Vapor recovery fuel tank system

• US 5,782,258 A
• Filed: 12/11/1995
• Issued: 07/21/1998
• Est. Priority Date: 12/11/1995
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Alfmeier Corporation (Gentherm Incorporated), Solvay Automotive, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Alfmeier Corporation (Gentherm Incorporated), Solvay Automotive, Inc.
• Inventors: Gaynor, Scott C., Herbon, Joseph A., Ramioulle, Frederic, Mihal, Eric A., Byrka, Karen R.
• Primary Examiner(s): Michalsky, Gerald A.
• Application Number:
  US08/570,186
• Time in Patent Office: 953 Days
• Field of Search: 137/43, 137/202, 137/587, 144/326
• US Class Current: 137/43
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 15/03519 Valve arrangements in the vent line
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 2015/03576 Venting during filling the reservoir
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 137/0874 Vent opening or closing on tipping container
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 137/3099 Float responsive
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 137/86324 Tank with gas vent and inlet or outlet

Abstract

A vapor recovery fuel system includes a fuel tank having at least one vent opening defined therein. A fuel vapor canister is in communication with the vent opening to receive and filter fuel vapors from the tank. A refueling control valve is configured in the vent opening and has a first inlet orifice and an outlet in communication with the vapor trap. The control valve includes a variably buoyant first float body extending into an interior of the fuel tank which rises over a predetermined range of movement in response to increasing fuel level. The control valve includes a second float body engaged by the first float body over at least a portion of its range of movement. The first float body has a buoyancy during refueling so as to rise with increasing fuel level to engage and move the second float body into a sealing position to seal the inlet orifice from the outlet at a predetermined height of fuel within the tank. The first float body has a buoyancy reducing mechanism for automatically reducing its buoyancy after refueling so that it lowers in the fuel tank thereby allowing the second buoyant body to lower and unseal the inlet orifice after refueling.

Claims

1. A vapor recovery fuel system, comprising:

a fuel tank having at least one vent opening defined therein;

a fuel vapor trap in communication with said vent opening to receive fuel vapors from said fuel tank; and

a refueling control valve configured with said vent opening, said control valve having a first inlet and an outlet in communication with said vapor trap, said control valve comprising a variably buoyant first float body extending into an interior volume of said fuel tank which rises over a predetermined range of movement in response to increasing fuel level in said fuel tank during refueling, said control valve further comprising a second float body movable relative to said first float body and engaged by said first float body over at least a portion of said range of movement, said first float body having a buoyancy during refueling so as to rise with increasing fuel level and engage and move said second float body into a sealing position to seal said inlet from said outlet at a predetermined height of fuel within said fuel tank, said first float body having a buoyancy reducing mechanism for automatically reducing its buoyancy after refueling so that it lowers in said fuel tank allowing said second float body to lower and unseal said inlet after refueling.

2. The system as in claim 1, wherein said second float body further comprises a sealing mechanism for sealing said inlet.

3. The system as in claim 2, wherein said sealing mechanism further comprises a bleed valve mechanism configured to bleed vapor pressure through said sealing mechanism in an over pressure condition in said fuel tank thereby allowing said second float body to fall from said sealing position.

4. The system as in claim 1, wherein said buoyancy reducing mechanism comprises an orifice defined in a bottom surface of said first float body and a freely movable weighted body carried within said first float body, said weighted body movable from a rest position during refueling in which it seals said orifice to alternate positions wherein fuel seeps into said fist float body through said orifice after refueling.

5. The system as in claim 4, wherein said bottom surface comprises an angled surface.

6. The system as in claim 1, further comprising a rollover mechanism configured with said second float body to automatically move said second float body to said sealing position upon said control valve being inclined to a predetermined angle.

7. The system as in claim 1, wherein said first float body comprises a generally hollow body having a first section delimited by a bottom with an orifice defined therethrough which is sealed during refueling by an orifice sealing device, and a second bottomless section defined by sides with a second orifice defined therethrough wherein fuel vapors entrapped in said second section during refueling escape through said second orifice thereby changing the buoyancy of said first float body during refueling.

8. The system as in claim 7, wherein said first section of said first float body comprises a cylinder and said second section comprises a skirt section adjacent said cylinder.

9. The system as in claim 1, further comprising at least one additional vent opening defined in said fuel tank, said refueling control valve further comprising a second inlet in communication with said additional vent opening such that fuel vapors from said additional vent opening pass through said refueling control valve to said vapor trap.

