CN220204832U

CN220204832U - Valve device

Info

Publication number: CN220204832U
Application number: CN202190000740.9U
Authority: CN
Inventors: 矢岛一树; 三原健太
Original assignee: Piolax Inc
Current assignee: Piolax Inc
Priority date: 2020-09-24
Filing date: 2021-04-14
Publication date: 2023-12-19
Anticipated expiration: 2031-04-14
Also published as: WO2022064745A1; JPWO2022064745A1; JP7417756B2

Abstract

The utility model provides a valve device which can ensure the sealing performance of a vent hole and can improve the re-opening valve pressure. The valve device (10) comprises: a housing (15) provided with a partition wall (23) and a vent hole (25); and a float valve (40) which is accommodated in the valve chamber in a liftable manner and opens/closes the vent hole, wherein the float valve (40) comprises: a lower member (50); an upper member (60) disposed above the lower member (50) and held so as to be swingable with respect to the lower member (50) via a first retaining portion; and an elastic sealing member (80) having elasticity, which is held by the upper member (60) so as to be movable by a predetermined distance via the second retaining portion, and which contacts/separates from the valve seat to close/open the vent hole.

Description

Valve device

Technical Field

The present utility model relates to a valve device that is mounted on a fuel tank of an automobile or the like and is used as a fuel outflow prevention valve, a full tank limiting valve, or the like.

Background

For example, a valve device for preventing fuel in a fuel tank from leaking out of the fuel tank when the vehicle is tilted or turned upside down is attached to the fuel tank of a vehicle such as an automobile. Such valve devices generally have: a housing having a ventilation chamber provided above and a valve chamber provided below via a partition wall having a ventilation hole; and a float valve disposed in the valve chamber in a liftable manner. Further, a sealing member made of rubber or the like may be disposed above the float valve in order to improve the sealing property to the vent hole.

For example, patent document 1 discloses a valve device for a fuel tank, which includes: a housing having a partition wall and a ventilation chamber provided above and a valve chamber provided below; and a float member disposed in the valve chamber in a liftable manner. The float valve has a lower member and an upper member assembled above the lower member to be tiltable with respect to the lower member, and a sealing member formed of an elastic material is attached above the upper member. The seal member is constituted by a seal flange and a shaft portion protruding from the center of the inside thereof, and is attached above the upper member by inserting the shaft portion into a support hole formed in the center of the top of the upper member.

And, when buoyancy is generated to the float valve due to fuel sloshing, the float valve rises, and the sealing flange of the sealing member attached above the upper member closes the opening formed in the partition wall. At this time, the upper member is attached to the lower member in a tiltable manner, and therefore, the sealing property of the sealing flange to the opening of the partition wall is maintained even if the lower member is raised in a tilted state.

Prior art literature

Patent literature

Patent document 1: japanese patent application laid-open No. 2019-74022

Disclosure of Invention

Problems to be solved by the utility model

In the case of the fuel tank valve device of patent document 1, since the shaft portion in the center of the seal member is inserted into and supported by the support hole in the center of the upper member, the float valve is lifted, the peripheral edge portion of the seal flange is abutted against the inner peripheral edge of the opening of the partition wall, the seal flange center is pushed up, and the seal flange closes the opening in a slightly deformed state (see fig. 8 of patent document 1).

Therefore, when the float valve is to be lowered by its own weight in a state where the fuel sloshing subsides and the buoyancy is no longer applied to the float valve, the seal flange is less likely to peel off from the peripheral edge portion of the opening. In this case, the performance of opening the opening by easily peeling the seal flange from the opening peripheral edge portion even in a state where the pressure in the tank is high, that is, the so-called re-opening valve pressure, cannot be improved.

Accordingly, an object of the present utility model is to provide a valve device capable of improving the reopening pressure while ensuring the sealing performance of a float valve with respect to a vent hole.

Solution for solving the problem

In order to achieve the above object, a valve device according to the present utility model includes: a housing having a valve chamber communicating with the inside of a fuel tank at the lower side and a ventilation chamber communicating with the outside of the fuel tank at the upper side via a partition wall, and having a ventilation hole communicating with the valve chamber and the ventilation chamber at the partition wall; and a float valve which is accommodated in the valve chamber so as to be movable up and down, opens and closes the vent hole, and is provided with a valve seat communicating with the vent hole on the valve chamber side of the partition wall, the float valve having: a lower member; an upper member disposed above the lower member and held so as to be swingable with respect to the lower member via a first retaining portion; and an elastic sealing member having elasticity, which is held by the upper member so as to be movable by a predetermined distance via a second retaining portion, and which contacts/separates the valve seat to close/open the vent hole.

Effects of the utility model

According to the present utility model, since the upper member is held so as to be capable of rocking with respect to the lower member, even if the float valve is lifted in an inclined state, the elastic sealing member can be made to abut against the valve seat without being inclined, and the sealing performance of the elastic sealing member against the valve seat can be ensured.

Further, since the elastic sealing member is held so as to be movable by a predetermined distance, when the float valve is lowered after the elastic sealing member is brought into contact with the valve seat, the upper member moves relative to the elastic sealing member brought into contact with the valve seat, and the self weight of the float valve acts on the elastic sealing member, so that the elastic sealing member can be easily separated from the valve seat, and the re-opening pressure of the float valve can be increased.

As a result, the sealing performance of the elastic sealing member against the valve seat when the float valve is lifted can be ensured, and the reopening valve pressure of the float valve can be increased.

Drawings

Fig. 1 is an exploded perspective view showing a first embodiment of a fuel tank valve device according to the present utility model.

Fig. 2 is a cross-sectional view showing a state in which the float valve is lowered and the vent hole is opened in the valve device.

Fig. 3 is a perspective view of a lower member of the float valve constituting the valve device.

Fig. 4 shows an upper member constituting the float valve, fig. 4 (a) is an enlarged perspective view thereof, and fig. 4 (B) is a bottom view thereof.

Fig. 5 shows an elastic sealing member constituting the float valve, fig. 5 (a) is an enlarged perspective view thereof, and fig. 5 (B) is a plan view.

Fig. 6 is a perspective view of the float valve.

Fig. 7 is a front view of the float valve.

Fig. 8 is an explanatory view of a state in which the upper member is rocked with respect to the lower member from the state shown in fig. 7.

Fig. 9 is a plan view showing a state in which the elastic sealing member is held in the float valve in a state of being prevented from coming off the lower member.

Fig. 10 is a cross-sectional view of arrows A-A of fig. 9 at a line of sight.

Fig. 11 is a cross-sectional view showing a state in which the float valve is closed without being inclined upward in the valve device.

Fig. 12 is a cross-sectional view showing a state in which the float valve is inclined upward to close the vent hole in the valve device.

Fig. 13 is a cross-sectional view of the valve device in a state where the float valve is to be lowered from a state where the float valve closes the vent hole.

Fig. 14 is a cross-sectional view showing a state in which the float valve is further lowered from the state shown in fig. 13 to open the vent hole.

Fig. 15 shows a second embodiment of the fuel tank valve device of the present utility model, where fig. 15 (a) is a perspective view of an elastic sealing member constituting a float valve thereof, and fig. 15 (B) is a front view of the elastic sealing member.

Fig. 16 is a plan view of the float valve in a state in which the elastic sealing member is held in the lower member in a retaining manner.

Fig. 17 is a perspective view of a float valve of a third embodiment of the fuel tank valve device according to the present utility model.

Fig. 18 is a perspective view of a float valve of a fourth embodiment of the fuel tank valve device according to the present utility model.

Fig. 19 is a perspective view of a float valve of a fifth embodiment of the fuel tank valve device according to the present utility model.

Fig. 20 is a perspective view of a lower member constituting the float valve.

Fig. 21 is a plan view of a lower member constituting the float valve.

Fig. 22 is a side view of the float valve.

Fig. 23 is an enlarged perspective view of a main part of the float valve.

