JP2006233962A - Canister and method for manufacturing canister - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a canister for evaporating fuel treatment for an internal combustion engine and a method for manufacturing the canister. <P>SOLUTION: A heat accumulation material microcapsule having heat accumulation material composed of phase change material absorbing and releasing latent heat according to temperature change is kneaded in a case 2 of the canister 1, especially in nylon resin of a first case 3 to form the case 3. The heat accumulation microcapsule in the case 3 suppresses temperature change according to rise and drop of temperature of adsorbents 8, 9, 10. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2006,JPO&NCIPI

Description

  The present invention relates to a canister used in an evaporative fuel processing apparatus for an internal combustion engine, a method for manufacturing the canister, and a method for manufacturing a sealed container in the canister.

  It has an adsorbent chamber for storing an adsorbent for adsorbing evaporated fuel, and has a tank port connected to the fuel tank, a purge port connected to the intake port of the engine, and an atmospheric port opened to the atmosphere A canister used for an evaporative fuel processing apparatus for an internal combustion engine is known (for example, see Patent Document 1). The invention of Patent Document 1 is proposed by the applicant of the present application, but uses activated carbon as the adsorbent.

  In addition, as an adsorbent to be filled in the container in the evaporative fuel processing apparatus, on the surface of the granular adsorption base material made of activated carbon, a material having a large thermal conductivity compared to activated carbon and a large heat capacity, for example, iron, An evaporative fuel processing apparatus using an activated carbon adsorbent in which heat storage particles made of a metal material such as copper are substantially uniformly attached is known (for example, see Patent Document 2).

Further, as a heat storage material microcapsule that uses latent heat (melting or solidification heat) in addition to the sensible heat of the heat storage material itself, the heat storage material microcapsule has an average particle diameter of 0.1 to 25 μm and occupies the microcapsule solid. What sets the ratio of weight to 60 to 75% is well-known. This microcapsule is used for a heat storage material or a heat transfer medium used for heating buildings and houses (see Patent Document 3).
JP 2000-186635 A (FIGS. 2 and 3) JP-A-10-339218 (page 2, FIG. 2) JP 11-152466 A (2 pages)

  In a canister for an evaporative fuel treatment apparatus of an internal combustion engine as in Patent Document 2, the temperature rise of activated carbon during fuel adsorption and the temperature fall of activated carbon during adsorption fuel removal are suppressed using sensible heat of heat storage particles. Therefore, in order to increase the suppression effect, it is necessary to use heat storage particles having a large specific heat and specific gravity, which increases the weight of the canister.

  Therefore, the heat storage material microcapsule as in Patent Document 3 is mixed with an adsorbent such as activated carbon and placed in the adsorbent chamber, and the latent heat of the heat storage material in the microcapsule is used, whereby the adsorbent such as activated carbon is If the temperature rise or temperature drop is suppressed, it is considered that the heat storage material microcapsule having a lighter weight than the heat storage particles utilizing the sensible heat can effectively suppress the temperature change of the adsorbent. However, since the heat storage material microcapsule is made of resin with a thin film that forms the microcapsule, gasoline vapor (HC), which is the fuel vapor of the internal combustion engine, permeates the film and the melting point of the heat storage material changes. There is concern about the problem.

  Accordingly, an object of the present invention is to provide a canister for evaporative fuel treatment of an internal combustion engine and a method for manufacturing the canister that can solve these problems.

  The most important aspect of the present invention is to incorporate a heat storage material using latent heat into the case in a state of being separated from the gasoline vapor, and to suppress a temperature rise during adsorption of the gasoline vapor to the adsorbent and a temperature drop during separation. Features.

In order to achieve the above object, the invention of claim 1 includes a tank port communicating with an upper air chamber of a fuel tank, a purge port communicating with an intake passage of the engine, an atmospheric port opened to the atmosphere, and a tank port. In a canister having an adsorbent chamber containing an adsorbent that adsorbs evaporated fuel flowing from the air port to the atmosphere port,
A heat storage material made of a phase change material that absorbs and dissipates latent heat according to a temperature change, or a heat storage material microcapsule in which the heat storage material is sealed in a microcapsule, in a state where it is not in direct contact with the evaporated fuel, particularly an adsorbent It is a canister characterized by having been arrange | positioned in proximity to.

  According to a second aspect of the present invention, in the canister according to the first aspect, a heat storage material or a heat storage material microcapsule is disposed in a case forming the adsorbent chamber of the canister.

  According to a third aspect of the present invention, in the canister of the second aspect, a heat storage material microcapsule is kneaded into a resin material forming the case.

  According to a fourth aspect of the present invention, in the canister according to the second aspect, a room is provided in a case portion that forms a peripheral wall of the adsorbent chamber, and the room is filled with a heat storage material or a heat storage material microcapsule. is there.

The invention of claim 5 includes a tank port communicating with the upper air chamber of the fuel tank, a purge port communicating with the intake passage of the engine, an atmospheric port opened to the atmosphere, and an evaporated fuel flowing from the tank port to the atmospheric port. In a canister having an adsorbent chamber containing an adsorbent to be adsorbed,
A heat storage material in which a room is provided in a case portion that forms the peripheral wall of the adsorbent chamber, and the heat storage material made of a phase change material that absorbs and dissipates latent heat according to a temperature change is enclosed in a microcapsule. A canister filled with a material microcapsule.

