ORVR valve assembly

• US 9,604,837 B2
• Filed: 01/07/2013
• Issued: 03/28/2017
• Est. Priority Date: 01/06/2012
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Husky Corporation
• Original Assignee: Husky Corporation
• Inventors: Brown, Robin J., Fink, Arthur C.
• Primary Examiner(s): MAUST, TIMOTHY LEWIS
• Assistant Examiner(s): Stclair, Andrew
• Application Number:
  US13/694,779
• Publication Number:
  US 20130180600A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,541 Days
• Field of Search: 141/46, 141/59, 141/287, 141/301, 141/302, 251/281, 251/282, 251/330, 251/331
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: B67D 7/0478 constructional features or components vapour recovery nozzles B67D7/54
• CPC Class Codes: B67D 7/048 Vapour flow control means, e.g. valves, pumps
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 137/3084 Discriminating outlet for gas

Abstract

An ORVR valve assembly operative of relatively few movable components includes a valve body, having conduits to provide for routine passage of vapors therethrough through operations of a vacuum assist system. This is when a non-ORVR vehicle is being replenished with fuel. But, when a vehicle equipped with ORVR vapor recovery is being fueled, vacuum is generated above a piston supported diaphragm, attracts the diaphragm upwardly, plugs off the vapor passage conduits, and allows the ORVR system of the automobile to exclusively treat the generated vapors at the location of the vehicle and its fuel tank. Simultaneously, air is vented into the valve body, below its diaphragm, and into the vapor return line of the vacuum assist system, to prevent it from being subject to excessive vacuuming. Thus, vapor recovery or treatment can be achieved through the use of the ORVR valve assembly of this invention, regardless whether the automobile being refueled is an ORVR equipped vehicle, or one that is not equipped with vapor recovery.

Claims

1. An ORVR valve assembly for use in connection with a fuel dispensing hose of a vehicle fueling system, said valve assembly provided for conveyance or curtailing the passage of generated vapors during refueling of a vehicle, said valve assembly allowing for passage of fuel vapors when the dispensing nozzle is used in connection with a vacuum assist system of fuel dispensing, and said valve assembly provided for curtailing the flow of vapors when the dispensing nozzle is used in conjunction with the fueling of a vehicle incorporating an ORVR system of fuel dispensing;

said valve assembly including a valve body, said valve body having a conduit provided longitudinally therethrough, a passage disposed transverse to the conduit of the valve body, a space provided at an upper end of said passage, and the passage at its lower end opening exteriorly of the said valve body, the conduit of the valve body having a vapor upstream side and a vapor downstream side for passage of the generated vapors therethrough;

a diaphragm assembly disposed within the space and secured to the valve body for movement within said space, a stem provided for extending through the passage, said stem having an upper flared portion connecting with the diaphragm assembly, and said flared portion having a seal for sealing against the valve body at the upper end of said passage,

a spring biasing against said flared portion of the stem and normally biasing said flared portion into closure against its seal, a plug provided at the lower end of the said stem, and normally biased downwardly within the passage to clear the conduit for flow of generated vapors therethrough when the nozzle is functioning in a vapor assist system for fuel dispensing, said plug always remaining within the passage of said valve body,

a closure provided at the bottom of the passage to provide a seal and to block off the passage and preventing any contaminants from entering therein;

a communicating passage provided through said valve body and extending from the vapor upstream side of the conduit and communicating with the space above said diaphragm assembly, such that when the dispensing nozzle is fueling a vehicle equipped with an ORVR installation, a vacuum is generated above the diaphragm assembly to raise the stem plug to close off the valve body conduit to prevent the passage of fuel vapors therethrough when the ORVR processes the generated fuel vapors within the vehicle during refueling;

at least one air entrance port provided above said upper end of said passage where the seal contacts the valve body, the at least one air entrance port allowing passage of ambient air into the valve assembly and entrance to the upstream side of the valve body conduit to deliver air to the operating vacuum assist of the fueling system during functioning of the vehicle ORVR installation for processing generated fuel vapors during refueling.

2. The ORVR valve assembly of claim 1, wherein said seal of the flared portion of the stem includes a check valve, normally disposed within the provided said space, and capable of closing off the venting of ambient air into the upstream side of the conduit when a non-ORVR equipped vehicle is being refueled, and the vacuum assist system of vapor recovery is in operation.

3. The ORVR valve assembly of claim 2 and wherein said plug capable of shifting downwardly through the bias of said spring against the diaphragm assembly and its associated stem, thereby opening the valve body conduit to allow passage of generated vapors during refueling to be returned by the vacuum assist system to the fuel storage tank when a non ORVR vehicle is being refueled.

4. The ORVR valve assembly of claim 3, wherein said closure is a freeze plug.