JP6984282B2 - Tank mounting structure - Google Patents

Description

The technique of the present disclosure relates to a tank mounting structure, and more particularly to a mounting structure of a fuel tank for a vehicle.

As a mounting structure for this type of fuel tank, for example, in Patent Document 1, a pair of front and rear support brackets for supporting the fuel tank from below are provided on the side wall of the chassis frame extending in the front-rear direction of the vehicle body in the width direction of the vehicle body. A structure for binding and fixing a fuel tank to these front and rear support brackets via a band or the like is disclosed.

In the structure of the document, the fuel tank is held by the support bracket by pin-connecting the upper end and the lower end of the band to the support bracket. The pin connecting the lower end of the band is formed in a substantially T shape having a bolt shaft perpendicular to the pin axis direction integrally, and the bolt shaft is inserted into the insertion hole of the support bracket and the nut is tightened and screwed. By doing so, the tension of the band can be adjusted as appropriate.

Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication No. 2017-100514

By the way, in the structure of the above document, since the pin connecting the lower end portion of the band is formed in a substantially T shape having the bolt shaft integrally, when the nut screwed to the bolt shaft is tightened, the rotational force is generated. There is a problem that the band is twisted by being transmitted from the bolt shaft to the band via the pin. In addition, stress associated with tightening the nut concentrates on the lower end of the band, which may cause damage to the band. Further, it is necessary to tighten the nut with the other hand while keeping the band along the outer circumference of the fuel tank with one hand, which causes a problem that the work is troublesome.

It is an object of the present disclosure technique to effectively prevent twisting of the band that binds and fixes the tank.

The technique of the present disclosure extends from the vehicle body side and spans a bracket that supports at least a part of the tank from a first predetermined portion on the vehicle body side of the bracket to a second predetermined portion on the extension end side. A band member that binds the tank to the bracket, a first pin member that pins one end of the band member to the first predetermined portion, and a pin connection of the other end of the band member to the second predetermined portion. An insertion hole formed in the bracket in the shape of a long hole, and one of the first pin member or the second pin member so as to be movable in the major axis direction, and an insertion hole in the major axis direction of the insertion hole. a male screw member having a male threaded portion extending in parallel with, along with provided in the bracket, and a female screw portion into which the male screw portion is screwed, the male screw member, the first to be inserted into said insertion hole one and the pin member and the second pin member, characterized in that it comprises a joint mechanism for rotatably connected to each other around the axis of the male threaded portion.

Further, at least one of the one end portion and the other end portion of the band member is bifurcated and formed, and the first pin member or the second pin member is inserted into each tip portion of the branched portion. It is preferable to be done.

Further, it is preferable that the tank includes a cylindrical tank body portion mounted on the bracket, and the insertion hole is formed so that the major axis direction thereof is parallel to the outer peripheral tangential direction of the tank body portion. ..

Further, the brackets have a pair of template portions facing each other, and the insertion holes are formed through the pair of template portions, respectively, and the female screw portions are joined to the pair of template portions. A shaft support member provided on the fixed plate portion and axially supporting one of the first pin member or the second pin member inserted into the insertion hole is disposed between the pair of template portions, and the joint is provided. It is preferable that the mechanism connects the male screw member and the shaft support member so as to be relatively rotatable.

According to the technique of the present disclosure, it is possible to effectively prevent twisting of the band that binds and fixes the tank.

It is a schematic perspective view which shows the tank unit to which the tank mounting structure which concerns on this embodiment is applied, and a part of the vehicle body frame to which the tank unit is mounted. It is a schematic perspective view explaining the front-rear support bracket which concerns on this embodiment. It is a schematic perspective view which shows the band connecting mechanism and the band tension adjusting mechanism which concerns on this embodiment. It is a schematic perspective view which shows the band tension adjustment mechanism which concerns on this embodiment.

Hereinafter, the tank mounting structure according to the present embodiment will be described with reference to the attached drawings. The same parts are designated by the same reference numerals, and their names and functions are also the same. Therefore, detailed explanations about them will not be repeated.

