tank flows into the return passage inside the support column that connects the flange and the pump unit in the fuel tank, and flows into the pressure regulator from the return passage. In this way, vapor is unlikely to be generated in the fuel that flows into the pressure regulator through the return passage of the compartment inside the member that is required to be rigid as a support column. In addition, with respect to the pressure regulator positioned on the outlet side of the return passage partitioned inside the support column, the position of the pump unit connected to the support column can be freely adjusted by changing the connection configuration. According to the above, it becomes possible to improve the versatility and to ensure the pressure regulation performance of the pressure regulator.

In the present invention, the pressure regulator can be easily positioned on the outlet side of the return passage inside the column by being assembled to the intermediate member assembled to the column. According to this, since the structure in which the pressure regulator is directly assembled to the support column is provided, it is possible to avoid the situation that affects the fuel flow in the return passage inside the support column and reduces the pressure regulation performance of the pressure regulator. It becomes.

Furthermore, in the present invention, the pressure regulator is accommodated in the communication passage that is partitioned inside the intermediate member and restricts the fuel flow more than the return passage. There is a risk of turbulent flow due to the restriction. However, the protrusion protruding inward in the intermediate member can extend in the fuel flow direction in the communication passage, thereby giving a rectifying action in the extending direction to the fuel flow in a turbulent state. When the fuel rectified in this way flows into the pressure regulator, it is possible to contribute to ensuring the pressure regulating performance of the regulator.

According to the invention described in claim 2 , a plurality of ridges are provided radially around the fuel flow in the communication passage. According to the plurality of ridges provided radially around the fuel flow in the communication passage as in the present invention, the rectification action for the fuel flow in the turbulent state is improved, so the pressure regulator performance of the pressure regulator It is possible to increase the effect of ensuring the above.

According to invention of Claim 3 , a support | pillar is press-fitted in an intermediate member, and is latched by a protruding item | line. In the present invention, since the struts are press-fitted into the intermediate member, fuel leakage between the return passage and the communication passage defined by the struts and the intermediate member can be prevented by a sealing action at the press-fitting location. Moreover, since the struts are locked by protruding ridges inside the intermediate member that defines the communication passage in the press-fitting intermediate member, the amount of press-fitting to the intermediate member is set to a desired amount, and the sealing action at the press-fitting point is achieved. It can be demonstrated correctly. According to these, since a fuel leak has occurred between the return passage and the communication passage, it is possible to avoid a situation where the pressure of the fuel flowing into the pressure regulator through these passages decreases and the pressure regulation performance of the pressure regulator is lowered. It becomes.

It is a side view which shows the fuel supply apparatus by one Embodiment of this invention. It is a top view which shows the fuel supply apparatus by one Embodiment of this invention. FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view showing a fuel supply device according to an embodiment of the present invention, and is a cross-sectional view taken along line III-III in FIG. 2.

  Hereinafter, an embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1 shows a fuel supply apparatus 1 according to an embodiment of the present invention. The fuel supply device 1 is mounted on a fuel tank 2 of a vehicle and supplies fuel to the outside of the fuel tank 2. The fuel supply device 1 includes a flange 10, a sub tank 20, a pump bracket 30, an adjustment mechanism 40, a pump unit 50, a pressure regulator 54, and a remaining amount detector 60. Here, the elements 20, 30, 40, 50, 54, 60 other than the flange 10 of the fuel supply device 1 are arranged at predetermined positions in the fuel tank 2. Note that the vertical direction in FIG. 1 substantially coincides with the vertical direction of the vehicle on the horizontal plane.

