JP2013104339A - Fuel supply device - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a fuel supply device that can prevent air intake from a fuel filter even when fuel in a fuel tank body is tilted relative to the fuel tank body.SOLUTION: A diaphragm valve 226 for opening and closing the end of a transfer pipe 34 is provided inside the fuel filter 16. A valve-closing pressure of the diaphragm valve 26 is set to be lower than a liquid film pressure for maintaining a liquid film in the fuel filter 16.

Description

  The present invention relates to a fuel supply device, and more particularly to a fuel supply device for supplying fuel in a fuel tank to an engine or the like.

  The fuel supply device that supplies the fuel in the fuel tank to an external device such as an engine is provided with a fuel filter in the fuel tank body, and the fuel from which foreign matters have been removed by the fuel filter is sent out from the fuel tank body to the outside. There is something like that. For example, Patent Document 1 describes a fuel supply device in which a tip portion of a fuel suction pipe is branched, a check valve is provided at each of the tip portions, and a suction filter is installed at an intake port of the check valve. The check valve is opened when the pressure head in the fuel tank acts on the upstream side.

  However, in the structure of Patent Document 1, when the fuel in the fuel tank is tilted, the check valve of the fuel filter positioned above the fuel liquid level is provided according to the height from the fuel liquid level to the fuel filter. Negative pressure acts. If this negative pressure exceeds the range in which the oil film on the surface of the fuel filter can be maintained, the oil film cannot be maintained, and gas may be sucked in.

JP 2010-236435 A

  In view of the above facts, the present invention has an object to obtain a fuel supply device capable of suppressing the suction of gas from the fuel filter even when the fuel in the fuel tank body is inclined.

  According to the first aspect of the present invention, a fuel tank main body for storing fuel and a fuel tank main body provided along the bottom surface of the fuel tank main body are formed in a bag shape to restrict the passage of foreign matters in the fuel when the fuel permeates into the inside. A plurality of fuel filters; a delivery pipe for delivering fuel from the inside of the fuel filter to the outside of the fuel tank; a connecting means for connecting the plurality of fuel filters so as to allow fuel transfer; and the fuel filter And a connection state between the connecting means and the non-communication state, and the differential pressure between the filter internal pressure in the fuel filter and the filter external pressure outside the fuel filter is within a predetermined value or less that can maintain the oil film on the fuel filter surface. Then, an open / close valve member that is in the communication state and in the non-communication state when the predetermined value is exceeded is provided.

  In this fuel supply device, the fuel can be filtered by the fuel filter. The filtered fuel in the fuel filter is sent to the outside of the fuel tank, for example, the engine or the like by the sending means. Moreover, since a plurality of fuel filters are provided, it becomes easier to realize a state in which any one of the fuel filters is immersed in the fuel, as compared with a configuration having only one fuel filter. The plurality of fuel filters are connected by connecting means, and the fuel can be transferred between the fuel filters.

  The open / close valve member can be switched between a communication state and a non-communication state of the fuel filter and the connecting means. The on-off valve member is in a communicating state when the differential pressure between the filter internal pressure and the filter external pressure is below a predetermined value that can maintain the oil film on the surface of the fuel filter, so that fuel can be transferred between the fuel filters through the connecting means. It is. On the other hand, when the differential pressure exceeds a predetermined value, a non-communication state is established. Since the predetermined value is a value that can maintain the oil film on the surface of the fuel filter, the fuel filter and the connecting means are disconnected from each other before the oil film is cut. Thereby, since the oil film of a fuel filter can be maintained, the suction | inhalation of the gas from a fuel filter can also be suppressed.

  According to a second aspect of the present invention, in the first aspect of the present invention, the on-off valve member has an internal pressure receiving surface that receives the internal pressure of the fuel filter and an external pressure receiving surface that receives the external pressure of the fuel filter. The connecting means is opened and closed by moving between the open position of the communication state and the closed position of the non-communication state by the differential pressure between the filter internal pressure received by the internal pressure receiving surface and the filter external pressure received by the external filter pressure receiving surface. It has a diaphragm valve.

