Classifications

• • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
  • B60—VEHICLES IN GENERAL
  • B60K—ARRANGEMENT OR MOUNTING OF PROPULSION UNITS OR OF TRANSMISSIONS IN VEHICLES; ARRANGEMENT OR MOUNTING OF PLURAL DIVERSE PRIME-MOVERS IN VEHICLES; AUXILIARY DRIVES FOR VEHICLES; INSTRUMENTATION OR DASHBOARDS FOR VEHICLES; ARRANGEMENTS IN CONNECTION WITH COOLING, AIR INTAKE, GAS EXHAUST OR FUEL SUPPLY OF PROPULSION UNITS IN VEHICLES
  • B60K15/00—Arrangement in connection with fuel supply of combustion engines or other fuel consuming energy converters, e.g. fuel cells; Mounting or construction of fuel tanks
  • B60K15/03—Fuel tanks
  • B60K15/035—Fuel tanks characterised by venting means
• • F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
  • F02—COMBUSTION ENGINES; HOT-GAS OR COMBUSTION-PRODUCT ENGINE PLANTS
  • F02M—SUPPLYING COMBUSTION ENGINES IN GENERAL WITH COMBUSTIBLE MIXTURES OR CONSTITUENTS THEREOF
  • F02M25/00—Engine-pertinent apparatus for adding non-fuel substances or small quantities of secondary fuel to combustion-air, main fuel or fuel-air mixture
  • F02M25/08—Engine-pertinent apparatus for adding non-fuel substances or small quantities of secondary fuel to combustion-air, main fuel or fuel-air mixture adding fuel vapours drawn from engine fuel reservoir

Definitions

• the present invention relates to a mounting structure for an atmosphere-communicating pipe of a canister in an on-board engine to a vehicle.
• a vehicle equipped with an engine is provided with a canister that absorbs fuel evaporative gases that evaporate from a fuel tank of the engine and prevents them from being released into the atmosphere.
• the canister is provided with an atmosphere communication pipe that introduces outside air into the canister.
• the fuel adsorbed in the canister is supplied to the engine together with outside air introduced through the atmosphere communication pipe, and the end of the atmosphere communication pipe is open to the atmosphere.
• the engine is mounted underneath the vehicle, and the end of the atmosphere communication pipe is configured to open within the vehicle's cross member. This makes it difficult for mud, water, etc. that splashes up while the vehicle is in motion to enter the atmosphere communication pipe, thereby suppressing deterioration of the canister.
• cross members have a roughly U-shaped cross section with the opening facing upward, and are configured to support the underside of the floor member, with the upper end fixed to the floor member by welding or other means, thereby sealing off the space within the cross member.
• the cross member and floor member are secured together by multiple spot welds.
• the present invention was made in light of these issues, and its purpose is to provide a vehicle canister mounting structure that prevents water and mud from entering through the opening of the atmosphere communication pipe.
• the vehicle canister piping mounting structure of the present invention is characterized in that, in a vehicle having a canister that adsorbs fuel evaporative gases in a fuel tank and an atmosphere-communicating piping that is connected at one end to the canister and at the other end to the atmosphere, the vehicle is further equipped with an atmosphere-opening box that forms a closed space inside and is fixed to a cross member of the vehicle, and the other end of the atmosphere-communicating piping opens into the internal space of the atmosphere-opening box.
• the vehicle canister piping mounting structure of the present invention can be configured to prevent rainwater and other contaminants from entering the atmosphere-communicating piping using a simple atmosphere-communicating box. Because the atmosphere-communicating box is separate from the cross member, it is possible to easily and effectively configure a structure that prevents rainwater and other contaminants from entering the atmosphere-communicating piping.
• FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing a canister piping mounting structure according to an embodiment of the present invention
• FIG. 2 is a perspective view showing the shape of an atmosphere open box according to the embodiment.
• FIG. 2 is a perspective view showing the shape of a part of the atmospheric open box.
• FIG. 2 is a vertical cross-sectional view of the atmosphere release box and its mounting portion and its vicinity.
