JP2009214803A - Fuel tank device - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a fuel tank device having a simple structure capable of suppressing any careless automatic stop when feeding oil and preventing the flow of the fed fuel from being impaired. <P>SOLUTION: An expanded part 32 is provided in an intermediate part of a breather pipe 26. An upper end of a breather pipe lower part 28 is passed through a lower side of the expanded part 32 and extends to reach an intermediate part in the vertical direction in the expanded part 32, and an extension part 28L is constituted in a gas liquid separator 34. Since the expanded part 32 is brought into contact with an inlet pipe 16, the heat of evaporated fuel is easily transferred from the expanded part 32 to the inlet pipe 16, and the evaporated fuel can be effectively cooled. The amount of the evaporated fuel to be sucked in a negative pressure introducing pipe 24 of an oil feed gun 20 is also decreased, and any careless automatic stop mechanism of an oil supply device can be suppressed. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2009,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to a fuel tank apparatus.

  In order to suppress the release of evaporated fuel during refueling to the fuel tank body, the fuel tank body and the inlet pipe are connected by a breather pipe, the evaporated fuel is cooled and liquefied with the fuel being refueled, and the fuel is refueled together with the refueled fuel. Some tanks are made to return to the tank body. For example, in Patent Document 1, an opening is formed at the tip of the second evaporative fuel passage (breather pipe), and this tip is connected to the fuel supply pipe downstream of the outlet of the fuel gun inserted into the fuel supply pipe. Thus, the evaporated fuel flowing out from the opening is liquefied by the fuel supply fuel, and recirculated into the fuel tank together with the fuel supply fuel.

By the way, in general, a negative pressure introduction pipe is provided inside the refueling gun, and when the negative pressure introduction pipe is closed with liquid fuel in a full tank state, refueling is stopped (so-called auto stop). ). When the fuel temperature in the fuel tank body is high, etc., if the vaporized fuel sent from the breather pipe to the inlet pipe is insufficiently liquefied, the vaporized fuel will be liquefied in the negative pressure introduction pipe. Although it is not, it may cause auto-stop. In order to cool and liquefy the evaporated fuel more reliably, for example, it is conceivable that the breather pipe has a double pipe structure through the inside of the inlet pipe, but this leads to a complicated structure and a substantial effect of the inlet pipe. The opening cross-sectional area becomes small and the flow of the fuel supply fuel is obstructed.
JP-A-8-189424

  In view of the above facts, an object of the present invention is to obtain a fuel tank device having a simple structure, capable of suppressing an inadvertent auto-stop at the time of refueling, and not impeding the flow of fuel.

  According to the first aspect of the present invention, a fuel tank main body in which fuel is stored, an inlet pipe connected to the fuel tank main body, and the fuel tank main body and the inlet pipe which are provided outside the inlet pipe communicate with each other. A breather pipe for sending the evaporated fuel in the fuel tank body into the inlet pipe, and the breather pipe in contact with the inlet pipe, and conducting the heat of the evaporated fuel in the breather pipe to the inlet pipe to evaporate the fuel. And cooling means for cooling.

  In this fuel tank apparatus, fuel is supplied into the fuel tank main body through the inlet pipe, and the evaporated fuel in the fuel tank main body being supplied is sent into the inlet pipe by the breather pipe.

  The breather pipe is provided with cooling means that comes into contact with the inlet pipe, and the heat of the evaporated fuel in the breather pipe is conducted to the inlet pipe, thereby effectively cooling the evaporated fuel. A part of the evaporated fuel is liquefied by cooling. For this reason, the temperature of the evaporated fuel sent into the inlet pipe is lowered and the amount thereof is reduced, so that liquefied fuel can be prevented from being liquefied in the negative pressure introduction pipe of the fuel gun, and inadvertent auto-stop during fueling is also possible. Can be suppressed.

  In addition, the evaporative fuel is effectively cooled by arranging the cooling means in contact with the inlet pipe, and a special device for cooling is not required, so that the structure is simple. In addition, since the breather pipe is provided outside the inlet pipe, the structure is simple in this respect. Since the opening cross-sectional area of the inlet pipe is not reduced, the flow of the fuel supply fuel is not hindered.

