Fuel system component with integrated pressure sensor

Abstract

The utility model provides a kind of integrated pressure sensor's fuel system assembly, comprising: integrated pressure sensor, flange and apron;Integrated pressure sensor includes pressure detection chip;Flange is connected with apron;Flange is opened with the measuring channel of intercommunication oil tank interior, apron is opened with the aeration passage of intercommunication oil tank exterior, pressure detection chip is positioned at the measuring channel position of flange and blocks measuring channel, one side of pressure detection chip and oil gas in oil tank contact, other side and oil tank exterior gas contact, to obtain the pressure difference between the internal pressure and external pressure of oil tank.Such configuration, by being opened measuring channel on flange, and pressure detection chip blocks measuring channel to form seal, reduce the use of sealing ring, avoid to appear using sealing ring to be vulnerable to produce leakage channel, vulnerable to break, vulnerable to erosion aging condition, reduce the possibility of oil gas leakage, increase the robustness, security and reliability of fuel system.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] This utility model relates to the field of automobile manufacturing, and in particular to a fuel system component with an integrated pressure sensor. Background Technology

[0002] Existing pressure sensors for fuel tanks are all assembled using an external connection method. That is, the pressure sensor is first inserted into the fuel tank via an external connection, and then a sealing ring is placed at the connection between the pressure sensor and the fuel tank to isolate oil and gas, so that the pressure sensor can detect the pressure inside the fuel tank while sealing off oil and gas.

[0003] With the upgrading of national standards for fuel leakage control, there is a need to find a connection method with less leakage. Currently, products on the market all use insert-type solutions, and the connection part of the sealing ring inevitably forms a leakage channel, allowing oil and gas to leak into the atmosphere. This reduces the robustness, safety, and reliability of the fuel system, thereby increasing the overall fuel leakage of the vehicle.

[0004] Therefore, how to reduce the formation of leakage channels and reduce oil and gas leaks has become a technical problem that needs to be solved by those skilled in the art. Utility Model Content

[0005] The purpose of this invention is to provide a fuel system component with an integrated pressure sensor to solve the problem that the existing technology uses sealing rings for sealing, which easily creates leakage channels and causes oil and gas leakage.

[0006] To achieve the above objectives, this utility model provides a fuel system component with an integrated pressure sensor, comprising: an integrated pressure sensor, a flange, and a cover plate;

[0007] The integrated pressure sensor includes a pressure detection chip;

[0008] The flange is connected to the cover plate;

[0009] The flange has a measurement channel that connects to the inside of the oil tank, and the cover plate has a venting channel that connects to the outside of the oil tank. The pressure detection chip is located at the measurement channel position of the flange and the measurement channel is blocked. One side of the pressure detection chip is in contact with the oil and gas inside the oil tank, and the other side is in contact with the gas outside the oil tank, so as to obtain the pressure difference between the internal pressure and the external pressure of the oil tank.

[0010] Optionally, a sealing material, including epoxy resin, is provided at the connection position between the pressure detection chip and the flange.

[0011] Optionally, the integrated pressure sensor may also include a circuit board;

[0012] A cavity is formed between the flange and the cover plate, the circuit board is fixed in the cavity, and the pressure detection chip is disposed on the circuit board.

[0013] Optionally, the flange is integrally formed with a connecting pin, and the circuit board is correspondingly provided with a socket, the connecting pin being inserted into the socket to fix the circuit board.

[0014] Optionally, a pressure balancing element is provided on the side of the vent passage away from the flange, and the pressure balancing element covers the inlet of the vent passage.

[0015] Optionally, the cover plate is further provided with a protective element that covers the pressure balancing element.

[0016] Optionally, the cover plate is provided with an outwardly protruding protrusion, the ventilation channel is opened in the protrusion, and the protrusion is interference-fitted with the claw of the protective component.

[0017] Optionally, the fuel system component with integrated pressure sensor includes any one of the following: fuel pump bracket assembly, level sensor, refueling vent valve, or fuel sump.

