fuel tank system

Abstract

Fuel tank system for an agricultural work vehicle, comprising a first reservoir (12) for receiving fuel, in which a fuel level sensor (14) is arranged for taking the fuel for operating the work vehicle (30), a second reservoir (20) for receiving fuel, a connecting line (22) which is connected to the first and the second reservoir (12, 20) in order to connect the first and the second reservoir (12, 20) to each other in a communicating manner, characterized in that an opening (24) through which the connecting line (22) opens into the first reservoir (12) is arranged in a volume area of ​​the first reservoir (12) facing away from the second reservoir (20).

Description

[0001] The invention relates to a fuel tank system for an agricultural work vehicle, comprising a first reservoir for receiving fuel in which a fuel level sensor is arranged for taking fuel for operating the work vehicle, a second reservoir for receiving fuel and a connecting line which is connected to the first and the second reservoirs in order to connect the first and the second reservoirs to each other in a communicative manner.

[0002] Such a fuel tank system is known, for example, from US Patent 1,751,456 A, which has a normal storage tank and a reserve tank, wherein the normal storage tank is connected via a pipe to a carburetor of an internal combustion engine. A line extends from the normal storage tank into the reserve tank and terminates there near the bottom of the tank.

[0003] A similar arrangement in the form of a dual fuel tank system is also disclosed in DE 10 2004 022 642 A1. The dual fuel tank system comprises a front fuel tank and a rear fuel tank, the two fuel tanks communicating with each other via connecting pipes that open directly into the fuel tanks at their respective tank walls. A fuel pump draws the fuel through a fuel intake pipe that extends towards the bottom of the front fuel tank. This is intended to achieve increased stability of the fuel supply to the engine with regard to influences caused by inclination and acceleration.

[0004] Agricultural vehicles typically have relatively large fuel tanks to carry sufficient fuel during operation. The size of these tanks often necessitates a large, horizontally oriented tank base. A fuel level sensor extends vertically into the tank from the top, reaching just above the base, to draw fuel for operation. If the vehicle is operating at a lateral tilt, i.e., at an angle around its longitudinal axis, and the fuel level in the tank is low, the fuel level sensor's intake opening can become unblocked, resulting in air being drawn in.

[0005] This problem is particularly pronounced in fuel tank systems with multiple interconnected fuel reservoirs. In a typical design, such systems comprise a main fuel reservoir located on one side of the vehicle and an auxiliary fuel reservoir on the opposite side. Both reservoirs are mounted between the front and rear axles via the vehicle frame and connected by a line, as only the main fuel reservoir is equipped with a filler neck and a fuel level sensor.Due to the lateral distance between the two reservoirs, it is possible that, during operation with the vehicle tilted laterally towards the side of the auxiliary reservoir, at least a large portion of the fuel will overflow into the auxiliary reservoir via the connecting line, thus releasing fuel into the main fuel reservoir's fuel level sensor. Operation of the vehicle under these conditions is not guaranteed.

[0006] EP 2 234 834 B1 discloses a fuel tank system in which a check valve is provided in the connecting line to prevent the main fuel reservoir from unintentionally emptying due to fuel overflowing into the auxiliary reservoir when tilted laterally. Since the connecting line and the check valve are, by design, located in a lower section of the fuel tank system where contaminants commonly accumulate, these contaminants can impair or even prevent the check valve from functioning. Furthermore, a connecting line equipped with a check valve requires a bypass line for filling the auxiliary reservoir.

[0007] Based on this, the object of the present invention is to provide a simpler and operationally safer fuel tank system.

[0008] The problem is solved by a fuel tank system for an agricultural work vehicle, comprising a first reservoir for receiving fuel in which a fuel level sensor is arranged for taking fuel for operating the work vehicle, a second reservoir for receiving fuel, a connecting line which is connected to the first and the second reservoir in order to connect the first and the second reservoir to each other in a communicative manner, wherein an opening through which the connecting line opens into the first reservoir is arranged in a volume region of the first reservoir facing away from the second reservoir.

