KR20120049176A - Liquefied gas fuel supply device - Google Patents

Abstract

Even when a sudden accelerator operation is performed, a liquefied gas fuel supply device capable of stably following the operation and stably performing proper engine operation is proposed. If the valve opening / closing control means determines that the flow rate in the fuel supply line and / or the engine is an abnormal flow rate by the supply flow rate determination value, the valve opening / closing control means operates and operates the operation valve of the solenoid valve device interposed between the fuel supply pump and the fuel supply line. By closing the refinery, the main valve is shifted to the closed position to stop the supply of the liquefied gas fuel from the fuel supply pump of the fuel tank to the fuel supply pipe. Therefore, even if excessive differential pressure is generated by a sudden accelerator operation, it is possible to reliably follow the accelerator operation and perform proper engine operation stably.

Description

Liquefied Gas Fuel Supply Unit {LIQUEFIED GAS FUEL SUPPLY DEVICE}

The present invention relates to a liquefied gas fuel supply device for storing a liquefied gas fuel such as DME (demethyl ether, dimethyl ether) or LPG (liquefied petroleum gas) used as the fuel of the engine, and supplying the liquefied gas fuel will be.

For example, vehicles such as automobiles tend to increase in number of vehicles using liquefied gas fuel for the purpose of low pollution due to the recent tightening of exhaust gas regulations. Liquefied petroleum gas (hereinafter referred to as LPG) fuel is mainly used as the liquefied gas fuel, but dimethyl ether (hereinafter referred to as DME) fuel is also drawing attention. This DME fuel has a high cetane number, an excellent advantage of extremely low PM and NOx emissions, and high anti-pollution measures.

In an automobile using liquefied gas fuel as a fuel, a fuel supply device for storing liquefied gas fuel and supplying the liquefied gas fuel to an engine is provided. Here, a fuel tank for storing liquefied gas fuel is mounted in a trunk, a lower portion of the side of the vehicle body, and the like, and a supply pipe for supplying liquefied gas fuel to the engine from the fuel tank is provided. In recent years, a fuel supply pump is provided in a fuel tank, and the fuel efficiency improvement effect is improved by controlling the flow volume of the liquefied gas fuel supplied to an engine by this fuel supply pump. Moreover, the overflow prevention valve for preventing excessive liquefied gas fuel from flowing in a supply pipe is provided between this fuel supply pump and a supply pipe. This overflow prevention valve automatically closes when an abnormality occurs in the outflow of the liquefied gas fuel due to breakage of the supply pipe, and reliably prevents the outflow of the liquefied gas fuel. As a specific configuration, the valve opened according to the pressing force of the spring. It is generally known to have a mechanical configuration in which the valve body is automatically closed when a pressure exceeding the pressing force acts on the sieve (for example, Patent Document 1).

Moreover, as such a fuel supply apparatus, the return pipe for returning the excess liquefied gas fuel which is not used by the engine to a fuel tank is provided, and the liquefied gas from a fuel tank is downstream of a recovery pipe. A backflow check valve is provided to prevent backflow of fuel.

[Prior Art Literature]

Patent Literature

Patent Document 1: Japanese Utility Model Registration Application Publication No. Hei 1-94682

In the above-described fuel supply device, when the vehicle is mounted on an automobile, the fuel supply pump is operated and controlled in accordance with an accelerator operation. Therefore, for example, if the flow rate of the liquefied gas fuel from the fuel supply pump suddenly increases or decreases due to the rapid operation of the accelerator, excessive pressure fluctuations occur and the differential pressure before and after the overflow prevention valve is increased momentarily. Easier If the instantaneous increase in the differential pressure occurs in this way, the overflow prevention valve may malfunction, resulting in an engine malfunction or the like.

In particular, in the fuel supply device using the DME fuel as the liquefied gas fuel, the operation control of the fuel supply pump is performed with high accuracy as compared with the configuration using the LPG fuel. As a result, the flow rate of the liquefied gas fuel supplied to the engine can be controlled with high accuracy, so that the excess liquefied gas fuel not used in the engine can be reduced as much as possible, thereby improving fuel economy. However, if the fuel supply pump is controlled with high accuracy in this way, there is a tendency that a large differential pressure tends to occur momentarily before and after the overflow prevention valve as described above.

The present invention proposes a liquefied gas fuel supply device capable of appropriately supplying liquefied gas fuel to an engine even when a sudden large pressure difference is generated by the fuel supply pump.

The present invention provides a fuel tank for storing liquefied gas fuel to be supplied to an engine, a fuel supply pump installed in the fuel tank and pumping liquefied gas fuel in the fuel tank at a predetermined flow rate, and the fuel supply pump. A liquefied gas fuel supply device having a fuel supply pipe for supplying liquefied gas fuel pumped by an engine, comprising: a casing body provided with a first gas flow port and a second gas flow port through which the liquefied gas fuel can flow in and out; An opening position provided in the casing main body to form a variable closed region partitioned in a closed state from the second gas flow opening, and in communication with the first gas flow opening and the second gas flow opening; Main valve to convert the position into; Pressing means for pressing the main valve in a closed position direction; A refinery passage disposed in the casing body and always communicating the variable closed region with the first gas flow port; An opening and closing fine flow passage installed in the casing body and communicating a variable closed region and the second gas flow port; An actuating valve which opens the open / close fine flow path and converts the position into a non-communicating position for communicating the variable closed region and the second gas flow port and a non-communicating position for shielding the open / close fine flow path; And an actuating valve driving means for shifting the actuating valve into a communicating position and a non-communicating position, wherein the solenoid valve device makes the first gas flow port on the fuel supply pump side and the second gas flow port on the fuel supply pipe side. In order to intervene between the fuel supply pump and the fuel supply pipe, a supply flow rate determination value for determining an abnormal flow rate of liquefied gas fuel supplied to the engine through the fuel supply pipe is set in advance, and The actuation valve of the solenoid valve device when the flow rate of the liquefied gas fuel detected by the flow rate detection sensor disposed in the fuel supply pipe and / or the engine during driving is determined to be an abnormal flow rate based on the supply flow rate determination value. Drive control of the actuating valve drive means to bring the non-communication position to A liquefied gas fuel supply device, characterized in that by placing converted into print position which comprises a valve opening control means for performing control to stop the supply of liquefied gas fuel to the fuel feed pipe from the fuel supply pump.

The flow rate detection sensor may be a sensor that directly detects the flow rate of the liquefied gas fuel, and is a pressure detection sensor that detects the pressure in the fuel supply pipe or the pressure in the gas flow path in the engine, and the flow rate is determined by the pressure detected by the pressure detection sensor. May be indirectly detected. In the latter case, in order to determine the pressure detected by the pressure detection sensor, a predetermined pressure value may be set as the supply flow rate determination value, whereby the detected pressure may be directly determined. In the flow rate detection sensor, a configuration in which the engine is installed in the vicinity of the fuel injection pump installed in the engine is preferable. The flow rate detection sensor may be a sensor for detecting the rotation speed of the fuel supply pump, the fuel injection pump, or the like, and the flow rate may be indirectly detected by the rotation speed detected by the sensor. On the other hand, the flow rate abnormality of the liquefied gas fuel determined by the supply flow rate determination value is significantly increased or decreased compared to the flow rate that is fed by the fuel supply pump by the gas leak or the like, or the engine. This is the case where the flow rate supplied is significantly reduced compared to the flow rate fed by the fuel supply pump.

In such a configuration, when it is determined that the flow rate of the liquefied gas fuel detected by the flow rate detection sensor is an abnormal flow rate by the supply flow rate determination value, the solenoid valve device is closed-operated to control the liquefied gas fuel from the fuel supply pump. Since the supply is forcibly stopped, the same effects as those of the conventional overflow valves described above can be exhibited, and thus, the overflow valves are not required. If the flow rate does not occur in the fuel supply pipe and / or the engine, the supply of the liquefied gas fuel by the solenoid valve device is maintained. Therefore, even when excessive differential pressure is generated by the sudden accelerator operation as described above, Supply through the valve device is maintained, so that the same operation failure of the engine as in the case where the overflow preventing valve of the conventional configuration malfunctions does not occur. In addition, since the operation control of the solenoid valve device is controlled based on the flow rate detected by the flow rate detection sensor, accurate and stable operation control can be performed. Therefore, according to this configuration, it is possible to reliably and accurately follow a sudden accelerator operation and to perform proper engine operation stably.