  As shown in FIGS. 1-3, the flange 10 is formed in disk shape with resin. The flange 10 is fitted and attached to a through hole 2b that penetrates the top plate portion 2a of the fuel tank 2, and closes the through hole 2b. The flange 10 is provided with a fuel supply pipe 11, an electrical connector 12, and a return pipe 13. The fuel supply pipe 11 supplies the fuel discharged from the pump unit 50 to the outside of the fuel tank 2. The electrical connector 12 is electrically connected to the pump unit 50 and the remaining amount detector 60. As a result, the fuel pump 52 of the pump unit 50 is supplied with power through the electric connector 12 and is driven and controlled, and the remaining amount detection signal of the remaining amount detector 60 is output through the electric connector 12. It is like that. The return pipe 13 is a fuel that is discharged from the pump unit 50 and supplied to the outside of the fuel tank 2 by the fuel supply pipe 11. The fuel is also returned to the fuel tank 2.

  As shown in FIG. 1, the sub tank 20 is formed in a bottomed cylindrical shape with resin. The sub tank 20 is fixed on the bottom 2c in the fuel tank 2. A fuel passage 22 through which the fuel in the fuel tank 2 naturally flows into the sub tank 20 is provided at the bottom 20a of the sub tank 20. The sub tank 20 stores the fuel thus flowing in.

  As shown in FIGS. 1 and 3, the pump bracket 30 is made of resin and is coupled to the flange 10 via an adjustment mechanism 40. In this coupled state, the pump bracket 30 holds the pump unit 50 in the fuel tank 2 together with the remaining amount detector 60.

  The adjustment mechanism 40 includes a support column 41, an intermediate member 42, and an elastic member 43. As shown in FIG. 3, the support column 41 is formed in a cylindrical shape from a highly rigid metal and defines a return passage 47 therein. The support column 41 is press-fitted and fixed coaxially with the downstream end portion of the return pipe 13 with respect to the flange 10. As a result, the diversion fuel (see FIG. 1) outside the fuel tank 2 flows into the return passage 47 through the return pipe 13. Further, the support column 41 is coupled to elements 30, 50, 60 (hereinafter referred to simply as “integrated elements 30, 50, 60”) through an intermediate member 42. . Thereby, the flange 10 and the integrated elements 30, 50, 60 are connected to each other by the single support column 41.

  The intermediate member 42 is formed in a cylindrical shape from resin, and defines a communication passage 48 therein. The intermediate member 42 is assembled coaxially with the support column 41. As a result, the diversion fuel from the outside of the fuel tank 2 flows into the communication passage 48 disposed on the outlet 47 a side of the return passage 47 through the return passage 47. The intermediate member 42 is also assembled to the pump bracket 30 so that the relative position change between the support column 41 and the integrated elements 30, 50, 60 is allowed in the axial direction of the support column 41. 41 is regulated in the circumferential direction.

  Here, in particular, the support column 41 is pressed into the intermediate member 42 of the present embodiment in a liquid-tight manner. Further, in accordance with such a press-fitting form, the intermediate member 42 forms a communication passage 48 in a form in which the fuel flow (flow passage area) is narrowed inside than the outlet 47a of the return passage 47, and a convex portion is formed in the inside. The protrusion 49 is protruded. In the present embodiment, the ridges 49 are radially arranged at a plurality of locations in the circumferential direction around the fuel flow in the communication passage 48, and each extends straight in the axial direction as the direction of the fuel flow. . Thereby, each protruding item | line 49 becomes a form which latches the lower end part of the support | pillar 41 from the downward direction.

  As shown in FIGS. 1 and 3, the elastic member 43 is formed of a coil spring in this embodiment. The elastic member 43 is coaxially disposed on the outer peripheral side of the support column 41 and is interposed between the flange 10 and the pump bracket 30. The elastic member 43 generates a restoring force along the axial direction of the support column 41 so as to press the integrated elements 30, 50, 60 toward the bottom 2c side of the fuel tank 2, so that the pump unit as shown in FIG. The 50 suction filters 51 are always brought into contact with the bottom 20a of the sub tank 20. With this function of the elastic member 43 and the function of the intermediate member 42, the arrangement positions of the integrated elements 30, 50, 60 in the fuel tank 2 are stabilized in the present embodiment.

