Tank venting system

• US 5,603,349 A
• Filed: 02/08/1995
• Issued: 02/18/1997
• Est. Priority Date: 01/17/1992
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Stant USA Corporation (Vapor Acquisition Corp.)
• Original Assignee: Stant Manufacturing Incorporated
• Inventors: Harris, Robert S.
• Primary Examiner(s): LOOK, EDWARD K
• Application Number:
  US08/385,670
• Time in Patent Office: 741 Days
• Field of Search: 137/588, 137/110, 137/39, 137/907, 137/854, 123/519, 123/521
• US Class Current: 137/588
• 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 15/03519 Valve arrangements in the vent line
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 15/04 Tank inlets B60K15/077 takes precedence
• 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 25/0872 Details of the fuel vapour pipes or conduits
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 137/2562 Dividing and recombining
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 137/86332 Vent and inlet or outlet in unitary mounting

Abstract

A tank venting system includes first and second tank valves and a valve for controlling venting from valves to vapor recovery canister. The valve includes a housing containing a first valve assembly for controlling venting of the first tank valve and a second valve assembly for controlling venting of the second tank valve. A vent conduit defines a bleed passageway for dissipating pressurized fuel vapor in a housing flow tube to a filler neck through a signal port and a passageway. A tube includes a vacuum-relief passageway and a valve for regulating flow of ambient air from the signal passageway into the housing when a cap is off the filler neck.

Claims

1. An apparatus for controlling venting of fuel vapors from a vehicle fuel tank having a filler neck, the apparatus comprising

a housing defining an interior region and being formed to include a first inlet port connecting the interior region in fluid communication with the fuel tank, a signal port connecting the interior region in fluid communication with the filler neck, and an outlet port,

a first valve assembly disposed in the interior region and movable between a blocking position and a venting position, the first valve assembly including a central portion, an intermediate annular portion concentric with the central portion, and an outer circumferential portion,

a flow tube connecting the first inlet port with the central portion to expose the central portion to fuel vapor from the fuel tank,

an annular partition lying in spaced-apart relationship with the flow tube and cooperating therewith to define an intermediate annular chamber open to the outlet port to expose the intermediate portion to atmospheric pressure, the annular partition further cooperating with the housing to define an outer circumferential chamber open to the signal port to expose the outer circumferential portion to fuel vapor from the filler neck so that the first valve assembly is moved away from its blocking position toward its venting position in response to fuel vapor pressure received from the first inlet port and the signal port allowing flow of fuel vapor from the flow tube and the outer circumferential chamber to the intermediate annular chamber during vehicle operation, and

vent means for defining a bleed passageway connecting the flow tube in fluid communication with the outer circumferential chamber so that pressurized fuel vapor accumulating in the flow tube is dissipated through the bleed passageway and discharged into the outer circumferential chamber and conducted through the signal port toward the filler neck.

2. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the flow tube is an L-shaped member having a first leg communicating with the central portion and a second leg connecting to the first leg and communicating with the first inlet port and the vent means interconnects the second leg and the outer circumferential chamber in fluid communication.

3. The apparatus of claim 2, wherein the second leg is longer than the first leg.

4. The apparatus of claim 2, wherein the vent means includes a tube formed to include the bleed passageway and arranged to lie in spaced-apart parallel relation to the first leg and in perpendicular relation to the second leg.

5. The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising exhaust means for conducting fuel vapor from the outlet port to a fuel vapor recovery canister and means for selectively connecting the signal port in fluid communication with the interior region of the housing and the outlet port.

6. The apparatus of claim 5, wherein the connecting means includes a vacuum-relief tube formed to include a vacuum-relief passageway interconnecting the signal port and the interior region of the housing and a vacuum-relief valve mounted in the housing normally to cover the vacuum-relief passageway and movable to open and close the vacuum-relief passageway.

7. The apparatus of claim 5, further comprising air supply means for conducting ambient air admitted into the filler neck following refueling and before installation of a closure cap on an inlet mouth of the filler neck to the signal port so that ambient air is communicated to the interior region of the housing and the outlet port through the connecting means.

8. The apparatus of claim 7, wherein the connecting means includes a vacuum-relief passageway interconnecting the signal port and the interior region of the housing to communicate ambient air from the signal port to the interior region to dissipate any vacuum conditions developed in the interior region of the housing following refueling and before installation of the closure cap on the filler neck and a vacuum-relief valve mounted in the housing normally to cover the vacuum-relief passageway and movable to open and close the vacuum-relief passageway to regulate flow of ambient air from the signal port into the interior region of the housing.

