Buoyant vent valve
AssigneeIllinois Tool Works Inc.
InventorsEric G. Parker, Kenneth LeVey, David R. Nowak
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A vent valve for a fuel tank having a sending unit positioned therethrough including a floating body floatable within the fuel tank and a valve positioned with respect to the floating body. A vent hose is positioned with respect to the valve, the vent hose extending between the floating body and the sending unit.
Claims15
A vent valve for a fuel tank comprising:
- a floating body;
- a valve rotatably positioned within the floating body;
- a vent positioned with respect to the floating body;
- and
- a vent hose positioned with respect to the vent, the vent forming a vapor path between the valve and the vent hose.
A vent valve for a fuel tank comprising:
- a floating body;
- a valve positioned within the floating body, wherein the valve comprises:
- a valve float rotatably positioned within the floating body;
- and
- a valve channel positioned within the valve float;
- a vent positioned with respect to the floating body;
- and
- a vent hose positioned with respect to the vent, the vent forming a vapor path between the valve and the vent hose.
A vent valve for a fuel tank comprising:
- a floating body;
- a valve positioned within the floating body, wherein the valve is freely rotatable within the floating body and positionable between an open position and a closed position;
- a vent positioned with respect to the floating body;
- and
- a vent hose positioned with respect to the vent, the vent forming a vapor path between the valve and the vent hose.
A vent valve for a fuel tank having a sending unit positioned therethrough, the vent valve comprising:
- a floating body floatable within the fuel tank;
- a valve positioned within the floating body, the valve rotatable within the floating body and positionable between an open position and a closed position;
- and
- a vent hose positioned with respect to the valve, the vent hose extending between the floating body and the sending unit.
A vent valve for a fuel tank having a sending unit positioned therethrough, the vent valve comprising:
- a floating body floatable within the fuel tank;
- a plurality of baffles positioned within the floating body;
- a valve positioned within the floating body;
- and
- a vent hose positioned with respect to the valve, the vent hose extending between the floating body and the sending unit.
A method for venting a fuel tank comprising:
- floating a valve in the fuel tank;
- tethering the valve with respect to a sidewall of the fuel tank;
- rotating the valve within a floating body based upon an angle of a fuel level within the fuel tank;
- and
- discharging vapor through the valve from an interior of the fuel tank to an exterior of the fuel tank.
A method for venting a fuel tank comprising:
- floating a valve in the fuel tank;
- tethering the valve with respect to a sidewall of the fuel tank;
- discharging vapor through the valve from an interior of the fuel tank to an exterior of the fuel tank;
- and
- closing the valve when the fuel tank becomes inverted.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.