Provided is a protective structure (64) for a fuel pipe (45) extending along the intake side of an engine main body (9) under an intake manifold (20). A protective member (61) is placed in front of the fuel pipe. The protective member includes a pair of legs (64, 65) secured to the intake side of the engine main body, a main body (63) extending from the legs upward in an arcuate manner along a front side of the fuel pipe and bent rearward in an upper part thereof, and an abutting projection (63G) extending from an upper end of the main body and projecting upward and rearward. A fastening member (26, 27) is passed through a flange of the intake manifold, and includes an engagement feature (36) positioned behind a free end of the abutting projection. The protective member minimizes the loading transmitted to the fuel pipe at the time of a vehicle crash.

The present invention provides a protective construction of a fuel pump. The protective construction includes a pump shield, disposed on an internal-combustion engine, wherein a specified interval exists at a carriage side of a vehicle in opposite to a high-pressure fuel pump and the pump shield overlaps the high-pressure fuel pump in a front and rear direction. The pump shield includes: a base portion having a width increasing gradually towards the high-pressure fuel pump; a left protective arm portion and a right protective arm portion, extending diagonally and integrally extend upwards from a specified location of the base portion to the side of the high-pressure fuel pump, wherein an interval between the left protective arm portion and the right protective arm portion increases gradually towards the high-pressure fuel pump, and a beam portion, integrally extending between the left protective arm portion and the right protective arm portion.

Fuel protection apparatus and related systems for use with vehicles are disclosed. A disclosed vehicle includes a fuel component in an engine compartment of the vehicle. The vehicle also includes a spacer coupled to a cam carrier and positioned proximate to the fuel component. The vehicle also includes a protector coupled to a cylinder head and spaced from the spacer and the cam carrier. The protector is configured to receive a load from a cowl brace or firewall of the vehicle during a vehicle impact event in which an engine assembly of the vehicle moves relative to the cowl brace or firewall. The protector is configured to transfer the load to the cylinder head, the cam carrier, and the spacer to protect the fuel component.

A fuel delivery unit for use within a vehicle fuel tank includes: a surge tank arranged on a wall of the fuel tank, a feed line extending from a region of the surge tank to a connector stub on the flange, and a wiring harness extending from the fuel pump to the flange. A flange-side holder forms a first force application point for fixing the wiring harness on a flange side, and a surge tank-side holder forms a second force application point for fixing the wiring harness on the surge tank side. The wiring harness, the flange-side holder and the surge tank-side holder together form a force absorber configured to protect the feed line and the connector stub during a vehicle impact by absorbing kinetic energy from the impact acting on the fuel delivery unit, thereby dissipating the kinetic energy.

A side part structure of an engine having cylinders lined up in a front-and-rear direction of a vehicle body, is provided. The structure includes auxiliary machinery disposed in a front part of one side wall part of the engine in a vehicle width direction, a fuel system component disposed in a rear part of the side wall part, an intercooler disposed between the auxiliary machinery and the fuel system component, and a first protector member disposed between the intercooler and the fuel system component. At least a front part of the first protector member is formed so as to be separated from the side wall part as it extends rearward. A front part of the intercooler is disposed rearward of the auxiliary machinery and the intercooler is disposed along the first protector member so as to be separated from the side wall part as it extends rearward.

Fuel protection apparatus and related systems for use with vehicles are disclosed. A disclosed vehicle includes a fuel component in an engine compartment of the vehicle. The vehicle also includes a spacer coupled to a cam carrier and positioned proximate to the fuel component. The vehicle also includes a protector coupled to a cylinder head and spaced from the spacer and the cam carrier. The protector is configured to receive a load from a cowl brace or firewall of the vehicle during a vehicle impact event in which an engine assembly of the vehicle moves relative to the cowl brace or firewall. The protector is configured to transfer the load to the cylinder head, the cam carrier, and the spacer to protect the fuel component.

A protector protects a high-pressure fuel pump for an internal combustion engine. A metal collar is insert-molded into a plate-shaped fiber reinforced plastic portion made of a fiber reinforced plastic of the protector. An outer circumferential surface of the collar includes an uneven portion and a smooth surface. The uneven portion includes recesses and projections arranged alternately in a thickness direction of the fiber reinforced plastic portion. The smooth portion includes a smooth surface parallel to the thickness direction of the fiber reinforced plastic portion. The uneven portion and the smooth portion are arranged in the thickness direction on the outer circumferential surface of the collar.

A side part structure of an engine having cylinders lined up in a front-and-rear direction of a vehicle body, is provided. The structure includes auxiliary machinery disposed in a front part of one side wall part of the engine in a vehicle width direction, a fuel system component disposed in a rear part of the side wall part, an intercooler disposed between the auxiliary machinery and the fuel system component, and a first protector member disposed between the intercooler and the fuel system component. At least a front part of the first protector member is formed so as to be separated from the side wall part as it extends rearward. A front part of the intercooler is disposed rearward of the auxiliary machinery and the intercooler is disposed along the first protector member so as to be separated from the side wall part as it extends rearward.

A protector protects a high-pressure fuel pump of an internal combustion engine. The protector and the high-pressure fuel pump are fastened to an engine body by a bolt inserted through a metal collar. The protector further includes an elastic insulating layer located between the collar and a carbon fiber reinforced plastic portion. The collar is embedded in the carbon fiber reinforced plastic portion with the insulating layer compressed.

A fuel delivery unit for use within a vehicle fuel tank includes: a surge tank arranged on a wall of the fuel tank, a feed line extending from a region of the surge tank to a connector stub on the flange, and a wiring harness extending from the fuel pump to the flange. A flange-side holder forms a first force application point for fixing the wiring harness on a flange side, and a surge tank-side holder forms a second force application point for fixing the wiring harness on the surge tank side. The wiring harness, the flange-side holder and the surge tank-side holder together form a force absorber configured to protect the feed line and the connector stub during a vehicle impact by absorbing kinetic energy from the impact acting on the fuel delivery unit, thereby dissipating the kinetic energy.