JP2019162907A - Fuel supply structure - Google Patents

Abstract

To prevent overflow of a fuel from an oil supply port.SOLUTION: A fuel supply structure (1) includes: an inlet pipe (4) forming a circulation passage of a liquid fuel between an oil supply port (3) and a fuel tank (2); a fuel inlet (5) connecting the oil supply port to the inlet pipe and forming a part of the circulation passage; and a breather pipe (6) connecting the fuel tank to the fuel inlet. The fuel inlet has: a cylindrical part (50) which forms a part of the circulation passage and with which one end side of the inlet pipe is connected; and a connection port (52) with which one end side of the breather pipe is connected. An inner diameter of the connection port is smaller than an inner diameter of the inlet pipe and is contracted at a part thereof.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 4

Description

  The present invention relates to a fuel supply structure.

  Conventionally, for example, the following structure exists as a structure for preventing scattering of fuel splashes generated when fuel is supplied to a fuel tank (see Patent Document 1). The fuel supply unit structure described in Patent Document 1 includes a filler pipe that guides fuel supplied from a fuel supply nozzle to a fuel tank. A cylindrical restrictor that prevents insertion of a fueling nozzle other than a predetermined fueling nozzle is inserted and fixed to the nozzle insertion portion (fueling port) on the opening side of the filler pipe. An air flow path is formed by a predetermined gap between the outer peripheral surface on the distal end side of the restrictor and the inner peripheral surface of the nozzle insertion portion.

  In addition, a breather pipe for discharging air from the fuel tank is connected to the nozzle insertion portion. The breather pipe is formed to have a smaller diameter than the filler pipe, and its connection port (exhaust port) faces the outer peripheral surface of the restrictor (opposite). For this reason, the fuel splash in the air discharged | emitted from an exhaust port via a breather pipe from a fuel tank can collide with the outer peripheral surface of a restrictor, and can be dropped downstream. As a result, it is possible to prevent fuel splashes from scattering from the filler port of the filler pipe.

JP 2011-20646 A

  By the way, a sensor for detecting the position of the fuel level is generally provided at the tip of the fueling nozzle. When the liquid level of the supplied fuel is detected by the sensor, the fuel pump provided on the upstream side of the fuel nozzle is stopped, and the fuel supply by the fuel nozzle is stopped.

  In Patent Document 1, although the fuel droplets in the air can be prevented from scattering, the sensor cannot detect the liquid level of the rising fuel to the last minute, and in some cases, the fuel overflows from the fuel filler port. There is a fear.

  This invention is made | formed in view of the point which concerns, and it aims at providing the fuel supply structure which can prevent that a fuel overflows from a fuel filler opening.

  A fuel supply structure according to an aspect of the present invention includes an inlet pipe that forms a flow path of liquid fuel between a fuel supply port and a fuel tank, and a part of the flow path by connecting the fuel supply port and the inlet pipe. And a breather pipe that connects the fuel tank and the fuel inlet. The fuel inlet forms a part of the flow path and is connected to one end of the inlet pipe. And a first connection part to which one end side of the breather pipe is connected, and the inner diameter of the first connection part is smaller than the inner diameter of the inlet pipe, and is partially restricted. And

  According to the present invention, it is possible to prevent the fuel from overflowing from the fuel filler opening.

It is a perspective view which shows schematic structure of the fuel supply structure which concerns on this Embodiment. It is a perspective view which shows schematic structure of the fuel supply structure which concerns on this Embodiment. It is the top view which expanded a part of fuel supply structure concerning this embodiment. It is sectional drawing which follows the AA line of FIG.

  Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings. In the following, an example in which the present invention is applied to a fuel tank of an internal combustion engine for a vehicle will be described, but the application target can be changed without being limited thereto. For example, the fuel supply structure according to the present invention may be applied to a fuel tank of another internal combustion engine or the like. Regarding the direction, the front of the vehicle is indicated by an arrow FR, the rear of the vehicle is indicated by an arrow RE, the left side of the vehicle is indicated by an arrow L, and the right side of the vehicle is indicated by an arrow R. In the following drawings, a part of the configuration is omitted for convenience of explanation.

