Internal structure of the filler pipe mouth

Abstract

To provide a filler opening internal structure of a filler pipe which prevents oil supply from being stopped by scattering of fuel discharged from an oil supply gun.SOLUTION: There is provided a filler opening internal structure 1 of a filler pipe 10 which introduces fuel 4 from an oil supply gun 2 of a gas station to a fuel tank, in which the filler pipe 10 curves in a downward direction in a three-dimensional state so as to include a wall part 13 in front face of a nozzle 3 of the inserted oil supply gun 2, and there are attached on the filler pipe 10 a nozzle support part 32 which supports the nozzle 3 of the oil supply gun 2 and a guide member 30 which is fixedly set up on a fuel tank side of the nozzle support part 32 and includes a direction change part 34 which introduces the fuel 4 discharged from the nozzle 3 of the oil supply gun 2 in a downward direction.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 2

Description

[Technical Field]

[0001] The present invention relates to an internal structure of the mouth of a filler pipe into which the nozzle of a fuel gun at a gas station is inserted when filling fuel into a vehicle fuel tank through the filler neck. [Background technology]

[0002] Vehicles such as automobiles generally have a fuel filler port on the side of the vehicle body for filling with fuel. A filler pipe (also called a fuel supply pipe or filler tube) is connected between the filler port and the fuel tank, and guides fuel supplied from a fuel gun into the fuel tank. The filler pipe is formed into a three-dimensional curved shape in relation to the positions of the filler port and the fuel tank, the position of the seats, storage space, etc.

[0003] A guide member (also called a guide pipe, nozzle guide, nozzle bracket, or retainer) may be attached to the inside of the fuel inlet side of this filler pipe for purposes such as regulating the depth of insertion of the nozzle of the fuel gun or regulating the nozzle's vibration within the filler pipe (for example, Patent Documents 1 to 5).

[0004] As shown in FIG. 7, the guide member 300 of Patent Document 1 has a guide pipe 300 (guide pipe) whose lower end extends to the vicinity of the bent portion 101 of the filler pipe 100 (filler tube) and has a recess 102 recessed radially inward to enlarge the cross-sectional area of ​​the evaporated fuel passage, and a protrusion 103 is formed at the lower end of the recess 102, protruding radially inward and extending parallel to the axis of the guide member 300, and this protrusion 103 forms a stopper portion that regulates the insertion of the tip of the nozzle 301 of the fuel gun, and a recessed groove facing the inner space of the bent portion 101 is formed on the outer surface of the recess 102 corresponding to the protrusion 103.

[0005] As a result, evaporated fuel pushed out from the upper space of the tank body through the breather tube 104 into the evaporated fuel passage is sucked into the tank body by the negative pressure of the fuel flowing out at high speed from the guide member 300 and is returned to the tank body, preventing it from dissipating into the atmosphere. At this time, the recess 102 formed in the guide member 300 increases the passage cross-sectional area of ​​the evaporated fuel passage between the inner surface of the filler pipe 100 and the outer surface of the guide member 300, so that evaporated fuel pushed out from the breather tube 104 can be returned smoothly to the tank body, making it possible to more reliably prevent evaporated fuel from dissipating into the atmosphere.

[0006] 8, the guide member 300 (retainer) of Patent Document 2 is attached to the inlet of the filler pipe 100, and holds the nozzle 301 of the fuel gun 200. The guide member 300 has a retainer attachment portion 202 and a retainer main body portion 201. The tip of the retainer main body portion 201 is formed to be longer than the tip of the fuel gun 200 when the fuel gun 200 is inserted into the guide member 300, and a plurality of ribs 203, 204, 205 are formed on the outer surface of the retainer main body portion 201, and these ribs abut against the inner surface of the filler pipe 100.

[0007] As a result, guide member 300 (retainer) guides nozzle 301 of fuel gun 200 and holds it in a predetermined position, and multiple ribs 203, 204, 205 formed on the lower part of the outer surface of retainer main body 201 create a gap between the tip of retainer main body 201 and the inner surface of filler pipe 100. As a result, when the tank is full and the auto-stop sensor is activated, fuel flowing back inside filler pipe 100 can be diverted to the inside and outside of guide member 300, reducing the amount of fuel flowing along the inside of guide member 300 and preventing it from spraying out along the inside of guide member 300.