Fig. 24 shows a test for confirming the degree of blowing of the valve device, fig. 24 (a) is a schematic explanatory diagram of the test method, fig. 24 (B) is a test result thereof, and a graph showing the relationship between pressure and flow rate is shown.

Detailed Description

(first embodiment of valve device)

A first embodiment of the valve device of the present utility model will be described below with reference to fig. 1 to 14. In the following description, "fuel" refers to liquid fuel (including fuel droplets), and "fuel vapor" refers to evaporated fuel.

As shown in fig. 1 and 2, the valve device 10 in the present embodiment includes: a housing 15 having a valve chamber V and a vent chamber R; and a float valve 40 disposed in the valve chamber V so as to be movable up and down. The float valve 40 has: a lower member 50; an upper member 60 disposed above the lower member 50; and an elastic sealing member 80 held on the upper member 60.

Further, the housing 15 has: the casing main body 20 is substantially cylindrical and provided with a partition wall 23 at the upper side; an upper cover 30 attached to the upper side of the housing main body 20; and a lower cover 35 attached to the lower side of the housing main body 20.

The case body 20 has a substantially cylindrical peripheral wall 21, and a partition wall 23 is disposed above the peripheral wall 21. A plurality of through holes 21a and locking protrusions 21b are formed above the peripheral wall 21, and locking holes 21c are formed below the peripheral wall 21. Further, the flange portion 24 protrudes from the upper side of the peripheral wall 21. A circular hole-shaped vent hole 25 is formed in the center of the partition wall 23. A cylindrical wall 27 is provided to protrude from the upper surface side of the partition wall 23 at the inner peripheral edge of the vent hole 25, further outside the vent hole 25, and a seal ring 28 is attached to the outer periphery thereof.

On the other hand, the lower cover 35 has a plurality of through holes 36, and a plurality of locking claws 37 are formed on the outer periphery thereof. The lower cover 35 is attached to the lower side of the housing main body 20 by engaging the engaging claws 37 of the lower cover 35 with the engaging holes 21c of the housing main body 20. As a result, a valve chamber V (see fig. 2) that communicates with the inside of the fuel tank, not shown, is formed below the housing through the partition wall 23.

The float valve 40 is accommodated in the valve chamber V so as to be movable up and down in a state in which a float valve biasing spring S (hereinafter, simply referred to as "biasing spring S") constituted by a coil spring is interposed between the float valve 40 for opening and closing the vent hole 25 and the lower cover 35. The float valve 40 is raised by its own buoyancy and the biasing force of the biasing spring S when immersed in fuel, and lowered by its own weight when not immersed in fuel.

As shown in fig. 1 and 2, the upper cover 30 has: a peripheral wall 31 extending by a predetermined height; a top 32 closing the upper side of the peripheral wall 31; and a flange portion 33 that expands annularly from midway in the extending direction of the peripheral wall 31. A vent hole 31a (see fig. 2) is formed in a predetermined portion of the peripheral wall 31, and a substantially cylindrical fuel vapor pipe 34 is provided to extend outward from an outer peripheral edge portion of the vent hole 31 a. A tube (not shown) is connected to the fuel vapor pipe 34, and the tube communicates with a canister (canister) or the like disposed outside the fuel tank (not shown). As shown in fig. 2, a frame-shaped locking piece 31b that is locked to the locking projection 21b of the housing main body 20 is provided to hang down from the lower end surface of the peripheral wall 31.

In a state where the seal ring 28 is attached to the outer periphery of the cylindrical wall 27 of the housing main body 20, the upper cover 30 is covered from above the housing main body 20, and the seal ring 28 is sandwiched between the peripheral wall 31 of the upper cover 30 and the cylindrical wall 27 of the housing main body 20. At the same time, the locking piece 31b of the upper cover 30 is locked to the locking protrusion 21b of the housing main body 20, whereby the upper cover 30 is attached to the housing main body 20. As a result, a vent chamber R (see fig. 2) communicating with the outside of the fuel tank is formed above the partition wall 23.

Returning to the explanation of the case main body 20, a valve seat 25b communicating with the vent hole 25 is provided on the valve chamber V side of the partition wall 23. That is, as shown in fig. 2, the protruding wall portion 25a communicating with the vent hole 25 protrudes downward from the inner side (valve chamber V side) peripheral edge of the vent hole 25 formed in the center portion of the partition wall 23. The lower surface side peripheral edge portion of the protruding wall portion 25a is surrounded by a valve seat 25b having a substantially cross frame shape. The valve seat 25b communicates with the vent hole 25 and is provided for contact/separation of the elastic sealing member 80.

Next, the float valve 40 will be described in more detail.

The lower member 50 constituting the float valve 40 has a peripheral wall 51 extending a predetermined length in the up-down direction and a top wall 53 disposed above the peripheral wall, and the lower member 50 is formed in a substantially cylindrical shape that is open at the bottom and closed at the top.

A pair of guide grooves 51a, 51a extending axially from the top wall 53 toward the lower side of the peripheral wall are formed at two positions opposed to each other in the peripheral direction of the peripheral wall 51. A guide projection, not shown, provided on the inner periphery of the housing main body 20 is inserted into these guide grooves 51a, and forms a lifting guide for the float valve 40. Further, a plurality of guide ribs 51b extending radially are provided extending in the axial direction in the circumferential direction of the peripheral wall 51. These guide ribs 51b are disposed opposite to the inner periphery of the peripheral wall 21 of the housing main body 20, and form a lift guide for the float valve 40.

Further, a support protrusion 53a is provided to protrude from the center of the top wall 53 on the surface side (also referred to as "upper surface". In the following description), and the support protrusion 53a has a curved outer surface. The plate-like portion 61 of the upper member 60 is placed on the support protrusion 53a, and the upper member 60 is supported so as to be swingable. Further, a pair of through holes 53b are formed in the top wall 53 in the up-down direction, communicating with the inner space of the lower member 50. Further, the outer peripheral edge portion of the top wall 53 is cut at a pair of cut portions 55a, and is cut at another pair of cut portions 55b, 55b orthogonal to the pair of cut portions 55a, 55 a. Further, flat surface portions 55c, 55c cut into flat surfaces are formed at positions of the peripheral wall 51 that match the pair of cut portions 55b, 55 b.

Each of the flat surface portions 55c is provided with a drop-preventing protrusion 57 protruding therefrom, and the drop-preventing protrusion 57 is provided with a tapered surface 57a on an upper outer surface. As shown in fig. 7, when the float valve 40 is viewed from the front (when the float valve 40 is viewed from the direction orthogonal to the axial direction), the drop-off preventing protrusion 57 has a substantially rectangular shape formed with a constant axial length (longitudinal length) and a constant circumferential width (lateral width). The drop preventing protrusion 57 is inserted into a drop preventing hole 75a provided in the upper member 60 so as to be slidable in the axial direction Z (see fig. 6) of the float valve 40 and movable in the width direction Y (see fig. 6) of the float valve 40.

The drop-preventing protrusion 57 is one of "first drop-preventing portions" in the present utility model for retaining the upper member 60 in a drop-preventing manner so as to be swingable with respect to the lower member 50.

The shape and structure of the lower member are not limited to the above-described configuration, as long as the lower member has a portion that serves as the first retaining portion.

On the other hand, the upper member 60 is disposed above the lower member 50 and is held so as to be swingable with respect to the lower member 50 via a first retaining portion.

The upper member 60 of the present embodiment has a plate-like portion 61 which is disposed between the lower member 50 and the elastic sealing member 80 and is formed to have a predetermined thickness.

The plate-like portion 61 has a central portion 63 and a plurality of extending portions 65 extending outward from the central portion 63. The plate-like portion 61 of the present embodiment has a shape matching the plate-like portion 61 so as to be able to receive and support the elastic sealing member 80 having a substantially cross shape as a whole. That is, in the plate-like portion 61, four extending portions 65 extend radially outward from the central portion 63, and the extending portions 65, 65 adjacent in the circumferential direction are mutually orthogonal to each other, so that the plate-like portion 61 has a substantially cross shape as a whole.

