Operating fluid reservoir having an integrated venting and/or air admission valve

An operating fluid reservoir comprising:

• a venting and/or an air admission valve, wherein the venting and/or air admission valve comprises a hollow valve housing located in an interior of the operating fluid reservoir, wherein the valve housing includes a valve housing interior;
• the valve housing interior in fluid communication with a vent line via a vent opening;
• the valve housing interior in fluid communication with the interior of the operating fluid reservoir via at least one ventilation opening;
• the venting and/or air admission valve comprises a valve body arranged in the valve housing interior;
• in an installed position of the operating fluid reservoir, the valve body is at a distance from the vent opening when an operating fluid level within the operating fluid reservoir is below a shutoff level, with the result that the valve body is in an open position and the valve housing interior and the vent line are in fluid communication;
• in the installed position of the operating fluid reservoir, the valve body is subject to a lift from the operating fluid in the valve housing interior such that the valve body is in a closed position and closes the vent opening when an operating fluid level within the operating fluid reservoir is above the shutoff level, with a result that the valve housing interior and the vent line are not in fluid communication via the vent opening;
• the valve housing having a valve housing wall formed integrally with an operating fluid reservoir wall;
• the vent opening embodied as a through opening through the operating fluid reservoir wall;
• the valve body introducible into the valve housing interior via an introduction opening in the valve housing;
• the valve body comprises a holding device, by which the valve body is held movably in the valve housing;
• at least one latching opening projecting radially through the valve housing wall is provided in the valve housing;
• the holding device comprises at least one latching projection connected to the valve body and extending radially from the valve body;
• the valve body is introducible into the valve housing interior via the introduction opening;
• and
• the latching projection is latchable into the latching opening in a process involving elastic deformation of at least one of the valve housing, the valve body and the latching projection.

A method for producing an operating fluid reservoir, comprising:

• injection moulding or deep drawing a first reservoir shell having an integrated hollow valve housing including a valve housing wall, which surrounds a vent opening in the first reservoir shell;
• introducing a valve body into the valve housing via an introduction opening in the valve housing;
• latching a holding device comprising at least one latching projection connected to the valve body and extending radially from the valve body into at least one latching opening projecting radially through the valve housing wall in a process involving elastic deformation of at least one of the valve housing, the valve body and the latching projection;
• and
• connecting the first reservoir shell to a second reservoir shell to form the operating fluid reservoir;
• wherein the valve housing and the valve body are components of a venting and/or an air admission valve;
• wherein the valve housing is located in an interior of the operating fluid reservoir;
• wherein the valve housing includes a valve housing interior, the valve housing interior in fluid communication with a vent line via the vent opening;
• wherein the valve housing interior is in fluid communication with the interior of the operating fluid reservoir via at least one ventilation opening;
• wherein the valve body is arranged in the valve housing interior;
• wherein, in an installed position of the operating fluid reservoir, the valve body is at a distance from the vent opening when an operating fluid level within the operating fluid reservoir is below a shutoff level, with the result that the valve body is in an open position and the valve housing interior and the vent line are in fluid communication;
• wherein, in the installed position of the operating fluid reservoir, the valve body is subject to a lift from the operating fluid in the valve housing interior such that the valve body is in a closed position and closes the vent opening when an operating fluid level within the operating fluid reservoir is above the shutoff level, with a result that the valve housing interior and the vent line are not in fluid communication via the vent opening;
• wherein the valve housing is formed integrally with an operating fluid reservoir wall;
• wherein the vent opening is embodied as a through opening through the operating fluid reservoir wall;
• wherein the valve body is introducible into the valve housing interior via the introduction opening in the valve housing;
• wherein the valve body is held movably in the valve housing by the holding device;
• and
• wherein the at least one latching projection is latchable into the at least one latching opening upon the elastic deformation of at least one of the valve housing, the valve body and the latching projection.