Vapor regulating valve

Claim 2

In a vapor recovery system for an internal combustion engine having an induction system and a fuel reservoir, a vapor regulating valve including a housing having an inlet means connectable to the fuel reservoir for receiving fuel vapor discharge from the fuel reservoir, an air inlet means, and an outlet means connected to the induction system for delivering a mixture of fuel vapor and air to the induction system, a valve mechanism disposed between said outlet means and said inlet means and said air inlet means for controlling the flow of fuel vapor and air from both said inlet means to said outlet means, spring means biasing said valve mechanism to prevent flow of fuel vapor and air from said inlet means to said outlet means and pressure means responsive to the pressure in said fuel reservoir and connected to said valve mechanism whereby said first valve mechanism is operated to control the rate of flow of fuel vapor and air from said inlet means to said outlet means in accordance with the pressure of the fuel vapor in said fuel reservoir, a diaphragm valve disposed between said inlet means and said valve mechanism for controlling the flow of fuel vapor to said outlet means as controlled by said first valve mechanism, second spring means biasing said diaphragm valve to shut off fuel vapor flow from said inlet means and means responsive to the pressure in said induction system and operatively connected to said diaphragm valve whereby said diaphragm valve is operated to control the flow of fuel vapor from said inlet means toward said outlet means in accordance with the vacuum pressure in the induction system as affected by the operating conditions of the internal combustion engine.

Claim 3

A vapor regulating valve for use in a fuel vapor recovery system for an internal combustion engine having an intake manifold and a fuel reservoir, said vapor regulating valve including a valve housing having a first passage means therein including a first inlet for fuel vapor connectable to the fuel reservoir, a second passage means including an air inlet connectable with a source of atmospheric air and a third passage means therein including an outlet connectable to the intake manifold of the engine, a first valve movable in said first passage means between an open position and a closed position, first valve operating means including a pressure responsive diaphragm in said housing to form first and second chambers on opposite sides of said diaphragm with said diaphragm being positioned to engage said first valve whereby said first valve may be closed by actuating said diaphragm, said first chamber being connectable to the intake manifold and said second chamber being open to the atmosphere, a second valve positioned in said housing and movable between an open position and a closed position to control the flow from said first passage means and said second passage means to said third passage means, second valve operating means including a second pressure responsive diaphragm in said housing to form a chamber therein In communication with said first passage means between said first valve and said second valve and means operatively connecting said second diaphragm and said second valve whereby said second valve is positioned by said diaphragm.

Claim 4

A vapor regulating valve for use in a fuel vapor recovery system for an internal combustion engine having an intake manifold and a fuel reservoir, said vapor regulating valve including a valve housing having a first passage means therein including a first inlet for fuel vapor connectable to the fuel reservoir, a second passage means including an air inlet connectable with a source of atmospheric air and a third passage means therein including an outlet connectable to the intake manifold of the engine, a first valve movable in said first passage means between an open position and a closed position, first valve operating means including a pressure responsive diaphragm in said housing to form first and second chambers on opposite sides of said diaphragm with said diaphragm being positioned to engage said first valve whereby said first valve may be closed by actuating said diaphragm, said first chamber being connectable to the intake manifold and said second chamber being open to the atmosphere, a second valve positioned in said housing and movable between an open position and a closed position to control the flow from said first passage means and said second passage means to said third passage means, second valve operating means including a second pressure responsive diaphragm in said housing to form a chamber therein In communication with said first passage means between said first valve and said second valve and means operatively connecting said second diaphragm and said second valve whereby said second valve is positioned by said diaphragm.

Claim 5

A vapor regulating valve according to claim 2 wherein a first spring means is positioned in said first chamber in operative relation to said first diaphragm to normally bias said first valve to said closed position.

Claim 6

A vapor regulating valve according to claim 3 wherein said first valve is a diaphragm type valve with a portion of one side thereof in communication with said first inlet and responsive to fuel vapor pressure in the fuel reservoir to effect movement of said first valve to said open position.

Claim 7

A vapor regulating valve according to claim 2 including a second spring means in said housing positioned in operative relation to said second diaphragm to normally bias said second valve to said closed position.

Claim 8

A vapor regulating valve for controlling the loss of fuel vapor from a unit having a fuel reservoir and an internal combustion engine with an induction system, said vapor regulating valve including a housing means having a fuel vapor inlet means connectable to the fuel reservoir for receiving fuel vapor discharge from the fuel reservoir, an air inlet means, an outlet means connectable to the induction system for delivering a mixture of fuel vapor and air to the induction system, a first valve mechanism disposed between said outlet means and said fuel vapor inlet means and said air inlet means for controlling the flow of fuel vapor and air from both said inlet means to said outlet means, spring means biasing said valve mechanism to prevent flow of fuel vapor and air from said inlet means to said outlet means, differential pressure actuated means responsive to the pressure in the fuel reservoir and connected to said first valve mechanism whereby said first valve mechanism is operated to control the rate of flow of fuel vapor and air from said inlet means to said outlet means in accordance with the pressure of the fuel vapor in said fuel reservoir, a second valve mechanism disposed between said fuel vapor inlet means and said first valve mechanism and said pressure actuated means for controlling flow of fuel vapor to said outlet means as controlled by said first valve mechanism and to said pressure actuated means, second spring means biasing said second valve mechanism to shut off fuel vapor flow from said fuel vapor inlet means and second differential pressure actuated means responsive to the pressure in the induction system and operatively connected to said second valve mechanism whereby said second valve mechanism is operated to control the flow of fuel vapor from said fuel vapor inlet means in accordance with the operating conditions of the internal combustion engine.

Claim 9

A vapor regulating valve for controlling the loss of fuel vapor from a unit having a fuel reservoir and an internal combustion engine with an induction system, said vapor regulating valve including a housing means having a fuel vapor inlet means connectable to the fuel reservoir for receiving fuel vapor discharge from the fuel reservoir, an air inlet means, an outlet means connectable to the induction system for delivering a mixture of fuel vapor and air to the induction system, a first valve mechanism disposed between said outlet means and said fuel vapor inlet means and said air inlet means for controlling the flow of fuel vapor and air from both said inlet means to said outlet means, spring means biasing said valve mechanism to prevent flow of fuel vapor and air from said inlet means to said outlet means, differential pressure actuated means responsive to the pressure in the fuel reservoir and connected to said first valve mechanism whereby said first valve mechanism is operated to control the rate of flow of fuel vapor and air from said inlet means to said outlet means in accordance with the pressure of the fuel vapor in said fuel reservoir, a second valve mechanism disposed between said fuel vapor inlet means and said first valve mechanism and said pressure actuated means for controlling flow of fuel vapor to said outlet means as controlled by said first valve mechanism and to said pressure actuated means, second spring means biasing said second valve mechanism to shut off fuel vapor flow from said fuel vapor inlet means and second differential pressure actuated means responsive to the pressure in the induction system and operatively connected to said second valve mechanism whereby said second valve mechanism is operated to control the flow of fuel vapor from said fuel vapor inlet means in accordance with the operating conditions of the internal combustion engine.

Claim 10

A vapor regulating valve according to claim 6 wherein said differential pressure actuated means is a diaphragm and wherein said diaphragm and the baising force of said spring means are sized so as to prevent opening of said first valve means below a predetermined pressure of fuel vapor in said fuel reservoir.

Claim 11

A vapor regulating valve according to claim 6 wherein said second differential pressure actuated means is a diaphragm and wherein said diaphragm and the biasing force of said second spring means are sized so as to keep said second valve mechanism closed to prevent fuel vapor flow from said fuel vapor inlet means when said internal combustion engine is off or running at low idle speed.