JP4788730B2 - Fuel supply device - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention relates to a fuel supply device that supplies fuel inside a fuel tank to a fuel consuming device (for example, an engine) provided outside the fuel tank.

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, there is known a fuel supply device that is connected in parallel to an engine provided outside a fuel tank and includes two fuel pumps housed in the fuel tank (see Patent Document 1). The fuel supply device further includes a sub-tank that accommodates both fuel pumps, and one fuel filter that filters the fuel discharged from both fuel pumps.
JP 2007-309106 A

  However, when considering a fuel tank, a fuel filter, etc. in the sub-tank to be unitized, in a fuel supply apparatus having two fuel pumps as shown in Patent Document 1, both fuel filters are provided with one fuel filter. It is necessary to filter the fuel discharged from the fuel pump. For this reason, the diameter of the fuel filter becomes very large. For this reason, if two fuel pumps and one fuel filter are arranged side by side in the subtank and installed in the subtank, the length in the direction in which the fuel pump and the fuel filter are arranged becomes long, so the diameter of the subtank may not be increased in some cases. I do not get.

  However, the diameter of the sub tank is determined by the specifications of the fuel tank to be accommodated, and cannot be easily increased. To solve this problem, it is conceivable that the cylindrical fuel filter is a fuel filter that is flattened in the radial direction without changing the filtration area and has an elliptical cross section, but the short axis of the filter case of the elliptical fuel filter is considered. The wall surface in the direction may not be able to withstand the fuel pressure discharged from both fuel pumps as compared to the wall surface in the long axis direction.

  Therefore, it is conceivable that only the wall surface in the minor axis direction of the filter case has a wall thickness that can withstand fuel pressure. However, when both fuel pumps are arranged in the long axis direction of the filter case and both fuel pumps and the filter case are arranged side by side in the short axis direction, the length of the fuel pump and the filter case occupying the short axis direction of the fuel filter. As a result, the fuel supply device is reduced in size.

  The present invention has been made in view of the above-described problems, and an object of the present invention is to reduce the size of a fuel supply device including a plurality of fuel pumps while ensuring the pressure resistance performance of the fuel filter. To provide a fuel supply device.

The invention described in claim 1 is a fuel supply device that is provided in a fuel tank and supplies fuel in the fuel tank to an external fuel consuming device.
A sub-tank that is housed in the fuel tank and temporarily accumulates fuel in the fuel tank; a first fuel pump that is housed in the sub-tank and sucks the fuel in the sub-tank and discharges it toward the fuel consuming device; and the sub-tank A second fuel pump which is accommodated in the sub tank and sucks the fuel in the sub tank and discharges it toward the fuel consuming device; and a fuel filter which is contained in the sub tank and filters the fuel discharged from the first and second fuel pumps A fuel supply device comprising:
The fuel filter has first and second filter element portions that are substantially cylindrical, and a filter case that includes first and second substantially cylindrical storage portions that store the respective filter element portions, The first and second fuel pumps and the first and second filter element parts are the first lines connecting two axes among the axes of the first and second fuel pumps and the first and second filter element parts. And the second line segment connecting the remaining axes are arranged so as to be substantially parallel to each other, and both line segments are installed in the sub-tank so as to be shifted from each other in the direction of one of the line segments. It is characterized by having.

  According to the present invention, the fuel filter that has been conventionally composed of one filter element portion is made into two substantially cylindrical filter element portions. The two fuel pumps and the two filter element portions are composed of a first line segment connecting the two axis lines and a second line segment connecting the remaining axis lines among the axis lines of the fuel pump and filter element unit. Are arranged so as to be substantially parallel to each other, and these line segments are installed in the sub tank so as to be shifted from each other in the direction of any one of the line segments.

  When the fuel pump and the filter element portion are installed in the sub tank in this way, the distance between the line segments can be shortened as compared with the case where the first and second line segments are not shifted from each other in one line segment. For this reason, the radius of the circumscribed circle passing through the outer wall of these elements can be made as small as possible.

  In addition, since the filter element portion has a substantially columnar shape, the shape of the accommodating portion that accommodates each filter element portion can be made substantially cylindrical according to the filter element portion. Thereby, it becomes easier to ensure the strength of the filter case compared to the elliptical one, and the pressure resistance performance of the fuel filter can be easily ensured.

  As described above, according to the present invention, in the fuel supply device including a plurality of fuel pumps, it is possible to provide a fuel supply device capable of reducing the size of the fuel filter while ensuring the pressure resistance performance of the fuel filter.

  The invention according to claim 2 is the first, second fuel pump or the first, second filter element portion installed on the opposite side to the direction in which the first line segment is shifted with respect to the second line segment. And the first and second fuels installed on the opposite side of the first space formed between the first tank and the inner circumferential wall of the sub tank, and the direction in which the second line segment is shifted from the first line segment. At least one of the second spaces formed between the pump or the first and second filter element portions and the inner peripheral wall of the sub tank has at least one functional component accommodated in the sub tank of the fuel supply device. It is characterized by being installed.

