JP6036575B2 - Fuel filter device - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention relates to a fuel filter device capable of separating air flowing with fuel from the fuel and discharging it from an air vent.

  2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, there is a fuel filter device in which a filter is accommodated inside a cylindrical portion of a housing and arranged so that an axis of the cylindrical portion is directed in the vertical direction. In such a fuel filter device, an air vent is provided at the top of the housing, and air separated from the fuel at the top of the housing can be discharged to the outside from the air vent (for example, the following patent document) 1).

Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 9-100756

  However, the fuel filter device according to the related art is arranged in a vertically installed posture in which the axis of the cylindrical portion extends in the vertical direction in order to ensure a sufficient space for separating air from the fuel in the upper portion of the housing. For this reason, there is a limitation in the arrangement posture of the fuel filter device, and it is difficult to arrange the fuel filter device in a horizontal posture in which the axis extends in the horizontal direction, and there is a problem that the degree of freedom in arrangement is low.

  The present invention has been made in view of the above points, and an object of the present invention is to provide a fuel filter device capable of separating air from fuel even when arranged in a horizontal posture.

In order to achieve the above object, in the present invention,
A housing chamber (10b) in which a filter body (21) is accommodated and a fuel introduction chamber (10a) formed so that a fuel inlet (14) into the housing faces the space in the housing (10). Partition members (30, 130, 230) for partitioning;
A communication passage portion (35, 135, 235) provided as a through passage penetrating the partition member and communicating between the fuel introduction chamber and the storage chamber;
An air vent (11e) that is formed in the housing so as to face the fuel introduction chamber and exhausts the air in the fuel introduction chamber to the outside of the housing,
With a receiving chamber and the fuel introducing chamber is arranged in the horizontal direction, when the air vent port is located at the top of the fuel introducing chamber, in the horizontal posture,
The communication passage is characterized by being positioned below the central axis (AA) of the cylindrical portion (11a) extending in the direction in which the storage chamber and the fuel introduction chamber are arranged .

  According to this, the fuel introduced into the fuel introduction chamber from the introduction port passes through the communication path portion and flows into the storage chamber in which the filter body is stored. When the apparatus is arranged in the horizontal orientation, the air vent is positioned at the uppermost position around the axis of the cylindrical portion, and the communication path is positioned below the axis. Therefore, the air separated from the fuel by the specific gravity difference in the fuel introduction chamber partitioned from the storage chamber by the partition member can be easily discharged from the air vent. At the same time, the fuel from which the air has been separated can be caused to flow into the accommodation chamber via the communication path portion below the axis. Thereby, inflow of air into the storage chamber can be suppressed. In this way, air separation from the fuel is possible even when the fuel is arranged in the horizontal orientation.

  In addition, the code | symbol in the parenthesis attached | subjected to each said means is an example which shows a corresponding relationship with the specific means as described in embodiment mentioned later.

It is sectional drawing which shows the structure of the fuel filter apparatus 1 in 1st Embodiment to which this invention is applied. It is the top view seen from FIG. 1 illustration left side of the protector 30 which is a partition member of 1st Embodiment. 2 is an enlarged cross-sectional view illustrating a part of the configuration of the fuel filter device 1; 1 is a schematic configuration diagram of a common rail fuel injection system for a diesel engine that employs a fuel filter device 1 according to a first embodiment. It is a top view of protector 130 which is a partition member of other embodiments. It is a top view of protector 230 which is a partition member of other embodiments.

  A plurality of modes for carrying out the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings. In each embodiment, parts corresponding to the matters described in the preceding embodiment may be denoted by the same reference numerals, and redundant description may be omitted. In the case where only a part of the configuration is described in each embodiment, the other parts of the configuration are the same as those described previously. In addition to the combination of parts specifically described in each embodiment, the embodiments may be partially combined as long as the combination is not particularly troublesome.

(First embodiment)
A first embodiment to which the present invention is applied will be described with reference to FIGS.

