Vehicle provided with a fuel filler and a fitting for the fuel filler

Abstract

The technology disclosed in the present specification relates to a vehicle provided with fuel filler ports and a fitting for the fuel filler ports, and a vehicle capable of coping with both a fuel supply nozzle having a large diameter and a fuel supply nozzle having a small diameter. The vehicle disclosed in the present specification is provided with a fuel tank, a first fuel filler port, and a second fuel filler port. Both the first fuel filler port and the second fuel filler port are connected to the fuel tank and are connected to a fuel supply nozzle extended from an external fuel supply device. The inner diameter of the second fuel filler port is smaller than the inner diameter of the first fuel filler port. With the vehicle disclosed in the present specification, a fuel supply nozzle having a small diameter can be connected to the second fuel filler port, and a fuel supply nozzle having a large diameter can be connected to the first fuel filler port. The vehicle disclosed in the present specification is capable of coping with both a fuel supply nozzle having a large diameter and a fuel supply nozzle having a small diameter.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The technology disclosed in this specification relates to automobiles with fuel inlets and accessories for fuel inlets. Background Technology

[0002] Automobiles are equipped with a fuel inlet for supplying fuel to a fuel tank. Fuel cell vehicles also have a fuel inlet for supplying hydrogen (e.g., Japanese Patent Application Publication No. 2017-118694). In the case of fuel cell vehicles, the fuel inlet may be referred to as a socket. In this specification, the opening provided by the automobile for supplying fuel (gasoline, light oil, hydrogen, etc.) is referred to as the fuel inlet.

[0003] Current automobiles have only one fuel inlet. In the future, to shorten refueling times, it is assumed that fuel stations will be equipped with fuel nozzles of larger diameters. In this case, new fuel stations with larger diameter fuel nozzles and existing fuel stations with only smaller diameter fuel nozzles will coexist. This specification provides an automobile capable of accommodating both larger and smaller diameter fuel nozzles. Furthermore, this specification provides an accessory for adapting fuel nozzles of inconsistent sizes to existing automobiles with only one fuel inlet. Summary of the Invention

[0004] The automobile disclosed in this specification includes a fuel tank, a first fuel inlet, and a second fuel inlet. Both the first and second fuel inlets are connected to the fuel tank and are connected to fuel supply nozzles extending from an external fuel supply device. The inner diameter of the second fuel inlet is smaller than the inner diameter of the first fuel inlet. For the automobile disclosed in this specification, a smaller diameter fuel supply nozzle can be connected to the second fuel inlet, and a larger diameter fuel supply nozzle can be connected to the first fuel inlet. The automobile disclosed in this specification can accommodate both larger and smaller diameter fuel supply nozzles.

[0005] The first fuel inlet and the second fuel inlet can be independently located on the vehicle body, and the vehicle can also have accessories that can be attached to or detached from the first fuel inlet. One opening of the accessory can be connected to the first fuel inlet of the vehicle, and the second fuel inlet is provided in another opening.

[0006] There are cases where the vehicle communicates with the fuel supply nozzle (fuel supply device). In this case, an injection port-side communicator is provided next to the vehicle's first filling port to communicate with the nozzle-side communicator of the fuel supply nozzle. A repeater that relays the communication signal between the injection port-side communicator and the nozzle-side communicator can be provided in the accessory connected to the first fuel injection port.

[0007] Alternatively, the vehicle disclosed in this specification may be configured such that it has a three-way valve connecting a first fuel injection port, a second fuel injection port, and a fuel tank. The three-way valve is configured such that when fuel is supplied through the first fuel injection port, the flow path on the second fuel injection port side is closed, and when fuel is supplied through the second fuel injection port, the flow path on the first fuel injection port side is closed.

[0008] This specification also provides an accessory for adapting fuel supply nozzles of inconsistent sizes to vehicles with only one fuel inlet. The accessory for the fuel inlet is a cylindrical shape that can be attached and detached from the vehicle's fuel inlet. The inner diameter of the opening on the opposite side of the opening connected to the fuel inlet side of the accessory differs from the inner diameter of the fuel inlet. Using this accessory, it is possible to connect fuel supply nozzles that do not match the vehicle's fuel inlet.

