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Tank venting system

  • US 5,603,349 A
  • Filed: 02/08/1995
  • Issued: 02/18/1997
  • Est. Priority Date: 01/17/1992
  • Status: Expired due to Term
First Claim
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1. An apparatus for controlling venting of fuel vapors from a vehicle fuel tank having a filler neck, the apparatus comprisinga housing defining an interior region and being formed to include a first inlet port connecting the interior region in fluid communication with the fuel tank, a signal port connecting the interior region in fluid communication with the filler neck, and an outlet port,a first valve assembly disposed in the interior region and movable between a blocking position and a venting position, the first valve assembly including a central portion, an intermediate annular portion concentric with the central portion, and an outer circumferential portion,a flow tube connecting the first inlet port with the central portion to expose the central portion to fuel vapor from the fuel tank,an annular partition lying in spaced-apart relationship with the flow tube and cooperating therewith to define an intermediate annular chamber open to the outlet port to expose the intermediate portion to atmospheric pressure, the annular partition further cooperating with the housing to define an outer circumferential chamber open to the signal port to expose the outer circumferential portion to fuel vapor from the filler neck so that the first valve assembly is moved away from its blocking position toward its venting position in response to fuel vapor pressure received from the first inlet port and the signal port allowing flow of fuel vapor from the flow tube and the outer circumferential chamber to the intermediate annular chamber during vehicle operation, andvent means for defining a bleed passageway connecting the flow tube in fluid communication with the outer circumferential chamber so that pressurized fuel vapor accumulating in the flow tube is dissipated through the bleed passageway and discharged into the outer circumferential chamber and conducted through the signal port toward the filler neck.

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