[0008] As shown in Fig. 9, the guide member 300 of Patent Document 3 is attached to a filler neck body 305 of a filler pipe 100 (comprised of a metal retainer 304, a filler neck body 305, and a filler tube 306) on the fuel tank side. The guide member 300 has a tip end 302 that contacts the filler pipe 100 and a deformation assisting portion 303 for deforming the tip end 302. The guide member 300 has a cylindrical shape extending about an axis (OL1), and the deformation assisting portion 303 is a slit formed in the tip end 302 along the axis (OL1) of the guide member 300. As a result, no gap is generated between the tip end of the guide member 300 and the inner circumferential surface of the filler pipe 100. This reduces the inflow resistance of liquid fuel supplied from the fuel gun 200 to the fuel supply device. Furthermore, the guide member 300 has a cylindrical shape extending around the axis, and the deformation assisting portion 303 is a slit formed at the tip along the axial direction of the guide member 300, so that the deformation assisting portion 303 does not cause resistance to the supply of liquid fuel.

[0009] Furthermore, a technique is known in which the nozzle support portion (guide member) that supports the nozzle of the fuel gun is a pipe whose inner diameter is approximately equal to the outer diameter of the nozzle of the fuel gun, and the guide member extends to the extent of the bent portion of the filler pipe (Patent Document 4), and a technique is also known in which the guide member forms a long, plate-shaped ridge portion, a pair of flange portions that extend downward from the left and right ends of the ridge to the sides, and a downward U-shaped curved cross-sectional portion that clamps the tip of the nozzle of the fuel gun so as to restrict the insertion direction (Patent Document 5). [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0010] [Patent Document 1] Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2010-195062 [Patent Document 2] Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2015-143043 [Patent Document 3] Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2017-193187 [Patent Document 4] Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2009-18755 [Patent Document 5] Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2014-97693 Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0011] Incidentally, filler pipes are formed into a three-dimensional curved shape in relation to the positions of the filler port and fuel tank, the positions of seats, luggage storage space (luggage compartment), etc., and may be curved with a wall on the fuel tank side of the tip of the nozzle of the inserted fuel gun. In such cases, as shown in Figure 10, fuel 401 (solid arrow) discharged from nozzle 301 of fuel gun 200 may hit wall 130 of curved section 120 at the tip, causing fuel 401 to bounce back toward nozzle 301 of fuel gun 200 (dashed arrow).

[0012] An auto-stop sensor 501 that senses the completion of refueling is attached to the lower part near the tip of nozzle 301 of fuel gun 200. If fuel 401 released from nozzle 301 of fuel gun 200 hits wall 130 beyond it, rebounds toward nozzle 301 of fuel gun 200, and hits auto-stop sensor 501, refueling may stop midway through.

[0013] The guide members described in the above patent documents are straight pipes with a cylindrical or U-shape, and when the nozzle of the fuel gun is inserted into the guide member, the nozzle and the guide member are oriented in the same direction in the direction of insertion of the nozzle. Therefore, even if these guide members are attached to the curved filler pipes with walls, it is not possible to prevent the problem of fuel supply stopping midway due to splashing.

[0014] In order to solve the above problems, the present invention of claim 1 is an internal structure of the mouth of a filler pipe that guides fuel from a fuel gun at a gas station to a fuel tank, the filler pipe is curved three-dimensionally downward and has a wall portion in front of the nozzle of the inserted fuel gun, and the filler pipe is equipped with a nozzle support portion that supports the nozzle of the fuel gun, and a guide member that is disposed on the fuel tank side of the nozzle support portion and has a direction change portion that guides fuel discharged from the nozzle of the fuel gun downward. The inner surface of the lower tip of the nozzle support part of the guide member is formed with an upwardly protruding locking piece that can come into contact with the tip of the nozzle of the fuel gun. The internal structure of the mouth of the filler pipe is characterized by the above.

