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US 8,807,162 B2Granted
Fuel tank with internal evaporative emission system
AssigneeFlorida Marine Tanks, Inc.
InventorOrestes Y. Monterrey
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A gas fuel tank with an internal emission fuel system includes a fill-and-vent valve system inside the fuel tank that controls fuel vapor through an exterior carbon canister and prevents spit back. This inventive system prevents exposure of the carbon canister to liquid or fuel. The fill valve assembly has a nylon wedge float that causes the fuel fill nozzle to shut off once the liquid level seals the valve opening. The vent valve assembly also has a nylon wedge float that shuts off vapor once the liquid level seals the valve opening.
Claims19
A fuel system comprising:
- a fuel container housed within a marine vessel, the fuel container defining an interior, an exterior, a fuel-intake opening, and an opening, the fuel-intake opening and the opening of the fuel container placing the interior in fluid communication with the exterior, the fuel-intake opening located on a top surface of the fuel container;
- a fuel shut-off valve at the fuel-intake opening and having at least a portion within the interior of the fuel container;
- and
- an emission assembly located within the interior of the fuel container, the emission assembly having:
- a passageway having a watertight length and at least a first opening and a second opening along the watertight length, the first opening of the passageway having a mechanical watertight couple to the opening of the fuel container;
- a first chamber having a first end coupled to the second opening of the passageway, a second end opposite the first end of the first chamber, and a length between the first end of the first chamber and the second end of the first chamber;
- a first stopper:
- having a buoyancy when placed in liquid;
- having at least a portion located within the first chamber;
- movable along the length of the first chamber;
- and
- sized to seal the second opening of the passageway when at the first end of the first chamber;
- and
- a third opening in the passageway and a fourth opening in the passageway, the second opening located between the third and fourth openings,
- the fuel shut-off valve disposed between the third and fourth openings.
12 more elements
A marine vessel fuel system comprising:
- a fuel container housed within a marine vessel, the fuel container defining an interior, an exterior, a first opening placing the interior in fluid communication with the exterior, and a fuel-intake opening placing the interior in fluid communication with the exterior and located on a top surface of the fuel container and near a center of the top surface of the fuel container;
- a fuel-intake port at the fuel-intake opening and passing from the exterior to the interior of the fuel container and having a diameter;
- a fuel shut-off valve at the fuel-intake opening and having at least a portion within the interior of the fuel container, the fuel shut-off valve having:
- a fuel shut-off valve chamber having a first end coupled to the fuel-intake port, a second end opposite the first end, and a length between the first end and the second end;
- and
- a fuel shut-off valve chamber stopper:
- having a buoyancy when placed in liquid;
- having at least a portion located within the chamber;
- movable along the length of the chamber;
- and
- sized to seal the fuel-intake port when at the first end of the fuel shut-off valve chamber;
- and
- an emission assembly located within the interior of the fuel container, the emission assembly having:
- a passageway having a watertight length and at least a first opening and a second opening along the watertight length, the first opening of the passageway having a mechanical watertight couple to the first opening of the fuel container;
- a first emission-assembly chamber having a first end coupled to the second opening of the passageway, a second end opposite the first end of the first emission-assembly chamber, and a length between the first end of the first emission-assembly chamber and the second end of the first emission-assembly chamber;
- and
- a first emission-assembly stopper:
- having a buoyancy when placed in liquid;
- having at least a portion located within the first emission-assembly chamber;
- movable along the length of the first emission-assembly chamber;
- and
- sized to seal the second opening of the passageway when at the first end of the first emission-assembly chamber.
19 more elements
A fuel system comprising:
- a fuel container housed within a marine vessel, the fuel container defining an interior, an exterior, a fuel-intake opening located on a top surface of the fuel container, and an opening, the fuel-intake opening and the opening placing the interior in fluid communication with the exterior;
- an emission assembly located within the interior of the fuel container, the emission assembly:
- having a passageway spanning a watertight length and having a first opening of the passageway with a mechanical watertight couple to the opening of the fuel container;
- having a first chamber with a first end coupled to a second opening of the passageway, a second end opposite the first end of the first chamber, and a length between the first end of the first chamber and the second end of the first chamber, the first chamber including a first stopper disposed along the length of the first chamber and operable to seal the second opening of the passageway when at the first end of the first chamber;
- and
- having a second chamber with a first end coupled to a third opening of the passageway, a second end opposite the first end of the second chamber, and a length between the first end of the second chamber and the second end of the second chamber, the second chamber including a second stopper disposed along the length of the second chamber and operable to seal the third opening of the passageway when at the first end of the second chamber;
- and
- with the first opening of the passageway interposed between the second and third openings of the passageway;
- and
- a fuel shut-off valve coupled to the fuel-intake opening, having at least a portion within the interior of the fuel container, and disposed at a location on the fuel container between the second and third openings of the passageway.
7 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.