U.S. patent application number 11/030909 was filed with the patent office on 2005-12-22 for fuel supply apparatus.
This patent application is currently assigned to HITACHI, LTD.. Invention is credited to Kumagai, Masato, Watanabe, Satoru.
Application Number | 20050281684 11/030909 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 34927982 |
Filed Date | 2005-12-22 |
United States Patent
Application |
20050281684 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Kumagai, Masato ; et
al. |
December 22, 2005 |
Fuel supply apparatus
Abstract
In a fuel supply apparatus, a fuel pump is disposed in a fuel
tank and a fuel tank cover member is disposed at a top portion of
the fuel tank. An electronic circuit section is fixedly integrated
into the fuel tank cover member, and the electronic circuit section
includes a pump controlling section that controls the fuel pump.
Moreover, the electronic circuit section is molded into the fuel
tank cover member by using resin.
Inventors: |
Kumagai, Masato; (Saitama,
JP) ; Watanabe, Satoru; (Gunma, JP) |
Correspondence
Address: |
SUGHRUE MION, PLLC
2100 PENNSYLVANIA AVENUE, N.W.
SUITE 800
WASHINGTON
DC
20037
US
|
Assignee: |
HITACHI, LTD.
|
Family ID: |
34927982 |
Appl. No.: |
11/030909 |
Filed: |
January 10, 2005 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
417/360 |
Current CPC
Class: |
F02M 37/10 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
417/360 |
International
Class: |
F04B 017/00 |
Foreign Application Data
Date |
Code |
Application Number |
Jun 17, 2004 |
JP |
2004-179583 |
Claims
What is claimed is:
1. A fuel supply apparatus, comprising: a fuel pump disposed in a
fuel tank; and a fuel tank cover member disposed at a top portion
of the fuel tank, an electronic circuit section being fixedly
integrated into the fuel tank cover member, the electronic circuit
section including a pump controlling section that controls the fuel
pump.
2. A fuel supply apparatus as claimed in claim 1, further
comprising a liquid-level sensor that detects a remaining quantity
of fuel inside the fuel tank.
3. A fuel supply apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein the
electronic circuit section controls an electrical equipment inside
the fuel tank.
4. A fuel supply apparatus as claimed in claim 2, wherein the
electronic circuit section includes the pump controlling section
and a detection processing section that processes signals detected
by the liquid-level sensor.
5. A fuel supply apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein the
electronic circuit section includes a circuit board and circuit
components mounted on the circuit board.
6. A fuel supply apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein the fuel
tank cover member covers an opening portion at the top portion of
the fuel tank.
7. A fuel supply apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein the fuel
tank cover member covers an opening portion defined by a top
surface of the fuel tank.
8. A fuel supply apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein the fuel
tank cover member is provided with a pipe to deliver a fuel and a
connector to attain an electrical connection between inside and
outside of the fuel tank.
9. A fuel supply apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein the
electronic circuit section is electrically connected to the fuel
pump via a harness within the fuel tank.
10. A fuel supply apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein a resin
is used in order to integrate and fix the electronic circuit
section into the fuel tank cover member.
11. A fuel supply apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein the
electronic circuit section is fixedly integrated into the fuel tank
cover member in such a way that the electronic circuit section is
coated with a resin which forms the fuel tank cover member.
12. A fuel supply apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein the
electronic circuit section is molded into and integrated into the
fuel tank cover member by means of resin forming.
13. A fuel supply apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein the
electronic circuit section is disposed inside the fuel tank.
14. A fuel supply apparatus, comprising: fuel pump means disposed
in a fuel tank; fuel tank cover means for covering an opening
portion of the fuel tank; and electronic circuits means for
controlling an electrical equipment inside the fuel tank, the
electronic circuits means being fixedly integrated into the fuel
tank cover means, the electronic circuits means including a pump
controlling means for controlling the fuel pump.
Description
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION:
[0001] a) Field of the Invention
[0002] The present invention relates to a fuel supply
apparatus.
[0003] b) Description of the Related Art
[0004] Various kinds of fuel supply apparatuses have been
previously proposed. A Japanese Patent No. 3371409 issued on Nov.
22, 2002 exemplifies a previously proposed fuel supply apparatus
which is equipped with a fuel pump in an integrated fashion and is
attached as a cover (or, a lid) of a fuel tank so as to cover and
close an opening of a top (or, upper) surface of the fuel tank. The
fuel pump is disposed inside the fuel tank and serves to suck fuel
inside the fuel tank and deliver the sucked fuel to outside of the
fuel tank.
