Filler tube mounted fuel tank refueling valve
AssigneeEaton Corporation
InventorRobert P. Benjey
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A spring loaded valve member with a poppet on one end is disposed in a fuel tank with the inlet end connected to the filler tube. The valve member has a spool valve attached to the poppet. The poppet is opened by fuel discharging from a refueling nozzle and the valve member movement limited by a float operated latch such that fuel flows through the spool valve ports. Upon the float rising in the tank, the latch is released permitting the force of the flowing fuel to further move the valve member to close the spool valve.
Claims25
A method of shutting off flow to a fuel tank from a refueling nozzle comprising:
- (a) providing a filler tube on the tank for receiving the nozzle and extending a portion of the tube into the tank;
- (b) forming a valving chamber with a valve seat in the filler tube;
- (c) disposing a moveable obturator in the valving chamber and moveably biasing said obturator toward the valve seat;
- (d) disposing a float in the tank and moving a member with said float and limiting movement of said obturator in a direction away from said valve seat with said member when the fuel level in the tank is below a predetermined fill and fuel is discharged into said tube from said nozzle;
- and
- (e) raising the float and releasing said member from said limiting and moving said obturator further from said valve seat and effecting blocking of the filler tube when the fuel level in the tank reaches said fill.
A system for shutting off a refueling nozzle for a fuel tank comprising:
- (a) a filler tube for receiving the nozzle in one end thereof and with an end opposite the one end extending into the tank;
- (b) a valve seat formed in the filler tube;
- (c) an obturator disposed for movement with respect to the valve seat;
- (d) means operable for biasing said movement of the obturator toward said valve seat;
- and,
- (e) a float disposed in the tank and including a member operatively connected thereto for limiting movement of said obturator in a direction away from said valve seat when said float is lowered below a predetermined level and said member operative for releasing said limiting when said float is raised to said predetermined level.
A method of shutting off flow to a fuel tank from a refueling nozzle comprising:
- (a) providing a filler tube on the tank for receiving the nozzle and extending a portion of the tube into the tank;
- (b) forming a valving chamber with a valve seat in the filler tube;
- (c) forming an obturator having a poppet portion and a hollow tubular portion and forming at least one flow port in the tubular portion and disposing the obturator in the valving chamber for sliding movement therein;
- (d) biasing said poppet against said valve seat with a force and overcoming said force and moving said poppet from said seat when fuel is discharged from said nozzle into said filler tube;
- (e) disposing a float in said tank and engaging and limiting movement of said poppet with downward movement of said float;
- and,
- (f) releasing said engaging with upward movement of the float and moving said poppet further from said seat and closing said at least one flow port and blocking the filler tube.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.