JPS62142872A - Liquid level control device for 2-tank type fuel tank - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To hold liquid levels in two tanks about at an equal value and to simplify constitution, by a method wherein a fuel pump is constituted in a 2-step system, and a 3-way electromagnetic valve is controlled through combination of the fuel pump and liquid level detectors located to two tanks in a fuel tank. CONSTITUTION:A fuel pump 4 is situated to either of left and right tanks 2 and 3, with which a fuel tank 1 is formed, and is formed with a first pump (reproduction type), adapted to feed with a pressure fuel to fuel systems 5-7, and a second pump (volume type), adapted to convey fuel from the tank 3 to the tank 2. Liquid level detectors 9 and 10 are situated in the tanks 2 and 3, respectively, and detected liquid levels in the tanks 2 and 3 are converted into an electric signal by means of converters 11 and 12, respectively. When the liquid level in the fuel tank 1 is lowered down to lower than L0, liquid level signals are compared with each other, and when a difference between the L and either of the liquid level signals is increased to a given value, an output signal is outputted to control ON-OFF of a 3-way electromagnetic valve 15. This constitution causes liquid levels in the tanks 2 and 3 to be held approximately at an equal level.

Description

【発明の詳細な説明】 〔発明の利用分野〕 本発明は重両用燃料タンクの液面制御に係り、特に電動
式燃料ポンプを用いた２槽式燃料タンクの液面制御装置
に関する。DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION [Field of Application of the Invention] The present invention relates to liquid level control in a dual-purpose fuel tank, and more particularly to a liquid level control device for a two-tank fuel tank using an electric fuel pump.

〔発明の背景〕[Background of the invention]

近年、車両は車室内スペースとトランクルーム容積の拡
大化の傾向にあり、燃料タンクの容積、型状が制約され
るようになって来ている。一般に前輪駆動車の燃料タン
クは高さを低くした偏平型状で後部座席下部に装着され
ており、後輪駆動車は後輪駆動用ドライブシャフトを回
避するだめ、後部座席の背もたれ後部またはトランクル
ーム床下に設置されている。いずれの場合においても、
一定容積が必要な燃料タンクはその車種に合った形状の
ものを作るか、前述した車室内のスペースもしくはトラ
ンクルームの容積を小さくする方法でしか解決策がない
。また最近前輪駆動車のバリエーションの一つである四
輪駆動車は衆知の通り前輪駆動車に後輪、駆動車ドライ
ブシャフトを設けたものであるから、燃料タンクは後輪
駆動車と同じ位置に設置することが考えられる。したが
って前輪、後輪、四輪の夫々の駆動方式によって車室内
のスペース、トランクルームの容積が変わったり、燃料
タンクの形状がその車種によって異なることは車の市場
性、あるいは燃料タンクの生産性に大きな問題が生ずる
。そこで後輪駆動車も含めて燃料タンクの改良が行われ
、後輪駆動用ドライブシャフトを回避するために、燃料
夕／り中央に逆回字状の隔壁を設えた２槽式燃料タンク
が実用化されつつある。In recent years, vehicles have tended to have larger interior spaces and trunk volumes, and the volume and shape of fuel tanks have become restricted. In general, the fuel tank of a front-wheel drive vehicle is a flat, low-height type that is installed at the bottom of the rear seat.In a rear-wheel drive vehicle, it is necessary to avoid the drive shaft for rear wheel drive, and it is placed behind the backrest of the rear seat or under the floor of the trunk room. It is installed in In either case,
The only solution is to create a fuel tank that requires a certain volume in a shape that matches the vehicle type, or to reduce the space inside the vehicle or the volume of the trunk as described above. In addition, four-wheel drive cars, which are one of the recent variations of front-wheel drive cars, are, as is well known, a front-wheel drive car with a rear wheel and a drive shaft, so the fuel tank is placed in the same position as a rear-wheel drive car. It is possible to install one. Therefore, the interior space and trunk volume change depending on the front, rear, and four-wheel drive systems, and the shape of the fuel tank differs depending on the model, which has a big impact on the marketability of the car and the productivity of the fuel tank. A problem arises. Therefore, improvements were made to fuel tanks, including those for rear-wheel drive vehicles, and in order to avoid the use of rear-wheel drive drive shafts, a two-tank fuel tank with an inverted round-shaped bulkhead in the center of the fuel tank was put into practical use. It is becoming more and more popular.