  A sixth aspect of the present invention is the canister according to the first aspect, wherein a heat storage material made of a phase change material that absorbs and releases heat according to a temperature change, or a heat storage material microcapsule in which the heat storage material is enclosed in a microcapsule. The pellets are stored in a sealed container made of a material that does not pass gasoline vapor, and the pellets are stored in an adsorbent chamber together with an adsorbent.

  A seventh aspect of the invention is characterized in that, in the canister according to the sixth aspect, the sealed container for housing the heat storage material or the heat storage material microcapsule is formed of a metal material.

  The invention of claim 8 is characterized in that, in the canister of claim 6, the sealed container for storing the heat storage material or the heat storage material microcapsule is formed of a resin film laminated with a metal foil.

  A ninth aspect of the invention is characterized in that, in the canister of the first aspect, metal plating is applied to the outer periphery of the heat storage material microcapsule.

  The invention of claim 10 forms a first case having a peripheral wall of the adsorbent chamber and having an opening at one end thereof by gas assist molding, forming a space portion in the peripheral wall, and the space portion. The canister is produced by sealing the opening with a lid after injecting the heat storage material or the heat storage material microcapsule.

The invention of claim 11 is the manufacture of a canister that is formed in the following steps (1) to (6) when forming the first case having the peripheral wall of the adsorbent chamber and having an opening at one end. Is the method.
(1) A resin amount slightly lower than the volume in the mold is injected from the resin material gate into the mold.
(2) Next, before the resin is solidified, the heat storage material is injected into the resin from the heat storage material gate.
(3) The injection pressure of the heat storage material is reduced.
(4) The pressure of the resin is increased again to allow the resin to flow into the mold.
(5) The gate of the heat storage material is sealed with the inflow resin.
(6) The resin is cooled and solidified in the mold, and the first case enclosing the heat storage material is taken out of the mold.

  The invention of claim 12 is characterized in that in the canister of claim 6, the sealed container for storing the heat storage material or the heat storage material microcapsule is formed of a material having a specific heat or thermal conductivity larger than that of the adsorbent. .

  A thirteenth aspect of the present invention is the canister according to the twelfth aspect, wherein the material of the sealed container is a metal such as a copper material, an aluminum material, an iron material, or a stainless material.

  The invention of claim 14 is characterized in that, in the canister of claim 12, the material of the sealed container is a resin such as nylon, polyacetal, polyphenylene sulfide or phenol.

  According to a fifteenth aspect of the present invention, an airtight container having a space portion for storing a heat storage material or a heat storage material microcapsule and an opening communicating with the space portion is formed by gas assist molding, and the heat storage material is formed in the formed space portion. Or it is the manufacturing method of the airtight container in a canister characterized by sealing the said opening part after inject | pouring a thermal storage material microcapsule.

  According to a sixteenth aspect of the present invention, a hermetic container including a peripheral wall surrounding the space and an opening communicating with the space is formed by gas assist molding, and a space is formed in the peripheral wall. After the heat storage material or the heat storage material microcapsule is injected into the part, the opening is sealed with a lid.

The invention according to claim 17 is a method for manufacturing a sealed container in a canister, wherein the sealed container for storing a heat storage material is molded by the following steps (1) to (6).
(1) A resin amount slightly lower than the volume in the mold is injected from the resin material gate into the mold.
(2) Next, before the resin is solidified, the heat storage material is injected into the resin from the heat storage material gate.
(3) The injection pressure of the heat storage material is reduced.
(4) The pressure of the resin is increased again to allow the resin to flow into the mold.
(5) The gate of the heat storage material is sealed with the inflow resin.
(6) The resin is cooled and solidified in the mold, and the sealed container enclosing the heat storage material is taken out from the mold.

  In the canister according to the present invention, the latent heat of the heat storage material is used to suppress the temperature rise at the time of adsorption of the adsorbent and the temperature drop at the time of detachment. Compared with the case of the heat storage particle | grains which utilize this, the temperature rise and fall of an adsorbent can be suppressed more efficiently, and the adsorption | suction separation amount of adsorbent can be increased. As a result, the performance of the canister is improved. Further, since the evaporated fuel does not permeate into the film of the heat storage material microcapsule, there is no possibility that the melting point of the heat storage material changes due to the evaporated fuel and the characteristics of the canister change.

  In the inventions of claims 2 to 5, the resin material constituting the case reliably separates the heat storage material or the heat storage material microcapsule from the evaporated fuel, and the two do not directly contact each other.

  In the inventions of claims 7 and 8, the heat storage material or the heat storage material microcapsule is surrounded by the metal container or the metal foil and does not come into contact with the evaporated fuel.

In the invention of claim 9, the metal plating covering the microcapsule isolates the evaporated fuel.
Thus, the inventions of claims 2 to 9 can effectively use the latent heat of the heat storage material, and the characteristics of the canister are stabilized.

  According to the tenth and eleventh aspects of the present invention, the heat storage material and the heat storage material microcapsule can be easily enclosed in the canister case, and an increase in the cost of the canister can be suppressed.

  In the invention of claim 12, since the specific heat or thermal conductivity of the sealed container is larger than the specific heat or thermal conductivity of the adsorbent, the temperature change of the adsorbent (activated carbon) at the time of fuel vapor adsorption / desorption, that is, the evaporation fuel The temperature rise during adsorption and the temperature drop during separation can be further suppressed, and the adsorption / desorption performance of the evaporated fuel is improved.

