G. T. Products, Inc.

Eaton Corporation

Other

Chrysler Corporation

Hi-stat Manufacturing Company, Inc.

Rudolph Bergsma Trust

Hi-stat Michigan Manufacturing Co., Inc.

Rudolph Bergsma

Robert Philip Benjey

Lindsey E Waldorf

Vaughn Kevin Mills

Kenneth M Spink

Gary Don Cochran

Nelson Fuller

Joseph B Newton

An in-tank fuel level sender () for signaling the level of liquid fuel in a motor vehicle fuel tank (). An enclosure () forming a hub of the sender provides an interior that is sealed against intrusion of fuel. An actuator () is positionable on an exterior of the enclosure in correlation with liquid fuel level. A movement () within the interior of the enclosure follows the positioning of the actuator. An electric circuit element () within the interior of the enclosure is operated by the movement to provide an electric characteristic for transmission through the enclosure to signal the liquid fuel level.

Hermetic fuel level sender

A diaphragm operated pressure responsive valve has its inlet connected to a fuel tank vapor line and the valving chamber openly connected to the storage canister and to the engine air intake manifold vapor purge control valve. The diaphragm is operable to vary the spring bias on a valve member disposed in the chamber for biasing closed the vapor line from the tank in the event of high vacuum from the engine purge control valves. A bleed bypass permits continued bleed flow of vapor from the tank to the valving chamber.

Fuel tank vapor relief valve and method of making same

A refueling fuel level responsive control valve with a two-stage closing operation providing an initial soft shutoff cue to the filler nozzle operator, and a subsequent final shutoff after a limited amount of &ldquo;roundoff&rdquo; filling to a maximum fuel level. The control valve includes two float-operated valve elements which dose serially in response to initial shutoff and final shutoff refueling fuel levels. The initial shutoff partially closes the control valve to create a temporary shutoff-inducing increase in fuel tank pressure. Final shutoff occurs after allowing a few round-off &ldquo;clicks&rdquo; of the filler nozzle to fully close venting through the control valve.

Two-stage ORVR control valve

A two-stage venting on-board refueling vapor recovery (ORVR) valve for controlling fuel tank venting to a storage canister during tank filling. A float actuated poppet has a small second stage venting hole therethrough. The poppet is mounted for relative movement with respect to a second stage vent valve member disposed on the float. During tank filling, venting is through a first stage relatively large flow area passage until rising fuel level causes the poppet to close the first stage vent flow area. Venting during continued filling is through the second stage venting hole in the poppet. After first stage valve closure relative movement or lost motion occurs between the first and second stage valve members. The poppet has an integrally molded annular resiliently flexible seal thereon which has a first stage annular sealing surface formed on one side of the poppet for sealing the first stage flow area, and a second stage annular sealing surface about the poppet hole on the opposite side of the poppet for sealing the second stage vent flow area and closing the vent passage.

Two-stage fuel tank vapor recovery vent valve and method of making same

A refueling fuel level responsive control valve with a two-stage closing operation providing an initial soft shutoff cue to the filler nozzle operator, and a subsequent final shutoff after a limited amount of 'roundoff' filling to a maximum fuel level. The control valve includes two float-operated valve elements which close serially in response to initial shutoff and final shutoff refueling fuel levels. The initial shutoff partially closes the control valve to create a temporary shutoff-inducing increase in fuel tank pressure. Final shutoff occurs after allowing a few round-off 'clicks' of the filler nozzle to fully close venting through the control valve.

A combination fuel tank rollover valve, float actuated fill vent shutoff and tank vapor pressure relief valve assembly in a common housing for assembly into a single access opening in the tank. A header containing the pressure relief valve is sealed over the tank access opening and has an extension member attached to the undersurface of the header with an extension neck extending through the access opening. An interchangeable vent float valve subassembly is attached to the end of the neck before attachment of the extension to the header and assembly on the tank. Tanks of different depth can be accommodated simply by using extension members having a correspondingly different length necks, while the float valve subassembly and header are interchangeable.

Installing a fill limiting vent valve in a fuel tank

An onboard vapor recovery system for a vehicle fuel system having a fuel tank, a filler neck dynamically sealed by high pressure fuel flow from a filler nozzle, and a vapor recovery apparatus such as a carbon canister. The system includes a liquid level operated control valve which shuts off refueling with a two-stage closing operation providing an initial soft shutoff and a final shutoff. The system also preferably includes a valve in the fuel tank to maintain a predetermined pressure head sufficient to hold the system closed against further refueling at least temporarily, and a positive action, one-way check valve in the lower end of the filler pipe to prevent spitback of fuel from the pressurized tank once refueling has ceased.

