canister

Abstract

To reduce an amount of an evaporative fuel discharged into atmospheric air.SOLUTION: A canister for adsorbing an evaporative fuel occurring in a fuel tank of a vehicle includes a plurality of block adsorbents, and an atmospheric port. The plurality of block adsorbents are disposed so as to be arranged in an evaporative fuel flow direction in a passage in which the evaporative fuel flows, and adsorb the evaporative fuel. The atmospheric port is provided at an end of the passage and is open to atmospheric air. The canister has, as the block adsorbents, at least a first block adsorbent and a second block adsorbent located adjacent to each other. The first block adsorbent has at least one protruding part protruding from a surface of the first block adsorbent which faces the second block adsorbent. The at least one protruding part forms a clearance between the first block adsorbent and the second block adsorbent in a periphery of the at least one protruding part.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 3

Description

[Technical Field]

[0001] The present disclosure relates to a canister. [Background technology]

[0002] Vehicles such as automobiles are equipped with canisters that prevent fuel vapor generated in the fuel tank from being released into the atmosphere. The canister is filled with an adsorbent material such as activated carbon. The fuel vapor generated in the fuel tank is introduced into the canister and temporarily adsorbed by the adsorbent material. When the internal combustion engine is started, the vapor is desorbed from the adsorbent material and supplied to the engine.

[0003] Patent Document 1 discloses an evaporated fuel treatment device in which a plurality of adsorption chambers are provided along a flow path of evaporated fuel inside a canister, and an adsorption layer filled with an adsorbent is provided inside each adsorption chamber. [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0004] [Patent Document 1] Patent No. 7244553 Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0005] As disclosed in Patent Document 1, in an evaporated fuel treatment device, a lump adsorbent (hereinafter referred to as "lump adsorbent"), such as a cylindrical or polygonal pillar made of fibrous activated carbon, may be used as the adsorbent filled in the adsorption layer. In this case, the evaporated fuel adsorbed on the lump adsorbent moves inside the lump adsorbent due to intermolecular forces in an attempt to reach equilibrium. As a result, inside the lump adsorbent, the evaporated fuel adsorbed on the lump adsorbent moves from the fuel tank side of the evaporated fuel flow path to the atmospheric side of the flow path, which creates a problem in that the evaporated fuel is more likely to be released into the atmosphere.

[0006] One aspect of the present disclosure is to reduce emissions of vaporized fuel into the atmosphere. [Means for solving the problem]

[0007] One aspect of the present disclosure is a canister for adsorbing evaporated fuel generated in a vehicle fuel tank, comprising a plurality of lump adsorbents and an atmospheric port. The plurality of lump adsorbents are arranged in a flow path through which the evaporated fuel passes, aligned in the direction of the evaporated fuel flow, and adsorb the evaporated fuel. The atmospheric port is provided at an end of the flow path and is open to the atmosphere. The canister includes at least a first lump adsorbent and a second lump adsorbent adjacent to each other. The first lump adsorbent has at least one protrusion protruding from a surface of the first lump adsorbent facing the second lump adsorbent. The at least one protrusion forms a gap between the first lump adsorbent and the second lump adsorbent around the at least one protrusion.

[0008] With this configuration, a gap is formed between the first adsorbent and the second adsorbent, which prevents the fuel vapor from moving between the first adsorbent and the second adsorbent, thereby reducing the amount of fuel vapor emitted into the atmosphere.

[0009] In one aspect of the present disclosure, the canister may include a plurality of adsorption chambers in the flow path for adsorbing evaporated fuel. The plurality of adsorption chambers may be arranged side by side in the flow direction. The first and second bulk adsorbent materials may be disposed in adsorption chambers that are closest to the atmospheric port in the flow direction among the plurality of adsorption chambers.

