US20030178423A1 - Fuel tank structure - Google Patents
Fuel tank structure Download PDFInfo
- Publication number
- US20030178423A1 US20030178423A1 US10/391,730 US39173003A US2003178423A1 US 20030178423 A1 US20030178423 A1 US 20030178423A1 US 39173003 A US39173003 A US 39173003A US 2003178423 A1 US2003178423 A1 US 2003178423A1
- Authority
- US
- United States
- Prior art keywords
- tank
- tank main
- main body
- fuel tank
- piping
- Prior art date
- Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
- Abandoned
Links
- 239000002828 fuel tank Substances 0.000 title claims abstract description 79
- 238000004891 communication Methods 0.000 claims description 15
- 230000008878 coupling Effects 0.000 description 28
- 238000010168 coupling process Methods 0.000 description 28
- 238000005859 coupling reaction Methods 0.000 description 28
- 229910052782 aluminium Inorganic materials 0.000 description 12
- XAGFODPZIPBFFR-UHFFFAOYSA-N aluminium Chemical compound [Al] XAGFODPZIPBFFR-UHFFFAOYSA-N 0.000 description 12
- 230000035939 shock Effects 0.000 description 12
- 238000000034 method Methods 0.000 description 9
- VNWKTOKETHGBQD-UHFFFAOYSA-N methane Chemical compound C VNWKTOKETHGBQD-UHFFFAOYSA-N 0.000 description 6
- 125000006850 spacer group Chemical group 0.000 description 5
- 229910052751 metal Inorganic materials 0.000 description 4
- 239000002184 metal Substances 0.000 description 4
- 239000000446 fuel Substances 0.000 description 3
- 239000003345 natural gas Substances 0.000 description 3
- 238000005192 partition Methods 0.000 description 3
- OKTJSMMVPCPJKN-UHFFFAOYSA-N Carbon Chemical compound [C] OKTJSMMVPCPJKN-UHFFFAOYSA-N 0.000 description 2
- 238000005520 cutting process Methods 0.000 description 2
- 239000002737 fuel gas Substances 0.000 description 2
- 238000004519 manufacturing process Methods 0.000 description 2
- 239000000463 material Substances 0.000 description 2
- 230000002093 peripheral effect Effects 0.000 description 2
- 229910001220 stainless steel Inorganic materials 0.000 description 2
- 239000010935 stainless steel Substances 0.000 description 2
- 238000010521 absorption reaction Methods 0.000 description 1
- 238000010586 diagram Methods 0.000 description 1
- 239000007789 gas Substances 0.000 description 1
- 238000012986 modification Methods 0.000 description 1
- 230000004048 modification Effects 0.000 description 1
Images
Classifications
-
- B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
- B60—VEHICLES IN GENERAL
- B60K—ARRANGEMENT OR MOUNTING OF PROPULSION UNITS OR OF TRANSMISSIONS IN VEHICLES; ARRANGEMENT OR MOUNTING OF PLURAL DIVERSE PRIME-MOVERS IN VEHICLES; AUXILIARY DRIVES FOR VEHICLES; INSTRUMENTATION OR DASHBOARDS FOR VEHICLES; ARRANGEMENTS IN CONNECTION WITH COOLING, AIR INTAKE, GAS EXHAUST OR FUEL SUPPLY OF PROPULSION UNITS IN VEHICLES
- B60K15/00—Arrangement in connection with fuel supply of combustion engines or other fuel consuming energy converters, e.g. fuel cells; Mounting or construction of fuel tanks
- B60K15/03—Fuel tanks
- B60K15/03006—Gas tanks
-
- B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
- B60—VEHICLES IN GENERAL
- B60K—ARRANGEMENT OR MOUNTING OF PROPULSION UNITS OR OF TRANSMISSIONS IN VEHICLES; ARRANGEMENT OR MOUNTING OF PLURAL DIVERSE PRIME-MOVERS IN VEHICLES; AUXILIARY DRIVES FOR VEHICLES; INSTRUMENTATION OR DASHBOARDS FOR VEHICLES; ARRANGEMENTS IN CONNECTION WITH COOLING, AIR INTAKE, GAS EXHAUST OR FUEL SUPPLY OF PROPULSION UNITS IN VEHICLES
- B60K15/00—Arrangement in connection with fuel supply of combustion engines or other fuel consuming energy converters, e.g. fuel cells; Mounting or construction of fuel tanks
- B60K15/03—Fuel tanks
- B60K15/063—Arrangement of tanks
- B60K15/067—Mounting of tanks
- B60K15/07—Mounting of tanks of gas tanks
-
- F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
- F17—STORING OR DISTRIBUTING GASES OR LIQUIDS
- F17C—VESSELS FOR CONTAINING OR STORING COMPRESSED, LIQUEFIED OR SOLIDIFIED GASES; FIXED-CAPACITY GAS-HOLDERS; FILLING VESSELS WITH, OR DISCHARGING FROM VESSELS, COMPRESSED, LIQUEFIED, OR SOLIDIFIED GASES
- F17C11/00—Use of gas-solvents or gas-sorbents in vessels
- F17C11/005—Use of gas-solvents or gas-sorbents in vessels for hydrogen
-
- B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
- B60—VEHICLES IN GENERAL
- B60K—ARRANGEMENT OR MOUNTING OF PROPULSION UNITS OR OF TRANSMISSIONS IN VEHICLES; ARRANGEMENT OR MOUNTING OF PLURAL DIVERSE PRIME-MOVERS IN VEHICLES; AUXILIARY DRIVES FOR VEHICLES; INSTRUMENTATION OR DASHBOARDS FOR VEHICLES; ARRANGEMENTS IN CONNECTION WITH COOLING, AIR INTAKE, GAS EXHAUST OR FUEL SUPPLY OF PROPULSION UNITS IN VEHICLES
- B60K15/00—Arrangement in connection with fuel supply of combustion engines or other fuel consuming energy converters, e.g. fuel cells; Mounting or construction of fuel tanks
- B60K15/03—Fuel tanks
- B60K15/063—Arrangement of tanks
- B60K2015/0638—Arrangement of tanks the fuel tank is arranged in the rear of the vehicle
Definitions
- the present invention relates to a fuel tank structure for use in a vehicle using gaseous fuel such as natural gas, for example.
- a large-size fuel tank 100 is mounted as shown in FIG. 8.
- the fuel tank 100 is usually configured in a cylindrical shape in order to uniformly disperse the pressure of fuel gas contained therein. Since the diameter of the fuel tank becomes large in order to secure a sufficient capacity, a large space such as a trunk room 110 is utilized as a place where the fuel tank is mounted.
- a partition plate 111 is provided at the rear side of the fuel tank 100 and the rear side of the partition plate is used as a practical portion for the trunk room 110 .
- JP-A-2000-219050 wherein the fuel tank 100 is divided into two tanks each having a relatively small diameter and the two tanks are disposed in a manner that the outer peripheral surface shapes thereof fit to the lower surface shape of a rear seat 102 .
- an object of the invention is to provide a fuel tank structure which is not required to make a layout space large despite of the provision of a pipe arrangement and hardly makes the pipe deform even if a shock is applied.
- the fuel tank structure according to the first aspect of the invention has a plurality of cylindrical tank main bodies (for example, a tank main body 4 in an embodiment) each being closed at its both ends and is arranged to communicate end portions on same sides of the tank main bodies from one another by means of a pipe arrangement (for example, a piping 36 in the embodiment).
