US5429097A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Device for feeding vapors of a fuel tank into an internal combustion engine
Assignee: Carl Freudenberg KG
•
Filing: 1993-12-03
•
Granted: 1995-07-04
•
Expires: 2013-12-03
Abstract
Abstract A device for feeding the vapors present in the free space of a fuel tank into the intake manifold of an internal combustion engine wherein the free space and the intake manifold are connected by a line in which an activated carbon container and a stop valve are connected in series, the activated carbon container being connected with the atmosphere by a vent line and the vent line can be closed by a vent line valve. The device further comprises an excess pressure valve and/or a vacuum valve which may be in the same housing as the vent line valve.
Inventors
- 👤 Jurgen Wojts-Saary
- 👤 Joachim Heinemann
- 👤 Reinhard Tinz
- 👤 Stefan Knapp
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-29 21:56
CPC Classifications
B; B60; B60K; B60K15/00; B60K15/03; B60K15/035; B60K15/03519; F; F02; F02M; F02M25/00; F02M25/08; F02M25/0809; F02M25/0836; Y; Y10; Y10T; Y10T137/00; Y10T137/8593; Y10T137/877; Y10T137/87877
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 23
Claim 1
Independent Claim
138 words
A device for feeding vapors present in a free space of a fuel tank into an intake manifold of an internal combustion engine wherein the free space and the intake manifold are connected by a line in which an activated carbon container and a stop valve are arranged in series, the activated carbon container being connected with the atmosphere by a vent line, and further comprising: a vent line valve for selectively opening and closing the vent line which connects the activated carbon container to the atmosphere; an excess pressure valve for providing an opening to the atmosphere upon exceeding a maximum pressure; and a vacuum valve for providing an opening to the atmosphere upon falling below a minimum pressure; wherein the vent line valve, the excess pressure valve and the vacuum valve are combined in a housing.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
138 words
A device for feeding vapors present in a free space of a fuel tank into an intake manifold of an internal combustion engine wherein the free space and the intake manifold are connected by a line in which an activated carbon container and a stop valve are arranged in series, the activated carbon container being connected with the atmosphere by a vent line, and further comprising: a vent line valve for selectively opening and closing the vent line which connects the activated carbon container to the atmosphere; an excess pressure valve for providing an opening to the atmosphere upon exceeding a maximum pressure; and a vacuum valve for providing an opening to the atmosphere upon falling below a minimum pressure; wherein the vent line valve, the excess pressure valve and the vacuum valve are combined in a housing.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
37 words
A device according to claim 1 wherein the vent line valve, the excess pressure valve and the vacuum valve have closure elements which are moveable independently of each other and which have one continuous axis of movement.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
39 words
A device according to claim 2 wherein the closure element of the excess pressure valve comprises elastomeric material, is developed as a shuttle valve, and is attached as one continuous piece to the closure element of the vacuum valve.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
32 words
A device according to claim 2 wherein the closure element of the vent line valve can be brought into a closed position by an electromagnet against the force of a compression spring.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
29 words
A device according to claim 4 wherein the compression spring is arranged on a side of the closure element of the vent line valve facing away from the electromagnet.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
24 words
A device according to claim 4 wherein the closure element of the vent line valve is sealed off from the housing by a diaphragm.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
20 words
A device according to claim 4 wherein the compression spring is supported on the closure element of the vacuum valve.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
36 words
A device according to claim 7 wherein the closure element of the vacuum valve is guided by a column-shaped projection formed integrally with the closure element of the vacuum valve and engaging into the compression spring.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
34 words
A device according to claim 4 wherein the compression spring is surrounded on the outside by a guide tube connected to the housing and wherein the compression spring is guided by the guide tube.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
28 words
A device according to claim 1 wherein the excess pressure valve and the vacuum valve are located along the line between the stop valve and the fuel tank.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
31 words
A device according to claim 10 wherein the excess pressure valve and the vacuum valve are located along the vent line between the vent line valve and the activated carbon container.
Claim 13
Independent Claim
119 words
A device for feeding vapors present in a free space of a fuel tank into an intake manifold of an internal combustion engine wherein the free space and the intake manifold are connected by a line in which an activated carbon container and a stop valve are arranged in series, the activated carbon container being connected with the atmosphere by a vent line, and further comprising: a vent line valve for selectively opening and closing the vent line which connects the activated carbon container to the atmosphere; and an excess pressure valve for providing an opening to the atmosphere upon exceeding a maximum pressure; wherein the vent line valve and the excess pressure valve are combined in a housing.
Claim 14
Independent Claim
119 words
A device for feeding vapors present in a free space of a fuel tank into an intake manifold of an internal combustion engine wherein the free space and the intake manifold are connected by a line in which an activated carbon container and a stop valve are arranged in series, the activated carbon container being connected with the atmosphere by a vent line, and further comprising: a vent line valve for selectively opening and closing the vent line which connects the activated carbon container to the atmosphere; and an excess pressure valve for providing an opening to the atmosphere upon exceeding a maximum pressure; wherein the vent line valve and the excess pressure valve are combined in a housing.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
34 words
A device according to claim 12 wherein the vent line valve and the excess pressure valve have closure elements which are moveable independently of each other and which have one continuous axis of movement.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
25 words
A device according to claim 13 wherein the closure element of the excess pressure valve comprises elastomeric material and is developed as a shuttle valve.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
32 words
A device according to claim 13 wherein the closure element of the vent line valve can be brought into a closed position by an electromagnet against the force of a compression spring.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
24 words
A device according to claim 15 wherein the closure element of the vent line valve is sealed off from the housing by a diaphragm.
Claim 19
Independent Claim
118 words
A device for feeding vapors present in a free space of a fuel tank into an intake manifold of an internal combustion engine wherein the free space and the intake manifold are connected by a line in which an activated carbon container and a stop valve are arranged in series, the activated carbon container being connected with the atmosphere by a vent line, and further comprising: a vent line valve for selectively opening and closing the vent line which connects the activated carbon container to the atmosphere; and a vacuum valve for providing an opening to the atmosphere upon falling below a minimum pressure; wherein the vent line valve and the vacuum valve are combined in a housing.
Claim 20
Independent Claim
118 words
A device for feeding vapors present in a free space of a fuel tank into an intake manifold of an internal combustion engine wherein the free space and the intake manifold are connected by a line in which an activated carbon container and a stop valve are arranged in series, the activated carbon container being connected with the atmosphere by a vent line, and further comprising: a vent line valve for selectively opening and closing the vent line which connects the activated carbon container to the atmosphere; and a vacuum valve for providing an opening to the atmosphere upon falling below a minimum pressure; wherein the vent line valve and the vacuum valve are combined in a housing.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
33 words
A device according to claim 17 wherein the vent line valve and the vacuum valve have closure elements which are moveable independently of each other and which have one continuous axis of movement.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
32 words
A device according to claim 18 wherein the closure element of the vent line valve can be brought into a closed position by an electromagnet against the force of a compression spring.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
24 words
A device according to claim 19 wherein the closure element of the vent line valve is sealed off from the housing by a diaphragm.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
US4702216A
Cited
US4815705A
Cited
US4815497A
Cited
US4901702A
Cited
US5040564A
Cited
US5193512A
Cited
US5245975A
Cited
US5220897A
Cited
GB2252792A
Cited
US5191870A
Cited
JPH04308350A
Cited
JPH05202812A
Cited
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1998-07-03 | 1999-01-02 | 1999-07-04 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2002-07-03 | 2003-01-02 | 2003-07-04 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2006-07-03 | 2007-01-02 | 2007-07-04 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |