Fuel pipe protection structure

Abstract

To inhibit a fuel pipeline from being removed from a fuel pump and damaged during a vehicle frontal collision.SOLUTION: A protection structure of fuel pipelines 30, 31 connected to joint parts 12, 13 of a fuel pump 10 provided between an engine 1 and a dash panel 6 located rearward of the engine 1 includes: a first protector 41 which is disposed so as to cover the fuel pump 10 from the rear side; and a second protector 42 which is provided on a front surface of the first protector 41 and has a rib shape spreading in an anteroposterior direction and a vertical direction. The second protector 42 overlaps with the fuel pump 10 when viewed from the anteroposterior direction. A distance between the second protector 42 and the fuel pump 10 in the anteroposterior direction is shorter than a distance between the first protector 41 and the joint parts 12, 13 in the anteroposterior direction.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 8

Description

[Technical field]

[0001] The technology disclosed herein belongs to the technical field relating to a protection structure for a fuel pipe. [Background technology]

[0002] 2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, a structure in which a fuel pump is covered with a protective member in order to protect the fuel pump has been known.

[0003] For example, Patent Document 1 discloses a protective structure having a pump cover (protective member) that includes a plate portion fixed to the side of the engine and extending to the side of the fuel pump on the cylinder head, and a rib protruding from the plate portion onto the pump mounting surface of the cylinder head. [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0004] [Patent Document 1] Patent No. 5991344 Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0005] Generally, a fuel pump is attached to the side of the engine on the rear side of the vehicle. Therefore, if there is no protective member, the fuel pump will come into contact with the dash panel when the engine is pushed backward during a frontal collision. If a collision load is applied to the joint between the fuel pump and the fuel pipe or to the fuel pipe itself due to the fuel pump coming into contact with the dash panel, the fuel pipe may come off the fuel pump or break, resulting in a fuel leak.

[0006] In the protective structure of Patent Document 1, protection of the fuel pipe is not considered, and there is room for improvement in terms of protecting the fuel pipe in the event of a frontal collision.

[0007] The technology disclosed herein has been made in consideration of the above points, and its purpose is to prevent the fuel pipe from becoming detached from the fuel pump or being damaged in the event of a vehicle frontal collision. [Means for solving the problem]

[0008] In order to solve the above-mentioned problems, the technology disclosed herein is directed to a protective structure for a fuel piping connected to a joint of a fuel pump provided between the rear side of an engine mounted in an engine compartment of a vehicle and a dash panel located on the rear side of the engine, and is provided with a first protective part arranged to cover the fuel pump from the rear side of the vehicle, and a second protective part provided on the front surface of the first protective part and having a rib shape extending in the front-to-rear and up-down directions of the vehicle, wherein the second protective part overlaps with the fuel pump when viewed from the front-to-rear direction of the vehicle, and the distance in the front-to-rear direction between the second protective part and the fuel pump is shorter than the distance in the front-to-rear direction of the vehicle between the first protective part and the joint.

[0009] According to this configuration, the fuel pump is provided between the side surface of the engine on the vehicle rear side and the dash panel located on the vehicle rear side of the engine, and the vehicle rear side of the fuel pump is covered by the first protective part, so that when the engine moves backward during a frontal collision, the first protective part comes into contact with the dash panel. The first protective part that comes into contact with the dash panel is displaced relatively to the engine toward the vehicle front side due to a repulsive load from the dash panel. The distance in the vehicle front-rear direction between the second protective part and the fuel pump is shorter than the distance in the vehicle front-rear direction between the first protective part and the joint part, so that when the first protective part displaces relatively to the engine toward the vehicle front side, the second protective part comes into contact with the fuel pump, and the first protective part does not displace relatively further forward. This ensures a gap between the first protective part and the joint part, so that a load associated with a frontal collision is less likely to be input to the joint part. As a result, it is possible to suppress the fuel pipe from coming off the fuel pump or being damaged during a frontal collision.

[0010] Furthermore, when the second protective portion and the fuel pump come into contact with each other and are displaced relative to the engine toward the front of the vehicle, the fuel pump and the engine come into contact with each other. When the fuel pump and the engine come into contact with each other, the repulsive load of the dash panel is transmitted to the engine via the first protective portion, the second protective portion, and the fuel pump. In other words, with a gap formed between the first protective portion and the joint portion, a load path can be formed that avoids the joint portion. This makes it possible to more effectively prevent the fuel pipe from detaching from the fuel pump.

[0011] In the fuel piping protective structure, an end of the second protective portion facing the fuel pump may be configured to have a shape that follows an outer shape of the opposing portion of the fuel pump.

[0012] According to this configuration, when the second protection part comes into contact with the fuel pump, the contact area can be made as large as possible. This distributes the load and suppresses deformation of the second protection part. As a result, the first protection part can be prevented from approaching the joint part, and the fuel pipe can be more effectively prevented from coming off the fuel pump.

[0013] The protective structure for the fuel piping may further include a pump drive device arranged adjacent to the fuel pump in the vehicle width direction, connected to the fuel pump, and driving the fuel pump, wherein a flange portion extending in the front-rear direction of the vehicle is formed at a connection portion of the fuel pump with the pump drive device, and an end portion of the second protective portion on the fuel pump side faces the flange portion.

[0014] According to this configuration, it is possible to suppress deformation of the fuel pump when the second protection portion comes into contact with the fuel pump, thereby suppressing the first protection portion from approaching the joint portion and more effectively suppressing detachment of the fuel pipe from the fuel pump.

[0015] The protective structure for the fuel piping may further include a pump drive device arranged adjacent to the fuel pump in a vehicle width direction, connected to the fuel pump, and driving the fuel pump, and the first protective part may have a first fixing part fixed to the pump drive device at a position away from the joint part in the vehicle width direction, and a second fixing part fixed to the engine below the fuel pump.

[0016] According to this configuration, the first fixing portion and the second fixing portion are different in height position and in position in the vehicle width direction. This makes it possible to prevent the first protecting portion from being displaced when a repulsive load from the dash panel is input to the first protecting portion. As a result, it is possible to prevent the first protecting portion from coming into contact with the joint portion, and it is possible to more effectively prevent the fuel pipe from being detached from the fuel pump.

[0017] In the protective structure for the fuel piping, a solenoid may be attached to an upper portion of the fuel pump, and the first protective part may be spaced apart from the solenoid in the fore-and-aft direction of the vehicle and extend upward to a position overlapping with the solenoid when viewed from the rear of the vehicle.

[0018] According to this configuration, in addition to preventing the fuel pipe from coming off, it is also possible to prevent the solenoid from being damaged.

[0019] In the protective structure for the fuel piping, a harness protector for protecting a harness may be provided on a vehicle front surface of the dash panel at approximately the same height as the fuel pump, and a first extension portion may be provided at an end portion on one side in the vehicle width direction of the first protective portion, extending from the end portion to the one side in the vehicle width direction and then extending toward the rear side of the vehicle, and the first extension portion may overlap with the harness protector when viewed from the front-rear direction.

[0020] According to this configuration, since the first extension portion is provided, when the engine moves backwards, the first extension portion comes into contact with the harness protector, thereby preventing the first protective member from riding up on the harness protector, and the first extension portion can push the harness protector rearward to move the harness protector backward. This prevents the harness protector from coming into contact with the fuel pipe, thereby preventing the fuel pipe from coming off the joint portion or being damaged.

[0021] In a protective structure in which the first extension portion is provided, a second extension portion is provided at the end portion on one side in the vehicle width direction of the second protective portion, which extends to the one side in the vehicle width direction and then extends toward the rear side of the vehicle and is overlapped with at least the end portion on the rear side of the vehicle of the first extension portion, and the second extension portion may be configured to overlap with the harness protector when viewed from the fore-and-aft direction.

[0022] According to this configuration, the first extension portion and the second extension portion overlap each other to become thicker, so that the extension portion is less likely to deform even when subjected to a repulsive load from the harness protector. Therefore, by abutting the first extension portion and the second extension portion against the harness protector, the distance between the harness protector and the fuel pipe can be appropriately maintained. This makes it possible to more effectively prevent the harness protector from abutting against the fuel pipe. As a result, it is possible to prevent the fuel pipe from coming off the joint portion or being damaged. Effect of the Invention

[0023] As described above, the technology disclosed herein makes it possible to suppress the input of load to the joint portion, thereby suppressing the fuel pipe from becoming detached from the fuel pump or being damaged in the event of a vehicle frontal collision. [Brief description of the drawings]

