JP2014181591A - Member attachment structure - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a member mounting structure that is not only easy to attach but also difficult to come off even when a very large external force is applied.
SOLUTION: A detection member (pressure sensor 10) for detecting a state in the liquid tank through a through hole 33 formed in a wall surface of a liquid tank (fuel tank 1) mounted on a vehicle is used for liquid. This is a member mounting structure for fixing to a tank, and is formed separately from a liquid tank and a locking member that stands on the liquid tank and elastically deforms to contact and lock the detection member. And a cover member having an attachment portion attached to the detection member, and the cover member 50 has a wall portion that suppresses elastic deformation of the locking member.
[Selection] Figure 1

Description

  The present invention relates to a member mounting structure for a liquid tank mounted on a vehicle.

  Vehicles such as automobiles are equipped with liquid tanks such as fuel tanks and reservoir tanks, and various sensors for detecting the state in the tanks are connected to these liquid tanks.

  For example, in a fuel tank of a vehicle, electric devices such as a fuel pump and a fuel fuel gauge are provided as an assembly on a support member of the fuel tank, and a pressure sensor is provided on the support member. This pressure sensor detects the internal pressure in the fuel tank and monitors the presence or absence of gas leakage. In addition, as with the pressure sensor, a temperature sensor or a leveling sensor may be provided to detect the state in the fuel tank.

  As such a sensor mounting structure, for example, one described in Patent Document 1 is known. In Patent Document 1, a pressure sensor mounting seat is provided in the fuel tank, and a pressure sensor for measuring the internal pressure of the fuel tank is provided in the pressure sensor mounting seat. An opening is provided in the pressure sensor mounting seat, and the pressure sensor is fixed with screws in a state of facing the opening through a seal member.

Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 6-248773

  If such a pressure sensor is fixed with screws, the pressure sensor itself can be firmly fixed to the fuel tank, but the installation is complicated. For this reason, it is conceivable that a pair of locking members are provided on the mounting seat and the locking members are elastically deformed to contact the pressure sensor and fix the pressure sensor.

  However, when the locking member is provided and the pressure sensor is fixed in this way, it is possible to prevent a large elastic deformation of the locking member against a normal external force, but it is extremely large in the event of a collision. When an external force is applied, it is conceivable that the locking member is greatly elastically deformed and the pressure sensor is detached from the locking member.

  Such a problem is not limited to the pressure sensor, but is present in all members attached to a liquid tank mounted on a vehicle.

  Accordingly, an object of the present invention is to solve the above-described problems of the prior art, and to provide a member mounting structure that is not only easy to mount but also does not easily come off even when a very large external force is applied.

  The member mounting structure of the present invention is for fixing a detection member for detecting a state in the liquid tank to the liquid tank via a through hole formed in a wall surface of the liquid tank mounted on the vehicle. The member mounting structure, wherein the liquid tank is formed separately from the locking member that is erected on the liquid tank and elastically deforms to contact and lock the detection member. And a cover member having an attachment portion attached to the member, wherein the cover member has a wall portion that suppresses elastic deformation of the locking member.

  With this configuration, even when a large force is applied to a detection member (for example, a pressure sensor, a leveling sensor, a temperature sensor, etc.) fitted to a liquid tank (for example, a fuel tank or a reservoir tank), it is detected. The member can be made difficult to come off from the liquid tank.

  It is preferable that the detection member is sandwiched between a pair of locking members, and the cover member has a pair of wall portions arranged outside the pair of locking members. By comprising in this way, a detection member can be made harder to remove | deviate from the tank for liquids.

  The locking member has a first claw portion that comes into contact with the detection member, and the cover member has a contact between the wall portion and the locking member between the first claw portion and the detection member. It is preferably formed so as to be narrower than the width of the portion. By comprising in this way, a detection member can be made still more difficult to remove | deviate from the tank for liquids.

  It is preferable that the through hole is formed between the pair of locking members, and the wall portion is provided corresponding to at least both end portions of the locking member. With this configuration, even if the swinging force from the member is input to one end of each locking member, the swinging from the cover member that rotates following the member to the other end of each locking member. Since the dynamic force is input in the opposite direction, the locking member can be prevented from being elastically deformed, and the member is less likely to be detached from the fuel tank.

  It is preferable that a rib is provided on the upper surface of the cover member facing the upper surface of the detection member, which is the surface opposite to the side of the detection member that is fitted to the liquid tank. By comprising in this way, the rigidity of a cover member can be improved.