In this configuration, when the fuel supply pump is controlled with high accuracy using the DME fuel as the liquefied gas fuel, the above-described effect can be more effectively exhibited. In other words, even if the operation control of the fuel supply pump is controlled with higher precision, the engine operation is appropriate and stable, and the effect of improving fuel economy is further enhanced.

Here, in the solenoid valve device, the actuation control of the actuation valve causes the main valve to be position-shifted to convert the first gas flow port and the second gas flow port into a communication state and a non-communication state. In detail, when the actuating valve is in the communication position, the first gas flow port and the second gas flow port communicate with each other through the oil passage, the variable closed region, and the opening and closing oil passage. Pressure is applied to bring the main valve into the open position. In addition, when the operation valve is set to the non-communication position, the liquefied gas fuel introduced into the variable closed region through the refinery passage increases the internal pressure of the variable closed region, and the main valve is in the closed position. Liquefied gas fuel does not flow. That is, when the valve opening / closing control means detects an abnormal flow rate based on the supply flow rate determination value, it is possible to forcibly stop the supply from the fuel supply pump to the fuel supply pipe by operatively controlling the operation valve to a non-communication position. .

In addition, since the solenoid valve device can reduce the pressure acting on the actuating valve by reducing the flow area of the on-off fine flow path that is opened and closed by the actuating valve, compared to the flow passage opening and closing by the main valve, The driving force (propulsion force) for operating the valve can be reduced, and the power consumption required for the operation valve driving means can be suppressed. And since it can cope with a large flow volume with a small thrust force, it is more efficient than the general solenoid valve which opens and closes a flow path directly (so-called a direct operation system). In addition, as the flow path area of the open / close oil passage, the main valve can be appropriately changed in position by using the flow path area of the oil passage communicating with the first gas flow port and the variable closed region.

In the above-described liquefied gas fuel supply device, the solenoid valve device opens a first gas flow port to allow the liquefied gas fuel to flow in and out from the first gas flow port, and closes the first gas flow port to provide liquefied gas fuel. A configuration is proposed that includes a manual valve that is positionally shifted by manual operation to a closed position that does not flow in and out. Here, the manual valve may be configured to directly close the first gas flow port itself, or may substantially close the first gas flow port, such as a structure to close a communication path communicating with the first gas flow port.

This configuration is such that the solenoid valve device is provided with a manual valve which forcibly closes the first gas flow port so that liquefied gas fuel cannot flow in and out of the first gas flow port, irrespective of the operation control of the operation valve. It has both an opening and closing operation control function based on the detected flow rate, and an opening and closing function by manually operating a manual valve, and the usefulness is high. In addition, even when the opening and closing flow path cannot be shielded due to, for example, poor operation control of the operation valve or damage to the operation valve, the manual valve is held in the closed position to ensure the inflow and outflow of the liquefied gas fuel from the first gas flow port. Can be prevented. For example, when the fuel tank is maintained or replaced, when the fuel tank is removed from or mounted on an automobile, the operation valve is placed in the closed position, so that the liquefied gas fuel does not leak and works safely. can do. As the actuating valve, the constitution screwed to the casing body can be preferably used as the constitution held in the retracted position and the shielded position, respectively.

In the above-described liquefied gas fuel supply device, the solenoid valve device has a retracted position that enables the position change of the main valve to an open position and a closed position, and a shielded position that holds the main valve in the closed position by manual operation. It is proposed that the configuration is provided with a valve closing operation member that is switched in position.

Such a configuration is that the solenoid valve device is provided with a valve closing operation member capable of forcibly shifting the main valve to the closed position separately from the operation control of the actuation valve, and thus the opening and closing operation based on the flow rate detected by the flow rate detection sensor. Both the control function and the opening / closing function by manually operating the valve closing operation member have high utility. For example, in the case of maintenance or replacement of a fuel tank, when the fuel tank is removed or mounted from an automobile, the valve closing operation member is placed in a shielded position so that the liquefied gas fuel does not leak and works safely. can do. And as this valve closing operation member, it is the structure hold | maintained in a retracted position and a shielded position, respectively, and what has a rod-shaped structure screwed to the casing main body can be used preferably.

In the above-described liquefied gas fuel supply device, a recovery pipe for returning excess liquefied gas fuel from the engine to the fuel tank, wherein the solenoid valve device makes the first gas flow port on the fuel tank side, and the second gas flow port The valve opening / closing control means is interposed between the fuel tank and the recovery pipe so as to be the recovery pipe side, and the valve opening / closing control means sets the return pressure threshold which is set in advance by the pressure in the recovery pipe detected by the pressure detection sensor provided in the recovery pipe while the engine is being driven. When the value is less than or equal to the value, drive control of the actuating valve drive means to bring the actuating valve of the solenoid valve device into the non-communication position causes the main valve to be shifted to the closed position, thereby reducing the liquefied gas fuel from the fuel tank to the return pipe. A configuration is proposed in which control to prevent backflow is performed.

Here, in the structure provided with the return pipe which returns excess liquefied gas fuel from an engine, as mentioned above, the counter flow prevention valve was provided in order to prevent the backflow from a fuel tank as mentioned above. This configuration is such that the above-described solenoid valve device is provided, and the solenoid valve device has the same effect as the non-return valve, and does not require the non-return valve. As the operation control of the solenoid valve device, if the pressure in the recovery pipe is larger than the return pressure threshold value, the liquefied gas fuel returned from the recovery pipe presses the main valve in the open position to press the main valve by holding the operation valve in the communication position. Flows into. On the other hand, when the pressure in a recovery pipe is below a return pressure threshold value, an operation valve is made into a non-communication position. Here, when the pressure in the recovery pipe is greater than the internal pressure of the fuel tank in the state where the operation valve is in the non-communication position, the main valve is pushed in the open position direction by the pressure difference, and the recovery pipe and the fuel tank are in communication with each other. maintain. In this case, since the internal pressure in the recovery pipe is higher than the internal pressure of the fuel tank, no backflow from the fuel tank occurs. When the pressure in the recovery pipe becomes lower than the internal pressure of the fuel tank while the operation valve is in the non-communication position, the internal pressure of the variable closed region communicating with the fuel tank through the oil passage increases, so that the main valve is in the closed position. Position is converted. This can prevent backflow from the fuel tank. Thus, this structure is the said solenoid valve by an actuating valve drive means, when the pressure in the recovery pipe detected by the pressure detection sensor provided in the recovery pipe became below the preset return pressure threshold value during the engine drive. While maintaining the operation valve of the apparatus in the non-communication position, if the pressure in the return pipe becomes smaller than the internal pressure of the fuel tank, the main valve is shifted to the closed position to prevent backflow from the fuel tank. It is. And as a return pressure threshold value, it can set suitably to the pressure value larger than the internal pressure of a fuel tank, for example, you may set it to the maximum pressure value determined as internal pressure of a fuel tank.

In addition, in this structure, since the solenoid valve apparatus, such as the solenoid valve apparatus connected to a fuel supply pump, is interposed between a fuel tank and a recovery pipe | tube, the cost required for manufacture, purchase, etc. are shared by common parts. The effect of reducing can be obtained.

In the above-described liquefied gas fuel supply device, the valve opening and closing control means drives and controls the actuating valve drive means to maintain the actuating valve of the solenoid valve device in a non-communication position when the engine is stopped, and at the same time the solenoid valve device when the engine starts. A configuration is proposed in which drive control of the actuating valve drive means is performed to maintain the actuating valve of the apparatus in the communicating position.

Such a structure can hold | maintain the main valve to a closed position by holding the operation valve of a solenoid valve apparatus in a non-communication position when an engine stops, and can reliably prevent the outflow of liquefied gas fuel from a fuel tank. When the engine is driven, the operation valve is brought into the communication position, whereby the fuel valve can be supplied to the fuel supply pipe in the solenoid valve device connected to the fuel supply pipe. Moreover, in the structure which connected the solenoid valve apparatus to the said collection pipe, when the pressure in a collection pipe is larger than the internal pressure of a fuel tank, it is possible to return excess liquefied gas fuel to a fuel tank.

For example, in the structure provided with the conventional overflow prevention valve mentioned above, it is known that the manually operated closing valve is arrange | positioned separately so that liquefied gas fuel may not flow out when an engine is not started for a comparatively long time. In this configuration, since the main valve is automatically closed by the engine stop, there is an advantage that no manual operation is required even when the engine is not driven for a relatively long time. In addition, even when extremely minute leaks (leakage of the overflow preventing valves) do not occur from the fuel supply pipe, it is possible to prevent the liquefied gas fuel from gradually leaking during the engine stop.

