CN111902626B

CN111902626B - Fuel pump module

Info

Publication number: CN111902626B
Application number: CN201980020617.0A
Authority: CN
Inventors: 中内洪太; 宇津木克洋; 直井康夫; 金子哲也; 田中聪; 奈尾聪一郎; 镰田裕仁
Original assignee: Honda Motor Co Ltd; Hitachi Astemo Ltd
Current assignee: Honda Motor Co Ltd; Hitachi Astemo Ltd
Priority date: 2018-03-23
Filing date: 2019-03-22
Publication date: 2022-05-06
Anticipated expiration: 2039-03-22
Also published as: BR112020018287A2; WO2019182122A1; CN111902626A; JP2019167879A; JP6640261B2

Abstract

A fuel pump module in which a pump unit is housed in a module case disposed outside a fuel tank, the pump unit housing a fuel pump having a suction port connected to a fuel filter and an electric motor together in a pump housing, the pump housing being formed with a vapor discharge port for discharging vapor from a pump chamber of the fuel pump, the fuel pump module being configured such that a fuel storage chamber (54) for storing fuel returned from a regulator (33) is formed in the module case (27) so as to communicate with the vapor discharge port (53), a return pipe (56) for returning fuel containing vapor from the fuel storage chamber (54) into the fuel tank is disposed in the module case (27) so as to be connected thereto, and the vapor discharge port (53) is disposed below an upper end of the return pipe (56) facing an open end (56a) of the module case (27). This makes it possible to detect clogging of the fuel filter at low cost without using an expensive pressure sensor or the like.

Description

Fuel pump module

Technical Field

The present invention relates to a fuel pump module in which a pump unit is housed in a module case disposed outside a fuel tank, the pump unit housing a fuel pump having a suction port connected to a fuel filter and an electric motor for driving the fuel pump in a pump housing, and the pump housing is formed with a vapor discharge port for discharging vapor from a pump chamber of the fuel pump.

Background

Patent document 1 discloses a fuel pump module that detects the pressure of fuel discharged from a fuel pump by a detection means that detects a pressure lower than the pressure in a state where a fuel filter is not clogged, thereby determining that the fuel filter is clogged.

Documents of the prior art

Patent document

Patent document 1: japanese patent laid-open publication No. 2013-194711

Disclosure of Invention

However, the fuel pump module disclosed in patent document 1 includes a pressure sensor for detecting the discharge pressure of the fuel pump, and requires a complicated control system including an expensive pressure sensor, which may be disadvantageous in terms of cost.

The present invention has been made in view of the above circumstances, and an object thereof is to provide a fuel pump module capable of detecting clogging of a fuel filter at low cost without using an expensive pressure sensor or the like.

In order to achieve the above object, a fuel pump module according to the present invention includes a pump unit housed in a module case disposed outside a fuel tank, the pump unit includes a fuel pump having a suction port connected to a fuel filter and an electric motor for driving the fuel pump, both housed in a pump housing, the pump housing having a vapor discharge port for discharging vapor from a pump chamber of the fuel pump, the fuel pump module according to claim 1 is characterized in that a fuel storage chamber is formed in the module case so as to communicate with the vapor discharge hole, a fuel storage chamber that stores fuel returned from a regulator housed in the module case to regulate a pressure of fuel discharged from the fuel pump, a return pipe for returning fuel containing the vapor from the fuel storage chamber into the fuel tank is connected to the module case, the steam discharge hole is disposed below an upper end of the return pipe facing the opening end of the module case.

In addition to the configuration of the first aspect, the present invention provides the fuel filter housed in the pump housing, wherein the fuel reservoir chamber includes a 1 st reservoir portion that extends around the pump unit over an entire length of the pump unit in an axial direction thereof and that stores fuel returned from the regulator, and a 2 nd reservoir portion that is disposed around the fuel filter so as to communicate with the 1 st reservoir portion, and wherein the return pipe is connected to the module case so as to communicate with the 2 nd reservoir portion.

In the present invention as set forth in claim 3, in addition to the configuration of claim 2, the module case is formed with a 1 st communication hole for communicating between an upper portion of the 1 st reservoir and an upper portion of the 2 nd reservoir, and a 2 nd communication hole for communicating between a lower portion of the 1 st reservoir and a lower portion of the 2 nd reservoir.

In the present invention according to the configuration of the third aspect, the connection terminal for supplying electric power to the electric motor is provided in the module case so as to penetrate the module case and so as to have an inner end portion facing the inside of the 1 st storage portion, the inner end portion of the connection terminal is arranged above the 2 nd communication hole, and the 2 nd communication hole has a larger cross-sectional area than the 1 st communication hole.

Further, according to the present invention, in addition to any one of the configurations of the 2 nd to 4 th features, the 5 th feature is that an annular raw chamber surrounding the fuel filter is formed in the module case independently of the 2 nd reservoir, and a fuel pipe for introducing fuel from the fuel tank is provided above the return pipe so as to communicate with the raw chamber, and is connected to the module case.

