This application claims priority of Gentian patent application no. 10 2012 007 617.7, filed Apr. 18, 2012, the entire content of which is incorporated herein by reference.
U.S. Pat. No. 6,595,500 discloses a hand-held work apparatus having a diaphragm carburetor. A fuel pump, which is driven by the varying crankcase pressure, and a delivery pump, which is to foe actuated manually, are integrated into the diaphragm carburetor. Carburetors of this type are usually arranged on the internal combustion engine or directly adjacently to the internal combustion engine.
For example, U.S. Pat. No. 4,286,553 also discloses feeding the fuel to an internal combustion engine via an injection valve. The fuel is delivered by a fuel pump to the injection valve.
It is an object of the invention to provide a work apparatus having an advantageous arrangement of a component comprising fuel pump and delivery pump.
The work apparatus of the invention includes: a work tool; a combustion engine configured to drive the work tool; a fuel tank having a tank wall delimiting a tank interior; a fuel pump configured to convey fuel from the fuel tank to the combustion engine; the combustion engine being further configured to drive the fuel pump; a feed pump configured to be manually actuated by a user; and, the fuel pump and the feed pump conjointly defining a component arranged outside of the fuel tank at least partially on the tank wall.
During the operation of the work apparatus, the internal combustion engine heats up greatly. During operation, cooling air which cools the engine is usually delivered by the internal combustion engine. If the fuel pump is heated excessively during the operation of. the internal combustion engine and, in particular, also after the internal combustion engine is switched off, when no more cooling air is delivered and the internal combustion engine is still hot, vapor bubbles can be formed. If there are vapor bubbles in the fuel pump, the fuel pump cannot deliver any more fuel, in particular when it is configured as a diaphragm pump. Excessive heating of the fuel pump is therefore to be avoided. This can be achieved in a simple way by virtue of the fact that the component is arranged at least partially on a tank wall which adjoins the tank interior of the fuel tank. The fuel tank is usually arranged in a cool region in a work apparatus, in order to prevent excessive heating of the fuel during operation. During operation, the greatest heat is produced on account of the combustion in the cylinder of the internal combustion engine. The fuel tank is usually arranged at the greatest possible distance from the cylinder of the internal combustion engine, in order to keep the heat input into the fuel tank low. The fuel itself brings about a uniform temperature distribution in the fuel tank and, as a result, satisfactory dissipation of heat, which is input into the fuel tank, via cool regions of the fuel tank to the outside. Excessive heating of the fuel pump can be prevented by way of the arrangement on the tank wall, that is to say immediately adjacently to the tank wall. Heat which is input into the fuel pump can be dissipated via the tank wall of the fuel tank into the fuel and front there via cool regions of the fuel tank to the outside. Moreover, the heat is dissipated to the surrounding air by the fuel pump. The fuel pump is therefore cooled both via the fuel in the fuel tank and via the surrounding air.
The component is advantageously arranged at least partially in a depression of the fuel tank. The arrangement of the component at least partially in a depression of the fuel tank ensures that there is only a small height difference between the delivery pump and the fuel level in the case of a customary parked position of the work apparatus. As a result, the hydrostatic pressure difference which is to be overcome between the fuel, tank and the delivery pump and is a result of the different height position is comparatively low in the case of the arrangement of the component in a depression of the fuel tank. The hydrostatic pressure level between the delivery pump and the fuel tank also differs only a little. As a result, the power output which is required to drive the fuel pump and the force which is to be applied by the operator in order to actuate the delivery pump can be kept low.
In the parked or rest position of the work apparatus, at least approximately 50% of the height of the component, measured in the direction of action of gravity, is advantageously arranged below the uppermost region of the upper side and below the lowermost region of the underside of the fuel tank. At least approximately 50% of the component, in relation to the height of the component, accordingly extends in the region of the fuel tank. At least, approximately 70%, in particular at least approximately 80% of the height of the component is advantageously arranged below the uppermost region of the upper side and below the lowermost region of the underside of the fuel tank, that is to say at a height level between the upper side and the underside of the fuel tank. Accordingly, in the parked position, the component projects beyond the fuel tank in the height direction over at most half, in particular considerably less than half its height. The upper side, the underside and the rear side are delimited by the tank wall here. The upper side, the underside and the rear side of the fuel tank delimit the tank interior. Further regions of the handle housing which, do not delimit the tank interior and are therefore not part of the fuel tank do not represent part of the upper side, the underside or the rear side of the fuel tank.
The depression advantageously extends on the upper side and the rear side of the fuel tank. The rear side of the fuel tank, that is to say that side of the fuel tank which faces away from the tool, is usually a particularly cool region of the fuel tank. The arrangement on the upper side of the fuel tank achieves a situation where the path to the internal combustion engine or to an injection valve which feeds fuel to the internal combustion engine can be kept short, as a result of which the pressure losses between the fuel pump and the injection valve can be kept low. During operation, the internal combustion engine generates vibrations which bring about extensive wetting of the tank wall with fuel, even in the case of a low filling height of the fuel in the fuel tank. As a result, satisfactory cooling of the entire tank wall, in particular also of the upper side of the fuel tank, is achieved by the fuel, even in the case of a low filling height. As a result, the upper side of the fuel tank is a comparatively cool region of the work apparatus, even in the case of a low filling height. The depression is advantageously arranged on that side of the fuel tank which faces away from the internal combustion engine. The fuel tank is particularly cool on this side, since heat is produced during operation, above all, in the cylinder of the internal combustion engine. As a result of the arrangement of the component on that side of the fuel tank which faces away from the internal combustion engine, the component is arranged at a comparatively cool location at a comparatively great spacing from the internal combustion, engine.