Further, each extension portion 65 is formed such that a width of a base portion 65a near the central portion 63 is wider, and a width of a tip portion 65b distant from the central portion 63 is narrower than the base portion 65 a. A notch 67 is formed between one side edge of the base portion 65a of the predetermined extension portion 65 and one side edge of the base portion 65a of the extension portion 65 adjacent to the extension portion 65 in the circumferential direction. That is, although the plate-like portion 61 of the upper member 60C in the fourth embodiment shown in fig. 18 is not formed with such a notch 67, the plate-like portion 61 of the first embodiment is formed with a notch 67 formed by cutting a part of the outer periphery thereof. In the present embodiment, four notches 67 are formed at equal intervals in the circumferential direction of the central portion 63 of the plate-like portion 61. Therefore, the outer peripheral shape of the plate-like portion 61 of the upper member 60 is a shape substantially matching the outer peripheral shape of the elastic seal member 80 having a substantially cross shape.

A concave portion 69 recessed in a curved shape downward is formed on the central portion 63 of the plate-like portion 61 and the base portion 65a side of each extension portion 65 and on the surface side thereof (the elastic seal member 80 side). Specifically, the concave portion 69 is formed in a gently curved substantially mortar shape so as to gradually deepen from a predetermined position of the base portion 65a of each extension portion 65 toward the center of the central portion 63. The concave portion 69 is a portion that allows a downward bulge to be deformed when a seal portion 81 of the elastic seal member 80, which will be described later, abuts against the valve seat 25b (see fig. 11). The plate-like portion 61 may be formed in a plate-like shape having a constant thickness instead of the recess 69 described above.

The outer periphery 71 of the upper member 60 has the following shape. That is, as shown in fig. 4 (B), when the upper member 60 is viewed in the axial direction of the float valve 40, the outer periphery 71 of the plate-like portion 61 is formed such that the upper portion 71B in the thickness direction is larger than the lower portion 71a in the thickness direction. The lower portion 71a in the thickness direction of the plate-like portion 61 is a portion facing the lower member 50 side, and the upper portion 71b in the thickness direction of the plate-like portion 61 is a portion facing the elastic sealing member 80 side. As shown in fig. 10, an inclined surface 73 that expands in diameter from the lower portion 71a toward the upper portion 71b in the thickness direction is provided on the outer periphery 71 of the plate-like portion 61.

The outer periphery 71 of the plate-like portion 61 in the present embodiment has an inclined surface 73 that is formed in a gently curved surface and that expands so as to gradually expand in diameter from the lower side toward the upper side in the thickness direction. As a result, when the upper member 60 is viewed from the axial direction, the outer periphery 71 of the plate-like portion 61 has a shape in which the upper portion 71B in the thickness direction gradually expands larger than the lower portion 71a (see fig. 4 (B)). The outer periphery 71 of the plate-like portion 61 may have a stepped surface instead of the inclined surface 73, as long as the upper portion 71b is larger than the lower portion 71 a.

Further, in the plate-like portion 61, the release preventing pieces 75, 75 are provided so as to hang down from the pair of extending portions 65, 65 disposed opposite to each other with the central portion 63 interposed therebetween, and from the most distal inner sides (lower member 50 side) of the distal end portions 65b, 65b thereof. Each of the retaining pieces 75 has a retaining hole 75a formed in a long hole shape extending in the axial direction of the float valve 40. As shown in fig. 7, when the float valve 40 is viewed from the front, the drop-off preventing hole 75a has a substantially rectangular shape formed with a constant axial length (longitudinal length) and a constant circumferential width (lateral width). The drop hole 75a is formed longer than the axial length of the drop protrusion 57 provided on the lower member 50 side and wider than the circumferential width of the drop protrusion 57.

As shown in fig. 6, each of the retaining projections 57 is inserted into the retaining hole 75a of each of the retaining pieces 75 from the inside, thereby retaining the upper member 60 so as to be swingable with respect to the lower member 50.

As shown in fig. 7, in a state in which the escape prevention protrusion 57 is inserted into the escape prevention hole 75a, a predetermined gap is formed between both sides in the width direction of the escape prevention hole 75a and both sides in the width direction of the escape prevention protrusion 57, and a predetermined gap is also formed between both axial ends of the escape prevention hole 75a and both axial ends of the escape prevention protrusion 57.

Accordingly, as shown by reference numeral X, Y, Z in fig. 6, the upper member 60 is movable relative to the lower member 50 via the first retaining portion by a predetermined distance in the width direction Y orthogonal to the radial direction X (see fig. 6) of the float valve 40, and is movable by a predetermined distance in the axial direction Z of the float valve 40, and, as shown in fig. 8, the upper member 60 is swingable relative to the lower member 50.

Further, the upper member 60 is opposite to the lower member 50: (1) When the stopper protrusion 57 is maximally moved in the axial direction Z, it is locked to the inner surfaces of both ends of the stopper hole 75a in the longitudinal direction, and (2) when the stopper protrusion 57 is maximally moved in the width direction Y, it is locked to the inner surfaces of both sides of the stopper hole 75a in the width direction, and therefore, the upper member 60 is held by the lower member 50.

That is, in the present embodiment, the escape prevention protrusion 57 on the lower member 50 side and the escape prevention hole 75a of the escape prevention piece 75 on the upper member 60 side become "first escape prevention portions" in the present utility model.

Further, the release preventing hooks 77, 77 inserted into the release preventing holes 85 (see fig. 5 a) of the elastic sealing member 80 are provided to protrude from the front sides (the elastic sealing member 80 side) of the tip end portions 65b, 65b of the pair of extending portions 65, 65 provided with the release preventing piece 75.

Each of the retaining hooks 77 includes a shaft portion 77a fitted in the retaining hole 85 with a clearance therebetween, and an extension portion 77b extending from the upper end of the shaft portion 77a beyond the inner peripheral edge of the retaining hole 85. As shown in fig. 4 (a), the shaft portion 77a has a quadrangular prism shape. The shaft portion 77a is formed to be shorter than the axial length of the drop-off preventing hole 85 and narrower than the width of the drop-off preventing hole 85 orthogonal to the axial direction, and the shaft portion 77a is fitted in the drop-off preventing hole 85 with a clearance. That is, the shaft portion 77a is inserted into the drop preventing hole 85 of the elastic sealing member 80 so as to be movable in the radial direction X (see fig. 6) of the float valve 40 and movable in the width direction Y of the float valve 40.

The protruding portion 77B protrudes from the upper end of the shaft portion 77a toward the distal end of the distal end portion 65B of the extending portion 65 (see fig. 4B), and protrudes to a position slightly protruding outward from the distal end of the distal end portion 65B (see fig. 9). The protruding portion 77b of the present embodiment protrudes outward from the inner peripheral edge on the outer diameter side of the retaining hole 85 (see fig. 9). Further, as shown in fig. 7, a gap larger than the thickness of the elastic sealing member 80 is formed between the extension portion 65 and the protruding portion 77b.

The shape and structure of the upper member are not limited to the above, as long as the upper member can be kept swingable with respect to the lower member via the first retaining portion and the elastic sealing member can be kept swingable via the second retaining portion.

The first retaining portion may be provided with a retaining piece having a retaining hole on the lower member side, and a retaining projection inserted into the retaining hole and movable in the retaining hole in the circumferential direction and the axial direction may be provided on the upper member side, so long as the upper member is retained so as to be swingable with respect to the lower member.

Next, an elastic sealing member 80 having elasticity will be described, and the elastic sealing member 80 is disposed above the upper member 60, is held in a state of being movable by a predetermined distance by the second retaining portion, and contacts and separates from the valve seat 25b to close and open the vent hole 25.

