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Vapour recovery system and vapour control method

  • US 10,363,812 B2
  • Filed: 01/14/2016
  • Issued: 07/30/2019
  • Est. Priority Date: 01/23/2015
  • Status: Active Grant
First Claim
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1. A vapour recovery system for recovering vapour coming from a vehicle tank comprising:

  • a valve configured for being positionable in a closed position, an open position creating a passageway with a first size, and one or more intermediate positions each creating a passageway with a size which is smaller than said first size;

    an actuator configured for operating said valve;

    an electronic controller configured for controlling said actuator to position said valve in a sequence of positions over time, wherein said sequence comprises at least one of said one or more intermediate positions during a time period, said time period being larger than 1 second;

    wherein the valve is arranged in a line of the vapour recovery system between a vapour outlet of the vehicle tank and the atmosphere;

    wherein the actuator is a stepper-motor based linear actuator;

    wherein the controlling comprises selecting at least one intermediate position of said one or more intermediate positions, the selection consisting in selecting a number of steps to be set from a predetermined reference position; and

    wherein the controller is configured to;

    in response to a positive detection of a refuelling event, position the valve in the open position;

    monitor a level of liquid in the vehicle tank and, in response to the level reaching a predetermined threshold level, position the valve in the closed position; and

    then reopen the valve by positioning the valve in an intermediate position.

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