In the above-described liquefied gas fuel supply device, the solenoid valve device has a flow opening and closing in which the casing body communicates with the second gas flow port in front of the main valve, and is opened and closed by changing the position of the main valve to an open position and a closed position. And a circular sealing member is provided by caulking on both the inside and the outside thereof so that the main valve is opposed to the circumference of the flow opening and closing hole. A configuration is proposed in which the member is closed in a closed state by pressing the member around the hole of the flow opening and closing hole. The flow opening / closing hole is opened by being spaced apart from the main valve by setting the main valve in the open position, and closed by the main valve by setting the main valve in the closed position.

In this structure, since the annular sealing member is crimped | closed around the hole of the flow opening / closing hole part in a closed position, the flow opening / closing hole part can be closed reliably and stably. Therefore, the effect of this invention which arises by making a main valve into a closed position can be acquired suitably. Moreover, in this structure, since the flow opening / closing hole part which communicates with a 2nd gas flow port is provided in front of a main valve, the communication path which communicates with a 1st gas flow port is provided in the side of a main valve, and a side valve is provided in a side of a main valve. Pressure from the liquefied gas fuel acts. In particular, when the main valve is shifted to the closed position while the liquefied gas fuel is being pumped by the fuel supply pump, a relatively large pressure acts on the main valve from the side. Even if such pressure is applied, the annular sealing member is provided by caulking both inside and outside, so that problems such as deformation and the like can be sufficiently suppressed, and the effect of exerting a seal in the closed position for a long time can be suppressed. I can keep on.

And as this sealing member, what is made of high molecular materials, such as rubber | gum and resin, can be used, and when DME fuel is used, resistant DME rubber and polytetrafluoroethylene can be used preferably.

As described above, when the valve opening and closing control means determines that the flow rate in the fuel supply pipe and / or the engine is an abnormal flow rate by the supply flow rate determination value, the solenoid valve device interposed between the fuel supply pump and the fuel supply pipe. The operation valves of the fuel tanks were operated to close the open / close oil passage and thereby change the position of the main valve to the closed position, thereby forcibly stopping the supply of liquefied gas fuel from the fuel supply pump of the fuel tank to the fuel supply pipe. And / or when an abnormality in flow rate occurs in the engine, the supply of liquefied gas fuel from the fuel tank can be reliably stopped. In addition, if the flow rate does not occur in the fuel supply pipe and / or the engine, the supply of the liquefied gas fuel by the solenoid valve device is maintained. Thus, even if an excessive differential pressure is generated by a sudden accelerator operation, for example, Since the supply of fuel is maintained, malfunction does not occur as in the configuration with the conventional overflow preventing valve described above. According to this configuration, it is possible to reliably and accurately follow the sudden accelerator operation and to perform proper engine operation stably.

Here, the solenoid valve device is opened to the opening position which opens a 1st gas flow opening, and allows liquefied gas fuel to flow in and out, and the closed position which closes a 1st gas flow opening and makes liquefied gas fuel inflow and out impossible. In the case of a configuration having a manual valve which is position-shifted by manual operation, both the opening and closing operation control function based on the flow rate detected by the flow detection sensor and the opening and closing function by manual operation of the manual valve are provided. It shows high usability. In addition, even when the open / close oil passage is not shielded due to a problem of the operation valve, the inlet and outlet of the liquefied gas fuel from the first gas flow port can be reliably prevented by setting the manual valve to the closed position.

Moreover, the solenoid valve apparatus has a valve closing operation member which is position-shifted by manual operation to the retracted position which enables the position change of a main valve to an open position and a closed position, and the shielding position which keeps the said main valve to a closed position. In the case of the structure comprised, it has both the opening / closing operation control function based on the flow volume detected by the flow detection sensor, and the opening / closing function by manually operating a valve closing operation member, and exhibits high utility. .

Moreover, when the pressure in the recovery pipe detected by the pressure detection sensor provided in the recovery pipe returning the surplus liquefied gas fuel to the fuel tank is equal to or less than the preset return pressure threshold value, it is interposed between the recovery pipe and the fuel tank. In the configuration in which the operation valve of the solenoid valve device is operated to close the open / close oil passage, the position of the main valve is changed to the closed position to prevent backflow from the fuel tank to the recovery pipe. When it becomes smaller than the internal pressure of, backflow from a fuel tank can be prevented reliably.

The valve opening / closing control means controls to hold the operation valve of the solenoid valve device in the non-communication position when the engine is stopped, and controls to maintain the operation valve of the solenoid valve device in the communication position when the engine starts. In this configuration, it is possible to reliably prevent the outflow of liquefied gas fuel from the fuel tank while the engine is stopped. And while the engine is being driven, the above-described effects of the present invention can be appropriately obtained by operating the operation valve based on the flow rate detected by the flow rate detection sensor.

Moreover, the annular sealing member is provided by caulking process from both inside and outside so that a main valve may oppose the circumference | surroundings of the flow opening / closing hole part formed in front of the said main valve, and it distribute | circulates a sealing member in a closed position. In the case of the configuration in which the main valve is closed, when the main valve is in the closed position, the flow opening can be reliably and reliably closed by the main valve, so that the main valve is closed in the closed position. The operational effect of the present invention generated by appropriately can be obtained. Moreover, since the deformation | transformation of the sealing member by the pressure which acts from the side of a main valve can fully be suppressed, the effect of closing the flow opening opening in a closed state in a closed position can be maintained for a long time.

1 is a conceptual diagram illustrating a liquefied gas fuel supply device 1 of the first embodiment.
2 is a side view of the fuel tank 2 constituting the liquefied gas fuel supply device 1 from the mirror portion 2b side.
FIG. 3: (A) front view and (B) bottom view of the solenoid valve apparatus 11 of Example 1. FIG.
It is (A) XX sectional drawing and (B) YY sectional drawing in FIG.3 (A).
5 shows a state in which (A) the main valve 20 is opened, and (B) the main valve 20 of the solenoid valve device 11 interposed between the fuel supply pump 36 and the fuel supply pipe 3. It is a schematic diagram explaining the state of closing.
6 shows a state in which the (A) operation valve 30 is opened and (B) the operation valve 30 of the solenoid valve device 11 interposed between the fuel tank 2 and the recovery pipe 4. In addition, it is schematic which demonstrates the state which opens the main valve 20. FIG.
7 is a schematic diagram illustrating a state in which the operation valve 30 is closed while the main valve 20 is closed while the solenoid valve device 11 interposed between the fuel tank 2 and the recovery pipe 4 is closed. .
8 is a schematic diagram showing a state in which the main valve 20 is held in the closed position by the valve closing operation member 38 of the solenoid valve device 11.
FIG. 9: (A) front view and (B) bottom view of the solenoid valve apparatus 51 of Example 2. FIG.
It is (A) ZZ sectional drawing and (B) WW sectional drawing in FIG. 9 (A).
11 is a schematic view showing a state in which the (A) manual valve 60 is kept in the open position and (B) the manual valve 60 in the closed position of the solenoid valve device 51.

Example 1

Embodiment 1 of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings.

In the first embodiment, the liquefied gas fuel supply device 1 is installed in an automobile equipped with an engine 5 driven by DME fuel. The liquefied gas fuel supply device 1 includes a fuel supply pipe 3 and an engine for supplying the DME fuel to the engine 5 from the fuel tank 2 and the fuel tank 2 storing the DME fuel as shown in FIG. 1. The return pipe 4 for returning the excess DME fuel which was not used in (5) to the fuel tank 2 is comprised. The DME fuel is a liquefied gas fuel according to the present invention.

The fuel tank 2 is, for example, provided below the vehicle body side surface of the track, and has a cylindrical body portion 2a and a hemispherical mirror portion joined to both openings of the body portion 2a. It consists of (2b). This fuel tank 2 is fixed to a vehicle by a fixing member (not shown), and is provided with a filling device (not shown) having a filling valve (not shown) which is opened and closed by manual operation on one mirror portion 2b thereof ( 40) is installed. As shown in FIG. 2, the filling device 40 includes a filling valve handle 42 for manually operating the filling valve and a filling opening 43 for filling DME fuel from the outside, and in the fuel tank 2. The filling prevention valve device (not shown) provided and the filling port 43 communicate with each other through the filling valve. When filling the fuel tank 2 with DME fuel, a filling gun (not shown) for filling this DME fuel is connected to the filling port 43, and the filling valve handle 42 is operated manually to close the filling valve. By opening, the fuel tank 2 is filled with DME fuel, and when the filling is completed, the filling valve is closed to separate the filling gun. By this operation, the DME fuel can be filled in the fuel tank 2.