  As shown in FIG. 4, the common rail fuel injection system according to the present embodiment includes a fuel tank 2, a supply pump 3, a common rail 4, an injector 4A, and a low pressure pump 3A and a high pressure pump 3B of the supply pump 3. And a fuel filter device 1 mounted thereon.

  The supply pump 3 is, for example, a low-pressure pump 3A (feed pump, low-pressure feed pump) in which a trochoid pump or vane pump can be used, a solenoid valve as a flow rate control device, and a high-pressure pump 3B comprising a plunger pump, for example. Etc.

  The low pressure pump 3A and the high pressure pump 3B of the supply pump 3 are integrally configured and are driven by a common drive source. For example, the low-pressure pump 3A and the high-pressure pump 3B may be driven separately by separate driving sources.

  When the supply pump 3 is operated, the normal pressure fuel stored in the fuel tank 2 is sucked and flows through the fuel pipe 6 and supplied to the common rail 4. At that time, the fuel filter device 1 removes gas such as air (for example, air containing fuel vapor) and solid foreign matters from the fuel.

  The common rail 4 holds the fuel pressurized by the high-pressure pump 3B of the supply pump 3 in an accumulated state. An injector 4A that injects fuel into each cylinder of the engine 5 is connected to the common rail 4 in accordance with the number of cylinders, and the fuel held in the pressure-accumulated state inside the common rail 4 is injected from the injector 4A. A return pipe 7 is connected to the common rail 4. The surplus fuel in the common rail 4 is returned to the fuel tank 2 via the return pipe 7.

  Low-pressure fuel that flows into the control pressure chamber of each injector 4A and is discharged from the injector low-pressure port, such as fuel used for injector operation and leaked fuel, joins the return pipe 7 and returns to the fuel tank 2. ing. Further, low-pressure fuel such as leak fuel from the supply pump 3 also joins the return pipe 7 and returns to the fuel tank 2.

  The common rail fuel injection system of the present embodiment is connected to an ECU (not shown) that is a control means. This ECU optimally controls the flow rate of fuel discharged from the supply pump 3 based on the input fuel pressure inside the common rail 4, the engine speed Ne, the accelerator opening α, and the like. Further, the ECU controls the opening / closing timing of the solenoid valve of the injector 4 </ b> A connected to the common rail 4. Thereby, the fuel injection timing and the fuel injection amount into each cylinder of the engine 5 are controlled.

  As shown in FIG. 1, the fuel filter device 1 includes a housing 10 in which a filter body 21 and the like are accommodated and a fuel passage that passes through the filter body 21 is formed. The housing 10 includes a case 11, an end cap 12, a front cap 13, and the like. Note that the fuel filter device 1 is disposed, for example, such that the vertical direction in the drawing is the vertical direction. That is, the lower side in the figure is arranged to be the lower side in the direction of gravity.

The case 11 constituting the outer shell of the housing 10 is made of, for example, metal or resin,
A cylindrical portion 11a (corresponding to a cylindrical portion), an end wall portion 11b, a plurality of ribs 11c, and a valve housing 11d are integrally formed. The end wall portion 11b closes the left end of the cylindrical portion 11a in the figure and forms a cup-like body together with the cylindrical portion 11a.

  The plurality of ribs 11c are erected from the inner peripheral surface of the cylindrical portion 11a on the left side in the drawing, and each extend from the right side of the end wall portion 11b in the direction of the axis AA of the cylindrical portion 11a. Hereinafter, the axis of the cylindrical portion 11a may be simply referred to as an axis AA.

  The plurality of ribs 11c are arranged at unequal intervals in the circumferential direction of the cylindrical portion 11a. The valve housing 11d is provided so as to bulge inward from the inner surface of the cylindrical portion 11a at the upper left portion of the cylindrical portion 11a. The valve housing 11d shares a part with the cylindrical portion 11a, and forms a columnar space extending in the direction of the axis AA for accommodating the air bleeding valve 50 therein. An air vent 11e is formed in the wall portion at the right end of the valve housing 11d.

