Fuel tank wave breaker

Abstract

To provide a wave-dissipating member of a fuel tank that can attain a high wave-dissipating effect regardless of a height position of a liquid level of fuel.SOLUTION: A wave-dissipating member of a fuel tank includes: a first wave-dissipating body 11 which is fixed to an internal face of a tank body 2 in order to perform wave dissipation of fuel; and a second wave-dissipating body 21 which is connected to the first wave-dissipating body 11 in order to perform wave dissipation of fuel. The second wave-dissipating body 21 can be elevated and lowered relative to the first wave-dissipating body 11 according to a liquid level of fuel by using buoyance. Preferably, both of the first wave-dissipating body 11 and the second wave-dissipating body 21 have tabular shapes.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 5A

Description

[Technical field]

[0001] The present invention relates to a wave-breaker member for a fuel tank. [Background technology]

[0002] For example, Patent Document 1 discloses a wave-eliminating member installed inside a fuel tank. The wave-eliminating member is erected on the bottom of the tank body and has a plate shape. By providing the wave-eliminating member, it is possible to prevent the fuel stored in the fuel tank from rippling. [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0003] [Patent Document 1] JP 2018-138420 A Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0004] Conventional fuel tank wave-breaking members have the ability to block the movement of fuel when the fuel level is low, and thus provide a wave-breaking effect. However, when the fuel level rises, the fuel rises above the wave-breaking member, reducing the wave-breaking effect.

[0005] The present invention has been devised from this perspective, and its object is to provide a wave-breaking member for a fuel tank that can provide a high wave-breaking effect regardless of the height position of the fuel liquid level. [Means for solving the problem]

[0006] In order to solve the above problems, the present invention provides a tank having a first wave-eliminating body fixed to the inner surface of the tank body and eliminating waves of the fuel, and a second wave-eliminating body connected to the first wave-eliminating body and eliminating waves of the fuel, the second wave-eliminating body being capable of ascending and descending relative to the first wave-eliminating body in accordance with the liquid level of the fuel by buoyancy, The second wave-eliminating body includes a leg portion disposed inside the first wave-eliminating body, a wave-eliminating portion that eliminates waves, and a connecting portion that connects the leg portion and the wave-eliminating portion,A recess that opens upward is provided on the upper portion of the first wave-breaker, The lower part of the wave-eliminating portion of the second wave-eliminating body is fitted into the recess. It is characterized by:

[0007] According to the present invention, the second wave-breaking body moves upward following the fuel liquid level, so that a high wave-breaking effect can be achieved even when the liquid level is at a high height.

[0008] In addition, it is preferable that both the first wave-eliminating body and the second wave-eliminating body have a plate shape. According to the present invention, a higher wave-eliminating effect can be achieved.

[0009] Also ,before It is preferable that when the second wave-eliminating body is raised, a gap is formed between the first wave-eliminating body and the second wave-eliminating body.

[0010] According to the present invention, since the fuel passes through the gap, it is possible to prevent an overload from acting on the first wave abatement body and the second wave abatement body.

[0011] Also, The above It is preferable that the first wave-eliminating body includes a restricting portion for restricting the upward movement of the leg portion while the connecting portion is inserted therethrough. According to the present invention, the amount of movement of the second wave-eliminating body in the height direction can be set. Effect of the Invention

[0012] According to the wave-breaking member for a fuel tank of the present invention, a high wave-breaking effect can be achieved regardless of the height position of the fuel liquid surface. [Brief description of the drawings]

