Reservoir cup assembly of LPG fuel tank for vehicle

A reservoir cup assembly of an LPG fuel tank for a vehicle is configured to be installed on the fuel storage space side of the LPG fuel tank for automobiles, and includes a cup body disposed on the bottom side of the fuel storage space of the fuel tank and having a reservoir space for storing residual LPG fuel and a fuel supply formed on the reservoir space side of the cup body and inducing fuel from the fuel storage space side to the reservoir space side to a state in which fuel can flow in and remain stored.

TECHNICAL FIELD

The present disclosure relates to a reservoir cup assembly of a fuel tank for a vehicle.

BACKGROUND

Vehicles may use liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) as fuel and include an LPG fuel tank for charging and storing the corresponding fuel.

Depending on the shape of the LPG fuel tank, there are largely a cylindrical tank and a donut (or “toroidal”) tank, and the fuel tank is mainly used in a state of being installed inside the trunk of a passenger car.

In some cases, an LPG fuel tank may be used in a state in which liquefied high-pressure gas fuel is charged inside the tank and mounted on a running vehicle. Therefore, a tank structure may provide stably discharging and supplying the charged gas fuel as well as ensuring the stability of charging and storing the gas fuel.

In some cases, the LPG fuel tank may include a tank unit for filling and storing gas fuel, and a fuel supply unit for discharging and supplying the gas fuel filled and stored inside the tank unit to be used for driving the internal combustion engine of a vehicle (e.g., a pump device).

In some cases, a reservoir unit may provide a fuel reservoir function even if the tank unit shakes or tilts according to the driving of the vehicle, such that the gas fuel inside the tank may be discharged and supplied stably by the operation of the fuel supply unit.

Therefore, in order to secure device efficiency and operational stability of the LPG fuel tank for automobiles, it is desirable to have a reservoir unit having a structure capable of realizing fuel reservoir functionality and efficiency corresponding thereto.

SUMMARY

The present disclosure describes a reservoir cup assembly of an LPG fuel tank for a vehicle formed to induce residual storage of the fuel in a state consistent with a stable emission supply of the LPG fuel at the side of the LPG fuel tank for a vehicle.

In order to realize the object of the present disclosure as described above, a reservoir cup assembly of an LPG fuel tank for a vehicle is configured to be installed on the fuel storage space side of the LPG fuel tank for automobiles, and includes: a cup body disposed on the bottom side of the fuel storage space of the fuel tank and having a reservoir space for storing residual LPG fuel; and a fuel supply formed on the reservoir space side of the cup body and inducing fuel from the fuel storage space side to the reservoir space side to a state in which fuel can flow in and remain stored. The fuel supply includes a supply passage formed on the bottom surface of the reservoir space of the cup body and a supply valve disposed on the supply passage side to control the flow of fuel in one direction in a state consistent with the inflow and remaining storage of fuel.

The present disclosure as described above is formed in a state of forming a reservoir space for discharging and supplying fuel inside the LPG fuel tank for automobiles. In particular, the present disclosure provides a reservoir cup structure that can lead to more stable fuel inflow and residual storage in the reservoir space.

Therefore, the present disclosure can expect the effect of further increasing the fuel storage efficiency and stability of the LPG fuel tank for automobiles.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Hereinafter, example implementations of the present disclosure will be described with reference to the accompanying drawings.

FIG.1is a view schematically showing an example structure of a reservoir cup assembly of an LPG fuel tank for a vehicle,FIGS.2to7are views for explaining the detailed structure and operation of the reservoir cup assembly of the LPG fuel tank for automobiles.

In some implementations, referring toFIGS.1to5, a reservoir cup assembly of an LPG fuel tank for a vehicle includes a cup body10and a fuel supply20.

For example, the reservoir cup assembly, as shown inFIG.1, can be installed on the LPG fuel tank (T, hereinafter referred to as “fuel tank”) side for vehicles having a donut shape (DONUT TYPE). On the side of the fuel tank T, a fuel supply device P for discharging and supplying LPG fuel (G, hereinafter referred to as “fuel”) to the outside of the tank by a suction (pumping) action in conjunction with the side of the cup body10is provided.

As shown inFIGS.1and2, the cup body10has a reservoir space12with an open top inside, and is mounted on the fuel storage space S side of the fuel tank T in a state corresponding to the fuel supply device P side.

The material of the cup body10can be used among metal materials and synthetic resin materials. For example, the material of the cup body10can be selected from among stainless-based metals with excellent durability and corrosion resistance.