  According to a second aspect of the present invention, in the first aspect of the present invention, the liquefying means includes a diameter-enlarged portion that locally expands the inlet pipe, and a portion closer to the fuel tank body than the diameter-expanded portion. And an extended portion in which the breather pipe positioned is extended into the enlarged diameter portion.

  Therefore, the evaporated fuel in the fuel tank main body reaches the enlarged diameter portion from the breather pipe and is liquefied here. Since the breather pipe is provided with the extending portion, the liquefied fuel can be stored in the enlarged diameter portion up to the height of the extending portion.

  The invention according to claim 3 is characterized in that, in the invention according to claim 2, a communication hole is formed in the extension part for allowing the liquid fuel in the enlarged diameter part to flow into the extension part. .

  Therefore, the liquefied fuel in the enlarged diameter portion can be caused to flow into the extending portion through the communication hole, and further returned from the breather pipe to the fuel tank body.

  Since the present invention is configured as described above, a fuel tank device can be obtained that has a simple structure, can suppress an inadvertent auto-stop during refueling, and does not hinder the flow of fuel oil.

  FIG. 1 shows a fuel tank device 12 according to a first embodiment of the present invention. The fuel tank device 12 has a substantially box-shaped fuel tank main body 14 in which fuel is accommodated. A lower portion of the inlet pipe 16 is inserted into the upper portion of one side surface 14S of the fuel tank main body 14 (the inclined surface 14K that forms a boundary portion with the upper surface 14T). An opening portion at the upper end of the inlet pipe 16 serves as a fuel gun insertion port 18, and a fuel gun 20 (see FIG. 2) of the fueling device is inserted to supply fuel to the fuel tank body 14. A fuel cap (not shown) is screwed into the fuel supply gun insertion port 18 so as to be closed.

  As shown in detail in FIG. 2, the fuel gun 20 is provided with a cylindrical negative pressure introduction pipe 24 on the inner side of a cylindrical fuel gun body 22 for fueling. When the negative pressure introduction pipe 24 is closed with the liquid fuel, the auto-stop mechanism of the fueling device works to stop the fueling. For example, when the fuel tank body 14 is full, the fuel level rises in the inlet pipe 16 and the negative pressure introduction pipe 24 is closed with liquid fuel, so that the fuel supply from the fuel supply device is automatically stopped.

  As shown in FIG. 1, the lower end of the breather pipe 26 is connected to the inclined surface 14 </ b> K of the fuel tank body 14 above the inlet pipe 16. The upper end of the breather pipe 26 is connected to the upper part of the inlet pipe 16. The connection position of the upper end of the breather pipe 26 is a position closer to the fuel tank body 14 than the tip of the fuel gun 20 inserted into the inlet pipe 16.

  The breather pipe 26 is divided into an upper part and a lower part in the middle part, and a breather pipe lower part 28 and a breather pipe upper part 30 are configured. Further, as shown in detail in FIG. 3, an enlarged diameter portion 32 having an inner diameter larger than these is provided between the breather pipe lower portion 28 and the breather pipe upper portion 30. The breather pipe 26 is substantially formed outside the inlet pipe 16 as a whole by the breather pipe lower portion 28, the breather pipe upper portion 30 and the enlarged diameter portion 32.

  As can be seen from FIG. 1, the enlarged diameter portion 32 is disposed in contact with the inlet pipe 16, and heat can be effectively conducted from the enlarged diameter portion 32 to the inlet pipe 16. In particular, when evaporative fuel is present in the enlarged diameter portion 32, the heat of the evaporated fuel is conducted from the enlarged diameter portion 32 through the inlet pipe 16 to the fuel oil in the inlet pipe 16, thereby expanding the fuel. The fuel vapor in the diameter portion 32 can be cooled (partially liquefied). Hereinafter, the term “liquefied fuel” refers to a fuel that has been liquefied by cooling the evaporated fuel within the enlarged diameter portion 32.

  As shown in FIG. 3, the upper end of the breather pipe lower portion 28 extends through the lower portion of the enlarged diameter portion 32 so as to reach an intermediate portion in the vertical direction in the enlarged diameter portion 32, and the extended portion 28 </ b> L is It is configured. Therefore, the liquid fuel in the enlarged diameter portion 32 is stored until the liquid level reaches the upper end of the extending portion 28L. That is, the storable amount of evaporated fuel in the enlarged diameter portion 32 is determined by the height of the extending portion 28L. And the gas-liquid separator 34 which is the liquefying means based on this invention is comprised by the enlarged diameter part 32 and the extension part 28L.

  A communication hole 36 that communicates the outside and the inside of the extension part 28L is formed in the lower part of the extension part 28L, and the liquefied fuel in the enlarged diameter part 32 moves into the extension part 28L through the communication hole 36. It is supposed to be. The opening cross-sectional area of the communication hole 36 has a predetermined size so that the flow rate of the vaporized fuel rising from the fuel tank body 14 is not affected when the liquefied fuel flows down the breather pipe lower portion 28. It is said.

  Next, the operation of this embodiment will be described.

  In a state where the fuel gun 20 is inserted into the inlet pipe 16 and the fuel is supplied, the fuel level LL in the fuel tank body 14 rises, so that a part of the evaporated fuel in the fuel tank body 14 enters the breather pipe 26. Inflow. In particular, when the outside air temperature during vehicle travel is high, the temperature in the fuel tank main body 14 is also high, and the amount of evaporated fuel generated in the fuel tank main body 14 also increases.

  Here, assuming a fuel tank device having a structure that does not have the gas-liquid separator 34 (the enlarged diameter portion 32 and the extending portion 28L) as in the present embodiment, the evaporated fuel generated in the fuel tank body is the breather. It flows directly into the top of the inlet pipe through the pipe. For this reason, when a large amount of evaporated fuel is sucked into the negative pressure introduction pipe 24, it is cooled and liquefied by the fuel supply in the negative pressure introduction pipe 24, closing the negative pressure introduction pipe 24. It is assumed that the situation will end. That is, although the fuel tank main body 14 is not full, the auto-stop mechanism of the fueling device works carelessly and fueling is stopped.

  On the other hand, in the present embodiment, the evaporated fuel in the fuel tank main body 14 reaches the enlarged diameter portion 32 from the breather pipe lower portion 28 and is cooled. In particular, the enlarged diameter portion 32 is in contact with the inlet pipe 16, and fuel oil flows down in the inlet pipe 16, so that the heat of the evaporated fuel is easily transferred from the enlarged diameter portion 32 to the inlet pipe 16. . That is, the effect of cooling the evaporated fuel is enhanced as compared with a configuration in which a part of the breather pipe 26 is not in contact with the inlet pipe 16. In addition, since a special device for cooling a part of the breather pipe 26 is not required, a simple structure is sufficient.

  Since a part of the evaporated fuel is liquefied by cooling, the amount of the evaporated fuel flowing above the enlarged diameter portion 32, that is, the upper part 30 of the breather pipe, is smaller than when the evaporated fuel is not liquefied. Moreover, the temperature of the evaporated fuel in the breather pipe upper part 30 also becomes low. For this reason, the amount of evaporated fuel sucked into the negative pressure introduction pipe 24 is reduced, and a situation where the fuel is blocked by the evaporated fuel liquefied in the negative pressure introduction pipe 24 can be suppressed. As a result, it is possible to suppress a situation in which the auto-stop mechanism of the fueling device works carelessly even though the fuel tank body 14 is not full.

  In addition, the fuel liquefied by the gas-liquid separator 34 (expanded diameter portion 32) is temporarily stored in the expanded diameter portion 32 until the liquid level reaches the upper end of the extending portion 28L. The liquefied fuel moves from the communication hole 36 into the extension portion 28 </ b> L, flows down the breather pipe lower portion 28, and returns to the fuel tank body 14. In the configuration in which the liquefied fuel immediately flows down the breather pipe lower portion 28, the substantial opening cross-sectional area of the breather pipe lower portion 28 is narrowed by the liquefied fuel, but the flow of the evaporated fuel rising from the fuel tank body 14 is not affected. An opening cross-sectional area is ensured to the extent.

