JP2003184664A - Canister and canister integrated pump module - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To prevent vehicle parts from interfering with each port of a canister and prevent each port from being damaged at the time of vehicle collision. <P>SOLUTION: Ports 17, 19 and 21 are placed on an upper surface of the canister 1. An introduction path 16 introducing evaporative fuel into an adsorption material layer is raised on the upper surface of the canister 1, while an evaporative fuel communicating chamber 24 is protrusively provided so that it surrounds an external portion of the raised portion. An element wall 23 of the evaporative fuel communicating chamber 24 is disposed so that it encloses each port 17, 19 and 21 on three sides of the canister 1 except one side. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2003,JPO

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a canister and a canister-integrated pump module.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art As a system for reducing evaporated fuel released from a fuel system of a vehicle to the atmosphere, there is a system using a canister filled with an adsorbent such as activated carbon. In this system, the evaporated fuel generated in the fuel tank etc. when the engine is stopped is adsorbed and collected by the adsorbent of the canister, and the adsorbed and collected evaporated fuel is purged to the engine by the negative pressure of the intake system when the engine is operating. Has become.

A canister used in such a system is provided with an inlet port for introducing evaporated fuel from a fuel tank or the like into the canister, and for purifying evaporated fuel adsorbed and collected by an adsorbent in the canister into an intake system. A purge port, an air port for introducing air into the canister at the time of this purge, and a main port for connecting a main tube communicating with a delivery pipe of a fuel injector in the engine are provided.

Such a port is arranged on the upper surface side of the canister, especially in the canister attached to the fuel tank, and is provided in a state of being raised from the upper surface of the canister.

Further, in the fuel supply device in which the canister is attached to the fuel tank, a fuel cutoff valve is attached to the fuel tank to prevent liquid fuel in the fuel tank from flowing out into the canister when the vehicle leans or falls. The fuel cutoff valve is used to discharge the evaporated fuel in the fuel tank to the canister, and the canister is provided with an introduction path for introducing the evaporated fuel discharged through the fuel cutoff valve. It is known that an evaporative fuel communication chamber is provided on the outer circumference, and is disclosed in, for example, Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 2001-173522.

The introduction passage is provided in an upright state with its upper end opened, and the evaporative fuel communication chamber is formed of a reverse concave component wall that surrounds the outer periphery and the upper portion of the introduction passage with a space between them. When the liquid fuel flows out together with the evaporated fuel to the canister side, the evaporated fuel and the liquid fuel are separated in the evaporated fuel communication chamber, and only the evaporated fuel flows into the adsorbent layer from the introduction passage.

Further, a canister-integrated pump module in which the canister and the fuel pump are integrated and attached to a fuel tank, and further, the canister, the fuel pump, and the fuel cutoff valve are integrated. A canister-integrated pump module is also known, and is disclosed in, for example, the above-mentioned JP 2001-173522A.
No.

[0008]

By the way, when a vehicle collides, a member constituting the vehicle may interfere (impact) with the canister. At this time, in the conventional canister, since the means for preventing the respective ports from interfering with the vehicle member is not provided, the respective ports may interfere with the vehicle members around the canister and be damaged. There is.

In view of the above, the present invention utilizes the evaporative fuel communication chamber as a protective wall for each of the ports in the above-described evaporative fuel communication chamber. The purpose is to protect each port by preventing the port from interfering with a vehicle member.

[0010]

In order to solve the above-mentioned problems, a first invention according to claim 1 arranges each port on the upper surface of a canister and adsorbs evaporated fuel on the upper surface of the canister. In a canister in which an introduction passage to be introduced into a material layer is raised and a vaporized fuel communication chamber is projected so as to surround the outside of the raised portion, the constituent walls of the vaporized fuel communication chamber are three sides except one side of the canister. In the canister, the canister is arranged so as to surround each port.

According to a second aspect of the present invention, in the first aspect of the present invention, one side of the canister from which the constituent wall of the evaporative fuel communication chamber is removed is the front side of the canister. It is a canister in which each tube connected to each port is arranged.

In the present invention, the canister is installed near the fuel tank installed in the rear part of the vehicle, and
By installing one side of the canister, that is, the side not provided with the evaporative fuel communication chamber, toward the front of the vehicle, the vehicle member and each port of the canister interfere with each other at the time of a collision at the side and the rear of the vehicle. This can be prevented by the constituent wall of the fuel vapor communication chamber.