ここで、かかる燃料タンクに用いられる電動式燃料ポン
プは燃料が満タン状態の時は問題ないが、液面が低下す
るにしたがい、燃料タンクは前述した中央の隔壁によっ
て左右独立した２槽式タンクの状態となる。したがって
、かかる状態になった後は夫々独立した２槽の液面を制
御することが問題となる。Here, there is no problem with the electric fuel pump used in such a fuel tank when the fuel is full, but as the liquid level decreases, the fuel tank becomes a two-tank type tank with left and right independent tanks separated by the central partition wall mentioned above. The state will be as follows. Therefore, after such a state is reached, it becomes a problem to control the liquid levels in the two independent tanks.

この問題を解決する方法は、例えば各種に夫々１個の電
動式燃料ポンプを設置し、その吐出側を配管上で集合さ
せる方法や、一方の槽に燃料系システムに燃料を圧送す
る上記ポンプを設置し、他方の槽に別の電動式燃料ポン
プを設置して、この槽の燃料を一方の槽へ移送する方法
がとられている。しかしながら、これらの方法は１個の
燃料タンクに２個の燃料ポンプが必要であシ、燃料ポン
プの燃料タンクの装着性、コスト、あるいは電力消費の
点で問題がある。Methods to solve this problem include, for example, installing one electric fuel pump for each type and consolidating their discharge sides on piping, or installing the above-mentioned pumps in one tank that pumps fuel into the fuel system. A method is used in which one tank is installed, another electric fuel pump is installed in the other tank, and the fuel from this tank is transferred to one tank. However, these methods require two fuel pumps for one fuel tank, and there are problems in terms of attachability of the fuel pump to the fuel tank, cost, and power consumption.

一方、燃料タンク内装置の電動式燃料ポンプは特公昭４
６−２６４４２、特開昭５９−１４５３９５に開示され
ているものの、これらは何れも１槽式燃料タンク内に装
着されるものである。特に特開昭５９−１４５３９５は
ポンプ室を２段構造としているが、その目的は単に燃料
の吐出圧力を高めるためのものであシ、前述しろ２槽式
燃料タンクの液面を制御する方法は何んら示されていな
い。On the other hand, the electric fuel pump installed in the fuel tank was developed in
6-26442 and JP-A-59-145395, both of which are installed in a single fuel tank. In particular, JP-A-59-145395 has a two-stage structure for the pump chamber, but its purpose is simply to increase the fuel discharge pressure. nothing is shown.

〔発明の目的〕[Purpose of the invention]

本発明の目的は２槽式燃料タンク内に１台の電動式燃料
ポンプを設置して最適な各２槽の液面を制御する２槽式
燃料タンクの液面制御装置を提供するにある。SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION An object of the present invention is to provide a liquid level control device for a two-tank fuel tank that optimally controls the liquid level in each of the two tanks by installing one electric fuel pump in the two-tank fuel tank.

〔発明の概要〕[Summary of the invention]

本発明の特徴は２槽式燃料タンク内に電動式燃料ポンプ
を設置し、該ポンプは１個の電動機によシ駆動され燃料
系システムに燃料を圧送する第１のポンプと、上記２槽
間に燃料を移送する第２のポンプとを備え、上記第２ポ
ンプの吸込口側であって上記２槽間に燃料を移送する移
送管路上に設置された三方電磁弁と、上記各種の液位を
検出する２つの液位検出装置と、上記各々の液位検出信
号の大きさによって上記三方電磁弁を制御する制御回路
とを備えたことにある。A feature of the present invention is that an electric fuel pump is installed in a two-tank fuel tank, and the pump is driven by one electric motor and includes a first pump that pumps fuel to the fuel system, and a pump that is connected between the two tanks. a three-way solenoid valve installed on the suction port side of the second pump on the transfer pipe for transferring fuel between the two tanks; and a control circuit that controls the three-way solenoid valve according to the magnitude of each of the liquid level detection signals.