  According to this invention, by shifting two sets of components formed from the first and second fuel pumps and the first and second filter element portions in the direction of the line segment connecting the axes, First and second spaces are inevitably formed between the inner peripheral wall of the sub tank. In the present invention, by installing at least one functional component of the fuel supply device in the inevitably formed first and second spaces, a limited space in the sub tank can be effectively used. An increase in the size of the fuel supply apparatus can be suppressed.

  According to a third aspect of the present invention, the fuel tank has a plurality of tank chambers, the sub tank is installed in a first tank chamber of the plurality of tank chambers, and the sub tank has a first or second tank. A jet pump that generates a suction force by supplying a part of the fuel discharged from the fuel pump and transfers the fuel in the second tank chamber of the plurality of tank chambers to the first tank chamber by the suction force. The functional component housed and installed in the first and second spaces is a jet pump.

  According to the present invention, as one of the functional parts of the fuel supply device, the fuel supply device includes a jet pump that transfers fuel in the second tank chamber to a sub tank provided in the first tank chamber. Even if it exists, since the jet pump is installed in the 1st or 2nd space formed in a subtank, the enlargement of the fuel supply apparatus by providing the jet pump for transfer can be suppressed.

  The invention according to claim 4 includes a pressure regulator that is accommodated in the sub tank and regulates the pressure of the fuel discharged from the first and second fuel pumps to a predetermined pressure, and is provided in the first and second spaces. The functional component to be installed is a pressure regulator.

  According to this invention, as one of the functional parts of the fuel supply device, even in the case of a fuel supply device including a pressure regulator that adjusts the pressure of the fuel discharged from the first and second fuel pumps, Since the pressure regulator is installed in the first or second space formed in the sub tank, an increase in the size of the fuel supply device due to the pressure regulator can be suppressed.

  According to the fifth aspect of the present invention, an opening for inserting the fuel supply device into the fuel tank is formed in the upper wall of the fuel tank, and the lid member, the lid member and the sub tank for closing the opening are provided. A shaft to be connected and a shaft support member that is accommodated in the sub tank and supports the end portion of the shaft on the sub tank side, and the functional parts installed in the first and second spaces are the shaft and the shaft support member. It is said.

  According to the present invention, as one of the functional parts of the fuel supply device, a fuel supply device including a shaft that regulates the horizontal movement of the fuel supply device in the fuel tank and a shaft support portion that supports the sub-tank side shaft. Even in this case, since the shaft and the shaft support portion are installed in the first or second space formed in the sub-tank, the increase in size of the fuel supply device due to the provision of the shaft and the shaft support portion is suppressed. can do.

  In the invention according to claim 6, the filter case receives the fuel from the first and second fuel pumps on the inlet side and distributes the fuel to the first and second filter element parts, and the first on the outlet side. A common outlet portion for receiving the fuel that has passed through the second filter element portion is provided.

  According to this invention, the filter case is provided with a common common inlet portion into which the fuel discharged from the first and second fuel pumps flows on the inlet side of the first and second filter element portions, and on the outlet side. A common outlet for receiving fuel that has passed through the first and second filter element portions is provided. According to this configuration, the fuel discharged from the first and second fuel pumps flows into the first and second filter element portions almost evenly. For this reason, it can suppress that the lifetime of any one filter element part becomes shorter than the lifetime of another filter element part. In addition, since it is not necessary to provide a fuel passage for each filter element portion, the structure of the fuel supply device can be simplified.

  The invention according to claim 7 is provided with a pressure regulator that adjusts the pressure of the fuel discharged from the first and second fuel pumps to a predetermined pressure, which is accommodated in the sub tank, and the pressure regulator is connected to the common outlet portion. Is also connected to the downstream side.

  According to this invention, since the pressure regulator is connected to the downstream side of the common outlet portion, it is not necessary to prepare a pressure regulator for each fuel pump. For this reason, it can suppress pressing the space in the limited sub tank.

  Hereinafter, a plurality of embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.

(First embodiment)
The fuel supply device 10 is installed, for example, in a fuel tank 12 that stores fuel consumed by an engine 11 as a fuel consuming device mounted on a vehicle. As shown in FIG. 1, the fuel tank 12 is a so-called saddle-shaped type consisting of a first tank chamber 13 in which the fuel supply device 10 is installed and a second tank chamber 14 in which the fuel supply device 10 is not installed. It is a fuel tank. The fuel supply device 10 sucks up the fuel in the first tank chamber 13 and discharges it to the engine 11, and transfers the fuel in the second tank chamber 14 to the first tank chamber 13. The fuel supply device 10 includes a lid member 16, a sub tank 21, a pump module 30, and the like.