  The on-off valve member receives the filter internal pressure at the filter internal pressure receiving surface and the filter external pressure at the filter external pressure receiving surface. And by these differential pressure | voltages, a connection means is opened and closed by starting between a valve opening position and a valve closing position, and a communication state and a non-communication state are switched. Since the diaphragm valve receives the filter internal pressure and the filter external pressure and moves between the valve open position and the valve close position, a mechanism for switching between a communication state and a non-communication state can be realized with a simple structure.

  According to a third aspect of the present invention, in the first aspect of the present invention, the on-off valve member includes a filter internal pressure sensor that detects the filter internal pressure, a filter external pressure sensor that detects the filter external pressure, and the filter internal pressure sensor. An electromagnetic valve that opens and closes the connecting means based on a differential pressure between the filter internal pressure detected by the filter and the filter external pressure detected by the filter external pressure sensor.

  Based on the differential pressure between the filter internal pressure detected by the filter internal pressure sensor and the filter external pressure detected by the filter external pressure sensor, the solenoid valve switches between the communication state and the non-communication state by opening and closing the transfer means. . Since the solenoid valve is used, the connecting means can be reliably opened and closed.

  Since the present invention has the above-described configuration, it is possible to suppress the suction of gas from the fuel filter even when the fuel in the fuel tank body is inclined.

It is a schematic block diagram which shows the fuel supply apparatus of 1st Embodiment of this invention. It is a schematic sectional drawing which expands and shows the fuel supply apparatus of 1st Embodiment of this invention partially. It is a schematic block diagram which shows the state in which the fuel inclined in the fuel supply apparatus of 1st Embodiment of this invention. It is sectional drawing which expands and shows the diaphragm valve used for the fuel supply apparatus of 1st Embodiment of this invention, and its vicinity, (A) is a valve opening state, (B) is a valve closing state. 6 is a graph qualitatively showing the relationship between the differential pressure acting on the fuel filter, the liquid film pressure of the fuel filter, and the valve closing pressure of the diaphragm valve in the fuel supply apparatus of the present invention. It is a schematic sectional drawing which expands partially and shows the fuel supply apparatus of 2nd Embodiment of this invention.

  FIG. 1 shows a schematic configuration of a fuel supply device 12 according to the first embodiment of the present invention. The fuel supply device 12 has a fuel tank body 14 in which fuel is accommodated. The fuel tank main body 14 of the present embodiment is formed in a hollow box shape, but a peak portion 14M that bulges upward from the central portion of the bottom wall 14S is formed, and the inside is a main chamber 14A and It has a structure (so-called vertical tank) partitioned into the sub chamber 14B.

  An inlet pipe (not shown) is connected near the corner of the upper surface 14U of the fuel tank body 14. Through this inlet pipe, fuel can be supplied into the fuel tank main body 14 (mainly the main chamber 14A).

  Inside the fuel tank main body 14, a plurality of sub tanks 15 disposed along the bottom wall 14 </ b> S of the fuel tank main body 14 are provided corresponding to the main chamber 14 </ b> A and the sub chamber 14 </ b> B. In the present embodiment, the number of sub tanks 15 is two in total, one for each of the main chamber 14A and the sub chamber 14B. Hereinafter, when the two sub tanks 15 are distinguished, the sub tank 15 on the main chamber 14A side is referred to as a first sub tank 15A, and the sub tank 15 on the sub chamber 14B side is referred to as a second sub tank 15B.

  The first sub tank 15A is provided with a fuel pump module 32. In this respect, the first sub tank 15A is different from the second sub tank 15B in which the fuel pump module 32 is not provided. Since the configuration is the same except for the presence or absence of the module 32, the configuration of the sub tank 15 will be described with reference to FIG.

  Each of the sub tanks 15 includes a fuel filter 16 and a storage member 18 disposed above the fuel filter 16.

  The fuel filter 16 has two filter cloths (an upper filter cloth 16U and a lower filter cloth 16L) arranged one above the other. In this embodiment, the upper filter cloth 16U and the lower filter cloth 16L are Two substantially identical shapes (for example, a polygonal shape such as a square shape, or a circular shape or an elliptical shape) may be used. In the upper filter cloth 16U and the lower filter cloth 16L, the outer peripheral portions thereof are joined by welding, adhesion, or the like, so that the fuel filter 16 having a flat rectangular parallelepiped shape as a whole is configured.

