FILLER TUBE ASSEMBLY

• US 20110011860A1
• Filed: 07/20/2010
• Published: 01/20/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 12/29/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: David G. Smith
• Original Assignee: David G. Smith
• Inventors: Smith, David G., Smith, Gregory F.
• Granted Patent: US 8,622,101 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 220/86.2
• CPC Class Codes: B63B 25/082 Arrangements for minimizing pollution by accidents associated with tanks for fuel or the like not forming bunkers B63B17/0036

Abstract

A filler tube assembly is used with a fuel pump nozzle having a pressure sensing port. The filler tube assembly includes a receiver having an inner wall defining an aperture, which receives the pump nozzle. The inner wall defines an orifice and a seal is coupled to the inner wall about the orifice for defining a chamber between the inner wall, the seal, and the fuel pump nozzle when the fuel pump nozzle is disposed in the aperture. A vacuum tube has a coupled end in fluid communication with the orifice and an open end in fluid communication with the fuel tank. The receiver defines a rim for seating the fuel pump nozzle in the aperture to align the pressure sensing port with the orifice. When fuel covers the open end of the vacuum tube, a pressure change is transmitted through the filler tube assembly to the pressure sensing port.

Claims

1. A filler tube assembly for communicating fuel from a fuel pump nozzle to a fuel tank with the fuel pump nozzle having a pressure sensing port, said filler tube assembly comprising:

a receiver having an inner wall defining an aperture for receiving the fuel pump nozzle with said inner wall defining an orifice extending through said inner wall transverse to said aperture;

a seal coupled to said inner wall about said orifice for defining a chamber between said inner wall, said seal, and the fuel pump nozzle; and

a vacuum tube having a coupled end coupled to said receiver and in fluid communication with said orifice and an open end for disposition in fluid communication with the fuel tank;

said receiver defining a rim rigidly extending from said inner wall into said aperture for seating the fuel pump nozzle in said aperture to dispose the pressure sensing port in said chamber and to align the pressure sensing port with said orifice.

2. The filler tube assembly as set forth in claim 1 wherein said aperture extends along an axis and said rim extends annularly about said axis.

3. The filler tube assembly as set forth in claim 1 wherein said rim projects perpendicularly from said inner wall.

4. The filler tube assembly as set forth in claim 1 wherein said rim and said inner wall are integrally formed from a common material.

5. The filler tube assembly as set forth in claim 1 wherein said receiver is formed from metal and wherein said seal is formed from an elastomer.

6. The filler tube assembly as set forth in claim 1 wherein said seal includes a first seal and a second seal spaced from said first seal with said first and second seals enclosing said orifice for defining the chamber between said inner wall, said first and second seals, and the fuel pump nozzle.

7. The filler tube assembly as set forth in claim 6 wherein said aperture extends along an axis and wherein said first and second seals each extend annularly about said axis.

8. The filler tube assembly as set forth in claim 1 wherein said receiver defines a nipple with said orifice extending from said inner wall through said nipple and with said vacuum tube coupled to said nipple.

9. The filler tube assembly as set forth in claim 1 wherein said receiver defines a second orifice extending from said inner wall through said receiver and wherein said seal encloses said second orifice and separates said second orifice from said orifice for defining a second chamber in communication with said second orifice between said inner wall, said seal, and said fuel pump nozzle.

10. The filler tube assembly as set forth in claim 9 further including a second vacuum tube including a second coupled end coupled to said receiver in fluid communication with said second orifice and a second open end for disposition in fluid communication with the fuel tank.

11. The filler tube assembly as set forth in claim 10 wherein said seal includes a first seal and a second seal spaced from said first seal with said first and second seals enclosing said orifice and a third seal spaced from said second seal opposite said first seal with said second and third seals enclosing said second orifice.

12. The filler tube assembly as set forth in claim 11 wherein said aperture extends along an axis and wherein said first, second, and third seals each extend annularly about said axis.

13. The filler tube assembly as set forth in claim 12 wherein said third seal is disposed between said second seal and said rim and wherein said first, second, and third seals each define an inner diameter and wherein said inner diameter of said third seal is less than said inner diameter of said first and second seals.

14. The filler tube assembly as set forth in claim 12 wherein said third seal is disposed between said second seal and said rim and wherein said receiver includes a variable positioning device disposed in said aperture between said rim and said third seal for selectively aligning the pressure sensing port along said axis.

15. The filler tube assembly as set forth in claim 14 wherein said positioning device includes a resilient member resiliently compressible between a first position and a second position for selectively adjusting the alignment of the pressure sensing port along said axis between said chamber and said second chamber.

16. The filler tube assembly as set forth in claim 15 wherein said resilient member is further defined as a coil spring.

17. The filler tube assembly as set forth in claim 1 further including a fuel hose coupled to said receiver in alignment with said aperture for coupling with the fuel tank to communicate fuel from said receiver to the fuel tank.

18. The filler tube assembly as set forth in claim 17 wherein said vacuum tube extends from said receiver into said fuel hose.

19. A fuel storage system for receiving fuel from a fuel pump nozzle having a pressure sensing port, said fuel storage system comprising:

a fuel tank defining an interior for storing fuel;

a vent tube including an first end for communication with ambient atmosphere and a second end coupled to said fuel tank and in fluid communication with said interior; and

a filler tube assembly coupled to said fuel tank for communicating fuel from a fuel pump nozzle to said fuel tank, said filler tube assembly comprising;

a receiver having an inner wall defining an aperture for receiving the fuel pump nozzle with said inner wall further defining an orifice extending through said inner wall transverse to said aperture;

a seal coupled to said inner wall about said orifice for defining a chamber between said inner wall, said seal, and the fuel pump nozzle; and

a vacuum tube having a coupled end coupled to said receiver and in fluid communication with said orifice and an open end disposed in fluid communication with said fuel tank;

said receiver defining a rim rigidly extending from said inner wall into said aperture for seating the fuel pump nozzle in said aperture to dispose the pressure sensing port in said chamber and to align the pressure sensing port with said orifice.

20. The fuel storage system as set forth in claim 19 wherein said rim extends annularly about said axis.

21. The fuel storage system as set forth in claim 19 wherein said rim projects perpendicularly from said inner wall.

22. The fuel storage system as set forth in claim 19 wherein said rim and said inner wall are integrally formed from a common material.

23. The fuel storage system as set forth in claim 19 wherein said receiver is formed from metal and wherein said seal is formed from an elastomer.

24. The fuel storage system as set forth in claim 19 wherein said seal includes a first seal and a second seal spaced from said first seal with said first and second seals enclosing said orifice for defining the chamber between said inner wall, said first and second seals, and the fuel pump nozzle.

25. The fuel storage system as set forth in claim 24 wherein said first and second seals each extend annularly about said axis.