  The end cap 12 is made of, for example, metal or resin, and is disposed so as to close the opening at the right end of the case 11 in the figure (the end opposite to the end wall portion 11b). The end cap 12 has a male screw portion formed on the outer peripheral surface thereof, and is screwed into a female screw portion formed on the inner peripheral surface of the end edge portion of the cylindrical portion 11 a and connected to the case 11. On the outer periphery of the end cap 12, an O-ring 12 a as a seal member is disposed on the right side of the drawing with respect to the male screw portion forming portion. When the end cap 12 is screwed to the case 11, the O-ring 12 a forms a liquid-tight seal structure over the entire circumference between the case 11 and the end cap 12.

  The front cap 13 is made of, for example, metal or resin, and is attached to the left side of the end wall portion 11 b of the case 11 in the drawing. The front cap 13 is connected to the case 11 by a bolt, for example. A recirculation fuel passage 10c through which recirculation fuel flows is formed between the front cap 13 and the end wall portion 11b. An O-ring 13 a as a seal member is disposed on the outer periphery of the front cap 13. When the front cap 13 is connected to the case 11, the O-ring 13 a forms a liquid-tight seal structure over the entire circumference between the case 11 and the front cap 13.

  An introduction pipe 16 and an introduction pipe 17 for introducing the recirculated fuel into the internal recirculated fuel passage 10c are connected to the front cap 13, for example, by press fitting. The inside of the introduction pipe 16 and the inside of the introduction pipe 17 communicate with the reflux fuel passage 10 c in the front cap 13. For example, the return pipe 7 from the high-pressure pump 3 </ b> B shown in FIG. 4 is connected to the upstream end of the introduction pipe 16. Further, the upstream end of the introduction pipe 17 is connected to, for example, the return pipe 7 from the common rail 4 and the injector 4A shown in FIG. A reflux fuel outlet 18 facing the reflux fuel passage 10 c is formed in the side wall portion of the front cap 13. The outlet 18 is, for example, an upstream end opening of the outlet pipe that extends outward from the front cap 13, and is connected to the return pipe 7 that extends to the fuel tank 2 shown in FIG. 4.

  In the housing 10 in which the case 11 and the end cap 12 are connected to each other, a flow path of fuel sealed to the outside (fuel supplied to a supply destination such as the common rail 4) is formed. A space that forms a supply fuel passage in the housing 10 is a storage space for the filter member 20 (filter cartridge). The case 11, the end cap 12 and the front cap 13 can be easily formed by, for example, die casting an aluminum alloy.

  The filter member 20 includes a filter body 21 and a support body 22 that is a support member that supports the filter body 21. The filter body 21 is a foreign matter capturing member made of, for example, a pulp material or a non-woven fabric, and can be a honeycomb-shaped filter body formed by winding a sheet body in which a flat filter medium and a corrugated filter medium are joined. The filter body 21 is not limited to a honeycomb shape.

  The support 22 has a protector 30 (front protector) joined to the left end of the filter body 21 in the figure and a protector 40 (end protector) attached to the right end of the filter body 21 in the figure. The protector 30 is made of, for example, resin, and as illustrated in FIG. 3, the end plate portion 31 and the outer cylinder portion 32 are integrally formed. The end plate portion 31 has a disk shape that expands in a direction orthogonal to the axis AA (center axis) of the cylindrical portion 11 a of the case 11. The outer cylinder part 32 is erected in an annular shape in the direction of the axis AA from the right side of the outer peripheral edge of the end plate part 31 toward the right side of the figure.