10. The system as in claim 9, further comprising a fuel level sensitive actuable vent valve configured with said additional vent opening, said vent valve automatically closing at a predetermined level of fuel within said fuel tank.

11. The system as in claim 10, wherein said vent valve is disposed at a height below that of said refueling control valve so as to automatically close before said control valve upon refueling.

12. The system as in claim 10, wherein said vent valve further comprises a rollover device to automatically close said vent valve upon said vent valve being inclined to a predetermined angle.

13. A vapor recovery fuel system, comprising:

a fuel tank having at least one vent opening defined therein;

a fuel vapor trap in communication with said vent opening to receive fuel vapors from said fuel tank; and

a refueling control valve configured with said vent opening, said control valve having a first inlet and an outlet in communication with said vapor trap, said control valve comprising a variably buoyant first float body extending into an interior volume of said fuel tank which rises over a predetermined range of movement in response to increasing fuel level in said fuel tank during refueling, said control valve further comprising a second float body engaged by said first float body over at least a portion of said range of movement, said first float body having a buoyancy during refueling so as to rise with increasing fuel level and engage and move said second float body into a sealing position to seal said inlet from said outlet at a predetermined height of fuel within said fuel tank, said first float body having a buoyancy reducing mechanism for automatically reducing its buoyancy after refueling so that it lowers in said fuel tank allowing said second buoyant body to lower and unseal said inlet after refueling, said control valve further comprising a rollover mechanism configured with said second float body to automatically move said second float body to said sealing position upon said control valve being inclined to a predetermined angle, wherein said rollover mechanism comprises a rolling weighted body resting on an inclined rolling surface generally below said second float body, said rolling weighted body automatically moving said float body to said sealing position by gravity at said predetermined angle, said inclined surface having an angle which dictates said predetermined angle at which said rollover device actuates.

14. The system as in claim 13, further comprising a cage structure generally surrounding said second float body, said rollover mechanism disposed within said cage structure, said first float body engaging said second float body through said cage structure.

15. A vapor recovery fuel system, comprising:

a fuel tank having at least one vent opening defined therein;

a fuel vapor trap in communication with said vent opening to receive fuel vapors from said fuel tank;

a refueling control valve configured with said vent opening, said control valve having a first inlet and an outlet in communication with said vapor trap, said control valve comprising a variably buoyant first float body extending into an interior volume of said fuel tank which rises over a predetermined range of movement in response to increasing fuel level in said fuel tank during refueling, said control valve further comprising a second float body engaged by said first float body over at least a portion of said range of movement, said first float body having a buoyancy during refueling so as to rise with increasing fuel level and engage and move said second float body into a sealing position to seal said inlet from said outlet at a predetermined height of fuel within said fuel tank, said first float body having a buoyancy reducing mechanism for automatically reducing its buoyancy after refueling so that it lowers in said fuel tank allowing said second buoyant body to lower and unseal said inlet after refueling;

at least one additional vent opening defined in said fuel tank, said refueling control valve further comprising a second inlet in communication with said additional vent opening such that fuel vapors from said additional vent opening pass through said refueling control valve to a vapor trap, wherein said refueling control valve further comprises an automatic isolation mechanism configured therein to isolate said additional vent opening from said vapor trap upon refueling.

16. The system as in claim 15, wherein said automatic isolation mechanism comprises a magnetically actuated flapper device configured within said control valve to move to a position to seal said second inlet automatically upon commencing refueling so that the only fuel vapors vented to said vapor trap during refueling pass through said first inlet.

17. The system as in claim 16, wherein said flapper device comprises a movable magnet which pulls a metallic body carried by said flapper device, said movable magnet moved automatically by an actuation device upon commencing refueling.

18. The system as in claim 16, wherein after refueling said flapper device moves automatically to an alternate position wherein it seals said first inlet so that during no-refueling conditions the only fuel vapors vented to said vapor trap pass through said second inlet.

19. A refueling control valve for controlling venting of fuel vapors in a fuel system from a fuel tank to a vapor trap during refueling operations to prevent an overfill condition or saturation of the vapor trap, said control valve comprising a first inlet configured to receive fuel vapors and an outlet configured to direct fuel vapors to a vapor trap, said control valve comprising a first float body having a length so as to extend into an interior volume of a fuel tank, said first float body having a first buoyancy characteristic so as to rise over a predetermined range of movement in response to increasing fuel level in said fuel tank during refueling, said control valve further comprising a second float body movable relative to said first float body and physically engaged by said first float body over at least a portion of said range of movement, said first float body engaging and moving said second float body into a sealing position to seal said inlet from said outlet at a predetermined height of fuel within said fuel tank, said first float body having a buoyancy reducing mechanism for reducing its buoyancy to a second characteristic after refueling so that it lowers in said fuel tank allowing said second float body to lower and unseal said inlet.

20. The control valve as in claim 19, wherein said second float body further comprises a sealing mechanism for sealing said inlet.

21. The control valve as in claim 20, wherein said sealing mechanism further comprises a bleed valve mechanism configured to bleed vapor pressure through said sealing mechanism in an over pressure condition in said fuel tank thereby allowing said second float body to fall from said sealing position.

22. The control valve as in claim 19, wherein said buoyancy reducing mechanism comprises an orifice defined in a bottom surface of said first float body and a freely movable weighted body carried within said first float body, said movable weighted body movable from a rest position during refueling in which it seals said orifice to alternate positions wherein fuel seeps into said first float body through said orifice after refueling.

23. The control valve as in claim 19, further comprising a rollover mechanism configured with said second float body to automatically move said second float body to said sealing position upon said control valve being inclined to a predetermined angle.

24. The control valve as in claim 19, wherein said first float body comprises a generally hollow body having a first section delimited by a bottom with an orifice defined therethrough which is sealed during refueling by an orifice sealing device, and a second bottomless section defined by sides with a second orifice defined therethrough wherein fuel vapors entrapped in said second section during refueling escape through said second orifice thereby changing the buoyancy of said first float body during refueling.

25. The control valve as in claim 24, wherein said first section of said first float body comprises a cylinder and said second section comprises a skirt section adjacent said cylinder.

26. The control valve as in claim 19, further comprising a second inlet configured to be connected in vapor communication with at least one vent opening in a fuel tank, said second inlet in vapor communication with said outlet and disposed so as not to be sealed by said second float body.

27. A refueling control valve for controlling venting of fuel vapors in a fuel system from a fuel tank to a vapor trap during refueling operations to prevent an overfill condition or saturation of the vapor trap, said control valve comprising a first inlet configured to receive fuel vapors and an outlet configured to direct fuel vapors to a vapor trap, said control valve comprising a variably buoyant first float body having a length so as to extend into an interior volume of a fuel tank, said first float body having a first buovancy characteristic so as to rise over a predetermined range of movement in response to increasing fuel level in said fuel tank during refueling, said control valve further comprising a second float body physically engaged by said first float body over at least a portion of said range of movement, said first float body engaging and moving said second float body into a sealing position to seal said inlet from said outlet at a predetermined height of fuel within said fuel tank, said first float body having a buoyancy reducing mechanism for reducing its buoyancy to a second characteristic after refueling so that it lowers in said fuel tank allowing said second float body to lower and unseal said inlet, said control valve further comprising a rollover mechanism configured with said second float body to automatically move said second float body to said sealing position upon said control valve being inclined to a predetermined angle, wherein said rollover mechanism comprises a rolling weighted body resting on an inclined rolling surface generally below said second float body, said rolling weighted body automatically moving said second float body to said sealing position by gravity at said predetermined angle, said inclined surface having an angle which dictates said predetermined angle at which said rollover device actuates.

28. The control valve as in claim 27, further comprising a cage structure generally surrounding said second float body, said rollover mechanism disposed within said cage structure.

29. A refueling control valve for controlling venting of fuel vapors in a fuel system from a fuel tank to a vapor trap during refueling operations to prevent an overfill condition or saturation of the vapor trap, said control valve comprising a first inlet configured to receive fuel vapors and an outlet configured to direct fuel vapors to a vapor trap, said control valve comprising a variably buoyant first float body having a length so as to extend into an interior volume of a fuel tank, said first float body having a first buoyancy characteristic so as to rise over a predetermined range of movement in response to increasing fuel level in said fuel tank during refueling, said control valve further comprising a second float body physically engaged by said first float body over at least a portion of said range of movement, said first float body engaging and moving said second float body into a sealing position to seal said inlet from said outlet at a predetermined height of fuel within said fuel tank, said first float body having a buoyancy reducing mechanism for reducing its buoyancy to a second characteristic after refueling so that it lowers in said fuel tank allowing said second float body to lower and unseal said inlet, said control valve further comprising a second inlet configured to be connected in vapor communication with at least one vent opening in a fuel tank, said second inlet in vapor communication with said outlet and disposed so as not to be sealed by said second float body, said control valve further comprising an isolation device for automatically isolating said second inlet from said outlet at a desired point in time during refueling.

