Fully-integrated, top-fill, pressureless flow-control module couplable to a pulsating pressurized fuel source

A fully-integrated, flow-control module for a top-fill fuel tank that is supplied by fuel under pulsating pressure comprises:

• an inlet/vent head having a fuel inlet that receives the fuel under pulsating pressure and a vent port that maintains atmospheric pressure in the top-fill fuel tank;
• a fuel level float upwardly and downwardly movable in response to fuel level changes in the top-fill fuel tank;
• and
• a main valve control unit, in communication with the fuel inlet, that shuts off fuel flow into the top-fill fuel tank when the top-fill fuel tank is full, and automatically opens and allows fuel to enter the top-fill fuel tank when the fuel level drops a certain amount below the full level, said main valve control unit having a valve seat, a main valve plunger biased toward a closed position by a biasing spring, said bleed aperture diverting a minor portion of incoming fuel to first and second bleed paths, which open and close sequentially in response to movement of the fuel level float;
• wherein in order for the main valve plunger, which controls fuel entry into the top-fill fuel tank, to fully close, both first and second bleed paths must be closed;
• and
• wherein in order for the main valve plunger to fully open, both first and second bleed paths must be open.

A fully-integrated, flow-control module for a top-fill fuel tank that is supplied by fuel under pulsating pressure comprises:

• an inlet/vent head having a fuel inlet that receives the fuel under pulsating pressure and a vent port that maintains atmospheric pressure in the top-fill fuel tank;
• a main valve control unit, in communication with the fuel inlet, that shuts off fuel flow into the top-fill fuel tank when the top-fill fuel tank is full, and automatically opens and allows fuel to enter the top-fill tank when the fuel level drops a certain amount below the full level, said main valve control unit having a valve seat, a valve plunger having a bleed aperture, said valve plunger being upwardly biased by a biasing spring, said bleed aperture diverting a minor portion of incoming fuel to first and second bleed paths that empty into the top-fill fuel tank when the top-fill fuel tank is not full;
• a vertically slidable control pin that upwardly positionable to open the first bleed path and downwardly positionable to close the first bleed path;
• a lever arm, operative on the vertically slidable control pin, pivotal movement of which controls a vertical position of the control pin;
• and
• a fuel level float, operative on the lever arm, to cause pivotal movement thereof;
• a slidable rod that incorporates a secondary bleed port valve plug, said slidable rod being liftable by the fuel level float to close the second bleed path when the top-fill fuel tank is full;
• a hollow, cylindrical central float guide, through which fuel enters the top-fill fuel tank, said hollow, cylindrical central float guide being surrounded by the fuel level float, which can slide up and down on the float guide;
• and
• a sleeve secured within the fuel level float, said sleeve having both a cylindrical inner bore, that is parallel to a float guide axis, and a lever-lifting flange at a bottom end thereof, said slidable rod being installed within the cylindrical inner bore;
• and
• wherein, in response to upward movement of the fuel level float, the lever-lifting flange lifts the lever arm, which, in turn, depresses the vertically slidable control pin so as to close the first bleed path before the fuel level float engages and lifts the slidable rod to close the second bleed path.