FIG. 1 is a schematic perspective view showing a part of a tank unit 10 to which the tank mounting structure according to the present embodiment is applied and a vehicle body frame 1 to which the tank unit 10 is mounted.

The vehicle body frame 1 is, for example, a vehicle body skeleton frame of a cab-over type vehicle such as a truck, and a cab as a driver's cab (not shown) and fuel supplied from a tank unit 10 (for example, natural gas) are on the front end side thereof. It is equipped with an engine (not shown) as a power source driven by gas).

The vehicle body frame 1 includes a pair of left and right chassis frames 2 and 3 extending in the front-rear direction of the vehicle body, and a plurality of cross members 4 spanning the chassis frames 2 and 3 in the vehicle body width direction. The chassis frames 2 and 3 are formed in a substantially U-shaped cross section that opens inward in the width direction of the vehicle body. The cross member 4 is formed in a substantially U-shaped cross section that opens toward the front or rear of the vehicle body. The shapes of the chassis frames 2 and 3 and the cross member 4 are not limited to the U-shaped cross section, and may be other shapes such as a rectangular cross section.

A tank unit 10 is attached to at least one of the left and right chassis frames 2 and 3. Since the tank unit 10 is configured in substantially the same manner when it is attached to either the left or right chassis frame 2 or 3, the tank unit 10 attached to the right chassis frame 3 will be described below.

The tank unit 10 includes a fuel tank 50, a pair of front and rear support brackets 11F and 11R, a pair of front and rear fixed bands 20F and 20R, a pair of front and rear band connecting mechanisms 40F and 40R, and a pair of front and rear band tension adjusting mechanisms 60F. It is equipped with 60R.

The fuel tank 50 has a substantially cylindrical tank body 51, a tank front end 52 that projects substantially hemispherically from the front end of the tank body 51 and closes the front end opening of the tank body 51, and a rear end of the tank body 51. It is provided with a tank rear end 53 having a connector or the like to which a fuel supply pipe or the like (not shown) is connected while closing the opening. The fuel tank 50 has the tank body 51 mounted on the front and rear support brackets 11F and 11R so that the axial direction (cylindrical axial direction) thereof is the front-rear direction of the vehicle body.

As shown in FIG. 2, the front and rear support brackets 11F and 11R are formed in a substantially L shape as a whole, and have a fixed portion 12A extending in the vertical direction of the vehicle body, an inclined portion 12B extending diagonally in the vertical direction of the vehicle body, and the width direction of the vehicle body. It includes an extending support portion 12C, a pair of front and rear template portions 12D and 12E, and a support plate portion 12F. The front and rear support brackets 11F and 11R are separated from each other in the front-rear direction at intervals shorter than the length of the tank body 51 (see FIG. 1) of the fuel tank 50 in the front-rear direction of the vehicle body, and are separated from each other in the front-rear direction on the outer side wall 3A of the chassis frame 3 in the vehicle body width direction. It is attached.

The fixing portion 12A extends in the vertical direction of the vehicle body from the upper end to the lower end of the side wall 3A along the wall surface 3A of the chassis frame 3. The fixing portion 12A is fixed by screwing a plurality of bolts 14 to a back surface nut (not shown) fixed to the inner side surface of the chassis frame 3 in the vehicle body width direction by welding or the like.

The inclined portion 12B extends diagonally downward from the lower end of the fixing portion 12A to the outside in the vehicle body width direction. The support portion 12C extends substantially horizontally from the lower end of the inclined portion 12B to the outside in the vehicle body width direction. The lengths of the inclined portions 12B and the support portions 12C in the vehicle body width direction are formed so as to be at least longer than the diameter of the tank body portion 51 (see FIG. 1) of the fuel tank 50.

