JP5847642B2 - Filter device - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention mainly relates to a filter device installed in a fuel tank of a vehicle such as an automobile or a two-wheeled automobile.

  In this type of filter device, for example, a bag-like filter member that filters fuel sucked into a fuel inlet provided in the fuel tank, and surplus fuel returned to the fuel tank is stored and overflowed. Some have a bottomed fuel reservoir for returning fuel into the fuel tank. In addition, when the remaining amount of fuel in the fuel tank decreases, a fuel reservoir is provided above the range where the filter member extends so that excess fuel overflowing from the fuel reservoir is dropped onto the filter member. (For example, refer to Patent Document 1).

JP 2004-137904 A

  According to the conventional example (see Patent Document 1), since the fuel overflowing from the fuel reservoir is dropped onto the filter member, the amount of surplus fuel flowing into the fuel reservoir and the amount of fuel stored in the fuel reservoir are There was a problem that the operation time of the internal combustion engine so-called engine was short. For example, if an attempt is made to increase the amount of fuel stored by increasing the size of the fuel reservoir, the blind spot with respect to the filter member below the fuel reservoir increases, which limits the amount of fuel stored in the fuel reservoir and increases the fuel reservoir. Since the amount of surplus fuel flowing into the part is small, it takes time to fill the fuel reservoir with the surplus fuel in a full tank state. Therefore, the time during which the engine can be operated has to be shortened.

  The problem to be solved by the present invention is to provide a filter device capable of extending the operable time of the engine.

A first invention includes a bag-like filter member that filters fuel sucked into a fuel inlet provided in a fuel tank, and a bottomed fuel storage tank that stores fuel, and the fuel storage tank At least one communication hole penetrating the bottom is formed in the bottom of the fuel storage tank so that fuel in the tank can be supplied from the communication hole to the upper surface of the filter member, and fuel outside the tank can be supplied from the communication hole to the tank. It is arranged to be able to flow in. According to this configuration, when the remaining amount of fuel in the fuel tank decreases, the fuel outside the fuel storage tank can flow into the tank through the communication hole and be stored. Further, the fuel in the fuel storage tank can be supplied from the communication hole to the upper surface of the filter member. Therefore, in comparison with the conventional example in which surplus fuel is stored in the fuel reservoir and the fuel overflowing from the fuel reservoir is dropped on the filter member, the amount of fuel flowing into the fuel reservoir and the fuel reservoir in the fuel reservoir Can be increased. For this reason, it is possible to extend the time during which the engine can be operated.

According to a second invention, in the first invention, the communication hole at the bottom of the fuel storage tank satisfies the relationship of A <B, where A is the opening area on the upper surface side and B is the opening area on the lower surface side. Is formed. Therefore, the inflow speed of fuel from the outside of the fuel storage tank to the inside of the tank can be increased. Moreover, the outflow of the fuel in a fuel storage tank can be suppressed.

In a third aspect based on the second aspect, the communication hole at the bottom of the fuel storage tank has an inclined surface that gradually changes the opening area. Therefore, the fuel outside the fuel storage tank can be smoothly flowed into the tank.

According to a fourth invention, in any one of the first to third inventions, the fuel storage tank is formed in a lid shape. Therefore, for example, in a coverless fuel storage tank, it is possible to prevent the fuel from jumping out of the tank from the upper opening of the fuel storage tank, which occurs when the vehicle suddenly turns or suddenly accelerates or decelerates.

According to a fifth invention, in any one of the first to fourth inventions, the lid portion of the fuel storage tank is formed with at least one communication hole penetrating the lid portion. Therefore, when the fuel remaining amount in the fuel tank decreases, when the fuel flows into the tank from the communication hole at the bottom of the fuel storage tank, the air in the tank is discharged from the communication hole in the lid. For this reason, a fuel can be rapidly flowed in in a fuel storage tank. Further, when the remaining amount of fuel in the fuel tank decreases, the fuel outside the fuel storage tank can be stored by flowing into the tank from the communication hole of the lid.

In a sixth aspect of the present invention, in any one of the first to fifth aspects, the surplus fuel returned to the fuel tank is introduced into the fuel storage tank. Therefore, surplus fuel can be stored in the fuel storage tank. For this reason, fuel shortage in the fuel storage tank can be prevented, and surplus fuel can be supplied to the filter member. As a result, the engine operable time can be further extended.

