Electronic venting in a saddle fuel tank
AssigneeEaton Corporation
InventorVaughn K. Mills
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A fuel tank system constructed in accordance to one example of the present disclosure includes a saddle fuel tank, a control module, a first and second solenoid, and a first and second vent line. The saddle fuel tank can have a first lobe and a second lobe. The first vent line can have a first vent port located in the first lobe of the saddle fuel tank. The first solenoid is configured to open and close the first vent port. The second vent line can have a second vent port located in the second lobe of the saddle fuel tank. The second solenoid is configured to open and close the second vent port. The control module sends a signal to the first and second solenoids to close the first and second vents upon reaching a full fuel condition.
Claims24
A fuel tank system comprising:
- a saddle fuel tank having a first lobe and a second lobe;
- a control module;
- a first solenoid;
- a second solenoid;
- a first vent line having a first vent port located in the first lobe of the saddle fuel tank, the first solenoid configured to open and close the first vent port;
- and
- a second vent line having a second vent port located in the second lobe of the saddle fuel tank, the second solenoid configured to open and close the second vent port;
- wherein the control module sends a signal to the first and second solenoids to close the first and second vents upon reaching a full fuel condition.
A fuel tank system comprising:
- a saddle fuel tank having a first lobe and a second lobe extending on opposite ends of a recessed central portion;
- a control module;
- a venting assembly comprising:
- a first vent line having a first vent port located in the first lobe of the saddle fuel tank near a top portion of the saddle fuel tank above the recessed central portion;
- a second vent line having a second vent port located in the second lobe of the saddle fuel tank near a top portion of the saddle fuel tank above the recessed central portion;
- a first solenoid configured to open and close the first vent port;
- and
- a second solenoid configured to open and close the second vent port;
- and
- wherein the control module sends a signal to the first and second solenoids to close the first and second vents upon reaching a full fuel condition.
A fuel tank system comprising:
- a saddle fuel tank having a first lobe and a second lobe extending on opposite ends of a recessed central portion;
- a control module;
- a venting assembly comprising:
- a first vent line having a first vent port located in the first lobe of the saddle fuel tank near a top portion of the saddle fuel tank above the recessed central portion;
- a second vent line having a second vent port located in the second lobe of the saddle fuel tank near a top portion of the saddle fuel tank above the recessed central portion;
- and
- a rotary actuator configured to rotate a cam, the cam selectively translating a first valve configured to open and close the first vent line and a second valve configured to open and close the second vent line;
- and
- wherein the control module sends a signal to the rotary actuator to rotate the cam and therefore close the first and second vent lines with the respective first and second valves upon reaching a full fuel condition.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.