Onboard vapor recovery system with two stage shutoff valve

A fuel level responsive vent valve assembly adaptable to a variety of different mounting requirements in a vehicle fuel tank. In general, the vent valve assembly comprises a standard, valve body, a top cover adapted to mate with the standard valve body at a vent outlet interface for a sealed vapor venting connection, and separately formed longitudinal connector means having a preassembly end for preassembly to a standard interface on the lower surface of the top cover, and an assembly end for longitudinally locking the standard valve body to the top cover. The standard assembly end of the longitudinal connectors can be varied in length to accommodate different valve height mounting requirements in different fuel tank applications. In a preferred embodiment the longitudinal connectors comprise metal pins or rods which can be pre-formed or cut to length to accommodate the standard valve body at different distances from the top cover. In addition to providing a longitudinal lock between the valve body and the top cover, the connector pins also provide an impact-resistant reinforcement to the sealed connection at the vent outlet interface.

Adjustable length vent valve system for fuel tanks

An improved apparatus and method for calibrating a float-type vent valve for use in an automobile fuel tank. The valve is provided with a calibration plate in the lower end thereof below the float, the calibration plate defining an axially-adjustable support for the spring which balances the float. The calibration plate includes a force probe aperture through which a force measuring device of known type can be inserted to measure the downward force of the spring-balanced float at a specified distance from closure, preferably a near-closed position. The calibration plate then is adjusted up or down as needed until a position is determined where the spring-balanced float is properly calibrated, and then the calibration plate is permanently secured in place on the valve body so that the valve remains calibrated.

Apparatus and method for calibrating float valve

An onboard vapor recovery system for a vehicle fuel system having a fuel tank (10), a filler neck (12) dynamically sealed by high pressure fuel flow from a filler nozzle, and a vapor recovery apparatus such as a carbon canister (18). The system preferably uses an inventive liquid level operated control valve (20) which shuts off refueling with a two-stage closing operation providing an initial soft shutoff and a final shutoff. The system also preferably includes a valve (22) in the fuel tank to maintain a predetermined pressure head sufficient to hold the system closed against further refueling at least temporarily, and a positive action, one-way check valve (24) in the lower end of the filler pipe (12) to prevent spitback of fuel from the pressurized tank (10) once refueling has ceased.

Onboard vapor recovery system with two-stage shutoff valve

An inventive liquid level operated control valve which shuts off refueling with a two-stage closing operation providing an initial soft shutoff and a final shutoff. A first valve element is spring-biased within a first valve cage on the upper end of the float mechanism to seal against a primary vent outlet to provide the initial shutoff. A second valve element contained in a second valve cage within the first valve cage is coaxially arranged with the first valve element and serves to close a secondary vent outlet through the first valve element for the final shutoff. The decorking operation of the valve is improved with a dual peelaway action, in which both the first and second valve cages are configured to circumferentially peel their respective valve elements from their respective sealing positions. Additionally, the resilient seal member for the primary valve element is located on the valve body around the vent outlet to provide a positive seal while reducing the area of the resilient seal across which a tank/canister pressure differential might act to keep the valve closed when liquid levels drop.

Control valve with two-stage shutoff and peel away opening action

A fluid-responsive vent control valve for an automobile fuel tank in which a liquid level responsive float controls a flexible, ribbon type valve member to peel it on and off a valve seat to open and close the valve. In one embodiment the float and outlet structure are offset. In an alternate embodiment the float and vent outlet are coaxial, and the ribbon valve is attached between the float and the valve body with a vent closure portion aligned with the outlet and a hinge portion offset from the outlet and connected to the float to provide opening and closing force to the ribbon valve. The outlet is preferably circular, and further includes a roundoff notch which cannot be closed by the pressure differential across the ribbon valve, but requires a final closing movement by the float and closure assist structure to fully close the valve.

Fluid responsive vent control valve with peel-away opening action

The present invention comprises a rollover vent valve for mounting on a vehicle fuel tank to selectively vent fuel vapor from the fuel tank to a vapor trap such as a carbon canister. The valve includes a liquid fuel responsive control element connected to a valve element via lever arm structure to move the valve element between open and closed venting positions on a valve seat. The mechanical opening advantage obtained with the lever arm structure provides for a powerful peel-away action to ensure opening of the valve despite a tank/canister pressure differential acting to maintain the valve element in the closed position. In one embodiment the lever arm structure includes a hammer-claw mechanism to provide an initial pivotal opening force using the maximum potential of the lever arm, and a subsequent rectilinear opening force.

Growing community of inventors

Ann Arbor, MI, United States of America

Rudolph Bergsma