IPC분류정보
국가/구분 |
United States(US) Patent
등록
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국제특허분류(IPC7판) |
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출원번호 |
US-0401780
(2003-03-31)
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발명자
/ 주소 |
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출원인 / 주소 |
- Honda Giken Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
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대리인 / 주소 |
Sterne, Kessler, Goldstein &
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인용정보 |
피인용 횟수 :
7 인용 특허 :
10 |
초록
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A vent system associated with a vapor outlet is coupled to a container (e.g., a fuel tank). The vent system can be used for onboard refueling vapor recovery (ORVR) for vehicles. The vent system includes a first elongated member (e.g., a vent tube), a rotating device, and a second elongated member (e
A vent system associated with a vapor outlet is coupled to a container (e.g., a fuel tank). The vent system can be used for onboard refueling vapor recovery (ORVR) for vehicles. The vent system includes a first elongated member (e.g., a vent tube), a rotating device, and a second elongated member (e.g., a breather tube) that is coupled between the rotating device and a buoyant device. The buoyant device interacts with materials (e.g., fuel) input into the fuel tank to actuate rotation of the rotating device. Once a predetermined amount of fuel has been input into the fuel tank, the buoyant device rotates the rotating device a predetermined amount, which stops venting of fuel vapor through the vent system. The fuel level continues to increase up the filler pipe until an automatic shut off mechanism of the device controlling fuel input stops fuel flow. Through the use of the buoyant device and the rotating device, regardless of the incline of the fuel tank with respect to a ground plane, the passage for vapors through the vent system will be closed when the fuel has reached the predetermined level. Thus, the vent system is used to compensate for inclination of the fuel tank.
대표청구항
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1. A fuel tank system, comprising:a container having a filler opening and a vent opening; and a vent coupled to said vent opening for venting fuel vapors from said container until a fuel level in said container reaches a predetermined level, wherein said vent comprises, a hollow vent tube, a flexibl
1. A fuel tank system, comprising:a container having a filler opening and a vent opening; and a vent coupled to said vent opening for venting fuel vapors from said container until a fuel level in said container reaches a predetermined level, wherein said vent comprises, a hollow vent tube, a flexible sleeve coupled to said vent tube, said flexible sleeve having a hollow lumen in communication with said hollow vent tube, a float, and a rotational coupling joining said float to said flexible sleeve, wherein rotation of said rotational coupling is based on interaction of said float with fuel in said container and wherein the rotation causes bending of said flexible sleeve, which at the predetermined level closes said lumen to stop the venting of the fuel vapors. 2. The system of claim 1, wherein said rotational coupling is a substantially circular device.3. The system of claim 1, wherein said rotational coupling is a substantially circular joint.4. The system of claim 1, wherein said rotational coupling is a spherical joint.5. The system of claim 1, wherein said float is a weighted float.6. The system of claim 1, wherein said float has a toroidal shape.7. The system of claim 1, wherein said float is an weighted annular float.8. The system of claim 1, wherein at least one of a length and an elasticity of said flexible sleeve limit rotation of said rotational coupling.9. A fuel tank system, comprising:a container having a filler opening and a vent opening; a vent coupled to said vent opening for venting fuel vapors from said container until a fuel level in said container reaches a predetermined level wherein said vent comprises, a hollow vent tube; a float; and a rotational coupling having an opening communicating with said hollow vent tube, wherein rotation of said rotational coupling is based on interaction of said float with fuel in said container and wherein the rotation causes the opening to be sealed off from a vapor escape route through the vent, which closes passage of the fuel vapors through said rotational coupling at the predetermined level to stop the venting of the fuel vapors. 10. The system of claim 9, wherein said rotational coupling is a substantially circular device.11. The system of claim 9, wherein said rotational coupling is a substantially circular joint.12. The system of claim 9, wherein said rotational coupling is a spherical joint.13. The system of claim 9, wherein said float is a weighted float.14. The system of claim 9, wherein said float has a toroidal shape.15. The system of claim 9, wherein said float is an weighted annular float.16. A fuel tank vent system for use with a fuel tank, comprising:a vent for allowing escape of fuel vapors; and means for preventing escape of fuel vapors through said vent when a fuel level in the fuel tank reaches a predetermined level, wherein said means for preventing escape comprises, a flexible sleeve coupled to said vent, said flexible sleeve having a hollow lumen in communication with said vent, a float, and a rotational coupling joining said float to said flexible sleeve, wherein rotation of said rotational coupling caused by movement of said float causes bending of said flexible sleeve, which closes the lumen when the fuel level reaches the predetermined level. 