Fuel tank venting separator

A fuel tank venting separator for continuously venting and maintaining atmospheric pressure in a liquid fuel tank while preventing the overboard venting of liquid fuel from the tank, the separator comprising:

• chamber means;
• a first opening in said chamber means to admit liquid and vapor to the chamber means from the tank and to conduct air from the chamber means to the tank;
• a first unrestricted conducting means that is external to said chamber means and is connected to said first opening and the tank to conduct liquid and vapor;
• a second opening in said chamber means for returning liquid to the tank;
• a third opening in said chamber means to vent vapor under positive pressure from the chamber means to the atmosphere to admit air to the chamber means;
• a second unrestricted conducting means that is external to said chamber means and connected to said third opening to conduct vapor to the atmosphere;
• and
• means for separating liquid and vapor entering said chamber means through said first opening such that the liquid is returned to the tank through said second opening without entering said third opening and the vapor is vented through said third opening to the atmosphere under positive pressure from said chamber means, and air is admitted through said third opening to said chamber from the atmosphere.

A fuel tank venting separator for continuously venting and maintaining atmospheric pressure in a fuel tank while preventing the overboard venting of liquid fuel, the separator comprising:

• fill tube means connected to the fuel tank;
• wall means attached to the exterior of said fill tube means to form a chamber between said wall means and the exterior of said fill tube means;
• one or more drain openings formed in said fill tube means and communicating between said chamber and the interior of said fill tube means to drain liquid from said chamber to said fill tube and thence to the tank;
• a first port formed in said wall means to admit liquid and vapor to said chamber under positive pressure from the fuel tank through a first unrestricted tube means that is separate from said fill tube means and to admit air to the fuel tank;
• a second port in said wall means that communicates with the atmosphere to vent vapor under positive pressure from said chamber to the atmosphere through a second unrestricted tube means that is separate from said fill tube means and to admit air from the atmosphere to said chamber;
• and
• means for separating the liquid fuel from the vapor such that the liquid fuel is returned to the fuel tank by the force of gravity and the vapor is vented under positive pressure from said chamber through the second port to the atmosphere.