As shown in fig. 5, the elastic sealing member 80 of the present embodiment has a sealing portion 81 that contacts/separates from the valve seat 25 b. The sealing portion 81 has a central portion 81a and a plurality of side portions 81b extending outward from the central portion 81 a. In the sealing portion 81 of the present embodiment, four side portions 81b extend radially outward from the center portion 81a, corresponding to the valve seat 25b having a substantially cross frame shape, and the circumferentially adjacent side portions 81b, 81b are mutually orthogonal to each other, and the sealing portion 81 has a substantially cross shape. Further, R-shaped portions 81c with rounded corners are formed at the corners between the circumferentially adjacent side portions 81b, 81b.

The extending portions 83 extend outward from the side portions 81b of the sealing portion 81. That is, the elastic sealing member 80 has four extending portions 83 extending radially from the sealing portion 81, and the extending portions 83, 83 adjacent in the circumferential direction are mutually orthogonal to each other, as a result, the elastic sealing member 80 has a substantially cross shape as a whole. The seal 81 is flush with each extension 83 (the surface of the seal 81 and the surface of each extension 83 are on the same plane).

Each extension 83 has a substantially long hole-shaped retaining hole 85 extending long in the extension direction. Each of the retaining holes 85 has a shape with rounded ends in the longitudinal direction. The shaft portion 77a of the release preventing hook 77 provided on the upper member 60 is inserted into each release preventing hole 85 so as to be fit in a clearance.

As shown in fig. 5 (B) and 9, each of the retaining holes 85 is formed to have an axial length longer than that of the shaft portion 77a and a width orthogonal to the axial direction wider than that of the shaft portion 77 a.

As shown in fig. 6 and 9, the shaft portion 77a of each of the retaining hooks 77 is inserted into each of the retaining holes 85, and the protruding portions 77b thereof are located on the front side peripheral edges of the retaining holes 85, respectively, whereby the elastic seal member 80 is retained in a retaining manner so as to be movable by a predetermined distance on the upper member 60.

As shown in fig. 9, in a state where the shaft portion 77a is inserted into the escape hole 85, a predetermined gap is formed between both axial ends of the escape hole 85 and both axial ends of the shaft portion 77a, and a predetermined gap is also formed between both widthwise sides of the escape hole 85 and both widthwise sides of the shaft portion 77 a. As shown in fig. 7, the extension 83 is disposed in a gap between the extension 65 and the extension 77b of the upper member 60.

Therefore, as shown by reference numeral X, Y, Z in fig. 6, the elastic sealing member 80 is movable with respect to the upper member 60 via the second retaining portion by a predetermined distance in the radial direction X of the float valve 40, is movable by a predetermined distance in the width direction Y of the float valve 40, and is movable by a predetermined distance in the axial direction Z of the float valve 40.

Further, the elastic sealing member 80 is opposed to the upper member 60: the elastic seal member 80 is held in the upper member 60 by (1) the shaft portion 77a being locked to the inner surfaces of the both axial ends of the escape hole 85 when moving maximally in the radial direction X, (2) the shaft portion 77a being locked to the inner surfaces of the both lateral sides of the escape hole 85 when moving maximally in the width direction Y, and (3) the protruding portion 77b being locked to the front side peripheral edge of the escape hole 85 when moving maximally in the axial direction Z.

That is, in the present embodiment, the escape prevention hook 77 on the upper member 60 side and the escape prevention hole 85 on the elastic sealing member 80 side become "second escape prevention portions" in the present utility model.

As shown in fig. 5 (B), four retaining holes 85 of the elastic seal member 80 serving as the second retaining portion are arranged so as to surround the seal portion 81.

Further, the elastic sealing member 80 is formed in a shape that does not move from the outer side Zhou Yuechu of the upper member 60 even if it moves maximally relative to the upper member 60.

The elastic sealing member 80 in the present embodiment is formed in a substantially cross shape matching the shape of the plate-like portion 61 of the upper member 60 in a substantially cross shape, and has a similar shape in which the entire circumference of the elastic sealing member 80 is one turn smaller than the entire circumference of the plate-like portion 61 of the upper member 60.

That is, as shown in fig. 9, when the upper member 60 and the elastic sealing member 80 are seen in a plan view, the outer periphery of the sealing portion 81 of the elastic sealing member 80 is formed to be located inside the outer periphery of the plate-like portion 61 of the upper member 60, and the outer periphery of each extending portion 83 of the elastic sealing member 80 is formed to be located inside the outer periphery of each extending portion 65 of the upper member 60.

As a result, as shown in fig. 9, the area of the elastic sealing member 80 is smaller than the area of the plate-like portion 61 of the upper member 60 when the upper member 60 and the elastic sealing member 80 are viewed in a plan view.

As shown by the phantom line in fig. 9, even when the elastic sealing member 80 moves to the maximum extent in the width direction Y of the float valve 40 with respect to the upper member 60 (see the phantom line in the left-right direction in fig. 9) or moves to the maximum extent in the radial direction X of the float valve 40 (see the phantom line in the up-down direction in fig. 9), the elastic sealing member 80 does not come out of the outer portion Zhou Yuechu of the plate-like portion 61 of the upper member 60. The movement restriction of the elastic seal member 80 with respect to the upper member 60 is achieved by the shaft portion 77a of the escape prevention hook 77 and the escape prevention hole 85 forming the second escape prevention portion described above.

Further, a reinforcing rib 87 for reinforcing the sealing portion 81 is provided at an outer edge portion of the sealing portion 81.

As shown in fig. 5 (a), in the present embodiment, the rib 87 having a substantially L-shape is provided so as to stand up toward the front and rear sides of the sealing portion 81 over the outer edge of the predetermined side portion 81b, the outer edge of the other side portion 81b adjacent to the side portion 81b in the circumferential direction, and the outer edge of the R-shaped portion 81c provided between the side portions 81b and 81 b.

Further, the standing direction of the reinforcing rib 87 is perpendicular to the surface direction of the plate-like elastic seal member 80. The reinforcing rib 87 does not surround the entire circumference of the elastic sealing member 80, and both ends in the extending direction thereof are open ends. In the present embodiment, the reinforcing ribs 87 are provided at four corners of the seal portion 81 having a substantially cross shape.

As shown in fig. 7, when the above-described reinforcing rib 87 is provided, the lower end portion of the reinforcing rib 87 is only in contact with the upper surface (surface facing the elastic sealing member 80) of the upper member 60 when the elastic sealing member 80 is disposed above the upper member 60, and the elastic sealing member 80 is in a state of floating up from the upper surface of the upper member 60 except for the lower end portion of the reinforcing rib 87.

In the elastic sealing member 80 having the above-described configuration, all of the sealing portion 81, the plurality of extending portions 83, the reinforcing ribs 87, and the like are integrally formed of an elastic material such as rubber or elastomer.

In the present embodiment, as shown in fig. 5 (B), four retaining holes 85 forming the second retaining portion are arranged so as to surround the sealing portion 81, but the present invention is not limited to this configuration. For example, the elastic sealing member may be formed in a shape such that three extending portions radially extend from the outer periphery thereof around the sealing portion, and the retaining hole may be provided in each extending portion. In this case, three anti-slip portions are disposed so as to surround the seal portion. The elastic sealing member may have a long plate shape in which a pair of extending portions extend from both sides of the sealing portion, and the retaining hole may be provided in each extending portion. In this case, the drop-off preventing portions are disposed on both sides thereof via the sealing portions. The drop-preventing portion may be provided to surround the sealing portion, for example, five or six.

The shape and structure of the elastic sealing member are not limited to the above, as long as the elastic sealing member can be held so as to be swingable with respect to the upper member via the second retaining portion and can be brought into contact with and separated from the valve seat. The sealing portion of the elastic sealing member may be, for example, a circular plate shape, an elliptical shape, an oblong shape, or a polygonal shape such as a quadrangle, a pentagon, or a hexagon, as long as the sealing portion can be brought into contact with and separated from the valve seat.

The shape and structure of the "second retaining portion" may be any shape and structure other than the retaining hook and retaining hole, as long as the elastic sealing member can be retained in a movable manner by a predetermined distance with respect to the upper member.

