Integral vapor storage and vent valve assembly for use with a small engine fuel tank and vapor emission system employing same
AssigneeEaton Corporation
InventorVaughn K. Mills
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A combination vapor vent/rollover valve and surrounding storage canister are disposed in a common housing for positioning inside a small engine fuel tank. In one embodiment described, the canister surrounds the vapor vent/rollover valve which may include a gravity pressure relief valve and a vacuum relief valve. In another embodiment a pressure relief valve and adjacent storage canister are disposed in a common housing for positioning inside a small engine fuel tank.
Claims22
An integrated vapor storage canister and vapor vent valve assembly for use with a fuel tank for a small engine comprising:
- a housing structure defining a valving chamber and a vapor purge outlet port;
- and
- a pressure relief valve disposed in said valving chamber and movable in response to a predetermined vapor pressure in said valving chamber to open the vapor purge outlet port,
- wherein said housing structure further defines a vapor storage chamber having a vapor passage communicating with said vapor purge outlet port.
A method of controlling fuel vapor emission for a small engine comprising:
- disposing a fuel tank near the engine;
- connecting a fuel supply conduit from the tank to the engine;
- disposing a float operated vent valve in a housing to open and close a vapor purge outlet port;
- forming a vapor storage chamber in the housing;
- connecting the vapor storage chamber to the vent valve;
- disposing the housing in the tank and connecting the vapor purge outlet port to an air inlet of the engine;
- and,
- venting the vapor storage chamber to the atmosphere.
A fuel vapor emission system for a fuel tank for a small engine comprising:
- a fuel tank disposed proximate the small engine;
- conduit means defining a liquid fuel flow path from the tank to the small engine;
- and,
- an integrated vapor storage canister and vapor vent valve assembly disposed within the tank and connected to an engine air inlet, the assembly including
- a housing structure defining a valving chamber with a fuel inlet port and a vapor purge outlet part;
- and
- a pressure relief valve disposed in said valving chamber and movable in response to a predetermined vapor pressure in said valving chamber to open the vapor purge outlet port,
- the housing structure further defining a vapor storage chamber having a vapor passage communicating with said vapor purge outlet port.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.