[0010] With this configuration, the amount of evaporated fuel adsorbed by the first and second lump adsorbent materials is reduced by the adsorption of evaporated fuel in adsorption chambers other than the adsorption chambers in which the first and second lump adsorbent materials are arranged, thereby reducing the amount of evaporated fuel emitted into the atmosphere.

[0011] In one embodiment of the present disclosure, at least one protrusion may abut against the second block of adsorbent material. With this configuration, the first and second lump adsorbent materials can be prevented from moving due to vibrations, etc., thereby improving the stability of the first and second lump adsorbent materials.

[0012] In one aspect of the present disclosure, at least one convex portion may be formed such that, in a first cross section and a second cross section perpendicular to the direction in which the convex portion protrudes, the cross-sectional area of ​​the first cross section, which is closer to the second bulk adsorbent material than the second cross section, is less than the cross-sectional area of ​​the second cross section.

[0013] With this configuration, the area of ​​contact between the first and second adsorbent materials is reduced, which prevents the fuel vapor from moving between the first and second adsorbent materials, thereby reducing the amount of fuel vapor emitted into the atmosphere.

[0014] In one aspect of the present disclosure, the surface area of ​​the side of the bulk adsorbent material closest to the atmospheric port among the plurality of bulk adsorbents in the flow direction facing the atmospheric port may be smaller than the surface area of ​​the side of the bulk adsorbent material opposite the side facing the atmospheric port.

[0015] With this configuration, the surface area of ​​the surface of the block of adsorbent material adjacent to the atmospheric port that faces the atmospheric port is reduced, making it possible to reduce the amount of evaporated fuel emitted into the atmosphere. [Brief explanation of the drawings]

[0016] [Figure 1] FIG. 2 is a schematic cross-sectional view of a canister. [Figure 2] FIG. 2 is a perspective view of a block of adsorbent material in the canister of the first embodiment. [Figure 3] 3 is a cross-sectional view of a plurality of lump adsorbent materials arranged in a flow path of evaporated fuel in the canister of the first embodiment. FIG. [Figure 4] FIG. 10 is a perspective view of a block of adsorbent material in a canister according to another embodiment. [Figure 5] FIG. 10 is a perspective view of a block of adsorbent material in a canister according to another embodiment. [Figure 6] Figure 6A is a cross-sectional view of a plurality of block adsorbents arranged with their protrusions facing each other in a canister of another embodiment, and Figure 6B is a cross-sectional view of a plurality of block adsorbents with their protrusions having different shapes in a canister of another embodiment. [Figure 7] Fig. 7A is a cross-sectional view of a plurality of lump adsorbents in a canister of another embodiment, in which a lump adsorbent sandwiched between two lump adsorbents has a protruding portion formed on both sides in the direction of the flow of evaporated fuel, and Fig. 7B is a cross-sectional view of a plurality of lump adsorbents in a canister of another embodiment, including a lump adsorbent without a protruding portion. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0017] Hereinafter, exemplary embodiments of the present disclosure will be described with reference to the drawings. [1. First embodiment] [1-1.Configuration] [1-1-1. Overall structure] 1 is mounted on a vehicle such as an automobile, and adsorbs evaporated fuel generated in the vehicle's fuel tank to prevent the evaporated fuel from leaking outside the vehicle. The canister 1 also takes in air from outside the vehicle, desorbs the adsorbed evaporated fuel, and allows the desorbed evaporated fuel to flow into the vehicle's internal combustion engine.

[0018] The canister 1 includes a charge port 2, a purge port 3, an atmospheric port 4, and an adsorption section 5 including a plurality of adsorption chambers. The canister 1 also includes a flow path therein through which fluids such as evaporated fuel and atmospheric air flow. Part of the flow path functions as an adsorption chamber. In this embodiment, as an example, the flow path is bent back at a connecting passage 6, and has a generally U-shape overall. Hereinafter, the direction in which the fluid flows inside the canister 1 will be referred to as flow direction A.

