JP2690497B2 - Fuel transfer device - Google Patents

Description

Description: BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a fuel transfer device, and more particularly to a fuel transfer device for transferring fuel from a saddle type fuel tank having a plurality of recesses formed therein.

2. Description of the Related Art Conventional vehicle fuel tanks are made of metal or synthetic resin. With the improvement of synthetic resin molding technology, the recently developed resin fuel tank has many practical advantages from various viewpoints such as effective use of space, weight reduction, rust prevention and cost reduction, and it will be further spread in the future. Is expected.

It is particularly difficult to secure a sufficient space for arranging the fuel tank to be mounted on the vehicle body in a passenger vehicle that requires a large number of parts to be mounted in a limited space while securing a room space as large as possible. In order to form the vehicle body shape according to the intended design, the fuel tank needs to straddle the drive system components or the exhaust system components, and therefore, a saddle type fuel tank has been developed.

Compared to metal tanks, resin raw fuel tanks can be seamlessly molded, have a high degree of freedom in shape selection, and can effectively utilize space. Focusing on these points, 19
Considered in the United States in the 1960s. Currently, the number of applications is increasing mainly in Europe and America. For example, “Nissan Giho” No. 23, which was issued in December 1987, discloses that a saddle type fuel tank was developed to develop a new vehicle model. This publication presents some unique technical problems with saddle type fuel tanks and discloses the need for new technologies other than fuel tanks to solve these problems. For example, in a fuel transfer system for a saddle type fuel tank, due to the specific shape of the tank, it is required to employ a jet pump and a correction level detecting device for a level measuring system.

DISCLOSURE OF THE INVENTION Problems to be Solved by the Invention In the saddle type fuel tank, since a plurality of recesses are formed in the fuel tank, it is necessary to provide a fuel transfer device capable of completely consuming the fuel in the fuel tank without any remaining amount. For example, as shown in FIG. 6, a saddle type fuel tank 10
Has a first recess 11 and a second recess 12. The first recess 11 and the second recess 12 are connected by an upper connecting portion 13. A pipe 15 provided with an in-tank pump (pump provided in the tank) 14 in the first recess 11 is connected to an engine (not shown). Excess fuel from the engine is connected from the pipe 16 to the nozzle portion 18 of the jet pump 17. Around the nozzle portion 18, a throat portion 20 connected to a pipe 19 extending to the second recess 12 is connected. The throat portion 20 surrounds the nozzle portion 18.

In the above structure, the fuel in the first recess 11 formed in the saddle type fuel tank 10 is supplied to the engine by the in-tank pump 14. Further, the fuel in the second recess 12 is
When the excess fuel from the engine passes through the pipe 16 and is ejected from the nozzle portion 18 into the throat portion 20, it is sucked by the Venturi effect and transferred into the first recess 11.

The above-mentioned fuel recirculation method is a new technique for transferring the fuel remaining in one recess in the fuel tank to the other recess by the jet pump. An in-tank pump is provided in the other recess, and the fuel is transferred to the engine by the in-tank pump in the other recess. This technique is excellent in that it is not necessary to separately add a pump and a pump control device in addition to the in-tank pump. In such a saddle type fuel tank fuel transfer device, the negative pressure generated when the surplus fuel is recirculated to the engine is used, and therefore it is suitable for a gasoline vehicle with a large amount of surplus fuel from the engine. However, a diesel vehicle with a small amount of surplus fuel has a drawback that the jet pump 17 cannot be used.

Therefore, an object of the present invention is to provide a fuel transfer device capable of transferring fuel into the fuel tank even when the amount of surplus fuel from the engine is small.

