Canister piping attachment structure for vehicle

Abstract

In a vehicle (1) having a canister that adsorbs fuel vapor gas within a fuel tank and atmosphere linking piping (6) that has one end which is connected to the canister and another end which is open to the atmosphere, there is comprised an atmosphere-open box (10) that forms an internal space, which is a closed space, therein, that is fixed to a rear portion of a cross member (2) of the vehicle (1), and that is formed in a box shape separately from the cross member (2). The atmosphere-open box (10) has a discharge hole (45) for water removal and an intake port, and the other end of the atmosphere linking piping (6) opens in an upper portion of the internal space of the atmosphere-open box (10).

Description

Vehicle canister piping mounting structure

[0001] The present invention relates to a mounting structure for an atmosphere communication pipe of a canister in an on-vehicle engine to a vehicle.

[0002] A vehicle equipped with an engine is provided with a canister that absorbs fuel vapors evaporating from the engine's fuel tank and prevents them from being released into the atmosphere. The canister is provided with an atmosphere-communicating pipe that introduces outside air into the canister. The fuel absorbed in the canister is supplied to the engine together with outside air introduced through the atmosphere-communicating pipe, and is combusted there. The end of the atmosphere-communicating pipe is open to the atmosphere.

[0003] For example, in the vehicle described in Patent Document 1, the engine is mounted under the vehicle, and the end of the atmosphere communication pipe is configured to open inside the vehicle's cross member, which makes it difficult for mud, water, etc. splashed up while the vehicle is running to enter the atmosphere communication pipe, thereby suppressing deterioration of the canister.

[0004] Patent No. 6638443

[0005] Many cross members have a roughly U-shaped cross section with the opening facing upward, and are configured to support the underside of a floor member. The upper end of the cross member is secured to the floor member by welding or other means, sealing off the space within the cross member. However, the cross member and floor member are often secured together by multiple spot welds.

[0006] Therefore, in a vehicle with such a cross member mounting structure, even if the cross member is constructed so that the atmosphere communication pipe is opened inside the cross member as in Patent Document 1, if a large amount of water or the like is kicked up while driving, there is a possibility that the water or the like will enter the cross member through the gaps in the welds and be sucked into the atmosphere communication pipe.

[0007] The present invention has been made in view of the above-mentioned problems, and an object of the present invention is to provide a canister mounting structure for a vehicle that prevents water and mud from entering through the opening of the atmosphere communication pipe.

[0008] In order to achieve the above object, the canister piping mounting structure for a vehicle of the present invention is characterized in that, in a vehicle having a canister that adsorbs fuel evaporative gas in a fuel tank and an atmosphere-communicating piping that is connected at one end to the canister and at the other end open to the atmosphere, the structure further comprises an atmosphere-opening box that forms a closed space inside and is fixed to a cross member of the vehicle, and the other end of the atmosphere-communicating piping opens into the internal space of the atmosphere-opening box.

[0009] In the vehicle canister piping mounting structure of the present invention, the atmosphere vent box has a simple structure that makes it difficult for rainwater and the like to enter the atmosphere communication piping. Because the atmosphere vent box is separate from the cross member, it is possible to easily and effectively configure a structure that makes it difficult for rainwater and the like to enter the atmosphere communication piping.

[0010] Fig. 1 is a perspective view showing a canister piping mounting structure according to an embodiment of the present invention; Fig. 2 is a perspective view showing the shape of an atmosphere open box according to the present embodiment; Fig. 3 is a perspective view showing the component shapes of the atmosphere open box; Fig. 4 is a vertical cross-sectional view of the atmosphere open box and the vicinity of its mounting portion; Fig. 5 is a rear view for explaining the position where liquid is discharged from the atmosphere open box; Fig. 6 is a perspective view for explaining the position where liquid is discharged from the atmosphere open box; Fig. 7 is a left side view for explaining the position where liquid is discharged from the atmosphere open box.