[0018] Compared with existing pressure sensor plug-in methods, the fuel system component with integrated pressure sensor provided in this application has the following advantages:

[0019] The fuel system component with an integrated pressure sensor provided in this application includes an integrated pressure sensor, a flange, and a cover plate. A measurement channel is created on the flange, and the pressure detection chip is sealed to form a seal. A venting channel is created on the cover plate, allowing one side of the pressure detection chip to contact the fuel vapor inside the fuel tank, and the other side to contact the external gas, thus obtaining the pressure difference between the internal and external pressures of the fuel tank. Compared to existing external pressure sensors, this reduces the use of sealing rings, avoiding the leakage channels created by using sealing rings. It also avoids the drawbacks of sealing rings being easily damaged, corroded, and aged during use, further reducing the possibility of fuel vapor leakage and increasing the robustness, safety, and reliability of the fuel system. Attached Figure Description

[0020] Figure 1 This is a schematic diagram of the structure of an external pressure sensor in the prior art;

[0021] Figure 2 A schematic diagram of the structure of a fuel system component with an integrated pressure sensor provided in an embodiment of this utility model.

[0022] The explanations of the reference numerals in the accompanying drawings are as follows:

[0023] 01-Pressure sensor; 02-Connector; 03-Oil tank; 04-Sealing ring;

[0024] 1-Flange; 10-Measuring channel;

[0025] 2-Cover plate; 20-Ventilation channel; 21-Protrusion;

[0026] 3-Inner cavity;

[0027] 4-Pressure detection chip; 40-PCB board;

[0028] 5-Cavity; 6-Sealing material; 7-Pressure balancing element; 8-Protective component. Detailed Implementation

[0029] To make the objectives, advantages, and features of this utility model clearer, the present utility model will be further described in detail below with reference to the accompanying drawings and specific embodiments. It should be noted that the drawings are all in a very simplified form and are not drawn to scale, and are only used to facilitate and clarify the explanation of the objectives of the embodiments of this utility model. Furthermore, the structures shown in the drawings are often part of the actual structure. In particular, different drawings may emphasize different aspects and sometimes use different scales.

[0030] As used herein, the singular forms “a,” “an,” and “the” include plural objects; the term “or” is generally used to mean “and / or”; the term “a number” is generally used to mean “at least one”; and the term “at least two” is generally used to mean “two or more”. Furthermore, the terms “first,” “second,” and “third” are used for descriptive purposes only and should not be construed as indicating or implying relative importance or implicitly specifying the number of indicated technical features. Thus, a feature defined as “first,” “second,” or “third” may explicitly or implicitly include one or at least two of that feature. “One end” and “the other end,” as well as “proximal end” and “distal end,” generally refer to two corresponding parts, including not only endpoints. The terms “installed,” “connected,” and “joined” should be interpreted broadly; for example, they can refer to a fixed connection, a detachable connection, or an integral part; they can refer to a direct connection or an indirect connection through an intermediate medium; they can refer to the internal communication of two elements or the interaction between two elements. Furthermore, as used in this specification, the phrase "one element is disposed on another element" generally only indicates that there is a connection, coupling, cooperation, or transmission relationship between the two elements, and the connection, coupling, cooperation, or transmission between the two elements can be direct or indirect through an intermediate element. It should not be construed as indicating or implying a spatial positional relationship between the two elements, i.e., one element can be located arbitrarily inside, outside, above, below, or to the side of another element, unless otherwise explicitly stated. The terms "above," "below," "top," and "bottom" generally refer to relative positional relationships arranged according to the direction of gravity; the terms "vertical" or "vertical direction" generally refer to the direction of gravity, which is generally perpendicular to the ground; "horizontal" or "horizontal plane direction" generally refers to a direction parallel to the ground. Those skilled in the art can understand the specific meaning of the above terms in this specification according to the specific circumstances.

[0031] The purpose of this invention is to provide a fuel system component with an integrated pressure sensor to solve the problem that the existing technology uses sealing rings for sealing, which easily creates leakage channels and causes oil and gas leakage.

[0032] As those skilled in the art will understand, most existing pressure sensors connect to the oil tank via a plug-in connection, such as... Figure 1As shown, pressure sensor 01 is inserted into fuel tank 03 via connector 02 to detect the pressure inside fuel tank 03. A sealing ring 04 is fitted around the connection between connector 02 and fuel tank 03 to prevent fuel leakage. However, even with the sealing ring 04, a leakage path inevitably forms at the connection between connector 02 and fuel tank 03. Fuel vapor leaks from inside fuel tank 03 through the sealing ring 04 into the atmosphere, inevitably increasing the overall fuel leakage of the vehicle. Therefore, this embodiment provides a fuel system component with an integrated pressure sensor. By integrating the pressure sensor onto the flange, the use of a sealing ring is avoided, reducing the possibility of leakage paths and mitigating the drawbacks of using a sealing ring during use, thus increasing the robustness, safety, and reliability of the fuel system.