- a block-shaped connector portion (for example, a connector portion 35 in the embodiment) is provided at an outside of an end portion of the tank main body, and the pipe arrangement couples the corresponding connector portions to each other and is entirely disposed to a tank main body side rather than an end portion, which is on an opposite side to the tank main body with respect to the corresponding connector portion, of the corresponding connector portion.
- the block-shaped connector portion is provided at the outside of the end portion of each of the tank main bodies, and the pipe arrangement for coupling the corresponding connector portions to each other is entirely disposed to the tank main body side rather than the end portion, which is on the opposite side to the tank main body with respect to the corresponding connector portion, of the corresponding connector portion.
- the pipe arrangement does not protrude to the outside rather than the protruded surface of the connector portion.
- the connector portion is disposed at the outside rather than the pipe arrangement, even if shock is applied from the outside to the fuel tank structure, since the shock is applied to the connector portion prior to the pipe arrangement, the shock can be prevented from being applied to the pipe arrangement.
- a fuel tank structure according to the second aspect is characterized in that, in the arrangement of the first aspect, the tank main body has a cylindrical member (for example, a cylindrical member 38 in the embodiment) and a lid member (for example, a lid member 39 in the embodiment) which is provided separately from the lid member and coupled to an end portion of the cylindrical member, and the connector portion is integrally formed with the lid member.
- the tank main body has a cylindrical member (for example, a cylindrical member 38 in the embodiment) and a lid member (for example, a lid member 39 in the embodiment) which is provided separately from the lid member and coupled to an end portion of the cylindrical member, and the connector portion is integrally formed with the lid member.
- FIG. 1 is a side sectional view showing a vehicle including a fuel tank structure according to an embodiment of the present invention
- FIG. 2 is a perspective view showing a first fuel tank of the fuel tank structure when seen from the left front side thereof;
- FIG. 3 is a perspective view showing the second fuel tank of the fuel tank structure when seen from the right front side thereof;
- FIGS. 4A and 4B are diagrams showing a lid member of a tank main body of the fuel tank structure, wherein FIG. 4A shows a plan view thereof and FIG. 4B shows a side view thereof;
- FIG. 5 is a sectional view showing a coupling portion, in a state before coupling, between the lid member of the tank main body and a pipe arrangement in the fuel tank structure;
- FIG. 6 is a sectional view showing the coupling portion, in a state after coupling, between the lid member of the tank main body and the pipe arrangement in the fuel tank structure;
- FIG. 7 is a plan view showing a second fuel tank etc. of the fuel tank of the fuel tank structure.
- FIG. 8 is a side sectional view of a conventional fuel tank structure.
- FIG. 1 is a side sectional view of a vehicle using natural gas, for example, to which the fuel tank structure according to the embodiment is applied.
- a first fuel tank 5 is disposed at a rear side of a seat back 2 a of a rear seat 2 of a vehicle 1 , and is formed by coupling a plurality of tank main bodies 4 each closed at its both ends and configured in a cylindrical shape with a small diameter.
- a second fuel tank 6 is disposed beneath a seat main body 2 b of the rear seat 2 and is formed by coupling a plurality of tank main bodies 4 like the first fuel tank 5 .
- a trunk room 10 at the rear side of the seat back 2 a is partitioned into two portions in the longitudinal direction of the vehicle by a partition plate 11 and the front side portion is used as a tank mount portion at which the tanks are mounted.
- the first fuel tank 5 formed so as to fit to the tank mount portion is fixed through support frames 12 to the side frames 13 of the vehicle provided so as to extend in the longitudinal direction of the vehicle.
- a space between a middle cross member 14 and a rear cross member 15 each disposed so as to cross between the side frames 13 is used as a tank mount portion.
- the second fuel tank 6 formed so as to fit to the configuration of this tank mount portion is fixed to the middle cross member 14 and the rear cross member 15 by means of a band 17 etc.
- the first fuel tank 5 is divided into a plurality of tanks, that is, specifically three divided tanks 5 a , 5 b and 5 c . These divided tanks 5 a to 5 c are coupled by joint metal members 19 in a state of being sequentially laminated thereby to form the single first fuel tank 5 .
- Each of the divided tanks 5 a to 5 c has the tank main bodies 4 which are disposed in adjacent and parallel from one another in a zigzag manner in a state of each being elongated in a vehicle width direction, that is, a direction perpendicular to the longitudinal direction of the vehicle.
- the second fuel tank 6 is divided into a plurality of tanks, that is, specifically two divided tanks 6 a and 6 b . These divided tanks 6 a and 6 b are coupled by joint metal members 20 in a state of being disposed adjacently in the longitudinal direction of the vehicle thereby to form the single second fuel tank 6 .
- Each of the divided tanks 6 a and 6 b has the tank main bodies 4 which are disposed in adjacent and parallel from one another in a zigzag manner in a state of each being elongated in the vehicle width direction.
- activated charcoal etc. for absorbing gaseous fuel and storing therein is housed within the tank main bodies 4 of each of the first fuel tank 5 and the second fuel tank 6 .
- each of the tank main bodies 4 constitutes an absorption type low-pressure gas tank.
- FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the first fuel tank 5 seen from the left front side thereof.
- Each of the divided tanks 5 a to 5 c constituting the first fuel tank 5 is arranged in a manner that all the tank main bodies 4 disposed in a plurality of stages in the vertical direction (specifically, three stages in each of the divided tanks 5 a , 5 b and two stages in the divided tank 5 c ) are coupled and fixed from one another in a state that the end portions at the one sides along the axial line directions (specifically, the left side of the vehicle body, that is, a side shown by an arrow LH in the figure) of the respective tank main bodies are aligned.
- a plate member 21 a made of aluminum, for example, is attached at the left side end portions of the tank main bodies 4 so as to cross thereover, and two coupling plates 22 a , 22 a made of aluminum, for example, are attached at the intermediate areas of the tank main bodies 4 so as to cross thereover thereby to couple all the tank main bodies 4 from one another.
- a plate member 21 b made of aluminum, for example, is attached at the left side end portions of the tank main bodies 4 so as to cross thereover, and two plates 22 b , 22 b made of aluminum, for example, are attached at the intermediate areas of the tank main bodies 4 so as to cross thereover thereby to couple all the tank main bodies 4 from one another.
- a plate member 21 c made of aluminum, for example is attached at the left side end portions of the tank main bodies 4 so as to cross thereover, and two plates 22 c , 22 c made of aluminum, for example, are attached at the intermediate areas of the tank main bodies 4 so as to cross thereover thereby to couple all the tank main bodies 4 from one another.
- the inner portions of the tank main bodies 4 of the divided tank 5 a are communicated from one another through not-shown communication paths formed within the plate member 21 a for coupling the respective tank main bodies.
- the inner portions of the tank main bodies 4 of the divided tank 5 b are communicated from one another through not-shown communication paths formed within the plate member 21 b for coupling the respective tank main bodies.
- the inner portions of the tank main bodies 4 of the divided tank 5 c are communicated from one another through not-shown communication paths formed within the plate member 21 c for coupling the respective tank main bodies.