To one mirror portion 2b of the fuel tank 2, a safety valve 47 for preventing the internal pressure of the fuel tank 2 from exceeding a predetermined upper limit value and the above-described recovery pipe 4 are connected. The solenoid valve apparatus 11 is provided. Here, since the safety valve 47 can apply the same thing as the structure used conventionally, the detail is abbreviate | omitted. In addition, the solenoid valve apparatus 11 is related with the principal part of this invention, and it mentions later in detail.

Moreover, the liquid level meter 48 which shows the storage amount of the DME fuel stored in the fuel tank 2 is provided in the body part 2a of the fuel tank 2. Moreover, the solenoid valve apparatus 11 connected with the fuel supply pump 36 provided in the inside of the fuel tank 2 is provided in the lower part of the body part 2a. The aforementioned fuel supply pipe 3 is connected to the solenoid valve device 11, and is interposed between the fuel supply pump 36 and the fuel supply pipe 3. Here, since the liquid level gauge 48 can apply the same thing as the structure used conventionally, the detail is abbreviate | omitted. Moreover, the solenoid valve apparatus 11 provided in the body part 2a of the fuel tank 2 is of the same structure as what is provided in the said mirror part 2b, and it is related with the main part of this invention, It will be described later.

The fuel supply pump 36 described above is driven and controlled by the fuel supply control device 35 to operate according to the accelerator operation. The fuel supply control device 35 also has a function of operating and controlling the solenoid valve device 11 described above, and the pressure detection sensors 9 and 9 provided in the fuel supply pipe 3 and the recovery pipe 4, respectively. On the basis of the pressure signal input from), the respective solenoid valve devices 11 and 11 provided in the body portion 2a and the mirror portion 2b of the fuel tank 2 are controlled to operate, respectively. Here, the pressure detection sensors 9 and 9 are provided in the upstream of the fuel supply pipe 3, and are provided in the downstream of the recovery pipe 4. As shown in FIG. Then, the fuel supply control device 35 processes to indirectly detect the flow rate of the DME fuel flowing through the fuel supply pipe 3 by the pressure signal input from the pressure detection sensor 9 provided in the fuel supply pipe 3. have. In the first embodiment, the pressure detection sensor 9 is also provided in the engine 5, and a pressure signal is output from the pressure detection sensor 9 to the fuel supply control device 35. The pressure detection sensor 9 provided in this engine 5 is provided in the position immediately before the fuel injection pump (not shown) provided in the engine 5, and the fuel supply control apparatus 35 is a pressure detection sensor ( The flow rate of the DME fuel supplied to the fuel injection pump is indirectly detected by the pressure (pressure signal) input from 9). In the first embodiment, the pressure detection sensors 9 and 9 provided in the fuel supply pipe 3 and the engine 5 are flow rate detection sensors according to the present invention.

This fuel supply control device 35 is constituted by a control system including a central control unit CPU, a storage unit RAM, a ROM, and the like. In the storage device ROM, a program for operating and controlling the fuel supply pump 36 and the solenoid valve devices 11 and 11 is stored, and each program is executed by the central controller CPU. Further, in the storage device RAM, predetermined data relating to each of the above programs is appropriately stored, and each data is read or erased as necessary. Such a fuel supply control device 35 can use the same structure as a conventional computer, and the details are omitted. Since the operation control of the fuel supply pump 36 by the fuel supply control device 35 can be carried out in the same manner as in the prior art, the details thereof will be omitted. Incidentally, the operation control of the solenoid valve devices 11 and 11 by the fuel supply control device 35 is described later with reference to the main part of the present invention.

Next, the main part of this invention is demonstrated.

The solenoid valve apparatus 11 provided in one mirror part 2b and the body part 2a of the fuel tank 2, respectively, is attached to the mirror part 2b and the body part 2a like FIG. It is fixedly attached to the pedestal part 7 and 8 provided, respectively. As shown in Figs. 3 and 4, the solenoid valve device 11 drives an operation valve to drive control by the fuel supply control device 35 to the casing main body 12 fixed to the pedestals 7 and 8. The apparatus 31 is provided. The actuating valve drive device 31 acts to control the actuating valve 30. In the first embodiment, the actuating valve drive device 31 is constituted by a solenoid, and actuates the actuating valve 30 by a voltage signal input from the fuel supply control device 35. To move forward and backward. The actuating valve drive device 31 and the actuating valve 30 have a function as a so-called solenoid valve which is directly driven and controlled. And the actuation valve drive means is comprised by this actuation valve drive apparatus 31 in this invention.

The casing body 12 of the solenoid valve device 11 has a first gas flow port 13 formed so as to face the pedestals 7 and 8 and a second gas flow port communicating with the first gas flow port 13 ( 14) is installed. The first gas flow port 13 communicates with the through-holes (not shown) formed in the pedestals 7 and 8, respectively, in a state where the solenoid valve device 11 is provided in the pedestals 7 and 8. It is formed so that it may communicate with the fuel supply pump 36 through each of these through-holes. The through-holes of the pedestals 7 and 8 are provided with a zero ring or the like not shown in the circumference of the hole, and the first gas flow port 13 and the through-holes in the state where the solenoid valve device 11 is mounted. There is no gas leak between them.

3 and 4, the casing main body 12 has a first main flow passage 15 and a second gas flow opening having the first gas flow opening 13 as an open end to the outside. A second main flow passage 16 is formed with an open end to 14 from the outside, and a main operating region 17 is formed so as to be orthogonal to the first main flow passage 15 and the second main flow passage 16, respectively. The first main flow path 15 and the second main flow path 16 communicate with each other via the main operation region 17. The main valve 20 is provided in the main operation region 17 so as to be slidable, and the variable closing region 19 partitioned in the closed state from the second main flow passage 16 by the main valve 20. Is formed (see FIGS. 5 to 8).

Said 2nd main flow path 16 is equipped with the flow opening / closing hole part 18 opened in the main operation area | region 17, and is provided so that the flow opening / closing hole part 18 and the main valve 20 may oppose. . Then, the main valve 20 slides the main operating region 17 to close the flow opening / closing hole 18 (see FIG. 5B) and the open position to open (FIG. 5A). The position of the first main flow path 15 (the first gas flow port 13) and the second main flow path 16 (the second gas flow port 14). Switch to non-communication state. This main valve 20 is urged in the closed position direction by a coil-shaped spring 27 provided in the main operating region 17 (movable closing region 19). And by this spring 27, the pressurizing means which concerns on this invention is comprised.

Moreover, the main flow path 22 is provided with the refinery flow path 22 which always communicates with the 1st main flow path 15 and the movable closing area | region 19, and this flow path 22 is the main valve 20. As shown in FIG. Even if the position is changed into the open position and the closed position, the first main flow path 15 and the movable closed region 19 are always communicated with each other (see Fig. 5).

In addition, the casing main body 12 is provided with an operating region 26 in which the above-described operating valve 30 is operated forward and backward, and a closed fine flow passage communicating with the operating region 26 and the movable closing region 19 ( A communication fine passage 24b is formed to communicate 24a with the operating region 26 and the second main flow passage 16 (see FIG. 5). The communication fine passage 24b is formed with an opening / closing hole 25 that opens to the operating region 26 side, and the operation valve 30 closes the opening / closing hole 25 so that the closed fine passage 24a ( The non-communication position (refer FIG. 5 (B)) which makes the communication closed flow path 24b (the 2nd main flow path 16) into a non-communication state, and the said opening-closing hole 25 The position conversion operation is performed to the communication position (refer FIG. 5 (A)) which opens and makes communication. This actuating valve 30 is position-change-operated-controlled by said actuating valve drive apparatus 31 to the said communicating position and non-combining position. Moreover, this operation valve 30 forms the front-end | tip part with the substantially disk-shaped sealing member 32, and crimps around the hole of the opening-and-closing hole part 25 of the communication fine flow path 24b in a non-communication position. High sealing performance is made. As this sealing member 32, the thing made from rubber | gum with a high DME resistance, or polytetrafluoroethylene is applied. Moreover, in the state in which the voltage signal is not input from the said fuel supply control apparatus 35, the actuation valve drive device 31 is maintained in a non-communication position, and moves to a communication position by inputting the said voltage signal. Therefore, while the voltage signal is input by the fuel supply control device 35, it is maintained in the communication position. In this way, the operation valve 30 is precisely and stably operated by the fuel supply control device 35. And the opening and closing fine flow passage 24 which concerns on this invention is comprised by the closed fine flow passage 24a and the communication fine flow passage 24b which communicate through the operation area | region 26. As shown in FIG.

