Saturn Electronics & Engineering, Inc.

Eaton Corporation

Eaton Coroporation

Emil Szlaga

Charles Joseph Martin

Bradley N Kippe

Darrin Hurley

A valve assembly is provided that permits adjustable vent flow from the fuel tank vapor space through a bypass vent opening based on a condition in the vapor space after nozzle shutoff. The valve assembly including a first valve, also referred to as a main float, that provides rollover protection and controls venting of the vapor space prior to nozzle shutoff. A secondary closure device, also referred to as a second valve, moves independently of the first valve to control venting of the vapor space after nozzle shutoff through a bypass vent opening formed in the valve housing in response to at least one operating condition in the fuel tank outside of a chamber defined by the valve housing in which a main float moves.

Fuel tank valve assembly with adjustable bypass vent flow

A fuel vapor vent valve assembly is provided that may include a float valve and an isolation valve arranged in series with each other. Bypass openings in the valve assembly create multiple flow paths as the float valve and the isolation valve respond to changes in fuel tank pressure and fuel level. The control valve assembly may include a housing defining a chamber with a main opening configured to open the chamber to the tank, a vapor vent passage and a first bypass vent opening. A float in the chamber closes the vapor vent passage when fuel in the chamber is at or above a predetermined level. The first bypass vent opening vents the tank to the chamber even when the fuel covers the main opening. A feature on the float provides a metered opening of the vapor vent passage between closed and fully open based on float position.

Multi-function control valve for fuel vapor system

A fill limit vapor valve assembly includes a housing, a float disposed in the housing, and a bypass valve. The bypass valve includes a vertical passage enveloping a weighted metering rod. The includes a substantially cylindrical upper portion, a substantially cylindrical bottom portion, and a seat portion that rests on a shoulder of the float. As the float raises and lowers, the substantially cylindrical upper portion varies the size of a second opening to control the flow rate of fuel vapor from the fuel tank to an emission device.

Fill limit vapor valve with variable vapor venting capability

A motor vehicle fuel fill pipe shut-off device includes a fuel shut-off valve normally closed relative to a valve seat and disposed in a path of fuel flow through the fuel fill pipe of the motor vehicle to a fuel tank thereof. The valve is connected to a diaphragm in a manner to define in part a chamber communicated by an inlet orifice to the fuel fill pipe and by an outlet orifice to the fuel tank that is vented during fueling to a charcoal canister wherein a fluid pressure in the chamber is lower than that in the fuel fill pipe during fueling to permit opening of the valve by fuel introduced through the fuel fill pipe, A fuel float or solenoid moves a closure to close off communication of the outlet orifice to the fuel tank when fuel level in the fuel tank reaches the predetermined &ldquo;full&rdquo; level to increase chamber fluid pressure to permit movement of the valve by a biasing spring as assisted by the diaphragm toward the valve seat and achieve closing of the valve to prevent further filling of the fuel tank with fuel.

Fuel fill pipe shut-off device

A fuel vapor vent valve assembly for a vehicle fuel tank for venting fuel vapor from the fuel tank to a fuel vapor emission device disposed external of the fuel tank, wherein the assembly comprises a valve housing having a fuel vapor vent outlet opening or orifice defined by a valve seat and communicating with a fuel tank vapor space interior of the fuel tank and with a fuel vapor emission device, such as a charcoal canister, exterior of the fuel tank. A fuel level responsive valve-moving device, such as a float, is disposed in the housing for movement therein. A vapor vent valve is disposed on the device in a manner for closing and opening the vent orifice in response to the fuel level in the fuel tank. The vent valve includes a partial spherical, radius-defined sealing surface that mates with a sealing surface of the valve seat to provide liquid/vapor tight sealing relation therebetween when the valve is in the closed position relative to the valve seat. The vent valve includes an axle about which the valve surface is rotated relative to the valve seat surface in response to initial downward movement of the valve-moving device when the valve and valve seat surfaces are in sealing relation. The valve surface is configured such that a small degree of rotation of the valve relative to the valve seat interrupts or breaks the sealing relation therebetween, providing a vapor flow path that reduces the pressure differential across the valve to facilitate its reopening by further downward movement of the valve-moving device.

Growing community of inventors

Sterling Heights, MI, United States of America

Emil Szlaga