• FIG. 10 is a rear view illustrating the position where liquid is discharged from the air release box.
• FIG. 10 is a perspective view illustrating a position where liquid is discharged from the air release box.
• FIG. 10 is a left side view illustrating the position where liquid is discharged from the air release box.
• a vehicle canister mounting structure embodying the present invention will now be described. In the following description, the front-rear, left-right, and up-down directions of the vehicle will be used.
• the structure of the present invention is applicable to vehicles equipped with an engine, such as an engine vehicle, a hybrid vehicle, or a plug-in hybrid vehicle.
• Figure 1 is a perspective view showing the structure of the open portion of the atmosphere-communicating pipe in the canister pipe mounting structure of this embodiment.
• Figure 2 is a perspective view of the atmosphere release box.
• Figure 3 is a perspective view showing the structure of each component of the atmosphere release box.
• Figure 4 is a vertical cross-sectional view of the atmosphere release box and the vicinity of its mounting portion.
• the vehicle 1 has a chassis structure with a cross member 2, similar to that of a pickup truck.
• a fuel tank for storing fuel for the onboard engine (not shown) is provided beneath the vehicle 1.
• a canister (5) (not shown) is provided near the fuel tank to introduce and absorb fuel vapors from within the fuel tank.
• An atmosphere communication pipe 6 is connected to the canister 5. This pipe discharges the air that has absorbed the fuel components to the outside when the vehicle is stopped, and introduces the atmosphere when the engine is running to return the fuel absorbed in the canister 5 to the engine's intake passage.
• the atmosphere communication pipe 6 extends to the vicinity of one of the multiple cross members provided on the vehicle, for example, cross member 2 located above the rear axle.
• the cross member 2 extends in the vehicle width direction and is disposed so as to support the underside of the floor 7.
• An air vent box 10 is fixed to the rear of the cross member 2.
• the open-air box 10 has an internal space and is generally rectangular, approximately 10 cm in length and width.
• the open-air box 10 has an internal space in which the end of the air communication pipe 6 opens.
• the atmospheric open box 10 includes an upper member 11 (plate-shaped member), a lower member 12 (plate-shaped member), a lower cover 13 (first shielding portion), a partition member 14 (fourth shielding portion), and a lower support bracket 15, all of which are made of plate members.
• the shapes of the components of the atmosphere open box 10 will also be described using the vehicle direction when the box is mounted on the vehicle 1.
• the upper member 11 has a pair of front and rear wall portions 22 and 23 (side wall portions) that bend downward from the front and rear ends of the rectangular plate-shaped upper wall portion 21.
• the front and rear wall portions 22 and 23 extend downward from the upper wall portion 21, spaced apart from each other in the front-to-rear direction by, for example, approximately 10 m.
• the front wall portion 22 abuts against the rear surface of the cross member 2 and has a front fixing portion 24 that bends forward at its lower end and extends forward to abut against the underside of the cross member 2.
• the front fixing portion 24 has a bolt hole 26 into which a bolt 25 for fixing to the cross member 2 is inserted.
• the rear wall portion 23 has a lower end that bends rearward at approximately the same vertical position as the lower end of the front wall portion 22, extending rearward by several centimeters to form a lower end surface portion 27 (third shielding portion), and further bends upward at its tip (rear end) to form a rear fixing portion 31 at its upper end which has a bolt hole 30 for fixing with a bolt 29 to a support member 28 provided on the underside of the floor 7.
• Two air intake holes 32 are provided near the top of the rear wall 23, spaced apart in the left-right direction, for example.
• the air intake holes 32 are formed by cutting and raising the rear wall 23 and open downward, and a canopy portion 33 (second shielding portion) is formed on the rear wall 23 to cover the upper part of the air intake holes 32.
• the lower member 12 has a rectangular lower surface portion 35 (lower wall portion) that covers the lower part of the upper member 11, and a left side wall portion 36 and a right side wall portion 37 that bend upward from the left and right ends of the lower surface portion 35, respectively.
• the left side wall portion 36 and the right side wall portion 37 are spaced apart from each other in the left-right direction by, for example, about 10 cm, and are inserted between the front side wall portion 22 and the rear side wall portion 23 without any gap.