(effects of action)

Next, the operational effects of the valve device 10 of the present utility model including the above configuration will be described.

As shown in fig. 2, when the fuel level in the fuel tank does not rise and the float valve 40 is not immersed in fuel, the float valve 40 descends in the valve chamber V, the seal portion 81 of the elastic seal member 80 is away from the valve seat 25b, the vent hole 25 opens, and the valve chamber V and the vent chamber R communicate with each other through the vent hole 25. In this state, when the fuel vapor in the fuel tank increases due to, for example, running of the vehicle and the tank internal pressure increases, the fuel vapor flows into the valve chamber V from the port 36 of the lower cover 35 and the port 21a of the housing main body 20, passes through the vent hole 25 formed in the partition wall 23, flows into the vent chamber R, and is sent to a tank, not shown, via the fuel vapor pipe 34, whereby the pressure increase in the fuel tank is suppressed.

When the vehicle turns from a curve, runs on a road with irregularities, a slope, or the like, or falls down due to an accident, and the fuel in the fuel tank is vigorously shaken, the fuel level rises, and the float valve 40 is immersed in the fuel, the float valve 40 rises due to the buoyancy of the float valve 40 itself. As a result, as shown in fig. 11, the sealing portion 81 of the elastic sealing member 80 abuts against the valve seat 25b to block the vent hole 25. Here, the seal portion 81 having a substantially cross shape is deformed to be convex downward corresponding to the valve seat 25b having a substantially cross frame shape, and the surface side thereof abuts against the valve seat 25b to close the vent hole 25. At the same time, the inner side of the sealing portion 81, which is flex-deformed in a downwardly convex manner, is in close contact with the surface of the concave portion 69 of the plate-like portion 61 of the upper member 60.

The case shown in fig. 11 described above is a case where the float valve 40 rises straight without being inclined with respect to the axial direction of the housing 15, but as shown in fig. 12, the float valve 40 may also rise inclined with respect to the axial direction of the housing 15.

At this time, since the upper member 60 is swingable with respect to the lower member 50 (see fig. 8), when the float valve 40 is obliquely raised and the sealing portion 81 of the elastic sealing member 80 above the upper member is in contact with the valve seat 25b in an inclined state, the sealing portion 81 is pressed by the valve seat 25b, and the sealing portion 81 is in contact with and pressed against the concave portion 69 of the upper member 60, whereby the upper member 60 can be properly swung with respect to the lower member 50. As a result, as shown in fig. 12, the inclination of the seal portion 81 of the elastic seal member 80 is corrected, so that the seal portion 81 can be made to abut against the valve seat 25b without being inclined, and the sealing property of the seal portion 81 against the valve seat 25b can be ensured.

In the above state, when the sloshing or the like of the fuel subsides, the buoyancy from the fuel no longer acts on the float valve 40, or the pressure in the fuel tank decreases, the float valve 40 decreases due to its own weight. Then, as shown in fig. 13, the lower member 50 is lowered by a predetermined distance with respect to the sealing portion 81 abutting and abutting against the valve seat 25b, the drop-preventing protrusion 57 of the lower member 50 is lowered in the drop-preventing hole 75a of the drop-preventing piece 75 of the upper member 60, and the drop-preventing protrusion 57 is engaged with the lower end inner surface of the drop-preventing hole 75 a.

As a result, the load of the lower member 50 acts on the upper member 60, and the shaft portion 77a of the unhooking hook 77 of the upper member 60 descends in the unhooking hole 85 of the elastic sealing member 80, and the protruding portion 77b of the unhooking hook 77 is engaged with the front side peripheral edge of the unhooking hole 85. Thereby, the load of the lower member 50 acts on the extension 83 of the elastic sealing member 80 via the upper member 60 (the load of the lower member 50 and the upper member 60 acts on the extension 83).

Then, the extension 83 of the elastic sealing member 80 is elastically deformed so as to be stretched obliquely downward, and the extension 83 moves in the axial direction Z and the radial direction X of the float valve 40. As a result, as shown in fig. 13, after the side portion 81b of the seal portion 81 connected to the extension portion 83 is gradually separated from the valve seat 25b from the base end side thereof, the center portion 81a of the seal portion 81 is peeled off from the valve seat 25b as shown in fig. 14, and therefore the vent hole 25 can be completely opened. As a result, the reopen valve pressure of the float valve 40 can be increased. The term "increase the reopen valve pressure" means that the float valve can be easily separated from the valve seat even when the pressure in the tank is high, and the vent hole can be opened. Further, as the seal 81 is peeled off from the valve seat 25b, the entire float valve 40 is lowered.

As described above, in this valve device 10, since the upper member 60 is held so as to be swingable with respect to the lower member 50, even if the float valve 40 is lifted in an inclined state, the elastic sealing member 80 can be brought into contact with the valve seat 25b without being inclined (see fig. 12), and the sealing performance of the elastic sealing member 80 against the valve seat 25b can be ensured.

Further, since the elastic sealing member 80 is held so as to be movable by a predetermined distance in the upper member 60, when the float valve 40 is lowered after the elastic sealing member 80 contacts the valve seat 25b, the upper member 60 moves relative to the elastic sealing member 80 that contacts the valve seat 25b, and the self weight of the float valve 40 acts on the elastic sealing member 80, so that the elastic sealing member 80 can be easily separated from the valve seat 25b (see fig. 13 and 14), and the reopening pressure of the float valve 40 can be increased.

As a result, the sealing performance of the elastic sealing member 80 against the valve seat 25b at the time of the ascent of the float valve 40 can be ensured, and the reopening valve pressure of the float valve 40 can be increased.

In the present embodiment, as shown in fig. 9, the elastic sealing member 80 is formed in a shape that does not move from the outer side Zhou Yuechu of the upper member 60 even when it moves to the maximum with respect to the upper member 60.

Therefore, when the pressure in the fuel tank increases due to the running of the vehicle or the like and the gas such as the fuel vapor flows into the valve chamber V, the gas is less likely to collide with the elastic seal member 80. That is, the gas flowing into the valve chamber V flows upward from the lower side of the valve chamber and is discharged from the vent hole 25 to the vent chamber R side, but at this time, the gas flowing along the peripheral wall 51 of the lower member 50 goes toward the upper member 60 side above the lower member 50 (see arrow F1 in fig. 7 and 10). At this time, since the elastic sealing member 80 is formed in a shape that does not move from the outer side Zhou Yuechu of the upper member 60 even when it moves to the maximum with respect to the upper member 60, the gas is less likely to collide with the elastic sealing member 80, the gas is prevented from flowing so as to enter the inside of the elastic sealing member 80 and push up the sealing portion 81, and the sealing portion 81 is prevented from being deformed so as to be bent so as to form a convex curved surface upward as shown by the virtual line of fig. 10. Therefore, the float valve 40 can be restrained from rising so as to be lifted by the gas via the elastic sealing member 80, and the float valve 40 can be made less likely to be blown up. That is, the float valve 40 is prevented from rising at a flow rate and a flow rate smaller than the set flow rate and flow rate, and the seal portion 81 is brought into contact with the valve seat 25b, so that the vent hole 25 is closed (blowing of the float valve 40 is prevented).

In the present embodiment, when the upper member 60 is viewed in the axial direction of the float valve 40, as shown in fig. 4 (B), the outer periphery 71 of the plate-like portion 61 is formed such that the upper portion 71B is larger than the lower portion 71a in the thickness direction.

Therefore, when the pressure in the fuel tank rises, as indicated by an arrow F2 in fig. 10, the gas flowing into the valve chamber V flows from the lower portion in the thickness direction of the outer periphery 71 of the upper member 60 to the upper portion and is guided to the outside of the elastic seal member 80, so that the gas is less likely to collide with the elastic seal member 80. Further, even if the outer periphery of the upper member 60 is narrowed so as to follow the outer periphery of the elastic sealing member 80, the gas is made less likely to collide with the elastic sealing member 80.

