ORVR valve assembly

Abstract

An ORVR valve assembly operative of relatively few movable components includes a valve body, having conduits to provide for routine passage of vapors therethrough through operations of a vacuum assist system. This is when a non-ORVR vehicle is being replenished with fuel. But, when a vehicle equipped with ORVR vapor recovery is being fueled, vacuum is generated above a piston supported diaphragm, attracts the diaphragm upwardly, plugs off the vapor passage conduits, and allows the ORVR system of the automobile to exclusively treat the generated vapors at the location of the vehicle and its fuel tank. Simultaneously, air is vented into the valve body, below its diaphragm, and into the vapor return line of the vacuum assist system, to prevent it from being subject to excessive vacuuming. Thus, vapor recovery or treatment can be achieved through the use of the ORVR valve assembly of this invention, regardless whether the automobile being refueled is an ORVR equipped vehicle, or one that is not equipped with vapor recovery.

Claims

1. An ORVR valve assembly for use in connection with a fuel dispensing hose of a vehicle fueling system, said valve assembly provided for conveyance or curtailing the passage of generated vapors during refueling of a vehicle, said valve assembly allowing for passage of fuel vapors when the dispensing nozzle is used in connection with a vacuum assist system of fuel dispensing, and said valve assembly provided for curtailing the flow of vapors when the dispensing nozzle is used in conjunction with the fueling of a vehicle incorporating an ORVR system of fuel dispensing; said valve assembly including a valve body, said valve body having a conduit provided longitudinally therethrough, a passage disposed transverse to the conduit of the valve body, a space provided at an upper end of said passage, and the passage at its lower end opening exteriorly of the said valve body, the conduit of the valve body having a vapor upstream side and a vapor downstream side for passage of the generated vapors therethrough; a diaphragm assembly disposed within the space and secured to the valve body for movement within said space, a stem provided for extending through the passage, said stem having an upper flared portion connecting with the diaphragm assembly, and said flared portion having a seal for sealing against the valve body at the upper end of said passage, a spring biasing against said flared portion of the stem and normally biasing said flared portion into closure against its seal, a plug provided at the lower end of the said stem, and normally biased downwardly within the passage to clear the conduit for flow of generated vapors therethrough when the nozzle is functioning in a vapor assist system for fuel dispensing, said plug always remaining within the passage of said valve body, a closure provided at the bottom of the passage to provide a seal and to block off the passage and preventing any contaminants from entering therein; a communicating passage provided through said valve body and extending from the vapor upstream side of the conduit and communicating with the space above said diaphragm assembly, such that when the dispensing nozzle is fueling a vehicle equipped with an ORVR installation, a vacuum is generated above the diaphragm assembly to raise the stem plug to close off the valve body conduit to prevent the passage of fuel vapors therethrough when the ORVR processes the generated fuel vapors within the vehicle during refueling; at least one air entrance port provided above said upper end of said passage where the seal contacts the valve body, the at least one air entrance port allowing passage of ambient air into the valve assembly and entrance to the upstream side of the valve body conduit to deliver air to the operating vacuum assist of the fueling system during functioning of the vehicle ORVR installation for processing generated fuel vapors during refueling.

2. The ORVR valve assembly of claim 1, wherein said seal of the flared portion of the stem includes a check valve, normally disposed within the provided said space, and capable of closing off the venting of ambient air into the upstream side of the conduit when a non-ORVR equipped vehicle is being refueled, and the vacuum assist system of vapor recovery is in operation.

3. The ORVR valve assembly of claim 2 and wherein said plug capable of shifting downwardly through the bias of said spring against the diaphragm assembly and its associated stem, thereby opening the valve body conduit to allow passage of generated vapors during refueling to be returned by the vacuum assist system to the fuel storage tank when a non ORVR vehicle is being refueled.

4. The ORVR valve assembly of claim 3, wherein said closure is a freeze plug.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

(1) In referring to the drawings,

(2) FIG. 1 provides an isometric view of the ORVR valve assembly of this invention;

(3) FIG. 2 provides a longitudinal sectional view of the valve assembly, showing its various operative components; and

(4) FIG. 3 shows the ORVR Valve Assembly when the vacuum assist method of attracting vapors back into the dispenser is operative, and the valve assembly shown therein is open to allow the vapors to pass through said valve.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

(5) In referring to the drawings, and in particular FIG. 1, therein is shown a perspective view of the ORVR valve assembly 1 of this invention. It essentially includes the ORVR valve body 2 which incorporates a front end extension 3 that includes a series of o-rings, as at 4 that are useful for inserting into and maintaining a fluidic seal with the vapor recovery portion of the fuel dispensing hose, leading towards the nozzle. At the backend of the valve body is the inlet 6 that incorporates a series of threads, as noted, and into which a connector (not shown) threadily engages, for connection of the opposite end of the fuel dispensing hose to locate therein, usually up towards the dispenser, to attain the operations of this valve assembly.

(6) On the topside of the valve body 2 is an opening 7 and into which the diaphragm assembly 8 locates, all of which is held into position by means of a ring retainer 9 when inserted. And, a vacuum cap 10 is provided for sealing off the diaphragm chamber, and which is held in position, as previously explained, by means of the said retainer.

