Automotive fuel tank pressure control valve
AssigneeFord Motor Copany
InventorRobert H. Thompson
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A pressure control valve for controlling vapor pressure in a fuel tank has an inlet line from the fuel tank, a pressure sensing line from the filler pipe, and an outlet line to a canister for handling the fuel vapor. Fuel vapor flow through the valve is controlled by ambient pressure from the filler pipe and tank pressure from the fuel tank, with those pressures acting on two diaphragms within the valve to alternately allow flow through the valve during normal vehicle operation and to prevent flow during refueling. A pressure relief valve is connected between the filler pipe line and the canister outlet line to prevent tank overpressurization should the valve malfunction.
Claims19
A valve for controlling the pressure of fuel vapor within the fuel tank of an automobile having a filler pipe, said valve connected to a fuel vapor handling apparatus, said valve comprising
- a valve body,
- conduit means for delivering said fuel vapor to said valve from said fuel tank,
- routing means within said valve body for directing flow of said fuel vapor through said valve with said routing means sensitive to ambient pressure in said filler pipe,
- sensing means for directing ambient pressure of said filler pipe to said valve to aid said routing means in controlling fuel vapor flow through said valve,
- duct means for conveying said fuel vapor from said valve to said fuel vapor handling apparatus, and
- bypass means for conveying fuel vapor between said filler pipe and said fuel vapor handling apparatus when said routing means fails to rout fuel vapor from said fuel tank through said valve to said fuel vapor handling apparatus.
An automobile fuel system having a fuel tank, a filler pipe allowing flow into said fuel tank, a gas cap to open and close said filler pipe, a canister for handling fuel vapor from said fuel tank, and a control valve for routing fuel vapor from said fuel tank to said canister, said control valve comprising:
- a valve body;
- conduit means for delivering said fuel vapor to said valve from said fuel tank;
- routing means within said valve body for directing flow of said fuel vapor through said valve with said routing means sensitive to ambient pressure in said filler pipe;
- sensing means for directing ambient pressure of said filler pipe to said valve to aid said routing means in controlling fuel vapor flow through said valve;
- duct means for conveying said fuel vapor from said valve to said canister and
- bypass means for conveying fuel vapor between said filler pipe and said canister when said routing means fails to rout fuel vapor from said fuel tank through said valve to said canister.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.