  The protector 30 has a plurality of ribs 33 formed integrally with the end plate portion 31 and the outer cylinder portion 32. The plurality of ribs 33 are erected from the right side of the end plate portion 31 in the figure, and each of the ribs 33 extends radially inward from the inner peripheral surface of the outer cylinder portion 32. For example, the plurality of ribs 33 are arranged at equal intervals in the circumferential direction of the outer cylindrical portion 32. The illustrated left end portion of the filter body 21 is inserted inside the outer cylinder portion 32, and the illustrated left end surface of the filter body 21 is in contact with the right end surfaces of the plurality of ribs 33 illustrated in the drawing. Yes. The filter body 21 and the protector 30 are joined in an annular shape by, for example, an adhesive interposed between the outer peripheral surface of the filter body 21 and the inner peripheral surface of the outer cylinder portion 32.

  An O-ring 34 as a seal member is disposed on the outer periphery of the outer cylinder portion 32. When the filter member 20 is accommodated in the housing 10, the O-ring 34 forms a liquid-tight seal structure over the entire circumference between the case 11 and the protector 30.

  As shown in FIG. 1, the protector 40 is made of, for example, resin, and an outer tube portion 41 and a plurality of ribs 42 are integrally formed. The outer cylinder portion 41 is a short cylindrical body extending in the direction of the axis AA, for example. Each of the plurality of ribs 42 extends radially inward from the inner peripheral surface of the outer cylinder portion 41. For example, the plurality of ribs 42 are arranged at equal intervals in the circumferential direction of the outer cylinder portion 41. The illustrated right end portion of the filter body 21 is inserted inside the outer tube portion 41, and the illustrated right end surface of the filter body 21 is in contact with the illustrated left surfaces of the plurality of ribs 42. An opening is formed in the outer cylinder portion 41 at a portion excluding the base end portion of the rib 42, and the inner space and the outer space of the outer cylinder portion 41 communicate with each other through this opening.

  When the filter member 20 is accommodated in a predetermined position in the housing 10, the left side of the end plate portion 31 of the protector 30 is in contact with the right end surface of the plurality of ribs 11c. In this accommodated state, the protector 30 partitions the space in the housing 10 into a fuel introduction chamber 10a into which the supplied fuel is introduced and an accommodation chamber 10b in which the filter body 21 is accommodated. The protector 30 corresponds to the partition member in the present embodiment. The protector 30 partitions the space in the housing 10 from the fuel introduction chamber 10a and the accommodation chamber 10b so that the fuel introduction chamber 10a and the accommodation chamber 10b are aligned in the direction of the axis AA.

  In the cylindrical portion 11a, a supply fuel introduction port 14 facing the fuel introduction chamber 10a is formed on the left side of the figure. The introduction port 14 is, for example, a downstream end opening of an introduction pipe extending outward from the cylindrical portion 11a, and a fuel pipe 6 extending from the low pressure pump 3A shown in FIG. 4 is connected to the introduction port 14.

  A supply fuel outlet 15 facing the storage chamber 10b is formed in the cylindrical portion 11a on the right side of the figure. The lead-out port 15 is, for example, an upstream end opening of a lead-out pipe that extends outward from the cylindrical portion 11a, and is connected to the fuel pipe 6 that extends to the high-pressure pump 3B shown in FIG.

  An air vent valve 50 is disposed in the valve housing 11d. As shown in FIG. 3, the air vent valve 50 includes a valve body 51, a spring 52, and a throttle member 53. The valve body 51 is, for example, a metal spherical valve body. A through hole penetrating in the direction of the axis AA is formed in the right wall of the valve housing 11d in the figure. The right end opening in the figure facing the fuel introduction chamber 10a of this through hole is an air vent 11e. A peripheral portion of the above-described left end opening of the through hole is a valve seat on which the valve body 51 is seated.

  The spring 52 is, for example, a metal coil spring. The spring 52 is contracted between the valve body 51 and the throttle member 53, and is a biasing member that biases the valve body 51 in the seating direction on the valve seat. The throttle member 53 is, for example, a metal or resin throttle passage forming member. The throttling member 53 is formed with a through passage that penetrates in the direction of the axis AA, and the through passage forms an orifice (throttle portion) having a very small passage cross-sectional area at the center.