[0009] The detailed description of the technology disclosed in this specification and further improvements are described in the following "Detailed Description". Attached Figure Description

[0010] Figure 1 This is a plan view of the chassis of the car in the embodiment.

[0011] Figure 2 yes Figure 1 An enlarged view of range II.

[0012] Figure 3 This is a cross-sectional view of a three-way valve (with fuel supplied from the first fuel injection port side).

[0013] Figure 4 This is a cross-sectional view of a three-way valve (with fuel supplied from the second fuel injection port side).

[0014] Figure 5 This is a cross-sectional view of a modified three-way valve.

[0015] Figure 6 This is a plan view of the fittings used for the fuel injection port. Detailed Implementation

[0016] (First Embodiment) The vehicle 2 of the embodiment will be described with reference to the accompanying drawings. Figure 1 The diagram shows a plan view of the chassis 10 of car 2. In the coordinate system shown, the +X direction corresponds to the front of car 2, and the +Z direction corresponds to the top of car 2. Figure 1 In the diagram, the body 8 of car 2 is depicted using a dashed line (double-dotted line). Figure 1 Only the outline of the car body 8 is shown. The car 2 uses a fuel cell 3 to generate electricity and an electric motor 4 to drive it.

[0017] The chassis 10 frame consists of a pair of longitudinal beams 11R and 11L, and multiple crossbeams 12 connecting the longitudinal beams 11R and 11L. The fuel cell 3 and electric motor 4 are fixed to the chassis 10. A battery 5 is also mounted on the chassis 10. Furthermore, in... Figure 1 In the diagram, the rectangle representing the electric motor 4 also includes an inverter. The inverter converts the DC power from the fuel cell 3 into AC power to drive the electric motor 4. The battery 5 supplements the output of the fuel cell 3. When the car 2 decelerates, it generates electricity through the electric motor 4 and uses the electricity generated to charge the battery 5.

[0018] A fuel tank 6 is also mounted on the chassis 10. The fuel tank 6 is fixed to two crossbeams 12. Hydrogen is stored in the fuel tank 6. As is known, the fuel cell 3 generates electricity by reacting hydrogen with oxygen (oxygen in the air). Hydrogen is the fuel for the fuel cell 3 (car 2).

[0019] Figure 1 The thick lines represent fuel lines. Fuel line 7d connects fuel tank 6 to fuel cell 3. Fuel line 7c connects fuel tank 6 to three-way valve 30. Fuel line 7a connects three-way valve 30 to first fuel injection port 21. Fuel line 7b connects three-way valve 30 to second fuel injection port 22. Hereinafter, first fuel injection port 21 and second fuel injection port 22 may be simply referred to as fuel injection ports 21 and 22.

[0020] Fuel supply nozzles extending from an external fuel station are connected to fuel inlets 21 and 22. The vehicle 2 has two types of fuel inlets (first fuel inlet 21 and second fuel inlet 22). Fuel inlets 21 and 22 are fixed to the vehicle body 8. Both fuel inlets 21 and 22 are connected to the fuel tank 6 via a three-way valve 30. Hydrogen (fuel gas) is supplied to the fuel tank 6 from either the first fuel inlet 21 or the second fuel inlet 22 through the three-way valve 30.

[0021] exist Figure 2 The text is a jumbled collection of characters and phrases, seemingly from different sources and lacking coherent sentences. A direct translation wouldn Figure 1 An enlarged view of the area enclosed by the dashed line II. Figure 2 The image also shows the fuel supply device 50 (fuel station) and fuel supply nozzles 51 and 52. Figure 2 In the diagram, the vehicle body 8 is simplified, with only a portion of its outline shown. As previously described, fuel inlets 21 and 22 are fixed to the vehicle body 8. A communicator 23 is positioned next to the first fuel inlet 21, and a communicator 24 is positioned next to the second fuel inlet 22. Communicators 23 and 24 are connected to the controller 9 of the vehicle 2. Figure 2 In the diagram, the dashed lines indicate the communication lines. Communicators 23 and 24 will be described later.