[0033] Please refer to Figure 2 This utility model provides a fuel system component with an integrated pressure sensor, including: an integrated pressure sensor, a flange 1, and a cover plate 2; the integrated pressure sensor includes a pressure detection chip 4; the flange is connected to the cover plate 2; a measurement channel 10 communicating with the inside of the fuel tank is opened on the flange 1, and a venting channel 20 communicating with the outside of the fuel tank is opened on the cover plate 2; the pressure detection chip 4 is located at the measurement channel 10 of the flange 1 and the measurement channel 10 is blocked; one side of the pressure detection chip 4 is in contact with the fuel gas inside the fuel tank, and the other side is in contact with the gas outside the fuel tank, so as to obtain the pressure difference between the internal pressure and the external pressure of the fuel tank.

[0034] In this embodiment, the fuel tank has an inner cavity 3 for storing fuel; a cavity 5 is formed between the flange 1 and the cover plate 2. Gas from outside the fuel tank enters the cover plate 2 through the ventilation channel 20 and is stored in the cavity 5. The pressure detection chip 4 detects whether the pressure inside the fuel tank is abnormal by acquiring the pressure difference between the inside and outside of the fuel tank. The pressure detection chip 4 blocks the measuring channel 10 connecting to the inner cavity 3 of the fuel tank, so that one side of the pressure detection chip 4 is in contact with the fuel gas inside the fuel tank and is subjected to the pressure of the fuel gas in the inner cavity 3. Correspondingly, the other side of the pressure detection chip 4 is located in the cavity 5 between the cover plate 2 and the pressure detection chip 4. The cavity 5 is filled with external air entering from the ventilation channel 20. Therefore, the other side of the pressure detection chip 4 is subjected to the atmospheric pressure outside the fuel tank. The pressure detection chip 4 can acquire the pressure difference between the two ends, thereby feeding back to the operator to help determine whether the pressure inside the fuel tank is abnormal.

[0035] With this configuration, after the pressure detection chip 4 seals the measurement channel 10 to form a seal, there is no need for a sealing ring to assist in forming a seal. The oil and gas inside the tank will only remain on the surface of the pressure detection chip 4 through the measurement channel 10, or at most, it will only leak partially into the cavity 5 between the cover plate 2 and the pressure detection chip 4 through the small gap between the pressure detection chip 4 and the measurement channel 10, instead of leaking directly to the outside of the tank through the sealing ring as in the prior art, thus reducing the possibility of oil and gas leakage.

[0036] Furthermore, avoiding the use of sealing rings can prevent them from cracking or becoming contaminated due to external factors during use, thereby improving the robustness and reliability of the fuel system. At the same time, sealing rings are corroded by gases such as oil vapor, methanol, and ethanol in the fuel system during use, causing swelling and aging, which can lead to cracking, detachment, and other failures. Therefore, avoiding the use of sealing rings can also improve the safety of the fuel system and even the entire vehicle.

[0037] In addition, existing technologies require that the external pressure sensor and the oil tank be installed correctly during the installation process. Improper installation can cause the pressure sensor to fail in performance and sealing. However, this embodiment reduces the installation difficulty by using an integrated pressure sensor. It does not require additional plug-in installation, which would affect the assembly cycle. It also does not require additional worker training or product reliability testing, and it is less likely to cause problems with safety performance due to improper installation.

[0038] Please continue to refer to this. Figure 2 The pressure detection chip 4 and the measurement channel 10 are coaxially arranged. In this embodiment, the pressure detection chip 4 and the measurement channel 10 are kept coaxially. On the one hand, this ensures that when the pressure detection chip 4 is subjected to pressure from inside the oil tank, the pressure will not only exert force on the edge of the pressure detection chip 4, thus extending the service life of the pressure detection chip 4. On the other hand, it also ensures the accuracy of the pressure difference obtained by the pressure detection chip 4.

[0039] In a preferred embodiment, a sealing material 6, including epoxy resin, is provided at the connection point between the pressure detection chip 4 and the flange 1. It should be noted that, to improve the sealing performance between the pressure detection chip 4 and the flange 1, a layer of sealing material 6 can be applied between the connection point. The sealing material 6 can be different types of sealants such as epoxy resin, polyurethane, and acrylic adhesive. This ensures that oil and gas in the measurement channel 10 can only adhere to the surface of the pressure detection chip 4 or the sealing material 6, and will not leak from the small gap between the pressure detection chip 4 and the flange 1, further improving the sealing performance of the current installation structure and reducing the possibility of oil and gas leakage.