Effects of the invention

According to the above feature of the present invention, a return pipe for returning fuel containing vapor from the fuel storage chamber to the fuel tank is connected to the module case in which the fuel storage chamber communicating with the vapor discharge hole is formed, and the vapor discharge hole is located at a lower position than an upper end of the return pipe toward the open end of the module case. According to this constitution, the following phenomena (1) to (6) occur in order. That is, (1) if the fuel filter is clogged while the fuel pump is operating, the pressure loss in the fuel filter increases and the fuel in the fuel storage chamber flows backward from the vapor discharge hole to the pump chamber; (2) when the fuel supply amount from the fuel pump module decreases and the fuel return amount from the regulator decreases, the vapor discharge hole faces the gas-phase environment inside the fuel storage chamber; (3) the fuel supply pressure is caused to drop due to idling of the fuel pump by the air flowing from the vapor discharge hole into the pump chamber; (4) as the pressure of the suction port of the fuel pump approaches the positive pressure, the vapor inside the fuel filter is caused to disappear and the fuel pump sucks in the fuel from the fuel filter; (5) idle running of the fuel pump is eliminated and the fuel supply pressure rises instantaneously; (6) the oil level in the fuel storage chamber rises due to the return flow of the fuel from the regulator and the fuel including the steam discharged from the steam discharge hole, and then returns to the state (1) described above and the fuel supply pressure is restored, and the states (1) to (6) described above are repeated. Thus, the fuel supply pressure is pulsed to be lowered or restored, so that the user can be reminded to replace the fuel filter, and clogging of the fuel filter can be detected inexpensively without using an expensive pressure sensor. In the stage (6), the oil level of the fuel in the fuel storage chamber does not rise to a position above the upper end of the return pipe toward the open end of the module case due to the balance with the gas phase pressure in the upper portion of the fuel storage chamber, and when the vapor discharge hole is positioned above the upper end of the return pipe toward the open end of the module case, the fuel pump continues to idle in a state in which the vapor discharge hole faces the gas phase environment, so that the state (6) cannot be returned to the state (1), but the state (3) is brought into the state, and the fuel supply pressure does not return, so that the vapor discharge hole needs to be positioned below the upper end of the return pipe toward the open end of the module case.

Further, according to the 2 nd aspect of the present invention in particular, since the fuel reserve chamber includes the 1 st reserve part extending in the entire length of the pump unit in the axial direction thereof around the pump unit and the 2 nd reserve part disposed in communication with the 1 st reserve part around the fuel filter, it is possible to relatively increase the volume of the fuel reserve chamber, to extend the time from when the fuel filter is clogged to when the vapor discharge hole faces the gas phase environment in the fuel reserve chamber, to extend the operating time from when the fuel filter is clogged, and to extend the time from when the fuel filter is clogged to when the vehicle is driven without discomfort when the fuel pump module of the present invention is mounted on the vehicle.

In particular, according to the 3 rd aspect of the present invention, since the 1 st reservoir and the 2 nd reservoir are communicated with each other at the upper portion thereof by the 1 st communication hole and the 1 st reservoir and the 2 nd reservoir are communicated with each other at the lower portion thereof by the 2 nd communication hole, the gas in the 1 st reservoir can be discharged from the 1 st communication hole to the return pipe via the 2 nd reservoir, and therefore, the oil level in the fuel reservoir chamber can be raised as compared with the upper end of the return pipe toward the opening end of the module case, and even if the oil level in the fuel reservoir chamber fluctuates at the time of vehicle inclination or acceleration/deceleration, the vapor discharge hole can be always positioned lower than the oil level of the fuel, and pulsation for lowering and restoring the fuel supply pressure can be generated.

Further, according to the 4 th aspect of the present invention in particular, since the 2 nd communication hole having a larger cross-sectional area than the 1 st communication hole communicates between the lower portion of the 1 st reservoir and the lower portion of the 2 nd reservoir, water accumulated in the 1 st reservoir from the inside of the fuel tank via the fuel pump can be discharged from the 2 nd communication hole to the return pipe via the 2 nd reservoir, and the inner end portion of the connection terminal located above the 2 nd communication hole is not soaked in water, so that adverse effects such as corrosion caused by water can be prevented from affecting the connection terminal.

Drawings

Fig. 1 is a left side view of the motorcycle of embodiment 1. (embodiment 1)

FIG. 2 is a side view of a fuel tank, canister, and fuel pump module. (embodiment 1)

Fig. 3 is a longitudinal sectional view of the fuel pump module and is a sectional view taken along line 3-3 of fig. 4. (embodiment 1)

Fig. 4 is a cross-sectional view taken along line 4-4 of fig. 3. (embodiment 1)

Fig. 5 is a cross-sectional view taken along line 5-5 of fig. 3. (embodiment 1)

Fig. 6 is a cross-sectional view taken along line 6-6 of fig. 3. (embodiment 1)

Fig. 7 is a diagram showing pressure changes in the suction port, the vapor discharge port, and the discharge port of the fuel pump module. (embodiment 1)

Fig. 8 is a left side view of the motorcycle of embodiment 2. (embodiment 2)

FIG. 9 is a side view of a fuel tank, canister, and fuel pump module. (embodiment 2)