In the present embodiment, as shown in fig. 10, an inclined surface 73, which is widened from a lower portion to an upper portion in the thickness direction, is provided on an outer periphery 71 of the plate-like portion 61. Therefore, when the pressure in the fuel tank rises, as indicated by an arrow F2 in fig. 10, the gas flowing into the valve chamber V is guided by the inclined surface 73 of the upper member 60 and flows to the outside of the elastic sealing member 80, and therefore, the gas is less likely to collide with the elastic sealing member 80.

In the present embodiment, the elastic seal member 80 has seal portions 81 that contact and separate from the valve seat 25b, the second retaining portions are disposed on both sides thereof with the seal portions 81 interposed therebetween, or three or more retaining holes 85 that form the second retaining portions are disposed so as to surround the seal portions 81 (four retaining holes 85 that form the second retaining portions are disposed so as to surround the seal portions 81), and reinforcing ribs 87 that reinforce the seal portions 81 are provided on outer side edges of the seal portions 81 (see fig. 5).

Accordingly, since the reinforcing rib 87 for reinforcing the seal portion 81 is provided on the outer edge portion of the seal portion 81, when the float valve 40 is lifted, the seal portion 81 is pulled by the upper member 60 after abutting against the valve seat 25b, and the extension portion 83 is peeled off in a plate-like manner while maintaining rigidity, so that the reopening pressure of the float valve 40 can be further increased.

In the present embodiment, the second retaining portion is constituted by the retaining hole 85 formed in the elastic seal member 80 and the retaining hook 77 inserted into the retaining hole 85, and the retaining hook 77 includes a shaft portion 77a fitted in the retaining hole 85 with a clearance, and a protruding portion 77b protruding from the upper end of the shaft portion 77a beyond the inner peripheral edge of the retaining hole 85.

Accordingly, by inserting the shaft portion 77a of the escape prevention hook 77 into the escape prevention hole 85, as shown in fig. 9, the protruding portion 77b protrudes beyond the inner peripheral edge of the hole, and therefore, the elastic sealing member 80 can be easily attached to the upper member 60, and escape prevention can be reliably achieved. Further, the shaft portion 77a fitted in the retaining hole 85 is fit with a clearance, so that the movable performance of the elastic seal member 80 with respect to the upper member 60 can be ensured.

(second embodiment of valve device)

A second embodiment of the valve device of the present utility model is shown in fig. 15 and 16. The same reference numerals are given to the portions substantially identical to those of the above-described embodiment, and the description thereof is omitted.

The valve device in this embodiment is different from the embodiment in the shape of the elastic sealing member 80A. That is, the elastic sealing member 80A has a shape without reinforcing ribs at the outer edge of the sealing portion 81. As shown in fig. 15 (a) and 15 (B), the elastic sealing member 80A has a shape in which the plurality of extending portions 83 are inclined with respect to the sealing portion 81 when the sealing portion 81 is in contact with the valve seat 25B. That is, when the seal portion 81 is in contact with the valve seat 25b, the elastic seal member 80A has a shape in which the center of the seal portion 81 is lowest and the extending portion 83 is inclined so as to be gradually higher toward the top end in the extending direction.

Since the elastic sealing member 80A of the present embodiment has a shape in which no reinforcing rib is provided at the outer edge portion of the sealing portion 81, the plurality of extending portions 83 are easily deformed into a shape inclined with respect to the sealing portion 81 as shown in fig. 15 (a) and 15 (B) when the sealing portion 81 is in contact with the valve seat 25B, and the outer periphery of each extending portion 83 is less likely to protrude from the outer periphery 71 of the upper member 60 when the elastic sealing member 80A is moved, and the sealing performance of the sealing portion 81 against the valve seat 25B can be further improved.

(third embodiment of valve device)

A third embodiment of the valve device of the present utility model is shown in fig. 17. The same reference numerals are given to the portions substantially identical to those of the above-described embodiment, and the description thereof is omitted.

The valve device in this embodiment is different from the embodiment in the shape of the lower member 50B. As shown in fig. 17, four raised portions 59, which enter into four notched portions 67 formed in the elastic seal member 80, are provided in the outer peripheral edge portion of the top wall 53 of the lower member 50B. Two ridges 59, 59 of the four ridges 59 are disposed at positions of the lower member 50B that match the pair of guide grooves 51a, and the remaining two ridges 59, 59 are disposed at positions orthogonal to the two ridges 59, 59.

Each of the raised portions 59 has a pair of side surfaces 59a and 59a orthogonal to each other and a curved side surface 59b connecting the side surfaces 59a and 59a to each other, and is formed in a shape raised by a predetermined height. Each side surface 59a is disposed so as to face the side surface of the extension portion 65 of the upper member 60 and the side surface of the extension portion 83 of the elastic seal member 80.

In the present embodiment, the provision of the ridge 59 makes it possible to prevent gas such as fuel vapor from easily flowing into the back side of the elastic sealing member 80 when the pressure in the fuel tank increases, and to prevent the float valve 40 from being blown up more easily.

(fourth embodiment of valve device)

A fourth embodiment of the valve device of the present utility model is shown in fig. 18. The same reference numerals are given to the portions substantially identical to those of the above-described embodiment, and the description thereof is omitted.

In the valve device of the present embodiment, the shape of the upper member 60C is different from that of the embodiment. As shown in fig. 18, unlike the upper member 60 of the first embodiment, one side edge of the base portion 65a of the predetermined extending portion 65 is connected to one side edge of the base portion 65a of the extending portion 65 adjacent to the extending portion 65 in the circumferential direction by a connecting portion 67 a. Further, a wall portion 68 having a predetermined width is provided to stand up from the front outer peripheral edge portion of each connecting portion 67 a. The wall portion 68 is disposed at a position facing the reinforcing rib 87 of the elastic seal member 80 in a state where the elastic seal member 80 is held in the upper member 60C in a retaining manner.

In the present embodiment, as described above, by providing the wall portion 68 described above to the connecting portion 67a of the upper member 60C, when the pressure in the fuel tank increases, the gas such as fuel vapor can be made less likely to flow into the back side of the elastic sealing member 80, and the float valve 40 can be made less likely to be blown up.

(fifth embodiment of valve device)

Fig. 19 to 23 show a fifth embodiment of the valve device of the present utility model. The same reference numerals are given to the portions substantially identical to those of the above-described embodiment, and the description thereof is omitted.

In the valve device of the present embodiment, the shape of the lower member 50D is different from that of the embodiment.

As shown in fig. 20, the lower member 50D of the present embodiment has a top wall 53 provided with a mounting surface 54 on which the upper member 60 is mounted.

The mounting surface 54 is composed of a substantially circular central surface 54 a disposed at a radially central portion of the top wall 53, and a plurality of outward extending surfaces 54b extending radially outward from a peripheral edge of the central surface 54 a. The mounting surface 54 in the present embodiment has four outward extending surfaces 54b arranged at 90 degree intervals with respect to the center of the mounting surface, and has a substantially cross shape corresponding to the substantially cross-shaped upper member 60. The upper surfaces of the central surface 54 a and the outer extension surfaces 54b are flat surfaces having a constant height and free from irregularities. Further, a supporting projection 53 a is projected from the center of the center surface 54 a on the front side, and the upper member 60 is supported by the supporting projection 53 a so as to be swingable.

The "mounting surface" in the present utility model refers to a portion located below the upper member, which can abut against the back surface of the upper member when the upper member swings in any direction, and thus can block and support (mount) the upper member.

As shown in fig. 21, among the four outer extending surfaces 54b constituting the mounting surface 54, the extending direction distal end portions of a pair of outer extending surfaces 54b, 54b arranged on a straight line passing through the center of the mounting surface extend to the flat surface portion 55c located on the outer periphery of the lower member 50D, but the extending direction distal end portions of the other pair of outer extending surfaces 54b, 54b orthogonal to the pair of outer extending surfaces 54b, 54b are configured not to extend to the outer periphery of the lower member 50D.

