Apparatus for controlling the temperature of fuel in a motor vehicle fuel tank
US5848640A · kind A · utility
Assignee
Inventor
Key dates
| Filing date | Sep 27, 1996 |
| Grant date | Dec 15, 1998 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Sep 27, 2016 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC Y)Emerging Cross-Sectional Technologies
- CPC primaryY02T10/12
- WIPO fieldEngines, pumps, turbines
- WIPO sectorMechanical engineering
Abstract
An apparatus for controlling the temperature of fuel in a motor vehicle fuel tank is described. The apparatus includes a cold valve (24) fluidly interposed between a cold fluid source (20) and a cooling portion (50) of a heat exchanger (18) and a hot valve (26) fluidly interposed between a hot fluid source (22) and a heating portion (48) of the heat exchanger (18). An air blower (28) forces air through an air duct (30) fluidly interposed between the heat exchanger (18) and an air outlet (32) to be discharged onto the vehicle fuel tank (12). A fuel temperature sensor (40) measures the temperature of the fuel in the fuel tank and generates a first input signal which is communicated to a controller (34) which then generates a control signal. The controller communicates the control signal to the cold and hot valves, whereby the cold and hot valves respond so as to maintain the difference between the first input signal and a predetermined fuel temperature profile within a predetermined range.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.