The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document.
The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge covers the following: Patent number, Date patent was issued, Date patent was filed, Title of the patent, Applicant, Inventor, Assignee, Attorney firm, Primary examiner, Assistant examiner, CPCs, and Abstract. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document (in Adobe Acrobat format, aka pdf). To download or print any patent click here.
Patent No.:
Date of Patent:
Mar. 26, 2002
Filed:
Jul. 20, 2000
Eric D. Ellsworth, Ypsilanti, MI (US);
Ford Global Technologies, Inc., Dearborn, MI (US);
Abstract
An active bladder system and method for using same minimizes vapor formation in a fuel tank. A low-permeation, flexible conductive bladder ( ) is contained within a fuel tank ( ). The bladder ( ) holds or contains the liquid fuel ( ) in the fuel tank ( ). The bladder ( ) has air pressure applied to the outside of the bladder ( ) to keep the bladder ( ) against the fuel ( ) to prevent vapor formation during engine running modes and diurnal cycles. A fuel delivery pump ( ), external to the fuel tank, pressurizes the fuel to a desired pressure for use by an engine. The system is depressurized during refueling stages. Because vapor generation is minimized during running mode and diurnal cycles, no carbon canister or purge system is required by the present invention, resulting in cost savings and lower emissions levels. The present invention is compatible with conventional fueling infrastructures and may reduce fuel pump ( ) current draw due to positive pressure on the bladder ( ) during running modes. An additional thermal barrier ( ) is added to the outside of the fuel tank ( ) to further prevent vapor formation.