Moreover, the valve closing operation member 38 is provided in the casing main body 12 so that the said variable closing area | region 19 can move along the position change direction of the main valve 20. As shown in FIG. The valve closing operation member 38 moves outwardly toward the flow opening / closing hole portion 18 side of the second main flow path 16 to thereby push the main valve 20 into the closed position (see FIG. 8), and It may be moved back to the retracted position (see FIG. 5) to retract backward from the advance position to enable the main valve 20 to move to the open position. Here, by making the valve closing operation member 38 into the retracted position, the main valve 20 can be switched between the open position and the closed position without interfering with the main valve 20. An operation handle 39 which protrudes out of the casing main body 12 is connected to such a valve closing operation member 38, and is moved to the advance position and the retraction position by manual operation of the operation handle 39. . That is, when the valve closing operation member 38 is set to the advance position by manual operation, the first main flow path 15 (the first gas flow port 13) and the second main flow path 16 (the second gas flow port) are forcibly made. (14) can be kept in a non-communication state. And the operation handle 39 is screwed to the casing main body 12, it is possible to move to a advance position by rotating in one direction, and to move to a retracted position by rotating in the other direction. It is possible.

In addition, the main valve 20 described above has a bottomed cylindrical shape which opens one side, and has an annular shape on the hydraulic pressure surface 20a facing the flow opening / closing hole portion 18 of the second main flow path 16. The sealing member 23 is provided. In detail, the annular groove 20b is formed in the hydraulic pressure surface 20a side of the main valve 20, and the sealing member 23 mentioned above is fitted in this groove 20b, and this groove | The sealing member 23 is fixedly mounted by caulking the inner peripheral end and the outer peripheral end of 20b). This sealing member 23 is formed so as to oppose the hole circumference 18a of the above-mentioned flow opening / closing hole part 18, and by making the main valve 20 into a closed position, the hole circumference of the flow opening / closing hole part 18 18a and the sealing member 23 press-contact, and the flow opening and closing hole part 18 is shielded (refer FIG. 5 (B)). In the first embodiment, the hole circumference 18a of the flow opening / closing hole portion 18 is formed in a shape that rises toward the main valve 20 in the circumferential direction, and in the closed position of the main valve 20, The sealing member 23 has high compressibility. As the sealing member 23, one made of a rubber made of high DME resistance or a polymer resin made of polytetrafluoroethylene is used.

And this main valve 20 is arrange | positioned so that position conversion may be carried out in the direction substantially orthogonal to the 1st main flow path 15 in the main operation area | region 17 orthogonal to the 1st main flow path 15. As shown in FIG. That is, the pressure of the DME fuel which flows in from the side from the side of the 1st main flow path 15 acts on the main valve 20, and this pressure changes the position of the main valve 20 from an open position to a closed position. When it works relatively strongly. Even if the main valve 20 of this Embodiment 1 receives such pressure from the side repeatedly, the deformation | transformation in the radial direction of the sealing member 23 made of said polymeric resin can fully be suppressed. This is because the annular sealing member 23 is fixedly mounted by caulking.

In addition, in the solenoid valve apparatus 11, the closed fine flow path 24a and the communication fine flow path 24b provided in the casing main body 12 are compared with the 1st main flow path 15 and the 2nd main flow path 16, It is formed so as to have a small flow path area. Moreover, the refinery flow path 22 formed in the main valve 20 is formed so that it may become the same flow path area or a small flow path area compared with the closed refinery flow path 24a and the communication refinery flow path 24b.

As described above, the electromagnetic valve device 11 is fixed to the pedestals 7 and 8 provided in the fuel tank 2. Then, the fuel supply pipe 3 described above is connected to the second gas flow port 14 to the solenoid valve device 11 attached to the pedestal portion 7 provided on the body portion 2a of the fuel tank 2. The fuel supply pipe 3 and the fuel supply pump 36 provided in the fuel tank 2 are connected via the solenoid valve device 11. On the other hand, the above-mentioned recovery pipe 4 is connected to the second gas flow port 14 to the solenoid valve device 11 attached to the pedestal 8 provided in the mirror portion 2b of the fuel tank 2. The recovery pipe 4 and the inside of the fuel tank 2 are connected via a solenoid valve device 11.

As described above, the solenoid valve devices 11 and 11 are operated and controlled by the fuel supply control device 35. The fuel supply control device 35 includes a pressure detection sensor 9 installed in the fuel supply pipe 3, a pressure detection sensor 9 installed in the engine 5, and a pressure detection sensor provided in the recovery pipe 4. 9 are respectively connected (refer FIG. 1). And the pressure signal input from each pressure detection sensor 9 is determined, respectively, and control which operates the solenoid valve apparatus 11, 11 suitably according to this determination is performed. The fuel supply control device 35 stores control programs, data, and the like for operating and controlling the solenoid valve devices 11 and 11 described above in the storage device ROM. Run

As described above, the solenoid valve device 11 of the first embodiment is configured to change the position according to the operation of the operation valve 30 and the operation valve 30 controlled by the fuel supply control device 35. The main valve 20 and the valve closing operation member 38 which are operated manually are integrally arranged in the casing main body 12.

The operation aspect of the liquefied gas fuel supply apparatus 1 provided with such solenoid valve apparatuses 11 and 11 is demonstrated with reference to FIGS. First, as the operation of the solenoid valve device 11 connected to the fuel supply pipe 3, when the engine is stopped, the voltage signal from the fuel supply control device 35 is not output to the operation valve drive device 31. Therefore, as shown in FIG. 5B, the operation valve 30 is maintained in the non-communication position, and the main valve 20 is closed because the internal pressure of the fuel tank 2 is higher than the internal pressure of the fuel supply pipe 3. Held in position. Here, it is assumed that the valve closing operation member 38 is held in the retracted position. When the engine is driven, by continuously outputting a voltage signal from the fuel supply control device 35 to the actuation valve drive device 31, the actuation valve 30 moves to the communication position as shown in FIG. The closed region 19 communicates with the second main flow path 16. As a result, the pressure difference between the first main flow path 15 (and the variable closed region 19) and the second main flow path 16 is eliminated, and the pressure acting on the hydraulic pressure surface 20a of the main valve 20 is applied to the spring 27. By larger than the pressing force of), the main valve 20 is shifted from the closed position to the open position. In this manner, during operation of the engine, the main valve 20 is held in the open position by opening the operation valve 30 in the communication position, and the flow opening / closing hole 18 of the second main flow path 16 is opened. The first main flow path 15 and the second main flow path 16 communicate with each other. Since the fuel supply pump 36 is operated and controlled by the fuel supply control device 35 while the engine is being driven, the DME fuel pumped at a predetermined flow rate by the fuel supply pump 36 causes the solenoid valve device 11 to operate. It flows to the fuel supply pipe 3, and is supplied to the engine 5 through.

The fuel supply control device 35 detects the pressure in the fuel supply pipe 3 by the pressure detection sensor 9 provided in the fuel supply pipe 3 and flows through the fuel supply pipe 3 by the pressure. Indirectly detect the flow rate of fuel. Similarly, the pressure detection sensor 9 provided in the engine 5 indirectly detects the flow rate of the DME fuel supplied to the fuel injection pump (not shown) of the engine 5. That is, the pressure signals input from these pressure detection sensors 9 and 9 are determined based on the supply flow volume determination value preset so as to correspond to this pressure signal. Here, the supply flow rate determination value is set to determine that the DME fuel flowing from the fuel supply tank 2 is equal to or higher than the flow rate when, for example, damage occurs in the fuel supply pipe 3 and the gas leaks. The flow rate supplied to the engine 5 is significantly reduced compared to the flow rate fed by the fuel supply pump 36. In this case, the flow rate of the fuel supply pipe 3 increases or decreases significantly compared to the flow rate of the fuel supply pump 36. The supply flow rate determination value for determining such a flow rate abnormality is a minimum value for determining the pressure drop caused by the increase or decrease in the flow rate of the fuel supply pipe 3 and the pressure drop caused by the flow rate decrease to the engine 5. The pressure value is preset. That is, when the pressure signal input from each of the pressure detection sensors 9 and 9 is equal to or lower than the supply flow rate determination value (the lowest pressure value described above), the gas leak causes more than the flow rate of the DME fuel (supply abnormality). Determined to be. Then, in the first embodiment, the supply flow rate determination value for determining the abnormal flow rate by the pressure signal input from the pressure detection sensor 9 provided in the fuel supply pipe 3 and the pressure detection provided in the engine 5 The supply flow rate determination values for determining the flow rate abnormality are set as different determination values, respectively, by the pressure signal input from the sensor 9, and it is determined whether or not the flow rate is appropriate at the fuel supply pipe 3 and the engine 5. The process of determining separately is performed.