  Now, the pump unit 50 coupled to the pump bracket 30 by snap fit is housed in the sub tank 20 at the lower part and protrudes outside the sub tank 20 at the upper part. The pump unit 50 includes a suction filter 51 and a fuel pump 52.

  The suction filter 51 is provided at the lowermost part of the pump unit 50 and is installed on the bottom 20 a of the sub tank 20. The suction filter 51 is connected to the fuel suction port 52a of the fuel pump 52, and removes large foreign matters in the fuel sucked from the sub tank 20 by the fuel pump 52. The fuel pump 52 is provided above the suction filter 51 in the pump unit 50 and directs the fuel inlet 52a and the fuel outlet 52b downward and upward, respectively. The fuel pump 52 sucks the fuel in the sub tank 20 from the suction filter 51 to the fuel suction port 52a according to the rotation of a built-in motor (not shown), and connects the fuel supply pipe 11 (FIG. 1) to the fuel discharge port 52b. The pressurized fuel is discharged toward the one-dot chain line).

  As shown in FIGS. 1 and 3, the pressure regulator 54 is assembled to the intermediate member 42 by an assembly member 54a. The pressure regulator 54 is positioned on the outlet 47a side of the return passage 47 penetrating the support column 41 in the fuel tank 2 by being accommodated in the communication passage 48 in the intermediate member 42 having a hollow shape. The pressure regulator 54 adjusts the pressure of the divided fuel flowing into the communication passage 48 from the return passage 47, thereby discharging the main flow fuel pressure with respect to the divided flow, that is, discharging from the pump unit 50 to the fuel supply pipe 11 outside the fuel tank 2. Adjust the fuel pressure. At this time, the pressure regulator 54 discharges surplus fuel by pressure regulation into the sub tank 20.

  As shown in FIGS. 1 to 3, the remaining amount detector 60 is disposed outside the sub tank 20 by being held on the pump bracket 30. The remaining amount detector 60 is a sender gauge in this embodiment, and detects the remaining amount of fuel in the fuel tank 2 based on the rotation angle of the arm 62 that holds the float 61 that floats against the fuel in the fuel tank 2. .

  In the fuel supply device 1 described above, the fuel discharged from the pump unit 50 and diverted outside the fuel tank 2 flows into the pressure regulator 54 in the fuel tank 2 through the flange 10 attached to the fuel tank 2. . Here, the shunt fuel flows into the return passage 47 in the support column 41 that connects the flange 10 and the pump unit 50 in the fuel tank 2, and flows into the pressure regulator 54 from the return passage 47. In this way, vapor is unlikely to occur in the fuel that flows into the pressure regulator 54 through the return passage 47 defined in the member requiring high rigidity as the support column 41. In addition, the pump unit 50 connected to the support 41 with respect to the pressure regulator 54 positioned on the outlet 47a side of the return passage 47 of the partition in the support 41 can be changed in the connection form (for example, the intermediate member 42 for the support 41). The arrangement position can be freely adjusted by, for example, changing the coupling angle. According to the above, it becomes possible to improve the versatility and ensure the pressure regulation performance of the pressure regulator 54 at the same time.

  In the fuel supply device 1, the pressure regulator 54 can be easily positioned on the outlet 47 a side of the return passage 47 inside the column 41 by being assembled to the intermediate member 42 assembled to the column 41. According to this, since the structure in which the pressure regulator 54 is directly assembled to the support column 41 is provided, the fuel flow in the return passage 47 in the support column 41 is affected, and the pressure regulation performance of the pressure regulator 54 is deteriorated. Can be avoided.

