JP2006160114A - Fuel tank device - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a fuel tank device having a simple configuration capable of restricting a height of a tank saddle part (central part) low and further capable of avoiding an early automatic stop at the time of filling oil. <P>SOLUTION: This fuel tank device comprises a saddle type tank body 24 provided with a tank saddle part 25 having a bottom surface 25A protruding upward and a thin thickness and tanks 26, 27 storing fed fuel therein installed on both right and left sides of the tank saddle part 25, a canister for adsorbing evaporated fuel generated within the tank body 24, a vapor line 33 connecting an inside part of the tank body 24 with the canister, and a shut-off valve 32 arranged in the tank body 24 to communicate the inside part of the tank body 24 with the surrounding atmosphere through the vapor line 33 or shut-off it against the surrounding atmosphere. A liquid storage chamber 31 for storing supplied oil fuel is formed on the bottom surface 25A of the tank saddle part 25 and at the same time the shut-off valve 32 is arranged in the liquid storage chamber 31. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2006,JPO&NCIPI

Description

  The present invention relates to a vertical fuel tank apparatus in which a central portion of a tank body is formed thin, and fuel storage portions for storing fuel supply fuel are provided on both left and right sides of the central portion.

  Conventionally, a vertical fuel tank apparatus in which a bottom surface of a central portion of a tank body protrudes upward to form a thin central portion, and fuel storage portions for storing fuel supply fuel are provided on both left and right sides of the central portion. It is known (see, for example, Patent Document 1).

  In such a fuel tank apparatus, for example, as shown in FIG. 7, the tank main body 1 is composed of a main side tank 3 to which a filler tube 2 is attached and a tank side (center) 4 sandwiching the main side tank 3. And a sub-side tank 5 disposed on the opposite side.

  In order to avoid the propeller shaft 6 and the exhaust pipe 7 disposed below the tank flange 4, the bottom surface protrudes upward and is formed thin (the height of the tank flange 4 is low). The sub-side tank 5 is in communication with each other via the tank flange 4.

  A cut valve 8, an oil supply control valve 9 and a check valve 10 are provided inside the tank collar 4, and the cut valve 8 and the oil supply control valve 9 are connected to a vapor line 11 connected to a canister, and the check valve 10 is cut. A vapor line 11 is provided between the valve 8 and the oil supply control valve 9.

In the figure, 12 is a heat shield, and 13 is a floor panel of the vehicle body. Moreover, L1 has shown the liquid level height when the fuel supply fuel is filled up.
JP 2000-345929 A

  However, in the conventional fuel tank device, since the fuel supply control valve 9 is provided in the tank flange 4, the height of the tank flange 4 must be equal to or higher than the height of the fuel supply control valve 9. Has a problem that it protrudes greatly upward.

  Further, when the fuel supply control valve 9 is provided in the tank flange 4, when the main tank 3 is full and the fuel oil gets over the tank flange 4 and flows into the sub-side tank 5 during fueling, the fuel supply fuel is supplied. When the fuel flow rises and fuel oil touches the fuel supply control valve 9 or when fuel oil splashes on the fuel supply control valve 9, the fuel supply control valve 9 operates and the fuel supply stops even though it is not full. There is also a problem that an early auto-stop occurs during so-called refueling.

  Furthermore, a check valve 10 is provided on the vapor line 11 in order to prevent fuel oil from flowing into the vapor line 11, and there is a problem that the line system becomes complicated.

  The subject of this invention is providing the fuel tank apparatus of a simple structure which can suppress the early auto stop at the time of refueling while suppressing the height of a tank collar part (center part) low.

  In order to solve the above-mentioned problems, the present invention is provided with a fuel storage part for storing fuel fuel on both the left and right sides of the central part, with the central part bottom surface protruding upward and the central part having a small thickness. A vertical tank main body, a canister for adsorbing evaporated fuel generated in the tank main body, a vapor line connecting the tank main body and the canister, and the tank main body are provided inside the tank main body. Is a fuel tank device provided with a cut valve for communicating with the atmosphere through the vapor line or shutting off from the atmosphere, and a reservoir chamber for storing fuel supply fuel is formed on the bottom surface of the central portion of the tank body. In addition, the cut valve is disposed in the liquid reservoir chamber.