9. The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising exhaust means for conducting fuel vapor from the outlet port to a fuel vapor recovery canister and applying a vacuum to the interior region of the housing through the outlet port to draw fuel vapor from the interior region of the housing toward the fuel vapor recovery canister, and air supply means for conducting ambient air admitted into the filler neck following refueling and before installation of a closure cap on an inlet mouth of the filler neck through the signal port to the interior region of the housing so that ambient air is communicated to the interior region of the housing and the outlet port through the signal port and any vacuum condition extant in the interior region of the housing is dissipated.

10. The apparatus of claim 9, wherein the air supply means includes a vacuum-relief tube communicating ambient air from the signal port to the interior region of the housing and a vacuum-relief valve regulating flow of ambient air through the vacuum-relief tube.

11. An apparatus for controlling venting of fuel vapors from a vehicle fuel tank having a filler neck, the apparatus comprising

a housing defining an interior region and being formed to include a first inlet port connecting the interior region in fluid communication with the fuel tank, a signal port connecting the interior region in fluid communication with the filler neck, and an outlet port,

a first valve assembly disposed in the interior region and movable between a blocking position and a venting position, the first valve assembly including a central portion, an intermediate annular portion concentric with the central portion, and an outer circumferential portion,

a flow tube connecting the first inlet port with the central portion to expose the central portion to fuel vapor from the fuel tank,

an annular partition lying in spaced-apart relationship with the flow tube and cooperating therewith to define an intermediate annular chamber open to the outlet port to expose the intermediate portion to atmospheric pressure, the annular partition further cooperating with the housing to define an outer circumferential chamber open to the signal port to expose the outer circumferential portion to fuel vapor from the filler neck so that the first valve assembly is moved away from its blocking position toward its venting position in response to fuel vapor pressure received from the first inlet port and the signal port allowing flow of fuel vapor from the flow tube and the outer circumferential chamber to the intermediate annular chamber during vehicle operation, and

means for selectively connecting the signal port in fluid communication with the interior region and the outlet port.

12. The apparatus of claim 11, wherein the connecting means includes a vacuum-relief tube formed to include a vacuum-relief passageway interconnecting the signal port and the interior region and a vacuum-relief valve mounted in the housing normally to cover the vacuum-relief passageway and movable to open and close the vacuum-relief passageway.

13. The apparatus of claim 11, further comprising exhaust means for conducting fuel vapor from the outlet port to a fuel vapor recovery canister and air supply means for conducting ambient air admitted into the filler neck following refueling and before installation of a closure cap on an inlet mouth of the filler neck to the signal port so that ambient air is communicated to the interior region of the housing and the outlet port through the connecting means.

14. The apparatus of claim 13, wherein the connecting means includes a vacuum-relief passageway interconnecting the signal port and the interior region of the housing to communicate ambient air from the signal port to the interior region to dissipate any vacuum conditions developed in the interior region of the housing following refueling and before installation of the closure cap on the filler neck and a vacuum-relief valve mounted in the housing normally to cover the vacuum-relief passageway and movable to open and close the vacuum-relief passageway to regulate flow of ambient air from the signal port into the interior region of the housing.

15. The apparatus of claim 11, further comprising exhaust means for conducting fuel vapor from the outlet port to a fuel vapor recovery canister and applying a vacuum to the interior region of the housing through the outlet port to draw fuel vapor from the interior region of the housing toward the fuel vapor recovery canister, and air supply means for conducting ambient air admitted into the filler neck following refueling and before installation of a closure cap on an inlet mouth of the filler neck through the signal port so that ambient air is communicated to the interior region of the housing and the outlet port through the connecting means and any vacuum condition extant in the interior region of the housing is dissipated.

16. The apparatus of claim 15, wherein the air supply means includes a vacuum-relief tube communicating ambient air from the signal port to the interior region of the housing and a vacuum-relief valve regulating flow of ambient air through the vacuum-relief tube.

17. The apparatus of claim 11, wherein the flow tube is an L-shaped member having a first leg communicating with the central portion and a second leg connecting to the first leg and communicating with the first inlet port and further comprising a vent conduit interconnecting the second leg and the outer circumferential chamber in fluid communication.

18. The apparatus of claim 17, wherein the second leg is longer than the first leg.

19. The apparatus of claim 17, wherein the vent conduit is arranged to lie in spaced-apart parallel relation to the first leg and in perpendicular relation to the second leg.

