Fuel supply device

Abstract

To add a fitting structure of a columnar body to a cylindrical body in a fuel supply device in which relative rotation of the columnar body to the cylindrical body is suppressed by a plurality of ribs formed on an inner surface of the cylindrical body, and thereby enhance the effect of suppressing the relative rotation of the columnar body to the cylindrical body to suppress rattling due to the relative rotation.SOLUTION: A connection member 4 that connects a lid member 2 and a pump unit 3 to each other, includes a cylindrical body 10 and a columnar body 20 that is fitted and inserted into the cylindrical body 10. The columnar body 20 comprises a claw 21 at its upper end part, and the cylindrical body 10 comprises an engaging protrusion 12 that engages with the claw 21 to prevent the columnar body 20 from coming out of the cylindrical body 10. The cylindrical body 10 comprises a plurality of ribs 11 on its inner wall that protrude so as to surround an outer peripheral surface of the columnar body 20 and extend along a direction in which the columnar body 20 is inserted into the cylindrical body 10. The columnar body 20 comprises a protrusion part 22 that protrudes from its outer peripheral surface, and is sandwiched between two adjacent ribs of the rib 11.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 2

Description

[Technical Field]

[0001] The technology disclosed in this specification relates to a fuel supply device. [Background technology]

[0002] A fuel supply device installed in a fuel tank has a pump unit mounted on the bottom of the fuel tank, and a fuel pipe that passes through the top plate of the fuel tank to guide fuel pumped by the pump unit to the engine. The portion where the fuel pipe passes through the top plate of the fuel tank is configured by closing an opening in the top plate with a lid member, and the fuel pipe passes through the lid member. The lid member and the pump unit are connected to each other by a connecting member to form a single component. The connecting member is vertically extendable so that the pump unit can be placed on the bottom of the fuel tank regardless of the depth of the fuel tank.

[0003] Patent Document 1 discloses a fuel supply device in which a columnar body fixed to a pump unit facing upward is inserted into a cylindrical portion of a cylindrical body facing downward from a cover member, thereby allowing the insertion amount to be freely adjusted. In this case, the cylindrical body and the columnar body form a connecting member. The lower end of the cylindrical body and the upper end of the columnar body are provided with an engaging portion and an engaged portion that engage with each other in the direction opposite to the insertion direction of the columnar body, allowing the pump unit to be suspended from the cover member. Furthermore, the columnar body has a rectangular cylindrical shape so that it does not rotate relative to the cylindrical body when inserted into the cylindrical body. To this end, multiple ribs are integrally formed on the inner surface of the cylindrical body, extending vertically and protruding toward the outer peripheral surface so as to surround the outer peripheral surface of the rectangular cylindrical body. The reason for forming this shape to prevent relative rotation using multiple ribs is to reduce the contact area when the columnar body is inserted and sliding against the cylindrical body, thereby reducing sliding resistance and suppressing abnormal sliding noise. [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0004] [Patent Document 1] Patent Publication No. 2021-11851 Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0005] In the fuel supply device of Patent Document 1, the shape for preventing relative rotation is formed by multiple ribs, which reduces the contact area when the columnar body is inserted and slides against the cylindrical body, so the effect of suppressing relative rotation is reduced and it is not possible to completely prevent small relative rotations from occurring. In other words, there is a problem of rattle occurring due to the relative rotation of the columnar body against the cylindrical body.

[0006] The objective of the technique disclosed in this specification is to add a fitting structure for the columnar body to the cylindrical body in a fuel supply device in which the relative rotation of the columnar body with respect to the cylindrical body is suppressed by a plurality of ribs formed on the inner surface of the cylindrical body, thereby enhancing the effect of suppressing the relative rotation of the columnar body with respect to the cylindrical body and suppressing rattle caused by the relative rotation of the columnar body with respect to the cylindrical body. [Means for solving the problem]

[0007] In order to solve the above problems, the fuel supply device disclosed in this specification takes the following measures.