[0005] Furthermore, a top surface of this previously proposed fuel
supply apparatus has a recess portion. A fuel pump controller
acting as a control circuit for the fuel pump is inserted into the
recess portion from outside of the fuel tank in a removable
fashion.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0006] In the previously proposed fuel supply apparatus disclosed
in the above-described Japanese Patent, the pump controller can be
inserted/removed from/to outside of the fuel tank. However, the
recess portion for inserting the fuel pump controller needs to be
produced at the top surface of the cover. Moreover, a connector for
electrically connecting the fuel pump controller to the fuel pump
also needs to be provided to a deep part of the recess portion.
Hence, there is the problem that a cost of manufacturing is
increased due to increased expense in time and effort for
manufacturing the above-described previously proposed fuel supply
apparatus.
[0007] It is, therefore, an object of the present invention to
provide a fuel supply apparatus which is capable of reducing
expense in time and effort for manufacturing and reducing a cost of
manufacturing when an electronic circuits which includes at least a
pump controlling section that controls a motion of a fuel pump is
installed to the fuel supply apparatus.
[0008] According to one aspect of the present invention, there is
provided a fuel supply apparatus, comprising: a fuel pump disposed
in a fuel tank; and a fuel tank cover member disposed at a top
portion of the fuel tank, an electronic circuit section being
fixedly integrated into the fuel tank cover member, the electronic
circuit section including a pump controlling section that controls
the fuel pump.
[0009] The other objects and features of this invention will become
understood from the following description with reference to the
accompanying drawings.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0010] FIG. 1 is a side view of a fuel supply apparatus in a
preferred embodiment according to the present invention.
[0011] FIG. 2 is a perspective view of a fuel tank cover member in
the fuel supply apparatus shown in FIG. 1.
[0012] FIG. 3 is a perspective view of an electronic circuit
section which is integrated into the fuel tank cover member
included in the fuel supply apparatus in the embodiment according
to the present invention.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS
[0013] Reference will hereinafter be made to the drawings in order
to facilitate a better understanding of the present invention. In
this preferred embodiment according to the present invention, a
fuel supply apparatus which is installed inside a fuel tank for the
vehicle equipped with an internal combustion engine is
exemplified.
[0014] FIG. 1 is a side view largely representing a configuration
of the fuel supply apparatus which is installed inside the fuel
tank. FIG. 2 is a perspective view representing a fuel tank cover
member in the fuel supply apparatus. FIG. 3 is a perspective view
of an electronic circuit section which is integrated into the fuel
tank cover member.
[0015] A fuel supply apparatus 1 according to this embodiment
includes a fuel pump module 2 and a fuel tank cover member 3
(namely, a cover member for a fuel tank).
[0016] Fuel pump module 2 is installed (or, disposed) in contact
with a bottom surface 4b of a fuel tank 4. Fuel pump module 2
includes, for example, a fuel pump 5 and a liquid-level sensor 6 in
an integrated fashion (namely, fuel pump 5 and liquid-level sensor
6 are integrated into fuel pump module 2).
[0017] Fuel pump 5 sucks a fuel 7 reserved within fuel tank 4 and
delivers (or discharges) the sucked fuel from an outlet port 5a.
The fuel discharged from outlet port 5a is transferred to outside
of fuel tank 4, namely, to a fuel injection valve of an internal
combustion engine via a tube 8 and a pipe 9 which is projecting
from an upper surface of fuel tank cover member 3. This fuel pump 5
is an electrically powered pump integrated with a motor. Operation
of fuel pump 5 is controlled by a pump controlling section (not
shown) installed in an electronic circuit section 13 as will be
described later.
[0018] Liquid-level sensor 6 includes an arm 11 which can swing,
and a float 12 connected to an end of arm 11. Liquid-level sensor 6
detects a remaining quantity of fuel 7 inside fuel tank 4 by
detecting a swing angle of arm 11 in accordance with a position of
float 12 which is floating on fuel 7. For example, if a resistance
of a predetermined electronic circuit is configured so as to vary
according to the swing angle of arm 11, liquid-level sensor 6 can
detect the swing angle of arm 11, namely, a height of a liquid
level of fuel 7 by detecting the resistance.
[0019] Fuel tank cover member 3 is attached to fuel tank 4 so as to
cover and close (or, put a lid on) an opening portion 4a defined by
a top (or, upper) surface of fuel tank 4 (i.e., an opening portion
4a in a top portion of fuel tank 4). This fuel tank cover member 3
includes a base portion 3a whose thickness is predetermined (for
example, several centimeters), a flange 3b overhanging around (or,
surrounding) base portion 3a by a predetermined width (for example,
several centimeters), and electronic circuit section 13 which is
projecting and extending from underside of base portion 3a to a
downward direction, namely into inside of fuel tank 4. Moreover,
pipe 9 for delivering the fuel and a connector 16 for attaining an
electrical connection between inside and outside of fuel tank 4 are
provided to an upper surface of base portion 3a exposed to outside
of fuel tank 4.
