JP2010138882A - Metal ion removing device - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To suppress an increase in pressure loss in a metal ion removing device 1 disposed in a fuel flow passage that removes metal ions in fuel. <P>SOLUTION: The metal ion removing device 1 includes a plurality of fibrous molded bodies 57 comprising active polymer as the material for catching the metal ions. The fibrous molded bodies 57 are stored in a fuel hose 65 between a low pressure supply pump and a fuel filter, for example, and are fixed so that their longitudinal direction substantially matches the fuel flowing direction, The fibrous molded bodies 57 can freely drift inside the fuel hose 65 accompanying passage of the fuel, so that the fuel can pass the metal ion removing device 1 without the occurrence of large pressure loss. Therefore, an increase in pressure loss in the metal ion removing device 1 can be suppressed. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2010,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to a metal ion removing apparatus that removes metal ions contained in a fuel.

  Conventionally, a fuel supplied to an internal combustion engine or the like contains trace amounts of metal ions such as Na and K as impurities, and a fatty acid such as oleic acid as a lubricant. For this reason, in the fuel, a salt reaction may occur between these metal ions and the fatty acid, and a fatty acid metal salt may be generated. Since the fatty acid metal salt is generally insoluble in fuel, for example, the fatty acid metal salt may deposit on the sliding portion of the injector and cause malfunction.

  Therefore, a technique in which a metal ion removing means for removing metal ions is arranged in a fuel flow path from a fuel tank to an injector is known (for example, see Patent Documents 1 and 2). According to Patent Document 1, the metal ion removing means is, for example, a packed bed filled with active particles that capture metal ions such as a chelate resin or activated carbon, and the fuel passes through the packed bed to form metal. Ions are removed. According to Patent Document 2, the metal ion removing means is, for example, a chelate resin member layer (chelate resin layer) disposed between the filter media of the fuel filter, and the fuel passes through the chelate resin layer. To remove the metal ions.

By the way, such a packed bed of active particles and a chelate resin layer increase the pressure loss of fuel and increase the load of a pressure source such as a pump. Thus, there is a demand for a structure capable of suppressing an increase in pressure loss with respect to the metal ion removing means disposed in the fuel flow path.
JP 2006-105092 A 3-59012

  The present invention has been made to solve the above-described problems, and an object of the present invention is to suppress an increase in pressure loss in a metal ion removal apparatus that is disposed in a fuel flow path and removes metal ions in fuel. The object is to provide such a structure.

[Means of Claim 1]
The metal ion removing device according to claim 1 is for removing metal ions contained in the fuel, and includes one or a plurality of fibrous molded bodies made of an active polymer that captures metal ions. The fibrous molded body is housed in any part of the fuel flow path from the fuel tank to the internal combustion engine, and at least one end on the upstream side so that its own longitudinal direction and the fuel flow direction substantially coincide with each other. Is fixed.

  Thus, the fibrous shaped body can freely float in the fuel flow path as the fuel passes, so that the fuel can pass through the metal ion removing device without causing a large pressure loss. For this reason, the increase in the pressure loss in a metal ion removal apparatus can be suppressed.

[Means of claim 2]
The metal ion removing device according to a second aspect includes a holding body that holds one end of the fibrous formed body, and a case that forms a space for storing the holding body.
This means shows one form of fixing one end of the fibrous molded body.

[Means of claim 3]
According to the metal ion removing device of the third aspect, the holding body forms a fuel passage through which fuel passes in a direction substantially coincident with the longitudinal direction of the fibrous shaped body.
Thereby, the pressure loss in the holder itself can be reduced.

[Means of claim 4]
According to a fourth aspect of the present invention, the metal ion removing device is provided with higher elasticity than the holding body, includes an elastic portion that is snap-fit coupled to the holding body, and an elastic portion is accommodated together with the holding body in a space formed by the case. The
Thereby, a fibrous molded object can be mounted | worn easily or removed.

[Means of claim 5]
According to the metal ion removing device of the fifth aspect, the fibrous molded body is a replaceable part.
As a result, when the metal ion removal ability of the fibrous molded body is reduced, the fibrous molded body in use can be exchanged with a new fibrous molded body, thus preventing a decrease in the performance of the metal ion removal device. can do.