(7) As can be seen in FIG. 2, the external threads 5 at the stem part of the valve body are available for mounting the entire fuel dispensing hose thereon, and held into position by means of a nut (not shown) that threadily engages onto the surface 5. Likewise, the threads 11 provide for engagement of the opposite end of the fuel dispensing hose therein, so that both fuels can be dispensed through the valve body, in addition to providing the means for vapor recovery, as to be subsequently described.

(8) As can be noted, the stem 3 has an opening 12 provided therein, and which communicates further inwardly through the conduit 13 which opens into the passage 14 of the valve body. This is considered the upstream side of the vapor return line for the vacuum assist system of returning vapors to the underground storage tank. The passage 14 communicates with a further conduit 15 which is in open communication with the opening 16 and which further communicates with the vapor return line at the downstream side of the vapor return system, for the vacuum assist style of vapor recovery.

(9) Within the passage 14 is a piston or plug 17 that is engaged upon the bottom of the piston stem 18 as can be noted. It may be threadily engaged thereon, or retained by other means. The piston stem 18 has an upper flared portion, as at 19, which mounts at least an o-ring 20 that is aligned for biasing against and sealing upon the inclined surface 21 as will be subsequently described. Connecting with the flared portion 19 is a mounting ring 22 that holds an edge of the diaphragm 8, by means of the retaining ring 23. A spring assembly 24 normally biases the piston stem 18 and its plug 17 downwardly within the spacing 26, so that when normal operations in the dispensing of fuel to a vehicle not incorporating an ORVR system progresses, the spring biases the stem 18 and plug 17 downwardly, forcing the o-ring against the seat 21, while at the same time, pushes the plug 17 further downwardly, to open up communication between the conduits 13, and 15, to allow for the return of vapors through operations of the vacuum assist system of the fuel dispenser, to collect and return vapors back to the underground storage tank, from the vicinity of the fill pipe of the vehicle being replenished with fuel.

(10) During this time, since the o-ring 20 is seated against its surface 21, and the diaphragm assembly 8 is inoperative, this provides for routine return of vapors back through this valve assembly and to the underground fuel storage tank.

(11) While FIG. 2 shows the ORVR Valve Assembly in closure, with the plug 17 sealing off the conduit 13 from attracting vapors back into the vacuum assist operations of the dispenser, FIG. 3 shows when the vacuum assist method of attracting vapors back to the dispenser is operative, and the vehicle does not have an ORVR system installed in it, so that the plug 17 is opened and allows vapors to pass through the conduits 13 and opening 16 to allow such vapors to be attracted back into the dispenser, through its vacuum assist operations.

(12) But, when an ORVR equipped vehicle is being filled with fuel, and provides for on-board processing of fuel vapors, which generally are injected back into the fuel supply of the vehicle, delivered to the engine, the ORVR operating system generates its own vacuum, and that vacuum likewise passes through the fuel dispensing hose, into the conduit 12, and attains access through the passage 27 and its communicating passage 28 and above the diaphragm assembly 8, into the space identified at 25. Likewise, when this is initiated, the attraction of vapors by the vacuum assist system also communicate through the passages 16, the conduit 15, and since the plug 17 is lowered, the suction of vapors further progress through the conduit 13, up the passage 27 and 28, also into that area 25 above the diaphragm. When this occurs, sufficient vacuum pressure is generated within the space 25, which pulls the diaphragm assembly upwardly, against the pressure of its spring 24, which shifts the plug 17 upwardly for blocking the conduit 13 from returning any vapors attracted by the vacuum assist system, and essentially blocking off that vapor flow passage. As this occurs, and the stem 18 is pulled upwardly, by means of the shifting diaphragm 8, the o-ring seal 20 lifts off of its seat 21, and air is allowed to enter into the space 29 through the ports 30 that vent to atmosphere, so that air passes downwardly within the space 29, pass the stem 18, and into the conduit 15, for absorption back into the vapor assist vacuum system, which means instead of pulling gasoline vapors, that operating system will attract ambient air through operations of said system.

(13) Once fuel dispensing ceases, and the vacuum generated above the diaphragm assembly 8 dissipates, the spring will force the stem 18, and its plug 17, downwardly, to reopen the conduits and provide a passage for communication between the conduit 13, and the conduit 15, which allows for reactivation of the vacuum assist system, in preparation for the next dispensing of fuel. If the next vehicle being fueled is a non-ORVR equipped automobile, then the vacuum assist system will simply pull vapors back through the conduits 12, 13, 15 and 16, for return to the underground storage tank. But, when an ORVR equipped automobile is being refueled, then the generated vacuums will pull the diaphragm up, which pulls up the stem 18, and the plug 17, for blocking off the conduit 13, which allows the ORVR system to purge the fuel vapors at the location of the automobile fuel tank, and, at the same time, vent the vacuum assist line 6 and 16 to atmosphere, in the manner as previously described.

(14) A number of other structural accessories provided within this valve assembly include a plug 31 that blocks the passage 27 to atmosphere. Secondly, a freeze plug 32 is provided below the plug 17, to block off that location, and prevent the entrance of any air, or debris, into the passage 26, as can be noted. Thus, the entire bottom of the plug 17 is closed off to atmosphere, and prevents any corrosive materials from entering therein.

(15) Variations or modifications to the structure of this ORVR valve assembly may occur to those skilled in the art upon review of the invention as described herein, and such variations, within the spirit of this invention, are intended to be encompassed within the scope of any claims to patent protection issuing hereon. The description of the invention within the preferred embodiment, and as summarized, in addition to their depiction in the drawings, as set forth for illustrative purposes only.