Unleaded fuel filling system for tanks without inlet pipe

• US 4,526,216 A
• Filed: 05/16/1983
• Issued: 07/02/1985
• Est. Priority Date: 05/16/1983
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Yamaha Motor Corporation USA (Yamaha Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Yamaha Motor Corporation USA (Yamaha Corporation)
• Inventors: Lake, Leo C. Jr.
• Primary Examiner(s): Bell, Jr., Houston S.
• Application Number:
  US06/494,804
• Time in Patent Office: 778 Days
• Field of Search: 251/149.2, 251/339, 137/351, 137/392, 137/588, 220/35, 220/36, 220/86 R, 220/86 T, 141/348, 141/349, 141/350, 141/331, 141/335, 141/344, 141/325, 141/326, 141/285, 141/286, 141/392
• US Class Current: 141/348
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 15/04 Tank inlets B60K15/077 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 137/86332 Vent and inlet or outlet in unitary mounting

Abstract

An insert is provided for a liquid inlet at the top of a tank not having a fill pipe for preventing liquid from a nozzle spout of a diameter greater than a predetermined dimension from filling the tank, and allowing liquid from a nozzle of smaller diameter to fill the tank to very near the top. The insert has a mouth with a wide opening at the top and an opening at the bottom just large enough to receive a spout having that predetermined diameter. A throat having an internal diameter slightly greater than that predetermined dimension extends from the bottom opening. A valve closes the throat under the force of a spring and a grid prevents the nozzle spout from being inserted past the end of the throat. Connected to the valve is a structure that is engaged by the nozzle when said spout is inserted into the throat to open the valve and permit liquid from the spout to pass into the tank.

Claims

1. An insert for a liquid insert at the top of a tank for receiving a nozzle spout having a vacuum port about 0.87 inches from the tip comprising a mouth having a wide opening of about 2.5 to 3 inches in diameter at the top and a small opening of about 0.84 inches in diameter at the bottom, said mouth being about 0.87 inches deep;

a throat extending about 1 to 1.25 inches from the bottom of said small opening, said throat having a diameter of about 0.87 inches;

a valve adapted to engage the bottom of said throat for closing said throat;

a spring attached to said valve for holding said valve closed; and

means having an opening therein attached to the bottom of said throat for preventing said nozzle spout from being inserted past the end of said throat;

said valve having means connected thereto to engage said spout for opening said throat when said spout is inserted into said throat, thereby to permit liquid from said spout to pass into said tank through said throat only while said spout is inserted into said throat, and to cause said liquid to back up in said mouth if said spout is not inserted into said tank.

2. An insert as defined in claim 1 wherein said valve means and said spring are outside of said throat, and said valve opening means comprised of means extending upwardly into said throat for the nozzle spout to bear against, thereby to open said valve against the force of said spring when said spout is inserted into said throat.

3. An insert as defined in claim 2 wherein said valve means is comprised of a flap valve hinged outside of said throat and held against the outside of said spout by said spring, and said spring is a torsional spring.

4. An insert as defined in claim 2 wherein said valve is a disk valve held against the outside of said spout by said spring, and said spring is a tensioned extension coil spring having one end attached to the outside of said throat and the other attached to said valve.

5. An insert for a liquid inlet at the top of a tank for receiving a nozzle spout having a vacuum port about 0.87 inches from the tip comprising a mouth having a wide opening of about 2.5 to 3 inches in diameter at the top and a small opening of about 0.84 inches in diameter at the bottom, said mouth being about 0.87 inches deep, a throat extending about 1 to 1.25 inches from the bottom of said small opening, said throat having a diameter of about 0.87 inches a disc valve outside of said throat adapted to engage the bottom of said throat for closing said throat;

a compression coil spring inside of said throat for holding said valve closed; and

a first grid connected to said throat for preventing said nozzle spout from being inserted past the end of said throat;

said valve having means connected thereto to engage said spout for opening said throat when said spout is inserted into said throat, thereby to permit liquid from said spout to pass into said tank through said throat only while said spout is inserted into said throat, and to cause said liquid to back up in said mouth if said spout is not inserted into said tank, said throat opening means having one end attached to said disk valve, and the other end attached to a second grid in said throat for the nozzle spout to bear against, with said compression coil spring between said second grid and said first grid.