  The metal ion removing apparatus of the best mode 1 is for removing metal ions contained in a fuel, and includes one or a plurality of fibrous molded bodies made of an active polymer that captures metal ions. The fibrous molded body is housed in any part of the fuel flow path from the fuel tank to the internal combustion engine, and at least one end on the upstream side so that its own longitudinal direction and the fuel flow direction substantially coincide with each other. Is fixed.

In addition, the metal ion removing device includes a holding body that holds one end of the fibrous formed body, and a case that forms a space for storing the holding body.
Furthermore, this metal ion removing device is provided with higher elasticity than the holding body, and includes an elastic portion that is snap-fit coupled to the holding body, and the elastic portion is accommodated together with the holding body in a space formed by the case.
The fibrous molded body is a replaceable part.

  According to the best mode 2 metal ion removing apparatus, the holding body forms a fuel passage through which fuel passes in a direction substantially coincident with the longitudinal direction of the fibrous shaped body.

[Configuration of Example 1]
The structure of the metal ion removal apparatus 1 of Example 1 is demonstrated based on drawing.
The metal ion removing apparatus 1 removes metal ions from fuel injected and supplied to an internal combustion engine (not shown) of a vehicle. For example, as shown in FIG. 1, a low-pressure supply pump 2 and a fuel filter 3 Built into the fuel piping between. The metal ion removing device 1 constitutes a part of a pressure accumulation type fuel injection device 5 that injects fuel accumulated in a high pressure state via a common rail 4 to an internal combustion engine.

  The fuel injection device 5 increases the pressure of the electric low-pressure supply pump 2 that pumps fuel from the fuel tank 6, the fuel filter 3 that removes foreign matters contained in the fuel, and the fuel supplied from the low-pressure supply pump 2. A high-pressure supply pump 8 for discharging, a common rail 4 as a pressure accumulating container for accumulating fuel discharged from the high-pressure supply pump 8 in a high-pressure state, and each cylinder of the internal combustion engine, each receiving a distribution of fuel from the common rail 4 The injector 9 for injecting fuel into the cylinder and the detection signals indicating the operating state of the internal combustion engine from the various sensors are received, and the operations of the low-pressure and high-pressure supply pumps 2 and 8 and the injector 9 are performed based on these detection signals. It has a known structure including an electronic control device (hereinafter referred to as ECU) 10 that controls the motor.

  Here, for example, as shown in FIG. 2, the injector 9 has a needle valve 14 that opens and closes the nozzle hole 13, and a nozzle 15 that injects fuel by the operation of the needle valve 14, and a command from the ECU 10, An actuator 16 that generates a driving force for operating the needle valve 14, a fuel inlet 17, and an outlet 18. The nozzle 15 and the actuator 16 are respectively connected to a main body 19 that is mounted on the front end side and the rear end side. It has a well-known structure.

  The nozzle 15 includes a guide hole 24 for supporting and accommodating the needle valve 14 slidably in the axial direction, a sac chamber 25 provided on the tip side of the guide hole 24, and the sac chamber 25 and the outside of the nozzle 15. And a nozzle hole 13 communicating with the. The guide hole 24 and the sac chamber 25 are tapered to form a tapered surface, and this tapered surface forms a seat surface 26 on which the tip of the needle valve 14 is attached and detached.

  Further, the needle valve 14 has a slide shaft portion 28 at the rear end, and the slide shaft portion 28 is accommodated in the guide hole 24 on the rear end side and is slidably supported. A portion on the tip side forms a nozzle chamber 29 into which high-pressure fuel received from the common rail 4 is introduced, between the inner peripheral wall of the guide hole 24. The needle valve 14 is provided with a seat portion 30 that is attached to and detached from the seat surface 26, and the seat portion 30 is attached to and detached from the seat surface 26. The gap is opened and closed, and fuel injection is started or stopped.

  The nozzle chamber 29 is connected to a high-pressure channel 32 through which high-pressure fuel received from the common rail 4 passes, and high-pressure fuel is introduced through the high-pressure channel 32. Further, the fuel pressure in the nozzle chamber 29 always acts on the needle valve 14 in the direction of opening the nozzle hole 13.

