ORVR compatible refueling system
First Claim
1. A refueling system comprising:
- a nozzle configured to dispense fuel through a fuel path thereof into a vehicle tank, said nozzle including a vapor path configured such that vapor recovered from said vehicle tank during refueling is passable therethrough;
a sensing valve disposed in said vapor path, wherein said sensing valve is configured to generally block the associated part of said vapor path when a sufficient vacuum from said vehicle tank is applied to said sensing valve during refueling; and
a regulator valve disposed in said vapor path and arranged in series with said sensing valve, said regulator valve being configured to regulate the level of vacuum applied by a vapor pump to said sensing valve, wherein said nozzle includes a main vapor valve which, when closed, generally blocks the flow of vapor through the associated portion of said vapor path and which, when opened, generally does not block the flow of vapor through the associated portion of the vapor path, and wherein said sensing valve and said regulator valve are both positioned upstream of said main vapor valve relative to the flow of vapor through said vapor path during vapor recovery.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A refueling system including a nozzle configured to dispense fuel through a fuel path thereof into a vehicle tank. The nozzle includes a vapor path configured such that vapor recovered from the vehicle tank during refueling is passable therethrough. The system further includes a sensing valve disposed in the vapor path, wherein the sensing valve is configured to generally block the associated part of the vapor path when a sufficient vacuum from the vehicle tank is applied to the sensing valve during refueling. The system also includes a regulator valve disposed in the vapor path and arranged in series with the sensing valve, the regulator valve being configured to regulate the level of vacuum applied by a vapor pump to the sensing valve.
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Citations
30 Claims
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1. A refueling system comprising:
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a nozzle configured to dispense fuel through a fuel path thereof into a vehicle tank, said nozzle including a vapor path configured such that vapor recovered from said vehicle tank during refueling is passable therethrough; a sensing valve disposed in said vapor path, wherein said sensing valve is configured to generally block the associated part of said vapor path when a sufficient vacuum from said vehicle tank is applied to said sensing valve during refueling; and a regulator valve disposed in said vapor path and arranged in series with said sensing valve, said regulator valve being configured to regulate the level of vacuum applied by a vapor pump to said sensing valve, wherein said nozzle includes a main vapor valve which, when closed, generally blocks the flow of vapor through the associated portion of said vapor path and which, when opened, generally does not block the flow of vapor through the associated portion of the vapor path, and wherein said sensing valve and said regulator valve are both positioned upstream of said main vapor valve relative to the flow of vapor through said vapor path during vapor recovery. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 22, 30)
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21. A refueling system comprising:
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a nozzle configured to dispense fuel and including a vapor recovery path; a sensing valve disposed in said vapor recovery path, wherein said sensing valve is configured to generally block the associated part of said vapor recovery path when a sufficient vacuum is applied to the sensing valve; and a regulator valve disposed in said vapor recovery path, said regulator valve being configured to regulate the level of vacuum applied by a vapor pump to said sensing valve to adjust the sensitivity of said sensing valve to an external vacuum applied to said sensing valve, wherein said nozzle includes a main vapor valve which, when closed, generally blocks the flow of vapor through the associated portion of said vapor path and which, when opened, generally does not block the flow of vapor through the associated portion of the vapor path, and wherein said sensing valve and said regulator valve are both positioned upstream of said main vapor valve relative to the flow of vapor through said vapor path during vapor recovery. - View Dependent Claims (24, 25, 26)
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23. A refueling system comprising:
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a nozzle configured to dispense fuel through a fuel path thereof into a vehicle tank, said nozzle including a vapor path configured such that vapor recovered from said vehicle tank during refueling is passable therethrough; a sensing valve disposed in said vapor path, wherein said sensing valve is configured to generally block the associated part of said vapor path when a sufficient vacuum from said vehicle tank is applied to said sensing valve during refueling; and a regulator valve disposed in said vapor path and arranged in series with said sensing valve, said regulator valve being configured to regulate the level of vacuum applied by a vapor pump to said sensing valve, wherein said system lacks any valves in said vapor path positioned between said sensing valve and said regulator valve which can block or restrict the flow of vapor through said vapor path such that said regulator valve is configured to directly regulate the level of vacuum applied by a vapor pump to said sensing valve.
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27. A method for dispensing fuel and operating a vapor recovery system comprising:
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providing a refueling system having a fuel path, a vapor path, a sensing valve disposed in said vapor path, and a regulator valve disposed in said vapor path and arranged in series with said sensing valve, wherein said system includes a main vapor valve which, when closed, generally blocks the flow of vapor through the associated portion of said vapor path and which, when opened, generally does not block the flow of vapor through the associated portion of the vapor path, and wherein said sensing valve and said regulator valve are both positioned upstream of said main vapor valve relative to the flow of vapor through said vapor path during vapor recovery; allowing fuel to flow through said fuel path into a vehicle tank; allowing a vacuum to be applied to said vapor path by a vapor recovery pump to aid in the recovery of vapor emitted by said vehicle tank during said first allowing step; closing said sensing valve in response to a vacuum generated in said vehicle tank such that said sensing valve generally blocks the associated part of said vapor path; and operating said regulator valve to regulate the vacuum applied to said sensing valve by said vapor recovery pump such that said sensing valve is movable to away from said closed position when the vacuum generated in the vehicle tank dissipates. - View Dependent Claims (28, 29)
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Specification