Vapor vent valve apparatus
First Claim
1. A valve apparatus for controlling the flow of liquid from a vehicle fuel tank having a closable fuel inlet leading from a liquid receiving tank interior, said valve apparatus comprising:
- vapor vent conduit means opening into said tank interior for purging vapors from said tank;
valve means arranged in a cooperative relationship with said conduit means and effective to regulate the flow of fluid from said tank;
electrically energizable circuit means responsive to;
first operative means including an operator influenced switch having at least two positions, second operative means for monitoring fuel level in said tank, third operative means for monitoring whether the inlet port is open or closed, fourth operative means including resettable timer means for monitoring when and for how long the inlet port is open; and
, solenoid means for influencing the effectiveness of said valve means, wherein said circuit means is completed and said solenoid means is controlled to open said valve means for a predetermined period of time extending from the opening of said fuel inlet and after said switch means is moved by the operator to one of said two positions and when said second operative means senses the fuel level in said tank has attained a predetermined level.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A valve apparatus including a solenoid actuated valve assembly for regulating the flow of fluid vapors from a container. The valve assembly is controlled by electrically energizable circuitry. When the circuitry is completed or closed, the valve assembly will open a passage for a predetermined time period allowing vapors to be exhausted from the container. The circuitry will be closed only when an operator actuated switch is moved by the operator to one of two positions, the inlet port to the container is opened, and after the fluid level in the tank attains a predetermined level.
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Citations
26 Claims
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1. A valve apparatus for controlling the flow of liquid from a vehicle fuel tank having a closable fuel inlet leading from a liquid receiving tank interior, said valve apparatus comprising:
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vapor vent conduit means opening into said tank interior for purging vapors from said tank; valve means arranged in a cooperative relationship with said conduit means and effective to regulate the flow of fluid from said tank; electrically energizable circuit means responsive to;
first operative means including an operator influenced switch having at least two positions, second operative means for monitoring fuel level in said tank, third operative means for monitoring whether the inlet port is open or closed, fourth operative means including resettable timer means for monitoring when and for how long the inlet port is open; and
, solenoid means for influencing the effectiveness of said valve means, wherein said circuit means is completed and said solenoid means is controlled to open said valve means for a predetermined period of time extending from the opening of said fuel inlet and after said switch means is moved by the operator to one of said two positions and when said second operative means senses the fuel level in said tank has attained a predetermined level. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7)
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8. A valve apparatus for controlling the flow of vapor from a container having a closable liquid inlet, said valve apparatus comprising:
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a housing having a passage one end of which opens to a liquid receiving chamber provided in said container and another end which opens to outside the container; solenoid actuatable valve means situated in cooperative relationship to said passage and effective to regulate vapor flow between said chamber and outside of the container; and operative means for controlling the opening of said valve means based on conditions indicating the liquid level in the tank;
whether the liquid inlet is open; and
whether an operator actuated switch is open. - View Dependent Claims (9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16)
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17. A valve apparatus for controlling the flow of vapor from a container during a refilling process, said container having a liquid accommodating chamber and a closable port through which fluid is admitted to said chamber, said valve apparatus comprising:
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a housing having a passage one end of which opens to said chamber and the other end of which opens of said container; a solenoid controlled valve assembly for controlling vapor flow through said passage; first sensor means for monitoring liquid level in said chamber and capable of developing a signal when the liquid attains a predetermined level; second sensor means for monitoring whether said port is closed and capable of developing a signal indicative thereof; and first electrically energizable circuitry including an operator controlled switch means, said circuitry being responsive to said switch means and to said sensor means signals for controlling said solenoid controlled valve assembly such that said valve assembly is opened for a predetermined period of time when said switch means is open, said first sensor means signal indicates the liquid level in said chamber has attained a predetermined level and said second sensor means signal indicates said port is open. - View Dependent Claims (18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26)
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Specification