Vapor recovery system with improved ORVR compatibility and performance

• US 6,810,922 B1
• Filed: 10/10/2003
• Issued: 11/02/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 10/10/2003
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Vapor Systems Technologies, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Vapor Systems Technologies, Inc.
• Inventors: Grantham, Rodger P.
• Primary Examiner(s): Douglas, Steven O.
• Application Number:
  US10/684,051
• Time in Patent Office: 389 Days
• Field of Search: 141/59, 141/98, 141/286, 141/301, 141/302, 141/46
• US Class Current: 141/59
• CPC Class Codes: B67D 7/048 Vapour flow control means, e.g. valves, pumps
• CPC Class Codes: B67D 7/0498 Arrangements specially adapted for transferring biofuels, e.g. ethanol-gasoline mixture

Abstract

A fueling and associated vapor recovery system maintains the same, or lower, vacuum level in the vapor hose during ORVR vehicle refueling as that seen during a non-ORVR refueling. A valve assembly is made as either a part of the end of the vapor recovery hose assembly, a separate unit that is placed between the hose assembly and the nozzle, or incorporated directly into the nozzle. The valve assembly includes a diaphragm biased to one position by a spring to which is attached a sliding valve member. The force of the spring on the diaphragm is sufficient to keep the valve member in the original position when refueling non-ORVR vehicles so that the vapor hose is unobstructed and an air bleed hole is closed. When refueling an ORVR vehicle, the elevated vacuum level moves the diaphragm and valve member to a second position which blocks off the vapor hose from the vacuum pump and opens up the vapor hose to the air bleed hole.

Claims

1. An assembly for use in a fueling system in which fuel from a storage tank is pumped through a hose to a nozzle for discharge into a fuel tank of a vehicle, the fueling system including a vapor recovery system to process fuel vapors displaced from the fuel tank during fueling, the assembly comprising:

a primary vapor passage adapted to be in fluid communication with the vapor recovery system;

a valve assembly moveable between first and second positions, the first position permitting the uninterrupted flow of vapors through the primary vapor passage and the second position inhibiting the flow of vapors through the primary vapor passage, the valve assembly being biased toward the first position;

a diaphragm mounted within a chamber and coupled to the valve assembly;

a secondary vapor passage in fluid communication with the chamber and the primary vapor passage;

an air bleed passage in fluid communication at a first end with the primary vapor passage upstream from the valve assembly;

a stop coupled to the valve assembly and moveable between open and closed positions, the stop in the closed position sealing a second end of the air bleed passage when the valve assembly is in the first position, the stop in the open position opening the second end to ambient atmosphere when the valve assembly is in the second position;

wherein when the air pressure in the chamber is reduced to a predetermined level the diaphragm and the valve assembly coupled thereto move from the first position to the second position and thereby inhibit flow in the valve assembly through the primary vapor passage and vent the primary vapor passage through the air bleed passage when the stop moves to the open position.

2. The assembly of claim 1 further comprising:

a housing holding the valve assembly and the diaphragm and defining at least in part the chamber.

3. The assembly of claim 1 wherein the valve assembly further comprises:

a valve member having a valve passage aligned with the primary valve passage and through which vapors pass when the valve assembly is in the first position; and

a valve body having a bore in which the valve member is seated for reciprocal movement to and between the first and second positions.

4. The assembly of claim 3 wherein the stop is mounted on a distal end of the valve member and the diaphragm is mounted on a proximal end of the valve member.

5. The assembly of claim 1 further comprising:

a spring located in the chamber and coupled to the diaphragm, the spring the diaphragm and valve assembly toward the first position.

6. The assembly of claim 1 wherein the secondary vapor passage is connected to the primary vapor passage upstream from the valve assembly.

7. An assembly of claim 1 wherein the stop and the diaphragm are coupled opposite ends of the valve assembly.

13. The system of claim 3 wherein the stop is mounted on a distal end of the valve member and the diaphragm is mounted on a proximal end of the valve member.

8. An assembly for use in a fueling system in which fuel from a storage tank is pumped through a hose to a nozzle for discharge into a fuel tank of a vehicle, the fueling system including a vapor recovery system to process fuel vapors displaced from the fuel tank during fueling, the assembly comprising:

a primary vapor passage adapted to be in fluid communication with the vapor recovery system;

a valve member moveable within a bore of a valve body between first and second positions, the first position permitting the uninterrupted flow of vapors through the primary vapor passage and the second position inhibiting the flow of vapors through the primary vapor passage, the valve member having a valve passage aligned with the primary valve passage and through which vapors pass when the valve assembly is in the first position;

a diaphragm mounted within a chamber and coupled to the valve member;

a spring located in the chamber and coupled to the diaphragm, the spring biasing the diaphragm and valve member toward the first position;

a housing holding the valve assembly and the diaphragm and defining at least in part the chamber;

a secondary vapor passage in fluid communication with the chamber and the primary vapor passage upstream from the valve assembly;

an air bleed passage in fluid communication at a first end with the primary vapor passage upstream from the valve assembly; and

a stop coupled to the valve assembly and moveable between open and closed positions, the stop in the closed position sealing a second end of the air bleed passage when the valve assembly is in the first position, the stop in the open position opening the second end to ambient atmosphere when the valve assembly is in the second position;

wherein when the air pressure in the chamber is reduced to a predetermined level the diaphragm and the valve assembly coupled thereto move from the first position to the second position and thereby inhibit flow in the valve assembly through the primary vapor passage and vent the primary vapor passage through the air bleed passage when the stop moves to the open position.

