US 4,044,913 AGranted

Valve mechanisms

AssigneeSaab-Scania AB

InventorStig Erik Brunnert

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Abstract

The invention relates to a valve mechanism for a liquid container, particularly a petrol tank of the kind in which an air-ventilating line between the tank and its filling pipe is closed during filling to build up an air pocket for limiting the filling level. The invention provides a simple construction in which the ventilating line opens into a recess formed in the wall of the filling pipe near to the filler cup. The opening is normally closed during filling by a seal carried by a spring retained in the recess, the spring having a part extending into the filling pipe such that, when fitted, an axial extension of the filler cap urges the spring, and hence the seal, to uncover the opening. In a preferred form, the recess extends transversely of the filling pipe and the spring is U-shaped and contained within the recess, that leg nearer the filler cap carrying the seal.

Claims8

Dependent claims

In a container for holding a liquid, a filling pipe having an inlet which is closable by a removable cap and an outlet disposed in said container, at least one air-ventilating line which opens into an internal recess defined in the inner surface of the filling pipe adjacent the filling pipe inlet end, and a valve mechanism for said air-ventilating line, the improvement which comprises, said recess being of parallelepipedic configuration and extending transversely of said filling pipe with said air-ventilating line opening in an axial wall of said recess, a spring comprising a double-bent U-shaped plate spring having two legs and a web portion connecting said legs mounted in said filling pipe and tensioned against the walls of said recess so that its legs are spaced apart in the longitudinal direction of said filling pipe, said plate spring having a part thereof extending into the through-passage of said filling pipe, a seal carried by said plate spring and arranged to close the connection to the air-ventilating line, and an axial sleeve extension provided on said cap arranged, when said cap is mounted on said filling pipe, to engage and urge said plate spring, via its extension, in a manner to cause the connection to the airventilating line to be opened.

A fuel tank for a motor vehicle, comprising, in combination:

a container adapted to hold a supply of fuel,
a filling pipe having an inlet which is closeable by a removable cap, and an outlet disposed in said container,
at least one air-ventilating line having an inlet disposed in said container and an outlet disposed in an internal recess defined in the inner surface of said filling pipe adjacent the filling pipe inlet end, said recess being of parallelepipedic configuration, said air-ventilating pipe opening in an axial wall of said recess, said recess extending transversely of the filling pipe,
a spring comprising a double-bent U-shaped plate spring having two legs and a web portion connecting said legs mounted in the filling pipe tensioned against the walls of said recess so that its legs are spaced apart in the longitudinal direction of said filling pipe, said plate spring extending for a distance into the through-passage of said filling pipe,
a seal carried by said plate spring and arranged to close said air-ventilating line outlet, and a removable cap for mounting on said filling pipe inlet, said cap having an axial sleeve extension which is adapted to contact the extension on said plate spring when said cap is mounted on said filling pipe inlet to thereby cause the seal on said air-ventilating line to open.

2 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.