[0024] [Figure 1] FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram showing the layout of an engine having a fuel pipe protected by a protective structure according to an exemplary embodiment 1. As shown in FIG. [Diagram 2] FIG. 2 is a rear view showing a part of the rear side portion of the engine. [Diagram 3] FIG. 3 is a perspective view of the fuel pump and its periphery as viewed from above and on the left side. [Figure 4] FIG. 4 is a perspective view showing a fuel pump and a drive device for the fuel pump. [Diagram 5] FIG. 5 is a perspective view showing a state in which the fuel pump is covered with a protector. [Figure 6] FIG. 6 is a perspective view of the protector as viewed from the front and top. [Figure 7] FIG. 7 is a perspective view showing the positional relationship between the second protection portion and the fuel pump. [Figure 8] FIG. 8 is a side view of the fuel pump covered with the protector as viewed from the left side. [Figure 9] FIG. 9 is a rear view showing a protector having a protective structure according to the second embodiment. [Figure 10] FIG. 10 is a left side view of the protector according to the second embodiment. [Figure 11] FIG. 11 is a plan view of the protector according to the second embodiment. [Figure 12] FIG. 12 is a side view of the fuel pump covered with the protector according to the second embodiment, as viewed from the left side. [Figure 13] FIG. 13 is a perspective view showing the positional relationship between the protector and the harness protector according to the second embodiment. [Figure 14] FIG. 14 is a rear view showing the positional relationship between the protector and the harness protector according to the second embodiment. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0025] Hereinafter, exemplary embodiments will be described in detail with reference to the drawings. In the following description, the front, rear, left, right, top, and bottom of a vehicle will be simply referred to as the front, rear, left, right, top, and bottom, respectively. With respect to the left-right direction, the left side when looking from the rear to the front side is referred to as the left, and the right side is referred to as the right.

[0026] (Embodiment 1) 1 shows a schematic arrangement of an engine 1 having a fuel pipe protected by a protective structure according to the first embodiment. The engine 1 is arranged in an engine room ER at the front of the vehicle. The engine room ER is formed at the front of the vehicle by left and right front side frames 4, a radiator 5, and a dash panel 6. The engine 1 is, for example, an in-line six-cylinder engine, and is placed vertically in the engine room ER with the cylinders aligned in the front-to-rear direction.

[0027] A pump drive device 20 that drives a fuel pump 10 for supplying fuel to each cylinder is provided on the rear side surface 1a of the engine 1. The pump drive device 20 transmits rotation from a camshaft arranged in a cylinder head 2 to the fuel pump 10, and operates the fuel pump 10 in synchronization with the rotation of the camshaft. As shown in FIG. 2, the pump drive device 20 has a rear housing 21 that is fixed to the engine 1. The rear housing 21 is attached to the boundary between the cylinder head 2 and the cylinder block 3 of the engine 1 so as to straddle the cylinder head 2 and the cylinder block 3. The rear housing 21 is fixed to the engine 1 at a total of three points: one point to the cylinder head 2 and two points to the cylinder block 3.

[0028] As shown in Fig. 2, the fuel pump 10 is attached to the left end of the pump drive device 20. As shown in Fig. 3 and Fig. 4, a drive-side flange portion 22 extending in the front-rear and up-down directions is provided at the left end of the rear housing 21, and a pump-side flange portion 11 extending in the front-rear and up-down directions is provided at the right end of the fuel pump 10 in correspondence with the drive-side flange portion 22. The pump-side flange portion 11 has protruding portions 11a at its front and lower portion and its rear and upper portion, respectively. The fuel pump 10 is fixed to the pump drive device 20 by fastening bolts with the protruding portions 11a and the drive-side flange portion 22 overlapping each other.

[0029] The fuel pump 10 is located at the boundary between the cylinder head 2 and the cylinder block 3 in the up-down direction. The fuel pump 10 is disposed between the rear side surface 1a of the engine 1 and the dash panel 6 in the front-rear direction. The fuel pump 10 is covered from the rear by a protector 40. The protector 40 will be described in detail later.

[0030] 2 and 3, a fuel pipe is connected to the fuel pump 10. The fuel pipe includes a low pressure pipe 30 and a high pressure pipe 31. The low pressure pipe 30 is a pipe that supplies fuel from a fuel tank (not shown) to the fuel pump 10. The high pressure pipe 31 is a pipe that supplies fuel pressurized by the fuel pump 10 to each cylinder.