17. A method comprising the steps of:inputting material that emits vapors into a container through a first opening in the container; outputting the vapors through a vent system located in second opening in the container; actuating rotation of a first section of the vent system when the material interacts with a second section of the vent system; closing a third section of the vent system to stop vapor output after the first section of the system has rotated a predetermined amount, the predetermined amount being based on an elasticity of the third section; and stopping said inputting step based on said closing step. 18. The method according to claim 17, wherein said closing step occurs regardless of what angle the container is with respect to a first plane based on the material interacting with the second section of the vent system to cause said actuating rotation step.19. The method of claim 17, further comprising a step of basing the predetermined amount on a length and the elasticity of the third section of the vent system.20. A system including a vent system that allows for automatic stopping of material from entering a container regardless of an inclination of the container with respect to a ground plane, the vent system comprising:a rotating device positioned in an opening of the container, said rotating device including a rotating device lumen running from a first end to a second end of said rotating device; a flexible sleeve coupled at a first end to said rotating device proximate a first end of the rotating device lumen and coupled at a second end to a first end of a first elongated device, the first elongated device including a first elongated device lumen running from the first end to a second end of the first elongated device; a second elongated device coupled at a first end to a second end of said rotating device proximate a second end of the rotating device lumen, said second elongated device including a second elongated device lumen running from the first end of the second elongated device to a second end of the second elongated device; and a buoyant device coupled to the second end of said second elongated device, said buoyant device causing rotation of said rotating device when the material interacts with said buoyant device. 21. The system of claim 20, wherein the material comprises fuel that is input into said container through a second opening and wherein said lumens allow vapors to escape from said container until said buoyant device rotates said rotating device a predetermined distance based on a level of the fuel.22. The system of claim 21, wherein said rotating device is a substantially circular device.23. The system of claim 20, wherein said rotating device is a substantially circular joint.24. The system of claim 20, wherein said rotating device is a spherical joint.25. The system of claim 20, wherein said first elongated device is tube.26. The system of claim 20, wherein said first elongated device is a vent tube.27. The system of claim 20, wherein said second elongated device is a tube.28. The system of claim 20, wherein said second elongated device is a breather tube.29. The system of claim 20, wherein said buoyant device is a weighted float.30. The system of claim 20, wherein said buoyant device has a toroidal shape.31. The system of claim 20, wherein said buoyant device is an weighted annular float.32. The system of claim 20, wherein a length and elasticity of said flexible sleeve limit rotation of said rotating device.33. The system of claim 20, wherein an articulated fuel container vent (AFCV) is comprised of said rotating device, said flexible sleeve, the first elongated device, said second elongated device, and said buoyant device.34. The system of claim 33, wherein said AFCV performs onboard refueling vapor recovery (ORVR).35. The system of claim 34, wherein the ORVR occurs regardless of an angle with respect to ground of said container.36. A system including a vent system that allows for automatic stopping of material from entering a container regardless of an inclination of the container with respect to a ground plane, the vent system comprising:a support structure positioned adjacent an opening of the container; a rotating device positioned in the support structure, said rotating device including a rotating device lumen running from a first end to a second end of said rotating device; an elongated device coupled at a first end to the second end of said rotating device proximate an end of the rotating device lumen, said elongated device including an elongated device lumen running from the first end of said elongated device to a second end of said elongated device; and a buoyant device coupled to the second end of said elongated device, said buoyant device causing rotation of said rotating device when the material interacts with said buoyant device, such that an opening of said rotating device becomes sealed off from a vapor escape route through said support structure when said buoyant device rotates said rotating device a predetermined distance. 37. An articulated fuel tank vent used for onboard refueling vapor recovery that automatically stops fuel from entering a fuel tank regardless of an inclination of the fuel tank with respect to a ground plane, the vent comprising:a vent tube; a flexible sleeve coupled at a first end to said vent tube; a rotating device coupled at a first end to a second end of said flexible sleeve; a breather tube coupled at a first end to a second end of said rotating device; and a float coupled to a second end of said breather tube. 38. An articulated fuel tank vent used for onboard refueling vapor recovery that automatically stops fuel from entering a fuel tank regardless of an inclination of the fuel tank with respect to a ground plane, the vent comprising:a support structure; a vent tube coupled at an end to said support structure; a rotating device coupled to said support structure; a breather tube coupled at a first end to said rotating device; and a float coupled to a second end of said breather tube. 39. A fuel tank vent system for use with a fuel tank, comprising:a vent for allowing escape of fuel vapors; and means for preventing escape of fuel vapors through said vent when a fuel level in the fuel tank reaches a predetermined level, wherein said means for preventing escape comprises, a support structure, a float, and a rotational coupling having an opening, wherein rotation of said rotational coupling caused by movement of said float causes the opening to become sealed off from a vapor escape route through said support structure when the fuel level reaches the predetermined level, wherein said means for preventing escape also being used to compensate for inclinations of the fuel tank with respect to a ground plane. 40. The fuel tank system of claim 1, wherein said vent compensates for when said container is inclined with respect to a ground plane.41. The fuel tank system of claim 9, wherein said vent compensates for when said container is inclined with respect to a ground plane.42. The fuel tank vent system of claim 16, wherein said means for preventing escape compensates for inclinations of the fuel tank with respect to a ground plane.
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