[0022] The first fuel inlet 21 and the second fuel inlet 22 have different inner diameters. The outer diameters of the first fuel inlet 21 and the second fuel inlet 22 are also different. The inner diameter of the first fuel inlet 21 is D1, and the inner diameter of the second fuel inlet 22 is D2. The inner diameter (D2) of the second fuel inlet 22 is smaller than the inner diameter (D1) of the first fuel inlet 21. Furthermore, the outer diameter of the second fuel inlet 22 is smaller than the outer diameter of the first fuel inlet 21. This arrangement is designed to accommodate two fuel supply nozzles with different inner (and outer) diameters.

[0023] exist Figure 2 The diagram depicts a fuel supply device 50, from which two fuel supply nozzles 51 and 52 extend. The inner diameter (inner diameter of the flow path through which fuel passes) of the first fuel supply nozzle 51 is D1. Furthermore, the inner diameter of the opening of the first fuel supply nozzle 51 is equal to the outer diameter of the first fuel inlet 21. These features allow the first fuel supply nozzle 51 to be connected to the first fuel inlet 21.

[0024] The inner diameter (inner diameter of the flow path through which fuel passes) of the second fuel supply nozzle 52 is D2. Furthermore, the inner diameter of the opening of the second fuel supply nozzle 52 is equal to the outer diameter of the second fuel inlet 22. With these features, the second fuel inlet 22 can be connected to the second fuel supply nozzle 52.

[0025] The inner diameter of the flow path of the first fuel supply nozzle 51 is larger than that of the second fuel supply nozzle 52, therefore the flow rate of the first fuel supply nozzle 51 is greater than that of the second fuel supply nozzle 52. That is, the refueling time is shorter when using the first fuel supply nozzle 51 compared to using the second fuel supply nozzle 52. This advantage is particularly significant in refueling vehicles equipped with large-capacity fuel tanks. Even with a smaller fuel tank, the shorter refueling time is still an advantage.

[0026] Depending on the fuel station, there may be stations equipped only with fuel supply nozzles of a larger diameter (inner diameter = D1) or stations equipped only with fuel supply nozzles of a smaller diameter (inner diameter = D2). The vehicle 2 in this embodiment can handle either the fuel supply nozzle of a larger diameter (inner diameter = D1) or the fuel supply nozzle of a smaller diameter (inner diameter = D2).

[0027] The fuel supply nozzle (fuel supply device 50) is capable of communicating with the controller 9 of the vehicle 2. The fuel supply device 50 communicates to confirm that the fuel supply nozzle is connected to the fuel inlet and / or to convey the fill amount of the fuel tank 6 to the fuel supply device 50. The first fuel supply nozzle 51 (the second fuel supply nozzle 52) has a communicator 53 (54) on the side of the fuel supply device 50. A communicator 23 (24) is disposed next to the first fuel inlet 21 (the second fuel inlet 22). The communicator 53 (54) on the nozzle side and the communicator 23 (24) on the inlet side communicate via infrared. If the first fuel supply nozzle 51 (the second fuel supply nozzle 52) is connected to the first fuel inlet 21 (the second fuel inlet 22), the communicator 53 (54) and the communicator 23 (24) are close to each other and can communicate with each other. The fuel supply device 50 communicates with the controller 9 of the vehicle 2 via communicators 23 and 53 (or communicators 24 and 54).

[0028] The communicator is particularly suitable for refueling gaseous fuel. This is because, in the case of gaseous fuel, the amount of fuel gas stored in the fuel tank cannot be obtained from the fuel inlet due to the presence of a check valve in the fuel line. The vehicle 2 in the embodiment is a fuel cell vehicle that uses hydrogen as fuel, and hydrogen is stored in the fuel tank 6. The fuel line 7a (7b) that connects the fuel inlet 21 (22) to the three-way valve 30 is equipped with a check valve 25 to prevent fuel gas (hydrogen) from returning from the fuel tank 6 to the fuel inlet 21 (22).

[0029] Reference Figure 3 , 4 An example of the construction of the three-way valve 30 will be described. Figure 3 , 4 This is a cross-sectional view of the three-way valve 30. The three-way valve 30 has three interconnected flow paths. The first flow path 31 is connected to the first fuel injection port 21 via the fuel pipe 7a, the second flow path 32 is connected to the second fuel injection port 22 via the fuel pipe 7b, and the third flow path 33 is connected to the fuel tank 6 via the fuel pipe 7c. Figure 3 The diagram illustrates fuel delivery from the first fuel inlet 21. Inside the three-way valve 30 is a swing valve body 34 that closes one of the first flow path 31 and the second flow path 32. The swing valve body 34 is oscillating about a pivot 34a. When fuel is supplied from the first fuel inlet 21 (first flow path 31), the swing valve body 34 is pressed by the fuel pressure, thereby closing the opposite second flow path 32. Because the second flow path 32 is closed, fuel will not leak from the second fuel inlet 22 during fuel supply through the first fuel inlet 21.