[0013] [Figure 1] FIG. 2 is a front view showing the wave-eliminating member of the fuel tank according to the first embodiment of the present invention. [Diagram 2] FIG. 2 is a side view showing a wave-eliminating member of the fuel tank according to the first embodiment. [Diagram 3] FIG. 4 is a plan view showing an engagement portion of the wave-eliminating member of the fuel tank according to the first embodiment. [Figure 4A]3 is a view taken along the line IVA-IVA in FIG. 2, and is a front view showing a state in which the wave-breaking member of the fuel tank according to the first embodiment is lowered. FIG. [Figure 4B] 4 is a view taken along the line IVB-IVB of FIG. 1, and is a side view showing the wave-breaking member of the fuel tank according to the first embodiment when it is lowered. FIG. [Figure 5A] FIG. 4 is a front view showing a state in which the wave-breaking member of the fuel tank according to the first embodiment is raised. [Figure 5B] FIG. 4 is a side view showing a state in which the wave-breaking member of the fuel tank according to the first embodiment is raised. [Figure 6] FIG. 11 is a side view showing a wave-breaking member of a fuel tank according to a comparative example when the fuel level is low. [Figure 7] FIG. 11 is a side view showing a wave-breaking member of a fuel tank according to a comparative example when the fuel level is high. [Figure 8] FIG. 4 is a side view showing the wave-breaking member of the fuel tank according to the first embodiment when the fuel level is low. [Figure 9] FIG. 4 is a side view showing the wave-breaking member of the fuel tank according to the first embodiment when the fuel level is high. [Figure 10] FIG. 11 is a front view showing a state in which the wave-breaking member of the fuel tank according to the second embodiment of the present invention is lowered. [Figure 11] FIG. 11 is a front view showing a state in which the wave-eliminating member of the fuel tank according to the second embodiment of the present invention is raised. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0014] [First embodiment] A wave-eliminating member for a fuel tank according to a first embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. Note that the embodiments described below are merely examples and do not limit the present invention. In addition, each embodiment can be appropriately combined to form a configuration.

[0015] As shown in Figures 1 and 2, a fuel tank 1 according to this embodiment includes a tank body 2 and a wave-eliminating member 10. The tank body 2 is a hollow container made of resin, and is a member for storing fuel therein. The tank body 2 is composed of a composite layer of, for example, an inner layer 2a, a barrier layer 2b, and an outer layer 2c. The barrier layer 2b can be formed of, for example, EVOH (ethylene-vinylalcohol copolymer).

[0016] As shown in Figures 4A and 4B, the wave-eliminating member 10 is provided on the bottom surface (inner surface) of the tank body 2, and prevents the fuel from rippling. The wave-eliminating member 10 includes a first wave-eliminating body 11 and a second wave-eliminating body 21. The material of the first wave-eliminating body 11 is not particularly limited, but in this embodiment, it is made of resin. The first wave-eliminating body 11 is a plate-like member that eliminates waves. The first wave-eliminating body 11 includes hollow portions 12, 12, regulating portions 13, 13, engaging portions 14, 14, and a recess 15.

[0017] The hollow portion 12 is a vertically long (e.g., cylindrical) space in which the leg portions 22 and connecting portions 23 of the second wave-eliminating body 21 described later are disposed. The restricting portions 13 are provided in the upper portion of the hollow portion 12, and the connecting portions 23 are inserted and come into contact with the leg portions 22, thereby restricting the upward movement of the leg portions 22. As shown in Fig. 4B, the recesses 15 are rectangular in cross section and open upward in the upper portion of the first wave-eliminating body 11. The recesses 15 are portions in which the lower portions of the wave-eliminating portions 24 described later are disposed with almost no gaps.

[0018] As shown in Figures 4A and 4B, an engagement portion 14 that engages with a clip 31 is provided at the lower portion of the first wave-eliminating body 11. The clip 31 has large diameter portions 31a, 31a and a small diameter portion 31b. The small diameter portion 31b has a smaller diameter than the large diameter portion 31a and is provided between the large diameter portions 31a, 31a. The clip 31 is either integrally formed during the molding stage of the tank body 2, or fixed by welding after the tank body 2 is molded.

[0019] 3, the engagement portion 14 includes elastic arm portions 14a, 14a and a housing portion 14b. The elastic arm portion 14a is plate-shaped and elastically deformable. The housing portion 14b is semicircular in plan view and is a portion in which the large diameter portion 31a is housed.

[0020] As shown in Fig. 4A and Fig. 4B, the second wave-eliminating body 21 is a plate-like member that eliminates waves. The second wave-eliminating body 21 is formed of a material having a lower specific gravity than the fuel, such as foamed high-density polyethylene. In other words, it is formed so as to float on the fuel. The second wave-eliminating body 21 has legs 22, 22, connecting parts 23, 23, and a wave-eliminating part 24. The leg 22 is provided at the lower end of the connecting part 23 and has a larger diameter than the connecting part 23. The connecting part 23 is an axial part that connects the leg 22 and the wave-eliminating part 24. The leg 22 and the connecting part 23 are provided at two places with respect to the wave-eliminating part 24. The wave-eliminating part 24 is a plate-like member that receives the fluctuation of the fuel.

[0021] The second wave-breaker 21 only needs to rise and fall so as to follow the fuel by buoyancy, and at least a part of it may be formed from a material that serves as a floating body.

