Brunswick Corporation

Stant USA Corp.

Big Dog Marine LLC

Sean Whelan

Robert S Tate

Brian C Scott

Christopher Bostwick, Iv

Anthony L Slabaugh

Gary Lee Dunkle

Christopher C Bostwick

Chad Edward Jaros

Steven E Hovinga

A fuel demand valve that opens with minimal engine suction pressure. The fuel demand valve has an inlet housing and an outlet housing with a valve door in the outlet housing that moves to allow flow through the valve when exposed to a pressure difference sufficient to overcome a spring internal to the outlet housing. The inlet housing includes a shelf, and two gaskets, one large and one small, are disposed between the shelf and the valve door such that they define different surface areas on the valve door. The different surface areas define the amount of force required to be exerted on the valve door for fuel to flow when exposed to fuel supply and engine suction pressures. The different surface areas provide a mechanical advantage whereby lower suction pressure from the engine exerts the same force as a higher fuel supply pressure on the valve door enabling lower fuel pressure operation.

Fuel demand valve with anti-siphon and pressure protection

Pressure relief apparatus for use with fuel delivery systems are described herein. An example pressure relief apparatus includes a body defining a cavity and an annular wall projecting from a lower surface of the cavity. A first valve includes a first valve body defining a first flow passage between a first inlet to be oriented toward atmospheric pressure and a first outlet to be oriented toward a fuel tank. The first valve body houses a first flow control member to control fluid flow through the first flow passage between the first inlet and the first outlet. The first valve body projects from the lower surface of the cavity and toward an upper surface of the annular wall a distance substantially equal to a depth between the lower surface and the upper surface of the annular wall.

Pressure relief apparatus for use with fuel delivery systems

Fuel fill apparatus for use with fuel tanks are described. An example fuel fill apparatus includes a body defining a fuel fill passageway, a first plurality of longitudinal ribs positioned in the fuel fill passageway, and a second plurality of longitudinal ribs positioned adjacent the first longitudinal ribs. The first and second longitudinal ribs position an end of a fuel nozzle in the fuel fill passageway. A deflector is positioned in the fuel fill passageway adjacent an end of the first and second plurality of ribs to direct fuel vapors away from an aspirator of the fuel nozzle when the fuel nozzle is inserted in the fuel fill passageway.

Fuel fill apparatus for use with fuel tanks

Fuel tank apparatus and related methods are described. An example method includes placing a first end of a flexible coupling through an access opening formed on a wall of a fuel tank and into a first end of a guide positioned in a cavity of the fuel tank; feeding the first end of the flexible coupling in a first direction through the guide and away from the access opening; redirecting the first end of the flexible coupling towards the access opening by continuing to feed the flexible coupling the first direction; coupling a first fuel component to the first end of the flexible coupling when the first end of the flexible coupling is accessible via the access opening; and directing the flexible coupling in a second direction opposite the first direction via the guide to couple the first fuel component in the cavity of the fuel tank at a position away from the access opening.

Apparatus and methods to couple fuel components to a fuel tank

Fuel fill apparatus for use with fuel tanks are described. An example fuel fill apparatus includes a body to removably couple to a neck of a fuel tank. The body has an opening to receive a fuel nozzle and guide liquid fuel from the fuel nozzle to a cavity of the fuel tank. A nozzle retainer retains the fuel nozzle in the opening. A positioner in the opening offsets the fuel nozzle relative to a central axis of the opening such that an aspirator of the fuel nozzle is positioned adjacent an inner wall of the opening when the fuel nozzle is inserted in the opening. The positioner maintains a fuel nozzle outlet opening substantially parallel relative to a central axis of the opening during a fueling event.

Pressure relief apparatus for use with fuel delivery systems are described herein. An example pressure relief apparatus includes a pressure relief system coupled to a body of a fuel cap to define a first side of the body and a second side of the body. The pressure relief system comprises a plurality of fluid valves to enable fluid flow from the first side of the body to the second side of the body when a first pressure differential across the pressure relief system from the first side to the second side is greater than a first reference pressure and to enable fluid flow from the second side of the body to the first side of the body when a second pressure differential across the pressure relief system from the second side to the first side is greater than a second reference pressure.

Fuel cap apparatus for use with fuel venting systems are described. An example fuel cap apparatus includes a body having a central cavity and a flange. A membrane is coupled to the body to form a passageway therethrough and coated with a material to substantially prevent the flow of liquid and permit the flow of gas through the passageway.

Fuel cap apparatus for use with fuel venting systems

Inlet control valves for use with fuel delivery systems are described. An example inlet control valve includes a first body portion having a first coupling to define an inlet of the control valve and one of a plurality of fasteners or a plurality of slots opposite the inlet. A second body portion coupled to the first body portion to define a fluid flow passageway, where the second body portion has a second coupling to define an outlet of the control valve and the other one of the plurality of fasteners or the plurality of slots opposite the outlet. The first plurality of slots receives the first plurality of fasteners when the first body portion is coupled to the second body portion. A valve is pivotally coupled relative to the first and second body portions to control fluid flow through the passageway.

Inlet control valves for use with fuel delivery systems

Apparatus and methods for mounting fuel delivery system components to fuel tanks are described herein. An example fuel tank includes a housing having a cavity to store a liquid fuel and a boss integrally formed with and protruding from a surface of the housing to receive a fuel delivery system component. The boss receives a threaded fastener to couple the fuel delivery system component to the surface of the fuel tank.

Apparatus and methods for mounting fuel delivery system components to fuel tanks

Apparatus and methods to permanently attach fuel delivery system components to fuel tanks are described herein. An example apparatus includes an insert material integrally formed with at least a portion of the fuel tank. The insert material includes a first layer material having a low permeation characteristic and a second layer material adjacent the first layer material having a relatively lower melting point than a melting point of the first layer material to enable permanent attachment of a coupling apparatus to a surface of the fuel tank by melting at least a portion of the second layer material.

Apparatus and methods for permanently attaching fuel delivery system components to fuel tanks

Venting systems for use with fuel tank systems are described. An example venting system includes a membrane disposed within a vent line or an emission control component to form a passageway through the venting system. The membrane is coated with a hydrophobic material to substantially prevent the flow of liquid and permit the flow of vapors or gases through the passageway.

Growing community of inventors

Lansing, MI, United States of America

Sean Whelan