Apparatus for preventing fuel spillage
First Claim
1. An apparatus for preventing fuel spillage on a marine vessel, comprising:
- a vent line coupled between a fuel tank and a vent port of the vessel;
a valve assembly coupled within the vent line for preventing an overflow of fuel from the fuel tank from passing through the vent port into the water, and defining an inlet port coupled in fluid communication with the fuel tank, an outlet port, and a first fluid passageway between the inlet and outlet ports, and including a first valve member preventing the flow of fuel through the first fluid passageway when the pressure on the inlet port is below a threshold value, and defining a second fluid passageway between the inlet and outlet ports for the flow of fuel through the valve assembly when the first valve member is preventing the flow of fuel through the first fluid passageway;
an overflow chamber coupled between the outlet port of the valve assembly and the vent port of the vessel for collecting any fuel passing through the valve assembly; and
a fill container defining a first aperture for receiving a fuel nozzle to fill the fuel tank with fuel, and a second aperture for coupling the fill container in fluid communication with the fuel tank to permit fuel to pass between the fill container and the fuel tank and to collect excess fuel within the fill container upon filling the fuel tank with fuel.
1 Assignment
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Accused Products
Abstract
An apparatus is provided for preventing the spillage of fuel into the water or onto a marine vessel when filling a fuel tank on the vessel. A vent line is coupled between the fuel tank and a vent port of the vessel, at least one valve assembly is coupled within the vent line, and an overflow container is coupled within the vent line between the valve assembly and the vent port. The valve assembly defines a drain hole for permitting small quantities of fuel, gases and/or vapors to pass through the valve assembly and into the overflow container. A fill container defines a first aperture for receiving a fuel nozzle to fill the fuel tank with fuel, a fitting portion for seating the fill container within a fuel fitting coupled to the fuel tank on the vessel, and a second aperture for permitting fuel to pass between the fill container and the fuel tank. Upon filling the fuel tank with fuel, the overflow fuel is collected within the fill container, thus signalling to the attendant to turn off the fuel nozzle. The pressure differential caused by the overflow fuel within the fill container causes fuel to slowly pass through the drain hole in the valve assembly and into the overflow container, which in turn permits the overflow fuel in the fill container to drain into the fuel tank. The empty fill container is then removed from the vessel and the fuel fitting is closed without spilling any of the overflow fuel.
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Citations
21 Claims
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1. An apparatus for preventing fuel spillage on a marine vessel, comprising:
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a vent line coupled between a fuel tank and a vent port of the vessel; a valve assembly coupled within the vent line for preventing an overflow of fuel from the fuel tank from passing through the vent port into the water, and defining an inlet port coupled in fluid communication with the fuel tank, an outlet port, and a first fluid passageway between the inlet and outlet ports, and including a first valve member preventing the flow of fuel through the first fluid passageway when the pressure on the inlet port is below a threshold value, and defining a second fluid passageway between the inlet and outlet ports for the flow of fuel through the valve assembly when the first valve member is preventing the flow of fuel through the first fluid passageway; an overflow chamber coupled between the outlet port of the valve assembly and the vent port of the vessel for collecting any fuel passing through the valve assembly; and a fill container defining a first aperture for receiving a fuel nozzle to fill the fuel tank with fuel, and a second aperture for coupling the fill container in fluid communication with the fuel tank to permit fuel to pass between the fill container and the fuel tank and to collect excess fuel within the fill container upon filling the fuel tank with fuel. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10)
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11. An apparatus for preventing fuel spillage on a marine vessel, comprising:
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a vent line coupled between a fuel tank and a vent port of the vessel; at least one valve assembly coupled within the vent line for preventing an overflow of fuel from the fuel tank from passing through the vent port into the water, and including a first valve member for closing the valve assembly in response to the flow of fuel into the valve assembly, and a second valve member in the form of a pressure relief valve for opening the valve assembly in response to the pressure on the inlet side of the valve assembly exceeding a threshold value, wherein the pressure-relief valve includes a valve seat and a weighted member coupled to the valve seat, the weighted member being lifted away from the valve seat in response to the pressure on the inlet side of the valve assembly exceeding the threshold value; an overflow container coupled between the at least one valve assembly and the vent port of the vessel for collecting any fuel passing through the valve assembly; and a fill container defining a first aperture for receiving a fuel nozzle to fill the fuel tank with fuel, a fitting portion for coupling the fill container to the fuel tank on the vessel, and a second aperture for permitting fuel to pass between the fill container and the fuel tank for collecting any excess fuel within the fill container upon filling the fuel tank with fuel.
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12. An apparatus for preventing the spillage of fuel on a marine vessel, comprising:
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a fill container including an inlet port for receiving a fuel nozzle and an outlet port adapted for coupling the fill container with a fuel tank on the vessel for filling the fuel tank with fuel and for collecting overflow fuel upon filling the fuel tank with fuel; a vent chamber coupled in fluid communication between the fuel tank and a vent port on the vessel; and a valve assembly defining an inlet port coupled in fluid communication with the fuel tank, an outlet port coupled in fluid communication with the vent chamber, and a first fluid passageway coupled in fluid communication with the inlet and outlet ports, and including first means for preventing the passage of fuel through the first fluid passageway when the pressure on the inlet port is below a threshold value, and second means for permitting the passage of fuel through the valve assembly into the vent chamber when the first means is preventing the passage of fuel through the first passageway to drain overflow fuel into the vent chamber. - View Dependent Claims (13, 14, 15, 16, 17)
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18. An apparatus for preventing spillage of fuel on a marine vessel, comprising:
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a vent chamber coupled in fluid communication between a fuel tank and a vent port of the vessel; a valve assembly coupled between the fuel tank and the vent chamber, including an inlet port and an outlet port, and defining a first fluid passageway in fluid communication with the inlet and outlet ports, and including a first valve member for preventing the flow of fluid through the first fluid passageway in the direction from the fuel tank toward the vent chamber, and defining a second fluid passageway in fluid communication with the inlet and outlet ports for permitting the flow of fluid through the valve assembly in the direction from the fuel tank toward the vent chamber; and a fill container defining a first port for receiving a fill nozzle, and a second port adapted for coupling the fill container in fluid communication with the fuel tank, wherein the second port permits the passage of overflow fuel into the fill container upon filling the fuel tank with fuel, and the second fluid passageway in the valve assembly directs overflow fuel from the fuel tank into the vent chamber, and in turn permits fuel within the fill container to drain through the second port toward the fuel tank. - View Dependent Claims (19, 20, 21)
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Specification