  With reference to FIG.1 and FIG.2, schematic structure of the fuel supply structure which concerns on this Embodiment is demonstrated. 1 and 2 are perspective views showing a schematic configuration of a fuel supply structure according to the present embodiment.

  As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, the fuel supply structure 1 according to the present embodiment includes a fuel tank 2 for storing liquid fuel, a fuel filler port 3 into which a fuel filler nozzle 7 (see FIG. 4) is inserted, a fuel An inlet pipe 4 that forms a flow path of liquid fuel between the tank 2 and the fuel filler port 3; and a fuel inlet 5 that connects the fuel filler port 3 and the inlet pipe 4 to form a part of the flow path. Consists of.

  The fuel tank 2 is formed in a box shape with synthetic resin, metal, or the like, and has a substantially rectangular parallelepiped shape. In the fuel tank 2, for example, gasoline is stored as liquid fuel. The liquid fuel is not limited to gasoline but may be other liquid fuel such as light oil. A connection port 20 for the inlet pipe 4 is provided on the front left side of the fuel tank 2. Further, on the front right side of the fuel tank 2, a connection port 21 (a second connection portion described later) of the inlet breather pipe 6 described later is provided.

  On the upper surface of the fuel tank 2, the left rear portion is partially recessed, and a circular opening 22 is formed on the upper surface of the recessed portion. A fuel pump (not shown) (not shown) is attached to the circular opening 22. Further, on the upper surface of the fuel tank 2, a fuel tank breather device 23 provided with a pressure regulating valve that is connected to a canister (not shown) and adjusts the internal pressure in the fuel tank 2 is provided on the rear right side portion.

  The fuel filler port 3 has, for example, an annular shape into which a fuel nozzle 7 provided in a gas station can be inserted, and can be opened and closed by a cap 30. Further, the fuel filler 3 is disposed right above the front left corner of the fuel tank 2, and the upper surface of the cap 30 is directed rearward and upward.

  The inlet pipe 4 protrudes obliquely upward and forward from the connection port 20, and is bent and extends upward in the vertical direction. The upper end portion of the inlet pipe 4 is bent slightly rearward and upward and is connected to the fuel filler port 3 via the fuel inlet 5.

  The fuel inlet 5 is formed of a molded product made of, for example, a synthetic resin. As will be described in detail later, one end of the fuel inlet 5 is connected to the fuel filler port 3 and the inlet pipe 4 is connected to the other end. An inlet breather pipe 6 extending from the fuel tank 2 is connected to the fuel inlet 5. The inlet breather pipe 6 serves to discharge air in the fuel tank 2 and replace it with liquid fuel when refueling.

  Next, the fuel supply structure according to the present embodiment, that is, the detailed structure of the fuel inlet will be described with reference to FIGS. FIG. 3 is an enlarged top view of a part of the fuel supply structure according to the present embodiment. 4 is a cross-sectional view taken along line AA in FIG.

  As shown in FIGS. 3 and 4, the fuel inlet 5 has a cylindrical portion 50 that forms a part of the flow path of the liquid fuel. The cylindrical portion 50 has a cylindrical shape that is sufficiently larger than the outer diameter of the oil supply nozzle 7, and an upstream end that is one end side is directed upward, and a downstream end that is the other end side is directed downward.

  An attachment portion 51 for attaching the fuel filler 3 is formed on one end side of the tubular portion 50. The mounting portion 51 has a shape corresponding to the fuel filler port 3 and is specifically formed in a bottomed cylindrical basin shape whose diameter is increased in the radial direction with respect to the cylindrical portion 50. The upstream end (upper end) of the cylindrical portion 50 slightly protrudes above the bottom surface portion of the attachment portion 51. The upstream end of the cylindrical portion 50 is located at a position (height) lower than the upper end of the outer edge portion constituting the cylindrical portion of the attachment portion 51.

