# US 9,752,695 B2 · Operating fluid reservoir having an integrated venting and/or air admission valve

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- Number: US 9,752,695 B2
- Document ID: US9752695B2
- Status: Granted
- Kind: B2
- Application number: 14/910,782
- Filed: 2014-07-30
- Published: 2016-07-14
- Granted: 2017-09-05
- Earliest claimed: 2013-08-09
- Assignees: Kautex Textron GmbH & Co. KG
- Applicants: Kautex Textron GmbH & Co., KG
- Inventors: Ibrahim Koukan; Roland Linsenboll; Jaroslav Maglovski
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US9752695B2

## CPC

- F16K 24/04: for venting only (F16K24/02 takes precedence)
- B60K 15/03519: {Valve arrangements in the vent line}
- F16K 24/044: {the float being rigidly connected to the valve element, the assembly of float and valve element following a substantially translational movement when actuated, e.g. also for actuating a pilot valve}
- B29C 2045/0093: {of articles provided with an attaching element}
- B60K 2015/03289: {Float valves; Floats therefor}
- B60K 2015/03453: {for fixing or mounting parts of the fuel tank together}
- B60K 2015/03557: {comprising elements of the venting device integrated in the fuel tank, e.g. vapor recovery means}
- B60Y 2304/05: Reducing production costs, e.g. by redesign
- Y10T 137/3099: Float responsive
- F16K: VALVES; TAPS; COCKS; ACTUATING-FLOATS; DEVICES FOR VENTING OR AERATING {(devices for emptying and evacuating the excess liquid in valves or conduits F16L55/07)}
- B60K: ARRANGEMENT OR MOUNTING OF PROPULSION UNITS OR OF TRANSMISSIONS IN VEHICLES; ARRANGEMENT OR MOUNTING OF PLURAL DIVERSE PRIME-MOVERS IN VEHICLES; AUXILIARY DRIVES FOR VEHICLES; INSTRUMENTATION OR DASHBOARDS FOR VEHICLES; ARRANGEMENTS IN CONNECTION WITH COOLING, AIR INTAKE, GAS EXHAUST OR FUEL SUPPLY OF PROPULSION UNITS IN VEHICLES
- B29C: SHAPING OR JOINING OF PLASTICS; SHAPING OF MATERIAL IN A PLASTIC STATE, NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR; AFTER-TREATMENT OF THE SHAPED PRODUCTS, e.g. REPAIRING (making preforms B29B11/00; making laminated products by combining previously unconnected layers which become one product whose layers will remain together B32B37/00 - B32B41/00)
- B60Y: INDEXING SCHEME RELATING TO ASPECTS CROSS-CUTTING VEHICLE TECHNOLOGY
- Y10T: TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER US CLASSIFICATION

## Abstract

The present invention discloses an improved operating fluid reservoir (1) having a venting and/or air admission valve. The operating fluid reservoir (1) is characterized in that a valve housing (10) is formed integrally with an operating fluid reservoir wall (2). A vent opening (3), via which a valve housing interior (11) is in fluid communication with a vent line (5), is embodied as a through opening (3) through the operating fluid reservoir wall (2). A valve body (20), which is arranged in the valve housing interior (11), can be introduced into the valve housing interior (11) via an introduction opening (16) in the valve housing (10). The valve body (20) comprises a holding device (23; 14, 24), by means of which the valve body (20) is held movably in the valve housing (10).

## Claims

### Claim 1

An operating fluid reservoir comprising:
a venting and/or an air admission valve, wherein the venting and/or air admission valve comprises a hollow valve housing located in an interior of the operating fluid reservoir, wherein the valve housing includes a valve housing interior;
the valve housing interior in fluid communication with a vent line via a vent opening;
the valve housing interior in fluid communication with the interior of the operating fluid reservoir via at least one ventilation opening;
the venting and/or air admission valve comprises a valve body arranged in the valve housing interior;
in an installed position of the operating fluid reservoir, the valve body is at a distance from the vent opening when an operating fluid level within the operating fluid reservoir is below a shutoff level, with the result that the valve body is in an open position and the valve housing interior and the vent line are in fluid communication;
in the installed position of the operating fluid reservoir, the valve body is subject to a lift from the operating fluid in the valve housing interior such that the valve body is in a closed position and closes the vent opening when an operating fluid level within the operating fluid reservoir is above the shutoff level, with a result that the valve housing interior and the vent line are not in fluid communication via the vent opening;
the valve housing formed integrally with an operating fluid reservoir wall;
the vent opening embodied as a through opening through the operating fluid reservoir wall;
the valve body introducible into the valve housing interior via an introduction opening in the valve housing;
the valve body comprises a holding device, by which the valve body is held movably in the valve housing;
the holding device comprises a latching device passable through the vent opening into the vent line from the valve housing interior in a process involving elastic deformation of the latching device; and
the latching device situated in the vent opening engages behind the operating fluid reservoir wall surrounding the vent opening.