9. The assembly of claim 8 wherein the stop is mounted on a distal end of the valve member and the diaphragm is mounted on a proximal end of the valve member.

10. A fueling system comprising:

a storage tank for storing fuel;

a hose for transferring the fuel from the storage tank;

a pump operably coupled to the hose for pumping the fuel through the hose;

a nozzle connected to the hose for dispensing the fuel into a fuel tank of a vehicle;

a vapor recovery system for processing vapors displaced from the fuel tank, the vapor recovery system including a pump for pumping the vapors from the fuel tank and a primary vapor passage in the hose through which the vapors are removed from the fuel tank;

the vapor recovery system further comprising

(a) a valve assembly moveable between first and second positions, the first position permitting the uninterrupted flow of vapors through the primary vapor passage and the second position inhibiting the flow of vapors through the primary vapor passage, the valve assembly being biased toward the first position;

(b) a diaphragm mounted within a chamber and coupled to the valve assembly;

(c) a secondary vapor passage in fluid communication with the chamber and the primary vapor passage;

(d) an air bleed passage in fluid communication at a first end with the primary vapor passage upstream from the valve assembly;

(e) a stop coupled to the valve assembly and moveable between open and closed positions, the stop in the closed position sealing a second end of the air bleed passage when the valve assembly is in the first position, the stop in the open position opening the second end to ambient atmosphere when the valve assembly is in the second position;

wherein when the air pressure in the chamber is reduced to a predetermined level the diaphragm and the valve assembly coupled thereto move from the first position to the second position and thereby inhibit flow in the valve assembly through the primary vapor passage and vent the primary vapor passage through the air bleed passage when the stop moves to the open position.

11. The system of claim 10 further comprising:

a housing holding the valve assembly and the diaphragm and defining at least in part the chamber.

12. The system of claim 10 wherein the valve assembly further comprises:

a valve member having a valve passage aligned with the primary valve passage and through which vapors pass when the valve assembly is in the first position; and

a valve body having a bore in which the valve member is seated for reciprocal movement to and between the first and second positions.

14. The system of claim 10 further comprising:

a spring located in the chamber and coupled to the diaphragm, the spring biasing the diaphragm and valve assembly toward the first position.

15. The system of claim 10 wherein the secondary vapor passage is connected to the primary vapor passage upstream from the valve assembly.

16. The system of claim 10 wherein the stop and the diaphragm are coupled to opposite ends of the valve assembly.

17. The system of claim 10 wherein the valve assembly is incorporated into the nozzle.

18. A fueling system comprising:

a storage tank for storing fuel;

a hose for transferring the fuel from the storage tank;

a pump operably coupled to the hose for pumping the fuel through the hose;

a nozzle connected to the hose for dispensing the fuel into a fuel tank of a vehicle;

a vapor recovery system for processing vapors displaced from the fuel tank, the vapor recovery system including a pump for pumping the vapors from the fuel tank and a primary vapor passage in the hose through which the vapors are removed from the fuel tank;

the vapor recovery system further comprising

(a) a valve member moveable within a bore of a valve body between first and second positions, the first position permitting the uninterrupted flow of vapors through the primary vapor passage and the second position inhibiting the flow of vapors through the primary vapor passage, the valve member having a valve passage aligned with the primary valve passage and through which vapors pass when the valve assembly is in the first position;

(b) a diaphragm mounted within a chamber and coupled to the valve member;

(c) a spring located in the chamber and coupled to the diaphragm, the spring biasing the diaphragm and valve member toward the first position;

(d) a housing holding the valve assembly and the diaphragm and defining at least in part the chamber;

(e) a secondary vapor passage in fluid communication with the chamber and the primary vapor passage upstream from the valve assembly;

(f) an air bleed passage in fluid communication at a first end with the primary vapor passage upstream from the valve assembly; and

(g) a stop coupled to the valve assembly and moveable between open and closed positions, the stop in the closed position sealing a second end of the air bleed passage when the valve assembly is in the first position, the stop in the open position opening the second end to ambient atmosphere when the valve assembly is in the second position;

wherein when the air pressure in the chamber is reduced to a predetermined level the diaphragm and the valve assembly coupled thereto move from the first position to the second position and thereby inhibit flow in the valve assembly through the primary vapor passage and vent the primary vapor passage through the air bleed passage when the stop moves to the open position.

19. The system of claim 18 wherein the stop is mounted on a distal end of the valve member and the diaphragm is mounted on a proximal end of the valve member.

20. The system of claim 18 wherein the valve assembly is incorporated into the nozzle.