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US 9,428,044 B2Granted
Closed tank system
AssigneeTi Automotive Technology Center GmbH
InventorsAlbert J. Boecker, Alex Ehler, Patrick Gmuend, Peter Grauer, Walter B. Hersel, Gerrit A. Michaelis, Matthias B. Olbrich
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
In at least some implementations, a fuel tank includes a tank body defining a chamber adapted to receive liquid fuel therein, a reinforcement for the tank body to permit the pressure within the chamber to exceed the vapor pressure of a fuel to be received within the chamber, and an inlet to the tank body through which fuel is added to the chamber. The inlet is configured to mate with a refueling nozzle through which fuel is added to the chamber to permit refueling the tank and maintaining the pressure in the chamber above atmospheric pressure.
Claims17
A fuel tank, comprising:
- a tank body defining a chamber adapted to receive liquid fuel therein, and a reinforcement for the tank body to permit the pressure within the chamber to exceed a fuel vapor pressure of at least 35 kPa of a fuel to be received within the chamber;
- an inlet to the tank body through which fuel is added to the chamber, the inlet configured to mate with a refueling nozzle through which fuel is added to the chamber to permit refueling the tank and maintaining the pressure in the chamber above atmospheric pressure while liquid fuel is added to the chamber;
- a fill pipe that extends from the tank body and communicates with the chamber;
- wherein the inlet is defined in the fill pipe;
- and
- a conduit associated with the fill pipe and adapted to provide a fluid flow separate from the liquid fuel flow in the fill pipe during a refueling event;
- wherein the chamber is closed to the outlet of fuel vapor from the chamber to a pressure of at least 35 kPa during normal use of the fuel tank when liquid fuel is not being added to the chamber of the tank body.
4 more elements
A fuel tank, comprising:
- a tank body defining a chamber adapted to receive liquid fuel therein, and a valve to limit fluid flow from the chamber and permit the pressure within the chamber to exceed the vapor pressure of a fuel to be received within the chamber;
- an inlet to the tank body through which fuel is added to the chamber, the inlet configured to mate with a refueling nozzle through which fuel is added to the chamber to permit refueling the tank and maintaining the pressure in the chamber above atmospheric pressure while liquid fuel is added to the chamber;
- and
- a conduit associated with a fill pipe and adapted to provide a fluid flow separate from the liquid fuel flow in the fill pipe during a refueling event;
- wherein the chamber is closed to the outlet of fuel vapor from the chamber to a pressure of at least 35 kPa during normal use of the fuel tank when liquid fuel is not being added to the chamber of the tank body.
2 more elements
A fuel tank, comprising:
- a tank body defining a chamber adapted to receive liquid fuel therein, and a reinforcement for the tank body to permit the pressure within the chamber to exceed a fuel vapor pressure of a fuel to be received within the chamber;
- an inlet to the tank body through which fuel is added to the chamber, the inlet configured to mate with a refueling nozzle through which fuel is added to the chamber to permit refueling the tank and maintaining the pressure in the chamber above atmospheric pressure while liquid fuel is added to the chamber;
- a fuel pipe that extends from the tank body and communicates with the chamber, the inlet being defined in the fill pipe;
- and
- a conduit associate with the fill pipe and adapted to provide a fluid flow separate from the liquid fuel flow in the fill pipe during a refueling event to provide a signal to a refueling nozzle to limit the maximum fuel level within the chamber during the refueling event.
2 more elements
A fuel tank, comprising:
- a tank body defining a chamber adapted to receive liquid fuel therein, and a reinforcement for the tank body to permit the pressure within the chamber to exceed a fuel vapor pressure of a fuel to be received within the chamber;
- an inlet to the tank body through which fuel is added to the chamber, the inlet configured to mate with a refueling nozzle through which fuel is added to the chamber to permit refueling the tank and maintaining the pressure in the chamber above atmospheric pressure while liquid fuel is added to the chamber;
- and
- a fluid container communicated with the chamber to permit fuel vapor to flow from the chamber into the fluid container and from the fluid container into the chamber and wherein fuel vapor is turned into liquid fuel in the fluid container and liquid fuel may flow between the fluid container and chamber.
1 more element
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.