Gas-liquid separation device

Abstract

Provided is a gas-liquid separation device with a novel structure capable of preventing movement of foreign matter from the canister side to the fuel tank side, such movement being otherwise promoted internally.　A gas-liquid separation device 10 is provided on a fuel gas passage 3 communicating a fuel tank 1 and a canister 2 with each other, and is provided with: a gas passage space 14 comprising a gas inlet 30 serving as an opening on the fuel tank 1 side and a gas outlet 32 serving as an opening on the canister 2 side, the gas passage space 14 constituting a part of the fuel gas passage 3; and regulation parts 34, 60 regulating movement of foreign matter in the gas passage space 14 from the gas outlet 32 to the gas inlet 30.

Description

Gas-liquid separation equipment

[0001] The present invention relates to a gas-liquid separator provided in a fuel gas flow path that interconnects a fuel tank and a canister.

[0002] Conventionally, for example, in automobiles, canisters are provided to prevent fuel gas, which is vaporized liquid fuel in a fuel tank, from leaking to the outside. The canister is connected to the fuel tank through a fuel gas flow path, and the canister prevents fuel gas from being released to the outside from the fuel tank by the adsorption action of activated carbon contained therein.

[0003] Incidentally, a gas-liquid separator that suppresses the flow of liquid fuel from the fuel tank to the canister is sometimes provided in the fuel gas flow path that interconnects the fuel tank and the canister. As shown in, for example, Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 2006-336495 (Patent Document 1) and Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 2014-529543 (Patent Document 2), the gas-liquid separator has an internal gas passage space that constitutes the fuel gas flow path, and prevents liquid fuel that has entered the gas passage space from the fuel tank from flowing directly into the canister.

[0004] JP 2006-336495 A JP 2014-529543 A

[0005] However, while gas-liquid separators such as those disclosed in Patent Documents 1 and 2 suppress the movement of fuel from the fuel tank to the canister, they tend to promote the movement of foreign matter from the canister to the fuel tank. Therefore, if foreign matter such as activated carbon particles in the canister moves toward the fuel tank for some reason and enters the gas passage space of the gas-liquid separator, the movement of the foreign matter toward the fuel tank may be promoted due to factors such as a gradient within the gas-liquid separator.

[0006] An object of the present invention is to provide a gas-liquid separator having a novel structure that can prevent the migration of foreign matter from the canister side to the fuel tank side, which may be promoted internally.

[0007] The following describes preferred embodiments for understanding the present invention, but the embodiments described below are merely examples and may be appropriately combined with one another. Multiple components described in each embodiment may be recognized and employed independently to the greatest extent possible, and may also be appropriately combined with any of the components described in other embodiments. Accordingly, the present invention is not limited to the embodiments described below, and various other embodiments may be realized.

[0008] The first aspect is a gas-liquid separation device provided on a fuel gas flow path that interconnects a fuel tank and a canister, in which a gas passage space is provided having a gas inlet that is an opening on the fuel tank side and a gas outlet that is an opening on the canister side, the gas passage space constituting a part of the fuel gas flow path, and a regulating part is provided that regulates the movement of foreign matter from the gas outlet to the gas inlet within the gas passage space.

[0009] In a gas-liquid separator constructed according to this aspect, when foreign matter, such as activated carbon particles contained in a canister, attempts to move from the canister to the fuel tank, the foreign matter that has entered the gas passage space of the gas-liquid separator from the canister is restricted from moving toward the fuel tank by the restricting portion, making it difficult for the foreign matter that has entered the gas passage space to flow toward the fuel tank, thereby reducing or avoiding problems caused by the intrusion of foreign matter into the fuel tank.

[0010] In a second aspect, in the gas-liquid separation device described in the first aspect, a protruding wall extending in a width direction intersecting the flow path length direction of the fuel gas flow path is provided in the gas passage space, and the regulating portion is configured to include the protruding wall, and a regulating rib protruding from the gas outlet side surface is formed on the protruding wall.

[0011] In a gas-liquid separation device constructed in accordance with this embodiment, the regulating portion is configured to include a protruding wall that protrudes into the gas passage space, so that the movement of foreign matter can be regulated with a simpler structure than when the movement of foreign matter is regulated by separate parts such as a filter or valve.

[0012] Furthermore, since the restricting rib is provided on the surface of the protruding wall facing the gas outlet, even if a foreign object that has entered the gas passage space through the gas outlet is restricted in movement by the protruding wall and then attempts to move in the width direction along the protruding wall and go around the protruding wall, the restricting rib restricts the foreign object from going around in the width direction. As a result, the foreign object is captured by the protruding wall and the restricting rib, and the outflow of the foreign object from the gas passage space toward the fuel tank is efficiently restricted.

[0013] In a third aspect, in the gas-liquid separation device described in the first or second aspect, a protruding wall extending in a width direction intersecting the flow path length direction of the fuel gas flow path is provided in the gas passage space, the regulating portion is configured to include an end of the protruding wall, and the protruding wall has a regulating inclined wall portion that is inclined so as to approach the gas outlet as it approaches the end of the width direction of the fuel gas flow path.

[0014] In a gas-liquid separation device constructed in accordance with this embodiment, the regulating portion is configured to include a protruding wall that protrudes into the gas passage space, so that the movement of foreign matter can be regulated with a simpler structure than when the movement of foreign matter is regulated by separate parts such as a filter or valve.

[0015] Furthermore, because the protruding wall includes the restricting inclined wall portion, foreign matter that has entered the gas passage space through the gas outlet is restricted by the protruding wall and is then less likely to move along the protruding wall toward the widthwise end of the protruding wall. Therefore, foreign matter that has been restricted in movement by contact with the protruding wall is less likely to move around the end of the protruding wall toward the gas inlet, effectively preventing foreign matter from flowing out of the gas passage space toward the fuel tank.