[0030] Figure 4The diagram illustrates the supply of fuel from the second fuel inlet 22. When fuel is supplied from the second fuel inlet 22 (second flow path 32), the oscillating valve body 34 is pressed by the pressure of the fuel, thereby closing the first flow path 31 on the opposite side. Since the first flow path 31 is closed, fuel will not leak from the first fuel inlet 21 during the supply of fuel through the second fuel inlet 22.

[0031] exist Figure 5 A cross-sectional view of a modified three-way valve 130 is shown. The swing valve body 34 of the three-way valve 130 swings via an actuator 131. The actuator 131 is connected to a controller 9 via a communication line. As previously described, the controller 9 can also communicate with the communicators 23 and 24 provided at the fuel inlets 21 and 22. The controller 9 can detect that a fuel supply nozzle is connected to either the first fuel inlet 21 or the second fuel inlet 22. If the controller 9 detects that a first fuel supply nozzle 51 is connected to the first fuel inlet 21, the swing valve body 34 controls the actuator 131 to close the second flow path 32. Conversely, if the controller 9 detects that a second fuel supply nozzle 52 is connected to the second fuel inlet 22, the swing valve body 34 controls the actuator 131 to close the first flow path 31. Even with the three-way valve 130, whose swing valve body 34 moves via the actuator 131 and the controller 9, fuel leakage from fuel inlets that are not connected to a fuel supply nozzle can be prevented.

[0032] (Second Embodiment) Figure 6 This is a partial plan view of car 2a. Car 2a has a fuel tank 6 and a fuel inlet 121. Figure 6 A portion of the fuel tank 6 and the plane near the fuel inlet 121 are depicted.

[0033] Vehicle 2a has only one fuel inlet 121. The inner diameter of fuel inlet 121 is D1, which is the same as the inner diameter of the first fuel inlet 21 of vehicle 2 in the first embodiment. Fuel inlet 121 is connected to fuel tank 6 via fuel pipe 7e, which has a check valve 25. The outer diameter of fuel inlet 121 is the same as the outer diameter of the first fuel inlet 21. Therefore, fuel inlet 121 can be connected to... Figure 1 The first fuel supply nozzle 51.

[0034] The vehicle 2a or the fuel station has a fuel inlet accessory 40. The accessory 40 is a cylinder with openings at both ends. One opening 40a can be connected to the fuel inlet 121 of the vehicle 2a. The inner diameter of the opening 40a is D1, which is the same as the inner diameter of the fuel inlet 121. The inner diameter of the other opening 40b is D2. The other opening 40b has a structure that allows connection to a second fuel supply nozzle 52 (inner diameter D2).

[0035] Accessory 40 includes a communication repeater 41. The communication repeater 41 includes an injection port-side communicator 41a and a nozzle-side communicator 41b. Figure 6 The right side shows the state with accessory 40 installed to fuel inlet 121. When accessory 40 is connected to fuel inlet 121, the communicator 23 of vehicle 2a is positioned opposite the inlet-side communicator 41a of communication repeater 41 of accessory 40. Communicator 23 and inlet-side communicator 41a are infrared communication type and can communicate with each other by being close together and positioned opposite each other.

[0036] If a second fuel supply nozzle 52 is connected to another opening 40b of accessory 40, the nozzle-side communicator 54 is opposite to the nozzle-side communicator 41b of the communication repeater 41 of accessory 40. Both communicator 54 and nozzle-side communicator 41b are infrared communication types, and can communicate with each other by being close together and opposite each other.

[0037] Inlet-side communicator 41a transmits the communication signal received from communicator 23 to nozzle-side communicator 41b. Nozzle-side communicator 41b transmits the communication signal received from inlet-side communicator 41a to communicator 54. Conversely, nozzle-side communicator 41b transmits the communication signal received from communicator 54 to inlet-side communicator 41a. Inlet-side communicator 41a transmits the communication signal received from nozzle-side communicator 41b to communicator 23.

