Fuel storage system for a vehicle

• US 20070186976A1
• Filed: 02/16/2006
• Published: 08/16/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 02/16/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: TI Group Automotive Systems LLC
• Original Assignee: TI Group Automotive Systems LLC
• Inventors: Osborne, James, Hilderley, Steven
• Granted Patent: US 7,520,293 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 137/202
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 15/035 characterised by venting means
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 15/03504 adapted to avoid loss of fuel or fuel vapour, e.g. with vapour recovery systems
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 2015/03533 the venting tube being movable with the fuel level
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 2015/0772 Floats in the fuel tank
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 137/3099 Float responsive
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 137/86252 Float-supported outlet

Abstract

A fuel storage system for a transportation or recreational vehicle has a fuel tank that carries a vapor assembly that seeks out vapor pockets and controllably removes fuel vapor from the tank without releasing hydrocarbons to the surrounding environment. Preferably, a vent manifold attaches to a flange that sealably covers an access hole of the tank. At least one flexible tentacle extends from the manifold in the tank to a respective vapor vent valve that floats upon the surface of fuel at a vapor dome. When freely floating, the vent valve is open thus communicates the vapor dome through the tentacle and preferably with a filtering carbon canister. As fuel surface levels change or the vehicle tilts, changing the vapor dome size or location in the tank, the floating vapor vent valve is free to move generally with the vapor dome and as permitted by the flexibility of the trailing tentacle. With tank orientations where the vapor vent valve falls below the surface of fuel, the vent valve automatically closes to prevent flooding of the respective tentacle and remote vapor canister.

Claims

1. A fuel storage system for a vehicle comprising:

a fuel tank having a wall defining a fuel chamber for containing a liquid fuel;

a vapor dome of the fuel chamber located between a surface of the liquid fuel and the wall when the fuel tank is in its normal attitude when the vehicle is on a horizontal plane; and

a fuel vapor assembly having;

a conduit extending through the wall,

a buoyant vapor vent valve constructed and arranged to be in an open position when the vapor vent valve is floating upon the fuel surface and generally in the vapor dome and constructed and arranged to be in a closed position when the vapor vent valve is at least partially submerged by a predetermined distance and against a biasing buoyancy force below, and

an elongate flexible fuel vapor tentacle extending between the conduit and the vapor vent valve for the flow of fuel vapor out of the fuel tank when the vapor vent valve is in the open position, and received in the interior of the fuel tank.

2. The fuel storage system set forth in claim 1 further comprising a vapor canister communicating with the vapor vent valve through the conduit and flexible vapor tentacle when the vapor vent valve is in the open position.

3. The fuel storage system set forth in claim 1 wherein the vapor vent valve is constructed and arranged to be roll-over protected.

4. The fuel storage system set forth in claim 1 wherein the vapor vent valve is one of a plurality of vapor vent valves spaced apart in the fuel tank and the flexible vapor tentacle is one of a plurality of flexible vapor tentacles wherein in each one of the plurality of flexible vapor tentacles communicate with a respective one of the plurality of vapor vent tentacles.

5. The fuel storage system set forth in claim 3 wherein the elongated flexible vapor tentacle restricts the vapor vent valve from flipping a complete one hundred and eighty degrees with respect to the fuel tank.

6. The fuel storage system set forth in claim 1 further comprising a housing of the vapor vent valve made of closed cell foam.

7. The fuel storage system set forth in claim 1 further comprising a low fuel bumper engaged to a bottom of the vapor vent valve for buffering noise when the vapor vent valve contacts a bottom of the fuel tank.

8. The fuel storage system set forth in claim 4 further comprising a manifold of the conduit disposed in the fuel tank and connected to each one of the plurality of flexible vapor tentacles.

9. The fuel storage system set forth in claim 1 wherein the vapor vent tentacle is convoluted plastic tubing.

10. The fuel storage system set forth in claim 1 further comprising a flow through swivel connector of the flexible vapor tentacle.

11. The fuel storage system set forth in claim 8 further comprising:

an access hole carried by the fuel tank;

a flange sealably covering the access hole; and

the conduit extending through the flange and to the manifold supported by the flange.

12. The fuel storage system set forth in claim 11 wherein the manifold is constructed and arranged to swivel with respect to the flange.

13. The fuel storage system set forth in claim 8 wherein at least one of the plurality of vapor vent valves is disposed at a higher elevation than the manifold when the fuel tank is substantially full.

14. The fuel storage system set forth in claim 8 wherein at least one of the plurality of vapor vent valves is in the open position and at least one of the plurality of vapor vent valves is in the closed position when the fuel tank is substantially full and the vehicle is substantially not horizontal.

15. The fuel storage system set forth in claim 4 further comprising:

a forward vapor vent valve of the plurality of vapor vent valves constructed and arranged to float only in a forward portion of the fuel chamber; and

a rearward vapor vent valve of the plurality of vapor vent valves constructed and arranged to float only in a rearward portion of the fuel chamber.

16. The fuel storage system set forth in claim 1 further comprising a buoyant jacket wrapped about a housing of the vapor vent valve for providing buoyancy.

17. A fuel storage system for a vehicle comprising:

a fuel tank having a wall defining a fuel chamber for containing a liquid fuel therein;

a vapor of the fuel chamber located between the fuel surface and the wall; and

a substantially free floating buoyant vapor vent valve in the vapor pocket and being constructed and arranged to be open when the vapor vent valve projects above the fuel surface by a pre-determined height and closes when the vent valve at lest partially submerges thus reducing the pre-determined height by a threshold distance.

18. The fuel storage system set forth in claim 17 further comprising a vapor line having a first end communicating through and engaged to the wall of the fuel tank, a second end engaged to the vapor vent line, and an interposing joint providing limited free movement of the vapor vent valve upon the fuel surface of the liquid fuel.

19. The fuel storage system set forth in claim 17 wherein the threshold distance is the vertical throw of a buoyant valve head of the vent valve.

20. A fuel tank assembly for a combustion engine comprising:

a fuel tank having a wall defining a fuel chamber for containing liquid fuel therein;

a vapor dome located between a surface of the liquid fuel and the wall;

a vapor vent valve inside the tank;

a housing of the vapor vent valve constructed and arranged to float in a vapor dome while the surface of the liquid fuel and the housing changes position with respect to the wall; and

valve head carried by the housing and constructed and arranged to be open when the housing projects above the fuel surface by a pre-determined height and closes when the housing at least partially submerges reduces the pre-determined height by at least a threshold.

21. The fuel tank assembly set forth in claim 20 wherein the housing is buoyant and the vapor vent valve closes when the housing is at least in-part submerged in liquid fuel against the force of the housing buoyancy and the float valve head moves upward against a valve seat carried by the housing.