VENTING DEVICE FOR VENTING A MOTOR VEHICLE TANK

Abstract

A venting device for venting a motor vehicle tank that includes a filling pipe, a venting line, a degassing line, and a connection nipple. The venting line is for fluidic connection at a first venting line end to the motor vehicle tank, and at a second venting line end opposite the first venting line end to the filling pipe via a venting inlet. The degassing line is for fluidic connection at a first degassing line end to the filling pipe via a degassing outlet, and at a second degassing line end opposite the first degassing line end to a liquid separator. The connection nipple is arranged on the filling pipe upon which the venting inlet and the degassing outlet are constructed.

Claims

1. A venting device for venting a motor vehicle tank, the venting device comprising: a filling pipe; a venting line for fluidic connection at a first venting line end to the motor vehicle tank, and at a second venting line end opposite the first venting line end to the filling pipe via a venting inlet; a degassing line for fluidic connection at a first degassing line end to the filling pipe via a degassing outlet, and at a second degassing line end opposite the first degassing line end to a liquid separator; and a connection nipple arranged on the filling pipe upon which the venting inlet and the degassing outlet are constructed.

2. The venting device of claim 1, further comprising a second venting line to fluidically connect the motor vehicle tank directly to the liquid separator.

3. The venting device of claim 1, further comprising a second degassing line to fluidically connect the liquid separator to a fuel vapor filter.

4. The venting device of claim 1, further comprising: a second venting line to fluidically connect the motor vehicle tank directly to the liquid separator; and a second degassing line to fluidically connect the liquid separator to a fuel vapor filter.

5. The venting device of claim 1, further comprising a valve arranged in the filling pipe at the degassing outlet, the valve being moveable in a closing direction in response to introduction of a filling nozzle into the filling pipe, to thereby reduce or close the degassing outlet during refueling of the motor vehicle tank.

6. The venting device of claim 1, wherein, in the installation position the venting inlet is located at a top region of the filling pipe, and the degassing outlet is located at a top region of the filling pipe.

7. The venting device of claim 1, further comprising a curvilinear guiding member arranged in the filling pipe to guide incoming vapor introduced via the venting inlet into the filling pipe along the circumference of the filling pipe between an inner wall of the filling pipe and the curvilinear guiding member so that a gaseous portion of the incoming vapor is discharged through the degassing outlet and a liquid portion of the incoming vapor flows away through the filling pipe.

8. The venting device of claim 7, wherein the curvilinear guiding member comprises a plurality of ribs on an outer wall thereof facing an inner wall of the filling pipe in order to separate liquid.

9. The venting device of claim 7, wherein the curvilinear guiding member has a substantially U-shaped cross-section or a substantially O-shaped cross-section.

10. The venting device of claim 7, wherein the curvilinear guiding member is constructed on the connection nipple.

11. A venting device, comprising: a filling pipe; a venting line for fluidic connection at a first venting line end to a motor vehicle tank, and at a second venting line end to the filling pipe; a venting inlet to fludicially connect the second venting line end to the filling pipe; a liquid separator to separate liquid that flows through the venting line; a degassing line for fluidic connection at a first degassing line end to the filling pipe, and at a second degassing line end to the liquid separator; a degassing outlet to fludicially connect the first degassing line end to the filling pipe; and a connection nipple arranged on the filling pipe upon which the venting inlet and the degassing outlet are constructed.

12. The venting device of claim 11, further comprising: a second venting line to fluidically connect the motor vehicle tank directly to the liquid separator; and a second degassing line to fluidically connect the liquid separator to a fuel vapor filter.

13. The venting device of claim 11, further comprising a valve arranged in the filling pipe at the degassing outlet, the valve being moveable in a closing direction in response to introduction of a filling nozzle into the filling pipe, to thereby reduce or close the degassing outlet during refueling of the motor vehicle tank.

14. The venting device of claim 11, wherein, in the installation position the venting inlet is located at a top region of the filling pipe, and the degassing outlet is located at a top region of the filling pipe.

15. The venting device of claim 11, further comprising a curvilinear guiding member arranged in the filling pipe to guide incoming vapor introduced via the venting inlet into the filling pipe along the circumference of the filling pipe between an inner wall of the filling pipe and the curvilinear guiding member so that a gaseous portion of the incoming vapor is discharged through the degassing outlet and a liquid portion of the incoming vapor flows away through the filling pipe.

16. The venting device of claim 15, wherein the curvilinear guiding member comprises a plurality of ribs on an outer wall thereof facing an inner wall of the filling pipe in order to separate liquid.

17. The venting device of claim 15, wherein the curvilinear guiding member has a substantially U-shaped cross-section.

18. The venting device of claim 15, wherein the curvilinear guiding member has a substantially O-shaped cross-section.

19. The venting device of claim 15, wherein the curvilinear guiding member is constructed on the connection nipple.

20. A venting device, comprising: a filling pipe; a first venting line for fluidic connection at a first venting line end to a motor vehicle tank, and at a second venting line end to the filling pipe; a venting inlet to fludicially connect the second venting line end to the filling pipe; a liquid separator to separate liquid that flows through the venting line; a first degassing line for fluidic connection at a first degassing line end to the filling pipe, and at a second degassing line end to the liquid separator; a degassing outlet to fludicially connect the first degassing line end to the filling pipe; a connection nipple arranged on the filling pipe upon which the venting inlet and the degassing outlet are constructed; and a curvilinear guiding member arranged in the filling pipe to guide incoming vapor introduced via the venting inlet into the filling pipe along the circumference of the filling pipe between an inner wall of the filling pipe and the curvilinear guiding member so that a gaseous portion of the incoming vapor is discharged through the degassing outlet and a liquid portion of the incoming vapor flows away through the filling pipe.