[0040] As an example, the integrated pressure sensor also includes a circuit board 40; a cavity 5 is formed between the flange 1 and the cover plate 2, the circuit board 40 is fixed within the cavity 5, and the pressure detection chip 4 is disposed on the circuit board 40. Figure 2 In the example shown, the pressure detection chip 4 is soldered onto the circuit board 40, and the side of the circuit board 40 on which the pressure detection chip 4 is soldered is positioned close to the measurement channel 10 so that the pressure detection chip 4 can be aligned with and block the measurement channel 10.

[0041] Optionally, the flange 1 is integrally formed with connecting pins (not shown in the figure), and the circuit board 40 is correspondingly provided with sockets (not shown in the figure). The connecting pins are inserted into the sockets to fix the circuit board 40. In some other embodiments, the connection between the circuit board 40 and the flange 1 can be fixed with screws / bolts, welded, or by providing a slot on the flange 1 for a compatible snap-fit / plug-in connection. Those skilled in the art can choose the appropriate connection method between the circuit board 40 and the flange 1 according to different application scenarios, and this embodiment does not limit this.

[0042] Please continue to refer to this. Figure 2 A pressure balancing element 7 is provided on the side of the ventilation channel 20 away from the flange 1, covering the inlet of the ventilation channel 20. It should be noted that in this embodiment, the pressure balancing element 7 is a waterproof and breathable membrane, which ensures that external atmosphere can enter the cavity 5 through the ventilation channel 20, while preventing water vapor or other particulate matter from entering the cavity 5. This ensures that the pressure detection chip 4 can obtain accurate atmospheric pressure, and also prevents external factors from entering the cavity 5 through the ventilation channel 20, affecting the fuel system and even the safety performance of the entire vehicle. Of course, in other embodiments, the pressure balancing element 7 can be a one-way valve, or a ventilation structure composed of multi-stage baffles or spiral air passages, or other reasonable components such as an electronically controlled valve adapted to the pressure sensor. This embodiment does not limit this.

[0043] Furthermore, the cover plate 2 is also provided with a protective element 8, which covers the pressure balancing element 7. Figure 2 In the illustrated example, the protective element 8 may be a metal cover 2 that at least covers the upper surface of the pressure balancing element 7 to prevent the pressure balancing element 7 from being damaged by impacts from external objects during use or transportation, thus preventing it from functioning properly.

[0044] Furthermore, the cover plate 2 is provided with an outwardly protruding protrusion 21, and a ventilation channel 20 is formed in the protrusion 21. The protrusion 21 is press-fitted with the claw of the protective component 8 (not shown in the figure). Please refer to the following: Figure 2The cover plate 2 has an outwardly protruding protrusion 21, and a ventilation channel 20 is formed on the protrusion 21. The ventilation channel 20 can be a variable diameter channel, with an inlet end and an outlet end arranged opposite each other. The inlet end is located away from the cover plate 2, and the outlet end is connected to the cavity 5. The size of the inlet end is smaller than the size of the outlet end. In this embodiment, the pressure balancing element 7 covers the inlet end, and the protective member 8 covers the pressure balancing element 7. The protective member 8 is interference-fitted with the protrusion 21 to achieve long-term protection for the pressure balancing element 7. In some other embodiments, the protective member 8 and the cover plate 2 can be connected by welding or other detachable connection methods, such as plug-in or snap-fit ​​connection.

[0045] As an optional embodiment, the protective element 8 covers the upper surface and part of the sides of the pressure balancing element 7. For example... Figure 2 As shown, the protective element 8 and the pressure balancing element 7 are partially enclosed, that is, the protective element 8 covers the upper surface and at least two sides of the pressure balancing element 7, but the protective element 8 cannot completely cover the pressure balancing element 7, otherwise the external atmosphere will not be able to pass through the pressure balancing element 7 and enter the cavity 5 through the ventilation channel 20, and thus the detection function of the pressure detection chip 4 will not be realized.

[0046] Meanwhile, in this embodiment, the protective element 8 needs to cover at least two sides of the pressure balancing element 7 because the connection between the protective element 8 and the cover plate 2 is an interference fit. In some other embodiments, if the protective element 8 and the cover plate 2 are connected by a detachable method such as a plug-in connection, the protective element 8 can cover only the upper surface and one side of the pressure balancing element 7, or even only a portion of one side. It should be noted that since the pressure balancing element 7 in this embodiment is a waterproof and breathable membrane with a small thickness, the main function of the protective element 8 is to prevent damage to the upper surface of the waterproof and breathable membrane. The sides of the waterproof and breathable membrane should at least be partially open to allow external air to pass through the waterproof and breathable membrane and finally reach the cavity 5 through the ventilation channel 20.