[0008] The first means comprises a lid member fixed to a top plate of a fuel tank so as to close an opening formed in the top plate, a pump unit that can be placed on a bottom plate inside the fuel tank and includes a fuel pump that pumps up fuel inside the fuel tank, and a connecting member that connects the lid member and the pump unit to each other, the connecting member comprising: a cylindrical body provided on the underside of the lid member with an opening facing downward; and a pillar-like body whose lower end is connected to the pump unit and whose upper end is inserted into the cylindrical body through the opening of the cylindrical body, the pillar-like body having, on the outer peripheral surface of its upper end, claws that protrude toward the inner wall of the cylindrical body, and the cylindrical body having an engaging protrusion that engages with the claws when inserted into the cylindrical body at a position that leaves a space within the cylindrical body where the pillar-like body can be further inserted, to prevent the pillar-like body from coming out of the inserted state into the cylindrical body.As a result, when the claw and the engaging projection are engaged with each other, the cylindrical body and the columnar body are allowed to move relative to each other in the axial direction in which the connecting member contracts, and the relative movement in the axial direction in which the connecting member expands is restricted, The cylindrical body has a plurality of ribs on its inner wall that protrude toward the outer surface of the pillar so as to surround the outer surface of the pillar when inserted into the cylindrical body and extend along the insertion direction of the pillar into the cylindrical body, and the pillar has a protrusion on its outer surface that protrudes toward the inner wall of the cylindrical body and is sandwiched between two adjacent ribs of the plurality of ribs.

[0009] According to the first aspect, the columnar body has a protrusion on its outer surface, which is sandwiched between two adjacent ribs among a plurality of ribs formed protruding from the inside of the cylindrical body. Therefore, when the columnar body is inserted into the cylindrical body and rotates relative to the cylindrical body, the protrusion engages with the rib on the rotational side, suppressing the relative rotation. Therefore, rattles caused by the relative rotation can be suppressed. Each rib extends in the insertion direction of the columnar body, and the protrusions are always sandwiched between the adjacent ribs regardless of the insertion depth of the columnar body into the cylindrical body. Therefore, rattles can be suppressed regardless of the insertion depth of the columnar body.

[0010] The second means is the first means described above, in which the protrusion has the same shape as the claw, and is arranged so that when the columnar body is inserted into the cylindrical body in a positional relationship in which the protrusion engages with the engaging projection, the claw is sandwiched between two adjacent ribs.

[0011] According to the second aspect, when the protrusion functions as a claw, the claw is sandwiched between two adjacent ribs and can function in the same way as a protrusion. Therefore, the fuel supply device can be switched between a so-called coaxial type, in which the vertical positions of the cover member and the pump unit are aligned, and a so-called offset type, in which the vertical positions are not aligned. In either type, the engagement between the protrusion or claw and the rib suppresses rattle caused by the relative rotation of the columnar body and the cylindrical body.

[0012] The third means is the second means described above, wherein the pillar-shaped body has a rectangular tube shape for insertion into the opening of the cylindrical body, and the claws and the protrusions are respectively provided on opposing wall surfaces of the rectangular tube shape of the pillar-shaped body.

[0013] According to the third aspect, when inserting the columnar body into the cylindrical body, the columnar body is rotated by 180 degrees relative to the cylindrical body, and the fuel supply device can be switched between a coaxial type and an offset type. Moreover, in either type, rattle caused by the relative rotation between the columnar body and the cylindrical body can be suppressed.

[0014] The fourth means is the second means described above, wherein the protrusions are formed in multiple numbers and dispersed around the outer peripheral surface of the columnar body, and each of the protrusions is sandwiched between two adjacent ribs.

[0015] According to the fourth aspect, the plurality of protrusions can effectively suppress rattles that occur when the columnar body and the cylindrical body rotate relative to each other.

[0016] A fifth aspect is the fourth aspect, wherein the plurality of protrusions and claws are arranged at equal intervals around the outer circumferential surface of the columnar body.

