US20110139278A1 - Fuel pump - Google Patents
Fuel pump Download PDFInfo
- Publication number
- US20110139278A1 US20110139278A1 US12/967,543 US96754310A US2011139278A1 US 20110139278 A1 US20110139278 A1 US 20110139278A1 US 96754310 A US96754310 A US 96754310A US 2011139278 A1 US2011139278 A1 US 2011139278A1
- Authority
- US
- United States
- Prior art keywords
- fuel
- passage
- pump
- vapors
- jet
- Prior art date
- Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
- Abandoned
Links
- 239000000446 fuel Substances 0.000 title claims abstract description 1165
- 238000011176 pooling Methods 0.000 claims abstract description 143
- 239000002828 fuel tank Substances 0.000 claims description 81
- 230000001105 regulatory effect Effects 0.000 claims description 66
- 230000003247 decreasing effect Effects 0.000 claims description 31
- 238000004891 communication Methods 0.000 claims description 17
- 230000008878 coupling Effects 0.000 claims description 14
- 238000010168 coupling process Methods 0.000 claims description 14
- 238000005859 coupling reaction Methods 0.000 claims description 14
- 238000001914 filtration Methods 0.000 claims description 13
- 239000007788 liquid Substances 0.000 claims description 8
- 238000007599 discharging Methods 0.000 claims description 4
- 238000002485 combustion reaction Methods 0.000 abstract description 7
- 230000004048 modification Effects 0.000 description 36
- 238000012986 modification Methods 0.000 description 36
- 239000000463 material Substances 0.000 description 27
- 230000007423 decrease Effects 0.000 description 25
- 239000010408 film Substances 0.000 description 16
- 239000011347 resin Substances 0.000 description 13
- 229920005989 resin Polymers 0.000 description 13
- 230000000694 effects Effects 0.000 description 9
- 230000007774 longterm Effects 0.000 description 8
- 239000010409 thin film Substances 0.000 description 8
- 239000000835 fiber Substances 0.000 description 7
- 239000003502 gasoline Substances 0.000 description 6
- 230000002093 peripheral effect Effects 0.000 description 6
- LFQSCWFLJHTTHZ-UHFFFAOYSA-N Ethanol Chemical compound CCO LFQSCWFLJHTTHZ-UHFFFAOYSA-N 0.000 description 4
- 239000000843 powder Substances 0.000 description 3
- 238000000638 solvent extraction Methods 0.000 description 3
- 230000006399 behavior Effects 0.000 description 2
- 238000011144 upstream manufacturing Methods 0.000 description 2
- 238000009835 boiling Methods 0.000 description 1
- 239000004744 fabric Substances 0.000 description 1
- 239000012530 fluid Substances 0.000 description 1
- 238000002347 injection Methods 0.000 description 1
- 239000007924 injection Substances 0.000 description 1
- 239000004745 nonwoven fabric Substances 0.000 description 1
- 238000005086 pumping Methods 0.000 description 1
Images
Classifications
-
- 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
- F02M37/00—Apparatus or systems for feeding liquid fuel from storage containers to carburettors or fuel-injection apparatus; Arrangements for purifying liquid fuel specially adapted for, or arranged on, internal-combustion engines
- F02M37/04—Feeding by means of driven pumps
- F02M37/08—Feeding by means of driven pumps electrically driven
- F02M37/10—Feeding by means of driven pumps electrically driven submerged in fuel, e.g. in reservoir
- F02M37/106—Feeding by means of driven pumps electrically driven submerged in fuel, e.g. in reservoir the pump being installed in a sub-tank
-
- B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
- B01—PHYSICAL OR CHEMICAL PROCESSES OR APPARATUS IN GENERAL
- B01D—SEPARATION
- B01D35/00—Filtering devices having features not specifically covered by groups B01D24/00 - B01D33/00, or for applications not specifically covered by groups B01D24/00 - B01D33/00; Auxiliary devices for filtration; Filter housing constructions
- B01D35/02—Filters adapted for location in special places, e.g. pipe-lines, pumps, stop-cocks
- B01D35/027—Filters adapted for location in special places, e.g. pipe-lines, pumps, stop-cocks rigidly mounted in or on tanks or reservoirs
- B01D35/0273—Filtering elements with a horizontal or inclined rotation or symmetry axis submerged in tanks or reservoirs
-
- B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
- B01—PHYSICAL OR CHEMICAL PROCESSES OR APPARATUS IN GENERAL
- B01D—SEPARATION
- B01D35/00—Filtering devices having features not specifically covered by groups B01D24/00 - B01D33/00, or for applications not specifically covered by groups B01D24/00 - B01D33/00; Auxiliary devices for filtration; Filter housing constructions
- B01D35/02—Filters adapted for location in special places, e.g. pipe-lines, pumps, stop-cocks
- B01D35/027—Filters adapted for location in special places, e.g. pipe-lines, pumps, stop-cocks rigidly mounted in or on tanks or reservoirs
- B01D35/0276—Filtering elements with a vertical rotation or symmetry axis mounted on tanks or reservoirs
-
- B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
- B01—PHYSICAL OR CHEMICAL PROCESSES OR APPARATUS IN GENERAL
- B01D—SEPARATION
- B01D36/00—Filter circuits or combinations of filters with other separating devices
- B01D36/001—Filters in combination with devices for the removal of gas, air purge systems
-
- 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
- F02M37/00—Apparatus or systems for feeding liquid fuel from storage containers to carburettors or fuel-injection apparatus; Arrangements for purifying liquid fuel specially adapted for, or arranged on, internal-combustion engines
- F02M37/02—Feeding by means of suction apparatus, e.g. by air flow through carburettors
- F02M37/025—Feeding by means of a liquid fuel-driven jet pump
-
- 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
- F02M37/00—Apparatus or systems for feeding liquid fuel from storage containers to carburettors or fuel-injection apparatus; Arrangements for purifying liquid fuel specially adapted for, or arranged on, internal-combustion engines
- F02M37/22—Arrangements for purifying liquid fuel specially adapted for, or arranged on, internal-combustion engines, e.g. arrangements in the feeding system
- F02M37/32—Arrangements for purifying liquid fuel specially adapted for, or arranged on, internal-combustion engines, e.g. arrangements in the feeding system characterised by filters or filter arrangements
- F02M37/50—Filters arranged in or on fuel tanks
-
- Y—GENERAL TAGGING OF NEW TECHNOLOGICAL DEVELOPMENTS; GENERAL TAGGING OF CROSS-SECTIONAL TECHNOLOGIES SPANNING OVER SEVERAL SECTIONS OF THE IPC; TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER USPC CROSS-REFERENCE ART COLLECTIONS [XRACs] AND DIGESTS
- Y10—TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER USPC
- Y10T—TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER US CLASSIFICATION
- Y10T137/00—Fluid handling
- Y10T137/8593—Systems
- Y10T137/85978—With pump
Definitions
- the present invention relates to a fuel pump for supplying fuel to an internal combustion engine (an engine).
- a fuel pump is known in the art, according to which the fuel pump has a pump device for generating a fuel drawing force for drawing fuel through a suction port and pumping out the fuel from a discharge port, and a filter device for filtering the fuel to be sucked into the pump device.
- the pump device can not discharge the fuel, which at least corresponds to a volume of the vapors. Therefore, a discharge fuel amount of the pump device is decreased when compared with a case in which no vapors are mixed into the fuel.
- Various structures have been proposed in the art in order to prevent the vapors from mixing into the fuel to be sucked into the pump device (for example, as disclosed in Japanese Patent Publications No. 2006-029317 and H07-180632).
- an expansion chamber is provided at an upper side of a fuel suction filter.
- the fuel suction filter is formed in a bag shape for filtering fuel to be supplied into a pump device.
- vapors contained in the fuel flowing into the expansion chamber are separated from the fuel, and such fuel is then supplied into the fuel suction filter, to thereby reduce a condition of negative pressure in the fuel suction filter, in which the negative pressure is generated during an operation of the pump device.
- As a result of reducing the negative pressure it is possible to suppress generation of vapors in the fuel suction filter.
- a mesh filter body for filtering fuel to be sucked into a pump device.
- a return fuel chamber is formed at an upper side of the mesh filter body, so that a par of the mesh filter at the upper side forms a bottom wall of the return fuel chamber.
- the upper side mesh filter forms a partitioning wall between the mesh filter body and the return fuel chamber.
- the pump device may decrease its discharge amount.
- the vapors generated in the mesh filter body due to the operation of the pump device may not pass through the partitioning wall formed between the mesh filter body and the return fuel chamber and may stay in the mesh filter body.
- the pump device When thus generated vapor stays in the filter body, the vapor may flow together with the fuel to be sucked into the pump device and may finally be sucked into the pump device. As a result, the pump device may decrease its discharge amount.
- the present invention is made in view of the above problems. It is an object of the present invention to provide a fuel pump, according to which it is possible to suppress that vapors generated in a filter device may flow toward a suction port of a pump device, so that decease of discharge amount from the pump device may be suppressed.
- a fuel pump comprises a pump device having a suction port and a discharge port.
- the pump device generates fuel suction force at the suction port and discharges pressurized fuel from the discharge port.
- the fuel pump further has a filter device connected to the suction port for filtering the fuel to be sucked into the pump device.
- the filter device includes an outer shell having a filter element of a film shape for filtering the fuel to be sucked into the pump device. The outer shell forms therein a fuel passage for guiding the fuel filtered by the filter element to the suction port of the pump device.
- the outer shell further forms a vapor pooling chamber above the fuel passage and communicated with the fuel passage so that vapors included in the fuel flowing through the fuel passage are moved from the fuel passage toward the vapor pooling chamber.
- a valve device is provided at a portion of the outer shell for communicating the vapor pooling chamber to an outside of the outer shell when an amount of the vapors pooled in the vapor pooling chamber reaches at a predetermined value.
- the filter device since the filter device is connected to the suction port of the pump device, the fuel pressure in the filter device is decreased by fuel suction force generated by the operation of the pump device, so that the fuel pressure in the filter device becomes lower than the fuel pressure outside of the filter device. Since at least a portion of the outer shell of the filter device is formed by the filter element of the thin film for filtering the fuel, the fuel outside of the filter device passes through the filter element to enter into the fuel passage formed in the filter device. In the fuel passage, fuel flow flowing toward the pump device is generated when the pump device is in operation. The fuel having entered into the fuel passage flows along such fuel flow and is sucked into the pump device through the suction port thereof.
- vapors may be generated when the fuel passes through the filter element and is filtered thereby, because the fuel pressure in the filter device is lower than the fuel pressure outside of the filter device.
- the vapor pooling chamber is formed in the outer shell above the fuel passage, so that the vapors are able to upwardly move by buoyancy thereof and the vapors are moved to the vapor pooling chamber. As above, the vapors are separated from the filtered fuel in the filter device.
- the vapors can be separated from the filtered fuel and pooled in the vapor pooling chamber of the filter device, as above, it is possible to suppress flow-in of the vapors which would otherwise be sucked into the suction port of the pump device. In addition, it is possible to suppress a decrease of pump discharge amount.
- a predetermined value a capacity of the vapor pooling chamber
- the valve device is provided at the outer shell of the filter device, at such a portion at which the vapor pooling chamber is formed, so that the vapor pooling chamber is communicated to the outside of the filter device when the vapors are pooled in the vapor pooling chamber to thereby discharge the vapors from the vapor pooling chamber to the outside of the filter device. Therefore, it is possible, according to the above structure, to suppress a generation of a problem that the vapors may overflow from the vapor pooling chamber and the separated vapors may flow into the fuel passage. It is possible, for a long term, to exert the effect for suppressing the decrease of the pump discharge amount.
- a liquid film of the fuel is formed at a surface of the filter element when the fuel entered into the filter element, and the liquid film of the fuel allows the fuel to pass through the filter element but prevents the vapors from passing pass through the filter element.
- the filter device of the present invention has the valve device, through which the vapors may be discharged to the outside of the filter device. It is, therefore, possible to discharge the vapors to the outside of the filter device before the amount of the vapors may exceeds the capacity of the vapor pooling chamber.
- the outer shell has a slope wall portion at an upper side thereof, and the slope wall portion is upwardly inclined such that a height of the slope wall portion becomes larger as the slope wall portion is closer to the valve device.
- the vapors tend to upwardly move due to the buoyancy. Since the slope wall portion is formed at the upper side of the outer shell and upwardly inclined toward the valve device, the vapors are moved upwardly to the valve device along the slope wall portion. According to such a feature, it is possible to surely guide the vapors to the valve device and to smoothly discharge the vapors to the outside of the filter device.
- the slope wall portion is formed by the filter element. Since the slope wall portion is formed by the filter element, the fuel having passed through the filter element enters into the fuel passage below the vapor pooling chamber. The vapors pooled in the vapor pooling chamber receives pressure from the fuel having entered into the fuel passage, so that the vapors are effectively discharged to the outside of the filter device.
- the slope wall portion is upwardly inclined such that the height of the slope wall portion becomes larger as the slope wall portion is further away from the suction port.
- the valve device is provided at a highest position of the outer shell, so that the slope wall portion is upwardly inclined toward the valve device. Since the valve device is provided at the highest position of the outer shell and the slope wall portion is upwardly inclined toward the valve device, the vapors are upwardly moved toward the valve device. As a result, it is possible to surely guide the vapors to the valve device and to smoothly discharge the vapors to the outside of the filter device.
- the valve device comprises a valve seat member having a seat portion formed at an outer surface of the filter device and a communication hole formed at an inner area of the seat portion for communicating the vapor pooling chamber to the outside of the filter device.
- the valve device further comprises a valve body member disposed at the outer surface of the filter device, wherein the valve body member is pushed by the vapors in the vapor pooling chamber and thereby separated from the seat portion, so that the valve body member allows the vapors to flow from the vapor pooling chamber to the outside of the filter device, while the valve body member is seated on the seat portion when the amount of the vapors in the vapor pooling chamber is decreased so that the valve body member prevents the fuel from flowing from the outside of the filter device into the inside of the filter device.
- the valve body member is arranged at the outer surface of the filter device (at the valve seat member having the seat portion) and the communication hole is formed at the inner area of the seat portion. Therefore, the valve body member is pushed out by the vapors flowing from the inside to the outside of the filter device and thereby separated from the seat portion. As a result, the vapors are discharged from the vapor pooling chamber to the outside of the filter device. On the other hand, when the amount of the vapors in the vapor pooling chamber is decreased, the valve body member is seated on the seat portion. As a result, the fuel is prevented from flowing from the outside to the inside of the filter device through the communication hole.
- the vapors pooled in the vapor pooling chamber are discharged to the outside of the filter device, it is possible to suppress that the vapors flow into the fuel passage.
- it is possible to prevent the fuel from entering into the inside of the filter device through the valve device it is possible to surely guide the filtered fuel (filtered by the filter element) to the suction port of the pump device.
- the fuel passage is composed of a first fuel passage and a second fuel passage.
- the second fuel passage is formed between the first fuel passage and the suction port of the pump device so that the first fuel passage is communicated to the suction port.
- the outer shell is composed of the filter element and a tank wall member of a tank portion, wherein the filter element forms therein the first fuel passage, while the tank portion forms therein the second fuel passage and the vapor pooling chamber above the second fuel passage.
- the filter element is provided at a lower end of the tank portion, so that the first fuel passage is communicated to the second fuel passage, and the valve device is provided at a portion of the tank portion, at which the vapor pooling chamber is formed.
- the filter element forming therein the first fuel passage is provided at the lower end of the tank portion, so that the first fuel passage is communicated to the second fuel passage formed in the tank portion.
- the vapors having entered into the second fuel passage are upwardly moved by the buoyancy to the vapor pooling chamber, which is formed above the second fuel passage. Since the vapor pooling chamber is formed by the tank portion, which does not allow the fuel (as well as the vapors) to pass through the tank wall member of the tank portion, the vapors can not be discharged to the outside of the filter device through the tank portion. The vapors are discharged to the outside of the filter device only through the valve device, which is provided at the tank portion.
- the outer shell of the filter device is composed of the filter element and the tank wall member, it is possible to separate the vapors from the filtered fuel in the filter device, and to suppress the flow-in of the vapors into the suction port of the pump device. It is possible, for a long term, to exert the effect for suppressing the flow-in of the vapors into the suction port.
- the valve device comprises a valve seat member provided at the tank portion, the valve seat member having a seat portion formed at an outer surface of the filter device and a communication hole formed at an inner area of the seat portion for communicating the vapor pooling chamber to the outside of the filter device.
- the valve device further comprises a valve body member disposed at the outer surface of the filter device, wherein the valve body member is pushed by the vapors in the vapor pooling chamber and thereby separated from the seat portion so that the valve body member allows the vapors to flow from the vapor pooling chamber to the outside of the filter device, while the valve body member is seated on the seat portion when the amount of the vapors in the vapor pooling chamber is decreased so that the valve body member prevents the fuel from flowing from the outside of the filter device into the inside of the filter device.
- the valve body member is arranged at the outer surface of the filter device (at the valve seat member having the seat portion) and the communication hole is formed at the inner area of the seat portion. Therefore, the valve body member is pushed out by the vapors flowing from the inside to the outside of the filter device and thereby separated from the seat portion. As a result, the vapors are discharged from the vapor pooling chamber to the outside of the filter device. On the other hand, when the amount of the vapors in the vapor pooling chamber is decreased, the valve body member is seated on the seat portion. As a result, the fuel is prevented from flowing from the outside to the inside of the filter device through the communication hole.
- the fuel pump further comprises an auxiliary jet pump provided between the first fuel passage and the second fuel passage.
- the auxiliary jet pump has a throat portion forming a fuel jet passage, one end of which is opened to the first fuel passage and the other end of which is opened to the second fuel passage.
- the auxiliary jet pump further has a fuel jet portion provided in the fuel jet passage for emitting fuel toward the other end of the fuel jet passage opened to the second fuel passage.
- the fuel jet portion is provided in the fuel jet passage of the throat portion in such a way that the fuel is emitted toward the other end of the fuel jet passage opened to the second fuel passage. Therefore, when the fuel is emitted from the fuel jet portion, the fuel pressure around the fuel jet portion is decreased to thereby generate the fuel suction force at the auxiliary jet pump for sucking the fuel from the first fuel passage.
- the fuel pressure in the first fuel passage is decreased. Then, the fuel outside of the filter device passes through the filter element to enter into the first fuel passage. The fuel having entered into the fuel jet passage of the throat portion flows into the second fuel passage along with the fuel emitted from the fuel jet portion.
- the fuel suction force is generated in the auxiliary jet pump when the fuel is emitted from the fuel jet portion.
- the fuel in the first fuel passage is forcibly transferred by the fuel suction force to the second fuel passage. It is, therefore, possible to fully fill the tank portion with fuel.
- the auxiliary jet pump forcibly discharges the fuel into the second fuel passage, it is possible to forcibly and smoothly discharge the vapors pooled in the vapor pooling chamber to the outside of the filter device through the valve device.
- a filter frame is provided in the filter device for supporting an inner surface of the outer shell.
- the filter element made of the film sheet does not have enough mechanical strength to be used as an outer shell of the filter device. It is, therefore, difficult for the filter element of the film sheet to keep the shape of the outer shell of the filter device.
- the filter frame is provided in the filter device for supporting the inner surface of the outer shell. Therefore, even when any external force is applied to the filter element, the shape of the filter element can be maintained. Namely, the shape of the fuel passage as well as the vapor pooling chamber, each of which is formed inside of the filter element, can be maintained.
- the pump device is composed of an electric pump for generating the fuel suction force in order to draw the fuel from the suction port, the electric pump pressurizes the fuel and discharges such pressurized fuel from the discharge port.
- the fuel discharge amount from the electric pump is decreased at least by such an amount of the vapors, which have been sucked into the electric pump together with the fuel.
- the flow-in of the vapors into the electric pump is suppressed and thereby the decrease of the pump discharge amount is suppressed.
- the fuel pump has a jet pump.
- the jet pump is composed of a throat portion forming therein a fuel jet passage, which has an inlet open end and an outlet open end.
- the jet pump further has a fuel jet portion provided in the fuel jet passage for emitting fuel toward the outlet open end, so that fuel suction force is generated at the inlet open end.
- the fuel sucked into the fuel jet passage from the inlet open end is discharged from the outlet open end together with the fuel emitted from the fuel jet portion.
- the fuel pressure around the fuel jet portion is decreased, so that the fuel suction force is generated to draw the fuel through the inlet open end.
- the fuel drawn from the inlet open end is discharged from the outlet open end together with the fuel emitted from the fuel jet portion.
- vapors are included in the fuel drawn into the jet pump through the inlet open end, it may become difficult to sufficiently decrease the fuel pressure around the fuel jet portion, to thereby decrease the fuel suction force. Then, the pump discharge amount from the jet pump may be decreased.
- the flow-in of the vapors into the jet pump is effectively suppressed, and thereby the decrease of the pump discharge amount of the jet pump can be effectively suppressed.
- FIG. 1 is a schematic view showing a fuel supply system incorporating a fuel supply device according to a first embodiment of the present invention
- FIG. 2 is a schematic cross sectional view showing the fuel supply device shown in FIG. 1 ;
- FIG. 3 is a schematic cross sectional view (taken along a line in FIG. 4 ) showing a fuel supply device according to a second embodiment of the present invention
- FIG. 4 is a top plan view of the fuel supply device when viewed in a direction of an arrow IV in FIG. 3 ;
- FIG. 5 is a schematic enlarged cross sectional view showing a filter device of a fuel supply device according to a modification of the second embodiment
- FIG. 6 is a schematic cross sectional view showing a fuel supply device according to a third embodiment of the present invention.
- FIG. 7 is a schematic cross sectional view showing a fuel supply device according to a modification of the third embodiment
- FIG. 8 is a schematic cross sectional view showing a fuel supply device having a suction pump according to a fourth embodiment of the present invention.
- FIG. 9 is a schematic cross sectional view showing a fuel supply device having a suction pump according to a modification of the fourth embodiment
- FIG. 10 is a schematic view showing a fuel supply system incorporating a fuel transfer pump according to a fifth embodiment of the present invention.
- FIG. 11 is a schematic cross sectional view showing the fuel transfer pump shown in FIG. 10 ;
- FIG. 12 is a schematic view showing a fuel supply system incorporating a fuel transfer pump according to a modification of the fifth embodiment
- FIG. 13 is a schematic enlarged cross sectional view showing a jet pump of the fuel transfer pump shown in FIG. 12 ;
- FIG. 14 is a schematic enlarged cross sectional view showing a filter device of the fuel transfer pump shown in FIG. 12 .
- FIG. 1 is a schematic view showing a fuel supply system 10 incorporating a fuel supply device 11 according to the first embodiment of the present invention.
- the fuel supply system 10 fuel in a fuel tank 24 is supplied to an engine 30 outside of the fuel tank.
- the fuel supply system 10 is a so-called return fuel supply system, in which surplus fuel which will not be consumed by the engine 30 is treated in an inside of the fuel tank 24 so that the surplus fuel may not be return from the engine 30 .
- the fuel supply system 10 is composed of the fuel supply device 11 , a pressure regulating device 22 and a fuel supply pipe 23 , and so on.
- FIG. 2 shows a cross sectional view of the fuel supply device 11 .
- the fuel supply device 11 , the pressure regulating device 22 and a part of the fuel supply pipe 23 are disposed in the inside of the fuel tank 24 .
- the fuel supply device 11 has a suction port 20 , which is directed (opened) to a bottom wall 25 of the fuel tank 24 , and a discharge port 21 , which is directed (opened) to an upper wall 26 of the fuel tank 24 .
- the discharge port 21 is provided at an opposite side to the bottom wall 25 .
- the fuel supply device 11 draws the fuel from the fuel tank 24 , pressurizes the fuel, and pumps out the pressurized fuel to the pressure regulating device 22 through the discharge port 21 .
- the fuel supply pipe 23 is connected to the discharge port 21 .
- the pressure regulating device 22 is provided in the fuel supply pipe 23 and regulates fuel pressure discharged from the fuel supply device 11 , so that the fuel is finally supplied to the engine 30 .
- the pressure regulating device 22 discharges surplus fuel, which is a part of the fuel to be supplied to the engine 30 and split out of the fuel when regulating the fuel pressure, into the fuel tank 24 .
- the fuel supply device 11 is composed of an electric pump device 12 , a filter device 40 and so on.
- the electric pump device 12 is composed of an electric motor 13 , a pump portion 16 , and so on, wherein those components are accommodated in a cylindrical housing 19 .
- the electric motor 13 is a DC motor driven by direct current supplied from a battery (not shown).
- the electric motor 13 drives the pump portion 16 .
- the electric motor 13 is composed of a rotor 14 to be rotated upon receiving electric power and a shaft 15 to be rotated together with the rotor 14 .
- the electric motor 13 is disposed in the fuel tank 24 in such a way that the rotor 14 and the shaft 15 thereof are vertically arranged in the fuel tank 24 .
- the pump portion 16 comprises a Wesco type pump having an impeller.
- the pump portion 16 is provided at an axial end of the electric motor 13 on a side to the bottom wall 25 of the fuel tank 24 .
- the pump portion 16 has a pump housing 17 , which rotatably accommodates the impeller of a disc shape. Multiple blade grooves are formed at outer peripheries of both axial side surfaces of the impeller, wherein the multiple blade grooves are arranged in a circumferential direction.
- the pump housing 17 has pressure increasing passages of an arc shape at each of axial inner surfaces, each of which faces to the respective axial side surfaces of the impeller in an axial direction. Each one end of the pressure increasing passages is communicated to the suction port 20 , while each other end thereof is communicated to a pump outlet port 18 .
- the suction port 20 is formed at a lower end of the pump housing 17 , which is on the side to the bottom wall 25 of the fuel tank 24 , so that the suction port 20 is communicated to an inlet portion of the pressure increasing passage.
- the pump outlet port 18 is formed at an upper side of the pump housing 17 , which is an opposite side of the suction port 20 , so that the pump outlet port 18 is communicated to an outlet portion of the pressure increasing passage.
- the pump portion 16 when the impeller is rotated by the electric motor 13 , fuel suction force is generated at the pump portion 16 .
- the fuel around the suction port 20 flows into the inlet portion of the pressure increasing passage through the suction port 20 .
- the fuel sucked into the pressure increasing passage is pressurized as the fuel is forced to flow toward the outlet portion of the pressure increasing passage, so that the fuel is discharged from the pump outlet port 18 .
- the fuel discharged from the pump outlet port 18 flows into a space accommodating the electric motor 13 and then the fuel is pumped out through the discharge port 21 , which is formed at an upper end of the housing 19 (an opposite side to the pump portion 16 ).
- the pump portion 16 is explained as being composed of an impeller type pump. However, any other type of the pump, such as, for example, a trochoid type pump having a trochoid gear, may be used to the pump portion 16 .
- the filter device 40 is connected to the suction port 20 so as to trap extraneous material included in the fuel to be sucked into the electric pump 12 through the suction port 20 .
- the filter device 40 is composed of a filter element 41 , a connecting member 46 , a filter frame 52 , a valve device 60 and so on.
- the filter element 41 is made of non-woven film sheets (made of resinous fiber) and formed in a flat bag extending along the bottom wall 25 of the fuel tank 24 .
- the filter element 41 traps the extraneous material contained in the fuel when the fuel passes through the filter element 41 .
- liquid film of the fuel is formed at surfaces of the filter element 41 .
- the fuel may pass through the filter element 41 but vapors (such as air) are prevented from passing through the filter element 41 .
- the filter element 41 is composed of a first element 42 arranged at an upper side (on a side toward the upper wall 26 of the fuel tank 24 ) and a second element 44 arranged at a lower side (on a side to the bottom wall 25 of the fuel tank 24 ).