  And the space | interval maintenance member 52 is arrange | positioned between the upper side filter cloth 16U and the lower side filter cloth 16L, and the space for accommodating a fuel is between the upper side filter cloth 16U and the lower side filter cloth 16L. The fuel filter 16 is configured as a flat bag-like (closed curved surface).

  The upper filter cloth 16U and the lower filter cloth 16L allow the fuel to pass from the outside to the inside of the bag-like fuel filter 16, and at that time, foreign matters in the fuel are removed and the fuel filter 16 is filled with the fuel. Is made of a material (for example, a woven fabric, a non-woven fabric, a porous resin, a mesh-like member, or the like) having an effect of preventing foreign matter from flowing in.

  The fuel filter 16 can store the fuel GS that has passed through the upper filter cloth 16U or the lower filter cloth 16L in this manner. Further, as shown in FIG. 2, when at least a part of the fuel filter 16 is immersed in the fuel GS in the fuel tank body 14, a liquid film LM is formed on the surface of the fuel filter 16 by the fuel GS. Has been maintained.

  The fuel filter 16 (particularly the lower filter cloth 16L) is disposed so as to be substantially parallel along the bottom wall 14S of the fuel tank body 14, and the fuel flows into the fuel filter 16 through a gap with the bottom wall 14S. Can be made.

  As can be seen from FIG. 2, the upper filter cloth 16U and the lower filter cloth 16L are made of different materials. In particular, the pressure loss of the upper filter cloth 16U is larger than the pressure loss of the lower filter cloth 16L. These filter cloth materials are selected. The “pressure loss” referred to here is a pressure difference before and after passage when fuel passes through the upper filter cloth 16U or the lower filter cloth 16L (for example, when a fuel pump main body 42 described later is driven). Therefore, the lower filter cloth 16L is relatively easier to pass fuel than the upper filter cloth 16U. In the present embodiment, in order to provide a difference in pressure loss in this way, the upper filter cloth 16U has a structure in which the total area of the voids of the nonwoven fabric is smaller than that of the lower filter cloth 16L.

  The gap maintaining member 52 is arranged between the upper filter cloth 16U and the lower filter cloth 16L in the horizontal direction so as to be orthogonal to the horizontal bone pieces 56A and a plurality of horizontal bone pieces 56A arranged in the horizontal direction. And a plurality of longitudinal bone pieces 56B arranged in parallel to each other. These bone fragments are positioned between the upper filter cloth 16U and the lower filter cloth 16L, so that the upper filter cloth 16U and the lower filter cloth 16L are vertically moved in the portion where the bone fragments are present. Thus, the above-described space for containing fuel is formed.

  A communicating tube portion 56C to which the end of the transfer pipe 34 is connected is formed on the transverse bone piece 56A of the interval maintaining member 52.

  The sub tank 15 includes a sub tank upper member 15U positioned above the fuel filter 16, and a sub tank lower member 15L positioned below the fuel filter 16. The sub tank upper member 15U and the sub tank lower member 15L sandwich the outer peripheral portions of the upper filter cloth 16U and the lower filter cloth 16L in the vertical direction at the respective outer peripheral portions, and maintain the shape of the fuel filter 16. Strength is secured. Further, the fuel tank main body 14 can be stably disposed at a predetermined position (position along the bottom wall 14S).

  The sub tank upper member 15U has a vertical wall portion 20 located around the fuel filter 16 in plan view (viewed in the direction of arrow A in FIG. 2). The vertical wall portion 20 is formed in, for example, a flat cylindrical shape. From the upper end of the vertical wall part 20, the cover board part 22 is extended in the direction which goes to a center by planar view.

  In the present embodiment, the storage member 18 is configured by the vertical wall portion 20, the cover plate portion 22, and the upper filter cloth 16 U of the fuel filter 16. In other words, at least a part (all in this embodiment) of the bottom of the storage member 18 is configured by the upper filter cloth 16U. Fuel can be stored in the storage member 18 above the fuel filter 16.

  An inflow hole 24 penetrating the lid plate portion 22 in the thickness direction is formed at a substantially center of the lid plate portion 22. The fuel can flow into the storage member 18 through the inflow hole 24.

  As can be seen from FIG. 2, the inner dimension of the inflow hole 24 is made larger than the outer diameter of the transfer pipe 34. For this reason, the gap between the hole edge of the inflow hole 24 and the transfer pipe 34 is formed in a non-contact manner, and the fuel in the fuel tank main body 14 can flow into the storage member 18 through the inflow hole 24. Since the inflow hole 24 also serves as an insertion hole for inserting the transfer pipe 34, it is not necessary to form such an insertion hole again, and the structure is simplified.

  As shown in FIG. 1, the inside of the fuel filter 16 of the first sub tank 15 </ b> A and the inside of the fuel filter 16 of the second sub tank 15 </ b> B are communicated by a transfer pipe 34. A fuel pump module 32 is provided above the storage member 18 in the first sub tank 15A. The fuel pump module 32 has a fuel pump main body 42. In the present embodiment, the fuel pump main body 42 is supported above the first sub tank 15A by the bracket 42B.

  A fuel suction pipe 44 </ b> A extends from one side surface of the fuel pump main body 42. A fuel discharge pipe 44 </ b> B (see FIG. 1) extending upward from the other side surface of the fuel pump main body 42 extends to the outside of the fuel tank main body 14.

  The fuel suction pipe 44A is connected to the transfer pipe 34 at the connection portion 44C. Therefore, by driving the fuel pump main body 42, the fuel is sucked from the fuel filter 16 of the first sub tank 15A and the fuel filter 16 of the second sub tank 15B, and the engine (not shown) from the fuel discharge pipe 44B through the fuel pump main body 42. Can supply.

  As shown in FIG. 2, the sub-tank lower member 15L has a bottom plate portion 46 positioned below the lower filter cloth 16L. The bottom plate portion 46 is formed in a substantially lattice shape, and a plurality of insertion holes 48 penetrating in the thickness direction are formed. Through this insertion hole 48, the fuel GS in the fuel tank body 14 can flow into the fuel filter 16.

  Diaphragm valves 26A and 26B are provided in the fuel filters 16A and 16B, respectively. Since the diaphragm valves 26A and 26B have substantially the same configuration, the diaphragm valve 26B provided in the fuel filter 16B will be described as an example with reference to FIG. In the following description, the diaphragm valve 26 will be described when it is not necessary to distinguish the diaphragm valve.

  4A and 4B, a hole 16H is formed in the lower filter cloth 16L of the fuel filter 16 at a position facing the other end (communication tube portion 56C) of the transfer pipe 34. ing. An annular bracket 28 is attached to the hole 16H. Further, a diaphragm 36 constituting the diaphragm valve 26 is attached to the inside of the bracket 28. The diaphragm 36 is formed in a film shape that closes the hole 16H with a material (rubber, resin, etc.) having fuel resistance and flexibility (or elasticity). The bracket 28 may be formed integrally with the interval maintaining member 52.

  A valve body 38 is attached to the center of the diaphragm 36. The valve body 38 has an outer diameter that is larger than the inner diameter of the transfer pipe 34 (strictly speaking, the inner diameter of the communication cylinder portion 56 </ b> C communicating with the transfer pipe 34). Then, as the diaphragm 36 is deformed, as shown in FIG. 4 (A), the valve opening position HP separated from the lower end of the communication cylinder part 56C and the communication cylinder part 56C as shown in FIG. 4 (B). It moves between the valve closing position TP in contact with the lower end. When the valve main body 38 is at the valve opening position HP, the fuel filter 16 and the transfer pipe 34 are in a “communication state”. On the other hand, when the valve main body 38 is in the valve closing position TP, the fuel filter 16 and the transfer pipe 34 are in a “non-communication state” in which they do not communicate with each other.

  In the diaphragm valve 26, the surface located inside the fuel filter 16 is a filter pressure receiving surface 26N that receives the fuel filter internal pressure, and the surface located outside the fuel filter 16 is the filter outside pressure that receives the fuel filter external pressure. It becomes the surface 26G. A spring 40 is provided between the valve body 38 and the lateral bone piece 56A to urge the valve body 38 toward the valve opening position. The valve body 38 is moved between the valve opening position HP and the valve closing position TP by a differential pressure between the filter internal pressure received by the filter internal pressure receiving surface 26N and the filter external pressure received by the filter external pressure receiving surface 26G. The valve closing pressure is set to a predetermined value.

