Fluent material handling – with receiver or receiver coacting mea – Evacuation apparatus
Reexamination Certificate
2001-06-14
2002-10-15
Douglas, Steven O. (Department: 3751)
Fluent material handling, with receiver or receiver coacting mea
Evacuation apparatus
C141S301000, C141S198000, C137S587000, C123S519000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06463965
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field of the Invention
The present invention is directed to an arrangement, particularly in a vehicle, for storing liquid fuel, with a fuel tank having a fuel tank inlet and a fuel tank outlet. The invention is further directed to a method for operating a fuel tank.
2. Description of the Related Art
Fuel tanks of the type mentioned above have already been known for a long time and are used, for example, to store fuels in vehicles of all types.
Particularly when filling such fuel tanks with fuel, e.g., gasoline or the like, high fuel permeation rates and a high degree of evaporation loss of fuel can occur. In particular, the evaporation products are sometimes very harmful.
Due to increasingly strict legal requirements, there is a need to provide tank systems in which fuel emissions can be reduced to a minimum. Up to the present, complicated aeration and ventilation techniques and elaborate sealing systems have been used in such cases. Such techniques include, for instance, active charcoal filters. However, active charcoal filters require a series of connections and aeration lines, which involves high expenditure on construction and correspondingly increased costs. Further, because of the relatively high number of required connections and connection pieces, the risk of possible fuel leakage is also increased. Moreover, since the fuel tanks generally have a complicated geometric contour, a series of fuel pumps is needed in order to transport the fuel located in the fuel tank to the outlet of the fuel tank. However, the pumps consume energy and lead to a complicated construction of the fuel tank.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The invention provides for storing fuels in such a way that the disadvantages mentioned above are prevented. In particular, an arrangement is provided in which fuel can be stored in a simple and economical manner without resulting in fuel emissions. Moreover, an effective delivery of fuel is made possible. Further, a correspondingly improved method for operating a fuel tank is provided.
Based on the prior art mentioned above, it is the object of the present invention to further develop an arrangement of the type described above for storing fuels in such a way that the disadvantages mentioned above are prevented. In particular, an arrangement is to be provided for storing fuel in which fuel can be stored in a simple and economical manner without resulting in fuel emissions. Moreover, an effective delivery of fuel should also be made possible. Further, a correspondingly improved method for operating a fuel tank should also be provided.
This object is met according to the first aspect of the invention by an arrangement, particularly in a vehicle, for storing fuel, with a fuel tank having a fuel tank inlet and a fuel tank outlet, a pressure vessel for storing gases and a delivery arrangement, especially a pump. The delivery side or pressure side of the delivery arrangement is connected with the pressure vessel and the suction side of the delivery arrangement is connected with the fuel tank. The pump and the pressure vessel for storing gases are associated with the arrangement with the fuel tank and are not, for instance, a component part of the fueling system used for introducing the fuel into the tank.
The basic idea of the present invention is to solve the set of problems involving ventilation and aeration by conveying the gas (vapors) in the fuel tank by means of a delivery device to a separate pressure vessel before the start of the fueling process and during the fueling process. In this way, a pressure prevailing in the fuel tank is reduced. The pressure vessel can—but need not exclusively—be rated at 60 bar, for example.
The invention is not limited to particular delivery devices, so that different solutions are possible. However, it is advantageous to use a pump. The pump regulates the internal gas pressure in the pressure vessel, so that a balancing of the fuel tank with the outside pressure is carried out in order to make it possible to fill the fuel tank with fuel. When the pressure occurring in the fuel tank during operation is about 4 bar, the pressure in the fuel tank can be reduced from 4 bar to atmospheric pressure by the pump. By pumping out the vapor located in the fuel tank, this vapor cannot exit from the fuel tank during the subsequent fueling process. Further, the pump also continues to operate during the fueling process. In this way, a vacuum pressure is built up in the fuel tank, so that it is ensured that no fuel vapors can escape during the fueling process.
The pump is advantageously a high-performance pump. The pumping capacity of the pump can be optionally selected depending on requirements. It is important only that the pumping capacity of the pump is adapted to the maximum fueling rate.
The fuel tank can have any desired shape. Since the arrangement is preferably used as a pressure-type tank system for storing fuels, the fuel tank can be advantageously produced in a pressure-tight manner in an all-plastic composite construction. Fuel tanks of this kind can withstand operating pressures of 4 bar and greater, for example.
The fuel tank can be constructed as a single-chamber or multiple-chamber tank. The removal of fuel via the fuel tank outlet is generally carried out at the lowest point. In a multiple-chamber tank or with complicated fuel tank shapes, the fuel transport reaches the lowest point of the system, for example, via communicating tubes. These tubes should be integrated in the fuel tank in order to keep the fuel permeation rates low. However, flexible communicating tubes which are not injected into the fuel tank but which, as flexible tubes, enable level compensation are also possible.
In principle, the invention is not limited to determined fuel types. Accordingly, any liquid fuel can be used. Two examples of suitable fuels are gasoline and methanol.
Within the framework of introducing methanol as a fuel for fuel cell vehicles, the arrangement according to the invention offers a completely novel tank concept. Any environmental incompatibility or hazards due to methanol can be eliminated since the arrangement according to the invention is constructed as a closed system. Introduction of methanol and the possibility of reducing fuel emissions considerably in conventional arrangements for storing fuel are two special advantages of the arrangement according to the invention.
Further, substantial advantages are achieved by the arrangement according to the invention with respect to design and cost. For example, the active charcoal filters that were previously necessary can be dispensed with and their elaborate ventilation and aeration technology, including the valves needed for this purpose, can also be done away with. Exchange of air with the atmosphere does not take place in the arrangement according to the invention. Moreover, a series of connection pieces which also always represent potential leaks are also eliminated; as a result, the fuel evaporation rate is also minimized.
The arrangement according to the invention can be advantageously used in vehicles, for example, land vehicles, water vehicles and air vehicles. The invention is not limited to determined types of vehicle. However, the invention is advantageously used in land vehicles such as automobiles or the like.
A first pressure regulator which is connected with the pressure vessel and with the fuel tank is preferably provided. The fuel delivery from the fuel tank is carried out via a second pressure regulator of this type. For this purpose, the fuel vapor located in the pressure vessel is introduced into the fuel tank after the latter is filled with fuel. Accordingly, pressure which is greater than the system pressure of the engine, for example, is applied to the fuel tank from the pressure vessel via the first pressure regulator. The fuel can be conveyed to the fuel tank outlet and, from there, delivered to the engine in a very simple manner by means of the pressure in the fuel tank.
When using a fuel tank such as that described above, the f
Eck Karl
Klos Holger
Rasche Christian
Rumpf Bernd
Wiemann Bernd
Cohen & Pontani, Lieberman & Pavane
Douglas Steven O.
Siemens AG
LandOfFree
Arrangement for storing fuel and method for operating a fuel... does not yet have a rating. At this time, there are no reviews or comments for this patent.
If you have personal experience with Arrangement for storing fuel and method for operating a fuel..., we encourage you to share that experience with our LandOfFree.com community. Your opinion is very important and Arrangement for storing fuel and method for operating a fuel... will most certainly appreciate the feedback.
Profile ID: LFUS-PAI-O-2924372