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US 6,719,000 B1Granted
Two stage fuel tank vent valve
AssigneeG. T. Development Corporation
InventorsAlan K. Forsythe, Scott F. Coomes
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A two-stage vent valve 10 is incorporated into a vehicle fuel distribution system. The vent valve 10 is mounted to the top of a fuel tank of a motor vehicle in a vertically orientated position, so that a fluid inlet is in communication with the interior open air volume of the fuel tank, and an outlet is in communication with the exterior of the tank. The vent valve 10 utilizes a two-stage valve mechanism to allow vapor to escape from the fuel tank, while preventing the leakage of liquid fuel during such operating conditions where the vehicle has tilted due to a small downgrade, sloshing of fuel in a full or near-full tank, or the event of a roll-over.
Claims15
A vent valve for use in a vehicle fuel system comprising:
- a valve body defining an inner cavity and having an inlet for admitting a fluid or a gas into said cavity and an outlet port for discharging said fluid or said gas from said cavity to the exterior of said valve body;
- a main vapor outlet disposed in said valve body and in fluid communication with said outlet port and said inlet;
- and
- a valve mechanism positioned within said inner cavity and movable between a first position, wherein said main vapor outlet is closed, and a second position, wherein said main vapor outlet is open, said valve mechanism including:
- a poppet having a seating surface for mating with said main vapor outlet in a leak-proof manner, said poppet having a longitudinal bore extending therethrough in fluid communication with said main vapor outlet, thereby defining an auxiliary vapor outlet, said auxiliary vapor outlet having a smaller cross-sectional area than said main vapor outlet;
- a buoyancy member having a seating surface for mating with said auxiliary vapor outlet in a leak-proof manner, and
- a poppet retaining member supported by a portion of said buoyancy member, said retaining member operable to retain said poppet in a slideably engageable manner, said retaining member having at least one slot in communication with said inner cavity and said auxiliary vapor outlet;
- wherein said buoyancy member is operable to translate relative to said poppet from a first auxiliary vapor outlet closed position, wherein said seating surface of said buoyancy member is seated into said auxiliary vapor outlet, to an auxiliary outlet opening position, wherein said seating surface of said buoyancy member unseats from said auxiliary vapor outlet wherein said valve body is comprised of a lower portion and a vent cap, wherein said vent cap is coupled to said lower portion and adapted to swivel about said lower portion.
5 more elements
A vent valve comprising:
- a valve body defining an inner cavity and having an inlet for admitting a fluid into said cavity and an outlet port for discharging said fluid from said cavity to the exterior of said valve body;
- a cup seat biased into sealing engagement with an interior portion of said valve body, said cup seat including a main vapor outlet in fluid communication with said outlet port and said inlet;
- and
- a valve mechanism positioned within said inner cavity and movable between a main vapor outlet closing position, wherein said main vapor outlet is closed, and main vapor outlet opening position, wherein said main vapor outlet is open, said valve mechanism including:
- a poppet having a seating surface for mating with said main vapor outlet in a leak-proof manner, said poppet having a longitudinal bore extending therethrough in fluid communication with said main vapor outlet, thereby defining an auxiliary vapor outlet, said auxiliary vapor outlet having a smaller cross-sectional area than said main vapor outlet,
- a float member having a seating surface for mating with said auxiliary vapor outlet in a leak-proof manner, and
- a poppet retaining member supported by a portion of said float member, said retaining member operable to retain said poppet in a slideably engageable manner, said retaining member having at least one slot in communication with said inner cavity and said auxiliary vapor outlet;
- wherein said float member is operable to translate relative to said poppet from a first auxiliary vapor outlet closed position, wherein said seating surface of said float is seated into said auxiliary vapor outlet in a leak-proof manner, to a auxiliary outlet opening position, wherein said seating surface of said float unseats from said auxiliary vapor outlet.
5 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.