As described above, the fuel supply control device 35 receives the pressure signals input from the fuel supply pipe 3 and the pressure detection sensors 9 and 9 of the engine 5 respectively, while the engine 5 is being driven. It is determined whether or not the supply flow rate determination value (the minimum pressure value) is equal to or less, and when it is determined that at least one is equal to or lower than the supply flow rate determination value, the operation valve driving device of the solenoid valve device 11 connected to the fuel supply pipe 3 is determined. Control to stop the output of the voltage signal to 31 is performed. Thereby, in the solenoid valve apparatus 11, as shown in FIG.5 (B), the actuation valve 30 shifts position from a communication position to a non-communication position, and the variable closing area | region 19 and the 2nd main flow path 16 are carried out. To be in non-communication state. Then, the DME fuel pumped into the first main flow path 15 is collected in the variable closing area 19 through the oil passage 22 of the main valve 20, whereby the pressure in the variable closing area 19 increases. Thus, the main valve 20 moves to the closed position, and the first main flow passage 15 and the second main flow passage 16 are brought into a non-communication state. In this way, when the pressure in the fuel supply pipe 3 and / or the pressure in the engine 5 falls below a predetermined supply flow rate determination value, it is determined that an abnormality has occurred in the supply of the DME fuel, and the main valve 20 is closed. To forcibly stop the supply of the DME fuel to the fuel supply pipe 3. As a result, when gas leakage occurs due to breakage of the fuel supply pipe 3 or the like, the solenoid valve device 11 is operated to stop the supply of the DME fuel, thereby preventing the gas leakage.

Here, in the first embodiment, as described above, the pressure detection sensors 9 and 9 are respectively provided in the fuel supply pipe 3 and the engine 5 so as to measure the gas leak based on the pressure signal detected by each. Doing. This means that if gas leakage is relatively insignificant, it is difficult to determine the flow rate abnormality (less than the supply flow rate determination value) with good accuracy only by the pressure signal detected by the pressure detection sensor 9 provided upstream of the fuel supply pipe 3. Because I'm concerned. As in the first embodiment, the pressure detection sensor 9 is provided immediately before the fuel ejection pump (not shown) of the engine 5, and at least one of the flow rate abnormalities is determined to ensure gas leakage. It is easy to judge stably.

Moreover, when the engine 5 stops, the fuel supply control device 35 stops the output of the voltage signal to the operation valve drive device 31 of the solenoid valve device 11 connected to the fuel supply pipe 3. As a result, the main valve 20 is shifted to the closed position as in the case where the pressure signal becomes equal to or lower than the supply flow rate determination value, and the fuel supply pipe 3 and the fuel supply pump 36 are brought into a non-communication state (Fig. 5). (B)). In this way, while the engine 5 is stopped, the supply of the DME fuel from the fuel tank 2 to the engine 5 is reliably stopped. This makes it possible to reliably prevent the gas leak from the fuel tank 2 even when a gas leak occurs due to breakage of the fuel supply pipe 3 or the like during the stop of the engine 5, for example.

On the other hand, as the operation of the solenoid valve device 11 connected to the recovery pipe 4, as described above, the fuel supply control device 35 operates the valve of the solenoid valve device 11 during the stop of the engine 5. Since the operation valve 30 is maintained in the non-communication position and the internal pressure of the fuel tank 2 acts on the variable closing region 19 without outputting a voltage signal to the drive device 31, the main valve 20 ) Is kept in the closed position (see FIG. 7). In this state, the DME fuel from the fuel tank 2 to the recovery pipe 4 does not flow back.

When the engine 5 is driven, the fuel supply control device 35 outputs a voltage signal to the actuating valve drive device 31, similarly to the solenoid valve device 11 connected to the fuel supply pipe 3, and the actuating valve ( Move 30) to the communication position. When the DME fuel returns from the engine 5 via the recovery pipe 4, the pressure acts on the hydraulic pressure surface 20a of the main valve 20, so that the main valve 20 is operated as shown in FIG. 6A. Position shift from closed position to open position. As a result, excess DME fuel is returned from the engine 5 into the fuel tank 2.

Moreover, even if the engine 5 drives, when the pressure signal input from the pressure detection sensor 9 provided in the recovery pipe 4 is below the preset return pressure threshold value, the actuation valve drive device 31 may supply a voltage. Without outputting a signal, the actuation valve 30 is held in a non-communication position (see FIG. 7). This is due to the determination that the pressure in the recovery pipe 4 may be lower than the internal pressure of the fuel tank 2. That is, in the state in which the operation valve 30 is maintained in the non-communication position, when the pressure in the recovery pipe 4 is larger than the pressure in the fuel tank 2, the variable closed region 19 communicating with the fuel tank 2 is provided. Since the pressure acting on the hydraulic pressure surface 20a of the main valve 20 increases as compared with the internal pressure of), the main valve 20 is pushed in the opening position direction as shown in FIG. 15 and the second main flow path 16 communicate with each other. As a result, the DME fuel can be returned from the recovery pipe 4 to the fuel tank 2, and the internal pressure of the fuel tank 2 is greater than the pressure in the recovery pipe 4, so that the backflow from the fuel tank 2 is prevented. It can prevent. On the other hand, if the pressure in the recovery pipe 4 is smaller than the pressure of the fuel tank 2 while the operation valve 30 is maintained in the non-communication position, the variable closed region communicating with the fuel tank 2 ( Since the internal pressure of 19 is larger than the pressure acting on the hydraulic pressure surface 20a of the main valve 20, as shown in FIG. 7, the main valve 20 is in a closed position. Thereby, since the 1st main flow path 15 and the 2nd main flow path 16 become a non-communication state, the backflow from the fuel tank 2 can be prevented.

Here, as said return pressure threshold value which set the operation valve 30 as a condition which carries out position conversion operation | movement to a communicating position and a non-communicating position, in this Embodiment 1, it is set to the maximum value of the internal pressure of the fuel tank 2, The pressure is set slightly higher than that. Thereby, when the pressure signal input from the pressure detection sensor 9 provided in the recovery pipe 4 is larger than this return pressure threshold value, the pressure in the recovery pipe 4 is more reliable than the internal pressure of the fuel tank 2. It is judged to be high, and when it is below a return pressure threshold value, it is determined that there exists a phenomenon that the pressure in the recovery pipe 4 becomes lower than the internal pressure of the fuel tank 2 as mentioned above. And the control which performs the position change operation of the operation valve 30 is performed in accordance with such determination. Then, when gas leakage occurs due to breakage of the recovery pipe 4 or the like, the flow rate of the DME fuel returning to the fuel tank 2 is small, so that the return pressure is lower than the threshold value.

When the fuel supply control device 35 is driving the engine 5 and the pressure signal input from the pressure detection sensor 9 provided in the recovery pipe 4 exceeds the return pressure threshold value, as described above. By continuously outputting a voltage signal to the actuation valve drive device 31, the main valve 20 is held in the open position so that excess DME fuel is returned from the recovery pipe 4 to the fuel tank 2. (See Figure 6 (A)). In addition, the pressure signal input from the pressure detection sensor 9 of the recovery pipe 4 receives the return pressure while the main valve 20 of the solenoid valve device 11 connected to the recovery pipe 4 is in the open position. When it determines with it being below a threshold value, as mentioned above, the voltage signal to the actuation valve drive apparatus 31 of the solenoid valve apparatus 11 is stopped, and the actuation valve 30 is shifted to a non-communication position. In the state where the operation valve 30 is maintained in the non-communication position, as described above, when the pressure in the recovery pipe 4 is greater than the pressure in the fuel tank 2, the main valve 20 opens. The DME fuel returning to the fuel tank 2 returns to the fuel tank 2 while the state in which the first main flow passage 15 and the second main flow passage 16 are in communication with each other in the positional direction is communicated. Backflow from (2) also does not occur (see FIG. 6 (B)). In addition, as described above, when the pressure in the recovery pipe 4 is lower than the pressure in the fuel tank 2, the main valve 20 is in the closed position, so that backflow from the fuel tank 2 can be prevented. have. In this way, in the state where the operation valve 30 is maintained in the non-communication position, the internal pressure of the recovery pipe 4 increases and decreases with the DME fuel returning the recovery pipe 4, thereby opening and closing the main valve 20. 6 (B) and 7), the DME fuel can be returned and the backflow prevention can be properly performed.