• the upper wall portion 21, front wall portion 22, and rear wall portion 23 of the upper member 11, and the lower surface portion 35, left wall portion 36, and right wall portion 37 of the lower member 12 form a rectangular box-shaped internal space 40 (closed space) that is enclosed in the front-to-back, left-to-right, top-to-bottom directions.
• the front end of the lower member 12 extends further forward than the front ends of the left side wall 36 and right side wall 37, and has a front protrusion 41 that has substantially the same shape as the front fixing portion 24 of the upper member 11 and abuts against the underside of the front fixing portion 24.
• a bolt hole 42 is formed in the front protrusion 41 so that the bolt 25 can pass through it, along with the bolt hole 26 provided in the front fixing portion 24.
• the rear end of the lower member 12 extends rearward beyond the rear ends of the left and right wall portions 36 and 37 and includes a rear protrusion 43 that abuts against the lower end surface 27 of the upper member 11 .
• the lower surface 35 of the lower member 12 has a front inclined surface 46 and a rear inclined surface 44, which are inclined regions that respectively slope downward from the front-rear end portion toward the front-rear center portion.
• Two circular drain holes 45 are provided at the lower end of the lower surface 35 of the lower member 12 and spaced apart from each other in the left-right direction.
• the edge of the discharge hole 45 has a protrusion 48 that protrudes downward by several mm around the entire periphery, for example, by burring.
• a communication pipe insertion hole 47 into which the end of the atmosphere communication pipe 6 is inserted is formed in the front inclined surface 46 forward of the discharge hole 45 of the lower surface portion 35 of the lower member 12. The communication pipe insertion hole 47 is configured to be sealed when the end of the atmosphere communication pipe 6 is inserted.
• the upper and lower members 11 and 12 are fixed together by welding or adhesive along the entire periphery of their contact surfaces, and the internal space 40 formed by the upper and lower members 11 and 12 is sealed except for the two exhaust holes 45 and the intake hole 32.
• the lower cover 13 is a plate-shaped member with approximately the same left-right width as the lower surface 35 of the lower member 12, and is fixed to the front inclined surface 46, left side wall 36, and right side wall 37 of the lower member 12 by welding or the like.
• the lower cover 13 extends rearward and downward from the front inclined surface 46, extends rearward beyond the discharge holes 45 below, and is positioned so as to be located below at least two discharge holes 45.
• the lower end of the lower cover 13 is bent upward at two locations, including at least the left and right positions of the discharge hole 45, and is provided with a first portion 49 that slopes downward and rearward toward the lower end, and a second portion 50 that slopes upward from the lower end.
• the lower support bracket 15 is a plate-shaped member with one end fixed to the front protrusion 41 of the lower member 12 by welding or other means, extending downward and rearward, and the other end provided with a bolt hole 51 for clamping to support the vicinity of the end of the atmospheric communication pipe 6.
• the partition member 14 is disposed in the internal space 40, and its upper end is fixed by welding or the like to the underside of the upper wall portion 21 of the upper member 11.
• the partition member 14 is located near the rear wall portion 23 and spaced forward, and extends downward to near the lower end of the rear wall portion 23.
• the partition member 14 is located at least to the left and right of the intake hole 32, and extends downward beyond the intake hole 32.
• Fig. 5 is a rear view illustrating the position where liquid is discharged from the atmosphere open box 10.
• Fig. 6 is a perspective view illustrating the position where liquid is discharged from the atmosphere open box 10.
• Fig. 7 is a left side view illustrating the position where liquid is discharged from the atmosphere open box 10.
• the lower cover 13 is configured to cover the entire drop range a, which extends downward from the discharge hole 45 and outward at the vehicle's maximum tilt angle relative to the vertical direction, when viewed from below.
• the left-right positions and widths of the first portion 49 and second portion 50 of the lower cover 13 are set large in the left-right direction so as to include the entire left-right width of drop range a, and the left and right ends 52 (horizontal ends) of the second portion 50 are open. Therefore, liquid that falls onto the upper surface of the lower cover 13 flows along the upper surface of the first portion 49 to the second portion 50, moves left-right along the upper surface of the lower end of the lower cover 13, and falls downward from the left and right ends 52 of the second portion 50.