- Each of the first and second elements 42 and 44 is formed of a thin film and overlapped in a vertical direction. An outer periphery of each element 42 and 44 is heated so that they are welded to each other to form the flat bag.
- the connecting member 46 which communicates the inside and outside of the filter device 40 with each other, is provided to the first element 42 at a side to the electric pump 12 .
- the connecting member 46 is connected to the suction port 20 of the electric pump 12 .
- the first element 42 has a slope wall portion 42 a , which is upwardly inclined toward the upper wall 26 of the fuel tank 24 , so that a height of the slope wall portion 42 a becomes larger as a distance from the connecting member 46 (namely, a distance from the electric pump 12 ) is larger.
- the first element 42 also has a flat wall portion 42 b , which is formed at a side separated from the electric pump 12 and at which the valve device 60 is provided (explained below).
- the second element 44 is formed in a flat cylindrical shape having a bottom end facing to the bottom wall 25 of the fuel tank 24 .
- the above two elements 42 and 44 are connected to each other to form the bag-shaped filter element 41 , so that a fuel passage 50 and a vapor pooling chamber 51 are formed inside of the filter element 41 .
- the fuel passage 50 is formed on a side to the second element 44 so as to guide the fuel, which has passed through the filter element 41 and thereby has been filtered, toward the suction port 20 of the electric pump 12 .
- the vapor pooling chamber 51 is formed at an upper portion (above the fuel passage 50 ) of the inside space of the filter element 41 and communicated with the fuel passage 50 .
- the vapor pooling chamber 51 pools vapors included in the filtered fuel flowing through the fuel passage 50 .
- the vapor pooling chamber 51 is partly formed by the slope wall portion 42 a and the flat wall portion 42 b of the first element 42 .
- Vapors included in the filtered fuel will be explained.
- a vapor pressure curve of the fuel (for example, in which fuel alcohol is included gasoline) may become larger than that of gasoline fuel, depending on a content of fuel alcohol included in gasoline.
- a vapor pressure of the gasoline fuel at a certain temperature is higher than that of the fuel in which the fuel alcohol is included in the gasoline fuel to some extent.
- the vapor pressure becomes higher.
- the fuel suction force is generated at the electric pump 12 . Therefore, the pressure of the fuel in the inside of the filter device 40 is decreased, when compared with the fuel pressure outside of the filter device 40 , so that the fuel outside of the filter device 40 passes through the filter element 41 .
- the fuel pressure inside of the filter device 40 is decreased to be lower than the fuel pressure outside of the filter device 40 as explained above, the fuel pressure inside of the filter device 40 may become lower than the vapor pressure of the fuel. Then, vapors may be generated in the filtered fuel, depending on the fuel pressure and/or fuel temperature inside of the filter device 40 .
- the filter frame 52 made of resin is provided in the fuel passage 50 and the vapor pooling chamber 51 . Since the filter element 41 is made of the non-woven fabric, a mechanical strength is rather low. In a case that an outer shell of the filter device 40 is formed by the filter element 41 , like the present embodiment, it may be difficult to hold a shape of the filter element 41 when any external force or pressure is applied to thereto. As a result, it may also become difficult to maintain the shapes of the fuel passage 50 and the vapor pooling chamber 51 , both of which are provided inside of the filter device 40 .
- the filter frame 52 is provided inside of the filter device 40 . It is, therefore, possible to support an inner surface of the filter element 41 , to thereby maintain the shape thereof. Even when the fuel pressure inside of the filter device 40 becomes lower than the fuel pressure outside of the filter device 40 because of the fuel suction force of the electric pump 12 , and thereby a force (a pressure) is applied to the filter element 41 in a direction of pushing it toward the inside thereof, it is possible to keep the shape of the filter element 41 . In other words, it is possible to keep the shapes of the fuel passage 50 and the vapor pooling chamber 51 . Since the shape of the filter element 41 can be maintained by the filter frame 52 , it may be possible to form almost all of the outer shell of the filter device 40 by the filter element 41 . Thus, it is possible to increase filtering area of the filter device 40 .
- the valve device 60 is provided at the flat wall portion 42 b .
- the valve device 60 operatively communicates the vapor pooling chamber 51 with the outside of the filter device 40 , so that the vapors pooled in the vapor pooling chamber 51 may be discharged to the outside of the filter device 40 .
- the valve device 60 is composed of a valve seat member 61 and a valve body member 62 .
- the valve seat member 61 is made of resin and formed in a disc shape.
- the valve seat member 61 is attached to an aperture formed at the flat wall portion 42 b .
- the valve seat member 61 has an annular seat portion 61 a to which the valve body member 62 is seated and multiple communication holes 61 b for communicating the vapor pooling chamber 51 to the outside of the filter device 40 .
- the seat portion 61 a is formed at an outer surface 61 c of the valve seat member 61 , wherein the outer surface 61 c faces to the outside of the filter device 40 .
- the communication holes 61 b are formed at an inner area of the seat portion 61 a.
- the valve body member 62 is made of flexible material for opening and/or closing the communication holes 61 b .
- the valve body member 62 is composed of an umbrella portion 62 a arranged at an outside of the filter device 40 and a shaft portion 62 b for attaching the umbrella portion 62 a to the valve seat member 61 .
- the umbrella portion 62 a is so formed that an outer peripheral portion thereof is seated on the annular seat portion 61 a .
- the shaft portion 62 b extends from a center of the umbrella portion 62 a toward the valve seat member 61 and fixed thereto.
- valve device 60 of the above structure when the vapors are pooled in the vapor pooling chamber 51 , the vapors flow through the communication holes 61 b into a space, which is formed between an inner surface of the umbrella portion 62 a and the outer surface 61 c of the valve seat member 61 .
- the vapors push up the umbrella portion 62 a by buoyancy, in a direction that the outer peripheral portion of the umbrella portion 62 a is separated from the annular seat portion 61 a .
- the umbrella portion 62 a When the umbrella portion 62 a is lifted up and separated from the annular seat portion 61 a , the vapors flow out of the filter device 40 , as indicated by one-dot-chain lines in FIG. 2 .
- the vapors pooled in the vapor pooling chamber 51 may be pushed by the fuel flowing into the filter element 41 , so that some of the vapors may be additionally discharged out of the filter device 40 through the valve device 60 .
- the force for pushing up the umbrella portion 62 a becomes smaller, so that the umbrella portion 62 a tends to return to its initial condition, that is, an initial shape in which the umbrella portion 62 a is seated on the annular seat portion 61 a . Then, the umbrella portion 62 a is finally seated on the annular seat portion 61 a to shut off the communication between the inside and outside of the filter device 40 .
- valve device 60 allows the vapors to flow out from the vapor pooling chamber 51 to the outside of the filter device 40 on one hand, but prevents the fuel outside of the filter device 40 from flowing into the vapor pooling chamber 51 .
- the filter element 41 may form a part of the outer shell of the filter device 40 .
- the filter device 40 can perform its function. It is, however, preferable that all of the outer shell of the filter device 40 is formed by the filter element 41 , like the present embodiment. Generally, a space for the filter device 40 is limited. It is possible to keep the filtering area as large as possible, when all of the outer shell of the filter device 40 is formed by the filter element 41 .
- the fuel discharged from the pump outlet port 18 flows into the space accommodating the electric motor 13 and then the fuel is pumped out through the discharge port 21 of the electric pump 12 .
- the pressure of the fuel pumped out from the discharge port 21 is regulated by the pressure regulating device 22 and supplied to the engine 30 (outside of the fuel tank 24 ) through the fuel supply pipe 23 .
- the vapors may be generated in the filtered fuel when the fuel passes through the filter element 41 .
- the generated vapors are moved by the buoyancy within the filter device 40 toward the vapor pooling chamber 51 formed above the fuel passage 50 , so that the vapors are pooled in the vapor pooling chamber 51 .
- the vapors are separated from the filtered fuel, which passed through the filter element 41 and entered into the fuel passage 50 .
- the vapors generated within the filter element 41 are moved toward the valve device 60 along the slope wall portion 42 a .
- the vapors are surely guided by the slope wall portion 42 a toward the valve device 60 .
- the slope wall portion 42 a is provided in such a manner that the height of the slope wall portion 42 a becomes larger as the distance from the connecting member 46 is longer. Therefore, when the vapors are moved along the slope wall portion 42 a , the vapors are further separated from the connecting member 46 . An effect for preventing the vapors from flowing into the suction port 20 can be thereby increased.
- the filtered fuel from which the vapors are separated, goes to the suction port 20 with a flow generated by the fuel suction force of the electric pump 12 as indicated by arrows with white color.
- the filtered fuel is then sucked into the electric pump 12 .
- the electric pump 12 can not pump out the fuel of such amount, which at least corresponds to a cubic volume of the vapors. Therefore, the pump discharge amount is decreased, when compared with a case in which no vapor is included in the fuel sucked into the electric pump.
- the filter device 40 of the present embodiment it is possible to separate the vapors from the filtered fuel within the filter device 40 , to thereby suppress flow-in of the vapors into the suction port 20 of the electric pump 12 . As a result, it is possible to suppress a possible decrease of the pump discharge amount of the electric pump 12 .
- the pump discharge amount may be decreased, as explained above, when the vapors are included in the fuel to be sucked into the electric pump 12 , it may become necessary to increase electric power supply amount to the electric pump 12 and thereby to increase rotational speed of the impeller in order to obtain a necessary pump discharge amount if the vapors are allowed to flow into the electric pump 12 . In such a case, electric power consumption to the electric pump 12 may be increased, and it is against a power saving function required for a recent vehicle.
- the filter device 40 of the present embodiment since it is possible to suppress the possible decrease of the pump discharge amount of the electric pump 12 , the necessary pump discharge amount can be obtained with smaller electric power to thereby contribute in the power saving for the vehicle.
- the electric pump 12 can be made smaller in size, because the electric power consumption thereof is decreased.
- the vapors may not pass through the filter element 41 . Therefore, the amount of vapors pooled in the vapor pooling chamber 51 is further increased.
- the vapors When the amount of generated vapors exceeds a vapor accommodating capacity of the vapor pooling chamber 51 , the vapors may overflow from the vapor pooling chamber 51 and may flow into the fuel passage 50 . More exactly, when the vapor amount exceeds a lowermost line (a dotted line shown in FIG. 2 ) of the vapor pooling chamber 51 , the vapors may flow into the fuel passage 50 .
- the valve device 60 is provided at the filter device 40 for operatively communicating the vapor pooling chamber 51 with the outside of the filter device 40 .
- the vapors push up the umbrella portion 62 a of the valve device 60 so that the vapors may flow out to the outside of the filter device 40 .
- the slope wall portion 42 a is provided in the filter element 41 , the vapors are guided toward the valve device 60 so that the vapors are smoothly discharged to the outside of the filter device 40 .
- the filter device 40 of the present embodiment has a structure, according to which the vapors in the vapor pooling chamber 51 are discharged to the outside of the filter device 40 . It is, therefore, possible to suppress generation of the problem that the separated vapors may flow into the fuel passage 50 . It is possible, for a long term, to exert the effect for suppressing the decrease of the pump discharge amount.
- the slope wall portion 42 a is formed by the filter element 41 , the fuel flows into the filter element 41 at a portion lower than the vapors pooled in the vapor pooling chamber 51 .
- the vapors in the vapor pooling chamber 51 may receive pressure from the fuel flowing into the filter element 41 and may be pushed out through the valve device 60 .
- the vapors are effectively discharged to the outside of the filter device 40 .
- the slope wall portion 42 a of the filter element 41 is upwardly inclined toward the valve device 60 , the vapors can be surely guided toward the valve device 60 and immediately discharged to the outside of the filter device 40 .
- the valve device 60 has a structure for preventing the fuel from flowing into the vapor pooling chamber 51 from the outside of the filter device 40 . Therefore, the fuel always passes through the filter element 41 .
- the valve device 60 prevents the fuel from entering into the inside of the filter element 41 without passing through the filter element 41 , so that the filtered fuel can be always supplied into the electric pump 12 .
- FIG. 3 is a schematic cross sectional view showing a fuel supply device 111 according to the second embodiment of the present invention (a cross sectional view taken along a line in FIG. 4 ).
- FIG. 4 is a top plan view of the fuel supply device 111 when viewed in a direction of an arrow IV in FIG. 3 .
- the filter device 140 of the fuel supply device 111 is composed of a filter element 141 , a connecting member 146 , a filter frame 152 , a valve device 60 and so on.
- the filter element 141 is made of non-woven film sheets (made of resinous fiber) like the filter element 41 of the first embodiment.
- the filter element 141 is formed in such a bag shape, which covers an axial lower end of the electric pump 12 (at a side to the bottom surface 25 of the fuel tank 24 ) and at least partly an outer peripheral wall of the electric pump 12 in a radial direction.
- the filter element 141 traps the extraneous material contained in the fuel when the fuel passes through the filter element 141 .
- the filter element 141 is composed of a first element 142 arranged at an upper side (on the side toward the upper wall 26 of the fuel tank 24 ) and a second element 144 arranged at a lower side (on the side to the bottom wall 25 of the fuel tank 24 ).
- Each of the first and second elements 142 and 144 is formed of a thin film and overlapped in a vertical direction. An outer periphery of each element 142 and 144 is heated so that they are welded to each other to form the bag shape filter element 141 .
- the first element 141 is composed of a circular wall portion 142 a , an inner cylindrical wall portion 142 b , an upper wall portion 142 c and an outer cylindrical portion 142 d .
- the circular wall portion 142 a is arranged at an axial lower end of the electric pump 12 .
- the inner cylindrical wall portion 142 b upwardly extends from an outer periphery of the circular wall portion 142 a toward the upper wall 26 of the fuel tank 24 and partly covers at least the outer peripheral wall of the electric pump 12 in the radial direction.
- the outer cylindrical wall portion 142 d is arranged at a distance from the inner cylindrical wall portion 142 b in a radial direction. As shown in FIG. 4 , the first element 142 has a C-shaped cross section.
- inner and outer wall portions 142 b and 142 d are named as the cylindrical wall portions, respectively, a cross sectional figure thereof is a C-shape.
- Each of circumferential ends of the outer cylindrical wall portion 142 d is connected to each of circumferential ends of the inner cylindrical wall portion 142 b .
- Upper axial ends of the inner and outer cylindrical wall portions 142 b and 142 d are connected to the upper wall portion 142 c of an arc shape (a C-shape).
- the second element 144 is formed in a flat cylindrical shape having a bottom end facing to the bottom wall 25 of the fuel tank 24 .
- the connecting member 146 is provided at the circular wall portion 142 a .
- the valve device 60 which is identical to that of the first embodiment, is provided at the upper wall portion 142 c , which is upwardly inclined toward the valve device 60 . Therefore, the valve device 60 is provided at the upper wall portion 142 c at such a position, which is highest in the vertical direction of the filter device 140 .
- the above two elements 142 and 144 are connected to each other to form the bag-shaped filter element 141 , so that a fuel passage 150 and a vapor pooling chamber 151 are respectively formed inside of the filter element 141 .
- the fuel passage 150 is formed on a side to the bottom wall of the fuel tank 24 and the vapor pooling chamber 151 is formed at a space above the fuel passage 150 and surrounded by the inner cylindrical wall portion 142 b , the upper wall portion 142 c and the outer cylindrical wall portion 142 d.
- the filter frame 152 made of resin is provided in the fuel passage 150 and the vapor pooling chamber 151 .
- the filter frame 152 is provided inside of the filter device 140 to support an inner surface of the filter element 141 , to thereby maintain the shape thereof. Since the filter frame 152 is provided in the fuel passage 150 and the vapor pooling chamber 151 , it is possible to keep the shape of the filter element 141 , even when the fuel pressure inside of the filter element 141 becomes lower than the fuel pressure outside of the filter element 141 because of the fuel suction force of the electric pump 12 , and thereby a force (a pressure) is applied to the filter element 141 in a direction of pushing it toward the inside thereof.
- the filter element 141 exerts a function of an outer shell for the filter device 140 .
- almost all of the outer shell for the filter device 140 is likewise formed by the filter element 141 .
- the fuel suction force is generated. Then, the fuel passes through the filter element 141 and enters from the outside of the filter element 141 into the fuel passage 150 . Since the fuel pressure inside of the filter device 140 is decreased to be lower than the fuel pressure outside of the filter device 140 due to the fuel suction force, the vapors may be generated in the filtered fuel when the fuel passes through the filter element 141 . The vapors thus generated are moved by the buoyancy within the filter device 140 toward the vapor pooling chamber 151 formed above the fuel passage 150 , so that the vapors are pooled in the vapor pooling chamber 151 . As above, the vapors are separated from the filtered fuel, which passed through the filter element 141 and entered into the fuel passage 150 .
- the upper wall portion 142 c is upwardly inclined toward the valve device 60 , as already explained above, the vapors pooled in the vapor pooling chamber 151 are moved toward the valve device 60 along the inner surface of the upper wall portion 142 c . According to the above inclined structure of the upper wall portion 142 c , it is possible to effectively guide the vapors toward the valve device 60 and smoothly discharge the guided vapors to the outside of the filter device 140 , as indicated by dotted arrows in FIG. 4 .
- the filtered fuel from which the vapors are separated, goes to the suction port 20 with a flow generated by the fuel suction force of the electric pump 12 as indicated by arrows with white color in FIG. 3 .
- the filtered fuel is then sucked into the electric pump 12 .
- the vapors push up the umbrella portion 62 a of the valve device 60 so that the vapors may flow out to the outside of the filter device 140 . Accordingly, it is also possible to discharge the vapors in the vapor pooling chamber 151 to the outside of the filter device 140 . As a result, it is possible to suppress generation of the problem that the separated vapors may flow into the fuel passage 150 . It is possible, for a long term, to exert the effect for suppressing the decrease of the pump discharge amount.
- FIG. 5 is a schematic enlarged cross sectional view showing a filter device 240 of a fuel supply device 211 according to the modification of the second embodiment.
- the other parts and/or portions, except for a valve device 160 forming a part of the filter device 240 are the same to the second embodiment.
- the valve device 160 is provided at the outer cylindrical wall portion 142 d of the first element 142 , more exactly, at a portion of the radial side wall portion thereof. Like the valve device 60 of the first embodiment, the valve device 160 of the modification also allows the vapors to flow out from the vapor pooling chamber 151 out of the filter device 240 , but prevents the fuel outside of the filter device 240 from flowing into the vapor pooling chamber 151 .
- FIG. 6 is a schematic cross sectional view showing a fuel supply device 311 according to the third embodiment of the present invention.
- the filter device 340 of the fuel supply device 311 is composed of a filter portion 340 a , a tank portion 340 b , the valve device 60 and so on.
- the filter device 340 is arranged at a position, which is outside of the electric pump 12 in its radial direction.
- An outer shell of the filter portion 340 a is formed by the filter element 341 a , which is made of non-woven film sheets (made of resinous fiber).
- the filter element 341 a traps the extraneous material contained in the fuel when the fuel passes through the filter element 341 a .
- the filter element 341 a is formed in a flat bag extending along the bottom wall 25 of the fuel tank 24 .
- the filter element 341 a is composed of a first and a second element, each of which is formed of a thin film and overlapped in a vertical direction. An outer periphery of each element is heated so that they are welded to each other to form the flat bag.
- a first fuel passage 350 a into which the filtered fuel enters, is formed inside of the bag-shaped filter element 341 a .
- a filter frame corresponding to the filter frame 52 of the first embodiment is provided inside of the filter element 341 a in order to maintain the shape thereof.
- the tank portion 340 b is provided above the filter portion 340 a , to which the tank portion 340 b is connected.
- the tank portion 340 b is composed of the tank wall member 341 b , a filter-side coupling portion 346 a and a pump-side coupling portion 346 b .
- the valve device 60 is provided at an upper portion of the tank portion 340 b .
- the tank portion 340 b not only supplies the fuel, which is filtered by the filter portion 340 a , to the electric pump 12 , but also pools the vapors generated when the fuel passes through the filter portion 340 a.
- the tank wall member 341 b has an upper end wall 342 , a lower end wall 343 and a side wall 344 and forms inside thereof a second fuel passage 350 b and a vapor pooling chamber 351 .
- the second fuel passage 350 b is formed on a side to the lower end wall 343
- the vapor pooling chamber 351 is formed above the second fuel passage 350 b .
- the vapor pooling chamber 351 is communicated with the second fuel passage 350 b , so that the vapors included in the filtered fuel flowing through the second fuel passage 350 b may be moved to the vapor pooling chamber 351 , which is formed on a side to the upper end wall 342 .
- the filter-side coupling portion 346 a connected to the filter portion 340 a is formed at the lower end wall 343 , so that the first fuel passage 350 a of the filter portion 340 a is communicated to the second fuel passage 350 b of the tank portion 340 b .
- the filtered fuel (passed through the filter element 341 a ) entering into the first fuel passage 350 a flows into the second fuel passage 350 b through the filter-side coupling portion 346 a .
- the pump-side coupling portion 346 b connected to the suction port 20 of the electric pump 12 is provided at the lower end wall 343 , so that the second fuel passage 350 b is communicated to the suction port 20 .
- the filtered fuel entering into the second fuel passage 350 b flows into the electric pump 12 through the pump-side coupling portion 346 b and the suction port 20 .
- the valve device 60 is provided at the upper end wall 342 .
- the valve device 60 has the same structure to that of the valve device of the first embodiment. According to the present embodiment, the valve seat member 61 is integrally formed with the upper end wall 342 of the tank portion 340 b . Explanation for the other parts and/or portion of the valve device 60 is omitted.
- the fuel suction force is generated. Then, the fuel passes through the filter element 341 a of the filter portion 340 a and enters from the outside of the filter device 340 into the first fuel passage 350 a . Since the fuel pressure inside of the filter portion 340 a is decreased to be lower than the fuel pressure outside of the filter portion 340 a due to the fuel suction force, the vapors may be generated in the filtered fuel when the fuel passes through the filter element 341 a . The vapors thus generated are moved in the filter portion 340 a together with fuel flowing in the first fuel passage 350 a to the second fuel passage 350 b . The vapors flow into the second fuel passage 350 b together with the filtered fuel.
- the vapors included in the filtered fuel having entered into the second fuel passage 350 h are not moved together with the fuel flow (indicated by arrows with white color in FIG. 6 ) generated by the fuel suction force of the electric pump 12 , but moved by the buoyancy upwardly toward the vapor pooling chamber 351 and pooled therein. As above, the vapors are separated from the filtered fuel, which passed through the filter element 341 a and entered into the second fuel passage 350 b.
- the vapors push up the umbrella portion 62 a of the valve device 60 so that the vapors may flow out to the outside of the filter device 340 . Accordingly, it is also possible to discharge the vapors in the vapor pooling chamber 351 to the outside of the filter device 340 . As a result, it is possible to suppress generation of the problem that the separated vapors may flow into the second fuel passage 350 b . it is possible, for a long term, to exert the effect for suppressing the decrease of the pump discharge amount.
- the filter device 340 has the tank portion 340 b . According to such structure, it is possible to hold the fuel in the tank portion 340 b , so long as the filter element 341 a is soaked in the fuel, even in the case that fuel level is lowered in the fuel tank 24 and the fuel level around the filter device 340 becomes lower than the fuel level in the tank portion 340 b.
- the tank portion 340 b is made of the resin material, which does not allow the fuel or air to pass through the same, and because the valve device 60 provided at the upper portion of the tank portion 340 b has a function for preventing the fuel (and/or air) from entering into the tank portion 340 b from the outside thereof. For example, when the vehicle turns in a left or a right hand direction, centrifugal force is applied to the fuel and thereby the fuel is moved toward one side in the fuel tank. In such a case, the fuel level around the filter device 340 may be lowered.
- a modification of the third embodiment will be explained with reference to the drawing.
- a filter device 440 of the modification is different from the filter device 340 of the third embodiment in that an auxiliary jet pump 470 is provided between the tank portion 340 b and the filter portion 340 a .
- the auxiliary jet pump 470 subsidizes fuel supply into the tank portion 340 b .
- the electric pump 12 , the pressure regulating device 22 and the fuel supply pipe 23 in this modification are also identical to the first embodiment.
- FIG. 7 is a schematic cross sectional view showing a fuel supply device 411 according to the modification of the third embodiment.
- the auxiliary jet pump 470 will be mainly explained.
- the auxiliary jet pump 470 generates fuel suction force and discharges the fuel (sucked from the first fuel passage 350 a ) into the second fuel passage 350 b , in order to subsidize the fuel supply into the tank portion 340 b .
- the auxiliary jet pump 470 is composed of a throat portion 471 , a fuel jet portion 475 and so on.
- the throat portion 471 is a cylindrical member made of resin material and is formed in a cylindrical shape.
- the throat portion 471 has a fuel jet passage 471 a , which communicates the first fuel passage 350 a to the second fuel passage 350 b .
- the throat portion 471 is connected to the tank portion 340 b in such a way that a direction of the fuel jet passage 471 a of the throat portion 471 is aligned with the vertical direction of the fuel tank 24 . More exactly, the throat portion 471 is supported by an aperture 346 c formed at the lower end wall 343 of the tank portion 340 b , so that an upper open end 471 b of the throat portion 471 is arranged inside of the second fuel passage 350 b , while a lower open end 471 c is arranged outside of the tank portion 340 b .
- the lower open end 471 c of the throat portion 471 is connected to the filter portion 340 a , so that the fuel jet passage 471 a is communicated to the first fuel passage 350 a of the filter portion 340 a .
- the fuel jet passage 471 a has a small-diameter passage portion, at which an inner wall is elevated toward a center of the fuel jet passage 471 a.
- the fuel jet portion 475 is provided in the fuel jet passage 471 a below the small-diameter passage portion and jets out the surplus fuel (which is discharged from the pressure regulating device 22 ) toward the upper open end 471 b .
- a fuel pipe 476 is connected to the fuel jet portion 475 , so that the surplus fuel is supplied to the fuel jet portion 475 from the pressure regulating device 22 .
- the surplus fuel from the pressure regulating device 22 is supplied to the fuel jet portion 475 .
- any other system may be applied to the present invention.
- a part of fuel which is supplied to the engine 30 but not consumed for combustion in the engine 30 and finally returned to the fuel tank 24 , and which is different from the surplus fuel from the pressure regulating device 22 , may be supplied to the fuel jet portion 475 .
- the fuel discharged from a vapor discharge port (not shown) of the pump portion 16 may be supplied to the fuel jet portion 475 , or return fuel from the engine 30 may be supplied to the fuel jet portion 475 .
- the surplus fuel discharged from the pressure regulating device 22 is supplied to the fuel jet portion 475 through the fuel pipe 476 , so that the surplus fuel is emitted from the fuel jet portion 475 .
- fuel pressure around the fuel jet portion 475 is decreased to be lower than the fuel pressure in the first fuel passage 350 a to generate the fuel suction force. Due to the fuel suction force, the fuel pressure in the first fuel passage 350 a becomes lower than the fuel pressure outside of the filter portion 340 a , and thereby the fuel outside of the filter portion 340 a passes through the filter element 341 a to enter into the first fuel passage 350 a.
- the fuel entered into the first fuel passage 350 a flows into the fuel jet passage 471 a from its lower open end 471 c of the throat portion 471 , as indicated by arrows with white color in FIG. 7 .
- the fuel is discharged from the upper open end 471 b of the throat portion 471 together with the fuel emitted from the fuel jet portion 475 .
- the fuel sucked by the auxiliary jet pump 470 flows into the second fuel passage 350 b of the tank portion 340 b.
- vapors may be generated in the filtered fuel when the fuel passes through the filter element 341 a .
- the filtered fuel including the vapors flows into the second fuel passage 350 b through the throat portion 471 .
- the vapors having entered into the second fuel passage 350 b are moved by the buoyancy upwardly toward the vapor pooling chamber 351 and pooled therein.
- the vapors are separated from the filtered fuel having entered into the second fuel passage 350 b .
- the filtered fuel, from which the vapors are separated goes to the suction port 20 through the pump-side coupling portion 346 b with the fuel flow indicated by the arrows with white color (in FIG. 7 ), and then sucked into the electric pump 12 .
- the auxiliary jet pump 470 is provided in the filter device 440 , the fuel is forcibly drawn from the first fuel passage 350 a to the second fuel passage 350 b (namely, into the tank portion 340 b ). Then, the fuel pooled in the vapor pooling chamber 351 is discharged to the outside of the tank portion 340 b through the valve device 60 , wherein the vapors are pushed out by the fuel drawn up into the tank portion 340 b .
- the modified filter device 440 it is possible, according to the modified filter device 440 , to smoothly discharge the vapors pooled in the vapor pooling chamber 351 .
- the filter device 440 of the modification has a function of pooling the fuel in the tank portion 340 b.
- the modification ( FIG. 7 ) is different from the third embodiment ( FIG. 6 ) in that the auxiliary jet pump 470 is provided.
- the auxiliary jet pump 470 is operated so long as the electric pump 12 is in operation. According to such structure, it is possible to fill the tank portion 340 b with the fuel. Therefore, it is possible to hold the fuel in the tank portion 340 b , so long as the filter element 341 a is soaked in the fuel, even when the fuel level is lowered in the fuel tank 24 (and thereby the fuel level around the filter device 440 becomes lower than the fuel level in the tank portion 340 b ) as a result that total fuel amount in the fuel tank 24 is decreased or the fuel is moved toward one side in the fuel tank 24 during turning movement of the vehicle.
- a fourth embodiment of the present invention will be explained with reference to the drawings.
- the basic idea and structure of the first embodiment that is, the vapors generated when the fuel passes through the filter element 41 are separated from the fuel in the filter device 40 and the pooled vapors are discharged to the outside of the filter device 40 , is applied to a suction pump device 570 for sucking the fuel and discharging the fuel into a tank device 580 of a fuel supply device 511 .
- the fuel supply device 511 according to the fourth embodiment is composed of the electric pump 12 , the tank device 580 , the suction pump device 570 and so on.
- the electric pump 12 , the pressure regulating device 22 and the fuel supply pipe 23 are the same to those of the first to third embodiments.
- FIG. 8 is a schematic cross sectional view showing the fuel supply device 511 having the suction pump device 570 according to the fourth embodiment of the present invention.
- the tank device 580 is a device for storing the fuel, which will be sucked into the electric pump 12 , and is arranged at a position, which is outside of the electric pump 12 in its radial direction.
- the tank device 580 is made of resin material and has an upper end wall 581 , a lower end wall 582 , and a side wall 583 , to form a fuel storing chamber 584 therein.
- An aperture 581 a is formed at the upper end wall 581 .
- a filter 581 b which is made of resin fabric and formed in a sheet shape, is provided at the aperture 581 a .
- the filter 581 b is made of an open mesh for preventing relatively large extraneous material, which may fall down from a portion above the tank device 580 toward the bottom wall 25 of the fuel tank 24 , from entering into the tank device 580 . Since the filter 581 b is coarse-grained, not only the fuel but the air (vapors) may flow through the filter 581 b.
- a pump-side coupling portion 582 a which is connected to the suction port 20 of the electric pump 12 , is provided at the lower end wall 582 .
- the fuel storing chamber 584 is thereby communicated to the suction port 20 , so that the fuel in the fuel storing chamber 584 flows into the electric pump 12 through the pump-side coupling portion 582 a and the suction port 20 .
- Another aperture 582 b to which the suction pump device 570 is connected, is formed at the lower end wall 582 . The fuel sucked by the suction pump device 570 through the aperture 582 b flows into the fuel storing chamber 584 .
- the suction pump device 570 is a pump device which draws the fuel into the fuel storing chamber 584 of the tank device 580 by use of the surplus fuel discharged from the pressure regulating device 22 .
- the suction pump device 570 is so designed that its suction amount is larger than the amount of the fuel which will be sucked into the electric pump 12 through the suction port 20 .
- the suction amount of the suction pump device 570 means a maximum fuel amount, which can be sucked and discharged into the fuel storing chamber 584 by the suction pump device 570 .
- the fuel pressure in the fuel storing chamber 584 becomes higher than the fuel pressure outside of the tank device 580 . Therefore, the fuel in the fuel storing chamber 584 is pushed out from the tank device 580 through the aperture 581 a formed at the upper end wall 581 .
- a fuel condition in the fuel storing chamber 584 in the above situation is called as a positive pressure condition.
- the suction pump device 570 is composed of a suction jet pump 571 , a filter device 540 and so on.
- the suction jet pump 571 operates in the same manner to the auxiliary jet pump 470 of the third embodiment.
- the suction jet pump 571 generates the fuel suction force to suck fuel from a fuel passage 550 formed inside of the filter device 540 and discharges the sucked fuel into the fuel storing chamber 584 .
- the suction jet pump 571 is composed of a throat portion 572 , a fuel jet portion 574 and so on.
- the throat portion 572 is a cylindrical member made of resin material and is formed in a cylindrical shape.
- the throat portion 572 has a fuel jet passage 572 a , which communicates the fuel passage 550 to the fuel storing chamber 584 .
- the throat portion 572 is connected to the tank device 580 in such a way that a direction of the fuel jet passage 572 a of the throat portion 572 is aligned with the vertical direction of the fuel tank 24 .
- the throat portion 572 is supported by the aperture 582 b formed at the lower end wall 582 of the tank device 580 , so that an upper open end 572 b of the throat portion 572 is arranged inside of the fuel storing chamber 584 , while a lower open end 572 c is arranged outside of the tank device 580 .
- the lower open end 572 c of the throat portion 572 is connected to the filter device 540 , so that the fuel jet passage 572 a is communicated to the fuel passage 550 of the filter device 540 .
- the fuel jet passage 572 a has a small-diameter passage portion, at which an inner wall is elevated toward a center of the fuel jet passage 572 a.
- the fuel jet portion 574 is provided in the fuel jet passage 572 a below the small-diameter passage portion and jets out the surplus fuel (which is discharged from the pressure regulating device 22 ) toward the upper open end 572 b .
- a fuel pipe 576 is connected to the fuel jet portion 574 , so that the surplus fuel is supplied to the fuel jet portion 574 from the pressure regulating device 22 .
- the surplus fuel from the pressure regulating device 22 is supplied to the fuel jet portion 574 .
- any other system may be applied to the present invention.
- a part of fuel which is supplied to the engine 30 but not consumed for combustion in the engine 30 and finally returned to the fuel tank 24 , and which is different from the surplus fuel from the pressure regulating device 22 , may be supplied to the fuel jet portion 574 .
- the fuel discharged from a vapor discharge port (not shown) of the pump portion 16 may be supplied to the fuel jet portion 574 , or return fuel from the engine 30 may be supplied to the fuel jet portion 574 .
- the filter device 540 is connected to the lower open end 572 c of the suction jet pump 571 so as to trap extraneous material included in the fuel to be sucked into the suction jet pump 571 through the lower open end 572 c .
- the filter device 540 is composed of a filter element 541 , the valve device 60 and so on.
- the filter element 541 is made of non-woven film sheets (made of resinous fiber) and formed in a flat bag extending along the bottom wall 25 of the fuel tank 24 .
- the filter element 541 traps the extraneous material contained in the fuel when the fuel passes through the filter element 541 .
- the filter element 541 is composed of a first element 542 arranged at an upper side (on a side toward the upper wall 26 of the fuel tank 24 ) and a second element 544 arranged at a lower side (on a side to the bottom wall 25 of the fuel tank 24 ).
- Each of the first and second elements 542 and 544 is formed of a thin film and overlapped in a vertical direction. An outer periphery of each element 542 and 544 is heated so that they are welded to each other to form the flat bag.
- a part of the first element 542 is projected in an upward direction toward the upper wall 26 of the fuel tank 24 .
- a right-hand end of the first element 542 is connected to the lower open end 572 c of the suction jet pump 571 .
- the first element 542 has a slope wall portion 542 a , which is upwardly inclined toward the upper wall 26 of the fuel tank 24 , so that a height of the slope wall portion 542 a becomes larger as a distance from the right-hand end (namely, a distance from the suction jet pump 571 ) is larger.
- the first element 542 also has a flat wall portion 542 b , which is formed at a side separated from the suction jet pump 571 and at which the valve device 60 (which is identical to that of the first embodiment) is provided.
- the second element 544 is formed in a flat cylindrical shape having a bottom end facing to the bottom wall 25 of the fuel tank 24 .
- a right-hand end of the second element 544 is connected to the lower open end 572 c of the suction jet pump 571 .
- the above two elements 542 and 544 are connected to each other to form the bag-shaped filter element 541 , so that the fuel passage 550 and a vapor pooling chamber 551 are formed inside of the filter element 541 .
- the fuel passage 550 is formed on a side to the second element 544 so as to guide the fuel, which has passed through the filter element 541 and thereby has been filtered, toward the suction jet pump 571 .
- the vapor pooling chamber 551 is formed at an upper portion (above the fuel passage 550 ) of the inside space of the filter element 541 and communicated with the fuel passage 550 .
- the vapor pooling chamber 551 is partly formed by the slope wall portion 542 a and the flat wall portion 542 b of the first element 542 , like the first embodiment.
- valve device 60 Since the valve device 60 is identical to that of the first embodiment, the explanation thereof is omitted.
- a filter frame (not shown) is provided in the filter element 541 for maintaining the shape of the filter element 541 , in the same manner to the first embodiment.
- the filtered fuel goes to the lower open end 572 c of the throat portion 572 along with the fuel flow formed by the fuel suction force generated at the suction jet pump 571 , as indicated by the arrows with white color in FIG. 8 , and then sucked into the fuel jet passage 572 a of the suction jet pump 571 .
- the fuel sucked into the fuel jet passage 572 a is then discharged from the upper open end 572 b of the throat portion 572 into the fuel storing chamber 584 together with the fuel emitted from the fuel jet portion 574 .
- the suction jet pump 571 decreases the fuel pressure around the fuel jet portion 574 by emitting the fuel therefrom, to thereby generate the fuel suction force.
- the fuel suction force becomes lower, the amount of the fuel discharged from the suction jet pump 571 becomes smaller.
- the fuel pressure around the fuel jet portion 574 may not be sufficiently decreased. As a result, the fuel suction force to be generated by the suction jet pump 571 may be decreased.
- the filter device 540 of the present embodiment since the vapors included in the filtered fuel can be separated from the filtered fuel in the filter device 540 , it is possible to suppress the flow-in of the vapors into the suction jet pump 571 to thereby suppress a possible decrease of the pump discharge amount of the suction jet pump 571 .
- the pump discharge amount of the suction jet pump 571 may be decreased to be lower than that of the case in which the fuel including no vapors flows into the suction jet pump 571 .
- it is necessary to increase a pump discharging performance of the electric pump 12 in order to obtain the larger amount of the surplus fuel.
- the electric power consumption at the electric pump 12 should be increased, which may prevent power saving for the vehicle.
- the filter device 540 of the present embodiment since the decrease of the pump discharge amount of the fuel jet pump 571 can be suppressed, it is possible to obtain the necessary pump discharge amount with a smaller amount of the surplus fuel. As a result, the electric power saving can be realized for the electric pump 12 . In addition, the electric pump 12 can be made smaller in size, because of the decrease of the electric power consumption.
- the vapors push up the umbrella portion 62 a of the valve device 60 so that the vapors may flow out to the outside of the filter device 540 . Accordingly, it is also possible to discharge the vapors in the vapor pooling chamber 551 to the outside of the filter device 540 . As a result, it is possible to suppress generation of the problem that the separated vapors may flow into the fuel passage 550 . It is possible, for a long term, to exert the effect for suppressing the decrease of the pump discharge amount.
- the fuel storing chamber 584 is maintained in the positive pressure condition, so long as the suction jet pump 571 is in operation. Therefore, it is possible to fill the fuel storing chamber 584 of the tank device 580 with the fuel, even when the electric pump 12 is operated in order to draw the fuel into the electric pump 12 .
- the electric pump 12 can draw the fuel from the fuel storing chamber 584 , even in the case that the fuel level around the suction pump device 570 becomes lower as a result that the total fuel amount is reduced or the fuel is moved to one side of the fuel tank 24 due to the turning movement of the vehicle. This is because the tank device 580 can be filled with the fuel and such filled fuel can be held in the tank device 580 . It is, therefore, possible to avoid a situation that the fuel supply to the engine 30 may not be sufficiently done.
- the aperture 581 a is provided at the upper end wall 581 . Therefore, even in the case that the suction jet pump 571 draws the vapors and discharges them into the fuel storing chamber 584 , the vapors having entered into the fuel storing chamber 584 are upwardly moved by the buoyancy toward the aperture 581 a . The vapors are then upwardly pushed out by the fuel discharged from the suction pump device 570 and discharged to the outside of the tank device 580 through the filter 581 b provided at the aperture 581 a.
- FIG. 9 is a schematic cross sectional view showing a fuel supply device 611 according to the modification of the fourth embodiment. Different features from the fourth embodiment will be mainly explained.
- An aperture 582 c for supporting a valve device 660 is provided at the lower end wall 582 of the tank device 580 , in addition to the pump-side coupling portion 582 a and the aperture 582 b .
- a suction pump device 670 is composed of the suction jet pump 571 , the filter device 540 and so on. The suction jet pump 571 generates the fuel suction force to suck fuel from the fuel passage 550 formed inside of the filter device 540 and discharges the sucked fuel into the fuel storing chamber 584 .
- the suction jet pump 571 is composed of the throat portion 572 , a fuel jet portion 575 and so on.
- the throat portion 572 is a cylindrical member made of resin material and is formed in a cylindrical shape.
- the throat portion 572 has the fuel jet passage 572 a , which communicates the fuel passage 550 to the fuel storing chamber 584 .
- the throat portion 572 is connected to the tank device 580 in such a way that the direction of the fuel jet passage 572 a of the throat portion 572 is aligned with the vertical direction of the fuel tank 24 .
- the throat portion 572 is supported by the aperture 582 b formed at the lower end wall 582 of the tank device 580 , so that the upper open end 572 b of the throat portion 572 is arranged inside of the fuel storing chamber 584 , while the lower open end 572 c is arranged outside of the tank device 580 .
- the lower open end 572 c of the throat portion 572 is connected to the filter device 540 , so that the fuel jet passage 572 a is communicated to the fuel passage 550 of the filter device 540 .
- the fuel jet passage 572 a has a small-diameter passage portion, at which an inner wall is elevated toward a center of the fuel jet passage 572 a.
- the fuel jet portion 575 is provided in the fuel jet passage 572 a below the small-diameter passage portion and jets out the surplus fuel (which is discharged from the pressure regulating device 22 ) toward the upper open end 572 b .
- the fuel pipe 576 is connected to the fuel jet portion 575 , so that the surplus fuel is supplied to the fuel jet portion 575 from the pressure regulating device 22 .
- the surplus fuel from the pressure regulating device 22 is supplied to the fuel jet portion 575 .
- any other system may be applied to the present invention.
- a part of fuel which is supplied to the engine 30 but not consumed for combustion in the engine 30 and finally returned to the fuel tank 24 , and which is different from the surplus fuel from the pressure regulating device 22 , maybe supplied to the fuel jet portion 575 .
- the fuel discharged from a vapor discharge port (not shown) of the pump portion 16 may be supplied to the fuel jet portion 575 , or return fuel from the engine 30 may be supplied to the fuel jet portion 575 .
- the filter device 540 is connected to the lower open end 572 c of the suction jet pump 571 so as to trap extraneous material included in the fuel to be sucked into the suction jet pump 571 through the lower open end 572 c .
- the filter device 540 is composed of the filter element 541 , the valve device 660 and so on.
- the filter element 541 is made of non-woven film sheets (made of resinous fiber) and formed in the flat bag extending along the bottom wall 25 of the fuel tank 24 . The filter element 541 traps the extraneous material contained in the fuel when the fuel passes through the filter element 541 .
- the filter element 541 is composed of the first element 542 arranged at an upper side (on the side toward the upper wall 26 of the fuel tank 24 ) and the second element 544 arranged at the lower side (on the side to the bottom wall 25 of the fuel tank 24 ).
- Each of the first and second elements 542 and 544 is formed of the thin film and overlapped in the vertical direction. The outer periphery of each element 542 and 544 is heated so that they are welded to each other to form the flat bag.
- the part of the first element 542 is projected in the upward direction toward the upper wall 26 of the fuel tank 24 .
- a left-hand end of the first element 542 is connected to the lower open end 572 c of the suction jet pump 571 .
- the first element 542 has the slope wall portion 542 a , which is upwardly inclined toward the upper wall 26 of the fuel tank 24 , so that the height of the slope wall portion 542 a becomes larger as the distance from the left-hand end (namely, the distance from the suction jet pump 571 ) is larger.
- An upper open end of the first element 542 which is formed at the side separated from the suction jet pump 571 , is connected to a valve seat member 661 (explained below) of the valve device 660 .
- the second element 544 is formed in a flat cylindrical shape having a bottom end facing to the bottom wall 25 of the fuel tank 24 .
- a left-hand end of the second element 544 is connected to the lower open end 572 c of the suction jet pump 571 .
- the above two elements 542 and 544 are connected to each other to form the bag-shaped filter element 541 , so that the fuel passage 550 and the vapor pooling chamber 551 are formed inside of the filter element 541 .
- the fuel passage 550 is formed on the side to the second element 544 so as to guide the fuel, which has passed through the filter element 541 and thereby has been filtered, toward the suction jet pump 571 .
- the vapor pooling chamber 551 is formed at the upper portion (above the fuel passage 550 ) of the inside space of the filter element 541 and communicated with the fuel passage 550 .
- the vapor pooling chamber 551 is partly formed by the slope wall portion 542 a , like the filter device 40 of the first embodiment.
- the valve device 660 is composed of the valve seat member 661 and a valve body member 662 .
- the valve seat member 661 is formed in a cylindrical shape having an open end (a lower open end) and a closed end (an upper closed end) 661 c , wherein the lower open end is opened to the fuel passage 550 , while the upper closed end is arranged in the fuel storing chamber 584 .
- the valve seat member 661 is supported by an aperture 582 c of the tank device 580 , so that the lower open end is arranged at the outside of the filter device 540 .
- the valve seat member 661 has an annular seat portion 661 a to which the valve body member 662 is seated and multiple communication holes 661 b for communicating the vapor pooling chamber 551 to the outside of the filter device 540 (more exactly, to the fuel storing chamber 584 ).
- the seat portion 661 a is formed at the upper closed end portion 661 c of the valve seat member 661 .
- the communication holes 661 b are formed at an inner area of the seat portion 661 a.
- the valve body member 662 is made of flexible material for opening and/or closing the communication holes 661 b .
- the valve body member 662 is composed of an umbrella portion 662 a arranged at an outside of the filter device 540 and a shaft portion 662 b for attaching the umbrella portion 662 a to the valve seat member 661 .
- the umbrella portion 662 a is so formed that an outer peripheral portion thereof is seated on the annular seat portion 661 a .
- the shaft portion 662 b extends from a center of the umbrella portion 662 a toward the valve seat member 661 and fixed thereto.
- valve device 660 of the above structure when the vapors are pooled in the vapor pooling chamber 551 , the vapors flow through the communication holes 661 b into a space, which is formed between an inner surface of the umbrella portion 662 a and an outer surface of the valve seat member 661 .
- the vapors push up the umbrella portion 662 a by the buoyancy thereof, in a direction that the outer peripheral portion of the umbrella portion 662 a is separated from the annular seat portion 661 a .
- the umbrella portion 662 a is lifted up and separated from the annular seat portion 661 a , the vapors flow out of the filter device 540 .
- the force for pushing up the umbrella portion 662 a becomes smaller, so that the umbrella portion 662 a tends to return to its initial condition, that is, an initial shape in which the umbrella portion 662 a is seated on the annular seat portion 661 a . Accordingly, the fuel outside of the filter device 540 may not enter into the vapor pooling chamber 551 through the valve device 660 .
- valve device 660 allows the vapors to flow out from the vapor pooling chamber 551 out of the filter device 540 on one hand, but prevents the fuel outside of the filter device 540 from flowing into the vapor pooling chamber 551 .
- a filter frame (not shown) is provided in the filter element 541 for maintaining the shape of the filter element 541 , in the same manner to the first embodiment (the filter frame 52 ).
- the fuel outside of the filter device 540 passes through the filter element 541 to enter into the fuel passage 550 .
- the vapors may be generated in the filtered fuel when the fuel passes through the filter element 541 .
- the vapors thus generated are moved in the filter device 540 by the buoyancy upwardly toward the vapor pooling chamber 551 formed above the fuel passage 550 and pooled therein. As above, the vapors are separated from the filtered fuel having entered into the fuel passage 550 .
- the filtered fuel goes to the lower open end 572 c of the throat portion 572 along with the fuel flow formed by the fuel suction force generated at the suction jet pump 571 , as indicated by the arrows with white color in FIG. 9 , and then sucked into the fuel jet passage 572 a of the suction jet pump 571 .
- the fuel sucked into the fuel jet passage 572 a is then discharged from the upper open end 572 b of the throat portion 572 into the fuel storing chamber 584 together with the fuel emitted from the fuel jet portion 575 .
- the vapors are discharged to the outside of the filter device 540 through the valve device 660 .
- the vapors discharged through the valve device 660 flow into the fuel storing chamber 584 , and then the vapors are upwardly moved by the buoyancy toward the aperture 581 a of the tank device 580 .
- the vapors around the aperture 581 a are pushed out by the fuel supplied from the suction pump device 670 through the filter 581 b of the aperture 581 a , and finally discharged to the outside of the tank device 580 .
- a fifth embodiment of the present invention will be explained with reference to the drawings.
- the fifth embodiment is different from the fourth embodiment in that a fuel tank 724 is formed in a saddle shape having a pair of (first and second) fuel chambers 728 and 729 , and a fuel transfer pump 770 is provided instead of the suction pump device 570 (the fourth embodiment shown in FIG. 9 ) for transferring the fuel one of the fuel chambers ( 729 ) to the other fuel chamber 728 .
- FIG. 10 is a schematic view showing a fuel supply system 710 incorporating the fuel transfer pump 770 according to the fifth embodiment of the present invention.
- the fuel supply system 710 is provided in the fuel tank 724 of the so-called saddle-type.
- the saddle-type fuel tank 724 has a hollow portion 727 , at which a part of a bottom wall 725 is elevated toward an upper wall 726 .
- a propeller shaft 27 is arranged in the hollow portion 727 .
- the first and second fuel chambers 728 and 729 for storing the fuel are formed at both sides of the hollow portion 727 .
- the fuel supply system 710 is composed of a fuel supply device 711 , the pressure regulating device 22 , the fuel supply pipe 23 , the fuel transfer pump 770 and so on.
- the fuel supply device 711 which has the electric pump 12 therein, is provided in the first fuel chamber 728 .
- the fuel supply device 711 draws the fuel from the first fuel chamber 728 by the fuel suction force generated by the electric pump 12 , pressurizes the fuel, and discharges the fuel to the pressure regulating device 22 provided in the fuel supply pipe 23 .
- the pressure regulating device 22 provided in the fuel supply pipe 23 adjusts the fuel pressure of the fuel from the fuel supply device 711 and supplies the fuel to the engine 30 .
- the surplus fuel which is generated at the pressure regulating device 22 when adjusting the fuel pressure (as explained in the first embodiment), is supplied to the fuel transfer pump 770 (explained below).
- FIG. 11 is a schematic cross sectional view showing the fuel transfer pump 770 .
- the fuel transfer pump 770 is provided in the second fuel chamber 729 in order to transfer the fuel from the second fuel chamber 729 to the first fuel chamber 728 by use of the surplus fuel from the pressure regulating device 22 , so that the fuel of the second fuel chamber 729 is sucked into the fuel supply device 711 .
- the fuel transfer pump 770 is composed of a fuel-transfer jet pump 771 , a filter device 740 and so on.
- the fuel-transfer jet pump 771 operates in the same manner to the suction jet pump 571 of the fourth embodiment ( FIG. 8 ).
- the fuel-transfer jet pump 771 generates the fuel suction force so as to draw the fuel from a fuel passage 750 formed in the filter device 740 , and then transfers such sucked fuel to the first fuel chamber 728 .
- the fuel-transfer jet pump 771 is composed of a throat portion 772 , a fuel transfer pipe 773 , a fuel jet portion 775 and so on.
- the throat portion 772 is a cylindrical member made of resin material and is formed in a cylindrical shape.
- the throat portion 772 has a fuel jet passage 772 a .
- the throat portion 772 is provided in the second fuel chamber 729 in such a way that a direction of the fuel jet passage 772 a of the throat portion 772 is aligned with the vertical direction of the fuel tank 724 .
- One end of the fuel transfer pipe 773 is connected to an upper open end 772 b of the throat portion 772 .
- a fuel transfer passage 773 a which is communicated to the first fuel chamber 728 , is formed inside of the fuel transfer pipe 773 .
- the fuel jet passage 772 a is communicated with the fuel transfer passage 773 a (as shown in FIG. 11 ).
- the other end 773 b of the fuel transfer pipe 773 (which is an open end of the fuel transfer passage 773 a at an opposite side of the throat portion 772 ) is opened to the first fuel chamber 728 .
- the filter device 740 is connected to a lower open end 772 c of the throat portion 772 , so that the fuel jet passage 772 a is communicated to the fuel passage 750 formed inside of the filter device 740 .
- the fuel jet passage 772 a has a small-diameter passage portion, at which an inner wall is elevated toward a center of the fuel jet passage 772 a.
- the fuel jet portion 775 is provided in the fuel jet passage 772 a below the small-diameter passage portion and jets out the surplus fuel (which is discharged from the pressure regulating device 22 ) toward the upper open end 772 b .
- a fuel pipe 776 is connected to the fuel jet portion 775 , so that the surplus fuel is supplied to the fuel jet portion 775 from the pressure regulating device 22 .
- the surplus fuel from the pressure regulating device 22 is supplied to the fuel jet portion 775 .
- any other system may be applied to the present invention.
- a part of fuel which is supplied to the engine 30 but not consumed for combustion in the engine 30 and finally returned to the fuel tank 724 , and which is different from the surplus fuel from the pressure regulating device 22 , maybe supplied to the fuel jet portion 775 .
- the fuel discharged from a vapor discharge port (not shown) of the pump portion 16 may be supplied to the fuel jet portion 775 , or return fuel from the engine 30 may be supplied to the fuel jet portion 775 .
- the filter device 740 is connected to the lower open end 772 c of the fuel-transfer jet pump 771 so as to trap extraneous material included in the fuel to be sucked into the fuel-transfer jet pump 771 through the lower open end 772 c .
- the filter device 740 is composed of a filter element 741 , the valve device 60 and so on.
- the filter element 741 is made of non-woven film sheets (made of resinous fiber) and formed in a flat bag extending along a second bottom wall 725 b of the second fuel chamber 729 .
- the filter element 741 traps the extraneous material contained in the fuel when the fuel passes through the filter element 741 .
- the filter element 741 is composed of a first element 742 arranged at an upper side (on a side toward the upper wall 726 of the fuel tank 724 ) and a second element 744 arranged at a lower side (on a side to the second bottom wall 725 b of the fuel tank 724 ).