A simple construction results if the component is held in a positively locking manner on the fuel tank. As a result, secure fixing of the component can be achieved in a simple way. The positively locking fixing advantageously takes place via a holder. The holder advantageously fixes the position of the component in at least two spatial directions which are perpendicular with respect to one another. As a result, the component can be mounted simply on the fuel tank and is accessible from, the two spatial, directions, with the result that sufficient installation space is available for the operator for operating the delivery pump and for connecting connection lines to the component. The fuel tank is advantageously decoupled in terms of vibration from, the internal combustion engine via at least one anti-vibration element. A simple construction, results if the anti-vibration element is fixed to the holder. Accordingly, in order to fix the component to the fuel tank, a holder is used which is present in any case and serves to fix the anti-vibration element. As a result, the number of required structural elements for the work apparatus can be kept low. However, positively locking fixing can also be carried out in another way, for example via a snap-action connection, in particular, the component is held in a positively locking manner by one or more snap-action elements which are formed integrally on the fuel tank. As a result, additional structural elements for fixing the component in a positively locking manner can be dispensed with, and simple assembly is achieved.
The fuel tank is advantageously integrated onto a handle housing of the work apparatus. Here, at least one handle of the work apparatus is held on the handle housing. The handle is advantageously integrated into the handle housing. The handle housing is a complex component and forms, in particular, a load-bearing housing part of the work apparatus, on which housing part other assemblies such as an engine housing are held. The fuel tank forms a part of the handle housing.
It is provided that the delivery pump has a pump bellows which is to be actuated by the operator. The pump bellows is advantageously arranged, spatially close to at least one further operating element of the work apparatus, in particular to a hand throttle of the work apparatus. The pump bellows is advantageously arranged adjacently to a handle of the work apparatus, in particular adjacently to a rear handle of the work apparatus. A stop switch of the work apparatus is also advantageously arranged adjacently to the pump bellows. The result of the spatially close arrangement of hand throttle, pump bellows and stop switch is simple use which is self-explanatory for the operator. The operating elements are arranged in the immediate spatial vicinity of one another and, as a result, such that they can be found readily and operated readily by the operator. There is an immediate spatial vicinity, in particular, when the operator can hold the rear handle of the work apparatus with his/her hand and, at the same time, can operate the pump bellows and/or the stop switch, for example with the thumb of the same hand.
The component advantageously has a pump housing which confines the fuel pump and the delivery pump. The pump housing is advantageously arranged completely lit the depression in the longitudinal direction of the work apparatus. In the longitudinal direction of the work apparatus, advantageously only the pump bellows projects beyond the rear side of the fuel tank. This results in a pleasant external design of the work apparatus. The integration of the pump housing into the fuel tank can avoid the situation in a simple way where, apart from the pump bellows which is to be actuated by the operator, further parts of the component protrude beyond the housing of the work apparatus, on which further parts the operator might snag himself or herself, or which further parts might interfere with the operator during operation.
The fuel pump is advantageously a diaphragm pump which is driven by the fluctuating pressure in a crankcase of the internal combustion engine.
A simple design results if the pump housing is formed integrally on the fuel tank at least partially. As a result, the number of required components can be reduced. Fuel lines are advantageously also integrated on the fuel tank, with the result that additional connection lines for this purpose can be dispensed with. The component advantageously comprises a pressure regulator which is arranged, in the pump housing and is arranged downstream of the fuel pump in the delivery direction of the fuel. The pressure regulator advantageously has a regulating diaphragm which separates a regulating chamber from a rear space. An advantageous construction results if the rear space is delimited at least partially by the fuel tank.
The tank wall advantageously has a connection opening adjacently to the component. An intake line which connects the tank interior to the fuel pump is advantageously integrated into the component. The fuel pump can foe connected to the tank interior in a simple way via the connection opening and the intake line. This results in a simple construction. An intake line which is configured as a separate hose can be dispensed with. The assembly is simplified, since the intake line does not have to be connected. During the mounting of the component on the fuel tank, the integrated intake line is connected to the connection opening. The seal can be effected in a simple way between the pump housing of the component and the tank wall.
The invention will now be described with reference to the drawings wherein;
As an exemplary embodiment for a work apparatus,
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Three spatial directions x, y and z which are oriented perpendicularly with respect to one another are shown in
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A first connection stub 27 is arranged on the upper side 63 of the fuel tank 12. An intake line 24 is connected to the first connection stub 27. Moreover, a second connection stub 28 is provided on the upper side 63 of the fuel tank 12. The second connection stub 28 can serve to connect a return line from a fuel valve. The intake line 24 opens into the pump housing 21. Moreover, a fuel line 25 for feeding fuel to a fuel valve and a pulse line 26 for connection to a crankcase of the internal combustion engine 18 are connected to the pump housing 21.