1 is a perspective view showing a fuel supply device according to Embodiment 1. FIG. It is a front view which shows a fuel supply apparatus. It is a right view which shows a fuel supply apparatus. It is right side sectional drawing which shows a fuel supply apparatus. It is a perspective view which shows a filter apparatus. It is a top view which shows a filter apparatus. FIG. 7 is a cross-sectional view taken along line VII-VII in FIG. 6. It is a perspective view which decomposes | disassembles and shows a filter apparatus. It is a perspective view which shows the bottom face side of a fuel storage tank. It is sectional drawing which shows the communicating hole of the tank main body of a fuel storage tank. It is sectional drawing which shows the communicating hole of the cover member of a fuel storage tank. It is sectional drawing which shows the communicating hole of the tank main body of the fuel storage tank concerning Embodiment 2. FIG. It is sectional drawing which shows the communicating hole of the tank main body of the fuel storage tank concerning Embodiment 3. FIG. It is sectional drawing which shows the communicating hole of the tank main body of the fuel storage tank concerning Embodiment 4. It is sectional drawing which shows the communicating hole of the tank main body of the fuel storage tank concerning Embodiment 5.

  DESCRIPTION OF EMBODIMENTS Hereinafter, embodiments for carrying out the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.

[Embodiment 1]
Embodiment 1 will be described. The filter device of this embodiment is modularized in the fuel supply device. The fuel supply device is attached to a fuel tank mounted on a vehicle or the like, and supplies fuel to an internal combustion engine so-called engine (specifically, an injector). For convenience of description, the filter device will be described after the outline of the fuel supply device is described. 1 is a perspective view showing a fuel supply device, FIG. 2 is a front view, FIG. 3 is a right side view, and FIG. 4 is a right side sectional view. The fuel supply device will be described with reference to the vertical and horizontal directions in the front view of FIG.

  As shown in FIG. 2, the fuel tank 12 to which the fuel supply device 10 is attached is a hollow container that stores fuel. The fuel tank 12 has an upper wall 12a and a bottom wall 12b that are parallel in the vertical direction. The upper wall 12a has an opening 12c formed of a circular opening hole. Although not shown, the fuel tank 12 of the present embodiment is, for example, a bowl-shaped container in which the internal space is divided into a main chamber and a sub chamber by a raised portion formed on the bottom wall 12b. A fuel supply device 10 is disposed in the main chamber of the fuel tank 12.

  The fuel supply device 10 includes a disk-shaped set plate 14 that closes the opening 12 c of the fuel tank 12. A movable plate 16 (see FIG. 1) is connected to the lower surface side of the set plate 14 so as to be movable horizontally. The movable plate 16 is pressed onto the bottom wall 12b of the fuel tank 12 by the elasticity of the spring 17 (see FIG. 1) (see FIG. 3).

  As shown in FIG. 1, a pump holder 19 is provided on the movable plate 16. A fuel pump 20 is housed horizontally in the pump holder 19. The fuel pump 20 is a Wesco-type electric pump having an electric motor unit and an impeller pump unit. Although not shown, the fuel pump 20 includes a suction port for sucking fuel into the pump unit, a discharge port for discharging fuel through the motor unit, and a vapor jet for discharging fuel including vapor (vapor fuel) from the pump unit. Have. The fuel pump 20 is disposed with the suction port and the vapor jet directed forward and the discharge port directed rearward.

  The pump holder 19 has a fuel inlet pipe 22 connected to the suction port of the fuel pump 20. The fuel inlet pipe 22 is connected to a filter device 24 (specifically, a filter member 50) as an intake filter for filtering the fuel sucked into the fuel pump 20. The filter device 24 will be described later. The pump holder 19 also has a fuel outlet pipe 26 connected to the discharge port of the fuel pump 20. One end of a discharge side piping member 27 is connected to the fuel outlet pipe 26. The suction port and the fuel inlet pipe 22 of the fuel pump 20 correspond to the “suction port” in this specification.