- Each of the first and second elements 742 and 744 is formed of a thin film and overlapped in a vertical direction. An outer periphery of each element 742 and 744 is heated so that they are welded to each other to form the flat bag.
- a part of the first element 742 is projected in an upward direction toward the upper wall 726 of the fuel tank 724 .
- a left-hand end of the first element 742 is connected to the lower open end 772 c of the fuel-transfer jet pump 771 .
- the first element 742 has a slope wall portion 742 a , which is upwardly inclined toward the upper wall 726 of the fuel tank 724 , so that a height of the slope wall portion 742 a becomes larger as a distance from the left-hand end (namely, a distance from the fuel-transfer jet pump 771 ) is larger.
- the first element 742 also has a flat wall portion 742 b , which is formed at a side separated from the fuel-transfer jet pump 771 and at which the valve device 60 (which is identical to that of the first embodiment) is provided.
- the second element 744 is formed in a flat cylindrical shape having a bottom end facing to the second bottom wall 725 b of the fuel tank 724 .
- a left-hand end of the second element 744 is connected to the lower open end 772 c of the fuel-transfer jet pump 771 .
- the above two elements 742 and 744 are connected to each other to form the bag-shaped filter element 741 , so that the fuel passage 750 and a vapor pooling chamber 751 are formed inside of the filter element 741 .
- the fuel passage 750 is formed on a side to the second element 744 so as to guide the fuel, which has passed through the filter element 741 and thereby has been filtered, toward the fuel-transfer jet pump 771 .
- the vapor pooling chamber 751 is formed at an upper portion (above the fuel passage 750 ) of the inside space of the filter element 741 and communicated with the fuel passage 750 .
- the vapor pooling chamber 751 is partly formed by the slope wall portion 742 a and the flat wall portion 742 b of the first element 742 , like the first embodiment.
- valve device 60 Since the valve device 60 is identical to that of the first embodiment, explanation thereof is omitted.
- the filtered fuel goes to the lower open end 772 c of the throat portion 772 along with the fuel flow formed by the fuel suction force generated at the fuel-transfer jet pump 771 , as indicated by the arrows with white color in FIG. 11 , and then sucked into the fuel jet passage 772 a of the fuel-transfer jet pump 771 .
- the fuel sucked into the fuel jet passage 772 a is then discharged from the upper open end 772 b of the throat portion 772 into the fuel transfer passage 773 a together with the fuel emitted from the fuel jet portion 775 .
- the fuel, having entered into the fuel transfer passage 773 a is discharged toward a first bottom wall 725 a of the first fuel chamber 728 .
- the filter device 740 of the present embodiment since the vapors included in the filtered fuel can be separated from the filtered fuel in the filter device 740 , it is possible to suppress the flow-in of the vapors into the fuel-transfer jet pump 771 to thereby suppress a possible decrease of the pump discharge amount of the fuel-transfer jet pump 771 .
- the pump discharge amount of the fuel-transfer jet pump 771 may be decreased to be lower than that of the case in which the fuel including no vapors flows into the fuel-transfer jet pump 771 .
- it is necessary to increase a pump discharging performance of the electric pump 12 in order to obtain the larger amount of the surplus fuel.
- the electric power consumption at the electric pump 12 should be increased, which may prevent power saving for the vehicle.
- the filter device 740 of the present embodiment since the decrease of the pump discharge amount of the fuel-transfer pump 771 can be suppressed, it is possible to obtain the necessary pump discharge amount with a smaller amount of the surplus fuel. As a result, the electric power saving can be realized for the electric pump 12 . In addition, the electric pump 12 can be made smaller in size, because of the decrease of the electric power consumption.
- the vapors push up the umbrella portion 62 a of the valve device 60 so that the vapors may flow out to the outside of the filter device 740 . Accordingly, it is also possible to discharge the vapors in the vapor pooling chamber 751 to the outside of the filter device 740 . As a result, it is possible to suppress generation of the problem that the separated vapors may flow into the fuel passage 750 . It is possible, for a long term, to exert the effect for suppressing the decrease of the pump discharge amount.
- a modification of the fifth embodiment will be explained with reference to the drawing.
- a fuel-transfer jet pump 871 according to the modification of the fifth embodiment is different from the fuel-transfer jet pump 771 of the fifth embodiment.
- the fuel supply device 711 , the electric pump 12 , the pressure regulating device 22 , the fuel supply pipe 23 and the fuel pipe 776 according to the modification are the same to those of the fifth embodiment.
- FIG. 12 is a schematic view showing a fuel supply system 810 incorporating a fuel transfer pump 870 according to the modification of the fifth embodiment.
- the fuel tank 724 in which the fuel supply system 810 is provided, is the saddle-type fuel tank, which is identical to the fuel tank 724 of the fifth embodiment ( FIG. 10 ).
- the fuel supply system 810 is composed of the fuel supply device 711 , the pressure regulating device 22 , the fuel supply pipe 23 , the fuel transfer pump 870 and so on.
- the fuel transfer pump 870 will be mainly explained.
- FIG. 13 is a schematic enlarged cross sectional view showing the fuel-transfer jet pump 871 of the fuel transfer pump 870 .
- FIG. 14 is a schematic enlarged cross sectional view showing the filter device 740 of the fuel transfer pump 870 .
- the fuel transfer pump 870 is composed of the fuel-transfer jet pump 871 , the filter device 740 and so on.
- the fuel-transfer jet pump 871 is composed of a throat portion 872 , a fuel transfer pipe 873 , a fuel inlet portion 874 , a fuel jet portion 875 and so on.
- the throat portion 872 is a cylindrical member made of resin material and is formed in a cylindrical shape.
- the throat portion 872 has a fuel jet passage 872 a .
- the throat portion 872 is provided in the first fuel chamber 728 in such a way that a direction of the fuel jet passage 872 a of the throat portion 872 is aligned with the vertical direction of the fuel tank 724 .
- the fuel jet portion 875 is inserted into an upper open end 872 b of the throat portion 872 , in order to emit the surplus fuel from the pressure regulating device 22 .
- a lower open end 872 c of the throat portion 872 is opened toward the first bottom wall 725 a of the first fuel chamber 728 ( FIG. 12 ). As shown in FIG.
- the fuel jet passage 872 a has a small-diameter passage portion, at which an inner wall is elevated toward a center of the fuel jet passage 872 a .
- the throat portion 872 has a connecting portion 872 d , in which a connecting passage 872 e is formed to be communicated to the fuel jet passage 872 a .
- the fuel transfer pipe 873 is connected to the connecting portion 872 d .
- a left-hand end of the connecting passage 872 e (that is, an end of the connecting passage 872 e on a side to the throat portion 872 ) is opened to the fuel jet passage 872 a at a portion upstream of the small-diameter passage portion.
- the fuel jet portion 875 is provided in the fuel jet passage 872 a at an upstream side of the small-diameter passage portion. More exactly, a fuel injection port of the fuel jet portion 875 is arranged at a position, which is at a downstream side of an opening portion at which the left-hand end of the connecting passage 872 e is opened to the fuel jet passage 872 a .
- the surplus fuel from the pressure regulating device 22 is emitted from the fuel jet portion 875 toward the lower open end 872 c .
- the fuel pipe 776 is connected to an upper end of the fuel jet portion 875 , so that the surplus fuel is supplied from the pressure regulating device 22 to the fuel jet portion 875 .
- the surplus fuel from the pressure regulating device 22 is supplied to the fuel jet portion 875 .
- any other system may be applied to the present invention.
- a part of fuel which is supplied to the engine 30 but not consumed for combustion in the engine 30 and finally returned to the fuel tank 724 , and which is different from the surplus fuel from the pressure regulating device 22 , may be supplied to the fuel jet portion 875 .
- the fuel discharged from a vapor discharge port (not shown) of the pump portion 16 may be supplied to the fuel jet portion 875 , or return fuel from the engine 30 may be supplied to the fuel jet portion 875 .
- the fuel inlet portion 874 is provided in the second fuel chamber, wherein the fuel inlet portion 874 is communicated to the connecting portion 872 d through the fuel transfer pipe 873 forming a fuel transfer passage 873 a therein ( FIGS. 12 to 14 ).
- the fuel inlet portion 874 is a cylindrical member made of resin material and is formed in a cylindrical shape.
- the fuel inlet portion 874 has a fuel inlet passage 874 a .
- the fuel inlet portion 874 is provided in the second fuel chamber 729 in such a way that a direction of the fuel inlet passage 874 a of the fuel inlet portion 874 is aligned with the vertical direction of the fuel tank 724 .
- the fuel transfer pipe 873 is connected to an upper open end 874 b of the fuel inlet portion 874 , so that the fuel inlet passage 874 a is connected to the fuel transfer passage 873 a .
- the filter device 740 is connected to a lower open end 874 c of the fuel inlet portion 874 , so that the fuel inlet passage 874 a is communicated to the fuel passage 750 formed in the filter device 740 .
- the filter device 740 is connected to the lower open end 874 c of the fuel inlet portion 874 so as to trap extraneous material included in the fuel to be sucked into the fuel-transfer jet pump 871 through the lower open end 874 c .
- the filter device 740 is composed of the filter element 741 , the valve device 60 and so on.
- the filter element 741 is made of non-woven film sheets (made of resinous fiber) and formed in the flat bag extending along the second bottom wall 725 b of the second fuel chamber 729 .
- the filter element 741 traps the extraneous material contained in the fuel when the fuel passes through the filter element 741 .
- the filter element 741 is composed of the first element 742 arranged at the upper side (on the side toward the upper wall 726 of the fuel tank 724 ) and the second element 744 arranged at the lower side (on the side to the second bottom wall 725 b of the fuel tank 724 ).
- Each of the first and second elements 742 and 744 is formed of the thin film and overlapped in the vertical direction. The outer periphery of each element 742 and 744 is heated so that they are welded to each other to form the flat bag.
- the part of the first element 742 is projected in the upward direction toward the upper wall 726 of the fuel tank 724 .
- the left-hand end of the first element 742 is connected to the lower open end 874 c of the fuel inlet portion 874 .
- the first element 742 has the slope wall portion 742 a , which is upwardly inclined toward the upper wall 726 of the fuel tank 724 , so that the height of the slope wall portion 742 a becomes larger as the distance from the left-hand end (namely, the distance from the fuel inlet portion 874 ) is larger.
- the first element 742 also has the flat wall portion 742 b , which is formed at the side separated from the fuel inlet portion 874 and at which the valve device 60 (which is identical to that of the first embodiment) is provided.
- the second element 744 is formed in a flat cylindrical shape having a bottom end facing to the second bottom wall 725 b of the fuel tank 724 .
- the left-hand end of the second element 744 is connected to the lower open end 874 c of the fuel inlet portion 874 .
- the above two elements 742 and 744 are connected to each other to form the bag-shaped filter element 741 , so that the fuel passage 750 and the vapor pooling chamber 751 are formed inside of the filter element 741 .
- the fuel passage 750 is formed on the side to the second element 744 so as to guide the fuel, which has passed through the filter element 741 and thereby has been filtered, toward the fuel inlet portion 874 .
- the vapor pooling chamber 751 is formed at the upper portion (above the fuel passage 750 ) of the inside space of the filter element 741 and communicated with the fuel passage 750 .
- the vapor pooling chamber 751 is partly formed by the slope wall portion 742 a and the flat wall portion 742 b of the first element 742 , like the first embodiment.
- valve device 60 Since the valve device 60 is identical to that of the first embodiment, explanation thereof is omitted.
- the fuel suction force is generated around the fuel jet portion 875 . Then, the fuel is sucked from the connecting passage 872 e of the connecting portion 872 d , and the fuel suction force is transmitted to the fuel inlet portion 874 provided in the second fuel chamber 729 via the fuel transfer pipe 873 . Due to the fuel suction force transmitted to the fuel inlet portion 874 , the fuel pressure in the filter device 740 becomes lower than the fuel pressure outside of the filter device 740 , and thereby the fuel outside of the filter device 740 passes through the filter element 741 to enter into the fuel passage 750 . The vapors maybe generated in the filtered fuel when the fuel passes through the filter element 741 .
- the vapors thus generated are moved in the filter device 740 by the buoyancy upwardly toward the vapor pooling chamber 751 formed above the fuel passage 750 and pooled therein. As above, the vapors are separated from the filtered fuel having entered into the fuel passage 750 .
- the filtered fuel goes to the lower open end 874 c of the fuel inlet portion 874 along with the fuel flow formed by the fuel suction force generated at the fuel-transfer jet pump 871 , as indicated by the arrows with white color in FIGS. 13 and 14 , and then sucked into the fuel inlet passage 874 a .
- the fuel having entered into the fuel inlet passage 874 a flows through the fuel transfer passage 873 a and the connecting passage 872 e , and flows into the fuel jet passage 872 a .
- the filtered fuel sucked into the fuel jet passage 872 a is discharged together with the fuel emitted from the fuel jet portion 875 toward the first bottom wall 725 a of the first fuel chamber 728 .
- the fuel of the second fuel chamber 729 is filtered by the filter device 740 and discharged into the first fuel chamber 728 .
- the fuel pipe 776 for connecting the pressure regulating device 22 with the fuel jet portion 875 is also provided in the first fuel chamber 728 .
- the fuel transfer pipe 873 is only a part, which steps over the hollow portion 727 of the saddle-type fuel tank 724 .
- a structure of the fuel supply system 810 becomes simpler.
- Any one of the fuel supply devices ( 11 , 111 , 211 , 311 , 411 , 511 ) of the first to fourth embodiments may be applied to the fuel supply system 710 or 810 of the fifth embodiment or its modification.
- any type of the electric pump 12 may be applied to the fuel supply device ( 11 , 111 , 211 , 311 , 411 , 511 , or 711 ).
- an electric gear pump, an electric plunger type pump, an electric trochoid pump or the like may be used.
- a fuel filter maybe provided between the fuel supply device ( 11 , 111 , 211 , 311 , 411 , 511 , 711 ) and the pressure regulating device 22 , wherein the fuel filter may trap extraneous material which is smaller than the extraneous material to be trapped by the filter element ( 41 , 141 , 341 a , 541 , 741 ) of the filter device ( 40 , 140 , 240 , 340 , 440 , 540 , 740 ) and/or such extraneous material of wear-out brush powder produced at the electric motor.
- the wear-out brush powder is wear-out powder generated when the brush slides on a commutator of the electric motor.
Landscapes
- Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
- Chemical & Material Sciences (AREA)
- Chemical Kinetics & Catalysis (AREA)
- Combustion & Propulsion (AREA)
- Mechanical Engineering (AREA)
- General Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
- Cooling, Air Intake And Gas Exhaust, And Fuel Tank Arrangements In Propulsion Units (AREA)
- Filtration Of Liquid (AREA)
Abstract
A filter device is connected to a fuel pump for supplying filtered fuel to an internal combustion engine. The filter device has a bag-shaped filter element forming therein a fuel passage, wherein fuel passes through the filter element to enter into the fuel passage. The filter element further forms a vapor pooling chamber above the fuel passage, so that vapors separated from the filtered fuel in the fuel passage are moved toward the vapor pooling chamber. A valve device is provided at a portion of the filter device, which is close to the vapor pooling chamber, so that vapors are discharged from the vapor pooling chamber to an outside of the filter device.
Description
- This application is based on Japanese Patent Application No. 2009-283058 filed on Dec. 14, 2009, the disclosure of which is incorporated herein by reference.
- The present invention relates to a fuel pump for supplying fuel to an internal combustion engine (an engine).
- A fuel pump is known in the art, according to which the fuel pump has a pump device for generating a fuel drawing force for drawing fuel through a suction port and pumping out the fuel from a discharge port, and a filter device for filtering the fuel to be sucked into the pump device.
- Generally, when vapors are included in the fuel to be sucked into the pump device through the suction port, the pump device can not discharge the fuel, which at least corresponds to a volume of the vapors. Therefore, a discharge fuel amount of the pump device is decreased when compared with a case in which no vapors are mixed into the fuel. Various structures have been proposed in the art in order to prevent the vapors from mixing into the fuel to be sucked into the pump device (for example, as disclosed in Japanese Patent Publications No. 2006-029317 and H07-180632).
- According to the Japanese Patent Publication No. 2006-029317, an expansion chamber is provided at an upper side of a fuel suction filter. The fuel suction filter is formed in a bag shape for filtering fuel to be supplied into a pump device. A part of fuel discharged from a pressure regulating valve, which regulates fuel pressure of the fuel pumped out from the pump device, is supplied into the expansion chamber. According to the above structure, vapors contained in the fuel flowing into the expansion chamber are separated from the fuel, and such fuel is then supplied into the fuel suction filter, to thereby reduce a condition of negative pressure in the fuel suction filter, in which the negative pressure is generated during an operation of the pump device. As a result of reducing the negative pressure, it is possible to suppress generation of vapors in the fuel suction filter.
- According to the Japanese Patent Publication No. H07-180632, a mesh filter body is provided for filtering fuel to be sucked into a pump device. A return fuel chamber is formed at an upper side of the mesh filter body, so that a par of the mesh filter at the upper side forms a bottom wall of the return fuel chamber. Namely, the upper side mesh filter forms a partitioning wall between the mesh filter body and the return fuel chamber. According to such a structure, vapors included in the return fuel may be separated from the fuel in the return fuel chamber and such separated fuel is supplied into the mesh filter body through the partitioning wall. The fuel supplied into the mesh filter body is then sucked into the pump device.
- According to the above prior art (JP 2006-029317), since the negative pressure is reduced in the fuel suction filter, it is possible to suppress the generation of vapors to some extent. For example, when fuel alcohol having a relatively low boiling point is included in gasoline, or when fuel temperature is rather high, vapors may be generated. In addition, in a case that the fuel suction filter is composed of a filter element made of non-woven material, fuel liquid film may be formed on a surface of the fuel suction filter when the fuel is permeated into the filter. Then, the fuel may pass through the filter element, but the vapors can not pass through the filter element. As a result, the vapors generated within the fuel suction filter may not be discharged to an outside of the filter and may stay in the filter.
- Then, the vapors generated in the fuel suction filter flow together with fuel, which will be sucked into the pump device. Therefore, the pump device may decrease its discharge amount.
- According to the above other prior art (H07-180632), although it is possible to separate the vapors from the return fuel, the vapors generated in the mesh filter body due to the operation of the pump device may not pass through the partitioning wall formed between the mesh filter body and the return fuel chamber and may stay in the mesh filter body.
- When thus generated vapor stays in the filter body, the vapor may flow together with the fuel to be sucked into the pump device and may finally be sucked into the pump device. As a result, the pump device may decrease its discharge amount.
- The present invention is made in view of the above problems. It is an object of the present invention to provide a fuel pump, according to which it is possible to suppress that vapors generated in a filter device may flow toward a suction port of a pump device, so that decease of discharge amount from the pump device may be suppressed.
- According to a feature of the present invention, for example, as defined in the appended claim 1, a fuel pump comprises a pump device having a suction port and a discharge port. The pump device generates fuel suction force at the suction port and discharges pressurized fuel from the discharge port. The fuel pump further has a filter device connected to the suction port for filtering the fuel to be sucked into the pump device. The filter device includes an outer shell having a filter element of a film shape for filtering the fuel to be sucked into the pump device. The outer shell forms therein a fuel passage for guiding the fuel filtered by the filter element to the suction port of the pump device. The outer shell further forms a vapor pooling chamber above the fuel passage and communicated with the fuel passage so that vapors included in the fuel flowing through the fuel passage are moved from the fuel passage toward the vapor pooling chamber. A valve device is provided at a portion of the outer shell for communicating the vapor pooling chamber to an outside of the outer shell when an amount of the vapors pooled in the vapor pooling chamber reaches at a predetermined value.
- According to the above feature, since the filter device is connected to the suction port of the pump device, the fuel pressure in the filter device is decreased by fuel suction force generated by the operation of the pump device, so that the fuel pressure in the filter device becomes lower than the fuel pressure outside of the filter device. Since at least a portion of the outer shell of the filter device is formed by the filter element of the thin film for filtering the fuel, the fuel outside of the filter device passes through the filter element to enter into the fuel passage formed in the filter device. In the fuel passage, fuel flow flowing toward the pump device is generated when the pump device is in operation. The fuel having entered into the fuel passage flows along such fuel flow and is sucked into the pump device through the suction port thereof.
- However, vapors may be generated when the fuel passes through the filter element and is filtered thereby, because the fuel pressure in the filter device is lower than the fuel pressure outside of the filter device. According to the present invention, the vapor pooling chamber is formed in the outer shell above the fuel passage, so that the vapors are able to upwardly move by buoyancy thereof and the vapors are moved to the vapor pooling chamber. As above, the vapors are separated from the filtered fuel in the filter device.
- Since the vapors can be separated from the filtered fuel and pooled in the vapor pooling chamber of the filter device, as above, it is possible to suppress flow-in of the vapors which would otherwise be sucked into the suction port of the pump device. In addition, it is possible to suppress a decrease of pump discharge amount.
- When an amount of the vapors exceeds a predetermined value (a capacity of the vapor pooling chamber), there may be a danger that such vapors may flow into the filtered fuel in the fuel passage, because the vapor pooling chamber is communicated with the fuel passage.
- According to the above feature of the invention, however, the valve device is provided at the outer shell of the filter device, at such a portion at which the vapor pooling chamber is formed, so that the vapor pooling chamber is communicated to the outside of the filter device when the vapors are pooled in the vapor pooling chamber to thereby discharge the vapors from the vapor pooling chamber to the outside of the filter device. Therefore, it is possible, according to the above structure, to suppress a generation of a problem that the vapors may overflow from the vapor pooling chamber and the separated vapors may flow into the fuel passage. It is possible, for a long term, to exert the effect for suppressing the decrease of the pump discharge amount.
- According to another feature of the present invention, for example, as defined in the appended claim 2, a liquid film of the fuel is formed at a surface of the filter element when the fuel entered into the filter element, and the liquid film of the fuel allows the fuel to pass through the filter element but prevents the vapors from passing pass through the filter element.
- When the filter element having the above behaviors is used, the vapors generated in the filter device may not be discharged to the outside thereof through the filter element. When the amount of the vapors exceeds a capacity of the vapor pooling chamber, there may be a danger that the vapors may flow into the fuel passage. However, the filter device of the present invention has the valve device, through which the vapors may be discharged to the outside of the filter device. It is, therefore, possible to discharge the vapors to the outside of the filter device before the amount of the vapors may exceeds the capacity of the vapor pooling chamber. As a result, even in the case that the filter element having the above behaviors may be used, it is possible, for a long term, to exert the effect for suppressing the decrease of the pump discharge amount, which may be caused by the flow-in of the vapors into the pump device.
- According to a further feature of the present invention, for example, as defined in the appended claim 3, the outer shell has a slope wall portion at an upper side thereof, and the slope wall portion is upwardly inclined such that a height of the slope wall portion becomes larger as the slope wall portion is closer to the valve device. The vapors tend to upwardly move due to the buoyancy. Since the slope wall portion is formed at the upper side of the outer shell and upwardly inclined toward the valve device, the vapors are moved upwardly to the valve device along the slope wall portion. According to such a feature, it is possible to surely guide the vapors to the valve device and to smoothly discharge the vapors to the outside of the filter device.
- According to a still further feature of the present invention, for example, as defined in the appended claim 4, the slope wall portion is formed by the filter element. Since the slope wall portion is formed by the filter element, the fuel having passed through the filter element enters into the fuel passage below the vapor pooling chamber. The vapors pooled in the vapor pooling chamber receives pressure from the fuel having entered into the fuel passage, so that the vapors are effectively discharged to the outside of the filter device.
- According to a still further feature of the present invention, for example, as defined in the appended claim 5, the slope wall portion is upwardly inclined such that the height of the slope wall portion becomes larger as the slope wall portion is further away from the suction port. When the vapors are moved by the buoyancy along the slope wall portion, the vapors are moved away from the suction port of the pump device. Therefore, it is possible to suppress the flow-in of the vapors into the suction port.
- According to a still further feature of the present invention, for example, as defined in the appended claim 6, the valve device is provided at a highest position of the outer shell, so that the slope wall portion is upwardly inclined toward the valve device. Since the valve device is provided at the highest position of the outer shell and the slope wall portion is upwardly inclined toward the valve device, the vapors are upwardly moved toward the valve device. As a result, it is possible to surely guide the vapors to the valve device and to smoothly discharge the vapors to the outside of the filter device.
- According to a still further feature of the present invention, for example, as defined in the appended claim 7, the valve device comprises a valve seat member having a seat portion formed at an outer surface of the filter device and a communication hole formed at an inner area of the seat portion for communicating the vapor pooling chamber to the outside of the filter device. The valve device further comprises a valve body member disposed at the outer surface of the filter device, wherein the valve body member is pushed by the vapors in the vapor pooling chamber and thereby separated from the seat portion, so that the valve body member allows the vapors to flow from the vapor pooling chamber to the outside of the filter device, while the valve body member is seated on the seat portion when the amount of the vapors in the vapor pooling chamber is decreased so that the valve body member prevents the fuel from flowing from the outside of the filter device into the inside of the filter device.
- According to the above feature, the valve body member is arranged at the outer surface of the filter device (at the valve seat member having the seat portion) and the communication hole is formed at the inner area of the seat portion. Therefore, the valve body member is pushed out by the vapors flowing from the inside to the outside of the filter device and thereby separated from the seat portion. As a result, the vapors are discharged from the vapor pooling chamber to the outside of the filter device. On the other hand, when the amount of the vapors in the vapor pooling chamber is decreased, the valve body member is seated on the seat portion. As a result, the fuel is prevented from flowing from the outside to the inside of the filter device through the communication hole.
- As above, since the vapors pooled in the vapor pooling chamber are discharged to the outside of the filter device, it is possible to suppress that the vapors flow into the fuel passage. In addition, since it is possible to prevent the fuel from entering into the inside of the filter device through the valve device, it is possible to surely guide the filtered fuel (filtered by the filter element) to the suction port of the pump device.
- According to a still further feature of the present invention, for example, as defined in the appended claim 8, the fuel passage is composed of a first fuel passage and a second fuel passage. The second fuel passage is formed between the first fuel passage and the suction port of the pump device so that the first fuel passage is communicated to the suction port. The outer shell is composed of the filter element and a tank wall member of a tank portion, wherein the filter element forms therein the first fuel passage, while the tank portion forms therein the second fuel passage and the vapor pooling chamber above the second fuel passage. The filter element is provided at a lower end of the tank portion, so that the first fuel passage is communicated to the second fuel passage, and the valve device is provided at a portion of the tank portion, at which the vapor pooling chamber is formed.
- According to the above feature, the filter element forming therein the first fuel passage is provided at the lower end of the tank portion, so that the first fuel passage is communicated to the second fuel passage formed in the tank portion. When the pump device is operated, the fuel suction force is generated. The fuel outside of the filter device passes through the filter element to enter into the first fuel passage. Then, the fuel flows into the second fuel passage and finally into the suction port of the pump device. The vapors, which are generated when the fuel passes through the filter element, flow from the first fuel passage to the second fuel passage.
- The vapors having entered into the second fuel passage are upwardly moved by the buoyancy to the vapor pooling chamber, which is formed above the second fuel passage. Since the vapor pooling chamber is formed by the tank portion, which does not allow the fuel (as well as the vapors) to pass through the tank wall member of the tank portion, the vapors can not be discharged to the outside of the filter device through the tank portion. The vapors are discharged to the outside of the filter device only through the valve device, which is provided at the tank portion.
- As above, even in the case that the outer shell of the filter device is composed of the filter element and the tank wall member, it is possible to separate the vapors from the filtered fuel in the filter device, and to suppress the flow-in of the vapors into the suction port of the pump device. It is possible, for a long term, to exert the effect for suppressing the flow-in of the vapors into the suction port.
