Quick response float-operated vapor vent valve
AssigneeEaton Corporation
InventorsMatthew L. Erdmann, Paul D. Walkowski
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A valve assembly is provided for venting pressure in a fuel tank. The valve assembly includes a housing that defines a passage and a valve seat provided at one end of the passage. A float assembly is disposed within the housing. The float assembly includes a flexible membrane seal that seals against the valve seat when the float assembly rises in response to a rising fuel level in the fuel tank, and a reopen profile that applies a reopening force along a select portion of the membrane seal to release the membrane seal from the valve seat when the float assembly drops in response to a falling fuel level in the fuel tank.
Claims20
A valve assembly for venting pressure in a fuel tank, the valve assembly comprising:
- a housing defining a passage and a valve seat provided at one end of the passage;
- and
- a float assembly disposed within the housing, the float assembly including
- a flexible membrane seal that seals against the valve seat when the float assembly rises in response to a rising fuel level in the fuel tank, and
- a reopen profile that applies a reopening force along a select portion of the membrane seal to release the membrane seal from the valve seat when the float assembly drops in response to a falling fuel level in the fuel tank.
A valve assembly for venting pressure in a fuel tank, the valve assembly comprising:
- a housing defining a passage and a valve seat at one end of the passage;
- and
- a float assembly disposed within the housing, the float assembly including
- a tubular body,
- a support member formed on an upper end of the tubular body,
- a core disposed within the tubular body, the core having a curved surface at a top end,
- a rigid member disposed within the support member and pivotally supported on the curved surface of the core,
- a flexible membrane seal that is supported on the rigid member and seals against the valve seat when the float assembly rises in response to a rising fuel level in the fuel tank, and
- a reopen profile supported by the support member, wherein the reopen profile initially applies a reopening force along a select portion of the flexible membrane seal to release the membrane seal from the valve seat when the float assembly drops in response to a falling fuel level in the fuel tank.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.