Evaporative emission control system including a fuel tank isolation valve
First Claim
1. A system for controlling evaporative emissions of a volatile fuel, the system comprising:
- a fuel vapor collection canister including a supply port and a discharge port;
a purge valve including an inlet port and an outlet port, the inlet port of the purge valve being in fluid communication with the discharge port of the fuel vapor collection canister;
an isolation valve including;
a housing having a first port in fluid communication with the supply port of the fuel vapor collection canister, a second port, and a fuel vapor flow path extending between the first and second ports;
a valve body movable with respect to the housing, the valve body being movable along an axis between a first configuration and a second configuration, the first configuration permitting substantially unrestricted fuel vapor flow between the first and second ports, and the second configuration substantially preventing fuel vapor flow between the first and second ports; and
a seal being located at an interface between the housing and the valve body, the seal including an annular lip projecting obliquely toward the axis in the first configuration; and
a fuel tank being in fluid communication with the second port of the isolation valve.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A system and method for controlling evaporative emissions of a volatile fuel. The system preferably has a fuel vapor collection canister, a purge valve, an isolation valve, and a fuel tank. The fuel vapor collection canister includes a supply port and a discharge port. The purge valve includes an inlet port and an outlet port. The inlet port of the purge valve is in fluid communication with the discharge port of the fuel vapor collection canister. The isolation valve includes a housing, a valve body, and a seal. The housing has a first port in fluid communication with the supply port of the fuel vapor collection canister, a second port, and a fuel vapor flow path that extends between the first and second ports. The valve body is movable with respect to the housing along an axis between a first configuration and a second configuration. The first configuration permits substantially unrestricted fuel vapor flow between the first and second ports, and the second configuration substantially prevents fuel vapor flow between the first and second ports. The seal, which is located at an interface between the housing and the valve body, includes an annular lip that projects obliquely toward the axis in the first configuration. The fuel tank is in fluid communication with the second port of the isolation valve. Thus, the fuel tank can be isolated from the fuel vapor collection canister while purging the fuel vapor collection canister.
11 Citations
22 Claims
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1. A system for controlling evaporative emissions of a volatile fuel, the system comprising:
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a fuel vapor collection canister including a supply port and a discharge port;
a purge valve including an inlet port and an outlet port, the inlet port of the purge valve being in fluid communication with the discharge port of the fuel vapor collection canister;
an isolation valve including;
a housing having a first port in fluid communication with the supply port of the fuel vapor collection canister, a second port, and a fuel vapor flow path extending between the first and second ports;
a valve body movable with respect to the housing, the valve body being movable along an axis between a first configuration and a second configuration, the first configuration permitting substantially unrestricted fuel vapor flow between the first and second ports, and the second configuration substantially preventing fuel vapor flow between the first and second ports; and
a seal being located at an interface between the housing and the valve body, the seal including an annular lip projecting obliquely toward the axis in the first configuration; and
a fuel tank being in fluid communication with the second port of the isolation valve. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 17, 19, 20, 21, 22)
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16. A system for controlling evaporative emissions of a volatile fuel, the system comprising:
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a fuel vapor collection canister including a supply port and a discharge port;
a purge valve including an inlet port and an outlet port, the inlet port of the purge valve being in fluid communication with the discharge port of the fuel vapor collection canister;
a fuel tank; and
means for isolating the fuel tank from the purge valve.
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18. A method for controlling evaporative emissions of a volatile fuel, the volatile fuel being stored in a fuel tank and combusted in an internal combustion engine, the method comprising:
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accumulating fuel vapor in a fuel vapor collection canister;
providing an isolation valve in a first conduit providing fuel vapor communication between the fuel tank and the fuel vapor collection canister;
providing a purge valve in a second conduit providing fuel vapor communication between the fuel vapor collection canister and the internal combustion engine; and
isolating the fuel tank from the fuel vapor collection canister while purging the fuel vapor collection canister, the isolating including the isolation valve substantially preventing fuel vapor flow through the first conduit, and the purging including the purge valve permitting generally unrestricted fuel vapor flow through the second conduit.
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Specification