- an external pipe arrangement portion 25 is provided at the outside of the end portions of these predetermined tank main bodies in the axial line direction so as to couple the end portions on the same side of these predetermined tank main bodies which are aligned in the axial line direction. Since the inner portions of these tank main bodies 4 are communicated to each other by the external pipe arrangement portion 25 , the divided tank 5 a and the divided tank 5 b are placed in a communicated state to each other.
- an external pipe arrangement portion 26 is provided at the outside of the end portions of these predetermined tank main bodies in the axial line direction so as to couple the end portions on the same side of these predetermined tank main bodies which are aligned in the axial line direction. Since the inner portions of these tank main bodies 4 are communicated to each other by the external pipe arrangement portion 26 , the divided tank 5 b and the divided tank 5 c are placed in a communicated state to each other. As a result, all the divided tanks 5 a to 5 c are placed in a communicated state by these external pipe arrangement portions 25 , 26 there by to constitute the first fuel tank 5 .
- an external pipe arrangement portion 27 is provided so as to be coupled to the second fuel tank 6 thereby to form a communication path to the second fuel tank 6 (in FIG. 2, only a part of the first fuel tank 5 side is shown).
- the first fuel tank 5 and the second fuel tank 6 are communicated to each other by the external pipe arrangement portion 27 thereby to constitute the fuel tank 30 for the vehicle 1 .
- FIG. 3 is a perspective view of the second fuel tank 6 seen from the right front side thereof.
- each of the divided tanks 6 a and 6 b constituting the second fuel tank 6 is arranged in a manner that the tank main bodies 4 disposed in a plurality of stages in the vertical direction (specifically, three stages) are coupled and fixed from one another in a state that the end portions at the one sides along the axial line directions (specifically, the right side of the vehicle body, that is, a side shown by an arrow RH in the figure) of the respective tank main bodies are aligned.
- These divided tanks 6 a and 6 b are coupled and fixed to each other by a joint metal member 20 in a state that the right side (the side shown by the arrow RH in the figure) end portions of the tank main bodies 4 thereof are aligned.
- the length to the left side end portion in each of the tank main bodies 4 is determined in accordance with a space to be disposed.
- the inner portions of the tank main bodies 4 of the divided tank 6 a are communicated from one another through not-shown communication paths formed within the plate member 31 a for coupling the respective tank main bodies.
- the inner portions of the tank main bodies 4 of the divided tank 6 b are communicated from one another through not-shown communication paths formed within the plate member 31 b for coupling the respective tank main bodies.
- an external pipe arrangement portion 33 is provided at the outside in the axial line direction of the end portions of these predetermined tank main bodies so as to couple the end portions on the same side of these predetermined tank main bodies which are aligned in the axial line direction. Since the inner portions of these tank main bodies 4 are communicated to each other by the external pipe arrangement portion 33 , the divided tank 6 a and the divided tank 6 b are placed in a communicated state to each other thereby to constitute the second fuel tank 6 .
- the external pipe arrangement portion 27 is provided so as to be coupled to the first fuel tank 5 thereby to form a communication path to the first fuel tank 5 (in FIG. 3, only a part of the second fuel tank 6 side is shown)
- each of the external pipe arrangement portions 25 , 26 and 33 serves to communicate to each other the end portions aligned in the axial direction as to the cylindrical tank main bodies 4 which have end portions aligned in the axial direction and are disposed in parallel from one another.
- each of the external pipe arrangement portions includes block-shaped connector portions 35 provided respectively at the outsides in the axial line direction of the end portions of the respective tank main bodies 4 to be communicated to each other and a pipe-shaped piping 36 for coupling the corresponding connector portions 35 to each other.
- each of the tank main bodies 4 includes a cylindrical member 38 of a hollow cylindrical shape made of extruded aluminum and lid members 39 each formed by cutting aluminum material which are joined at the both opening portions of the cylindrical member 38 thereby to close the cylindrical member.
- each of the connector portions 35 of the external pipe arrangement portions 25 , 26 and 33 is configured in a block shape and formed integrally with the predetermined lid member 39 as a single unit.
- the lid member 39 formed integrally with the connector portion includes a lid member main body portion 42 with a step which is combined with the cylindrical member 38 by fitting a fitting portion 41 formed on the one side in the axial line direction to the opening portion at the one end of the cylindrical member 38 .
- the connector portion 35 protrudes in an opposite side of the fitting portion 41 so as to be positioned within the inside of the lid member main body portion 42 in a radial direction thereof and is formed integrally with the block-shaped connector portion 35 .
- a communication hole 43 is formed from the fitting portion 41 side to the predetermined intermediate portion of the connector portion 35 .
- a communication hole 44 is formed so as to extend to the outside along the radial direction of the lid member main body portion 42 .
- These communication holes 43 and 44 communicate within the tank main body 4 .
- the outside opening side of the communication hole 44 is formed as an internal thread portion 45 .
- An end surface 46 of the connector portion 35 on the opposite side with respect to the lid member main body portion 42 is in parallel to the lid member main body portion 42 .
- the lid member 39 is formed in the aforesaid configuration through the cutting process etc. of the same material.
- the piping 36 includes a bolt member 48 to be engaged with the internal thread portion 45 of the connector portion 35 of the lid member 39 .
- the bolt member 48 is configured in a manner that the both sides thereof in the axial line direction are formed as external thread portions 49 , 50 , a portion between these external thread portions 49 , 50 is formed as an input portion 51 of a hexagonal column shape, and a through hole 52 is formed along the center axial line.
- a seal ring 53 is provided at the outer periphery of the boundary portion between the external thread portion 49 and the input portion 51 on the coupling side to the connector portion 35 of the bolt member 48 .
- the seal ring 53 serves to seal a space at the joint portion between the connector portion 35 and the bolt member 48 at the time of engaging the connector portion to the bolt member.
- An annular seal groove 55 is formed at the end surface on the other external thread portion 50 side of the bolt member 48 and a seal ring 56 is provided at the annular seal groove 55 .
- the piping 36 further includes a piping main body 57 for coupling the tank main bodies 4 to each other by coupling a pair of the bolt members 48 .
- the piping main body 57 has coupling portions 58 to been gaged with the bolt members 48 at the both ends thereof.
- the piping main body 57 includes a pipe member 61 formed by stainless steel, for example, which center portion is formed by a cylindrical pipe portion 59 and which end portions are each formed by a flange portion 60 protruding outside in the radial direction; a spacer 62 of an almost cylindrical shape formed by stainless steel, for example, which makes the pipe portions 59 of the pipe member 61 at the inside thereof and abuts against the flange portion 60 ; and a nut member 63 of a hexagonal column shape capable of inserting the member 59 of the pipe member 61 therein.
- the flange portion 60 , the spacer 62 and the nut member 63 constitute the coupling portion 58 .
- the spacer 62 is provided with an annular convex portion 65 on the flange portion 60 side protruding outward in the radial direction.
- the nut member 63 is provided with an internal thread portion 66 on the one side thereof in the axial line direction on the inner peripheral side thereof and is provided with an annular convex portion 67 protruding inward in the radial direction at the end portion on the opposite side in the axial line direction.
- the seal ring 56 is disposed in the seal groove 55 of the bolt member 48 in a state of being meshed with the connector portion 35 of the one tank main body 4 . Then, as shown in FIG. 6, the nut member 63 of the coupling portion 58 at the one side of the piping main body 57 is meshed at its internal thread portion 66 with the external thread portion 50 of the bolt member 48 .
