# US 10,245,529 B2 · System and apparatus to improve venting and spill mitigation for tank > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 10,245,529 B2 - Document ID: US10245529B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 15/443,588 - Filed: 2017-02-27 - Published: 2018-08-30 - Granted: 2019-04-02 - Earliest claimed: 2017-02-27 - Assignees: GM Global Technology Operations LLC - Applicants: GM Global Technology Operations LLC - Inventors: Wing-Fai Ha; Martin Juhas - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US10245529B2 ## CPC - B01D 19/0031: {by filtration} - F01N 3/2066: {Selective catalytic reduction [SCR]} - F01N 3/28: Construction of catalytic reactors - F01N 2610/02: the substance being ammonia or urea - F01N 2610/1406: Storage means for substances, e.g. tanks or reservoirs - F01N 2610/1413: Inlet and filling arrangements therefore - F01N 2610/1466: Means for venting air out of conduits or tanks - Y02A 50/20: Air quality improvement or preservation, e.g. vehicle emission control or emission reduction by using catalytic converters - Y02T 10/12: Improving ICE efficiencies - B01D: SEPARATION (separating solids from solids by wet methods B03B, B03D; by pneumatic jigs or tables B03B; by other dry methods B07; magnetic or electrostatic separation of solid materials from solid materials or fluids, separation by high-voltage electric fields B03C; centrifuges, vortex apparatus B04; presses per se for squeezing-out liquid from liquid-containing material B30B9/02; treatment of water C02F, e.g. softening by ion-exchange C02F1/42; {arrangements of air intake cleaners in gas turbine plants F02C7/05} ; arrangements or mounting of filters in air-conditioning, air-humidification or ventilation F24F13/28) - F01N: GAS-FLOW SILENCERS OR EXHAUST APPARATUS FOR MACHINES OR ENGINES IN GENERAL; GAS-FLOW SILENCERS OR EXHAUST APPARATUS FOR INTERNAL-COMBUSTION ENGINES (arrangements in connection with gas exhaust of propulsion units in vehicles B60K13/00; combustion-air intake silencers specially adapted for, or arranged on, internal-combustion engines F02M35/00; protecting against, or damping, noise in general G10K11/16) - Y02A: TECHNOLOGIES FOR ADAPTATION TO CLIMATE CHANGE - Y02T: CLIMATE CHANGE MITIGATION TECHNOLOGIES RELATED TO TRANSPORTATION ## Abstract A system and apparatus for improving ventilation of a fluid system is disclosed herein. An apparatus for improving ventilation of a fluid storage tank includes a hollow member having a sidewall and an opening formed in the sidewall and an air-permeable membrane extending at least partially across the opening. The membrane permits the passage of air across the membrane and restricts the passage of fluid across the membrane. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A system for improving gaseous venting and mitigating fluid spills from a fluid storage vessel, comprising: a hollow member having a first end, a second end, and a body surface connecting the first end and the second end, the hollow member having at least one opening formed in the body surface; a permeable membrane extending at least partially across the at least one opening formed in the body surface of the hollow member; and a sealing member permitting one-way flow of fluid toward the fluid storage vessel; wherein the membrane permits passage of a gas across the membrane to improve venting of the fluid storage vessel, the seal prevents spillback of fluid during fill operations, and the first end of the hollow member and the sealing member are configured to interface with a fill nozzle. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The system of claim 1, wherein the hollow member is a fill body for a diesel exhaust fluid system. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The system of claim 1, wherein the sealing member extends at least partially across the first end of the hollow member. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The system of claim 1, wherein the sealing member extends fully across the first end of the hollow member. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The system of claim 1, wherein the hollow member has a length between the first end and the second end and the opening extends at least half of the length of the hollow member. ### Claim 6 An apparatus for improving ventilation of a fluid storage vessel, comprising: a hollow member having a sidewall and at least one opening formed in the sidewall, a first end and a second end connected to the first end by the sidewall, the at least one opening formed between the first end and the second end, and the first end, the second end, and the sidewall defining a passage passing through the hollow member; a sealing member extending at least partially across the first end of the hollow member; and a permeable membrane extending at least partially across the at least one opening; wherein the membrane permits the passage of a gas across the membrane and restricts the passage of a fluid across the membrane and the first end of the hollow member and the sealing member are configured to interface with a fill nozzle. ### Claim 7 (depends on 6) The apparatus of claim 6, wherein the second end of the hollow member includes a threaded interface on an interior surface of the hollow member, the threaded interface configured to mesh with a coordinating threaded interface of a component of a fluid storage system. ### Claim 8 (depends on 7) The apparatus of claim 7, wherein the component is a fill head of a fluid storage system. ### Claim 9 An automotive vehicle, comprising: a fluid storage tank; a fluid channel fluidly connected to the storage tank; and a venting system fluidly connected to the storage tank by the fluid channel, the venting system including a hollow member having a first end, a second end, and a body surface connecting the first end and the second end to define a passage through the hollow member; a sealing member permitting one-way flow of fluid toward the fluid storage tank; and an air-permeable membrane extending at least partially across an opening formed in the body surface of the hollow member; wherein the membrane permits air passage across the membrane to improve venting of the fluid storage vessel and the first end of the hollow member and the sealing member are configured to interface with a fill nozzle. ### Claim 10 (depends on 9) The automotive vehicle of claim 9, wherein the storage tank is a diesel exhaust fluid storage tank. ### Claim 11 (depends on 9) The automotive vehicle of claim 9, wherein the sealing member prevents spillback of fluid during fill operations. ### Claim 12 (depends on 11) The automotive vehicle of claim 11, wherein the fluid storage tank is a diesel exhaust fluid tank and the hollow member is a fill body fluidly connected to the diesel exhaust fluid tank.