  A jet pump 29 is provided on the movable plate 16. The jet pump 29 (specifically, the fuel inlet) and the vapor jet of the fuel pump 20 are connected via a vapor fuel supply pipe 30. One end of a fuel transfer pipe 31 is connected to the jet pump 29 (specifically, a fuel suction port). The other end (see FIG. 2) of the fuel transfer pipe 31 is communicated with the bottom of the sub-chamber of the fuel tank 12 via a transfer piping member (not shown). The jet pump 29 uses the flow of fuel discharged from the vapor jet of the fuel pump 20 to transfer the fuel in the sub chamber of the fuel tank 12 into the main chamber via the transfer piping member and the fuel transfer pipe 31.

  As shown in FIG. 4, the set plate 14 is provided with a fuel filter 33 as a high-pressure filter that filters fuel (high-pressure fuel) discharged from the fuel pump 20. The fuel filter 33 has a filter element (not shown) built in a filter case 34 formed on the set plate 14. The other end of the discharge side piping member 27 (see FIG. 3) is connected to the filter case 34 (specifically, the fuel inlet). The fuel discharged from the fuel pump 20 flows into the fuel filter 33 through the discharge side piping member 27 and is filtered.

  As shown in FIG. 4, a fuel discharge passage 36 and a fuel discharge port 37 are formed in the set plate 14. The filter case 34 (specifically, the fuel outlet) and the fuel discharge port 37 are communicated with each other via a fuel discharge passage 36. Although not shown, the fuel discharge port 37 is connected to a fuel supply passage connected to the engine (specifically, an injector). The fuel filtered by the fuel filter 33 is discharged from the fuel discharge port 37 to the fuel supply passage through the fuel discharge passage 36.

  A pressure regulator 39 is incorporated in the fuel discharge passage 36. In addition, an excess fuel passage 40 and an excess fuel discharge port 41 are formed in the set plate 14. The surplus fuel passage 40 and the surplus fuel discharge port 41 are in communication. The pressure regulator 39 adjusts the pressure of the fuel flowing through the fuel discharge passage 36, that is, the pressure of the fuel supplied to the engine, to a predetermined pressure, and the surplus fuel, that is, the surplus fuel is supplied to the surplus fuel discharge port via the surplus fuel passage 40. To 41.

  As shown in FIG. 1, a cut-off valve 43 is provided on the set plate 14. The cut-off valve 43 includes a float valve (not shown) in a valve case 44 formed on the set plate 14. The set plate 14 is formed with an evaporation port 45 communicating with a valve case 44 (specifically, an evaporated fuel outlet). Although not shown, the evaporation port 45 is connected to an evaporated fuel passage connected to the canister. The cut-off valve 43 is normally in an open state, and causes the evaporated fuel generated in the fuel tank 12 to flow out to the canister. On the other hand, when the vehicle is tilted or falls, the cutoff valve 43 is closed to prevent the fuel in the fuel tank 12 from flowing out. The set plate 14 is provided with an electrical connector 47. The electrical connector 47 is connected to an external connector that supplies power from an external power source to the motor unit of the fuel pump 20.

  Next, the operation of the fuel supply device 10 will be described. When the fuel pump 20 is driven, the fuel in the fuel tank 12 is filtered through a filter device 24 (specifically, a filter member 50), which will be described later, and then sucked into the fuel pump 20. The fuel sucked into the fuel pump 20 is pressurized and then flows into the fuel filter 33 through the fuel outlet pipe 26 and is filtered. The filtered fuel passes through the fuel discharge passage 36 and is discharged from the fuel discharge port 37. The fuel discharged from the fuel discharge port 37 is supplied to the engine via the fuel supply passage. Further, the pressure of the fuel in the fuel discharge passage 36 is adjusted to a predetermined pressure by the pressure regulator 39. At this time, surplus fuel discharged from the pressure regulator 39 passes through the surplus fuel passage 40 and is discharged from the surplus fuel discharge port 41. However, in this embodiment, surplus fuel is introduced into the fuel storage tank 52 (described later).