Fig. 10 is a simplified diagram showing a fuel tank, a fuel filter, and a fuel pump module. (embodiment 2)

FIG. 11 is a simplified cross-sectional view of the fuel pump module in the direction of line 11-11 of FIG. 10. (embodiment 2)

Description of the reference numerals

23. 69 … fuel tank

26. 70 … fuel pump module

27. 71 … Module housing

28. 75 … electric motor

29. 74 … fuel pump

30. 76 … Pump casing

31. 77 … Pump Unit

32. 72 … Fuel Filter

33. 78 … regulator

34. 80 … suction inlet

46 … unpurified chamber

52 … pump chamber

53. 85 … steam vent

54. 81 … Fuel storage Chamber

56. 87 … return pipe

56a, 87a … open end of return tube

58 st storage section 58 …

59 … storage part 2

60 … communication 1 st hole

61 … second communication hole

62 … connection terminal

Inner end portion of 62a … connection terminal

63 … Fuel conduit

Detailed Description

Embodiments of the present invention are described with reference to the accompanying drawings. In the following description, front-back, left-right, and up-down refer to directions viewed from a rider seated on a motorcycle.

Embodiment 1

First, in fig. 1, a front fork 11 for pivotally supporting a front wheel WF and a head pipe 13 connected to the front fork 11 and rotatably supporting a steering handle 12 are provided at a front end of a body frame F of a scooter type motorcycle, and an internal combustion engine E for generating power for driving a rear wheel WR is mounted on the body frame F such that a device body 14 of the internal combustion engine E is vertically swingably supported on the body frame F in front of the rear wheel WR.

A transmission case 15 for housing a transmission device (not shown) for transmitting an output of the device body 14 to the rear wheel WR is connected to the device body 14, the rear wheel WR is pivotally supported at a rear end portion of the transmission case 15, and a rear cushion unit 16 is provided between the body frame F and the transmission case 15. Further, a fuel injection valve 18 is provided in an intake system 17 of the internal combustion engine E, and an air cleaner 19 constituting an upstream end of the intake system 17 is disposed above the transmission case 15 and supported by the transmission case 15.

The vehicle body frame F and a part of the internal combustion engine E are covered with a vehicle body cover 20, and the vehicle body cover 20 has a footrest 21 for placing feet of a passenger thereon and is supported by the vehicle body frame F. Further, a tandem type riding seat 22 disposed behind the footrest section 21 is disposed on the vehicle body cover 20.

Referring also to fig. 2, a fuel tank 23 is disposed above the rear wheel WR, and the fuel tank 23 is supported by the vehicle body frame F so as to be covered from above at the rear portion of the passenger seat 22. A canister 24 is disposed below the fuel tank 23, a fuel pump module 26 is disposed outside the fuel tank 23, below the fuel tank 23 and below the canister 24 in the present embodiment, and the canister 24 and the fuel pump module 26 are supported by the body frame F.

Referring also to fig. 3, the fuel pump module 26 includes: a module case 27 disposed below the fuel tank 23; a pump unit 31 that houses, in a pump housing 30, a fuel pump 29 having a suction port 34 connected to a fuel filter 32, and an electric motor 28 that drives the fuel pump 29; and a regulator 33 that regulates the pressure of the fuel discharged from the fuel pump 29. The pump unit 31 is housed in the module case 27, and in the present embodiment, the fuel filter 32 and the regulator 33 are also housed in the module case 27 in addition to the pump unit 31.

A suction pipe 35 having a suction port 34 for sucking fuel into the fuel pump 29 is provided to protrude from one end of the pump housing 30, and a discharge pipe 37 having a discharge port 36 for discharging fuel flowing through the pump housing 30 from the fuel pump 29 is provided to protrude from the other end of the pump housing 30.

The module case 27 is disposed so that the longitudinal direction thereof is along the vehicle width direction, and is configured by: a synthetic resin case main body 38 having one end closed by a support wall portion 38a and formed in a bottomed cylindrical shape, the support wall portion 38a having a suction-side fitting hole 43 into which the suction pipe 35 is fitted; a wall member 39 made of synthetic resin, having a discharge-side fitting hole 44 into which the discharge pipe 37 is fitted, and closing the other end of the housing main body 38; a synthetic resin filter case 40 formed in a bottomed cylindrical shape with the opposite side of the case main body 38 open, and joined to one end of the case main body 38 by welding, for example; a filter cover 41 detachably press-engaged with the filter case 40 so as to close the opening end of the filter case 40 in a liquid-tight manner; and a cover member 42 made of synthetic resin, which covers the other end portion of the housing main body 38 and the wall member 39 and is joined to the housing main body 38 and the wall member 39 by, for example, welding.

