Fuel tank pressure control valve
First Claim
1. A valve structure comprising:
- a housing including a first fluid communication passage between a first port and a second port; and
a valve movable with respect to the housing between a first configuration, a second configuration, and an intermediate configuration between the first and second configurations, the first configuration permitting substantially unrestricted fluid flow between the first and second ports, the second configuration substantially preventing fluid flow between the first and second ports, and the intermediate configuration providing restricted fluid flow between the first and second ports, the valve including;
a first valve element including a second fluid communication passage providing the restricted fluid flow between the first and second ports; and
a second valve element positionable between first and second locations with respect to the first valve element, the first location of the second valve element substantially permitting the restricted fluid flow through the second fluid communication passage, and the second location of the second valve substantially preventing the restricted fluid flow through the second fluid communication passage.
1 Assignment
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A valve structure that comprises a housing and a valve. The housing includes a first fluid communication passage between a first port and a second port. The valve is movable with respect to the housing between a first configuration, a second configuration, and an intermediate configuration between the first and second configurations. The first configuration permits substantially unrestricted fluid flow between the first and second ports. The second configuration substantially prevents fluid flow between the first and second ports. And the intermediate configuration provides restricted fluid flow between the first and second ports. The valve includes a first valve element and a second valve element. The first valve element includes a second fluid communication passage providing the restricted fluid flow between the first and second ports. The second valve element is positionable in first and second positions with respect to the first valve element. The first position of the second valve element substantially permits the restricted fluid flow through the second fluid communication passage. And the second location of the second valve substantially prevents the restricted fluid flow through the second fluid communication passage.
6 Citations
16 Claims
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1. A valve structure comprising:
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a housing including a first fluid communication passage between a first port and a second port; and
a valve movable with respect to the housing between a first configuration, a second configuration, and an intermediate configuration between the first and second configurations, the first configuration permitting substantially unrestricted fluid flow between the first and second ports, the second configuration substantially preventing fluid flow between the first and second ports, and the intermediate configuration providing restricted fluid flow between the first and second ports, the valve including;
a first valve element including a second fluid communication passage providing the restricted fluid flow between the first and second ports; and
a second valve element positionable between first and second locations with respect to the first valve element, the first location of the second valve element substantially permitting the restricted fluid flow through the second fluid communication passage, and the second location of the second valve substantially preventing the restricted fluid flow through the second fluid communication passage. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 14, 15, 16)
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13. A valve for controlling fuel vapor pressure in a fuel tank, the valve comprising:
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a housing including an inlet port and an outlet port;
an electromagnetic actuator including a stator and an armature, the stator being fixed with respect to the housing, and the armature being displacable along an axis with respect to the stator;
a first body being fixed to the armature and being displacable along the axis with respect to the housing, the first body including;
a conduit extending along the axis between first and second ends, the conduit having an interior volume in fluid communication with the inlet port via the first end, a projection extending radially outward from the first end, an end cap occluding the second end and projecting radially outward from the conduit, and at least one radial aperture penetrating the conduit, the at least one radial aperture being located proximate the second end relative to the first end;
a second body being displacable along the axis with respect to the housing and being telescopically disposed with respect to the first body, the second body including;
a tube being displacable with respect to the conduit between the end cap and the projection, and a flange extending radially outward from the tube, the flange being located proximate the first end of the conduit relative to the second end of the conduit;
a first resilient element extending between the end cap and the flange, the first resilient element biasing the second body toward the first end of the conduit; and
a second resilient element extending between the first body and the housing, the second resilient element opposing an actuating force of the electromagnetic actuator;
whereby there are a plurality of configurations of the first and second bodies with respect to the housing, the plurality of configurations including;
a first configuration permitting substantially unrestricted fuel vapor flow from the inlet port to the outlet port, the first configuration including the flange being spaced from the housing such that fluid communication is permitted between the inlet and outlet ports via a gap between the flange and the housing, and including the second body being the displaced toward the first end of the conduit such that fluid communication is permitted between the inlet and outlet ports via a combination of the first end of the conduit, the interior volume of the conduit, and the at least one aperture penetrating the conduit;
a second configuration substantially preventing fuel vapor flow from the inlet port to the outlet port, the second configuration including the flange engaging the housing such that the gap is closed, and including the second body being positioned toward the second end of the conduit such that the tube occludes the at least one aperture; and
a third configuration providing restricted fuel vapor flow from the inlet port to the outlet port, the third configuration including the flange engaging the housing such that the gap is closed, and including the second body being the position away from the first end of the conduit such that fluid communication is permitted between the inlet and outlet ports via that combination of the first end of the conduit, the interior volume of the conduit, and the at least one aperture penetrating the conduit.
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Specification