[0031] The low pressure pipe 30 and the high pressure pipe 31 are connected to the fuel pump 10 via joints. Specifically, as shown in Figs. 3 and 4, the low pressure pipe 30 is connected to a low pressure joint 12 provided in a rear and lower portion of the fuel pump 10, and the high pressure pipe 31 is connected to a high pressure joint 13 provided in a lower portion of the fuel pump 10. The low pressure joint 12 is located rearward of the high pressure joint 13, i.e., closer to the dash panel 6. The low pressure joint 12 and the high pressure joint 13 are located at approximately the same position in the left-right direction. The low pressure joint 12 and the high pressure joint 13 are located on the left side of the pump side flange 11. As a result, the low pressure joint 12 and the high pressure joint 13 are spaced leftward from the pump drive device 20 by the thickness of the pump side flange 11.

[0032] 2 and 3, a solenoid 32 for controlling the supply of fuel into the fuel pump 10 is attached to the upper part of the fuel pump 10. The solenoid 32 supplies fuel from the low-pressure pipe 30 into the fuel pump 10 in accordance with the operation of the fuel pump 10.

[0033] The fuel pump 10 is covered from the rear by a protector 40. As shown in Fig. 2, the protector 40 has a first protector 41 arranged to cover the entire fuel pump 10 from the rear, and a rib-like second protector 42 provided on the front surface of the first protector 41 and extending in the front-rear and up-down directions as shown in Fig. 6. The first protector 41 and the second protector 42 are both made by processing an iron plate. The thickness of the first protector 41 is thicker than that of the second protector 42.

[0034] As shown in Figures 5 and 6, the first protector 41 has a wide first surface portion 41a located on the rear side of the fuel pump 10, and a second surface portion 41b extending forward from the lower end of the first surface portion 41a and covering the underside of the fuel pump 10.

[0035] The first surface portion 41a has a curved portion 41c that is bent at its lower portion so as to bulge toward the rear. As shown in Figs. 3 and 8, the curved portion 41c is bent toward the rear, folded back toward the bottom, extends straight downward, and then bent toward the front. The curved portion 41c is formed at the same height as the low pressure joint portion 12. By forming the curved portion 41c, the distance L1 (see Fig. 8) between the low pressure joint portion 12 and the first protector 41 can be made as large as possible.

[0036] As shown in Fig. 2, a first fixing portion 43 for fixing the first protector 41 to the pump drive device 20 (strictly speaking, the rear housing 21) is provided in a portion of the first surface portion 41a above and to the right of the curved portion 41c. The first fixing portion 43 has an insertion hole 43a through which a bolt is inserted, as shown in Fig. 5. The rear housing 21 has a boss 23 to which the bolt is fastened, as shown in Fig. 4. The insertion hole 43a of the first fixing portion 43 and the boss hole of the boss 23 are aligned, the bolt is inserted into the insertion hole 43a, and the bolt is fastened to the boss 23, whereby the first protector 41 is fixed to the pump drive device 20 via the first fixing portion 43.

[0037] An upper extension 41d extending upward is provided on the right and upper portion of the first surface 41a. The upper extension 41d is a portion for protecting the solenoid 32, and overlaps with the solenoid 32 when viewed from the rear side, as shown in Fig. 2. The upper extension 41d extends straight upward, continuing from the first surface 41a, and then extends at a slight angle toward the front.

[0038] As shown in Figures 5 and 6, the second surface portion 41b is narrower in the left-right direction at the front side. The right side of the second surface portion 41b extends straight toward the front side, while the left side of the second surface portion 41b curves toward the front side so as to approach the right side, and then extends straight toward the front side. As a result, as shown in Figure 3, the second surface portion 41b does not exist below the high pressure joint portion 13, so that the portion of the high pressure pipe 31 near the high pressure joint portion 13 can be extended straight toward the bottom side. As a result, the high pressure pipe 31 is not subjected to a bending load in the portion near the high pressure joint portion 13, so that the high pressure pipe 31 is less likely to come off from the high pressure joint portion 13.

[0039] A second fixing portion 44 for fixing the first protector 41 to the cylinder block 3 is provided at the front end of the second surface portion 41b. The second fixing portion 44 extends downward from the front end of the second surface portion 41b. The second fixing portion 44 is provided with an insertion hole 44a through which a bolt is inserted. The insertion hole 44a of the second fixing portion 44 is aligned with a bolt hole (not shown) formed in the cylinder block 3, the bolt is inserted into the insertion hole 44a, and the bolt is fastened to the bolt hole, whereby the first protector 41 is fixed to the cylinder block 3 via the second fixing portion 44. As shown in FIG. 2, when the first protector 41 is fixed to the pump drive device 20 and the cylinder block 3, the second fixing portion 44 is located to the left of the first fixing portion 43.