The fuel filter 32 is held by a filter holding frame 45 and is accommodated between the filter case 40 and the filter cover 41. The filter holding frame 45 includes the following components: a 1 st cover plate 45b having a ring plate shape, the 1 st cover plate having an inner periphery to which a 1 st cylindrical retainer portion 45a having a short cylindrical shape is connected and which abuts an end portion of the fuel filter 32 on the side of the pump unit 31, the 1 st retainer portion 45a being fitted to an inner periphery of an end portion of the fuel filter 32 on the side of the pump unit 31; and a disc-shaped 2 nd cover plate portion 45d which is connected to a 2 nd cylindrical retainer tube portion 45c having a short cylindrical shape and is in contact with an end portion of the fuel filter 32 on the opposite side to the pump unit 31, and the 2 nd retainer tube portion 45c is fitted to an inner periphery of an end portion of the filter retaining frame 45 on the opposite side to the pump unit 31.

An annular uncleaned chamber 46 is formed between the filter case 40 and the filter cover 41 and the fuel filter 32, and the fuel introduced into the uncleaned chamber 46 is filtered by the fuel filter 32 and flows into the fuel filter 32. Further, a connecting pipe portion 47 coaxially connected to the suction-side fitting hole 43 into which the suction pipe 35 is fitted is integrally provided in the support wall portion 38a at one end portion of the housing main body 38, and the connecting pipe portion 47 is liquid-tightly fitted into the 1 st cylindrical holding portion 45a of the filter holding frame 45. Therefore, the suction port 34 of the fuel pump 29 sucks in the fuel that has passed through the fuel filter 32 and flowed into the fuel filter 32 through the connecting pipe portion 47.

A pressure-regulating passage 48 through which the fuel discharged from the discharge port 36 of the pump unit 31 flows is formed between the wall member 39 and the cover member 42. The regulator 33 for regulating the pressure of the fuel in the pressure regulating passage 48 is connected to the pressure regulating passage 48, the regulator 33 is housed in a support wall portion 38a, and the support wall portion 38a is integrally formed at the other end portion of the case main body 38 and bulges out to the side (see fig. 2).

A 1 st discharge passage 49 communicating with the pressure regulating passage 48 is formed along the longitudinal direction of the housing main body 38 on the side of the pump unit 31 in the housing main body 38, and a 2 nd discharge passage 50 communicating with the 1 st discharge passage 49 is formed in the filter housing 40, and a discharge connection pipe 51 communicating with the 2 nd discharge passage 50 and projecting upward from the filter housing 40 is integrally provided in a projecting manner. The discharge connection pipe 51 is connected to the fuel injection valve 18 in the intake system 17 of the internal combustion engine E via a fuel hose, not shown.

Referring to fig. 4 to 6, a vapor discharge hole 53 for discharging vapor from the pump chamber 52 of the fuel pump 29 is formed in one end portion of the pump housing 30 on the support wall portion 38a side. On the other hand, a fuel storage chamber 54 for storing the fuel returned from the regulator 33 is formed in the module case 27 so as to communicate with the steam discharge hole 53.

A return pipe 56 for returning the fuel containing the vapor from the fuel storage chamber 54 to the fuel tank 23 is connected to the filter case 40 of the module case 27 so as to extend so as to become higher as it is farther from the filter case 40, and the vapor discharge hole 53 is disposed below an upper end of the return pipe 56 facing an open end 56a of the module case 27. That is, as shown in fig. 4, the steam discharge hole 53 is disposed below a horizontal plane HL passing through an upper end of the open end 56a of the return pipe 56. A check valve 57 for preventing the backflow of the fuel from the fuel tank 23 toward the fuel storage chamber 54 is disposed in the return pipe 56.

The fuel storage chamber 54 includes: a 1 st reservoir 58 that extends around the pump unit 31 over the entire length of the pump unit 31 in the axial direction and that stores fuel returned from the regulator 33; and a 2 nd reservoir 59 disposed around the fuel filter 32 so as to communicate with the 1 st reservoir 58. The 2 nd reservoir 59 is formed in the filter housing 40 independently of the raw chamber 46 with the support wall portion 38a of the housing main body 38 interposed between the support wall portion and the 1 st reservoir 58, the return pipe 56 is connected to the filter housing 40 so as to communicate with the 2 nd reservoir 59, and the steam discharge hole 53 is disposed to face an end portion of the 1 st reservoir 58 on the 2 nd reservoir 59 side.

A 1 st communication hole 60 that communicates between an upper portion of the 1 st reservoir 58 and an upper portion of the 2 nd reservoir 59, and a 2 nd communication hole 61 that connects a lower portion of the 1 st reservoir 58 and a lower portion of the 2 nd reservoir 59 are formed in the support wall portion 38a of the module case 27, and the 2 nd communication hole 61 is formed to have a larger cross-sectional area than the 1 st communication hole 60.

On the other hand, a connector portion 38c protruding upward is integrally formed in the module case 27 at the upper portion of the case main body 38 on the cover member 42 side, and a plurality of connection terminals 62 for supplying electric power to the electric motor 28 are provided in the module case 27 so as to penetrate the module case 27 so that the outer end portions of the connection terminals 62 are arranged in the connector portion 38c and the inner end portions 62a of the connection terminals 62 face the inside of the 1 st storage portion 58, and are provided in the upper portion of the module case 27, that is, the upper portion of the case main body 38 in the present embodiment.

A fuel line 63 for guiding fuel from the fuel tank 23 is connected to the filter case 40 of the module case 27 so as to extend upward as the distance from the filter case 40 increases, and the fuel line 63 is disposed above the return pipe 56.

