Barrier vapor control system

Claim 1

A system for controlling vapor emissions from a motor vehicle fuel tank while the tank is being filled with a volatile liquid from a fuel delivery nozzle, comprising: sealing means positioned within a filler pipe extending from said fuel tank for forming a seal about the periphery of a fuel delivery nozzle inserted into said filler pipe; and means positioned within said filler pipe for collecting vapors, emitted by the volatile liquid, displaced from the tank as volatile liquid fills the tank through said fuel delivery nozzle.

Claim 2

A system for controlling vapor emissions from a motor vehicle fuel tank while the tank is being filled with a volatile liquid from a fuel delivery nozzle, comprising: sealing means positioned within a filler pipe extending from said fuel tank for forming a seal about the periphery of a fuel delivery nozzle inserted into said filler pipe; and means positioned within said filler pipe for collecting vapors, emitted by the volatile liquid, displaced from the tank as volatile liquid fills the tank through said fuel delivery nozzle.

Claim 7

A system for controlling vapor emissions from a motor vehicle tank while the tank is being filled with a volatile liquid from a fuel delivery conduit, comprising: a filler pipe in fluid communication with the tank; a first seal positioned inside the filler pipe adjacent one end thereof, and a second seal positioned inside the filler pipe spaced apart from the first seal, the first and second seals being formed to permit insertion of the fuel delivery conduit into the filler pipe and maintain sealing engegement with the filler conduit as the fuel delivery conduit is inserted into the filler pipe withdrawing therefrom; and means for collecting vapors displaced from the tank as the volatile liquid enters the tank, wherein the means for collecting vapors further comprises: a vapor recovery conduit extending from the filler pipe downstream of the sealing means to carry displaced vapors away from the fuel tank, and means for removing hydrocarbon vapors from the displaced vapors, wherein said means for removing hydrocarbon vapors further comprises: an activated charcoal cannister connected to the vapor recovery conduit, a vacuum accumulator in fluid communication with the cannister for drawing fresh air and displaced vapors into the cannister, pump means for maintaining the vacuum in the vacuum accumulator at a predetermined value, and means for actuating the pumping means as the fuel delivery conduit is inserted into the filler pipe, wherein the actuating means comprises a switch positioned in the filler pipe, such that insertion of the fuel delivery conduit into the filler pipe causes the fuel delivery conduit to actuate the switch.

Claim 8

A system for controlling vapor emissions from a motor vehicle tank while the tank is being filled with a volatile liquid from a fuel delivery conduit, comprising: a filler pipe in fluid communication with the tank; a first seal positioned inside the filler pipe adjacent one end thereof, and a second seal positioned inside the filler pipe spaced apart from the first seal, the first and second seals being formed to permit insertion of the fuel delivery conduit into the filler pipe and maintain sealing engegement with the filler conduit as the fuel delivery conduit is inserted into the filler pipe withdrawing therefrom; and means for collecting vapors displaced from the tank as the volatile liquid enters the tank, wherein the means for collecting vapors further comprises: a vapor recovery conduit extending from the filler pipe downstream of the sealing means to carry displaced vapors away from the fuel tank, and means for removing hydrocarbon vapors from the displaced vapors, wherein said means for removing hydrocarbon vapors further comprises: an activated charcoal cannister connected to the vapor recovery conduit, a vacuum accumulator in fluid communication with the cannister for drawing fresh air and displaced vapors into the cannister, pump means for maintaining the vacuum in the vacuum accumulator at a predetermined value, and means for actuating the pumping means as the fuel delivery conduit is inserted into the filler pipe, wherein the actuating means comprises a switch positioned in the filler pipe, such that insertion of the fuel delivery conduit into the filler pipe causes the fuel delivery conduit to actuate the switch.

Claim 9

A method for controlling vapor emissions from a motor vehicle fuel tank having a filler pipe extending therefrom while the tank receives a liquid from a fuel delivery conduit, comprising the steps of: forming a seal around the fuel delivery conduit as it enters the filler pipe; and collecting vapors displaced from the tank as the tank fills with the liquid.

Claim 10

A method for controlling vapor emissions from a motor vehicle fuel tank having a filler pipe extending therefrom while the tank receives a liquid from a fuel delivery conduit, comprising the steps of: forming a seal around the fuel delivery conduit as it enters the filler pipe; and collecting vapors displaced from the tank as the tank fills with the liquid.

Claim 14

A method for controling vapor emissions from a motor vehicle tank having a filler pipe extending therefrom while the tank receives a volatile liquid from a fuel delivery conduit, comprising the steps of: forming a seal around the fuel delivery conduit as it enters the filler pipe; placing a first seal adjacent one end of the filler pipe; placing a second seal in the filler pipe spaced apart from the first seal; and collecting vapors displaced from the tank as the tank fills with the liquid, wherein said collecting step includes the steps of: extending a vapor recovery conduit from the filler pipe down stream of the first and second seals; and removing hydrocarbons from the displaced vapor, wherein the removing step further comprises the steps of: connecting an activated charcoal cannister to the vapor recovery conduit; maintaining a predetermined vacuum in the vapor recovery conduit to draw vapors placed from the fuel tank into the cannister; placing a switch in the filler pipe for actuation by insertion and removal of the fuel delivery conduit therefrom, and activating a vacuum pump with the switch to provide the vacuum to the vapor recovery conduit.

