Gas tank cap with roll-over valving

• US 4,000,828 A
• Filed: 06/02/1975
• Issued: 01/04/1977
• Est. Priority Date: 06/02/1975
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Stant Manufacturing Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Stant Manufacturing Incorporated
• Inventors: Evans, John H., Crute, Billy G.
• Primary Examiner(s): Lowrance, George E.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Shoap, Allan N.
• Application Number:
  US05/582,649
• Time in Patent Office: 582 Days
• Field of Search: 220/203, 220/307, 220/304, 220/202, 137/43, 137/493.6, 137/512.1, 137/512.2, 137/512.3
• US Class Current: 220/203.2
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 15/0406 Filler caps for fuel tanks
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 137/0874 Vent opening or closing on tipping container
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 137/3099 Float responsive
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 137/7774 Supporting valve spring carried by supporting valve
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 137/7777 Both valves spring biased

Abstract

A cap for closing the filler neck of a vehicle fuel tank, the cap comprising a valve housing, a pressure-vacuum valve assembly disposed in the housing to vent the tank when the pressure in the filler neck drops below a predetermined subatmospheric level and when the pressure in the filler neck exceeds a first predetermined superatmospheric level, a roll-over valve for closing the pressure-vacuum valve assembly when the filler neck is tilted, and an excessive pressure valve for bypassing the pressure-vacuum valve when the pressure in the filler neck exceeds a second and greater predetermined superatmospheric level.

Claims

1. A cap for closing the filler neck of a vehicle fuel tank, said cap comprising a valve housing providing a passageway extending axially therethrough, means for connecting said housing to a filler neck, said housing being formed to provide a first axially outwardly facing valve seat in said passageway, a first valve member, first spring means for yieldably urging said first valve member axially inwardly against said first valve seat normally to close said passageway, said first valve member providing a valve opening extending axially therethrough, pressure-vacuum valve means normally closing said valve opening and venting the tank when the pressure in the filler neck drops below a predetermined subatmospheric level and when the pressure in the filler neck exceeds a first predetermined superatmospheric level, said first spring means being calibrated to provide for movement of said first valve member axially outwardly away from said first valve seat when the pressure in the filler neck exceeds a second and greater superatmospheric level, said valve opening providing an axially inwardly facing second valve seat, a second valve member disposed in said housing to move axially outwardly into closing engagement with said second valve seat when said filler neck is tilted, and second spring means disposed to urge said second valve member axially toward said second valve seat, said second spring means having a calibration normally to support said second valve member out of engagement with said second valve seat when said filler neck is in an upright orientation and to assist in moving said second valve member into engagement with said second valve seat when said filler neck is tilted.

2. A cap for closing the filler neck of a vehicle fuel tank, said cap comprising a valve housing providing a passageway extending axially therethrough, means for connecting said housing to a filler neck, said housing being formed to provide a first axially outwardly facing valve seat in said passageway, a first valve member, first spring means for yieldably urging said first valve member axially inwardly against said first valve seat normally to close said passageway, said first valve member providing a valve opening extending axially therethrough, pressure-vacuum valve means normally closing said valve opening and venting the tank when the pressure in the filler neck drops below a predetermined subatmospheric level and when the pressure in the filler neck exceeds a first predetermined superatmospheric level, said first spring means being calibrated to provide for movement of said first valve member axially outwardly away from said first valve seat when the pressure in the filler neck exceeds a second and greater superatmospheric level, said valve opening providing an axially inwardly facing second valve seat, a second valve member disposed in said housing to move axially outwardly into closing engagment with said second valve seat when said filler neck is tilted, said second valve member including an inverted plastic cup having a central opening extending axially therein and a metal pin received in said opening, said metal pin having a head formed to engage and close said second valve seat, and second spring means disposed to urge said second valve member axially toward said second valve seat, said second spring means being calibrated to urge said cup and pin toward said second valve seat.

3. A cap for closing the filler neck of a vehicle fuel tank, said cap comprising a valve housing providing a passageway extending axially therethrough, means for connecting said housing to a filler neck, said housing being formed to provide an axially outer passageway portion, an axially inner passageway portion, and, intermediate said portions and in the center of said passageway, a valve opening, said housing also providing, about the periphery of said valve opening, an annular and axially outwardly facing first valve seat, said first valve seat having ports extending therethrough to provide communication between the axially outer passageway portion and the filler neck, said ports bypassing said valve opening, an annular first valve member, first spring means for yieldably urging said first valve member axially inwardly against said first valve seat normally to close said ports, pressure-vacuum valve means normally closing said valve opening and venting the tank when the pressure in the filler neck drops below a predetermined subatmospheric level and when the pressure in the filler neck exceeds a first predetermined superatmospheric level, said first spring means being calibrated to provide for movement of said first valve member axially outwardly away from said first valve seat when the pressure in the filler neck exceeds a second and greater superatmospheric level, said valve opening providing an axially inwardly facing second valve seat, and a second valve member disposed in said passageway to move axially outwardly into closing engagement with said second valve seat when said filler neck is tilted.

4. The invention of claim 3 including second spring means disposed to urge, said second valve member axially outwardly toward said second valve seat.

5. The invention of claim 3 in which said second valve member includes an inverted plastic cup having a central opening extending axially therein, and a metal pin received in said opening, said metal pin having a head formed to engage and close said second valve seat.

6. The invention of claim 5 including second spring means disposed to urge said second valve member axially toward said second valve seat, said second spring means being calibrated to urge said cup and pin toward said second valve seat.

7. The invention of claim 3 including second spring means disposed to urge said second valve member axially toward said second valve seat, said second spring means having a calibration to support said second valve member.