One end of a 1 st fuel hose 64 is connected to the return pipe 56, and the other end of the 1 st fuel hose 64 is connected to a return-side connection pipe (not shown) provided in connection with the bottom of the fuel tank 23. One end of a 2 nd fuel hose 66 is connected to the fuel pipe 63, and the other end of the 2 nd fuel hose 66 is connected to a supply-side connection pipe 67 connected to the bottom of the fuel tank 23.

Next, to explain the operation of the present embodiment 1, the module case 27 of the fuel pump module 26 is disposed below the fuel tank 23, and the module case 27 accommodates: a pump unit 31 that houses the electric motor 28 and the fuel pump 29 driven by the electric motor 28 together in a pump housing 30; a regulator 33 for regulating the pressure of the fuel discharged from the fuel pump 29; and a fuel filter 32 connected to the suction port 34 of the fuel pump 29, wherein a fuel storage chamber 54 communicating with a vapor discharge hole 53 formed in the pump housing 30 so as to discharge vapor from a pump chamber 52 of the fuel pump 29 is formed in the module case 27 so as to store fuel returned from the regulator 33, wherein a return pipe 56 for returning fuel containing the vapor from the fuel storage chamber 54 into the fuel tank 23 is connected to the module case 27, and wherein the vapor discharge hole 53 is disposed below an upper end of the return pipe 56 facing an open end 56a of the module case 27. Thus, when the fuel filter 32 is clogged, the fuel supply pressure pulsates due to the phenomenon described below, and the driver of the motorcycle can be reminded to replace the fuel filter 32, and clogging of the fuel filter 32 can be detected inexpensively without using an expensive pressure sensor.

When the fuel filter 32 is clogged while the fuel pump module 26 is operating, the following phenomena (1) to (6) occur in order. First, when the pressures of the suction port 34, the vapor discharge port 53, and the discharge port 36 of the fuel pump 29 are indicated by the solid line in fig. 7 when the fuel filter 32 is not clogged, (1) when the fuel filter 32 is clogged while the fuel pump 29 is operating, the pressure loss in the fuel filter 32 increases, and the pressures of the suction port 34, the vapor discharge port 53, and the discharge port 36 are indicated by the broken line in fig. 7, and the fuel in the fuel storage chamber 54 flows backward from the vapor discharge port 53 to the pump chamber 52; (2) when the fuel supply amount from the fuel pump module 26 decreases and the fuel return amount from the regulator 33 decreases, the vapor discharge hole 53 faces the gas-phase environment inside the fuel storage chamber 54; (3) the fuel pump 29 idles due to the air flowing into the pump chamber 52 from the vapor discharge hole 53, causing the fuel supply pressure to drop; (4) since the pressure of the suction port 34 of the fuel pump 29 is close to the positive pressure as shown by the chain line of fig. 7, the vapor inside the fuel filter 32 is caused to disappear and the fuel pump 29 sucks in the fuel from the fuel filter 32; (5) the idling of the fuel pump 29 is eliminated and the fuel supply pressure rises instantaneously; (6) the oil level in the fuel storage chamber 54 rises due to the return flow of the fuel from the regulator 33 and the fuel discharged from the steam discharge hole 53 including the steam, and then returns to the state of (1) above and the fuel supply pressure is restored, and the states of (1) to (6) above are repeated.

Thus, the fuel supply pressure is pulsed to be lowered or recovered, so that the driver of the motorcycle can be reminded to replace the fuel filter 32, and clogging of the fuel filter 32 can be detected inexpensively without using an expensive pressure sensor.

In the stage (6), the oil level of the fuel in the fuel storage chamber 54 does not rise to a position above the upper end of the return pipe 56 toward the open end 56a of the module case 27 due to the balance with the gas phase pressure in the upper portion of the fuel storage chamber 54, and when the vapor discharge hole 53 is positioned above the upper end of the return pipe 56 toward the open end 56a of the module case 27, the fuel pump 29 continues idling in a state in which the vapor discharge hole 53 faces the gas phase environment, so that the state (6) cannot be returned to the state (1), but the state (3) is obtained, and the fuel supply pressure does not return, and therefore, the vapor discharge hole 53 needs to be positioned below the upper end of the return pipe 56 toward the open end 56a of the module case 27.

Further, the fuel storage chamber 54 includes: a 1 st reservoir 58 extending around the pump unit 31 over the entire length of the pump unit 31 in the axial direction and storing the fuel returned from the regulator 33; and a 2 nd reservoir portion 59 disposed around the fuel filter 32 so as to communicate with the 1 st reservoir portion 58, wherein the return pipe 56 is connected to the module case 27 so as to communicate with the 2 nd reservoir portion 59, so that it is possible to relatively increase the volume of the fuel reservoir chamber 54, to extend the time from when the fuel filter 32 is clogged to when the vapor discharge hole 53 faces the gas phase atmosphere in the fuel reservoir chamber 54, to extend the operating time from when the fuel filter 32 is clogged, and to extend the time from when the fuel filter 32 is clogged to when the motorcycle can be driven without discomfort.