In particular, in a state where the cup body10is disposed inside the fuel tank T, it can be stored in a residual storage state in which the fuel G can be stably discharged and supplied in conjunction with the side of the fuel supply20to be described later.

That is, the cup body10can be fixedly installed on the bottom surface of the fuel storage space S of the fuel tank T as shown inFIGS.2and3, for example, a reservoir space12is formed inside the cup circumference of a quadrangular shape, and the opening side of the reservoir space12is arranged so as to correspond to the fuel supply device P side.

At this time, the cup body10is fixedly installed on the bottom surface side of the fuel storage space S of the fuel tank T, and as shown inFIG.2, the cup body10is fixedly installed so that the end side of the suction head P1of the fuel supply device P is disposed in close proximity to the inner bottom surface side of the reservoir space12.

In addition, the cup body10is fixedly installed on the bottom surface side of the fuel storage space S of the fuel tank T, and is fixedly installed in a matching state so as to enable a smooth inducing action on the side of the fuel supply20to be described later.

To this end, as shown inFIG.4, a ground portion14for securing a gap can be formed on the bottom surface of the cup body10, the ground portion14for securing the gap can be formed to have a shape in which the bottom surface of the cup protrudes downward in a semicircular shape.

When the cup body10side is fixed inside the fuel tank T, as inFIG.4, the ground portion14for securing the gap can provide a grounding structure fixed to the bottom surface of the fuel storage space S in a state in which it is directly contacted and supported. In addition, the fixing treatment operation can be performed in a normal welding method.

Then, below the bottom surface of the cup body10bonded and fixed to the fuel storage space S side, supply gaps S1can be respectively secured in a state corresponding to the fuel supply20side with the welding joint14aon the ground portion14side for securing the gap interposed therebetween.

The shape of the cup body10is not limited to the outer shape of the rectangular type as described above. In some examples, the cup body10can have an external shape corresponding to the shape of the fuel tank T or the condition of the reservoir of the fuel G. In some examples, a curvature of the bottom surface of the cup body10can be different from a curvature of the bottom side of the fuel storage space of the fuel tank T.

In some examples, the fuel supply20is formed to induce the inflow and residual storage of the fuel G in a state consistent with securing a stable fuel G reservoir environment on the side of the cup body10.

In particular, the fuel supply20is formed to more stably induce the inflow and remaining storage of the fuel G in a state in which the fuel G can be smoothly discharged and supplied through the cup body10even if phenomena such as tilting or shaking of the vehicle body occur.

As shown inFIGS.3to4, the fuel supply20includes a supply passage22formed on the inner surface side of the reservoir space12of the cup body10, and a supply valve24installed on the side of this supply passage22and for controlling the flow of fuel G in a state consistent with the inflow and residual storage of fuel G.

The supply passage22is formed on the inner surface side of the reservoir space12of the cup body10. For example, as shown inFIG.3, the supply passage22can be spaced apart from each other on the inner bottom surface side of the reservoir space12and formed in the form of holes respectively drilled downward.

And, as shown inFIG.4, the supply passage22can be formed to be spaced apart from the bottom surface of the cup body10with the joint14aof the ground portion14for securing a gap interposed therebetween.

Then, in a state where the cup body10side is installed on the inner bottom surface side of the fuel tank T, supply gaps S1can be secured under the supply passages22, respectively.

The supply valve24is installed on the side of the supply passage22, respectively, and is set and formed so that the valve action is made to allow the inflow and blocking of fuel G in a state consistent with the reservoir function of the cup body10.

That is, the supply valves24allow fuel G to flow from the outside to the inside of the cup body10through each of the supply passages22, but the discharge of the introduced fuel G can be blocked. Low valve action (one-way fluid flow) is set and configured to be possible.

The supply valve24can be selected and used from among various fluid valves, one-way valves having a valve size and shape corresponding to the side of the supply passage22and capable of controlling the flow of fluid in one direction. For example, the supply valve24can be a check valve.

The fuel supply20can induce the remaining fuel G in the tank to be stably stored inside the cup body10in a state where the cup body10side is installed inside the fuel tank T.

That is, as shown inFIG.4, the fuel supply20can induce the fuel G contained in the fuel storage space S side of the fuel tank T is smoothly introduced into the reservoir space12side of the cup body10by the supply passage22and the supply valve24and is confined so that the residue is stored.

In addition, when the remaining level of the LPG fuel G contained in a liquefied state inside the fuel tank T is higher than the point of the supply passage22from the bottom surface of the fuel storage space S, through the supply passage22, the cup body10can be introduced into the reservoir space12and stored in a state where the remaining storage is induced.