  In FIG. 5, the valve closing pressure CP of the diaphragm valve 26 is qualitatively shown in relation to the liquid film pressure MP in the fuel filter 16. A differential pressure ΔP between the filter internal pressure and the filter external pressure acts on the fuel filter 16. In the present embodiment, it is assumed that the filter internal pressure is lower than the filter external pressure.

  This differential pressure ΔP varies depending on the temperature in the fuel tank main body 14, the amount of fuel, and the like. Here, the liquid film pressure MP is an upper limit value of the differential pressure capable of maintaining the liquid film LM on the surface of the fuel filter 16. Therefore, when the differential pressure ΔP exceeds the liquid film pressure MP, the liquid film LM of the fuel filter 16 is cut. A negative pressure is generated in the fuel filter 16 by driving the fuel pump module 32. In FIG. 5, this negative pressure is displayed as PP.

  As can be seen from FIG. 5, the valve closing pressure CP of the diaphragm valve 26 is lower than the liquid film pressure MP of the fuel filter 16 and is lower than the negative pressure PP generated in the fuel filter 16 when the fuel pump module 32 is driven. It is set large. Therefore, as shown by the arrow P1, even when the negative pressure PP is generated in the fuel filter 16 by driving the fuel pump module 32, the diaphragm valve 26 is maintained at the valve opening position HP.

  Further, as indicated by an arrow P2, when the differential pressure ΔP is smaller than the valve closing pressure CP (smaller than the liquid film pressure MP), the diaphragm valve 26 is in the valve open position, and the fuel filter 16 and the transfer pipe communicate with each other. It becomes a state. In contrast, as indicated by the arrow P3, when the differential pressure ΔP increases, the valve closing pressure CP is reached before the liquid film pressure MP is reached, so that the diaphragm valve 26 reaches the valve closing position TP and is transferred to the fuel filter 16. The pipe 34 is not in communication. That is, when the differential pressure ΔP becomes larger than the liquid film pressure MP, the non-communication state between the fuel filter 16 and the transfer pipe 34 is reliably realized.

  Next, the operation of the fuel supply device 12 of this embodiment will be described.

  In the fuel tank main body 14, in any state of the first sub tank 15 </ b> A and the second sub tank 15 </ b> B, when the fuel GS is present at a liquid level higher than the inflow hole 24 of the storage member 18, the inflow hole 24. The fuel that has flowed in is stored in the storage member 18. In this state, fuel is also present in the fuel filter 16. In the fuel filters 16A and 16B, the differential pressure ΔP does not exceed the liquid film pressure MP, and both the diaphragm valves 26A and 26B are at the valve opening position HP (see FIG. 4A).

  Here, when the fuel pump module 32 is driven, the fuel GS in the fuel filter 16 of the first sub-tank 15A is sucked through the portion from the other end of the transfer pipe 34 to the connecting portion 44C and the fuel suction pipe 44A, and the fuel. It is sent to the outside (engine, etc.) through the discharge pipe 44B. Further, the fuel GS in the fuel filter of the second sub tank 15B is also sucked through the portion from the other end of the transfer pipe 34 to the connecting portion 44C and the fuel suction pipe 44A, and sent to the outside (engine or the like) through the fuel discharge pipe 44B. The

  By driving the fuel pump module 32, a negative pressure acts in the fuel filter 16. For this reason, a differential pressure ΔP is generated between the filter internal pressure of the fuel filter 16 and the filter external pressure. In the fuel supply device 12 of the present embodiment, the diaphragm valve 26 is provided at the end of the transfer pipe 34, but the valve closing pressure CP of the diaphragm valve 26 is used to drive the fuel pump module 32 as shown in FIG. It is set to a value larger than the resulting differential pressure ΔP (arrow P1). Therefore, when the fuel pump module 32 is driven, the diaphragm valve 26 does not carelessly move to the valve closing position (TP). Since the fuel filter 16 and the transfer pipe 34 are maintained in communication with each other, the fuel GS in the fuel filter 16 can be sent to the outside.