The front and rear template portions 12D and 12E are substantially L-shaped flat plate members, and the shape of the outer edge 12G thereof is refracted at at least two locations so as to follow the shapes of the fixing portion 12A, the inclined portion 12B, and the support portion 12C. It is said to be a straight line. Further, the shape of the inner edges 12H of the front and rear template portions 12D and 12E is a semicircular arc shape that is curved and recessed with substantially the same curvature as the outer circumference of the tank body portion 51 (see FIG. 1) of the fuel tank 50. The front and rear template portions 12D and 12E are fixed by joining the outer edges 12G to the surfaces of the fixing portion 12A, the inclined portion 12B, and the supporting portion 12C by welding or the like.

The support plate portion 12F is a semicircular curved plate that follows the shape of the inner edges 12H of the front and rear template portions 12D and 12E, and the front and rear end edges thereof are welded to the inner edges 12H of the template portions 12D and 12E. It is fixed by joining with. A tank body 51 (see FIG. 1) of the fuel tank 50 is placed on the support plate 12F. A rubber member such as rubber that functions as a non-slip for the fuel tank 50 (see FIG. 1) is preferably attached to the upper surface of the support plate portion 12F.

On the upper end side of the front and rear template portions 12D and 12E, the front and rear bracket side first insertion holes 41F and 41R (41R is not shown), which form a part of the band connecting mechanisms 40F and 40R described in detail later, are respectively. It is formed through. Further, on the outer end side of the front and rear template portions 12D and 12E in the vehicle body width direction, the second insertion of the front and rear bracket side having a long hole shape constituting a part of the band tension adjusting mechanisms 60F and 60R described in detail later. Holes 61F and 61R (61R is not shown) are formed through the holes, respectively.

FIG. 3 is a schematic perspective view showing the band connecting mechanisms 40F and 40R and the band tension adjusting mechanisms 60F and 60R according to the present embodiment. The front band connecting mechanism 40F is configured in substantially the same manner as the rear band connecting mechanism 40R, and the front band tension adjusting mechanism 60F is configured in substantially the same manner as the rear band tension adjusting mechanism 60R. Therefore, in the following, the front band connecting mechanism 40F and the front band tension adjusting mechanism 60F will be described.

The band connecting mechanism 40F holds one end (upper end) of the fixed band 20F to the upper ends of the front and rear templates 12D and 12E by pin connection, and penetrates the upper ends of the front and rear templates 12D and 12E. The front and rear bracket-side first insertion holes 41F and 41R formed and the first connecting pin 42 are provided. One end of the fixed band 20F is bifurcated so as to straddle the front and rear template portions 12D and 12E. The front and rear band-side first insertion holes 22F and 22R formed by folding back the tip portions of the branch ends 21F and 21R of the fixed band 20F are provided, respectively. The first connecting pin 42 is inserted into the front and rear band-side first insertion holes 22F and 22R.

The first connecting pin 42 includes a first base end portion 42A, a first shaft portion 42B, and a snap ring 42C and a snap pin 42D that can be engaged with the tip end portion of the first shaft portion 42B in order from one end side. ing. The first base end portion 42A is formed to have a diameter larger than the hole diameters of the band-side first insertion holes 22F and 22R. The first shaft portion 42B is formed so as to project from the first base end portion 42A at least longer than the bandwidth of the fixed band 20F.

When attaching one end of the fixed band 20F to the support bracket 11F, first, the band-side first insertion holes 22F and 22R of the fixed band 20F are aligned with the bracket-side first insertion holes 41F and 41R, and these band-side first insertion holes are first aligned. The first shaft portion 42B of the first connecting pin 42 is inserted into the insertion holes 22F and 22R and the first insertion holes 41F and 41R on the bracket side. Then, by engaging the snap ring 42C and the snap pin 42D in order with the tip portion of the first shaft portion 42B protruding from the band-side first insertion hole 22F, one end of the fixing band 20F becomes the front and rear template portions 12D. It is designed to be pin-connected to 12E.