  In the invention of claim 13, since the specific heat and thermal conductivity of the metal constituting the sealed container are larger than the specific heat and thermal conductivity of the activated carbon of the adsorbent, the temperature change of the adsorbent during the adsorption and desorption of the fuel vapor is further suppressed. As a result, the adsorption / detachment performance of the canister is improved.

  In the invention of claim 14, since the thermal conductivity of the resin material constituting the sealed container is larger than the thermal conductivity of the adsorbent, the temperature change of the adsorbent during the adsorption / desorption of the fuel vapor is effectively suppressed, and the canister Adsorption / disengagement performance is improved. In addition, it is easy to form a sealed container, which helps to reduce the cost of the canister.

  According to the fifteenth aspect of the present invention, since the closed container can be easily formed and can be manufactured at a low cost, the canister can be reduced in cost.

  In the invention of claim 16, since the sealed container can be easily and cheaply formed and the opening can be sealed (seal) simultaneously with the molding, this aspect also contributes to the cost reduction of the canister.

  In the invention of claim 17, since the heat storage material can be easily enclosed in the hermetic container, the cost increase of the canister can be suppressed.

  Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings.

  Example 1 of FIG. 1 corresponds to claims 1 to 3. In the first embodiment, the case 2 of the canister 1 includes a first case 3 having an opening at the lower end and a lid 4 for sealing the lower end opening. In the upper part of the first case 3, there are a tank port 5 communicating with an upper air chamber of a fuel tank of an automobile (not shown), a purge port 6 similarly communicating with an intake passage of the internal combustion engine, and an atmosphere opened to the atmosphere. Port 7 is formed. In the case 2, there are a main adsorbent chamber 11 and a first sub chamber which store adsorbents 8, 9, 10 made of activated carbon that adsorbs gasoline vapor (HC) of evaporated fuel flowing from the tank port 5 to the atmospheric port 7, respectively. 12 and the second sub chamber 13 are disposed in order between the tank port 5 and the atmospheric port 7.

  The first case 3 is made by injection-molding with a resin material nylon. At the time of injection molding, the heat storage material microcapsules are mixed into the nylon pellets, and the heat storage material microcapsules are kneaded. Case 3 is injection molded. As the heat storage material microcapsule, a heat storage material microcapsule similar to that described in Patent Document 3 is used. In the present invention, as the heat storage material in the microcapsule, gasoline paper (HC) from a fuel tank is used. When the fuel vapor flows into the main adsorbent chamber 11 from the tank port 5 and the adsorbent 8 adsorbs gasoline vapor, the temperature of the adsorbent 8 rises, and the heat storage material in the heat storage material microcapsule dissolves to absorb latent heat and adsorb. The amount of adsorption of the adsorbent 8 is increased by suppressing the temperature rise of the agent 8. The same applies to the point that the heat storage material microcapsules kneaded in the first case 3 suppress the temperature rise during the adsorption of gasoline vapor to the adsorbents 9 and 10.

  Further, during the engine operation, the adsorbent 10 until now is purged when the air flowing from the atmospheric port 7 passes through the second sub chamber 13, the first sub chamber 12, and the main adsorbent chamber 11 and flows out of the purge port 6. Gasoline vapor adsorbed by, 9 and 8 is released, and the temperature of each of the adsorbents 10, 9 and 8 is lowered. At this time, the heat storage material microcapsule kneaded in the first case 3 senses the temperature drop, and the heat storage material changes from a liquid phase to a solid layer, thereby suppressing the temperature drop. Increase.

  In the first embodiment, the heat storage material microcapsules kneaded in the partition plate 3a formed in the first case 3 also changes the temperature of the adsorbents 8, 9, 10 due to the phase change of the heat storage material. Acts to suppress change. In addition, as the heat storage material, it is preferable to use a material having a melting point of about 25 ° C. when performing a known adsorption / desorption cycle for testing the adsorption amount and desorption amount of butane which is the main component of gasoline vapor. Paraffin such as heptadecane having a melting point of 22 ° C. or octadecane having a melting point of 28 ° C. can be used.

  In FIG. 1, 14 and 15 are filters for holding the adsorbent 8, 16 and 17 are filters for holding the adsorbent 9, and 18 and 19 are filters for holding the adsorbent 10. In Example 1 of FIG. 1, an arrow A indicates a flow of gasoline vapor or air that flows into the canister 1 from the tank port 5 and flows to the atmospheric port when the fuel tank is refueled. An arrow B indicates the flow at the time of purge during engine operation. The plate 20 provided between the filters 17 and 18 is a vapor diffusion suppression plate (buffer plate) provided with a throttle that suppresses the diffusion of gasoline vapor between the first sub chamber 12 and the second sub chamber 13.

  By the way, in the first embodiment of FIG. 1, the first sub chamber 12 and the second sub chamber 13 are named as sub chambers in terms of words, but they are substantially adsorbed in the same manner as the main adsorbent chamber 11. The adsorbent chamber is configured to store the adsorbent, and constitutes a first sub chamber and a second sub chamber as adsorbent chambers.

  FIG. 2 shows a second embodiment of the present invention and corresponds to the first, second and fifth aspects. 2A is a longitudinal sectional view, FIG. 2B is a partially enlarged view of FIG. 2A, and FIG. 2C is a sectional view taken along line AA of FIG. In the following description, the same or corresponding components as those in the first embodiment shown in FIG. 1 are denoted by the same reference numerals as those in FIG. 1, but the description thereof is omitted when unnecessary.