  When the pressure in the fuel introduction chamber 10a rises to a predetermined pressure or higher with respect to the pressure in the recirculation fuel passage 10c, the air vent valve 50 includes the orifice described above when the valve body 51 is separated from the valve seat. The fuel introduction chamber 10a and the reflux fuel passage 10c are brought into communication with each other through the passage. The air vent valve 50 is a so-called check valve that allows fluid movement from the fuel introduction chamber 10a to the recirculation fuel passage 10c and prohibits fluid movement from the recirculation fuel passage 10c to the fuel introduction chamber 10a.

  As shown in FIG. 2, the end plate portion 31 of the protector 30 is formed with a communication passage portion 35 that forms a through path that penetrates the end plate portion 31 in the direction of the axis AA (the front and back direction in FIG. 2). The communication path portion 35 is formed in a range where the entire region is below the position of the axis AA of the cylindrical portion 11a. The upper surface part 35a facing the penetration path of the communication path part 35 is a flat surface extending along a horizontal plane. On the other hand, the lower surface portion 35b facing the penetration path of the communication passage portion 35 is an arcuate surface that extends along the inner peripheral surface of the cylindrical portion 11a.

  Further, in the peripheral portion along the outer periphery of the end plate portion 31, concave portions 36 are formed at a plurality of locations. The plurality of recesses 36 are formed at unequal intervals in the circumferential direction. The plurality of recesses 36 are provided corresponding to the plurality of ribs 11c (see FIG. 3) formed at unequal intervals in the circumferential direction described above. A part of the right end portion of the rib 11c shown in FIG. 3 is fitted into the recess 36 gently.

  The end cap 12 can be satisfactorily screwed to the case 11 only when the filter member 20 is disposed in the housing 10 so that a part of the tip of the rib 11c fits into the recess 36. The plurality of recesses 36 are positioning portions for positioning the protector 30 at a predetermined position in the direction around the axis AA.

  In the fuel filter device 1 including the protector 30 described above, a supply fuel passage from the inlet 14 toward the outlet 15 through the communication passage 35 is formed in the housing 10.

  In the fuel filter device 1 configured as described above, when the supply pump 3 shown in FIG. 4 is driven, the liquid fuel in the fuel tank 2 is pumped by the low-pressure pump 3A, and the fuel in the housing 10 is introduced from the inlet 14 shown in FIG. It is introduced into the introduction chamber 10a. The liquid fuel introduced into the fuel introduction chamber 10a passes through the communication path portion 35 and flows into the storage chamber 10b. The fuel that has flowed into the storage chamber 10b passes through the filter body 21 of the filter member 20, and at this time, foreign matter is removed. The fuel from which foreign matter has been removed by passing through the filter body 21 is led out from the housing 10 through the lead-out port 15 and sent to the high-pressure pump 3B.

  When the fuel flows through the fuel introduction chamber 10a from the introduction port 14 toward the communication path portion 35, a gas such as air contained in the fuel is separated. Since the fuel introduction chamber 10a has a relatively large passage cross-sectional area, the fuel flow velocity is relatively small. Therefore, gas such as air contained in the fuel is separated upward due to the difference in specific gravity. The gas such as air contained in the fuel deviates from the fuel flow line indicated by the solid line in FIG. 3, for example, and rises toward the upper portion of the fuel introduction chamber 10a as indicated by the broken line. The air rising toward the upper portion of the fuel introduction chamber 10a is blocked from entering the storage chamber 10b by the end plate portion 31 of the protector 30, and is stored from the upper portion of the fuel introduction chamber 10a.

  The upper part of the fuel introduction chamber 10a (for example, above the axis AA) can be called an air storage part. Moreover, the part above the communicating path part 35 among the end plate parts 31 of the protector 30 can be called an air shielding part. Air or the like stored in the upper portion of the fuel introduction chamber 10a is discharged to the recirculation fuel passage 10c through an air vent 11e in which the air vent valve 50 is opened due to a pressure difference between the fuel introduction chamber 10a and the recirculation fuel passage 10c. . When the air vent valve 50 opens the air vent 11e, air or the like is quickly discharged without accumulating in the upper part of the fuel introduction chamber 10a.