30. The control valve as in claim 29, wherein said isolation device comprises a magnetically actuated flapper device configured within said control valve to move to a position to seal said second inlet automatically upon commencing refueling.

31. The system as in claim 30, wherein said flapper device comprises a movable magnet which pulls a metallic body carried by said flapper device, said movable magnet moved automatically by an actuation device upon commencing refueling.

32. The system as in claim 29, wherein said isolation device comprises an automatic closing valve device disposed operably upstream from said second inlet to isolate said second inlet from said additional vapor openings at a desired fuel level within a fuel tank.

33. A vapor recovery fuel system, comprising:

a fuel tank having at least one vent opening defined therein;

a fuel vapor trap in communication with said vent opening to receive fuel vapors from said fuel tank; and

a refueling control valve configured with said vent opening, said control valve having a first inlet and an outlet in communication with said vapor trap, said control valve comprising a variably buoyant first float body extending into an interior volume of said fuel tank which rises over a predetermined range of movement in response to increasing fuel level in said fuel tank during refueling, said control valve further comprising a second float body engaged by said first float body over at least a portion of said range of movement, said first float body having a buoyancy during refueling so as to rise with increasing fuel level and engage and move said second float body into a sealing position to seal said inlet from said outlet at a predetermined height of fuel within said fuel tank, said first float body having a buoyancy reducing mechanism for automatically reducing its buoyancy after refueling so that it lowers in said fuel tank allowing said second float body to lower and unseal said inlet after refueling, said second float body having a sealing mechanism for sealing said inlet and a bleed valve mechanism including a needle valve assembly configured to bleed vapor pressure through said sealing mechanism in an over pressure condition in said fuel tank thereby allowing said second float body to fall from said sealing position.

34. A refueling control valve for controlling venting of fuel vapors in a fuel system from a fuel tank to a vapor trap during refueling operations to prevent an overfill condition or saturation of the vapor trap, said control valve comprising a first inlet configured to receive fuel vapors and an outlet configured to direct fuel vapors to a vapor trap, said control valve comprising a variably buoyant first float body having a length so as to extend into an interior volume of a fuel tank, said first float body having a first buoyancy characteristic so as to rise over a predetermined range of movement in response to increasing fuel level in said fuel tank during refueling, said control valve further comprising a second float body physically engaged by said first float body over at least a portion of said range of movement, said first float body engaging and moving said second float body into a sealing position to seal said inlet from said outlet at a predetermined height of fuel within said fuel tank, said first float body having a buoyancy reducing mechanism for reducing its buoyancy to a second characteristic after refueling so that it lowers in said fuel tank allowing said second float body to lower and unseal said inlet, said second float body having a sealing mechanism for sealing said inlet and a bleed valve mechanism including a needle valve assembly configured to bleed vapor pressure through said sealing mechanism in an over pressure condition in said fuel tank thereby allowing said second float body to fall from said sealing position.

35. A vapor recovery fuel system, comprising:

a fuel tank having at least one vent opening defined therein;

a fuel vapor trap in communication with said vent opening to receive fuel vapors from said fuel tank; and

a magnetically controlled refueling valve configured with said vent opening, said refueling valve having an inlet in communication with said vent opening and an outlet in communication with said vapor trap, said refueling valve further comprising a magnetically controlled sealing device configured to automatically seal said inlet from said outlet during non-refueling operations and to automatically unseal said inlet from said outlet during refueling, said refueling valve further comprising a variably buoyant first float body extending into an interior volume of said fuel tank which rises over a predetermined range of movement in response to increasing fuel level in said fuel tank during refueling, said control valve further comprising a second float body movable relative to said first float body and engaged by said first float body over at least a portion of said range of movement, said first float body having a buoyancy during refueling so as to rise with increasing fuel level and engage and move said second float body into a sealing position to seal said inlet from said outlet at a predetermined height of fuel within said fuel tank, said first float body having a buoyancy reducing mechanism for automatically reducing its buoyancy after refueling so that it lowers in said fuel tank allowing said second buoyant float body to lower and unseal said inlet after refueling.

36. The system as in claim 35, wherein said refueling valve further comprises a rollover device configured to automatically seal said inlet from said outlet upon said refueling valve being inclined to a predetermined angle.

37. The system as in claim 35, wherein said first float body comprises a sinking float body which fills at least partially with fuel after refueling so as to change buoyancy and automatically unseal said inlet after refueling.