초록 ▼

An apparatus for introducing fuel having a volatile hydrocarbon component into an on-board fuel storage tank of an automotive vehicle with reduced discharge of fuel vapors into the surrounding atmosphere, the apparatus including a fuel filler cap having at least one centrally positioned aperture ext

An apparatus for introducing fuel having a volatile hydrocarbon component into an on-board fuel storage tank of an automotive vehicle with reduced discharge of fuel vapors into the surrounding atmosphere, the apparatus including a fuel filler cap having at least one centrally positioned aperture extending therethrough through which a suitably configured fuel directing nozzle can pass. The fuel directing nozzle includes a vapor conveying line located in the interior of the nozzle capable of being brought into fluid communication with a vapor collection chamber located in the fuel filler cap such that, when engaged, a circuit is completed, fuel can be introduced into the on-board fuel storage tank of the automotive vehicle and any fuel vapors generated or displaced during the operation can be returned to the remote storage site or another suitable vapor collection facility remote from the automotive vehicle without contacting the surrounding environment.

대표청구항 ▼

An apparatus for introducing volatile fuel into an on-board fuel storage tank of an automotive vehicle, and said apparatus adapting to a conventional automotive vehicle having a fuel filler line, a threaded region along said fuel filler line, and a fuel receiving opening in fluid communication with

An apparatus for introducing volatile fuel into an on-board fuel storage tank of an automotive vehicle, and said apparatus adapting to a conventional automotive vehicle having a fuel filler line, a threaded region along said fuel filler line, and a fuel receiving opening in fluid communication with the on-board fuel storage tank, the volatile fuel introduction occurring with reduced discharge of fuel vapors into the surrounding atmosphere, the apparatus comprising: means for receiving fuel into the on-board storage tank of the automotive vehicle, the fuel receiving means including a fuel filler cap releasably and sealingly engageable in the fuel receiving opening of the automotive vehicle, the cap having an essentially flat planar surface member oriented in a plane perpendicular to a longitudinal axis of the automotive vehicle fuel filler line when the cap is in sealing engagement therewith, the flat planar surface of the fuel filler cap having an inner face engageable with the inlet in the fuel filler line of the automotive vehicle, an opposed upper face, and a central aperture extending therethrough; at least one first sealing flange located on the inside diameter of the fuel filler cap defining the central aperture and providing deformable sealing contact between the inside diameter of the fuel filler cap and a fuel filler nozzle device so that upon the insertion of the fuel filler nozzle device into the central aperture, fuel vapors and liquid fuel are prohibited from escaping into the surrounding atmosphere; and means for dispensing fuel from a fuel storage site remote from the automotive vehicle into the on-board fuel storage tank of the automotive vehicle permanently connected to the fuel filler cap, the fuel filler cap being at least partially rotatably therearound, the fuel dispensing means comprising: a) the fuel filler nozzle device engageable with the fuel receiving opening of the automotive vehicle, the fuel filler nozzle device having a fuel directing conduit receivable within the central aperture extending through the fuel filler cap and means for regulating and interrupting fuel flow therethrough, the fuel directing conduit having a fuel inlet end, an opposed fuel outlet end, and a vapor receiving inlet located in the body of the fuel directing conduit between the fuel inlet and the fuel outlet, the fuel directing conduit further having a vapor conveying line contained within the fuel conveying conduit having a first end and a second end, the first end of the vapor conveying line being in fluid communication with the vapor receiving inlet; and b) means for conveying fuel from the remote storage site to the fuel inlet end of the fuel filler nozzle.