  The second embodiment is different in that the first case 3A constituting the case 2 of the canister 1 is different from the first case 3 in the first embodiment shown in FIG. In Example 2, the chamber 3d is formed in the case portion 3c of the resin molded case 3A made of nylon that forms the peripheral walls of the adsorbent chambers 11, 12, and 13, that is, the case portion 3c except for the partition plate 3b in FIG. The room 3d is filled with the heat storage material 21. The room 3d filled with the heat storage material 21 is shown in detail in FIG. As shown in FIGS. 3A and 3B, the chamber 3d can be formed by molding the first case 3A by gas assist molding.

  3 (a) and 3 (b), the first case 3A is molded by a well-known gas assist molding. Nylon is used as the molding material. Gas assist molding is described in “Industrial Materials” published in Nikkan Kogyo Production, July 1995, Vol. 43, no. 7, the space portion as the room 3d is hollow-molded in the first case 3A by this manufacturing method. This space portion (3d) is formed over the entire circumference of the first case 3A as shown in FIG.

  In this way, the melted heat storage material 21 is injected and filled into the chamber 3d of the first case 3A subjected to gas assist molding (hollow molding) as shown in FIGS. When the temperature decreases, the heat storage material 21 solidifies and hardens. Thereafter, as shown in FIG. 4A, a predetermined filter, an adsorbent or the like is accommodated in the first case, and the lid 4 is brought into contact with the upper end opening of the case 3A as shown by an arrow W and vibration welded. And seal.

  Instead of injecting the melted heat storage material into the room (space) 3d as shown in FIG. 4A, the heat storage material microcapsules may be filled (claim 4).

  In the third embodiment shown in FIGS. 5A, 5B, and 5C, the first case 3B is different from the first case shown in FIGS. 4A, 4B, and 4C in the first case. The shape is slightly different from 3A. In Example 3 of FIG. 5, as shown in FIGS. 5A and 5B, the room (space) 3d provided in the first case 3B is closed at the upper end in the figure and is not open. Accordingly, after the first case 3A shown in FIG. 3 of the second embodiment is gas-assist-molded, the heat storage material 21 is injected into the room (space) 3d from above as shown in FIGS. 4 (a) and 4 (b). Cannot be filled.

  In Example 3, the molding of the first case 3B and the injection filling of the heat storage material into the room (space) 3d of the case 3B are performed by a manufacturing method similar to so-called water-assisted molding (claim 11).

  6-8 is a figure explaining the manufacturing method of 1st case 3B in the case of performing the shaping | molding method similar to well-known water assist shaping | molding using a film gate.

  6A is a longitudinal sectional view for explaining the case where a film gate is used, FIG. 6B is a sectional view taken along the line AA in FIG. 6A, and FIG. 7A is a sectional view taken along line B- in FIG. FIG. 7B is a cross-sectional view taken along the line C-C of FIG. 6A, and FIGS. 8A to 8D are views in the manufacturing method using the film gate shown in FIG. 6 and FIG. It is a figure for demonstrating the enclosure process of a thermal storage material, and is a figure of the place corresponding to a part of Fig.6 (a).

  6A and 6B and FIGS. 7A and 7B, the movable mold 31 is movable in the vertical direction in FIG. 6A with respect to the fixed mold 30. The first case 3B is molded with these molds. The resin material (for example, nylon) of the case 3B is injected from a film gate indicated by reference numeral 32 in FIG. 6A and indicated by a broken line 32 surrounding the outer periphery of the movable mold 31 in FIG. As shown in FIG. 6B, the film gate is injected with a thin film from the entire periphery, and before the resin is solidified, it is melted from the injection gate introduction portion of the heat storage material, for example, the 12-point pin gate 33. The heat storage material 21 was injected. Such a molding method uses a heat storage material 21 that is melted in place of water by well-known water-assisted molding. Therefore, the molding method of the present embodiment is expressed as a molding method similar to the water assist molding.

Details of the injection of the resin material in the first case and the injection process of the melted heat storage material will be described below with reference to FIGS. 8 (a), (b), (c), and (d).
(1) A resin amount slightly smaller than the volume in the molds 30 and 31 is injected from the film gate 32 into the mold (FIG. 1A).
(2) Before the resin is solidified, the heat storage material 21 is injected into the resin from the pin gate 33 ((a) in the figure).
(3) The injection pressure of the heat storage material 21 is reduced ((b) in the figure).
(4) The injection pressure of the resin from the film gate 32 is increased again to allow the resin to flow into the mold ((b) in the figure).
(5) The gate of the heat storage material 21 is sealed with the inflow resin ((c) in the figure). In this step, the film gate portion 34 of the heat storage material 21 is partitioned by the resin pressure as indicated by reference numeral 34a in FIG. 8C, and the heat storage material 21 is enclosed in the resin material.

FIG. 4D shows that the constriction 34b is generated in the film gate portion 34 of the heat storage material due to the increase in the resin pressure in the step (4) shown in FIG. This constriction 34b is a partition indicated by reference numeral 34a in FIG. 8C from the constricted state due to the pressure difference between the injection pressure of the heat storage material 21 from the pin gate 33 in FIG. 8B and the injection resin pressure from the film gate 32. Transition to the state.
(6) The resin is cooled and solidified in the mold, and the product (first case 3B) is taken out. This process is not shown.