- the annular convex portion 67 of the nut member 63 which moves toward the bolt member 48 with the meshing operation of the internal thread portion 66 abuts against the annular convex portion 65 of the spacer 62 thereby to move the annular convex portion in the same direction.
- the spacer 62 pushes the flange portion 60 of the pipe member 61 against the seal ring 56 thereby to compress and deform the seal ring 56 . Consequently, the piping main body 57 is coupled with the connector portion 35 through the bolt member 48 while the seal ring 56 seals a space at the joint portion between the piping main body 57 and the bolt member 48 .
- the coupling portion 58 at the other side of the piping main body 57 is coupled through the seal ring 56 to the bolt member 48 in a state of being meshed with the connector portion 35 of the other tank main body 4 .
- both the tank main bodies 4 are coupled to each other through the communication holes 43 , 44 of the connector portions 35 , the through holes 52 of the bolt members 48 and the inner periphery of the pipe member 61 , that is, the inner periphery of the piping 36 .
- each of the external pipe arrangement portion 25 for communicating the tank main body 4 of the divided tank 5 a with the tank main body 4 of the divided tank 5 b in the first fuel tank 5 and the external pipe arrangement portion 26 for communicating the tank main body 4 of the divided tank 5 b with the tank main body 4 of the divided tank 5 c in the first fuel tank 5 the bolt members 48 of the corresponding connector portions 35 are directed in the same direction and the piping main body 57 of an almost U-shaped bent configuration which is adjusted to the arrangement of these bolt members is coupled to the corresponding connector portions 35 , respectively. Further, as shown in FIG.
- the bolt members 48 of the corresponding connector portions 35 are directed in the opposite directions and shifted elevationally and the piping main body 57 of a bent configuration which is adjusted to the arrangement of these bolt members is coupled to the corresponding connector portions 35 , respectively.
- the external pipe arrangement portion 27 for communicating the first fuel tank 5 with the second fuel tank 6 includes the block-shaped connector portions 35 provided at the outsides of the end portions of the tank main bodies 4 to be communicated to each other, the bolt members 48 to be meshed with the connector portions 35 and the piping 36 for coupling the corresponding bolt members 48 by means of the coupling portions 58 .
- each of the external pipe arrangement portion 25 for communicating the divided tank 5 a with the divided tank 5 b in the first fuel tank 5 the external pipe arrangement portion 26 for communicating the divided tank 5 b with the divided tank 5 c in the first fuel tank 5 and the external pipe arrangement portion 33 for communicating the divided tank 6 a with the divided tank 6 b in the second fuel tank 6
- FIG. 7 shows the external pipe arrangement 33 for communicating the divided tank 6 a with the divided tank 6 b in the second fuel tank 6 arranged in this manner.
- the piping 36 for coupling the block-shaped connector portions 35 to each other that is, the bolt member 48 and the piping main body 57 are entirely disposed to the tank main body 4 side rather than the end surface of the connector portion 35 , which is on the opposite side to the tank main body 4 with respect to the connector portion.
- the piping 36 does not protrude to the outside rather than the protruded surface of the connector portion 35 . Accordingly, the space for the fuel tank structure is not required to make larger due to the piping 36 .
- the connector portion 35 is disposed at the outside rather than the piping 36 , that is, the bolt member 48 and the piping main body 57 .
- the shock can be prevented from being applied to the piping 36 . Accordingly, the piping 36 can be scarcely deformed even if a shock is applied from the outside.
- the tank main body 4 is constituted by the cylindrical member 38 and the lid members 39 which are formed separately from the cylindrical member 38
- the block-shaped connector portion 35 is integrally formed with the lid member 39 , it is not necessary to perform such a procedure that a connector portion provided separately from a lid member is combined with the lid member.
- another procedure can also be eliminated that the joint surface of a lid member is subjected to the machine working with a high processing accuracy in order to combine a connector portion provided separately from the lid member with the lid member. As a result, the manufacturing cost can be reduced.
- the thickness of the lid member main body portion 42 of the lid member 39 can be made smaller and the weight thereof can be reduced.
- the aforesaid embodiment is explained as to the case where the aforesaid configuration is applied to the external pipe arrangement portion for communicating the divided tanks from one another, the invention may be modified in a manner that an external pipe arrangement portion is used for merely communicating the respective tank main bodies and the aforesaid configuration is applied to the external pipe arrangement portion or in a manner that the aforesaid configuration is applied to an external pipe arrangement portion for communicating the first fuel tank and the second fuel tank.
- the block-shaped connector portion is provided at the outside of the end portion of each of the tank main bodies, and the pipe arrangement for coupling the corresponding connector portions to each other is entirely disposed to the tank main body side rather than the end portion, which is on the opposite side to the tank main body with respect to the corresponding connector portion, of the corresponding connector portion.
- the pipe arrangement does not protrude to the outside rather than the protruded surface of the connector portion. Accordingly, the space for the fuel tank structure is not required to make larger due to the pipe arrangement.
- the connector portion is disposed at the outside rather than the pipe arrangement, even if shock is applied from the outside to the fuel tank structure, since the shock is applied to the connector portion prior to the pipe arrangement, the shock can be prevented from being applied to the pipe arrangement.
- the block-shaped connector portion is integrally formed with the lid member, it is not necessary to perform such a procedure that a connector portion provided separately from a lid member is combined with the lid member.
- another procedure can also be eliminated that the joint surface of a lid member is subjected to the machine working with a high processing accuracy in order to combine a connector portion provided separately from the lid member with the lid member.
- the manufacturing cost can be reduced.
- it is not necessary to secure the intensity of a screw hole for combining which is required in the case of combining a connector portion provided separately from a lid member, so that the thickness of the lid member can be made smaller and the weight thereof can be reduced.
Abstract
A fuel tank structure has a plurality of cylindrical tank main bodies (4), a piping (36) arranged to communicate the end portions of the tank main bodies 4 from one another and a block-shaped connector portion (35) provided at the outside of the end portion of the tank main body (4). The piping (36) couples the corresponding connector portions (35) to each other and is entirely disposed to the tank main body side with respect to an end surface of the connector portion (35), which is on the opposite side to the tank main body (4) with respect to the connector portion.
Description
- 1. Field of the Invention
- The present invention relates to a fuel tank structure for use in a vehicle using gaseous fuel such as natural gas, for example.
- 2. Description of the Related Art
- Conventionally, among vehicles using gaseous fuel such as natural gas, there are ones on each of which a large-
size fuel tank 100 is mounted as shown in FIG. 8. Thefuel tank 100 is usually configured in a cylindrical shape in order to uniformly disperse the pressure of fuel gas contained therein. Since the diameter of the fuel tank becomes large in order to secure a sufficient capacity, a large space such as atrunk room 110 is utilized as a place where the fuel tank is mounted. - A
partition plate 111 is provided at the rear side of thefuel tank 100 and the rear side of the partition plate is used as a practical portion for thetrunk room 110. - However, since there are many useless spaces at the mounting portion of such the
cylindrical fuel tank 100 with a large diameter, there arise problems that the space utilization factor is degraded and the space within the vehicle such as thetrunk room 110 is reduced to a large extent. Further, when the size of thefuel tank 100 is reduced, there arises a problem that the capacity of the fuel gas inevitably reduces. - Thus, there is proposed an example (JP-A-2000-219050) wherein the
fuel tank 100 is divided into two tanks each having a relatively small diameter and the two tanks are disposed in a manner that the outer peripheral surface shapes thereof fit to the lower surface shape of arear seat 102. - In this respect, when a fuel tank is divided into a plurality of tanks in the aforesaid manner, the plurality of tanks are required to be communicated from one another by using pipes. However, in this case, there arises a case that the space required for disposing the fuel tanks becomes large due to the pipe arrangement depending on the method of the pipe arrangement, so that the space within the vehicle is reduced. Further, there also arises a problem that the pipe arrangement is likely deformed by a shock applied from the outside depending on the method of the pipe arrangement.