[0017] According to the fifth aspect, the plurality of protrusions and claws are arranged at equal intervals, so that by changing the relative angle of the columnar body inserted into the cylindrical shape, the fuel supply device can be switched between a coaxial type and an offset type, and when using the offset type, the amount of offset of the pump unit from the cover member can be selected from a plurality of levels. [Brief explanation of the drawings]

[0018] [Figure 1] FIG. 1 is a plan view showing a first embodiment. [Figure 2] FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view taken along the line II-II in FIG. [Figure 3] 3 is an enlarged cross-sectional view taken along the line III-III in FIG. 2. [Figure 4] 4 is an enlarged cross-sectional view taken along line IV-IV in FIG. 2. [Figure 5] FIG. 3 is an enlarged view of part V in FIG. 2. [Figure 6] FIG. 2 is an enlarged perspective view of a columnar body in the first embodiment. [Figure 7] FIG. 10 is a perspective view of the first embodiment in which the lid member and the pump unit are coaxially associated with each other. [Figure 8] FIG. 10 is a perspective view of the first embodiment in which the correspondence between the cover member and the pump unit is of an offset type. [Figure 9] FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view showing a second embodiment, corresponding to FIG. 3. [Figure 10] FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view showing a third embodiment, corresponding to FIG. 3. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0019] <Overall configuration of the first embodiment> 1 and 2 show a fuel supply device 1 according to a first embodiment. This fuel supply device 1 supplies fuel from a fuel tank to a gasoline engine of a vehicle, and includes a pump unit 3 incorporating a fuel pump 42, a lid member 2 fixed to a top plate 51 of the fuel tank, and a connecting member 4 connecting the pump unit 3 to the lid member 2. The pump unit 3, lid member 2, and connecting member 4 are all made of resin.

[0020] In the fuel supply device 1, with the lid member 2 and pump unit 3 connected by the connecting member 4, the pump unit 3 is inserted into the fuel tank through an opening 51a drilled in a top plate 51 of the fuel tank. The opening 51a is then closed by the lid member 2, and the lid member 2 is fixed to the top plate 51 in that position. In this state, the pump unit 3 is installed with the bottom cover 43 on the bottom surface abutting against a bottom plate 52 inside the fuel tank by the spring force of the connecting member 4. A float 5 for measuring the amount of fuel remaining in the fuel tank is provided on the side of the pump unit 3. Here, the lid member 2, pump unit 3, and float 5 are basically the same as those known in the art (e.g., Patent No. 7046778 and JP 2021-11851 A), and detailed description thereof will be omitted here.

[0021] <Configuration of connecting member 4> The connecting member 4 is composed of a cylindrical body 10 and a columnar body 20. The cylindrical body 10 is integrally molded from resin on the bottom surface of the generally disk-shaped cover member 2, forming a downwardly protruding, semi-cylindrical shape (see FIGS. 2 and 3). The columnar body 20 has its lower end connected to the pump unit 3 and is formed into a rectangular cylindrical shape facing upward (see FIGS. 2 and 4). The upper end of the columnar body 20 is fitted into a lower end opening 10c of the cylindrical body 10 (corresponding to the opening of the first means), thereby forming the connecting member 4. A plurality of flanges 2a extend downward and are integrally formed on the underside of the cover member 2, and serve as guides when the cover member 2 is placed over the opening 51a of the fuel tank (see FIGS. 2, 3, 7, and 8). The flanges 2a are partially integrated with the cylindrical body 10.

[0022] As shown in FIG. 6, the pillar 20 is a rectangular tube overall, with a claw 21 and a protrusion 22 integrally formed on the outer surface of the opposing wall at the top end, both protruding outward. The claw 21 and the protrusion 22 have the same shape and are line-symmetrical to each other. A semi-cylindrical base 23 is integrally formed at the bottom end of the pillar 20. The base 23 is fitted and fixed into a pillar receiving portion 41a recessed in a portion of the container 41 of the pump unit 3 (see FIG. 2). Reinforcing ribs 41b are formed in the portion of the container 41 that forms the pillar receiving portion 41a, at positions corresponding to the side surfaces of the base 23, to ensure the strength of the pillar receiving portion 41a when the base 23 is received (see FIGS. 4, 7, and 8). The reinforcing ribs 41b extend along the outer periphery of the base 23, with a total of six reinforcing ribs 41b formed on each side of the base 23, three on each side.