  A cylindrical connection port 52 (first connection portion) to which one end side of the inlet breather pipe 6 is connected is formed on the side surface of the cylindrical portion 50. The connection port 52 is formed so as to protrude outward from the side surface of the tubular portion 50, and the axial direction of the tubular portion 50 and the axial direction of the connection port 52 are orthogonal to each other. Further, the connection port 52 is directed forward and upward with respect to the tubular portion 50. Further, the inner diameter of the connection port 52 is set to be sufficiently smaller than the inner diameters of the cylindrical portion 50 and the inlet pipe 4 and is partially reduced. More specifically, on the proximal end side of the connection port 52, a cylindrical throttle portion 53 having a diameter reduced with respect to the distal end side (the inlet breather pipe 6 side) is formed. By the narrowed portion 53, the inner diameter (inner surface) of the connection port 52 is formed so as to be reduced in a step shape from the distal end side toward the proximal end side. In addition, it is preferable that the inner diameter of the throttle portion 53 is set to such an extent that the original function of the inlet breather pipe 6 is not impaired.

  Incidentally, a sensor (not shown) for detecting the liquid level position of the liquid fuel is generally provided at the tip of the fuel supply nozzle 7. In FIG. 4, the tip of the oil supply nozzle 7 is inserted to the vicinity of the downstream end of the cylindrical portion 50. When the liquid level of the supplied liquid fuel is detected by the sensor, a fuel pump (not shown) connected to the upstream side of the fuel nozzle 7 is stopped, and fuel supply by the fuel nozzle 7 is stopped. In this case, the liquid level position cannot be detected until the liquid level of the liquid fuel rising in the fuel tank 2 and the inlet pipe 4 reaches the detection range of the sensor (until the tip of the fuel supply nozzle 7 touches the liquid level). . Therefore, the liquid fuel may overflow from the fuel filler opening depending on the length of the fuel filler nozzle 7 and the momentum of the fuel supply.

  Therefore, the present inventor has conceived the present invention by focusing on the fact that bubbles are generated in the liquid fuel by mixing the liquid fuel flowing into the fuel tank 2 and the air when refueling. Specifically, in the present embodiment, in the fuel inlet 5 connected to the upstream side of the inlet pipe 4, a connection port 52 for connecting the inlet breather pipe 6 is formed on the side surface of the cylindrical portion 50. It was set as the structure which restrict | squeezes a part of internal diameter.

  Normally, the inlet breather pipe 6 is provided for discharging the air in the fuel tank 2, but in the present embodiment, by narrowing a part of the inner diameter of the connection port 52 of the inlet breather pipe 6, The air in the fuel tank 2 is intentionally suppressed from flowing into the inlet breather pipe 6. That is, it is difficult for the air in the fuel tank 2 to flow into the inlet breather pipe 6.

  In this case, the air accumulated in the fuel tank 2 is pushed out by the liquid fuel flowing into the fuel tank 2 from the fuel filler nozzle 7 during refueling. As described above, the air in the fuel tank 2 is difficult to flow to the inlet breather pipe 6, and therefore tends to flow to the fuel inlet 5 side (fuel supply nozzle 7 side) via the inlet pipe 4.

  At this time, the liquid fuel supplied from the fueling nozzle 7 and the air in the fuel tank 2 flowing toward the fueling nozzle 7 are mixed to promote stirring. As a result, the liquid fuel is easily bubbled, and the bubble-like liquid fuel accumulates at a position higher than the actual liquid level. Thereby, it is possible for the sensor to react at a relatively early stage when the foam-like liquid fuel comes into contact with the tip of the fuel supply nozzle 7. That is, it is possible to determine the stoppage of fuel supply at an early stage at a position higher than the actual liquid level by detecting the bubble-like liquid fuel with the sensor. Therefore, it is possible to prevent liquid fuel from overflowing from the fuel filler opening 3.