  FIGS. 9 to 11 are views for explaining a method of forming the first case 3B and a method of injecting the heat storage material 21 in the fourth embodiment, and are drawings corresponding to the manufacturing method in the third embodiment of FIGS. However, in the fourth embodiment, all pin gates are used. As shown in FIGS. 9A and 9B, the fixed mold 30 is provided with a pin gate for injecting a heat storage material, for example, a four-point pin gate 35. The movable die 31 is provided with a pin gate, for example, a four-point pin gate 36 as shown in FIGS.

Next, the molding process will be described with reference to FIGS.
(1) A resin amount slightly smaller than the volume in the molds 30 and 31 is injected from the pin gate 36 into the mold (FIG. 1A).
(2) Before the resin is solidified, the heat storage material 21 is injected into the resin from the pin gate 35 ((a) in the figure).
(3) The injection pressure of the heat storage material 21 is reduced ((b) in the figure).
(4) The injection pressure of the resin from the film gate 36 is increased again to allow the resin to flow into the mold ((b) in the figure).
(5) The portion indicated by reference numeral 35a of the pin gate portion of the heat storage material 21 is partitioned by the inflow resin as shown in FIG. 5C, and the heat storage material 21 is sealed in the resin.

FIG. 6D shows that the constriction 35b is generated in the gate portion 35 of the heat storage material due to the increase in the resin pressure in the step (4) shown in FIG. This constriction 35b is separated from the constricted state by a reference numeral 35a in FIG. 11C due to the pressure difference between the injection pressure of the heat storage material 21 from the pin gate 35 and the injection resin pressure from the pin gate 36 in FIG. Migrate to
(6) The resin is cooled and solidified in the mold, and the product (first case 3B) is taken out. This process is not shown.

  This Example 4 also uses a heat storage material dissolved in place of water in the well-known water assist molding as in the case of Example 3.

  FIGS. 12A and 12B are views for explaining Example 5 of the present invention, where FIG. 12A is a schematic view, and FIG. 12B is an enlarged perspective view of a pellet 22 used in FIG. It is. In Example 5, the adsorbent 8 such as activated carbon is stored in the adsorbent chamber 11 of the canister case 2, and the heat storage material or the heat storage material microcapsule 21 is stored in a sealed container made of a material that does not allow gasoline vapor to pass through. The pellets are dispersed and stored in the adsorbent 8 in the adsorbent chamber 11. Use of a metal container such as copper or aluminum as the sealed container is effective because of good heat conduction (claims 6 and 7).

  In this Example 5, since the pellets 22 are dispersedly housed in the adsorbent 8, the temperature rise or temperature drop of the adsorbent 8 is immediately transmitted to the heat storage material or the heat storage material microcapsule through the container of the pellet 22, The thermal responsiveness is good, the amount of adsorption and desorption of gasoline vapor can be effectively increased, and the performance of the canister as the evaporative fuel processing device is further improved.

  A similar pellet 22A of the pellet 22 of Example 5 is shown in Example 6 of FIG. In Example 6, a heat storage material or a heat storage material microcapsule is filled in a metal tube 23 such as copper, iron, or aluminum, and the tube 23 is cut to an appropriate length and the cut portion is crushed and sealed. This is pellet 22A. The ends 22a and 22b of the pellet 22A are crushed and sealed as shown. The hollow portion 22c of the pellet 22A has a cross section corresponding to a cylindrical shape, for example, a circular shape, like the cylinder 23, and has a shape in which a heat storage material or a heat storage material microcapsule is enclosed. .

  As an airtight container for enclosing the heat storage material or the heat storage material microcapsule, a pellet as shown in FIG. 14 may be configured by a sheet in which a metal foil such as aluminum is laminated on a resin film. FIG. 14 shows a pellet 22B as a bag-like airtight container in which a heat storage material or a heat storage material microcapsule is made of the above sheet. A heat storage material microcapsule having a diameter of about 2 μm is enclosed in a bag-like pellet having a length L of about several mm. The pellets are welded and sealed at the left and right end portions 22d and 22e in the drawing, and a heat storage material or a heat storage material microcapsule is sealed in the center portion 22f. In addition, the sheet | seat which laminated | stacked metal foil comprises the bag-shaped pellet 22B by making the resin film surface into the inner side and making the metal foil into the outer side.

  In addition, the structure of this pellet 22B, especially the structure of a bag-like sheet | seat, is similar to how to make the bag of the same shape made from the metal foil laminated resin film which enclosed liquid seasonings, such as soy sauce.

  In order to prevent gasoline vapor from permeating through the microcapsule film of the heat storage material microcapsule, fluororesin or nylon resin may be used as the capsule material of the microcapsule, or the surface of the resin capsule may be plated with metal or metal. By vapor depositing, vapor permeation of gasoline vapor may be prevented (claim 9). The heat storage material microcapsule has a spherical shape with a diameter of about 2 μm, and the activated carbon adsorbent is granulated coal having a diameter of about 2 mm and a length of about 5 mm. A heat storage material microcapsule and granulated charcoal (activated carbon) are mixed and stored in the adsorbent chamber.

  In the first to fourth embodiments, since the heat storage material microcapsules and the heat storage material are provided in the canister case, it is preferable to use a high thermal conductive resin as the resin material used in the case of these embodiments.

  As a case material for a conventional canister, 66 nylon is generally used, and its thermal conductivity is 0.20 W / (m · K).