- Accordingly, an object of the invention is to provide a fuel tank structure which is not required to make a layout space large despite of the provision of a pipe arrangement and hardly makes the pipe deform even if a shock is applied.
- In order to attain the aforesaid object, the fuel tank structure according to the first aspect of the invention has a plurality of cylindrical tank main bodies (for example, a tank
main body 4 in an embodiment) each being closed at its both ends and is arranged to communicate end portions on same sides of the tank main bodies from one another by means of a pipe arrangement (for example, apiping 36 in the embodiment). A block-shaped connector portion (for example, aconnector portion 35 in the embodiment) is provided at an outside of an end portion of the tank main body, and the pipe arrangement couples the corresponding connector portions to each other and is entirely disposed to a tank main body side rather than an end portion, which is on an opposite side to the tank main body with respect to the corresponding connector portion, of the corresponding connector portion. - In this manner, the block-shaped connector portion is provided at the outside of the end portion of each of the tank main bodies, and the pipe arrangement for coupling the corresponding connector portions to each other is entirely disposed to the tank main body side rather than the end portion, which is on the opposite side to the tank main body with respect to the corresponding connector portion, of the corresponding connector portion. Thus, the pipe arrangement does not protrude to the outside rather than the protruded surface of the connector portion.
- Further, since the connector portion is disposed at the outside rather than the pipe arrangement, even if shock is applied from the outside to the fuel tank structure, since the shock is applied to the connector portion prior to the pipe arrangement, the shock can be prevented from being applied to the pipe arrangement.
- A fuel tank structure according to the second aspect is characterized in that, in the arrangement of the first aspect, the tank main body has a cylindrical member (for example, a
cylindrical member 38 in the embodiment) and a lid member (for example, alid member 39 in the embodiment) which is provided separately from the lid member and coupled to an end portion of the cylindrical member, and the connector portion is integrally formed with the lid member. - In this manner, when the tank main body is constituted by the cylindrical member and the lid member which are formed separately, since the block-shaped connector portion is integrally formed with the lid member, it is not necessary to perform such a procedure that a connector portion provided separately from a lid member is combined with the lid member.
- FIG. 1 is a side sectional view showing a vehicle including a fuel tank structure according to an embodiment of the present invention;
- FIG. 2 is a perspective view showing a first fuel tank of the fuel tank structure when seen from the left front side thereof;
- FIG. 3 is a perspective view showing the second fuel tank of the fuel tank structure when seen from the right front side thereof;
- FIGS. 4A and 4B are diagrams showing a lid member of a tank main body of the fuel tank structure, wherein FIG. 4A shows a plan view thereof and FIG. 4B shows a side view thereof;
- FIG. 5 is a sectional view showing a coupling portion, in a state before coupling, between the lid member of the tank main body and a pipe arrangement in the fuel tank structure;
- FIG. 6 is a sectional view showing the coupling portion, in a state after coupling, between the lid member of the tank main body and the pipe arrangement in the fuel tank structure;
- FIG. 7 is a plan view showing a second fuel tank etc. of the fuel tank of the fuel tank structure; and
- FIG. 8 is a side sectional view of a conventional fuel tank structure.
- The fuel tank structure according to an embodiment of the invention will be explained with reference to FIGS.1 to 7.
- FIG. 1 is a side sectional view of a vehicle using natural gas, for example, to which the fuel tank structure according to the embodiment is applied.
- As shown in this figure, a
first fuel tank 5 is disposed at a rear side of aseat back 2 a of arear seat 2 of avehicle 1, and is formed by coupling a plurality of tankmain bodies 4 each closed at its both ends and configured in a cylindrical shape with a small diameter. Asecond fuel tank 6 is disposed beneath a seatmain body 2 b of therear seat 2 and is formed by coupling a plurality of tankmain bodies 4 like thefirst fuel tank 5. - A
trunk room 10 at the rear side of theseat back 2 a is partitioned into two portions in the longitudinal direction of the vehicle by apartition plate 11 and the front side portion is used as a tank mount portion at which the tanks are mounted. Thefirst fuel tank 5 formed so as to fit to the tank mount portion is fixed throughsupport frames 12 to theside frames 13 of the vehicle provided so as to extend in the longitudinal direction of the vehicle. - A space between a
middle cross member 14 and arear cross member 15 each disposed so as to cross between theside frames 13 is used as a tank mount portion. Thesecond fuel tank 6 formed so as to fit to the configuration of this tank mount portion is fixed to themiddle cross member 14 and therear cross member 15 by means of aband 17 etc. - The
first fuel tank 5 is divided into a plurality of tanks, that is, specifically three dividedtanks tanks 5 a to 5 c are coupled byjoint metal members 19 in a state of being sequentially laminated thereby to form the singlefirst fuel tank 5. Each of the dividedtanks 5 a to 5 c has the tankmain bodies 4 which are disposed in adjacent and parallel from one another in a zigzag manner in a state of each being elongated in a vehicle width direction, that is, a direction perpendicular to the longitudinal direction of the vehicle. - The
second fuel tank 6 is divided into a plurality of tanks, that is, specifically two dividedtanks tanks joint metal members 20 in a state of being disposed adjacently in the longitudinal direction of the vehicle thereby to form the singlesecond fuel tank 6. Each of the dividedtanks main bodies 4 which are disposed in adjacent and parallel from one another in a zigzag manner in a state of each being elongated in the vehicle width direction. - Here, activated charcoal etc. for absorbing gaseous fuel and storing therein is housed within the tank
main bodies 4 of each of thefirst fuel tank 5 and thesecond fuel tank 6. As a result, each of the tankmain bodies 4 constitutes an absorption type low-pressure gas tank. - FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the
first fuel tank 5 seen from the left front side thereof. - Each of the divided
tanks 5 a to 5 c constituting thefirst fuel tank 5 is arranged in a manner that all the tankmain bodies 4 disposed in a plurality of stages in the vertical direction (specifically, three stages in each of the dividedtanks tank 5 c) are coupled and fixed from one another in a state that the end portions at the one sides along the axial line directions (specifically, the left side of the vehicle body, that is, a side shown by an arrow LH in the figure) of the respective tank main bodies are aligned. - In other words, in the
divided tank 5 a, aplate member 21 a made of aluminum, for example, is attached at the left side end portions of the tankmain bodies 4 so as to cross thereover, and twocoupling plates main bodies 4 so as to cross thereover thereby to couple all the tankmain bodies 4 from one another. In the dividedtank 5 b, aplate member 21 b made of aluminum, for example, is attached at the left side end portions of the tankmain bodies 4 so as to cross thereover, and twoplates main bodies 4 so as to cross thereover thereby to couple all the tankmain bodies 4 from one another. Further, in the dividedtank 5 c, aplate member 21 c made of aluminum, for example, is attached at the left side end portions of the tankmain bodies 4 so as to cross thereover, and twoplates main bodies 4 so as to cross thereover thereby to couple all the tankmain bodies 4 from one another. - These divided
tanks 5 a to 5 c are coupled and fixed from one another by ajoint metal member 19 in a state that the left side (the side shown by the arrow LH in the figure) end portions of the tankmain bodies 4 thereof are aligned. Incidentally, in the dividedtanks 5 a to 5 c, the length to the right side end portion in each of the tankmain bodies 4 is determined in accordance with a space to be disposed. - Here, the inner portions of the tank