  FIG. 1 is a schematic view showing an outline of a fuel supply apparatus 10 according to the present invention. 2 to 4 are views showing a specific structure of the fuel supply device 10 shown in FIG. FIG. 2 is a side view showing only the lid member 16 and the pump module 30 in the fuel supply apparatus 10, and is a view seen from the II direction shown in FIG. FIG. 3 is a side view showing only the lid member 16 and the pump module 30 as in FIG. 2, and is a view seen from the III direction shown in FIG. 4. FIG. 4 is a top view of the pump module 30 and the sub tank 21 as viewed from the IV direction illustrated in FIGS. 2 and 3.

  As shown in FIGS. 1 to 3, the lid member 16 is formed in a disk shape with resin, and is attached so as to close the opening 15 formed in the top wall of the first tank chamber 13. Yes. Other components of the fuel supply device 10 are accommodated in the first tank chamber 13. The sub tank 21 is accommodated in the first tank chamber 13, and the pump module 30 is accommodated in the sub tank 21 except for a part thereof.

  The lid member 16 is integrally molded with a fuel discharge pipe 17 and electrical connectors 18a and 18b. The fuel discharge pipe 17 is a pipe that supplies the fuel inside the sub tank 21 discharged from the pump module 30 to the outside of the fuel tank 12. The electrical connectors 18a and 18b are electrically connected to power receiving connectors (not shown) provided in the main pump 31a and the sub pump 31b included in the pump module 30 by the power feeding lines 19a and 19b and a power feeding connector (not shown). They are connected and supply power to both pumps 31a, 31b.

  As shown in FIGS. 1 and 4, the sub-tank 21 is a container that temporarily stores the fuel in the fuel tank 12 that is formed in a bottomed cylindrical shape that is open on the top wall side of the fuel tank 12. As shown in FIG. 1, the sub tank 21 accommodates most of the pump module 30.

  As shown in FIGS. 1 and 4, the internal space of the sub tank 21 is partitioned into a main chamber 23 and a sub chamber 24 by a partition wall 22. Main parts of the pump module 30 are accommodated in the main chamber 23, and a transfer jet pump 40 described later is accommodated in the sub chamber 24. As shown in FIG. 1, a fuel passage portion 25, one of which is connected to the transfer jet pump 40 and the other of which is connected to the transfer tube 44, is formed at the bottom of the sub chamber 24. The transfer jet pump 40 corresponds to the jet pump described in the claims.

  As shown in FIG. 4, the bottom portion 26 of the sub tank 21 is formed with an opening 27 that communicates the main chamber 23 of the sub tank 21 and the outside of the sub tank 21. The opening 27 is provided with an open / close valve 28 that opens and closes due to the internal / external differential pressure of the sub tank 21.

  The on-off valve 28 is opened when the pressure outside the sub tank 21 is higher than the inside, and is closed when the pressure outside the sub tank 21 is lower than the inside. As a result, even if the pump module 30 sucks the fuel inside the sub tank 21 and supplies it to the engine 11 to reduce the liquid level inside the sub tank 21, the fuel is supplied to the outside of the sub tank 21 through the opening 27. More supplied. The fuel supplied to the inside of the sub tank 21 does not flow out of the sub tank 21 by the opening / closing valve 28.

  As shown in FIGS. 1 to 3, the pump module 30 is connected to the fuel discharge pipe 17 of the lid member 16 by a feed tube 35, sucks fuel inside the sub tank 21, and sets the fuel pressure to a predetermined pressure. And discharge toward the engine 11. In addition, the pump module 30 drives a pumping jet pump 36 described later using a part of the fuel sucked by the pump module 30 as a drive source, and pumps the fuel in the first tank chamber 13 into the sub tank 21. The pump module 30 drives the transfer jet pump 40 using a part of the fuel sucked by the pump module 30 as a drive source, and transfers the fuel in the second tank chamber 14 into the sub tank 21.

  The pump module 30 includes a case 60, a main pump 31a, a sub pump 31b, a pumping jet pump 36, a fuel filter 50, a pressure regulator 52, a transfer jet pump 40, and the like.

  As shown in FIGS. 2 to 4, a flange 61 is formed at the upper end of the case 60. The flange 61 is formed with a plurality of engaging portions 62 that engage with the upper end opening of the sub tank 21. With this configuration, the pump module 30 and the sub tank 21 are combined and integrated.

  The main pump 31a and the sub pump 31b have a motor as an electric drive unit (not shown) inside and a plurality of blades formed on the outer periphery, and have impellers 32a and 32b rotated by the motor. When the impellers 32a and 32b are rotated by the motor, both pumps 31a and 31b generate fuel suction force (see FIG. 1).

  As shown in FIG. 1, the main pump 31a and the sub pump 31b have suction ports 33a and 33b formed at one end and discharge ports 34a and 34b formed at the other end, respectively. Suction filters 55a and 55b for collecting relatively large foreign substances contained in the fuel inside the sub tank 21 sucked by both pumps 31a and 31b are attached to the respective suction ports 33a and 33b.

  When the impellers 32a and 32b rotate by the respective motors, a fuel suction force is generated in both the pumps 31a and 31b, and the fuel inside the sub tank 21 is sucked from the suction ports 33a and 33b through the suction filters 55a and 55b. . The fuel sucked into both the pumps 31a and 31b is discharged from the discharge ports 34a and 34b while being pressurized to a predetermined pressure. A check valve is built in the discharge ports 34a and 34b of both pumps 31a and 31b.

  The main pump 31a is a pump that is always driven while the engine 11 is in operation, and has a discharge capacity of 200 L / hour. On the other hand, the sub-pump 31b is a pump that is driven when a large amount of fuel needs to be consumed, for example, when the engine is started or accelerated, according to the operating state of the engine 11, and has a discharge capacity of 140L per hour.

  As shown in FIG. 1, the fuel discharged from the discharge ports 34 a and 34 b flows into the fuel filter 50 having the first filter element 51 a and the second filter element 51 b through the flow path 100. The respective filter elements 51a and 51b are connected to the discharge ports 34a and 34b, and the fuel discharged from the discharge ports 34a and 34b flows into the filter elements 51a and 51b almost evenly.

  Here, the main pump 31a, the sub pump 31b, the first filter element 51a, and the second filter element 51b are specifically accommodated in the case 60.

  The case 60 is made of resin and has a shape in which four substantially cylindrical ones are bundled with their central axes facing the same direction. As shown in FIGS. 2 to 4, the case 60 includes two pump housing portions 63 a and 63 b (refer to the one-dot chain line in FIG. 4) and two element housing portions 64 a and 64 b (see the one-dot chain line in FIG. 4). )have. The main pump 31a and the sub pump 31b are accommodated in the two pump accommodating portions 63a and 63b. The lower ends of the pump housing parts 63a and 63b are open. After the main pump 31a and the sub pump 31b are inserted into the housing portions 63a and 63b, the bracket 91 is attached to the lower end portion to prevent the main pump 31a and the sub pump 31b from falling out of the housing portions 63a and 63b.

  The two element accommodating portions 64a and 64b accommodate first and second filter elements 51a and 51b having substantially columnar shapes. In addition, the element accommodating parts 64a and 64b in this embodiment are corresponded to the 1st, 2nd accommodating part as described in a claim.

  In the present embodiment, the case 60 is formed as follows. The two pump housing portions 63 a and 63 b are arranged side by side so that the center axes of the two pump housing portions 63 a and 63 b face the same direction as the center axis of the sub tank 21. The remaining two element accommodating portions 64 a and 64 b are also arranged side by side so that the central axes thereof face the same direction as the central axis of the sub tank 21.

  As shown in FIG. 4, the pump accommodating portions 63a and 63b and the element accommodating portions 64a and 64b are connected to the line segments (first lines) connecting the central axes C1 and C2 of the pumps 31a and 31b accommodated in the pump accommodating portions 63a and 63b. One line segment L1) and a line segment (second line segment L2) connecting the central axes C3 and C4 of the first and second filter elements 51a and 51b accommodated in the element accommodating portions 64a and 64b are approximately. The lines L1 and L2 are arranged so as to be parallel to each other, and are formed in the sub tank 21 so as to be shifted from each other in the direction of one of the lines. In the present embodiment, as shown in FIG. 4, the second line segment L <b> 2 is shifted from the first line segment L <b> 1 on the left side in the drawing.

  In the present embodiment, the first line segment L1 is a line segment connecting the central axes C1 and C2 of the pumps 31a and 31b, and the second line segment L2 is the central axes C3 and C4 of the filter elements 51a and 51b. However, any combination may be used to form the line segment. For example, the first line segment L1 is a line segment connecting the center axis C1 of the main pump 31a and the center axis C3 of the first filter element 51a, and the second line segment L2 is the second axis L2 and the center axis C2 of the sub pump 31b. A line segment connecting the center axis C4 of the filter element 51b may be used.

  In the present embodiment, the pump accommodating portions 63a and 63b and the element accommodating portions 64a and 64b are integrally formed. However, the pumps 31a and 31b and the filter elements 51a accommodated in the accommodating portions 63a to 64b, respectively. , 51b may be formed in four substantially cylindrical shapes that are independent from each other as long as they are installed in the sub tank 21 as described above.

  As shown in FIG. 4, a fuel inflow portion (not shown) connected to the discharge ports 34 a and 34 b of the pumps 31 a and 31 b housed in the pump housing portions 63 a and 63 b is formed at the upper end portion of the case 60. Has been. The fuel inflow portion extends toward the upper end surface and opens at the upper end surface. The case 60 is formed with a passage portion 67 for supplying a part of the fuel discharged from the sub pump 31b to the pumping jet pump 36 described later to the pumping jet pump 36 described later. The passage portion 67 is connected to the upstream side of the check valve built in the discharge port 34b.

