Spill resistant fuel cap and ventilation system

• US 5,570,730 A
• Filed: 03/24/1995
• Issued: 11/05/1996
• Est. Priority Date: 03/24/1995
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Brunswick Corporation
• Original Assignee: Ray Industries, Inc.
• Inventors: Keehn, Douglas A. Jr., Powell, William W., Ousley, Frank B. II
• Primary Examiner(s): JACYNA, J CASIMER
• Application Number:
  US08/410,069
• Time in Patent Office: 592 Days
• Field of Search: 141/44-46, 141/59, 141/302, 141/307, 141/312, 141/325, 141/326, 137/587, 137/588, 114/343, 220/203, 220/29, 220/86.2
• US Class Current: 141/59
• CPC Class Codes: B63B 25/082 Arrangements for minimizing pollution by accidents associated with tanks for fuel or the like not forming bunkers B63B17/0036

Abstract

A spill resistant fuel cap and ventilation system to prevent fuel from spilling during the boat refueling process and when internal fuel system pressure increases, and for maintaining the internal pressure of the fuel system at a predetermined level, wherein the system comprises a fuel fill neck fluidly connected to a tank, the fuel fill neck having two venting apertures defined by it with one venting aperture in fluid communication with the tank and the other aperture in fluid communication with an air intake vent, such that the system provides two vapor and air venting paths for removing vapor and air during refueling and for relieving pressure, respectively, and such that an air intake venting path is formed for inducing air into the system through the fuel fill neck to prevent pulling vacuum in the tank during boat engine operation.

Claims

1. A spill resistant fuel and ventilation system for use with a fuel tank in boat fueling systems to minimize fuel spills and leaks during fueling and boat engine operation, said system comprising:

a fuel tank interface means for preventing fuel spills during fueling;

a pressure equalizing means for relieving internal pressure in said system, said pressure equalizing means being releasably attachable to said fuel tank interface means;

a first hose fluidly joining the fuel tank and said fuel tank interface means for venting air and vapor displaced from the fuel tank when filling the fuel tank with fuel;

a second hose, in fluid communication with said fuel tank interface means, for inducing air into the fuel tank as fuel is pulled from the fuel tank during boat engine operation,; and

a one-direction valve means, in fluid communication with said second hose, for only allowing air flow into said system through said second hose.

2. A system as recited in claim 1, wherein said fuel tank interface means comprises:

a vented nozzle receiving means for tightly receiving a fuel nozzle used in filling the fuel tank with fuel;

a threaded cylinder neck fluidly joined to the fuel tank, said vented nozzle receiving means being securely disposed in said threaded cylinder neck; and

a fuel cap means for forming a vapor tight seal with said threaded cylinder neck, said pressure equalizing means being disposed in said fuel cap means.

3. A system as recited in claim 2, wherein said one-direction valve means comprises a check valve having a spring-loaded poppet disposed in a valve body, wherein said poppet is forced to actuate when pressure sufficient to overcome said spring is applied to said poppet, said spring-loaded poppet returning to a relaxed position or maintaining a relaxed position when the required pressure is below a predetermined threshold.

4. A system as recited in claim 2, wherein said vented nozzle receiving means comprises a splash ring removably secured in said threaded cylinder neck, said splash ring defining at least one venting orifice so as to provide a first air and vapor path for venting air and vapor from said system during fueling, said splash ring defining threaded peripheral edges threadably mating with said threaded cylinder neck.

5. A system as recited in claim 2, wherein said vented nozzle receiving means comprises:

a splash ring removably secured in said cylinder neck, said splash ring for preventing fuel from splashing or spilling out of said cylinder neck;

an interlocking means defined by said splash ring for securely interlocking said splash ring and said cylinder neck;

means for venting air and vapor from said system through said splash ring during fueling, said vapor venting means defined by said splash ring; and

nozzle receiving aperture defined by said splash ring for tightly receiving the fuel fuel nozzle used in filling a tank with fuel.

6. A spill resistant fuel and ventilation system for use with a fuel tank in boat fueling systems to minimize fuel spills and leaks during fueling and boat engine operation, said system comprising:

a fuel tank interface means for preventing fuel spills during fueling and for providing a fuel feed path to the fuel tank;

a fuel cap means for forming a vapor tight seal with said fuel tank interface means, said fuel cap means being removably secured to said fuel tank interface means;

a pressure equalizing means for relieving internal pressure in said system, said pressure equalizing means being securely installed in said fuel cap means;

air intake vent means for inducing air into the fuel tank as fuel is pulled from the boat fuel tank during boat engine operation, said air intake vent means being in fluid communication with said fuel tank interface means and an air intake vent;

one-direction valve means, installed in said air intake means, for limiting air flow to one direction so as to only allow air flow into said system; and

tank vent means, in fluid communication with said fuel tank interface means, for venting air and vapor displaced by fuel in the fuel tank when filling the fuel tank with fuel.

7. A system as recited in claim 6, wherein said air intake vent means comprises:

a hose fluidly joining said fuel tank interface means and the air intake vent, said one-direction valve means being securely installed in said hose.

8. A system as recited in claim 7, wherein said tank vent means comprises a tank vent hose connected to said fuel tank interface means and the fuel tank so as to provide fluid communication between said fuel tank interface means and the fuel tank.

9. A system as recited in claim 8, wherein said fuel tank interface means comprises:

a threaded cylinder neck fluidly joined to the boat fuel tank;

a vented nozzle receiving means for tightly receiving a fuel nozzle used in filling tanks with fuel; and

a fuel feed line fluidly joining said threaded cylinder neck and the fuel tank for directing fuel from said threaded cylinder neck into the fuel tank.

10. A system as recited in claim 6, wherein said fuel tank interface means comprises:

a threaded cylinder neck fluidly joined to the fuel tank;

a vented nozzle receiving means for tightly receiving a fuel nozzle used in filling tanks with fuel; and

a fuel feed line fluidly joining said threaded cylinder neck and the fuel tank for directing fuel from said threaded cylinder neck into the fuel tank.

11. A system as recited in claim 10, wherein said pressure equalizing means comprises a one-direction valve securely installed in said fuel cap means for only allowing the flow of air and vapor from said system out said fuel cap means.

12. A system as recited in claim 11, further comprising a fuel tank in fluid communication with said tank vent means and said fuel tank interface means.