  The liquid tank is a fuel tank installed vertically below the floor panel of the vehicle, and the wall surface on which the through hole and the locking member are formed is an upper surface of the fuel tank facing the floor panel. And a support plate that supports a fuel pump assembly including a fuel pump in the fuel tank, and the detection member is a pressure sensor that detects a pressure in the fuel tank. It is preferable that a member other than the pressure sensor is connected, and the cover member is configured such that the upper surface of the cover is positioned closer to the floor panel than the member other than the pressure sensor. By being configured in this manner, even when the fuel tank and the floor panel are in contact with each other, the contact between the member other than the pressure sensor and the floor panel can be suppressed, and the failure or breakage of the member other than the pressure sensor can be prevented. Can be suppressed.

  According to the member mounting structure of the present invention, not only is it easy to mount, but an excellent effect can be obtained that it is difficult to come off even when a very large external force is applied.

It is a perspective exploded view showing member attachment structure of a fuel tank concerning this embodiment. It is a perspective exploded view showing member attachment structure of a fuel tank concerning this embodiment. It is a perspective view which shows the member attachment structure of the fuel tank concerning this embodiment. It is a top view which shows the member attachment state of the cover concerning this embodiment. It is sectional drawing in the VV line of FIG. It is a perspective view which shows the member attachment structure of the fuel tank concerning this embodiment. It is a perspective view which shows the member attachment structure of the fuel tank concerning another embodiment. It is a schematic diagram which shows the relationship between the member attachment structure of the fuel tank concerning another embodiment, and a floor panel.

An embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS.
A fuel tank 1 shown in FIG. 1 is accommodated under the floor panel of a vehicle. The fuel tank 1 is provided with a fuel pump assembly 2. The fuel pump assembly 2 has a fuel pump and gauges fixed to the lower side of the support plate 3 (inside the fuel tank 1). The support plate 3 constitutes the wall surface of the fuel tank 1.

  A first hose connection portion 4 to which a fuel hose for supplying fuel to the engine is connected and a return hose to which fuel returned from the engine is supplied are connected to the upper surface side (floor panel side) of the support plate 3. The second hose connection portion 5 is provided. On the upper surface side of the support plate 3, a connector 6 having an electrical harness is provided.

  In addition, a pair of locking portions (locking members) 31 are erected on the support plate 3. The locking portions 31 are wall-shaped members that are spaced apart from each other, and are formed integrally with the support plate 3. The locking portion 31 may be configured as a separate member from the support plate 3. A first claw portion 32 is provided at the tip of the locking portion 31. The first claw portions 32 face each other between the pair of locking portions 31. Further, a through hole 33 is formed in the center of the support plate 3 between the locking portions 31.

  The support plate 3 is provided with a pressure sensor (detection member) 10 for detecting the pressure in the fuel tank 1. The pressure sensor 10 includes a sensor main body 11 incorporating a semiconductor element and a connector connecting portion 12 facing a terminal. Between the sensor main body 11 and the connector connecting portion 12, a connecting portion 13 for connecting the connector connecting portion 12 and the sensor main body 11 is provided so that the connector connecting portion 12 is located above the sensor main body 11. Yes.

  The sensor main body 11 has a rectangular shape, and a convex portion 14 is provided on the lower surface side (fuel tank side). The rectangular sensor body 11 is disposed between the pair of locking portions 31 so that the convex portion 14 is inserted into the through hole 33, and the pressure sensor 10 is fixed. That is, by inserting the sensor body 11 between the pair of locking portions 31 so that the convex portion 14 is inserted into the through hole 33, the pair of locking portions 31 are elastically deformed, and the first claw portion 32 is the sensor body. The sensor body 11 is locked by contacting the upper surface of the sensor 11, and the pressure sensor 10 is fixed to the support plate 3 (see FIG. 2).

  Thus, in this embodiment, since the pressure sensor 10 is locked by the locking part 31 and fixed to the support plate 3, attachment is easy.

  When the pressure sensor 10 is fixed to the support plate 3, the connector connecting portion 12 is positioned with a gap with respect to the support plate 3. A connector 42 provided with a harness 41 for sending a signal from the pressure sensor 10 to a control device (not shown) is connected to the connector connecting portion 12.