[0022] 4A and 4B, when the fuel level is at a low position (for example, when the fuel level is at a position lower than the upper end of the first wave-eliminating body 11), the second wave-eliminating body 21 is at the lowest position. In other words, the second wave-eliminating body 21 does not float on the fuel, so that the leg portion 22 contacts the bottom portion of the hollow portion 12 and the lower portion of the wave-eliminating portion 24 is disposed within the recess 15.

[0023] On the other hand, as shown in Figures 5A and 5B, when the fuel level is at a high position (for example, when the fuel level is located above the upper end of the first wave-eliminating body 11), the second wave-eliminating body 21 rises relative to the first wave-eliminating body 11. The second wave-eliminating body 21 rises and falls to follow the liquid level due to the buoyancy of the fuel. Figures 5A and 5B show the state in which the second wave-eliminating body 21 is at the topmost position. In other words, the legs 22, 22 abut against the regulating parts 13, 13, respectively, thereby regulating the upward movement of the second wave-eliminating body 21.

[0024] Next, a manufacturing method of the fuel tank 1 will be described. First, the tank body 2 and the wave-eliminating member 10 are formed. Next, the wave-eliminating member 10 is inserted from an opening (not shown) of the tank body 2, and the engaging portions 14, 14 of the wave-eliminating member 10 are pressed into the clips 31, 31 to engage them. After the elastic arm portions 14a, 14a are elastically deformed, they are restored to their original state, thereby fixing the engaging portion 14 to the clip 31. In this way, the wave-eliminating member 10 is installed on the tank body 2.

[0025] Here, Fig. 6 is a side view showing the wave-eliminating member of the fuel tank according to the comparative example when the fuel level is low. Fig. 7 is a side view showing the wave-eliminating member of the fuel tank according to the comparative example when the fuel level is high. The fuel tank 100 according to the comparative example shown in Figs. 6 and 7 is provided with a plate-shaped wave-eliminating member 40 inside the tank body 2. The wave-eliminating member 40 is not configured to follow the liquid level Fa of the fuel F.

[0026] In the case of a conventional wave-eliminating member 40 of a fuel tank, when the height position of the liquid level Fa is low, as shown in Fig. 6, the movement of the fuel F is blocked by the wave-eliminating member 40, and thus a wave-eliminating effect can be achieved. On the other hand, when the height position of the liquid level Fa is high (when it is located above the upper end of the wave-eliminating member 40) as shown in Fig. 7, the fuel F exceeds the wave-eliminating member 40, which causes a problem of reducing the wave-eliminating effect of the fuel.

[0027] In contrast, as shown in Fig. 8, in the case of the wave-eliminating member 10 according to this embodiment, when the height position of the liquid level Fa is low, the movement of the fuel F is blocked by the wave-eliminating member 10 (first wave-eliminating body 11), so that a wave-eliminating effect can be achieved. On the other hand, as shown in Fig. 9, when the height position of the liquid level Fa is high (when it is located above the upper end of the first wave-eliminating body 11), the second wave-eliminating body 21 rises due to buoyancy as the liquid level Fa rises. In other words, it rises and falls following the liquid level Fa. As a result, even when the height of the liquid level Fa is high, the second wave-eliminating body 21 blocks the movement of the fuel F, so that a wave-eliminating effect for the fuel F can be achieved.

[0028] In this embodiment, as shown in Fig. 5A, when the second wave-eliminating body 21 rises, a gap S is formed between the first wave-eliminating body 11 and the second wave-eliminating body 21. As a result, the second wave-eliminating body 21 suppresses the oscillation of the fuel while allowing a certain amount of fuel F to flow through the gap S, thereby preventing the second wave-eliminating body 21 from being overloaded by the fuel F and preventing damage to the wave-eliminating member 10.

[0029] Furthermore, the shapes of the first wave-eliminating body 11 and the second wave-eliminating body 21 may be set as appropriate, but in this embodiment, both have a plate shape, so that a high wave-eliminating effect can be achieved.

[0030] In this embodiment, since the first wave-eliminating body 11 is provided with the regulating portion 13 that restricts the upward movement of the leg portion 22 while inserting the connecting portion 23, for example, the amount of movement of the second wave-eliminating body 21 in the height direction can be appropriately set by adjusting the length of the connecting portion 23. In addition, the lower portion of the wave-eliminating portion 24 fits into the recess 15, so that the second wave-eliminating body 21 can be prevented from rattling relative to the first wave-eliminating body 11.