In particular, as shown inFIG.5, when shaking or tilting of the fuel tank T occurs, the fuel supply20can induce residual storage of the fuel G so that the inflow of the remaining fuel G in the fuel storage space S into the inside of the cup body10through the supply passage22is possible, but the discharge of the introduced fuel G is blocked (suppressed) so as to be confined.

According to the action of the fuel supply20as described above, in the reservoir space12of the cup body10, a reservoir environment in which the fuel G can be normally suctioned by the suction head P1of the fuel supply device P can be maintained.

And, due to this, the exhaust supply of the fuel G can be made in a more stable state consistent with the driving of the vehicle.

Therefore, the fuel supply20can further enhance the stability and efficiency of the fuel G reservoir in the reservoir space12of the cup body10.

In addition, the fuel supply20is formed on the bottom surface side of the cup body10, but is not limited to the arrangement and structure formed at two points as shown inFIGS.3and4.

In some implementations, the fuel supply20can be spaced apart from one point or two or more points on the side of the cup body10to enable the implementation of a reservoir environment that corresponds to the normal shaking or tilting of a vehicle.

In some implementations, referring toFIGS.6to7, the reservoir cup assembly of the LPG fuel tank for a vehicle can further include an auxiliary supply30corresponding to the side of the fuel supply20.

The auxiliary supply30is formed to have a structure capable of increasing the fuel G inflow efficiency of the fuel supply20side.

As shown inFIG.6, the auxiliary supply30has an auxiliary passage32and an inflow passage34, is formed in a state of connecting between the supply passage22side and the bottom surface of the fuel storage space S of the fuel tank T at the side of the supply gap S1on the lower side of the cup body10, and is formed to provide a passage structure through which the inflow of the fuel G can be more smoothly induced on the side of the supply passage22.

That is, the auxiliary supply30connects the side of the supply passage22of the cup body10and the bottom surface of the fuel storage space S to each other. Therefore, as shown inFIG.6, an auxiliary passage32is formed inside the circumference, and one or more inflow passages34are formed on the circumference in a state of being in communication with the auxiliary passage32side.

The inflow passage34is formed to have a passage shape through which the remaining fuel G contained in the fuel storage space S side of the fuel tank T can be introduced to the auxiliary passage32side, and the auxiliary passage32is formed to have a passage shape through which the fuel G introduced from the inflow passage34can be introduced to the supply passage22side.

In particular, the auxiliary passage32and the inflow passage34can be formed to have a passage shape through which the inflow of the fuel G can be more smoothly induced toward the supply passage22.

For example, the auxiliary passage32is formed inside the circumference of the auxiliary supply30, and as shown inFIG.6, it can be formed to have a passage shape in which the size of the circumference of the space gradually increases from the bottom side of the fuel storage space S toward the supply passage22side.

Then, for example, as shown inFIG.7, when the fuel tank T is shaken or tilted in a state where the fuel G is introduced into the auxiliary passage32, the flow of the fuel G can be more smoothly induced toward the supply passage22along the inclined inner surface of the passage.

In addition, the inflow passage34is formed through the circumference side of the auxiliary supply30as shown inFIG.6, and can be formed to have a passage shape in which the size of the circumference of the passage gradually decreases from the outside to the inside of the circumference.

Then, the remaining fuel G contained in the fuel storage space S side of the fuel tank T is introduced more smoothly to the side of the auxiliary passage32through the inflow passage34, and the flow of fuel G can be induced so that emission can be suppressed.

In addition, as shown inFIG.6, the auxiliary supply30can be formed to have a shape (e.g., a cone) in which the size of the circumference gradually increases while extending downward from the side of the supply passage22.

Then, the remaining fuel G contained in the fuel storage space S side can be more smoothly introduced into the inflow passage34side.

Such an auxiliary supply30is formed in a state corresponding to the side of the supply passage22at the bottom of the cup body10to induce the remaining fuel G inside the fuel tank T to more smoothly induce inflow to the cup body10side.

Therefore, the auxiliary supply30can achieve a structure consistent with the improvement of operational efficiency and operational stability of the fuel supply20side.

Accordingly, as shown inFIGS.1and2, the present disclosure can provide a reservoir cup structure which is installed inside the fuel tank T so that the fuel G charged and stored inside the tank T can be discharged and supplied more smoothly by the suction (pumping) operation of the fuel supply device P. Residual storage of fuel G can be induced in this state.