Fuel overflow restrictor/water intake restraining devices

Abstract

A compact, lightweight, inexpensive surge restrictor for use in the fuel tank vent line of a marine craft includes a housing which defines a chamber having an inlet and an outlet, a baffle member disposed within a flow path through the chamber so that liquid passing therethrough impinges upon and is redirected to dissipate liquid momentum, and a movable closure member, which in response to a surge of liquid into the inlet, abates liquid flow through the surge restrictor. More specifically, the movable closure member is movable between a normal rest position wherein vapor and air can easily flow through the surge restrictor to allow venting and atmospheric pressure equalization within a fuel tank, and a liquid fuel surge arresting position wherein the closure member blocks a passageway in the flow path between the inlet and outlet of the surge restrictor to abate fluid flow therethrough. Preferably, small openings allow continuous air/fuel vapor flow even when the movable closure is in its fuel arresting position. On form of the device also provides a combined surge restrictor and water ingestion restrictor. The surge restrictor of the invention provides a simple device for effectively preventing discharge of liquid fuel into the environment on account of fuel surges which can, for example, be caused by overfilling of the fuel tank or by rocking of the marine craft due to wave action.