  A thermal conductivity of 30 W / (m · K) level is obtained by connecting the heat conductive filler with an inorganic filler and providing a heat conduction path, and a resin having the same moldability as a normal resin raw material is obtained. (Http://www.yakin.co.jp/new_mat.html Internet, June 5, 2004 survey). Therefore, the effects of the first to fourth embodiments can be further improved by using such a resin for the case material.

  In the said Example 5, 6, 7, the thermal storage material or the thermal storage material microcapsule 21 is accommodated in the airtight container which consists of a material which does not let evaporative fuel (gasoline vapor) pass, and comprises pellet 22, 22A, 22B, respectively. Yes. As a material used for the airtight container for housing the heat storage material or the heat storage material microcapsule 21, a metal material or a resin material shown in Table 1 may be used. The specific heat or thermal conductivity of the metal material or resin material shown in Table 1 is larger than the specific heat or thermal conductivity of granular activated carbon as an adsorbent.

  At the time of adsorption of the evaporated fuel, the temperature of the activated carbon increases due to the liquefaction of the evaporated fuel, and the adsorption performance tends to decrease. However, if the specific heat of the sealed container is large, the amount of heat transferred to the sealed container is large, so that the temperature rise of the activated carbon is suppressed and decreases. Further, if the thermal conductivity of the sealed container is large, the amount of heat transferred to the sealed container is large, and thus the temperature rise of the activated carbon is suppressed and reduced. At the time of detachment, the reverse effect is obtained. If the specific heat or thermal conductivity of the sealed container is large, the temperature decrease of the activated carbon is suppressed and reduced.

  Therefore, in Example 10, an adsorbent is formed by forming a sealed container using a metal material such as aluminum, copper, iron, or stainless steel shown in Table 1 or a resin material such as nylon, polyacetal, polyphenylene sulfide, or phenol. As a result, the specific heat or thermal conductivity of the sealed container is set larger than the specific heat and thermal conductivity of the activated carbon, and the temperature change of the adsorbent during adsorption / desorption of evaporated fuel is suppressed to improve the performance of the canister. (Claim 12).

  As shown in Table 1, the specific heat of aluminum, copper, iron, stainless steel or the like is as large as about 200 to 1000 times that of granular activated carbon. Moreover, thermal conductivity is as large as about 60 to 6000 times. The specific heat of a resin such as nylon, polyacetal, polyphenylene sulfide or phenol is almost the same as that of granular activated carbon, and the thermal conductivity is as large as about 3 to 17 times.

  When using a metal material such as aluminum, copper, iron or stainless steel in Table 1, both the specific heat and the thermal conductivity are larger than the specific heat and thermal conductivity of the activated carbon, so the adsorption / desorption performance of the evaporated fuel is improved. This is effective in improving the performance of the canister. Copper material is best because of its particularly high thermal conductivity.

  Nylon, polyacetal, polyphenylene sulfide, phenol, and other resins listed in Table 1 are effective in improving canister performance because the thermal conductivity of the resin is greater than that of activated carbon, and temperature changes during adsorption and desorption of evaporated fuel are suppressed. (Claim 14). Among these resin materials, nylon has the largest specific heat, so it is optimal for improving the performance of the canister, is easy to mold, has low material costs, and helps reduce the cost of the canister.

  In the thirteenth embodiment, the sealed container in the canister is made of a press-formed metal material. As shown in FIGS. 15 (a) and 15 (b), the first dish-shaped part 24a and the second dish-shaped part 24b, which are formed by pressing a metal material into a square dish shape, face each other on the opening side. Then, the abutting and joining are performed, and the joining portion 25 shown in FIG. Then, a predetermined heat storage material or heat storage material microcapsule is injected and accommodated from the opening 24c opened in one dish-shaped part 24b into the space part 27 surrounded by both the dish-shaped parts 24a and 24b. The opening 24c is covered with a plug or the like that is not present to create a pellet. The stopper is press-fitted into the opening 24c or sealed by welding. The pellets are arranged together with activated carbon as an adsorbent in a main adsorbent chamber and a sub chamber of a canister (not shown).

  In Example 14, the sealed container in the canister is first made of a resin material into two bodies and injection molded. As shown in FIGS. 16 (a) and 16 (b), a square dish-shaped first dish-shaped part 24d and a second dish-shaped part 24e, which are injection-molded with a resin material, face each other with their opening sides facing each other. The joined portions 25A shown in FIG. 4A are welded or bonded together to integrate the two plate-shaped portions 24d and 24e, thereby forming a sealed container 26A. Then, a predetermined heat storage material or heat storage material microcapsule is injected and accommodated from the opening 24f formed in one dish-shaped part 24e into the space 27A surrounded by both dish-shaped parts 24d and 24e. The opening 24f is covered with a plug that is not present to make a pellet. The stopper is sealed by being pressed into the opening 24f or by welding. The pellets are arranged together with activated carbon as an adsorbent in a main adsorbent chamber and a sub chamber of a canister (not shown).

  In the fifteenth embodiment, the sealed container 26B in the canister is first gas-assist-molded (also referred to as gas injection or hollow injection molding) into a shape as shown in FIGS. 17 (a) and 17 (b), and the peripheral wall surrounding the space 27B. 28B is formed. Then, after a predetermined heat storage material or heat storage material microcapsule is injected and accommodated from the opening (hole) 24g of the peripheral wall 28B into the space 27B, a cap (not shown) is press-fitted or welded into the opening 24g to cover ( Seal). The pellets thus prepared are arranged together with activated carbon as an adsorbent in a main adsorbent chamber or a sub chamber of a canister (not shown).