  In the fuel supply system (common rail fuel injection system) of the present embodiment, a low pressure pump 3A is interposed between the fuel tank 2 and the fuel filter device 1. Therefore, the supplied fuel flowing in the housing 10 of the fuel filter device 1 is boosted by the low pressure pump 3 </ b> A and becomes a positive pressure higher than the pressure in the fuel tank 2. The fuel tank 2 of the present embodiment has a configuration in which the internal pressure is substantially atmospheric pressure, and the pressure in the fuel introduction chamber 10a is a positive pressure higher than the atmospheric pressure in the present embodiment.

  Therefore, the pressure in the fuel introduction chamber 10a is likely to be relatively higher than that in the recirculation fuel passage 10c. As a result, the air or the like separated from the fuel in the fuel introduction chamber 10a is discharged well through the air vent 11e. A gas such as air discharged to the reflux fuel passage 10c through the air vent 11e returns to the fuel tank 2 together with the reflux fuel.

  The fuel filter device 1 having the above-described configuration forms an outer shell partly composed of a cylindrical portion 11a, and the housing 10 through which fuel flows and the fuel that is housed in the housing 10 and flows through the housing are filtered. And a filter body 21. The fuel filter device 1 also includes a protector 30 that partitions the space in the housing 10 into a storage chamber 10b in which the filter body 21 is stored and a fuel introduction chamber 10a formed so that the introduction port 14 faces. . The protector 30 is provided with a communication passage portion 35 that is provided as a through passage and communicates the fuel introduction chamber 10a and the storage chamber 10b. The housing 10 is formed with an air vent 11e for discharging the air in the fuel introduction chamber 10a to the outside of the housing 10 so as to face the fuel introduction chamber 10a.

  When the fuel filter device 1 is arranged in a horizontal posture in which the axis AA extends in the lateral direction and the air vent port 11e is positioned at the uppermost portion around the axis AA, the communication passage portion 35 has the axis line It is positioned below AA.

  According to this, the fuel introduced into the fuel introduction chamber 10a from the introduction port 14 passes through the communication path portion 35 and flows into the accommodation chamber 10b in which the filter body 21 is accommodated. When the fuel filter device 1 is disposed in the horizontal orientation, the air vent 11e is positioned at the uppermost portion around the axis AA of the cylindrical portion 11a, and the communication passage 35 is positioned below the axis AA. Therefore, the air separated from the fuel by the specific gravity difference in the fuel introduction chamber 10a partitioned from the storage chamber 10b by the protector 30 can be easily discharged from the air vent port 11e. At the same time, the fuel from which the air has been separated can be caused to flow into the storage chamber 10b via the communication passage portion 35 below the axis AA. Thereby, the inflow of the air to the storage chamber 10b can be suppressed.

  In this way, even if the fuel filter device 1 is arranged in the horizontal orientation, air separation from the fuel becomes possible. By suppressing the outflow of gas such as air to the downstream side of the fuel flow from the storage chamber 10b, the fuel supply performance by the supply pump 3 can be secured stably.

  Further, the fuel filter device 1 can satisfactorily separate the air from the fuel not only when the fuel filter device 1 is arranged in the horizontal posture shown in FIG. 1 but also when the fuel filter device 1 is arranged in another posture. As other postures, for example, when the left side portion shown in FIG. 1 is set upward so that the axis AA extends in the vertical direction, the left side portion shown in FIG. 1 is set higher than the right side portion shown in FIG. There is a posture when the axis AA is inclined so as to be positioned.

  Further, in the fuel filter device 1 arranged in the horizontal orientation, the communication path portion 35 has a lower surface portion 35b which is an other surface portion facing the through passage other than the upper surface portion, with the upper surface portion 35a facing the through passage extending along the horizontal plane. Extends along the inner peripheral surface of the cylindrical portion 11a.