[0031] [Second embodiment] Next, a wave-eliminating member for a fuel tank according to a second embodiment of the present invention will be described. The same components as those in the first embodiment will be denoted by the same reference numerals and the description thereof will be omitted.

[0032] As shown in Fig. 10, the wave elimination member 10A according to this embodiment includes a first wave elimination body 11A and a second wave elimination body 21A. The first wave elimination body 11A includes a hollow portion 12A, a restricting portion 13A, an engaging portion 14, and a recessed portion 15. The hollow portion 12A is provided so that the entire longitudinal length of the first wave elimination body 11A is hollow. The restricting portion 13A and the recessed portion 15 are also formed over the entire longitudinal length.

[0033] The second wave-eliminating body 21A includes a leg portion 22A, a connecting portion 23A, and a wave-eliminating portion 24A. The leg portion 22A is formed to be wider than the connecting portion 23A. The wave-eliminating portion 24A is a plate-like member that receives the fluctuation of the fuel. The wave-eliminating portion 24A is formed with a plurality of communication holes 25 that communicate in the plate thickness direction. The connecting portion 23A is a member that connects the leg portion 22A and the wave-eliminating portion 24A, and is formed to pass through the restricting portion 13A.

[0034] 10, when the fuel level is at a low position (for example, when the fuel level is at a position lower than the upper end of the first wave-eliminating body 11A), the second wave-eliminating body 21A is at the lowest position. In other words, the leg portion 22A contacts the bottom of the hollow portion 12A, and the lower portion of the wave-eliminating portion 24A is disposed within the recess 15.

[0035] On the other hand, as shown in Fig. 11, when the fuel level is at a high position (for example, when the fuel level is located above the upper end of the first wave-eliminating body 11A), the second wave-eliminating body 21A rises relative to the first wave-eliminating body 11A. The second wave-eliminating body 21A rises and falls to follow the liquid level due to the buoyancy of the fuel. Fig. 11 illustrates a state in which the second wave-eliminating body 21A is at the top. In other words, the legs 22A, 22A abut against the regulating portion 13A to regulate the upward movement of the second wave-eliminating body 21A.

[0036] This embodiment can achieve substantially the same effects as the first embodiment. In addition, by providing the communication hole 25, the second wave-eliminating body 21A can suppress the fluctuation of the fuel while allowing a certain amount of fuel F to flow through the communication hole 25, thereby preventing the second wave-eliminating body 21A from being overloaded by the fuel F and preventing damage to the wave-eliminating member 10A.

[0037] Although the embodiment of the present invention has been described above, appropriate design changes are possible within the scope of the present invention. For example, in the present embodiment, the wave-eliminating member is plate-shaped, but it may be column-shaped or have other shapes. [Explanation of symbols]

[0038] 1 Fuel tank 2 Tank body 10 Wave breaker 11 First Wave Eliminator 12 Hollow part 13 Regulatory Department 14 Engagement part 21 Second Wave Eliminator 22 Legs 23 Connecting part 24 Wave breaker S Gap

Claims

1. A first wave-breaking body that is fixed to the inner surface of the tank body and breaks the waves of the fuel; a second wave-abatement body connected to the first wave-abatement body for performing wave-abatement of the fuel; The second wave-eliminating body is capable of ascending and descending relative to the first wave-eliminating body according to the liquid level of the fuel by buoyancy, The second wave-eliminating body includes a leg portion disposed inside the first wave-eliminating body, a wave-eliminating portion that eliminates waves, and a connecting portion that connects the leg portion and the wave-eliminating portion, A wave-breaking member for a fuel tank, characterized in that a recess that opens upward is provided in an upper portion of the first wave-breaking body, and a lower portion of the wave-breaking portion of the second wave-breaking body is positioned so as to fit into the recess.

2. 2. The wave-breaking member for a fuel tank according to claim 1, wherein the first wave-breaking body and the second wave-breaking body are both plate-shaped.

3. A wave-breaking member for a fuel tank as described in claim 1 or claim 2, characterized in that when the second wave-breaking body rises, a gap is formed between the first wave-breaking body and the second wave-breaking body.

4. A wave-breaking member for a fuel tank as described in Claim 3, characterized in that the first wave-breaking body is provided with a regulating portion that restricts the upward movement of the leg while inserting the connecting portion.

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