JP2006266229A - Fuel supply valve for jet pump and valve unit - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To feed fuel to jet pumps without deteriorating the startability of an internal combustion engine in an ERFS of such a structure that the jet pumps are installed in a fuel pump module. <P>SOLUTION: The opening pressure of a fuel feed valve 21 for the jet pump installed between a fuel feed passage 13 from a fuel pump 5 to the internal combustion engine and the jet pumps 9a and 9b is set lower than the target pressure of the fuel fed from the fuel pump 5 to the internal combustion engine. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2007,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to a fuel supply valve for a jet pump and a valve unit including the same.

  Conventionally, there is a system called MRFS (Mechanical Return-less fuel System) as a system for supplying fuel to an internal combustion engine using a fuel pump module attached to a fuel tank of an automobile, for example. In MRFS, the pressure of fuel supplied to the internal combustion engine is mechanically adjusted by a regulator provided in the fuel pump module.

In addition to the fuel pump and regulator described above, such a fuel pump module includes a reservoir that stores fuel and a jet pump that transfers fuel to the reservoir (see, for example, Patent Document 1). In this fuel pump module, the jet pump is driven using the fuel discharged from the regulator, and the fuel in the fuel tank is transferred to the reservoir.
JP 2002-13451 A

  Incidentally, as a system for supplying fuel to an internal combustion engine using a fuel pump module, there is an ERFS (Electrical Return less-fuel System) other than the above-described MRFS. In this ERFS, the pressure of the fuel supplied from the fuel pump to the internal combustion engine is adjusted by controlling the rotational speed of the fuel pump. Thus, the fuel pump module used in ERFS is not provided with a regulator.

  When the fuel pump module including the jet pump as described above is employed in the MRFS, since a regulator is not provided, it is necessary to newly provide a configuration for supplying fuel as a driving flow to the jet pump.

  Therefore, it is conceivable to branch a fuel supply path connected from the fuel pump to the internal combustion engine, and connect one of the branched branches to the jet pump to supply fuel to the jet pump.

  However, in this case, when the internal combustion engine and the fuel pump are stopped, the fuel in the fuel supply path flows to the jet pump and is discharged from the jet pump, and the fuel supply path is not filled with fuel. It is possible to end up. In such a state, when the internal combustion engine is started again, the fuel supply path is not filled with fuel, so that it takes time to supply the fuel from the fuel pump to the internal combustion engine. It can be aggravated.

  The present invention has been made in view of the above circumstances, and an object thereof is ERFS having a configuration in which a fuel pump module is provided with a jet pump, which is driven to a jet pump without deteriorating startability of an internal combustion engine. It is to be able to supply fuel as a stream.

  To achieve the above object, a fuel supply valve for a jet pump according to a first aspect of the present invention includes a jet pump and a fuel pump that sucks fuel and supplies the fuel to an external device via a fuel supply path. A casing provided in a fuel pump module in which the speed of the fuel pump is controlled for pressure adjustment, and one end side communicated with the fuel supply path to supply fuel from the fuel supply path to the jet pump. A communication channel provided in the casing, the end of which communicates with the jet pump; and a valve body that is detachably seated on a valve seat provided in the casing and opens and closes the communication channel; An elastic member that urges the valve body to be seated on the valve seat, and the valve body resists the urging force of the elastic member by the pressure of fuel from the fuel supply path. Opening pressure against, characterized in that it is set lower than the target pressure of the supply fuel.

  Accordingly, since the valve opening pressure is set lower than the target pressure of the supplied fuel, when the fuel is supplied from the fuel pump to the internal combustion engine at the target pressure during operation of the internal combustion engine, the valve body is separated from the valve seat. Then, the communication channel is opened, and fuel is supplied from the fuel supply channel to the jet pump. Further, when the internal combustion engine and the fuel pump are stopped, if the fuel pressure in the fuel supply path becomes smaller than the valve opening pressure, the valve body is seated on the valve seat and the communication flow path is closed. Thereby, the fuel in the fuel supply path is not discharged from the jet pump. Therefore, even when the internal combustion engine and the fuel pump are stopped, there is sufficient fuel in the fuel supply path, and the startability of the internal combustion engine is not deteriorated. That is, fuel as a driving flow can be supplied to the jet pump without deteriorating the startability of the internal combustion engine.

  According to a second aspect of the present invention, in the fuel supply valve for a jet pump according to the first aspect of the present invention, the elastic member is a coil spring.

  Therefore, since it is possible to employ a configuration in which the coil spring is housed in the communication flow path, the jet pump fuel supply valve can be reduced in size.

  A valve unit according to a third aspect of the invention is connected to the fuel supply valve for a jet pump according to the first or second aspect and the fuel supply path, and the valve opening pressure is set higher than the target pressure of the supplied fuel. The jet pump fuel supply valve and the relief valve are integrally provided.