  Further, the present invention is a saddle-type tank body in which the bottom surface of the central portion protrudes upward and the thickness of the central portion is formed thin, and fuel storage portions for storing fuel supply fuel are provided on the left and right sides of the central portion. A canister for adsorbing the evaporated fuel generated in the tank body, a vapor line connecting the tank body and the canister, and the tank body inside the tank body via the vapor line. A fuel tank device having a cut valve for communicating with the atmosphere or blocking from the atmosphere, wherein a liquid reservoir chamber for storing fuel supply fuel is suspended from an upper surface of a central portion of the tank body, and the liquid reservoir The cut valve is disposed in the chamber, and liquid introduction means for guiding the fuel into the liquid storage chamber by using the dynamic pressure of the fuel supplied during refueling is provided. That.

  According to each of the above configurations, since the liquid reservoir chamber and the cut valve are only provided in the central portion, that is, the tank flange, the height of the tank flange can be suppressed low.

  Also, there is no refueling control valve in the tank collar, and when refueling, when fuel oil gets over the tank collar, it will touch the refueling control valve or splash of refueling fuel will not fly to the refueling control valve. Therefore, it is possible to avoid an early auto stop when refueling.

  Further, when the fuel oil flows into the liquid storage chamber during refueling, the cut valve is activated (closed), so that the fuel fuel does not enter the vapor line. As a result, the check valve conventionally provided on the vapor line becomes unnecessary.

  According to the present invention, the height of the tank collar (center) can be kept low with a simple configuration, and it is possible to avoid early auto-stop during refueling.

  Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings.

  FIG. 1 is a view of a vehicle body equipped with a fuel tank device according to the present invention as viewed from the side. As shown in the figure, a fuel tank device 21 is installed in the vehicle body 20 below a rear seat (not shown). In the figure, reference numeral 22 denotes an engine.

  2 to 4 show a fuel tank device 21 according to Embodiment 1 of the present invention, FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view taken along line AA in FIG. 1, and FIG. 3 is an enlarged view of a portion B in FIG. FIG. 4 is a plan view of FIG. The fuel tank device 21 includes a tank body 24 below a floor panel 23 (see also FIG. 2) of the vehicle body. The tank body 24 has a bowl shape in which the bottom face 25A of the tank tank section 25 at the center projects upward, and the tank tank section 25 is formed thin (the tank tank section 25 has a low height). A main side tank 26 and a sub-side tank 27 that are fuel storage portions are provided on the left and right sides of the tank flange 25. Here, the main tank 26 is disposed on the left side of the vehicle body, and the sub tank 27 is disposed on the right side of the vehicle body. A filler tube 28 is attached to the outer side wall 26A of the main side tank 26 obliquely with respect to the side wall 26A.

  The propeller shaft 29 and the exhaust pipe 30 are disposed below the tank flange 25, and the bottom surface 25A of the tank flange 25 is formed so as to protrude upward in order to avoid the propeller shaft 29 and the exhaust pipe 30.

  In the present embodiment, a liquid reservoir chamber 31 is fixed on the bottom surface 25 </ b> A of the tank flange 25, and a cut valve 32 is provided in the approximate center of the liquid reservoir chamber 31. The cut valve 32 is also fixed on the bottom surface 25 </ b> A of the tank flange 25.

  The liquid reservoir chamber 31 has a square outer peripheral wall (see FIG. 4), and an upper end is an open end. Further, of the outer peripheral wall of the liquid reservoir chamber 31, two liquid discharge orifices 31 </ b> A are arranged in parallel in the outer peripheral wall near the sub-side tank 27.

  A vapor line 33 is disposed around the liquid reservoir chamber 31 at a position higher than the cut valve 32. One side of the barper line 33 is a canister (not shown), and the other side is an upper portion of the sub-side tank 27. Are respectively connected to the oil supply control valve 34 fixed to. Further, the middle of the barper line is branched and connected to the cut valve 32 (see FIG. 4). The oil supply control valve 34 is disposed at a position lower than the cut valve 32.

  Next, the operation of this embodiment will be described.

  When parking with the engine stopped, the cut valve 32 provided in the liquid reservoir chamber 31 is open, and the interior of the tank body 24 communicates with the atmosphere. At this time, the evaporated fuel generated in the tank main body 24 is sent to the canister (not shown) through the fuel supply control valve 34 and the vapor line 33 and is adsorbed by the canister.

