Control valve with two-stage shutoff and peel away opening action

A liquid-responsive control valve for controlling the venting of fuel vapor from a fuel tank to a vapor canister in a manner providing a shutoff cue to a person filling the tank, comprising:

• a control valve adapted for venting fuel vapor from the tank to the canister at a first higher rate when the fuel level in the tank is below a first level, at a second lower rate when the fuel level in the tank reaches the first level, and for closing when a second higher fuel level in the tank is reached, the control valve comprising two stage offset valve means responsive to the level of liquid fuel in the tank, the offset valve means comprising liquid level responsive float means, first and second valve means associated with the float means, and first and second vent outlet means, the float means being responsive to liquid fuel reaching the first level to force the first valve means to a position closing the first vent outlet means, the first valve means further including means for biasing the first valve means from the second valve means, and the float means being responsive to liquid fuel level above the first level to force the second valve means against the bias of the first valve means into sealing engagement with the second vent outlet means to close the control valve means;
• wherein the first valve means comprises a first valve element axially moveable within a first valve cage, the first valve cage comprising peeling means for initially pulling a segment of the first valve element from the first vent outlet means when the float means moves away from the first vent outlet means in response to descending liquid fuel level.

A liquid-responsive control valve for controlling the venting of fuel vapor from a fuel tank to a vapor canister in a manner providing a shutoff cue to a person filling the tank, comprising:

• a control valve adapted for venting fuel vapor from the tank to the canister at a first higher rate when the fuel level in the tank is below a first level, at a second lower rate when the fuel level in the tank reaches the first level, and for closing when a second higher fuel level in the tank is reached, the control valve comprising two stage offset valve means responsive to the level of liquid fuel in the tank, the offset valve means comprising liquid level responsive float means, first and second valve means associated with the float means, and first and second vent outlet means, the float means being responsive to liquid fuel reaching the first level to force the first valve means to a position closing the first vent outlet means, the first valve means further including means for biasing the first valve means from the second valve means, and the float means being responsive to liquid fuel level above the first level to force the second valve means against the bias of the first valve means into scaling engagement with the second vent outlet means to close the control valve means;
• wherein the first valve means comprises a first valve element axially moveable on the float means, the first valve means further comprising a resilient seal member mounted on the first vent outlet means such that the first valve means engages the seal member when the first valve means is forced by the float means to a position closing the first vent outlet means.