Further, in the canister installed as described above, the collision of the vehicle member with the canister on the front side facing the front of the vehicle is extremely small, so that each port is protected by the evaporative fuel communication chamber on the front side. The need for is extremely small. Therefore, the evaporative fuel communication chamber is not provided on one side (front side) of the canister, and tubes for each port can be arranged on the one side.

According to a third aspect of the present invention, in the first or second aspect of the invention, the height of the constituent wall of the evaporative fuel communication chamber is set to be substantially equal to or higher than the height of each of the ports. It is a canister.

In the present invention, the interference between the vehicle member and each port at the time of the collision of the vehicle can be prevented more reliably.

According to a fourth aspect of the present invention, a fuel pump and a canister are integrally provided so as to be attached to a fuel tank, each port is arranged on the upper surface of the canister, and the evaporated fuel is adsorbed to the adsorbent layer. In a canister-integrated pump module in which an introduction passage to be introduced is raised and a vaporized fuel communication chamber is projected so as to surround the outside of the raised portion, a constituent wall of the vaporized fuel communication chamber is excluded from one side of the canister. The canister-integrated pump module is characterized in that it is arranged so as to surround each port on three sides.

According to the present invention, in the canister-integrated pump module having the fuel pump and the canister integrally provided, the same operation and effect as those of the first invention are exhibited.

According to a fifth aspect of the present invention, a fuel pump, a canister, and a fuel cutoff valve are integrally provided so as to be attached to a fuel tank, and each port is arranged on the upper surface of the canister and the evaporated fuel is evaporated. In the canister-integrated pump module in which the introduction path for introducing the fuel vapor into the adsorbent layer is raised, and the vaporized fuel communication chamber is projected so as to surround the outside of the riser portion, the constituent wall of the vaporized fuel communication chamber is defined by the canister. A canister-integrated pump module, which is arranged so as to surround each port on three sides except one side.

According to the present invention, in the canister-integrated pump module integrally including the fuel pump, the canister, and the fuel cutoff valve, the same operation and effect as those of the first invention are exhibited.

According to a sixth aspect of the present invention, in the fourth or fifth aspect of the invention, the height of the constituent wall of the vaporized fuel communication chamber is set to be substantially equal to or higher than the height of each port. It is a canister integrated pump module.

In the present invention, in the canister-integrated pump module integrally including the fuel pump, the canister, and the fuel cutoff valve, the same action and effect as the first invention are exhibited.

[0022]

BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION Embodiments of the present invention will be described based on the embodiments shown in the drawings.

FIG. 1 is a plan view of the canister-integrated pump module, FIG. 2 is a front view of the upper portion of the canister as seen from the front side (A side) of FIG. 1, and FIG. 3 is a sectional view taken along the line EE in FIG. 4 is a sectional view taken along the line FF in FIG.

In the figure, a case 2 forming the canister 1 is formed by a bottomed cylinder having an open upper end, and the inside of the case 2 is divided into a first adsorption chamber 4 and a second adsorption chamber 4 by a partition wall 3 as shown in FIG. It is divided into the adsorption chamber 5. The first adsorption chamber 4 is filled with an adsorbent 6a made of activated carbon or the like, and
The first adsorbent layer 6 made of the adsorbent 6a is held by the first upper filter 7 and the first lower filter portion 8. Second
The adsorption chamber 5 is filled with an adsorbent 9a made of activated carbon or the like, and the second adsorbent layer 9 made of the adsorbent 9a is held by the second upper filter 10 and the second lower filter part 11. ing.

The lower portions of the first adsorbent layer 6 and the second adsorbent layer 9 are communicated with each other by a communication chamber 12.

The upper side, which is the opening side of the case 2, is closed by a canister cover 13, and the first space 1 is provided between the canister cover 13 and the first upper filter 7.
4 is provided, and the canister cover 13 and the second
A second space portion 15 is provided between the upper filter 10 and the upper filter 10.

As shown in FIG. 4, the canister cover 13 has an introduction passage 16 for the evaporated fuel, and the introduction passage 16 for the evaporated fuel is provided in the first adsorption chamber 4.
Is provided on the side, the upper side of the introduction path 16 is formed by raising a pipe 16a having an open upper end, and the lower side is
It penetrates through the first space portion 14 and the first filter 7 and communicates with the opening inside the first adsorbent layer 6.