[0011] An embodiment of a vehicle canister mounting structure embodying the present invention will be described below. The following description will be made in terms of the front-rear, left-right, and up-down directions of the vehicle. The structure of the present invention is applicable to vehicles equipped with an engine, such as internal combustion engine vehicles, hybrid vehicles, and plug-in hybrid vehicles.

[0012] Fig. 1 is a perspective view showing the structure of an open portion of the atmosphere communication pipe in the canister pipe mounting structure of this embodiment. Fig. 2 is a perspective view of the atmosphere open box. Fig. 3 is a perspective view showing the structure of each component of the atmosphere open box. Fig. 4 is a vertical cross-sectional view of the atmosphere open box and its mounting portion and its vicinity.

[0013] The vehicle 1 according to this embodiment has a chassis structure having a cross member 2, similar to that of a pickup truck. A fuel tank for storing fuel for an on-board engine (not shown) is provided below the vehicle 1. Furthermore, a canister (5) (not shown) is provided near the fuel tank to introduce and absorb fuel vapor from within the fuel tank.

[0014] An atmosphere communication pipe 6 is connected to the canister 5. This pipe discharges the air that has absorbed the fuel components to the outside when the vehicle is stopped, and introduces the atmosphere when the engine is running to return the fuel absorbed in the canister 5 to the engine intake passage. The atmosphere communication pipe 6 extends to the vicinity of one of the multiple cross members provided on the vehicle, for example, the cross member 2 located above the rear axle.

[0015] As shown in Figure 1, the cross member 2 extends in the vehicle width direction and is positioned to support the underside of the floor 7. An atmosphere vent box 10 is fixed to the rear of the cross member 2. The atmosphere vent box 10 is a generally rectangular box measuring, for example, approximately 10 cm in all directions and has an internal space. The end of the atmosphere communication pipe 6 opens into the internal space of the atmosphere vent box 10.

[0016] 2 and 3, the open-air box 10 includes an upper member 11 (plate-shaped member), a lower member 12 (plate-shaped member), a lower cover 13 (first shielding portion), a partition member 14 (fourth shielding portion), and a lower support bracket 15. The shape of each member of the open-air box 10 will also be described using the vehicle direction when mounted on the vehicle 1.

[0017] The upper member 11 has a pair of front and rear wall portions (side wall portions) 22 and 23, which are bent downward from the front and rear ends of a rectangular plate-shaped upper wall portion 21. The front and rear wall portions 22 and 23 extend downward from the upper wall portion 21, spaced apart from each other by, for example, about 10 m in the front-to-rear direction.

[0018] The front wall portion 22 abuts against the rear surface of the cross member 2 and has a front fixing portion 24 that bends forward at its lower end and extends forward so as to abut against the underside of the cross member 2. The front fixing portion 24 has a bolt hole 26 into which a bolt 25 for fixing to the cross member 2 is inserted.

[0019] The rear wall portion 23 has a lower end portion bent rearward at approximately the same vertical position as the lower end of the front wall portion 22 and extending rearward for several centimeters to form a lower end surface portion 27 (third shielding portion), and further bent upward at its tip (rear end) to form a rear fixing portion 31 at its upper end which has a bolt hole 30 for fixing with a bolt 29 to a support member 28 provided on the underside of the floor 7.

[0020] Two air intake holes 32 are provided near the upper portion of the rear wall portion 23, spaced apart in the left-right direction, for example. The air intake holes 32 are formed by cutting and raising the rear wall portion 23 and open downward. A canopy portion 33 (second shielding portion) is formed on the rear wall portion 23 to cover the upper portion of the air intake holes 32.

[0021] The lower member 12 includes a rectangular lower surface portion 35 (lower wall portion) that covers the lower portion of the upper member 11, and a left side wall portion 36 and a right side wall portion 37 that bend upward from the left and right ends of the lower surface portion 35. The left side wall portion 36 and the right side wall portion 37 are spaced apart from each other by, for example, about 10 cm in the left-right direction, and are inserted between the front side wall portion 22 and the rear side wall portion 23 without any gaps.