  As shown in FIG. 3, a fuel passage portion 66 connected to the downstream side of the passage portion 67 is formed on the side wall of the case 60. A tube 38 that supplies fuel to the ejection member 37 that is a part of the components of the pumping jet pump 36 is connected to the fuel passage portion 66. The ejection member 37 is attached to the outside of the sub tank 21 so that the fuel ejected from the ejection member 37 faces the opening 27 formed in the bottom of the sub tank 21 (see FIG. 4).

  When a part of the fuel discharged from the discharge ports 34 a and 34 b is ejected from the ejection member 37, the fuel present around the opening 27 of the sub tank 21 is dragged by the flow of fuel ejected from the ejection member 37. Then, it flows into the sub tank 21 through the opening 27. In FIG. 1, a path from the portion branched from the discharge port 34 b (the passage portion 67 formed in the case 60 in FIG. 4) to the ejection member 37 is illustrated as the flow path 101.

  As shown in FIGS. 2 to 4, a cover 90 is attached to the upper end portion of the case 60. As shown in FIG. 4, the cover 90 covers the fuel inflow portions of both pumps 31 a and 31 b and also covers the inlet portions of the first and second filter elements 51 a and 51 b housed in the case 60. . Thereby, a space is formed between the upper end surface of the case 60 and the inside of the cover 90, and the discharge ports 34a and 34b communicate with the inlet portions of the first and second filter elements 51a and 51b. In FIG. 1, this space is illustrated as a flow path 100. In the present embodiment, the elements 60a and 64b side portions of the case 60 and the cover 90 correspond to the filter case described in the claims.

  FIG. 5 shows a cross section taken along line VV in FIG. Above the first and second filter elements 51a and 51b, a common inlet portion 68 for supplying fuel to the inlet portions of the first and second filter elements 51a and 51b on the upper end surface of the case 60 and the inside of the cover 90. Form. The common inlet portion 68 communicates with the above-described space, and the fuel discharged from the discharge ports 34a and 34b flows in. The fuel that has flowed into the common inlet portion 68 flows into the inlet portions of the filter elements 51a and 51b.

  Since the common inlet portion 68 and the inlet portions of the filter elements 51a and 51b communicate with each other, the fuel flowing into the common inlet portion 68 flows into the filter elements 51a and 51b almost evenly. For this reason, it can suppress that the lifetime of any one filter element 51a becomes shorter than the lifetime of the other filter element 51b. Further, since it is not necessary to provide a fuel passage individually for each filter element 51a, 51b, the structure of the fuel supply device 10 can be simplified.

  Here, the diameters of the first and second filter elements 51a and 51b are determined by the fuel discharge capacity of the main pump 31a and the sub pump 31b. The diameters of the first and second filter elements 51a and 51b are large enough to secure the filtration area necessary for filtering the fuel when both the pumps 31a and 31b are driven. .

  In addition, a common outlet 69 is formed at the lower end of each of the element storage portions 64a and 64b to collect fuel flowing out from the first and second filter elements 51a and 51b in one place. An opening 70 is formed at the bottom of the common outlet 69. As shown in FIG. 3, a feed tube connecting portion 71 that supplies fuel to the feed tube 35 is connected to the opening 70.

  The feed tube 35 connects the feed tube connecting portion 71 and the fuel discharge pipe 17. The fuel that has flowed out of the fuel filter 50 is guided to the fuel discharge pipe 17 through the feed tube connecting portion 71 and the feed tube 35 and discharged toward the engine 11.

  A pressure regulator 52 that adjusts the pressure of the fuel in the common outlet 69 and the feed tube connecting portion 71 is connected to the lower side of the feed tube connecting portion 71. This eliminates the need to prepare the pressure regulator 52 for each of the main pump 31a and the sub pump 31b. For this reason, compression of the space in the limited sub tank 21 by the number of the pressure regulators 52 increasing can be suppressed.

  The pressure regulator 52 is formed with a discharge port 53 for discharging surplus fuel generated when the fuel pressure is adjusted. A tube 54 for supplying fuel to the transfer jet pump 40 for transfer is connected to the discharge port 53.

  As shown in FIG. 1, the transfer jet pump 40 includes an ejection member 41, an inflow pipe 42, and an outflow pipe 43. In the present embodiment, as shown in FIGS. 3 and 4, the transfer jet pump 40 is different from the direction (left side in the drawing) in which the second line segment L <b> 2 is shifted with respect to the first line segment L <b> 1. It is installed in a space 72 formed between the outer wall surface of the element housing portion 64 b that houses the second filter element 51 b installed in the opposite direction and the inner peripheral wall of the sub tank 21. The space 72 corresponds to the first or second space described in the claims.

  In addition, the transfer jet pump 40 is installed vertically along the depth direction of the sub chamber 24 as shown in FIGS. 1 and 3. When the jet pump 40 is installed vertically, the diameter of the sub tank 21 can be reduced as compared with the case where it is installed horizontally.

