JP2715043B2 - Automobile pressurized fuel tank piping sealed structure - Google Patents

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to an automobile in which a pressurized fuel tank filled with pressurized fuel such as natural gas or liquefied petroleum gas is disposed in a cabin such as a trunk room, and is connected to the pressurized fuel tank. The present invention relates to a piping structure in which piping is hermetically sealed with respect to the vehicle compartment.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art An extraction valve for taking out LPG from an LPG (liquefied petroleum gas) tank disposed in a trunk room, and a filling valve for filling LPG into the LPG tank are provided by the LP.
The airtight container for sealing the take-out valve and the filling valve is integrally mounted on the LPG tank in an airtight manner, and the bottom opening of the airtight container and the opening of the trunk room sealing wall material are integrated in a bellows in an airtight manner. By connecting, L
There is an automobile in which PG is prevented from leaking into a trunk room (see Japanese Utility Model Laid-Open No. 2-125421).

[0003]

In the motor vehicle described in Japanese Utility Model Laid-Open No. 2-125421, the take-out valve and the filling valve are LPG.
Since they are mounted directly on the tank, if they are to be maintained or inspected, the airtight container must be removed from the LPG tank, and if the airtight container is mounted on an LPG tank with a substantially spherical surface. The mounting structure requires special measures because it must be removable.

[0004] Further, it is difficult to fill the tank with the pressurized fuel, and it is difficult to directly mount the equipment necessary for supplying the pressurized fuel in the tank to the engine to the tank, and to firmly support them regardless of the vibration of the vehicle body. However, it is inevitable that the size of the hermetic container that seals them is increased.

[0005]

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention relates to an improvement of a closed structure for a pressurized fuel tank pipe of an automobile which overcomes the above-mentioned drawbacks, and in which a pressurized fuel tank is disposed in a closed cabin. In a vehicle, a seal case containing a pressurized fuel supply auxiliary unit is mounted on a support member rising from a floor member, and the pressurized fuel supply auxiliary unit, a fuel filling section and a fuel supply section of the pressurized fuel tank are mounted. And a pressurized fuel supply pipe having one end connected to a pressurized fuel filling port outside the vehicle cabin and a pressurized fuel supply pipe having one end connected to an engine outside the cabin. The other end of the pressurized fuel filling pipe and the other end of the pressurized fuel supply pipe are connected to a pressurized fuel supply auxiliary device in the seal case, and the flexible pipe covers the connection pipe. Sealed connection piping One end of the material is airtightly and integrally attached to the fuel filling section and the fuel supply section of the pressurized fuel tank, and the other end of the flexible connection pipe sealing member is airtightly connected to the connection opening of the seal case. And one end of a flexible filling / supplying pipe sealing portion that covers the pressurized fuel filling pipe and the pressurized fuel supply pipe is integrally and airtightly attached to the floor member through-opening, The other end of the flexible filling / supplying pipe sealing member is integrally and airtightly attached to the filling / supply opening of the seal case.

According to the present invention, the pressurized fuel supply auxiliary unit, a connection pipe from the pressurized fuel tank to the pressurized fuel supply auxiliary unit, and the pressurized fuel supply unit are provided. The pressurized fuel filling pipe and the pressurized fuel supply pipe leading from the auxiliary unit to the gas filling port outside the vehicle compartment and the engine are formed by the seal case, the flexible connection pipe sealing member and the flexible filling / supply pipe sealing member. Even if the pressurized fuel leaks from the pressurized fuel supply auxiliary unit, the connection pipe, the pressurized fuel filling pipe, or the pressurized fuel supply pipe as a result of the hermetic sealing, Does not flow out of the vehicle and is reliably discharged outside the vehicle.

In the present invention, the flexible connection pipe sealing member and the flexible filling / supply pipe sealing member are removed, and the seal case is disassembled. Maintenance and inspection work can be performed very easily and accurately.

Further, in the present invention, since the auxiliary unit for pressurized fuel supply is mounted on a seal case separate from the tank for pressurized fuel, even if the auxiliary unit for pressurized fuel supply becomes large, it is stable and solid. And can be attached to the vehicle body independently of the replacement of the pressurized fuel tank, and the pressurized fuel supply auxiliary unit is installed while the pressurized fuel tank is installed in the vehicle body. Can be easily replaced.

[0009]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS An embodiment of the present invention shown in the drawings will be described below. The fuel cylinders 1 and 2 are configured to be capable of compressing and filling natural gas mainly composed of methane or the like at a pressure of about 200 km / cm ² , and the fuel cylinders 1 and 2 are mounted on left and right rear side frames (not shown). Left and right cylinder support frames 4 erected integrally via the floor member 3
And fixed firmly to the cylinder support frame 4 with a mounting band 5 spanned on the upper surface thereof.

Solenoid valves 6 and 7 are provided at the left ends of the fuel cylinders 1 and 2, respectively, and relief valves 8 and 9 are provided at the right ends of the fuel cylinders 1 and 2, respectively. 7 is energized, the solenoid valves 6 and 7 are opened, and when the pressure in the fuel cylinders 1 and 2 rises above a predetermined pressure, the relief valves 8 and 9 are opened and the fuel cylinders 1 and 2 are opened.
2 is discharged.