Next, the filter device 24 will be described. 5 is a perspective view showing the filter device, FIG. 6 is also a plan view, FIG. 7 is a sectional view taken along line VII-VII in FIG. 6, FIG. 8 is an exploded perspective view showing the filter device, and FIG. It is a perspective view which shows the bottom face side of a tank.
As shown in FIG. 5, the filter device 24 includes a filter member 50 and a fuel storage tank 52. The filter member 50 is formed in a bag shape from a nonwoven fabric, a mesh material, a filter paper, a knitted fabric, etc., for example. The outer shape of the filter member 50 is formed in an L-shaped flat plate shape (see FIG. 8). The filter member 50 is a horizontal state in which the thickness direction of the flat outer shape, that is, the flat plate-shaped outer shape is directed in the vertical direction, and surrounds the front side portion and the right side portion of the movable plate 16 with a predetermined interval therebetween, It arrange | positions on the wall 12b (refer FIG. 4). The lower surface of the filter member 50 is in contact with the bottom wall 12b in surface contact. Although not shown, a resin frame member for holding the filter member 50 in an enormous state is housed inside the filter member 50.

  As shown in FIG. 8, a resin connecting pipe 54 that communicates the inside and outside of the filter member 50 is provided at the left end portion of the upper surface 50 a of the filter member 50. Further, a resin-made rectangular block-shaped engaging member 56 is provided at the right end of the upper surface of the filter member 50. The connecting pipe 54 and the engaging member 56 are integrated with the frame member built in the filter member 50. The fuel inlet pipe 22 of the pump holder 19 is connected to the connecting pipe 54 by a snap fit (see FIG. 1).

  The fuel storage tank 52 is formed in a lid shape, and a resin tank body 58 formed in a bottomed rectangular box shape having an open upper surface, and a resin lid member 60 that closes the upper surface of the tank body 58. (See FIG. 8). The lid member 60 has a lid wall 60a that closes the upper opening surface of the tank body 58, and is attached to the tank body 58 by snap fitting (see FIG. 7). The bottom wall 58a of the tank body 58 and the lid wall 60a of the lid member 60 are horizontal and parallel to each other. A planar C-shaped connecting portion 62 (see FIG. 8) having an opening at the rear is formed on the left side surface of the tank body 58. The connecting part 62 is formed so as to be attachable to the connecting pipe 54 of the filter member 50 from the front by a snap fit. Further, an engagement groove 63 extending in the front-rear direction and opening the lower surface is formed at the right end portion of the bottom wall 58a of the tank body 58 (see FIG. 9). The engagement groove 63 and the engagement member 56 (see FIG. 8) of the filter member 50 are formed to be engageable in the front-rear direction.

  The tank body 58 attaches the connecting portion 62 to the connecting pipe 54 of the filter member 50 by snap fitting from the front thereof, and engages the engaging groove 63 with the engaging member 56 of the filter member 50. (See FIG. 7). Thereby, the upper surface 50a of the filter member 50 and the bottom wall 58a (specifically, the lower surface) of the tank body 58 are opposed to each other with a slight gap 65 therebetween. In addition, an appropriate number of spherical projections 67 are formed in a distributed manner on the lower surface of the bottom wall 58a of the tank body 58 (see FIG. 9). The protrusion 67 is in contact with or close to the upper surface 50 a of the filter member 50, and holds a gap 65 between the upper surface 50 a of the filter member 50 and the lower surface of the bottom wall 58 a of the tank body 58. The bottom wall 58a of the tank body 58 corresponds to the “bottom” in this specification. Further, the lid wall 60a of the lid member 60 corresponds to a “lid portion” in the present specification. Further, the shape, number, arrangement, and the like of the protrusions 67 can be changed as appropriate.

  As shown in FIG. 9, at the center of the bottom wall 58a of the tank body 58, an appropriate number of circular holes (one is shown in this embodiment) penetrating the bottom wall 58a in the thickness direction (vertical direction). Communication hole (referred to as “lower communication hole”) 70 is formed. FIG. 10 is a cross-sectional view showing the communication hole (lower communication hole) of the tank body of the fuel storage tank. As shown in FIG. 10, the lower communication hole 70 has an upper half straight hole 70a and a lower half tapered hole 70b concentrically. The tapered hole portion 70b has a tapered inclined surface 70c that gradually increases the hole diameter downward from the straight hole portion 70a side. Thus, the lower communication hole 70 is formed so as to satisfy the relationship of A <B, where A is the opening area on the upper surface side and B is the opening area on the lower surface side. The inclined surface 70c corresponds to “an inclined surface that gradually changes the opening area” in the present specification. Further, at least one lower communication hole 70 may be provided, and two or more lower communication holes 70 may be provided.