[0015] In the present invention of claim 1, the filler pipe is curved three-dimensionally downward and has a wall portion in front of the inserted nozzle of the fuel gun, and the filler pipe is equipped with a nozzle support portion that supports the nozzle of the fuel gun and a guide member that is arranged on the fuel tank side of the nozzle support portion and has a direction change portion that guides the fuel released from the nozzle of the fuel gun downward.Therefore, even if the direction of the fuel released from the nozzle of the fuel gun is guided downward by the direction change portion and hits the wall portion beyond it, the fuel can be prevented from bouncing back toward the nozzle of the fuel gun and hitting the auto-stop sensor, and refueling can be prevented from being stopped midway through refueling. In addition, an upwardly protruding locking piece is formed on the inner surface of the lower tip portion of the nozzle support part of the guide member, which can abut against the tip portion of the nozzle of the fuel gun.This prevents the tip portion of the fuel gun from going deeper into the filler pipe (towards the fuel tank) than the nozzle support part, and allows the tip portion of the fuel gun to be held in a predetermined position. Furthermore, since the position of the fuel gun in the guide member is fixed, the flow (direction and speed) of fuel is reproduced, making the above-mentioned effect even more reliable.

[0016] The present invention of claim 2 is the invention of claim 1, in which the direction-changing portion of the guide member is an internal structure at the mouth of the filler pipe that has, in a cross section in the insertion direction of the fuel gun, an extension portion that extends above the nozzle support portion, and a displacement portion that extends from the extension portion and displaces downward in an approximately linear manner.

[0017] In the present invention of claim 2, the direction-changing portion of the guide member has an extension portion that extends above the nozzle support portion in a cross section in the insertion direction of the fuel gun, so that the fuel released from the nozzle support portion is restricted on the upper side by the extension portion that extends above the nozzle support portion but is open on the lower side, thereby expanding the release range.The fuel is then guided downward by a displacement portion that extends from the extension portion and displaces downward in a substantially linear manner, so that the resistance that the fuel receives from the displacement portion can be reduced compared to when no extension portion is formed. [Effects of the Invention]

[0021] The filler pipe is curved three-dimensionally downward and has a wall portion in front of the inserted fuel gun nozzle, and the filler pipe is equipped with a nozzle support portion that supports the fuel gun nozzle and a guide member that is arranged on the fuel tank side of the nozzle support portion and has a direction change portion that guides fuel released from the fuel gun nozzle downward.Therefore, even if the direction of fuel released from the fuel gun nozzle is guided downward by the direction change portion and hits the wall portion beyond it, the fuel can be prevented from bouncing back toward the fuel gun nozzle and hitting the auto-stop sensor, and refueling can be prevented from being stopped mid-refueling. [Brief explanation of the drawings]

[0022] [Figure 1] FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing an embodiment of the present invention, in which a fuel gun for supplying fuel is inserted into a filler pipe. [Figure 2] 1 is a cross-sectional view of the internal structure of the mouth of a filler pipe, showing an embodiment of the present invention. FIG. [Figure 3] FIG. 2 is a side view of a guide member used in the embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 4] 4A is a cross-sectional view taken along line XX in FIG. 3, and FIG. 4B is a cross-sectional view taken along line YY in FIG. [Figure 5] FIG. 10 is a schematic diagram of a simulation result according to an embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 6]10A and 10B are schematic diagrams illustrating simulation results when a direction change portion is not formed in the guide member. [Figure 7] FIG. 1 is a cross-sectional view of the internal structure of the mouth of a conventional filler pipe (Patent Document 1). [Figure 8] FIG. 1 is a cross-sectional view of the internal structure of the mouth of a conventional filler pipe (Patent Document 2). [Figure 9] FIG. 1 is a cross-sectional view of the internal structure of the mouth of a conventional filler pipe (Patent Document 3). [Figure 10] 10 is a cross-sectional view of the internal structure of the mouth of a filler pipe in a conventional guide member in which a direction change portion is not formed. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0023] An embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS. 1 to 5. The following dimensions, shapes, material names, and the like are merely examples and may be modified as appropriate depending on the specifications of the fuel gun nozzle and filler pipe. FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a fuel gun 2 inserted into a filler pipe 10. FIG. 1 shows the filler pipe 10, which serves as a fuel flow path for directing the supplied fuel to a fuel tank (not shown) inside the automobile, the fuel gun 2 inserted into the filler pipe 10, and components disposed around the filler pipe 10. A fuel filler lid 6 is supported on the side of the automobile body in an openable and closable manner. The fuel filler lid 6 includes a lid body 7 conforming to the outer panel of the body. The lid body 7 is supported on the outer panel of the body via a hinge 8 in an openable and closable manner. The space revealed when the fuel filler lid 6 is opened is a fuel chamber 9. A fuel filler cap (not shown) is attached to the filler pipe 10. To fill fuel, the fuel cap is removed and the nozzle 3 of the fuel gun 2 is inserted into the filler pipe 10. This embodiment can also be applied to a capless type that does not use a fuel cap.