[0020] As shown in FIG. 3, various kinds of circuit components 15
and connector 16 and others are mounted on a surface or an edge of
a (circuit) board 14 in electronic circuit section 13. Electronic
circuit section 13 includes electrical circuits which control
electrical equipments (namely, fuel pump 5 and liquid-level sensor
6 and so on) inside fuel tank 4. In this embodiment, electronic
circuit section 13 includes at least a pump controlling section
(not shown) which controls (a motion of) fuel pump 5 and a
detection processing section (not shown) which processes signals
detected by liquid-level sensor 6. In addition, electronic circuit
section 13 is electrically connected to circuits installed inside
fuel pump module 2 via a harness 10 within fuel tank 4. Hence,
motion control signals from electronic circuit section 13 to fuel
pump 5 and signals detected by liquid-level sensor 6 are
transmitted through harness 10. On the other hand, electronic
circuit section 13 is electrically connected to electrical circuits
disposed outside fuel tank 4 (for example, ECU) via connector 16
installed at upper side of electronic circuit section 13.
[0021] In this embodiment, as shown in FIG. 2, fuel tank cover
member 3 is molded, in an integrated fashion, by resin (insulation
resin) which coats (or, wraps) electronic circuit section 13 of
FIG. 3. That is to say, almost all surface of electronic circuit
section 13 is coated (or, covered) with the resin which forms base
portion 3a, flange 3b and others of fuel tank cover member 3,
although some electrical connection parts such as connector 16 are
not coated.
[0022] In the related art, the recess portion for inserting the
electronic circuit section in a removable fashion needs to be
produced on the fuel tank cover member, and (for example) a
connector for electrically connecting the electronic circuit
section to the fuel pump also needs to be provided to the deep part
of the recess portion. However, in this embodiment as described
above, electronic circuit section 13 is integrated into and fixed
into fuel tank cover member 3 (i.e., is fixedly integrated into
fuel tank cover member 3). Hence, such recess portion and connector
are not necessary in this embodiment. Thereby, an expense in time
and effort for manufacturing is reduced and a cost of manufacturing
can be reduced.
[0023] Moreover, in this embodiment, electronic circuit section 13
is molded into and integrated into fuel tank cover member 3 by
resin forming. Hence, (for example) a seal member for preventing
atmosphere within fuel tank 4 or outside air from entering into
electronic circuit section 13 is not necessary to be attached
separately. Thereby, an expense in time and effort for
manufacturing is reduced and a cost of manufacturing can be
reduced.
[0024] Furthermore, electronic circuit section 13 is disposed
within fuel tank 4 in this embodiment. Hence, fuel tank 4 can
protect electronic circuit section 13 from receiving a damage, even
if, for example, a vehicle collision happens.
[0025] In the above-described (first) embodiment, fuel pump module
2 and fuel tank cover member 3 are configured separately each
other. In a second preferred embodiment, a fuel tank cover member
is configured as a fuel pump module which includes a fuel pump and
others. This second embodiment can be also achieved according to
the present invention and, has same advantages as those of the
above-described (first) embodiment.
[0026] The other advantages and preferable technical issues with
respect to the above-described embodiments will now be
explained.
[0027] In the fuel supply apparatus according to the
above-described embodiments, it is favorable that the board of the
electronic circuit section is disposed in a vertical direction
(i.e., a direction along with the surface of the board is a
vertical direction). In this case, an end portion of the electronic
circuit section is disposed at a lower position of the fuel tank.
Hence, the harness between the electronic circuit section and the
electrical equipments inside the fuel tank can be formed in a
shorter shape. Moreover, especially when some components in
addition to the electronic circuit section are installed in the
fuel tank cover member, a layout for these components is more
flexible than a case where the board of the electronic circuit
section is disposed in a horizontal direction or an inclined
direction. Hence, the fuel tank cover member can be configured (or,
designed) to be more compact and lightweight.
[0028] Next, in the fuel supply apparatus according to the
above-described embodiments, it is favorable that the electronic
circuit section is molded (or, covered) after the electronic
circuit section is equipped with the connectors for electrically
connecting the electronic circuit section to the circuits outside
the fuel tank. In this case, the connection is more assuredly
performed, and an expense in time and effort for manufacturing and
a cost of manufacturing can be more reduced than a case where the
connectors are installed in the electronic circuit section after
the electronic circuit section is molded (or, covered).
[0029] This application is based on a prior Japanese Patent
Application No. 2004-179583 filed on Jun. 17, 2004. The entire
contents of this Japanese Patent Application No. 2004-179583 is
hereby incorporated by reference.
[0030] Although the invention has been described above with
reference to certain embodiments of the invention, the invention is
not limited to the embodiments described is above. Modifications
and variations of the embodiments described above will occur to
those skilled in the art in light of the above teachings. The scope
of the invention is defined with reference to the following
claims.
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