Tank assembly

• US 8,413,431 B2
• Filed: 06/02/2010
• Issued: 04/09/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 06/30/2009
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Eaton Intelligent Power Limited (Eaton Corporation PLC.)
• Original Assignee: Eaton Corp. (Wisconsin) (Eaton Corporation PLC.)
• Inventors: Erdmann, Matthew L., Massa, Gregory W., Mills, Vaughn K.
• Primary Examiner(s): Denion, Thomas
• Assistant Examiner(s): LEON JR, JORGE LUIS
• Application Number:
  US12/791,947
• Publication Number:
  US 20110005210A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,042 Days
• Field of Search: 602/86, 602/95, 603/01, 603/03
• US Class Current: 60/295
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 15/03519 Valve arrangements in the vent line
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 2015/03585 by gas pressure
• CPC Class Codes: F01N 2610/02 the substance being ammonia or urea
• CPC Class Codes: F01N 2610/1413 Inlet and filling arrangements therefore
• CPC Class Codes: F01N 2610/1466 Means for venting air out of conduits or tanks
• CPC Class Codes: F01N 3/2066 Selective catalytic reduction [SCR]
• CPC Class Codes: Y02A 50/20 Air quality improvement or preservation, e.g. vehicle emission control or emission reduction by using catalytic converters
• CPC Class Codes: Y02T 10/12 Improving ICE efficiencies

Abstract

A tank assembly (70) for storing a liquid reductant (74) includes a tank (78) defining a chamber (82), a filler tube (94) having an opening (102) and at least partially defining a fill passageway (98) from the opening (102) to the chamber (82), and a vent system (130). The vent system (130) includes a recirculation line (150) that provides fluid communication between the chamber (82) and the fill passageway (98). A float valve (174) in the recirculation line (150) prevents the conveyance of liquid (74) through the recirculation line (150).

Claims

1. A tank assembly for storing a liquid reductant, the tank assembly comprising:

a tank defining a chamber;

a filler tube having an opening and at least partially defining a first passageway from the opening to the chamber;

a vent system having a float valve and defining second, third, and fourth passageways;

said second passageway providing fluid communication from the chamber to the float valve;

said third passageway providing fluid communication from the float valve to the first passageway;

said float valve having a float member that is selectively movable between an open position in which fluid communication between the second and third passageways is unobstructed, and a closed position in which the float member obstructs fluid communication between the second and third passageways;

a pressure relief valve in fluid communication with the first passageway;

wherein the pressure relief valve is configured to prevent fluid communication between the first and fourth passageways when the pressure in the first passageway is below a predetermined amount and to permit fluid communication between the first and fourth passageways when the pressure in the first passageway exceeds the predetermined amount;

wherein gravity biases the float member in the open position; and

wherein the float member exhibits buoyancy in the liquid reductant such that the float member rises to the closed position in the presence of the liquid reductant.

2. The tank assembly of claim 1, wherein the first passageway and the opening are configured such that a nozzle is insertable into the first passageway via the opening;

and wherein the tank assembly further comprises a seal system inside the first passageway that is configured to sealingly engage the nozzle when the nozzle is inserted into the first passageway.

3. The tank assembly of claim 2, further comprising a one-way check valve that is configured to permit fluid flow from the first passageway to the chamber and to prevent fluid flow from the chamber to the first passageway.

4. The tank assembly of claim 1, further comprising a vent that is configured to permit the flow of gaseous fluid into and out of the chamber via the vent while preventing the flow of liquid fluid into and out of the chamber via the vent.

5. The tank assembly of claim 4, wherein the vent includes a membrane that is configured to permit the flow of gaseous fluid into and out of the chamber via the vent while preventing the flow of liquid fluid into and out of the chamber via the vent.

6. The tank assembly of claim 1, wherein the tank defines a hole;

and wherein the tank assembly further includes a preassembled module;

said preassembled module including a flange that is mounted with respect to the tank to obstruct the hole, and at least a portion of the vent system mounted with respect to the flange.