• the position and shape of the lower cover 13 are set so that other structures on the vehicle 1, such as a structure 55 located below the front of the air vent box 10 and extending in the vehicle width direction, and an exhaust muffler 56 located below the rear of the air vent box 10, are not located within the falling range b, which extends downward and outward from the left and right ends 52 of the second part 50 of the lower cover 13 at the maximum tilt angle of the vehicle.
• the canister 5 installed in the vehicle 1 of this embodiment is disposed under the floor 7.
• the canister 5 includes the atmosphere communication pipe 6 for releasing the air that has adsorbed the fuel evaporative gas into the atmosphere.
• the atmosphere communication pipe 6 is configured to open to an internal space 40 of an atmosphere open box 10 fixed to a cross member 2 extending in the vehicle width direction.
• the contact surface with the floor 7 is often fixed by spot welding. Therefore, rainwater splashed up by tires, etc. can run down the underside of the floor 7 and enter the interior of the cross member 2 through gaps in the spot welds.
• an atmosphere vent box 10 which forms a closed space inside, is fixed to the cross member 2, and the atmosphere communication pipe 6 is open inside the atmosphere vent box 10, making it difficult for rainwater and the like to enter the atmosphere communication pipe 6.
• the atmosphere vent box 10 is separate from the cross member 2, it is possible to easily and effectively create a structure that makes it difficult for rainwater and the like to enter the atmosphere communication pipe 6.
• the atmospheric vent box 10 is constructed by fixing an upper member 11 and a lower member 12, which are primarily bent plate-like members, together by welding or adhesive, making it easy to form the closed internal space 40.
• the lower member 12 of the atmospheric vent box 10 is provided with a drain hole 45, and the upper surface of the lower member 12 facing the internal space 40 is inclined downward toward the drain hole 45. Therefore, even if rainwater or the like enters the internal space 40 of the atmospheric vent box 10, it can be easily drained through the drain hole 45.
• the edge of the drain hole 45 has a protruding portion 48 that protrudes downward, for example, by burring, which prevents rainwater and the like discharged from the drain hole 45 from moving along the underside of the lower member 12, making it possible to identify the location where the rainwater and the like will fall from the drain hole 45.
• the atmospheric vent box 10 is equipped with a bottom cover 13 that covers the area below the discharge hole 45. This prevents rainwater and other liquids splashing up from below from entering the internal space 40 of the atmospheric vent box 10 through the discharge hole 45.
• the lower cover 13 is open at a position spaced apart in the vehicle width direction from the lower position of the drain hole 45 so that liquid that falls on the upper surface of the lower cover 13 is discharged downward. Therefore, liquid that falls from the drain hole 45 can be received by the lower cover 13 and discharged from the left and right ends 52 of the second part 50, and the range in which the liquid falls can be set appropriately. Therefore, it is possible to prevent rainwater, etc. discharged from the drain hole 45 of the atmospheric vent box 10 from falling onto other structures 55, 56 of the vehicle.
• an engine exhaust muffler 56 is often located at the lower rear of the vehicle, and this prevents rainwater and other liquids discharged from the exhaust hole 45 of the atmosphere vent box 10 from falling into the exhaust muffler 56. Furthermore, even if air containing fuel evaporative gases is discharged from the atmosphere communication pipe 6 and fuel components dissolve in rainwater or other liquids that have entered the atmosphere vent box 10, the system can be configured to prevent this liquid containing fuel components from falling into the exhaust muffler 56, thereby protecting the exhaust muffler 56.
• the lower cover 13 has a first portion 49 whose lower end is bent upward and slopes downward toward the lower end, and a second portion 50 that slopes upward from the lower end.
• the left and right ends 52 of the second portion 50 are open, so that liquid that falls onto the upper surface of the lower cover 13 passes through the first portion 49 and reaches the upper surface of the lower end between the first and second portions 49 and 50, then travels along the upper surface of the lower end to the left and right ends 52, and can fall from the left and right ends 52, which are the open ends of the second portion 50.
