JP4895296B2 - Filler neck - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention relates to a filler neck that has a fuel filler opening and communicates with a fuel tank for a vehicle or the like.

  Conventionally, as shown in FIG. 7, as shown in FIG. 7, a filler neck 91 for receiving a fuel gun is provided between a fuel filler port and a fuel tank of a vehicle. The filler neck 91 includes a neck body 92 having an inlet 920 for supplying fuel and an inlet tube connecting cylinder 921 for supplying fuel and a breather tube connecting cylinder 923 for discharging fuel vapor on the upstream side, and a neck body. A retainer 93 having a fuel gun holding port 933 for partitioning an upstream side and a downstream side on the inner peripheral side of 92 and holding a fuel gun and a steam discharge port 934 for discharging fuel vapor is provided. An inlet tube and a breather tube are inserted into the inlet tube connecting tube portion 921 and the breather tube connecting tube portion 923, respectively, and these tubes are connected to the fuel tank. When fuel is supplied to the fuel tank through the filler neck and the inlet tube, the fuel tank is filled with fuel vapor. This fuel vapor is supplied to the filler neck 91 via the breather tube.

  Here, the supplied fuel merges with the fuel vapor derived from the breather tube at the filler neck 91. For this reason, in the filler neck 91 at the time of refueling, the supply of fuel and the release of fuel vapor in the direction reverse to the fuel supply direction are performed simultaneously in parallel. For this reason, there is a possibility that the fuel splash contained in the fuel vapor discharged in the reverse direction will blow out from the fuel filler opening. In order to prevent the fuel splash from blowing back, in Patent Document 1, the breather tube connecting tube portion 923 and the vapor discharge port 934 of the retainer 93 are offset from each other in the circumferential direction of the neck body 92. In this configuration, when fuel droplets are released upward from the breather tube connecting tube portion 923, the fuel vapor collides with the retainer 93, the fuel splashes bounce downward, and only the fuel vapor is refueled from the vapor discharge port 934. It is discharged to the outside through the mouth 920.

  However, even if the breather tube connection cylinder portion 923 and the steam discharge port 934 of the retainer 93 are offset, the breather tube connection cylinder portion 923, the vapor discharge port 934, and the oil supply port 920 are arranged in a straight line in an oblique direction. Has been. For this reason, as shown by an arrow A in FIG. 7, when fuel splashes are scattered in an oblique direction from the breather tube connecting tube portion 923, a part of the fuel droplets is discharged to the outside through the vapor discharge port 934. There is a fear.

  Further, in order to prevent the spray of fuel from blowing back, FIG. 1 of Patent Document 2 shows the fuel from the breather hose (15) between the breather hose connection port (16) and the canister hose connection port (18). It is shown that a mist flow blocking ridge (20) is provided in a direction orthogonal to the mist flow. However, in this case, since the mist flow prevention ridge (20) protrudes into the canister hose connection port (18), there is a possibility of interfering with the tip of the inserted fuel gun.

Further, in FIG. 1 of Patent Document 3, a chamber (8) for circulating air in the circumferential direction is formed on the outer periphery of the receiving mechanism (4) that receives the fuel gun (5), and is provided in the receiving mechanism (4). It is disclosed that fuel vapor is discharged to the outside through the opening (9). However, when the fuel splashes are scattered in the circumferential direction, there is a risk that the fuel splashes to the outside from the opening (9).
JP 2003-80959 A (paragraph numbers “0014” to “0028”, FIG. 1) Japanese Utility Model Publication No. 3-32521 (pages 5-8, Fig. 1) JP 55-164525 A (pages 6-7, FIG. 1)

  This invention is made | formed in view of this situation, and it aims at providing the filler neck which can suppress the external discharge | release of a fuel splash.