[0024] FIG. 2 shows an embodiment of the present invention and is a cross-sectional view of the internal neck structure 1 of a filler pipe 10 parallel to the insertion direction of the nozzle 3 of the fuel gun 2. The filler pipe 10 comprises a pipe main body 11, a tubular body 20, and a guide member 30. The pipe main body 11 is shaped like a pipe with both ends open, one end of which is connected to a fuel tank (not shown). The pipe main body 11 is formed from multiple layers including a non-conductive layer, and at least the outermost layer is formed with a conductive layer (for example, a layer made of conductive polyethylene). The pipe main body 11 is molded, for example, by blow molding.

[0025] The pipe main body 11 is curved three-dimensionally on the fuel tank side of the guide member 30 so as to have a curved portion 12 downward and in front of the nozzle 3 of the inserted fuel gun 2 such that a wall portion 13 is formed.

[0026] A protruding portion 14 is formed in a ring shape at a position near the tip of the pipe body 11, protruding radially outward from the pipe body 11. The tip surface of the protruding portion 14 functions as a welding surface 15 extending in a direction intersecting (perpendicular to) the axial direction of the pipe body 11.

[0027] The cylindrical body 20 includes an attachment member 21 to which the fuel cap is attached, and a welding member 22 that is welded to the pipe main body 11. The cylindrical body 20 is configured by integrating the attachment member 21 and the welding member 22 by two-color molding in a conductive manner.

[0028] A guide member 30 is housed inside the tip side of the pipe body 11 and is fixed to the pipe body 11. The guide member 30 will be described in detail later. The filler pipe 10 is manufactured by setting the guide member 30 in a predetermined direction on the pipe body 11, and then welding the welding surface 15 of the protruding portion 14 of the pipe body 11 and the welding member 22 of the tubular portion 20.

[0029] 3 is a side view of the guide member 30 of FIG. 2. The guide member 30 includes an attachment portion 31 for attachment to the filler pipe 10, a nozzle support portion 32 that supports the nozzle 3 of the inserted fuel gun 2, and a direction change portion 34 that is formed continuously from the nozzle support portion 32 toward the fuel tank and changes the direction of the fuel 4 emitted from the nozzle 3 of the fuel gun 2 (downward in FIG. 2). The nozzle support portion 32 also includes a locking piece 33 formed on the inner surface of the tip portion opposite the side where the direction change portion 34 is formed, which is capable of abutting against the tip portion of the nozzle 3 of the fuel gun 2 and protrudes toward the direction change portion 34 (upward in FIG. 2). The locking piece 33 prevents the tip portion of the nozzle 3 of the fuel gun 2 from entering further into the filler pipe 10 (toward the fuel tank) than the nozzle support portion 32, thereby locking the tip portion of the nozzle 3 of the fuel gun 2 in a predetermined position.

[0030] On the other hand, the direction changing section 34 includes an extension section 35 formed by linearly extending the upper portion of the nozzle support section 32, and a displacement section 36 that extends from the extension section 35 and displaces downward in a substantially linear manner. As shown in Fig. 4(a), the cross section of the nozzle support section 32 is cylindrical, and the direction changing section 34 is composed of the extension section 35 formed by extending the upper portion of the nozzle support section 32 and having a semicircular cross section, and the displacement section 36 that has a semicircular cross section as shown in Fig. 4(b).