- According to a still further feature of the present invention, for example, as defined in the appended claim 9 and in the same manner to the claim 7, the valve device comprises a valve seat member provided at the tank portion, the valve seat member having a seat portion formed at an outer surface of the filter device and a communication hole formed at an inner area of the seat portion for communicating the vapor pooling chamber to the outside of the filter device. The valve device further comprises a valve body member disposed at the outer surface of the filter device, wherein the valve body member is pushed by the vapors in the vapor pooling chamber and thereby separated from the seat portion so that the valve body member allows the vapors to flow from the vapor pooling chamber to the outside of the filter device, while the valve body member is seated on the seat portion when the amount of the vapors in the vapor pooling chamber is decreased so that the valve body member prevents the fuel from flowing from the outside of the filter device into the inside of the filter device.
- According to the above feature, the valve body member is arranged at the outer surface of the filter device (at the valve seat member having the seat portion) and the communication hole is formed at the inner area of the seat portion. Therefore, the valve body member is pushed out by the vapors flowing from the inside to the outside of the filter device and thereby separated from the seat portion. As a result, the vapors are discharged from the vapor pooling chamber to the outside of the filter device. On the other hand, when the amount of the vapors in the vapor pooling chamber is decreased, the valve body member is seated on the seat portion. As a result, the fuel is prevented from flowing from the outside to the inside of the filter device through the communication hole.
- Therefore, even when the fuel level around the filter device is decreased to be lower than the fuel level in the tank portion, it is possible to hold the fuel in the tank portion. This function (holding the fuel in the tank portion) is continued even in a non-operation period of the pump device.
- According to a still further feature of the present invention, for example, as defined in the appended
claim 10, the fuel pump further comprises an auxiliary jet pump provided between the first fuel passage and the second fuel passage. The auxiliary jet pump has a throat portion forming a fuel jet passage, one end of which is opened to the first fuel passage and the other end of which is opened to the second fuel passage. The auxiliary jet pump further has a fuel jet portion provided in the fuel jet passage for emitting fuel toward the other end of the fuel jet passage opened to the second fuel passage. - According to the above feature of the invention, the fuel jet portion is provided in the fuel jet passage of the throat portion in such a way that the fuel is emitted toward the other end of the fuel jet passage opened to the second fuel passage. Therefore, when the fuel is emitted from the fuel jet portion, the fuel pressure around the fuel jet portion is decreased to thereby generate the fuel suction force at the auxiliary jet pump for sucking the fuel from the first fuel passage.
- When the fuel flows, due to the fuel suction force, from the first fuel passage into the fuel jet passage of the throat portion, the fuel pressure in the first fuel passage is decreased. Then, the fuel outside of the filter device passes through the filter element to enter into the first fuel passage. The fuel having entered into the fuel jet passage of the throat portion flows into the second fuel passage along with the fuel emitted from the fuel jet portion.
- As above, the fuel suction force is generated in the auxiliary jet pump when the fuel is emitted from the fuel jet portion. The fuel in the first fuel passage is forcibly transferred by the fuel suction force to the second fuel passage. It is, therefore, possible to fully fill the tank portion with fuel.
- Accordingly, even when the fuel level around the filter device is decreased, it is possible to keep the fuel level in the tank portion above the fuel level around the filter device. Since the auxiliary jet pump forcibly discharges the fuel into the second fuel passage, it is possible to forcibly and smoothly discharge the vapors pooled in the vapor pooling chamber to the outside of the filter device through the valve device.
- According to a still further feature of the present invention, for example, as defined in the appended
claim 11, a filter frame is provided in the filter device for supporting an inner surface of the outer shell. - Generally, the filter element made of the film sheet does not have enough mechanical strength to be used as an outer shell of the filter device. It is, therefore, difficult for the filter element of the film sheet to keep the shape of the outer shell of the filter device.
- According to the above feature, the filter frame is provided in the filter device for supporting the inner surface of the outer shell. Therefore, even when any external force is applied to the filter element, the shape of the filter element can be maintained. Namely, the shape of the fuel passage as well as the vapor pooling chamber, each of which is formed inside of the filter element, can be maintained.
- According to a still further feature of the present invention, for example, as defined in the appended
claim 12, the pump device is composed of an electric pump for generating the fuel suction force in order to draw the fuel from the suction port, the electric pump pressurizes the fuel and discharges such pressurized fuel from the discharge port. - In the electric pump, in which the fuel is sucked through the suction port by the fuel suction force generated by the operation of the electric pump and the fuel is pressurized and discharged from the discharge port, the fuel discharge amount from the electric pump is decreased at least by such an amount of the vapors, which have been sucked into the electric pump together with the fuel.
- According to the present invention, the flow-in of the vapors into the electric pump is suppressed and thereby the decrease of the pump discharge amount is suppressed.
- According to a still further feature of the present invention, for example, as defined in the appended
claim 13, the fuel pump has a jet pump. The jet pump is composed of a throat portion forming therein a fuel jet passage, which has an inlet open end and an outlet open end. The jet pump further has a fuel jet portion provided in the fuel jet passage for emitting fuel toward the outlet open end, so that fuel suction force is generated at the inlet open end. In the jet pump, the fuel sucked into the fuel jet passage from the inlet open end is discharged from the outlet open end together with the fuel emitted from the fuel jet portion. - When the fuel is emitted from the fuel jet portion, the fuel pressure around the fuel jet portion is decreased, so that the fuel suction force is generated to draw the fuel through the inlet open end. The fuel drawn from the inlet open end is discharged from the outlet open end together with the fuel emitted from the fuel jet portion. When vapors are included in the fuel drawn into the jet pump through the inlet open end, it may become difficult to sufficiently decrease the fuel pressure around the fuel jet portion, to thereby decrease the fuel suction force. Then, the pump discharge amount from the jet pump may be decreased.
- According to the present invention, however, the flow-in of the vapors into the jet pump is effectively suppressed, and thereby the decrease of the pump discharge amount of the jet pump can be effectively suppressed.
- The above and other objects, features and advantages of the present invention will become more apparent from the following detailed description made with reference to the accompanying drawings. In the drawings:
-
FIG. 1 is a schematic view showing a fuel supply system incorporating a fuel supply device according to a first embodiment of the present invention; -
FIG. 2 is a schematic cross sectional view showing the fuel supply device shown inFIG. 1 ; -
FIG. 3 is a schematic cross sectional view (taken along a line inFIG. 4 ) showing a fuel supply device according to a second embodiment of the present invention; -
FIG. 4 is a top plan view of the fuel supply device when viewed in a direction of an arrow IV inFIG. 3 ; -
FIG. 5 is a schematic enlarged cross sectional view showing a filter device of a fuel supply device according to a modification of the second embodiment; -
FIG. 6 is a schematic cross sectional view showing a fuel supply device according to a third embodiment of the present invention; -
FIG. 7 is a schematic cross sectional view showing a fuel supply device according to a modification of the third embodiment; -
FIG. 8 is a schematic cross sectional view showing a fuel supply device having a suction pump according to a fourth embodiment of the present invention; -
FIG. 9 is a schematic cross sectional view showing a fuel supply device having a suction pump according to a modification of the fourth embodiment; -
FIG. 10 is a schematic view showing a fuel supply system incorporating a fuel transfer pump according to a fifth embodiment of the present invention; -
FIG. 11 is a schematic cross sectional view showing the fuel transfer pump shown inFIG. 10 ; -
FIG. 12 is a schematic view showing a fuel supply system incorporating a fuel transfer pump according to a modification of the fifth embodiment; -
FIG. 13 is a schematic enlarged cross sectional view showing a jet pump of the fuel transfer pump shown inFIG. 12 ; and -
FIG. 14 is a schematic enlarged cross sectional view showing a filter device of the fuel transfer pump shown inFIG. 12 . - Embodiments of the present invention will be explained with reference to the drawings. The same reference numerals are used throughout the embodiments for designating the same or similar parts or components.
- A first embodiment of the present invention will be explained with reference to the drawings.
FIG. 1 is a schematic view showing afuel supply system 10 incorporating afuel supply device 11 according to the first embodiment of the present invention. - In the
fuel supply system 10, fuel in afuel tank 24 is supplied to anengine 30 outside of the fuel tank. Thefuel supply system 10 according to the present embodiment is a so-called return fuel supply system, in which surplus fuel which will not be consumed by theengine 30 is treated in an inside of thefuel tank 24 so that the surplus fuel may not be return from theengine 30. Thefuel supply system 10 is composed of thefuel supply device 11, apressure regulating device 22 and afuel supply pipe 23, and so on. - The
fuel supply device 11 and thepressure regulating device 22 will be explained with reference toFIG. 2 .FIG. 2 shows a cross sectional view of thefuel supply device 11. Thefuel supply device 11, thepressure regulating device 22 and a part of thefuel supply pipe 23 are disposed in the inside of thefuel tank 24. Thefuel supply device 11 has asuction port 20, which is directed (opened) to abottom wall 25 of thefuel tank 24, and adischarge port 21, which is directed (opened) to anupper wall 26 of thefuel tank 24. Thedischarge port 21 is provided at an opposite side to thebottom wall 25. Thefuel supply device 11 draws the fuel from thefuel tank 24, pressurizes the fuel, and pumps out the pressurized fuel to thepressure regulating device 22 through thedischarge port 21. Thefuel supply pipe 23 is connected to thedischarge port 21. - The
pressure regulating device 22 is provided in thefuel supply pipe 23 and regulates fuel pressure discharged from thefuel supply device 11, so that the fuel is finally supplied to theengine 30. According to the present embodiment, thepressure regulating device 22 discharges surplus fuel, which is a part of the fuel to be supplied to theengine 30 and split out of the fuel when regulating the fuel pressure, into thefuel tank 24. - The
fuel supply device 11 is composed of anelectric pump device 12, afilter device 40 and so on. Theelectric pump device 12 is composed of anelectric motor 13, apump portion 16, and so on, wherein those components are accommodated in acylindrical housing 19. - The
electric motor 13 is a DC motor driven by direct current supplied from a battery (not shown). Theelectric motor 13 drives thepump portion 16. Theelectric motor 13 is composed of arotor 14 to be rotated upon receiving electric power and ashaft 15 to be rotated together with therotor 14. According to the present embodiment, theelectric motor 13 is disposed in thefuel tank 24 in such a way that therotor 14 and theshaft 15 thereof are vertically arranged in thefuel tank 24. - The
pump portion 16 comprises a Wesco type pump having an impeller. Thepump portion 16 is provided at an axial end of theelectric motor 13 on a side to thebottom wall 25 of thefuel tank 24. Thepump portion 16 has apump housing 17, which rotatably accommodates the impeller of a disc shape. Multiple blade grooves are formed at outer peripheries of both axial side surfaces of the impeller, wherein the multiple blade grooves are arranged in a circumferential direction. In addition to rotatably accommodating the impeller, thepump housing 17 has pressure increasing passages of an arc shape at each of axial inner surfaces, each of which faces to the respective axial side surfaces of the impeller in an axial direction. Each one end of the pressure increasing passages is communicated to thesuction port 20, while each other end thereof is communicated to apump outlet port 18. - As shown in
FIG. 2 , thesuction port 20 is formed at a lower end of thepump housing 17, which is on the side to thebottom wall 25 of thefuel tank 24, so that thesuction port 20 is communicated to an inlet portion of the pressure increasing passage. Thepump outlet port 18 is formed at an upper side of thepump housing 17, which is an opposite side of thesuction port 20, so that thepump outlet port 18 is communicated to an outlet portion of the pressure increasing passage. - According to the above structure, when the impeller is rotated by the
electric motor 13, fuel suction force is generated at thepump portion 16. As a result, the fuel around thesuction port 20 flows into the inlet portion of the pressure increasing passage through thesuction port 20. The fuel sucked into the pressure increasing passage is pressurized as the fuel is forced to flow toward the outlet portion of the pressure increasing passage, so that the fuel is discharged from thepump outlet port 18. The fuel discharged from thepump outlet port 18 flows into a space accommodating theelectric motor 13 and then the fuel is pumped out through thedischarge port 21, which is formed at an upper end of the housing 19 (an opposite side to the pump portion 16). Thepump portion 16 is explained as being composed of an impeller type pump. However, any other type of the pump, such as, for example, a trochoid type pump having a trochoid gear, may be used to thepump portion 16. - The
filter device 40 is connected to thesuction port 20 so as to trap extraneous material included in the fuel to be sucked into theelectric pump 12 through thesuction port 20. Thefilter device 40 is composed of afilter element 41, a connectingmember 46, afilter frame 52, avalve device 60 and so on. As shown inFIG. 2 , thefilter element 41 is made of non-woven film sheets (made of resinous fiber) and formed in a flat bag extending along thebottom wall 25 of thefuel tank 24. Thefilter element 41 traps the extraneous material contained in the fuel when the fuel passes through thefilter element 41. - When the fuel enters into the
filter element 41 and thereby thefilter element 41 is filled with the fuel, liquid film of the fuel is formed at surfaces of thefilter element 41. When the liquid film of the fuel is formed at the surfaces of thefilter element 41, the fuel may pass through thefilter element 41 but vapors (such as air) are prevented from passing through thefilter element 41. - The
filter element 41 is composed of afirst element 42 arranged at an upper side (on a side toward theupper wall 26 of the fuel tank 24) and asecond element 44 arranged at a lower side (on a side to thebottom wall 25 of the fuel tank 24). Each of the first andsecond elements element - A part of the
first element 42 is projected in an upward direction toward theupper wall 26 of thefuel tank 24. The connectingmember 46, which communicates the inside and outside of thefilter device 40 with each other, is provided to thefirst element 42 at a side to theelectric pump 12. The connectingmember 46 is connected to thesuction port 20 of theelectric pump 12. Thefirst element 42 has aslope wall portion 42 a, which is upwardly inclined toward theupper wall 26 of thefuel tank 24, so that a height of theslope wall portion 42 a becomes larger as a distance from the connecting member 46 (namely, a distance from the electric pump 12) is larger. Thefirst element 42 also has aflat wall portion 42 b, which is formed at a side separated from theelectric pump 12 and at which thevalve device 60 is provided (explained below). Thesecond element 44 is formed in a flat cylindrical shape having a bottom end facing to thebottom wall 25 of thefuel tank 24. The above twoelements filter element 41, so that afuel passage 50 and avapor pooling chamber 51 are formed inside of thefilter element 41. - The
fuel passage 50 is formed on a side to thesecond element 44 so as to guide the fuel, which has passed through thefilter element 41 and thereby has been filtered, toward thesuction port 20 of theelectric pump 12. Thevapor pooling chamber 51 is formed at an upper portion (above the fuel passage 50) of the inside space of thefilter element 41 and communicated with thefuel passage 50. Thevapor pooling chamber 51 pools vapors included in the filtered fuel flowing through thefuel passage 50. Thevapor pooling chamber 51 is partly formed by theslope wall portion 42 a and theflat wall portion 42 b of thefirst element 42. - Vapors included in the filtered fuel will be explained. A vapor pressure curve of the fuel (for example, in which fuel alcohol is included gasoline) may become larger than that of gasoline fuel, depending on a content of fuel alcohol included in gasoline. A vapor pressure of the gasoline fuel at a certain temperature is higher than that of the fuel in which the fuel alcohol is included in the gasoline fuel to some extent. In addition, when temperature of the fuel becomes higher, the vapor pressure becomes higher.
- As explained above, when the
electric pump 12 is operated, the fuel suction force is generated at theelectric pump 12. Therefore, the pressure of the fuel in the inside of thefilter device 40 is decreased, when compared with the fuel pressure outside of thefilter device 40, so that the fuel outside of thefilter device 40 passes through thefilter element 41. - However, since the fuel pressure inside of the
filter device 40 is decreased to be lower than the fuel pressure outside of thefilter device 40 as explained above, the fuel pressure inside of thefilter device 40 may become lower than the vapor pressure of the fuel. Then, vapors may be generated in the filtered fuel, depending on the fuel pressure and/or fuel temperature inside of thefilter device 40. - The
filter frame 52 made of resin is provided in thefuel passage 50 and thevapor pooling chamber 51. Since thefilter element 41 is made of the non-woven fabric, a mechanical strength is rather low. In a case that an outer shell of thefilter device 40 is formed by thefilter element 41, like the present embodiment, it may be difficult to hold a shape of thefilter element 41 when any external force or pressure is applied to thereto. As a result, it may also become difficult to maintain the shapes of thefuel passage 50 and thevapor pooling chamber 51, both of which are provided inside of thefilter device 40. - According to the present embodiment, however, the
filter frame 52 is provided inside of thefilter device 40. It is, therefore, possible to support an inner surface of thefilter element 41, to thereby maintain the shape thereof. Even when the fuel pressure inside of thefilter device 40 becomes lower than the fuel pressure outside of thefilter device 40 because of the fuel suction force of theelectric pump 12, and thereby a force (a pressure) is applied to thefilter element 41 in a direction of pushing it toward the inside thereof, it is possible to keep the shape of thefilter element 41. In other words, it is possible to keep the shapes of thefuel passage 50 and thevapor pooling chamber 51. Since the shape of thefilter element 41 can be maintained by thefilter frame 52, it may be possible to form almost all of the outer shell of thefilter device 40 by thefilter element 41. Thus, it is possible to increase filtering area of thefilter device 40. - The
valve device 60 is provided at theflat wall portion 42 b. Thevalve device 60 operatively communicates thevapor pooling chamber 51 with the outside of thefilter device 40, so that the vapors pooled in thevapor pooling chamber 51 may be discharged to the outside of thefilter device 40. - The
valve device 60 is composed of avalve seat member 61 and avalve body member 62. Thevalve seat member 61 is made of resin and formed in a disc shape. Thevalve seat member 61 is attached to an aperture formed at theflat wall portion 42 b. Thevalve seat member 61 has anannular seat portion 61 a to which thevalve body member 62 is seated and multiple communication holes 61 b for communicating thevapor pooling chamber 51 to the outside of thefilter device 40. Theseat portion 61 a is formed at anouter surface 61 c of thevalve seat member 61, wherein theouter surface 61 c faces to the outside of thefilter device 40. The communication holes 61 b are formed at an inner area of theseat portion 61 a. - The
valve body member 62 is made of flexible material for opening and/or closing the communication holes 61 b. Thevalve body member 62 is composed of anumbrella portion 62 a arranged at an outside of thefilter device 40 and ashaft portion 62 b for attaching theumbrella portion 62 a to thevalve seat member 61. As shown inFIG. 2 , theumbrella portion 62 a is so formed that an outer peripheral portion thereof is seated on theannular seat portion 61 a. Theshaft portion 62 b extends from a center of theumbrella portion 62 a toward thevalve seat member 61 and fixed thereto. - According to the
valve device 60 of the above structure, when the vapors are pooled in thevapor pooling chamber 51, the vapors flow through the communication holes 61 b into a space, which is formed between an inner surface of theumbrella portion 62 a and theouter surface 61 c of thevalve seat member 61. When an amount of vapors in the above space exceeds a predetermined value, the vapors push up theumbrella portion 62 a by buoyancy, in a direction that the outer peripheral portion of theumbrella portion 62 a is separated from theannular seat portion 61 a. When theumbrella portion 62 a is lifted up and separated from theannular seat portion 61 a, the vapors flow out of thefilter device 40, as indicated by one-dot-chain lines inFIG. 2 . The vapors pooled in thevapor pooling chamber 51 may be pushed by the fuel flowing into thefilter element 41, so that some of the vapors may be additionally discharged out of thefilter device 40 through thevalve device 60. - When the amount of the vapors in the
vapor pooling chamber 51 is reduced, the force for pushing up theumbrella portion 62 a becomes smaller, so that theumbrella portion 62 a tends to return to its initial condition, that is, an initial shape in which theumbrella portion 62 a is seated on theannular seat portion 61 a. Then, theumbrella portion 62 a is finally seated on theannular seat portion 61 a to shut off the communication between the inside and outside of thefilter device 40. Therefore, when the fuel pressure outside of thefilter device 40 is higher than the fuel pressure inside of thefilter device 40, and thereby the fuel outside of thefilter device 40 tends to flow into the inside of thefilter device 40 through thevalve device 60, a valve closed condition of thevalve device 60 is maintained, because a force (a pressure) is applied to theumbrella portion 62 a in a direction that theumbrella portion 62 is seated on theannular seat portion 61 a. Accordingly, the fuel outside of thefilter device 40 may not enter into the inside of thefilter device 40 through thevalve device 60. - As above, the
valve device 60 allows the vapors to flow out from thevapor pooling chamber 51 to the outside of thefilter device 40 on one hand, but prevents the fuel outside of thefilter device 40 from flowing into thevapor pooling chamber 51. - The
filter element 41 may form a part of the outer shell of thefilter device 40. In other words, when the outer shell has thefilter element 41 at least at a portion thereof, thefilter device 40 can perform its function. It is, however, preferable that all of the outer shell of thefilter device 40 is formed by thefilter element 41, like the present embodiment. Generally, a space for thefilter device 40 is limited. It is possible to keep the filtering area as large as possible, when all of the outer shell of thefilter device 40 is formed by thefilter element 41. - An operation of the
fuel supply device 11 will be explained. When theelectric pump 12 is operated, the fuel suction force is generated. Then, since the fuel pressure inside of thefilter device 40 becomes lower than the fuel pressure outside of thefilter device 40, the fuel outside of the filter device 40 (in the fuel tank 24) passes through thefilter element 41 and enters into thefuel passage 50. The fuel having entered into thefuel passage 50 flows into thepump portion 16 through thesuction port 20. The fuel sucked into thepump portion 16 is pressurized in thepump portion 16 to be discharged from theoutlet port 18. - The fuel discharged from the
pump outlet port 18 flows into the space accommodating theelectric motor 13 and then the fuel is pumped out through thedischarge port 21 of theelectric pump 12. The pressure of the fuel pumped out from thedischarge port 21 is regulated by thepressure regulating device 22 and supplied to the engine 30 (outside of the fuel tank 24) through thefuel supply pipe 23. - Since the fuel pressure inside of the
filter device 40 is decreased to be lower than the fuel pressure outside of thefilter device 40 due to the fuel suction force, the vapors may be generated in the filtered fuel when the fuel passes through thefilter element 41. The generated vapors are moved by the buoyancy within thefilter device 40 toward thevapor pooling chamber 51 formed above thefuel passage 50, so that the vapors are pooled in thevapor pooling chamber 51. As above, the vapors are separated from the filtered fuel, which passed through thefilter element 41 and entered into thefuel passage 50. - As shown in
FIG. 2 , the vapors generated within thefilter element 41 are moved toward thevalve device 60 along theslope wall portion 42 a. The vapors are surely guided by theslope wall portion 42 a toward thevalve device 60. - According to the present embodiment, the
slope wall portion 42 a is provided in such a manner that the height of theslope wall portion 42 a becomes larger as the distance from the connectingmember 46 is longer. Therefore, when the vapors are moved along theslope wall portion 42 a, the vapors are further separated from the connectingmember 46. An effect for preventing the vapors from flowing into thesuction port 20 can be thereby increased. - The filtered fuel, from which the vapors are separated, goes to the
suction port 20 with a flow generated by the fuel suction force of theelectric pump 12 as indicated by arrows with white color. The filtered fuel is then sucked into theelectric pump 12. - If the vapors are included in the filtered fuel sucked into the
electric pump 12, theelectric pump 12 can not pump out the fuel of such amount, which at least corresponds to a cubic volume of the vapors. Therefore, the pump discharge amount is decreased, when compared with a case in which no vapor is included in the fuel sucked into the electric pump. According to thefilter device 40 of the present embodiment, it is possible to separate the vapors from the filtered fuel within thefilter device 40, to thereby suppress flow-in of the vapors into thesuction port 20 of theelectric pump 12. As a result, it is possible to suppress a possible decrease of the pump discharge amount of theelectric pump 12. - Since the pump discharge amount may be decreased, as explained above, when the vapors are included in the fuel to be sucked into the
electric pump 12, it may become necessary to increase electric power supply amount to theelectric pump 12 and thereby to increase rotational speed of the impeller in order to obtain a necessary pump discharge amount if the vapors are allowed to flow into theelectric pump 12. In such a case, electric power consumption to theelectric pump 12 may be increased, and it is against a power saving function required for a recent vehicle. - According to the
filter device 40 of the present embodiment, however, since it is possible to suppress the possible decrease of the pump discharge amount of theelectric pump 12, the necessary pump discharge amount can be obtained with smaller electric power to thereby contribute in the power saving for the vehicle. In addition, theelectric pump 12 can be made smaller in size, because the electric power consumption thereof is decreased. - When the liquid film of the fuel is formed at the surfaces of the
filter element 41, the vapors may not pass through thefilter element 41. Therefore, the amount of vapors pooled in thevapor pooling chamber 51 is further increased. - When the amount of generated vapors exceeds a vapor accommodating capacity of the
vapor pooling chamber 51, the vapors may overflow from thevapor pooling chamber 51 and may flow into thefuel passage 50. More exactly, when the vapor amount exceeds a lowermost line (a dotted line shown inFIG. 2 ) of thevapor pooling chamber 51, the vapors may flow into thefuel passage 50. - According to the present embodiment, the
valve device 60 is provided at thefilter device 40 for operatively communicating thevapor pooling chamber 51 with the outside of thefilter device 40. When the vapor amount in thevapor pooling chamber 51 exceeds a predetermined amount, the vapors push up theumbrella portion 62 a of thevalve device 60 so that the vapors may flow out to the outside of thefilter device 40. Since theslope wall portion 42 a is provided in thefilter element 41, the vapors are guided toward thevalve device 60 so that the vapors are smoothly discharged to the outside of thefilter device 40. - As above, the
filter device 40 of the present embodiment has a structure, according to which the vapors in thevapor pooling chamber 51 are discharged to the outside of thefilter device 40. It is, therefore, possible to suppress generation of the problem that the separated vapors may flow into thefuel passage 50. It is possible, for a long term, to exert the effect for suppressing the decrease of the pump discharge amount. - According to the present embodiment, since the
slope wall portion 42 a is formed by thefilter element 41, the fuel flows into thefilter element 41 at a portion lower than the vapors pooled in thevapor pooling chamber 51. The vapors in thevapor pooling chamber 51 may receive pressure from the fuel flowing into thefilter element 41 and may be pushed out through thevalve device 60. Thus, the vapors are effectively discharged to the outside of thefilter device 40. - Since the
