Gm Global Technolgoy Operations, Inc.

Karen M Meyer

Charles H Covert

William E Gifford

Kenneth W Turner

Joseph Fornuto

Michael D Liggett

Charles J Barker

Otto Muller-Girard, Jr

Carl H Sherwood

Thaddeus J Grey

Richard W Wagner

Gregory P Weilnau

Harold Milton Haskew

George A English

Raymond E Kirton

Robert J Conklin

A refueling vapor recovery system for a vehicle utilizes recirculation of a portion of the displaced vapor and combines a vapor vent valve and a recirculation control into a single differential pressure valve assembly. A vapor vent conduit provides fuel tank vapor pressure to one side of a diaphragm and, through a restricted orifice, to the other side of the diaphragm, the other side being further connected by a recirculation conduit to the tank filler neck. When a gas cap closes the filler neck from the atmosphere, the orifice allows pressure to equalize across the diaphragm; and a spring biases the diaphragm to close a vapor vent valve. When the gas cap is removed, atmospheric pressure is provided through the recirculation conduit to the other side of the diaphragm, which can then be activated by a relatively small differential pressure to open the vent for relatively unrestricted vapor flow from the tank to a canister during refueling, with a small portion of the vapor recirculated in a controlled flow through the orifice and recirculation conduit to the filler neck for entrainment in incoming liquid fuel.

Fuel fill vapor recovery system with differential pressure control valve

A device for detecting a malfunction of the evaporative control system comprises a two-way flow device in the atmospheric air vent of the evaporative canister with a sensor to detect whether fluid is flowing through the canister during selected operating conditions.

Flow sensor for evaporative control system

An exhaust gas recirculation valve assembly for controlling the recirculation of exhaust gases in an internal combustion engine having a base with an exhaust gas chamber formed therein, a cover closing the chamber, a valve member mounted within the exhaust gas chamber for metering exhaust gas passage through the chamber, an actuator energizable to operate the valve within the exhaust gas chamber and a heat deflector assembly placed between the cover and the base to reduce heat transfer from the exhaust gas chamber to the actuator. The heat deflector assembly is constructed of a first gasket member which is configured to form a seal between the cover and the base and the second heat deflector member mounted to the lower surface of the gasket member, facing the exhaust gas chamber and separating the gasket member from direct impingement of exhaust gases thereon. As a result, durability of the insulative gasket member is ensured.

Exhaust gas recirculation valve assembly

An exhaust gas recirculation valve assembly for controlling the recirculation of exhaust gas in an internal combustion engine has an electrically operated valve member that meters flow of exhaust gas through an exhaust gas chamber. A valve member has a valve stem extending to an actuator which is isolated from the base housing the exhaust gas, and the valve is surrounded by a pair of spring-biased seals that seal openings around the valve stem into the actuator and the exhaust gas chamber. The seal closing the actuator opening has an inverted, cup-shaped configuration which encloses the valve stem between the actuator and the base thereby preventing impingement thereon of contaminants which could be carried into the actuator.

A seal assembly for a vehicle fuel tank filler neck includes a seal lip bordered by a seal casing rim on one side, and a shelf of the filler neck on the other, so as to protect the seal lip against side loading from the nozzle that it seals against.

Seal assembly for vehicle filler neck

A specially designed vapor storage canister may be placed within the interior volume of a fuel tank, eliminating the need for a tank to canister vapor line and shortening the TVVA to canister vapor line, while still protecting the adsorbent bed against contamination by liquid fuel.

In tank vapor storage canister

A canister adapted to store fuel vapor discharged from a fuel tank has an inlet chamber at one end that forms a trap for liquid fuel. Fuel is purged from the canister through a purge tube that has a small liquid purge hole at the bottom of the chamber and a large vapor purge hole spaced above the bottom of the chamber.

Growing community of inventors

Avon, NY, United States of America

Karen M Meyer