Device for aeration and ventilation of a fuel system

• US 9,303,598 B2
• Filed: 01/20/2011
• Issued: 04/05/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 01/20/2010
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Audi AG (Volkswagen AG)
• Original Assignee: Audi AG (Volkswagen AG)
• Inventors: Kalauch, Gerd
• Primary Examiner(s): CECIL, TERRY K
• Application Number:
  US13/010,214
• Publication Number:
  US 20110180466A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,902 Days
• Field of Search: None
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: B01D 46/0087 Bypass or safety valves
• CPC Class Codes: B01D 46/0089 Anti-return means
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 15/03519 Valve arrangements in the vent line
• CPC Class Codes: F02M 25/0836 Arrangement of valves controlling the admission of fuel vapour to an engine, e.g. valve being disposed between fuel tank or absorption canister and intake manifold
• CPC Class Codes: F02M 25/0854 Details of the absorption canister
• CPC Class Codes: F16K 17/19 Equalising valves predominantly for tanks when combined with safety valve by change of position F16K17/36

Abstract

The invention relates to a device for aeration and ventilation of a fuel system of a motor vehicle, with a pipe union for connecting the device to the fuel system, the pipe union being connected via a connecting element to a three-way valve via which the pipe union can be fluid-connected alternately to an air inlet opening or an air outlet opening of the device. Furthermore, there is a filter element which is located in the flow path between the air inlet opening and the three-way valve. The filter element, the three-way valve, and the connecting element are accommodated in a common housing. An especially compact and space-saving device is devised by the integration of the three-way valve, connecting element, and filter element into one unit.

Claims

1. A device for aeration and ventilation of a fuel system of a motor vehicle, comprising:

a housing;

a first means disposed in said housing defining a first fluid flow path having a first exterior port relevant to said housing communicable with said fuel system and a second exterior port relevant to said housing communicable with the atmosphere;

a first valve disposed in said first fluid flow path, biased closed and functional to open upon flow of fluid from said first exterior port to said second exterior port of said first fluid flow path;

a second means disposed in said housing defining a second fluid flow path having a third exterior port relevant to said housing communicable with the atmosphere and a second port communicating with said first fluid flow path between said first exterior port of said first fluid flow path and said first valve; and

a second valve disposed in said second fluid flow path between said third exterior port and said first flow path, between said first exterior port and said first valve, biased closed and functional to open upon flow of fluid from said third exterior port of said second fluid flow path to said first exterior port of said first fluid flow path.

2. The device of claim 1 wherein said valves comprise flapper valves.

3. The device of claim 1 including a filter disposed in said second fluid flow path between said third exterior port thereof and said second valve.

4. The device of claim 1 wherein said first valve in said first flow path is functional to open responsive to a first pressure differential between said fuel system and said atmosphere, and said second valve in said second flow path is functional to open responsive to a second pressure differential between said fuel system and said atmosphere.

5. The device of claim 4 wherein said first pressure differential provides for purging said fuel system and said second pressure differential provides for ventilating fuel vapors from said fuel system.