  According to this, in the communicating path part 35 that forms a through passage surrounded by the upper surface part 35a and the lower surface part 35b, the upper surface part 35a extends along the horizontal plane, and the lower surface part 35b extends along the inner peripheral surface of the cylindrical part 11a. It is spreading. Therefore, even if the passage cross-sectional area of the communication passage portion 35 is relatively large, air flows from the fuel introduction chamber 10a to the storage chamber 10b by the protector 30 positioned above the upper surface portion 35a of the communication passage portion 35. And air separation can be reliably performed.

  In other words, the portion of the protector 30 located above the upper surface portion 35a of the communication passage portion 35 (the air shielding portion described above) suppresses the inflow of air from the fuel introduction chamber 10a to the storage chamber 10b, Air or the like can be reliably separated from the fuel.

  The protector 30 is a support member that supports the filter body 21 in the housing 10. According to this, the fuel introduction chamber 10a and the storage chamber 10b can be easily partitioned by forming the through-passage in the protector 30 that supports the filter body 21 and forming the communication passage portion 35.

  The cylindrical portion of the housing 10 is a cylindrical portion 11a formed in a cylindrical shape, and the storage chamber b is formed inward of the cylindrical portion 11a. The protector 30 is formed with a concave portion 36 that is a positioning portion for determining a position in the direction around the axis AA. According to this, by arranging the protector 30 supporting the filter body 21 in the housing 10 while positioning in the circumferential direction using the recess 36, the fuel introduction chamber 10a and the storage chamber 10b can be partitioned very easily. Can do.

  The fuel filter device 1 is provided on the downstream side of the fuel flow with respect to the low-pressure pump 3A, and the fuel introduced into the fuel introduction chamber 10a has a positive pressure. Therefore, the gas such as air separated from the fuel in the fuel introduction chamber 10a can be easily discharged from the air vent 11e by opening the air vent valve 50.

(Other embodiments)
The preferred embodiments of the present invention have been described above, but 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.

  In the above-described embodiment, the communication path portion 35 has the upper surface portion 35a facing the through passage extending along the horizontal plane and the lower surface portion 35b expanding along the inner peripheral surface of the cylindrical portion 11a, but is not limited thereto. is not. For example, the cross section of the passage may be circular like the communication passage portion 135 of the protector 130 shown in FIG. Moreover, in the said embodiment, although the communicating path part 35 was formed as a through-hole which penetrates the end plate part 31 of the protector 30, it is not limited to this. For example, like the communicating path part 235 of the protector 230 shown in FIG. 6, the end plate part 31 may be provided with a notch-like recess from the outer peripheral side to form a through path.

  Moreover, you may form the communicating path part of the same shape as the communicating path part 35 of the said embodiment not as a through-hole but as a penetration path of the shape which notched the end-plate part 31 linearly from the outer peripheral side. In this case, a part of the inner peripheral surface of the cylindrical portion 11a becomes the lower surface portion of the communication path portion. That is, in this case, the other surface portion other than the upper surface portion of the communication path portion is the inner peripheral surface of the cylindrical portion 11a.

  Moreover, in the said embodiment, although the whole region of the communicating path part 35 was formed in the range used as the downward direction rather than the axis line AA position, it is not limited to this. A part of the communication path part may be formed in a range above the position of the axis AA.

  Moreover, in the said embodiment, although the some recessed part 36 was provided in the end plate part 31 as a positioning part for positioning the protector 30 in a predetermined position in the periphery of an axis line AA, it is not limited to this. For example, an annular wall portion protruding from the end plate portion of the protector toward the fuel introduction chamber 10a may be provided, and a notch portion may be provided in the annular wall portion to serve as a positioning portion.

  Moreover, in the said embodiment, although the cylindrical part of the housing 10 which forms an outer shell was the cylindrical part 11a, it is not limited to this. For example, the cylindrical portion may be formed in an elliptical cylindrical shape. Moreover, a cylindrical part may be formed in a rectangular tube shape.