7. The tank assembly of claim 6, wherein the preassembled module further includes the filler tube.

8. The tank assembly of claim 1, wherein the pressure relief valve and the float valve are integrated into a common valve body.

9. The tank assembly of claim 8, wherein the valve body defines a first chamber, a second chamber, a third chamber, a first port that provides fluid communication between the first chamber and the second chamber, and a second port that provides fluid communication between the second chamber and the third chamber.

10. The tank assembly of claim 9, wherein the float member obstructs the first port in the closed position;

and wherein the pressure relief valve obstructs the second port when the pressure in the first passageway is below the predetermined amount.

11. The tank assembly of claim 10, wherein the third passageway is in fluid communication with the second chamber such that the first port provides fluid communication between the second passageway and the third passageway.

12. A powertrain comprising:

an engine defining a plurality of cylinders;

an exhaust system defining an exhaust passageway in selective fluid communication with the plurality of cylinders;

a selective catalytic reduction system including a catalyst that is in fluid communication with the exhaust passageway;

a tank defining a chamber for storing liquid reductant;

a conduit that provides fluid communication between the chamber and the exhaust passageway such that liquid reductant from the conduit can be injected into the exhaust passageway between the cylinders and the catalyst;

a filler tube having an opening and at least partially defining a first passageway from the opening to the chamber;

a vent system having a float valve and defining second, third, and fourth passageways;

said second passageway providing fluid communication from the chamber to the float valve;

said third passageway providing fluid communication from the float valve to the first passageway; and

said float valve having a float member that is selectively movable between an open position in which fluid communication between the second and third passageways is unobstructed and a closed position in which the float member obstructs fluid communication between the second and third passageways;

a pressure relief valve in fluid communication with the first passageway;

wherein the pressure relief valve is configured to prevent fluid communication between the first and fourth passageways when the pressure in the first passageway is below a predetermined amount, and to permit fluid communication between the first and fourth passageways when the pressure in the first passageway exceeds the predetermined amount;

wherein gravity biases the float member in the open position; and

wherein the float member exhibits buoyancy in the liquid reductant such that the float member rises to the closed position in the presence of the liquid reductant.

13. The powertrain of claim 12, wherein the first passageway and the opening are configured such that a nozzle is insertable into the first passageway via the opening;

and wherein the tank assembly further comprises a seal system inside the first passageway that is configured to sealingly engage the nozzle when the nozzle is inserted into the first passageway.

14. The powertrain of claim 13, further comprising a one-way check valve that is configured to permit fluid flow from the first passageway to the chamber and to prevent fluid flow from the chamber to the first passageway.

15. The powertrain of claim 12, further comprising a membrane vent that is configured to permit the flow of gaseous fluid into and out of the chamber via the vent while preventing the flow of liquid fluid into and out of the chamber via the vent.

16. The powertrain of claim 12, wherein the tank defines a hole;

and wherein the tank assembly further includes a preassembled module;

said preassembled module including a flange that is mounted with respect to the tank to obstruct the hole, and at least a portion of the vent system mounted with respect to the flange.

17. The powertrain of claim 16, wherein the preassembled module further includes the filler tube.

18. A tank assembly for storing a liquid reductant, the tank assembly comprising:

a tank defining a chamber;

a filler tube having an opening and at least partially defining a first passageway from the opening to the chamber;

a vent system having a float valve and defining second, third, and fourth passageways;

said second passageway providing fluid communication from the chamber to the float valve;

said third passageway providing fluid communication from the float valve to the first passageway;

said float valve having a float member that is selectively movable between an open position in which fluid communication between the second and third passageways is unobstructed, and a closed position in which the float member obstructs fluid communication between the second and third passageways; and

a pressure relief valve in fluid communication with the chamber;

wherein the pressure relief valve is configured to prevent fluid communication between the chamber and the fourth passageway when the pressure in the chamber is below a predetermined amount, and to permit fluid communication between the chamber and the fourth passageway when the pressure in the chamber exceeds the predetermined amount;

wherein the float valve permits the flow of gases from the second passageway to the third passageway, but does not permit the flow of liquid reductant from the second passageway to the third passageway.