[0040] As shown in FIG. 6, the second protector 42 is attached to the front surface of the first protector 41, straddling the first surface portion 41a and the second surface portion 41b. The second protector 42 has a rib portion 42a extending in the front-rear direction and the up-down direction. As shown in FIG. 7, the rib portion 42a is disposed at the same position as the pump side flange portion 11 in the left-right direction. As a result, the rib portion 42a faces the pump side flange portion 11 in the front-rear direction and the up-down direction. As shown in FIG. 7 and FIG. 8, the end portion of the rib portion 42a facing the pump side flange portion 11 (hereinafter referred to as the pump side end portion) is shaped according to the outer shape of the opposing pump side flange portion 11. Specifically, the pump side end portion of the rib portion 42a has a portion facing the protruding portion 11a of the pump side flange portion 11 that extends at an incline, while a portion facing the portion of the pump side flange portion 11 other than the protruding portion 11a extends in a curved manner. As shown in FIGS. 6 to 8, the rear end of the rib portion 42a extends along the first surface portion 41a, and the lower end of the rib portion 42a extends along the second surface portion 41b.

[0041] The second protector 42 is joined to the first protector 41 by an upper joint portion 42b and a lower joint portion 42c. The upper joint portion 42b extends from the rear end of the rib portion 42a toward the right side. The upper joint portion 42b extends in the vertical direction along the rear end of the rib portion 42a. The upper joint portion 42b is joined by welding to a portion of the first surface portion 41a above the curved portion 41c. The lower joint portion 42c extends from the lower end of the rib portion 42a toward the right side. The lower joint portion 42c extends in the front-rear direction along the lower end of the rib portion 42a. The lower joint portion 42c is joined to the second surface portion 41b by welding. It is not necessary that both the upper joint portion 42b and the lower joint portion 42c are joined to the first protector 41; it is sufficient that at least one of the upper joint portion 42b and the lower joint portion 42c is joined to the first protector 41.

[0042] 8, in a state in which the protector 40 is attached to the pump drive device 20 and the cylinder block 3, the distance in the front-rear direction between the second protector 42 and the fuel pump 10 is shorter than the distance in the front-rear direction between the first protector 41 and the joint portion. Specifically, the distance L2 in the front-rear direction between the rib portion 42a of the second protector 42 and the pump side flange portion 11 is shorter than the distance L1 in the front-rear direction between the first surface portion 41a of the first protector 41 and the low pressure joint portion 12. The distance L1 can be set to about 5 to 6 times the distance L2, for example, and the distance L1 can be set to 16 to 18 mm, and the distance L2 can be set to about 3 mm.

[0043] Here, in the event of a frontal collision of the vehicle, the engine 1 moves backward together with the fuel pump 10. Since the rear side of the fuel pump 10 is covered by the protector 40, when the engine 1 moves backward, the protector 40 comes into contact with the dash panel 6. When the protector 40, particularly the first protector 41, comes into contact with the dash panel 6, a repulsive load is applied to the first protector 41 from the dash panel 6. This repulsive load causes the first protector 41 to be slightly displaced forward. Since the distance L2 in the front-rear direction between the second protector 42 and the fuel pump 10 is shorter than the distance L1 in the front-rear direction between the first protector 41 and the low-pressure joint 12, the second protector 42 comes into contact with the fuel pump 10, and the first protector 41 does not come into contact with the low-pressure joint 12. This makes it possible to suppress a load being input to the low pressure joint 12, which would otherwise cause the low pressure pipe 30 to come off the low pressure joint 12 or break the low pressure pipe 30.

[0044] Furthermore, when the second protector 42 abuts against the fuel pump 10, the rib portion 42a of the second protector 42 abuts against the pump side flange portion 11 of the fuel pump 10. Both the rib portion 42a and the pump side flange portion 11 extend in the front-rear direction and the up-down direction, and therefore have high rigidity against a load in the front-rear direction. Therefore, both the rib portion 42a and the pump side flange portion 11 are unlikely to deform due to a repulsive load from the dash panel 6. Therefore, the first protector 41 is unlikely to approach the low pressure joint portion 12, and therefore, detachment of the low pressure piping 30 from the low pressure joint portion 12 can be more effectively prevented.

