Electronic venting in a saddle fuel tank
AssigneeEaton Intelligent Power Limited
InventorVaughn K. Mills
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A fuel tank system controlled by a control module and constructed in accordance to one example of the present disclosure includes a saddle fuel tank, and a venting assembly. The saddle fuel tank has a first lobe and a second lobe extending on opposite ends of a recessed central portion. The venting assembly comprises a first vent line, a second vent line and a rotary actuator. The first vent line has 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. The second vent line has 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.
Claims17
A fuel tank system controlled by a control module, the 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 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, wherein the first and second vent ports are positioned in the respective first and second vent lobes above the first and second valves;
- 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.
A fuel tank system controlled by a control module, the fuel tank system comprising:
- a saddle fuel tank having a first lobe, a second lobe and a recessed central portion positioned between the first and second lobes;
- a venting assembly comprising:
- a first vent line having a first vent port located in the first lobe 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 above the recessed central portion;
- and
- a rotary actuator configured to rotate a cam, the cam selectively moving a first valve that opens and closes the first vent line and a second valve that opens and closes the second vent line, wherein the first and second vent ports are positioned in the respective first and second vent lobes above the first and second valves;
- 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.
A fuel tank system controlled by a control module, the fuel tank system comprising:
- a saddle fuel tank having a first lobe, a second lobe and a recessed central portion positioned between and below the first and second lobes;
- 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 that rotates a cam, the cam selectively moving a first valve that opens and closes the first vent line and a second valve that opens and closes the second vent line, wherein the first and second vent ports are positioned in the respective first and second vent lobes above the first and second valves;
- and
- wherein the control module sends a signal to the rotary actuator to rotate the cam and therefore close at least one of the first and second vent lines with the respective first and second valves based on a full fuel condition.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.