Motor vehicle fuel tank venting device

• US 4,457,443 A
• Filed: 05/28/1982
• Issued: 07/03/1984
• Est. Priority Date: 05/30/1981
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Daimler-Benz AG (Mercedes-Benz Group AG)
• Original Assignee: Daimler-Benz AG (Mercedes-Benz Group AG)
• Inventors: Casimir, Manfred, Distel, Manfred, Kurz, Wolf-Dieter
• Primary Examiner(s): Shoap, Allan N.
• Application Number:
  US06/383,185
• Time in Patent Office: 767 Days
• Field of Search: 220/85 VR, 220/85 VS, 220/85 S, 220/86 R, 220/373, 220/374, 220/20, 137/38, 137/43
• US Class Current: 220/746
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 15/03504 adapted to avoid loss of fuel or fuel vapour, e.g. with vapour recovery systems

Abstract

A venting device for fuel tanks which includes equalizing chambers disposed immediately beneath a top wall and approximately centrally with respect to side walls of the fuel tank, with the equalizing chamber being vented to the atmosphere. Vent lines are disposed inside the fuel tank and are connected to the equalizing chamber. The vent lines terminate freely in an interior of a chamber vented to an interior of the fuel tank. The end of the vent lines terminate in vent openings located in an immediate vicinity of an end wall of the chamber which receives the vent line. A single opening is provided for venting each chamber, with the opening being disposed in a wall which is opposite to the chamber end wall receiving the vent line. When the fuel tank rotates about a longitudinal axis of the vehicle, a volume of air, which is in the chambers in an initial position of the fuel tank, is at first forced beneath a surface of the fuel and then, if the tank continues to rotate, escapes through the adjacent vent line into a corresponding guide curve located above, so that a hydraulic siphoning action is interrupted and the escape of fuel through the equalizing line to the atmosphere is prevented.

Claims

1. A venting device for fuel tanks of vehicles, the venting device including an equalizing chamber means disposed in the fuel tank at a position below a top wall thereof and generally centrally with respect to side walls of the fuel tank, means for venting the equalizing chamber means to the atmosphere, a plurality of vent line means disposed in the fuel tank interior, each of the plurality of vent line means including a first end and a second end, the first end of each of said plurality of vent line means terminating at approximately the same height relative to opposed walls of the equalizing chamber means, the second end of each of the plurality of vent line means terminating generally proximate respective opposite side walls of the fuel tank, a plurality of end chamber means corresponding in number to the number of vent line means disposed in the fuel tank interior, the second end of each of the plurality of vent line means having an end chamber means associated therewith, each of the end chamber means including opening means for venting the respective end chamber means to the fuel tank interior and means for receiving the respective second end of the respective vent line means, the opening means for venting including a single chamber opening provided in a distal end wall of the respective end chamber means opposite a wall having the means for receiving the second end of a respective vent line means, said opening means and means for receiving of each end chamber means being spaced with respect to the juncture of a continuous wall means joining the distal end wall and the opposite wall.

2. A venting device according to claim 1, wherein the continuous wall means delimits each of the respective end chamber means, the opening means being disposed in a vicinity of the respective juncture of the continuous wall means and the distal end wall.

3. A venting device according to claim 2, wherein each of the plurality of the end chamber means is constructed as individual components which are adapted to be fitted onto the second end of each respective vent line means.

4. A venting device according to one of claims 1, 2, or 3, including further chamber means provided for respectively accommodating each of the plurality of end chamber means in such a manner that each respective end chamber means is spaced at a distance from the associated further chamber means on all sides thereof, equalizing opening means provided in each of the further chamber means for venting the respective further chamber means with the fuel tank interior, additional opening means provided in each of the further chamber means for venting with the fuel tank interior, and blocking means actuatable by centrifugal force for opening and closing the additional opening means in each respective further chamber means.