Fluent material handling – with receiver or receiver coacting mea – Diverse fluid containing pressure filling systems involving... – Filling with exhausting the receiver
Reexamination Certificate
1999-12-20
2001-04-10
Maust, Timothy L. (Department: 3751)
Fluent material handling, with receiver or receiver coacting mea
Diverse fluid containing pressure filling systems involving...
Filling with exhausting the receiver
C141S044000, C141S047000, C141S050000, C141S059000, C141S065000, C141S066000, C141S197000, C137S588000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06213170
ABSTRACT:
TECHNICAL FIELD
The present invention relates generally to fuel tanks for vehicles and, more particularly, to a valveless fuel tank assembly for a vehicle.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
It is known to provide a fuel tank in a vehicle to hold fuel to be used by an engine of the vehicle. It is also known to provide a vapor recovery and storage system for the fuel tank of the vehicle. Typically, the vapor recovery and storage system includes a vapor canister remotely mounted such as in an engine compartment of the vehicle and operatively connected by separate external valves and lines to the fuel tank. The fuel tank is maintained near atmospheric temperature by venting it through the carbon canister.
If liquid fuel gets into the canister, some of the canister's ability to trap hydrocarbons is lost. Presently, liquid fuel is kept out of the canister and in the fuel tank by a combination of valves, torturous paths and gravity. Typically, floated rollover valves and a relatively expensive refueling vent valve (FLVV) are used to keep liquid fuel out of the canister while driving and during rollovers. However, this is only partially successful since some liquid still gets through to the canister. One approach is to put the canister lower, and even in the fuel tank, severely limiting the use of gravity to keep liquid out of the canister. Also, the use of valves is relatively complex and costly.
Therefore, it is desirable to eliminate relatively complex and costly valves for a fuel tank. It is also desirable to provide a valveless fuel tank vapor venting and/or vapor recovery fill level control. It is further desirable to provide a valveless fuel tank assembly that is relatively simple and lower in cost.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
It is, therefore, one object of the present invention to provide a valveless fuel tank assembly for a vehicle.
It is another object of the present invention to provide a valveless fuel tank assembly for a vehicle that keeps liquid fuel from getting into an evaporative emission or vapor canister.
It is yet another object of the present invention to provide a valveless fuel tank assembly for a vehicle that replaces the valves such as the refueling vent valve that keep liquid fuel from entering the vapor canister.
To achieve the foregoing objects, the present invention is a valveless fuel tank assembly for a vehicle including a fuel tank having an interior chamber to hold fuel therein. The valveless fuel tank assembly also includes a vapor canister to adsorb fuel vapor, which may be in the fuel tank. The valveless fuel tank assembly includes a fill-limit tube connected to the fuel tank and communicating with the interior chamber and a tank vent tube connected to the vapor canister and operatively connected to the fill-limit tube. The valveless fuel tank assembly further includes an oleophobic filter connected to at least one of the fill-limit tube and the tank vent tube to allow vapor fuel to communicate with the vapor canister and to prevent liquid fuel from communicating with the vapor canister.
One advantage of the present invention is that a valveless fuel tank assembly is provided for a vehicle. Another advantage of the present invention is that the valveless fuel tank assembly has an oleophobic material that replaces vent valves in a fuel system of the vehicle. Yet another advantage of the present invention is that the valveless fuel tank assembly incorporates a relatively simple oleophobic fabric barrier that allows vapor to pass but not hydrocarbon based liquids. Still another advantage of the present invention is that the valveless fuel tank assembly is relatively simple and less costly than rollover valves currently used. A further advantage of the present invention is that the valveless fuel tank assembly is also lighter and more effective at keeping liquid fuel out of the vapor canister under severe driving conditions. Yet a further advantage of the present invention is that the valveless fuel tank assembly has an oleophobic fabric barrier with a sufficiently small pore size that prevents liquid fuel from passing therethrough but allows vapor to pass therethrough. Still a further advantage of the present invention is that the valveless fuel tank allows the refueling vent valve (FLVV) to be replaced with a simple fill-limit tube, protected with the oleophobic barrier.
Other objects, features and advantages of the present invention will be readily appreciated, as the same becomes better understood, after reading the subsequent description taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings.
REFERENCES:
patent: 4751940 (1988-06-01), Bergsma et al.
patent: 5680848 (1997-10-01), Katoh et al.
patent: 2327460 (1999-01-01), None
Burke David Howard
Pachciarz Mahlon Richard
Cichosz Vincent A.
Delphi Technologies Inc.
Maust Timothy L.
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