20. An apparatus for controlling discharge of fuel vapors from a vehicle fuel tank having a filler neck, the apparatus comprising

a housing defining an interior region and being formed to include a first inlet port connecting the interior region in fluid communication with the fuel tank and an outlet port,

first conducting means for conducting fuel vapor from the fuel tank to the interior region,

first valve means for selectively blocking flow of fuel vapors from the first conducting means through the interior region, the first valve means being movable in response to fuel vapor pressure received from the first conducting means between a blocking position preventing fuel vapor received from the first conducting means from flowing through the interior region to the outlet port and a venting position allowing fuel vapor received from the first conducting means to flow through the interior region to the outlet port,

second conducting means for conducting fuel vapor from the fuel tank to the interior region,

second valve means for selectively blocking flow of fuel vapors from the second conducting means to the interior region, the second valve means being movable in response to fuel vapor pressure received from the second conducting means between a blocking position blocking flow of fuel vapor from the second conducting means through the interior region to the outlet port when the first valve means is positioned in its venting position and a venting position allowing flow of fuel vapor from the second conducting means through the interior region to the outlet port when the first valve means is positioned in its blocking position,

third conducting means for conducting fuel vapor from the filler neck to the first valve means to move the first valve means from its blocking position toward its venting position, the first valve means including a central portion, an intermediate portion concentric with the central portion, and an outer circumferential portion,

an outlet tube extending between the central portion and the outlet port to expose the central portion to atmospheric pressure,

a flow tube extending between the first inlet port and the intermediate portion to expose the intermediate portion to fuel vapor from the fuel tank, the flow tube extending into the interior region in spaced-apart relationship with the housing to define an outer circumferential chamber therebetween, the outer circumferential chamber being open to the filler neck through the third conducting means to expose the outer circumferential portion to fuel vapor from the filler neck so that the first valve means is moved away from its blocking position toward its venting position allowing flow of fuel vapor from the outer circumferential chamber to the outlet tube during vehicle operation, and

vent means for defining a bleed passageway connecting the flow tube in fluid communication with the third conducting means so that pressurized fuel vapor accumulating in the flow tube is dissipated through the bleed passageway and discharged into the outer circumferential chamber and conducted through the third conducting means toward the filler neck.

21. The apparatus of claim 20, wherein the flow tube is an L-shaped member having a first leg communicating with the intermediate portion and a second leg connecting to the first leg and communicating with the outlet port and the vent means interconnects the second leg and the outer circumferential chamber in fluid communication.

22. The apparatus of claim 21, wherein the second leg is longer than the first leg.

23. The apparatus of claim 21, wherein the vent means includes a tube formed to include the bleed passageway and arranged to lie in spaced-apart parallel relation to the first leg and in perpendicular relation to the second leg.

24. The apparatus of claim 20, further comprising fourth conducting means for conducting fuel vapor from the outlet port to a fuel vapor treatment canister away from the housing and means for selectively connecting the third conducting means in fluid communication with the interior region and the fourth conducting means.

25. The apparatus of claim 24, wherein the connecting means includes a vacuum-relief tube formed to include a vacuum-relief passageway interconnecting the third conducting means and the interior region and a vacuum-relief valve mounted in the housing normally to cover the vacuum-relief passageway and movable to open and close the vacuum-relief passageway.

26. An apparatus for controlling venting of fuel vapors from a vehicle fuel tank having a filler neck, the apparatus comprising

a housing defining an interior region and being formed to include a first inlet port connecting the interior region in fluid communication with the fuel tank, a signal port connecting the interior region in fluid communication with the filler neck, and an outlet port,

a first valve assembly disposed in the interior region and movable between a blocking position preventing fuel vapor received from the first inlet port from flowing through the interior region to the outlet port and a venting position allowing fuel vapor received from the first inlet port to flow through the interior region to the outlet port, the first valve assembly including a central portion, an intermediate portion concentric with the central portion, and an outer circumferential portion,

an outlet tube extending between the central portion and the outlet port to expose the central portion to atmospheric pressure,

a flow tube extending between the first inlet port and the intermediate portion to expose the intermediate portion to fuel vapor from the fuel tank, the flow tube extending into the interior region in spaced-apart relationship with the housing to define an outer circumferential chamber therebetween, the outer circumferential chamber being open to the signal port to expose the outer circumferential portion to fuel vapor from the filler neck so that the first valve assembly is moved away from its blocking position toward its venting position in response to fuel vapor pressure received from the first inlet port and the signal port allowing flow of fuel vapor from the flow tube and the outer circumferential chamber to the outlet tube during vehicle operation, and

vent means for defining a bleed passageway connecting the flow tube in fluid communication with the outer circumferential chamber so that pressurized fuel vapor accumulating in the flow tube is dissipated through the bleed passageway and discharged into the outer circumferential chamber and conducted through the signal port toward the filler neck.

27. The apparatus of claim 26, wherein the flow tube is an L-shaped member having a first leg communicating with the intermediate portion and a second leg connecting to the first leg and communicating with the first inlet port and the vent means interconnects the second leg and the outer circumferential chamber in fluid communication.

