Device for Aeration and Ventilation of a Fuel System

• US 20110180466A1
• Filed: 01/20/2011
• Published: 07/28/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 01/20/2010
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Audi AG (Volkswagen AG)
• Original Assignee: Audi AG (Volkswagen AG)
• Inventors: Kalauch, Gerd
• Granted Patent: US 9,303,598 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 210/136
• CPC Class Codes: B01D 46/0087 Bypass or safety valves
• CPC Class Codes: B01D 46/0089 Anti-return means
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 15/03519 Valve arrangements in the vent line
• CPC Class Codes: F02M 25/0836 Arrangement of valves controlling the admission of fuel vapour to an engine, e.g. valve being disposed between fuel tank or absorption canister and intake manifold
• CPC Class Codes: F02M 25/0854 Details of the absorption canister
• CPC Class Codes: F16K 17/19 Equalising valves predominantly for tanks when combined with safety valve by change of position F16K17/36

Abstract

The invention relates to a device for aeration and ventilation of a fuel system of a motor vehicle, with a pipe union for connecting the device to the fuel system, the pipe union being connected via a connecting element to a three-way valve via which the pipe union can be fluid-connected alternately to an air inlet opening or an air outlet opening of the device. Furthermore, there is a filter element which is located in the flow path between the air inlet opening and the three-way valve. The filter element, the three-way valve, and the connecting element are accommodated in a common housing. An especially compact and space-saving device is devised by the integration of the three-way valve, connecting element, and filter element into one unit.

Claims

1. A device for aeration and ventilation of a fuel system of a motor vehicle, with a pipe union for connecting the device to the fuel system, the pipe union being connected via a connecting element to a three-way valve via which the pipe union can be fluid-connected alternately to an air inlet opening or an air outlet opening of the device, and to a filter element which is located in the flow path between the air inlet opening and the three-way valve, the filter element, the three-way valve, and the connecting element being accommodated in a common housing.

2. The device according to claim 1 wherein, the filter element surrounds the connecting element at least in certain sections.

3. The device according to claim 1 wherein, the connecting element surrounds the filter element at least in certain sections.

4. The device according to claim 1 wherein the three-way valve is designed as a passive flap valve.

5. The device according to claim 1 wherein there is at least one two-way valve between the three-way valve and the filter element.

6. The device according to claim 1 wherein the pipe union and the air outlet opening are located on opposite face surfaces of the housing.

7. The device according to claim 1 wherein the air inlet opening is formed by an annular gap in a face surface of the housing.

8. A motor vehicle with a device according to claim 1.

9. A device for aerating and ventilating a fuel system of a motor vehicle, comprising:

a housing having first and second fluid passageways, each intercommunicable with a fuel system of said vehicle and an air environment;

a one-way value disposed in said first passageway functional to allow the flow of a fluid in a first direction; and

a one-way valve disposed in said second passageway functional to allow flow of a fluid in a second direction opposite said first direction.

10. A device according to claim 9 wherein said one-way valves comprise flap valves.

11. A device according to claim 9 wherein said air environment comprises the ambient atmosphere.

12. A device according to claim 9 wherein said one-way valve in said first passageway is functional to open responsive to a first pressure differential between said fuel system and said air environment, and said one-way valve in said second passageway is functional to open responsive to a second pressure differential between said fuel system and said air environment.

13. A device according to claim 12 wherein said first pressure differential provides for a greater pressure in said fuel system, functional to ventilate said fuel system.

14. A device according to claim 12 wherein said second pressure differential provides for a lesser pressure in said fuel system, functional to aerate said fuel system.

15. A device according to claim 9 including a filter in one of said passageways.