  The actuator 16 is energized and stopped according to a command from the ECU 10, the armature 35 is driven in the axial direction when energization is started or stopped, and the armature 35 is held at the tip of the armature 35. At the same time, a valve body 37 that opens and closes the back pressure chamber 36 by axial displacement and a sliding shaft portion of the armature 35 is slidably supported to stabilize the axial displacement of the valve body 37, the armature 35, and The valve body 37 has a restoring spring 39. Then, the actuator 16 drives the needle valve 14 in the axial direction by operating the back pressure acting on the needle valve 14 by displacing the valve body 37 in the axial direction.

  Here, the command piston 43 is in contact with the rear end of the needle valve 14, and the back pressure at which the fuel that applies back pressure to the needle valve 14 flows in and out of the command piston 43 via the command piston 43. A chamber 36 is formed. The back pressure chamber 36 is always in communication with the high pressure channel 32 via the inlet orifice 44 and is opened and closed between the low pressure channel 46 by the valve element 37 via the outlet orifice 45.

  That is, the actuator 16 operates the back pressure by opening and closing between the back pressure chamber 36 and the low pressure flow path 46 by the valve body 37. The low-pressure channel 46 is a channel through which fuel returned from the nozzle 15 without being injected from the nozzle 15 passes through the fuel received from the common rail 4. The inlet and outlet orifices 44 and 45 are provided on an orifice plate 47 that forms the rear end side of the back pressure chamber 36. The outlet orifice 45 is an inlet orifice when the valve element 37 is opened. It is provided so that the flow rate of the fuel is larger than 44.

  The main body 19 is provided with a guide hole 50 for supporting and accommodating the command piston 43 so as to be slidable in the axial direction, and the high-pressure and low-pressure channels 32 and 46 are respectively a fuel inlet and an outlet of the inlet 17. 18 fuel return ports are provided.

  Further, the command piston 43 has a slide shaft portion 51 at the rear end portion, and the slide shaft portion 51 is accommodated in the guide hole 50 on the rear end side and is slidably supported. A portion on the distal end side forms a low pressure chamber 52 that receives fuel leaked from the nozzle chamber 29 and the back pressure chamber 36 between the inner peripheral wall of the guide hole 50. The low pressure chamber 52 is provided so as to communicate with the low pressure passage 46, and the fuel in the low pressure chamber 52 is returned to the fuel tank 6 through the low pressure passage 46. The low pressure chamber 52 accommodates a needle valve 14 and a restoring spring 53 for the command piston 43.

  With the above configuration, when energization of the solenoid coil 34 is started, the armature 35 and the valve body 37 are displaced to the rear end side, and the outflow of fuel from the back pressure chamber 36 to the low pressure flow path 46 starts, and the back pressure is increased. descend. For this reason, the resultant axial force acting on the needle valve 14 becomes stronger in the direction of opening the nozzle hole 13, the needle valve 14 is displaced to the rear end side to open the nozzle hole 13, and fuel injection is started. The

  When the energization of the solenoid coil 34 is stopped, the armature 35 and the valve body 37 are displaced to the distal end side, the flow of fuel from the back pressure chamber 36 to the low pressure passage 46 stops, and the back from the high pressure passage 32 is stopped. The back pressure rises due to the inflow of fuel into the pressure chamber 36. For this reason, the resultant axial force acting on the needle valve 14 becomes stronger in the direction of closing the nozzle hole 13, the needle valve 14 is displaced to the tip side and closes the nozzle hole 13, and fuel injection is stopped. .

  As described above, in the injector 9, various sliding portions and the like important for the injection start and stop operations (for example, the sliding shaft portion 28 and the seat portion 30 of the needle valve 14, the sliding shaft portion of the command piston 43). 51, and a sliding shaft portion of the armature 35). And when fatty acid metal salt deposits on these sliding parts etc., there exists a possibility of causing the malfunction of the injector 9. FIG.

  That is, the fuel supplied to the internal combustion engine contains trace amounts of metal ions such as Na and K as impurities, and a fatty acid such as oleic acid as a lubricant. For this reason, in the fuel, a salt reaction may occur between these metal ions and the fatty acid, and a fatty acid metal salt may be generated. Since the fatty acid metal salt is generally insoluble in fuel, it may be deposited on the sliding portion of the injector 9 and cause malfunction.

  Therefore, according to the fuel injection device 5, the metal ion removing device 1 is incorporated in the fuel pipe 55 between the low pressure supply pump 2 and the fuel filter 3, and metal ions are positively removed from the fuel (FIG. 1).