In addition, when the engine is stopped, the fuel supply control device 35 stops the voltage signal to the operation valve drive device 31 of the solenoid valve device 11 connected to the recovery pipe 4 so that the operation valve 30 is not attached. It is maintained in the barrel position. While the engine is stopped, the pressure in the recovery pipe 4 becomes smaller than the internal pressure of the fuel tank 2, so that the main valve 20 is maintained in the closed position, so that the fuel tank 2 and the recovery pipe 4 are not opened. Keep in the barrel (see FIG. 7). As a result, it is possible to prevent the DME fuel in the fuel tank 2 from leaking due to breakage or the like generated in the recovery pipe 4.

On the other hand, each said solenoid valve apparatus 11 is equipped with the valve closing operation member 38 which can make the main valve 20 hold | maintain in the closed position by manual operation. Therefore, when the liquefied gas fuel supply device 1 is maintained, when the fuel tank 2 is removed, when the fuel tank 2 is not used for a long time, the operation handle 39 is operated manually, and the valve closing operation member is operated. By moving the 38 to the advance position, the main valve 20 can be held in the closed position as shown in FIG. 8. Thereby, gas does not leak from inside the fuel tank 2 via each solenoid valve apparatus 11 in the period of suspension of use. Thus, since the solenoid valve apparatus 11 of this Embodiment 1 is equipped with the function by manual operation in addition to the control function by the fuel supply control apparatus 35, it exhibits the outstanding usefulness.

As described above, the liquefied gas fuel supply device 1 of the first embodiment operates the solenoid valve device 11 connected to the fuel supply pipe 3 by the fuel supply control device 35 to control the fuel supply pipe ( When abnormality occurs in supply of DME fuel from 3) or engine 5, the supply of DME fuel is forcibly stopped, so that gas leakage and the like can be reliably and stably prevented. In addition, by operatively controlling the solenoid valve device 11 connected to the recovery pipe 4 by the fuel supply control device 35, the backflow from the fuel tank 2 can be reliably and stably prevented. In the first embodiment, the valve opening and closing control means of the present invention is configured by the fuel supply control device 35.

Example 2

In the liquefied gas fuel supply device 1 of Embodiment 2 according to the present invention, the solenoid valve device 51 (Figs. 9 and 10) having a manual valve 60 for opening and closing the first main flow path 15 is provided with a fuel tank. It is the structure installed in (2). The liquefied gas fuel supply device 1 of the second embodiment has the same configuration except that the respective solenoid valve devices 11 of the first embodiment are replaced with the solenoid valve devices 51, respectively.

As for the solenoid valve apparatus 51 of this Embodiment 2, the manual valve 61 which moves by manual operation is provided in the casing main body 52 like FIG. 9-11. This manual valve 61 enters into the 1st main flow path 15, and closes this 1st main flow path 15 (FIG. 11 (B)), and retracts from this closed position, and the 1st main flow path It can be moved to the opening position (FIG. 11A) which opens 15. Here, the manual valve 61 is provided with the closing part 62 which completely closes the 1st main flow path 15 in a closed position. In this way, the DME fuel does not flow through the first main flow path 15 in the closed position, and the first gas flow port 13 is substantially closed, and the manual valve 61 is a casing main body. An operating hole 63, which is screwed to the 52 and exposed to the outside of the casing main body 52, can be rotated by a hexagon wrench, and a hexagon wrench is provided in the operation hole 63. By inserting and rotating operation, the manual valve 60 can be moved forward and backward to the opening position and the closing position.

This solenoid valve device 51 is similar to the solenoid valve device 11 of the first embodiment (see FIGS. 5 and 6) in the state where the manual valve 60 is held in the open position, and the fuel supply control device 35 By operating the actuating valve drive device 31 by means of), the main valve 20 is shifted to the open position and the closed position. That is, in the solenoid valve apparatus 51 interposed between the fuel supply pump 36 and the fuel supply pipe 3, the operation valve 30 is made into the non-communication position by the operation valve drive apparatus 31, and the main valve ( 20 is kept in the closed position and DME fuel does not flow from the fuel supply pump 36 to the fuel supply line 3. Therefore, as mentioned above, when the flow rate abnormality is determined by the pressure detection sensors 9 and 9 provided in the fuel supply pipe 3 or the engine 5, the operation valve 30 is operated to a non-communication position. By this, the supply of DME fuel is forcibly stopped, and gas leakage can be prevented. Then, by maintaining the operation valve 30 in the communication position, the main valve 20 is opened, and the DME fuel is supplied from the fuel supply pump 36 to the engine 5 via the fuel supply pipe 3 ( See FIG. 11 (A)).

In addition, in the solenoid valve device 51 interposed between the recovery pipe 4 and the fuel tank 2, the actuation valve drive device 31 is similar to the solenoid valve device 11 of the first embodiment (see FIG. 7). The main valve 20 is held in the closed position by stopping the flow of the DME fuel between the recovery pipe 4 and the fuel tank 2 by setting the actuating valve 30 to the non-communicating position. That is, as described above, when the flow rate abnormality is determined by the pressure detection sensor 9 provided in the recovery pipe 4, the operation of the operation valve 30 to the non-communication position controls the supply of DME fuel. By stopping, backflow from the fuel rank 2 to the recovery pipe 4 can be prevented. Then, by holding the operation valve 30 in the communication position, the main valve 20 can be opened to return the DME fuel from the recovery pipe 4 to the fuel tank 2.

In addition, in any of the above-described solenoid valve devices 51 and 51, while the engine 5 is stopped, the main valve 20 is maintained in the closed position by maintaining the operation valve 30 in the non-communication position, thereby maintaining the engine ( The fuel supply to 5) is stopped and the fuel return from the engine 5 to the fuel tank 2 is stopped.

Thus, also in the structure of Example 2, operation effect similar to the structure of Example 1 mentioned above can be acquired by driving control of the actuating valve drive apparatus 31. FIG.

Moreover, in the structure of Example 2, by setting the said manual valve 60 to the closed position, the drive control (and the position of the main valve 20) of the actuation valve 30 by the actuation valve drive device 31, Regardless, the first gas flow port 13 can be closed to reliably and stably prevent the inflow and outflow of DME fuel from the first gas flow port 13. When the operation valve 30 is damaged or the operation valve 30 is damaged, for example, as shown in FIG. 11, the operation valve 30 cannot be repositioned to the non-communicating position. The furnace 24 may be in a state that cannot be closed. Even in such a state, in the configuration of the second embodiment, the first gas flow port 13 and the second gas flow port 14 do not communicate with each other by setting the manual valve 60 to the closed position as shown in FIG. 11 (B). Inflow and outflow of the DME fuel from the first gas flow port 13 can be reliably prevented. Therefore, as described above, gas leakage that may be caused by a problem (such as poor operation or damage) of the operation valve 30 can be reliably prevented by setting the manual valve 60 to the closed position. In addition, similarly to the first embodiment described above, when the liquefied gas fuel supply device 1 is maintained, when the fuel tank 2 is removed, when it is not used for a long time, the manual valve 60 is used. By holding it in the closed position, gas does not leak from the fuel tank 2 via each solenoid valve device 51 during the period of stopping use.

The solenoid valve apparatus 51 of this Embodiment 2 is the same structure as the above-mentioned Example 1 except having provided the manual valve 60, without providing the valve closing operation member 38 of Example 1 mentioned above. In addition, the same code | symbol is attached | subjected to the same component, and the description is abbreviate | omitted.

In the liquefied gas fuel supply device 1 of the first and second embodiments described above, the solenoid valve devices 11 and 51 are interposed between the recovery pipe 4 and the fuel tank 2. Instead of the solenoid valve apparatuses 11 and 51, it is good also as a structure which arrange | positioned the backflow prevention valve. Also in such a structure, the effect of the above-mentioned this invention by the solenoid valve apparatus 11, 51 connected to the fuel supply line 3 is acquired suitably. As this backflow prevention valve, the thing of the structure conventionally used is applicable.