  When refueling the tank body 24, the refueling fuel first flows into the main tank 26 via the filler tube 28. When the main side tank 26 becomes full (liquid level height L2), the fuel oil gets over the tank flange 25 and flows into the sub side tank 27. At this time, when the fuel oil gets over the outer peripheral wall of the liquid reservoir chamber 31 provided in the tank flange 25, the fuel oil flows into the liquid reservoir chamber 31 and the liquid reservoir chamber 31 is filled with the fuel oil, the cut valve 32 is reached. Operates (blocks). As a result, the inside of the tank body 24 is shielded from the atmosphere, but the fuel oil can be prevented from flowing into the vapor line 33.

  In the present embodiment, the height of the outer peripheral wall of the liquid storage chamber 31 is set to a height at which the liquid level of the fuel supply fuel can get over at a fuel supply flow rate considered in the market. Further, in the vertical fuel tank apparatus, it is common to provide a fuel transfer system that transfers fuel from the sub-side tank 27 to the main-side tank 26 as the fuel is consumed. In the apparatus 21, the fuel liquid level is set to a height at which the fuel liquid level does not get over the outer peripheral wall of the liquid reservoir chamber 31 at the flow rate during the fuel transfer.

  If fuel is continuously supplied through the filler tube 28, a part of the supplied fuel flows into the liquid storage chamber 31 as described above, but most of the fuel passes through the tank flange 25 and flows into the sub-side tank 27. Then, when the fuel level in the sub-side tank 27 gradually rises and reaches the full tank detection window (liquid level height L3) of the fuel supply control valve 34, the fuel supply control valve 34 is activated (closed), The internal pressure of the tank body 24 increases rapidly. Then, since the fuel supply fuel flows back into the filler tube 28, the auto-stop mechanism set in the fuel supply nozzle is activated, and the fuel supply ends. In this embodiment, the liquid level height L3 of the fuel supply fuel is set lower than the liquid level height L2.

  After the refueling is completed, the fuel supply fuel flows out from the liquid discharge orifice 31A formed on the outer peripheral wall of the liquid storage chamber 31. However, since the diameter of the liquid discharge orifice 31A is set small, the fuel supply fuel flows out little by little. Thus, the fuel supply fuel can be retained in the liquid storage chamber 31 for a certain period of time. Therefore, the cut valve 32 remains closed even during additional fueling, so that air in the tank body 24 does not leak into the atmosphere, and so-called superfueling during additional fueling can be prevented.

  After a certain period of time from the end of refueling, the cut valve 32 is returned (opened) when the refueled fuel is completely removed from the draining orifice 31A, and the inside of the tank body 24 communicates with the atmosphere via the vapor line 33. After the communication, the so-called evaporation performance and fuel leakage prevention performance can be ensured as in the conventional fuel tank system.

  According to the present embodiment, the oil supply control valve 34 is disposed on the upper side of the sub-side tank 27, and the tank flange 25 is only provided with the liquid storage chamber 31 and the cut valve 32. Can be formed thin (the height of the tank flange 25 is low).

  Moreover, since the fuel supply control valve 34 is not disposed in the tank flange 25, it is possible to avoid an early automatic stop at the time of fuel supply.

  Further, when fuel oil flows into the liquid storage chamber 31 during refueling, the cut valve 32 is closed, so that fuel fuel does not enter the vapor line 33, and there is no need to provide a check valve on the vapor line 33.

  5 and 6 show a fuel tank device 21 according to the second embodiment. FIG. 5 is a cross-sectional view taken along the line AA in FIG. 1, and FIG. 6 is an enlarged view of a portion C in FIG. In the present embodiment, a liquid storage chamber 41 is suspended from the upper surface 25 </ b> B of the tank flange 25. The liquid reservoir chamber 41 has a box shape. Among the side walls, a through hole 41A is formed on the side wall close to the main side tank 26, and a draining orifice 41B is formed on the side wall close to the sub side tank 27. Is formed. Two drainage orifices 41B are provided in the horizontal direction.

  A cut valve 32 is provided inside the liquid reservoir chamber 41, and the cut valve 32 is fixed to the upper surface 25 </ b> B of the tank flange 25. Further, the vapor line 33 is branched and connected to the cut valve 32.

