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

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

• an inlet/vent head having a fuel inlet that receives the fuel under constant pressure and a vent port that maintains atmospheric pressure in the top-fill fuel tank;
• a float cage coupled to the inlet/vent head;
• a float installed within the float cage that tracks fuel level in the top-fill fuel tank;
• a control valve unit coupled to the float cage, said control valve unit incorporating a vertically-slidable control pin that in a raised position, maintains a bleed path open, and in a lower position, seals the bleed path;
• a lever arm coupled to the float and operative on the vertically-slidable control pin such that the lever arm lowers the control pin when the float senses a fuel-tank-full condition and the lever arm releases the control pin when the float senses a fuel-tank-not-full condition;
• a lever arm engagement pin that is secured to the float, said lever arm engagement pin having an upper stop and a lower stop;
• and
• a main valve control unit, coupled to the inlet/vent head, and in communication with the fuel inlet, 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 small amount of incoming fuel to the bleed path that empties into the top-fill fuel tank when the top-fill fuel tank is not full;
• wherein the lever arm is coupled to the lever arm engagement pin between the upper and lower stops;
• wherein a distance between the upper and lower stops determines a period between opening and sealing of the bleed path;
• and
• wherein when the top-fill fuel tank becomes full, the float rises, thereby causing the lever arm to pivot and depress the vertically-slidable control pin, which seals the bleed path, thereby increasing pressure beneath the valve plunger an amount sufficient to cause the biasing spring to slide the valve plunger upwardly to engage the valve seat, thereby stopping an entry of fuel into the top-fill fuel tank.

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

• an inlet/vent head having a fuel inlet that receives the fuel under constant pressure and a vent port that maintains atmospheric pressure in the top-fill fuel tank;
• a float cage coupled to the inlet/vent head;
• a float installed within the float cage that tracks fuel level in the top-fill fuel tank;
• a lever arm engagement pin that is secured to the float, said lever arm engagement pin having an upper stop and a lower stop;
• a control valve unit rigidly secured to the float cage, said control valve unit incorporating a vertically-slidable control pin that in a raised position, maintains a bleed path open, and in a lower position, seals the bleed path;
• a lever arm coupled to the lever arm engagement pin between the upper and lower stops, said lever arm operative on the control pin such that it depresses the vertically-slidable control pin and seals the bleed path when the float senses a fuel-tank-full condition and releases the vertically-slidable control pin when the float senses a fuel-tank-not-full condition;
• and
• a main valve control unit, coupled to the inlet/vent head, and in communication with the fuel inlet, 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 small amount of incoming fuel to the bleed path that empties into the top-fill fuel tank when the top-fill fuel tank is not full;
• wherein, when the top-fill fuel tank becomes full, the fuel rises, thereby causing the lever arm to pivot and depress the vertically-slidable control pin, which seals the bleed path, thereby increasing pressure beneath the valve plunger an amount sufficient to cause the biasing spring to slide the valve plunger upwardly to engage the valve seat, thereby stopping an entry of fuel into the top-fill fuel tank.