  By connecting the connector 42 to the connector connecting portion 12, information of the pressure sensor 10 is sent to a control means (not shown) via a harness 41 for sending a signal of the pressure sensor 10 to the control device. Since the connector connecting portion 12 is located with a gap with respect to the support plate 3, the support plate 3 does not get in the way when the connector 42 is fitted.

  A spacer member 43 is detachably attached to the connector 42 on the lower side. The spacer member 43 is interposed between the connector 42 and the support plate 3 with a slight gap. By interposing the spacer member 43, the movement of the connector 42 with respect to the support plate 3 is restricted, and the relative movement of the connector connecting portion 12 with respect to the support plate 3 is restricted to prevent the connector 42 from coming off.

  By the way, although the pressure sensor 10 is locked and fixed to the support plate 3 by the locking portion 31, if an external force is applied to the pressure sensor 10 in the event of a collision, the pressure sensor 10 is The locking portion 31 is greatly elastically deformed by swinging around the convex portion 14. As a result, it is conceivable that the pressure sensor 10 is disengaged from the locking portion 31, and this needs to be prevented.

  Therefore, in the present embodiment, the pressure sensor 10 is provided with a cover (cover member) 50 in order to prevent the pressure sensor 10 from being detached from the locking portion 31. The member mounting structure in the present invention includes the cover 50 and the locking portion 31.

Hereinafter, the cover 50 will be described in detail.
The cover 50 is configured to cover the locking portion 31, the sensor body 11, and the connection portion 13 in a top view, and is fitted to the pressure sensor 10 from the top surface (see FIGS. 1 to 2). Fixed. The cover 50 includes a main body portion 51 that covers the locking portion 31 and the sensor main body 11, and an attachment portion 52 that is attached to the connection portion 13 between the connector connection portion 12 and the sensor main body 11.

  The main body 51 has a hollow box shape with an open lower surface, and as shown in FIG. 6, of the four side surfaces, an opening is provided on the side surface 53 corresponding to the connection portion when attached to the pressure sensor 10. It has been. A mounting portion 52 extends from the main body 51 around the opening. Of the side surfaces of the main body 51, the two side surfaces facing the locking portion 31 are referred to as wall portions 55 in this embodiment.

  The attachment portion 52 has a U-shape when viewed from the front and is open at the bottom. The upper surface of the attachment portion 52 has a shape corresponding to the shape of the upper surface of the connection portion 13. The lower end portion of the attachment portion 52 is a second claw portion 54, and the attachment portion 52 is elastically deformed and the second claw portion 54 is fitted to the lower surface of the connection portion 13 of the pressure sensor 10, whereby the cover 50 is It can be attached to the pressure sensor 10.

  Thus, in this embodiment, the cover 50 can be easily attached to the pressure sensor 10 by fitting the attachment portion 52 to the pressure sensor 10.

  The main body 51 is provided with ribs 56 in a cross shape on the upper surface. The cross of the ribs 56 intersects at the center of the main body 51. The cover 50 is configured such that the convex portion 14 is positioned below the central portion. In the present embodiment, the cover 50 is configured such that the upper end of the attachment portion 52 is positioned higher than the rib 56.

  In the present embodiment, such a cover 50 is provided to prevent the pressure sensor 10 from being detached from the locking portion 31. This will be described in detail with reference to FIG. When an external force is applied, the main body 51 swings around the convex portion 14 inserted into the through hole as an axis center. Since the cover 50 is attached to the pressure sensor 10 by the attachment portion 52, the cover 50 swings following the movement of the pressure sensor 10. The locking portion 31 has a force acting in a direction to suppress the swing, and if it is a normal external force, the locking portion 31 can suppress the swing of the pressure sensor 10 and prevent the pressure sensor 10 from coming off.

  When a larger external force is applied to the pressure sensor 10, a force (arrow A) is applied to the one end side of each locking portion 31 by the oscillating pressure sensor 10, but the main body 51 follows the pressure sensor 10 and swings. Therefore, a force (arrow B) in the direction opposite to the force applied from the pressure sensor 10 is applied to the other end side of the locking portion 31 by the wall portion 55. Thereby, it can suppress that the latching | locking part 31 elastically deforms, and even if a bigger external force is added to the pressure sensor 10 at the time of a collision, it can prevent that the latching | locking part 31 remove | deviates from a sensor main body.