Further, since the module case 27 is provided with the 1 st communication hole 60 that communicates between the upper portion of the 1 st reserve part 58 and the upper portion of the 2 nd reserve part 59, and the 2 nd communication hole 61 that communicates between the lower portion of the 1 st reserve part 58 and the lower portion of the 2 nd reserve part 59, the gas in the 1 st reserve part 58 can be discharged from the 1 st communication hole 60 to the return pipe 56 through the 2 nd reserve part 59, and therefore, the oil level in the fuel reserve chamber 54 can be raised above the upper end of the return pipe 56 toward the open end 56a of the module case 27, and even if the oil level in the fuel reserve chamber 54 fluctuates at the time of vehicle inclination or acceleration/deceleration, the vapor discharge hole 53 can be always positioned below the oil level of the fuel, and pulsation that lowers and restores the fuel supply pressure can be generated.

Further, since the connection terminal 62 for supplying electric power to the electric motor 28 is provided in the module case 27 while penetrating the module case 27 so that the inner end portion 62a of the connection terminal 62 faces the inside of the 1 st reservoir 58, the inner end portion 62a of the connection terminal 62 is disposed above the 2 nd communication hole 61, and the 2 nd communication hole 61 has a larger cross-sectional area than the 1 st communication hole 60, water accumulated in the 1 st reservoir 58 from the inside of the fuel tank 23 via the fuel pump 29 can be discharged from the 2 nd communication hole 61 to the return pipe 56 via the 2 nd reservoir 59, and the inner end portion 62a of the connection terminal 62 located above the 2 nd communication hole 61 is not soaked in water, and adverse effects such as corrosion caused by water can be prevented from affecting the connection terminal 62.

Embodiment 2

In addition to fig. 8 to 11, embodiment 2 of the present invention will be described with reference to fig. 7 shown in the description of embodiment 1, but parts corresponding to embodiment 1 shown in fig. 1 to 7 are denoted by the same reference numerals and detailed description thereof will be omitted.

First, in fig. 8 and 9, a canister 24 extending in the vehicle longitudinal direction is disposed below a fuel tank 23 so as not to overlap the fuel tank 23 in a side view, and a fuel pump module 70 is disposed outside the fuel tank 23, below the fuel tank 23 in the present embodiment, and below the canister 24.

Referring to fig. 10 and 11 together, the fuel pump module 70 includes: a module case 71 disposed below the fuel tank 69; a pump unit 77 that houses, in a pump housing 76, a fuel pump 74 having a suction port 73 connected to the fuel filter 72 and an electric motor 75 that drives the fuel pump 74; and a regulator 78 for regulating the pressure of the fuel discharged from the fuel pump 74, wherein the pump unit 77 is housed in the module case 71.

The module case 71 is formed in a cylindrical shape such that the longitudinal direction thereof is along the vehicle width direction, and as shown in fig. 8, is disposed below the fuel tank 23 and above the internal combustion engine E in a side view, and is disposed behind the fuel injection valve 18 of the internal combustion engine E and in front of the fuel tank 23, and the fuel pump 74 constituting a part of the pump unit 77 housed in the module case 71 is disposed between the fuel tank 23 and the internal combustion engine E in the vertical direction and between the fuel injection valve 18 and the fuel tank 23 in the vehicle front-rear direction.

The pump housing 76 of the pump unit 77 is formed in a substantially cylindrical shape, and is housed in the module case 71 such that the rotation axis C of the fuel pump 74 and the electric motor 75 is along the vehicle width direction. The suction port 73 is formed at one end of the fuel pump 74 in the vehicle width direction.

The fuel filter 72 is disposed outside the module case 71 and below the fuel tank 69 on one side in the vehicle width direction of the canister 24 below the fuel tank 23, the fuel from the fuel tank 69 is guided to the fuel filter 72 via a fuel suction hose 90 and a 1 st fuel suction pipe 91 provided in the fuel filter 72 and connected to the fuel suction hose 90, and the fuel passing through the fuel filter 72 is guided to the suction port 73 of the fuel pump 74 via a 2 nd fuel suction pipe 80 penetrating the module case 71 and the pump housing 76.

However, a fuel storage chamber 81 is formed in the module case 71, and the pump unit 77 is housed in the fuel storage chamber 81. Further, a 1 st discharge pipe 82 that guides the fuel discharged from the fuel pump 74 protrudes from an end wall of the pump case 76 on the opposite side to the fuel pump 74, and the regulator 78 is provided at a lower end portion of a 2 nd discharge pipe 83 that is connected to the 1 st discharge pipe 82 and extends in the vertical direction in the fuel storage chamber 81. The 2 nd discharge pipe 82 extends upward through an upper side wall of the module case 71, and is connected to the fuel injection valve 18 of the internal combustion engine E via a 3 rd fuel hose 84.

A vapor discharge hole 85 for discharging vapor from a pump chamber (not shown) of the fuel pump 74 to the fuel storage chamber 81 is formed in the pump housing 76, and a return pipe 87 for returning fuel containing the vapor from the fuel storage chamber 51 to the fuel tank 69 is provided in the module case 71 on one side in the vehicle width direction.

As shown in fig. 11, the vapor discharge hole 85 is disposed close to the return pipe 87 with respect to a virtual vertical plane VP passing through the center of the substantially cylindrical fuel pump 74, and is disposed below an upper end of the return pipe 87 facing the open end 87a of the module case 71 in the vehicle-mounted state of the module case 71. That is, as shown in fig. 11, the steam discharge hole 85 is disposed below a horizontal plane HLA passing through an upper end of the open end 87a of the return pipe 87.

The return pipe 87 is connected to the module case 71 so as to be higher as it is farther from the module case 71 and so as to extend rearward in the vehicle longitudinal direction, and a check valve 93 that prevents backflow of fuel from the fuel tank 69 toward the fuel storage chamber 81 is disposed in the return pipe 87.

One end of a 4 th fuel hose 88 is connected to the return pipe 87, and the other end of the 4 th fuel hose 88 is connected to a return-side connection pipe 89 connected to the bottom of the fuel tank 23.

In the fuel pump module 70, when the electric motor 75 is operated, the fuel from the fuel tank 23 is guided to the fuel filter 72 and purified by the fuel filter 72, and the purified fuel is sucked from the fuel filter 72 to the suction port 73 of the fuel pump 74. The fuel pressurized in the fuel pump 74 is discharged from the 1 st discharge pipe 82, and the fuel pressure-adjusted by the regulator 78 is sent from the 2 nd discharge pipe 83 to the fuel injection valve 18 via the 3 rd fuel hose 84. Further, the fuel that is no longer needed by the pressure adjustment by the regulator 78 is returned from the regulator 78 to the fuel storage chamber 81.

Next, to explain the operation of the embodiment 2, the module case 71 of the fuel pump module 70 is disposed below the fuel tank 23, and the module case 71 accommodates: a pump unit 77 that houses a fuel pump 74 connected to the fuel filter 72 and an electric motor 75 that drives the fuel pump 74 together in a pump housing 76; and a regulator 78 for regulating the pressure of the fuel discharged from the fuel pump 74, wherein a fuel storage chamber 81 communicating with a vapor discharge hole 85 formed in the pump housing 76 so as to discharge vapor from the fuel pump 74 is formed in the module case 71 so as to store the fuel returned from the regulator 78, a return pipe 87 for returning the fuel containing the vapor from the fuel storage chamber 81 to the fuel tank 23 is connected to the module case 71, and the vapor discharge hole 85 is disposed below an upper end of the return pipe 87 facing an open end 87a of the module case 71. Thus, when the fuel filter 72 is clogged, the fuel supply pressure pulsates due to the phenomenon described below, and the driver of the motorcycle can be reminded to replace the fuel filter 72, and clogging of the fuel filter 72 can be detected inexpensively without using an expensive pressure sensor.

When the fuel filter 72 is clogged while the fuel pump module 70 is operating, the following phenomena (a) to (f) occur in order. First, when the pressures of the suction port 73, the vapor discharge port 85, and the discharge port of the fuel pump 74 are indicated by the solid line in fig. 7 when the fuel filter 72 is not clogged, (a) if the fuel filter 72 is clogged while the fuel pump 74 is operating, the pressure loss in the fuel filter 72 increases, and the pressures of the suction port 73, the vapor discharge port 85, and the discharge port are indicated by the broken line in fig. 7, and the fuel in the fuel storage chamber 81 flows backward from the vapor discharge port 85 toward the fuel pump 74; (b) when the fuel supply amount from the fuel pump module 70 decreases and the fuel return amount from the regulator 78 decreases, the vapor discharge hole 85 faces the gas-phase environment inside the fuel storage chamber 81; (c) the fuel supply pressure is caused to drop because the fuel pump 74 is idled by the air flowing into the fuel pump 74 from the vapor discharge hole 85; (d) since the pressure of the suction port 73 of the fuel pump 74 approaches the positive pressure as shown by the chain line of fig. 7, the vapor inside the fuel filter 72 is caused to disappear and the fuel pump 74 sucks in the fuel from the fuel filter 72; (e) the idling of the fuel pump 74 is eliminated and the fuel supply pressure rises instantaneously; (f) the oil level in the fuel storage chamber 81 rises due to the return flow of the fuel from the regulator 78 and the fuel including the steam discharged from the steam discharge hole 85, and then returns to the state (a) described above and the fuel supply pressure is restored, and the states (a) to (f) described above are repeated.

Thus, the fuel supply pressure is pulsed to be lowered or restored, so that the driver of the motorcycle can be reminded to replace the fuel filter 72, and clogging of the fuel filter 72 can be detected inexpensively without using an expensive pressure sensor.

In the stage (f), the oil level of the fuel in the fuel storage chamber 81 does not rise to a position above the upper end of the return pipe 87 toward the open end 87a of the module case 71 due to the balance with the gas phase pressure in the upper portion of the fuel storage chamber 81, and when the vapor discharge hole 85 is located above the upper end of the return pipe 87 toward the open end 87a of the module case 71, the fuel pump 74 continues idling in a state in which the vapor discharge hole 85 faces the gas phase environment, so that the state (f) cannot be returned to the state (a) but the state (c) is set, and the fuel supply pressure does not return, and therefore, the vapor discharge hole 85 needs to be located below the upper end of the return pipe 87 toward the open end 87a of the module case 71.