  As shown in FIG. 1, the ejection member 41 is connected to a tube 54, and ejects fuel with surplus fuel directed toward the bottom of the sub chamber 24. The outflow pipe 43 is installed substantially coaxially with the ejection member 41, receives the fuel ejected from the ejection member 41, and flows out toward the bottom of the sub chamber 24. The inflow pipe 42 communicates between the fuel passage portion 25 and the above-described ejection member 41 and the outflow pipe 43.

  When fuel is ejected from the ejection member 41, the fuel in the inflow pipe 42 is dragged by the flow of fuel ejected from the ejection member 41 and sucked to the outflow pipe 43 side. The sucked fuel flows out from the outflow pipe 43 to the sub chamber 24. In this way, the fuel in the second tank chamber 14 is transferred to the first tank chamber 13 through the transfer tube 44.

  Further, as shown in FIGS. 2 to 4, two side walls of the case 60 are attached to the lid member 16 and support the side portions of the two shafts 80 a and 80 b extending toward the bottom of the fuel tank 12. Shaft support portions 65a and 65b are provided. As shown in FIG. 4, the shaft support portion 65a includes a wall surface outside the pump housing portion 63a that houses the main pump 31a installed in a direction opposite to the direction in which the first line segment L1 is shifted, and a sub tank. It is installed in a space 73 formed between the inner peripheral wall 21. The shaft support portion 65b is located outside the pump housing portion 63b that houses the sub pump 31b installed in a direction (right side in the drawing) in which the first line segment L1 is shifted with respect to the second line segment L2. It is installed in a space formed between the wall surface and the inner peripheral wall of the sub tank 21. These shaft support portions 65 a and 65 b are formed integrally with the case 60. The space 73 corresponds to the first or second space described in the claims.

  According to this configuration, the movement in the horizontal direction when the sub tank 21 and the pump module 30 are accommodated in the fuel tank 12 can be restricted.

  The shafts 80a and 80b are loosely inserted into the respective shaft support portions 65a and 65b. The shafts 80a and 80b are provided with springs 81 that bias the lid member 16 and the pump module 30 away from each other.

  According to this configuration, even if the resin fuel tank 12 expands and contracts due to a change in internal pressure due to a temperature change or a change in the amount of fuel, the bottom 26 of the sub tank 21 can always be pressed against the bottom of the fuel tank 12. It is possible to prevent the sub tank 21 and the pump module 30 from inadvertently moving in the vertical direction.

  Next, the operation of the fuel supply device 10 will be described with reference to FIG. As described above, the fuel supply apparatus 10 includes the main pump 31a and the sub pump 31b. These pumps 31a and 31b are driven and controlled by a control device (not shown).

  For example, the control device determines that the engine 11 requires a large amount of fuel when the engine 11 is started or accelerated, and drives both pumps 31 a and 31 b to supply a large amount of fuel to the engine 11. Further, the control device determines that the engine 11 does not require a large amount of fuel during idle operation, low speed operation, constant speed operation, or low load operation, and in order to supply an appropriate amount of fuel to the engine 11, Only the pump 31a is driven.

  Hereinafter, the operation of the fuel supply device 10 will be described separately when both the pumps 31a and 31b are driven and when only the main pump 31a is driven.

(Main pump 31a and sub pump 31b are driven)
When the main pump 31a and the sub pump 31b are driven, a fuel suction force is generated in both the pumps 31a and 31b, and the fuel in the sub tank 21 flows into the both pumps 31a and 31b through the respective suction filters 55a and 55b. The fuel flowing into both pumps 31a and 31b is pressurized by both pumps 31a and 31b and discharged from the discharge ports 34a and 34b. The fuel discharged from the discharge ports 34 a and 34 b flows into the fuel filter 50 through the flow path 100.

  At this time, part of the fuel discharged from the sub pump 31 b flows into the ejection member 37 through the flow path 101. The fuel that has flowed into the ejection member 37 is injected from the ejection member 37 toward the opening 27 of the sub tank 21, and the fuel outside the sub tank 21 is pumped into the sub tank 21.

  The fuel that has passed through the fuel filter 50 is adjusted to a predetermined pressure by the pressure regulator 52 and flows into the fuel discharge pipe 17 through the feed tube 35. The fuel flowing into the fuel discharge pipe 17 is supplied to the engine 11 through the fuel pipe 20.

  On the other hand, surplus fuel generated when the pressure of the fuel is adjusted by the pressure regulator 52 is supplied to the transfer jet pump 40 via the discharge port 53 and the tube 54. When the transfer jet pump 40 ejects the supplied fuel from the ejection member 41, the fuel in the second tank chamber 14 flows into the sub chamber 24 through the transfer tube 44, the fuel passage portion 25, the inflow pipe 42, and the outflow pipe 43. . The fuel that has flowed into the sub chamber 24 flows over the partition wall 22 and into the main chamber 23.

