Dual tank simultaneous fill system

• US 6,659,122 B1
• Filed: 09/10/2002
• Issued: 12/09/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 09/10/2002
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: GM Global Technology Operations Incorporated (Motors Liquidation Co. GUC Trust)
• Original Assignee: General Motors Corporation (Motors Liquidation Co. GUC Trust)
• Inventors: Zahdeh, Akram R., Strzelecki, Edward J.
• Primary Examiner(s): LEE, KEVIN L
• Application Number:
  US10/238,163
• Time in Patent Office: 455 Days
• Field of Search: 137/256, 137/255, 137/265, 141/35, 141/36, 141/311.R, 141/237
• US Class Current: 137/256
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 15/00 Arrangement in connection with fuel supply of combustion engines or other fuel consuming energy converters, e.g. fuel cells; Mounting or construction of fuel tanks tanks in general B65D, F17C; supplying combustion engines with combustible mixtures or constituents F02M
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 15/01 Arrangement of fuel conduits chassis frame forming fluid conduit means B62D21/17
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 2015/03118 Multiple tanks, i.e. two or more separate tanks supplementary tanks inside the fuel tank B60K2015/03105
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 2015/03131 Systems for filling dual tanks
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 2015/03138 Pumping means between the compartments
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 2015/03144 Fluid connections between the tanks
• CPC Class Codes: F02M 37/0088 Multiple separate fuel tanks or tanks being at least partially partitioned
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 137/469 Sequentially filled and emptied [e.g., holding type]

Abstract

A fuel supply system for an automotive vehicle having an internal combustion engine, comprises a fluid inlet line configured to receive fuel from a vehicle refueling station. A manifolded Y-connector includes an inlet port at an upper end of the Y-connector and in fluid communication with the fluid inlet line, an elliptical lower wall, a manifolded section extending from the inlet port to the elliptical lower wall, and a first and a second outlet port having substantially equal circular cross sections and each having a straight portion extending perpendicularly from the lower wall. A height of the manifolded section from the upper end to the lower wall is approximately four to five times a diameter of one of the outlet ports. The supply system further includes first and second fuel tanks fluidly connected to the first and second outlet ports of the manifolded Y-connector. Whereupon filling the fuel supply system, the manifolded Y-connector operates to deliver fuel to the first fuel tank first and to the second fuel tank second and accommodates any filling turbulence.

Claims

1. A fuel supply system for an automotive vehicle of the type having an internal combustion engine, comprising:

a fluid inlet line configured to receive fuel from a vehicle refueling station;

a manifolded Y-connector comprising a manifolded section, an inlet port depending from an upper end of the manifolded section and in fluid communication with the fluid inlet line, and a first and a second outlet port each depending from a lower wall of the manifolded section;

a first fuel tank;

a first branch line fluidly connected to the first outlet port of the manifolded Y-connector and to the first fuel tank;

a second fuel tank;

a second branch line fluidly connected to the second outlet port of the manifolded Y-connector and to the second fuel tank;

whereupon filling the fuel supply system, the manifolded Y-connector operates to deliver fuel to the first fuel tank first and the second fuel tank second and accommodates any filling turbulence.

2. The system according to claim 1, wherein the inlet port of the Y-connector has a circular cross section, the lower wall has an elliptical cross section and wherein the manifolded section extends from the circular inlet port to the elliptical lower wall.

3. The system according to claim 2, wherein the size of the lower wall is minimized to accommodate the depending first and second outlet ports.

4. The system according to claim 1, wherein the lower wall of the manifolded Y-connector has a circular cross section.

5. The system according to claim 1, wherein the first and second outlet ports have substantially equal circular cross sections and a height of the manifolded section from the upper end to the lower wall is approximately four to five times a diameter of one of the first and second outlet ports.

6. The system according to claim 1, wherein each of the first and second outlet ports have a straight portion extending perpendicularly from the lower wall and thus parallel to each other.

7. The system according to claim 1, further comprising an engine fuel supply system with a first pump to deliver fuel from the first fuel tank to the engine and a supplemental fuel transfer system with a second pump to deliver fuel from the second fuel tank to the first fuel tank.

8. The system according to claim 7, further comprising a vapor venting system fluidly connecting the tanks to each other and to the atmosphere.

9. A fuel supply system for an automotive vehicle of the type having an internal combustion engine, comprising:

a fluid inlet line configured to receive fuel from a vehicle refueling station;

a manifolded Y-connector comprising an inlet port at an upper end of the Y-connector and in fluid communication with the fluid inlet line,

a lower wall having an elliptical cross section,

a manifolded section extending from the inlet port to the elliptical lower wall, and

a first and a second outlet port having substantially equal circular cross sections and each having a straight portion extending perpendicularly from the lower wall, wherein the size of the lower wall is minimized to accommodate the depending first and second outlet ports, and

wherein a height of the manifolded section from the upper end to the lower wall is approximately four to five times a diameter of one of the first and second outlet ports;

a first fuel tank;

a first branch line fluidly connected to the first outlet port of the manifolded Y-connector and to the first fuel tank;

a second fuel tank;

a second branch line fluidly connected to the second outlet port of the manifolded Y-connector and to the second fuel tank;

whereupon filling the fuel supply system, the manifolded Y-connector operates to deliver fuel to the first fuel tank first and the second fuel tank second and accommodates any filling turbulence.

10. The system according to claim 9, further comprising an engine fuel supply system with a first pump to deliver fuel from the first fuel tank to the engine and a supplemental fuel transfer system with a second pump to deliver fuel from the second fuel tank to the first fuel tank.

11. The system according to claim 9, further comprising a vapor venting system fluidly connecting the tanks to each other and to the atmosphere.