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US 9,956,867 B2Granted
Systems and methods for a latchable refueling valve
AssigneeFord Global Technologies, LLC
InventorsRobert Ognjanovski, Jr., Dennis Seung-Man Yang, Kevin Lucka, Russell Randall Pearce
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
Methods and systems are provided for a latchable refueling valve designed to reduce noise associated with opening and closing the valve. In one example, a system may include a valve armature with first and second latch indices formed on an outer diameter of the armature. The latch indices may be rounded and configured to engage with a latch guide to enable rotation between the armature and the latch guide.
Claims12
A latching mechanism for a valve, comprising:
- an armature including each of an upper and a lower offset rounded cam element formed integrally thereon and an upper armature portion with a first, larger outer diameter and a lower armature portion with a second, smaller outer diameter, the upper and lower cam elements integrally formed on the lower armature portion,
- a rotation sleeve concentrically surrounding the armature and including a plurality of cam guides, the rotation sleeve concentrically surrounding only the lower armature portion,
- a solenoid actuator,
- a valve core attached to the armature and configured to transmit electromagnetic force into motion against a spring wherein,
- movement of the armature toward the spring engages armature cams with the cam guides to impart rotation between the armature and the rotation sleeve, and
- movement of the armature away from the spring seats the valve in one of a first or a second desired valve position,
- wherein the spring is attached to an upper axial surface of the upper armature portion, and wherein a lower axial surface of the upper armature portion is seated on an upper axial end of the rotation sleeve in the first desired valve position.
4 more elements
A system for a hybrid-electric vehicle, comprising:
- an engine;
- a fuel tank coupled to a fuel vapor canister via each of a first conduit and a second conduit;
- a tank pressure control valve coupled in the first conduit between the fuel tank and the fuel vapor canister;
- a latchable refueling valve coupled in the second conduit between the fuel tank and the fuel vapor canister, the latchable refueling valve including a lower latch index, an upper latch index angularly offset from the lower latch index, and first and second latch guiding teeth;
- and
- a controller configured with instructions stored in non-transitory memory and executable by a processor for:
- in response to a refueling request:
- opening the tank pressure control valve while maintaining the latchable refueling valve closed at an unlatched, closed position;
- and
- when fuel tank pressure is lower than a first pressure threshold,
- actuating the latchable refueling valve with a voltage pulse to a latched, open position to transfer fuel vapors into the fuel vapor canister,
- wherein the lower latch index and the upper latch index include rounded ends configured to contact respective lower planar surfaces and upper planar surfaces of each of the first and second latch guiding teeth.
9 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.