Fuel vapor recovery system

Claim 1

A fuel vapor recovery system comprising in combination: a bulk fuel storage tank; a fuel delivery conduit communicating at one end with liquid fuel in said bulk fuel storage tank and communicating at the other end with one end of a flexible fuel delivery hose; a fuel delivery nozzle affixed to the opposite end of said fuel delivery hose, said fuel delivery nozzle having sealing means adapted to form a substantially vapor-tight or vapor-limiting connection between said fuel delivery nozzle and a filling spout of an automotive fuel tank; a vapor return conduit communicating at one end through said sealing means with said automotive vehicle fuel tank; a normally closed valve means mounted in or controlling said one end of said vapor return conduit, said valve means being adapted to switch to the open position only when fuel is being delivered through said fuel delivery nozzle to said automotive vehicle fuel tank; a three-way valve means mounted on the opposite end of said vapor return conduit adapted to divide said vapor return conduit alternatively into first and second branches; a conduit including plenum means constituting said first vapor return branch communicating at one end with said three-way valve means and at the other end with means for adsorbing fuel vapors, said means for adsorbing fuel vapors comprising a canister of adsorptive material and having a discharge side; a vent conduit communicating at one end with the atmosphere and at the other end with the discharge side of said means for adsorbing fuel vapors adapted to vent said means for adsorbing fuel vapors to the atmosphere, said vent conduit including oneway valve means for preventing reverse flow from the atmosphere to said means for adsorbing fuel vapors; a pump means in said vent conduit below said one-way valve means for creating a vacuum in said first vapor return branch whereby fuel vapors are pulled from said automotive vehicle fuel tank through said means for adsorbing fuel vapors when said normally closed valve means in said vapor return conduit is in the open position; and a conduit constituting said second vapor return branch connecting said three-way valve means with the upper portion of said bulk fuel storage tank whereby said bulk fuel tank may be connected through said three-way valve means to said vapor return conduit when a vacuum condition has been created in said bulk fuel storage tank due to the emptying thereof, thereby pulling fuel vapors from said automotive vehicle fuel tank into said bulk fuel storage tank when said normally closed valve means in said vaPor return conduit is in the open position.