[0045] Furthermore, when the second protector 42 and the fuel pump 10 come into contact with each other and are displaced forward relative to the engine 1, the fuel pump 10 comes into contact with the engine 1 (particularly the cylinder block 3). When the fuel pump 10 comes into contact with the engine 1, the rebound load of the dash panel 6 is transmitted to the engine 1 via the first protector 41, the second protector 42, and the fuel pump 10. This allows a load path to be formed that avoids the low-pressure joint 12 and the high-pressure joint 13 with a gap formed between the first protector 41 and the low-pressure joint 12. This makes it possible to more effectively prevent the low-pressure piping 30 and the high-pressure piping 31 from coming off the fuel pump 10 or from being damaged.

[0046] In the first embodiment, the second protector 42 is joined to both the wide first surface portion 41a provided on the first protector 41 and located on the rear side of the fuel pump 10, and the wide second surface portion 41b provided on the first protector 41 and covering the lower side of the fuel pump 10. This makes it possible to suppress the first protector 41 from deforming forward even if a repulsive load from the dash panel 6 is input to the first protector 41. As a result, it is possible to suppress the first protector 41 from coming into contact with the low pressure joint portion 12, and it is possible to more effectively suppress the low pressure pipe 30 from coming off the low pressure joint portion 12.

[0047] In the first embodiment, the first protector 41 has a curved portion 41c curved toward the rear at the same height as the low pressure joint 12. This makes it possible to maximize the distance between the first protector 41 and the low pressure joint 12. As a result, even if the first protector 41 is relatively displaced forward due to the repulsive load from the dash panel 6, the first protector 41 and the low pressure joint 12 can be prevented from coming into contact with each other, and the low pressure piping 30 can be more effectively prevented from coming off from the low pressure joint 12.

[0048] In the first embodiment, the pump side end of the rib portion 42a of the second protector 42 is shaped to follow the outer shape of the opposing pump side flange portion 11. This allows the contact area to be as wide as possible when the rib portion 42a comes into contact with the pump side flange portion 11. This distributes the load and suppresses deformation of the second protector 42. As a result, the first protector 41 can be prevented from approaching the low pressure joint portion 12, and the low pressure piping 30 can be more effectively prevented from coming off the fuel pump 10.

[0049] In this embodiment, the first protector 41 has a first fixing portion 43 fixed to the rear housing 21 at a position separated from the low pressure joint portion 12 and the high pressure joint portion 13 in the left-right direction, and a second fixing portion 44 fixed to the engine 1 below the fuel pump 10. This makes it possible to suppress the first protector 41 from being displaced when a repulsive load from the dash panel 6 is input to the first protector 41 during a frontal collision. As a result, it is possible to suppress the first protector 41 from coming into contact with the low pressure joint portion 12 and the high pressure joint portion 13, and it is possible to more effectively suppress the low pressure piping 30 and the high pressure piping 31 from being detached from the fuel pump 10.

[0050] Furthermore, in the first embodiment, the first protector 41 has an upper extension portion 41d that is spaced from the solenoid 32 in the front-rear direction and extends upward to a position overlapping with the solenoid 32 when viewed from the rear side of the vehicle. This not only prevents the low pressure pipe 30 and the high pressure pipe 31 from coming off, but also prevents the solenoid 32 from being damaged.

[0051] (Embodiment 2) Hereinafter, the second embodiment will be described in detail with reference to the drawings. In the following description, the same reference numerals are used to designate the same parts as those in the first embodiment, and detailed description thereof will be omitted.

[0052] In the second embodiment, the configuration of the protector is different from that of the first embodiment. Specifically, as shown in Figs. 9 to 11, the protector 240 according to the second embodiment is provided with a right extension portion 245 in a portion farther from the low-voltage and high-voltage joint portions 12, 13 in the vehicle width direction, i.e., in a right portion. The right extension portion 245 extends toward the right side and then toward the rear side. The right extension portion 245 is formed by extending to the right side from both the first protector 241 and the second protector 242. Specifically, the right extension portion 245 is formed by a first right extension portion 246 extending to the right side from the first protector 241 and a second right extension portion 247 extending to the right side from the second protector 242.

[0053] 9 and 11, the first right extension portion 246 has an inclined portion 246a that extends from the right end portion of the second surface portion 241b at an upward incline toward the right side, and a first tongue portion 246b that protrudes rearward from the right end portion of the inclined portion 246a. The rear end portion of the first tongue portion 246b is semicircular.