[0038] The communication repeater 41 relays the communication signal between the communicator 23 on the fuel inlet 121 side and the communicator 54 on the nozzle side. The communication repeater 41 is located between the communicator 23 on the inlet side and the communicator 54 on the nozzle side, enabling communication between the communicator 23 (i.e., the controller 9 of the vehicle 2a) and the communicator 54 (i.e., the fuel supply device 50). The vehicle 2a or the fuel station is equipped with accessory 40, allowing the vehicle 2a to connect to either of two fuel supply nozzles of different diameters (the first fuel supply nozzle 51 and the second fuel supply nozzle 52).

[0039] Considerations related to the technology described in the embodiments are described below. The first fuel inlet 21 has a configuration capable of connecting to a first fuel supply nozzle 51 with a larger diameter. Specifically, the inner diameter of the first fuel inlet 21 is the same as the inner diameter of the flow path inside the first fuel supply nozzle 51, and the outer diameter of the first fuel inlet 21 is the same as the inner diameter of the opening of the first fuel supply nozzle 51. A recess is provided on the side of the first fuel inlet 21 that engages with a protrusion or claw provided on the inner side of the first fuel supply nozzle 51.

[0040] Similarly, the second fuel inlet 22 has a structure capable of connecting to the second fuel supply nozzle 52 with a smaller diameter. The inner diameter of the second fuel inlet 22 is the same as the inner diameter of the flow path inside the second fuel supply nozzle 52, and the outer diameter of the second fuel inlet 22 is the same as the inner diameter of the opening of the second fuel supply nozzle 52. A recess is provided on the side of the second fuel inlet 22 to engage with a protrusion or hook provided on the inner side of the second fuel supply nozzle 52.

[0041] For accessory 40, the inner diameter of the fuel inlet 121 side is larger than the inner diameter of the opposite side. That is, the fuel inlet 121 can be connected to the first fuel supply nozzle 51 with a larger diameter. This allows the fuel inlet 121 with accessory 40 to be connected to the second fuel supply nozzle 52 with a smaller diameter. The fuel inlet 121 is designed to accept a large flow of fuel, so even when refueling is performed via accessory 40 connected to the second fuel supply nozzle 52 with a smaller diameter, fuel will not overflow.

[0042] The specific examples of the present invention have been described in detail above, but these are merely illustrative and do not limit the scope of the claims. The technology described in the claims includes technologies modified or altered from the specific examples described above. The technical elements described in this specification or drawings exert their technical usefulness individually or in various combinations, and are not limited to the combinations described in the claims at the time of application. Furthermore, the technology illustrated in this specification or drawings can achieve multiple objectives simultaneously, and achieving one of these objectives is itself technically useful.

Claims

1. A type of automobile, wherein, The vehicle has the following features: Fuel tank; The first fuel injection port is connected to the fuel tank and is connected to the fuel supply nozzle; and The second fuel inlet is connected to the fuel tank and is also connected to the fuel supply nozzle. The inner diameter of the second fuel injection port is smaller than the inner diameter of the first fuel injection port. The fuel inlet fitting having the second fuel inlet is detachably connected to the first fuel inlet. Next to the first fuel injection port, there is an injection port side communicator that communicates with the nozzle side communicator of the fuel supply nozzle. The fuel injection port fitting connected to the first fuel injection port has a repeater that relays the communication signal between the injection port side communicator and the nozzle side communicator.

2. A type of automobile, wherein, The vehicle has the following features: Fuel tank; The first fuel injection port is connected to the fuel tank and is connected to the fuel supply nozzle; and The second fuel inlet is connected to the fuel tank and is also connected to the fuel supply nozzle. The inner diameter of the second fuel injection port is smaller than the inner diameter of the first fuel injection port. The vehicle is equipped with a three-way valve that connects the first fuel injection port, the second fuel injection port, and the fuel tank. The three-way valve is configured such that when fuel is supplied to the fuel tank through the first fuel injection port, the flow path on the second fuel injection port side is closed; and when fuel is supplied to the fuel tank through the second fuel injection port, the flow path on the first fuel injection port side is closed.

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