  That is, in this embodiment, the cover 50 is attached to the pressure sensor 10, and a force is applied to one end side of each locking portion 31 by the swinging pressure sensor 10, but the main body portion is connected to the other end side of each locking portion 31. By being configured so that a force in the direction opposite to the force applied from the pressure sensor 10 is applied by the wall portion 55 of the 51, it is possible to prevent the locking portion 31 from being elastically deformed and coming off the pressure sensor 10. it can. By configuring in this way, for example, the pressure sensor 10 is more reliably detached by elastic deformation of the locking portion 31 than by providing a wall surface outside the locking portion 31 so that the locking portion 31 is less likely to be elastically deformed. Can be suppressed.

  For example, in order to prevent the locking portion 31 from being elastically deformed by the swing of the pressure sensor 10 when a very large external force is applied, another wall surface portion is set up from the support member outside the locking portion 31. Although it is conceivable to increase the thickness of the locking portion 31 or to increase the manufacturing cost due to the change of the support plate 3, it may be difficult to attach the pressure sensor 10 in these cases. Therefore, as in the present embodiment, it is preferable that a force in the direction opposite to the force from the pressure sensor 10 is applied to the locking portion 31 as the pressure sensor 10 swings. Thereby, the elastic deformation of the locking part 31 is easily suppressed.

  Thus, a force is applied to the one end side of the locking portion 31 by the oscillating pressure sensor 10, but the force applied from the pressure sensor 10 by the main body portion 51 to the other end side of the locking portion 31 is In order to efficiently apply the force in the reverse direction, the locking portion 31 has a through hole 33 into which the convex portion 14 of the pressure sensor 10, which is the swing center, is inserted. It is mentioned that the wall portion 55 of the main body 51 is disposed corresponding to each end of the locking portion 31. In the present embodiment, the through hole 33 is positioned at the center between the pair of locking portions 31, but the present invention is not limited to this. If the through hole 33 is positioned between the pair of locking portions 31, a force due to swinging is input in the reverse direction by the cover member, and elastic deformation can be suppressed.

  That is, as the wall portion 55 of the main body 51 is provided between the end portions of the locking portion 31 as in the present embodiment, the pressure sensor 10 swings with respect to the locking portion 31 at one end. The force can be input from the main body 51 to the other end side in the opposite direction to the input force, and the elastic deformation of the locking portion 31 can be suppressed.

  Further, since the main body 51 is for suppressing the elastic deformation of the locking portion 31 as described above, the width of the gap between the wall portion 55 of the main body 51 and the locking portion 31 is set to the first claw portion 32. It is preferable that the width of the contact portion between the sensor body 11 and the sensor body 11 is narrower. By being configured in this way, the first claw portion 32 can hold the fitting state with the sensor body 11. In the present embodiment, the distance between the wall portions 55 of the main body 51 is larger than the distance between the outer wall surfaces of the pair of locking portions 31 so that the wall portions 55 can be easily fitted to the pair of locking portions 31. Somewhat long and very small gaps are constructed.

  In addition, since the upper end of the attachment portion 52 is configured to be positioned higher than the connector connection portion 12 of the pressure sensor 10, if the fuel tank 1 expands, the upper end of the attachment portion 52, that is, the cover 50 is provided. Since the upper end of the terminal contacts the floor prior to the connector connecting part 12, it is possible to suppress the floor panel from coming into direct contact with the connector connecting part 12, and to prevent the connector 42 from coming off the connector connecting part 12.

Furthermore, in the present embodiment, since the cover 50 is provided with a side wall portion that faces the side surface 53, the strength of the cover 50 is increased and a force for suppressing the elastic deformation of the locking portion 31 is greatly input. Can be made.
Moreover, the rigidity of the cover 50 can be improved by providing the rib 56.

  In the present embodiment, the cover 50 is configured such that the upper end of the mounting portion 52 is positioned higher than the rib 56, but the rib 56 provided on the main body 51 as shown in FIGS. May be configured to be located above the upper end of the mounting portion 52.

  In the embodiment shown in FIGS. 7 and 8, the wall surface of the main body 51A extends upward and is integrated with the rib 56A. That is, the upper end surface of the main body 51A is formed by the main body 51A and the rib 56A. In the present embodiment, the rib 56A has a substantially cross shape that connects the ends of the rectangular main body 51A in a top view. Thus, the upper end of the main body 51A is configured to be higher than the connection portion 13A by the rib 56A and the main body 51A. As a result, if the fuel tank 1 expands, the upper end surface of the cover 50A constituted by the main body 51A and the rib 56A comes into contact with the floor panel 8A before the connector connection 12A. Direct contact with the floor panel 8A can be suppressed, and disconnection of the connector from the connector connecting portion 12A can be suppressed.

