Method for reducing fuel tank vapor emission
OwnerHans Kyburzinventor
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A fuel tank, especially that of a motor vehicle, substantially reduces emission of fuel vapor from the fuel tank during refueling. Part of the fuel tank is cooled so that the rising fuel vapor condenses and flows back to the fuel tank, instead of vaporizing and releasing into the environment outside of the fuel tank.
Claims17
A method for reducing the escape of fuel gases from a fuel tank during a filling operation performed via a filler section of the fuel tank, wherein by cooling at least a portion of the fuel tank, condensation of the fuel gases results, including the steps of
- cooling a portion of the fuel tank just shortly before a refueling operation;
- signaling by a temperature sensor that the temperature has dropped below a given temperature;
- and
- filling the fuel tank only if said signal of the temperature sensor is received.
A motor vehicle with a fuel tank which is provided with a filler section into which a filling device can be introduced for performing a fuel filling operation, a switchable cooling device arranged at the fuel tank for cooling at least a portion of the fuel tank to a temperature below the condensation temperature of the fuel gases, a temperature sensor which signals when the temperature has dropped below a given temperature, and an automatic closure device for a tank cap, the automatic closure device being controlled by the temperature sensor for unlocking the tank cap after the temperature has dropped below a given temperature.
A motor vehicle with a fuel tank which is provided with a filler section into which a filling device can be introduced for performing a fuel filling operation, a switchable cooling device arranged at the fuel tank for cooling at least a portion of the fuel tank to a temperature below the condensation temperature of the fuel gases, a temperature sensor which signals when the temperature has dropped below a given temperature, and a switch accessible from the interior of the motor vehicle for switching the cooling device.
A motor vehicle with a fuel tank which is provided with a filler section into which a filling device can be introduced for performing a fuel filling operation, a switchable cooling device arranged at the fuel tank for cooling at least a portion of the fuel tank to a temperature below the condensation temperature of the fuel gases, and a temperature sensor which signals when the temperature has dropped below a given temperature, the cooling device including a heat exchanger through which a refrigerant flows, and which heat exchanger is arranged on the outside of the fuel tank in heat-conducting contact with a wall of the fuel tank.
A motor vehicle with a fuel tank which is provided with a filler section into which a filling device can be introduced for performing a fuel filling operation, a switchable cooling device arranged at the fuel tank for cooling at least a portion of the fuel tank to a temperature below the condensation temperature of the fuel gases, and a temperature sensor which signals when the temperature has dropped below a given temperature, the cooling device including a heat exchanger through which a refrigerant flows, and wherein the motor vehicle has an air conditioning system for cooling the refrigerant.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.