  FIG. 17C is a longitudinal sectional view for explaining a manufacturing method for forming the sealed container 26B by gas assist molding. Between the first molding die 40 and the second molding die 41, a molten resin is injected from the resin material gate 42, and a gas is injected from the gas injection port 43, thereby forming a hollow sealed container 26B. To do.

  The heat storage material melted from the opening 24g formed by the gas injection port 43 is injected and accommodated in the sealed container 26B. The heat storage material solidifies and solidifies as the temperature drops. In this way, the opening 24g of the sealed container 26B into which the heat storage material has been injected and accommodated is covered and sealed to obtain a pellet.

  Note that heat storage material microcapsules may be injected and filled instead of the heat storage material.

  In Example 16, the sealed container in the canister is manufactured by a manufacturing method similar to the water assist molding described in Example 3 of FIGS.

  As shown in FIG. 18, the resin melted from the resin material gate 42 is injected (injected) between the first and second molds 40 and 41 (inside the mold). At this time, the resin amount is set to an injection amount that is slightly less than the volume of the sealed container 26B in the mold.

  Next, before the resin is solidified, the heat storage material 21 is injected from the heat storage material gate 44 into the space 27B in the resin.

Next, the injection pressure of the heat storage material 21 is lowered before the resin solidifies.
The pressure of the resin is increased again to allow the resin to flow into the mold.

  Then, a constriction occurs in a part of the resin forming the sealed container 26B, that is, a part of the heat storage material 21 injected from the heat storage material gate 44, as indicated by reference numeral 44b in FIG. It is cut and partitioned by a resin forming the sealed container 26B as indicated by reference numeral 44c in FIG. That is, the gate of the heat storage material is sealed by the inflow resin.

  Thus, the resin is cooled and solidified in the mold, and the sealed container 26B in which the heat storage material 21 is enclosed is taken out from the molds 40 and 41.

  In this embodiment, since the gate for injecting the heat storage material is sealed (sealed) at the time of molding with the resin constituting the sealed container 26B, the opening 24g is plugged as in the embodiment 15 of FIG. There is an advantage that a step of sealing with a lid is unnecessary.

1 is a longitudinal sectional view of Embodiment 1 of the present invention. In Example 2 of this invention, (a) is a longitudinal cross-sectional view, (b) is the partially expanded sectional view of the same figure (a), (c) is the sectional view on the AA line of the same figure (a). FIG. 3A is a longitudinal sectional view of the case in the embodiment of FIG. 2, and FIG. 3B is a sectional view taken along line AA in FIG. 2A is a view before assembling the lid 4 of the embodiment of FIG. 2, wherein FIG. 2A is a longitudinal sectional view, FIG. 2B is a partially enlarged sectional view of FIG. 2A, and FIG. AA sectional view taken on the line. FIGS. 3A and 3B are views of the third embodiment of the present invention before the cover 4 is assembled, in which FIG. 4A is a longitudinal sectional view, FIG. 5B is a partially enlarged sectional view of FIG. AA line sectional view of). It is a figure explaining the shaping | molding method of the case in Example 3 of this invention, (a) is a longitudinal cross-sectional view, (b) is the sectional view on the AA line of the same figure (a). (A) is the BB sectional drawing of Fig.6 (a), (b) is CC sectional view taken on the line of Fig.6 (a). It is a figure explaining the procedure (process) of the shaping | molding method of the case in Example 3 of this invention, (a) (b) (c) is a principal part longitudinal cross-sectional view explaining each process in order, (d) is the same. The partially expanded view of FIG. It is a figure explaining the shaping | molding method in Example 4 of this invention, (a) is a longitudinal cross-sectional view, (b) is the sectional view on the AA line of the same figure (a). BB sectional drawing of Fig.9 (a). It is a figure explaining the procedure (process) of the shaping | molding method of the case in Example 4 of this invention, (a) (b) (c) is a principal part longitudinal cross-sectional view explaining each process in order, (d) is the same. The partially expanded view of FIG. It is a figure explaining Example 5 of this invention, (a) is the schematic of the case part of a canister, (b) is an expansion perspective view of the pellet used for the figure (a). It is the schematic which shows the manufacturing process of the pellet of Example 6 of this invention, (a) is a perspective view of a cylinder, (b) is a perspective view of the pellet produced from the cylinder of the figure (a). It is a figure of the pellet of Example 7 of this invention, (a) is a front view, (b) is a top view. It is a figure explaining the manufacturing method of the airtight container in Example 13 of this invention, The figure (a) is a front view, The figure (b) is a right view of (a). It is a figure explaining the manufacturing method of the airtight container in Example 14 of this invention, The figure (a) is a front view, The figure (b) is a right view of (a). It is a figure explaining Example 15 of this invention, (a) is a front view of an airtight container, (b) is the left view, (c) is a longitudinal cross-sectional view explaining the manufacturing method of an airtight container. It is a figure explaining the manufacturing method of the airtight container in Example 16 of this invention, The figure (a) is a longitudinal cross-sectional view, (b) And (c) is process drawing which expands and shows a part of (a).

