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US 2017/0050512 A1Published application
Systems and methods for a latchable refueling valve
AssigneeFord Global Technologies, LLC
InventorsRobert Ognjanovski, JR., Dennis Seung-Man Yang, Kevin Lucka, Russell Randall Pearce
Life of this patent
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Abstract
Methods and systems are provided for a latchable refueling valve designed to reduce noise associated with opening and closing the valve. In one example, a system may include a valve armature with first and second latch indices formed on an outer diameter of the armature. The latch indices may be rounded and configured to engage with a latch guide to enable rotation between the armature and the latch guide.
Claims20
A latching mechanism for a valve, comprising:
- an armature including each of an upper and lower offset rounded cam element formed integrally thereon,
- a rotation sleeve concentrically surrounding the armature and including a plurality of cam guides,
- a solenoid actuator,
- a valve core attached to the armature and configured to transmit electromagnetic force into motion against a spring wherein,
- movement of the armature toward the spring engages the armature cams with the cam guides to impart rotation between the armature and the rotation sleeve, and
- movement of the armature away from the spring seats the valve in one of a first or second desired valve position.
3 more elements
A system for a hybrid-electric vehicle, comprising:
- an engine;
- a fuel tank coupled to a fuel vapor canister via each of a first conduit and a second conduit;
- a tank pressure control valve coupled in the first conduit between the fuel tank and the fuel vapor canister;
- a latchable refueling valve coupled in the second conduit between the fuel tank and the fuel vapor canister, the latchable refueling valve including a lower latch index, an upper latch index angularly offset from the first lower latch index, and first and second latch guiding teeth;
- and
- a controller configured with instructions stored in non-transitory memory and executable by a processor for:
- in response to a refueling request:
- opening the tank pressure control valve while maintaining the latchable refueling valve closed at an unlatched, closed position;
- and
- when fuel tank pressure is lower than a first pressure threshold,
- actuating the latchable refueling valve with a voltage pulse to a latched open position to transfer fuel vapors into the fuel vapor canister.
8 more elements
A method, comprising:
- adjusting a position of a tank refueling valve from an unlatched closed position to a latched open position via a first voltage pulse, and
- adjusting the position from the latched open position to the unlatched closed position via a second voltage pulse moving an armature axially through first and second latch indices formed integrally thereon, a latch guide moving an angular position of the armature via the first and second latch indices.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.