〔発明の実施例〕[Embodiments of the invention]

以下本発明の実施列を第１図〜第２図にしたがって説明
する。第２図は第１図に示す本発明のシステムに使用す
る電動式燃料ポンプの縦断面図である。即ち、本燃料ポ
ンプ４は燃料を第１図に示を燃料系システム（フィルタ
５、レギュレータ６、コールドスタートパルプ゛７）に
圧送するための第１のポンプ（再生型）と、第１図の（
Ｉｔ）の槽３から（Ｉ）の槽２へ燃料を移送する第２の
ポンプ（容積型）とからなる。尚、これらのポンプＨＥ
発明の目的を達するならば、特にポンプの種類は問わな
い。Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to FIGS. 1 and 2. FIG. 2 is a longitudinal sectional view of the electric fuel pump used in the system of the present invention shown in FIG. That is, this fuel pump 4 includes a first pump (regeneration type) for pumping fuel to the fuel system (filter 5, regulator 6, cold start pulp 7) shown in FIG. (
It consists of a second pump (positive displacement type) that transfers fuel from the tank 3 of (It) to the tank 2 of (I). Furthermore, these pumps HE
Any type of pump may be used as long as the purpose of the invention is achieved.

今、回転子３３が回転すると前記回転子３３と同期回転
する羽根車２１によりポンプ室内でポンプ作用が生じ、
燃料はストレーナ１８からエンドカバ２５の吸引孔２０
よりポンプ室内に流入し、さらにハウジング２２の吐出
口２３より電動機内部２４を通り、吐出管３３から前述
する燃料系システムに圧送される。また前記羽根車２１
と同様にロータ２８も同期回転し、ポンプ作用により燃
料はハウジング２６に設けた吸込孔２７よりポンプ室内
に流入し、同ポンプ室内で加圧された後にエンドカバ２
９の吐出孔３０より排出される。Now, when the rotor 33 rotates, the impeller 21 rotating in synchronization with the rotor 33 generates a pumping action in the pump chamber.
The fuel flows from the strainer 18 to the suction hole 20 of the end cover 25.
The fuel flows into the pump chamber, passes through the motor interior 24 through the discharge port 23 of the housing 22, and is pumped through the discharge pipe 33 to the fuel system described above. In addition, the impeller 21
Similarly, the rotor 28 also rotates synchronously, and fuel flows into the pump chamber through the suction hole 27 provided in the housing 26 due to the pump action, and after being pressurized in the pump chamber, the fuel flows into the end cover 2.
It is discharged from the discharge hole 30 of 9.

かかる燃料ポンプ４は第１図に示す中央部分が１部突出
し、左右にＣＩ）の槽２と（ＩＩ）の槽３とからなる燃
料タンク１の一方（第１図では（Ｉ）の槽）に設置され
る。また液位検出器９．１０は上記した２つの槽にそれ
ぞれ設置され、検出された２槽の液面レベルは２つの変
換器１１．１２で液位に応じた電気信号に変換される。This fuel pump 4 has a central part shown in FIG. 1 that partially protrudes, and is connected to one side of the fuel tank 1 (tank (I) in FIG. 1) consisting of a tank 2 (CI) and a tank 3 (II) on the left and right sides. will be installed in Further, liquid level detectors 9.10 are installed in each of the two tanks described above, and the detected liquid levels in the two tanks are converted into electrical signals corresponding to the liquid levels by two converters 11.12.

