Fuel supply devices

A fuel supply device has a cover member which is attached to an opening portion of a fuel tank and a pump unit comprising a pump. The cover member and pump unit are connected via a connecting portion where the pump unit is rotatably connected to the connecting portion. Further, the fuel supply device includes a fuel residual amount detection device which is attached to the pump unit and configured to detect the residual amount of fuel. The fuel residual amount detection device includes a gauge main body to which electric wirings are connected, an arm portion which is movably mounted relative to the gauge main body and a float which is attached to a leading end of the arm portion. The float is positioned above a lower terminal end of the base portion when the cover member is held and lifted while the pump unit rotates with respect to the connecting portion.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

The present application is a National Phase entry of, and claims priority to, PCT Application No. PCT/JP2015/072656, filed Aug. 10, 2015, which claims priority to Japanese Patent Application No. 2014-171442, filed Aug. 26, 2014, both of which are incorporated herein by reference in their entireties for all purposes.

Not applicable.

BACKGROUND

The present disclosure relates to a fuel supply device. In particular, the disclosure relates to a fuel supply device for supplying fuel within a fuel tank to an internal combustion engine, wherein the fuel supply device is mounted to a vehicle, e.g. an automobile.

Fuel supply devices attached to fuel tanks are widely known in the art. It is also widely known that a part of these fuel supply devices can be inserted into an opening formed in an upper surface portion of the fuel tank, where the device is attached to the opening when the fuel supply devices are mounted to the fuel tank. Further, as disclosed in a Japanese Laid-Open Patent Publication No. 2012-184760 (hereinafter referred to as 760 Publication), a pump unit rotatably provided to a fuel supply device is also known. Further, in order to detect the residual amount of fuel stored in the fuel tank, it is also known to attach a fuel residual amount detection device i.e., a center gauge to the pump unit.

BRIEF SUMMARY

However, the prior art disclosed in 760 Publication can still be further improved. According to the fuel supply device disclosed in 760 Publication, the fuel residual amount detection device may strike a bottom surface portion or an edge around an opening portion of the fuel tank, when the fuel supply device is attached to the fuel tank. However, if the fuel residual amount detection device deforms as the fuel residual amount detection device strikes against the fuel tank, the fuel residual amount detection device will not likely perform its expected function.

Therefore, there is a valid need for an undamaged configuration which prevents a fuel residual detection device, which comprises part of a fuel supply device, from striking against a fuel tank.

According to one aspect of the present invention, a fuel supply device comprises a cover member which is attached to an opening portion of a fuel tank as well as a pump unit having a pump. The cover member and pump unit are connected via a connecting portion, where the pump unit is rotatably connected to the connecting portion. In addition, the fuel supply device includes a fuel residual amount detection device attached to the pump unit and configured to detect the residual amount of fuel. This fuel residual amount detection device includes a gauge main body to which electric wirings are connected, an arm portion which is movably mounted relative to the gauge main body, and a float which is attached to a leading end of the arm portion. The float is positioned above a lower terminal end of a base portion when the cover member is held and is lifted while the pump unit is rotatable with respect to the connecting portion.

As a consequence of the base portion at the pump unit abutting the fuel tank, the float constituting an element of the fuel residual amount detection device is prevented from abutting the fuel tank. As a result, it is possible to prevent breakage of the float and deformation of the arm portion, so that the fuel residual amount detection device can perform its expected function.

According to another aspect of the present invention, the connecting portion connects the pump unit and the cover member so that the distance therebetween can be changed by moving at least one part of the connecting portion.

The cover member is further pushed to move downwardly after the pump unit abuts the fuel tank. For this purpose, the pump unit is configured such that it can be easily pressed against the fuel tank. According to the fuel supply device with this configuration, since the float portion is prevented from being abutted to the bottom surface portion of the fuel tank, it would allow the cover member to be attached quickly to the fuel tank without worrying about damage to the float portion. Moreover, it would allow the pump unit to be fixed to the bottom surface portion of the fuel tank.

