Electronic venting in a saddle fuel tank

Abstract

A fuel tank system controlled by a control module and constructed in accordance to one example of the present disclosure includes a saddle fuel tank, and a venting assembly. The saddle fuel tank has a first lobe and a second lobe extending on opposite ends of a recessed central portion. The venting assembly comprises a first vent line, a second vent line and a rotary actuator. The first vent line has a first vent port located in the first lobe of the saddle fuel tank near a top portion of the saddle fuel tank above the recessed central portion. The second vent line has a second vent port located in the second lobe of the saddle fuel tank near a top portion of the saddle fuel tank above the recessed central portion.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A fuel tank system controlled by a control module, the fuel tank system comprising:
 a saddle fuel tank having a first lobe and a second lobe extending on opposite ends of a recessed central portion;   a venting assembly comprising:
 a first vent line having a first vent port located in the first lobe of the saddle fuel tank near a top portion of the saddle fuel tank above the recessed central portion; 
 a second vent line having a second vent port located in the second lobe of the saddle fuel tank near a top portion of the saddle fuel tank above the recessed central portion; and 
 a rotary actuator configured to rotate a cam, the cam selectively translating a first valve configured to open and close the first vent line and a second valve configured to open and close the second vent line, wherein the first and second vent ports are positioned in the respective first and second vent lobes above the first and second valves; and 
   wherein the control module sends a signal to the rotary actuator to rotate the cam and therefore close the first and second vent lines with the respective first and second valves upon reaching a full fuel condition.   
     
     
         2 . The fuel tank system of  claim 1  wherein the cam is configured to close one of the first and second valves. 
     
     
         3 . The fuel tank system of  claim 2  wherein the cam is configured to concurrently close the first and second valves. 
     
     
         4 . The fuel tank system of  claim 1 , further comprising the control module, wherein the control module is positioned intermediate the first and second vent ports on the saddle tank. 
     
     
         5 . The fuel tank system of  claim 4 , further comprising:
 a liquid trap, wherein the first and second vent lines are routed between the respective first and second vent ports and the liquid trap.   
     
     
         6 . The fuel tank system of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 a fuel level sensor that communicates to the control module a signal corresponding to the full fuel condition.   
     
     
         7 . The fuel tank system of  claim 6  wherein the fuel level sensor comprises a first fuel level sensor disposed in the first lobe and a second fuel level sensor disposed in the second lobe. 
     
     
         8 . The fuel tank system of  claim 1  wherein the first and second valves are poppet valves. 
     
     
         9 . A fuel tank system controlled by a control module, the fuel tank system comprising:
 a saddle fuel tank having a first lobe, a second lobe and a recessed central portion positioned between the first and second lobes;   a venting assembly comprising:
 a first vent line having a first vent port located in the first lobe of the saddle fuel tank above the recessed central portion; 
 a second vent line having a second vent port located in the second lobe of the saddle fuel tank above the recessed central portion; and 
 a rotary actuator configured to rotate a cam, the cam selectively moving a first valve that opens and closes the first vent line and a second valve that opens and closes the second vent line, wherein the first and second vent ports are positioned in the respective first and second vent lobes above the first and second valves; and 
   wherein the control module sends a signal to the rotary actuator to rotate the cam and therefore close the first and second vent lines with the respective first and second valves upon reaching a full fuel condition.   
     
     
         10 . The fuel tank system of  claim 9  wherein the cam is configured to close one of the first and second valves. 
     
     
         11 . The fuel tank system of  claim 10  wherein the cam is configured to concurrently close the first and second valves. 
     
     
         12 . The fuel tank system of  claim 9  wherein the control module is positioned intermediate the first and second vent ports on the saddle tank. 
     
     
         13 . The fuel tank system of  claim 12 , further comprising:
 a liquid trap, wherein the first and second vent lines are routed between the respective first and second vent ports and the liquid trap.   
     
     
         14 . The fuel tank system of  claim 9 , further comprising:
 a fuel level sensor that communicates to the control module a signal corresponding to the full fuel condition.   
     
     
         15 . The fuel tank system of  claim 14  wherein the fuel level sensor comprises a first fuel level sensor disposed in the first lobe and a second fuel level sensor disposed in the second lobe. 
     
     
         16 . The fuel tank system of  claim 9  wherein the first and second valves are poppet valves. 
     
     
         17 . A fuel tank system controlled by a control module, the fuel tank system comprising:
 a saddle fuel tank having a first lobe, a second lobe and a recessed central portion positioned between and below the first and second lobes;   a venting assembly comprising:
 a first vent line having a first vent port located in the first lobe of the saddle fuel tank near a top portion of the saddle fuel tank above the recessed central portion; 
 a second vent line having a second vent port located in the second lobe of the saddle fuel tank near a top portion of the saddle fuel tank above the recessed central portion; and 
 a rotary actuator that rotates a cam, the cam selectively moving a first valve that opens and closes the first vent line and a second valve that opens and closes the second vent line, wherein the first and second vent ports are positioned in the respective first and second vent lobes above the first and second valves; and 
   wherein the control module sends a signal to the rotary actuator to rotate the cam and therefore close at least one of the first and second vent lines with the respective first and second valves based on a full fuel condition.