main bodies 4 of the dividedtank 5 a are communicated from one another through not-shown communication paths formed within theplate member 21 a for coupling the respective tank main bodies. Similarly, the inner portions of the tankmain bodies 4 of the dividedtank 5 b are communicated from one another through not-shown communication paths formed within theplate member 21 b for coupling the respective tank main bodies. Also, the inner portions of the tankmain bodies 4 of the dividedtank 5 c are communicated from one another through not-shown communication paths formed within theplate member 21 c for coupling the respective tank main bodies. - At the predetermined one of the tank
main bodies 4 of the dividedtank 5 a at the lower stage and the predetermined one of the tankmain bodies 4 of the dividedtank 5 b at the middle stage, an externalpipe arrangement portion 25 is provided at the outside of the end portions of these predetermined tank main bodies in the axial line direction so as to couple the end portions on the same side of these predetermined tank main bodies which are aligned in the axial line direction. Since the inner portions of these tankmain bodies 4 are communicated to each other by the externalpipe arrangement portion 25, the dividedtank 5 a and the dividedtank 5 b are placed in a communicated state to each other. Further, at another predetermined one of the tankmain bodies 4 of the dividedtank 5 b at the middle stage and the predetermined one of the tankmain bodies 4 of the dividedtank 5 c at the upper stage, an externalpipe arrangement portion 26 is provided at the outside of the end portions of these predetermined tank main bodies in the axial line direction so as to couple the end portions on the same side of these predetermined tank main bodies which are aligned in the axial line direction. Since the inner portions of these tankmain bodies 4 are communicated to each other by the externalpipe arrangement portion 26, the dividedtank 5 b and the dividedtank 5 c are placed in a communicated state to each other. As a result, all the dividedtanks 5 a to 5 c are placed in a communicated state by these externalpipe arrangement portions first fuel tank 5. - Further, at the outside of the end portion on the same side of another predetermined one of the tank
main bodies 4 of the dividedtank 5 a at the lower stage, an externalpipe arrangement portion 27 is provided so as to be coupled to thesecond fuel tank 6 thereby to form a communication path to the second fuel tank 6 (in FIG. 2, only a part of thefirst fuel tank 5 side is shown). Thefirst fuel tank 5 and thesecond fuel tank 6 are communicated to each other by the externalpipe arrangement portion 27 thereby to constitute thefuel tank 30 for thevehicle 1. - FIG. 3 is a perspective view of the
second fuel tank 6 seen from the right front side thereof. - As shown in this figure, each of the divided
tanks second fuel tank 6 is arranged in a manner that the tankmain bodies 4 disposed in a plurality of stages in the vertical direction (specifically, three stages) are coupled and fixed from one another in a state that the end portions at the one sides along the axial line directions (specifically, the right side of the vehicle body, that is, a side shown by an arrow RH in the figure) of the respective tank main bodies are aligned. Specifically, in the dividedtank 6 a, aplate member 31 a made of aluminum, for example, is attached at the right side end portions of the tankmain bodies 4 so as to cross thereover, and twocoupling plates main bodies 4 so as to cross thereover thereby to couple and fix all the tankmain bodies 4 from one another. Similarly, in the dividedtank 6 b, aplate member 31 b made of aluminum, for example, is attached at the right side end portions of the tankmain bodies 4 so as to cross thereover, and twocoupling plates main bodies 4 so as to cross thereover thereby to couple all the tankmain bodies 4 from one another. These dividedtanks joint metal member 20 in a state that the right side (the side shown by the arrow RH in the figure) end portions of the tankmain bodies 4 thereof are aligned. Incidentally, in the dividedtanks main bodies 4 is determined in accordance with a space to be disposed. - Here, the inner portions of the tank
main bodies 4 of the dividedtank 6 a are communicated from one another through not-shown communication paths formed within theplate member 31 a for coupling the respective tank main bodies. Similarly, the inner portions of the tankmain bodies 4 of the dividedtank 6 b are communicated from one another through not-shown communication paths formed within theplate member 31 b for coupling the respective tank main bodies. - At the predetermined one of the tank
main bodies 4 of the dividedtank 6 a and the predetermined one of the tankmain bodies 4 of the dividedtank 6 b, an externalpipe arrangement portion 33 is provided at the outside in the axial line direction of the end portions of these predetermined tank main bodies so as to couple the end portions on the same side of these predetermined tank main bodies which are aligned in the axial line direction. Since the inner portions of these tankmain bodies 4 are communicated to each other by the externalpipe arrangement portion 33, the dividedtank 6 a and the dividedtank 6 b are placed in a communicated state to each other thereby to constitute thesecond fuel tank 6. Further, at the outside of the end portion on the same side of another predetermined one of the tankmain bodies 4 of the dividedtank 6 a, the externalpipe arrangement portion 27 is provided so as to be coupled to thefirst fuel tank 5 thereby to form a communication path to the first fuel tank 5 (in FIG. 3, only a part of thesecond fuel tank 6 side is shown) - Next, the aforesaid external
pipe arrangement portions - As described above, each of the external
pipe arrangement portions main bodies 4 which have end portions aligned in the axial direction and are disposed in parallel from one another. To this end, each of the external pipe arrangement portions includes block-shapedconnector portions 35 provided respectively at the outsides in the axial line direction of the end portions of the respective tankmain bodies 4 to be communicated to each other and a pipe-shapedpiping 36 for coupling the correspondingconnector portions 35 to each other. - Here, as shown in FIGS. 2 and 3, each of the tank
main bodies 4 includes acylindrical member 38 of a hollow cylindrical shape made of extruded aluminum andlid members 39 each formed by cutting aluminum material which are joined at the both opening portions of thecylindrical member 38 thereby to close the cylindrical member. As shown in FIGS. 4A and 4B, each of theconnector portions 35 of the externalpipe arrangement portions predetermined lid member 39 as a single unit. - The
lid member 39 formed integrally with the connector portion includes a lid membermain body portion 42 with a step which is combined with thecylindrical member 38 by fitting afitting portion 41 formed on the one side in the axial line direction to the opening portion at the one end of thecylindrical member 38. Theconnector portion 35 protrudes in an opposite side of thefitting portion 41 so as to be positioned within the inside of the lid membermain body portion 42 in a radial direction thereof and is formed integrally with the block-shapedconnector portion 35. At the position in the center axial line direction of thelid member 39, acommunication hole 43 is formed from thefitting portion 41 side to the predetermined intermediate portion of theconnector portion 35. At the end portion of thecommunication hole 43 in the opposite side of thefitting portion 41, acommunication hole 44 is formed so as to extend to the outside along the radial direction of the lid membermain body portion 42. These communication holes 43 and 44 communicate within the tankmain body 4. The outside opening side of thecommunication hole 44 is formed as aninternal thread portion 45. Anend surface 46 of theconnector portion 35 on the opposite side with respect to the lid membermain body portion 42 is in parallel to the lid membermain body portion 42. Thelid member 39 is formed in the aforesaid configuration through the cutting process etc. of the same material. - As shown in FIG. 5, the piping36 includes a
bolt member 48 to be engaged with theinternal thread portion 45 of theconnector portion 35 of thelid member 39. Thebolt member 48 is configured in a manner that the both sides thereof in the axial line direction are formed asexternal thread portions external thread portions input portion 51 of a hexagonal column shape, and a throughhole 52 is formed along the center axial line. Aseal ring 53 is provided at the outer periphery of the boundary portion between theexternal thread portion 49 and theinput portion 51 on the coupling side to theconnector portion 35 of thebolt member 48. Theseal ring 53 serves to seal a space at the joint portion between theconnector portion 35 and thebolt member 48 at the time of engaging the connector portion to the bolt member. Anannular seal groove 55 is formed at the end surface on the otherexternal thread portion 50 side of thebolt member 48 and aseal ring 56 is provided at theannular seal groove 55. - The piping36 further includes a piping