According to another aspect of the present invention, the pump unit is movably connected relative to a connecting portion while a connecting shaft which may be formed in either one of the connecting portion or the pump unit, is inserted into a connecting hole, which is formed in the other.

Thus, the connecting shaft can move with the connecting hole being contacted when the pump unit moves relative to the connecting portion. Consequently, the pump unit may move in a swinging motion. Accordingly, the pump unit may move while a contact position of the fuel tank with respect to the bottom portion is changed. Even with this configuration, since the float portion is prevented from being abutted to the bottom surface portion of the fuel tank, it would allow the cover member to be attached quickly to the fuel tank without worrying about damage to the float portion. In addition, it would allow the pump unit to be fixed to the bottom surface portion of the fuel tank.

According to another aspect of the present invention, the pump unit includes a protruding portion extending in a direction intersecting the bottom surface of the pump unit. The gauge main body is prevented from being abutted to the edge around the opening portion as the protruding portion restricts a movable range of the pump unit, which is disposed within the circular opening portion of the fuel tank.

Therefore, the gauge main body is prevented from being struck against the edge around the opening portion of the fuel tank. Accordingly, it may be possible to suppress a failure of the fuel residual amount detection device.

According to another aspect of the present invention, the fuel supply device has a cover member attached to an opening portion of the fuel tank and a pump unit with a pump. The cover member and pump unit are connected via a connecting portion while the pump unit is rotatably connected to the connecting portion. Further, the fuel supply device includes a fuel residual amount detection device which is attached to the pump unit and configured to detect the residual amount of fuel. The fuel residual amount detection device includes a gauge main body to which electric wirings are connected, an arm portion which is movably mounted relative to the gauge main body, and a float which is attached to a leading end side of the arm portion. The pump unit includes a protruding portion extending in a direction intersecting the bottom surface of the pump unit. The gauge main body is prevented from being abutted to the edge around the opening portion as the protruding portion restricts a movable range of the pump unit, which is disposed within the circular opening portion of the fuel tank.

Therefore, the gauge main body so restricted is prevented from being struck against the edge around the opening portion of the fuel tank. Accordingly, it may be possible to suppress a potential failure of the fuel residual amount detection device.

According to another aspect, the gauge main body is attached to a lateral surface of the protruding portion which is provided at the pump unit. The protruding portion is placed in a position closer to an outer circumferential side of the base portion than the gauge main body.

Consequently, the protruding portion serves to prevent the gauge main body from being abutted to the edge around the opening portion. In addition, the protruding portion can be effectively used since the protruding portion is used for mounting the gauge main body.

According to another aspect, the gauge main body is attached to a lateral surface of the protruding portion which is provided at the pump unit. The protruding portion has a cover portion and the gauge main body is disposed between the cover portion and the base portion.

Therefore, the protruding portion serves to prevent the gauge main body from being abutted to the edge around the opening portion. In addition, because the protruding portion has the cover portion, it may be possible to suppress the protruding height of the protruding portion from the base portion.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

One exemplary embodiment of the present invention will now be described with reference to the drawings as follows. The forward and backward directions, upward and downward directions, as well as the leftward and rightward directions in the present specification are determined such that X is a forward direction, Y is a leftward direction and Z is an upward direction as shown inFIG. 1etc., where the backwards, upwards, and downwards directions extend in the negative direction of X, Y, and Z, respectively. For example, usually, a cover member2of a fuel supply device1is positioned at an upper side and a pump unit4is positioned at a lower side. A rotary shaft of the pump unit4extends in the leftward and rightward directions. The forward and backward directions are orthogonal to the leftward and rightward directions as well as the upward and downward directions.

The fuel supply device1according to the present embodiment may be mounted on a vehicle, such as an automobile. The fuel supply device1is attached to a fuel tank7(FIG. 2) arranged below a floor of the vehicle. The fuel supply device1is used to feed liquid fuel stored within the fuel tank7into an internal combustion engine (not shown).