28. The apparatus of claim 27, wherein the second leg is longer than the first leg.

29. The apparatus of claim 27, wherein the vent means includes a tube formed to include the bleed passageway and arranged to lie in spaced-apart parallel relation to the first leg and in perpendicular relation to the second leg.

30. The apparatus of claim 26, further comprising means for conducting fuel vapor from the outlet port to a fuel vapor recovery canister and means for selectively connecting the signal port in fluid communication with the interior region and the outlet port.

31. The apparatus of claim 30, wherein the connecting means includes a vacuum-relief tube formed to include a vacuum-relief passageway interconnecting the signal port and the interior region and a vacuum-relief valve mounted in the housing normally to cover the vacuum-relief passageway and movable to open and close the vacuum-relief passageway.

32. An apparatus for controlling discharge of fuel vapors from a vehicle fuel tank having a filler neck, the apparatus comprising

a housing defining an interior region and being formed to include an outlet port,

first conducting means for conducting fuel vapor from the fuel tank to the interior region,

first valve means for selectively blocking flow of fuel vapors from the first conducting means through the interior region, the first valve means being movable in response to fuel vapor pressure received from the first conducting means between a blocking position preventing fuel vapor received from the first conducting means from flowing through the interior region to the outlet port and a venting position allowing fuel vapor received from the first conducting means to flow through the interior region to the outlet port,

second conducting means for conducting fuel vapor from the fuel tank to the interior region,

second valve means for selectively blocking flow of fuel vapors from the second conducting means to the interior region, the second valve means being movable in response to fuel vapor pressure received from the second conducting means between a blocking position blocking flow of fuel vapor from the second conducting means through the interior region to the outlet port when the first valve means is positioned in its venting position and a venting position allowing flow of fuel vapor from the second conducting means through the interior region to the outlet port when the first valve means is positioned in its blocking position,

third conducting means for conducting fuel vapor from the filler neck to the first valve means to move the first valve means from its blocking position toward its venting position, the first valve means including a central portion, an intermediate portion concentric with the central portion, and an outer circumferential portion,

an outlet tube extending between the central portion and the outlet port to expose the central portion to atmospheric pressure,

a flow tube extending between the first conducting means and the intermediate portion to expose the intermediate portion to fuel vapor from the fuel tank, the flow tube extending into the interior region in spaced-apart relationship with the housing to define an outer circumferential chamber therebetween, the outer circumferential chamber being open to the third conducting means to expose the outer circumferential portion to fuel vapor from the filler neck so that the first valve means is moved away from its blocking position toward its venting position allowing flow of fuel vapor from the outer circumferential chamber to the outlet tube during vehicle operation, and

fourth conducting means for conducting fuel vapor from the outlet port to a fuel vapor treatment canister, and

means for selectively connecting the third conducting means in fluid communication with the interior region and the fourth conducting means.

33. The apparatus of claim 32, wherein the connecting means includes a vacuum-relief tube formed to include a vacuum-relief passageway interconnecting the third conducting means and the interior region and a vacuum-relief valve mounted in the housing normally to cover the vacuum-relief passageway and movable to open and close the vacuum-relief passageway.

34. An apparatus for controlling venting of fuel vapors from a vehicle fuel tank having a filler neck, the apparatus comprising

a housing defining an interior region and being formed to include a first inlet port connecting the interior region in fluid communication with the fuel tank, a signal port connecting the interior region in fluid communication with the filler neck, and an outlet port,

a first valve assembly disposed in the interior region and movable between a blocking position preventing fuel vapor received from the first inlet port from flowing through the interior region to the outlet port and a venting position allowing fuel vapor received from the first inlet port to flow through the interior region to the outlet port, the first valve assembly including a central portion, an intermediate portion concentric with the central portion, and an outer circumferential portion,

an outlet tube extending between the central portion and the outlet port to expose the central portion to atmospheric pressure,

a flow tube extending between the first inlet port and the intermediate portion to expose the intermediate portion to fuel vapor from the fuel tank, the flow tube extending into the interior region in spaced-apart relationship with the housing to define an outer circumferential chamber therebetween, the outer circumferential chamber being open to the signal port to expose the outer circumferential portion to fuel vapor from the filler neck so that the first valve assembly is moved away from its blocking position toward its venting position in response to fuel vapor pressure received from the first inlet port and the signal port allowing flow of fuel vapor from the flow tube and the outer circumferential chamber to the outlet tube during vehicle operation, and

means for selectively connecting the signal port in fluid communication with the interior region and the outlet port.

35. The apparatus of claim 34, wherein the connecting means includes a vacuum-relief tube formed to include a vacuum-relief passageway interconnecting the signal port and the interior region and a vacuum-relief valve mounted in the housing normally to cover the vacuum-relief passageway and movable to open and close the vacuum-relief passageway.