  Therefore, the same effect as that of the invention of claim 1 can be obtained, and when the pressure of the fuel in the fuel supply passage becomes equal to or higher than the opening pressure of the relief valve, the relief valve is activated to Since the fuel pressure is prevented from increasing, the safety of the system using the valve unit can be ensured. In addition, since the fuel supply valve for the jet pump and the relief valve are provided integrally, the valve unit can be compared with the case where the fuel supply valve for the separate jet pump and the relief valve are attached to the fuel pump module. The structure of the attached fuel pump module can be simplified.

  DESCRIPTION OF EXEMPLARY EMBODIMENTS Hereinafter, embodiments embodying the invention will be described with reference to the drawings. In the present embodiment, a fuel pump module mounted inside a fuel tank of an automobile equipped with an internal combustion engine is applied as a fuel pump module incorporating the valve unit 8. This fuel pump module is an element constituting ERFS (Electrical Return less-fuel System).

  FIG. 1 is a schematic configuration diagram showing a fuel pump module incorporating a valve unit according to the present embodiment. As shown in FIG. 1, the fuel pump module 1 includes a lid portion 2 that is attached so as to close an opening provided in an upper portion of a fuel tank (not shown), and a hanging portion that is housed in the fuel tank below the lid portion 2. 3 is provided.

  The drooping portion 3 is provided inside a main casing 4 made of resin, with a fuel pump (denoted as F / P in the figure) 5, a suction filter (denoted as S / F in the figure) 6, a discharge filter ( In the figure, it is described as F / F) 7, a valve unit 8, a jet pump unit 9, a relief valve 10 and the like. These parts 5 to 10 are connected via the flow path 11 (11a to 11e). In addition, a reservoir 12 that stores fuel therein is formed in the lower portion of the drooping portion 3. Further, the drooping portion 3 is provided with a check valve (not shown) for preventing a reverse flow of fuel from the internal combustion engine to the fuel pump 5 in a flow path 11b between the fuel pump 5 and the discharge side filter 7.

  A suction filter 6 is connected to the upstream side of the fuel pump 5 via a flow path 11a, while a discharge filter 7 is connected to the downstream side of the fuel pump 5 via a flow path 11b. A feed pipe 14 provided in the lid 2 is connected to the downstream side of the discharge side filter 7 via a flow path 11c. The feed pipe 14 is connected to the internal combustion engine by a fuel pipe (not shown). Here, a fuel supply path 13 from the fuel pump 5 to the internal combustion engine is constituted by the flow path 11b, the discharge side filter 7, the flow path 11c, the feed pipe 14, the fuel pipe, and the like.

  Further, a flow path 11 d leading to the valve unit 8 is connected in the middle of the flow path 11 c leading from the discharge side filter 7 to the feed pipe 14. The downstream side of the valve unit 8 is connected to the jet pump unit 9 and the relief valve 10 by a flow path 11e.

  The fuel pump 5 discharges the fuel in the reservoir 12 to the outside of the fuel tank, that is, toward the internal combustion engine. The fuel pump 5 is controlled by a cable (not shown) routed between the lid 2 and the hanging part 3 and a connector (not shown) provided on the upper surface of the lid 2. And an external power source (both not shown). Here, in ERFS, the rotation speed of the fuel pump 5 is controlled so that the pressure of fuel supplied to the internal combustion engine from the fuel pump 5 (hereinafter also referred to as fuel pressure) becomes a target pressure (for example, 410 kPa). Specifically, the fuel pump 5 is configured so that the pressure of the fuel supplied to the internal combustion engine becomes a target pressure (410 kPa in this embodiment) based on the fuel pressure in the fuel supply passage 13 detected by a pressure sensor (not shown). The number of rotations is feedback controlled.

  The discharge filter 7 removes dust from the fuel discharged by the fuel pump 5 and cleans it.

  The suction filter 6 removes dust from the fuel in the reservoir 12 sucked by the fuel pump 5 and cleans it.

  The jet pump unit 9 uses the fuel supplied from the valve unit 8 as a driving flow to transfer the fuel in the fuel tank into the reservoir 12 of the drooping portion 3. The jet pump unit 9 of this embodiment has two jet pumps 9a and 9b. This shows a configuration example corresponding to a so-called saddle type tank having a main tank and a sub tank as a fuel tank and straddling a floor tunnel portion or the like under a vehicle body floor. In this configuration, one jet pump 9 a transfers fuel from the main tank to the reservoir 12, and the other jet pump 9 b transfers fuel from the sub tank to the reservoir 12.

