Patent Description:
In general, an internal combustion engine vehicle obtains driving power by burning fossil fuels in an engine. Therefore, a vehicle is configured to store fuel inside the vehicle and can supply it to the engine, and usually, a vehicle using petroleum-based fuel is operated in a state in which a certain amount of fuel is stored in a fuel supply module, so a fuel tank for storing the fuel is essentially installed in the vehicle.

<CIT> describes a fuel tank reinforced with a supportive fuel delivery module.

A fuel pump, in which components are modularized and assembled in an assembly form, is mounted inside a tank, and a fuel pump usually refers to a fuel pump assembly.

Such a fuel pump is an assembly including a pump, a filter, a reservoir cup, valves, and a bracket for assembling each other.

The fuel pump may normally be installed to be suspended from inside the fuel tank, mounted on the inner lower part of the fuel tank, or both mounted on and suspended from the inner lower part of the fuel tank at the same time, resulting in double support.

As described above, the fuel pump may be mounted in various cases, but in all cases, both aspects of mountability and vibration transfer attenuation should be considered.

With regard to the mountability of the fuel pump, the fuel pump module should first be firmly mounted and at the same time easy to assemble. That is, the installation should be easily performed by the operator, and after the installation, the assembly should be solid.

With regard to the vibration transfer attenuation of the fuel pump, after the fuel pump is installed, the vibration generated during operation should be attenuated and transferred to another place.

Since mounting of the fuel pump according to conventional arts is a method in which parts such as a mount are manufactured to be elastic and the fuel pump is fastened using a fastening means such as a bolt and nut from the top, there is a problem that both mountability and vibration transfer attenuation are inferior.

The above information disclosed in this Background section is only for enhancement of understanding of the background of the disclosure and it may therefore contain information that does not form the prior art that is already known to a person of ordinary skill in the art.

In order to solve such a problem, the present invention is directed to providing a fixation apparatus of fuel pump capable of accurately and conveniently assembling a fuel pump to a fixed position of a fuel tank.

In order to solve such a problem, a fixation apparatus of fuel pump according to claim <NUM> is provided.

As the first latching protrusion is fixed in the first latching groove, the reservoir cup may be restricted from moving in the vertical (Z axis) direction, and as the fixing member is fixed in the fixing groove or fixing hole, the reservoir cup may be restricted from moving in the transverse (X axis) direction (perpendicular to the Z axis).

An accommodating groove for accommodating the fixing member may be formed in the reservoir cup, and the fixing member may be moved in the vertical direction along the accommodating groove.

The accommodating groove may be open to one side of the outer surface of the reservoir cup, the fixing member may include a hook protruding in the outer direction of the accommodating groove, and a rib at which the hook is caught may be formed on one side of the reservoir cup.

The fixation apparatus of fuel pump may further include a first guide member formed to protrude from an upper surface of the base and guiding the reservoir cup to move in the vertical direction.

The first latching protrusion may be formed to protrude laterally from the reservoir cup or formed to protrude from the lower side surface of the reservoir cup.

The reservoir cup may include a second latching protrusion that is disposed to be spaced apart parallel to the first latching protrusion on the other side of the reservoir cup, and a second latching groove into which the second latching protrusion is fixed may be formed in the base.

Any one of the first latching groove or the second latching groove may communicate with a seating groove in which any one of the first latching protrusion or the second latching protrusion is seated.

The fixation apparatus of fuel pump may further include a stopper protruding from the upper surface of the base to restrict the reservoir cup from moving in the transverse direction and disposed to be spaced apart from the first guide member.

The fixation apparatus of fuel pump may further include a second guide member disposed to be space apart from the first guide member and formed to protrude from the upper surface of the base, wherein the fixing member may include a combining member corresponding to the second guide member.

According to an embodiment of the present invention, the base is disposed between the reservoir cup and the fuel tank to attenuate vibration caused by the operation of the fuel pump, and since the latching protrusion is inserted into the latching groove to restrict the reservoir cup from moving in the Z axis direction and the fixing member restricts the reservoir cup from moving in the X axis, the convenience of fixing the fuel pump to the fuel tank is improved.

The above and other aspects, features, and advantages of the present invention will become more apparent to those of ordinary skill in the art by describing embodiments thereof in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:.

Hereinafter, various embodiments will be described in more detail with reference to the accompanying drawings. Embodiments according to the present invention may be variously modified. Specific embodiments may be depicted in the drawings and described in detail in the detailed description. However, specific embodiments disclosed in the accompanying drawings are only intended to facilitate understanding of various embodiments.

Terms including ordinal numbers such as first and second may be used to describe various elements, but these elements are not limited by the above-described terms. The above-described terms are only used to differentiate one element from another.