[0022] The upper wall portion 21, front wall portion 22, and rear wall portion 23 of the upper member 11, and the lower surface portion 35, left wall portion 36, and right wall portion 37 of the lower member 12 form a rectangular box-shaped internal space 40 (closed space) that is surrounded in the front-to-back, left-to-right, and top-to-bottom directions.

[0023] The front end of the lower member 12 extends further forward than the front ends of the left side wall 36 and the right side wall 37, and has a front protrusion 41 that has substantially the same shape as the front fixing portion 24 of the upper member 11 and abuts against the underside of the front fixing portion 24. The front protrusion 41 is formed with a bolt hole 42 so that the bolt 25 can pass through together with the bolt hole 26 provided in the front fixing portion 24.

[0024] The rear end of the lower member 12 extends rearward beyond the rear ends of the left side wall 36 and the right side wall 37 and includes a rear protrusion 43 that abuts against the lower end surface 27 of the upper member 11. The lower surface 35 of the lower member 12 includes a front inclined surface 46 and a rear inclined surface 44 that are inclined regions that slope downward from the front-to-rear end toward the center in the front-to-rear direction. Two circular drain holes 45 (drain holes) are provided at the lower end of the lower surface 35 of the lower member 12 and are spaced apart from each other in the left-to-right direction.

[0025] The edge of the discharge hole 45 has a protrusion 48 that protrudes downward by several millimeters around the entire circumference, for example, by burring. A communication pipe insertion hole 47, into which the end of the atmosphere communicating pipe 6 is inserted, is formed in a front inclined surface 46 forward of the discharge hole 45 of the lower surface portion 35 of the lower member 12. The communication pipe insertion hole 47 is configured to be sealed when the end of the atmosphere communicating pipe 6 is inserted.

[0026] The upper member 11 and the lower member 12 are fixed by welding or adhesive around the entire circumference of their contact surfaces, and the internal space 40 formed by the upper member 11 and the lower member 12 is sealed except for two exhaust holes 45 and an intake hole 32.

[0027] The lower cover 13 is a plate-like member having approximately the same left-right width as the lower surface 35 of the lower member 12, and is fixed to the front inclined surface 46, the left wall portion 36, and the right wall portion 37 of the lower member 12 by welding or the like. The lower cover 13 extends rearward and downward from the front inclined surface 46, extends rearward below the discharge holes 45, and is disposed so as to be located below at least two discharge holes 45.

[0028] The lower end of the lower cover 13 is bent upward at two points including at least the left and right positions of the discharge hole 45, and has a first part 49 that slopes backward and downward toward the lower end, and a second part 50 that slopes upward from the lower end.

[0029] The lower support bracket 15 is a plate-shaped member, one end of which is fixed to the front protrusion 41 of the lower member 12 by welding or the like, and which extends downward and rearward, and the other end of which is provided with a bolt hole 51 for clamping to support the vicinity of the end of the atmospheric communication pipe 6.

[0030] As shown in Figure 4, the partition member 14 is disposed in the internal space 40, and its upper end is fixed by welding or the like to the lower surface of the upper wall portion 21 of the upper member 11. The partition member 14 extends downward to near the lower end of the rear wall portion 23, at a position near and spaced forward from the rear wall portion 23. The partition member 14 is located at least to the left and right of the intake hole 32, and extends downward beyond the intake hole 32.

[0031] The open end 54 (the other end) of the atmosphere communication pipe 6 extends upward to near the upper wall portion 21 of the upper member 11, above the partition member 14 in the internal space 40. Fig. 5 is a rear view illustrating the position where liquid is discharged from the atmosphere open box 10. Fig. 6 is a perspective view illustrating the position where liquid is discharged from the atmosphere open box 10. Fig. 7 is a left side view illustrating the position where liquid is discharged from the atmosphere open box 10.