slope wall portion 42 a of thefilter element 41 is upwardly inclined toward thevalve device 60, the vapors can be surely guided toward thevalve device 60 and immediately discharged to the outside of thefilter device 40. - The
valve device 60 has a structure for preventing the fuel from flowing into thevapor pooling chamber 51 from the outside of thefilter device 40. Therefore, the fuel always passes through thefilter element 41. Thevalve device 60 prevents the fuel from entering into the inside of thefilter element 41 without passing through thefilter element 41, so that the filtered fuel can be always supplied into theelectric pump 12. - A second embodiment of the present invention will be explained with reference to the drawings. The second embodiment is a modification of the first embodiment. According to the second embodiment, a shape of a
filter device 140 is different from thefilter device 40 of the first embodiment. The structures of theelectric pump 12, thepressure regulating device 22 and thefuel supply pipe 23 are the same to those of the first embodiment.FIG. 3 is a schematic cross sectional view showing afuel supply device 111 according to the second embodiment of the present invention (a cross sectional view taken along a line inFIG. 4 ).FIG. 4 is a top plan view of thefuel supply device 111 when viewed in a direction of an arrow IV inFIG. 3 . - The
filter device 140 of thefuel supply device 111 according to the present embodiment is composed of afilter element 141, a connectingmember 146, afilter frame 152, avalve device 60 and so on. Thefilter element 141 is made of non-woven film sheets (made of resinous fiber) like thefilter element 41 of the first embodiment. Thefilter element 141 is formed in such a bag shape, which covers an axial lower end of the electric pump 12 (at a side to thebottom surface 25 of the fuel tank 24) and at least partly an outer peripheral wall of theelectric pump 12 in a radial direction. Thefilter element 141 traps the extraneous material contained in the fuel when the fuel passes through thefilter element 141. - The
filter element 141 is composed of afirst element 142 arranged at an upper side (on the side toward theupper wall 26 of the fuel tank 24) and asecond element 144 arranged at a lower side (on the side to thebottom wall 25 of the fuel tank 24). Each of the first andsecond elements element shape filter element 141. - The
first element 141 is composed of acircular wall portion 142 a, an innercylindrical wall portion 142 b, anupper wall portion 142 c and an outercylindrical portion 142 d. Thecircular wall portion 142 a is arranged at an axial lower end of theelectric pump 12. The innercylindrical wall portion 142 b upwardly extends from an outer periphery of thecircular wall portion 142 a toward theupper wall 26 of thefuel tank 24 and partly covers at least the outer peripheral wall of theelectric pump 12 in the radial direction. The outercylindrical wall portion 142 d is arranged at a distance from the innercylindrical wall portion 142 b in a radial direction. As shown inFIG. 4 , thefirst element 142 has a C-shaped cross section. Although the inner andouter wall portions cylindrical wall portion 142 d is connected to each of circumferential ends of the innercylindrical wall portion 142 b. Upper axial ends of the inner and outercylindrical wall portions upper wall portion 142 c of an arc shape (a C-shape). - As shown in
FIG. 3 , thesecond element 144 is formed in a flat cylindrical shape having a bottom end facing to thebottom wall 25 of thefuel tank 24. The connectingmember 146 is provided at thecircular wall portion 142 a. As shown inFIGS. 3 and 4 , thevalve device 60, which is identical to that of the first embodiment, is provided at theupper wall portion 142 c, which is upwardly inclined toward thevalve device 60. Therefore, thevalve device 60 is provided at theupper wall portion 142 c at such a position, which is highest in the vertical direction of thefilter device 140. - The above two
elements filter element 141, so that afuel passage 150 and avapor pooling chamber 151 are respectively formed inside of thefilter element 141. More exactly, thefuel passage 150 is formed on a side to the bottom wall of thefuel tank 24 and thevapor pooling chamber 151 is formed at a space above thefuel passage 150 and surrounded by the innercylindrical wall portion 142 b, theupper wall portion 142 c and the outercylindrical wall portion 142 d. - The
filter frame 152 made of resin is provided in thefuel passage 150 and thevapor pooling chamber 151. Thefilter frame 152 is provided inside of thefilter device 140 to support an inner surface of thefilter element 141, to thereby maintain the shape thereof. Since thefilter frame 152 is provided in thefuel passage 150 and thevapor pooling chamber 151, it is possible to keep the shape of thefilter element 141, even when the fuel pressure inside of thefilter element 141 becomes lower than the fuel pressure outside of thefilter element 141 because of the fuel suction force of theelectric pump 12, and thereby a force (a pressure) is applied to thefilter element 141 in a direction of pushing it toward the inside thereof. - As in the same manner to the first embodiment, the
filter element 141 exerts a function of an outer shell for thefilter device 140. According to the second embodiment, almost all of the outer shell for thefilter device 140 is likewise formed by thefilter element 141. - An operation of the
fuel supply device 111 will be explained. Since theelectric pump 12 is identical to that of the first embodiment, flows of the fuel and the vapors in thefilter device 140 will be mainly explained. - When the
electric pump 12 is operated, the fuel suction force is generated. Then, the fuel passes through thefilter element 141 and enters from the outside of thefilter element 141 into thefuel passage 150. Since the fuel pressure inside of thefilter device 140 is decreased to be lower than the fuel pressure outside of thefilter device 140 due to the fuel suction force, the vapors may be generated in the filtered fuel when the fuel passes through thefilter element 141. The vapors thus generated are moved by the buoyancy within thefilter device 140 toward thevapor pooling chamber 151 formed above thefuel passage 150, so that the vapors are pooled in thevapor pooling chamber 151. As above, the vapors are separated from the filtered fuel, which passed through thefilter element 141 and entered into thefuel passage 150. - Since the
upper wall portion 142 c is upwardly inclined toward thevalve device 60, as already explained above, the vapors pooled in thevapor pooling chamber 151 are moved toward thevalve device 60 along the inner surface of theupper wall portion 142 c. According to the above inclined structure of theupper wall portion 142 c, it is possible to effectively guide the vapors toward thevalve device 60 and smoothly discharge the guided vapors to the outside of thefilter device 140, as indicated by dotted arrows inFIG. 4 . - The filtered fuel, from which the vapors are separated, goes to the
suction port 20 with a flow generated by the fuel suction force of theelectric pump 12 as indicated by arrows with white color inFIG. 3 . The filtered fuel is then sucked into theelectric pump 12. - According to the above structure, it is possible to separate the vapors from the filtered fuel within the
filter device 140, to thereby suppress flow-in of the vapors into thesuction port 20 of theelectric pump 12. As a result, it is possible to suppress a possible decrease of the pump discharge amount of theelectric pump 12. - When the vapor amount in the
vapor pooling chamber 151 exceeds a predetermined amount, the vapors push up theumbrella portion 62 a of thevalve device 60 so that the vapors may flow out to the outside of thefilter device 140. Accordingly, it is also possible to discharge the vapors in thevapor pooling chamber 151 to the outside of thefilter device 140. As a result, it is possible to suppress generation of the problem that the separated vapors may flow into thefuel passage 150. It is possible, for a long term, to exert the effect for suppressing the decrease of the pump discharge amount. - A modification of the second embodiment will be explained with reference to the drawing. A position for the
valve device 60 in the modification is different from the second embodiment. Theelectric pump 12, thepressure regulating device 22 and thefuel supply pipe 23 are identical to the first embodiment.FIG. 5 is a schematic enlarged cross sectional view showing afilter device 240 of afuel supply device 211 according to the modification of the second embodiment. The other parts and/or portions, except for avalve device 160 forming a part of thefilter device 240, are the same to the second embodiment. - According to the modification, the
valve device 160 is provided at the outercylindrical wall portion 142 d of thefirst element 142, more exactly, at a portion of the radial side wall portion thereof. Like thevalve device 60 of the first embodiment, thevalve device 160 of the modification also allows the vapors to flow out from thevapor pooling chamber 151 out of thefilter device 240, but prevents the fuel outside of thefilter device 240 from flowing into thevapor pooling chamber 151. - A third embodiment of the present invention will be explained with reference to the drawings. According to the third embodiment, being different from the first and second embodiments, the outer shell of a
filter device 340 is formed by afilter element 341 a and atank wall member 341 b. Thetank wall member 341 b is made of resin and forms a wall which does not allow fluid (such as, the fuel and air) to pass therethrough. The structures of theelectric pump 12, thepressure regulating device 22 and thefuel supply pipe 23 are the same to those of the first or second embodiment.FIG. 6 is a schematic cross sectional view showing afuel supply device 311 according to the third embodiment of the present invention. - The
filter device 340 of thefuel supply device 311 is composed of afilter portion 340 a, atank portion 340 b, thevalve device 60 and so on. Thefilter device 340 is arranged at a position, which is outside of theelectric pump 12 in its radial direction. - An outer shell of the
filter portion 340 a is formed by thefilter element 341 a, which is made of non-woven film sheets (made of resinous fiber). Thefilter element 341 a traps the extraneous material contained in the fuel when the fuel passes through thefilter element 341 a. Thefilter element 341 a is formed in a flat bag extending along thebottom wall 25 of thefuel tank 24. Like the first or second embodiment, thefilter element 341 a is composed of a first and a second element, each of which is formed of a thin film and overlapped in a vertical direction. An outer periphery of each element is heated so that they are welded to each other to form the flat bag. - A
first fuel passage 350 a, into which the filtered fuel enters, is formed inside of the bag-shapedfilter element 341 a. Although not shown inFIG. 6 , a filter frame corresponding to thefilter frame 52 of the first embodiment is provided inside of thefilter element 341 a in order to maintain the shape thereof. - The
tank portion 340 b is provided above thefilter portion 340 a, to which thetank portion 340 b is connected. Thetank portion 340 b is composed of thetank wall member 341 b, a filter-side coupling portion 346 a and a pump-side coupling portion 346 b. Thevalve device 60 is provided at an upper portion of thetank portion 340 b. Thetank portion 340 b not only supplies the fuel, which is filtered by thefilter portion 340 a, to theelectric pump 12, but also pools the vapors generated when the fuel passes through thefilter portion 340 a. - The
tank wall member 341 b has anupper end wall 342, alower end wall 343 and aside wall 344 and forms inside thereof asecond fuel passage 350 b and avapor pooling chamber 351. Thesecond fuel passage 350 b is formed on a side to thelower end wall 343, while thevapor pooling chamber 351 is formed above thesecond fuel passage 350 b. Thevapor pooling chamber 351 is communicated with thesecond fuel passage 350 b, so that the vapors included in the filtered fuel flowing through thesecond fuel passage 350 b may be moved to thevapor pooling chamber 351, which is formed on a side to theupper end wall 342. - The filter-
side coupling portion 346 a connected to thefilter portion 340 a is formed at thelower end wall 343, so that thefirst fuel passage 350 a of thefilter portion 340 a is communicated to thesecond fuel passage 350 b of thetank portion 340 b. The filtered fuel (passed through thefilter element 341 a) entering into thefirst fuel passage 350 a flows into thesecond fuel passage 350 b through the filter-side coupling portion 346 a. In addition, the pump-side coupling portion 346 b connected to thesuction port 20 of theelectric pump 12 is provided at thelower end wall 343, so that thesecond fuel passage 350 b is communicated to thesuction port 20. The filtered fuel entering into thesecond fuel passage 350 b flows into theelectric pump 12 through the pump-side coupling portion 346 b and thesuction port 20. Thevalve device 60 is provided at theupper end wall 342. - The
valve device 60 has the same structure to that of the valve device of the first embodiment. According to the present embodiment, thevalve seat member 61 is integrally formed with theupper end wall 342 of thetank portion 340 b. Explanation for the other parts and/or portion of thevalve device 60 is omitted. - An operation of the
fuel supply device 311 will be explained. Since the operation of theelectric pump 12 is identical to that of the first or second embodiment, flows of the fuel and the vapors in thefilter device 340 will be mainly explained. - When the
electric pump 12 is operated, the fuel suction force is generated. Then, the fuel passes through thefilter element 341 a of thefilter portion 340 a and enters from the outside of thefilter device 340 into thefirst fuel passage 350 a. Since the fuel pressure inside of thefilter portion 340 a is decreased to be lower than the fuel pressure outside of thefilter portion 340 a due to the fuel suction force, the vapors may be generated in the filtered fuel when the fuel passes through thefilter element 341 a. The vapors thus generated are moved in thefilter portion 340 a together with fuel flowing in thefirst fuel passage 350 a to thesecond fuel passage 350 b. The vapors flow into thesecond fuel passage 350 b together with the filtered fuel. - In the
tank portion 340 b, the vapors included in the filtered fuel having entered into the second fuel passage 350 h are not moved together with the fuel flow (indicated by arrows with white color inFIG. 6 ) generated by the fuel suction force of theelectric pump 12, but moved by the buoyancy upwardly toward thevapor pooling chamber 351 and pooled therein. As above, the vapors are separated from the filtered fuel, which passed through thefilter element 341 a and entered into thesecond fuel passage 350 b. - The filtered fuel, from which the vapors are separated, goes to the
suction port 20 through the pump-side coupling portion 346 b with the fuel flow indicated by the arrows with white color (inFIG. 6 ), and then sucked into theelectric pump 12. - According to the above structure, it is also possible to separate the vapors from the filtered fuel within the filter device 340 (in the
tank portion 340 b), to thereby suppress flow-in of the vapors into thesuction port 20 of theelectric pump 12. As a result, it is possible to suppress a possible decrease of the pump discharge amount of theelectric pump 12. - When the vapor amount in the
vapor pooling chamber 351 exceeds a predetermined amount, the vapors push up theumbrella portion 62 a of thevalve device 60 so that the vapors may flow out to the outside of thefilter device 340. Accordingly, it is also possible to discharge the vapors in thevapor pooling chamber 351 to the outside of thefilter device 340. As a result, it is possible to suppress generation of the problem that the separated vapors may flow into thesecond fuel passage 350 b. it is possible, for a long term, to exert the effect for suppressing the decrease of the pump discharge amount. - According to the present embodiment, unlike the
filter device filter device 340 has thetank portion 340 b. According to such structure, it is possible to hold the fuel in thetank portion 340 b, so long as thefilter element 341 a is soaked in the fuel, even in the case that fuel level is lowered in thefuel tank 24 and the fuel level around thefilter device 340 becomes lower than the fuel level in thetank portion 340 b. - This is because the
tank portion 340 b is made of the resin material, which does not allow the fuel or air to pass through the same, and because thevalve device 60 provided at the upper portion of thetank portion 340 b has a function for preventing the fuel (and/or air) from entering into thetank portion 340 b from the outside thereof. For example, when the vehicle turns in a left or a right hand direction, centrifugal force is applied to the fuel and thereby the fuel is moved toward one side in the fuel tank. In such a case, the fuel level around thefilter device 340 may be lowered. - A modification of the third embodiment will be explained with reference to the drawing. A
filter device 440 of the modification is different from thefilter device 340 of the third embodiment in that anauxiliary jet pump 470 is provided between thetank portion 340 b and thefilter portion 340 a. Theauxiliary jet pump 470 subsidizes fuel supply into thetank portion 340 b. Theelectric pump 12, thepressure regulating device 22 and thefuel supply pipe 23 in this modification are also identical to the first embodiment.FIG. 7 is a schematic cross sectional view showing afuel supply device 411 according to the modification of the third embodiment. Theauxiliary jet pump 470 will be mainly explained. - The
auxiliary jet pump 470 generates fuel suction force and discharges the fuel (sucked from thefirst fuel passage 350 a) into thesecond fuel passage 350 b, in order to subsidize the fuel supply into thetank portion 340 b. Theauxiliary jet pump 470 is composed of athroat portion 471, afuel jet portion 475 and so on. Thethroat portion 471 is a cylindrical member made of resin material and is formed in a cylindrical shape. Thethroat portion 471 has afuel jet passage 471 a, which communicates thefirst fuel passage 350 a to thesecond fuel passage 350 b. Thethroat portion 471 is connected to thetank portion 340 b in such a way that a direction of thefuel jet passage 471 a of thethroat portion 471 is aligned with the vertical direction of thefuel tank 24. More exactly, thethroat portion 471 is supported by anaperture 346 c formed at thelower end wall 343 of thetank portion 340 b, so that an upperopen end 471 b of thethroat portion 471 is arranged inside of thesecond fuel passage 350 b, while a loweropen end 471 c is arranged outside of thetank portion 340 b. The loweropen end 471 c of thethroat portion 471 is connected to thefilter portion 340 a, so that thefuel jet passage 471 a is communicated to thefirst fuel passage 350 a of thefilter portion 340 a. As shown inFIG. 7 , thefuel jet passage 471 a has a small-diameter passage portion, at which an inner wall is elevated toward a center of thefuel jet passage 471 a. - The
fuel jet portion 475 is provided in thefuel jet passage 471 a below the small-diameter passage portion and jets out the surplus fuel (which is discharged from the pressure regulating device 22) toward the upperopen end 471 b. Afuel pipe 476 is connected to thefuel jet portion 475, so that the surplus fuel is supplied to thefuel jet portion 475 from thepressure regulating device 22. - In the above modification, the surplus fuel from the
pressure regulating device 22 is supplied to thefuel jet portion 475. However, any other system may be applied to the present invention. For example, a part of fuel, which is supplied to theengine 30 but not consumed for combustion in theengine 30 and finally returned to thefuel tank 24, and which is different from the surplus fuel from thepressure regulating device 22, may be supplied to thefuel jet portion 475. More exactly, the fuel discharged from a vapor discharge port (not shown) of thepump portion 16 may be supplied to thefuel jet portion 475, or return fuel from theengine 30 may be supplied to thefuel jet portion 475. - An operation of the
fuel supply device 411 will be explained. When theelectric pump 12 is operated, the fuel suction force is generated. Due to the fuel suction force, the fuel in the inside of thetank portion 340 b flows into theelectric pump 12 through the pump-side coupling portion 346 b. Then, the fuel is pressurized and discharged from thedischarge port 21 of theelectric pump 12 to thepressure regulating device 22. Fuel pressure of the fuel supplied to thepressure regulating device 22 is adjusted and supplied to theengine 30. - The surplus fuel discharged from the
pressure regulating device 22 is supplied to thefuel jet portion 475 through thefuel pipe 476, so that the surplus fuel is emitted from thefuel jet portion 475. As a result, fuel pressure around thefuel jet portion 475 is decreased to be lower than the fuel pressure in thefirst fuel passage 350 a to generate the fuel suction force. Due to the fuel suction force, the fuel pressure in thefirst fuel passage 350 a becomes lower than the fuel pressure outside of thefilter portion 340 a, and thereby the fuel outside of thefilter portion 340 a passes through thefilter element 341 a to enter into thefirst fuel passage 350 a. - The fuel entered into the
first fuel passage 350 a flows into thefuel jet passage 471 a from its loweropen end 471 c of thethroat portion 471, as indicated by arrows with white color inFIG. 7 . The fuel is discharged from the upperopen end 471 b of thethroat portion 471 together with the fuel emitted from thefuel jet portion 475. As above, the fuel sucked by theauxiliary jet pump 470 flows into thesecond fuel passage 350 b of thetank portion 340 b. - According to the modification, in the same or similar manner to the third embodiment, vapors may be generated in the filtered fuel when the fuel passes through the
filter element 341 a. The filtered fuel including the vapors flows into thesecond fuel passage 350 b through thethroat portion 471. The vapors having entered into thesecond fuel passage 350 b are moved by the buoyancy upwardly toward thevapor pooling chamber 351 and pooled therein. As above, the vapors are separated from the filtered fuel having entered into thesecond fuel passage 350 b. The filtered fuel, from which the vapors are separated, goes to thesuction port 20 through the pump-side coupling portion 346 b with the fuel flow indicated by the arrows with white color (inFIG. 7 ), and then sucked into theelectric pump 12. - According to the modification, since the
auxiliary jet pump 470 is provided in thefilter device 440, the fuel is forcibly drawn from thefirst fuel passage 350 a to thesecond fuel passage 350 b (namely, into thetank portion 340 b). Then, the fuel pooled in thevapor pooling chamber 351 is discharged to the outside of thetank portion 340 b through thevalve device 60, wherein the vapors are pushed out by the fuel drawn up into thetank portion 340 b. As above, it is possible, according to the modifiedfilter device 440, to smoothly discharge the vapors pooled in thevapor pooling chamber 351. - Since the structure of the
tank portion 340 b is the same to that of the third embodiment, thefilter device 440 of the modification has a function of pooling the fuel in thetank portion 340 b. - The modification (
FIG. 7 ) is different from the third embodiment (FIG. 6 ) in that theauxiliary jet pump 470 is provided. Theauxiliary jet pump 470 is operated so long as theelectric pump 12 is in operation. According to such structure, it is possible to fill thetank portion 340 b with the fuel. Therefore, it is possible to hold the fuel in thetank portion 340 b, so long as thefilter element 341 a is soaked in the fuel, even when the fuel level is lowered in the fuel tank 24 (and thereby the fuel level around thefilter device 440 becomes lower than the fuel level in thetank portion 340 b) as a result that total fuel amount in thefuel tank 24 is decreased or the fuel is moved toward one side in thefuel tank 24 during turning movement of the vehicle. - A fourth embodiment of the present invention will be explained with reference to the drawings. According to the fourth embodiment, the basic idea and structure of the first embodiment, that is, the vapors generated when the fuel passes through the
filter element 41 are separated from the fuel in thefilter device 40 and the pooled vapors are discharged to the outside of thefilter device 40, is applied to asuction pump device 570 for sucking the fuel and discharging the fuel into atank device 580 of afuel supply device 511. - The
fuel supply device 511 according to the fourth embodiment is composed of theelectric pump 12, thetank device 580, thesuction pump device 570 and so on. Theelectric pump 12, thepressure regulating device 22 and thefuel supply pipe 23 are the same to those of the first to third embodiments.FIG. 8 is a schematic cross sectional view showing thefuel supply device 511 having thesuction pump device 570 according to the fourth embodiment of the present invention. - The
tank device 580 is a device for storing the fuel, which will be sucked into theelectric pump 12, and is arranged at a position, which is outside of theelectric pump 12 in its radial direction. Thetank device 580 is made of resin material and has anupper end wall 581, alower end wall 582, and aside wall 583, to form afuel storing chamber 584 therein. Anaperture 581 a is formed at theupper end wall 581. Afilter 581 b, which is made of resin fabric and formed in a sheet shape, is provided at theaperture 581 a. Thefilter 581 b is made of an open mesh for preventing relatively large extraneous material, which may fall down from a portion above thetank device 580 toward thebottom wall 25 of thefuel tank 24, from entering into thetank device 580. Since thefilter 581 b is coarse-grained, not only the fuel but the air (vapors) may flow through thefilter 581 b. - In the same manner to the third embodiment, a pump-
side coupling portion 582 a, which is connected to thesuction port 20 of theelectric pump 12, is provided at thelower end wall 582. Thefuel storing chamber 584 is thereby communicated to thesuction port 20, so that the fuel in thefuel storing chamber 584 flows into theelectric pump 12 through the pump-side coupling portion 582 a and thesuction port 20. Anotheraperture 582 b, to which thesuction pump device 570 is connected, is formed at thelower end wall 582. The fuel sucked by thesuction pump device 570 through theaperture 582 b flows into thefuel storing chamber 584. - The
suction pump device 570 is a pump device which draws the fuel into thefuel storing chamber 584 of thetank device 580 by use of the surplus fuel discharged from thepressure regulating device 22. Thesuction pump device 570 is so designed that its suction amount is larger than the amount of the fuel which will be sucked into theelectric pump 12 through thesuction port 20. The suction amount of thesuction pump device 570 means a maximum fuel amount, which can be sucked and discharged into thefuel storing chamber 584 by thesuction pump device 570. As a result, the fuel pressure in thefuel storing chamber 584 becomes higher than the fuel pressure outside of thetank device 580. Therefore, the fuel in thefuel storing chamber 584 is pushed out from thetank device 580 through theaperture 581 a formed at theupper end wall 581. A fuel condition in thefuel storing chamber 584 in the above situation is called as a positive pressure condition. - The
suction pump device 570 is composed of asuction jet pump 571, afilter device 540 and so on. Thesuction jet pump 571 operates in the same manner to theauxiliary jet pump 470 of the third embodiment. Thesuction jet pump 571 generates the fuel suction force to suck fuel from afuel passage 550 formed inside of thefilter device 540 and discharges the sucked fuel into thefuel storing chamber 584. - The
suction jet pump 571 is composed of athroat portion 572, afuel jet portion 574 and so on. Thethroat portion 572 is a cylindrical member made of resin material and is formed in a cylindrical shape. Thethroat portion 572 has afuel jet passage 572 a, which communicates thefuel passage 550 to thefuel storing chamber 584. Thethroat portion 572 is connected to thetank device 580 in such a way that a direction of thefuel jet passage 572 a of thethroat portion 572 is aligned with the vertical direction of thefuel tank 24. More exactly, thethroat portion 572 is supported by theaperture 582 b formed at thelower end wall 582 of thetank device 580, so that an upperopen end 572 b of thethroat portion 572 is arranged inside of thefuel storing chamber 584, while a loweropen end 572 c is arranged outside of thetank device 580. The loweropen end 572 c of thethroat portion 572 is connected to thefilter device 540, so that thefuel jet passage 572 a is communicated to thefuel passage 550 of thefilter device 540. As shown inFIG. 8 , thefuel jet passage 572 a has a small-diameter passage portion, at which an inner wall is elevated toward a center of thefuel jet passage 572 a. - The
fuel jet portion 574 is provided in thefuel jet passage 572 a below the small-diameter passage portion and jets out the surplus fuel (which is discharged from the pressure regulating device 22) toward the upperopen end 572 b. Afuel pipe 576 is connected to thefuel jet portion 574, so that the surplus fuel is supplied to thefuel jet portion 574 from thepressure regulating device 22. - In the above modification, the surplus fuel from the
pressure regulating device 22 is supplied to thefuel jet portion 574. However, any other system may be applied to the present invention. For example, a part of fuel, which is supplied to theengine 30 but not consumed for combustion in theengine 30 and finally returned to thefuel tank 24, and which is different from the surplus fuel from thepressure regulating device 22, may be supplied to thefuel jet portion 574. More exactly, the fuel discharged from a vapor discharge port (not shown) of thepump portion 16 may be supplied to thefuel jet portion 574, or return fuel from theengine 30 may be supplied to thefuel jet portion 574. - The
filter device 540 is connected to the loweropen end 572 c of thesuction jet pump 571 so as to trap extraneous material included in the fuel to be sucked into thesuction jet pump 571 through the loweropen end 572 c. Thefilter device 540 is composed of afilter element 541, thevalve device 60 and so on. Thefilter element 541 is made of non-woven film sheets (made of resinous fiber) and formed in a flat bag extending along thebottom wall 25 of thefuel tank 24. Thefilter element 541 traps the extraneous material contained in the fuel when the fuel passes through thefilter element 541. - The
filter element 541 is composed of afirst element 542 arranged at an upper side (on a side toward theupper wall 26 of the fuel tank 24) and asecond element 544 arranged at a lower side (on a side to thebottom wall 25 of the fuel tank 24). Each of the first andsecond elements element - A part of the
