US 5,295,521 AGranted

Self-contained fuel filler system

AssigneeK.J. Manufacturing Co.

InventorRam D. Bedi

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Abstract

An apparatus for introducing fluid having a volatile organic component from one container, for example, a fuel storage vessel to a receiving container such as an on-board fuel storage tank of an automotive vehicle with reduced discharge of organic vapors into the surrounding atmosphere, the apparatus including a filler cap having at least one positively sealing quick connect fitting through which fluid can be introduced which is releasable attachable with a mating fitting located on the filler nozzle of an external fluid delivery device. The apparatus also including at least one vapor conveying fitting located in the filler cap which is matingly engagable with a fitting located on an externally positionable organic vapor conveying conduit located in proximity to the fluid dispensing nozzle such that, when engaged, a circuit is completed wherein fluid is introduced into the receiving container such as the on-board fuel tank of an automotive vehicle and any organic vapors displaced during the operation are returned to the storage container without contact with the surrounding environment.

Claims15

Dependent claims

An apparatus for introducing fuel into an on-board fuel storage tank of an automotive vehicle, the automotive vehicle having a fuel filler line with a fuel receiving opening and vapor escape baffles located in the interior of the fuel line, the volatile fuel introductions occurring with reduced discharge of organic vapors and fuel into the surrounding atmosphere, the apparatus comprising:

means for receiving fuel into the on-board storage tank of the automotive vehicle, the fuel receiving means including a fuel filler cap matingly engagable in the fuel receiving opening of the automotive vehicle, the cap having:
a) an essentially flat planar surface member overlaying the fuel receiving means, the flat planar surface of the fuel filler cap having an inner face oriented toward the fuel filler line of the automotive vehicle, an opposed upper face, ad at least one fuel receiving aperture extending therethrough;
b) at least one fitting for effecting positive closure of the fuel receiving aperture between refueling operations, the fuel receiving aperture fitting permanently positioned int he upper face of the flat planar surface of the fuel filler cap;
c) means for maintaining vapor escape baffles located in the fuel filer line of the automotive vehicle in an open position during the introduction of fuel therethrough;
and
d) means for maintaining the cap in sealing engagement with the fuel receiving opening of the fuel filler line;
means for dispensing fuel from a fuel storage site remote from the automotive vehicle into the on-board fuel storage tank of he automotive vehicle, the fuel dispensing means comprising:
a) a fuel filler nozzle device releasably engagable with the fuel receiving means of the automotive vehicle, the fuel filler nozzle device having a fuel directing conduit and means for regulating and interrupting fuel flow through the fuel directing conduit, the fuel directing conduit of the fuel filler nozzle having a fuel inlet orifice and an opposed fuel outlet orifice, ad a fitting for effecting positive closure of the fuel outlet orifice between refueling operations, the fitting mounted on the fuel directing conduit of the fuel filler nozzle proximate to the fuel outlet orifice, the fitting having means for releasably mating with the fitting located in the fuel receiving aperture located in the fuel filler cap and establishing closed-loop fluid communication between the fuel dispensing means and the fuel receiving means located on the automotive vehicle;
and
b) means for conveying fuel from the remote storage tank to the fuel dispensing closed loop matingly positive closure fitting inlet orifice of the fuel filler nozzle.

7 more elements

An apparatus for introducing fuel having a volatile component into an on-board fuel storage tank of an automotive vehicle, the automotive vehicle having a fuel filler lien with a fuel receiving opening, fuel introduction occurring with reduced discharge of organic vapors and fuel into the surrounding atmosphere, the apparatus comprising:

a fuel filer cap matingly engagable in the fuel receiving opening of the automotive vehicle, the fuel filer cap comprising:
an essentially flat planar surface member having an inner surface contacting and perpendicularly overlaying the fuel receiving opening and an opposed outer surface, the flat planar surface member having at least one fuel receiving aperture extending from the outer surface to the inner surface;
a cylindrical projection having an outer surface, the outer surface having a threaded region covering at least a portion thereof, the threaded surface adapted to matingly contact a threaded region located on the fuel filer line, the cylindrical projection extending from the inner surface of the flat planar member perpendicularly outward therefrom at a position essentially coaxially interior of the external circumference of the flat planar member, the fuel-receiving aperture being located interior to an area defined by the inner threaded projection;
and
a fitting for effecting positive closure of the fuel receiving aperture, the fitting permanently positioned in the fuel receiving aperture and projecting outwardly from the outer face of the flat planar surface member;
and
means for dispensing fuel from a remote fuel storage tank into the on-board fuel storage tank of the automotive vehicle, the fuel dispensing means having a fuel delivery outlet having a fitting matingly engagable with the fitting mounted the fuel filer cap.

4 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.