  In the above embodiment, the fuel inlet 5 is connected to the fuel tank 2 via the inlet pipe 4, but the present invention is not limited to this configuration. The fuel inlet 5 may be directly connected to the fuel tank 2.

  Moreover, in the said embodiment, although it was set as the structure by which the fuel filler opening 3 is arrange | positioned right above the fuel tank 2, it is not limited to this structure. The positional relationship between the fuel filler 3 and the fuel tank 2 and the direction of the fuel filler 3 can be appropriately changed.

  Moreover, in the said embodiment, the connection port 52 is formed in the cylindrical part 50 as a 1st connection part to which the one end side of the inlet breather pipe 6 is connected, The throttle part 53 which restrict | squeezes a part of internal diameter to the said connection port 52 is provided. Although the structure is formed, the present invention is not limited to this structure. For example, a throttle portion may be formed at the connection port 21 (second connection portion) of the fuel tank 2 to which the other end side of the inlet breather pipe 6 is connected. In this case, the inner diameter of the connection port 52 (the inner diameter of the throttle portion 53) is preferably smaller than the inner diameter of the connection port 21 (the inner diameter of the throttle portion). By reducing the diameter of the throttle portion as it goes downstream of the inlet breather pipe 6, it is possible to improve the agitation of air and liquid fuel without impairing the original function of the inlet breather pipe 6. Further, a part of the inlet breather pipe 6 may be throttled by forming a throttle part at least partly in the middle of the inlet breather pipe 6. Also by this, it is possible to obtain the same effect as the above.

  Moreover, in the said embodiment, although it was set as the structure formed so that the internal diameter of the connection port 52 may be reduced in a step shape as it goes to a base end side from a front end side, it is not limited to this structure. The inner diameter of the connection port 52 may be reduced in a tapered shape from the distal end side toward the proximal end side.

  Moreover, although this Embodiment and the modified example were demonstrated, what combined the said embodiment and modified example entirely or partially as another embodiment of this invention may be sufficient.

  The embodiments of the present invention are not limited to the above-described embodiments, and various changes, substitutions, and modifications may be made without departing from the spirit of the technical idea of the present invention. Furthermore, if the technical idea of the present invention can be realized in another way by technological advancement or other derived technology, the method may be used. Accordingly, the claims cover all embodiments that can be included within the scope of the technical idea of the present invention.

  As described above, the present invention has an effect that the fuel can be prevented from overflowing from the fuel filler port, and is particularly useful for a fuel supply structure applicable to an internal combustion engine for a vehicle.

1: Fuel supply structure 2: Fuel tank 3: Filling port 4: Inlet pipe 5: Fuel inlet 6: Inlet breather pipe (breather pipe)
7: Refueling nozzle 20: Connection port 21: Connection port (second connection part)
22: Circular opening 23: Fuel tank breather device 30: Cap 50: Cylindrical part 51: Mounting part 52: Connection port (first connection part)
53: Aperture section

Claims (4)

An inlet pipe that forms a liquid fuel flow path between the fuel filler port and the fuel tank;
A fuel inlet that connects the fuel filler port and the inlet pipe to form a part of the flow path;
A breather pipe connecting the fuel tank and the fuel inlet;
The fuel inlet is
A cylindrical part that forms part of the flow path and to which one end of the inlet pipe is connected,
A first connecting portion to which one end side of the breather pipe is connected;
The fuel supply structure according to claim 1, wherein an inner diameter of the first connection portion is smaller than an inner diameter of the inlet pipe and is partially restricted.   2. The fuel supply structure according to claim 1, wherein the first connection portion is formed to protrude outward from a side surface of the cylindrical portion. The fuel tank has a second connecting portion to which the other end of the breather pipe is connected;
The fuel supply structure according to claim 1, wherein an inner diameter of the first connection portion is smaller than an inner diameter of the second connection portion.   The fuel supply structure according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein at least a part of the breather pipe is restricted in the middle of the breather pipe.

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