Further, since the mounting surface 54 is provided as described above, the top wall 53 has a plurality of outer peripheral arrangement portions 53b arranged on the outer periphery of the top wall 53 so as to be located between the adjacent outer extending surfaces 54b, 54 b.

As shown in fig. 21, the top wall 53 of the present embodiment has four outer peripheral arrangement portions 53b. Specifically, the pair of outer peripheral arrangement portions 53b, 53b are arranged at positions radially opposed to each other across the radially central portion of the top wall 53, and the other outer peripheral arrangement portions 53b, 53b are arranged orthogonal to the pair of outer peripheral arrangement portions 53b, 53b (see fig. 21). The pair of outer peripheral arrangement portions 53b, 53b arranged in opposition among the four outer peripheral arrangement portions 53b are arranged at positions matching the pair of guide grooves 51 a, 51 a provided in the lower member 50D (see fig. 20).

As shown in fig. 21, when the lower member 50D is viewed from the axial direction, each outer peripheral arrangement portion 53b is formed in a substantially fan shape having a pair of side edges 53c, 53c that are orthogonal to each other.

As shown in fig. 21, a groove 56 is formed between the side edge 53c of each outer peripheral portion 53b of the top wall 53 and the side edge 54c of each outer extending surface 54b of the mounting surface 54 disposed opposite to the side edge 53 c.

In the lower member 50D of the present embodiment, an inclined surface 58 inclined so as to be lower than the mounting surface 54 toward the outside of the lower member 50D is formed in a portion of the top wall 53 other than the mounting surface 54 when viewed in the axial direction of the float valve 40.

In the present embodiment, as shown in fig. 20, the inclined surface 58 having a tapered shape, which is the highest at the radially central portion of the top wall 53 and is inclined so as to gradually decrease in height toward the radially outer side of the float valve 40, is formed on the bottom surface of the groove 56. The inclined surface 58 having a tapered surface shape is also formed at a portion between the distal end portion in the extending direction of the predetermined outer extending surface 54b of the mounting surface 54 and the outer periphery of the lower member 50D.

The inclined surface may be formed, for example, in a curved surface shape recessed downward, a curved surface shape protruding upward, a plurality of tapered surfaces having different inclination angles, or a stepped shape, as long as the entire surface is inclined outward from the lower member so as to be lower than the mounting surface.

In the lower member 50D, a protruding portion 90 protruding from the mounting surface 54 is formed between the adjacent second retaining portions (the retaining hooks 77 on the upper member 60 side and the retaining holes 85 on the elastic seal member 80 side).

As shown in fig. 21, in the present embodiment, the protruding portion 90 protrudes from the upper surface of each outer peripheral arrangement portion 53b of the top wall 53. That is, one pair of the protruding portions 90, 90 is arranged at a portion that faces in the radial direction across the radial center portion of the top wall 53, and the other pair of the protruding portions 90, 90 is arranged orthogonal to the pair of the protruding portions 90, 90. The pair of protrusions 90, 90 disposed opposite to each other in the radial direction among the four protrusions 90 are disposed at positions matching the pair of guide grooves 51 a, 51 a provided in the lower member 50D (see fig. 21).

As shown in fig. 20 and 21, each of the protruding portions 90 has a pair of side surfaces 91 and 91 orthogonal to each other, and has a protruding end surface 93 provided between the side surfaces 91 and 91, and is formed into a substantially fan-shaped protrusion when the lower member 50D is viewed from the axial direction, in cooperation with the outer peripheral arrangement portion 53 b.

As shown in fig. 20 and 23, the pair of protruding portions 90 and 90 disposed at positions matching the pair of guide grooves 51 a and 51 a of the lower member 50D have an outer peripheral surface 93 a provided to stand up from the outer peripheral arrangement portion 53b of the top wall 53 radially outward of the lower member 50D. The other pair of protruding portions 90, 90 has an outer peripheral edge portion of the protruding end surface 93 connected to the upper surface of the outer peripheral portion 53b of the top wall 53, and does not have the shape of the outer peripheral surface 93 a described above.

Further, as shown in fig. 20, an inner corner of the protruding end surface 93 of the protruding portion 90 toward the radial center portion of the top wall 53 forms a protruding end portion 95 (also referred to as "top portion") protruding in a highest manner from the upper surface of the top wall 53.

The protruding end surface 93 of the present embodiment is inclined from the protruding end 95 to the outside of the lower member 50D so that the protruding height gradually decreases while drawing a curved surface shape slightly protruding to the outside.

As shown in fig. 22, the protruding end 95 of the protruding portion 90 protrudes from the upper surface 60 a of the upper member 60 in a state where the upper member 60 is placed on the placement surface 54. The protruding end 95 in the present embodiment also protrudes from the upper surface 80 a of the elastic seal member 80 (see fig. 22).

As shown in fig. 22, the outer peripheral edge portions of the protruding end surfaces 93, 93 of the pair of protruding portions 90, 90 arranged at positions matching the pair of guide grooves 51 a, 51 a of the lower member 50D are located higher than the outer peripheral edge portions of the protruding end surfaces 93, 93 of the other pair of protruding portions 90, 90.

The protruding end surface may be, for example, a tapered surface, a curved surface recessed downward, a plurality of tapered surfaces having different inclination angles, or a stepped shape, as long as the entire surface is inclined outward from the lower member. The protruding portion may be, for example, a polygonal protruding portion having a triangular shape, a quadrangular shape, a diamond shape, a trapezoid shape, or a pentagonal shape or more, or a circular, elliptical, or oblong protruding portion, in addition to the protruding portion having a substantially fan shape.

(effects of the fifth embodiment)

Next, the operational effects of the valve device according to the fifth embodiment will be described.

That is, in the present embodiment, the lower member 50D has the top wall 53 provided with the mounting surface 54 on which the upper member 60 is mounted, and the lower member 50D is formed with the inclined surface 58 inclined so as to be lower than the mounting surface 54 toward the outside of the lower member 50D in a portion of the top wall 53 other than the mounting surface 54 when viewed in the axial direction of the float valve 40.

Therefore, even if the fuel is stored on the top wall 53 of the lower member 50D due to, for example, the sloshing of the fuel, the fuel can be easily discharged to the outside of the lower member 50D through the inclined surface 58 as indicated by arrow G in fig. 23, and the fuel can be suppressed from flowing from the vent hole 25 into the vent chamber R.

Specifically, even if the fuel is stored on the upper surface of the top wall 53 and the respective outer peripheral arrangement portions 53b of the top wall 53, the fuel flows down the groove 56, flows on the inclined surface 58 of the bottom surface of the groove 56, and is discharged to the outside of the lower member 50D. Even if the fuel is stored in a portion between the distal end portion in the extending direction of the predetermined outward extending surface 54b of the mounting surface 54 and the outer periphery of the lower member 50D, the fuel can be discharged to the outside of the lower member 50D through the inclined surface 58 provided in the portion.

Further, a part of the fuel stored in the protruding end surface 93 of the protruding portion 90 is transferred to the side surface 91 of the protruding portion 90, flows down to the groove portion 56 via the outer peripheral arrangement portion 53b of the top wall 53, and is discharged to the outside of the lower member 50D via the inclined surface 58. The fuel stored on the upper surface 80 a of the elastic seal member 80 and the upper surface 60 a of the upper member 60 also flows down the groove 56, and then is discharged to the outside of the lower member 50D via the inclined surface 58.

As described above, by forming the inclined surface 58 as described above, even if the fuel is stored in the top wall 53 or the like, the fuel can be discharged to the outside of the lower member 50D via the inclined surface 58, and inflow of the fuel into the breather chamber R can be suppressed.

In the present embodiment, the elastic seal member 80 has seal portions 81 that contact and separate from the valve seat 25b, the second drop-preventing portions are arranged on both sides thereof with the seal portions 81 interposed therebetween or three or more (here, four drop-preventing holes 85 that form the second drop-preventing portions are arranged so as to surround the seal portions 81), and the protruding portions 90 that protrude from the mounting surface 54 are formed between adjacent second drop-preventing portions in the lower member 50D (see fig. 19).

