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US 6,634,341 B2Granted
Vent and rollover valve and fuel pump module
AssigneeWalbro Corporation
InventorsLynwood F. Crary, Mark R. Johansen
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A high flow rate fuel vapor vent and rollover valve assembly with a float valve that provides a progressive closing of a vapor outlet to control the venting of fuel vapors from a fuel tank and the addition of liquid fuel to the tank. The float closes a portion of the vapor outlet in response to liquid fuel at a first level in a vehicle fuel tank. A body completely closes the vapor outlet in response to rollover attitudes of the vehicle. One or more separate baffles are constructed and arranged to prevent the escape of liquid fuel through the vapor outlet.
Claims32
A vapor vent and rollover valve for a fuel tank of a vehicle with normal and rollover attitudes comprising:
- a vapor outlet communicating an interior of the fuel tank with an exterior of the fuel tank and through which fuel vapor may flow out of the fuel tank;
- a fill cup having an opening at one end and a sidewall extending to the open end;
- a shell defining an interior space, disposed in part in the fill cup and having a sidewall with an opening therethrough and an upper edge.
- a flow passage defined between the fill cup sidewall and the shell sidewall communicating with the opening of the fill cup and the opening through the sidewall to permit fluid which flows into the opening of the fill cup to enter the interior space through the opening in the sidewall of the shell;
- a float having an opening aligned with the vapor outlet, slidably received in the interior space and at normal vehicle attitudes responsive to the level of liquid fuel in the interior space to partially close the vapor outlet at or above a certain first level of fuel in the fuel tank and permit fluid flow through the vapor outlet only through the opening in the first float;
- a body slidably received in the interior space and at rollover attitudes responsive both to close the opening in the float and urge the float to close the vapor outlet to prevent fluid flow through the vapor outlet even if the float and body are submerged in liquid fuel in the fuel tank;
- a baffle surrounding an upper portion of the shell including the upper edge of the shell;
- and
- a vapor flow path communicating with the interior of the fuel tank at a location above the first fuel level and having an inlet defined at least in part between the baffle and the shell disposed below the upper edge of the shell, and having a portion defined above the upper edge of the shell with the vapor outlet and shell arranged so that in order for fluid in the fuel tank to reach the vapor outlet through the vapor flow path, the fluid must travel upwardly between the baffle and shell, laterally over the edge of the shell, further laterally to the vapor outlet and upwardly to flow through the vapor outlet, permitting fuel vapor to exit the fuel tank while preventing liquid fuel flow through the vapor outlet.
6 more elements
A fuel pump module extending at least in part into a fuel tank of a vehicle with normal and rollover attitudes comprising:
- a flange portion connectable to a wall of the fuel tank and having a vapor outlet extending therethrough and an annular depending skirt extending into the fuel tank when the flange portion is mounted to the fuel tank;
- a reservoir portion carried by the flange portion and disposed in the fuel tank when the flange portion is mounted to the fuel tank;
- a vent valve carried by the flange portion and having:
- a shell connectable to the flange portion with an upper portion of the shell including an upper edge of the shell within and adjacent to the skirt, said shell defining an interior space and having a sidewall with an opening therethrough;
- a fill cup having a sidewall and an open end, the fill cup is received at least in part around the sidewall of the shell;
- a flow passage defined between the fill cup sidewall and the shell sidewall, and communicating the opening of the fill cup with the opening through the sidewall to permit fluid which flows into the opening of the fill cup to enter the interior space through the opening in the sidewall of the shell;
- a float having an opening aligned with the vapor outlet, slidably received in the interior space and at normal attitudes of the vehicle responsive to the level of liquid fuel in the interior space to partially close the vapor outlet at or above a certain first level of fuel in the fuel tank and permit fluid flow through the vapor outlet only through the opening in the first float;
- and
- a body slidably received in the interior space and at rollover attitudes of the vehicle responsive both to close the opening in the first float and urge the float to close the vapor outlet to prevent fluid flow through the vapor outlet even if the float and body are submerged in liquid fuel in the fuel tank, whereby fuel which flows over the sidewall of the fill cup and into the opening of the fill cup rapidly fills the interior space with liquid fuel to the same height as the liquid fuel in the fuel tank so that the float is rapidly responsive to the fuel level in the fuel tank when the fuel level in the fuel tank is above the sidewall of the fill cup.
6 more elements
A vapor vent valve for a fuel tank, comprising:
- a vapor outlet through which fuel vapor may flow out of the fuel tank;
- a fill cup having an open end and a continuous imperforate sidewall leading to the open end;
- a shell disposed in part in the fill cup, defining at least in part an interior space and having an opening therethrough communicating with the open end of the fill cup, the opening being shielded from splashing liquid fuel by the fill cup;
- and
- a float slidably received in the interior space and responsive to liquid fuel in the interior space at least when said liquid fuel is at a level above the fill cup sidewall to partially close the vapor outlet at or above a certain first level of fuel in the fuel tank.
2 more elements
A vapor vent and rollover valve for a fuel tank of a vehicle comprising:
- a cover connectable to a wall of a fuel tank and having a vapor outlet communicating an interior of the fuel tank with an exterior of the fuel tank and through which fuel vapor may flow out of the fuel tank;
- a shell defining an interior space and having a sidewall with an opening therethrough and an upper edge
- a float slidably received in the interior space and at normal vehicle attitudes responsive to the level of liquid fuel in the interior space to at least partially close the vapor outlet at or above a certain first level of fuel in the fuel tank;
- a baffle surrounding an upper portion of the shell including the upper edge of the shell;
- and
- a vapor flow path communicating with the interior of the fuel tank at a location above the first fuel level and having an inlet defined at least in part between the baffle and the shell disposed below the upper edge of the shell, and having a portion defined above the upper edge of the shell with the vapor outlet and shell arranged so that in order for fluid in the fuel tank to reach the vapor outlet through the vapor flow path, the fluid must travel upwardly between the baffle and shell, laterally over the edge of the shell, further laterally to the vapor outlet and upwardly to flow through the vapor outlet, permitting fuel vapor to exit the fuel tank while preventing liquid fuel flow through the vapor outlet.
3 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.