JP2000199455A - Evaporated fuel processing device - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide an evaporated fuel processing device wherein a liquid puddle is not a nuisance in the layout within a vehicle engine room. SOLUTION: This evaporated fuel processing device includes the case 1 in which an adsorbent 15 is filled, a release pipe 9 for releasing the content of this case 1 into the air, an evaporated fuel incoming pipe 7, an outgoing pipe 8 for a fuel desorbed from the adsorbent 15, and a liquid puddle 20 which stores a liquefied fuel flowing from the incoming pipe 7.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

The present invention relates to an apparatus for treating fuel vapor generated in a fuel tank of a vehicle.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art As a device for treating fuel evaporating from a fuel tank of an automobile, a device in which a predetermined case is filled with an adsorbent such as activated carbon is known. In this type of processing apparatus, a part of the fuel evaporated in the fuel tank may return to the liquid component while being guided to the adsorbent. When the fuel returned to the liquid is absorbed by the adsorbent, the adsorbent deteriorates and the life of the device is shortened. Therefore, it is common practice to guide the fuel flowing from the inflow pipe to the liquid reservoir before the adsorbent to separate the liquefied component, and to guide the vapor component passing therethrough to the adsorbent side. The liquid reservoir is provided by welding another member to the outer wall of the case (for example, see Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 9-88739).

[0003]

However, when another member is welded to the outer wall of the case, the liquid reservoir protrudes from the outer surface of the case. This protruding portion hinders the layout in the engine room.

Accordingly, an object of the present invention is to provide an evaporative fuel treatment apparatus in which a liquid reservoir is unlikely to hinder layout.

[0005]

Hereinafter, the present invention will be described. In addition, in order to facilitate understanding of the present invention, reference numerals in the accompanying drawings are added in parentheses, but the present invention is not limited to the illustrated embodiment.

According to the first aspect of the present invention, there is provided an adsorbent (15) therein.
(1), an open pipe (9) for opening the inside of the case to the atmosphere, an inflow pipe (7) for the evaporated fuel, and an outflow pipe (7) for the fuel released from the adsorbent. 8)
The above-mentioned problem is solved by an evaporative fuel treatment device provided with a liquid reservoir (20) for storing liquefied fuel flowing from the inflow pipe in the case.

[0007] According to the present invention, since the liquid reservoir is accommodated in the case and does not protrude from the case, the layout of the canister is facilitated.

According to a second aspect of the present invention, in the fuel vapor processing apparatus according to the first aspect, a partition member (12) for forming the liquid reservoir (20) is attached to the inside of the case. And

According to the present invention, unlike the case where the partition member is joined to the outside of the case, it is not necessary to join the junction between the partition member and the case precisely over the entire surface so that fuel leakage does not occur. . Therefore, the partition member can be easily attached.

[0010]

FIG. 1 shows a configuration of a canister as an evaporative fuel processing apparatus to which the present invention is applied. The canister C has a case 1 made of resin. The case 1 includes a cylindrical case body 2 having one end opened, and a case lid 3 for closing the opening of the case body 2. The interior of the case 1 is partitioned into a first chamber 5 and a second chamber 6 by a partition wall 4 extending from a ceiling wall 2a of the case body 2. The ceiling wall 2a is provided with an inflow pipe 7 and an outflow pipe 8 communicating with the first chamber 5, and an atmosphere opening pipe 9 communicating with the second chamber 6. The inflow pipe 7 is connected to the fuel tank of the vehicle, and the outflow pipe 8 is connected to the intake system of the engine of the vehicle.

An introduction pipe 10 communicating with the inflow pipe 7 and an inner port 1 surrounding the outer circumference thereof are provided on the inner surface of the ceiling wall 2a.
1 is provided. The inner port 11 is the inflow pipe 7
It is formed in a cylindrical shape with a larger diameter than that. Inner port 1
A cup-shaped partitioning member 12 is attached to the inner periphery of 1. A relay pipe 13 is provided at the center of the partition member 12 so as to protrude upward from the bottom 12 a of the partition member 12.