  In this embodiment, a liquid introduction pipe 42 is provided as a liquid introduction means. The liquid introduction pipe 42 is provided through the through hole 41 </ b> A in the side wall of the liquid reservoir chamber 41, and communicates the interior of the liquid reservoir chamber 41 with the interior of the main side tank 26. Other configurations are the same as those of the first embodiment.

  In the above configuration, at the time of fuel supply, the fuel supply fuel is introduced into the liquid reservoir chamber 41 via the liquid introduction pipe 42 using the dynamic pressure of the fuel supply fuel. When the liquid reservoir chamber 41 is filled with the fuel supply fuel, the cut valve 32 is operated (closed) to prevent the fuel supply fuel from flowing into the vapor line 33. Other operations are the same as those in the first embodiment.

  According to the present embodiment, the cut valve 32 can be disposed at a higher position by using the liquid introduction pipe 42, which is advantageous in ensuring fuel leakage prevention performance. In addition, the introduction of the fuel supply fuel into the liquid storage chamber 41 is less likely to be restricted by the flow rate during fuel supply.

It is a figure when the vehicle body equipped with the fuel tank device according to the present invention is viewed from the side. The fuel tank apparatus by Example 1 is shown, It is sectional drawing along the AA line of FIG. It is an enlarged view of the B section of FIG. FIG. 4 is a plan view of FIG. 3. The fuel tank apparatus by Example 2 is shown, It is sectional drawing along the AA line of FIG. It is an enlarged view of the C section of FIG. It is sectional drawing of the fuel tank apparatus by a prior art.

Explanation of symbols

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 21 Fuel tank apparatus 24 Tank main body 25 Tank bottom part 25A Bottom surface 25B Upper surface 26 Main side tank 27 Sub side tank 28 Filler tube 31 Reservoir chamber 31A Drain orifice 32 Cut valve 33 Vapor line 34 Refueling control valve 41 Reservoir chamber 41B Liquid Orifice for extraction 42 Liquid introduction pipe

Claims (6)

A vertical tank body in which the bottom of the central part protrudes upward and the thickness of the central part is formed thin, and on both the left and right sides of the central part, fuel storage parts for storing fuel supply fuel are provided,
A canister for adsorbing evaporated fuel generated in the tank body;
A vapor line connecting the tank body and the canister;
A fuel tank device provided in the tank body, comprising a cut valve for communicating the inside of the tank body to the atmosphere via the vapor line, or blocking from the atmosphere;
A fuel tank apparatus characterized in that a reservoir chamber for storing fuel oil is formed on a bottom surface of a central portion of the tank body, and the cut valve is disposed in the reservoir chamber.   The fuel tank apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the side wall of the liquid reservoir chamber is set to a height at which the fuel supply fuel can get over during fueling. A vertical tank body in which the bottom of the central part protrudes upward and the thickness of the central part is formed thin, and on both the left and right sides of the central part, fuel storage parts for storing fuel supply fuel are provided,
A canister for adsorbing evaporated fuel generated in the tank body;
A vapor line connecting the tank body and the canister;
A fuel tank device provided in the tank body, comprising a cut valve for communicating the inside of the tank body to the atmosphere via the vapor line, or blocking from the atmosphere;
A liquid storage chamber for storing fuel oil is suspended from the upper surface of the central portion of the tank body, the cut valve is disposed in the liquid storage chamber, and the fuel is supplied by utilizing the dynamic pressure of the fuel supply fuel when refueling. A fuel tank apparatus comprising liquid introducing means for guiding the liquid into the liquid reservoir chamber.   Of the fuel reservoirs provided on the left and right sides of the tank body, when the fuel reservoir to which the filler tube is attached is set to the main tank, and the other fuel reservoir is set to the sub tank, 4. The fuel tank apparatus according to claim 3, wherein the liquid introduction means is a liquid introduction pipe that communicates the main side tank and the liquid reservoir chamber.   The full tank liquid level height of the main side tank is equal to the bottom surface of the central part, and the full tank liquid level height of the sub side tank is set lower than the full tank liquid level height of the main side tank. The fuel tank apparatus according to claim 4, wherein The fuel tank apparatus according to claim 1 or 3, wherein a liquid discharge orifice for discharging fuel oil stored in the liquid storage chamber is provided on a side wall of the liquid storage chamber.

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