In order to solve the above-mentioned problem, the invention according to claim 1 is characterized in that a fuel gun is inserted during refueling and a filler neck that discharges surplus fuel vapor in the fuel tank, wherein a fuel filler opening is opened upstream. A neck body having an inlet tube connecting tube portion and a breather tube connecting tube portion substantially parallel to the inlet tube connecting tube portion on the downstream side, and the upstream side and the downstream side on the inner peripheral side of the neck body And a junction chamber in which one end of the inlet tube connecting tube portion and one end of the breather tube connecting tube portion are opened is formed on the downstream side of the neck body defined by the retainer. The fuel vapor is supplied to the junction chamber from the breather tube connecting tube portion, and the retainer connects the fuel filler port and the inlet tube connecting tube portion. Have a fuel gun holding opening through fuel gun is inserted and held, and a steam outlet for releasing open the fuel vapor at a position offset from the axis extension line of the breather tube connecting tube portion to the fuel supply port, wherein An opening portion of the breather tube connection tube portion is formed in the merge chamber, and the merge chamber is formed between the opening portion of the breather tube connection tube portion and the vapor discharge port from the inner wall of the neck body. A baffle plate protrudes along the axial direction of the neck body.

Feature of the invention according to claim 2, one side edge of said baffle plate is fixed to the side wall portion of said neck body, the other side wall portion of the baffle, the said breather tube connecting tube portion steam The fuel vapor supplied to the junction chamber from the breather tube connecting cylinder portion is located on the opposite side of the one side edge portion across the region connecting with the discharge port. Bypassing the other side edge .

Feature of the invention according to claim 3, the upper edge of the baffle plate is positioned in the vicinity of the retainer is to be formed along the retainer.

  According to the invention which concerns on Claim 1, the baffle plate protruded from the inner wall of the neck main body is arrange | positioned between the breather tube connection cylinder part and the vapor | steam discharge port. For this reason, when the fuel vapor containing the fuel splashes scatters from the freezer tube connecting cylinder part, it collides with the baffle plate. For this reason, the fuel splash contained in the fuel vapor is bounced back by the baffle plate. Therefore, it can suppress reliably that a fuel splash is discharge | released from the vapor | steam discharge port of a retainer. Further, the fuel vapor is bounced back to the baffle plate, reaches the vapor discharge port while bypassing the baffle plate, passes through the vapor discharge port, and is discharged to the outside. Therefore, only the fuel vapor is discharged to the outside through the vapor discharge port. Therefore, fuel splashes are not released to the outside.

  According to the second aspect of the present invention, one side edge portion of the baffle plate is fixed to the side wall portion of the neck body, and the other side wall portion connects the breather tube connecting cylinder portion and the vapor discharge port. Therefore, a gap communicating between the breather tube connecting tube portion and the vapor discharge port is not formed on the side of the baffle plate. Therefore, it is possible to reliably prevent the fuel splash from being discharged from the vapor discharge port through the side of the baffle plate.

  According to the invention of claim 3, since the upper edge portion of the baffle plate is located in the vicinity of the retainer and is formed along the retainer, the fuel droplets are discharged from the vapor discharge port through the baffle plate. Can be surely prevented.

  Embodiments of the filler neck of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, the filler neck 1 of the present embodiment is one in which a fuel gun is inserted at the time of refueling and discharges surplus fuel vapor in the fuel tank. And the neck body 2 integrally formed with the inlet tube connecting tube portion 22 and the breather tube connecting tube portion 23 substantially parallel to the inlet tube connecting tube portion 22 on the downstream side, and on the inner peripheral side of the neck body 2 A retainer 3 is provided to partition the upstream side and the downstream side. The retainer 3 communicates with the fuel filler opening 20 and the inlet tube connecting cylinder portion 22 and opens at a position where the fuel gun holding port 33 into which the fuel gun is inserted and held is located on the axis extension line of the breather tube connecting cylinder portion 22 and at the offset. A steam discharge port 34 for discharging steam to the fuel filler port 20 is provided. A baffle plate 27 protruding from the inner wall of the neck body 2 is disposed between the breather tube connecting cylinder portion 22 and the vapor discharge port 34.

  Hereinafter, the filler neck 1 of the present embodiment will be described in more detail.

