The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document.
The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge covers the following: Patent number, Date patent was issued, Date patent was filed, Title of the patent, Applicant, Inventor, Assignee, Attorney firm, Primary examiner, Assistant examiner, CPCs, and Abstract. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document (in Adobe Acrobat format, aka pdf). To download or print any patent click here.
Patent No.:
Date of Patent:
Dec. 26, 2006
Filed:
Mar. 04, 2002
Patrick Ganachaud, Laval, FR;
Patrick Ganachaud, Laval, FR;
Inergy Automotive Systems Research (Societe Anonyme), Brussels, BE;
Abstract
A fuel tank system includes a fill tube in communication with a tank, and a nozzle guide having surfaces oriented so as to guide a nozzle spout in the nozzle tube during a filling operation of said tank with a fuel. The system also includes a sealing device in the fill tube downstream from the nozzle guide, wherein the sealing device includes at least one lip configured to contact an outer surface of said nozzle spout during said filling operation that seals the fill tube from an outside environment during the filling operation. A vent valve is mounted on the tank, the vent valve being open during the filling operation and during periods of normal use of the tank and being closed at least when the tank is upside down or when the fuel reaches a predetermined level in the tank. The system further includes a pipe arrangement with a first end in communication with the fill tube downstream from the sealing device and a second end in communication with the tank, the second end defining a maximum level for the fuel in the tank during the filling operation.