Isolation valve with fast depressurization for high-pressure fuel tank

• US 9,500,291 B2
• Filed: 02/02/2015
• Issued: 11/22/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 03/30/2010
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Eaton Intelligent Power Limited (Eaton Corporation PLC.)
• Original Assignee: Eaton Corp. (Wisconsin) (Eaton Corporation PLC.)
• Inventors: Pifer, Daniel Lee, McLauchlan, Raymond Bruce
• Primary Examiner(s): Chaudry, Atif
• Application Number:
  US14/611,637
• Publication Number:
  US 20150144819A1
• Time in Patent Office: 659 Days
• Field of Search: 137/599.11, 137/599.18, 137/630.19, 137/630.22
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 15/03519 Valve arrangements in the vent line
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 2015/03302 Electromagnetic valves
• CPC Class Codes: F02D 41/004 Control of the valve or purge actuator, e.g. duty cycle, closed loop control of position
• CPC Class Codes: F02M 2025/0845 Electromagnetic valves
• 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 1/44 Details of seats or valve members of double-seat valves
• CPC Class Codes: F16K 17/04 spring-loaded
• CPC Class Codes: F16K 17/0413 in the form of closure plates
• CPC Class Codes: F16K 24/04 for venting only F16K24/02 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: F16K 31/0655 Lift valves
• CPC Class Codes: F16K 31/0658 Armature and valve member being one single element
• CPC Class Codes: F16K 31/0696 Shock absorbing, e.g. using a dash-pot
• CPC Class Codes: F16K 39/024 using an auxiliary valve on the main valve
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 137/7761 Electrically actuated valve
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 137/87016 Lost motion
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 137/8704 First valve actuates second valve
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 137/87338 Flow passage with bypass
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 137/87394 Carried valve is direct response valve [e.g., check valve, etc.]

Abstract

An isolation valve may include a flow restrictor disposed in a passage having non-parallel sides, the flow restrictor having an orifice. A flow restrictor spring may apply a biasing force on the flow restrictor to bias the flow restrictor to an open position. A solenoid assembly may include having a coil and an armature that may be moveable between (i) an extended position that overcomes the biasing force of the restrictor spring to move the flow restrictor to a closed position and to close the second orifice, and (ii) a retracted position to open the orifice. If the coil is energized, the armature may move to the retracted position to allow vapor to flow through the orifice at least until the biasing force of the flow restrictor spring overcomes a vapor pressure. The open position of the flow restrictor may allow vapor to flow through a space between the flow restrictor and the passage.

Claims

1. An isolation valve, comprising:

a flow restrictor disposed in a passage having non-parallel sides, the flow restrictor having an orifice;

a flow restrictor spring that applies a biasing force on the flow restrictor to bias the flow restrictor to an open position; and

a solenoid assembly, including;

a coil; and

an armature that is moveable between (i) an extended position that overcomes the biasing force of the restrictor spring to move the flow restrictor to a closed position and to close the second orifice, and (ii) a retracted position to open the orifice,

wherein when the coil is energized, the armature moves to the retracted position to allow vapor to flow through the orifice at least until the biasing force of the flow restrictor spring overcomes a vapor pressure; and

, the open position of the flow restrictor allows vapor to flow through a space between the flow restrictor and the passage;

wherein a first side of the non-parallel sides includes a step.

2. The isolation valve of claim 1, wherein a first side of the non-parallel sides is tapered.

3. The isolation valve of claim 2, wherein a second side of the non-parallel sides is tapered.

4. The isolation valve of claim 1, wherein the flow restrictor includes a piston movable between (i) an open position in which the flow restrictor allows vapor flow in a space between the flow restrictor and the passage, and (ii) a closed position in which the flow restrictor prevents vapor flow between the flow restrictor and the passage.

5. The isolation valve of claim 4, wherein the piston includes a cylindrically-shaped body with a radially extending flange.

6. The isolation valve of claim 4, wherein the flow restrictor includes a compliant seal disposed between the passage and the piston;

and, the compliant seal defines a minimum diameter of the orifice.

7. The isolation valve of claim 1, further comprising an isolation valve body having a recess, wherein the flow restrictor spring engages a radially extending flange and the recess to bias a piston toward the open position.