Means for Solving the Problems In the fuel transfer device according to the present invention, the first recess (11) and the second recess (1) formed in the saddle type fuel tank (10).
2) The first non-return valve (31) and the second non-return valve (32) are arranged in the inside, respectively, and suction is carried out from the first non-return valve (31) and the second non-return valve (32). Connected fuel to the same fuel transfer pipe (56), and when the amount of fuel in the second recess (12) decreases below a certain level, the second check valve (3
2) is automatically closed, and the second check valve (32) is automatically opened as the fuel increases. The first check valve (31) abuts on a valve seat (39) having a hole (38) communicating with the fuel in the first recess (11) and the hole (38) of the valve seat (39). The valve body (40) includes a valve body (40) and an elastic body (42) that presses the valve body (39). The second check valve (32) is arranged above the valve seat (49) having the hole (48) and the hole (48) of the valve seat (49), and is buoyant by the fuel in the fuel tank (10). And a float valve body (50) to which is added. The second check valve (32) is connected to the fuel transfer pipe (56) by a pipe (55), and the fuel transfer pipe (56) is provided with a pump (57).

Action When the amount of fuel in the second recess (12) decreases below a certain level, the hole (48) of the second check valve (32) is closed by the float valve body (50) to which buoyancy is not applied. At the same time, the suction force of the pump (57) presses the float valve body (50) against the valve seat (49), and the negative pressure in the fuel transfer pipe (56) increases. Therefore, the valve body (40) of the first check valve (31) is separated from the valve seat (39) against the elasticity of the elastic body (42) to open the first check valve (31). The valve allows the fuel in the first recess (11) to be supplied to the engine. After using the fuel in the second recess (12), the first recess (1
Since the fuel in 1) is used, the fuel can be sucked by the pump (57) with a sufficiently high suction pressure by the first check valve (31) having no float valve.

Embodiment An embodiment of the present invention will be described below with reference to FIGS. In these drawings, the same parts as those shown in FIG. 6 are designated by the same reference numerals and the description thereof will be omitted.

First, as shown in FIG. 1, in the fuel transfer device 30 according to the present invention, the first recess formed in the saddle type fuel tank 10 is used.
Check valves 31 and 32 are arranged in the 11 and second recesses 12, respectively, and the fuel sucked from the check valves 31 and 32 is connected to the same fuel transfer pipe 56, and the first or second recesses 11 are formed. When the amount of fuel in the fuel cells 12 and 12 has decreased below a certain level, the check valves 31 and 32 in the recesses 11 and 12 in which the fuel has decreased are automatically closed, and when the amount of fuel is increased, the check valves are closed. Check valve 31, 32
Is automatically opened.

As shown in FIG. 2, the first check valve 31 is provided with an inlet port 34 and an outlet port 35 at the upper portion and an opening portion at the lower portion.
Housing 37 in which 36 is formed, and opening of housing 37
A valve seat 39 having a hole 38 communicating with 36, a valve body 40 that can approach and separate from the valve seat 39, a guide member 41 that forms a moving passage of the valve body 40, and a guide member 41 and the valve body 40. And an elastic body 42 which is a compression spring disposed between and pressing the valve body 40 against the valve seat 39. Inlet port
A communication passage 43 is formed between the 34 and the exit port 35.

In the first check valve 31, the valve body 40 is normally pressed against the valve seat 39 by the elastic body 42, so that the hole 38 is closed.
Therefore, the fuel in the second recess 12 flows in through the inlet port 34. When the fuel in the second recess 12 decreases, the negative pressure in the inlet port 34 rises, so the valve body 40 moves upward against the elastic force of the elastic body 42, and the first check valve 31 Is opened.

Further, the second check valve 32, as shown in FIG. 3, has an inlet port 45 and an outlet port 46 formed in the housing 33.
And a passage for connecting the entrance port 45 and the exit port 46
47, a valve seat 49 having a hole 48 formed in the lower part of the inlet port 45 and communicating with the communication passage 47, and a float valve body movably arranged in the inlet port 45 and capable of approaching and separating from the valve seat 49. 50 and a hole 51 for communicating air between the communication passage 47 and the second check valve 32 and for introducing air for returning the float valve body 50. A hole 52 through which fuel flows into the inlet port 45 is formed in the inlet port 45, and the cylindrical inlet port 45 serves as a guide member that forms a moving passage of the float valve body 50.