Description

DRAWINGS

[0025] Embodiments will be illustrated by way of example in the drawings and explained in the description hereinbelow.

[0026] FIG. 1 illustrates a three-dimensional view of a venting device, in accordance with embodiments.

[0027] FIG. 2 illustrates a partial view of the filling pipe of the venting device of FIG. 1 in a region of the connection nipple.

[0028] FIG. 3 illustrates a cross-sectional view along section A-A of FIG. 2.

DESCRIPTION

[0029] FIG. 1 illustrates a venting device for venting a motor vehicle tank, in particular, a fuel tank, in accordance with embodiments.

[0030] The venting device comprises a filling pipe 1, a venting line 2, such as, for example, an operational venting line to be fluidically connected, via a connection nipple 9, at a first venting line end to the motor vehicle tank (See, FIG. 1, lower end of the venting line 2), and at a second venting line end opposite the first venting line end, to the filling pipe 1 downstream of a valve unit 15, at a venting inlet 3 illustrated in FIG. 3.

[0031] The venting device further comprises a degassing line 4, as a recirculation line, which is fluidically connected to the filling pipe 1 at a first degassing line end via the connection nipple 9, at a degassing outlet 5 which is illustrated in FIG. 3, and at a second degassing line end opposite the first end to a liquid separator 10 (a so-called liquid trap). The venting inlet 3 and the degassing outlet 5 are constructed on the common connection nipple 9 on the filling pipe 1.

[0032] The venting inlet 3 is located at a top region of the filling pipe in the installation position in order that vapor can fall, by gravity, through the venting inlet 3 into the filling pipe 1. The degassing outlet 5 is also located at the top region of the filling pipe 1 in the installation position, at least not near the bottom of the filling pipe 1, so that only gas reaches the degassing outlet 5, but no liquid fuel.

[0033] A second degassing line 12 connects the liquid separator 10 to a fuel vapor filter, in particular, an activated carbon filter. In FIG. 1 (at the top, on the left beside the connection nipple 9), to this end only the end of the second degassing line 12 intended to be connected to the fuel vapor filter is illustrated, but not the fuel vapor filter itself.

[0034] A second venting line 11, that is to say, a refueling venting line, which has a greater diameter than the venting line 2, connects the motor vehicle tank directly to the liquid separator 10.

[0035] The connection nipple 9 is illustrated in greater detail in FIG. 2. The section A-A depicted in FIG. 2 is illustrated in FIG. 3.

[0036] A curvilinear guiding member 6 is arranged and formed in the filling pipe 1 so that a vapor which is introduced through the venting inlet 3 into the filling pipe 1, the incoming fuel/gas admixture 13 which is indicated via arrows, is guided between the inner wall of the filling pipe 1 and the curvilinear guiding member 6 along the circumference of the filling pipe 1 so that a gaseous portion of the incoming vapor, again depicted by arrows as gas 14, is discharged through the degassing outlet 5 and a liquid portion of the incoming vapor flows away through the filling pipe 1 (in FIG. 3, in the direction towards the viewer).

[0037] The curvilinear guiding member 6 is constructed, for example, in the manner of a cylinder segment or cone segment or in a funnel-like manner.

[0038] In order to separate the liquid, a plurality of ribs 7 are partially constructed to extend from or on an outer wall of the curvilinear guiding member 6 facing the inner wall of the filling pipe 1.

[0039] The curvilinear guiding member 6 is substantially constructed as a profile with a U-shaped cross-section or constructed with an O-shaped cross-section.

[0040] A valve 8 is arranged in the filling pipe 1 at the degassing outlet 5. The valve 8 is supported in an axially displaceable manner. When a filler nozzle is introduced into the filling pipe 1, the valve 8 is moved by the filler nozzle in a closing direction and consequently the degassing outlet 5 is reduced or closed during refueling of the motor vehicle tank.

[0041] The curvilinear guiding member 6 is fixed at the upper ends thereof, the ends of the legs of the U-shape, to the common connection nipple 9. The curvilinear guiding member 6 can also form the valve seat for the valve 8.

[0042] The terms coupled, attached, or connected may be used herein to refer to any type of relationship, direct or indirect, between the components in question, and may apply to electrical, mechanical, fluid, optical, electromagnetic, electromechanical or other connections. In addition, the terms first, second, etc. are used herein only to facilitate discussion, and carry no particular temporal or chronological significance unless otherwise indicated.

[0043] Those skilled in the art will appreciate from the foregoing description that the broad techniques of the embodiments can be implemented in a variety of forms. Therefore, while the embodiments have been described in connection with particular examples thereof, the true scope of the embodiments should not be so limited since other modifications will become apparent to the skilled practitioner upon a study of the drawings, specification, and following claims.

LIST OF REFERENCE SYMBOLS

[0044] 1 Filling pipe [0045] 2 Venting line [0046] 3 Venting inlet [0047] 4 Degassing line [0048] 5 Degassing outlet [0049] 6 Curvilinear guiding member [0050] 7 Ribs [0051] 8 Valve [0052] 9 Connection nipple [0053] 10 Liquid separator [0054] 11 Second venting line [0055] 12 Second degassing line [0056] 13 Fuel/gas admixture [0057] 14 Gas [0058] 15 Valve unit