8. An isolation valve, comprising:

a flow restrictor disposed in a passage having non-parallel sides, the flow restrictor having an orifice;

a flow restrictor spring that applies a biasing force on the flow restrictor to bias the flow restrictor to an open position; and

a solenoid assembly, including;

a coil; and

an armature that is moveable between (i) an extended position that overcomes the biasing force of the restrictor spring to move the flow restrictor to a closed position and to close the second orifice, and (ii) a retracted position to open the orifice,

wherein when the coil is energized, the armature moves to the retracted position to allow vapor to flow through the orifice at least until the biasing force of the flow restrictor spring overcomes a vapor pressure; and

, the open position of the flow restrictor allows vapor to flow through a space between the flow restrictor and the passage;

wherein a first side of the non-parallel sides includes a plurality of steps.

9. The isolation valve of claim 8, wherein the flow restrictor includes a piston movable between (i) an open position in which the flow restrictor allows vapor flow in a space between the flow restrictor and the passage, and (ii) a closed position in which the flow restrictor prevents vapor flow between the flow restrictor and the passage.

10. The isolation valve of claim 9, wherein the flow restrictor includes a compliant seal disposed between the passage and the piston;

and, the compliant seal defines a minimum diameter of the orifice.

11. The isolation valve of claim 9, wherein the piston includes a cylindrically-shaped body with a radially extending flange.

12. The isolation valve of claim 8, further comprising an isolation valve body having a recess, wherein the flow restrictor spring engages a radially extending flange and the recess to bias a piston toward the open position.

13. The isolation valve of claim 8, wherein a first side of the non-parallel sides is tapered.

14. The isolation valve of claim 13, wherein a second side of the non-parallel sides is tapered.

15. An isolation valve, comprising:

a body including a passage having non-parallel sides;

a flow restrictor disposed in the passage, the flow restrictor including;

an orifice;

an open position in which the flow restrictor allows vapor flow in a space between the flow restrictor and the passage; and

a closed position in which the flow restrictor prevents vapor flow between the flow restrictor and the passage; and

an armature movable between (i) an extended position in which the armature prevents vapor flow through the orifice, and (ii) a retracted position, in which the armature allows vapor flow through the orifice;

wherein the non-parallel sides include a stepped side having at least two steps.

16. The isolation valve of claim 15, further comprising:

a flow restrictor spring that applies a biasing force on the flow restrictor to bias the flow restrictor toward the open position; and

a solenoid valve assembly including a coil, a solenoid spring, and the armature.

17. The isolation valve of claim 16, wherein the armature is configured to move to the extended position via a biasing force provided by at least one of the solenoid spring and a vapor pressure;

and, movement of the armature to the extended position causes the flow restrictor to move toward the closed position and closes the orifice.

18. The isolation valve of claim 17, wherein when the coil is energized, the armature moves to the retracted position to allow vapor to flow through the orifice at least until the biasing force of the flow restrictor spring overcomes the vapor pressure.

19. The isolation valve of claim 15, wherein the non-parallel sides include a sloped side.

20. The isolation valve of claim 15, wherein the non-parallel sides include a funnel shape.

21. A method of operating an isolation valve, the method comprising:

providing an isolation valve body including a passage having non-parallel sides;

providing an flow restrictor in the passage, the flow restrictor including;

an orifice; and

a piston movable between (i) an open position in which the flow restrictor allows vapor flow in a space between the flow restrictor and the passage, and (ii) a closed position in which the flow restrictor prevents vapor flow between the flow restrictor and the passage; and

providing an armature movable between (i) an extended position in which the armature prevents vapor flow through the orifice, and (ii) a retracted position, in which the armature allows vapor flow through the orifice;

moving the armature to the retracted position to allow vapor to flow through the orifice;

reducing a vapor pressure via vapor flowing through the orifice; and

moving the piston gradually from the closed position toward the open position;

wherein the configuration of the non-parallel sides includes the passage including at least three steps.

22. The method of claim 21, wherein the gradual moving of the piston is accomplished according to a configuration of the non-parallel sides.

23. The method of claim 22, wherein the configuration of the non-parallel sides includes one or more of (i) the passage being funnel-shaped, (ii) the passage including a sloped side, (iii) the passage including a stepped side.