[0047] Alternatively, the fuel system component with the integrated pressure sensor described above may include any one of the following: fuel pump bracket assembly, level sensor, filler vent valve, or sump. In this embodiment, the integrated pressure sensor may be located on any one of the following components: fuel pump bracket assembly, level sensor, filler vent valve, or sump; this embodiment does not impose any limitation on this.

[0048] This configuration, by using the aforementioned integrated pressure sensor, avoids the use of sealing rings in the pressure sensor's mounting structure. On the one hand, it avoids the unavoidable oil and gas leakage channels caused by using sealing rings, improving sealing performance and reducing the possibility of oil and gas leakage. On the other hand, it also completely avoids the issues of easy wear and aging that occur with sealing rings during use, further improving the robustness, safety, and reliability of the fuel system.

[0049] In summary, the fuel system component with an integrated pressure sensor provided in this embodiment of the present invention includes: an integrated pressure sensor, a flange, and a cover plate; the integrated pressure sensor includes a pressure detection chip; the flange is connected to the cover plate; a measurement channel communicating with the inside of the fuel tank is provided on the flange, and a venting channel communicating with the outside of the fuel tank is provided on the cover plate; the pressure detection chip is located at the measurement channel position on the flange and the measurement channel is blocked; one side of the pressure detection chip is in contact with the fuel gas inside the fuel tank, and the other side is in contact with the gas outside the fuel tank, so as to obtain the pressure difference between the internal pressure and the external pressure of the fuel tank.

[0050] This configuration, by opening a measurement channel on the flange and sealing the measurement channel with the pressure detection chip, forms a seal. Compared with existing external pressure sensors, it reduces the use of sealing rings, avoids the situation where sealing rings create leakage channels, and also avoids the disadvantages of sealing rings being easily damaged, corroded, and aged during use. This further reduces the possibility of oil and gas leakage and increases the robustness, safety, and reliability of the fuel system.

[0051] The above description is only a description of the preferred embodiment of the present utility model and is not intended to limit the scope of the present utility model in any way. Any changes or modifications made by those skilled in the art based on the above disclosure shall fall within the protection scope of the claims.

Claims

1. A fuel system component integrating a pressure sensor, characterized in that, Includes integrated pressure sensors, flanges, and cover plates; The integrated pressure sensor includes a pressure detection chip; The flange is connected to the cover plate; The flange has a measurement channel that connects to the inside of the oil tank, and the cover plate has a venting channel that connects to the outside of the oil tank. The pressure detection chip is located at the measurement channel position of the flange and the measurement channel is blocked. One side of the pressure detection chip is in contact with the oil and gas inside the oil tank, and the other side is in contact with the gas outside the oil tank, so as to obtain the pressure difference between the internal pressure and the external pressure of the oil tank.

2. The fuel system assembly with integrated pressure sensor as described in claim 1, characterized in that, The connection between the pressure detection chip and the flange is provided with a sealing material, which includes epoxy resin.

3. The fuel system assembly with integrated pressure sensor as described in claim 2, characterized in that, The integrated pressure sensor also includes a circuit board; A cavity is formed between the flange and the cover plate, the circuit board is fixed in the cavity, and the pressure detection chip is disposed on the circuit board.

4. The fuel system assembly with integrated pressure sensor as described in claim 3, characterized in that, The flange is integrally formed with a connecting pin, and the circuit board is correspondingly provided with a socket. The connecting pin is inserted into the socket to fix the circuit board.

5. The fuel system assembly with integrated pressure sensor as described in claim 1, characterized in that, A pressure balancing element is provided on the side of the vent passage away from the flange, and the pressure balancing element covers the inlet of the vent passage.

6. The fuel system assembly with integrated pressure sensor as described in claim 5, characterized in that, The cover plate is also provided with a protective element, which covers the pressure balancing element.

7. The fuel system assembly with integrated pressure sensor as described in claim 6, characterized in that, The cover plate is provided with an outwardly protruding protrusion, the ventilation channel is opened in the protrusion, and the protrusion is interference-fitted with the claw of the protective component.

8. The fuel system assembly with an integrated pressure sensor as described in any one of claims 1 to 7, characterized in that, The fuel system component with the integrated pressure sensor includes any one of the following: fuel pump bracket assembly, level sensor, refueling vent valve, or fuel sump.

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