The accumulator space 38 is connected via an inlet valve 37 to a regulating chamber 41 of a pressure regulator 40. The regulating chamber 41 is delimited by a regulating diaphragm 42, which separates the regulating chamber 41 from a rear space 43. The regulating diaphragm 42 is prestressed by a spring 44. The inlet valve 37 has a valve needle 39 which is mounted on a lever 45. The lever 45 couples the position of the regulating diaphragm 42 to the position of the inlet valve 37. If the pressure in the regulating chamber 41 drops, the regulating diaphragm 42 is deflected toward the regulating chamber 41. This movement opens the inlet valve 37, with the result that fuel flows out of the accumulator space 38 into the regulating chamber 41 until the pressure in the regulating chamber 41 is so high that the regulating diaphragm 42 closes the inlet valve 37 again via the lever 45. The rear space 43 is leaded via an opening 46 with a reference pressure, advantageously with the ambient pressure.
The regulating chamber 41 is connected via the fuel line 25 to a pressure damper 53 and a fuel valve 60. A fuel screen 47 is arranged at the outlet from the regulating chamber 41. Moreover, a delivery pump 48 which comprises the pump bellows 8, an inlet valve 49 and an outlet valve 50 is arranged in the pump housing 21. A check valve 51 which closes in the flow direction from the pressure damper 53 to the pressure regulator 40 is arranged downstream of the branch to the inlet valve 49 and upstream of the opening of the outlet valve 50 into the fuel line 25. When the pump bellows 8 is actuated, fuel is pressed out of the interior of the pump bellows 8 via the outlet valve 50 into the fuel line 25. When the pump bellows 8 is let go, fuel is sucked out of the regulating chamber 41 via the inlet valve 49 into the pump bellows 8. The delivery pump 48 serves to flood the fuel system before starting of the internal combustion engine 18. This ensures that there is fuel at the fuel valve 50 during starting of the internal combustion engine 18. The fuel pump 33 cannot deliver fuel until the internal combustion engine 18 is running, since it is driven by the fluctuating pressure in the crankcase 61.
The fuel pump 33, the pressure regulator 40 and the delivery pump 48 are arranged in the common pump housing 21 and form a component 76 which is arranged in the depression 20 (
The pressure damper 53 is arranged together with the fuel valve 60 in a common valve holder 52. The pressure damper 53 is advantageously arranged immediately adjacently to the fuel valve 60 in the fuel line 25. The fuel valve 50 advantageously feeds the fuel into the crankcase 61. The valve holder 52 can be fixed on the crankcase 61.
The pressure damper 53 has a damping space 54, into which fuel flows from the fuel line 25. The damping space 54 is delimited by a damping diaphragm 55 which separates the damping space 54 from a rear space 57. The damping diaphragm 55 is prestressed by a spring 56. The prestressing force of the spring 56 defines the position of the damping diaphragm 55 at the operating pressure. The rear space 57 is loaded via an opening 58 with a reference pressure, advantageously the ambient pressure.
A relief line 59 leads from the fuel valve 60 back to the fuel tank 12. A nonreturn valve 62 is arranged in the relief line 59. The nonreturn valve 62 advantageously opens at a pressure which is somewhat greater than the operating pressure. As a result, a pressure can be generated at the fuel valve 60 by way of the manual delivery pump 48 during starting of the internal combustion engine 18, which pressure is somewhat greater than the operating pressure.
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The pump housing 21 has a housing main body 78 which is separated from the housing bottom 80 by the regulating diaphragm 42 and a seal 88. The seal 88 can also be integrated on the regulating diaphragm 42. The regulating chamber 41 is formed in the housing main body 78 on the side which faces the housing bottom 80. The lever 45 is mounted in the regulating chamber 41. The lever 45 is loaded by a spring 87. A housing upper part 79 is arranged on that side of the housing main body which lies opposite the housing bottom 80. The pulse line 26 opens at the housing main body 78 on the side which faces the housing upper part 79. The pump diaphragm 86 of the fuel pump 33 is arranged between the housing main body 78 and the housing upper part 79. The pump space 35 is formed in the housing upper part 79. The pump bellows 8 is held on the housing upper part 79 on the side which faces away from the housing main body 78. The pump bellows 8 is fixed by a housing cover 85 which is screwed to the housing upper part 79. A spring 75 is arranged in the pump bellows 8, which spring 75 spring-loads the pump bellows 8 into its non-actuated position and ensures that the pump bellows 8 returns into its initial position after the actuation.
If can also be provided to provide the intake line 24 directly between the pump housing 21 and the adjoining wall of the fuel tank 21.
It is understood that the foregoing description is that of the preferred embodiments of the invention and that various changes and modifications may be made thereto without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as defined in the appended claims.
Number | Date | Country | Kind |
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10 2012 007 617.7 | Apr 2012 | DE | national |