Fuel inlet device for a fuel tank

• US 5,381,838 A
• Filed: 01/05/1994
• Issued: 01/17/1995
• Est. Priority Date: 01/11/1993
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Honda Giken Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha (Honda Motor Company), Nifco Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Honda Giken Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha (Honda Motor Company), Nifco Incorporated
• Inventors: Oikawa, Masatoshi, Takahashi, Shoji, Watanabe, Hideo, Suzuki, Takeshi
• Primary Examiner(s): Recla, Henry J.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Douglas, Steven O.
• Application Number:
  US08/177,875
• Time in Patent Office: 377 Days
• Field of Search: 141/198, 141/211, 141/212, 141/217, 141/218, 141/220, 141/223, 141/229, 220/86.2, 137/409, 137/592, 137/448
• US Class Current: 141/198
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 15/04 Tank inlets B60K15/077 takes precedence

Abstract

In a fuel inlet device for a fuel tank, a flap valve is provided at an end of a fuel filler tube opening into the fuel tank, and a float which rises with a rise in a surface level of the fuel in the tank closes this flap valve when the fuel surface level has reached a prescribed level. Thus, when the surface level of the fuel in the fuel tank has reached a prescribed level, the flap valve linked with the float is closed, and prevents any more fuel from being filled into the fuel tank because the filling nozzle detects this rise in the surface level of the fuel in the filler tube, and stops filling any more fuel into the tank. Therefore, it is possible to connect the breather tube in the fuel tank directly with a canister device without the intervention of a relief valve, and the internal pressure of the fuel tank can be maintained substantially no higher than the atmospheric pressure. Thus, the release of fuel vapor from the filler cap can be avoided.

Claims

1. A fuel inlet device for a fuel tank equipped with a fuel filler tube and a breather tube, comprising:

a float adapted to rise with a rise in a surface level of fuel accommodated in the fuel tank;

a valve adapted to extend from an end of an opening in the fuel filler tube into the fuel tank;

linking means for linking the movement of the float and the valve with each other;

wherein said valve is adapted to close by an ascending movement of said float when the surface level of fuel in the fuel tank has reached a prescribed level; and

wherein said valve comprises a flap valve which is normally closed by biasing means, a biasing force of said biasing means being weak enough for allowing said flap valve to be opened by an incoming flow of fluid fuel through the fuel filler tube.

2. A fuel inlet device according to claim 1, wherein the breather tube is adapted to be connected to a canister device.

3. A fuel inlet device according to claim 1, further comprising a sleeve member adapted to be connected to the end of the filler tube opening into the fuel tank, said flap valve and said float being pivotally supported by pivot means extending from an underside of said sleeve member in a mutually parallel relationship.