[0054] The second right extension portion 247 has a curved connecting portion 247a that extends from the right end of the upper joint portion 242b toward the front side, and then curves downward and extends to the right, and a second tongue portion 247b that protrudes toward the rear side from the lower and right end of the curved connecting portion 247a. The upper end of the curved connecting portion 247a faces the driving side flange portion 22 of the rear housing 21, and is recessed downward to correspond to the outer shape of the driving side flange portion 22. A bead recessed toward the left side is formed in the center of the curved connecting portion 247a in the front-rear direction. The bead extends in the up-down direction. In FIG. 9 and FIG. 14, the driving side flange portion 22 overlaps with the first protector 241 and is not visible.

[0055] The first tongue portion 246b and the second tongue portion 247b are overlapped vertically and joined by welding. That is, the second right side extension portion 247 is overlapped with at least the rear end portion of the first right side extension portion 246. As a result, the right end portion of the right side extension portion 245 has a thickness equal to the combined thickness of the first protector 241 and the second protector 242.

[0056] 12, the protector 240 is disposed such that the rib portion 242a of the second protector 242 faces the pump side flange portion 11 of the fuel pump 10. Also, even in the configuration of the second embodiment, the distance L2 in the front-rear direction between the second protector 42 and the fuel pump 10 is shorter than the distance L1 in the front-rear direction between the first protector 41 and the joint portions 12, 13.

[0057] 13 and 14, in the second embodiment, a harness protector 207 for protecting the harness is provided on the front surface of the dash panel 6. The harness protector 207 is located at substantially the same height as the fuel pump 10. The right extension portion 245 is provided so as to overlap with the harness protector 207 when viewed from the front-rear direction.

[0058] In the second embodiment, the right-side extension portion 245 is provided to prevent the high-pressure pipe 31 from abutting against the harness protector 207 when the engine 1 moves backward due to a frontal collision of the vehicle. In other words, if the right-side extension portion 245 is not provided, when the protector 240 moves backward and abuts against the dash panel 6 and the harness protector 207, the protector 240 may ride up on the harness protector 207, causing the harness protector 207 to abut against the high-pressure pipe 31. If the right-side extension portion 245 is provided as in the second embodiment, when the engine 1 moves backward, the right-side extension portion 245 abuts against the harness protector 207, thereby preventing the protector 240 from riding up on the harness protector 207, and the right-side extension portion 245 can push the harness protector 207 to move the harness protector 207 backward. This prevents the harness protector 207 from coming into contact with the high-pressure pipe 31, thereby preventing the high-pressure pipe 31 from coming off the high-pressure joint portion 13 or from being damaged.

[0059] In particular, in the second embodiment, the right end of the right extension portion 245 is thickened by overlapping the first tongue portion 246b and the second tongue portion 247b, and is therefore unlikely to deform even when subjected to a repulsive load from the harness protector 207. Therefore, by abutting the right extension portion 245 against the harness protector 207, the distance between the harness protector 207 and the high pressure pipe 31 can be appropriately maintained. This makes it possible to more effectively prevent the harness protector 207 from abutting against the high pressure pipe 31. As a result, it is possible to more effectively prevent the high pressure pipe 31 from coming off the high pressure joint portion 13 and from being damaged.

[0060] In the second embodiment, the upper end of the curved connecting portion 247a of the second right extension portion 247 is shaped to conform to the outer shape of the driving side flange portion 22. As a result, when the first protector 241 is displaced forward relative to the engine 1 due to a repulsive load from the dash panel 6 or the harness protector 207, the rib portion 242a abuts against the pump side flange portion 11 and the curved connecting portion 247a abuts against the driving side flange portion 22. This allows the repulsive load from the dash panel 6 to be dispersed, and deformation of the second protector 242 can be effectively suppressed. As a result, the first protector 241 and the low pressure joint portion 12 can be effectively suppressed from abutting against each other, and the low pressure pipe 30 can be effectively suppressed from coming off the low pressure joint portion 12.

[0061] (Other embodiments) The technology disclosed herein is not limited to the above-described embodiment, and may be substituted without departing from the spirit and scope of the claims.

[0062] For example, in the above-described first embodiment, the first protector 41 and the second protector 42 are configured as separate bodies, but they may be configured as one body. In this case, the second protector 42 does not need to have the upper joint portion 42b and the lower joint portion 42c, and only needs to have the rib portion 42a.