main body 57 for coupling the tankmain bodies 4 to each other by coupling a pair of thebolt members 48. The pipingmain body 57 hascoupling portions 58 to been gaged with thebolt members 48 at the both ends thereof. That is, the pipingmain body 57 includes apipe member 61 formed by stainless steel, for example, which center portion is formed by acylindrical pipe portion 59 and which end portions are each formed by aflange portion 60 protruding outside in the radial direction; aspacer 62 of an almost cylindrical shape formed by stainless steel, for example, which makes thepipe portions 59 of thepipe member 61 at the inside thereof and abuts against theflange portion 60; and anut member 63 of a hexagonal column shape capable of inserting themember 59 of thepipe member 61 therein. Theflange portion 60, thespacer 62 and thenut member 63 constitute thecoupling portion 58. Thespacer 62 is provided with an annularconvex portion 65 on theflange portion 60 side protruding outward in the radial direction. Thenut member 63 is provided with aninternal thread portion 66 on the one side thereof in the axial line direction on the inner peripheral side thereof and is provided with an annularconvex portion 67 protruding inward in the radial direction at the end portion on the opposite side in the axial line direction. - In the case of coupling the tank
main bodies 4 to each other by using the externalpipe arrangement portions bolt member 48 is precedingly meshed at itsexternal thread portion 49 with theinternal thread portion 45 of theconnector portion 35 of each the tankmain body 4 to be coupled in a state that theseal ring 53 is disposed between theexternal thread portion 49 and theinternal thread portion 45. - The
seal ring 56 is disposed in theseal groove 55 of thebolt member 48 in a state of being meshed with theconnector portion 35 of the one tankmain body 4. Then, as shown in FIG. 6, thenut member 63 of thecoupling portion 58 at the one side of the pipingmain body 57 is meshed at itsinternal thread portion 66 with theexternal thread portion 50 of thebolt member 48. The annularconvex portion 67 of thenut member 63 which moves toward thebolt member 48 with the meshing operation of theinternal thread portion 66 abuts against the annularconvex portion 65 of thespacer 62 thereby to move the annular convex portion in the same direction. As a result, thespacer 62 pushes theflange portion 60 of thepipe member 61 against theseal ring 56 thereby to compress and deform theseal ring 56. Consequently, the pipingmain body 57 is coupled with theconnector portion 35 through thebolt member 48 while theseal ring 56 seals a space at the joint portion between the pipingmain body 57 and thebolt member 48. - Similarly, the
coupling portion 58 at the other side of the pipingmain body 57 is coupled through theseal ring 56 to thebolt member 48 in a state of being meshed with theconnector portion 35 of the other tankmain body 4. When the both end portions of the pipingmain body 57 are coupled to theconnector portions 35 through thebolt members 48 in this manner, respectively, both the tankmain bodies 4 are coupled to each other through the communication holes 43, 44 of theconnector portions 35, the throughholes 52 of thebolt members 48 and the inner periphery of thepipe member 61, that is, the inner periphery of thepiping 36. - As shown in FIG. 2, as to each of the external
pipe arrangement portion 25 for communicating the tankmain body 4 of the dividedtank 5 a with the tankmain body 4 of the dividedtank 5 b in thefirst fuel tank 5 and the externalpipe arrangement portion 26 for communicating the tankmain body 4 of the dividedtank 5 b with the tankmain body 4 of the dividedtank 5 c in thefirst fuel tank 5, thebolt members 48 of the correspondingconnector portions 35 are directed in the same direction and the pipingmain body 57 of an almost U-shaped bent configuration which is adjusted to the arrangement of these bolt members is coupled to the correspondingconnector portions 35, respectively. Further, as shown in FIG. 3, as to the externalpipe arrangement portion 33 for communicating the tankmain body 4 of the dividedtank 6 a with the tankmain body 4 of the dividedtank 6 b in thesecond fuel tank 6, thebolt members 48 of the correspondingconnector portions 35 are directed in the opposite directions and shifted elevationally and the pipingmain body 57 of a bent configuration which is adjusted to the arrangement of these bolt members is coupled to the correspondingconnector portions 35, respectively. - Like the external
pipe arrangement portions pipe arrangement portion 27 for communicating thefirst fuel tank 5 with thesecond fuel tank 6 includes the block-shapedconnector portions 35 provided at the outsides of the end portions of the tankmain bodies 4 to be communicated to each other, thebolt members 48 to be meshed with theconnector portions 35 and the piping 36 for coupling thecorresponding bolt members 48 by means of thecoupling portions 58. - In this embodiment, as to each of the external
pipe arrangement portion 25 for communicating the dividedtank 5 a with the dividedtank 5 b in thefirst fuel tank 5, the externalpipe arrangement portion 26 for communicating the dividedtank 5 b with the dividedtank 5 c in thefirst fuel tank 5 and the externalpipe arrangement portion 33 for communicating the dividedtank 6 a with the dividedtank 6 b in thesecond fuel tank 6, the piping 36 in a state that theconnector portions 35 are coupled to each other, that is, thebolt member 48 and the pipingmain body 57 are entirely disposed on a the tankmain body 4 side rather than the end surface (end portion) 46, which is on the opposite side to the tankmain body 4 with respect to theconnector portion 35, at each of the bothconnector portions 35 which are coupled by thepiping 36. For example, FIG. 7 shows theexternal pipe arrangement 33 for communicating the dividedtank 6 a with the dividedtank 6 b in thesecond fuel tank 6 arranged in this manner. - As described above, the piping36 for coupling the block-shaped
connector portions 35 to each other, that is, thebolt member 48 and the pipingmain body 57 are entirely disposed to the tankmain body 4 side rather than the end surface of theconnector portion 35, which is on the opposite side to the tankmain body 4 with respect to the connector portion. Thus, the piping 36 does not protrude to the outside rather than the protruded surface of theconnector portion 35. Accordingly, the space for the fuel tank structure is not required to make larger due to thepiping 36. - Further, the
connector portion 35 is disposed at the outside rather than the piping 36, that is, thebolt member 48 and the pipingmain body 57. Thus, even if shock is applied from the outside to the fuel tank structure, since the shock is applied to theconnector portion 35 prior to thepiping 36, the shock can be prevented from being applied to thepiping 36. Accordingly, the piping 36 can be scarcely deformed even if a shock is applied from the outside. - In addition, in the case where the tank
main body 4 is constituted by thecylindrical member 38 and thelid members 39 which are formed separately from thecylindrical member 38, since the block-shapedconnector portion 35 is integrally formed with thelid member 39, it is not necessary to perform such a procedure that a connector portion provided separately from a lid member is combined with the lid member. Thus, in addition to that such a combining procedure can be eliminated, another procedure can also be eliminated that the joint surface of a lid member is subjected to the machine working with a high processing accuracy in order to combine a connector portion provided separately from the lid member with the lid member. As a result, the manufacturing cost can be reduced. Further, since it is not necessary to secure the intensity of a screw hole for combining which is required in the case of combining a connector portion provided separately from a lid member, so that the thickness of the lid membermain body portion 42 of thelid member 39 can be made smaller and the weight thereof can be reduced. - Incidentally, although the aforesaid embodiment is explained as to the case where the aforesaid configuration is applied to the external pipe arrangement portion for communicating the divided tanks from one another, the invention may be modified in a manner that an external pipe arrangement portion is used for merely communicating the respective tank main bodies and the aforesaid configuration is applied to the external pipe arrangement portion or in a manner that the aforesaid configuration is applied to an external pipe arrangement portion for communicating the first fuel tank and the second fuel tank.