first element 542 is projected in an upward direction toward theupper wall 26 of thefuel tank 24. A right-hand end of thefirst element 542 is connected to the loweropen end 572 c of thesuction jet pump 571. Thefirst element 542 has aslope wall portion 542 a, which is upwardly inclined toward theupper wall 26 of thefuel tank 24, so that a height of theslope wall portion 542 a becomes larger as a distance from the right-hand end (namely, a distance from the suction jet pump 571) is larger. Thefirst element 542 also has a flat wall portion 542 b, which is formed at a side separated from thesuction jet pump 571 and at which the valve device 60 (which is identical to that of the first embodiment) is provided. - The
second element 544 is formed in a flat cylindrical shape having a bottom end facing to thebottom wall 25 of thefuel tank 24. A right-hand end of thesecond element 544 is connected to the loweropen end 572 c of thesuction jet pump 571. The above twoelements filter element 541, so that thefuel passage 550 and avapor pooling chamber 551 are formed inside of thefilter element 541. - The
fuel passage 550 is formed on a side to thesecond element 544 so as to guide the fuel, which has passed through thefilter element 541 and thereby has been filtered, toward thesuction jet pump 571. Thevapor pooling chamber 551 is formed at an upper portion (above the fuel passage 550) of the inside space of thefilter element 541 and communicated with thefuel passage 550. Thevapor pooling chamber 551 is partly formed by theslope wall portion 542 a and the flat wall portion 542 b of thefirst element 542, like the first embodiment. - Since the
valve device 60 is identical to that of the first embodiment, the explanation thereof is omitted. A filter frame (not shown) is provided in thefilter element 541 for maintaining the shape of thefilter element 541, in the same manner to the first embodiment. - An operation of the
fuel supply device 511 will be explained. When theelectric pump 12 is operated, the fuel suction force is generated. Due to the fuel suction force, the fuel in thefuel storing chamber 584 of thetank device 580 flows into theelectric pump 12 through the pump-side coupling portion 582 a. Then, the fuel is pressurized and discharged from thedischarge port 21 of theelectric pump 12 to thepressure regulating device 22. Fuel pressure of the fuel supplied to thepressure regulating device 22 is adjusted and supplied to theengine 30. The surplus fuel discharged from thepressure regulating device 22 is supplied to thefuel jet portion 574 through thefuel pipe 576, so that the surplus fuel is emitted from thefuel jet portion 574. - When the surplus fuel is emitted from the
fuel jet portion 574, fuel pressure around thefuel jet portion 574 is decreased to be lower than the fuel pressure in thefilter device 540 to generate the fuel suction force. Due to the fuel suction force, the fuel pressure in thefilter device 540 becomes lower than the fuel pressure outside of thefilter device 540, and thereby the fuel outside of thefilter device 540 passes through thefilter element 541 to enter into thefuel passage 550. The vapors maybe generated in the filtered fuel when the fuel passes through thefilter element 541. The vapors thus generated are moved in thefilter device 540 by the buoyancy upwardly toward thevapor pooling chamber 551 formed above thefuel passage 550 and pooled therein. As above, the vapors are separated from the filtered fuel having entered into thefuel passage 550. - The filtered fuel, from which the vapors are separated, goes to the lower
open end 572 c of thethroat portion 572 along with the fuel flow formed by the fuel suction force generated at thesuction jet pump 571, as indicated by the arrows with white color inFIG. 8 , and then sucked into thefuel jet passage 572 a of thesuction jet pump 571. The fuel sucked into thefuel jet passage 572 a is then discharged from the upperopen end 572 b of thethroat portion 572 into thefuel storing chamber 584 together with the fuel emitted from thefuel jet portion 574. - As above, the
suction jet pump 571 decreases the fuel pressure around thefuel jet portion 574 by emitting the fuel therefrom, to thereby generate the fuel suction force. When the fuel suction force becomes lower, the amount of the fuel discharged from thesuction jet pump 571 becomes smaller. In addition, when the vapors are included in the fuel flowing into thesuction jet pump 571 or in the fuel emitted from thefuel jet portion 574, the fuel pressure around thefuel jet portion 574 may not be sufficiently decreased. As a result, the fuel suction force to be generated by thesuction jet pump 571 may be decreased. - According to the
filter device 540 of the present embodiment, since the vapors included in the filtered fuel can be separated from the filtered fuel in thefilter device 540, it is possible to suppress the flow-in of the vapors into thesuction jet pump 571 to thereby suppress a possible decrease of the pump discharge amount of thesuction jet pump 571. - As explained above, when the fuel including the vapors flows into the
suction jet pump 571, the pump discharge amount of thesuction jet pump 571 may be decreased to be lower than that of the case in which the fuel including no vapors flows into thesuction jet pump 571. In such a case, it is necessary to supply a larger amount of the surplus fuel, in order to obtain the necessary pump discharge amount. Then, it is necessary to increase a pump discharging performance of theelectric pump 12, in order to obtain the larger amount of the surplus fuel. As above, the electric power consumption at theelectric pump 12 should be increased, which may prevent power saving for the vehicle. - According to the
filter device 540 of the present embodiment, however, since the decrease of the pump discharge amount of thefuel jet pump 571 can be suppressed, it is possible to obtain the necessary pump discharge amount with a smaller amount of the surplus fuel. As a result, the electric power saving can be realized for theelectric pump 12. In addition, theelectric pump 12 can be made smaller in size, because of the decrease of the electric power consumption. - When the vapor amount in the
vapor pooling chamber 551 exceeds a predetermined amount, the vapors push up theumbrella portion 62 a of thevalve device 60 so that the vapors may flow out to the outside of thefilter device 540. Accordingly, it is also possible to discharge the vapors in thevapor pooling chamber 551 to the outside of thefilter device 540. As a result, it is possible to suppress generation of the problem that the separated vapors may flow into thefuel passage 550. It is possible, for a long term, to exert the effect for suppressing the decrease of the pump discharge amount. - According to the present embodiment, the
fuel storing chamber 584 is maintained in the positive pressure condition, so long as thesuction jet pump 571 is in operation. Therefore, it is possible to fill thefuel storing chamber 584 of thetank device 580 with the fuel, even when theelectric pump 12 is operated in order to draw the fuel into theelectric pump 12. Theelectric pump 12 can draw the fuel from thefuel storing chamber 584, even in the case that the fuel level around thesuction pump device 570 becomes lower as a result that the total fuel amount is reduced or the fuel is moved to one side of thefuel tank 24 due to the turning movement of the vehicle. This is because thetank device 580 can be filled with the fuel and such filled fuel can be held in thetank device 580. It is, therefore, possible to avoid a situation that the fuel supply to theengine 30 may not be sufficiently done. - According to the
tank device 580 of the present embodiment, theaperture 581 a is provided at theupper end wall 581. Therefore, even in the case that thesuction jet pump 571 draws the vapors and discharges them into thefuel storing chamber 584, the vapors having entered into thefuel storing chamber 584 are upwardly moved by the buoyancy toward theaperture 581 a. The vapors are then upwardly pushed out by the fuel discharged from thesuction pump device 570 and discharged to the outside of thetank device 580 through thefilter 581 b provided at theaperture 581 a. - A modification of the fourth embodiment will be explained with reference to the drawing. The modification of the fourth embodiment is different from the fourth embodiment in that the vapors are discharged from the
vapor pooling chamber 551 of thefilter device 540 not to the outside of thefuel storing chamber 584 but into thefuel storing chamber 584. Theelectric pump 12, thepressure regulating device 22 and thefuel supply pipe 23 are the same to those of the first to fourth embodiments.FIG. 9 is a schematic cross sectional view showing afuel supply device 611 according to the modification of the fourth embodiment. Different features from the fourth embodiment will be mainly explained. - An
aperture 582 c for supporting avalve device 660 is provided at thelower end wall 582 of thetank device 580, in addition to the pump-side coupling portion 582 a and theaperture 582 b. Asuction pump device 670 is composed of thesuction jet pump 571, thefilter device 540 and so on. Thesuction jet pump 571 generates the fuel suction force to suck fuel from thefuel passage 550 formed inside of thefilter device 540 and discharges the sucked fuel into thefuel storing chamber 584. - The
suction jet pump 571 is composed of thethroat portion 572, afuel jet portion 575 and so on. Thethroat portion 572 is a cylindrical member made of resin material and is formed in a cylindrical shape. Thethroat portion 572 has thefuel jet passage 572 a, which communicates thefuel passage 550 to thefuel storing chamber 584. Thethroat portion 572 is connected to thetank device 580 in such a way that the direction of thefuel jet passage 572 a of thethroat portion 572 is aligned with the vertical direction of thefuel tank 24. More exactly, thethroat portion 572 is supported by theaperture 582 b formed at thelower end wall 582 of thetank device 580, so that the upperopen end 572 b of thethroat portion 572 is arranged inside of thefuel storing chamber 584, while the loweropen end 572 c is arranged outside of thetank device 580. The loweropen end 572 c of thethroat portion 572 is connected to thefilter device 540, so that thefuel jet passage 572 a is communicated to thefuel passage 550 of thefilter device 540. As shown inFIG. 9 , thefuel jet passage 572 a has a small-diameter passage portion, at which an inner wall is elevated toward a center of thefuel jet passage 572 a. - The
fuel jet portion 575 is provided in thefuel jet passage 572 a below the small-diameter passage portion and jets out the surplus fuel (which is discharged from the pressure regulating device 22) toward the upperopen end 572 b. Thefuel pipe 576 is connected to thefuel jet portion 575, so that the surplus fuel is supplied to thefuel jet portion 575 from thepressure regulating device 22. - In the above modification, the surplus fuel from the
pressure regulating device 22 is supplied to thefuel jet portion 575. However, any other system may be applied to the present invention. For example, a part of fuel, which is supplied to theengine 30 but not consumed for combustion in theengine 30 and finally returned to thefuel tank 24, and which is different from the surplus fuel from thepressure regulating device 22, maybe supplied to thefuel jet portion 575. More exactly, the fuel discharged from a vapor discharge port (not shown) of thepump portion 16 may be supplied to thefuel jet portion 575, or return fuel from theengine 30 may be supplied to thefuel jet portion 575. - The
filter device 540 is connected to the loweropen end 572 c of thesuction jet pump 571 so as to trap extraneous material included in the fuel to be sucked into thesuction jet pump 571 through the loweropen end 572 c. Thefilter device 540 is composed of thefilter element 541, thevalve device 660 and so on. Thefilter element 541 is made of non-woven film sheets (made of resinous fiber) and formed in the flat bag extending along thebottom wall 25 of thefuel tank 24. Thefilter element 541 traps the extraneous material contained in the fuel when the fuel passes through thefilter element 541. - The
filter element 541 is composed of thefirst element 542 arranged at an upper side (on the side toward theupper wall 26 of the fuel tank 24) and thesecond element 544 arranged at the lower side (on the side to thebottom wall 25 of the fuel tank 24). Each of the first andsecond elements element - The part of the
first element 542 is projected in the upward direction toward theupper wall 26 of thefuel tank 24. A left-hand end of thefirst element 542 is connected to the loweropen end 572 c of thesuction jet pump 571. Thefirst element 542 has theslope wall portion 542 a, which is upwardly inclined toward theupper wall 26 of thefuel tank 24, so that the height of theslope wall portion 542 a becomes larger as the distance from the left-hand end (namely, the distance from the suction jet pump 571) is larger. An upper open end of thefirst element 542, which is formed at the side separated from thesuction jet pump 571, is connected to a valve seat member 661 (explained below) of thevalve device 660. - The
second element 544 is formed in a flat cylindrical shape having a bottom end facing to thebottom wall 25 of thefuel tank 24. A left-hand end of thesecond element 544 is connected to the loweropen end 572 c of thesuction jet pump 571. The above twoelements filter element 541, so that thefuel passage 550 and thevapor pooling chamber 551 are formed inside of thefilter element 541. - The
fuel passage 550 is formed on the side to thesecond element 544 so as to guide the fuel, which has passed through thefilter element 541 and thereby has been filtered, toward thesuction jet pump 571. Thevapor pooling chamber 551 is formed at the upper portion (above the fuel passage 550) of the inside space of thefilter element 541 and communicated with thefuel passage 550. Thevapor pooling chamber 551 is partly formed by theslope wall portion 542 a, like thefilter device 40 of the first embodiment. - The
valve device 660 is composed of thevalve seat member 661 and avalve body member 662. Thevalve seat member 661 is formed in a cylindrical shape having an open end (a lower open end) and a closed end (an upper closed end) 661 c, wherein the lower open end is opened to thefuel passage 550, while the upper closed end is arranged in thefuel storing chamber 584. Thevalve seat member 661 is supported by anaperture 582 c of thetank device 580, so that the lower open end is arranged at the outside of thefilter device 540. - The
valve seat member 661 has anannular seat portion 661 a to which thevalve body member 662 is seated andmultiple communication holes 661 b for communicating thevapor pooling chamber 551 to the outside of the filter device 540 (more exactly, to the fuel storing chamber 584). Theseat portion 661 a is formed at the upperclosed end portion 661 c of thevalve seat member 661. The communication holes 661 b are formed at an inner area of theseat portion 661 a. - The
valve body member 662 is made of flexible material for opening and/or closing the communication holes 661 b. Thevalve body member 662 is composed of anumbrella portion 662 a arranged at an outside of thefilter device 540 and ashaft portion 662 b for attaching theumbrella portion 662 a to thevalve seat member 661. As shown inFIG. 9 , theumbrella portion 662 a is so formed that an outer peripheral portion thereof is seated on theannular seat portion 661 a. Theshaft portion 662 b extends from a center of theumbrella portion 662 a toward thevalve seat member 661 and fixed thereto. - According to the
valve device 660 of the above structure, when the vapors are pooled in thevapor pooling chamber 551, the vapors flow through the communication holes 661 b into a space, which is formed between an inner surface of theumbrella portion 662 a and an outer surface of thevalve seat member 661. When an amount of vapors in the above space exceeds a predetermined value, the vapors push up theumbrella portion 662 a by the buoyancy thereof, in a direction that the outer peripheral portion of theumbrella portion 662 a is separated from theannular seat portion 661 a. When theumbrella portion 662 a is lifted up and separated from theannular seat portion 661 a, the vapors flow out of thefilter device 540. - When the amount of the vapors in the
vapor pooling chamber 551 is reduced, the force for pushing up theumbrella portion 662 a becomes smaller, so that theumbrella portion 662 a tends to return to its initial condition, that is, an initial shape in which theumbrella portion 662 a is seated on theannular seat portion 661 a. Accordingly, the fuel outside of thefilter device 540 may not enter into thevapor pooling chamber 551 through thevalve device 660. - As above, the
valve device 660 allows the vapors to flow out from thevapor pooling chamber 551 out of thefilter device 540 on one hand, but prevents the fuel outside of thefilter device 540 from flowing into thevapor pooling chamber 551. - A filter frame (not shown) is provided in the
filter element 541 for maintaining the shape of thefilter element 541, in the same manner to the first embodiment (the filter frame 52). - An operation of the
fuel supply device 611 will be explained. When theelectric pump 12 is operated, the surplus fuel from thepressure regulating device 22 is supplied to thesuction jet pump 571, so that the surplus fuel is discharged from thefuel jet portion 575 of thesuction jet pump 571. Then, the fuel pressure around thefuel jet portion 575 becomes lower than the fuel pressure in thefuel passage 550, to thereby generate the fuel suction force. - Since, due to the fuel suction force, the fuel pressure in the
filter device 540 becomes lower than the fuel pressure outside of thefilter device 540, the fuel outside of thefilter device 540 passes through thefilter element 541 to enter into thefuel passage 550. The vapors may be generated in the filtered fuel when the fuel passes through thefilter element 541. The vapors thus generated are moved in thefilter device 540 by the buoyancy upwardly toward thevapor pooling chamber 551 formed above thefuel passage 550 and pooled therein. As above, the vapors are separated from the filtered fuel having entered into thefuel passage 550. - The filtered fuel, from which the vapors are separated, goes to the lower
open end 572 c of thethroat portion 572 along with the fuel flow formed by the fuel suction force generated at thesuction jet pump 571, as indicated by the arrows with white color inFIG. 9 , and then sucked into thefuel jet passage 572 a of thesuction jet pump 571. The fuel sucked into thefuel jet passage 572 a is then discharged from the upperopen end 572 b of thethroat portion 572 into thefuel storing chamber 584 together with the fuel emitted from thefuel jet portion 575. - When the vapor amount in the
vapor pooling chamber 551 exceeds a predetermined amount, the vapors are discharged to the outside of thefilter device 540 through thevalve device 660. The vapors discharged through thevalve device 660 flow into thefuel storing chamber 584, and then the vapors are upwardly moved by the buoyancy toward theaperture 581 a of thetank device 580. The vapors around theaperture 581 a are pushed out by the fuel supplied from thesuction pump device 670 through thefilter 581 b of theaperture 581 a, and finally discharged to the outside of thetank device 580. - A fifth embodiment of the present invention will be explained with reference to the drawings. The fifth embodiment is different from the fourth embodiment in that a
fuel tank 724 is formed in a saddle shape having a pair of (first and second)fuel chambers fuel transfer pump 770 is provided instead of the suction pump device 570 (the fourth embodiment shown inFIG. 9 ) for transferring the fuel one of the fuel chambers (729) to theother fuel chamber 728. -
FIG. 10 is a schematic view showing afuel supply system 710 incorporating thefuel transfer pump 770 according to the fifth embodiment of the present invention. Thefuel supply system 710 is provided in thefuel tank 724 of the so-called saddle-type. The saddle-type fuel tank 724 has ahollow portion 727, at which a part of abottom wall 725 is elevated toward anupper wall 726. In a four wheel driven vehicle or a front-engine rear-driven vehicle (so-called an FR type vehicle), apropeller shaft 27 is arranged in thehollow portion 727. The first andsecond fuel chambers hollow portion 727. - The
fuel supply system 710 is composed of afuel supply device 711, thepressure regulating device 22, thefuel supply pipe 23, thefuel transfer pump 770 and so on. Thefuel supply device 711, which has theelectric pump 12 therein, is provided in thefirst fuel chamber 728. Thefuel supply device 711 draws the fuel from thefirst fuel chamber 728 by the fuel suction force generated by theelectric pump 12, pressurizes the fuel, and discharges the fuel to thepressure regulating device 22 provided in thefuel supply pipe 23. - The
pressure regulating device 22 provided in thefuel supply pipe 23 adjusts the fuel pressure of the fuel from thefuel supply device 711 and supplies the fuel to theengine 30. The surplus fuel, which is generated at thepressure regulating device 22 when adjusting the fuel pressure (as explained in the first embodiment), is supplied to the fuel transfer pump 770 (explained below). -
FIG. 11 is a schematic cross sectional view showing thefuel transfer pump 770. Thefuel transfer pump 770 is provided in thesecond fuel chamber 729 in order to transfer the fuel from thesecond fuel chamber 729 to thefirst fuel chamber 728 by use of the surplus fuel from thepressure regulating device 22, so that the fuel of thesecond fuel chamber 729 is sucked into thefuel supply device 711. - The
fuel transfer pump 770 is composed of a fuel-transfer jet pump 771, afilter device 740 and so on. The fuel-transfer jet pump 771 operates in the same manner to thesuction jet pump 571 of the fourth embodiment (FIG. 8 ). The fuel-transfer jet pump 771 generates the fuel suction force so as to draw the fuel from afuel passage 750 formed in thefilter device 740, and then transfers such sucked fuel to thefirst fuel chamber 728. The fuel-transfer jet pump 771 is composed of athroat portion 772, afuel transfer pipe 773, afuel jet portion 775 and so on. - The
throat portion 772 is a cylindrical member made of resin material and is formed in a cylindrical shape. Thethroat portion 772 has afuel jet passage 772 a. Thethroat portion 772 is provided in thesecond fuel chamber 729 in such a way that a direction of thefuel jet passage 772 a of thethroat portion 772 is aligned with the vertical direction of thefuel tank 724. One end of thefuel transfer pipe 773 is connected to an upperopen end 772 b of thethroat portion 772. Afuel transfer passage 773 a, which is communicated to thefirst fuel chamber 728, is formed inside of thefuel transfer pipe 773. As a result, thefuel jet passage 772 a is communicated with thefuel transfer passage 773 a (as shown inFIG. 11 ). - The
other end 773 b of the fuel transfer pipe 773 (which is an open end of thefuel transfer passage 773 a at an opposite side of the throat portion 772) is opened to thefirst fuel chamber 728. - The
filter device 740 is connected to a loweropen end 772 c of thethroat portion 772, so that thefuel jet passage 772 a is communicated to thefuel passage 750 formed inside of thefilter device 740. As shown inFIG. 11 , thefuel jet passage 772 a has a small-diameter passage portion, at which an inner wall is elevated toward a center of thefuel jet passage 772 a. - The
fuel jet portion 775 is provided in thefuel jet passage 772 a below the small-diameter passage portion and jets out the surplus fuel (which is discharged from the pressure regulating device 22) toward the upperopen end 772 b. Afuel pipe 776 is connected to thefuel jet portion 775, so that the surplus fuel is supplied to thefuel jet portion 775 from thepressure regulating device 22. - In the above embodiment, the surplus fuel from the
pressure regulating device 22 is supplied to thefuel jet portion 775. However, any other system may be applied to the present invention. For example, a part of fuel, which is supplied to theengine 30 but not consumed for combustion in theengine 30 and finally returned to thefuel tank 724, and which is different from the surplus fuel from thepressure regulating device 22, maybe supplied to thefuel jet portion 775. More exactly, the fuel discharged from a vapor discharge port (not shown) of thepump portion 16 may be supplied to thefuel jet portion 775, or return fuel from theengine 30 may be supplied to thefuel jet portion 775. - The
filter device 740 is connected to the loweropen end 772 c of the fuel-transfer jet pump 771 so as to trap extraneous material included in the fuel to be sucked into the fuel-transfer jet pump 771 through the loweropen end 772 c. Thefilter device 740 is composed of afilter element 741, thevalve device 60 and so on. Thefilter element 741 is made of non-woven film sheets (made of resinous fiber) and formed in a flat bag extending along a secondbottom wall 725 b of thesecond fuel chamber 729. Thefilter element 741 traps the extraneous material contained in the fuel when the fuel passes through thefilter element 741. - The
filter element 741 is composed of afirst element 742 arranged at an upper side (on a side toward theupper wall 726 of the fuel tank 724) and asecond element 744 arranged at a lower side (on a side to the secondbottom wall 725 b of the fuel tank 724). Each of the first andsecond elements element - A part of the
first element 742 is projected in an upward direction toward theupper wall 726 of thefuel tank 724. A left-hand end of thefirst element 742 is connected to the loweropen end 772 c of the fuel-transfer jet pump 771. Thefirst element 742 has aslope wall portion 742 a, which is upwardly inclined toward theupper wall 726 of thefuel tank 724, so that a height of theslope wall portion 742 a becomes larger as a distance from the left-hand end (namely, a distance from the fuel-transfer jet pump 771) is larger. Thefirst element 742 also has aflat wall portion 742 b, which is formed at a side separated from the fuel-transfer jet pump 771 and at which the valve device 60 (which is identical to that of the first embodiment) is provided. - The
second element 744 is formed in a flat cylindrical shape having a bottom end facing to the secondbottom wall 725 b of thefuel tank 724. A left-hand end of thesecond element 744 is connected to the loweropen end 772 c of the fuel-transfer jet pump 771. The above twoelements filter element 741, so that thefuel passage 750 and avapor pooling chamber 751 are formed inside of thefilter element 741. - The
fuel passage 750 is formed on a side to thesecond element 744 so as to guide the fuel, which has passed through thefilter element 741 and thereby has been filtered, toward the fuel-transfer jet pump 771. Thevapor pooling chamber 751 is formed at an upper portion (above the fuel passage 750) of the inside space of thefilter element 741 and communicated with thefuel passage 750. Thevapor pooling chamber 751 is partly formed by theslope wall portion 742 a and theflat wall portion 742 b of thefirst element 742, like the first embodiment. - Since the
valve device 60 is identical to that of the first embodiment, explanation thereof is omitted. - An operation of the
fuel supply system 710 will be explained. When theelectric pump 12 of thefuel supply device 711 is operated, the fuel suction force is generated. Due to the fuel suction force, the fuel in thefirst fuel chamber 728 flows into theelectric pump 12. Then, the fuel is pressurized and discharged from thefuel supply device 711 to thepressure regulating device 22. Fuel pressure of the fuel supplied to thepressure regulating device 22 is adjusted and supplied to theengine 30. The surplus fuel discharged from thepressure regulating device 22 is supplied to thefuel jet portion 775 through thefuel pipe 776, so that the surplus fuel is emitted from thefuel jet portion 775. - When the surplus fuel is emitted from the
fuel jet portion 775, fuel pressure around thefuel jet portion 775 is decreased to be lower than the fuel pressure in thefilter device 740 to generate the fuel suction force. Due to the fuel suction force, the fuel pressure in thefilter device 740 becomes lower than the fuel pressure outside of thefilter device 740, and thereby the fuel outside of thefilter device 740 passes through thefilter element 741 to enter into thefuel passage 750. The vapors may be generated in the filtered fuel when the fuel passes through thefilter element 741. The vapors thus generated are moved in thefilter device 740 by the buoyancy upwardly toward thevapor pooling chamber 751 formed above thefuel passage 750 and pooled therein. As above, the vapors are separated from the filtered fuel having entered into thefuel passage 750. - The filtered fuel, from which the vapors are separated, goes to the lower
open end 772 c of thethroat portion 772 along with the fuel flow formed by the fuel suction force generated at the fuel-transfer jet pump 771, as indicated by the arrows with white color inFIG. 11 , and then sucked into thefuel jet passage 772 a of the fuel-transfer jet pump 771. The fuel sucked into thefuel jet passage 772 a is then discharged from the upperopen end 772 b of thethroat portion 772 into thefuel transfer passage 773 a together with the fuel emitted from thefuel jet portion 775. The fuel, having entered into thefuel transfer passage 773 a, is discharged toward a firstbottom wall 725 a of thefirst fuel chamber 728. - According to the
filter device 740 of the present embodiment, since the vapors included in the filtered fuel can be separated from the filtered fuel in thefilter device 740, it is possible to suppress the flow-in of the vapors into the fuel-transfer jet pump 771 to thereby suppress a possible decrease of the pump discharge amount of the fuel-transfer jet pump 771. - As explained above, when the fuel including the vapors flows into the fuel-
transfer jet pump 771, the pump discharge amount of the fuel-transfer jet pump 771 may be decreased to be lower than that of the case in which the fuel including no vapors flows into the fuel-transfer jet pump 771. In such a case, it is necessary to supply a larger amount of the surplus fuel, in order to obtain the necessary pump discharge amount. Then, it is necessary to increase a pump discharging performance of theelectric pump 12, in order to obtain the larger amount of the surplus fuel. As above, the electric power consumption at theelectric pump 12 should be increased, which may prevent power saving for the vehicle. - According to the
filter device 740 of the present embodiment, however, since the decrease of the pump discharge amount of the fuel-transfer pump 771 can be suppressed, it is possible to obtain the necessary pump discharge amount with a smaller amount of the surplus fuel. As a result, the electric power saving can be realized for theelectric pump 12. In addition, theelectric pump 12 can be made smaller in size, because of the decrease of the electric power consumption. - When the vapor amount in the
vapor pooling chamber 751 exceeds a predetermined amount, the vapors push up theumbrella portion 62 a of thevalve device 60 so that the vapors may flow out to the outside of thefilter device 740. Accordingly, it is also possible to discharge the vapors in thevapor pooling chamber 751 to the outside of thefilter device 740. As a result, it is possible to suppress generation of the problem that the separated vapors may flow into thefuel passage 750. It is possible, for a long term, to exert the effect for suppressing the decrease of the pump discharge amount. - A modification of the fifth embodiment will be explained with reference to the drawing. A fuel-
