Dual seal filler neck with air relief valve
First Claim
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1. A vehicle refueling system, comprising:
- a) a filler cup having a nozzle seal for sealing to a filler nozzle, an upper filler cup region positioned above the nozzle seal, and a lower filler cup region positioned below the nozzle seal;
b) a vapor re-circulation path adapted to receive fuel vapor from a fuel tank and adapted to provide the fuel vapor to the lower filler cup region; and
c) an air relief module, operatively disposed to receive air from outside the lower filler cup region, wherein the air relief module provides the received air to the lower cup region during a refueling operation to supplement the fuel vapor provided by the vapor re-circulation path, and wherein the air relief module operation is responsive to air pressure within the lower cup region.
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Abstract
A vehicle refueling system and a vehicle refueling method are disclosed. The refueling system includes a filler cup, a nozzle seal in the filler cup for sealing to a filler nozzle, a vapor re-circulation path from the gas tank to the filler cup, and an air relief module. The air relief module provides additional air to the filler cup region below the nozzle seal when the vapor re-circulation path does not provide sufficient make-up air to the filler nozzle during refueling operations. The refueling method includes providing air through an air relief module when the vapor flow through the vapor re-circulation path is not sufficient to perform a refueling operation.
19 Citations
17 Claims
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1. A vehicle refueling system, comprising:
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a) a filler cup having a nozzle seal for sealing to a filler nozzle, an upper filler cup region positioned above the nozzle seal, and a lower filler cup region positioned below the nozzle seal; b) a vapor re-circulation path adapted to receive fuel vapor from a fuel tank and adapted to provide the fuel vapor to the lower filler cup region; and c) an air relief module, operatively disposed to receive air from outside the lower filler cup region, wherein the air relief module provides the received air to the lower cup region during a refueling operation to supplement the fuel vapor provided by the vapor re-circulation path, and wherein the air relief module operation is responsive to air pressure within the lower cup region. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11)
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12. A vehicle refueling method, comprising the steps of:
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a) introducing fuel into a vehicle refueling system, wherein the refueling system includes a filler cup having a nozzle seal for sealing to a filler nozzle, an upper filler cup region above the nozzle seal, and a lower filler cup region below the nozzle seal; b) generating a negative pressure inside the lower filler cup region; c) providing a vapor flow from a fuel tank to the lower filler cup region responsive to the negative pressure inside the lower filler cup region; and d) providing air to the lower filler cup region to supplement the vapor flow, wherein the air is provided through an air relief module operatively disposed to receive air from outside the lower filler cup region, and wherein the air relief module is responsive to the negative pressure inside the lower filler cup region. - View Dependent Claims (13, 14, 15, 16, 17)
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Specification