Electrically controlled refueling vapor vent shutoff
AssigneeEaton Corporation
InventorRobert P. Benjey
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
An electrically operated valve is connected in the vapor recirculation line from a float operated vent valve, or a direct vapor recirculation line from the tank top to the upper end of the tank filler tube. The electrically operated valve is actuated by an electronic controller (ECU) which receives a fuel level signal either from the float operated level sender or from a thermistor located in the tank adjacent the top wall of the tank.
Claims12
A vapor emission control system for an engine fuel tank having a filler tube with an upper end for receiving a refueling nozzle comprising:
- (a) a fuel level indicator in said tank operable to provide an electrical fill limit signal indicative of a predetermined level of fuel in the tank;
- (b) a fill controller operable to provide an electrical shut off signal upon receipt of said electrical fill limit signal at said determined level;
- (c) a storage reservoir connected for receiving fuel vapor from the tank;
- (d) purge flow control means connected for controlling flow of vapor from said reservoir to an air inlet of the engine;
- (e) a flexible seal disposed in said filler tube upper end for sealing about said nozzle when same is received therein;
- and,
- (f) an electrically operated recirculation valve operatively connected for controlling vapor flow from the tank to the upper end of the fill tube and operative upon receipt of said shut-off signal for blocking all vapor flow to the upper end of the filler tube, wherein discharge from the nozzle creates a vacuum in the upper end thereby activating an automatic nozzle shut off.
A vapor emission control system for an engine fuel tank having a filler tube with an upper end for receiving a refueling nozzle comprising:
- (a) a fuel level indicator in said tank operable to provide an electrical fill limit signal indicative of a predetermined level of fuel in the tank;
- (b) a fill controller operable to provide an electrical shut off signal upon receipt of said electrical fill limit signal at said determined level;
- (c) a storage reservoir connected for receiving fuel vapor from the tank;
- (d) purge flow control means connected for controlling flow of vapor from said reservoir to an air inlet of the engine;
- (e) an electrically operated recirculation valve operatively connected for controlling vapor flow from the tank to the upper end of the fill tube and operative upon receipt of said shut-off signal for blocking vapor flow to the upper end of the filler tube, wherein discharge from the nozzle creates a vacuum in the upper end thereby activating an automatic nozzle shut off;
- and,
- (f) a float operated vent valve connected for supplying vapor to said reservoir, said shut-off valve and said purge valve.
A method of controlling vapor emission from a vehicle engine fuel tank having a filler tube with an upper end for receiving a refueling nozzle comprising:
- (a) connecting a fuel vapor reservoir to the tank and connecting a means for controlling flow of fuel vapor from the tank to the vehicle engine air inlet;
- (b) disposing a recirculation valve and blocking all vapor flow from the tank to the filler tube upper end through the recirculation valve in response to signal from an electronic controller;
- (c) disposing a fuel level indicator in the tank and providing an electrical signal when the tank is full and closing said recirculation valve in response to said electrical signal;
- and,
- (d) disposing a flexible seal in said upper end and sealing about the nozzle when same is received therein.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.