  Since the fuel GS exists in the vicinity of the fuel suction ports 34A and 34B in both the main chamber 14A and the sub chamber 14B (both the first sub tank 15A and the second sub tank 15B), only in one fuel suction port. It is possible to introduce the fuel GS into the transfer pipe 34 more reliably than when the fuel GS is present.

  Furthermore, it is possible to transfer the fuel by the transfer pipe 34 between the fuel filter 16 of the first sub tank 15A and the fuel filter 16 of the second sub tank 15B.

  In the first sub tank 15A and the second sub tank 15B, the fuel GS can flow into the fuel filter 16 through the upper filter cloth 16U and the lower filter cloth 16L. Further, the fuel GS in the fuel tank main body 14 flows into the storage member 18 through the inflow hole 24.

  Even when the amount of fuel in the fuel tank main body 14 is reduced, the fuel filter 16 can be used as long as at least one of the fuel filters 16 of the first sub tank 15A and the second sub tank 15B is immersed in the fuel GS. A liquid film LM made of the fuel GS is formed and maintained on the surface. In the present embodiment, since the fuel filter 16 is disposed along the bottom wall 14S of the fuel tank body 14, the fuel in the fuel tank body 14 is in contact with the fuel filter 16 (lower filter cloth 16L). It can be maintained more reliably.

  Here, in this embodiment, a case where the fuel in the fuel tank main body 14 is inclined (is unevenly distributed) is considered. For example, FIG. 3 shows a state in which the fuel tank main body 14 is inclined (unevenly distributed) on the left side of the drawing. In addition, as a factor in which the fuel GS is unevenly distributed in the fuel tank main body 14 in this way, there are an inclination of the fuel tank main body 14 due to the inclination of the vehicle, an acceleration due to turning or the like while the vehicle is traveling, and the like.

  At this time, since the position of the fuel liquid level is different between the side on which the fuel GS has moved (main chamber 14A side) and the opposite side (sub chamber 14B side), the fuel in the higher side (sub chamber 14B in this example) A negative pressure corresponding to the head height H1 acts on the fuel in the filter 16. That is, a differential pressure ΔP between the filter internal pressure and the filter external pressure acts. In this case, the differential pressure ΔP has a different value depending on the inclination angle of the fuel tank body 14, the acceleration at the time of turning of the vehicle, and the like.

  As indicated by an arrow P2 in FIG. 5, in the state where the differential pressure ΔP is smaller than the valve closing pressure CP, the diaphragm valve 26 maintains the valve opening position HP. Therefore, since the fuel filter 16 and the transfer pipe 34 are maintained in a communicating state, the fuel GS in the fuel filter 16 can be sent to the outside.

  On the other hand, as shown by an arrow P3 in FIG. 5, when the differential pressure ΔP exceeds the liquid film pressure MP, the state in which the fuel filter 16 is immersed in the fuel GS is maintained on the main chamber 14A side. However, on the opposite side (sub chamber 14B side), the fuel GS may be separated from the fuel filter 16 due to the negative pressure described above, and the liquid film LM on the surface of the fuel filter 16 may be cut off.

  However, in the fuel supply device of this embodiment, the valve closing pressure CP of the diaphragm valve 26 is set lower than the liquid film pressure MP. Therefore, the diaphragm valve 26 moves to the valve closing position TP before the above-described differential pressure ΔP reaches the liquid film pressure MP. In other words, the diaphragm valve 26 has moved to the valve closing position TP with the differential pressure ΔP exceeding the liquid film pressure MP.

  Thereby, since the fuel filter 16B and the transfer piping 34 will be in a non-communication state, the attraction | suction of the gas through the fuel filter 16B can be suppressed. Even in this state, since the fuel filter 16A is immersed in the fuel GS and the liquid film LM on the surface is also maintained, the fuel in the fuel filter 16A can be sent to the outside by driving the fuel pump module 32. Is possible.