[0032] As shown in Figures 4 and 5, the lower cover 13 is configured to cover, as viewed from below, the entire drop range a, which extends downward from the drain hole 45 and outward at the maximum tilt angle of the vehicle relative to the vertical direction. When liquid is discharged from the drain hole 45, all of the liquid falls onto the upper surface of the first portion 49 of the lower cover 13. Furthermore, the left-right positions and widths of the first portion 49 and second portion 50 of the lower cover 13 are set large in the left-right direction so as to include the entire left-right width of the drop range a, and the left and right ends 52 (horizontal ends) of the second portion 50 are open. Therefore, liquid that falls onto the upper surface of the lower cover 13 flows along the upper surface of the first portion 49 to the second portion 50, moves left-right along the upper surface of the lower end of the lower cover 13, and falls downward from the left and right ends 52 of the second portion 50.

[0033] 6 and 7, the position and shape of the lower cover 13 are set so that other structures of the vehicle 1, such as a structure 55 located below the front side of the open-air box 10 and extending in the vehicle width direction, and an exhaust muffler 56 located below the rear side of the open-air box 10, are not located within the falling range b that extends downward and outward from the left and right ends 52 of the second part 50 of the lower cover 13 at the maximum tilt angle of the vehicle.

[0034] As described above, the canister 5 mounted on the vehicle 1 of this embodiment is disposed under the floor 7. The canister 5 is provided with an atmosphere communication pipe 6 for releasing the air that has adsorbed the fuel evaporative gas to the atmosphere. In this embodiment, the atmosphere communication pipe 6 is configured to open to the internal space 40 of the atmosphere vent box 10 fixed to the cross member 2 extending in the vehicle width direction.

[0035] Since the cross members 2 supporting the floor 7 are long in the vehicle width direction, the surfaces that contact the floor 7 are often fixed by spot welding. Therefore, rainwater splashed up by tires or the like can run down the underside of the floor 7 and enter the inside of the cross members 2 through gaps in the spot welds.

[0036] In this embodiment, the atmosphere-opening box 10, which has a closed space formed therein, is fixed to the cross member 2, and the atmosphere-communicating piping 6 is open inside the atmosphere-opening box 10, so that it is possible to configure it so that rainwater and the like do not easily infiltrate the atmosphere-communicating piping 6. In particular, because the atmosphere-opening box 10 is separate from the cross member 2, it is possible to easily and effectively configure a structure that makes it difficult for rainwater and the like to infiltrate the atmosphere-communicating piping 6.

[0037] The atmospheric open box 10 is mainly constructed by fixing an upper member 11 and a lower member 12, which are made by bending a plate-like material, together by welding or adhesive, so that the internal space 40, which is a closed space, can be easily formed.

[0038] The lower member 12 of the atmospheric vent box 10 is provided with a discharge hole 45, and the upper surface of the lower member 12 facing the internal space 40 is inclined downward toward the discharge hole 45, so that even if rainwater or the like enters the internal space 40 of the atmospheric vent box 10, it can be easily discharged through the discharge hole 45.

[0039] Furthermore, the edge of the discharge hole 45 has a protruding portion 48 that protrudes downward, for example by burring processing, so that rainwater, etc. discharged from the discharge hole 45 can be prevented from moving along the underside of the lower member 12, and the falling position of the rainwater, etc. from the discharge hole 45 can be identified.

[0040] The open-air box 10 is provided with a bottom cover 13 that covers the lower part of the discharge hole 45. This makes it possible to prevent rainwater or the like that splashes up from below from entering the internal space 40 of the open-air box 10 through the discharge hole 45.

[0041] Furthermore, the lower cover 13 is opened at a position spaced apart in the vehicle width direction from the lower position of the drain hole 45 so that liquid that has fallen onto the upper surface of the lower cover 13 is discharged downward, so that liquid that has fallen from the drain hole 45 can be received by the lower cover 13 and discharged from the left and right ends 52 of the second part 50, and the range in which the liquid falls can be set appropriately. Therefore, it is possible to prevent rainwater, etc., discharged from the drain hole 45 of the open-air box 10 from falling onto other structures 55, 56 of the vehicle.

[0042] In particular, an engine exhaust muffler 56 is often located at the lower rear of the vehicle, and rainwater and the like discharged from the exhaust hole 45 of the atmosphere open box 10 is prevented from falling into the exhaust muffler 56. Even if air containing fuel evaporative gas is discharged from the atmosphere communicating pipe 6 and fuel components dissolve in rainwater and the like that has entered the atmosphere open box 10, the liquid containing this fuel component can be configured not to fall into the exhaust muffler 56, and the exhaust muffler 56 can be protected.

