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US 7,017,599 B2Granted
Thermal relief vent and method of manufacturing the same
OwnerNeal L. Keefer, Kenneth A. Watson +1inventors
InventorsNeal L. Keefer, Kenneth A. Watson, John A. Loffink
Life of this patent
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Abstract
An improved thermal relief vent for a fuel tank, and a method of manufacturing the same, includes a thermal relief ring that is used to create a mechanical seal within the vent. The thermal relief ring, at room temperature, is crimped in place by use of the vent cap itself. The crimped thermal relief ring creates a mechanical seal between the vent and the vent cap, up until a predetermined thermal relief point, at which time the thermal relief ring will soften and/or yield and release the vent cap from the vent body.
Claims1
A thermal relief vent comprising:
- a rigid vent body;
- a vent cap secured to said rigid vent body;
- and
- a ring of thermal relief material that defines a mechanical seal between said rigid vent body and said vent cap, wherein said ring is manufactured prior to placement in said vent as a solid ring of thermal relief material;
- the vent further comprising a spring, a vent valve and a float positioned within said vent body;
- wherein said float includes a top surface positioned adjacent said vent valve and a side surface having a protrusion extending therefrom, said float including a seal secured to said protrusion and extending over said top surface of the float.
3 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.