A large number of projections 2b, 12b are provided on the inner surface of the ceiling wall 2a of the case body 2 and the lower surface of the partition member 12, respectively.
Is provided. An air-permeable cushioning material 14 made of a nonwoven fabric or the like is abutted against the projections 2b and 12b, and an adsorbent 15 is filled below the cushioning material 14.
As the adsorbent 15, for example, activated carbon is used. The buffer material 14 and the grid plate 16 are placed under the adsorbent 15. The grid plate 16 has a large number of ventilation holes (not shown). The grid plate 16 is pushed up by coil springs 17, 17 provided between the grid plate 16 and the case lid 3, whereby the adsorbent 15 is packed into the case 1 with an appropriate pressure.

According to the canister constructed as described above, the fuel vapor generated in the fuel tank is guided from the inflow pipe 7 to the inside of the partition member 12 via the introduction pipe 10, and further from the partition member 12 to the relay pipe. It is led to the first chamber 5 via 13. Since the relay pipe 13 projects beyond the bottom 12 a of the partition member 12, even if liquefied fuel flows in from the inflow pipe 7, the liquefied fuel is stored in the partition member 12 and does not flow into the first chamber 5. Therefore, the inside of the partition member 12 functions as the liquid reservoir 20. Since the liquid reservoir 20 is formed inside the partition member 12 attached to the case 1, it does not hinder the layout of the canister in the engine room of the vehicle. Partition member 1
2 is hidden in the case 1, even if the liquefied fuel leaks from the partition member 12 or the joint thereof,
There is no risk of fuel leaking out immediately. Therefore, it is not necessary to join the partition member 12 to the case 1 in a liquid-tight manner over the entire circumference.

The present invention is not limited to the above embodiment, but can be implemented in various forms. For example, the inner port 11 can also serve as the partition member 12 (FIG. 2). further,
The inner port 11 is eliminated, and the ceiling wall 2a of the first room 5
The entire side may be used as the liquid reservoir 20 (FIG. 3).
In this case, if the relay pipe 13 is positioned directly below the outflow pipe 8, the fuel vapor separated from the adsorbent 15 and flows through the relay pipe 13 and the outflow pipe 8 into the intake system of the engine of the vehicle is removed. The flow can be made smooth (FIG. 4). Further, a form in which the introduction pipe 10 communicating with the inflow pipe 7 is not provided is also conceivable (FIG. 5). In this way, the inflow pipe 7 and the outflow pipe 8 are no longer distinguished from each other, and either of the pipes may be connected to the fuel tank and the intake system, and the layout restrictions in the engine room are further relaxed.

[0015]

As described above, in the canister of the present invention, the liquid reservoir for storing the liquefied fuel is provided in the case of the fuel processing apparatus. There is an advantage that the reservoir does not get in the way. Further, when a partition member for forming the liquid reservoir is mounted in the case, the partition member can be mounted very easily.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a cross-sectional view of a canister as an embodiment of an evaporative fuel treatment apparatus according to the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a view of a canister in which an inner port also serves as a partition member.

FIG. 3 is a view of a canister in which a liquid storage portion is formed entirely on a ceiling wall side of a first room.

FIG. 4 is a view of a canister in which a relay pipe is located directly below an outflow pipe.

FIG. 5 is a view of a canister without distinguishing between an inflow pipe and an outflow pipe.

[Explanation of symbols]

 DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Case 2 Case main body 2a Ceiling wall 2b projection 3 Case lid 4 Partition wall 5 First chamber 6 Second chamber 7 Inflow pipe 8 Outflow pipe 9 Atmospheric release pipe 10 Introduction pipe 11 Inner port 12 Partition member 12a Bottom part 12b Projection 13 Relay pipe 14 cushioning material 15 adsorbent 16 grid plate 20 liquid reservoir C canister

Claims (2)

[Claims] 1. A case filled with an adsorbent, an open pipe for opening the inside of the case to the atmosphere, an inflow pipe for fuel vapor, and an outflow pipe for fuel released from the adsorbent. And a liquid reservoir for storing liquefied fuel flowing from the inflow pipe is provided in the case. 2. The evaporative fuel treatment apparatus according to claim 1, wherein a partition member for forming the liquid reservoir is mounted inside the case.