(Only the main pump 31a is driven)
When the main pump 31a is driven, a fuel suction force is generated only in the main pump 31a, and the fuel in the sub tank 21 flows into the main pump 31a through the suction filters 55a and 55b. The fuel flowing into the main pump 31a is pressurized by the main pump 31a and discharged from the discharge port 34a. The fuel discharged from the discharge port 34 a flows into the fuel filter 50 through the flow path 100.

  The fuel that has passed through the fuel filter 50 is adjusted to a predetermined pressure by the pressure regulator 52 and flows into the fuel discharge pipe 17 through the feed tube 35. The fuel flowing into the fuel discharge pipe 17 is supplied to the engine 11 through the fuel pipe 20.

  On the other hand, surplus fuel generated when the pressure of the fuel is adjusted by the pressure regulator 52 is supplied to the transfer jet pump 40 via the discharge port 53 and the tube 54. When the transfer jet pump 40 ejects the supplied fuel from the ejection member 41, the fuel in the second tank chamber 14 flows into the sub chamber 24 through the transfer tube 44, the fuel passage portion 25, the inflow pipe 42, and the outflow pipe 43. . The fuel that has flowed into the sub chamber 24 flows over the partition wall 22 and into the main chamber 23.

  Next, the function and effect of the characteristic part of the fuel supply device 10 according to the present embodiment will be described.

  In the present embodiment, the main pump 31a, the sub pump 31b, the first and second filter elements 51a, 51b are connected to the first line segment L1 connecting the central axes C1, C2 of the main pump 31a, the sub pump 31b, and the first The second line segments L2 connecting the central axes C3 and C4 of the second filter elements 51a and 51b are arranged so as to be substantially parallel, and these line segments L1 and L2 are either one of the lines. They are installed in the sub-tank 21 so as to be shifted from each other in the minute direction.

  According to this, compared with the case where 1st, 2nd line segment L1, L2 is not mutually shifted in the direction of one line segment, it is between 1st line segment L1 mentioned above and 2nd line segment L2. The distance can be shortened. For this reason, the radius of the circumscribed circle passing through the side walls of the pump accommodating portions 63a and 63b and the element accommodating portions 64a and 64b can be minimized.

  Moreover, in this embodiment, what was conventionally comprised of one filter element is made into two substantially cylindrical filter elements 51a and 51b. For this reason, the shape of the element accommodating portions 64a and 64b that accommodate the filter elements 51a and 51b can be made substantially cylindrical according to the shape of the filter elements 51a and 51b. This makes it easier to ensure the strength of the element accommodating portions 64a and 64b than that of the elliptical shape, and the pressure resistance performance of the fuel filter 50 can be easily ensured.

  As described above, according to the above-described characteristics of the present embodiment, in the fuel supply device 10 including the main pump 31a and the sub pump 31b, the fuel capable of reducing the physique while ensuring the pressure resistance performance of the fuel filter 50. A supply device 10 can be provided.

  In the present embodiment, as described above, the main pump 31a, the sub pump 31b, the first and second filter elements 51a, 51b are installed in the sub tank 21, so that the space between the case 60 and the inner peripheral wall of the sub tank 21 is reduced. Naturally, spaces 72 and 73 (see FIG. 4) are formed.

  In the present embodiment, the transfer jet pump 40 as a functional component of the fuel supply device 10, the shaft 80, and the shaft support portion 65 are installed in the spaces 72 and 73 that are inevitably formed. According to this, since the limited space in the sub tank 21 can be used effectively, the physique of the fuel supply apparatus 10 including functional parts such as the transfer jet pump 40, the shaft 80, and the shaft support portion 65 can be increased. Can be suppressed.

(Second Embodiment)
Next, a second embodiment will be described. Components that are substantially the same as those of the first embodiment are denoted by the same reference numerals, and description thereof is omitted. Here, only characteristic parts of the second embodiment will be described.

  The fuel supply device 10a in the second embodiment shown in FIG. 6 does not include the transfer jet pump 40 provided in the fuel supply device 10 in the first embodiment. In this embodiment, the pressure regulator 52 is accommodated in the space 72 in which the transfer jet pump 40 is accommodated. The pressure regulator 52 is connected to the side portion of the element accommodating portion 64 b or the side portion of the feed tube connecting portion 71 so as to be accommodated in the space 72. According to this configuration, an increase in the size of the fuel supply device 10a due to the pressure regulator 52 can be suppressed.

  Further, according to this configuration, the axial length of the filter elements 51a and 51b can be extended downward by the volume of the pressure regulator 52, and the filtration area can be increased, compared to the case of the first embodiment. it can. For this reason, the diameter of filter element 51a, 51b can be made small compared with the thing of 1st Embodiment.

It is the schematic which showed the outline of the fuel supply apparatus by 1st Embodiment of this invention. It is the side view which showed only the cover member and the pump module among the fuel supply apparatuses shown in FIG. 1, and is the side view seen from the II direction shown in FIG. It is the side view which showed only the cover member and the pump module among the fuel supply apparatus shown in FIG. 1, and is the side view seen from the III direction shown in FIG. FIG. 4 is a top view of the pump module and the sub tank as viewed from the IV direction illustrated in FIGS. FIG. 5 is a cross-sectional view taken along line VV illustrated in FIG. 4. It is a top view which shows the pump module and subtank of the fuel supply apparatus by 2nd Embodiment of this invention.

