Fuel tank vent valve with liquid carryover filter
AssigneeStant Manufacturing Inc.
InventorsTimothy J. King, Gregory P. Brown
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
An apparatus for controlling discharge of fuel vapor from within a vehicle fuel tank, which apparatus includes at least a primary and auxiliary liquid separating chamber positioned above a float chamber below a valve outlet. The apparatus includes at least one baffle arranged to intercept and direct filtered fuel droplets from the vapor flow and return the liquid fuel to the fuel tank. The primary and auxiliary liquid separation chambers and associated baffle are positioned to facilitate flow of fuel vapor from the tank yet return liquid fuel to the tank.
Claims10
An apparatus for controlling discharge of fuel vapor from within a vehicle fuel tank, the apparatus comprising
- a valve container adapted to be installed in a fuel tank and formed to include an inlet in communication with the fuel tank, an outlet, and a main chamber defined therebetween,
- a float valve assembly disposed in said main chamber and formed for movement between an open position allowing flow of fuel vapor through the outlet and a closed position preventing flow of at least fuel vapor through the outlet, said float valve assembly controllably providing communication between said inlet and outlet,
- a primary liquid separation chamber in said main chamber defined between said float valve assembly and said outlet,
- an auxiliary liquid separation chamber in said main chamber defined between said primary liquid separation chamber and said outlet,
- said outlet defines a flow path from a second valve to said apparatus and from said apparatus to a vapor control canister, and
- a baffle retained in said container between said primary liquid separation chamber and said auxiliary liquid separation chamber, said baffle includes at least one aperture therein providing communication between said auxiliary liquid separation chamber and said primary liquid separation chamber.
A vent valve for use in a fuel vapor recovery system communicating with a fuel tank, said vent valve comprising
- a container adapted for installation in said fuel tank having au inlet end communicating with an interior of said tank and a valve lid positioned externally of said tank, said valve lid defining a lid chamber in communication with said tank, said valve lid including an input port and an output port in communication with said lid chamber, a wall disposed in said container defining a main chamber and a float chamber therein, said wall defining at least one vent aperture therethrough,
- said main chamber positioned between said lid chamber and said float chamber,
- a float valve operatively disposed in said float chamber of said container for selectively opening and closing said vent aperture responsive to a level of fuel in said tank,
- a diversion baffle depending from an inside surface of said valve lid and extending in said lid chamber, said diversion baffle being oriented for impeding vapor flow from said input port to said output port and deflecting liquid fuel in said vapor into said main chamber, and
- a foraminous baffle structure positioned in said main chamber dividing said main chamber into a primary liquid separation chamber between said foraminous baffle structure and said wall and an auxiliary chamber between said foraminous baffle structure and said lid chamber.
A vent valve for use in a fuel vapor recovery system communicating with a fuel tank, said vent valve comprising
- a container defining a main chamber,
- a valve lid attached to said container and defining a lid chamber communicating with said main chamber,
- an input port communicating with said lid chamber,
- an output port communicating with said lid chamber,
- a wall disposed in said container defining a float chamber spaced from said lid chamber by said main chamber, said wall defining at least one vent aperture therethrough,
- a float valve operatively disposed in said float chamber for selectively opening and closing said aperture, and
- a diversion baffle positioned at least partially in said lid chamber, said diversion baffle defining an input chamber, said input chamber communicates with said input port and said lid chamber creating an obstacle to the flow of vapor and fuel from said input port through said lid chamber to said output port for deflecting liquid fuel agglomerating thereon into said container.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.