- While only certain embodiments have been specifically described herein, but it will apparent that numerous modifications may be made thereto without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention.
- As described above, according to the fuel tank structure of the first aspect of the invention, the block-shaped connector portion is provided at the outside of the end portion of each of the tank main bodies, and the pipe arrangement for coupling the corresponding connector portions to each other is entirely disposed to the tank main body side rather than the end portion, which is on the opposite side to the tank main body with respect to the corresponding connector portion, of the corresponding connector portion. Thus, the pipe arrangement does not protrude to the outside rather than the protruded surface of the connector portion. Accordingly, the space for the fuel tank structure is not required to make larger due to the pipe arrangement.
- Further, since the connector portion is disposed at the outside rather than the pipe arrangement, even if shock is applied from the outside to the fuel tank structure, since the shock is applied to the connector portion prior to the pipe arrangement, the shock can be prevented from being applied to the pipe arrangement.
- According to the fuel tank structure of the second aspect of the invention, in the case where the tank main body is constituted by the cylindrical member and the lid members which are formed separately from the cylindrical member, since the block-shaped connector portion is integrally formed with the lid member, it is not necessary to perform such a procedure that a connector portion provided separately from a lid member is combined with the lid member. Thus, in addition to that such a combining procedure can be eliminated, another procedure can also be eliminated that the joint surface of a lid member is subjected to the machine working with a high processing accuracy in order to combine a connector portion provided separately from the lid member with the lid member. As a result, the manufacturing cost can be reduced. Further, since it is not necessary to secure the intensity of a screw hole for combining which is required in the case of combining a connector portion provided separately from a lid member, so that the thickness of the lid member can be made smaller and the weight thereof can be reduced.
Claims (5)
1. A fuel tank structure comprising:
a plurality of cylindrical tank main bodies, each being closed at both end portions thereof;
a piping arranged to communicate the end portions on same sides of the tank main bodies from each other; and
at least two block-shaped connector portions, each being located at an outside of the end portion of the tank main body,
wherein the piping couples the connector portions to each other, and
wherein the piping is entirely disposed to a tank main body side with respect to an end portion of the connecting portion, which is an opposite side to the tank main body.
2. The fuel tank structure according to claim 1 , wherein the tank main body has a cylindrical member and a lid member which is formed separately from the cylindrical member and coupled to an end portion of the cylindrical member, and
wherein the connector portion is integrally formed with the lid member.
3. The fuel tank structure according to claim 1 , wherein the connector portion defines a communication hole which communicates with the piping, and the communication hole extends in a direction perpendicular to an axial direction of the tank main body.
4. The fuel tank structure according to claim 1 , wherein the piping comprises a piping main body having a pipe member and a nut into which the pipe member is inserted, and a bolt member having one end engageable with the connector portion and the other end engageable with the nut, and
wherein the bolt member and the piping main body are entirely disposed to the tank main body side with respect to the end portion of the connecting portion, which is the opposite side to the tank main body.
5. A fuel tank structure comprising:
a plurality of cylindrical tank main bodies, each being closed at both end portions thereof and having a cylindrical member and a lid member which is formed separately from the cylindrical member and is coupled to an end portion of the cylindrical member;
at least two block-shaped connector portions, each being located at an outside of the end portion of the tank main body; and
a piping coupled with the connecter portions for communicating between the tank main bodies; and
wherein the connector portion is integrally formed with the lid member as a single member.
Applications Claiming Priority (2)
Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
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JP2002-082038 | 2002-03-22 | ||
JP2002082038A JP2003276456A (en) | 2002-03-22 | 2002-03-22 | Fuel tank structure |
Publications (1)
Publication Number | Publication Date |
---|---|
US20030178423A1 true US20030178423A1 (en) | 2003-09-25 |
Family
ID=28035750
Family Applications (1)
Application Number | Title | Priority Date | Filing Date |
---|---|---|---|
US10/391,730 Abandoned US20030178423A1 (en) | 2002-03-22 | 2003-03-19 | Fuel tank structure |
Country Status (2)
Country | Link |
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US (1) | US20030178423A1 (en) |
JP (1) | JP2003276456A (en) |
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US20030178422A1 (en) * | 2002-03-19 | 2003-09-25 | Honda Giken Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha | Fuel tank structure |
US20040140662A1 (en) * | 2002-12-18 | 2004-07-22 | Conception Et Developpement Michelin | Tank for the high-pressure storage of a fuel on a vehicle |
US20040200356A1 (en) * | 2003-04-09 | 2004-10-14 | Kuperus Peter P. | Fuel tank assembly |
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US20210101473A1 (en) * | 2019-10-02 | 2021-04-08 | Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha | Combination vehicle, trailer, and tractor |
DE102020128607A1 (en) | 2020-10-30 | 2022-05-05 | Bayerische Motoren Werke Aktiengesellschaft | Process for manufacturing a fuel rail for a pressure vessel system, fuel rail, pressure vessel system and motor vehicle |
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US20030178422A1 (en) * | 2002-03-19 | 2003-09-25 | Honda Giken Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha | Fuel tank structure |
US6974156B2 (en) * | 2002-03-19 | 2005-12-13 | Honda Giken Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha | Fuel tank structure |
US20040140662A1 (en) * | 2002-12-18 | 2004-07-22 | Conception Et Developpement Michelin | Tank for the high-pressure storage of a fuel on a vehicle |
US20040200356A1 (en) * | 2003-04-09 | 2004-10-14 | Kuperus Peter P. | Fuel tank assembly |
US6875258B2 (en) * | 2003-04-09 | 2005-04-05 | Ti Group Automotive Systems, L.L.C. | Fuel tank assembly |
CN110173363A (en) * | 2019-05-28 | 2019-08-27 | 李洪金 | Double fuel numerical control device control system |
US20210101473A1 (en) * | 2019-10-02 | 2021-04-08 | Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha | Combination vehicle, trailer, and tractor |
US11840140B2 (en) * | 2019-10-02 | 2023-12-12 | Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha | Combination vehicle, trailer, and tractor |
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