  Moreover, in the said embodiment, although the protector 30 of the filter member 20 was used as a partition member which partitions off the space in the housing 10 into the fuel introduction chamber 10a and the storage chamber 10b, it is not limited to this. The partition member may be a member separate from the filter member, for example.

  Moreover, in the said embodiment, although the end plate part 31 which is a substantial partition part of the protector 30 which is a partition member was flat form, it is not limited to this. For example, a curved plate-like partition member or a bent plate-like partition member may be adopted. Further, the partition member is not limited to a plate shape.

  Moreover, in the said embodiment, although the communicating path part 35 was the penetration path which penetrates the protector 30 which is a partition member in the axis line AA direction, it is not limited to this. For example, you may penetrate a partition member in the direction which inclines with respect to axis line AA, or the direction orthogonal to axis line AA.

  Moreover, in the said embodiment, the fuel filter apparatus 1 was provided in the fuel flow downstream rather than the low pressure pump 3A, and the fuel introduce | transduced into the fuel introduction chamber 10a became a positive pressure, However, It is not limited to this Absent. For example, a fuel filter device may be interposed between the fuel tank 2 and the low pressure pump 3A. That is, the fuel filter device may be disposed in the negative pressure circuit portion of the fuel supply path. When the fuel filter device is disposed in the negative pressure circuit portion of the fuel supply path, for example, when the pump means is not operated, the gas such as air separated from the fuel is discharged out of the housing from the air vent port If it is.

  Moreover, in the said embodiment, although the fuel filter apparatus 1 was used for the common rail system which supplies a fuel to a diesel engine, it is not limited to this. For example, it may be employed in a fuel supply system for a diesel engine using a distribution pump, or may be employed in a fuel supply system for a gasoline engine.

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Fuel filter apparatus 10 Housing 10a Fuel introduction chamber 10b Storage chamber 11a Cylindrical part (cylindrical part)
11e Air vent 14 Inlet 21 Filter body 30, 130, 230 Protector (partition member)
35, 135, 235 Communication path part AA Axis (center axis of cylindrical part 11a)

Claims (4)

A housing (10) partly forming an outer shell consisting of a cylindrical part (11a), in which fuel flows;
A filter body (21) that is housed in the housing and filters the fuel flowing through the housing;
The space in the housing is divided into a storage chamber (10b) in which the filter body is accommodated and a fuel introduction chamber (10a) formed so that the fuel inlet (14) into the housing faces. Partition members (30, 130, 230);
A communication passage portion (35, 135, 235) provided as a through passage penetrating the partition member and communicating the fuel introduction chamber and the storage chamber;
An air vent (11e) that is formed in the housing so as to face the fuel introduction chamber and discharges the air in the fuel introduction chamber to the outside of the housing;
Together with the accommodating chamber and the fuel introducing chamber is arranged in the horizontal direction, the air vent port is located at the top of the fuel introduction chamber, when in a horizontal posture,
The fuel filter device, wherein the communication passage portion is positioned below a central axis (AA) of the cylindrical portion extending in a direction in which the storage chamber and the fuel introduction chamber are arranged .   When arranged in the horizontal orientation, the upper surface portion (35a) of the communication passage portion (35) facing the through passage extends along a horizontal plane, and the other surface portion facing the through passage other than the upper surface portion ( 35. The fuel filter device according to claim 1, wherein 35 b) extends along an inner peripheral surface of the cylindrical portion or an inner peripheral surface of the cylindrical portion.   The fuel filter device according to claim 1, wherein the partition member is a support member that supports the filter body in the housing. The cylindrical portion is a cylindrical portion formed in a cylindrical shape, and the storage chamber is formed inside the cylindrical portion,
The fuel filter device according to claim 3, wherein a positioning portion (36) for determining a position of the cylindrical portion in the circumferential direction is formed on the support member.

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