  Further, in the fuel supply device 1, a pressure regulator 54 is accommodated in a communication passage 48 that is partitioned inside the intermediate member 42 and restricts the fuel flow more than the return passage 47. The fuel flow flowing into the pressure regulator 54 from the return passage 47 through the communication passage 48 thus restricted may be turbulent due to the restriction in the communication passage 48. However, the protrusion 49 protruding inward in the intermediate member 42 extends in the direction of the fuel flow in the communication passage 48, thereby giving a rectifying action in the direction of extension to the fuel flow that has become a turbulent state. obtain. Here, in particular, in the fuel supply device 1, the plurality of ridges 49 provided radially around the fuel flow in the communication passage 48 improve the rectification action on the fuel flow in the turbulent state. . From these things, it becomes possible to flow the rectified fuel into the pressure regulator 54 and enhance the effect of ensuring the pressure regulation performance by the pressure regulator 54.

  In addition, in the fuel supply device 1, since the struts 41 are press-fitted into the intermediate member 42, fuel leaks between the return passage 47 and the communication passage 48 defined by the struts 41 and the intermediate member 42 are caused at the press-fitting location. It can be prevented by the sealing action. In addition, since the support column 41 is locked by the protruding protrusions 49 inside the intermediate member 42 that is the press-fitting destination to define the communication passage 48, the press-fitting amount with respect to the intermediate member 42 is set to a desired amount. The sealing action at can be exhibited correctly. According to these, since fuel leaks between the passages 47 and 48, the pressure of the fuel flowing into the pressure regulator 54 through the passages 47 and 48 decreases, and the pressure regulation performance of the pressure regulator 54 decreases. It can be avoided.

(Other embodiments)
Although one embodiment of the present invention has been described above, the present invention is not construed as being limited to the embodiment, and can be applied to various embodiments without departing from the gist of the present invention. it can.

  Specifically, the pressure regulator 54 may be assembled directly to the support column 41 without providing the intermediate member 42. Further, the intermediate member 42 can be provided with an appropriate number of ridges 49 that are one or more, but it is also possible to employ a configuration in which the ridges 49 are not provided. Further, the communication passage 48 in which the intermediate member 42 is partitioned may have a larger flow area than the return passage 47 in which the support column 41 is partitioned. Furthermore, as the support column 41, the intermediate member 42 may be press-fitted inside. In addition, the number of columns 41 may be other than one, and the flange 10 and the integrated elements 30, 50, 60 are connected by a plurality of columns, and a specific one of these columns is used. Can be employed as the support column 41 of the above embodiment.

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Fuel supply device, 2a Top plate part, 2b Through-hole, 2c Bottom part, 2 Fuel tank, 10 Flange, 11 Fuel supply pipe, 12 Electrical connector, 13 Return pipe, 20 Sub tank, 20a Bottom part, 22 Fuel path, 30 Pump bracket 40 adjustment mechanism, 41 strut, 42 intermediate member, 43 elastic member, 47 return passage, 47a outlet, 48 communication passage, 49 ridge, 50 pump unit, 51 suction filter, 52 fuel pump, 52a fuel intake port, 52b fuel Discharge port, 54 pressure regulator, 54a assembly member, 58 communication path, 60 remaining amount detector, 61 float, 62 arm

Claims (3)

A flange attached to the fuel tank;
A pump unit disposed in the fuel tank and discharging fuel toward the outside of the fuel tank;
A return passage through which the fuel discharged from the pump unit and diverted outside the fuel tank flows through the flange is partitioned inside, and a column that connects the flange and the pump unit;
A pressure regulator that is arranged on the outlet side of the return passage in the fuel tank and adjusts the pressure of the fuel discharged from the pump unit by allowing the diversion fuel outside the fuel tank to flow in from the return passage ;
An intermediate member that is assembled to the column and to which the pressure regulator is assembled on the outlet side of the return passage;
Prepared ,
The intermediate member divides a communication passage that houses the pressure regulator and restricts the fuel flow more than the return passage, and has a ridge that protrudes into the inside and extends in the fuel flow direction in the communication passage. A fuel supply device comprising: The convex Article, around the fuel flow in the communication passage, the fuel supply apparatus according to claim 1, characterized in that it is more radially disposed. The strut, the press-fitted into the intermediate member, the fuel supply apparatus according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that locked by said ridge.

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