Moreover, in Example 1, 2 mentioned above, the pressure detection sensor 9, 9 which provided the solenoid valve apparatus 11, 51 connected to the fuel supply pipe 3 in each of the fuel supply pipe 3 and the engine 5, respectively. ) Is configured to operate in accordance with the detected pressure signal. However, as another configuration, the pressure detection sensor 9 is provided only on either the fuel supply pipe 3 or the engine 5, and the pressure detection sensor 9 Operation control may be performed based on the pressure signal from

Moreover, in Example 1, 2 mentioned above, the pressure detection sensors 9 and 9 which provided the solenoid valve apparatuses 11 and 51 connected to the fuel supply pipe 3 in the fuel supply pipe 3 and the engine 5, respectively. Although it is the structure which carried out operation control according to the pressure signal detected by this, as another structure, you may provide a flow volume detection sensor (flowmeter), and may operate and control the solenoid valve apparatus according to the flow signal detected by this.

In the first and second embodiments, the main flow path 22 is formed in the main valve 20 so that the first main flow path 15 and the variable closed region 19 are always in communication. May be formed in the casing body. Also in such a structure, the effect similar to Example 1, 2 mentioned above can be acquired.

Moreover, since the solenoid valve apparatus 11 of Example 1 mentioned above has the function of operating control of the operation valve 30, and the function of manually operating the valve closing operation member 38, another use of the liquefied gas fuel supply apparatus is carried out. Can also be used as Even if this solenoid valve apparatus is used for other uses, it can position-change the main valve to an open position and a closed position by controlling the actuation valve drive control apparatus of a solenoid valve apparatus according to predetermined conditions. As such a solenoid valve device, the casing main body provided with the 1st gas flow port which can flow in and out of a liquefied gas fuel,

Closed to the rear of the second gas flow port in the casing body to form a variable closed region partitioned with the second gas flow port side in a closed state, and to close with the open position in communication between the first gas flow port and the second gas flow port. Main valve to convert position to position,

Pressing means for pressing the main valve in the closed position direction,

A fine flow passage installed in the casing body and always communicating with the variable closed region and the first gas flow port,

An opening and closing fine flow passage installed in the casing body and communicating the variable closed region and the second gas flow opening,

An actuating valve that opens and closes the open channel and communicates with the variable closed region and the second gas flow port, and shifts the position into a non-communicated position that shields the open channel.

Actuating valve drive means for locating the actuating valve to the communicating position and the non-communicating position, and

Valve closing operation member which is position-shifted by manual operation to the retracted position which enables the position change of a main valve to an open position and a closed position, and the shielded position which makes the said main valve into a closed position.

And the actuating valve driving means when the predetermined operating condition is achieved, thereby switching the actuating valve to the communicating position or the non-communicating position.

Moreover, also in the solenoid valve apparatus 51 of Example 2 mentioned above, it can be used for other uses. As such a solenoid valve device, the casing main body provided with the 1st gas flow port which can flow in and out of a liquefied gas fuel,

An open position provided in the casing body at the rear of the second gas flow port to form a variable closed region partitioned with the second gas flow port side in a closed state, while communicating with the first gas flow port and the second gas flow port; Main valve to convert position to closed position

Pressing means for pressing the main valve in the closed position direction,

A refinery passage installed in the casing body and always communicating the variable closed region and the first gas flow port;

An opening and closing fine flow passage installed in the casing body and communicating the variable closed region and the second gas flow opening,

An actuating valve that opens and closes the open channel and communicates with the variable closed region and the second gas flow port, and shifts the position into a non-communicated position that shields the open channel.

Actuating valve drive means for locating the actuating valve to the communicating position and the non-communicating position, and

Position opening by manual operation to the opening position which opens a 1st gas flow port and enables liquefied gas fuel to flow in and out from this 1st gas flow port, and the closed position which closes a 1st gas flow port and makes liquefied gas fuel inflow and out impossible. Manual valve

And controlling the actuating valve drive means to shift the actuating valve into the communicating position or the non-communicating position when the predetermined operating condition is achieved.

It is a constitution.

This invention is not limited to the Example mentioned above, It can use suitably within the scope of the summary of this invention.

1 liquefied gas fuel supply
2 fuel tanks
3 fuel supply pipe
4 collection pipe
5 engine
9 Pressure Detection Sensor (Flow Detection Sensor)
11, 51 solenoid valve device
12, 52 casing body
13 first gas flow port
14 2nd gas flow port
18 opening and closing hole
19 variable closed areas
20 main valve
22 euros
23 sealing member
24 opening and shutting tax flow
27 springs (pressurizing means)
30 working valve
31 Actuated valve drive (actuated valve drive means)
35 Fuel Supply Control
36 fuel supply pump
38 valve closing operation member
61 manual valve

Claims (6)

A fuel tank for storing liquefied gas fuel supplied to the engine, a fuel supply pump installed in the fuel tank to pump liquefied gas fuel in the fuel tank at a predetermined flow rate, and a liquefied gas fuel pumped by the fuel supply pump In the liquefied gas fuel supply device having a fuel supply pipe for supplying to the
A casing body provided with a first gas flow opening and a second gas flow opening, through which liquefied gas fuel can flow in and out;
It is provided in the casing main body, and forms a variable closed region partitioned with the second gas flow port in a closed state, while being positioned in an open position in communication with the first gas flow port and the second gas flow port, and in a closed position closed. Converting main valve,
Pressing means for pressing the main valve in a closed position direction,
A fine flow passage installed in the casing body and always communicating the variable closed region and the first gas flow port;
An opening and closing fine flow passage installed in the casing body and communicating the variable closed region and the second gas flow port,
An actuating valve which opens the opening and closing fine flow path and converts the position into a non-communicating position for communicating the variable closed region and the second gas flow port, and a non-communicating position for shielding the open and closed fine flow path;
Actuating valve drive means for shifting the actuating valve into a communicating position and a non-communicating position;
Solenoid valve device having a,
Interposed between the fuel supply pump and the fuel supply pipe so that the first gas flow port is on the fuel supply pump side and the second gas flow port is on the fuel supply pipe side;
A supply flow rate determination value for determining a flow rate abnormality of the liquefied gas fuel supplied to the engine through the fuel supply pipe is set in advance, and detected by the flow rate detection sensor provided in the fuel supply pipe and / or the engine during driving of the engine. When it is determined that the flow rate of the liquefied gas fuel is an abnormal flow rate based on the supply flow rate determination value, the main valve is controlled by driving control of the actuating valve drive means to bring the actuating valve of the solenoid valve device into a non-communication position. And a valve opening / closing control means for performing a control to stop the supply of liquefied gas fuel from the fuel supply pump to the fuel supply pipe by shifting to a closed position. The method of claim 1,
An opening position in which the solenoid valve device opens the first gas flow port to allow the liquefied gas fuel to flow in and out of the first gas flow port, and a closed position in which the first gas flow port is closed to make the liquefied gas fuel inflow and out The liquefied gas fuel supply apparatus which has a manual valve which is position-shifted by manual operation. The method of claim 1,
The solenoid valve apparatus has a valve closing operation member which is position-shifted by manual operation to a retracted position for enabling the position change of the main valve to an open position and a closed position, and a shielded position for holding the main valve in the closed position. The liquefied gas fuel supply apparatus provided. 4. The method according to any one of claims 1 to 3,
A recovery pipe for returning excess liquefied gas fuel from the engine to the fuel tank,
The solenoid valve device is interposed between the fuel tank and the recovery pipe so that the first gas flow port is on the fuel tank side and the second gas flow port is on the recovery pipe side.
The valve opening / closing control means operates the solenoid valve device when the pressure in the recovery pipe detected by the pressure detection sensor provided in the recovery pipe becomes less than or equal to a preset return pressure threshold value while the engine is being driven. Drive control of the actuating valve drive means to bring the valve into a non-communication position, thereby performing control to prevent the reverse flow of liquefied gas fuel from the fuel tank to the recovery pipe by shifting the main valve to the closed position, Liquefied gas fuel supply. The method according to any one of claims 1 to 4,
The valve opening and closing control means,
When the engine is stopped, driving control of the actuating valve drive means to maintain the actuating valve of the solenoid valve device in a non-communication position,
And, when the engine starts, driving control of the actuating valve drive means to maintain the actuating valve of the solenoid valve device in a communication position. The method according to any one of claims 1 to 5,
The solenoid valve device,
The casing main body is provided in front of the main valve with a flow opening / closing hole that communicates with the second gas flow port and is opened and closed by a position change to an open position and a closed position of the main valve.
An annular sealing member is provided by caulking from both inside and outside thereof so that the main valve faces the hole circumference of the flow opening / closing hole portion. A liquefied gas fuel supply device for closing the flow opening / closing hole part in a closed state by squeezing in a.

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