Vent including a separator membrane
AssigneeBemis Manufacturing Company
InventorsRobert Daniel Tharp, Michael Joseph Holz
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A vent structure at least partially defining a passageway between the inside of a fuel storage tank and the outside atmosphere includes a separator membrane. The separator membrane is positioned within the vent structure configured to block liquid fuel in the storage tank from reaching the outside atmosphere through the passageway. The separator membrane is permeable by air. The vent structure may be in the form of a cap or a remote vent, or it may be provided substantially within the fuel storage tank. The vent structure may be provided as part of a fuel evaporative emissions system for a vehicle or motor-driven power equipment.
Claims20
A fuel evaporative emissions system for a vehicle or motor-driven power equipment comprising
- a storage tank for holding a volume of fuel;
- a vent structure at least partially defining a passageway between the inside of the storage tank and the outside atmosphere;
- and
- a separator membrane positioned within the vent structure configured to block liquid fuel in the storage tank from reaching the outside atmosphere through the passageway, the separator membrane being permeable by air;
- wherein the vent structure includes at least one of a cap, and a storage tank.
A vent structure for a fuel system comprising:
- a housing at least partially defining a chamber;
- and
- a separator membrane positioned within the chamber, the separator membrane being impermeable to liquid and permeable to select gases;
- wherein the separator membrane includes a peripheral rim, said rim being bonded to the housing.
A fuel cap configured for attachment to a fuel containment structure of a vehicle or other motor-driven power equipment comprising:
- a main body portion having a vent aperture formed therein;
- a chamber at least partially defined by the main body portion;
- an external opening in communication with the chamber and with a surrounding atmosphere;
- and
- a separator membrane positioned within the chamber, the separator membrane being primarily constructed of a material that blocks liquid fuel within the fuel containment structure from reaching the external opening and that allows air to flow into and out of the fuel containment structure as necessary to avoid substantial deviation from atmosphere pressure within the fuel containment structure.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.