Explanation of symbols

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 10 Fuel supply apparatus, 11 Engine, 12 Fuel tank, 13 1st tank chamber, 14 2nd tank chamber, 16 Lid member, 17 Fuel discharge pipe, 20 Fuel piping, 21 Sub tank, 22 Bulkhead, 23 Main chamber, 24 Sub chamber , 25 Fuel passage, 26 Bottom, 27 Opening, 30 Pump module, 31a Main pump, 31b Sub pump, 33a Suction port, 33b Suction port, 34a Discharge port, 34b Discharge port, 35 Feed tube, 36 Pump-up jet pump, 37 Jetting member, 38 tube, 40 transfer jet pump, 41 jetting member, 42 inflow pipe, 43 outflow pipe, 44 transfer tube, 50 fuel filter, 51a first filter element, 51b second filter element, 52 pressure regulator, 54 tube, 60 cases, 63 Pump housing portion, 63b Pump housing portion, 64a Element housing portion (first housing portion), 64b Element housing portion (second housing portion), 65 Shaft support portion, 66 Fuel passage portion, 67 passage portion, 68 Common inlet portion, 69 Common outlet portion, 71 Feed tube connecting portion, 72 space, 73 space, 80 shaft, 81 spring, 90 cover, 91 bracket, 100 channel, 101 channel

Claims (8)

In a fuel supply device provided in a fuel tank and supplying fuel in the fuel tank to an external fuel consuming device,
A sub-tank housed in the fuel tank and temporarily storing fuel in the fuel tank;
A first fuel pump that is housed in the sub-tank, sucks fuel in the sub-tank, and discharges the fuel toward the fuel consuming device;
A second fuel pump that is housed in the sub-tank, sucks fuel in the sub-tank, and discharges the fuel toward the fuel consuming device;
A fuel filter that is contained in the sub-tank and that filters the fuel discharged from the first and second fuel pumps,
The fuel filter includes first and second filter element portions that are substantially columnar, and a filter case that includes a first and a second cylindrical housing portion that accommodates the respective filter element portions. And
The first and second fuel pumps and the first and second filter element portions connect two axes among the axes of the first and second fuel pumps and the first and second filter element portions. The first line segment and the second line segment connecting the remaining axis lines are arranged so as to be substantially parallel to each other, and the both line segments are shifted from each other in the direction of one of the line segments. The fuel supply device is installed in the sub tank. The first and second fuel pumps or the first and second filter element portions installed on the opposite side of the direction in which the first line segment is shifted with respect to the second line segment; and The first and second fuel pumps installed on the opposite side to the first space formed between the inner peripheral wall and the direction in which the second line segment is shifted with respect to the first line segment Or at least one of the second spaces formed between the first and second filter element portions and the inner peripheral wall of the sub tank,
2. The fuel supply apparatus according to claim 1, wherein at least one functional component accommodated in the sub tank of the fuel supply apparatus is installed. The fuel tank has a plurality of tank chambers,
The sub tank is installed in a first tank chamber of the plurality of tank chambers,
A suction force is generated by supplying a part of the fuel discharged from the first or second fuel pump to the sub tank, and the suction force of the second tank chamber of the plurality of tank chambers is generated by the suction force. Contains a jet pump for transferring fuel to the first tank chamber;
The fuel supply device according to claim 2, wherein the functional component installed in the first and second spaces is the jet pump. A pressure regulator that adjusts the pressure of the fuel contained in the sub tank and discharged from the first and second fuel pumps to a predetermined pressure;
4. The fuel supply device according to claim 2, wherein the functional component installed in the first and second spaces is the pressure regulator. 5. An opening for inserting the fuel supply device into the fuel tank is formed on the upper wall of the fuel tank,
A lid member that closes the opening, a shaft that connects the lid member and the sub tank, and a shaft support member that is housed in the sub tank and supports the sub tank side end of the shaft;
5. The fuel supply device according to claim 2, wherein the functional components installed in the first and second spaces are the shaft and the shaft support member. 6.   The filter case receives the fuel from the first and second fuel pumps on the inlet side and distributes the fuel to the first and second filter element parts, and the first and second filter element parts on the outlet side. The fuel supply device according to any one of claims 1 to 5, further comprising a common outlet portion that receives fuel that has passed through the fuel tank. A pressure regulator that adjusts the pressure of the fuel contained in the sub tank and discharged from the first and second fuel pumps to a predetermined pressure;
The fuel supply device according to claim 6, wherein the pressure regulator is connected to a downstream side of the common outlet portion.   8. The fuel supply device according to claim 1, wherein lower ends of the first and second fuel pumps are supported by one bracket. 9.

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