  As shown in FIG. 5, the lid wall 60a of the lid member 60 has an appropriate number (three in this embodiment) of circular communication holes penetrating the lid wall 60a in the thickness direction (vertical direction). 72 (referred to as “upper communication hole”) is formed. The upper communication holes 72 are arranged in a distributed manner on the lid wall 60 a of the lid member 60. FIG. 11 is a cross-sectional view showing the communication hole (upper communication hole) of the lid member of the fuel storage tank. As shown in FIG. 11, the upper communication hole 72 has a hole shape obtained by vertically inverting the lower communication hole 70, and the lower half straight hole 72a and the upper half tapered hole 72b are concentric. It has a shape. The tapered hole portion 72b has a tapered inclined surface 72c that gradually increases the diameter of the hole from the straight hole portion 72a side upward. Thus, the upper communication hole 72 is formed so as to satisfy the relationship of A> B, where A is the opening area on the upper surface side and B is the opening area on the lower surface side. The inclined surface 72c corresponds to “an inclined surface that gradually changes the opening area” in the present specification. The upper communication hole 72 may be at least one.

  As shown in FIG. 5, an excess fuel inflow port 74 is formed on the rear side surface of the tank body 58. The surplus fuel inflow port 74 and the surplus fuel discharge port 41 of the set plate 14 are connected via a surplus fuel supply pipe 75 (see FIG. 4). Therefore, the surplus fuel discharged (discharged) from the pressure regulator 39 to the surplus fuel discharge port 41 via the surplus fuel passage 40 is supplied from the surplus fuel inflow port 74 into the fuel storage tank 52 via the surplus fuel supply pipe 75. be introduced.

  According to the filter device 24 described above, when the remaining amount of fuel in the fuel tank 12 decreases, the fuel outside the fuel storage tank 52 can flow into the tank from the lower communication hole 70 and be stored. Specifically, when the fuel storage tank 52 is not full, the fuel level in the fuel tank 12 is located below the upper surface of the lid wall 60a of the fuel storage tank 52, and When the fuel level is located above the lower surface of the bottom wall 58a of the tank body 58 (the fuel level in the fuel tank 12 depends on the traveling condition such as turning of the vehicle). The fuel outside the fuel storage tank 52 flows into the tank from the lower communication hole 70 and is stored.

  Further, the fuel in the fuel storage tank 52 can flow down, that is, be supplied from the lower communication hole 70 to the upper surface 50 a of the filter member 50. The fuel supplied to the filter member 50 is filtered by the filter member 50 and then re-inhaled by the fuel pump 20.

  Therefore, in comparison with the conventional example (see Patent Document 1) in which surplus fuel is stored in the fuel reservoir and fuel overflowing from the fuel reservoir is dropped onto the filter member, the amount of fuel flowing into the fuel reservoir and the fuel The amount of fuel stored in the storage tank can be increased. For this reason, it is possible to extend the time during which the engine can be operated. Specifically, in comparison with the conventional example (see Patent Document 1), the fuel flows into the fuel storage tank 52 as compared with the surplus fuel by allowing the fuel outside the tank, that is, the fuel tank, to flow into the fuel storage tank 52. The amount and the amount of fuel stored in the fuel storage tank 52 can be increased. Further, by causing the fuel in the fuel storage tank 52 to flow down from the lower communication hole 70 to the upper surface 50a of the filter member 50, there is no dead angle portion with respect to the upper surface 50a of the filter member 50, and the fuel in the fuel storage tank 52 The amount of storage is hardly limited. Further, it is not necessary to fill the fuel storage tank 52 with the fuel in a full tank state. For this reason, it becomes possible to delay the occurrence of acceleration failure or engine stall due to fuel shortage, thereby extending the time during which the engine can be operated.

  In addition, in order to inject fuel from the outside of the fuel storage tank 52 into the tank and out of the tank from the inside of the tank through the lower communication hole 70, for example, inflow and outflow of fuel are separately performed. Compared to the case, there is no need to provide a check valve or the like, and the configuration can be simplified. Further, even when the vehicle suddenly turns or suddenly accelerates or decelerates, the lower communication hole 70 is immersed in the fuel even when the fuel in the fuel tank 12 is biased. It is possible to flow into the tank from the communication hole 70 and store it. Further, it is also effective in preventing fuel shortage, that is, fuel shortage due to a temporary exposure of the filter member 50 from the fuel due to the bias of the fuel in the fuel tank 12 when the vehicle suddenly turns or suddenly accelerates or decelerates. . This is effective, for example, as a filter device 24 for a vehicle that is used for circuit travel and travel with severe fuel oscillation. The gap 65 between the upper surface 50a of the filter member 50 and the bottom wall 58a of the tank body 58 of the fuel storage tank 52 is a gap that does not hinder the flow of fuel into and out of the tank.

  The communication hole 70 on the lower side of the fuel storage tank 52 is formed so as to satisfy the relationship of A <B, where A is the opening area on the upper surface side and B is the opening area on the lower surface side. Therefore, the inflow speed of fuel from the outside of the fuel storage tank 52 into the tank can be increased. It is obvious that the inflow speed of the fuel into the fuel storage tank 52 is increased by the incompressible fluid continuity formula. Moreover, the outflow of the fuel in the fuel storage tank 52 can be suppressed. Further, the fuel can be held in the fuel storage tank 52 without providing a check valve or the like.

  The communication hole 70 on the lower side of the fuel storage tank 52 has an inclined surface 70c that gradually changes the opening area. Therefore, the fuel outside the fuel storage tank 52 can be smoothly flowed into the tank.

  The fuel storage tank 52 is formed in a lid shape. Therefore, for example, in the uncovered fuel storage tank 52, it is possible to prevent the fuel from jumping out from the upper opening of the tank body 58 of the fuel storage tank 52 that occurs when the vehicle suddenly turns, suddenly accelerates or decelerates, etc. Can do.

  The lid wall 60a of the lid member 60 of the fuel storage tank 52 is formed with at least one upper communication hole 72 that passes through the lid wall 60a. Therefore, when the amount of remaining fuel in the fuel tank 12 decreases, when the fuel flows into the tank from the lower communication hole 70 of the fuel storage tank 52, the air in the tank is discharged from the upper communication hole 72. The For this reason, the fuel can be promptly flowed into the fuel storage tank 52.

  Further, when the remaining amount of fuel in the fuel tank 12 decreases, the fuel outside the fuel storage tank 52 can be stored by flowing into the tank from the upper communication hole 72. Specifically, when the liquid level of the fuel in the fuel tank 12 is located above the upper surface of the lid wall 60a of the lid member 60 of the fuel storage tank 52 in a state where the fuel storage tank 52 is not full (turning of the vehicle, etc.) The fuel level in the fuel tank 12 is located above the upper surface of the lid wall 60a of the lid member 60 of the fuel storage tank 52), the fuel outside the fuel storage tank 52 communicates on the upper side. It flows into the tank from the hole 72 and is stored.

  The upper communication hole 72 is formed so as to satisfy the relationship of A> B, where A is the opening area on the upper surface side and B is the opening area on the lower surface side. Therefore, the inflow speed of fuel from the outside of the fuel storage tank 52 into the tank can be increased. Moreover, the outflow of the fuel in the fuel storage tank 52 can be suppressed. The upper communication hole 72 has an inclined surface 72c that gradually changes the opening area. Therefore, the fuel outside the fuel storage tank 52 can be smoothly flowed into the tank.

  The surplus fuel returned to the fuel tank 12 is introduced into the fuel storage tank 52. Accordingly, surplus fuel can be stored in the fuel storage tank 52. Further, when the remaining amount of fuel in the fuel tank 12 decreases, particularly when the liquid level of the fuel in the fuel tank 12 is located below the lower surface of the bottom wall 58a of the tank body 58 of the fuel storage tank 52 (turning of the vehicle The fuel level in the fuel tank 12 is located below the lower surface of the bottom wall 58a of the tank main body 58 of the fuel storage tank 52), and the excess fuel is stored in the fuel storage tank 52. It can be secured as a fuel to be used. For this reason, fuel shortage in the fuel storage tank 52 can be prevented, and surplus fuel can be supplied to the filter member 50. As a result, the engine operable time can be further extended.

[Embodiment 2]
A second embodiment will be described. Since the present embodiment and the subsequent embodiments are modifications to the first embodiment, the changed portions will be described, and duplicate descriptions will be omitted. FIG. 12 is a cross-sectional view showing the communication hole (lower communication hole) of the tank body of the fuel storage tank.
As shown in FIG. 12, in this embodiment, the straight hole portion 70a in the lower communication hole 70 of the fuel storage tank 52 of the first embodiment is omitted, and the lower communication hole 70 is formed only by the tapered hole portion 70b. It is a thing.

[Embodiment 3]
A third embodiment will be described. FIG. 13 is a cross-sectional view showing the communication hole (lower communication hole) of the tank body of the fuel storage tank.
As shown in FIG. 13, in the present embodiment, the tapered inclined surface 70c in the lower communication hole 70 of the first embodiment is changed to an inclined surface 70d having a concave arcuate cross section.

[Embodiment 4]
A fourth embodiment will be described. FIG. 14 is a cross-sectional view showing the communication hole (lower communication hole) of the tank body of the fuel storage tank.
As shown in FIG. 14, in the present embodiment, a tapered hole portion 70b is formed in the upper half portion of the lower communication hole 70 of the first embodiment, and a straight hole portion 70a is formed in the lower half portion thereof. .

[Embodiment 5]
A fifth embodiment will be described. FIG. 15 is a cross-sectional view showing the communication hole (lower communication hole) of the tank body of the fuel storage tank.
As shown in FIG. 15, in this embodiment, the tapered inclined surface 70 c in the lower communication hole 70 of the first embodiment is changed to an inclined surface 70 e having a convex arcuate cross section.

  The present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiment, and modifications can be made without departing from the gist of the present invention. For example, the lower communication hole 70 may be formed only by the straight hole portion 70a, or may be formed in a stepped hole shape. Further, the lower communication hole 70 is not limited to a circle, but can be changed to any shape such as a triangle, a quadrangle, an ellipse, an elongated shape, a cross shape, an L shape, a C shape, a T shape, and an irregular shape. can do. Further, the upper communication hole 72 of the lid wall 60a can be variously modified according to the modified example of the lower communication hole 70. In addition to the fuel discharged from the pressure regulator 39, the fuel discharged (discharged) from the vapor jet of the fuel pump 20 can be used as the surplus fuel.

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 10 ... Fuel supply apparatus 12 ... Fuel tank 22 ... Fuel inlet pipe (suction port)
24 ... Filter device 50 ... Filter member 52 ... Fuel reservoir 58 ... Tank body 58a ... Bottom wall 50a ... Upper surface 60 ... Lid member 60a ... Lid wall 70 ... Lower communication hole (communication hole)
70a ... straight hole 70b ... tapered hole 70c ... inclined surface 70d ... inclined surface 70e ... inclined surface 72 ... upper communication hole (communication hole)

Claims (7)

A bag-like filter member that filters fuel sucked into a fuel inlet provided in the fuel tank;
A bottomed fuel storage tank for storing fuel,
At the bottom of the fuel storage tank, at least one communication hole penetrating the bottom is formed,
The fuel storage tank is arranged so that the fuel in the tank can be supplied to the upper surface of the filter member from the communication hole and the fuel outside the tank can flow into the tank from the communication hole ,
The upper surface of the filter member and the bottom of the fuel storage tank are opposed to each other with a gap between them,
The filter device is characterized in that the gap communicates with the outside of the fuel storage tank inside the fuel tank and with the inside of the tank through a communication hole at the bottom of the fuel storage tank . The filter device according to claim 1,
The filter device, wherein a protrusion for holding the gap is formed at the bottom of the fuel storage tank. The filter device according to claim 1 or 2 ,
The communication hole at the bottom of the fuel storage tank has an opening area on the upper surface side as A and an opening area on the lower surface side as B.
A <B
The filter device is formed so as to satisfy the relationship. The filter device according to claim 3 ,
The filter device, wherein the communication hole at the bottom of the fuel storage tank has an inclined surface that gradually changes the opening area. The filter device according to any one of claims 1 to 4 ,
The filter device, wherein the fuel storage tank is formed in a lid shape. The filter device according to any one of claims 1 to 5 ,
The filter device according to claim 1, wherein at least one communication hole penetrating the lid portion is formed in the lid portion of the fuel storage tank. The filter device according to any one of claims 1 to 6 ,
A filter device characterized in that surplus fuel returned to the fuel tank is introduced into the fuel storage tank.

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