  As shown in FIG. 3, the metal ion removing device 1 includes a plurality of fibrous molded bodies 57 made of an active polymer that captures metal ions, and two pieces that hold the upstream and downstream ends of the fibrous molded body 57. A spherical holding body 58, a plate 60 having elastic claws 59 snap-fitted to the holding body 58, and a case 62 that forms a space 61 for housing the holding body 58 and the plate 60 are provided.

  Here, the end portion of the fibrous molded body 57 is welded to the surface of the holding body 58 and held by the holding body 58, and the longitudinal direction of the fuel pipe 55 is substantially aligned with the fuel flow direction. A part of the fuel hose 65 is accommodated. Moreover, the active polymer used as the raw material of the fibrous molded body 57 is a substance that can capture metal ions, such as an ion exchange resin or a chelate resin. The fibrous shaped body 57 may be a knitting yarn or a monofilament.

  The plate 60 is provided in a disc shape, and a receiving hole 67 in which the holding body 58 is accommodated is provided in the center, and elastic claws 59 are provided on the periphery of the receiving hole 67 at equal angular intervals. The elastic claw 59 is provided with higher elasticity than the holding body 58 and is snap-fit coupled to the holding body 58. Further, on the outer peripheral side of the accommodation hole 67, a flow path hole 68 is provided for allowing fuel to pass between both surfaces of the plate 60. The holding body 58 and the plate 60 are made of, for example, a material having oil resistance among thermoplastic resins such as polyamide, polyester, or polyolefin.

  The case 62 is constituted by fastening two parts 70 with bolts 71 and nuts 72, and is connected to the upstream end and the downstream end of the fuel hose 65 one by one and fixed by a clamp 73 (FIG. 1 ( b), see FIG. The part 70 has a flange portion 74 and a pipe portion 75, and the flange portion 74 is provided with a half of one side of the space 61 communicating with the inside of the pipe portion 75 and a through hole 76 through which the shaft portion of the bolt 71 passes. Yes.

  The flange portions 74 are face-to-face with each other to form a space 61. Further, the plate 60 is fixed by the fastening force of the bolt 71 and the nut 72 via the gasket 77 and is accommodated in the space 61. The gasket 77 is disposed on the outer peripheral edges of both surfaces of the plate 60.

  Here, the integral 79 of the fibrous molded body 57 and the holding body 58 is a replaceable part. That is, when the ability to remove metal ions of the fibrous shaped body 57 is lowered, the integrated object 79 in use and the new integrated object 79 can be exchanged.

[Effect of Example 1]
The metal ion removing apparatus 1 of Example 1 includes a plurality of fibrous shaped bodies 57 made of an active polymer that captures metal ions. The fibrous molded body 57 is accommodated in a fuel hose 65 between the low pressure supply pump 2 and the fuel filter 3 and is fixed so that its longitudinal direction and the fuel flow direction substantially coincide with each other. Yes.
As a result, the fibrous molded body 57 can freely float in the fuel hose 65 as the fuel passes, so that the fuel can pass through the metal ion removing device 1 without causing a large pressure loss. it can. For this reason, the increase in the pressure loss in the metal ion removal apparatus 1 can be suppressed.

Further, the metal ion removing device 1 is welded to the upstream and downstream ends of the fibrous molded body 57, and includes two holding bodies 58 that form an integrated object 79 together with the fibrous molded body 57, and each holding body 58 and snap. Two plates 60 having elastic claws 59 to be fit-coupled, and a case 62 forming a space 61 for accommodating the holding body 58 and the plate 60 (see FIG. 3C).
Thereby, the integrated object 79 can be easily mounted or removed by snap-fit coupling.

The integrated object 79 is a replaceable part.
Thereby, when the metal ion removal capability of the fibrous molded body 57 is reduced, the integrated object 79 in use and the new integrated object 79 can be exchanged, so that the performance of the metal ion removing device 1 is reduced. Can be blocked.

[Example 2]
According to the metal ion removing apparatus 1 of the second embodiment, as shown in FIG. 4, the holding body 58 includes a disc portion 81 having a predetermined thickness and a plurality of blades 82 extending radially from the outer periphery of the disc portion 81. The elastic claws 59 are snap-fit coupled to the holding body 58 by locking the blades 82.

Further, a region sandwiched between two blades 82 adjacent in the circumferential direction is a fuel passage 83, and the fuel passage 83 is formed so as to pass fuel in a direction substantially coincident with the longitudinal direction of the fibrous shaped body 57. Yes.
With such a configuration, in the metal ion removing device 1 of the second embodiment, the pressure loss in the holding body 58 itself is reduced.

[Modification]
According to the metal ion removing apparatus 1 of Examples 1 and 2, the fibrous shaped body 57 was a plurality of knitting yarns or monofilaments, but one knitting yarn or monofilament or the like was used as the fibrous shaped body 57. May be.
Further, according to the metal ion removing device 1 of Examples 1 and 2, the fibrous molded body 57 was accommodated in the fuel hose 65 that is a fuel flow path between the low pressure supply pump 2 and the fuel filter 3. However, for example, the fibrous molded body 57 may be accommodated in the fuel flow path between the fuel filter 3 and the high-pressure supply pump 8.

  Further, according to the metal ion removing device 1 of Examples 1 and 2, the fibrous molded body 57 has both the upstream and downstream ends fixed, but only the upstream end is fixed and the downstream end is not restrained. May be.

  Further, according to the metal ion removing device 1 of the first and second embodiments, the fibrous molded body 57 is welded to the surface of the holding body 58, and further, the elastic claw 59 is fixed to the holding body 58 by snap-fit coupling. However, the structure for fixing the fibrous molded body 57 is not limited to this mode. For example, the end of the fibrous molded body 57 may be fixed to a predetermined part, or the end of the fibrous molded body 57 may be sandwiched and sandwiched between two members.

  Further, the structure of the holding body 58, the structure of the plate 60, the structure of the case 62, and the like are not limited to the modes of the first and second embodiments, and the mode of the fuel passage 83 is also limited to the mode of the second embodiment. is not.

  Further, according to the fuel injection device 5 having the metal ion removing device 1 of the first and second embodiments, the injector 9 is mounted for each cylinder of the internal combustion engine, receives fuel distribution from the common rail 4 and receives fuel in each cylinder. However, the configuration of the fuel injection device 5 is not limited to this mode. For example, the injector 9 may be arranged in the intake pipe, fuel may be injected into the intake pipe to form an air-fuel mixture, and this air-fuel mixture may be supplied to the internal combustion engine.

(A) is a block diagram of a fuel-injection apparatus, (b) is a block diagram which shows the position of a metal ion removal apparatus (Example 1). It is a block diagram of an injector (Example 1). (A) is a fragmentary sectional view which shows a metal ion removal apparatus, (b) is a top view of a plate, (c) is a block diagram which shows the integrated object of a fibrous molded object and a holding body (implementation) Example 1). (A) is a top view of a holding body, (b) is a block diagram which shows the integrated object of a fibrous molded object and a holding body (Example 2).

Explanation of symbols

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Metal ion removal apparatus 6 Fuel tank 57 Fibrous molded body 58 Holding body 59 Elastic nail (elastic part)
61 Space 62 Case 83 Fuel passage

Claims (5)

In a metal ion removing apparatus for removing metal ions contained in fuel,
Comprising one or more fibrous shaped bodies made of an active polymer that captures metal ions,
The fibrous molded body is accommodated in any part of the fuel flow path from the fuel tank to the internal combustion engine, and at least one end on the upstream side so that the longitudinal direction of the fiber and the flow direction of the fuel substantially coincide with each other. A metal ion removing apparatus characterized by being fixed. The metal ion removing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein
A holding body for holding one end of the fibrous molded body;
A metal ion removing apparatus comprising a case for forming a space for accommodating the holding body. The metal ion removing apparatus according to claim 2,
The metal ion removing apparatus, wherein the holding body forms a fuel passage through which fuel passes in a direction substantially coincident with a longitudinal direction of the fibrous shaped body. In the metal ion removal apparatus according to claim 2 or 3,
Provided with higher elasticity than the holding body, comprising an elastic part that snap-fit to the holding body;
In the space formed by the case, the elastic part is accommodated together with the holding body. In the metal ion removal apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 4,
The metal ion removing apparatus, wherein the fibrous molded body is a replaceable part.

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