Float and hinge for a valve
AssigneeWalbro Corporation
InventorsElton J. Fisch, Jeffrey D. Hanby
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
In at least some implementations, an assembly includes a float having a void with an inlet leading into the void in a first direction, and at least one retention surface that is not parallel to the first direction and a hinge received at least partially within the void. The hinge has at least one retention feature that cooperates with the at least one retention feature of the float to inhibit removal of the hinge from the float in a second direction opposite to the first direction, and the hinge is formed from a polymeric material. In at least some implementations, the hinge has a melting point similar to or lower than the melting point of the material of the float, and the hinge is formed separately from and is pressed into the void in the float.
Claims19
An assembly, comprising:
- a float having a void with an inlet leading into the void in a first direction, and at least one retention surface that is not parallel to the first direction;
- a hinge received at least partially within the void and having at least one retention feature that engages the at least one retention surface of the float to inhibit removal of the hinge from the float in a second direction opposite to the first direction, wherein the hinge is formed from a polymeric material, and wherein the hinge has a dimension greater than a dimension of a corresponding portion of the void, and the hinge has a finger that flexes to reduce the dimension of the hinge so that the hinge including the finger may be received in the void, and wherein the hinge includes one or more openings or a passage formed in a portion of the hinge outboard of the float;
- and
- a pin received in said one or more openings or passage of the hinge, and the pin defining a pivot about which the float pivots.
An assembly, comprising:
- a float having a void with an inlet leading into the void in a first direction, and at least one retention surface that is not parallel to the first direction;
- a hinge received at least partially within the void and having at least one retention feature that engages the at least one retention surface of the float to inhibit removal of the hinge from the float in a second direction opposite to the first direction, wherein the hinge is formed from a polymeric material, and wherein the hinge has a dimension greater than a dimension of a corresponding portion of the void, and the hinge has a finger that flexes to reduce the dimension of the hinge so that the hinge may be received in the void;
- and
- a valve body trapped between the float and hinge without a fastener, adhesive, bond or weld between the valve body and hinge, and wherein the valve body includes a flange that is received in a void of the hinge, and wherein the float prevents removal of the flange from the void of the hinge.
A liquid vapor separator, comprising:
- a body defining at least part of an interior volume;
- a float received within the interior volume, the float being buoyant in liquid that may be received in the interior volume, and the float having a void with an inlet leading into the void in a first direction, and at least one retention surface that is not parallel to the first direction;
- a hinge received at least partially within the void and having at least one retention feature that overlaps the at least one retention feature of the float to inhibit removal of the hinge from the float in a second direction opposite to the first direction, wherein the hinge is formed from a polymeric material and the hinge has a dimension greater than a dimension of a corresponding portion of the void, and the hinge has a finger that flexes to reduce the dimension of the hinge so that the hinge including the finger may be received in the void and the at least one retention feature is carried by the finger;
- and
- a valve body having a coupling feature that is overlied by a coupling feature of the hinge, and wherein the valve body is trapped between the hinge and float so that removal of the valve body from the hinge is prevented by engagement of the valve body with the float.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.