  In particular, when the fuel pump module 32 is driven in this state, the negative pressure from the fuel pump module 32 also acts in the fuel filter 16. Therefore, as indicated by an arrow P4 in FIG. 5, the differential pressure ΔP of the fuel filter 16 is the sum of the differential pressure due to the head difference ΔH (arrow P3) and the differential pressure due to driving of the fuel pump module 32 (arrow P1). Therefore, the liquid film LM of the fuel filter 16 is easily cut off in the process of increasing the differential pressure ΔP.

  However, in the fuel supply device 12 of the present embodiment, even in this state, the diaphragm valve 26 moves to the valve closing position TP before the differential pressure ΔP reaches the liquid film pressure MP. Since the fuel filter 16B and the transfer pipe 34 are in a non-communication state, gas suction through the fuel filter 16B can be suppressed. Even in this state, since the fuel filter 16A is immersed in the fuel GS and the liquid film LM on the surface is also maintained, the fuel in the fuel filter 16A can be sent to the outside by driving the fuel pump module 32. Is possible.

  In the present embodiment, it is assumed that there is no fuel GS in the fuel tank body 14. For example, immediately after the automobile is manufactured in the manufacturing factory, the fuel GS is not in the fuel tank main body 14 in this way. The fuel supply to the fuel tank main body 14 in this state is hereinafter referred to as “initial fuel supply”.

  During this initial refueling, the filter internal pressure and the filter external pressure of the fuel filter 16 are substantially equal, so the diaphragm valve 26 is in the valve open position. For this reason, when the fuel level rises in the fuel tank main body 14 (the main chamber 14A and the sub chamber 14B) at the time of initial refueling, the fuel GS flows into the transfer pipe 34 from the fuel filter 16, and therefore exists in the transfer pipe 34. The discharged gas can be discharged (so-called “bleed air”).

  In the above, the case where the fuel in the fuel tank body 14 is tilted to the left in FIG. 3 is taken as an example, but even when the fuel is tilted to the right, the behavior of the diaphragm valve 26 in the left and right fuel tanks 16 is switched, The same effect as described above is achieved.

  FIG. 6 shows a partially enlarged fuel supply device 72 according to the second embodiment of the present invention. In the second embodiment, the overall configuration of the fuel supply device 72 is the same as that of the first embodiment, and thus illustration thereof is omitted. Moreover, in 2nd Embodiment, the same code | symbol is attached | subjected about the same component, member, etc. as 1st Embodiment, and detailed description is abbreviate | omitted.

  In the fuel supply device 72 of the second embodiment, an electromagnetic valve 76 is used instead of the diaphragm valve 26 of the first embodiment. The solenoid valve 76 moves between a valve closing position TP (indicated by a two-dot chain line) that contacts the end of the communicating cylinder portion 56C and a valve opening position HP (indicated by a solid line) that is separated from the end. 78 and an actuator 80 for driving the valve body 78. The actuator 80 is driven by the control device 86.

  Further, a filter internal pressure sensor 82 is provided in the fuel filter 16. The filter internal pressure data detected by the filter internal pressure sensor 82 is sent to the control device 86. The fuel tank body 14 is provided with a filter external pressure sensor 84, and the detected filter external pressure (tank internal pressure) is also sent to the control device 86. As the filter external pressure sensor 84, a tank internal pressure sensor that is provided in the fuel tank main body 14 (see FIG. 1) and detects the tank internal pressure can be used.

  The fuel supply device of the second embodiment configured as described above also has the same effects as the fuel supply device 12 of the first embodiment.

  In particular, in the second embodiment, the control device 86 maintains the valve body 78 at the valve open position HP in the normal state, but when the differential pressure ΔP between the filter internal pressure and the filter external pressure increases, the liquid film of the fuel filter 16 Before reaching the liquid film pressure MP of LM, the valve body 78 is moved to the valve closing position TP. As a result, the fuel filter 16 and the transfer pipe 34 are not in communication with each other, so that gas suction through the fuel filter 16 can be suppressed.

  In the second embodiment, as can be seen from FIG. 6, the lower portion of the communication tube portion 56C is curved at a substantially right angle, and the valve body 78 is in the horizontal direction (the direction along the bottom wall 14S of the fuel tank body 14). By moving to, the valve opening position HP and the valve closing position TP are switched. Thereby, compared with the structure which the valve main body 78 moves to the perpendicular direction (direction along the bottom wall 14S of the fuel tank main body 14), the thickness of the fuel filter 16 is suppressed.