[0023] 2, 3, and 5, a plurality of ribs 11 are provided on the inner wall surface of the cylindrical body 10, extending parallel to one another along the insertion (vertical) direction of the columnar body 20. A plurality of ribs 11 are formed toward the outer circumferential surface of the columnar body 20 inserted into the cylindrical body 10, surrounding the columnar body 20. Specifically, as shown in FIG. 3, a total of eight ribs 11 are formed, two ribs corresponding to each of the four faces forming the rectangular cylindrical shape of the columnar body 20. In addition, a slit 10a is formed in part of the cylindrical body 10 along the insertion direction of the columnar body 20. The slit 10a is formed in a portion of the cylindrical body 10 excluding the upper and lower ends, and is formed at a position corresponding to the outer circumferential side of the disk-shaped cover member 2. Moreover, the slit 10a is formed between adjacent ribs 11.

[0024] As shown in FIG. 5 , an engagement protrusion 12 is formed at the lower end of the slit 10a to engage with the claw 21 of the columnar body 20 inserted into the cylindrical body 10 in the insertion direction. The slit 10a is required to move a slide core, which is a mold used to resin-molde the engagement protrusion 12. The engagement protrusion 12 is formed long in the insertion direction of the columnar body 20, with a lower end 12c integrated with the cylindrical body 10 and an upper end 12d protruding into the cylindrical body 10 as a free end. The engagement protrusion 12 is also elastically deformable outward from the cylindrical body 10 as shown by the arrow in FIG. 5 . Therefore, when the columnar body 20 is inserted into the cylindrical body 10, the tip inclined surface 21a of the claw 21 abuts against the inner inclined surface 12a of the engagement protrusion 12, elastically deforming the engagement protrusion 12 in the direction of the arrow, allowing the columnar body 20 to be inserted into the cylindrical body 10. 5, when the columnar body 20 moves in the direction (downward) to come out of the cylindrical body 10, the jaw portion 21b on the lower surface of the claw 21 engages with the engaging portion 12b on the upper surface of the engaging protrusion 12, preventing the columnar body 20 from coming out of the cylindrical body 10. Therefore, when the pump unit 3 is inserted into the fuel tank as described above, the pump unit 3 can be suspended by the connecting member 4.

[0025] When inserting the columnar body 20 into the cylindrical body 10, by selecting a position where the claw 21 can engage with the engaging protrusion 12, the protrusion 22 is sandwiched between the two ribs 11 on the side opposite the slit 10a (see Figures 3 and 5). By setting the spacing between the two ribs 11 that sandwich the protrusion 22 to a size that just fits the protrusion 22, it is possible to prevent the columnar body 20 from wobbling in a direction that changes the relative angle when inserted into the cylindrical body 10 (the circumferential direction of an imaginary circle centered on the central axis of the columnar body 20).

[0026] As shown in FIG. 2, when the columnar body 20 is inserted into the cylindrical body 10, the cylindrical space of the columnar body 20 and the cylindrical space of the cylindrical body 10 become a single connected space. A compression-type coil spring 31 is inserted into this space while being compressed in the insertion (up and down) direction of the columnar body 20. The upper end of the coil spring 31 abuts against the upper ceiling portion 10b of the cylindrical body 10, and the lower end abuts against the lower bottom portion 20a of the cylindrical body 10. A support pillar 32 with a Y-shaped horizontal cross section (see FIG. 3) extends downward and is integrally formed with the central portion of the upper ceiling portion 10b of the cylindrical body 10. Therefore, the inner diameter side of the coil spring 31 is supported by the support pillar 32 and held in the central portion of the cylindrical body 10. Furthermore, the outer diameter of the coil spring 31 is sized so that it fits just inside the columnar body 20, so the coil spring 31 is held in the central portion of the columnar body 20. In this state, the pump unit 3 receives the repulsive force of the coil spring 31 via the columnar body 20, and the pump unit 3 is pressed against the cover member 2 and held on the bottom plate 52 of the fuel tank.