In the present embodiment, by forming one end of the fixed band 20F in a bifurcated manner, both ends of the fixed band 20F are stably supported by the first connecting pin 42, so that the band is supported in one place. Compared to the structure, twisting of the fixed band 20F can be effectively prevented. The direction in which the first connecting pin 42 is inserted may be opposite to that shown in the illustrated example. Further, the member engaged with the tip end portion of the first shaft portion 42B is not limited to the snap ring 42C and the snap pin 42D, and other locking members may be used.

The band tension adjusting mechanism 60F holds the other end (lower end) of the fixed band 20F on the outer end side of the front and rear template portions 12D and 12E in the vehicle body width direction by pin connection, and holds the tension of the fixed band 20F. It is something to adjust.

Specifically, as shown in FIGS. 3 and 4, the band tension adjusting mechanism 60F includes an elongated hole-shaped front and rear bracket-side second insertion holes 61F and 61R, a second connecting pin 62, and a fixing plate portion 63. A female screw portion 64 (shown in FIG. 4), a bolt member 65, a shaft support member 66, and a joint mechanism 67 are provided. The other end of the fixed band 20F is bifurcated so as to straddle the front and rear template portions 12D and 12E, similarly to the above-mentioned one end. The front and rear band-side second insertion holes 24F and 24R (see FIG. 4 for 24R) are provided at the respective branch ends 23F and 23R of the fixed band 20F, respectively. The second connecting pin 62 is inserted into the front and rear band-side second insertion holes 24F and 24R.

The front and rear bracket side second insertion holes 61F and 61R are placed on the front and rear template portions 12D and 12E on the outer end side in the vehicle body width direction and on the support plate portion 12F (or the support plate portion 12F) in the major axis direction. The fuel tank 50 shown in FIG. 1 is formed through the tank body 51) so as to be tangential to each other. Between the front and rear bracket-side second insertion holes 61F and 61R, a shaft support member 66 for inserting the second connecting pin 62 into the through hole 66A (see FIG. 4) is arranged.

The second connecting pin 62 includes a second base end portion 62A, a second shaft portion 62B, and a snap ring 62C and a snap pin 62D that can be engaged with the tip end portion of the second shaft portion 62B in order from one end side. ing. The second base end portion 62A is formed to have a diameter larger than the hole diameter of the band-side second insertion holes 24F and 24R (see FIG. 4 for 24R). The second shaft portion 62B is formed so as to project from the second base end portion 62A at least longer than the bandwidth of the fixed band 20F.

When attaching the other end of the fixing band 20F to the support bracket 11F, first, the band-side second insertion holes 24F and 24R of the fixing band 20F are inserted into the bracket-side second insertion holes 61F and 61R and the through holes of the shaft support member 66. Aligned with 66A, the second shaft portion 62B of the second connecting pin 62 is inserted into the band-side second insertion holes 24F and 24R, the bracket-side second insertion holes 61F and 61R, and the through hole 66A. Then, by engaging the snap ring 62C and the snap pin 62D in order with the tip portion of the second shaft portion 62B protruding from the band-side second insertion hole 62F, the other end of the fixing band 20F is the front and rear template portions 12D. , 12E can be attached.

In the present embodiment, the other end of the fixed band 20F is bifurcated so that both sides of the other end of the fixed band 20F are stably supported by the second connecting pin 62, so that the band is supported at one place. It is possible to effectively prevent the fixing band 20F from being twisted as compared with the conventional structure. The direction in which the second connecting pin 62 is inserted may be opposite to that shown in the illustrated example. Further, the member engaged with the tip end portion of the second shaft portion 62B is not limited to the snap ring 62C and the snap pin 62D, and other locking members may be used.

The fixing plate portion 63 is joined to the front and rear template portions 12D and 12E by welding or the like so as to integrally connect the tip portions on the outer side in the vehicle body width direction. The fixing plate portion 63 is preferably provided so that the plate plane thereof is substantially orthogonal to the major axis direction of the bracket side second insertion holes 61F and 61R. A through hole (not shown) through which the male screw portion 65A of the bolt member 65 is inserted is formed in the substantially central portion of the fixing plate portion 63.

The female screw portion 64 (see FIG. 4) is, for example, a back surface nut fixed around a through hole on the lower surface of the fixing plate portion 63 by welding or the like. The male screw portion 65A of the bolt member 65 is screwed into the female screw portion 64 in a state where the axis thereof is substantially parallel to the major axis direction of the second insertion holes 61F and 61R on the bracket side. The position where the female screw portion 64 is provided may be on the upper surface side of the fixing plate portion 63.

The male screw portion 65A of the bolt member 65 is a rotation restricting nut that sits on the upper surface of the fixing plate portion 63 and functions as a double nut that locks the screwing position of the male screw portion 65A with the female screw portion 64 at a predetermined portion. 65C is provided. The position where the rotation restricting nut 65C is provided is not limited to the illustrated example, and may be a male screw portion 65A below the female screw portion 64. In this case, the rotation restricting nut 65C may be seated on the lower surface of the female screw portion 64.

The shaft support member 66 has a substantially cubic shape, and a through hole 66A (see FIG. 4) through which the second shaft portion 62B of the second connecting pin 62 is inserted is formed in the central portion thereof. The hole diameter of the through hole 66A is formed to be larger than the outer diameter of the second shaft portion 62B, and the second shaft portion 62B is rotatably supported by the shaft support member 66.

The joint mechanism 67 is formed in a substantially truncated cone shape whose diameter increases from the upper end side to the lower end side. The upper end of the joint mechanism 67 is integrally rotatably fixed to the tip of the male screw portion 65A of the bolt member 65. Further, the lower end portion of the joint mechanism 67 can be integrally moved to the upper surface portion of the shaft support member 66 in the axial direction of the male screw portion 65A with the shaft support member 66, and the shaft is centered on the axial center of the male screw portion 65A. It is connected so as to be relatively rotatable with respect to the support member 66.

That is, when the bolt member 65 screwed with the female screw portion 64 is rotated, the joint mechanism 67 and the shaft support member 66 move in parallel with the bolt member 65 in the axial direction of the male screw portion 65A, while the bolt. The rotational force of the member 65 is transmitted only to the joint mechanism 67 and not to the shaft support member 66.

According to the band tension adjusting mechanisms 60F and 60R described in detail above, when adjusting the tension of the fixed bands 20F and 20R, when a tool or the like is attached to the nut portion 65B and the bolt member 65 is rotated, the joint mechanism 67, The shaft support member 66 and the second connecting pin 62 are configured to move in parallel with the bolt member 65 in the axial center direction of the male screw portion 65A (the major axis direction of the bracket side second insertion holes 61F and 61R). ..

That is, if the bolt member 65 is rotated clockwise when viewed upward, the bolt member 65, the joint mechanism 67, the shaft support member 66, and the second connecting pin 62 are integrally moved in the direction of arrow X in FIG. Then, the tension of the fixed bands 20F and 20R is strengthened. On the other hand, if the bolt member 65 is rotated counterclockwise when viewed upward, the bolt member 65, the joint mechanism 67, the shaft support member 66, and the second connecting pin 62 are integrally moved in the direction of arrow Y in FIG. As a result, the tension of the fixed bands 20F and 20R is weakened.

In such tension adjusting work of the fixed bands 20F and 20R, one end and the other end of the fixed bands 20F and 20R are supported by the support brackets 11F and 11R by the first and second connecting pins 42 and 62, and the fixed band 20F. , 20R is performed in a state where the inner circumference is stably along the outer circumference of the tank body 51 of the fuel tank 50. That is, when tightening the bolt member 65, the tool may be operated with only one hand, and workability can be effectively improved as compared with the conventional structure using both hands.

Further, the rotational force due to the tightening of the bolt member 65 is transmitted only to the joint mechanism 67, and is supported by the shaft support member 66, the second connecting pin 62 inserted through the shaft support member 66, and further, the second connecting pin 62. It is configured so as not to be transmitted to the fixed bands 20F and 20R. As a result, it is possible to reliably prevent the fixing bands 20F and 20R from being twisted due to the tightening of the bolt member 65. Further, it is possible to effectively prevent the stress from being concentrated on the ends of the fixing bands 20F and 20R and causing damage due to the tightening of the bolt member 65.

The present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiment, and can be appropriately modified and implemented without departing from the spirit of the present invention.

For example, the band tension adjusting mechanisms 60F and 60R have been described as being provided on the outer end side of the support brackets 11F and 11R in the vehicle body width direction, but the band tension adjusting mechanism 60 is provided on the upper end side of the support brackets 11F and 11R. The band connecting mechanisms 40F and 40R may be replaced with each other on the outer end side in the vehicle body width direction.

Further, the position where the tank unit 10 is attached is not limited to the chassis frames 2 and 3, and may be attached to other vehicle body parts such as the cross member 4.

Further, although the number of the support brackets 11F and 11R has been described as a pair of front and rear (two), the number of the support brackets 11F and 11R may be increased according to the length of the tank body 51 of the fuel tank 50.

Further, the scope of application of this embodiment is not limited to the fuel tank 50 for storing natural gas, and if the tank is supported by the support brackets 11F and 11R, a fuel tank for storing other fuel such as light oil, or a fuel tank for storing other fuel such as light oil, or , A high-pressure tank or the like for storing compressed air compressed by a compressor or the like may be used.

1 Body frame 2,3 Chassis frame 4 Cross member 10 Tank unit 11F, 11R Support bracket 12A Fixed part 12B Inclined part 12C Support part 12D, 12E Mold plate part 12F Support plate part 20F, 20R Fixed band 22F, 22R Band side 1st Insertion hole 24F, 24R Band side second insertion hole 40F, 40R Band connection mechanism 41F, 41R Bracket side first insertion hole 42 First connection pin 50 Fuel tank 51 Tank body 52 Tank front end 53 Tank rear end 60F, 60R Band tension adjustment mechanism 61F, 61R Bracket side second insertion hole 62 Second connecting pin 63 Fixing plate part 64 Female thread part 65 Bolt member 65A Male thread part 66 Shaft support member 67 Joint mechanism

Claims (4)

A bracket that extends from the vehicle body and supports at least a part of the tank,
A band member that is bridged from a first predetermined portion on the vehicle body side of the bracket to a second predetermined portion on the extension end side and binds the tank to the bracket.
A first pin member that pin-connects one end of the band member to the first predetermined portion,
A second pin member that pin-connects the other end of the band member to the second predetermined portion,
An insertion hole formed in the bracket in the shape of an elongated hole and allowing one of the first pin member or the second pin member to be movably inserted in the major axis direction.
A male screw member having a male screw portion extending in parallel with the major axis direction of the insertion hole,
A female threaded portion provided on the bracket and to which the male threaded portion is screwed,
And the male screw member, a joint mechanism for a one of a first pin member and the second pin member is inserted into the insertion hole, is relatively rotatably connected to each other around the axis of the male threaded portion, A tank mounting structure characterized by being equipped with. At least one of the one end and the other end of the band member is bifurcated, and the first pin member or the second pin member is inserted into each tip of the branched portion. The tank mounting structure according to claim 1. Claim 1 or 2 in which the tank includes a cylindrical tank body mounted on the bracket, and the insertion hole is formed so that the major axis direction thereof is parallel to the outer peripheral tangential direction of the tank body. The tank mounting structure described in. The brackets have a pair of template portions facing each other, the insertion holes are formed through the pair of template portions, and the female screw portions are joined to the pair of template portions. A shaft support member provided in the portion and pivotally supporting one of the first pin member or the second pin member inserted into the insertion hole is disposed between the pair of template portions, and the joint mechanism is provided. The tank mounting structure according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the male screw member and the shaft support member are connected so as to be relatively rotatable.

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