• the lower end between the first portion 49 and the second portion 50 and the drain hole 45 are offset at different positions in the fore-and-aft direction of the vehicle (horizontal direction of the vehicle), so that rainwater and other water that falls through the drain hole 45 can be received by the lower cover 13 and directed to the upper surface of the lower end of the lower cover 13.
• the cross member 2 blocks rainwater and other liquids that splash from the front toward the atmosphere vent box 10, making it difficult for them to reach the atmosphere vent box 10 and preventing rainwater and other liquids from entering the atmosphere vent box 10.
• the rear wall 23 of the atmospheric vent box 10 is provided with an intake hole 32 that introduces air into the internal space 40. This prevents the internal space 40 from becoming negative pressure due to air flowing in through the intake hole 32 when rainwater, etc. is discharged through the discharge hole 45, thereby improving the discharge of rainwater, etc. through the discharge hole 45.
• a canopy portion 33 is provided that covers the upper outside of the air intake hole 32, making it easy to form the air intake hole 32 and preventing rainwater and other liquids that have trickled down from the top of the rear wall portion 23 of the atmospheric open box 10 from entering the air intake hole 32.
• the lower end surface 27 of the upper member 11 which prevents rainwater and other liquids from entering the air intake hole 32 from below.
• the lower end surface 27 is also provided with an opening 34. This improves the drainage of rainwater and other liquids from the upper surface of the lower end surface 27, even if rainwater and other liquids accumulate on the upper surface of the lower end surface 27.
• the opening 34 is offset from the intake hole 32 in a different position in the left-right direction (vehicle width direction). This prevents rainwater and other liquids from passing through the opening 34 and entering the intake hole 32.
• the open end 54 of the atmosphere communication pipe 6 protrudes above the lower member 12, so even if rainwater or other liquids enter and accumulate inside the atmosphere open box 10, they can be prevented from entering the atmosphere communication pipe 6.
• the internal space 40 of the atmospheric vent box 10 is provided with a partition member 14 between the intake hole 32 and the open end 54 of the atmospheric communication pipe 6, so even if rainwater or the like enters the intake hole 32, it can be prevented from entering the open end 54 of the atmospheric communication pipe 6.
• the weight of the rainwater or the like within the internal space 40 improves drainage through the discharge holes 45.
• the total opening area of the intake holes 32 in the atmospheric open box 10 and the total opening area of the discharge holes 45 should be set so that, even if a large amount of rainwater or the like enters through the intake holes 32 and increases within the internal space 40, the rainwater or the like within the internal space 40 is discharged through the discharge holes 45 before reaching the open end 54 of the atmospheric communication pipe 6.
• the simple structure of the atmosphere vent box 10 makes it difficult for rainwater to enter the atmosphere communication pipe 6, thereby suppressing deterioration of the canister 5. It also improves the ability to drain liquid from the atmosphere vent box 10, and can identify the location where the discharged liquid will fall so that it does not fall onto other vehicle structures, thereby protecting those structures.
• the present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiment, and can be modified within the scope of the invention.
• the detailed structure of each component of the atmosphere vent box can be modified as appropriate.
• the present invention can be widely applied to vehicles having an atmosphere communication pipe for a canister in an on-board engine.

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• Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
• Chemical & Material Sciences (AREA)
• Combustion & Propulsion (AREA)
• Mechanical Engineering (AREA)
• General Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
• Life Sciences & Earth Sciences (AREA)
• Sustainable Development (AREA)
• Sustainable Energy (AREA)
• Transportation (AREA)
• Supplying Secondary Fuel Or The Like To Fuel, Air Or Fuel-Air Mixtures (AREA)

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Citations (6)

• 2024
  • 2024-01-31 JP JP2025573242A patent/JPWO2025163803A1/ja active Pending
  • 2024-01-31 WO PCT/JP2024/003067 patent/WO2025163803A1/ja active Pending

Patent Citations (6)

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