  In the embodiment described above, the pressure sensor 10 provided in the fuel tank 1 has been described as an example, but the present invention is not limited to this. A leveling sensor or a temperature sensor may be used. What is necessary is just to detect the state inside a tank through the through-hole provided in the wall surface of the fuel tank 1 (in the embodiment mentioned above, the support plate 3 comprises the wall surface of a fuel tank). In the above-described embodiment, the fuel tank 1 is taken as an example, but the present invention is not limited to this. It may be another liquid tank mounted on the vehicle, for example, a reservoir tank. Furthermore, as long as it detects the state in the tank through the through hole, it may not have a convex portion inserted into the through hole.

  The shapes of the locking portion 31 and the cover 50 are not particularly limited to those of the present embodiment. The locking portion 31 may be anything that contacts the object (the pressure sensor 10 in the above-described embodiment) by elastically deforming. For example, a leaf spring may be used, and the first claw portion 32 of the locking portion 31 may not be provided at the tip. Also in the present embodiment, the cover 50 is provided with the side wall surface of the main body 51 so as to cover the locking portion 31, that is, over the locking portion 31, but is not limited thereto. If it is provided so as to suppress the elastic deformation of the locking part 31 at one end of the locking part 31, an opening is provided between the end parts so as to correspond only to the end part of the locking part 31, and the main body part 51 is provided. It may be formed.

  In the embodiment described above, the through hole 33 into which the convex portion 14 of the pressure sensor 10 that is the center of oscillation of the locking portion 31 is inserted is located at the center between the pair of locking portions 31, Although the main body 51 is arranged so as to correspond to each end of the locking part 31, the present invention is not limited to this. If at least the mounting portion 52 attached to the pressure sensor 10 and the wall portion of the main body portion are arranged in the direction in which the locking portion 31 is elastically deformed, the cover 50 is attached to the pressure sensor 10 and the elasticity of the locking portion 31 is obtained. Since the deformation can be suppressed, it is possible to suppress the pressure sensor 10 from being detached with a simple configuration.

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Fuel tank 2 Fuel pump assembly 3 Support plate 10 Pressure sensor 11 Sensor main body 12 Connector connection part 13 Connection part 14 Convex part 31 Locking part 32 1st nail | claw part 33 Through-hole 41 Harness 42 Connector 43 Spacer member 50 Cover 51 Main part 52 Mounting portion 53 Side surface 54 Second claw portion 55 Wall portion 56 Rib

Claims (6)

A member mounting structure for fixing a detection member for detecting a state in the liquid tank via a through hole formed in a wall surface of the liquid tank mounted on the vehicle to the liquid tank,
A locking member that is erected on the liquid tank and elastically deforms to contact and lock the detection member, and a mounting portion that is formed separately from the liquid tank and is attached to the detection member. A cover member having
The member mounting structure, wherein the cover member has a wall portion that suppresses elastic deformation of the locking member. The detection member is sandwiched between a pair of the locking members,
The member mounting structure according to claim 1, wherein the cover member has a pair of the wall portions disposed outside the pair of locking members. The locking member has a first claw portion that comes into contact with the detection member,
The cover member is formed so that a distance between the wall portion and the locking member is narrower than a width of a contact portion between the first claw portion and the detection member. Or the member attachment structure of 2. The through hole is formed between a pair of the locking members,
The member mounting structure according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the wall portion is provided corresponding to at least both end portions of the locking member.   The rib is provided on the upper surface of the cover member facing the upper surface of the detection member, which is the surface opposite to the side of the detection member that is fitted to the liquid tank. To 5. The member mounting structure according to any one of claims 1 to 4. The liquid tank is a fuel tank installed vertically below the floor panel of the vehicle,
The wall surface on which the through hole and the locking member are formed is an upper surface of the fuel tank facing the floor panel, and is configured by a support plate that supports a fuel pump assembly including a fuel pump in the fuel tank. Has been
The detection member is a pressure sensor for detecting a pressure in the fuel tank;
A member other than the pressure sensor is connected to the support plate,
The member mounting structure according to claim 5, wherein the cover member is configured such that an upper surface of the cover is positioned closer to the floor panel than members other than the pressure sensor.