Accordingly, in the lower member 50D, since the protruding portion 90 protruding from the mounting surface 54 is formed between the adjacent second retaining portions, even if gas such as fuel vapor is to flow from the outside of the float valve to the inside of the float valve, the gas collides with the protruding portion 90 to prevent the flow. As a result, the gas such as the fuel vapor is less likely to flow into the back side of the elastic sealing member 80, the float valve 40 is less likely to be blown up, and the fuel is less likely to be accumulated on the top wall 53 of the lower member 50D.

In the present embodiment, as shown in fig. 22, in a state where the upper member 60 is placed on the placement surface 54, the most protruding end 95 of the protruding portion 90 protrudes from the upper surface 60 a of the upper member 60.

According to the above-described configuration, the protruding end 95 of the protruding portion 90 covers the gap between the upper member 60 and the elastic sealing member 80 (the gap between the upper surface 60 a of the upper member 60 and the lower surface of the elastic sealing member 80), so that the gas such as the fuel vapor is less likely to flow into the gap, and the float valve 40 is less likely to blow up. In addition, the gap between the upper surface of the top wall 53 of the lower member 50D and the lower surface of the upper member 60 can be easily covered, and fuel can be prevented from entering the gap.

In the present embodiment, since the protruding end 95 of the protruding portion 90 protrudes not only from the upper surface 60 a of the upper member 60 but also from the upper surface 80 a of the elastic sealing member 80 (see fig. 22), even when the upper member 60 is rocked, the gap between the upper member 60 and the elastic sealing member 80 can be stably covered (since the height of the protruding end 95 is a margin), and inflow of gas into the gap can be more effectively suppressed.

In the present embodiment, as shown in fig. 19, 20, and 22, the protruding end surface 93 of the protruding portion 90 has a shape inclined outward of the lower member 50D.

According to the above-described aspect, even if the fuel is stored on the protruding end surface 93 of the protruding portion 90, the fuel can be easily discharged to the outside of the lower member 50D. Further, even if the fuel accumulated on the protruding end surface 93 flows down onto the top wall 53, the fuel can be discharged to the outside of the lower member 50D through the inclined surface 58 formed on the top wall 53.

Examples

Various valve devices were tested for the difficulty in blowing up.

Example 1

A valve device of example 1 including a housing, a float valve, and the like similar to the valve device shown in fig. 1 to 14 was manufactured. The upper member 60 is provided with a notch 67.

Example 2

A valve device of example 2 provided with the same upper member as the valve device shown in fig. 18 was manufactured. The same structure as in example 1 is provided except that the wall portion 68 is provided to the upper member 60C via the connecting portion 67 a.

Example 3

A valve device of example 3 was manufactured in the same manner as in example 1 and example 2, except that the upper member was provided with a connecting portion and the extension portion of the elastic sealing member was formed in a shape of an outer portion Zhou Yuechu of the extension portion of the upper member.

(test method)

As shown in fig. 24 (a), the valve devices of examples 1 to 3 were attached to the upper wall of the fuel tank, and air was blown into the fuel tank and gradually pressurized, and the flow rate at that time was measured. The results are shown in fig. 24 (B). In fig. 24 (B), a solid line represents example 1, a broken line represents example 2, and a one-dot chain line represents example 3. In each line, the portion where the flow rate stops rising and becomes a fixed flow rate is a state where the float valve is blown up to close the vent hole in each embodiment, and this portion is referred to as a blowing point P.

As shown in fig. 24 (B), example 3 reached the blowing point P at the lowest flow rate, example 2 reached the blowing point P at the highest flow rate, and example 1 reached the blowing point P at the flow rate between example 2 and example 3. Namely, it can be seen that: the float valve of example 2 was least prone to blow up, the float valve of example 1 was second least prone to blow up, and the float valve of example 3 was most prone to blow up.

The present utility model is not limited to the above-described embodiments, and various modifications may be made within the scope of the gist of the present utility model, and such embodiments are also included in the scope of the present utility model.

Reference numerals illustrate:

10: a valve device; 15: a housing; 20: a housing body; 23: a partition wall; 25: a vent hole; 25b: a valve seat; 30: an upper cover; 35: a lower cover; 40: a float valve; 50. 50B, 50D: a lower member; 54: a mounting surface; 58: an inclined surface; 60. 60C: an upper member; 61: a plate-like portion; 71: an outer periphery; 71a: a lower portion; 71b: an upper portion; 73: an inclined surface; 75: an anti-falling sheet; 77: unhooking prevention; 77a: a shaft portion; 77b: an extension; 80. 80A: an elastic sealing member; 81: a sealing part; 85: an anti-drop hole; 87: reinforcing ribs; 90: a protruding portion; 93: protruding end surfaces; 95: a protruding end portion; s: a force spring for the float valve; v: a valve chamber; r: and (5) ventilating the air chamber.

Claims

1. A valve device, comprising:

a housing having a valve chamber communicating with the inside of a fuel tank at the lower side and a ventilation chamber communicating with the outside of the fuel tank at the upper side via a partition wall, and having a ventilation hole communicating the valve chamber with the ventilation chamber at the partition wall; and

a float valve which is accommodated in the valve chamber in a liftable manner and opens/closes the vent hole,

a valve seat communicating with the vent hole is provided on the valve chamber side of the partition wall,

the float valve has: a lower member; an upper member disposed above the lower member and held so as to be swingable with respect to the lower member via a first retaining portion; and an elastic sealing member having elasticity, which is held in a state of being movable by a predetermined distance by a second retaining portion, and which is brought into contact with/separated from the valve seat to close/open the vent hole,

the lower member has a top wall provided with a mounting surface for mounting the upper member,

the elastic sealing member has a sealing portion contacting/separating with/from the valve seat,

the second anti-drop parts are arranged on two sides of the sealing part or more than three of the second anti-drop parts are arranged in a mode of surrounding the sealing part,

In the lower member, a protruding portion protruding from the mounting surface is formed between the adjacent second retaining portions.

2. The valve device according to claim 1, wherein,

the elastic sealing member is formed in a shape that does not protrude from the outer side Zhou Yuechu of the upper member even if it moves maximally relative to the upper member.

3. The valve device according to claim 1 or 2, wherein,

the upper member has a plate-like portion disposed between the lower member and the elastic sealing member, the elastic sealing member is held above the plate-like portion so as to be movable by a predetermined distance via the second retaining portion,

the outer periphery of the plate-like portion is formed such that an upper portion in the thickness direction is larger than a lower portion in the thickness direction when the upper member is viewed in the axial direction of the float valve.

4. A valve device according to claim 3, wherein,

an inclined surface having a diameter that increases from a lower portion toward an upper portion in the thickness direction is provided on the outer periphery of the plate-like portion.

5. The valve device according to claim 1 or 2, wherein,

A reinforcing rib is provided on the outer edge of the sealing portion to reinforce the sealing portion.

6. The valve device according to claim 1 or 2, wherein,

the second anti-falling part is composed of an anti-falling hole formed on the elastic sealing component and an anti-falling hook inserted into the anti-falling hole,

the release preventing hook has a shaft portion fitted in the release preventing hole with a clearance therebetween and an extension portion extending from an upper end of the shaft portion beyond an inner peripheral edge of the release preventing hole.

7. The valve device according to claim 1 or 2, wherein,

in the lower member, an inclined surface inclined so as to be lower than the mounting surface toward the outside of the lower member is formed in a portion of the top wall other than the mounting surface when viewed in the axial direction of the float valve.

8. The valve device according to claim 1 or 2, wherein,

in a state where the upper member is mounted on the mounting surface, a protruding end portion of the protruding portion that protrudes most protrudes from an upper surface of the upper member.

9. The valve device according to claim 1 or 2, wherein,

the protruding end surface of the protruding portion has a shape inclined toward the outside of the lower member.