[0027] <Actions and Effects of the First Embodiment> According to the first embodiment, the outer peripheral surface of the columnar body 20 is provided with protrusions 22 together with claws 21, and the protrusions 22 are sandwiched between two adjacent ribs 11 of the multiple ribs 11 formed to protrude into the cylindrical body 10. Therefore, when the columnar body 20 is inserted into the cylindrical body 10 and rotated relative to the cylindrical body 10, the protrusions 22 engage with the rib 11 on the rotation direction side, suppressing the relative rotation. Therefore, it is possible to suppress rattles that accompany the relative rotation. Each rib 11 extends in the axial direction, and while the columnar body 20 slides in the insertion (up and down) direction within the cylindrical body 10, the protrusions 22 are continuously sandwiched between the adjacent ribs 11. Therefore, it is possible to suppress the rattles regardless of the insertion amount of the columnar body 20.

[0028] Furthermore, the claws 21 and the protrusions 22 are symmetrical to each other and have the same shape. Therefore, when the relative angle during insertion of the columnar body 20 into the cylindrical body 10 is changed by 180 degrees to cause the protrusions 22 to function as the claws 21, the original claws 21 are sandwiched between the two adjacent ribs 11 and can function in the same way as the original protrusions 22. Therefore, the same fuel supply device 1 can be used in two different types: a coaxial type in which the vertical positions of the cover member 2 and the pump unit 3 are aligned, as shown in FIG. 8, and an offset type in which they are not aligned, as shown in FIG. 7. Moreover, in either type, the engagement between the protrusions 22 or the claws 21 and the ribs 11 can suppress rattles that accompany relative rotation when the columnar body 20 and the cylindrical body 10 are inserted.

[0029] Second Embodiment 9 shows the second embodiment. The second embodiment is characterized by the fact that both the cylindrical body 110 and the columnar body 120 are rectangular cylindrical in shape compared to the first embodiment. The other configurations of the second embodiment are the same as those of the first embodiment, and therefore a repeated description of the same parts will be omitted.

[0030] In the second embodiment, similarly to the first embodiment, when the columnar body 120 is inserted into the cylindrical body 110, the protrusion 22 is sandwiched between two adjacent ribs 11. This makes it possible to suppress rattle caused by relative rotation between the columnar body 120 and the cylindrical body 110 in the inserted state. Moreover, by changing the relative angle when inserting the columnar body 120 into the cylindrical body 110 by 180 degrees, the same fuel supply device 1 can be used switchably between a coaxial type and an offset type.

[0031] Third Embodiment Fig. 10 shows the third embodiment. The third embodiment is characterized by the fact that both the tubular body 210 and the columnar body 220 are cylindrical in shape. Also, there are a plurality of protrusions 22, specifically three. The other configurations of the third embodiment are the same as those of the first embodiment, and a repeated description of the same parts will be omitted.

[0032] In the third embodiment, one claw 21 and three protrusions 22 are identical in shape and are provided at 90-degree intervals on the outer periphery of the columnar body 220. The two ribs 11 sandwiching each protrusion 22 are set at intervals such that the protrusion 22 fits exactly between the two ribs 11. This further enhances the effect of suppressing rattle that accompanies relative rotation when the columnar body 220 is inserted into the cylindrical body 210. In addition, the relative angle when inserting the columnar body 220 into the cylindrical body 210 can be changed at 90-degree intervals. This allows the same fuel supply device 1 to be used switchably between a coaxial type and an offset type, and further allows the offset amount of the pump unit 3 relative to the cover member 2 to be switched between three levels when using the offset type.