[0016] In a fourth aspect, in the gas-liquid separation device described in the third aspect, the protruding wall includes an intermediate wall portion protruding from at least one of the bottom surface and the top surface of the gas passage space at the middle of the gas passage space in the width direction, and the intermediate wall portion has the regulating inclined wall portion inclined toward both outer ends in the width direction so as to approach the gas outlet.

[0017] In the gas-liquid separator constructed according to this aspect, the intermediate wall portion having ends on both outer width sides is provided with regulating inclined wall portions that are inclined toward the gas outlet toward the outer width sides, making it difficult for foreign matter to move around both width sides of the intermediate wall portion toward the gas inlet side. Moreover, foreign matter is easily captured between the regulating inclined wall portions on both width sides, effectively preventing foreign matter from flowing out of the gas passage space toward the fuel tank side.

[0018] In a fifth aspect, in the gas-liquid separation device described in the third or fourth aspect, the protruding wall includes a side end wall portion that protrudes from a side surface of the gas passage space at a widthwise end of the gas passage space, and the side end wall portion is inclined so as to approach the gas outlet toward the widthwise inner end, and the regulating portion is configured to include the side end wall portion.

[0019] In the gas-liquid separator constructed according to this aspect, the side end wall portion that protrudes from the side surface of the gas passage space and has an end portion on the inner side in the width direction is provided with a restricting inclined wall portion that slopes toward the gas outlet toward the inner side end in the width direction, making it difficult for foreign matter to move around the inner side end of the side end wall portion toward the gas inlet side. Moreover, foreign matter is easily guided and captured between the side end wall portion and the peripheral wall (side surface) of the gas passage space, effectively preventing foreign matter from flowing out of the gas passage space toward the fuel tank side.

[0020] A sixth aspect is a gas-liquid separation device described in any one of the first to fifth aspects, wherein the gas passage space has a regulating inclined bottom surface that slopes downward from the gas inlet toward the gas outlet, and the regulating portion is configured to include the regulating inclined bottom surface.

[0021] In a gas-liquid separation device constructed in accordance with this embodiment, the regulating portion is configured to include a regulating inclined bottom surface of the gas passage space, so that the movement of foreign matter can be regulated with a simpler structure than when the movement of foreign matter is regulated by separate parts such as a filter or valve.

[0022] The inclination of the restrictive inclined bottom surface makes it easy to guide foreign matter toward the gas outlet side, making it difficult for foreign matter in the gas passage space to move toward the gas inlet side, effectively restricting the outflow of foreign matter from the gas passage space toward the fuel tank side.

[0023] In a seventh aspect, in the gas-liquid separation device described in any one of the first to sixth aspects, a protruding wall extending in a width direction intersecting the flow path length direction of the fuel gas flow path is provided in the gas passage space, the regulating portion is configured to include the protruding wall, the gas passage space has a return inclined bottom surface that slopes downward from the gas outlet toward the gas inlet, and a through hole of a size that can prevent the passage of the foreign matter is formed in the lower part of the protruding wall.

[0024] In a gas-liquid separation device constructed in accordance with this embodiment, the regulating portion is configured to include a protruding wall that protrudes into the gas passage space, so that the movement of foreign matter can be regulated with a simpler structure than when the movement of foreign matter is regulated by separate parts such as a filter or valve.

[0025] The return inclined bottom surface is provided on the bottom surface of the gas passage space, so that liquid fuel that has entered the gas passage space from the fuel tank flows easily toward the fuel tank due to the guiding action of the return inclined bottom surface toward the fuel tank side, and is less likely to flow out of the gas passage space toward the canister side.The protruding wall that protrudes into the gas passage space has a through hole formed in the lower part, so that the flow (return) of liquid fuel toward the fuel tank side is permitted by the through hole, and the protruding wall is less likely to obstruct the flow of liquid fuel toward the fuel tank side.

[0026] The guiding action of the return inclined bottom surface also makes it easier for foreign matter to be guided toward the fuel tank, but the protruding wall prevents foreign matter from moving toward the fuel tank (gas inlet side). The protruding wall has a through-hole formed therein to allow liquid fuel to pass through, but the through-hole is large enough to prevent foreign matter from passing through, so the protruding wall prevents foreign matter from moving through the through-hole toward the fuel tank.

[0027] According to the present invention, the gas-liquid separator can be used to suppress the movement of foreign matter from the canister side to the fuel tank side.

[0028] 3 is a bottom view of a cover member constituting the gas-liquid separator shown in FIG. 1; FIG. 4 is a diagram explaining the movement of activated carbon particles in the gas-liquid separator shown in FIG. 1, showing a state in which a first protruding wall restricts the movement of the activated carbon particles; FIG. 5 is a diagram explaining the movement of activated carbon particles in the gas-liquid separator shown in FIG. 1, showing a state in which a second protruding wall restricts the movement of the activated carbon particles; FIG. 6 is a diagram explaining the movement of activated carbon particles in the gas-liquid separator shown in FIG. 1, showing a state in which a third protruding wall restricts the movement of the activated carbon particles;

[0029] Hereinafter, an embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.

[0030] 1 and 2 show a gas-liquid separation device 10 according to a first embodiment of the present invention. As shown in Fig. 2, the gas-liquid separation device 10 is disposed on a fuel gas flow path 3 that interconnects a fuel tank 1 and a canister 2, and has a gas-liquid separation function that allows fuel gas to move from the fuel tank 1 to the canister 2 while making it difficult for liquid fuel, such as gasoline or diesel, in the fuel tank 1 to reach the canister 2. In the following description, as a general rule, the up-down direction refers to the up-down direction in Fig. 2, the front-rear direction refers to the up-down direction in Fig. 1, and the left-right direction refers to the left-right direction in Fig. 2. Furthermore, the fuel tank 1 side refers to the left side in Fig. 2, and the canister 2 side refers to the right side in Fig. 2.

[0031] The gas-liquid separation device 10 includes a hollow housing 12, and the interior space of the housing 12 is a gas passage space 14 that forms part of the fuel gas flow path 3. The housing 12 is formed by assembling a main body member 16 and a cover member 18 that are stacked in the vertical direction.

[0032] As shown in Figures 3 and 4, the main body member 16 integrally comprises a bottomed cylindrical gas-liquid separation section 20, a tank side connection section 22 extending from the gas-liquid separation section 20 toward the fuel tank 1, and a canister side connection section 24 extending from the gas-liquid separation section 20 toward the canister 2.

[0033] The gas-liquid separation unit 20 has a generally rounded rectangular shape when viewed from above. The gas-liquid separation unit 20 includes a cylindrical peripheral wall 26 that extends linearly in the vertical direction, and a bottom wall 28 that closes a lower opening of the peripheral wall 26. A flange-shaped portion 29 that protrudes outward is provided continuously around the entire periphery of the upper end of the peripheral wall 26. The peripheral wall 26 is formed with a gas inlet 30 that penetrates the lower end on the fuel tank 1 side, and a gas outlet 32 ​​that penetrates the lower end on the canister 2 side. The gas inlet 30 and the gas outlet 32 ​​each have a circular cross-sectional shape and open into a gas passage space 14 (described later) that is provided on the inner periphery of the peripheral wall 26. In this embodiment, the gas inlet 30 has a smaller diameter than the gas outlet 32. However, the size relationship between the gas inlet 30 and the gas outlet 32 ​​is not particularly limited. The gas inlet 30 and the gas outlet 32 ​​may have substantially the same diameter, or the gas inlet 30 may have a larger diameter.

[0034] The upper surface of the bottom wall 28 is formed as a restricting inclined bottom surface 34 that constitutes a restricting portion. As shown in FIG. 4 , the restricting inclined bottom surface 34 is inclined with respect to the lower surface of the bottom wall 28, which extends substantially horizontally in the normal vehicle posture, and is inclined downward from the gas inlet 30 side (fuel tank 1 side) to the gas outlet 32 ​​side (canister 2 side). In this embodiment, the restricting inclined bottom surface 34 is inclined at a substantially constant inclination angle, but the inclination angle may change gradually or in steps. In addition, in this embodiment, the entire upper surface of the bottom wall 28 is formed as the restricting inclined bottom surface 34. The bottom wall 28 becomes thinner from the gas inlet 30 side to the gas outlet 32 ​​side due to the setting of the restricting inclined bottom surface 34. Note that the upper surface of the bottom wall 28 (the restricting inclined bottom surface 34) may be inclined or curved in the width direction perpendicular to the flow path direction connecting the gas inlet 30 and the gas outlet 32, but in this embodiment, it has a flat shape that extends horizontally in the width direction.

[0035] The gas-liquid separator 20 is provided with lower restraining walls 36 that protrude upward from the bottom wall 28. In this embodiment, as shown in Fig. 3, a first lower restraining wall 36a, a pair of second lower restraining walls 36b, 36b, and a third lower restraining wall 36c are provided.

[0036] The first lower limiting wall 36a is disposed approximately at the center in the front-to-rear direction and has a flat plate shape extending approximately perpendicular to the left-to-right direction, which is the flow path length direction of the fuel gas flow path 3. The first lower limiting wall 36a is disposed closer to the gas outlet 32 ​​than the center in the left-to-right direction, and the distance from the gas outlet 32 ​​to the first lower limiting wall 36a is preferably smaller than the front-to-rear width of the first lower limiting wall 36a. The front-to-rear width of the first lower limiting wall 36a is larger than the front-to-rear interior dimension of the gas outlet 32, preferably at least 1.5 times the front-to-rear interior dimension of the gas outlet 32. Therefore, the entire gas outlet 32 ​​overlaps with the first lower limiting wall 36a when projected in the left-to-right direction. The front-to-rear width of the first lower limiting wall 36a is preferably between 1 / 2 and 3 / 4 times the front-to-rear interior dimension of the gas-liquid separation unit 20 (the front-to-rear interior dimension of the gas passage space 14, described later) at the left-to-right position where the first lower limiting wall 36a is disposed.

[0037] The second lower restraining wall 36b has an outer end portion in the front-to-rear width direction that is integrally continuous with the peripheral wall 26 and serves as a side end wall portion that protrudes inward in the width direction from the width direction side surface, which is the inner surface of the peripheral wall 26. The second lower restraining wall 36b serves as an inclined restraining wall portion that inclines and widens from the outer side to the inner side in the front-to-rear width direction toward the gas outlet 32, and a corner 38 formed by the second lower restraining wall 36b and the peripheral wall 26 on the gas outlet 32 ​​side forms an acute angle in a vertical view. The inclination angle α of the second lower restraining wall 36b with respect to the left-to-right direction is preferably within a range of 30° to 60°. In this embodiment, the inclination angle of the second lower restraining wall 36b with respect to the left-to-right direction is substantially constant throughout, but the inclination angle of the second lower restraining wall 36b with respect to the left-to-right direction may change gradually or in steps.

[0038] The pair of front and rear second lower restraint walls 36b, 36b are symmetrical to each other. The inner ends of the pair of second lower restraint walls 36b, 36b in the front-to-rear direction are spaced a predetermined distance from each other, and the distance between the inner ends is smaller than the front-to-rear width of the first lower restraint wall 36a. Therefore, the front-to-rear central portion of the first lower restraint wall 36a and the front-to-rear inner end portions of the second lower restraint walls 36b, 36b overlap each other in left-to-right projection.

[0039] A restricting rib 40 is integrally formed with the second lower restricting wall 36b, protruding toward the gas outlet 32. The restricting rib 40 is located near the end of the second lower restricting wall 36b toward the center of the width direction and protrudes in a direction substantially perpendicular to the second lower restricting wall 36b. The restricting rib 40 is located at a position where the entire restricting rib 40 overlaps with the first lower restricting wall 36a when projected in the left-right direction. The protruding dimension of the restricting rib 40 from the second lower restricting wall 36b is not particularly limited, but is set to be larger than the outer dimensions of the foreign matter to be captured (activated carbon particles 6, described later in this embodiment), preferably three times or more the outer dimensions of the foreign matter. Note that the protruding dimension of the restricting rib 40 can be set based on the maximum, minimum, average, or other outer dimensions of the foreign matter if the outer surface of the foreign matter is not spherical. If the foreign matter is particulate, the protruding dimension can be set based on the average particle diameter of the foreign matter.

[0040] Like the first lower restraint wall 36a, the third lower restraint wall 36c has both left-right ends spaced inward from the peripheral wall 26, forming an intermediate wall portion located midway in the left-right direction. The third lower restraint wall 36c is positioned closer to the gas inlet 30 than the center in the left-right direction, and preferably the distance between the third lower restraint wall 36c and the gas inlet 30 is smaller than the front-to-rear width of the third lower restraint wall 36c. The front-to-rear width of the third lower restraint wall 36c is larger than the front-to-rear interior dimension of the gas inlet 30, preferably at least 1.5 times the front-to-rear interior dimension of the gas inlet 30. Therefore, the entire gas inlet 30 overlaps with the third lower restraint wall 36c when projected in the left-to-right direction. The front-to-rear width of the third lower restraint wall 36c is preferably within a range of at least 1 / 2 and at most 3 / 4 times the front-to-rear interior dimension of the gas-liquid separation unit 20 at the left-to-right position where the third lower restraint wall 36c is located. In this embodiment, the front-rear width dimension of the first lower restriction wall 36a and the front-rear width dimension of the third lower restriction wall 36c are substantially the same.

[0041] The third lower restraining wall 36c is an inclined restraining wall portion that inclines and widens from the center in the front-rear width direction toward both outer sides so as to approach the gas outlet 32, and has a V-shape when viewed in the up-down direction, with the center in the width direction being closest to the gas inlet 30. The central angle β formed by both widthwise ends of the third lower restraining wall 36c is preferably within a range of 80° to 160°. In this embodiment, the third lower restraining wall 36c is inclined at a substantially constant inclination angle from the center in the front-rear direction toward the outer side, but the magnitude of the inclination angle may change gradually or in steps. Furthermore, the absolute values ​​of the inclination angles of the front and rear widthwise ends of the third lower restraining wall 36c relative to the center in the front-rear direction may be different from each other.

[0042] The third lower restraint wall 36c has a width dimension in the front-rear direction that is greater than the distance between the inner ends of the pair of second lower restraint walls 36b, 36b in the front-rear direction. Therefore, the outer end of the third lower restraint wall 36c in the front-rear direction overlaps the inner end of the pair of second lower restraint walls 36b, 36b in the front-rear direction when projected in the left-right direction.

[0043] The third lower restricting wall 36c is integrally formed with a restricting rib 42 that protrudes toward the gas outlet 32. The restricting ribs 42 are provided near both outer widthwise ends of the third lower restricting wall 36c and protrude in a direction substantially perpendicular to the third lower restricting wall 36c. The restricting rib 42 is provided at a position where the entire restricting rib 42 overlaps with the second lower restricting walls 36b, 36b when projected in the left-right direction. Note that, like the restricting rib 40 provided on the second lower restricting wall 36b, the protruding dimension of the restricting rib 42 provided on the third lower restricting wall 36c is set taking into account the outer dimensions of the foreign matter to be captured.

[0044] By providing these first to third lower regulating walls 36a, 36b, 36b, 36c, the gas inlet 30 and the gas outlet 32 ​​are not connected linearly in the left-right direction, but are connected via a winding path.

[0045] A tank-side connecting part 22 is integrally formed around the opening periphery of the gas inlet 30 in the peripheral wall 26 of the gas-liquid separation part 20. The tank-side connecting part 22 has a generally small-diameter cylindrical shape overall, and extends linearly from the opening periphery of the gas inlet 30 toward the left, that is, the outer periphery of the peripheral wall 26. Therefore, a gas passage space 14 (described below), which is the space on the inner periphery of the peripheral wall 26, and the inner hole of the tank-side connecting part 22 are mutually communicated through the gas inlet 30.

[0046] The tank-side connecting part 22 has a distal end extending from the peripheral wall 26 that forms a tube mounting part 44 with a larger diameter than the proximal end, and the tank-side tube 4 that connects the gas-liquid separation device 10 and the fuel tank 1 is attached in an externally inserted state to the tube mounting part 44. A flange-shaped part 46 that protrudes outward is provided at the proximal end of the tube mounting part 44, and the attachment position of the tank-side tube 4 to the tube mounting part 44 is determined by the tank-side tube 4 abutting against the flange-shaped part 46. In addition, a return-shaped stopper protrusion 48 protrudes from the outer peripheral surface of the tube mounting part 44, and the stopper protrusion 48 bites into the inner peripheral surface of the tank-side tube 4 that is externally inserted onto the tube mounting part 44, thereby preventing the tank-side tube 4 from coming off.

[0047] A canister-side connecting portion 24 is integrally formed around the opening periphery of the gas outlet 32 ​​in the peripheral wall 26 of the gas-liquid separation portion 20. The canister-side connecting portion 24 has a generally small-diameter cylindrical shape overall, and extends linearly from the opening periphery of the gas outlet 32 ​​toward the right, that is, the outer periphery of the peripheral wall 26. Therefore, a gas passage space 14 (described below), which is the space on the inner periphery of the peripheral wall 26, and an inner hole of the canister-side connecting portion 24 are interconnected through the gas outlet 32. A canister-side tube 5, which interconnects the gas-liquid separation device 10 and the canister 2, is attached in an externally inserted state to the canister-side connecting portion 24.

[0048] As shown in FIG. 1 , the cover member 18 is a plate-like member having a generally rounded rectangular shape corresponding to the peripheral wall 26 of the main body member 16 when viewed in the vertical direction. As shown in FIG. 2 , a downwardly protruding fitting portion 50 is integrally formed continuously around the entire periphery. The cover member 18 is attached to the main body member 16 with the fitting portion 50 inserted into an upper opening of the peripheral wall 26. The cover member 18 is positioned in the vertical direction relative to the main body member 16 by a positioning portion 52 that protrudes outward beyond the fitting portion 50 being superimposed from above on the flange-shaped portion 29 of the main body member 16. The cover member 18 is preferably fixed to the main body member 16 by, for example, adhesive bonding or welding. A fluid-tight seal is desirably formed between the cover member 18 and the main body member 16 to prevent leakage of liquid fuel or fuel gas.

[0049] The cover member 18 is provided with an upper stop wall 54 that protrudes downward. In this embodiment, as shown in Fig. 5, the upper stop wall 54 is composed of a first upper stop wall 54a, a pair of second upper stop walls 54b, 54b, and a third upper stop wall 54c.

[0050] The first upper regulating wall 54a has a shape corresponding to the first lower regulating wall 36a when viewed in the vertical direction, and when the cover member 18 is attached to the main body member 16, its lower end is abutted against the first lower regulating wall 36a in the vertical direction.

[0051] The second upper restricting wall 54b has a shape corresponding to that of the second lower restricting wall 36b when viewed in the vertical direction, and is a side end wall portion having a restricting inclined wall portion. When the cover member 18 is attached to the main body member 16, the lower end of the second upper restricting wall 54b abuts against the upper end of the second lower restricting wall 36b in the vertical direction. The second upper restricting wall 54b has a restricting rib 56 that corresponds to the restricting rib 40 of the second lower restricting wall 36b. The restricting rib 56 protrudes from the second upper restricting wall 54b toward the gas outlet 32 ​​side, and the lower end of the restricting rib 56 abuts against the upper end of the restricting rib 40, and is provided so as to be continuous upward from the restricting rib 40.

[0052] The third upper restricting wall 54c has a shape corresponding to that of the third lower restricting wall 36c when viewed in the vertical direction, and is an intermediate wall portion including a restricting inclined wall portion. When the cover member 18 is attached to the main body member 16, the lower end of the third upper restricting wall 54c abuts against the upper end of the third lower restricting wall 36c in the vertical direction. The third upper restricting wall 54c includes a restricting rib 58 corresponding to the restricting rib 42 of the third lower restricting wall 36c. The restricting rib 58 protrudes from the third upper restricting wall 54c toward the gas outlet 32 ​​side, and the lower end of the restricting rib 58 abuts against the upper end of the restricting rib 42, and is provided continuously upward from the restricting rib 42.

[0053] The main body member 16 and the cover member 18 thus constructed are combined to form the hollow housing 12. A gas passage space 14 is defined between the main body member 16 and the cover member 18 of the housing 12. The gas passage space 14 is connected to the inner hole of the tank-side connecting portion 22 and the inner hole of the canister-side connecting portion 24, and forms part of the fuel gas flow path 3 that connects the fuel tank 1 and the canister 2 to each other.

[0054] A protruding wall 60 constituting a restricting portion is disposed within the gas passage space 14. In this embodiment, the protruding wall 60 is composed of a first protruding wall 60a including a first lower restricting wall 36a and a first upper restricting wall 54a that are abutted against each other in the vertical direction, a second protruding wall 60b including a second lower restricting wall 36b and a second upper restricting wall 54b that are abutted against each other in the vertical direction, and a third protruding wall 60c including a third lower restricting wall 36c and a third upper restricting wall 54c that are abutted against each other in the vertical direction. The first to third protruding walls 60a, 60b, 60b, 60c all extend in a width direction that intersects with the left-right direction, which is the flow path length direction of the fuel gas flow field 3. The first to third protruding walls 60a, 60b, 60b, 60c form a maze-like meandering path within the gas passage space 14 that connects the gas inlet 30 and the gas outlet 32.

[0055] In this way, the gas inlet 30 and the gas outlet 32 ​​are connected by a winding path via the first to third protruding walls 60a, 60b, 60b, and 60c, so that the liquid fuel that enters the gas passage space 14 from the gas inlet 30 does not reach the gas outlet 32 ​​in a straight line in the left-right direction, but its flow is obstructed by the first to third protruding walls 60a, 60b, 60b, and 60c. This makes it difficult for the liquid fuel that enters the gas passage space 14 to flow out toward the canister 2, making it possible to prevent the liquid fuel from flowing into the canister 2 while allowing the fuel gas to flow into the canister 2.

[0056] However, depending on the environmental temperature conditions, for example, the pressure inside the fuel tank 1 may become relatively lower than the pressure inside the canister 2, causing foreign matter (activated carbon particles 6, described later) inside the canister 2 to move from the canister 2 toward the fuel tank 1. In such a case, if the gas-liquid separation device 10 according to this embodiment is provided on the fuel gas flow path 3, it is possible to prevent the foreign matter from entering the fuel tank 1.

[0057] That is, in the gas-liquid separation device 10, the upper surface of the bottom wall 28 of the main body member 16 is formed as a restricted inclined bottom surface 34 that slopes downward from the gas inlet 30 toward the gas outlet 32, so that the activated carbon particles 6 on the bottom wall 28 are guided toward the gas outlet 32 ​​side and are less likely to move toward the gas inlet 30 side. Therefore, the activated carbon particles 6 are less likely to flow out from the gas passage space 14 toward the fuel tank 1 side and are less likely to enter the fuel tank 1.

[0058] Furthermore, when activated carbon particles 6 as foreign matter enter the gas passage space 14 from the canister 2 side through the gas outlet 32, as shown in FIG. 6A , movement of the activated carbon particles 6 toward the gas inlet 30 side is restricted by contact with the first protruding wall 60a. The first protruding wall 60a is located close to the gas outlet 32 ​​in the left-right direction and overlaps the entire gas outlet 32 ​​in left-right projection, thereby more reliably restricting movement of the activated carbon particles 6 that have entered the gas passage space 14 from the gas outlet 32. Note that in FIG. 6 , the cover member 18 is omitted in order to show the state inside the gas passage space 14 into which the activated carbon particles 6 have entered. Also, in FIG. 6 , the flow path of a fluid (e.g., fuel gas) from the canister 2 side to the fuel tank 1 side is shown by a dashed line. It is assumed that the activated carbon particles 6 move along the fluid flow path shown by the dashed line in FIG. 6 .

[0059] If the activated carbon particles 6 move further from both widthwise outer sides of the first protruding wall 60a toward the gas inlet 30, the movement of the activated carbon particles 6 toward the gas inlet 30 is restricted by abutment against the second protruding walls 60b, 60b provided at both widthwise end portions of the gas passage space 14, as shown in Fig. 6B. Since the inner widthwise ends of the second protruding walls 60b, 60b overlap the first protruding wall 60a in left-right projection, the activated carbon particles 6 moving widthwise outside the first protruding wall 60a are more reliably captured by the second protruding walls 60b, 60b.

[0060] Since the second protruding walls 60b, 60b are inclined inward in the width direction toward the gas outlet 32, the activated carbon particles 6 that come into contact with the second protruding walls 60b, 60b are easily guided outward in the width direction along the inclination of the second protruding walls 60b, 60b, and are captured in the corners 38, thereby being prevented from moving toward the gas inlet 30.

[0061] In particular, in this embodiment, the inclination angle α of the second protruding wall 60b with respect to the left-right direction is set within a range of 30 to 60 degrees. This ensures a sufficient width of the second protruding wall 60b without requiring excessive increase in size in the left-right direction, allowing the activated carbon particles 6 to be efficiently captured by the second protruding wall 60b, and also allowing the activated carbon particles 6 captured by the second protruding wall 60b to be stably retained in the corner portion 38.

[0062] Even if the activated carbon particles 6 move inward in the width direction along the second protruding walls 60b, 60b, the restricting ribs 40, 56 provided on each second protruding wall 60b make it difficult for the activated carbon particles 6 to move around to the inside in the width direction of the second protruding wall 60b, and thus the activated carbon particles 6 are prevented from moving toward the gas inlet 30.

[0063] When the activated carbon particles 6 move further toward the gas inlet 30 through between the widthwise inner ends of the second protruding walls 60b, 60b, the movement of the activated carbon particles 6 toward the gas inlet 30 is restricted by abutment with the third protruding wall 60c, as shown in Fig. 6C. Since the widthwise outer end of the third protruding wall 60c overlaps with the second protruding walls 60b, 60b in left-right projection, the activated carbon particles 6 moving between the widthwise inner ends of the second protruding walls 60b, 60b are more reliably captured by the third protruding wall 60c.

[0064] The third protruding wall 60c is inclined inward in the width direction toward the gas inlet 30, and is V-shaped widening toward the gas outlet 32 ​​when viewed in the vertical direction. Therefore, the activated carbon particles 6 that come into contact with the third protruding wall 60c are easily guided inward in the width direction along the inclination of the third protruding wall 60c, and are prevented from moving toward the gas inlet 30 by the third protruding wall 60c.

[0065] In particular, in this embodiment, the central angle β of the third protruding wall 60c is set within a range of 80 to 160°. This ensures a sufficient width of the third protruding wall 60c without requiring excessive increase in size in the left-right direction, allowing the activated carbon particles 6 to be efficiently captured by the third protruding wall 60c, and also allowing the activated carbon particles 6 captured by the third protruding wall 60c to be stably retained in the central portion in the width direction.

[0066] Even if the activated carbon particles 6 move outward in the width direction along the third protruding wall 60c, the restricting ribs 42, 58 provided on the third protruding wall 60c make it difficult for the activated carbon particles 6 to move around the third protruding wall 60c outward in the width direction, thereby preventing the activated carbon particles 6 from moving toward the gas inlet 30.

[0067] As described above, the activated carbon particles 6 that have entered the gas passage space 14 from the gas outlet 32 ​​are restricted from moving toward the gas inlet 30 by the restrictive inclined bottom surface 34, and are restricted in multiple stages from moving toward the gas inlet 30 by the first to third protruding walls 60a, 60b, 60b, 60c, making it difficult for the activated carbon particles 6 to flow out toward the fuel tank 1 through the gas inlet 30, thereby preventing problems caused by the activated carbon particles 6 entering the fuel tank 1. As is clear from this, in this embodiment, the restricting portion that restricts the movement of the activated carbon particles 6 toward the gas inlet 30 is composed of the restrictive inclined bottom surface 34 and the first to third protruding walls 60a, 60b, 60b, 60c.

[0068] Furthermore, the first to third protruding walls 60a, 60b, 60b, 60c are shaped and positioned to particularly easily restrict the movement of particulate foreign matter from the gas outlet 32 ​​toward the gas inlet 30 within the gas passage space 14, thereby effectively restricting the movement of activated carbon particles 6 from the canister 2 side toward the fuel tank 1 side.

[0069] 7 shows a gas-liquid separator 70 according to a second embodiment of the present invention. The gas-liquid separator 70 includes a hollow housing 72, which is composed of a main body member 74 and a cover member 18. In the following description, components and parts that are substantially the same as those in the first embodiment are denoted by the same reference numerals in the drawings, and description thereof will be omitted.

[0070] The main body member 74 integrally includes a gas-liquid separator 76, a tank-side connector 22, and a canister-side connector 24. The gas-liquid separator 76 includes a peripheral wall 26 and a bottom wall 78, and the upper surface of the bottom wall 78 forms a return inclined bottom surface 80 that slopes downward from the gas outlet 32 ​​toward the gas inlet 30. The return inclined bottom surface 80 has an inclination direction opposite to that of the restricting inclined bottom surface 34 of the first embodiment, and guides fluid and particles in the gas passage space 14 toward the gas inlet 30.

[0071] A protruding wall 82 constituting a restricting portion is disposed in the gas passage space 14. The protruding wall 82 in this embodiment is composed of a first protruding wall 82a, second protruding walls 82b, 82b, and a third protruding wall 82c. The first to third protruding walls 82a, 82b, 82b, 82c in this embodiment basically have the same shape and structure as the first to third protruding walls 60a, 60b, 60b, 60c in the first embodiment, and extend in a direction intersecting the left-right direction, which is the flow path length direction of the fuel gas flow field 3.

[0072] The first to third protruding walls 82a, 82b, 82b, 82c each have a through hole 84 formed in its lower portion. The through hole 84 is formed by penetrating in the left-right direction through the lower end portion of a lower restraint wall 86 (first lower restraint wall 86a, second lower restraint wall 86b, 86b, third lower restraint wall 86c) provided on the main body member 74.

[0073] The through holes 84 are sized to prevent the passage of activated carbon particles 6. The through holes 84 are desirably sized to capture 90% or more of the foreign matter (activated carbon particles 6) that are expected to be captured. For example, the maximum internal dimension of the through holes 84 is smaller than the maximum external dimension of the activated carbon particles 6. The internal dimension of the through holes 84 can be appropriately set taking into account the particle diameter of the activated carbon particles 6, but in practice, it is desirably 0.2 mm or less, for example. The cross-sectional shape of the through holes 84 is not particularly limited, but for example, by making the cross-sectional shape of the holes flat, it is possible to prevent the passage of activated carbon particles 6 while ensuring the cross-sectional area of ​​the holes.

[0074] According to the gas-liquid separation device 70 of this embodiment, similarly to the first embodiment, the first to third protruding walls 82a, 82b, 82b, and 82c restrict the movement of the activated carbon particles 6 from the gas outlet 32 ​​toward the gas inlet 30, making it difficult for the activated carbon particles 6 to enter the fuel tank 1. In this embodiment, the first to third protruding walls 82a, 82b, 82b, and 82c each have a through hole 84 formed therein, but since the through hole 84 is of a size that can prevent the activated carbon particles 6 from passing through, the through hole 84 is unlikely to affect the ability of the first to third protruding walls 82a, 82b, 82b, and 82c to capture the activated carbon particles 6.

[0075] Furthermore, in the gas-liquid separation device 70 of this embodiment, when liquid fuel enters the gas passage space 14 from the fuel tank 1, the liquid fuel is less likely to flow out from the gas passage space 14 to the canister 2 and is less likely to remain in the gas passage space 14. That is, the upper surface of the bottom wall 78 of the gas-liquid separation section 76 is formed as the return inclined bottom surface 80 that slopes downward from the canister 2 side to the fuel tank 1 side, and therefore the liquid fuel that enters the gas passage space 14 is more likely to flow toward the fuel tank 1 side due to the inclination of the return inclined bottom surface 80, and is less likely to flow toward the canister 2 side. Furthermore, since the through holes 84 are formed at the lower ends of the first to third protruding walls 82a, 82b, 82c, the flow of liquid fuel toward the fuel tank 1 side is less likely to be obstructed by the first to third protruding walls 82a, 82b, 82b, 82c, and the liquid fuel is more likely to return to the fuel tank 1 side through the through holes 84.

[0076] Thus, according to the gas-liquid separation device 70 of this embodiment, the return inclined bottom surface 80 and the through hole 84 act to return the liquid fuel to the fuel tank 1 side, thereby preventing the liquid fuel from entering the canister 2, while the first to third protruding walls 82a, 82b, 82b, 82c act to capture the activated carbon particles 6, thereby effectively suppressing the activated carbon particles 6 from entering the fuel tank 1.

[0077] Although the embodiments of the present invention have been described in detail above, the present invention is not limited to the specific descriptions. For example, the restricting portion that restricts the movement of foreign matter toward the fuel tank 1 is not necessarily limited to the combination of a protruding wall and a restricting inclined bottom surface as shown in the above embodiment. That is, the restricting portion may be composed of only one of a protruding wall and a restricting inclined bottom surface, or may be composed of something other than a protruding wall or a restricting inclined bottom surface. Specifically, for example, the restricting portion may be provided by providing adhesive properties to the inner surface of the gas passage space 14 so that foreign matter can be captured by adhesive, or by partitioning the gas passage space 14 with a mesh member.

[0078] The specific configuration of the protruding walls is not limited to the first to third protruding walls 60a, 60b, 60b, and 60c of the above embodiment. For example, the protruding walls may be configured only with the first protruding wall 60a and the second protruding walls 60b, 60b, without the third protruding wall 60c. Also, for example, a restricting inclined wall portion or a restricting rib like the third protruding wall 60c may be provided on the first protruding wall 60a.

[0079] The protruding wall is not limited to one that protrudes in the vertical direction. For example, a partial inclined surface that slopes downward toward the gas outlet 32 ​​may be provided on the bottom wall 78 of the gas passage space 14, and a wall that protrudes in the left-right direction from the inclined surface toward the gas outlet 32 ​​may be provided, so that the activated carbon particles 6 moving along the upper surface of the bottom wall 78 can be captured by the wall.

[0080] The protruding wall protruding in the vertical direction may be, for example, composed only of the lower limiting wall 36 protruding upward from the bottom wall 28 of the main body member 16, or may be composed only of the upper limiting wall 54 protruding downward from the cover member 18, and it is not necessary for the upper and lower limiting walls 36, 54 to be butted together. When the protruding wall protrudes in the vertical direction, it is not necessary for it to be provided continuously across the entire top and bottom of the gas passage space 14, and for example, the protruding wall composed of the lower limiting wall 36 protruding from the bottom wall 28 may be spaced downward from the cover member 18.

[0081] In the first and second embodiments, the protruding wall 60 has an inclined wall portion on both the gas inlet 30 side and the gas outlet 32 ​​side, and the wall portion is configured as a restrictive inclined wall portion that extends with a substantially constant thickness. However, the restrictive inclined wall portion may have any shape as long as the wall portion on the gas outlet 32 ​​side is inclined with respect to the left-right direction. Therefore, the restrictive inclined wall portion is not necessarily limited to one that extends with a constant thickness, and the thickness may vary in the width direction.

[0082] In the above embodiment, the protruding wall 60 is entirely formed as a restrictive inclined wall portion, but the protruding wall may be partially formed as a restrictive inclined wall portion, for example, at the end portion or the middle portion in the width direction. Specifically, for example, the third protruding wall 60c as the middle wall portion shown in the above embodiment is formed as a V-shape entirely formed as a restrictive inclined wall portion, but both end portions in the width direction may be formed as restrictive inclined planes that widen toward the gas outlet 32 ​​side, and the central portion in the width direction may widen substantially perpendicular to the left-right direction.

[0083] The angle of inclination of the restricting inclined wall portion does not have to be constant, and the restricting inclined wall portion may be curved or bent. Specifically, for example, an intermediate wall portion that is curved in an arc and widens toward the gas outlet 32 ​​side may be used as the restricting portion.

[0084] The restricting inclined bottom surface 34 shown in the first embodiment and the returning inclined bottom surface 80 shown in the second embodiment may be provided partially on the bottom wall 28 (78) of the gas passage space 14. The restricting inclined bottom surface 34 and the returning inclined bottom surface 80 may have a variable inclination angle, for example, they may be curved surfaces. Note that the restricting inclined bottom surface 34 and the returning inclined bottom surface 80 may be used in combination, for example, by providing the restricting inclined bottom surface 34 on the gas outlet 32 ​​side and the returning inclined bottom surface 80 on the gas inlet 30 side on the upper surface of the bottom wall 78 of the gas passage space 14.

[0085] The specific shape of the gas passage space 14 is not limited to the rounded rectangular shape as in the above embodiment, but may be set as appropriate.

[0086] REFERENCE SIGNS LIST 10 Gas-liquid separator (first embodiment) 12 Housing 14 Gas passage space 16 Main body member 18 Lid member 20 Gas-liquid separator 22 Tank-side connecting portion 24 Canister-side connecting portion 26 Peripheral wall 28 Bottom wall 29 Flange-shaped portion 30 Gas inlet 32 ​​Gas outlet 34 Regulating inclined bottom surface (regulating portion) 36 Lower regulating wall 36a First lower regulating wall 36b Second lower regulating wall 36c Third lower regulating wall 38 Corner portion 40 Regulating rib 42 Regulating rib 44 Tube mounting portion 46 Flange-shaped portion 48 Pull-out prevention protrusion 50 Fitting portion 52 Positioning portion 54 Upper regulating wall 54a First upper regulating wall 54b Second upper regulating wall 54c Third upper regulating wall 56 Regulating rib 58 Regulating rib 60 REFERENCE SIGNS LIST Protruding wall (restriction portion) 60a First protruding wall 60b Second protruding wall (side end wall portion) 60c Third protruding wall (intermediate wall portion) 70 Gas-liquid separation device (second embodiment) 72 Housing 74 Main body member 76 Gas-liquid separation portion 78 Bottom wall 80 Return inclined bottom surface 82 Protruding wall (restriction portion) 82a First protruding wall 82b Second protruding wall (side end wall portion) 82c Third protruding wall (intermediate wall portion) 84 Through hole 86 Lower restriction wall 86a First lower restriction wall 86b Second lower restriction wall 86c Third lower restriction wall 1 Fuel tank 2 Canister 3 Fuel gas flow path 4 Tank side tube 5 Canister side tube 6 Activated carbon particles

Claims

1. A gas-liquid separation device provided on a fuel gas flow path that interconnects a fuel tank and a canister, the gas passage space having a gas inlet that is an opening on the fuel tank side and a gas outlet that is an opening on the canister side, the gas passage space constituting a part of the fuel gas flow path, and a restricting section that restricts the movement of foreign matter from the gas outlet to the gas inlet within the gas passage space.

2. A gas-liquid separation device as described in claim 1, wherein a protruding wall extending in a width direction intersecting with the flow path length direction of the fuel gas flow path is provided in the gas passage space, the regulating portion is configured including the protruding wall, and a regulating rib protruding from a surface of the protruding wall on the gas outlet side is formed.

3. A gas-liquid separation device as described in claim 1 or 2, wherein a protruding wall extending in a width direction intersecting the flow path length direction of the fuel gas flow path is provided in the gas passage space, the regulating portion is configured to include the protruding wall, and the protruding wall has a regulating inclined wall portion that is inclined so as to approach the gas outlet as it approaches the end of the width direction of the fuel gas flow path.

4. A gas-liquid separation device as described in claim 3, wherein the protruding wall includes an intermediate wall portion protruding from at least one of the bottom surface and the top surface of the gas passage space at the middle of the width direction of the gas passage space, and the intermediate wall portion has the regulating inclined wall portion inclined toward both outer ends in the width direction so as to approach the gas outlet.

5. A gas-liquid separation device as described in claim 3 or 4, wherein the protruding wall includes a side end wall portion protruding from a side surface of the gas passage space at a widthwise end of the gas passage space, and the side end wall portion has the regulating inclined wall portion inclined toward the inner end in the width direction so as to approach the gas outlet.

6. A gas-liquid separation device described in any one of claims 1 to 5, wherein the gas passage space has a regulating inclined bottom surface that slopes downward from the gas inlet to the gas outlet, and the regulating portion is configured to include the regulating inclined bottom surface.

7. A gas-liquid separation device as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 6, wherein a protruding wall extending in a width direction intersecting with the flow path length direction of the fuel gas flow path is provided in the gas passage space, the regulating portion is configured including the protruding wall, the gas passage space has a return inclined bottom surface that slopes downward from the gas outlet toward the gas inlet, and a through hole of a size capable of preventing the passage of the foreign matter is formed in the lower part of the protruding wall.

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