Fuel supply device, fuel supply method and boat propulsion device

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9688375-B2
Application number	US-201514748778-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Jun 24, 2015
Priority date	Aug 8, 2014
Publication date	Jun 27, 2017
Grant date	Jun 27, 2017

Abstract

A fuel supply device includes a fuel tank, a fuel path, and a fuel pump. The fuel tank includes a fuel storage region including a sealed region configured to store a fuel. The fuel path is connected to an engine and the fuel tank. The fuel path includes a vaporized-liquid fuel mixture suction portion to suck a vaporized-liquid fuel mixture. The vaporized-liquid fuel mixture is produced by mixing the vaporized fuel into the liquid fuel. The vaporized fuel is produced from the liquid fuel stored in the fuel storage region. The fuel pump is disposed in the fuel path. The fuel pump is configured to produce a negative pressure in a pump suction port connected to the vaporized-liquid fuel mixture suction portion.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A fuel supply device configured to supply a fuel to an engine, the fuel supply device comprising:
a fuel tank including a fuel storage region including a sealed region configured to store the fuel;
a fuel path configured to be connected to the engine and the fuel tank and including a vaporized-liquid fuel mixture suction portion to suck a vaporized-liquid fuel mixture, the vaporized-liquid fuel mixture is produced by mixing of a vaporized fuel into a liquid fuel, and the vaporized fuel is produced from the liquid fuel stored in the fuel storage region; and
a fuel pump disposed in the fuel path and configured to produce a negative pressure in a pump suction port connected to the vaporized-liquid fuel mixture suction portion.

2. The fuel supply device according to claim 1 , wherein the fuel pump is a positive displacement pump.

3. The fuel supply device according to claim 1 , wherein the fuel pump is configured to produce a discharge pressure greater than or equal to a pressure at which the vaporized fuel sucked through the pump suction port liquefies.

4. The fuel supply device according to claim 1 , wherein the vaporized-liquid fuel mixture suction portion includes:
a liquid fuel suction port located within the fuel storage region;
a vaporized fuel suction port located within the fuel storage region; and
a vaporized-liquid fuel mixture path configured to mix the vaporized fuel sucked through the vaporized fuel suction port into the liquid fuel sucked through the liquid fuel suction port.

5. The fuel supply device according to claim 4 , wherein the vaporized fuel suction port is located higher than the liquid fuel suction port.

6. The fuel supply device according to claim 4 , wherein an opening area of the vaporized fuel suction port is smaller than an opening area of the liquid fuel suction port.

7. The fuel supply device according to claim 4 , wherein the vaporized-liquid fuel mixture suction portion includes a venturi path and a vaporized fuel path;
the venturi path is defined by a partial narrowing in the vaporized-liquid fuel mixture suction portion;
the vaporized fuel path extends from the vaporized fuel suction port to the venturi path;
the vaporized fuel path includes a vaporized fuel discharge port in the venturi path; and
an opening area of the vaporized fuel discharge port is smaller than a cross-sectional area of the venturi path.

8. The fuel supply device according to claim 7 , wherein the vaporized-liquid fuel mixture suction portion includes a liquid fuel path and a vaporized-liquid fuel mixture path, the liquid fuel path is connected to an upstream side of the venturi path and continuing to the liquid fuel suction port, and the vaporized-liquid fuel mixture path is connected to a downstream side of the venturi path.

9. The fuel supply device according to claim 8 , wherein the cross-sectional area of the venturi path is smaller than a cross-sectional area of the liquid fuel path.

10. The fuel supply device according to claim 4 , wherein a suction amount per unit time of the fuel pump is greater than a sum of an amount of the liquid fuel per unit time to be sucked through the liquid fuel suction port and an amount of the vaporized fuel per unit time to be sucked through the vaporized fuel suction port.

11. The fuel supply device according to claim 1 , further comprising:
a regulator connected to the fuel path and configured to regulate a pressure of the fuel discharged from the fuel pump to be a target value; and
a return path connected to the regulator and the fuel tank.

12. The fuel supply device according to claim 1 , further comprising:
a fuel pressure sensor configured to detect a pressure of the fuel discharged from the fuel pump; and
a controller configured and/or programmed to control a discharge pressure of the fuel pump based on a detection value of the fuel pressure sensor.

13. The fuel supply device according to claim 4 , wherein the fuel storage region includes a top surface with a height gradually increasing toward the vaporized fuel suction port.

14. The fuel supply device according to claim 1 , wherein the fuel tank includes a fuel inflow pipe extending in an up-and-down direction within the fuel storage region; and
the fuel inflow pipe includes an outlet port in an upper end thereof.

15. The fuel supply device according to claim 14 , wherein the fuel tank includes a strainer disposed inside the fuel inflow pipe.

16. The fuel supply device according to claim 14 , wherein the fuel tank includes a filtration filter connected to a lower end of the fuel inflow pipe.

17. The fuel supply device according to claim 1 , wherein the fuel tank includes a coolant path provided in the fuel storage region and configured to cause a coolant to circulate therein.

18. The fuel supply device according to claim 1 , wherein the fuel pump is disposed within the fuel storage region.

19. A fuel supply method comprising:
supplying a fuel to a fuel storage region including a sealed region; and
sucking a vaporized-liquid fuel mixture through a pump suction port connected to a vaporized-liquid fuel mixture suction portion disposed within the fuel storage region by producing a negative pressure in the pump suction port, the vaporized-liquid fuel mixture is produced by mixing of the vaporized fuel into the liquid fuel, and the vaporized fuel is produced from the liquid fuel stored in the fuel storage region.

20. The fuel supply method according to claim 19 , further comprising:
liquefying the vaporized fuel contained in the vaporized-liquid fuel mixture by compressing the vaporized-liquid fuel mixture sucked through the pump suction port; and
supplying the fuel under compression to a fuel injection device of an engine.

21. The fuel supply method according to claim 19 , further comprising:
regulating a pressure of the fuel under compression to be a target value by returning a portion of the fuel under compression to the fuel storage region.

22. The fuel supply method according to claim 19 , further comprising:
controlling a pressure compressing the vaporized-liquid fuel mixture to be a target value based on a pressure of the fuel under compression.

23. The fuel supply method according to claim 19 , further comprising:
cooling the vaporized fuel prior to sucking the vaporized-liquid fuel mixture.

24. The fuel supply method according to claim 19 , further comprising:
filtering the fuel prior to supplying the fuel to the fuel storage region.

25. A boat propulsion device comprising:
an engine; and
a fuel supply device configured to supply a fuel to the engine, the fuel supply device including:
a fuel tank including a fuel storage region including a sealed region configured to store the fuel;
a fuel path connected to the engine and the fuel tank and including a vaporized-liquid fuel mixture suction portion to suck a vaporized-liquid fuel mixture, the vaporized-liquid fuel mixture is produced by mixing of a vaporized fuel into a liquid fuel, the vaporized fuel is produced from the liquid fuel stored in the fuel storage region; and
a fuel pump disposed in the fuel path and configured to produce a negative pressure in a pump suction port connected to the vaporized-liquid fuel mixture suction portion.

Assignees

• Yamaha Motor Co Ltd

Inventors

• Kadobayashi Yoshiyuki

Classifications

• B63H21/14

  relating to internal-combustion engines {(of outboard type B63H20/00)} · CPC title

• F02M37/20

  characterised by means for preventing vapour lock · CPC title

• F02B61/045 Primary

  for marine engines · CPC title

• G05D16/2013

  using throttling means as controlling means · CPC title

• F02M37/0082

  Devices inside the fuel tank other than fuel pumps or filters (electrical pumps submerged in fuel tanks F02M37/10, jet pumps F02M37/025) · CPC title