  As shown in FIG. 1, the neck body 2 is made of resin and has a cylindrical shape. An upper portion of the neck body 2 is provided with a fuel filler opening 20 having an upper end that opens to the outside, and a lower end of the inlet tube connecting tube portion 22 and one end of the breather tube connecting tube portion 23 are opened, and a merge chamber 21 in which these join together. It has. An upper end portion of a retainer 3 to be described later is locked to the opening peripheral edge of the fuel filler opening 20. Below the neck main body 2, a bottom portion 28 that extends in the radial direction and an inclined portion 29 that inclines from the bottom portion 28 toward the side wall portion 26 are formed. A cylindrical inlet tube connecting cylinder portion 22 extends from the bottom portion 28 of the neck body 2. A ring rib 22a having a triangular cross section with an acute angle toward the end edge is provided around the outer peripheral surface of the lower end of the inlet tube connecting cylinder portion 22.

  A breather tube connection tube portion 23 extends from the inclined portion 29 of the neck body 2 substantially parallel to the inlet tube connection tube portion 22. Similarly to the inlet tube connecting tube portion 22, a ring rib 23 a having an acute triangular cross section in the end edge direction is also provided around the outer peripheral surface of the lower end of the breather tube connecting tube portion 23. As shown in FIGS. 1 to 5, a baffle plate 27 protrudes from the inclined portion 29 and the side wall portion 26.

  The baffle plate 27 is disposed between the breather tube connection tube portion 23 and the vapor discharge port 34 closer to the breather tube connection tube portion 23 of the two vapor discharge ports 34 provided in the retainer 3. The baffle plate 27 is disposed in the merge chamber 21 of the neck body 2 and extends from the inclined portion 29 and the side wall portion 26 of the neck body 2 along the axial direction of the neck body 2. The baffle plate 27 is disposed in the middle of the linear path between the opening 231 of the breather tube connecting cylinder part 23 and the vapor discharge port 34 of the retainer 3 and orthogonal to this path. One side edge portion 27 a of the baffle plate 27 is fixed to the side wall portion 26 of the neck body 2, and the other side wall portion 27 b connects between the opening 231 of the breather tube connecting cylinder portion 23 and the vapor discharge port 34. It is located on the opposite side to the side edge portion 27a across the region C (the diagonally rising portion in FIG. 2). Further, as shown in FIG. 5, one side edge portion 27 a of the baffle plate 27 is fixed to the side wall portion 26 of the neck body 2, and the other side edge portion 27 b is the center of the neck body 2 rather than the vapor discharge port 34. Located on the side. The lower edge portion 27 c of the baffle plate 27 is fixed to the inclined portion 29 of the neck body 22, and the upper edge portion 27 d is formed near the bottom wall portion 30 of the retainer 3 and is formed along the back surface of the bottom wall portion 30. ing. The distance L between the upper edge portion 27d and the bottom wall portion 30 is 0 to 3 mm. For this reason, as shown in FIGS. 1 and 3, the baffle plate 27 blocks a linear path between the opening 231 of the breather tube connecting cylinder portion 23 and the vapor discharge port 34.

  As shown in FIG. 4, the side wall portion 26 of the neck body 2 is provided with an engaging portion 261 that is engaged when a fuel cap (not shown) is closed.

  The retainer 3 is made of metal and has a bottomed cylindrical shape, that is, a cup shape. The retainer 3 is disposed so as to cover the fuel filler opening 20 of the neck body 2. The retainer 3 includes a bottom wall portion 30, a side wall portion 31, and an upper end portion 32.

  The bottom wall portion 30 has a disk shape, and defines an upstream oil supply port 20 and a downstream merging chamber 21 on the inner peripheral side of the neck body 2. The bottom wall portion 30 is formed with one oil supply gun holding port 33 and two steam discharge ports 34 having a smaller diameter than the oil supply gun holding port 33. As shown in the top plan view of FIG. 2, the fuel gun holding port 20 has a circular cross section substantially the same as the inlet tube connecting cylinder portion 22 of the neck body 2, and all have the same central axis. The two vapor discharge ports 34 are juxtaposed in the circumferential direction on the bottom wall portion 30 as shown in the top projection view of FIG. 2, and both are shifted in position from the breather tube connecting tube portion 23 of the neck body 2. Offset.

  As shown in FIG. 1, the side wall 31 of the retainer 3 has a cylindrical shape and extends upward from the peripheral edge of the bottom wall 30. On the inner peripheral surface of the side wall portion 31, a crescent-shaped engagement rib 35 that is engaged when a fuel cap (not shown) is closed is formed. The upper end portion 32 of the retainer 3 is expanded in diameter from the side wall portion 31 and is locked to the upper portion of the neck body 2.

  The side wall 31 of the retainer 3 is hermetically sealed to the neck main body 2 by pressing a rubber ring-shaped gasket 39 disposed between the side wall 26 and the side wall 26 of the neck main body 2 against the side wall 26. Is held in. Further, a locking portion (not shown) is provided on the side wall portion 31 of the retainer 3, and is engaged with a locked portion provided on the side wall portion 26 of the neck body 2, so Positioned in the direction. As a result, the fuel gun holding port 33 of the retainer 3 is arranged on substantially the same axis as the inlet tube connecting tube portion 22 of the neck body 2, and the vapor discharge port 34 of the retainer 3 is connected to the breather tube connecting tube portion of the neck body 2. The retainer 3 is positioned with respect to the neck body 2 such that the retainer 3 is offset.

  As shown in FIG. 6, the filler neck 1 according to the present embodiment is fixed to the seal cup 41 and the wheel house outer 42 of the vehicle at a step portion 25 provided around the outer peripheral surface of the side wall portion 26 of the neck body 2. ing. The seal cup 41 has a cup shape that opens above the fuel filler opening 20. The opening peripheral edge of the seal cup 41 is fixed to a side member outer 40 that constitutes a part of the vehicle exterior panel.

  The inlet tube connecting cylinder portion 22 of the filler neck 1 is press-fitted to the upper end of the inlet tube 5. By this press fitting, the top surface of the ring rib 22a is pressed into contact with the inner peripheral surface of the inlet tube 5, and the sealing performance between the inlet tube connecting cylinder portion 22 and the inlet tube 5 is ensured. On the other hand, the lower end of the inlet tube 5 is connected to the fuel tank 7.

  The breather tube connecting cylinder portion 23 of the filler neck 1 is press-fitted to the upper end of the breather tube 6. By this press fitting, the top surface of the ring rib 23 a is pressed against the inner peripheral surface of the breather tube 6, and the sealing performance between the breather tube connecting cylinder portion 23 and the breather tube 6 is ensured. On the other hand, the other end of the breather tube 6 is connected to the fuel tank 7.

  The operation of the filler neck of this embodiment will be described. As shown in FIG. 6, during refueling, the refueling gun 8 is inserted into the refueling port 20 and held by the refueling gun holding port 20. The fuel supplied from the fuel gun 8 is supplied to the fuel tank 7 through the inlet tube connecting cylinder portion 22 and the inlet tube 5. When fuel is supplied to the fuel tank 7, fuel vapor is generated inside the fuel tank 7. The surplus fuel vapor flows into the merge chamber 21 of the neck body 2 through the breather tube 6 and the breather tube connecting cylinder portion 23. The fuel vapor supplied from the breather tube connecting cylinder portion 23 to the merge chamber 21 contains fuel splashes.

  Here, as shown in FIG. 3, the steam discharge port 34 of the retainer 3 is offset with respect to the breather tube connecting cylinder portion 23 in the circumferential direction of the neck body 2. A baffle plate 27 is disposed between the breather tube connecting cylinder portion 23 and the vapor discharge port 34 of the retainer 3. For this reason, most of the fuel vapor 11 flows out of the breather tube connecting cylinder portion 23 in the axial direction of the neck body 2, and therefore collides with the bottom wall portion 30 of the retainer 3 and rebounds. Further, as shown by the one-dot chain line in FIG. 3, even when the fuel vapor 11 flows out from the breather tube connecting cylinder portion 23 in an oblique direction, the fuel vapor 11 collides with the baffle plate 27 and rotates in the reverse direction. Or while circulating around the side edge portion 27b of the baffle plate 27. And it flows out into the retainer 3 from the vapor | steam discharge port 34 to the oil supply port 20, and is discharge | released outside the filler neck 1. FIG. On the other hand, the fuel splash 10 contained in the fuel vapor 11 collides with the baffle plate 27 and is bounced back to the breather tube connecting cylinder portion 23. As described above, even when the fuel vapor 11 including the fuel splash 10 flows in an oblique direction from the opening 231 of the breather tube connecting cylinder portion 23 toward the vapor discharge port 34, the fuel splash 10 bounces back to the baffle plate 27. Thus, the fuel vapor 11 is separated and only the fuel vapor 11 is discharged from the vapor discharge port 34. In this manner, the fuel vapor 11 and the fuel splash 10 are separated by the baffle plate 27, and only the fuel vapor 11 can be discharged from the vapor discharge port 34.

  3 and 5, one side edge portion 27a of the baffle plate 27 is fixed to the side wall portion 26 of the neck body 2, and the other side edge portion 27b of the baffle plate 27 is connected to a breather tube. It is located on the opposite side to the side edge portion 27a across a region C (an upward slanted line portion in FIG. 2) connecting the opening portion 231 of the cylindrical portion 23 and the vapor discharge port 34. Further, the upper edge portion 27 d of the baffle plate 27 is formed along the bottom wall portion 30 in the vicinity of the bottom wall portion 30 of the retainer 3. For this reason, the baffle plate 27 is disposed so as to block the region C between the opening 231 of the breather tube connecting cylinder portion 23 and the vapor discharge port 34, and the fuel droplets 10 are disposed on the side of the baffle plate 27. It can be reliably prevented from being discharged from the vapor discharge port 34 through the upper part.

  In the present embodiment, the two steam discharge ports 34 of the retainer 3 are disposed, but the number of the steam discharge ports 34 may be one or three or more as long as a desired steam passage cross-sectional area can be secured. The position of the vapor discharge port 34 is also arranged on the bottom wall portion 30 in this embodiment, but may be arranged on the side wall portion 31. As in the present embodiment, it is preferable that the vapor discharge ports 34 are offset in the circumferential direction so that the bottom wall portion 30 of the retainer 3 is disposed in the axial extension direction of the breather tube connecting cylinder portion 23. Accordingly, the retainer 3 blocks the breather tube connecting cylinder portion 23 and the vapor discharge port 34 from communicating linearly. Therefore, even if fuel vapor is contained in the fuel vapor from the breather tube connecting cylinder portion 23, most of the fuel splash collides with and adheres to the retainer 3, and the fuel splash is separated from the fuel vapor.

  Furthermore, in this embodiment, the baffle plate 27 is arrange | positioned between the breather tube connection cylinder part 23 and the vapor | steam discharge port 34 offsetly arranged. For this reason, out of the fuel vapor flowing out from the breather tube connecting cylinder portion 23, the fuel vapor flowing out from the breather tube connecting cylinder portion 23 in the axial extension line direction is separated from the fuel splash by the bottom wall portion 30 of the retainer 3. . The fuel vapor that flows in an oblique direction with respect to the axial extension line of the breather tube connecting cylinder portion 23 is separated from the fuel splashes by the baffle plate 27. Therefore, only the fuel vapor can be discharged from the vapor discharge port 34 no matter which direction the fuel vapor flows out from the breather tube connecting tube portion 23.

  Further, although the baffle plate 27 is disposed offset on one side of the two vapor discharge ports 34, it may be disposed offset between the two vapor discharge ports 34.

  Further, the opening 231 of the breather tube connecting cylinder portion 23 is located at the inclined portion 29 of the neck body 2, but may be located at the bottom 28 or the side wall portion 26 of the neck body 2.