Further, a support member 10 is integrally erected on the floor member 3 on the left side of the fuel cylinders 1 and 2, and a seal case 11 is integrally mounted on the left side surface of the support member 10. Reference numeral 11 denotes a half structure of the seal cases 11A and 11B.

Further, in the seal case 11, a filter for filtering natural gas, a sensor for detecting pressure and temperature in the fuel cylinders 1 and 2, a filling of the fuel cylinders 1 and 2 with natural gas, A pressurized fuel supply auxiliary unit 12 containing equipment necessary for supplying natural gas to the engine from the cylinders 1 and 2 is provided. When the seal case 11B is removed from the seal case 11A integrated with the support member 10, ,
The pressurized fuel supply auxiliary unit 12 can be maintained and inspected.

A cylindrical opening 13 is formed in the seal case 11A so as to penetrate the support member 10, and the seal case 11B
The upper part is formed with a cylindrical opening 14 pointing upward.

Further, connection pipes 15, 16 penetrating through the opening 14
Is connected to the fuel filling section 17 and the fuel supply section 18 of the solenoid valve 6, and the other ends of the connection pipes 15 and 16 are connected to the pressurized fuel supply auxiliary unit 12, and the connection through the opening 13. One ends of the pipes 19 and 20 are connected to the fuel filling section 21 and the fuel supply section 22 of the solenoid valve 7, and the connection pipes are connected.
The other ends of 19 and 20 are connected to the pressurized fuel supply auxiliary unit 12.

Further, an opening 24 is formed in the floor member 3 located on the left side of the seal case 11 so as to rise in a cylindrical shape toward the vehicle interior 23, and one end is connected to a gas filling port 25 outside the vehicle body. The gas filling pipe 26 penetrates through the opening 24 and is exposed in the vehicle interior 23, and the other end of the gas filling pipe 26 is connected to the pressurized fuel supply auxiliary unit 12 via the pressurized fuel filling pipe 27. A fuel supply pipe 28 to which one end of an engine (not shown) is connected also penetrates through the opening 24 and is exposed to the vehicle interior 23, and the other end of the fuel supply pipe 28 is connected to the pressurized fuel supply auxiliary unit 12 Are connected to each other via a pressurized fuel supply pipe 29.

Thus, an opening 30 is formed in the floor member 3 in the center of the vehicle width of the floor member 3 and rises in a cylindrical shape toward the passenger compartment 23, and the discharge port connected to the relief valves 8, 9 is formed. The tip of the pipe 31 is exposed below the vehicle body through the opening 30.

A cylindrical end plate 32 is integrally and airtightly mounted on the outer periphery of the solenoid valve 6 of the fuel cylinder 1, and a cylindrical cover made of a soft synthetic resin is provided on the cylindrical end plate 32 and the opening 14. 33
Are fitted together in an airtight manner with a tightening band (not shown).
And the vehicle body opening 35 above it are connected by a gas exhaust pipe 36.

Further, the solenoid valve 7 of the fuel cylinder 2
A cylindrical end plate 37 is air-tightly mounted integrally on the outer periphery of the cylindrical end plate 37, and a cylindrical cover made of a soft synthetic resin
Both ends of 38 are fitted together and are hermetically mounted with a tightening band (not shown) like the cylindrical cover 33.

Further, a cylindrical opening 39 is formed on the side surface of the seal case 11, and both ends of a cylindrical cover 40 similar to the cylindrical covers 33 and 38 are fitted airtightly into the opening 39 and the opening 24. Is being worn.

Further, cylindrical end plates 41 and 42 are mounted on the outer periphery of the relief valves 8 and 9 of the fuel cylinders 1 and 2 in a gas-tight manner, respectively, and are fitted to the cylindrical end plate 41 and the opening 30 respectively. Both ends of the tubular cover 43 made of a soft synthetic resin are fitted, and the opening 44 of the tubular cover 43 is fitted to the tubular end plate 42,
It is airtightly and integrally mounted with a tightening band (not shown).

Further, an opening at the bottom of the seal case 11B is provided.
45 and the lower opening 46 of the cylindrical cover 43 are communicated with a drain pipe 47, and the upper end of a drain pipe 48 branched from the drain pipe 47 is connected to a lower opening 49 of the cylindrical cover 38. ing.

The embodiment shown in the drawing is constructed as described above. Therefore, when the gas injection port of the fuel station is connected to the gas charging port 25, the gas charging port 25 allows the gas charging pipe 26, the pressurized fuel charging pipe 27, Pressurized fuel supply auxiliary unit 12, connection piping 15
The fuel tank 1 is filled with natural gas through the fuel filling section 17 of the solenoid valve 6, and a gas filling pipe 25, a pressurized fuel filling pipe 27, and a pressurized fuel supply auxiliary unit 12 , Natural gas is filled into the fuel cylinder 2 through the connection pipe 19 and the fuel filling section 21 of the solenoid valve 7.

