Fuel pressure relief valve

• US 6,988,488 B2
• Filed: 09/05/2003
• Issued: 01/24/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 04/15/2003
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC (Ford Motor Company)
• Original Assignee: Visteon Global Technologies Incorporated (Visteon Corporation)
• Inventors: Pursifull, Ross D., Gimby, David R.
• Primary Examiner(s): MILLER, CARL STUART
• Application Number:
  US10/655,863
• Publication Number:
  US 20040206338A1
• Time in Patent Office: 872 Days
• Field of Search: 123/467, 123/514, 123/510, 123/506, 137/512, 137/512.1, 137/539.5, 137/493.8
• US Class Current: 123/467
• CPC Class Codes: F02M 37/0029 Pressure regulator in the low pressure fuel system pressure regulator in low-pressure injection apparatus F02M69/54
• CPC Class Codes: F02M 55/002 Arrangement of leakage or drain conduits in or from injectors
• CPC Class Codes: F02M 69/462 Arrangement of fuel conduits, e.g. with valves for maintaining pressure in the pipes after the engine being shut-down
• CPC Class Codes: F02M 69/54 Arrangement of fuel pressure regulators

Abstract

A fuel pressure relief valve is provided to minimize evaporative emissions due to fuel leakage through the fuel injectors. The fuel pressure relief valve is sealed during operation to prevent flow through the valve. When the automotive vehicle is not operating and the temperature has cooled, the valve unseals. Thereafter, temperature rises that would otherwise result in pressure buildup are prevented.

Claims

1. A valve for a fuel delivery system, comprising:

an input in communication with a fuel pump and a fuel rail, wherein said fuel rail supplies fuel to an engine, said input being at one of an operating pressure, a first residual pressure, and a second residual pressure, said second residual pressure being above said first residual pressure;

a first sealing member and first seat, said first sealing member and said first seat abutting at said operating pressure and said first sealing member and said first seat being unsealed at said first and second residual pressures;

a second sealing member and a second seat, said second sealing member and said second seat abutting at said first residual pressure and said second sealing member and said second seat being unsealed at said second residual pressure; and

wherein said first sealing member and said first seat are in communication with said second sealing member and said second seat, said abutting of said first sealing member and first seat preventing flow through said second sealing member and said second seat.

2. The valve according to claim 1, wherein said first sealing member, said first seat, said second sealing member and said second seat are disposed within a fuel tank.

3. The valve according to claim 1, in combination with a parallel pressure relief valve, wherein said first sealing member, said first seat, said second sealing member and said second seat are integrated into said parallel pressure relief valve, thereby forming a single valve assembly.

4. The valve according to claim 1, in combinatior with a fuel line in communication with said fuel rail, said fuel line terminating at a bottom of a fuel tank, wherein said fuel rail retrieves fuel from said fuel tank through said fuel line when fuel in said fuel rail is at a pressure below said second fuel pressure.

5. The valve according to claim 1, in combination with a fuel line in communication with said fuel rail, said fuel line terminating above a bottom of a fuel tank, wherein said fuel rail retrieves fuel vapor from said fuel tank through said fuel line when fuel in said fuel rail is at a pressure below said second fuel pressure.

6. The valve according to claim 1, further comprising a first spring;

wherein said first spring biases said first sealing member away from said first seat, said first seat is disposed away from said input, and said first sealing member is disposed between said input and said first seat.

7. The valve according to claim 1, further comprising a second spring;

wherein said second spring biases said second sealing member against said second seat, said second seat is disposed away from an output, and said second sealing member is disposed between said output and said second seal.

8. The valve according to claim 1, further comprising a first spring;

wherein said first spring biases said first sealing member away from said first seat, said first seat is disposed away from said input, and said first sealing member is disposed between said input and said first seat;

further comprising a second spring;

wherein said second spring biases said second sealing member against said second seat, said second seat is disposed away from an output, and said second sealing member is disposed between said output and said second seat.

9. The valve according to claim 1, wherein said first sealing member and said second sealing member are joined as a single, unitary component.

10. The valve according to claim 1, wherein said first sealing member and said second sealing member are joined;

further comprising a spring disposed between said joined first and second sealing members and an output; and

wherein said first seat is disposed between said joined first and second sealing members and said output, and said second seat is disposed between said joined first and second sealing members and said input.

11. The valve according to claim 10, wherein said first sealing member, said first seat, said second sealing member and said second seat are disposed within a fuel tank.

12. The valve according to claim 11, in combination with a fuel line in communication with said fuel rail, said fuel line terminating at a bottom of a fuel tank, wherein said fuel rail retrieves fuel from said fuel tank through said fuel line when fuel in said fuel rail is at a pressure below said second fuel pressure.

13. The valve according to claim 12, in combination with a parallel pressure relief valve, wherein said first sealing member, said first seat, said second sealing member and said second seat are integrated into said parallel pressure relief valve, thereby forming a single valve assembly.

14. The valve according to claim 10, in combination with a parallel pressure relief valve, wherein said first sealing member, said first seat, said second sealing member and said second seat are integrated into said parallel pressure relief valve, thereby forming a single valve assembly.

15. The valve according to claim 1, wherein said first sealing member and said second sealing member are joined and wherein said first seat and said second seat are joined;

further comprising a spring disposed between said joined first and second sealing members and an output; and

wherein said joined first and second seats are disposed between said first sealing member and said second sealing member.

16. The valve according to claim 15, wherein said first sealing member, said first seat, said second sealing member and said second seat are disposed within a fuel tank.

17. The valve according to claim 16, in combination with a fuel line in communication with said fuel rail, said fuel line terminating at a bottom of a fuel tank, wherein said fuel line terminating at a bottom of a fuel tank, wherein said fuel rail retrieves fuel from said fuel tank through said fuel line when fuel in said fuel rail is at a pressure below said second fuel pressure.

18. The valve according to claim 17, in combination with a parallel pressure relief valve, wherein said first sealing member, said first seat, said second sealing member and said second seat are integrated into said parallel pressure relief valve, thereby forming a single valve assembly.

19. The valve according to claim 15, in combination with a parallel pressure relief valve, wherein said first sealing member, said first seat, said second sealing member and said second seat are integrated into said parallel pressure relief valve, thereby forming a single valve assembly.

20. The valve according to claim 1, wherein said first sealing member is a vane.

21. The valve according to claim 9, wherein said component is generally spherical, said first sealing member is a first portion of said component, and said second sealing member is a second portion of said component.

22. The valve according to claim 9, wherein said component is a poppet valve, said first sealing member is a first vane surface, and said second sealing member is a second vane surface.