transfer jet pump 871 according to the modification of the fifth embodiment is different from the fuel-transfer jet pump 771 of the fifth embodiment. Thefuel supply device 711, theelectric pump 12, thepressure regulating device 22, thefuel supply pipe 23 and thefuel pipe 776 according to the modification are the same to those of the fifth embodiment. -
FIG. 12 is a schematic view showing afuel supply system 810 incorporating afuel transfer pump 870 according to the modification of the fifth embodiment. Thefuel tank 724, in which thefuel supply system 810 is provided, is the saddle-type fuel tank, which is identical to thefuel tank 724 of the fifth embodiment (FIG. 10 ). Thefuel supply system 810 is composed of thefuel supply device 711, thepressure regulating device 22, thefuel supply pipe 23, thefuel transfer pump 870 and so on. Hereinafter, thefuel transfer pump 870 will be mainly explained. -
FIG. 13 is a schematic enlarged cross sectional view showing the fuel-transfer jet pump 871 of thefuel transfer pump 870.FIG. 14 is a schematic enlarged cross sectional view showing thefilter device 740 of thefuel transfer pump 870. - The
fuel transfer pump 870 is composed of the fuel-transfer jet pump 871, thefilter device 740 and so on. The fuel-transfer jet pump 871 is composed of athroat portion 872, afuel transfer pipe 873, afuel inlet portion 874, afuel jet portion 875 and so on. - The
throat portion 872 is a cylindrical member made of resin material and is formed in a cylindrical shape. Thethroat portion 872 has afuel jet passage 872 a. Thethroat portion 872 is provided in thefirst fuel chamber 728 in such a way that a direction of thefuel jet passage 872 a of thethroat portion 872 is aligned with the vertical direction of thefuel tank 724. Thefuel jet portion 875 is inserted into an upperopen end 872 b of thethroat portion 872, in order to emit the surplus fuel from thepressure regulating device 22. A loweropen end 872 c of thethroat portion 872 is opened toward the firstbottom wall 725 a of the first fuel chamber 728 (FIG. 12 ). As shown inFIG. 13 , thefuel jet passage 872 a has a small-diameter passage portion, at which an inner wall is elevated toward a center of thefuel jet passage 872 a. Thethroat portion 872 has a connectingportion 872 d, in which a connectingpassage 872 e is formed to be communicated to thefuel jet passage 872 a. Thefuel transfer pipe 873 is connected to the connectingportion 872 d. A left-hand end of the connectingpassage 872 e (that is, an end of the connectingpassage 872 e on a side to the throat portion 872) is opened to thefuel jet passage 872 a at a portion upstream of the small-diameter passage portion. - The
fuel jet portion 875 is provided in thefuel jet passage 872 a at an upstream side of the small-diameter passage portion. More exactly, a fuel injection port of thefuel jet portion 875 is arranged at a position, which is at a downstream side of an opening portion at which the left-hand end of the connectingpassage 872 e is opened to thefuel jet passage 872 a. The surplus fuel from thepressure regulating device 22 is emitted from thefuel jet portion 875 toward the loweropen end 872 c. Thefuel pipe 776 is connected to an upper end of thefuel jet portion 875, so that the surplus fuel is supplied from thepressure regulating device 22 to thefuel jet portion 875. - In the above modification, the surplus fuel from the
pressure regulating device 22 is supplied to thefuel jet portion 875. However, any other system may be applied to the present invention. For example, a part of fuel, which is supplied to theengine 30 but not consumed for combustion in theengine 30 and finally returned to thefuel tank 724, and which is different from the surplus fuel from thepressure regulating device 22, may be supplied to thefuel jet portion 875. More exactly, the fuel discharged from a vapor discharge port (not shown) of thepump portion 16 may be supplied to thefuel jet portion 875, or return fuel from theengine 30 may be supplied to thefuel jet portion 875. - The
fuel inlet portion 874 is provided in the second fuel chamber, wherein thefuel inlet portion 874 is communicated to the connectingportion 872 d through thefuel transfer pipe 873 forming afuel transfer passage 873 a therein (FIGS. 12 to 14 ). Thefuel inlet portion 874 is a cylindrical member made of resin material and is formed in a cylindrical shape. Thefuel inlet portion 874 has afuel inlet passage 874 a. Thefuel inlet portion 874 is provided in thesecond fuel chamber 729 in such a way that a direction of thefuel inlet passage 874 a of thefuel inlet portion 874 is aligned with the vertical direction of thefuel tank 724. Thefuel transfer pipe 873 is connected to an upperopen end 874 b of thefuel inlet portion 874, so that thefuel inlet passage 874 a is connected to thefuel transfer passage 873 a. Thefilter device 740 is connected to a loweropen end 874 c of thefuel inlet portion 874, so that thefuel inlet passage 874 a is communicated to thefuel passage 750 formed in thefilter device 740. - The
filter device 740 is connected to the loweropen end 874 c of thefuel inlet portion 874 so as to trap extraneous material included in the fuel to be sucked into the fuel-transfer jet pump 871 through the loweropen end 874 c. Thefilter device 740 is composed of thefilter element 741, thevalve device 60 and so on. Thefilter element 741 is made of non-woven film sheets (made of resinous fiber) and formed in the flat bag extending along the secondbottom wall 725 b of thesecond fuel chamber 729. Thefilter element 741 traps the extraneous material contained in the fuel when the fuel passes through thefilter element 741. - The
filter element 741 is composed of thefirst element 742 arranged at the upper side (on the side toward theupper wall 726 of the fuel tank 724) and thesecond element 744 arranged at the lower side (on the side to the secondbottom wall 725 b of the fuel tank 724). Each of the first andsecond elements element - The part of the
first element 742 is projected in the upward direction toward theupper wall 726 of thefuel tank 724. The left-hand end of thefirst element 742 is connected to the loweropen end 874 c of thefuel inlet portion 874. Thefirst element 742 has theslope wall portion 742 a, which is upwardly inclined toward theupper wall 726 of thefuel tank 724, so that the height of theslope wall portion 742 a becomes larger as the distance from the left-hand end (namely, the distance from the fuel inlet portion 874) is larger. Thefirst element 742 also has theflat wall portion 742 b, which is formed at the side separated from thefuel inlet portion 874 and at which the valve device 60 (which is identical to that of the first embodiment) is provided. - The
second element 744 is formed in a flat cylindrical shape having a bottom end facing to the secondbottom wall 725 b of thefuel tank 724. The left-hand end of thesecond element 744 is connected to the loweropen end 874 c of thefuel inlet portion 874. The above twoelements filter element 741, so that thefuel passage 750 and thevapor pooling chamber 751 are formed inside of thefilter element 741. - The
fuel passage 750 is formed on the side to thesecond element 744 so as to guide the fuel, which has passed through thefilter element 741 and thereby has been filtered, toward thefuel inlet portion 874. Thevapor pooling chamber 751 is formed at the upper portion (above the fuel passage 750) of the inside space of thefilter element 741 and communicated with thefuel passage 750. Thevapor pooling chamber 751 is partly formed by theslope wall portion 742 a and theflat wall portion 742 b of thefirst element 742, like the first embodiment. - Since the
valve device 60 is identical to that of the first embodiment, explanation thereof is omitted. - An operation of the
fuel supply system 810 will be explained. When theelectric pump 12 of thefuel supply device 711 is operated, the fuel suction force is generated. Due to the fuel suction force, the fuel in thefirst fuel chamber 728 flows into theelectric pump 12. Then, the fuel is pressurized and discharged from thefuel supply device 711 to thepressure regulating device 22. Fuel pressure of the fuel supplied to thepressure regulating device 22 is adjusted and supplied to theengine 30. The surplus fuel discharged from thepressure regulating device 22 is supplied to thefuel jet portion 875 through thefuel pipe 776, so that the surplus fuel is emitted from thefuel jet portion 875. - When the surplus fuel is emitted from the
fuel jet portion 875, the fuel suction force is generated around thefuel jet portion 875. Then, the fuel is sucked from the connectingpassage 872 e of the connectingportion 872 d, and the fuel suction force is transmitted to thefuel inlet portion 874 provided in thesecond fuel chamber 729 via thefuel transfer pipe 873. Due to the fuel suction force transmitted to thefuel inlet portion 874, the fuel pressure in thefilter device 740 becomes lower than the fuel pressure outside of thefilter device 740, and thereby the fuel outside of thefilter device 740 passes through thefilter element 741 to enter into thefuel passage 750. The vapors maybe generated in the filtered fuel when the fuel passes through thefilter element 741. The vapors thus generated are moved in thefilter device 740 by the buoyancy upwardly toward thevapor pooling chamber 751 formed above thefuel passage 750 and pooled therein. As above, the vapors are separated from the filtered fuel having entered into thefuel passage 750. - The filtered fuel, from which the vapors are separated, goes to the lower
open end 874 c of thefuel inlet portion 874 along with the fuel flow formed by the fuel suction force generated at the fuel-transfer jet pump 871, as indicated by the arrows with white color inFIGS. 13 and 14 , and then sucked into thefuel inlet passage 874 a. The fuel having entered into thefuel inlet passage 874 a flows through thefuel transfer passage 873 a and the connectingpassage 872 e, and flows into thefuel jet passage 872 a. The filtered fuel sucked into thefuel jet passage 872 a is discharged together with the fuel emitted from thefuel jet portion 875 toward the firstbottom wall 725 a of thefirst fuel chamber 728. As above, the fuel of thesecond fuel chamber 729 is filtered by thefilter device 740 and discharged into thefirst fuel chamber 728. - According to the modification, since the
throat portion 872 and thefuel jet portion 875 are provided in thefirst fuel chamber 728, thefuel pipe 776 for connecting thepressure regulating device 22 with thefuel jet portion 875 is also provided in thefirst fuel chamber 728. According to such a structure, thefuel transfer pipe 873 is only a part, which steps over thehollow portion 727 of the saddle-type fuel tank 724. A structure of thefuel supply system 810 becomes simpler. - The present invention has been explained with reference to multiple embodiments. However, the present invention should not be limited to those embodiments, but any other various modification may be made without departing from the spirit of the invention.
- Any one of the fuel supply devices (11, 111, 211, 311, 411, 511) of the first to fourth embodiments may be applied to the
fuel supply system - Any type of the
electric pump 12 may be applied to the fuel supply device (11, 111, 211, 311, 411, 511, or 711). For example, an electric gear pump, an electric plunger type pump, an electric trochoid pump or the like may be used. - A fuel filter maybe provided between the fuel supply device (11, 111, 211, 311, 411, 511, 711) and the
pressure regulating device 22, wherein the fuel filter may trap extraneous material which is smaller than the extraneous material to be trapped by the filter element (41, 141, 341 a, 541, 741) of the filter device (40, 140, 240, 340, 440, 540, 740) and/or such extraneous material of wear-out brush powder produced at the electric motor. The wear-out brush powder is wear-out powder generated when the brush slides on a commutator of the electric motor.
Claims (16)
1. A fuel pump comprising:
a pump device having a suction port and a discharge port, the pump device generating fuel suction force at the suction port and discharging pressurized fuel from the discharge port; and
a filter device connected to the suction port for filtering the fuel to be sucked into the pump device,
wherein the filter device includes;
an outer shell having a filter element of a film shape for filtering the fuel to be sucked into the pump device, the outer shell further having a fuel passage for guiding the fuel filtered by the filter element to the suction port of the pump device, and the outer shell further having a vapor pooling chamber formed above the fuel passage and communicated with the fuel passage so that vapors included in the fuel flowing through the fuel passage are moved from the fuel passage toward the vapor pooling chamber, and
a valve device provided at a portion of the outer shell for communicating the vapor pooling chamber to an outside of the outer shell when an amount of the vapors pooled in the vapor pooling chamber reaches at a predetermined value.
2. The fuel pump according to the claim 1 , wherein
a liquid film of the fuel is formed at a surface of the filter element when the fuel entered into the filter element, and
the liquid film of the fuel allows the fuel to pass through the filter element but prevents the vapors from passing through the filter element.
3. The fuel pump according to the claim 1 , wherein
the outer shell has a slope wall portion at an upper side thereof, and the slope wall portion is upwardly inclined such that a height of the slope wall portion becomes larger as the slope wall portion is closer to the valve device.
4. The fuel pump according to the claim 3 , wherein
the slope wall portion is formed by the filter element.
5. The fuel pump according to the claim 3 , wherein
the slope wall portion is upwardly inclined such that the height of the slope wall portion becomes larger as the slope wall portion is further away from the suction port.
6. The fuel pump according to the claim 3 , wherein
the valve device is provided at a highest position of the outer shell.
7. The fuel pump according to the claim 1 , wherein the valve device comprises:
a valve seat member having a seat portion formed at an outer surface of the filter device and a communication hole formed at an inner area of the seat portion for communicating the vapor pooling chamber to the outside of the filter device; and
a valve body member disposed at the outer surface of the filter device, the valve body member being pushed by the vapors in the vapor pooling chamber and thereby being separated from the seat portion so that the valve body member allows the vapors to flow from the vapor pooling chamber to the outside of the filter device, while the valve body member being seated on the seat portion when the amount of the vapors in the vapor pooling chamber is decreased so that the valve body member prevents the fuel from flowing from the outside of the filter device into the inside of the filter device.
8. The fuel pump according to the claim 1 , wherein
the fuel passage is composed of a first fuel passage and a second fuel passage, the second fuel passage being formed between the first fuel passage and the suction port of the pump device so that the first fuel passage is communicated to the suction port,
the outer shell is composed of the filter element and a tank wall member of a tank portion, the filter element forming therein the first fuel passage, the tank portion forming therein the second fuel passage and the vapor pooling chamber above the second fuel passage,
the filter element is provided at a lower end of the tank portion, so that the first fuel passage is communicated to the second fuel passage, and
the valve device is provided at a portion of the tank portion, at which the vapor pooling chamber is formed.
9. The fuel pump according to the claim 8 , wherein the valve device comprises:
a valve seat member provided at the tank portion, the valve seat member having a seat portion formed at an outer surface of the filter device and a communication hole formed at an inner area of the seat portion for communicating the vapor pooling chamber to the outside of the filter device; and
a valve body member disposed at the outer surface of the filter device, the valve body member being pushed by the vapors in the vapor pooling chamber and thereby being separated from the seat portion so that the valve body member allows the vapors to flow from the vapor pooling chamber to the outside of the filter device, while the valve body member being seated on the seat portion when the amount of the vapors in the vapor pooling chamber is decreased so that the valve body member prevents the fuel from flowing from the outside of the filter device into the inside of the filter device.
10. The fuel pump according to the claim 8 , further comprising:
an auxiliary jet pump provided between the first fuel passage and the second fuel passage,
wherein the auxiliary jet pump includes;
a throat portion forming a fuel jet passage, one end of which is opened to the first fuel passage and the other end of which is opened to the second fuel passage, and
a fuel jet portion provided in the fuel jet passage for emitting fuel toward the other end of the fuel jet passage opened to the second fuel passage.
11. The fuel pump according to the claim 1 , further comprising:
a filter frame provided in the filter device for supporting an inner surface of the outer shell.
12. The fuel pump according to the claim 1 , further comprising:
the pump device is composed of an electric pump for generating the fuel suction force in order to draw the fuel from the suction port, the electric pump pressurizes the fuel and discharges such pressurized fuel from the discharge port.
13. The fuel pump according to the claim 1 , further comprising:
a jet pump includes;
a throat portion forming a fuel jet passage having an inlet open end and an outlet open end; and
a fuel jet portion provided in the fuel jet passage for emitting fuel toward the outlet open end, so that fuel suction force is generated at the inlet open end,
wherein the fuel sucked into the fuel jet passage from the inlet open end is discharged from the outlet open end together with the fuel emitted from the fuel jet portion.
14. A fuel supply system for a vehicle comprising:
an electric pump device arranged in a fuel tank for supplying fuel to an engine of the vehicle; and
a filter device connected to a suction port of the electric pump device for filtering fuel to be sucked into the electric pump device,
wherein the filter device includes;
a bag-shaped filter element forming therein a fuel passage into which the fuel in the fuel tank enters by passing through the filter element, the filter element further forming therein a vapor pooling chamber above the fuel passage so that vapors separated from the fuel are moved to the vapor pooling chamber; and
a valve device provided at a portion of the bag-shaped filter element which is close to the vapor pooling chamber, the valve device being opened when an amount of vapors exceeds a predetermined value so as to communicate the vapor pooling chamber to an outside of the filter device to thereby discharge the vapors to the outside thereof.
15. A fuel supply system for a vehicle comprising:
an electric pump device arranged in a fuel tank for supplying fuel to an engine of the vehicle;
a pressure regulating device for regulating fuel pressure of the fuel to be supplied to the engine; and
a filter device connected to a suction port of the electric pump device for filtering fuel to be sucked into the electric pump device,
wherein the filter device includes;
a bag-shaped filter element forming therein a first fuel passage into which the fuel in the fuel tank enters by passing through the filter element;
a tank portion forming therein a second fuel passage, the tank portion having a coupling portion connected to the suction port of the electric pump device so that the fuel from the second fuel passage is supplied to the electric pump device, the tank portion further having a vapor pooling chamber above the second fuel passage so that vapors separated from the fuel are moved to the vapor pooling chamber;
a jet pump provided between the filter element and the tank portion, the jet pump having a throat portion forming a fuel jet passage having an inlet open end and an outlet open end, the jet pump further having a fuel jet portion provided in the fuel jet passage for emitting surplus fuel from the pressure regulating device toward the outlet open end so that fuel suction force is generated at the inlet open end, and the fuel sucked into the fuel jet passage from the inlet open end being discharged from the outlet open end together with the surplus fuel emitted from the fuel jet portion; and
a valve device provided at a portion of the tank portion which is close to the vapor pooling chamber, the valve device being opened when an amount of vapors exceeds a predetermined value so as to communicate the vapor pooling chamber to an outside of the filter device to thereby discharge the vapors to the outside thereof.
16. A fuel supply system for a vehicle comprising:
an electric pump device arranged in a first tank portion of a saddle-type fuel tank for supplying fuel to an engine of the vehicle;
a pressure regulating device for regulating fuel pressure of the fuel to be supplied to the engine;
a jet pump arranged in a second tank portion of the fuel tank;
a filter device also arranged in the second tank portion and connected to the jet pump for filtering fuel in the second tank portion;
a fuel transfer pipe connected at one end to the jet pump and communicated at the other end to the first tank portion,
wherein the jet pump includes;
a throat portion forming a fuel jet passage having an inlet open end connected to the filter device and an outlet open end connected to the fuel transfer pipe; and
a fuel jet portion provided in the fuel jet passage for emitting surplus fuel from the pressure regulating device toward the outlet open end so that fuel suction force is generated at the inlet open end, the fuel sucked into the fuel jet passage from the filter device being discharged from the outlet open end together with the surplus fuel emitted from the fuel jet portion, and the fuel discharged from the jet pump being transferred to the first tank portion via the fuel transfer pipe, and
wherein the filter device includes;
a bag-shaped filter element forming therein a fuel passage into which the fuel from the second fuel tank enters through the filter element, the filter element further forming therein a vapor pooling chamber above the fuel passage; and
a valve device provided at a portion of the bag-shaped filter element which is close to the vapor pooling chamber, the valve device being opened when an amount of vapors exceeds a predetermined value so as to communicate the vapor pooling chamber to an outside of the filter device to thereby discharge the vapors to the outside thereof.
Applications Claiming Priority (2)
Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
---|---|---|---|
JP2009-283058 | 2009-12-14 | ||
JP2009283058A JP2011122563A (en) | 2009-12-14 | 2009-12-14 | Fuel pump |
Publications (1)
Publication Number | Publication Date |
---|---|
US20110139278A1 true US20110139278A1 (en) | 2011-06-16 |
Family
ID=44141578
Family Applications (1)
Application Number | Title | Priority Date | Filing Date |
---|---|---|---|
US12/967,543 Abandoned US20110139278A1 (en) | 2009-12-14 | 2010-12-14 | Fuel pump |
Country Status (2)
Country | Link |
---|---|
US (1) | US20110139278A1 (en) |
JP (1) | JP2011122563A (en) |
Cited By (17)
Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
---|---|---|---|---|
US20140345719A1 (en) * | 2013-05-23 | 2014-11-27 | Coavis | Strainer and fuel pump module having the same |
CN105715424A (en) * | 2016-03-21 | 2016-06-29 | 西安天厚滤清技术有限责任公司 | Fuel oil tank with external circulation filtering device and fuel oil engine |
CN105715432A (en) * | 2016-03-21 | 2016-06-29 | 西安天厚滤清技术有限责任公司 | Oil product circular purifying device based on universal rotary filter |
US9968874B2 (en) | 2015-04-06 | 2018-05-15 | Delphi Technologies Ip Limited | Fluid pump with a strainer |
CN108291506A (en) * | 2015-11-13 | 2018-07-17 | 株式会社电装 | Fuel supply system |
CN108368803A (en) * | 2015-12-17 | 2018-08-03 | 株式会社电装 | Fuel pump unit |
CN108603473A (en) * | 2016-02-19 | 2018-09-28 | 爱三工业株式会社 | Fuel supply system |
US10267276B2 (en) * | 2009-12-04 | 2019-04-23 | Aisan Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha | Filtering device |
US20190226435A1 (en) * | 2016-09-23 | 2019-07-25 | Cpt Group Gmbh | Fuel Delivery Unit |
US11073118B2 (en) * | 2015-12-17 | 2021-07-27 | Denso Corporation | Fuel pump and fuel pump module |
US11098658B2 (en) | 2017-03-01 | 2021-08-24 | Denso Corporation | Plate and method for manufacturing plate |
US11143151B2 (en) * | 2017-10-06 | 2021-10-12 | Kohler Co. | Fuel pump with integral vapor trap system and related method |
US11248569B2 (en) * | 2019-09-05 | 2022-02-15 | Denso Corporation | Fuel supply device |
US11291936B2 (en) * | 2019-09-25 | 2022-04-05 | Coavis | Strainer for fuel pump |
US11396856B2 (en) * | 2018-10-15 | 2022-07-26 | Aisan Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha | Fuel supply device |
US11401953B2 (en) * | 2018-04-30 | 2022-08-02 | Eaton Intelligent Power Limited | Fluid conduit and method of making same |
EP4190426A1 (en) * | 2019-08-01 | 2023-06-07 | Yamashin-Filter Corp. | Suction strainer |
Families Citing this family (2)
Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
---|---|---|---|---|
JP5961026B2 (en) * | 2012-04-12 | 2016-08-02 | 愛三工業株式会社 | Evaporative fuel processing equipment |
JP6290636B2 (en) * | 2014-01-24 | 2018-03-07 | トヨタ自動車株式会社 | Fuel tank |
Citations (2)
Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
---|---|---|---|---|
US5584988A (en) * | 1993-11-11 | 1996-12-17 | Nissan Motor Co., Ltd. | Filter for in-tank fuel pump |
US20050274361A1 (en) * | 2004-06-14 | 2005-12-15 | Aisan Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha | Fuel supply device for fuel returnless system |
-
2009
- 2009-12-14 JP JP2009283058A patent/JP2011122563A/en active Pending
-
2010
- 2010-12-14 US US12/967,543 patent/US20110139278A1/en not_active Abandoned
Patent Citations (2)
Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
---|---|---|---|---|
US5584988A (en) * | 1993-11-11 | 1996-12-17 | Nissan Motor Co., Ltd. | Filter for in-tank fuel pump |
US20050274361A1 (en) * | 2004-06-14 | 2005-12-15 | Aisan Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha | Fuel supply device for fuel returnless system |
Cited By (26)
Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
---|---|---|---|---|
US10267276B2 (en) * | 2009-12-04 | 2019-04-23 | Aisan Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha | Filtering device |
US10436161B2 (en) | 2013-05-23 | 2019-10-08 | Coavis | Strainer and fuel pump module having the same |
US20140345719A1 (en) * | 2013-05-23 | 2014-11-27 | Coavis | Strainer and fuel pump module having the same |
US10145341B2 (en) * | 2013-05-23 | 2018-12-04 | Coavis | Strainer and fuel pump module having the same |
US9968874B2 (en) | 2015-04-06 | 2018-05-15 | Delphi Technologies Ip Limited | Fluid pump with a strainer |
CN108291506A (en) * | 2015-11-13 | 2018-07-17 | 株式会社电装 | Fuel supply system |
US10443552B2 (en) | 2015-11-13 | 2019-10-15 | Denso Corporation | Fuel supply device |
US11441522B2 (en) * | 2015-12-17 | 2022-09-13 | Denso Corporation | Fuel pump unit |
US11073118B2 (en) * | 2015-12-17 | 2021-07-27 | Denso Corporation | Fuel pump and fuel pump module |
CN108368803A (en) * | 2015-12-17 | 2018-08-03 | 株式会社电装 | Fuel pump unit |
US20190331073A1 (en) * | 2016-02-19 | 2019-10-31 | Aisan Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha | Fuel Supply Device |
CN108603473A (en) * | 2016-02-19 | 2018-09-28 | 爱三工业株式会社 | Fuel supply system |
US10907593B2 (en) * | 2016-02-19 | 2021-02-02 | Aisan Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha | Fuel supply device |
CN105715424A (en) * | 2016-03-21 | 2016-06-29 | 西安天厚滤清技术有限责任公司 | Fuel oil tank with external circulation filtering device and fuel oil engine |
CN105715432A (en) * | 2016-03-21 | 2016-06-29 | 西安天厚滤清技术有限责任公司 | Oil product circular purifying device based on universal rotary filter |
US10808659B2 (en) * | 2016-09-23 | 2020-10-20 | Vitesco Technologies GmbH | Fuel delivery unit |
US20190226435A1 (en) * | 2016-09-23 | 2019-07-25 | Cpt Group Gmbh | Fuel Delivery Unit |
US11098658B2 (en) | 2017-03-01 | 2021-08-24 | Denso Corporation | Plate and method for manufacturing plate |
US11143151B2 (en) * | 2017-10-06 | 2021-10-12 | Kohler Co. | Fuel pump with integral vapor trap system and related method |
US11572855B2 (en) | 2017-10-06 | 2023-02-07 | Kohler Co. | Fuel tank and pump system |
US11939939B2 (en) | 2017-10-06 | 2024-03-26 | Kohler Co. | Fuel tank and pump system |
US11401953B2 (en) * | 2018-04-30 | 2022-08-02 | Eaton Intelligent Power Limited | Fluid conduit and method of making same |
US11396856B2 (en) * | 2018-10-15 | 2022-07-26 | Aisan Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha | Fuel supply device |
EP4190426A1 (en) * | 2019-08-01 | 2023-06-07 | Yamashin-Filter Corp. | Suction strainer |
US11248569B2 (en) * | 2019-09-05 | 2022-02-15 | Denso Corporation | Fuel supply device |
US11291936B2 (en) * | 2019-09-25 | 2022-04-05 | Coavis | Strainer for fuel pump |
Also Published As
Publication number | Publication date |
---|---|
JP2011122563A (en) | 2011-06-23 |
Similar Documents
Publication | Publication Date | Title |
---|---|---|
US20110139278A1 (en) | Fuel pump | |
US7182869B2 (en) | Fuel filter arrangement | |
US6155793A (en) | Recessed fuel pump module | |
US7117856B2 (en) | Fuel delivery systems | |
US7210465B2 (en) | Fuel supply device for fuel returnless system | |
KR100704077B1 (en) | Electric pump and modularized fuel supply system with such electric pump | |
US7717090B2 (en) | Fuel-feeding devices | |
EP1978237B1 (en) | Vehicle fuel supply device | |
JP2007051633A (en) | Fuel delivery system of combustion engine | |
JP3924672B2 (en) | Vapor separator in outboard motor | |
US10145342B2 (en) | Fuel supply device | |
JP4788730B2 (en) | Fuel supply device | |
JP3651365B2 (en) | Fuel supply device | |
JP5012614B2 (en) | Fuel supply device | |
JP2009068420A (en) | Fuel supply system | |
JP7362347B2 (en) | Fuel pump for internal combustion engines | |
JP6086696B2 (en) | Fuel supply device | |
JP4800331B2 (en) | Fuel pump and fuel supply device | |
JP3622064B2 (en) | Fuel supply device | |
JP3767603B2 (en) | Fuel supply device | |
JP2011122562A (en) | Fuel supply system | |
JP5158141B2 (en) | Fuel supply device | |
JP2024009448A (en) | fuel supply device | |
JP2005320884A (en) | Fuel supply device | |
JP2011122561A (en) | Fuel supply system |
Legal Events
Date | Code | Title | Description |
---|---|---|---|
AS | Assignment |
Owner name: DENSO CORPORATION, JAPAN Free format text: ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNORS INTEREST;ASSIGNORS:KAWAJIRI, CHIAKI;OKAZONO, TETSURO;YAMADA, KATSUHISA;AND OTHERS;REEL/FRAME:025697/0372 Effective date: 20101104 |
|
STCB | Information on status: application discontinuation |
Free format text: EXPRESSLY ABANDONED -- DURING EXAMINATION |