  In the above, the diaphragm valve 26 and the electromagnetic valve 76 are illustrated as the on-off valve member of the present invention, but in short, if the communication state and the non-communication state of the fuel filter 16 and the transfer pipe 34 can be switched, The on-off valve member is not limited to these.

  In addition, although the example in which the on-off valve member is provided at the end of the transfer pipe 34 (in the above example, the end of the communication cylinder 56C) is given, for example, the open / close valve member is provided inside the transfer pipe 34, for example. May be. However, if an on-off valve member is provided inside the transfer pipe 34, the cross-sectional area of the transfer pipe 34 is locally reduced by the on-off valve member even when the valve is open, and the pressure loss increases. On the other hand, if an open / close valve member is provided at the end of the transfer pipe 34 (outside the transfer pipe 34) as in the above example, the pressure loss of the transfer pipe 34 does not increase.

  In the on-off valve member of the present invention (in the above example, the diaphragm valve 26 and the electromagnetic valve 76), the differential pressure ΔP (the valve closing pressure in the case of the diaphragm valve 26) is a critical value that moves from the valve opening position HP to the valve closing position TP. CP) is preferably increased as much as possible if the condition that it is smaller than the liquid film pressure MP is satisfied. That is, if this critical value (valve closing pressure CP) is set low, the open / close valve member is closed early when the differential pressure ΔP rises, although there is room before the liquid film LM is cut off. It will be. In the range where the liquid film LM is not cut off, the above-mentioned critical value can be increased within a range smaller than the liquid film pressure MP from the viewpoint of maintaining the on-off valve member in the valve open position and enabling fuel supply to the outside. preferable.

  In the above, the fuel suction pipe 44A is connected to the transfer pipe 34 at the connection portion 44C, and the fuel suction pipe 44A substantially serves as part of the delivery means and part of the connection means in the present invention. It is said. The present invention is not limited to this, and the delivery pipe (fuel suction pipe 44A) and the connecting means (transfer pipe 34) may be independent.

12 Fuel Supply Device 14 Fuel Tank Body 16 Fuel Filter 26 Diaphragm Valve (Open / Close Valve Member)
26N Pressure receiving surface in filter 26G Pressure receiving surface outside filter 34 Transfer piping (connecting means)
44A Fuel suction piping (sending piping)
72 Fuel Supply Device 76 Solenoid Valve (Open / Close Valve Member)
GS Fuel LM Liquid film

Claims (3)

A fuel tank body for containing fuel;
A plurality of fuel filters that are provided along the bottom surface of the fuel tank body, are formed in a bag shape, and restrict passage of foreign matters in the fuel when the fuel permeates into the inside,
A delivery pipe for delivering fuel from the inside of the fuel filter to the outside of the fuel tank;
A connecting means for connecting the plurality of fuel filters so as to enable fuel transfer; and
A predetermined value that can switch between a communication state and a non-communication state between the fuel filter and the connecting means, and a differential pressure between the filter internal pressure inside the fuel filter and the filter external pressure outside the fuel filter can maintain the oil film on the surface of the fuel filter. In the following range, the on-off valve member that is in the communication state and the non-communication state when the predetermined value is exceeded,
A fuel supply device. The on-off valve member is
A pressure-receiving surface inside the filter that receives the pressure inside the fuel filter and a pressure-receiving surface outside the filter that receives the external pressure of the fuel filter, and the communication is performed by a differential pressure between the filter internal pressure received by the filter internal pressure receiving surface and the filter external pressure received by the filter external pressure receiving surface. 3. The fuel supply device according to claim 1, further comprising a diaphragm valve that moves between a valve opening position that is in a state and a valve closing position that is in a non-communication state to open and close the connecting means. The on-off valve member is
A filter internal pressure sensor for detecting the filter internal pressure;
A filter external pressure sensor for detecting the filter external pressure;
An electromagnetic valve that opens and closes the connecting means based on a differential pressure between the filter internal pressure detected by the filter internal pressure sensor and the filter external pressure detected by the filter external pressure sensor;
The fuel supply device according to claim 1, comprising: