JP2008215167A - Vehicular fuel supply device - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a vehicular fuel supply device capable of suppressing pressure reduction in a fuel supply pipe when filling fuel. <P>SOLUTION: Fuel is led to flow, by a branch pipe 34, from a fuel filler pipe 18 leading from a fuel filler opening 26 to a fuel tank 14, also into a fuel supply pipe 20 leading from the fuel tank 14 to an engine 40. The valve opening pressure of a first check valve 22 on the side of the fuel tank 14 from a branch point 32 is set lower than that of a second check valve 38 on the side of the fuel filler opening 26 from the branch point 32. When filling fuel, the first check valve 22 is also opened immediately after the second check valve 38 is opened. Since the first check valve 22 is opened when internal pressure inside of the fuel supply pipe 20 is increased to prevent fuel from being led to flow into the fuel tank 14, pressure reduction in the fuel supply pipe 20 when filling fuel is suppressed. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2008,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to a vehicle fuel supply apparatus.

  In a vehicle fuel supply device that supplies compressed natural gas (CNG) to an engine as a fuel, for example, as described in Patent Document 1, a main supply valve and an auxiliary supply valve are provided at the supply / exhaust port of the CNG tank and an auxiliary device is provided. There is one in which a check valve is provided in parallel with the supply valve so that the gas supply line and the filling line are shared by one gas line.

  By the way, in order to enable the engine to be driven even when the fuel tank is filled with fuel, it is necessary to provide a piping structure for supplying a part of the fuel to be filled to the engine. However, in such a pipe structure, there is a possibility that the fuel in the fuel supply pipe flows into the fuel tank at the time of fuel filling, and the pressure in the fuel supply pipe is temporarily reduced.

Further, even in a vehicular fuel supply apparatus that does not employ such a pipe structure, a pressure drop is detected by a pressure sensor provided in the fuel supply pipe, and this pressure drop is notified to an occupant or the like by a notification means. In the configuration, a pressure drop that should not be reported, such as a pressure drop in the fuel supply pipe at the time of fuel filling, may be reported.
Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 8-177461

  In view of the above fact, the present invention has a first object to obtain a vehicle fuel supply device that can suppress a pressure drop in a fuel supply pipe during fuel filling. Another object of the present invention is to obtain a vehicular fuel supply device that can prevent a pressure drop in the fuel supply piping from being notified during fuel filling.

  According to the first aspect of the present invention, a fuel tank that contains fuel, a fuel supply pipe that communicates the fuel tank and the engine, a fuel filling pipe that communicates a fuel filling port and the fuel tank, and the fuel A branch pipe branched from the fuel filling pipe at a branch point set in the filling pipe and connected to the supply pipe, and provided in the fuel filling pipe between the distribution starting point and the fuel tank, and acts from the filling fuel. A first check valve that opens at a predetermined filling pressure, and a predetermined filling pressure that is provided in a piping path extending from the fuel filling port to the engine through the branch pipe and the fuel supply pipe and acting from the filling fuel. And the valve opening pressure of the first check valve is set lower than the valve opening pressure of the second check valve.

  In this vehicle fuel supply device, the first check valve and the second check valve are closed in a normal state, that is, when fuel is not charged from the fuel filling port.

  The fuel tank is filled with fuel from the fuel filling port through the fuel filling pipe. At this time, the first check valve is opened with the filling pressure applied from the filling fuel, and further, the second reverse pressure is applied with this filling pressure. The stop valve is also opened. In the present invention, the valve opening pressure of the first check valve is set lower than the valve opening pressure of the second check valve, and when the second check valve is opened, the first check valve also The valve is opened or can be opened. For this reason, a phenomenon in which the first check valve is opened while the internal pressure of the fuel supply pipe is high due to fuel filling or the like and the fuel in the fuel supply pipe suddenly flows back to the fuel tank is suppressed. Thus, a temporary pressure drop in the fuel supply pipe is also suppressed.

  The invention according to claim 2 is characterized in that, in the invention according to claim 1, the second check valve is provided closer to the engine than the branch point.

  Therefore, at the time of fuel filling, the first check valve is first opened, and then the second check valve is opened when the filling pressure further increases. At least in the initial stage of fuel filling, since the inflow of fuel to the fuel supply pipe is blocked, the pressure drop in the fuel supply pipe can be more reliably suppressed.

  According to a third aspect of the present invention, in the first or second aspect of the present invention, a pressure sensor provided in the fuel supply pipe for detecting a fuel pressure, and a pressure drop of a predetermined width or more by the pressure sensor. And informing means for informing when it is detected.

  Therefore, the pressure of the fuel supply pipe is detected by the pressure sensor, and when the pressure drop is greater than or equal to a predetermined width, it is possible to notify the occupant, the fuel filling operator or the like by the notification means.

  Further, for example, since the temporary pressure drop in the fuel supply pipe during fuel filling is suppressed, the pressure drop in the fuel supply pipe is not erroneously notified during fuel filling.

  According to a fourth aspect of the present invention, a fuel tank that contains fuel, a fuel supply pipe that communicates the fuel tank and the engine, a fuel filling pipe that communicates a fuel filling port and the fuel tank, and the fuel A pressure sensor provided in the supply pipe for detecting the pressure of the fuel; an informing means for informing when the pressure sensor detects a pressure drop of a predetermined width or more; and the pressure in a state where the fuel is filled from the fuel filling port. Control means for controlling to stop the operation of at least one of the sensor and the notification means.

  In this vehicle fuel supply device, the fuel is filled from the fuel filling port into the fuel tank through the fuel filling pipe, and the fuel is supplied from the fuel tank to the engine through the fuel supply pipe. The pressure of the fuel supply pipe is detected by a pressure sensor, and when the pressure drop is a predetermined width or more, it can be notified to an occupant, a fuel filling operator, or the like by a notification means.

  Here, the control means stops the operation of at least one of the pressure sensor and the notification means in a state where the fuel is filled from the fuel filling port. Thereby, it can prevent reporting the pressure drop of fuel supply piping at the time of fuel filling. The operation stop by the control means at the time of fuel filling may be either the pressure means or the notification means, or both.

  Since the present invention has the above-described configuration, in the first invention, it is possible to suppress a pressure drop in the fuel supply pipe during fuel filling. Moreover, in 2nd invention, it can prevent reporting the pressure fall of fuel supply piping at the time of fuel filling.

  FIG. 1 shows a schematic configuration of a vehicle fuel supply device 12 according to a first embodiment of the present invention. The vehicle fuel supply device 12 is applied to an automobile that uses compressed natural gas (CNG) as fuel.

  The vehicle fuel supply device 12 has a fuel tank 14 in which compressed natural gas (CNG) is accommodated. The fuel tank 14 includes a tank main valve 16, and one end of each of the fuel filling pipe 18 and the fuel supply pipe 20 is connected to the fuel tank 14 via the tank main valve 16. The tank main valve 16 is integrally provided with a first check valve 22 and a solenoid valve 24. The first check valve 22 is disposed in the fuel filling pipe 18, and the electromagnetic valve 24 is disposed in the fuel supply pipe 20.

  A fuel filling port 26 is provided at the other end of the fuel filling pipe 18. An opening / closing lid 28 is attached to the fuel filling port 26 so as to be openable and closable. By opening the opening / closing lid 28 and inserting a filling nozzle into the fuel filling port 26, fuel can be filled.

  Further, the fuel filling port 26 is integrally provided with a filling port check valve 30. The filling port check valve 30 is configured to open at a predetermined pressure in a direction (arrow F1 direction) in which fuel is filled from the fuel filling port 26 into the fuel tank 14, but not in the reverse direction. Yes. Similarly, the first check valve 22 opens at a predetermined pressure (valve opening pressure) in the direction in which the fuel is filled into the fuel tank 14 from the fuel filling port 26 (arrow F2 direction), but in the opposite direction. Is configured not to open.

  A branch point 32 is set in the fuel filling pipe 18, and a branch pipe 34 branched from the branch point 32 joins the fuel supply pipe 20 at a junction 36. Due to the branch pipe 34, the fuel also flows into the fuel supply pipe 20 during fuel filling.

  A second check valve 38 is disposed in the fuel filling pipe 18 at a position between the filling port check valve 30 and the branch point 32. Similarly to the first check valve 22, the second check valve 38 opens at a predetermined pressure (valve opening pressure) in the direction in which the fuel is filled into the fuel tank 14 from the fuel filling port 26 (arrow F1 direction). However, the valve is not opened in the opposite direction.

  Here, particularly in the present embodiment, the valve opening pressure of the first check valve 22 is set lower than the valve opening pressure of the second check valve 38. Therefore, when the filling pressure of the fuel filled from the fuel filling port 26 reaches the valve opening pressure of the second check valve 38, the second check valve 38 is opened. Then, the fuel filling pressure acts on the first check valve 22, but the first check valve 22 has a lower valve opening pressure than the second check valve 38. The valve 22 is also opened immediately.

  The fuel supply pipe 20 is provided with a pressure reducing valve 42 between the junction 36 and the engine 40, and the pressure reducing valve 42 is provided with a pressure sensor 44. The pressure reducing valve 42 has a function of reducing the pressure of the fuel in the fuel supply pipe 20 to a predetermined range and sending it to the engine. Then, the pressure of the fuel supply pipe 20 is detected by the pressure sensor 44.

  As shown in FIG. 2, the pressure sensor 44 is connected to a control circuit 46 so that the detected pressure data is sent. In addition, a display device 48 is connected to the control circuit 46, and when the pressure decrease detected by the pressure sensor 44 exceeds a predetermined range, that effect is displayed on the display device 48. In particular, in the present embodiment, the pressure fluctuation in the fuel supply pipe 20 at the time when the engine 40 is stopped is detected, and the pressure drop detection system is displayed on the display device 48 when the fall width exceeds the predetermined range. ing. The electromagnetic valve 24 is also connected to a control circuit 46, and the control circuit 46 controls its opening / closing or opening degree.

  Examples of the display device 48 include those that display by turning on a light bulb or LED, and those that display on an information panel such as a liquid crystal panel. Moreover, this display should just notify a passenger | crew, a filling worker, etc. about the above-mentioned pressure fall, and it may appeal to hearing, such as an audio | voice and a warning sound, in addition to what appeals visually, and also combined these It may be a thing.

  Next, the operation of this embodiment will be described.

  In the vehicle fuel supply device 12 of the present embodiment, when the fuel tank 14 is not filled with fuel from the fuel filling port 26, the first check valve 22 and the second check valve 38 are closed, and the control circuit By controlling the electromagnetic valve 24 by 46, fuel can be supplied from the fuel tank 14 to the engine 40 through the fuel supply pipe 20.

  When the fuel is filled in the fuel tank 14, the opening / closing lid 28 is opened and the filling nozzle is inserted into the fuel filling port 26. With the filling pressure of the fuel to be filled, first, the filling port check valve 30 is opened, and then the second check valve 38 is opened. The fuel flows from the fuel filling pipe 18 to the first check valve 22 via the branch point 32. In the present embodiment, the valve opening pressure of the first check valve 22 is set lower than the valve opening pressure of the second check valve 38. Accordingly, the first check valve 22 is also immediately opened at the fuel filling pressure, and the fuel tank 14 is filled with fuel. Further, at the branch point 32, a part of the fuel flows into the branch pipe 34 and reaches the fuel supply pipe 20, so that the pressure in the fuel supply pipe 20 starts to rise.

  Here, for comparison, a configuration in which the valve opening pressure of the second check valve 38 is set lower than the valve opening pressure of the first check valve 22 is assumed as a comparative example, contrary to the present embodiment. To do. In this comparative example, at the time of fuel filling, first, the second check valve 38 is opened, a part of the fuel reaches the fuel filling pipe 18 from the branch pipe 34, and then the first reverse valve is increased by the increase in filling pressure. The stop valve 22 is opened. In such a configuration, since the internal pressure of the fuel supply pipe 20 is increased by opening the second check valve 38, the fuel supply pipe 20 whose pressure has once increased simultaneously with the opening of the first check valve 22. The internal fuel flows into the fuel tank 14, and as a result, the pressure in the fuel supply pipe 20 decreases.

  However, in the present embodiment, since the first check valve 22 is also opened immediately after the second check valve 38 is opened, the fuel in the fuel supply pipe 20 is transferred to the fuel tank 14 as in the comparative example. The phenomenon of flowing in does not occur, and the pressure drop in the fuel supply pipe 20 is also suppressed.

  In particular, consider the case where the above-described pressure drop detection system is activated in the process of filling the fuel as described above. For example, as a very special and rare example (which cannot actually occur), consider the case where fuel filling is started while the engine 40 is being driven and then the engine is stopped. In this case, since the pressure drop sensing system described above is activated when the engine is stopped, in the configuration of the comparative example, a pressure drop in the fuel supply pipe 20 that should not be detected is detected and displayed. There is a risk of display on the device 48.

  On the other hand, in this embodiment, since the pressure drop in the fuel supply pipe 20 is suppressed, the pressure sensor 44 cannot detect the pressure drop itself, and the display device 48 displays the pressure drop. There is nothing. That is, in this embodiment, in a very special and rare case where fuel filling is started while the engine 40 is being driven and then the engine is stopped, a pressure drop in the fuel supply pipe 20 is erroneously notified. Is prevented.

  FIG. 3 shows a schematic configuration of the vehicle fuel supply device 62 according to the second embodiment of the present invention. In the second embodiment, the same components and members as those in the first embodiment are denoted by the same reference numerals, and detailed description thereof is omitted.

  In the vehicle fuel supply device 62 of the second embodiment, the second check valve 38 is provided in the fuel supply pipe 20 between the junction 36 and the pressure reducing valve 42. Further, similarly to the vehicle fuel supply device 12 of the first embodiment, the valve opening pressure of the first check valve 22 is set lower than the valve opening pressure of the second check valve 38. Except this, it is set as the same structure as the fuel supply apparatus 12 for vehicles of 1st embodiment.

  Therefore, in the vehicle fuel supply device 62 of the second embodiment, the first check valve 22 is first opened and then the second check valve 38 is opened by filling the fuel. That is, when the second check valve 38 is opened, the first check valve 22 is always opened. Thereby, the phenomenon in which the fuel in the fuel supply pipe 20 whose pressure has increased flows into the fuel tank 14 does not occur, and the pressure drop in the fuel supply pipe 20 is also suppressed.

  Further, even when the pressure drop detection system is activated in the process of filling the fuel, it is possible to prevent the pressure drop in the fuel supply pipe 20 from being erroneously notified.

  FIG. 4 shows a vehicle fuel supply device 72 according to a third embodiment of the present invention. In the third embodiment, the same components and members as those in the first embodiment are denoted by the same reference numerals, and detailed description thereof is omitted.

  The vehicular fuel supply device 72 of the third embodiment has substantially the same configuration as the vehicular fuel supply device 12 of the first embodiment, but each of the first check valve 22 and the second check valve 38 is provided. No particular condition may be set for the relative magnitude relationship of the valve opening pressure.

  In the vehicle fuel supply device 72 according to the third embodiment, the fuel filling port 26 is provided with an open / close sensor 74 that detects the open / close state of the open / close lid 28. As shown in FIG. 5, the opening / closing information of the opening / closing lid 28 detected by the opening / closing sensor 74 is sent to the control circuit 46. As the open / close sensor 74, a so-called starter interlock switch can be used, and when this circuit is open, that is, when no current is flowing through the circuit, it can be determined that the open / close lid 28 is open.

  In the vehicle fuel supply device 72, when the opening / closing lid 28 is opened, it is determined that the fuel is being filled, and the control circuit 46 determines whether or not the pressure drop detection system (both the pressure sensor 44 and the display device 48, or one of them). ) Is not activated. Thereby, it is prevented that the pressure drop in the fuel supply pipe 20 is notified in the process of filling the fuel.

  In particular, in the third embodiment, no particular condition is set for the relative magnitude relationship between the valve opening pressures of the first check valve 22 and the second check valve 38. Therefore, in the configuration in which the valve opening pressure of the first check valve 22 is set higher than the valve opening pressure of the second check valve 38, the first check valve 22 is opened after the second check valve 38 is opened. In some cases, the fuel that has flowed into the fuel supply pipe 20 at the time of fuel filling flows into the fuel tank 14 by opening the first check valve 22, and the pressure in the fuel supply pipe 20 may decrease. However, even in such a case, the pressure drop in the fuel supply pipe 20 is not notified.

  In the third embodiment, the example in which the opening / closing of the opening / closing lid 28 is detected to determine whether or not the fuel filling state is described has been described above. It is not limited to this.

  For example, a pressure sensor may be provided in the fuel filling pipe 18, and it may be determined that the fuel filling state is reached when the pressure in the fuel filling pipe 18 exceeds a predetermined value.

  Further, the pressure increase width of the fuel supply pipe 20 is detected by using the pressure sensor 44 (or a new pressure sensor may be installed), and when the pressure increase width exceeding the set range is detected, the fuel is filled. You may make it judge that it is in a state.

  Moreover, in 3rd embodiment, it is based on the structure substantially the same as the fuel supply apparatus 12 for vehicles of 1st embodiment. Although the example which provided the opening-and-closing sensor 74 etc. newly was given to this, the opening-and-closing sensor 74 etc. may be newly provided based on the fuel supply apparatus 62 for vehicles of 2nd embodiment.

It is a schematic structure figure showing the fuel supply device for vehicles of a first embodiment of the present invention. It is a block diagram which shows the control system of the fuel supply apparatus for vehicles of 1st embodiment of this invention. It is a schematic block diagram which shows the fuel supply apparatus for vehicles of 2nd embodiment of this invention. It is a schematic block diagram which shows the fuel supply apparatus for vehicles of 3rd embodiment of this invention. It is a block diagram which shows the control system of the fuel supply apparatus for vehicles of 3rd embodiment of this invention.

Explanation of symbols

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 12 Vehicle fuel supply apparatus 14 Fuel tank 16 Tank original valve 18 Fuel filling piping 20 Fuel supply piping 22 First check valve 24 Electromagnetic valve 26 Fuel filling port 28 Opening lid 30 Filling port check valve 32 Branch point 34 Branch piping 36 Junction point 38 Second check valve 40 Engine 42 Pressure reducing valve 44 Pressure sensor 46 Control circuit (control means)
48 Display device (notification means)
62 Vehicle Fuel Supply Device 72 Vehicle Fuel Supply Device 74 Open / Close Sensor

Claims (4)

A fuel tank in which fuel is stored;
A fuel supply pipe communicating the fuel tank and the engine;
A fuel filling pipe communicating with the fuel filling port and the fuel tank;
A branch pipe branched from the fuel filling pipe at a branch point set in the fuel filling pipe and connected to the supply pipe;
A first check valve which is provided in the fuel filling pipe between the distribution start point and the fuel tank and opens at a predetermined filling pressure applied from the filled fuel;
A second check valve that is provided in a piping path from the fuel filling port to the engine through the branch pipe and the fuel supply pipe, and opens at a predetermined filling pressure applied from the filled fuel;
Have
The vehicle fuel supply device, wherein a valve opening pressure of the first check valve is set lower than a valve opening pressure of the second check valve.   The vehicular fuel supply apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the second check valve is provided closer to the engine than the branch point. A pressure sensor provided in the fuel supply pipe for detecting the pressure of the fuel;
An informing means for informing that a pressure drop of a predetermined width or more is detected by the pressure sensor;
The vehicular fuel supply device according to claim 1, wherein the vehicular fuel supply device is provided. A fuel tank in which fuel is stored;
A fuel supply pipe communicating the fuel tank and the engine;
A fuel filling pipe communicating with the fuel filling port and the fuel tank;
A pressure sensor provided in the fuel supply pipe for detecting the pressure of the fuel;
An informing means for informing that a pressure drop of a predetermined width or more is detected by the pressure sensor;
Control means for controlling to stop the operation of at least one of the pressure sensor and the notification means in a state where fuel is filled from the fuel filling port;
A fuel supply device for vehicles, comprising:

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