Further, since the intake port 73 is formed at one end portion of the fuel pump 74 in the vehicle width direction along the vehicle width direction of the rotation axis C of the fuel pump 74, and the return pipe 87 is provided at one end portion of the module case 71 in the vehicle width direction, the fuel pump 74 and the fuel pump module 70 can be made compact in the vehicle front-rear direction, and the return pipe 87 and the 2 nd fuel intake pipe 80 can be easily attached.

Further, since the canister 24 extending in the vehicle longitudinal direction is disposed so as not to overlap the fuel tank 23 in a side view, the fuel tank 23 and the canister 24 can be disposed compactly.

Further, since the fuel pump 74 is disposed between the fuel tank 23 and the internal combustion engine E in the vertical direction, the 3 rd fuel hose 84 for guiding the fuel from the fuel pump 74 to the fuel injection valve 18 of the internal combustion engine E can be shortened, and since the fuel pump 74 is disposed between the fuel injection valve 18 and the fuel tank 23 in the vehicle front-rear direction, the 3 rd fuel hose 84 can also be shortened.

Further, the module case 71 is disposed below and forward of the fuel tank 23, and the return pipe 87 is connected to the module case 71 so as to be higher as it is farther from the module case 71 and so as to extend rearward in the vehicle longitudinal direction, so that the 4 th fuel hose 88 connecting the return pipe 87 to the return-side connection pipe 89 connected to the bottom of the fuel tank 23 can be shortened.

Further, since the vapor discharge hole 85 is disposed closer to the return pipe 87 than a virtual vertical plane VP passing through the center axis C of the substantially cylindrical fuel pump 74 and is disposed below the upper end of the return pipe 87 facing the open end 87a of the module case 71 in the vehicle-mounted state of the module case 71, even in a state where the fuel pump 74 is tilted leftward and rightward by a change in the posture of the motorcycle, it is easy to maintain the state where the vapor discharge hole 85 is positioned below the upper end of the return pipe 87 facing the open end 87a of the module case 71.

While the embodiments of the present invention have been described above, the present invention is not limited to the above embodiments, and various design changes can be made without departing from the gist thereof.

Claims

1. A fuel pump module in which a pump unit (31, 77) is housed in a module case (27, 71) disposed outside a fuel tank (23, 69), the pump unit (31, 77) houses a fuel pump (29, 74) having a suction port (34, 73) connected to a fuel filter (32, 72) and an electric motor (28, 75) for driving the fuel pump (29, 74) in a pump housing (30, 76), a vapor discharge port (53, 85) for discharging vapor from a pump chamber (52) of the fuel pump (29, 74) is formed in the pump housing (30, 76), the fuel pump module being characterized in that a fuel storage chamber (54, 81) for storing vapor from a regulator (33, 81) housed in the module case (27, 71) is formed in the module case (27, 71) so as to communicate with the vapor discharge port (53, 85), and the fuel storage chamber (54, 81) is formed in the module case (27, 71), 78) A return pipe (56, 87) for returning the fuel containing the vapor from the fuel storage chamber (54, 81) into the fuel tank (23, 69) is connected to the module case (27, 71), the vapor discharge hole (53, 85) is disposed below an upper end of the return pipe (56, 87) facing an open end (56a, 87a) of the module case (27, 71),

the fuel filter (32) is housed in the pump housing (30), the fuel storage chamber (54) includes a 1 st storage unit (58) that extends around the pump unit (31) over the entire length of the pump unit (31) in the axial direction and that stores fuel that has returned from the regulator (33), and a 2 nd storage unit (59) that is disposed around the fuel filter (32) so as to communicate with the 1 st storage unit (58), and the return pipe (56) is connected to the module case (27) so as to communicate with the 2 nd storage unit (59).

2. The fuel pump module according to claim 1, wherein a 1 st communication hole (60) that communicates between an upper portion of the 1 st reservoir (58) and an upper portion of the 2 nd reservoir (59), and a 2 nd communication hole (61) that communicates between a lower portion of the 1 st reservoir (58) and a lower portion of the 2 nd reservoir (59) are formed in the module case (27).

3. The fuel pump module according to claim 2, wherein a connection terminal (62) for supplying power to the electric motor (28) is disposed in the module case (27) while penetrating the module case (27) such that an inner end (62a) of the connection terminal (62) faces the inside of the 1 st reservoir (58), the inner end (62a) of the connection terminal (62) is disposed above the 2 nd communication hole (61), and the 2 nd communication hole (61) has a larger cross-sectional area than the 1 st communication hole (60).

4. The fuel pump module as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 3, characterized in that an annular raw chamber (46) surrounding the fuel filter (32) is formed in the module case (27) independently of the 2 nd reservoir (59), and a fuel conduit (63) for leading fuel from the fuel tank (23) is provided in connection above the return pipe (56) in the module case (27) so as to communicate with the raw chamber (46).