As shown by fuel levels 60 and 61 in FIG. 1, when the saddle type fuel tank 10 is filled with fuel, the float valve body 50 of the second check valve 32 is in the raised position due to the buoyancy of the fuel. Yes, the second check valve 32 is open.
Therefore, in the second recess 12, the fuel flows from the hole 52 into the second check valve 32. When the amount of fuel in the saddle type fuel tank 10 decreases, a small amount of fuel can be sucked from the hole 51.

Inlet port 34 of first check valve 31 and second check valve 32
The outlet port 46 of each is connected by a pipe 55. The outlet port 35 of the first check valve 31 is connected to an engine (not shown) through the fuel transfer pipe 56 and the pump 57. Also,
A shield plate 58 is provided at the connecting portion 13 between the first recess 11 and the second recess 12.
Is provided, and excess fuel from the engine is recirculated into the first recess 11 by the pipe 59. The shielding plate 58 has a function of preventing fuel from flowing from the first recess 11 into the second recess 12 when the vehicle turns.

In the above configuration, when the saddle type fuel tank 10 is sufficiently filled with fuel, the fuel amount is at level 60. In this state, the first check valve 31 is closed, and in the second check valve 32, the float valve body 50 is held in the raised position by the buoyant force against the fuel, so the second check valve 32 is opened. doing. Therefore, the negative pressure in the fuel transfer pipe 56 generated when the pump 57 operates causes the inlet port of the second check valve 32.
The fuel flows into the fuel transfer pipe 56 through the hole 45, the hole 48, the communication passage 47, the outlet port 46, the pipe 55, the inlet port 34 of the first check valve 31 and the communication passage 43. Thus, when the amount of fuel is sufficiently present in the saddle type fuel tank 10, the fuel is transferred from the second recess 12 through the first and second check valves 31 and 32. The same is true when the fuel level drops to 61.

However, when the fuel in the second recess 12 drops below the level 62, the float valve body 50 descends and the float valve body 50 of the second check valve 32 does not rise due to buoyancy with respect to the fuel, and conversely. Due to the negative pressure of the pump 57, the hole 48 is closed because it is in close contact with the valve seat 49. Therefore, the second check valve 32 is completely closed. Therefore, the negative pressure in the inlet port 34 of the first check valve 31 is increased, the valve body 40 is moved upward against the elastic force of the elastic body 42, and the first check valve 31 is opened. It Therefore, in the first check valve 31, the hole 38 in the valve seat 39 is
The fuel flows through the first recess 11 into the fuel transfer pipe 56. At the same time, a small amount of fuel is sucked from the hole 51 in the second check valve 32.

When the fuel is further consumed and the level is lowered to the level 63 in the second recess 12, air is sucked into the second check valve 32, an air pool is generated in the pipe 55, and the air is trapped in the second recess 12. No fuel is sucked in, and only fuel in the first recess 11 is sucked. Therefore, the fuel in the saddle type fuel tank 10 can be consumed almost completely. Further, when the shielding plate 58 is not provided, the second check valve 32 is closed when the fuel is reduced to the level 61. At this time, when the first check valve 31 opens and the fuel in the first recess 11 moves into the second recess 12 at the moment when the vehicle turns, the first check valve 31
Cannot inhale the air and completely consume the fuel that has moved into the second recess 12. Furthermore, in this case, there is a danger that the vehicle will stop running, as it will be in the same state as running out of fuel. Therefore, such a danger can be avoided by providing the shield plate 58.

When the operation of the pump 57 is stopped, the negative pressure in the fuel transfer pipe 56 disappears, so the valve body 40 is pressed against the valve seat 39 by the elastic force of the elastic body 42, and the first check valve 31 is It returns to the valve closed state shown in the figure. When the saddle type fuel tank 10 is sufficiently supplied with fuel, the float valve body 50 of the second check valve 32 rises again due to the buoyancy of the fuel, so the second check valve 32 opens. It is switched to the state.