Further, as shown in FIGS. 1 and 3, the canister cover 13 is provided with a purge port 17 which communicates with the first space portion 14. The purge port 17 has a standing portion 17a raised from the upper surface of the canister cover 13 and a front side A of the canister 1 from the standing portion 17a, that is, a front side of the vehicle when the canister is mounted on the vehicle. The tube connecting portion 17b is formed horizontally. In the purge port 17,
As shown in FIG. 1, the purging tube 18 connected to the intake system of the engine is connected in a substantially horizontal state.

Further, as shown in FIGS. 1 and 3, the canister cover 13 is provided with an atmospheric port 19 which communicates with the second space chamber 15. The atmospheric port 1
Reference numeral 9 denotes an upright portion 19a raised from the upper surface of the canister cover 13 and a front side A of the canister 1 from the upright portion 19a.
And a tube connection portion 19b formed substantially horizontally toward the. As shown in FIG. 1, an atmosphere tube 20 that opens to the atmosphere is connected to the atmosphere port 19 in a substantially horizontal state.

Further, the canister cover 13 is provided with a main port 21 for communicating with a delivery pipe of a fuel injector in the engine, and the main port 21 stands up from the upper surface of the canister cover 13. A fuel pump (not shown) is connected to the inside (lower side) of the main port 21, and the fuel pump is arranged in the fuel tank 26. Also, outside the main port 21 (upper side)
A main tube 22 is connected to the front side of the canister 1 from the main port 21 substantially horizontally.

Outside the introduction passage 16, the introduction passage 16 is provided.
On both sides of the canister cover 13, the communication chamber forming wall 23 having a reverse concave cross-section is formed by the both side walls 23a and 23b rising from the upper surface of the canister cover 13 and the upper wall 23c spaced above the upper end opening of the introduction passage 16. An evaporative fuel communication chamber 24 is formed inside the communication chamber forming wall 23. The evaporative fuel communication chamber 24 communicates with the upper end opening of the introduction path 16.

The evaporative fuel communication chamber 24, that is, the communication chamber constituting wall 23, is formed by the purge port 17 and the atmospheric port 1.
9, each tube 18, 20 in the main port 21,
Each port 1 on 3 sides except one side where 22 is arranged
It is formed so as to surround 7, 19, 21.
That is, except the front side A of the canister 1, the rear side B, the left side C, and the right side D of the canister 1 are formed. In the illustrated embodiment, as shown in FIG. 1, the communication chamber constituting wall 23 is located on the left side C of the main port 21, the purge port 17, and the atmospheric port 19 and on the rear side B of the main port 21. Portion 23e, a portion 23f located on the right side D of the main port 21, and a portion 23 located on the rear side B of the purge port 17 and the atmosphere port 19.
g, and a portion 23h located on the right side D of the purge port 17 and the atmosphere port 19, and these portions are formed in series.

Further, as shown in FIG. 2, the height H1 of the communication chamber forming wall 23 from the canister cover 13 is determined by the purge port 18, the atmospheric port 19, and the main port 21.
The height is set to be substantially equal to or higher than the height from the canister cover 13. In the illustrated embodiment, the main port 21
Is set to be higher than the height H3 of the purge port 17 and the atmosphere port 19, the height H1 of the communication chamber constituting wall 23 is set to be substantially equal to the height H2 of the main port 21, The height H3 of the purge port 18 and the atmospheric port 19 is made higher.

A set plate 25 is formed integrally with the outer periphery of the upper end of the case 2 so as to project substantially horizontally to the outside in the radial direction of the case 2, and the set plate 25 is mounted on a vehicle. The case 2 part of the canister 1 and the fuel pump are housed in the fuel tank 26 by being fixed to the fuel tank 26a (see FIG. 4).

Further, the set plate 25 is provided with a fuel cutoff valve 27, and a case 28 of the fuel cutoff valve 27 is provided so as to project to the lower side of the set plate 25, and an upper part in the fuel tank 26 is provided. It is supposed to be placed in. A valve body 29 is provided in the case 28. Further, the positive pressure valve 30, the negative pressure valve 31, and the relief valve 32 of the fuel cutoff valve 27 are provided on the upper side of the set plate 25, are covered by the communication chamber forming wall 23, and are arranged in the evaporated fuel communication chamber 24. . In FIG. 1, reference numeral 33 indicates an electrical connector. The structure of the fuel cutoff valve 27 is known (for example, Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 2001-173522), and thus detailed description thereof will be omitted.

The mounting direction of the canister 1 by the set plate 25 is set so that the tubes 18, 20 and 22 connected to the canister 1 are positioned so that the A side shown in FIG. 1 faces the front side of the vehicle. To be

Next, the operation of the above embodiment will be described.

At normal times, the fuel cutoff valve 2
7, the valve body 29 of FIG. 7 descends and the valve port 34 is opened, and the evaporated fuel in the fuel tank 26 flows into the inlet 3 formed in the case 28.
5, the evaporative fuel communication chamber 2 through the valve opening 34 in the case 28
It flows into 4. Then, the liquid fuel liquefied in the vaporized fuel communication passage 24 accumulates at the bottom of the vaporized fuel communication passage 24, and the gaseous vaporized fuel flows from the introduction passage 16 into the first adsorbent layer 6 of the canister 1, It is adsorbed and collected by the adsorbent 6a.

Further, when the liquid fuel in the fuel tank 26 rises abnormally and reaches the position of the valve element 29 when the vehicle leans or falls, the valve element 29 floats and closes the valve opening 34, and The liquid fuel in the tank 26 is the fuel vapor communication passage 24.
Prevent it from flowing into.

Further, when the liquid fuel in the fuel tank 26 flows into the vaporized fuel communication chamber 24 together with the vaporized fuel, the introduction passage 16 is formed so as to stand upright from the bottom surface of the vaporized fuel communication chamber 24. The liquid fuel is prevented from flowing into the adsorbent layer 6 from the introduction passage 16.

Next, when the engine is operated, negative pressure in the intake pipe acts on the purge port 17, air is introduced from the atmospheric port 19, and the air passes through both adsorbent layers 9 and 6 and is purged. It flows from the port 17 to the intake pipe. Therefore, the vaporized fuel adsorbed and collected by the adsorbents 6a and 9a is purged from the purge port 17 into the intake pipe together with the circulating air.

Next, the case of a vehicle collision will be described.

When a vehicle member such as a frame hits the canister 1 from the left and right sides (C side and D side in FIG. 1) due to a collision of the vehicle (in the case of a side collision), the communication chamber constituting wall is formed. Portions 23d, 23f and 23h of the port 23 located on the left and right sides of the ports 17, 19 and 21 serve as protective walls to prevent vehicle members from interfering (impacting) with the ports 17, 19 and 21.

When the vehicle member hits the canister 1 from the rear side (B side in FIG. 1) (in the case of a rear collision), the ports 17, 1 in the communication chamber forming wall 23 are formed.
The portions 23e, 23g located on the rear side of 9, 21 serve as protective walls to prevent the vehicle member from interfering (impacting) with the ports 17, 19, 21.

Therefore, each port 17,
Protects 19 and 21, and each port 1 at the time of vehicle collision
It is possible to prevent damage to 7, 19, and 21.

Further, the height H1 of the vaporized fuel communication chamber 24, that is, the communication chamber forming wall 23 is set to the respective ports 17, 19,
Since the heights H2 and H3 of 21 are set to be substantially equal to or higher than the heights H2 and H3, the vehicle parts are further prevented from interfering with (hitting) the ports 17, 19 and 21 at the time of the side collision and the rear collision as described above. be able to.

Further, since the fuel tank is generally mounted on the rear portion of the vehicle, in the case of the canister installed in the fuel tank, hitting the vehicle part from the front side of the canister to the canister means that the side collision or the rear collision mentioned above occurs. Extremely less than. Therefore, as shown in FIG. 1, each tube 1
The side where the communication passage forming wall 23 cannot be disposed due to the presence of 8, 20, 22 is defined as the front side A, and the canister 1 is installed with the front side A facing the front side of the vehicle. Even if it does not exist, there is no problem in protecting each port 17, 19, 21.

The communication passage forming wall 23 serving as the protective wall
The planar shape of is not limited to the shape shown in FIG. 1 and may be any shape as long as it can protect the ports 17, 19 and 21 from the side impact and rear impact as described above.
It is modified by the arrangement of 1.