[0019] The charge port 2 and the purge port 3 are both located at the end of the canister 1 in the flow direction A. The atmospheric port 4 is located at the end of the canister 1 opposite the charge port 2 and the purge port 3 in the flow direction A. Hereinafter, the side in the flow direction A where the charge port 2 and the purge port 3 are located will be referred to as the vehicle side, and the side in the flow direction A where the atmospheric port 4 is located will be referred to as the atmospheric side.

[0020] The charge port 2 is connected to a fuel tank by a pipe and is configured to take evaporated fuel into the canister 1. The purge port 3 is connected to an intake pipe of an internal combustion engine of a vehicle, and is configured to allow evaporated fuel to flow out from the inside of the canister 1.

[0021] The atmospheric port 4 is connected to the outside of the vehicle and is open to the atmosphere, and is configured to take the atmosphere into the canister 1 or to release gas that has been treated to remove evaporated fuel into the atmosphere.

[0022] The multiple adsorption chambers are provided in a flow path inside the canister 1 and are portions in which adsorbents that adsorb evaporated fuel are disposed. The canister 1 includes a first adsorption chamber 51, a second adsorption chamber 52, and a third adsorption chamber 53 as the multiple adsorption chambers. Examples of adsorbents include porous materials such as activated carbon, zeolite, and silica gel. Examples of activated carbon include granular activated carbon, activated carbon agglomerates formed into a honeycomb shape, and activated carbon agglomerates formed from fibrous activated carbon into a sheet, rectangular parallelepiped, cylindrical, polygonal pillar, or other shape.

[0023] The multiple adsorption chambers are connected in series along the flow direction A, and are arranged in the following order from the atmospheric port 4 side: first adsorption chamber 51, second adsorption chamber 52, and third adsorption chamber 53. The second adsorption chamber 52 and third adsorption chamber 53 are connected via a connecting passage 6. In other words, in the flow direction A, the first adsorption chamber 51 and the second adsorption chamber 52 are arranged closer to the atmosphere than the connecting passage 6, and the third adsorption chamber 53 is arranged closer to the vehicle than the connecting passage 6. In this embodiment, the lengths of the multiple adsorption chambers in the flow direction A are longest in the order of the third adsorption chamber 53, the second adsorption chamber 52, and the first adsorption chamber 51.

[0024] [1-1-2. Composition of bulk adsorbent] A plurality of lump adsorbents 70, which are lump adsorbents that adsorb evaporated fuel, are arranged inside the first adsorption chamber 51. As shown in FIG. 2, each lump adsorbent 70 includes a main body 71 and at least one protrusion 72 protruding from the surface of the main body 71. One example of each lump adsorbent 70 is an activated carbon agglomerate formed using fibrous activated carbon. According to the example shown in FIG. 2, each lump adsorbent 70 includes a plurality of protrusions 72 as at least one protrusion 72.

[0025] The main body 71 has a cylindrical outer shape that matches the shape of the inner wall of the first adsorption chamber 51 in which the chunk adsorbent material 70 is accommodated. The main body 71 has a first surface 711 and a second surface 712 that face each other, and a side surface 713. The protrusions 72 are portions that protrude from the first surface 711 of the main body 71. The protrusions 72 are formed so that the cross-sectional area of ​​a cross section perpendicular to the protruding direction of the protrusions 72 decreases with increasing distance from the first surface 711. In this embodiment, as an example, five protrusions 72 are formed on the first surface 711 of each chunk of adsorbent material 70, and are in the form of parallel protrusions.

[0026] The protrusions 72 are molded together with the bulk adsorbent 70 by using a mold having recesses when molding the bulk adsorbent 70. In another example, the protrusions 72 may be formed by cutting a portion of the bulk adsorbent 70, or by joining the protrusions to the bulk adsorbent 70 by adhesive or the like.

[0027] [1-1-3. Placement of lump adsorbent material] The canister 1 has at least a first lump adsorbent material 70a and a second lump adsorbent material 70b as a plurality of lump adsorbents 70. The shapes and materials of the first lump adsorbent material 70a and the second lump adsorbent material 70b are the same as those of the lump adsorbent material 70 shown in FIG. 2. However, the shapes and materials of the first lump adsorbent material 70a and the second lump adsorbent material 70b are not limited thereto and may be different from each other. The first lump adsorbent material 70a has a first main body 71a as the main body 71 and a first protrusion 72a as the protrusion 72. The second lump adsorbent material 70b has a second main body 71b as the main body 71 and a second protrusion 72b as the protrusion 72.

[0028] 3, the first lump adsorbent material 70a and the second lump adsorbent material 70b are arranged in the flow path, particularly inside the first adsorption chamber 51, side by side in the flow direction A, with the first convex portions 72a and the second convex portions 72b both facing the vehicle side of the flow direction A. The surfaces on which the first convex portions 72a or the second convex portions 72b of the first lump adsorbent material 70a and the second lump adsorbent material 70b are formed (i.e., first surfaces 711) are both approximately perpendicular to the flow direction A.

[0029] The first lump adsorbent material 70a is positioned closer to the atmosphere in the flow direction A than the second lump adsorbent material 70b and is adjacent to the atmospheric port 4. The surfaces of the first lump adsorbent material 70a and the second lump adsorbent material 70b facing the atmosphere in the flow direction A are substantially flat and do not have the first protrusions 72a or second protrusions 72b. That is, the surface area of ​​the surface of the first lump adsorbent material 70a facing the atmospheric port 4 is smaller than the surface area of ​​the surface of the first lump adsorbent material 70a opposite the surface facing the atmospheric port 4 (in other words, the surface facing the second lump adsorbent material 70b). Similarly, the surface area of ​​the surface of the second lump adsorbent material 70b facing the first lump adsorbent material 70a is smaller than the surface area of ​​the surface opposite the surface facing the first lump adsorbent material 70a. The relationship in size between these surface areas of the lump adsorbents 70a and 70b is determined by the presence or absence of the protrusions 72a and 72b.

[0030] The first protrusion 72a of the first lump adsorbent material 70a abuts against the surface of the second lump adsorbent material 70b that faces the first lump adsorbent material 70a. The first protrusion 72a forms a gap 8 between the first lump adsorbent material 70a and the second lump adsorbent material 70b around the first protrusion 72a. The first protrusion 72a is formed so that the cross-sectional area of ​​the cross section perpendicular to the protruding direction of the first protrusion 72a decreases as it approaches the second lump adsorbent material 70b.

[0031] The first lump adsorbent material 70a and the second lump adsorbent material 70b are fixed by being press-fitted into the first adsorption chamber 51. In another example, the first lump adsorbent material 70a and the second lump adsorbent material 70b may be fixed by a fixing member provided inside the first adsorption chamber 51. In this embodiment, the cross section of the first adsorption chamber 51 perpendicular to the flow direction A is circular, and the side surfaces of the first lump adsorbent material 70a and the second lump adsorbent material 70b abut against the inner circumferential surface of the first adsorption chamber 51 so that no gap is created between them and the surfaces of the first adsorption chamber 51 along the flow direction A.

[0032] [1-2. Actions and Effects] According to the embodiment described above in detail, the following actions and effects can be obtained. (1a) The first lump adsorbent material 70a is disposed closer to the atmosphere in the flow direction A than the second lump adsorbent material 70b. The first protrusion 72a of the first lump adsorbent material 70a abuts against the surface of the second lump adsorbent material 70b that faces the first lump adsorbent material 70a. The first protrusion 72a forms a gap 8 between the first lump adsorbent material 70a and the second lump adsorbent material 70b around the first protrusion 72a.

[0033] With this configuration, the evaporated fuel that flows into the first adsorption chamber 51 is first adsorbed by the second lump adsorbent material 70b, and then moves to the first lump adsorbent material 70a due to the intermolecular force acting between the evaporated fuel adsorbed on the second lump adsorbent material 70b and the first lump adsorbent material 70a. At this time, the portion of the first lump adsorbent material 70a that abuts against the second lump adsorbent material 70b is the first protrusion 72a, not the first surface of the first lump adsorbent material 70a, and therefore the area of ​​the abutting portion is smaller than if the first protrusion 72a were not formed and the first surface of the first lump adsorbent material 70a were in surface contact with the second lump adsorbent material 70b.

[0034] Furthermore, the first convex portion 72a is formed so that the cross-sectional area of ​​the cross section perpendicular to the protruding direction of the first convex portion 72a (hereinafter referred to as the cross-sectional area of ​​the first convex portion 72a) becomes smaller as it approaches the second block of adsorbent material 70b.

[0035] With this configuration, the area of ​​the portion where the first lump adsorbent material 70a abuts the second lump adsorbent material 70b is smaller than when the cross-sectional area of ​​the first convex portion 72a is constant or when the cross-sectional area of ​​the first convex portion 72a is formed to increase as it approaches the second lump adsorbent material 70b.

[0036] As a result, intermolecular forces are less likely to act between the evaporated fuel adsorbed on the second lump adsorbent material 70b and the first lump adsorbent material 70a, and the evaporated fuel adsorbed on the second lump adsorbent material 70b is prevented from migrating to the first lump adsorbent material 70a. This reduces the amount of evaporated fuel emitted from the first lump adsorbent material 70a into the atmosphere via the atmospheric port 4.

[0037] (1b) The first lump adsorbent material 70a and the second lump adsorbent material 70b are disposed inside the first adsorption chamber 51, which is disposed closest to the atmospheric port 4 among the first adsorption chamber 51, the second adsorption chamber 52, and the third adsorption chamber 53. The evaporated fuel taken into the canister 1 from the charge port 2 passes through the third adsorption chamber 53, the second adsorption chamber 52, and the first adsorption chamber 51 in that order. The first adsorption chamber 51, the second adsorption chamber 52, and the third adsorption chamber 53 each contain an adsorbent that adsorbs evaporated fuel.

[0038] With this configuration, the evaporated fuel taken into the canister 1 from the charge port 2 is partially adsorbed by the adsorbents arranged in the second adsorption chamber 52 and the third adsorption chamber 53, so that the evaporated fuel flowing into the first adsorption chamber 51 has a lower concentration than the evaporated fuel flowing into the second adsorption chamber 52 or the third adsorption chamber 53. This makes it possible to further reduce the amount of evaporated fuel emitted from the first lump adsorbent 70a arranged in the first adsorption chamber 51 into the atmosphere via the atmospheric port 4.

[0039] (1c) The surface area of ​​the first lump adsorbent material 70a and the second lump adsorbent material 70b on the atmosphere side in the flow direction A is smaller than the surface area of ​​the first lump adsorbent material 70a and the second lump adsorbent material 70b on the vehicle side in the flow direction A.

[0040] With this configuration, the amount of evaporated fuel emitted from the first lump adsorbent material 70a into the atmosphere via the atmospheric port 4 can be further reduced. (1d) The first protrusion 72a of the first lump of adsorbent material 70a abuts against the surface of the second lump of adsorbent material 70b that faces the first lump of adsorbent material 70a.

[0041] This configuration can restrict displacement of the first lump of adsorbent material 70a and the second lump of adsorbent material 70b in the flow direction A due to vibrations or the like, thereby improving the stability and durability of the first protrusions 72a and the second protrusions 72b.

[0042] (1e) The first lump of adsorbent material 70a has a plurality of first protrusions 72a formed thereon. The first protrusions 72a are in contact with the surface of second lump of adsorbent material 70b that faces the first lump of adsorbent material 70a.

[0043] This configuration disperses impacts on the first protrusions 72a due to vibrations and the like. Furthermore, because there are multiple areas where the first lump of adsorbent material 70a abuts against the second lump of adsorbent material 70b, the position of the first lump of adsorbent material 70a relative to the second lump of adsorbent material 70b is stabilized. This improves the stability and durability of the first protrusions 72a.

[0044] (1f) The side surfaces of the first lump adsorbent material 70a and the second lump adsorbent material 70b abut against the inner circumferential surface of the first adsorption chamber 51 so that no gap is created between them and the surfaces along the flow direction A in the first adsorption chamber 51.

[0045] With this configuration, the evaporated fuel flowing into the first adsorption chamber 51 passes through the first lump adsorbent material 70a and the second lump adsorbent material 70b, which further reduces the amount of evaporated fuel emitted from the first adsorption chamber 51 into the atmosphere via the atmospheric port 4.

[0046] (1g) The first protrusion 72a of the first lump of adsorbent material 70a abuts against the surface of the second lump of adsorbent material 70b that faces the first lump of adsorbent material 70a. A gap 8 is formed around the first protrusion 72a.

[0047] With this configuration, the gap 8 can be formed between the first lump of adsorbent material 70a and the second lump of adsorbent material 70b without using a separating member such as a filter. (1h) The first and second lump adsorbent materials 70a and 70b have the same shape and can be molded using the same manufacturing method, thereby reducing the manufacturing costs of the first and second lump adsorbent materials 70a and 70b.

[0048] 2. Other Embodiments Although the embodiments of the present disclosure have been described above, it goes without saying that the present disclosure is not limited to the above-described embodiments and can take on various forms.

[0049] (2a) In the above embodiment, five protrusions 72 of the lump adsorbent material 70 were formed on the first surface 711 of the lump adsorbent material 70, and had the shape of parallel protrusions. However, the shape and number of the protrusions 72 are not limited to this.

[0050] For example, the bulk adsorbent material 70 may be replaced with the bulk adsorbent material 270 shown in Fig. 4. The bulk adsorbent material 270 comprises a main body 271 having the same shape as the main body 71 of the bulk adsorbent material 70, and a conical protrusion 272 protruding from a first surface of the main body 271. At least one protrusion 272, for example, a plurality of protrusions 272, is formed on the first surface of the main body 271.

[0051] Alternatively, bulk adsorbent 70 may be replaced by bulk adsorbent 370 shown in Figure 5. Lump adsorbent 370 comprises a main body 371 having the same shape as main body 71 of bulk adsorbent 70, and a ring-shaped protrusion 372 protruding from a first surface of main body 371. Protrusion 372 extends in a ring shape around the axis of cylindrical main body 371. At least one protrusion 372, for example a plurality of protrusions 372, is formed on the first surface of main body 371.

[0052] (2b) In the above embodiment, the plurality of lump adsorbents 70 arranged inside the first adsorption chamber 51 consisted of two types: the first lump adsorbents 70a and the second lump adsorbents 70b. The first lump adsorbents 70a and the second lump adsorbents 70b had the same shape and were arranged inside the first adsorption chamber 51 side by side in the flow direction A, with the first protrusions 72a and the second protrusions 72b both facing the vehicle side in the flow direction A. However, the shape, number, and orientation of the plurality of lump adsorbents 70 arranged inside the first adsorption chamber 51 are not limited to this. The shapes of the plurality of lump adsorbents 70 may be different from one another, there may be three or more of them, and the protrusions 72 may face either the atmosphere side or the vehicle side in the flow direction A.

[0053] 6A , the second lump adsorbent material 70b may be arranged so that the second protrusion 72b faces the atmosphere in the flow direction A. In other words, the first lump adsorbent material 70a and the second lump adsorbent material 70b may be arranged so that the first protrusion 72a of the first lump adsorbent material 70a and the second protrusion 72b of the second lump adsorbent material 70b face each other. In this case, the first protrusion 72a and the second protrusion 72b may be arranged so as to abut against each other.

[0054] Alternatively, as shown in Figure 6B, second lump adsorbent material 70b may be replaced with third lump adsorbent material 70c. Third lump adsorbent material 70c has third protrusions 72c that differ in at least one of the number and shape from first protrusions 72a of first lump adsorbent material 70a, instead of second protrusions 72b of second lump adsorbent material 70b. Third protrusions 72c are formed on a third main body 71c.

[0055] 7A , a fourth lump of adsorbent material 70d may be disposed between the first lump of adsorbent material 70a and the second lump of adsorbent material 70b, or in place of the second lump of adsorbent material 70b. The fourth lump of adsorbent material 70d may have at least one fourth-order protrusion 721 that protrudes from the surface of the fourth main body 71d facing the atmosphere in the flow direction A, and at least one fourth-order protrusion 722 that protrudes from the surface of the fourth main body 71d facing the vehicle in the flow direction A. The fourth-order protrusion 721 may abut against the first protrusion 72a. The fourth-order protrusion 722 may abut against the second protrusion 72b.

[0056] Alternatively, as shown in FIG. 7B , fifth lump adsorbent materials 70e, which do not have protrusions 72, may be disposed closer to the atmosphere in the flow direction A than the first lump adsorbent materials 70a. The surface of the fifth lump adsorbent materials 70e facing the atmosphere in the flow direction A may be flat. In this case, the first lump adsorbent materials 70a and the second lump adsorbent materials 70b may be disposed such that the first protrusions 72a and the second protrusions 72b both face the atmosphere in the flow direction A. The first protrusions 72a may abut against the surface of the fifth lump adsorbent materials 70e facing the first lump adsorbent materials 70a. The second protrusions 72b may abut against the surface of the first lump adsorbent materials 70a facing the second lump adsorbent materials 70b.

[0057] (2c) In the above embodiment, the lump adsorbent material 70 was cylindrical. However, the shape of the lump adsorbent material 70 is not limited to a cylindrical shape, and may be, for example, any shape that fits into the inner circumferential surface of the first adsorption chamber 51. If the cross section perpendicular to the flow direction A of the first adsorption chamber 51 is polygonal, the lump adsorbent material 70 may be a polygonal pillar that fits into the inner circumferential surface of the first adsorption chamber 51.

[0058] (2d) In the above embodiment, the convex portion 72 was formed so that the cross-sectional area of ​​the cross section perpendicular to the direction in which the convex portion 72 protrudes becomes smaller as it moves toward the outside of the bulk adsorbent material 70, but the cross-sectional area is not limited to this.

[0059] For example, the first protrusions 72a may be formed so that, in a first cross section and a second cross section perpendicular to the protruding direction of the first protrusions 72a, the cross-sectional area of ​​the first cross section at a position closer to the second bulk adsorbent material 70b than the second cross section is smaller than the cross-sectional area of ​​the second cross section. The shape of the protrusions 72 may be formed so that the cross section parallel to the protruding direction of the protrusions 72 has a stepped shape.

[0060] Alternatively, the cross-sectional area of ​​the cross section perpendicular to the protruding direction of the protrusion 72 may be constant. In other words, the shape of the protrusion 72 may be a cylindrical shape, a polygonal pillar shape, or the like. (2e) Multiple functions possessed by one component in the above embodiments may be realized by multiple components, or one function possessed by one component may be realized by multiple components. Also, multiple functions possessed by multiple components may be realized by one component, or one function realized by multiple components may be realized by one component. Also, part of the configuration of the above embodiments may be omitted. Also, at least part of the configuration of the above embodiments may be added to or substituted for the configuration of another of the above embodiments.