As described above, the one check valve has a function of automatically closing when the fuel amount decreases below a certain level.
For this reason, the fuel is transferred from the recess provided with the check valve that does not close. One of the check valves is automatically opened when the fuel is supplied again into the recess where the amount of fuel has decreased below a certain level.

The above embodiment of the present invention can be variously modified. For example, as shown in FIG. 4, both the first check valve 31 and the second check valve 32 are the same as the second check valve 32 as shown in FIG. A stop valve can be used. In addition, the excess fuel from the engine is piped 59
Is circulated to both the first concave portion 11 and the second concave portion 12, and simultaneously sucks up fuel from both the first concave portion 11 and the second concave portion 12 and supplies it to the engine through the fuel transfer pipe 56 and the pump 57. be able to.

Further, as shown in FIG. 5, in the embodiment of FIG. 4, the first shield plate 58a and the second shield plate 58a are provided in the connecting portion 13 formed between the first recess 11 and the second recess 12. Provided with a shielding plate 58b,
Excess fuel from the engine can be recirculated by the pipe 59 between the first shield plate 58a and the second shield plate 58b.
In this case, the holes 58c of appropriate size are formed in the shielding plates 58a and 58b.
Can be formed so that an equal amount of fuel returns to the first recess 11 and the second recess 12.

Further, it is obvious that the present invention can be applied to transfer fuel from a fuel tank having a third or more recess.

EFFECTS OF THE INVENTION As described above, in the fuel transfer device provided in the saddle type fuel tank having the plurality of recesses according to the present invention, the fuel in the fuel tank is almost completely consumed even when the surplus fuel amount from the engine is small. Is possible. Therefore, since the saddle type fuel tank can be used not only for gasoline vehicles but also for diesel vehicles, it is possible to improve the degree of freedom in selecting the shape of the fuel tank for diesel vehicles and to effectively utilize the space. .

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a sectional view of a saddle type fuel tank to which a fuel transfer device according to the present invention is attached, FIG. 2 is a sectional view of a first check valve used in this fuel transfer device, and FIG. 3 is this fuel transfer device. FIG. 4 is a sectional view of a saddle type fuel tank equipped with a fuel transfer device showing a second embodiment of the present invention, and FIG. 5 is a third sectional view of the present invention. FIG. 6 is a sectional view of a saddle type fuel tank having a fuel transfer device attached thereto, and FIG. 6 is a sectional view of a saddle type fuel tank having a conventional fuel transfer device attached thereto. 10 …… Saddle-type fuel tank, 11 …… First recess, 12 …… Second recess, 31, 32 …… Check valve, 56 …… Fuel transfer pipe,

Claims (1)

(57) [Claims] 1. A first check valve (31) and a second check valve in a first recess (11) and a second recess (12) formed in a saddle type fuel tank (10), respectively. (32) are arranged to connect the fuel sucked from the first check valve (31) and the second check valve (32) to the same fuel transfer pipe (56), and to connect the second recess ( When the amount of fuel in 12) decreases below a certain level, the second check valve (32) is automatically closed, and the second check valve (32) is automatically increased with the increase of fuel. The first check valve (31) includes a valve seat (39) having a hole (38) communicating with the fuel in the first recess (11), and a valve seat (39). The second check valve (32) is provided with a valve body (40) with which the hole (38) of the 39) abuts, and an elastic body (42) that presses the valve body (40) toward the valve seat (39). ) Is a valve seat with a hole (48) 49)
And a float valve body (50) arranged above the hole (48) of the valve seat (49) and to which buoyancy is imparted by the fuel in the fuel tank (10), and the second check valve (32 ) Is connected to the fuel transfer pipe (56) by a pipe (55), and the fuel transfer pipe (56) is provided with a pump (57).