  Moreover, in this embodiment, the breather pipe 26 is disposed outside the inlet pipe 16. In the configuration in which the breather pipe 26 is disposed inside the inlet pipe 16 to form a double pipe, the substantial opening cross-sectional area of the inlet pipe 16 is small, but in this embodiment, the opening cross-sectional area of the inlet pipe 16 is small. In addition, the structure becomes simple.

  FIG. 4 shows a fuel tank apparatus 40 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.

  As shown in detail in FIG. 5, in the second embodiment, compared to the first embodiment, the enlarged diameter portion 42 constituting the gas-liquid separator 44 has a shape surrounding the inlet pipe 16. The enlarged diameter portion 42 has a double tube structure. Moreover, the enlarged diameter part 42 of 2nd Embodiment is formed longer in the up-down direction than the enlarged diameter part 32 of 1st Embodiment.

  Even in the second embodiment configured as described above, the same operational effects as in the first embodiment can be obtained. In particular, in the second embodiment, the evaporated fuel in the enlarged diameter portion 42 is larger than that in the first embodiment. The area in contact with the inlet pipe 16 is increased. Therefore, a higher cooling / liquefaction effect can be obtained.

  Moreover, in 1st Embodiment, in the part in which the enlarged diameter part 32 was formed, the diameter which combined this enlarged diameter part 32 and the inlet pipe 16 (in fact, since two pipes are paralleled, the diameter of these pipes) In the second embodiment, the diameter of the portion where the enlarged portion 42 is formed is the diameter of the enlarged portion 42 itself, and the diameter of the entire pipe is the first embodiment. It becomes smaller than the form. For this reason, the freedom degree of mounting in a vehicle becomes high.

  On the other hand, in the first embodiment, since it is not necessary to have a double tube structure, it is more advantageous than the second embodiment in terms of simplification of the structure and ease of manufacture. Therefore, in consideration of these, the structure of either the first embodiment or the second embodiment may be adopted.

It is a front view showing roughly the whole fuel tank device composition of a 1st embodiment of the present invention. It is explanatory drawing expanded and shown in the vicinity of the fueling gun in the middle of fuel supply in the fuel tank apparatus of 1st Embodiment of this invention. It is explanatory drawing which expands and shows a gas-liquid separator and its vicinity in the fuel tank apparatus of 1st Embodiment of this invention. It is a front view which shows roughly the whole structure of the fuel tank apparatus of 2nd Embodiment of this invention. It is explanatory drawing which expands and shows a gas-liquid separator and its vicinity in the fuel tank apparatus of 2nd Embodiment of this invention.

Explanation of symbols

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 12 Fuel tank apparatus 14 Fuel tank main body 14T Upper surface 14S Side surface 14K Inclined surface 16 Inlet pipe 18 Refueling gun insertion port 20 Refueling gun 22 Refueling gun main body 24 Negative pressure introduction pipe 26 Breather pipe 28 Breather pipe lower part 28L Extension part 30 Breather pipe upper part 32 Expanded diameter portion 34 Gas-liquid separator (cooling means)
36 Communication hole 42 Expanded portion 44 Gas-liquid separator

Claims (3)

A fuel tank body in which fuel is stored;
An inlet pipe connected to the fuel tank body;
A breather pipe that is provided outside the inlet pipe, communicates the fuel tank body and the inlet pipe, and sends the evaporated fuel in the fuel tank body into the inlet pipe;
A cooling means that is provided in the breather pipe in contact with the inlet pipe, and conducts heat of the evaporated fuel in the breather pipe to the inlet pipe to cool the evaporated fuel;
A fuel tank apparatus comprising: The liquefaction means is
A diameter-expanded portion that locally expands the inlet pipe;
An extension part that extends the breather pipe located on the fuel tank main body side relative to the enlarged diameter part into the enlarged diameter part;
The fuel tank device according to claim 1, comprising:   The fuel tank apparatus according to claim 2, wherein a communication hole is formed in the extension part to allow liquid fuel in the enlarged diameter part to flow into the extension part.

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