  FIG. 2 is a sectional view showing the valve unit 8 according to the present embodiment. As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, the valve unit 8 includes a fuel supply valve 21 for the jet pump that supplies driving fuel to the jet pump unit 9, and an abnormality in the fuel supply path 13 from the fuel pump 5 to the internal combustion engine. And a relief valve 31 for preventing the generation of a high pressure.

  Specifically, as shown in FIG. 2, the valve unit 8 includes a casing 43 including an outer casing 41 and an inner casing 42 fixed inside the outer casing 41. The casing 43 is attached to the main body casing 4. A fuel reservoir 44 is formed between the outer casing 41 and the inner casing 42. The fuel reservoir 44 communicates with the flow path 11d through a through hole (not shown) formed in the outer casing 41.

  The inner casing 42 is formed with a common flow path 45 penetrating the inner casing 42 in the left-right direction and communicating at both ends with the fuel reservoir 44. A fuel supply valve for a jet pump is provided below the common flow path 45. 21 is disposed, and the relief valve 31 is disposed above the common flow path 45. In addition, the code | symbol 46 in a figure is an O-ring.

  The jet pump fuel supply valve 21 will be described. A communication flow path 22 is formed in the inner casing 42 below the common flow path 45, and the first valve body 23 and a first elastic member are formed in the communication flow path 22. A coil spring 24 is provided.

  The upper end side (upstream side) of the communication flow path 22 communicates with the shared flow path 45, while the lower end side (lower end side) of the communication flow path 22 communicates with the flow path 11e (see FIG. 1). . Therefore, the lower end side of the communication flow path 22 communicates with the jet pump unit 9. A tapered first valve seat 25 that is tapered upward is formed on the upper end side of the communication flow path 22. Due to the shape of the first valve seat 25, the communication flow path 22 between the first valve seat 25 and the common flow path 45 has a diameter of the communication flow path 22 below the first valve seat 25. The orifice 26 is formed here.

  The first valve body 23 is formed in a spherical shape and is detachably mounted on the first valve seat 25, and opens and closes the communication flow path 22.

  The first coil spring 24 is provided between the first valve body 23 and a first stopper 27 provided on the lower end side of the communication flow path 22. The first coil spring 24 urges the first valve body 23 toward the first valve seat 25 to seat the first valve body 23 on the valve seat. The first stopper 27 is formed with a plurality of holes (not shown) that allow the passage of fuel.

  In the jet pump fuel supply valve 21, the first valve element 23 is opened from the first valve seat 25 against the urging force of the first coil spring 24 by the pressure of the fuel from the fuel supply passage 13. The pressure is set to be lower than a target pressure (410 kPa in this embodiment) of fuel (supplied fuel) that the fuel pump 5 supplies to the fuel engine via the fuel supply path 13. Specifically, it is set to 300 kPa. In this structure, when the pressure acting on the first valve body 23 by the fuel from the fuel supply passage 13 is equal to or higher than the valve opening pressure, the first valve body 23 is biased by the first coil spring 24 by the pressure. In contrast, the communication passage 22 is opened away from the first valve seat 25, and fuel is supplied from the fuel supply passage 13 to the jet pumps 9a and 9b. On the other hand, when the pressure acting on the first valve body by the fuel from the fuel supply path 13 is smaller than the valve opening pressure, the first valve body 23 is seated on the first valve seat 25 and the communication flow path. 22 is closed.

  Next, the relief valve 31 will be described. A relief channel 32 is formed in the inner casing 42 so as to be positioned above the common channel 45, and a second valve body 33 and a second coil spring as an elastic member are formed inside the relief channel 32. 34 is provided.

  The lower end side (upstream side) of the relief channel 32 communicates with the common channel 45, while the upper end side (downstream side) of the relief channel 32 communicates with the reservoir 12. A tapered second valve seat 35 that is tapered downward is formed on the lower end side of the communication flow path 22.

  The second valve body 33 is formed in a spherical shape, and is provided so as to be freely attached to and detached from the second valve seat 35, and opens and closes the relief flow path 32.

  The second coil spring 34 is provided between the second valve element 33 and a second stopper 37 provided on the upper end side of the relief flow path 32. The second coil spring 34 urges the second valve body 33 toward the second valve seat 35 to seat the second valve body 33 on the second valve seat 35. The second stopper 37 is formed with a plurality of holes (not shown) that allow the passage of fuel.

  In the relief valve 31, the valve opening pressure at which the second valve body 33 separates from the second valve seat 35 against the urging force of the second coil spring 34 by the pressure of the fuel from the fuel supply path 13 It is set higher than the target pressure (410 kPa in this embodiment) of the fuel (supplied fuel) that the pump 5 supplies to the fuel engine via the fuel supply path 13, specifically, it is set to 550 kPa. . In this structure, when the pressure acting on the second valve body 33 by the fuel from the fuel supply path 13 is equal to or higher than the valve opening pressure, the second valve body 33 is biased by the second coil spring 34 by the pressure. Against this, the relief flow path 32 is opened away from the second valve seat 35, and the fuel in the fuel supply path 13 is discharged to the reservoir 12.