  In addition, the baffle plate 27 is integrally extended from the neck body 2, but the baffle plate may be manufactured separately and fixed to the neck body 2 by welding, bonding, or the like. Further, although the baffle plate 27 extends from the inclined portion 29 and the side wall portion 26 of the neck body 2, the baffle plate 27 may extend from only the side wall portion 26. In this case, at least the upper portion 271 (FIG. 5) of the side edge portion 27 a of the baffle plate 27 is preferably fixed to the side wall portion 26. This is because by fixing the upper portion 271 of the side edge portion 27a, it is possible to block the flow of fuel droplets near the vapor discharge port 34, and to effectively prevent the fuel droplets from blowing out from the vapor discharge port 34. .

  Further, the baffle plate 27 of the present embodiment is arranged in a direction perpendicular to the path connecting the opening 231 of the breather tube connecting cylinder portion 23 and the vapor discharge port 34 in a straight line. As long as they can be blocked, they may be arranged in any direction. Furthermore, although the baffle plate 27 of the present embodiment is a flat plate, the baffle plate 27 is not limited to a flat plate as long as it can block the flow of fuel droplets. For example, the baffle plate 27 may be curved in an arc shape.

  Although the embodiments of the present invention have been described above, the present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiments, and various modifications can be made without departing from the spirit of the present invention described in the claims. Of course, it is possible.

It is a filler neck of this invention, Comprising: It is an AA arrow line cross-section perspective view of FIG. It is a top view projection figure of the filler neck of this invention. It is a top view projection figure of the filler neck of this invention, Comprising: It is explanatory drawing which shows the distribution | circulation state of a fuel vapor | steam and a fuel splash. It is the perspective view which looked at the neck body of the present invention from the upper part. It is a BB arrow line sectional view of Drawing 2. It is explanatory drawing for demonstrating the action | operation of the filler neck of this invention. It is an axial cross-sectional perspective view of the filler neck of a prior art example.

Explanation of symbols

1: Filler neck, 2: Neck body, 3: Retainer, 5: Inlet tube, 6: Breather tube, 7: Fuel tank, 10: Fuel splash, 11: Fuel vapor, 20: Refueling port, 21: Junction chamber, 22 : Inlet tube, 23: Breather tube, 26: Side wall part, 27: Baffle plate, 28: Bottom part, 29: Inclined part, 30: Bottom wall part, 31: Side wall part, 32: Upper end part, 33: Refueling gun holding port , 34: Steam outlet

Claims (3)

A filler neck that inserts a refueling gun during refueling and discharges excess fuel vapor in the fuel tank,
A neck body provided with an oil supply port on the upstream side and an inlet tube connecting cylinder part on the downstream side and a breather tube connecting cylinder part substantially parallel to the inlet tube connecting cylinder part,
A retainer for partitioning the upstream side and the downstream side on the inner peripheral side of the neck body,
On the downstream side of the neck body defined by the retainer, a merge chamber is formed in which one end of the inlet tube connecting cylinder portion and one end of the breather tube connecting cylinder portion are opened. Steam is supplied from the breather tube connecting tube,
The retainer communicates with the fuel filler port and the inlet tube connecting cylinder part, and is opened at a position offset from the fuel gun holding port into which the fuel gun is inserted and held, and the axial extension line of the breather tube connecting cylinder part. A steam discharge port for discharging steam to the fuel filler port,
In the merging chamber, an opening of the breather tube connecting cylinder is formed,
A baffle plate protrudes from the inner wall of the neck body along the axial direction of the neck body between the opening of the breather tube connecting tube portion and the vapor discharge port in the junction chamber. Filler neck characterized by. One side edge portion of the baffle plate is fixed to a side wall portion of the neck body, and the other side wall portion of the baffle plate straddles a region connecting the breather tube connecting cylinder portion and the vapor discharge port. And located on the opposite side of the one side edge,
The filler neck according to claim 1, wherein the fuel vapor supplied from the breather tube connecting cylinder portion to the junction chamber bypasses the other side edge portion of the baffle plate.   The filler neck according to claim 1, wherein an upper edge portion of the baffle plate is located in the vicinity of the retainer and is formed along the retainer.

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