[0009] In this context, "communicatingly connected" means that, relative to a horizontal plane perpendicular to the normal pointing to the Earth's center, the same fuel level can be established in both reservoirs. Therefore, a free exchange of fluid can occur between the two reservoirs via the connecting line. If the agricultural vehicle tilts towards the side of the second reservoir around its longitudinal axis during operation, the amount of fuel in the first reservoir shifts towards the second reservoir. This causes the amount of fuel in a volume area of ​​the first reservoir facing away from the second reservoir to decrease, or, if the vehicle tilts further, to flow out of this volume area.According to the invention, the connecting line has an opening in the volume area facing away from the second reservoir. When the vehicle tilts towards the side of the second reservoir around its longitudinal axis, no fuel can flow into the connecting line or out of the second reservoir once a certain tilt threshold is exceeded. This occurs when the fuel level in this volume area of ​​the first reservoir falls below the opening of the connecting line. A robust design is provided because malfunctions due to the absence of moving parts are eliminated.

[0010] Preferably, the connecting line extends from the opening where it enters the first reservoir into a U-shaped section leading towards the second reservoir. This at least reduces the back-and-forth sloshing of fuel between the two reservoirs.

[0011] Preferably, the opening through which the connecting line enters the first reservoir and the opening through which the connecting line enters the second reservoir are arranged in a vertically lower region of the reservoirs. This ensures that, when the overall fuel level is low, the amount of fuel in the second reservoir can flow into the first reservoir as completely as possible.

[0012] Preferably, the openings of the connecting line are located in a horizontal plane of the work vehicle. This ensures a uniform fuel level in both reservoirs with respect to their horizontal tank bottoms.

[0013] Preferably, the connecting pipe is connected to the first and second reservoirs via respective connection fittings. These connection fittings allow the connecting pipe to be reliably inserted into each reservoir.

[0014] According to a first embodiment of the fuel tank system, the connecting nozzles connect the respective openings of the connecting line directly to the first and second reservoirs. In this embodiment, the connecting line between the connecting nozzles runs outside the reservoirs.

[0015] According to a second embodiment of the fuel tank system, the connecting pipe between the connection nozzle to the first reservoir and the opening into the first reservoir runs inside the first reservoir.

[0016] A preferred embodiment of the invention is described with reference to the following figures. These figures show Fig. 1 an agricultural work vehicle with a fuel tank system according to the invention; Fig. 2 a perspective view of a fuel tank system according to the invention; Fig. 3 a basic representation of a fuel tank system according to the invention in a horizontal position and Fig. 4 a basic representation of a fuel tank system according to the invention in an inclined position.

[0017] The Fig. Figure 1 shows an agricultural work vehicle 30, partially depicted only schematically, with a fuel tank system 10 arranged opposite a frame 32 of the agricultural work vehicle 30. The fuel tank system 10 is essentially arranged between a front axle 34 and a rear axle 36.

[0018] The fuel tank system 10 comprises a first reservoir 12 for receiving fuel and a second reservoir 20 for receiving fuel. Each reservoir 12, 20 forms a tank bottom 38, 40, the tank bottoms 38, 40 being located largely in a horizontal plane of the work vehicle 30. The first reservoir 12 and the second reservoir 20 are connected to each other by a connecting line 22 such that fuel can flow between the reservoirs 12, 20. The connecting line 22 is also arranged largely in a horizontal plane of the work vehicle 30, specifically at the level of a vertically lower region of the reservoirs 12, 20.

[0019] The first reservoir 12 is located on the left side of the frame 32 of the work vehicle 30 when viewed in the direction of travel, and the second reservoir 20 is located on the right side. The first reservoir 12 is equipped with a filler neck 16 for filling with fuel.

[0020] The Fig. Figure 2 shows a perspective view from below of the first reservoir 12, the second reservoir 20, and the connecting line 22, isolated from the surrounding environment. It can be seen that, as in the present case, the first reservoir 12 can enclose the rear axle 36 with an annular volume in its rear section. The connecting line 22 is connected via a connection 42 to a volume portion of the second reservoir 20, with this volume portion facing the first reservoir 12. The tank ends 38 and 40 are also visible. Starting from the connection 42, the connecting line 22 runs essentially transversely to the longitudinal direction of the vehicle towards the first reservoir 12.In the illustrated embodiment, the connecting line 22 runs below the first reservoir 12 and makes a U-shaped bend 44 before being connected via a connecting nozzle 46 to a volume area of ​​the first reservoir 12, this volume area being located away from the second reservoir 20. The connecting line 22 is thus connected to a volume area on the left side of the respective reservoir 12, 20, relative to the direction of travel of the work vehicle 30. The connecting line 22 can also run section by section within the first reservoir 12, as shown in the schematic diagram. Fig. 3 is shown.

