Patent ID: 8596311

Claim:
A fuel system configured for filling a fuel tank with a volume of fluid comprising: a fill head in fluid communication with the fuel tank, wherein the fill head is configured such that fluid flows from the fill head to the fuel tank; a vapor canister configured for absorbing vapor therein; a recirculation line configured to fluidly extend between the fuel tank and the fill head; a vapor line configured to fluidly extend between the fuel tank and the vapor canister; a valve assembly operatively disposed along one of the vapor line and the recirculation line such that the valve assembly is disposed external to the fuel tank; wherein the valve assembly includes a housing having an inlet side and an outlet side and defining a vapor passage therein; wherein the valve assembly includes a filter having a membrane that is formed from a micro-porous element; wherein the filter is operatively disposed in the vapor passage and attached to the inlet side of the housing; wherein the membrane includes an interior wall surrounding a fluid chamber; wherein the filter is configured such that fluid and vapor enter the fluid chamber of the membrane from the inlet side and only vapor flows through the membrane into the vapor passage and exits the valve assembly through the outlet side; wherein the fill head defines a vent configured to open to the recirculation line; and wherein the valve assembly is configured to extend along the recirculation line between the vent and the vapor canister to prevent fluid from entering the vapor canister while allowing vapor to flow into the vapor canister.