Fluid handling – Control by change of position or inertia of system – Vent opening or closing on tipping container
Reexamination Certificate
2000-03-23
2001-08-21
Chambers, A. Michael (Department: 3753)
Fluid handling
Control by change of position or inertia of system
Vent opening or closing on tipping container
C137S202000, C137S587000, C123S516000, C123S519000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06276387
ABSTRACT:
TECHNICAL FIELD
This invention relates to a fuel vapor control apparatus on a motor vehicle.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
A motor vehicle typically includes a fuel vapor control apparatus which exposes a vapor dome in a fuel tank of the vehicle to the atmosphere without releasing fuel vapor. The fuel vapor control apparatus commonly includes a vapor storage canister, a vent valve exposed to a vapor dome above a pool of liquid fuel in the fuel tank, and a vapor duct between the vent valve and the storage canister. A mixture of air and fuel vapor migrates from the vapor dome to the storage canister where an adsorbent, e.g. carbon granules, strips the fuel vapor from the mixture so that only uncontaminated air exhausts from the canister to the atmosphere. The fuel vapor is retained on the adsorbent until the canister is later purged by combustion air. In order to maintain exposure of the vapor dome to the atmosphere when the motor vehicle is parked on an incline, e.g. on a parking deck ramp or on a hill, it is known to mount a plurality of vent valves on the top of the fuel tank at locations which assure that at least one of the vent valves always communicates with the vapor dome even though others may be submerged in liquid fuel. Because the performance of adsorbents degrades when contaminated by liquid fuel, vent valves in fuel vapor control apparatuses are typically constructed to automatically close when submerged in liquid fuel Even when a vent valve is closed, however, there is a risk of leakage of liquid fuel through the vent valve if the motor vehicle remains parked on the incline for an extended period. Accordingly, the industry continues to seek improved fuel vapor control apparatuses which minimize the likelihood of adsorbent contamination by liquid fuel leaking through vent valves submerged in liquid fuel.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
This invention is a new and improved fuel vapor control apparatus for suppressing release to the atmosphere of fuel vapor from a vapor dome in a fuel tank of a motor vehicle including a vapor storage canister, a plurality of vent valves on the fuel tank, a plurality of vapor ducts between the vent valves and the vapor storage canister, a plurality of primary liquid traps, and a secondary liquid trap which cooperates with the primary liquid traps in preventing liquid fuel leaking through the vent valves from reaching and contaminating the vapor storage canister. The primary liquid traps are segments of respective ones of the vapor ducts defining standpipes above corresponding ones of the vent valves when the fuel tank is inclined. The primary liquid traps retain liquid fuel leaking through the vent valves and drain by gravity to the fuel tank when the incline of the fuel tank is reduced to zero. The secondary liquid trap is a secondary tank on the top of the fuel tank interposed between the vapor storage canister and the segments of the vapor ducts defining the standpipes. The secondary tank retains liquid fuel which overflows any one of the standpipes and drains by gravity to the fuel tank through at least one of the vapor ducts when the incline of the fuel tank is reduced to zero.
REFERENCES:
patent: 5392804 (1995-02-01), Kondo et al.
patent: 5462100 (1995-10-01), Covert et al.
patent: 5687778 (1997-11-01), Harris
patent: 5813434 (1998-09-01), Horiuchi et al.
patent: 5860458 (1999-01-01), Benjey et al.
Beutler Edward A.
Pachciarz Mahlon Richard
Chambers A. Michael
Cichosz Vincent A.
Delphi Technologies Inc.
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