[0021] The Fig. Figure 3 shows a schematic rear view, i.e., viewed in the direction of travel of the work vehicle 30, of the first reservoir 12, the second reservoir 20, and the connecting line 22. The first reservoir contains the fuel level sensor 14, which extends vertically to just above the tank bottom 38, for drawing fuel for operation. The connecting line 22 opens into the first reservoir via an opening 24 and into the second reservoir 20 via an opening 28. As previously described, the opening 24 of the connecting line 22 is located in a volume region of the first reservoir 12 facing away from the second reservoir 20, and the opening 28 of the connecting line 22 is located in a volume region of the second reservoir 20 facing the first reservoir 12.

[0022] In the Fig. 3 The fuel tank system 10 is horizontally oriented, so that a quantity of fuel is distributed via the connecting line 22 as a result of exchange, such that the same liquid level is established in the first and second reservoirs 12, 20 with respect to the tank bottoms 38, 40. In the Fig. 3 and Fig. 4. In relation to a possible total amount of fuel, a small residual amount of fuel is present in reservoirs 12 and 20.

[0023] In the Fig.In section 4, the fuel tank system 10 is inclined about the vehicle's longitudinal axis towards the second reservoir 20, or to the right. As a result of this inclination, the fuel in the first reservoir 12 flows towards the second reservoir 20. Thus, at a certain inclination, the opening 24 of the connecting line 22 in the first reservoir 12 is exposed to the fuel, or the opening 24 is above the fuel level, preventing any further fuel from flowing into the second reservoir 20 via the connecting line 22. Consequently, a sufficient quantity of fuel for the continued operation of the work vehicle 30 remains in the first reservoir 12, even when tilted about the vehicle's longitudinal axis. Reference symbol list 10 Fuel tank system 12 Reservoir 14 Fuel level sensors 16 filling ports 20 Reservoir 22 Connecting line 24-hour opening 28 Opening 30 agricultural work vehicle 32 frames 34 Front axle 36 Rear axle 38 Tank bottom 40 Tank bottom 42 connection spigots 44 U-shaped arch 46 connection spigots

Claims

[1] Fuel tank system for an agricultural work vehicle, comprising a first reservoir (12) for receiving fuel in which a fuel level sensor (14) is arranged for taking the fuel for the operation of the work vehicle (30), a second reservoir (20) for receiving fuel, a connecting line (22) which is connected to the first and the second reservoir (12, 20) in order to connect the first and the second reservoir (12, 20) to each other in a communicating manner, characterized by , that an opening (24) through which the connecting line (22) opens into the first reservoir (12) is arranged in a volume area of ​​the first reservoir (12) facing away from the second reservoir (20). [2] Fuel tank system according to claim 1, characterized by, that the opening (24) through which the connecting line (22) opens into the first reservoir (12) is followed by a U-shaped course (44) of the connecting line (22) in the direction of the second reservoir (20). [3] Fuel tank system according to claim 1 or 2, characterized by , that the opening (24) through which the connecting line (22) opens into the first reservoir (12) and another opening (28) through which the connecting line (22) opens into the second reservoir (20) are arranged in a vertically lower area of ​​the reservoirs (12, 20). [4] Fuel tank system according to claim 3, characterized by , that the openings (24, 28) of the connecting line (22) lie in a horizontal plane of the work vehicle (30). [5] Fuel tank system according to any one of claims 1 to 4, characterized by , that the connecting line (22) is connected to the first and second reservoirs (12, 20) via respective connection ports (42, 46). [6] Fuel tank system according to claim 5, characterized by , that the connecting nozzles (42, 46) connect the respective opening (24, 28) of the connecting line (22) directly to the first and the second reservoir (12, 20). [7] Fuel tank system according to claim 6, characterized by , that the connecting line (22) between the connection nozzles (42, 46) runs outside the first and second reservoirs (12, 20). [8] Fuel tank system according to claim 5, characterized by , that the connecting line (22) between the connection nozzle (42) to the first reservoir (12) and the opening (24) into the first reservoir (12) runs inside the first reservoir (12).

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