[0063] In the above-described first and second embodiments, the rib portions 42a, 242a of the second protectors 42, 242 face the pump side flange portion 11. However, the present invention is not limited to this and the rib portions 42a, 242a may face a portion of the fuel pump 10 other than the pump side flange portion 11.

[0064] In the above-described first and second embodiments, the engine 1 is vertically disposed in the engine room ER so that the cylinders are aligned in the front-rear direction. However, the engine 1 may be horizontally disposed in the engine room ER so that the cylinders are aligned in the left-right direction (vehicle width direction).

[0065] The above-described embodiments are merely illustrative and should not be construed as limiting the scope of the present disclosure. The scope of the present disclosure is defined by the claims, and all modifications and variations within the scope of the claims are within the scope of the present disclosure. [Industrial Applicability]

[0066] The technology disclosed herein is useful as a protective structure for a fuel piping connected to a joint of a fuel pump provided between the rear side of an engine mounted in an engine compartment of a vehicle and a dash panel located behind the engine. [Explanation of symbols]

[0067] 1 Engine 6 Dash Panel 10. Fuel Pump 11 Pump side flange 12 Low pressure joint 13 High pressure joint 20 Pump drive unit 30 Low pressure piping (fuel piping) 31 High pressure piping (fuel piping) 32 Solenoid 41 First protector (first protection part) 42 Second protector (second protection part) 42a Rib section 43 1st fixed part 44 Second fixed part 241 First protector (first protection part) 242 Second protector (second protection part) 242a Rib section

Claims

1. A protective structure for a fuel pipe connected to a joint of a fuel pump provided between a side surface of a vehicle rear side of an engine mounted in an engine room of a vehicle and a dash panel located on the vehicle rear side of the engine, a first protection portion disposed to cover the fuel pump from a rear side of the vehicle; A second protective portion is provided on a vehicle front surface of the first protective portion and has a rib shape extending in the vehicle front-rear direction and the vehicle up-down direction, the second protection portion overlaps with the fuel pump when viewed from the vehicle front-rear direction, a distance between the second protection portion and the fuel pump in a front-rear direction of the vehicle is shorter than a distance between the first protection portion and the joint portion in the front-rear direction of the vehicle, a pump drive device that is disposed adjacent to the fuel pump in a vehicle width direction and is connected to the fuel pump to drive the fuel pump, a flange portion extending in a vehicle front-rear direction is formed at a connection portion of the fuel pump with the pump drive device, 2. A fuel piping protection structure, comprising: a fuel pump side end of the second protection portion facing the flange portion.

2. 2. The fuel pipe protection structure according to claim 1, 13. A fuel piping protection structure, comprising: an end portion of said second protection portion facing said fuel pump, said end portion being shaped to conform to an outer shape of the opposing portion of said fuel pump.

3. The fuel pipe protection structure according to claim 1 or 2, a pump drive device that is disposed adjacent to the fuel pump in a vehicle width direction and is connected to the fuel pump to drive the fuel pump, The first protection part is a first fixing portion fixed to the pump drive device at a position separated from the joint portion in a vehicle width direction; a second fixing portion that is fixed to the engine below the fuel pump; A fuel piping protection structure comprising:

4. In the fuel pipe protection structure according to any one of claims 1 to 3, A solenoid is attached to the top of the fuel pump, A fuel piping protection structure, characterized in that the first protection portion is spaced apart from the solenoid in the fore-and-aft direction of the vehicle and extends upward to a position overlapping with the solenoid when viewed from the rear of the vehicle.

5. In the fuel pipe protection structure according to any one of claims 1 to 4, a harness protector for protecting a harness is provided on a vehicle front surface of the dash panel at a position substantially the same height as the fuel pump, a first extension portion is provided at an end portion on one side in a vehicle width direction of the first protection portion, the first extension portion extending from the end portion to the one side in the vehicle width direction and then extending toward a rear side of the vehicle; The fuel pipe protection structure, wherein the first extension portion overlaps with the harness protector when viewed from the front-rear direction.

6. The fuel pipe protection structure according to claim 5, a second extension portion is provided at an end portion on the one side in the vehicle width direction of the second protection portion, the second extension portion extending toward the one side in the vehicle width direction and then overlapping at least an end portion on the vehicle rear side of the first extension portion; The fuel pipe protection structure, wherein the second extension portion overlaps with the harness protector when viewed from the front-rear direction.

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