Further, the above-mentioned embodiment is an example in which the fuel pump, the canister, and the fuel cutoff valve are integrally applied to a canister-integrated pump module.
It may be applied to a canister-integrated pump module in which a fuel pump and a canister are integrated, and a fuel cutoff valve is provided separately, and further, a fuel pump, a fuel cutoff valve, and a canister are provided as separate fuel supplies. It may be applied to a canister in the device.

[0050]

As described above, according to the first aspect of the present invention, when the vehicle collides, the constituent wall of the evaporative fuel communication chamber serves as a protective wall due to the interference between the vehicle parts and the respective ports. You can prevent damage to the ports and protect each port.

Further, by omitting the constituent wall of the vaporized fuel communication chamber on one side of the canister, it is possible to arrange tubes for each port on the one side.

By arranging the notch side of the constituent wall on the front side of the canister as described in claim 2, it is possible to effectively protect each port from a vehicle collision and to arrange a tube in each port.

According to the third aspect of the present invention, the protection of each port becomes more reliable.

According to the inventions of claims 4 and 5,
In the canister-integrated pump module, the same effect as the invention of claim 1 can be obtained.

According to the invention of claim 6, in the inventions of claims 4 and 5, the protection of each port becomes more reliable.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a plan view of an embodiment in which the present invention is applied to a canister-integrated pump module.

FIG. 2 is a front view showing the structure of the upper portion of FIG.

3 is a sectional view taken along line EE in FIG.

4 is a sectional view taken along line FF in FIG.

[Explanation of symbols]

1 canister 6,9 Adsorbent layer 16 Introduction route 17 Purge port 19 atmospheric ports 21 Main port 18, 20, 22 tubes 23 Communication room wall 24 Evaporative fuel communication chamber 27 Fuel cut-off valve A front side B rear side C, D left right

Continued front page    (72) Inventor Kazumi Haruta             1 Ai 1-1-1, Kyowa-cho, Obu City, Aichi Prefecture             Sankogyo Co., Ltd. (72) Inventor Takashi Ishikawa             1 Toyota Town, Toyota City, Aichi Prefecture Toyota Auto             Car Co., Ltd. (72) Inventor Koji Miwa             1 Toyota Town, Toyota City, Aichi Prefecture Toyota Auto             Car Co., Ltd. F-term (reference) 3G044 BA32 GA01 GA14 GA15 GA16                       GA20 GA28 GA30

Claims (6)

[Claims] 1. Arranging each port on the upper surface of the canister,
Further, in the canister in which the introduction path for introducing the evaporated fuel into the adsorbent layer is formed on the upper surface of the canister and the evaporated fuel communication chamber is provided so as to surround the outside of the rising portion, the structure of the evaporated fuel communication chamber is provided. A canister, wherein walls are arranged so as to surround each port on three sides except one side of the canister. 2. The canister according to claim 1, wherein one side of the canister from which the constituent wall of the vaporized fuel communication chamber is removed is the front side of the canister, and the tubes connected to the respective ports are arranged on the front side. 3. The height of the constituent wall of the fuel vapor communication chamber is
The canister according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the height is set to be substantially equal to or higher than the height of each port. 4. A fuel pump and a canister are integrally provided so as to be attached to a fuel tank, each port is arranged on the upper surface of the canister, and an introduction path for introducing evaporated fuel into the adsorbent layer is set up. In a canister-integrated pump module in which an evaporative fuel communication chamber is provided so as to surround the outside of the rising portion, a constituent wall of the evaporative fuel communication chamber is configured to surround each port on three sides except one side of the canister. A canister-integrated pump module characterized by being provided. 5. An introduction path for integrally equipping a fuel tank with a fuel pump, a canister, and a fuel cutoff valve, arranging each port on the upper surface of the canister, and introducing evaporated fuel into the adsorbent layer. In the canister-integrated pump module in which the evaporative fuel communication chamber is projected so as to surround the outside of the erecting portion, the constituent walls of the evaporative fuel communication chamber are provided in three directions except one side of the canister. A canister-integrated pump module, which is arranged so as to surround a port. 6. The height of the constituent wall of the vaporized fuel communication chamber is defined by:
6. The canister-integrated pump module according to claim 4, wherein the height of each port is set to be substantially equal to or higher than the height.