As shown inFIGS. 1 and 2, the fuel supply device1according to the present embodiment includes a cover member2attached to an opening portion72which is provided within an upper surface portion71of the fuel tank7, and a pump unit4having a pump41which is used to deliver fuel stored in the fuel tank7to the outside of the fuel tank (e.g., to the engine). Furthermore, the fuel supply device1includes a connecting portion3used for connecting the cover member2with the pump unit4and a fuel residual amount detection device48which detects the amount of residual fuel stored in the fuel tank7. The pump unit4is placed at a bottom surface portion73of the fuel tank7and the cover member2is attached to the opening portion72of the fuel tank7. The cover member2can close the opening portion72of the fuel tank7and press the pump unit4in touching contact along the bottom surface portion73of the fuel tank7.

The cover member2includes a set plate portion21which covers the opening portion72of the fuel tank7. An outlet port23is provided on the substantially disk-shaped set plate21for leading fuel delivered from the pump unit4to the outside of the fuel tank7. Further, the set plate portion21includes an electric connector24for connecting electric wiring. The opening portion72normally has a circular shape, and the set plate portion21has a substantially circular shape in plan view, which is concentric with and thus corresponds to the shape of the opening portion72. A ring made of resin (not shown) is attached to the opening portion72to fill a clearance between the fuel tank7and the cover member2in order to reduce or eliminate the clearance.

The connecting portion3shown inFIGS. 1 and 2is configured to be telescopic. The connecting portion3includes a rod member35attached to the cover member2and a joint portion36which is movable along the length of rod member35. The rod member35extends orthogonal to the plane in which the set plate portion21extends radially. Further, a spring member53that can exert elastic force is arranged between the joint portion36and the cover member2. The spring member53biases the cover member2to move away from the pump unit4whenever the cover member2and the pump unit4are closer than a predetermined distance. In this manner, the spring member53is compressed whenever the cover member2is moved towards the bottom surface portion73of the fuel tank7from an existing state so that the bottom surface of the pump unit4contacts the bottom surface portion73of the fuel tank7. As long as this compressed state of the spring member53is maintained, the pressed state of the pump unit4against the bottom surface portion73will be maintained. In particular, biasing force from the compression of the spring53is transmitted downward from the connecting portion3to a connected engagement portion49which is provided at the pump unit4which presses the engagement portion49against the bottom surface portion73of the fuel tank7.

As shown inFIGS. 1 and 2, the pump unit4is arranged below the cover member2. The pump unit4includes the pump41used for feeding fuel and a base portion42used for mounting the pump41. The base portion42has a substantially planar shape and is arranged so that one side surface of the base portion42faces the bottom surface portion73of the fuel tank7. The base portion42may also be referred to as a fuel reservoir or a sub-tank etc. The base portion42includes an upper base421to which the pump41is attached, a lower base422which is a side surface that faces and contacts the bottom surface portion73of the fuel tank7, and a filter member423which is interleaved between the upper base421and the lower base422. The upper base421is provided with a suction port4211to be connected with the pump41and configured such that the fuel passed through the filter member423can be sucked by the pump41.

The lower base422has an opening (bottom surface opening) (not shown) with a lattice. The lower base422is provided with leg portions4222as shown inFIG. 3so that the fuel can be sucked from the bottom surface opening even when the lower base422is abutting the bottom surface portion73of the fuel tank7. Further, an outer periphery of the upper base421is of a similar shape but smaller than an outer periphery of the lower base422. A clearance is thus formed between the upper base421and the lower base422when the filter member423is not interleaved. The clearance can serve to introduce fuel into the base portion42. In this embodiment, instead of interleaving, one side surface of the upper base421is arranged so as to be covered by the filter member423. As a result, the fuel entering from the clearance into the base portion42also reaches the pump41through the filter member423.

A pressure adjusting valve43, that is used for adjusting liquid feed pressure of the fuel, is attached to the pump unit4. The pressure adjusting valve43is attached to a valve supporting portion extending from the pump41. The fuel with adjusted pressure by the pressure adjusting valve43is fed to the internal combustion engine, for example, via a hose51and the outlet port23.

As shown inFIGS. 1 and 2, the fuel residual amount detection device48is attached to the base portion42of the pump unit4. For example, it may be attached to the upper base421of the base portion42. The fuel residual amount detection device48includes a gauge main body481to which electric wirings are connected, an arm portion482which is movably mounted to the gauge main body481, and a float483which is attached to a free end of the arm portion482. The float483can move as indicated by a void arrow inFIG. 1, where the position of the float483is determined in accordance with the liquid level of fuel. Consequently, the position of the arm portion482is determined in accordance with the position of the float483. According to relative position of the arm portion482to the gauge main body481, the electric resistance value of the gauge main body481is then determined so that ultimately fuel residual amount can be detected.

As shown inFIG. 1, the connecting shaft45provided through the pump unit4is inserted in the connecting hole31formed in the connecting portion3, and extends through the pump unit4to connect the connecting portion3with the pump unit4. Consequently, the connecting portion3and the pump unit4are connected via the connecting shaft45in a relative movable manner. Thus, referring toFIG. 2, the pump unit4rotates relative to the connecting portion3about the connecting shaft45when the fuel supply device1is lifted while the cover member2is held. At this time, one end42aof the base portion42of the pump unit4faces the bottom surface portion73of the fuel tank7. The fuel residual amount detection device48is positioned above the one end42aof the base portion42.

Referring to known conventional art, for commonly known fuel residual amount detection devices, if the float corresponding to float483ofFIG. 1in such a known fuel residual amount detection device is positioned below one end of a pump unit's base facing the bottom of a fuel tank into which the device is inserted, then when the fuel supply device is lifted, the float483often strikes against the bottom surface portion of the fuel tank, which can result in damage. However, in contrast, according to the present embodiment, the fuel residual amount detection device48is positioned above the one end42aof the base portion42when the fuel supply device1is lifted. Therefore, unlike the commonly known art, it is not the fuel residual amount detection device48that abuts the bottom surface portion73of the fuel tank7, but rather the base portion42. In this way, after the base portion42abuts the fuel tank7while being inserted, the lower base422gradually contacts and slides along the fuel tank7. As a result, the fuel residual amount detection device48which is mounted on the upper base421is prevented from being urged to strike against the bottom surface portion73of the fuel tank7. As a result, damage to the fuel residual amount detection device48and the arm portion482, that is caused by the strike of the float483against the fuel tank7can be avoided.

In the present embodiment, the float483and the arm portion482are prevented from striking against the bottom surface portion73of the fuel tank7because the movable ranges of the float483and the arm portion482are restricted so as to not strike against and move past the bottom surface of the lower base422.

As shown in the bottom view ofFIG. 3, referring to the fuel supply device1, a risk of failure that may be caused when the pump unit4is inserted in the opening portion72may also be considered. Specifically, the fuel supply device1may adopt a configuration which can prevent the gauge main body481of the fuel residual amount detection device48from striking against the edge75near the opening portion72of the fuel tank7when the pump unit4is inserted into the fuel tank7. More specifically, a protruding portion61is provided at the pump unit4, which extends outward in leftward-and-rightward direction farther than the fuel residual amount detection device48in a state as shown inFIG. 3. The protruding portion61extends orthogonal to a plane in which the bottom surface of the pump unit4extends in order to restrict the movable range of the pump unit4in the left-to-right direction. Consequently, it prevents the gauge main body48from abutting the edge75around the opening portion72.

As shown inFIG. 1, a substantially planar mounting portion is provided such that it extends from the upper base421of the base portion42of the pump unit4, for mounting the gauge main body481. The mounting portion includes the protruding portion61extending in a direction orthogonal to the plane in which the bottom surface of the pump unit4extends. As shown inFIG. 3the mounting portion including the protruding portion is configured to prevent the gauge main body481from striking against the edge72around the opening portion72. In further detail, the mounting portion in a state as shown inFIG. 3is positioned further radially outward than the gauge main body481and is thus closer to the edge75around the opening portion72than the gauge main body481. As shown inFIG. 1, the mounting portion may also comprise a cover portion611. The cover portion611is disposed closer to the cover member2than the fuel residual amount detection device48when the fuel supply device1is mounted to the fuel tank7. Consequently, the fuel residual amount detection device48, which is farther, is positioned between the cover portion611and the base portion42. The protruding portion61extends from the base portion42in a direction orthogonal to the bottom surface of the base portion42and includes the cover portion611which extends parallel to the bottom surface of the base portion42. In other words, the protruding portion61is configured in an upside-down L-shape as seen from a side view.

According to the present embodiment, the protruding portion61is configured such that its cover portion611can abut the edge75around the opening portion72, which restricts the movable range of the connected pump unit4, which is positioned within the opening portion72. More particularly, in the state shown inFIG. 3, the cover portion611is positioned further radially outward than the gauge main body481and is closer to the edge75around the opening portion72than the gauge main body481. Since the movable range of the pump unit4is restricted in this way, this also prevents the gauge main body481positioned within the opening portion72from abutting the edge75around the opening portion72.

The other embodiment shown inFIGS. 4 and 5will be described as follows. A main difference from the embodiment shown inFIGS. 1 to 3is that a float protection portion441is arranged on a side and extends in front of the base portion42. Hereinafter, this difference will be mainly described. The embodiment shown inFIGS. 4 and 5is different from the embodiment shown inFIGS. 1 to 3in that the plate-like float protection portion441is formed to extend toward the front side of the base portion42(seeFIG. 4andFIG. 5). Such a float protection portion441is also a part of the base portion42and is configured such that it abuts the bottom surface portion73of the fuel tank7prior to the float483. The float protection portion441according to the present embodiment, is a plate-like portion, which extends in the frontal leftward and rightward directions so that the bottom surface of the base portion42can be frontally extended. When this portion is formed, the flexibility in arranging and configuring the fuel residual amount detection device48can be increased, because with the portion it is not necessary any more to arrange the gauge main body481on a rear side or to shorten the arm portion482on which the float483is mounted.

The distance between a leading end of the float protection portion441and a connecting shaft45is made to be longer than the distance between a leading end of the float483and the connecting shaft45to ensure that the float protection portion441abuts the bottom surface portion73of the fuel tank7instead of the float.

According to the embodiment shown inFIGS. 4 and 5, the arm portion482is configured to be substantially L-shaped, which allows the float483to be arranged in a position horizontally opposed to the pump unit4. The float protection portion441is arranged lower than the upper front end surface of the upper base421in order to facilitate the detection of the fuel residual amount. Further, the float protection portion441does not need to have a plate-like configuration because it only needs to extend to the extent necessary to prevent the float portion483from abutting the bottom surface portion73of the fuel tank7.

An additional embodiment shown inFIGS. 6 and 7will be described as follows. A main difference of this embodiment shown inFIGS. 6 and 7from the previous embodiment shown inFIGS. 4 and 5is the arrangement of a float protection portion442. Hereinafter, this difference will be mainly described. According to the embodiment shown inFIGS. 6 and 7, a plate-like float protection portion442extend in the front-vertical plane from the front of the base portion42unlike the embodiment shown inFIGS. 1 to 3(seeFIGS. 6 and 7). In addition, the plate-like float protection portion442is designed to be able to be arranged at the leftward side of the float483. The float protection portion442is forms a part of the base portion41and is configured such that the float protection portion422abuts the bottom surface portion73instead of the float483.

According to the configuration of the embodiment shown inFIGS. 6 and 7, fuel in the vicinity of the bottom surface portion73of the fuel tank7may have a greater chance of being detected compared to the embodiment shown inFIGS. 4 and 5since the base portion42is not arranged below the float483in the horizontal leftward-rightward direction. Incidentally, it is not necessary to configure the float protection portion442according to the embodiment shown inFIGS. 6 and 7to have a plate-like configuration either.

The additional embodiment shown inFIGS. 8 and 9will be described as follows. A main difference between the embodiment shown inFIGS. 8 and 9and the previous embodiment ofFIGS. 4 and 5as well as the embodiment ofFIGS. 6 and 7is an outer configuration of the float protection portion443. Hereinafter, this difference will be mainly described. According to the embodiment shown inFIGS. 8 and 9, a bent plate-like float protection portion443is formed to extend toward the front side from the front of the base portion42unlike the embodiment shown inFIGS. 1 to 3. In addition, the float protection portion443is formed such that it covers both the vertical part and the horizontal part of the float483.

The float protection portion443according to the embodiment shown inFIGS. 8 and 9is configured to be substantially L-shaped from a side view as seen from the front. Therefore, with this configuration, the float protection member443can be strengthened.

The embodiment shown inFIGS. 10 and 11will be described as follows. A main difference of the embodiment shown inFIGS. 10 and 11from the embodiment shown inFIGS. 1 to 3is the arrangement of a float483. A further difference is the arrangement of a float protection portion444at the left side of the base portion42. Hereinafter, the above-mentioned difference will be mainly described. According to the embodiment shown inFIGS. 10 and 11, the float483is formed to extend at the left side of the base portion42unlike the other embodiments. Only this configuration prevents the float483from abutting the bottom surface portion73of the fuel tank7through the positional relation between the float483and the base portion42.

According to the embodiment shown inFIGS. 10 and 11, the plate-like float protection portion444is formed to extend at the left side of the base portion42to cover a lower horizontal surface of the float483. This float protection portion444prevents the float483from abutting the bottom surface portion73of the fuel tank7even when the cover member2is inclined.

The embodiment shown inFIG. 12will be described as follows. A main difference from the embodiment shown inFIGS. 1 to 3is the arrangement of a fuel residual amount detection device48, and therefore, this difference will be mainly described as follows. According to the other embodiments, the fuel residual amount detection device48is arranged in an extension direction of the connecting shaft45, i.e., so that the arm portion482can rotate in the forward or backward directions about a left-to-right central axis. However, according to the embodiment shown inFIG. 12, the fuel residual amount detection device48is configured so that the orientation is changed about 90 degrees to the right. Therefore, unlike any other embodiment, the arm portion482is arranged so as to extend in the leftward and rightward directions, while the float483is formed to extend at the right side of the base portion42. The float483can move in accordance with the liquid level of fuel as indicated by a void arrow.

According to the embodiment shown inFIG. 12, since the base portion42is configured to abut the bottom surface portion73of the fuel tank7, the fuel residual amount detection device48is arranged in a position above one end of the base portion42when the fuel supply device1is lifted. As a result, the float483is prevented from abutting to the bottom surface portion73of the fuel tank7.

The embodiment shown inFIGS. 13 and 14will be described as follows. The difference from the embodiment shown inFIGS. 1 to 3is that the protruding portion62adopted in the embodiment shown inFIGS. 13 and 14is an alternative to the protruding portion61shown inFIGS. 1 to 3. Hereinafter, the above-mentioned difference will be mainly described. While the protruding portion61according to the embodiment shown inFIGS. 1 to 3includes the cover portion611having an L-shaped configuration in side view, the cover portion611is not adopted in the embodiment ofFIGS. 13 and 14. The protruding portion62according to the embodiment ofFIGS. 13 and 14is configured such that the plate-like portion extends in a direction substantially orthogonal to the bottom surface of the base portion42. Even the protruding portion62may serve to restrict the movement of the pump unit4with respect to the circular opening portion72as shown inFIG. 14.

The gauge main body481of the fuel residual amount detection device48is attached to the protruding portion62in the embodiment ofFIGS. 13 and 14. However, the gauge main body481is attached to a lateral surface closer to a center of the pump unit4of the protruding portion62. More specifically, the protruding portion62is placed closer to an outer circumferential side of the pump unit4than the gauge main body481when the fuel tank7is attached in a plane view. The leading end of the protruding portion62is configured to be further vertically away upward from the base portion42than the gauge main body481inFIG. 14. However, it is possible to configure the gauge main body481such that it is placed further upward from the base portion42than the leading end of the protruding portion63as shown inFIG. 15.

The embodiment shown inFIG. 16will be described as follows. The embodiment shown inFIG. 16includes a protruding portion64, which is placed in a position different from that of the previous embodiment's protruding portion62. Hereinafter, this difference will be mainly described. According to the embodiment shown inFIGS. 13 and 14, the protruding portion62is arranged on the same side as the connecting portion3of the pump unit4. However, on the contrary, according to the embodiment shown inFIG. 16, the protruding portion64is placed on the opposite side from the connecting portion3. As in the embodiment ofFIGS. 13 and 14, in the embodiment ofFIG. 16also the protruding portion64is placed in a position closer to the outer circumferential side of the pump unit4than the gauge main body481. Thus, in a similar manner to the embodiment ofFIGS. 13 and 14, hereto the gauge main body481is prevented from abutting the edge75around the opening portion72since the protruding portion64restricts a movable range of the pump unit4.

The embodiment shown inFIGS. 17 to 20will be described as follows. This embodiment includes a protruding portion65, which is placed in a different position than that of the previous embodiment's protruding portion64. Hereinafter, this difference will be mainly described. According the embodiment ofFIGS. 17 to 20, the protruding portion65is provided integrally separate from an attachment portion for the gauge main body481. The protruding portion65is placed closer to the center of the pump unit4in the horizontal leftward and rightward directions such that the leading end of the protruding portion65is positioned above the pump41.

The protruding portion65according to the embodiment shown inFIGS. 17 to 20is also restricts the movable range of the pump unit4, with respect to the opening portion72. This in turn prevents the gauge main body481from abutting the edge around the opening portion72of the fuel tank7(seeFIG. 19).

The shape of protruding portion65according to the embodiment shown inFIGS. 17 to 20may also serve as a guide, which can be used to insert the fuel supply device1into the fuel tank7. The pump unit4is first inserted into the opening portion72when inserting the fuel supply device1into the fuel tank7(seeFIG. 20). An inclined surface641is provided as a guide portion part of the protruding portion65, where the guide portion is designed to be at an incline with respect to the plane in which the bottom surface of the base portion42extends, enabling the pump unit4to move smoothly without rendering the pump unit4unmovable during insertion, through movement of the guide portion while the guide portion abuts the edge around the opening portion72when the pump unit4is inserted through the opening portion72.

While the embodiments of invention have been described with reference to specific configurations, it will be apparent to those skilled in the art that many alternatives, modifications and variations may be made without departing from the scope of the present invention. Accordingly, embodiments of the present invention are intended to embrace all such alternatives, modifications and variations that may fall within the spirit and scope of the appended claims. Embodiments of the present invention should not be limited to the representative configurations, but may be modified, for example, as described below.

For example, a canister portion filled with an adsorbent may be provided at the cover member. In this case, a connecting portion can be configured to connect the canister portion and the pump unit. Alternately, although the cover member may be provided with the canister portion, the connecting portion may be configured to connect the set plate portion and the pump unit.

Additionally, it is not necessary for the filter member to be arranged at the base portion. It is possible for a base portion configuration to not have the filter member. In this case, instead of the base portion, the filter member may be arranged at another portion. If the fuel to be sucked by the pump is maintained in a clean state, the filter member itself does not have to be present in the fuel supply device.

The configuration for movably connecting the connecting portion relative to the pump unit is not limited to the connection by inserting the connecting shaft provided to the pump unit into the connecting hole formed in the connecting portion. Alternatively, it is also possible to configure the connection by inserting the connecting shaft provided to the connecting portion into the connecting hole formed in the pump unit.

The protruding portion provided for protecting the gauge main body may have a configuration other than the plate-like configuration, such as a rod. Further, the protruding portion does not need to be a single portion, such as where it is also possible to protect the gauge main body due to an interaction by providing a plurality of protruding portions.

Moreover, as per the vehicle, the invention is not limited in scope to automobiles. It may also be used in a vehicle that flies in the air (e.g. an airplane or a helicopter), or a vehicle that moves over the sea or submerged in the sea (e.g. a ship or a submarine).