[0031] In addition, in the direction change section 34, the lower section 37 is formed in a straight line from the extension section 35 protruding from the nozzle support section 32 to the tip portion of the displacement section 36, thereby maintaining the strength of the direction change section 34 against fuel resistance.

[0032] The direction change portion 34 of the guide member 30 has an extension portion 35 extending above the nozzle support portion 32, so that the fuel 4 released from the nozzle support portion 32 is restricted in its flow direction upward by the extension portion 35 extending above the nozzle support portion 32, but the downward portion is open, so the release range is widened. The fuel 4 is then guided downward by the displacement portion 36 that extends from the extension portion 35 and displaces downward in a substantially linear manner, so that the resistance that the fuel 4 receives from the displacement portion 36 can be reduced compared to when the extension portion 35 is not formed.

[0033] The guide member 30 was made of polyacetylene and molded by blow molding. The length of the nozzle support section 32 was 57 mm, the length of the direction change section 34 was 36 mm, the extension section 35 was 23 mm, and the displacement section 36 was 13 mm. The angle α of the displacement section 36 relative to the extension section 35 was 15°.

[0034] Fig. 5 is a schematic diagram of a screen showing the results of a simulation of an embodiment of the present invention. Fig. 6 is a schematic diagram of the results of a simulation in which the guide member 30 does not have the direction changer 34 (Fig. 10). Note that the darkened areas of the fuel 4 indicate the presence of rebound. As is clear from Fig. 6, in the absence of the direction changer 34 of the guide member 30, the fuel 4 released from the nozzle 3 of the fuel gun 2 is released in the same direction as the nozzle 3, and some of it rebounds off the opposing wall 13 before reaching the auto-stop sensor 5.

[0035] On the other hand, as is clear from Figure 5, in this embodiment, the direction of the fuel 4 released from the nozzle 3 of the fuel gun 2 is guided downward by the direction change portion 34 of the guide member 30, particularly the displacement portion 36, so that even if the fuel 4 hits the wall portion 13 beyond, the fuel 4 bounces back toward the nozzle 3 of the fuel gun 2 and is further prevented from reaching the auto-stop sensor 5 of the nozzle 3 of the fuel gun 2.

[0036] The present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiment, and various modifications are possible without departing from the object of the present invention.

[0037] For example, in the above embodiment, the direction change section 34 is formed by an extension section 35 that is a linear extension of the upper portion of the nozzle support section 32, and a displacement section 36 that extends from the extension section 35 and displaces downward in an approximately linear manner, but the extension section 35 and the displacement section 36 may also be formed in a gentle arc shape. [Explanation of symbols]

[0038] 1. Internal structure of the mouth 2 fuel gun 3 nozzles 10 Filler pipe 13 Wall 30 Guide member 32 Nozzle support 33 Locking piece 34 Direction change section 35 Extension 36 Displacement section

Claims

1. An internal structure of the mouth of a filler pipe that guides fuel from a fuel gun at a gas station to a fuel tank, the filler pipe is curved downward and three-dimensionally so as to have a wall portion in front of the nozzle of the inserted fuel gun; the filler pipe has a nozzle support portion that supports the nozzle of the fuel gun; a guide member is attached to the fuel gun, the guide member having a direction change portion that guides the fuel discharged from the nozzle of the fuel gun downward, the guide member being disposed closer to the fuel tank than the nozzle support portion; The internal structure of the mouth of a filler pipe is characterized in that the inner surface of the lower tip portion of the nozzle support part of the guide member is formed with an upwardly protruding locking piece that can abut against the tip portion of the nozzle of the fuel gun.

2. The internal structure of the mouth of a filler pipe as described in claim 1, wherein the direction change portion of the guide member has, in a cross section parallel to the insertion direction of the fuel gun, an extension portion that extends above the nozzle support portion, and a displacement portion that extends from the extension portion and displaces downward in an approximately linear manner.

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