なお液位検出器９、ｌＯ及び変換器１１．１２は、例え
ばフロート式とポテンショ式との組合せでもよく、極く
一般の液位検出装置を使用するものである。制御回路１
３は液位がＬ０以下のとき、上記した２つの成立信号を
比較し、何れか一方の信号の差が所定の幅に達した時に
出力信号を発し、三方電磁弁１５を０Ｎ−ＯＦＦ制御す
るように構成されている。また電動式燃料ポンプ４から
圧送される燃料は燃料供給管１９を経てその一部はイン
ジェクタｓ−ｉ〜４で噴射され、残シは戻ヤ管１６を経
て燃料タンクｌの＜ＩＩ）の槽３へ戻される。燃料移送
管１７は一端がストレーナ１８′に接続され、他端は三
方電磁弁１５を経て上記第２のポンプの吸込孔２７に接
続されるように構成され、燃料タンク１の液位がＬ０以
下になった時に後述する一定の条件のもとて三方電磁弁
１５ＨＯＮ−ＯＦＦ制御されるイ 以下、第１図にしたがってその動作を説明する。Note that the liquid level detector 9, IO, and converter 11.12 may be, for example, a combination of a float type and a potentiometer type, and use a very general liquid level detecting device. Control circuit 1
3 compares the two established signals described above when the liquid level is below L0, and when the difference between either signal reaches a predetermined width, issues an output signal and controls the three-way solenoid valve 15 to turn ON-OFF. It is configured as follows. Further, the fuel pumped from the electric fuel pump 4 passes through the fuel supply pipe 19, and part of it is injected by the injectors s-i to 4, and the remaining part passes through the return pipe 16 to the tank <II) of the fuel tank l. Returned to 3. The fuel transfer pipe 17 is configured such that one end is connected to the strainer 18' and the other end is connected to the suction hole 27 of the second pump via the three-way solenoid valve 15, so that the liquid level in the fuel tank 1 is below L0. When this happens, the three-way solenoid valve 15HON-OFF is controlled under certain conditions, which will be described later.A. The operation will be described below with reference to FIG.

燃料タンクｌの液面レベルがタンク中央の隔壁以上、即
ちＬｏ以上にある場合は問題はないが、Ｌｏ以下になっ
た場合、電動式燃料ポンプ４の第１のポンプと第２のポ
ンプの流量、及び消費燃料の量によって左右２槽の液位
にアンバランスが生ずる。そこで各液位検出器９．１０
で検出される２槽の液位をり、　、Ｌ、とした場合の三
方電磁弁の動作条件を下表の如くに定める。There is no problem if the liquid level in the fuel tank l is above the bulkhead in the center of the tank, that is, above Lo, but if it is below Lo, the flow rates of the first and second pumps of the electric fuel pump 4 will be reduced. , and the amount of fuel consumed, an imbalance occurs in the liquid levels in the two left and right tanks. Therefore, each liquid level detector 9.10
The operating conditions for the three-way solenoid valve are determined as shown in the table below, assuming that the liquid levels in the two tanks detected at are , and L.

例えば各々の液位がり、”ｉＬ、またはＬ　＋　＜　Ｌ
　ｔの時は何れも制御回路１３の出力は零と設定すれば
、（■）の槽の燃料は上記第２のポンプによって（Ｉ［
）の槽３から（Ｉ）の槽２へ移送される。For example, each liquid level, “iL,” or L + < L
If the output of the control circuit 13 is set to zero at time t, the fuel in the tank (■) is pumped by the second pump to (I[
) is transferred from tank 3 of (I) to tank 2 of (I).

また液位がり、＞Ｌ、になった時は制御回路１３の出力
により三方電磁弁１５はＯＮとなシ、それによって燃料
は第２のポンプによる移送は行われず、単に燃料は上記
第２のポンプによって三方電磁弁１５内のＢ−＋Ｃ方向
に吸引され第２のポンプ吐出孔３０に排出されるのみで
、（■）の槽内を循環するだけである。尚１４は単室内
の液位指示計であシ、これは（Ｉ）の槽２の液位を指示
するように構成している。また（ＩＦ）の槽３の液位か
ストレーナ１８が露出する程度のレベルに低下した時、
制御回路１３の出力はり、とり、とのレベル差にかかわ
らずり、のレベルを優先して三方電磁弁をＯＮさせるよ
うに設定する。これにより、（ＩＩ）の槽側のレベル低
下による第２のポンプの空転が防止できる。Furthermore, when the liquid level rises to >L, the three-way solenoid valve 15 is turned on by the output of the control circuit 13, so that the fuel is not transferred by the second pump, and the fuel is simply transferred to the second pump. It is only sucked in the B-+C direction within the three-way electromagnetic valve 15 by the pump and discharged to the second pump discharge hole 30, and is simply circulated in the tank (■). Reference numeral 14 is a liquid level indicator in the single chamber, which is configured to indicate the liquid level in tank 2 (I). Also, when the liquid level in the tank 3 (IF) drops to a level that exposes the strainer 18,
Regardless of the level difference between the output of the control circuit 13, the three-way solenoid valve is set to be turned on with priority given to the level of. This can prevent the second pump from idling due to the drop in the level on the tank side (II).

このように、電動式燃料ポンプを２段式にし、１段目の
第１のポンプを従来の燃料ポンプの機能をもたせ、２段
目の第２のポンプを２槽内の燃料移送に使用すると共に
、これと６槽に設置したレベル計とを組合せて三方電磁
弁を制御することにより、上記燃料の移送量が制御でき
るので、６槽の液位は左右はｙ均等に保つことが可能と
なる。In this way, the electric fuel pump is made into a two-stage type, with the first pump in the first stage having the function of a conventional fuel pump, and the second pump in the second stage being used to transfer fuel between the two tanks. In addition, by combining this with the level gauge installed in the 6th tank and controlling the three-way solenoid valve, the amount of fuel transferred can be controlled, so the liquid level in the 6th tank can be maintained equally on the left and right sides. Become.

従来、２槽式燃料タンクを使用する吻合、２台の燃料ポ
ンプを使用していたが、夫々のポンプ性能のバラツキに
より２槽の液面に差が生じ、実際に使用する場合はポン
プ特性の合ったものを選択して使用すると言う問題があ
った。かかる問題は本発明によって総べて解決されるこ
とＫなる。しかも消費電力は一台分の電力で良く、且つ
ポンプ騒音も増大することなく、従来の１槽式燃料タン
クの使用条件と何んら変わることがない。Conventionally, an anastomosis using a two-tank fuel tank and two fuel pumps were used, but due to variations in the performance of each pump, there was a difference in the liquid level in the two tanks, and in actual use, the pump characteristics There was a problem of selecting and using the appropriate one. All such problems are solved by the present invention. Moreover, the power consumption is sufficient to be that of one fuel tank, and there is no increase in pump noise, so there is no difference in usage conditions from the conventional one-tank fuel tank.

〔発明の効果〕〔Effect of the invention〕

以上、本発明によって２槽式燃料タンクを使用する場合
、１台の燃料ポンプの使用であっても、６槽の液位を最
適に制御することが可能となる。As described above, when a two-tank type fuel tank is used according to the present invention, it is possible to optimally control the liquid levels of six tanks even when one fuel pump is used.

【図面の簡単な説明】[Brief explanation of drawings]

第１図は本発明の燃料供給系のシステム図、第２図は本
発明に使用するポンプの縦断面図である。 １・・・燃料タンク、２・・・（Ｉ）の槽、３・・・（
Ｉ［）の槽、４・・・燃料ポンプ、９．１０・・・液位
検出器、１１．１２・・・変換器、１３・・・制御回路
、１５・・・三活７０FIG. 1 is a system diagram of a fuel supply system of the present invention, and FIG. 2 is a longitudinal sectional view of a pump used in the present invention. 1...Fuel tank, 2...(I) tank, 3...(
I[) tank, 4... Fuel pump, 9.10... Liquid level detector, 11.12... Converter, 13... Control circuit, 15... Sankatsu 70

Claims (1)

【特許請求の範囲】[Claims] １、２槽式燃料タンク内に電動式燃料ポンプを設置し上
記燃料タンクの液面を制御する装置において、１組の電
動機により駆動され燃料系システムに燃料を圧送する第
１のポンプと、上記２槽間に燃料を移送する第２のポン
プとを備え、上記第２のポンプの吸込口側であつて上記
２槽間に燃料を移送する移送管路上に設置された三方電
磁弁と、上記各槽の液位を検出する２つの液面検出装置
と、上記各々の液位検出信号の大きさによつて上記三方
電磁弁を制御する制御回路とを備えたことを特徴とする
２槽式燃料タンクの液面制御装置。In a device for controlling the liquid level of the fuel tank by installing an electric fuel pump in a one- or two-tank fuel tank, the first pump is driven by one set of electric motors and pumps fuel to the fuel system; a second pump for transferring fuel between the two tanks; a three-way solenoid valve installed on the suction port side of the second pump and on a transfer pipe for transferring fuel between the two tanks; A two-tank type system characterized by comprising two liquid level detection devices that detect the liquid level in each tank, and a control circuit that controls the three-way solenoid valve according to the magnitude of each of the liquid level detection signals. Fuel tank liquid level control device.