  In such a configuration, when fuel is supplied from the fuel pump 5 to the internal combustion engine at the target pressure during operation of the internal combustion engine, the first valve body 23 is separated from the first valve seat 25 and the communication flow path 22. Is opened, and fuel is supplied from the fuel supply path 13 to the jet pumps 9a and 9b. Further, when the internal combustion engine and the fuel pump 5 are stopped, if the fuel pressure in the fuel supply passage 13 becomes smaller than the valve opening pressure of the jet pump fuel supply valve 21, the first valve body 23 becomes the first valve. The communication channel 22 is closed by sitting on the seat 25. Thereby, the fuel in the fuel supply path 13 is not discharged from the jet pumps 9a and 9b. Therefore, even when the internal combustion engine and the fuel pump 5 are stopped, there is sufficient fuel in the fuel supply path 13, and the startability of the internal combustion engine is not deteriorated. That is, according to this embodiment, fuel can be supplied to the jet pumps 9a and 9b without deteriorating the startability of the internal combustion engine.

  In addition, since the elastic member is the first coil spring 24, it is possible to employ a configuration in which the first coil spring 24 is accommodated in the communication flow path 22. Therefore, the jet pump fuel supply valve 21 can be made compact. Can be achieved.

  Further, when the fuel pressure in the fuel supply passage 13 becomes higher than the target fuel pressure for some reason and the fuel pressure acting on the relief valve 31 reaches the valve opening pressure of the relief valve 31, the relief valve 31 opens. The fuel in the fuel supply path 13 is discharged to the reservoir 12 outside the fuel supply path 13. Thereby, an abnormal increase in the fuel pressure in the fuel supply passage 13 is prevented. Therefore, the safety of MRFS using the valve unit 8 can be ensured.

  In addition, since the jet pump fuel supply valve 21 and the relief valve 31 are integrally provided, the fuel pump valve and the relief valve 31 are separately provided as compared with the case where the separate jet pump fuel supply valve and the relief valve are attached to the fuel pump module. The structure of the fuel pump module 1 to which the unit 8 is attached can be simplified.

  The present invention can be embodied in another embodiment as follows. In other embodiments described below, the same operations and effects as in the above embodiments can be obtained.

  (1) In the above embodiment, the jet pump fuel supply valve 21 and the relief valve 31 are vertically arranged opposite to each other, but the jet pump fuel supply valve 21 and the relief valve 31 are arranged in parallel. The present invention can be similarly implemented.

  Further, technical ideas other than the claims that can be grasped from the above embodiment will be described together with the effects thereof.

  (A) In the fuel supply valve for a jet pump according to claim 1 or 2, it is preferable that an orifice is formed at the inlet of the communication channel.

  Thereby, the quantity of the fuel supplied to the jet pump can be optimized.

The schematic block diagram which shows the fuel pump module which incorporated the valve unit concerning embodiment of this invention. Sectional drawing which shows the valve unit concerning embodiment of this invention.

Explanation of symbols

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Fuel pump module 5 Fuel pump 9a Jet pump 9b Jet pump 13 Fuel supply path 21 Fuel supply valve for jet pumps 22 Communication flow path 23 1st valve body (valve body)
24 1st coil spring (elastic member, coil spring)
25 First valve seat (valve seat)
31 Relief valve 43 Casing

Claims (3)

The fuel pump has a jet pump that transfers the fuel in the fuel tank and a fuel pump that sucks the transferred fuel and supplies it to an external device through a fuel supply path. A casing provided in the fuel pump module to be controlled;
A communication flow path provided in the casing, wherein one end side is connected to the fuel supply path and the other end side is connected to the jet pump to supply fuel from the fuel supply path to the jet pump;
A valve seat provided in the casing;
A valve body that is detachably seated on the valve seat and opens and closes the communication channel;
An elastic member for urging the valve body to be seated on the valve seat;
With
The valve opening pressure at which the valve body separates from the valve seat against the biasing force of the elastic member by the pressure of the fuel from the fuel supply path is set lower than the target pressure of the supplied fuel. A fuel supply valve for a jet pump.   The fuel supply valve for a jet pump according to claim 1, wherein the elastic member is a coil spring. A fuel supply valve for a jet pump according to claim 1 or 2,
A relief valve that is communicated with the fuel supply path and has a valve opening pressure set higher than a target pressure of the supplied fuel;
With
The valve unit, wherein the jet pump fuel supply valve and the relief valve are integrally provided.

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