Back to results
US 12,280,655 B2Granted
Method and system for side mount fuel tank
AssigneeFord Global Technologies, LLC
InventorsScott Alan Bohr, Aed Dudar, Frank Topolovec, Chuck Bartus
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
Methods and systems are presented for collecting fuel vapors in a fuel system that includes a side mount fuel tank. The methods and systems may allow fuel vapors to be captured during filling of the side mount fuel tank. In one example, the side mount fuel tank is fitted with a fuel filler tube that extends into the side mount fuel tank so that fuel vapors may be captured while the side mount fuel tank is being filled.
Claims20
A fuel system, comprising:
- a side mount fuel tank configured to mount outside of frame rails of a vehicle, the side mount fuel tank including a fuel fill inlet and a fuel fill pipe that extends inside the side mount fuel tank beginning at the fuel fill inlet and ending within the side mount fuel tank, the fuel fill pipe including a first hole,
- where the first hole is located inside of the side mount fuel tank within a fuel vapor storage area,
- where the first hole is positioned on a side of the fuel fill pipe that separates the inside of the side mount fuel tank from a fuel flow path,
- where the first hole facilitates vapor communication between the fuel vapor storage area and the fuel flow path of the fuel fill pipe, and
- where the fuel vapor storage area is an area that is above a maximum liquid fuel fill level when the side mount fuel tank is mounted to a vehicle.
2 more elements
A method for operating a vehicle emissions system, comprising:
- flowing gases from a fuel vapor storage area of a fuel tank, through a first hole positioned on a side of a fuel fill pipe, directly into the fuel fill pipe while a fuel is flowing through the fuel fill pipe, where the fuel vapor storage area of the fuel tank is an area above a maximum liquid fuel fill level, where the side of the fuel fill pipe separates an inside of the fuel tank from the fuel flowing through the fuel fill pipe, and where the first hole facilitates communication between the flowing gases from the fuel vapor storage area of the fuel tank and the fuel flowing into the fuel fill pipe;
- and
- storing fuel vapors from the fuel tank in a carbon filled canister while the fuel is flowing into the fuel fill pipe.
A fuel system, comprising:
- a fuel tank, the fuel tank including a fuel fill inlet and a fuel fill pipe that extends inside the fuel tank beginning at the fuel fill inlet and ending within the fuel tank, where the fuel fill pipe includes a first hole positioned on a side of the fuel fill pipe that separates the inside of the fuel tank from a fuel flow path, where the first hole is located in a fuel vapor storage area, where the first hole facilitates communication between the fuel vapor storage area and the fuel flow path of the fuel fill pipe, where the vapor storage area is an area above a maximum liquid fuel fill level inside the fuel tank, and where the fuel fill pipe is not directly coupled to a first conduit or hose that extends from the fuel fill pipe to a carbon filled canister.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.