Claim 15

A method for controling vapor emissions from a motor vehicle tank having a filler pipe extending therefrom while the tank receives a volatile liquid from a fuel delivery conduit, comprising the steps of: forming a seal around the fuel delivery conduit as it enters the filler pipe; placing a first seal adjacent one end of the filler pipe; placing a second seal in the filler pipe spaced apart from the first seal; and collecting vapors displaced from the tank as the tank fills with the liquid, wherein said collecting step includes the steps of: extending a vapor recovery conduit from the filler pipe down stream of the first and second seals; and removing hydrocarbons from the displaced vapor, wherein the removing step further comprises the steps of: connecting an activated charcoal cannister to the vapor recovery conduit; maintaining a predetermined vacuum in the vapor recovery conduit to draw vapors placed from the fuel tank into the cannister; placing a switch in the filler pipe for actuation by insertion and removal of the fuel delivery conduit therefrom, and activating a vacuum pump with the switch to provide the vacuum to the vapor recovery conduit.

Claim 16

A system for controlling vapor emissions from a motor vehicle tank while the tank is being filled with a volatile liquid from a fuel delivery conduit, comprising: a filler pipe in fluid communication with the tank; a first seal positioned inside the filler pipe adjacent one end thereof, and a second seal positioned inside the filler pipe spaced apart from the first seal, the first and second seals being formed to permit insertion of the fuel delivery conduit into the filler pipe and maintain sealing engagement with the filler conduit as it is inserted into the filler pipe and withdrawn thereform; and means for collecting vapors displaced from the tank as the liquid enters the tank, wherein the means for collectionng vapors further comprises: a vapor recovery conduit extending from the filler pipe downstream of the sealing means to carry displaced vapors away from the fuel tank, and means for removing hydrocarbon vapors from the displaced vapors, wherein said removing hydrocarbon vapor means further comprises: an activated charcoal cannister connected to the vapor recovery conduit; a vacuum accumulator in fluid communication with the cannister for drawing fresh air and displaced vapors into the cannister; pump means for maintaining the vacuum in the vacuum accumulator at a predetermined value; and means for actuating the pumping means as the fule delivery conduit is inserted into the filler pipe, wherein the actuating means further comprises a switch actuated by insertion of the fuel delivery conduit into the filler pipe.

Claim 17

A system for controlling vapor emissions from a motor vehicle tank while the tank is being filled with a volatile liquid from a fuel delivery conduit, comprising: a filler pipe in fluid communication with the tank; a first seal positioned inside the filler pipe adjacent one end thereof, and a second seal positioned inside the filler pipe spaced apart from the first seal, the first and second seals being formed to permit insertion of the fuel delivery conduit into the filler pipe and maintain sealing engagement with the filler conduit as it is inserted into the filler pipe and withdrawn thereform; and means for collecting vapors displaced from the tank as the liquid enters the tank, wherein the means for collectionng vapors further comprises: a vapor recovery conduit extending from the filler pipe downstream of the sealing means to carry displaced vapors away from the fuel tank, and means for removing hydrocarbon vapors from the displaced vapors, wherein said removing hydrocarbon vapor means further comprises: an activated charcoal cannister connected to the vapor recovery conduit; a vacuum accumulator in fluid communication with the cannister for drawing fresh air and displaced vapors into the cannister; pump means for maintaining the vacuum in the vacuum accumulator at a predetermined value; and means for actuating the pumping means as the fule delivery conduit is inserted into the filler pipe, wherein the actuating means further comprises a switch actuated by insertion of the fuel delivery conduit into the filler pipe.

Claim 18

A method for controlling vapor emissions from a motor vehicle fuel tank having a filler pipe extending therefrom while the tank receives a volatile liquid from a fuel delivery conduit, comprising the steps of: placing a first seal adjacent one end of the filler pipe; placing a second seal in the filler pipe spaced apart from the first seal; collecting vapors displaced from the tank as the tank filles with the liquid, wherein said collecting step further comprises: connecting an activated charcoal cannister to the vapor recovery conduit; maintaining a predetermined vacuum in the vapor recovery conduit to draw vapors placed from the fuel tank into the cannister; placing a switch in communication with the filler pipe and a vacuum pump, for actuation by insertion and removal of the fuel delivery conduit therefrom; activating a vacuum pump with the switch to provide the vacuum to the vapor recovery conduit; placing a first seal adjacent one end of the filler pipe; and placing a second seal in the filler pipe spaced apart from the first seal.

Claim 19

A method for controlling vapor emissions from a motor vehicle fuel tank having a filler pipe extending therefrom while the tank receives a volatile liquid from a fuel delivery conduit, comprising the steps of: placing a first seal adjacent one end of the filler pipe; placing a second seal in the filler pipe spaced apart from the first seal; collecting vapors displaced from the tank as the tank filles with the liquid, wherein said collecting step further comprises: connecting an activated charcoal cannister to the vapor recovery conduit; maintaining a predetermined vacuum in the vapor recovery conduit to draw vapors placed from the fuel tank into the cannister; placing a switch in communication with the filler pipe and a vacuum pump, for actuation by insertion and removal of the fuel delivery conduit therefrom; activating a vacuum pump with the switch to provide the vacuum to the vapor recovery conduit; placing a first seal adjacent one end of the filler pipe; and placing a second seal in the filler pipe spaced apart from the first seal.