[0033] <Other embodiments> Although the technology disclosed in this specification has been described above as a specific embodiment, it can be embodied in various other forms. For example, while the above embodiment is directed to a fuel supply device that supplies fuel to a gasoline engine of a vehicle, the fuel supply device may also be directed to various engines other than vehicles, including diesel engines, not limited to gasoline engines. Furthermore, while the pump unit 3, the cover member 2, and the connecting member 4 are entirely formed of resin in the above embodiment, they may also be formed of a material other than resin, such as metal. Furthermore, while the claws 21 and the protrusions 22 are line-symmetrical to each other and have the same shape in the first embodiment, the claws 21 and the protrusions 22 do not have to have the same shape. They may be positioned offset from their line-symmetrical positions in the insertion direction of the columnar body 20 or around the insertion direction. [Explanation of symbols]

[0034] 1 Fuel supply device 2 Cover member 2a Flange 3 Pump Unit 4 Connecting members 5. Float 10, 110, 210 Cylindrical body 10a Slit 10b Upper ceiling section 10c Bottom opening 11 Ribs 12 Engagement protrusion 12a Inner slope 12b Engagement part 12c Bottom end 12d Upper end 20, 120, 220 columnar body 20a Lower end bottom 21 Nails 21a Tip inclined surface 21b Jaw 22 protrusion 23 Pedestal 31 Coil spring 32 Pillar 41 Container 41a Column body receiving part 41b Reinforcement rib 42 Fuel pump 43 Bottom cover 51 Top plate 51a aperture 52 Bottom plate

Claims

1. a cover member fixed to the top plate of the fuel tank so as to close an opening formed in the top plate; a pump unit that can be mounted on a bottom plate inside the fuel tank and includes a fuel pump that pumps up fuel inside the fuel tank; a connecting member that connects the cover member and the pump unit to each other, The connecting member is a cylindrical body provided on the lower surface of the lid member with an opening facing downward; a columnar body having a lower end connected to the pump unit and an upper end fitted and inserted into the cylindrical body through an opening of the cylindrical body, the columnar body has a claw on the outer peripheral surface of its upper end portion that protrudes toward the inner wall of the cylindrical body, The cylindrical body is provided with an engaging protrusion that engages with the claw when the cylindrical body is inserted into a position that leaves a space within the cylindrical body where the columnar body can be further inserted, and prevents the columnar body from slipping out of the inserted state into the cylindrical body. Therefore, when the claw and the engaging protrusion are engaged with each other, relative movement between the cylindrical body and the columnar body in the axial direction in which the connecting member contracts is permitted, and relative movement between the cylindrical body and the columnar body in the axial direction in which the connecting member expands is restricted, the cylindrical body has an inner wall provided with a plurality of ribs that protrude toward the outer peripheral surface of the columnar body so as to surround the outer peripheral surface of the columnar body when inserted into the cylindrical body and extend along the insertion direction of the columnar body into the cylindrical body; The columnar body has a protrusion on its outer circumferential surface that protrudes toward the inner wall of the cylindrical body and is sandwiched between two adjacent ribs among the plurality of ribs. Fuel supply device.

2. In claim 1, The protrusion has the same shape as the claw, When the columnar body is inserted into the cylindrical body in a positional relationship in which the protrusion engages with the engaging projection, the claw is arranged to be sandwiched between two adjacent ribs. Fuel supply device.

3. In claim 2, the columnar body has a rectangular tube shape when inserted into the opening of the cylindrical body, The claws and the protrusions are provided on opposing wall surfaces of the rectangular cylindrical body. Fuel supply device.

4. In claim 2, a plurality of the protrusions are formed and dispersed around the outer circumferential surface of the columnar body, The protrusions are sandwiched between two adjacent ribs. Fuel supply device.

5. In claim 4, The plurality of protrusions and claws are arranged at equal intervals around the outer circumferential surface of the columnar body. Fuel supply device.

Images