[0043] In addition, the lower cover 13 has a first part 49 whose lower end is bent upward and slopes downward toward the lower end, and a second part 50 which slopes upward from the lower end, and the left and right ends 52 of the second part 50 are open, so that liquid that falls onto the upper surface of the lower cover 13 passes through the first part 49 to reach the upper surface of the lower end between the first part 49 and the second part 50, moves along the upper surface of the lower end to the left and right ends 52, and can fall from the left and right ends 52, which are the open ends of the second part 50.

[0044] This makes it possible to identify the location where rainwater or the like will fall when it is discharged from the atmospheric open box 10, and to suppress the scattering of rainwater or the like by suppressing the diffusion of the rainwater or the like in the direction of fall and the speed at which it will fall.

[0045] In the lower cover 13, the lower end between the first part 49 and the second part 50 and the discharge hole 45 are offset at different positions in the fore-and-aft direction of the vehicle (horizontal direction of the vehicle), so that rainwater and the like that falls from the discharge hole 45 can be received by the lower cover 13 and directed to the upper surface of the lower end of the lower cover 13.

[0046] In addition, since the atmospheric open box 10 is positioned adjacent to the rear of the cross member 2, the cross member 2 blocks rainwater and the like that splashes from the front toward the atmospheric open box 10, making it difficult for the rainwater and the like to reach the atmospheric open box 10, thereby suppressing the intrusion of rainwater and the like into the atmospheric open box 10.

[0047] Meanwhile, the rear wall 23 of the atmospheric open box 10 is provided with an intake hole 32 that introduces air into the internal space 40. This prevents the internal space 40 from becoming negative pressure due to air flowing in from the intake hole 32 when rainwater or the like is discharged through the discharge hole 45, thereby improving the discharge of rainwater or the like through the discharge hole 45.

[0048] By cutting and raising the rear wall portion 23 to form the intake hole 32, a canopy portion 33 is provided that covers the upper outside of the intake hole 32, making it easy to form the intake hole 32 and preventing rainwater and the like that has trickled down from the top of the rear wall portion 23 of the atmospheric open box 10 from entering the intake hole 32.

[0049] The lower end surface 27 of the upper member 11 is located below the rear wall 23, i.e., below the air intake hole 32, and therefore rainwater and the like can be prevented from entering the air intake hole 32 from below. The lower end surface 27 is provided with an opening 34. This improves the drainage of rainwater and the like from the upper surface side of the lower end surface 27, even if rainwater and the like accumulates on the upper surface side of the lower end surface 27.

[0050] Furthermore, the opening 34 may be offset in a different position in the left-right direction (vehicle width direction) from the intake hole 32. This prevents rainwater and the like from passing through the opening 34 and entering the intake hole 32.

[0051] The open end 54 of the atmosphere communication pipe 6 protrudes above the lower member 12, so even if rainwater or the like enters and accumulates inside the atmosphere open box 10, it can be prevented from entering the atmosphere communication pipe 6.

[0052] Furthermore, since the internal space 40 of the atmospheric open box 10 is provided with a partition member 14 between the intake hole 32 and the open end 54 of the atmospheric communication pipe 6, even if rainwater or the like enters the intake hole 32, it is possible to prevent the water from entering the open end 54 of the atmospheric communication pipe 6.

[0053] When rainwater or the like accumulates in the internal space 40, the weight of the rainwater or the like in the internal space 40 improves the ability to drain from the discharge holes 45. In consideration of this point, the total opening area of ​​the intake holes 32 in the atmospheric open box 10 and the total opening area of ​​the discharge holes 45 should be set so that, even if a large amount of rainwater or the like enters through the intake holes 32 and increases in the internal space 40, the rainwater or the like in the internal space 40 is discharged from the discharge holes 45 before reaching the open end 54 of the atmospheric communication pipe 6.

[0054] As described above, the simple structure of the atmosphere vent box 10 makes it difficult for rainwater to enter the atmosphere communication pipe 6, thereby suppressing deterioration of the canister 5. Furthermore, the discharge of liquid from the atmosphere vent box 10 is improved, and the location where the discharged liquid falls can be specified so that it does not fall onto other structures of the vehicle, thereby protecting those structures.

[0055] The present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiment, and modifications can be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention. For example, the detailed structure of each component of the atmosphere vent box can be modified as needed. The present invention can be widely applied to vehicles having an atmosphere communication pipe for a canister in an on-board engine.

[0056] REFERENCE SIGNS LIST 1 vehicle 2 cross member 5 canister 6 atmosphere communication pipe 10 atmosphere release box 11 upper member (plate-shaped member) 12 lower member (plate-shaped member) 13 lower cover (first shielding portion) 14 partition member (fourth shielding portion) 23 rear wall portion (side wall portion) 27 lower end surface portion (third shielding portion) 32 intake hole 33 eaves portion (second shielding portion) 35 lower surface portion (lower wall portion) 40 internal space (closed space) 44 rear inclined surface (inclined area) 45 discharge hole (drain hole) 46 front inclined surface (inclined area) 48 protruding portion 49 first portion 50 second portion 54 open end (other end)

Claims

1. A vehicle canister piping installation structure having a canister that absorbs fuel evaporative gases in a fuel tank and an atmosphere communication pipe that is connected at one end to the canister and at the other end to the atmosphere, the vehicle canister piping installation structure further comprising an atmosphere vent box that forms a closed space inside and is fixed to a cross member of the vehicle, the other end of the atmosphere communication pipe opening into the internal space of the atmosphere vent box.

2. The canister piping mounting structure for a vehicle according to claim 1, wherein the atmosphere vent box has two or more bent plate-like members fixed thereto to form the internal space.

3. A canister piping mounting structure for a vehicle as described in claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the atmosphere vent box has a drain hole in the lower wall, and the lower wall has an inclined area that slopes downward toward the drain hole.

4. A canister piping mounting structure for a vehicle according to claim 3, wherein the edge of the drain hole has a protruding portion that protrudes downward from the inclined area.

5. A canister piping mounting structure for a vehicle as set forth in claim 3 or 4, characterized in that the atmosphere vent box is provided with a first shielding part that covers the lower side of the drain hole.

6. The canister piping mounting structure for a vehicle described in claim 5, characterized in that the first shielding portion extends in a predetermined direction and has an open end at the end in the predetermined direction that discharges liquid that has fallen onto the first shielding portion downward at a position spaced apart in the horizontal direction of the vehicle.

7. The canister piping mounting structure for a vehicle according to claim 6, wherein the first shielding portion has a first portion that slopes downward toward the lower end and a second portion that slopes upward from the lower end, and the open end is the horizontal end of the bent portion.

8. The canister piping mounting structure for a vehicle according to claim 7, wherein the lower end of the first shielding portion and the drain hole are located at different positions in the horizontal direction of the vehicle.

9. A canister piping mounting structure for a vehicle according to any one of claims 1 to 8, wherein the atmosphere vent box is fixed to the rear end of the cross member.

10. A canister piping mounting structure for a vehicle as described in any one of claims 1 to 9, characterized in that the side wall of the atmospheric release box has an intake hole for introducing air into the internal space, and a second shielding part that protrudes from the side wall on the opposite side of the internal space and covers the upper part of the intake hole.

11. A canister piping mounting structure for a vehicle as described in claim 10, characterized in that the atmosphere vent box is provided with a third shielding portion that extends on the opposite side of the internal space across the side wall portion and covers the lower part of the intake hole.

12. A canister piping mounting structure for a vehicle according to any one of claims 1 to 11, characterized in that the other end of the atmosphere communication piping is located above the lower wall portion.

13. A canister piping mounting structure for a vehicle as described in claim 10 or 11, characterized in that the internal space of the atmospheric release box is provided with a fourth shielding portion between the intake hole and the other end of the atmospheric communication piping.

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