### Claim 2 (depends on 1)

The operating fluid reservoir according to claim 1, wherein the operating fluid reservoir comprises at least one bypass venting device, by which the valve housing interior and the vent line are in fluid communication with one another and/or are placeable in fluid communication with one another.

### Claim 3 (depends on 2)

The operating fluid reservoir according to claim 2, wherein the bypass venting device is configured as a bypass vent opening in the operating fluid reservoir wall, by which the valve housing interior is in fluid communication with the vent line, irrespective of the position of the valve body.

### Claim 4 (depends on 2)

The operating fluid reservoir according to claim 2, wherein the bypass venting device comprises a bypass vent line connected to the valve housing and/or a bypass vent groove, wherein the valve housing interior is in fluid communication with the vent opening through the bypass vent line and/or the bypass vent groove in the closed position of the valve body.

### Claim 5 (depends on 2)

The operating fluid reservoir according to claim 2, wherein the bypass venting device is configured as a recess in the operating fluid reservoir wall surrounding the vent opening, wherein the valve housing interior is in fluid communication with the vent opening through the recess in the closed position of the valve body.

### Claim 6 (depends on 1)

The operating fluid reservoir according to claim 1, wherein the valve body is of hollow design and has a valve body interior.

### Claim 7 (depends on 6)

The operating fluid reservoir according to claim 6, wherein at least one vent opening, via which the valve body interior is in fluid communication with the valve housing interior, is provided in the valve body.

### Claim 8

A method for producing an operating fluid reservoir, comprising:
injection moulding or deep drawing a first reservoir shell having an integrated hollow valve housing, which surrounds a vent opening in the first reservoir shell;
introducing a valve body into the valve housing via an introduction opening in the valve housing;
latching a holding device comprising a latching device of the valve body into the vent opening in the first reservoir shell in a process involving elastic deformation of the latching device, so that the latching device situated in the vent opening engages behind the first reservoir shell surrounding the vent opening; and
connecting the first reservoir shell to a second reservoir shell to form the operating fluid reservoir;
wherein the valve housing and the valve body are components of a venting and/or an air admission valve;
wherein the valve housing is located in an interior of the operating fluid reservoir;
wherein the valve housing includes a valve housing interior, the valve housing interior in fluid communication with a vent line via the vent opening;
wherein the valve housing interior is in fluid communication with the interior of the operating fluid reservoir via at least one ventilation opening;
wherein the valve body is arranged in the valve housing interior;
wherein, in an installed position of the operating fluid reservoir, the valve body is at a distance from the vent opening when an operating fluid level within the operating fluid reservoir is below a shutoff level, with the result that the valve body is in an open position and the valve housing interior and the vent line are in fluid communication;
wherein, in the installed position of the operating fluid reservoir, the valve body is subject to a lift from the operating fluid in the valve housing interior such that the valve body is in a closed position and closes the vent opening when an operating fluid level within the operating fluid reservoir is above the shutoff level, with a result that the valve housing interior and the vent line are not in fluid communication via the vent opening;
wherein the valve housing is formed integrally with an operating fluid reservoir wall;
wherein the vent opening is embodied as a through opening through the operating fluid reservoir wall;
wherein the valve body is introducible into the valve housing interior via the introduction opening in the valve housing;
wherein the valve body is held movably in the valve housing by the holding device;
wherein the latching device is passable through the vent opening into the vent line from the valve housing interior upon the elastic deformation of the latching device; and
wherein the latching device situated in the vent opening engages behind the operating fluid reservoir wall surrounding the vent opening.

### Claim 9 (depends on 8)

The method for producing an operating fluid reservoir according to claim 8, wherein the operating fluid reservoir comprises at least one bypass venting device, by which the valve housing interior and the vent line are in fluid communication with one another and/or are placeable in fluid communication with one another.

### Claim 10 (depends on 9)

The method for producing an operating fluid reservoir according to claim 9, wherein the bypass venting device is configured as a bypass vent opening in the operating fluid reservoir wall, by which the valve housing interior is in fluid communication with the vent line, irrespective of the position of the valve body.

### Claim 11 (depends on 9)

The method for producing an operating fluid reservoir according to claim 9, wherein the bypass venting device comprises a bypass vent line connected to the valve housing and/or a bypass vent groove, wherein the valve housing interior is in fluid communication with the vent opening through the bypass vent line and/or the bypass vent groove in the closed position of the valve body.

### Claim 12 (depends on 9)

The method for producing an operating fluid reservoir according to claim 9, wherein the bypass venting device is configured as a recess in the operating fluid reservoir wall surrounding the vent opening, wherein the valve housing interior is in fluid communication with the vent opening through the recess in the closed position of the valve body.

### Claim 13 (depends on 8)

The method for producing an operating fluid reservoir according to claim 8, wherein the valve body is of hollow design and has a valve body interior.

### Claim 14 (depends on 13)

The method for producing an operating fluid reservoir according to claim 13, wherein at least one vent opening, via which the valve body interior is in fluid communication with the valve housing interior, is provided in the valve body.