[0061] [Technical idea disclosed in this specification] [Item 1] A canister for adsorbing evaporated fuel generated in a fuel tank of a vehicle, a plurality of lump adsorbents arranged in a flow path through which the evaporated fuel passes so as to be aligned in a flow direction of the evaporated fuel, the lump adsorbents adsorbing the evaporated fuel; an atmospheric port provided at an end of the flow path and open to the atmosphere; Equipped with The plurality of bulk adsorbents include at least a first bulk adsorbent and a second bulk adsorbent adjacent to each other, the first block of adsorbent material has at least one protrusion protruding from a surface of the first block of adsorbent material facing the second block of adsorbent material, the at least one protrusion forms a gap between the first block of adsorbent material and the second block of adsorbent material around the at least one protrusion; Canister.

[0062] [Item 2] Item 1. The canister according to item 1, a plurality of adsorption chambers for adsorbing the evaporated fuel are provided in the flow path; The plurality of adsorption chambers are arranged in the flow direction, the first bulk adsorbent material and the second bulk adsorbent material are disposed in an adsorption chamber among the plurality of adsorption chambers that is closest to the atmospheric port in the flow direction; Canister.

[0063] [Item 3] The canister according to item 1 or 2, the at least one protrusion abuts against the second block of adsorbent material; Canister.

[0064] [Item 4] Item 3. The canister according to item 3, the at least one protrusion is formed such that, in a first cross section and a second cross section perpendicular to the direction in which the protrusion is made, the cross-sectional area of ​​the first cross section at a position closer to the second block of adsorbent material than the second cross section is smaller than the cross-sectional area of ​​the second cross section. Canister.

[0065] [Item 5] The canister according to any one of items 1 to 4, a surface area of ​​a surface of the bulk adsorbent material closest to the atmospheric port among the plurality of bulk adsorbent materials in the flow direction, the surface facing the atmospheric port, is smaller than a surface area of ​​a surface of the bulk adsorbent material opposite to the surface facing the atmospheric port; Canister. [Explanation of symbols]

[0066] 1...canister, 4...atmospheric port, 70, 70a, 70b, 70c, 70d, 70e, 270, 370...lump adsorbent material, 8...gap, 72, 72a, 72b, 72c, 721, 722, 272, 372...protrusion.

Claims

[Claim 1] A canister for adsorbing evaporated fuel generated in a fuel tank of a vehicle, a plurality of lump adsorbents arranged in a flow path through which the evaporated fuel passes so as to be aligned in a flow direction of the evaporated fuel, the lump adsorbents adsorbing the evaporated fuel; an atmospheric port provided at an end of the flow path and open to the atmosphere; a plurality of adsorption chambers for adsorbing the evaporated fuel; Equipped with the plurality of bulk adsorbents include at least a first bulk adsorbent and a second bulk adsorbent adjacent to each other; the first block of adsorbent material has at least one protrusion protruding from a surface of the first block of adsorbent material facing the second block of adsorbent material, the at least one protrusion abuts against the second lump of adsorbent material, forming a gap between the first lump of adsorbent material and the second lump of adsorbent material around the at least one protrusion, and in a first cross section and a second cross section perpendicular to the direction in which the protrusions of the protrusions, the cross-sectional area of ​​the first cross section at a position closer to the second lump of adsorbent material than the second cross section is smaller than the cross-sectional area of ​​the second cross section, the plurality of adsorption chambers are provided in the flow path so as to be aligned in the flow direction, and include a first adsorption chamber and a second adsorption chamber; the first adsorption chamber is the adsorption chamber closest to the atmospheric port among the plurality of adsorption chambers in the flow direction, the length of the second adsorption chamber in the flow direction is longer than the length of the first adsorption chamber in the flow direction; the first bulk adsorbent material and the second bulk adsorbent material are disposed in the first adsorption chamber; a surface area of ​​a face of the bulk adsorbent material closest to the atmospheric port among the plurality of bulk adsorbent materials in the flow direction, the face facing the atmospheric port, is smaller than a surface area of ​​a face of the bulk adsorbent material opposite to the face facing the atmospheric port; Canister.

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