Explanation of symbols

1 canister 2 case 3, 3A, 3B first case 3d room (space)
4 Lid 5 Tank port 6 Purge port 7 Air port 8, 9, 10 Adsorbent 11 Main adsorbent chamber 12 First sub chamber (adsorbent chamber)
13 Second subchamber (adsorbent chamber)
21 Heat storage material (heat storage material microcapsule)
22, 22A, 22B Pellets 24c, 24f, 24g Opening 26, 26A, 26B Sealed container 30 Fixed mold 31 Movable mold 32, 33, 35, 36, 42, 44 Gate 40, 41 Mold

Claims (17)

A tank port that communicates with the upper air chamber of the fuel tank, a purge port that communicates with the intake passage of the engine, an atmospheric port that is open to the atmosphere, and an adsorbent that adsorbs evaporated fuel flowing from the tank port to the atmospheric port are housed. In a canister having an adsorbent chamber,
A heat storage material made of a phase change material that absorbs and dissipates latent heat in response to temperature changes, or a heat storage material microcapsule in which the heat storage material is sealed in a microcapsule, in the canister, particularly in an adsorbent state, without being in direct contact with the evaporated fuel A canister characterized by being disposed close to   The canister according to claim 1, wherein a heat storage material or a heat storage material microcapsule is disposed in a case forming the adsorbent chamber of the canister.   The canister according to claim 2, wherein a heat storage material microcapsule is kneaded into a resin material forming the case.   3. The canister according to claim 2, wherein a chamber is provided in a case portion forming a peripheral wall of the adsorbent chamber, and the room is filled with a heat storage material or a heat storage material microcapsule. A tank port that communicates with the upper air chamber of the fuel tank, a purge port that communicates with the intake passage of the engine, an atmospheric port that is open to the atmosphere, and an adsorbent that adsorbs evaporated fuel flowing from the tank port to the atmospheric port are housed. In a canister having an adsorbent chamber,
A heat storage material in which a room is provided in a case portion that forms the peripheral wall of the adsorbent chamber, and the heat storage material made of a phase change material that absorbs and dissipates latent heat according to a temperature change is enclosed in a microcapsule. Canister characterized by being filled with microcapsules.   A heat storage material made of a phase change material that absorbs and dissipates latent heat according to temperature changes or a heat storage material microcapsule in which the heat storage material is sealed in a microcapsule is stored in a sealed container made of a material that does not pass gasoline vapor. The canister according to claim 1, wherein the canister is formed into a pellet, and the pellet is housed in an adsorbent chamber together with an adsorbent.   7. The canister according to claim 6, wherein the sealed container for storing the heat storage material or the heat storage material microcapsule is made of a metal material.   7. The canister according to claim 6, wherein the sealed container for storing the heat storage material or the heat storage material microcapsule is formed of a resin film laminated with a metal foil.   2. The canister according to claim 1, wherein the outer periphery of the heat storage material microcapsule is metal-plated.   A first case having a peripheral wall of the adsorbent chamber and having an opening at one end is formed by gas assist molding, a space is formed in the peripheral wall, and a heat storage material or a heat storage material micro is formed in the space. A method for manufacturing a canister, wherein after the capsule is injected, the opening is sealed with a lid. A method for manufacturing a canister, which is formed in the following steps (1) to (6) when forming a first case having a peripheral wall of an adsorbent chamber and having an opening at one end.
(1) A resin amount slightly lower than the volume in the mold is injected from the resin material gate into the mold.
(2) Next, before the resin is solidified, the heat storage material is injected into the resin from the heat storage material gate.
(3) The injection pressure of the heat storage material is reduced.
(4) The pressure of the resin is increased again to allow the resin to flow into the mold.
(5) The gate of the heat storage material is sealed with the inflow resin.
(6) The resin is cooled and solidified in the mold, and the first case enclosing the heat storage material is taken out of the mold.   7. The canister according to claim 6, wherein the airtight container for storing the heat storage material or the heat storage material microcapsule is formed of a material having a specific heat or a thermal conductivity larger than that of the adsorbent.   The canister according to claim 12, wherein the material of the sealed container is a metal such as a copper material, an aluminum material, an iron material, or a stainless material.   The canister according to claim 12, wherein the material of the sealed container is a resin such as nylon, polyacetal, polyphenylene sulfide, or phenol.   A sealed container having a space for storing the heat storage material or the heat storage material microcapsule and an opening communicating with the space is formed by gas assist molding, and the heat storage material or the heat storage material microcapsule is injected into the formed space. Then, the said opening part is sealed, The manufacturing method of the airtight container in a canister characterized by the above-mentioned.   A gas assisted molding is used to form an airtight container having a peripheral wall surrounding the space and an opening communicating with the space, and the space is formed in the peripheral wall, and a heat storage material or a heat storage material is formed in the space. A method for producing an airtight container in a canister, wherein the opening is sealed with a lid after injecting the microcapsule. A method for producing a hermetic container in a canister, wherein the hermetic container containing a heat storage material is molded by the following steps (1) to (6).
(1) A resin amount slightly lower than the volume in the mold is injected from the resin material gate into the mold.
(2) Next, before the resin is solidified, the heat storage material is injected into the resin from the heat storage material gate.
(3) The injection pressure of the heat storage material is reduced.
(4) The pressure of the resin is increased again to allow the resin to flow into the mold.
(5) The gate of the heat storage material is sealed with the inflow resin.
(6) The resin is cooled and solidified in the mold, and the sealed container enclosing the heat storage material is taken out from the mold.

Images