Ball float vent valve

A hydraulic system of a work machine, the hydraulic system comprising:

• a tank configured to hold a supply of hydraulic fluid, the tank having a plurality of walls;
• a pump fluidly connected to the tank;
• a suction tube coupled to one of the plurality of walls of the tank, the suction tube fluidly connected to a suction line extending between the pump and the tank;
• and
• a ball float vent valve fluidly coupled to the suction tube, the ball float vent valve including:
• a valve body having an axial passageway defined by an inlet chamber, an outlet chamber and a tapered seat therebetween;
• a spherical float positioned in the outlet chamber, the float dimensioned to seal the axial passageway when seated on the tapered seat;
• and
• a retainer positioned in the outlet chamber and dimensioned to retain the spherical float in the outlet chamber, the retainer including an outer crescent-shaped region, a circular center region, and a linking region extending radially between the center region and the outer region.

A work machine, the work machine comprising:

• a prime mover;
• a hydraulic tank configured to hold a supply of hydraulic fluid;
• a hydraulic pump fluidly connected to the tank and coupled to the prime mover;
• a suction line hose coupled at a first end to the pump and at a second end to the tank;
• and
• a vent valve, the vent valve including:
• a valve body having an axial passageway defined by an inlet chamber, an outlet chamber and a tapered seat therebetween, the inlet chamber being installed along the suction line hose, the outlet chamber being coupled to a vent line extending between the outlet chamber and the hydraulic tank;
• a float positioned in the outlet chamber;
• and
• a retainer positioned in the outlet chamber and dimensioned to retain the float in the outlet chamber.