초록 ▼

A fill tube (12) leading into a fuel tank (10) is provided with a normally closed closure door (20) and a fill nozzle seal (24, 26, 30) spaced outwardly of the closure door (20). When liquid fuel is to be added to the fuel tank (10) a fill nozzle (32) is inserted through the fill nozzle seal (24, 26

A fill tube (12) leading into a fuel tank (10) is provided with a normally closed closure door (20) and a fill nozzle seal (24, 26, 30) spaced outwardly of the closure door (20). When liquid fuel is to be added to the fuel tank (10) a fill nozzle (32) is inserted through the fill nozzle seal (24, 26, 30). A seal element (30) engages the outside diameter of the fill nozzle (32) and seals against vapor leakage between the seal element (30) and the fill nozzle (32). Further insertion of the fill nozzle (32) into the fill tube (12) moves the end of the fill nozzle (32) against the closure door (20) opening the closure door (20). When this happens, fuel vapor within the fuel tank (10) flows through an opening (18) that is normally closed by the closure door (20), to and through an outlet (36) leading from a chamber (34) that is between the fill nozzle seal (24, 26, 30) and the closure door (20). The vapor flows from the chamber (34) into and through a vapor recovery passageway which leads to a vapor storage device (38). Liquid fuel being introduced into the fuel tank (10) displaces vapor from the fuel tank (10) through the vapor recovery passageway to the vapor storage device (38).

대표청구항 ▼

A refueling vapor recovery system comprising: a liquid fuel tank including a fill tube into which a liquid fuel nozzle is inserted for introduction of liquid fuel into said fuel tank; said fill tube having an outer end and defining a first opening spaced inwardly of said end; a removable closure cap

A refueling vapor recovery system comprising: a liquid fuel tank including a fill tube into which a liquid fuel nozzle is inserted for introduction of liquid fuel into said fuel tank; said fill tube having an outer end and defining a first opening spaced inwardly of said end; a removable closure cap for the fill tube; a closure door within the fill tube movable inwardly from a closed position in which it closes said first opening, to an open position; means normally biasing the closure door into its closed position, said door being positioned to be contacted by the fuel nozzle when the fuel nozzle is inserted into the fill tube, and moved by said fuel nozzle into its open position; a fuel nozzle seal in said fill tube positioned between said first opening and said closure cap; said seal including a second opening through which the fuel nozzle is inserted, and sealing means surrounding said second opening for engaging the fuel nozzle and sealing between said sealing means and the fuel nozzle; and said first opening being dimensioned to receive said fuel nozzle and to be substantially larger than the outside diameter of the fuel nozzle, so that a gap is defined around the fuel nozzle when it is inserted through said first opening; a vapor storage means; and a vapor recovery passageway extending from a location within the fill tube, between said first opening and the fuel nozzle seal, to the vapor storage means; wherein said closure door prevents flow of vapor out from the fuel tank through the fill tube to the vapor recovery passageway when the closure door is closed; wherein an insertion of a fuel nozzle through the fuel nozzle seal and against the closure door, following a removal of the closure cap, will open the closure door and allow vapor to flow out from the fuel tank through the fill tube, through said gap to said location, and to and through the vapor recovery passageway to the vapor storage means, and at the same time the engagement of the fuel nozzle within the fuel nozzle seal will prevent flow of vapor out from the fill tube into the atmosphere; and wherein liquid fuel being introduced into the fuel tank will displace vapor out from the fuel tank through the vapor recovery passageway to the vapor storage means.