When an engine (not shown) starts,
The pressurized natural gas in the fuel cylinders 1 and 2 is supplied from the solenoid valve 6 through the connection pipe 16 to the pressurized fuel supply auxiliary unit.
12 and from the solenoid valve 7 through the connection pipe 20 to the pressurized fuel supply auxiliary unit 12, and from the pressurized fuel supply auxiliary unit 12 to the pressurized fuel supply pipe 29 and the fuel supply pipe 28. The engine is supplied via

Further, in the pressurized fuel supply auxiliary unit 12, natural gas passing through the pressurized fuel supply auxiliary unit 12 is filtered, and the pressure and temperature of the natural gas in the fuel cylinders 1 and 2 are filtered. Is detected.

Further, when the outside air temperature rises, the fuel cylinder 1,
When the natural gas pressure in the fuel tank 2 reaches a predetermined pressure or more, the relief valves 8 and 9 are automatically opened, and the natural gas in the fuel cylinders 1 and 2 is discharged to the atmosphere via the discharge pipe 31.

Even if natural gas leaks from the pressurized fuel supply auxiliary unit 12, the connection pipes 15, 16, 19, 20, the pressurized fuel filling pipe 27, and the pressurized fuel supply pipe 29, the seal case 11, the cylinder Leaks into the passenger compartment 23 are prevented by the cover-shaped covers 33, 38, and 40, and are discharged into the atmosphere through a gas discharge pipe.

Further, even if natural gas leaks from the relief valves 8 and 9 and the discharge pipe 31, it is shut off by the cylindrical cover 43 and the leak to the vehicle compartment 23 is prevented.

Further, the seal case 11 and the cylindrical cover 38
Even if water accumulates inside, the water is drained out of the vehicle from the drain pipe 47 and the drain pipe 48.

Further, the fuel filling section of the solenoid valve 6
17, the fuel supply section 18, or the fuel filling section 21, the fuel supply section 22, or the relief valves 8, 9 of the solenoid valve 7
When performing maintenance / inspection of the cylindrical end plates 32, 37, 41,
Since it is only necessary to remove the cylindrical covers 33, 38, 43 from the, these operations can be easily performed.

When the pressurized fuel supply auxiliary unit 12 is inspected, the seal case 11 can be divided into a seal case 11A and a seal case 11B.
Since 12 is exposed, maintenance and inspection can be performed easily.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a perspective view illustrating an installed state of a pressurized fuel tank to which the present invention is applied.

FIG. 2 is a longitudinal sectional view of a main part of the pressurized fuel tank pipe sealing structure of the present invention.

[Explanation of symbols]

1, 2 ... fuel cylinder, 3 ... floor member, 4 ... cylinder support frame, 5 ... mounting band, 6, 7 ... solenoid valve, 8, 9 ... relieve valve, 10 ... support member, 11 ... seal case, 12 ... Auxiliary fuel supply unit, 13, 14 ... opening, 15, 16 ... connection pipe, 17 ... fuel filling section, 18 ... fuel supply section, 19, 20 ... connection pipe, 21 ... fuel filling section, 22 ... fuel supply Part, 23 ... cabin, 24 ... opening, 25 ... gas filling port, 26 ... gas filling pipe, 27 ... pressurized fuel filling pipe, 28 ... fuel supply pipe, 29
... Pressurized fuel supply pipe, 30 ... Opening, 31 ... Discharge pipe, 32 ...
Cylindrical end plate, 33 ... cylindrical cover, 34 ... opening, 35 ... body opening,
36 ... gas exhaust pipe, 37 ... cylindrical end plate, 38 ... cylindrical cover, 39 ...
Opening, 40: cylindrical cover, 41, 42: cylindrical end plate, 43: cylindrical cover, 44, 45, 46: opening, 47, 48: drain tube, 49: opening.

Claims (1)

(57) [Claims] In a motor vehicle having a pressurized fuel tank disposed in a closed vehicle compartment, a seal case containing a pressurized fuel supply auxiliary unit is mounted on a support member rising from a floor member, and the pressurized fuel tank is provided. A fuel supply auxiliary unit is connected to a fuel filling section and a fuel supply section of the pressurized fuel tank by a connecting pipe, and a pressurized fuel filling pipe having one end connected to a pressurized fuel filling port outside the vehicle compartment and an outside of the vehicle compartment. A pressurized fuel supply pipe, one end of which is connected to the engine, through a through-opening of the floor member, and the other end of the pressurized fuel filling pipe and the other end of the pressurized fuel supply pipe are connected to the seal case. And one end of a flexible connection pipe sealing member that covers the connection pipe and is connected to the fuel filling section and the fuel supply section of the pressurized fuel tank in a gas-tight manner. The flexible connection arrangement The other end of the pipe sealing member is air-tightly and integrally attached to the connection opening of the seal case, and the flexible filling / covering member covers the pressurized fuel filling pipe and the pressurized fuel supply pipe.
One end of the supply pipe sealing portion is airtightly and integrally attached to the floor member through opening, and the other end of the flexible filling / supply pipe sealing member is airtightly sealed to the filling supply opening of the seal case. A closed structure for the pressurized fuel tank piping of an automobile, which is integrally mounted.