It is understood that the terms "comprise" or "have", when used in the embodiments of the present invention, are intended to specify the presence of stated features, integers, steps, operations, elements, components and/or a combination thereof described in the embodiments of the present invention but not preclude the possibility of the presence or addition of one or more other features, integers, steps, operations, elements, components, or a combination thereof. When an element is referred to as being "connected" or "linked" to other element, it will be understood that it can be directly connected or linked to the other element but intervening elements may also be present. On the other hand, when an element is referred to as being "directly connected" or "directly linked" to other element, it will be understood that there are no intervening elements present.

Meanwhile, a "module" or "member" for an element used in an embodiment of the present invention performs at least one function or operation. And, the "module" or "member" may perform a function or operation by hardware, software, or a combination of hardware and software. In addition, a plurality of "modules" or a plurality of "members" excluding "module" or "member" to be performed in a specific hardware or performed by at least one processor may be integrated into at least one module. Expressions in the singular include plural expressions unless the context clearly indicates otherwise.

In addition, in describing an embodiment of the present invention, when it is determined that a detailed description of a related known function or configuration may unnecessarily obscure the subject matter of the present invention, the detailed description thereof will be abbreviated or omitted.

<FIG> is a perspective view showing a fixation apparatus of fuel pump according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention, <FIG> is an exploded perspective view showing a fixation apparatus of fuel pump according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention, and <FIG> is a view partially showing a state in which a reservoir cup is seated on a base in a fixation apparatus of fuel pump according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention.

Referring to <FIG>, a fixation apparatus of fuel pump <NUM> according to an embodiment of the present invention includes a base <NUM>, a reservoir cup <NUM> and a fixing member <NUM>.

The base <NUM> may be coupled to an inner side surface of a fuel tank (not shown) of a vehicle by a welding method. The base <NUM> is not limited to being coupled to the inner side surface of the fuel tank by a welding method, and may be coupled by various methods such as an adhesive method. The base <NUM> may be made of a metal or plastic material, and in addition may be made of various materials having rigidity.

The bas hase a first latching groove (111a) formed on one side thereof. The base <NUM> may include latching members <NUM> and <NUM> and a guide member <NUM>.

The latching members <NUM> and <NUM> may protrude from the upper surface of the base <NUM>. The latching groove 111a may be formed in the latching members <NUM> and <NUM>. The latching groove 111a may have a shape opened in a transverse direction (e.g., an X axis direction). The latching members <NUM> and <NUM> may include a first latching member <NUM> having a first latching groove 111a and a second latching member <NUM> having a second latching groove. The first latching member <NUM> and the second latching member <NUM> may be disposed to be spaced apart from each other.

The first guide member <NUM> may protrude from the upper surface of the base <NUM>. The first guide member <NUM> may have a curved shape. The first guide member <NUM> may be disposed to be spaced apart from the second latching member <NUM>. For example, the second latching member <NUM> may be disposed between the first latching member <NUM> and the first guide member <NUM>. A seating groove 112a may be formed between the second latching member <NUM> and the first guide member <NUM>.

In addition, the first guide member <NUM> may include a guide body 113a and a transverse guide member 113b. The guide body 113a may have a curved surface corresponding to the outer side surface of the reservoir cup <NUM>. The transverse guide member 113b may extend from both side ends of the guide body 113a. The transverse guide member 113b may surround both side ends of a guide protrusion <NUM> formed in the reservoir cup <NUM>. As the transverse guide member 113b contacts both side ends of the guide protrusion <NUM> while the guide body 113a contacts the side surfaces of the guide protrusion <NUM>, the reservoir cup <NUM> may be guided for movement in a vertical direction.

The reservoir cup <NUM> may be moved in a vertical direction (e.g., a Z axis direction) to be seated on the base <NUM>. The reservoir cup <NUM> may be formed in an approximately cylindrical shape. The reservoir cup <NUM> may be made of a metal or plastic material, and in addition may be made of various materials having rigidity. A configuration (not shown) of a fuel pump for pumping fuel from the fuel tank to an engine of the vehicle may be disposed inside the reservoir cup <NUM>.

The reservoir cup <NUM> may be guided by the first guide member <NUM> to move in the Z axis direction. A portion of the reservoir cup <NUM> may be seated in the seating groove 112a.

The reservoir cup has a first latching protrusion (121a) on one side. The reservoir cup <NUM> may include a latching protrusion <NUM> and a rib <NUM>. The latching protrusion <NUM> may include the first latching protrusion 121a and a second latching protrusion 121b. The first latching protrusion 121a may be formed to protrude laterally from the reservoir cup. The second latching protrusion 121b may be formed to protrude from the lower side surface of the reservoir cup <NUM>. According to an embodiment of the present invention, the first latching protrusion 121a may be formed to protrude laterally from the reservoir cup <NUM> or may be formed to protrude from the lower side surface of the reservoir cup <NUM>.

As the first latching protrusion 121a is moved in the X axis direction substantially perpendicular to the Z axis direction while the reservoir cup <NUM> is seated on the base <NUM>, it is fixed in the first latching groove 111a. In addition, the second latching protrusion 121b may be disposed to be spaced apart parallel to the first latching protrusion on the other side of the reservoir cup. The second latching protrusion 121b may be fixed in the second latching groove.

In this way, as the latching protrusion <NUM> is inserted into the latching groove 111a, the reservoir cup <NUM> may be restricted from moving in the Z axis direction.

The fixing member <NUM> is installed in the reservoir cup <NUM> to fix the base (<NUM>) and the reservoir cup (<NUM>). The fixing member <NUM> may be installed in the reservoir cup <NUM> so as to be movable in the vertical direction. While the first latching protrusion of the reservoir cup <NUM> is inserted into the first latching groove, the fixing member <NUM> may be moved in the Z axis direction to fix the base <NUM> and the reservoir cup <NUM>. The fixing member <NUM> may be formed in an approximately rod shape. The fixing member <NUM> may be made of a metal or plastic material, and in addition may be made of various materials having rigidity. An accommodating groove 112a for accommodating the fixing member <NUM> may be formed in the reservoir cup <NUM>. The accommodating groove 112a may have a shape corresponding to the fixing member <NUM>. The fixing member <NUM> may be moved in the Z axis direction through the accommodating groove 112a. A fixing groove or a fixing hole 110a into which one end of the fixing member <NUM> is inserted is formed in the base <NUM>. Hereinafter, for convenience of description, the fixing groove will be referred to as including the fixing hole. A cross section of one end of the fixing member <NUM> may have a circular shape. The fixing groove 110a is formed in a circular shape corresponding to one end of the circular fixing member <NUM> so that it is possible to prevent damage to the periphery of the fixing groove 110a due to an impact caused by the insertion of the fixing member <NUM>.

In this way, as the latching protrusion <NUM> is inserted into the latching groove 111a, the reservoir cup <NUM> is restricted from moving in the Z axis direction, and as the fixing member <NUM> is inserted into the fixing groove 110a, the reservoir cup <NUM> is restricted from moving in the X axis direction; so the reservoir cup <NUM> is firmly fixed to the base <NUM>, improving convenience of fixing.

The fixing member <NUM> will be described in detail later with reference to the drawings.

<FIG> is a top plan view showing a state in which a reservoir cup is seated on a base in a fixation apparatus of fuel pump according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention, <FIG> is a top plan view showing a state in which a reservoir cup is moved on a base in the X axis direction in a fixation apparatus of fuel pump according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention, <FIG> is a cross-sectional view schematically showing a state in which a reservoir cup is seated on a base in a fixation apparatus of fuel pump according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention, and <FIG> is a cross-sectional view schematically showing a state in which a reservoir cup is moved on a base in the X axis direction in a fixation apparatus of fuel pump according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention.

A process in which the reservoir cup <NUM> is moved in the X axis direction will be described in detail with reference to <FIG>.

The second latching protrusion 121b may include a Z axis protrusion 121ba and a X axis protrusion 121bb. The Z axis protrusion 121ba may protrude in the Z axis direction from the lower side surface of the reservoir cup <NUM>. The X axis protrusion 121bb may extend and protrude in the X axis direction from the Z axis protrusion 121ba.

In addition, the second latching member <NUM> may include a first extending member 112c and a second extending member 112d. The first extending member 112c may extend in the Z axis direction from the lower side surface of the base <NUM>. The second extending member 112d may extend in the X axis direction from the first extending member 112c. A second latching groove 112b may be formed between the second latching member <NUM> and the base <NUM>. The second latching groove 112b may have a shape corresponding to the X axis protrusion 121bb. The second latching groove 112b may communicate with the seating groove 112a (see <FIG>). According to an embodiment of the present invention, any one of the first latching groove 111a or the second latching groove 112b may communicate with a seating groove in which any one of the first latching protrusion 121a or the second latching protrusion 121b is seated.

As the reservoir cup <NUM> is moved in the X axis direction while the reservoir cup <NUM> is seated on the base <NUM>, the X axis protrusion 121bb may be inserted into the second latching groove 112b. In addition, as described above, the first latching protrusion 112a is also inserted into the first latching groove 111a, so that the reservoir cup <NUM> may be restricted from being moved on the base <NUM> in the Z axis direction.

<FIG> is a cross-sectional view schematically showing a fixing member and a stopper while a reservoir cup is moved on a base in the X axis direction in a fixation apparatus of fuel pump according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention.

Referring to <FIG>, the fixing member <NUM> may include a fixing body <NUM> and a combining member <NUM>. The fixing body <NUM> may be accommodated in the accommodating groove 122a of the reservoir cup <NUM>. The combining member <NUM> may extend in the Z axis direction from the fixing body <NUM>. The combining member <NUM> may be combined with a portion of the base <NUM>.

In addition, the reservoir cup <NUM> may include a third extending member <NUM> and a fourth extending member <NUM>. The third extending member <NUM> may extend in the X axis direction from the outer side surface of the reservoir cup <NUM>. The fourth extending member <NUM> may extend in the Z axis direction from the third extending member <NUM>. The fourth extending member <NUM> may contact the lower side surface of the reservoir cup <NUM>. An accommodation space 125a for accommodating the combining member <NUM> may be formed between the third extending member <NUM> and the lower side surface of the base <NUM>. While the combining member <NUM> is accommodated in the accommodation space 125a, the reservoir cup <NUM> may be moved on the base <NUM> in the X axis direction.

In addition, the fixation apparatus of fuel pump <NUM> according to an embodiment of the present invention may further include a stopper <NUM> formed to protrude from the upper surface of the base.

The stopper <NUM> may be disposed to be spaced apart from the first guide member <NUM>. The stopper <NUM> may be parallel to the fourth extending member <NUM>. The accommodation space 125a may be formed between the stopper <NUM> and the fourth extending member <NUM>. When the reservoir cup <NUM> is moved on the base <NUM> in the X axis direction, the fourth extending member <NUM> may contact the stopper <NUM>. The stopper <NUM> may restrict the reservoir cup <NUM> from being moved in the X axis direction. Accordingly, it is possible to prevent the latching members <NUM> and <NUM> from being damaged by the latching protrusion <NUM> due to the reservoir cup <NUM> being excessively moved in the X axis direction.

In addition, according to an embodiment of the present invention, the sum (L1 + L2) of the height L1 of the stopper <NUM> and the height L2 of the combining member <NUM> may be less than the distance L3 between the third extending member <NUM> and the lower side surface of the base <NUM>. Accordingly, it is possible to prevent the combining member <NUM> from interfering with the stopper <NUM> while the reservoir cup <NUM> is moved in the X axis direction.

<FIG> is a side view schematically showing a state before a fixing member is moved in the Z axis direction in a fixation apparatus of fuel pump according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention, <FIG> is a side view schematically showing a state after a fixing member is moved in the Z axis direction in a fixation apparatus of fuel pump according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention, and <FIG> is a cross-sectional view schematically showing a state after a fixing member is moved in the Z axis direction in a fixation apparatus of fuel pump according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention.

Referring to <FIG>, the fixing member <NUM> may further include a hook <NUM>. The accommodating groove 122a may be open to one side of the outer surface of the reservoir cup <NUM>. The hook <NUM> may protrude in the outer direction of the accommodating groove 122a. The hook <NUM> may be made of a material having elasticity such as a leaf spring.

In addition, a rib <NUM> at which the hook <NUM> is caught may be formed on one side of the reservoir cup <NUM>. When the fixing member <NUM> is moved in the Z axis through the accommodating groove 122a, the hook <NUM> is caught at the rib <NUM>, thereby preventing the fixing member <NUM> from being deviated from the base <NUM>.

In addition, the fixation apparatus of fuel pump according to an embodiment of the present invention may further include a second guide member <NUM>. The second guide member <NUM> may be disposed to be spaced apart from the first guide member <NUM> (see <FIG>). The second guide member <NUM> may be formed to protrude from the upper surface of the base <NUM>. The second guide member <NUM> may include a plurality of guide protrusions <NUM>. The plurality of guide protrusions <NUM> may be disposed parallel to each other. The combining member <NUM> may be inserted between the plurality of guide protrusions <NUM>. The plurality of guide protrusions <NUM> may guide the combining member <NUM> to move in the Z axis direction.

In this way, as the fixing member <NUM> is inserted in the fixing groove 110a (see <FIG>), the reservoir cup <NUM> may be prevented from moving on the base <NUM> in the X axis direction.

Claim 1:
A fixation apparatus of fuel pump, comprising:
a base(<NUM><NUM>) coupled to a fuel tank and having a first latching groove(111a) formed at one side thereof;
a reservoir cup(<NUM>) seated on the base(<NUM><NUM>), and wherein the reservoir cup(<NUM>) having a first latching protrusion(121a) on one side, and wherein the first latching protrusion(121a) is fixed in the first latching groove(111a); and
a fixing member(<NUM>) installed in the reservoir cup(<NUM>), wherein the fixing member(<NUM>) fixes the base(<NUM>) and the reservoir cup(<NUM>),
wherein a fixing groove or fixing hole(<NUM>10a) into which the fixing member(<NUM>) is fixed is formed in the base(<NUM><NUM>).