Fuel fill pipe shut-off device

• US 6,257,287 B1
• Filed: 12/10/1999
• Issued: 07/10/2001
• Est. Priority Date: 12/10/1999
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Eaton LP (Eaton Corporation PLC.)
• Original Assignee: Saturn Electronics & Engineering Incorporated (Flex, Ltd.)
• Inventors: Szlaga, Emil, Kippe, Bradley N.
• Primary Examiner(s): MAUST, TIMOTHY LEWIS
• Application Number:
  US09/457,879
• Time in Patent Office: 578 Days
• Field of Search: 141/4, 141/5, 141/192, 141/197, 141/198, 141/285, 141/301, 141/302, 141/311.R, 141/325, 220/86.2, 220/86.3, 137/43, 137/202, 137/386, 137/391, 137/395, 137/398, 137/409, 137/410, 137/411
• US Class Current: 141/198
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 15/03504 adapted to avoid loss of fuel or fuel vapour, e.g. with vapour recovery systems
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 15/04 Tank inlets B60K15/077 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 2015/03447 for improving the sealing
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 2015/03576 Venting during filling the reservoir
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 137/3099 Float responsive
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 137/7303 Control of both inflow and outflow of tank
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 137/7313 Control of outflow from tank
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 137/7323 By float
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 137/7361 Valve opened by external means, closing or closing control by float

Abstract

A motor vehicle fuel fill pipe shut-off device includes a fuel shut-off valve normally closed relative to a valve seat and disposed in a path of fuel flow through the fuel fill pipe of the motor vehicle to a fuel tank thereof. The valve is connected to a diaphragm in a manner to define in part a chamber communicated by an inlet orifice to the fuel fill pipe and by an outlet orifice to the fuel tank that is vented during fueling to a charcoal canister wherein a fluid pressure in the chamber is lower than that in the fuel fill pipe during fueling to permit opening of the valve by fuel introduced through the fuel fill pipe, A fuel float or solenoid moves a closure to close off communication of the outlet orifice to the fuel tank when fuel level in the fuel tank reaches the predetermined “full” level to increase chamber fluid pressure to permit movement of the valve by a biasing spring as assisted by the diaphragm toward the valve seat and achieve closing of the valve to prevent further filling of the fuel tank with fuel.

Claims

1. A vehicle fuel fill pipe shut-off device, comprising a valve housing adapted to be disposed on a side of a fuel tank and a fuel shut-off valve in said housing normally closed relative to a valve seat that is disposed in a path of fuel flow through a fuel fill pipe to said fuel tank, said valve being connected to a diaphragm in a manner to define in part a chamber communicated by a first orifice to said fuel fill pipe and by a second orifice to said fuel tank during fueling of said fuel tank below a predetermined fuel level, said valve being opened during said fueling by fuel introduced through said fuel fill pipe to said fuel tank, and a closure member for interrupting communication between said second orifice and said fuel tank when fuel level in said fuel tank reaches the predetermined fuel level to permit movement of said valve toward said valve seat and achieve closing of said valve to prevent further filling of said fuel tank with fuel, said closure member being connected to a fuel float disposed in an upstanding sleeve adapted to be disposed in said fuel tank and movable up and down in said sleeve in response to fuel level therein.

2. The device of claim 1 wherein said second orifice is larger in a dimension than said first orifice.

3. The device of claim 1 wherein said diaphragm and said valve define said chamber in a housing.

4. The device of claim 3 wherein said valve has a conical configuration with said diaphragm connected to a region of said conical configuration remote from an apex region thereof.

5. The device of claim 3 wherein said valve includes said first orifice and said housing includes said second orifice, said second orifice being larger than said first orifice.

6. The device of claim 1 wherein said valve is disposed on said diaphragm and is spring biased toward said valve seat to a normally closed position when fuel is not flowing in said fuel fill pipe.

7. The device of claim 6 wherein said diaphragm is dimensioned relative to a sealing surface of said valve to assist said spring in closing said valve after fuel level in said fuel tank reaches the predetermined level.

8. The combination on a motor vehicle of a fuel tank having a conduit for venting fuel vapor to a fuel vapor storage canister during fueling and the vehicle fuel fill pipe shut-off device as set forth in any one of claims 1-2, 3-5, and 6-7.

9. A method of controlling fuel level in a fuel tank of a motor vehicle when fuel is introduced through a fuel fill pipe to the fuel tank, comprising disposing a fuel fill shut-off valve in a valve housing disposed on a side of said fuel tank and normally closed relative to a valve seat in a path of fuel flow through said fuel fill pipe to said fuel tank, communicating a chamber defined in part by said valve and a diaphragm connected thereto to said fuel fill pipe and to said fuel tank during fueling of said tank below a predetermined fuel level with said valve being opened during said fueling by fuel introduced through said fuel fill pipe, and interrupting communication between said chamber and said fuel tank when said predetermined fuel level is reached to permit movement of said valve toward said valve seat and achieve closing of said valve to prevent further filling of said fuel tank with fuel.

10. The method of claim 9 wherein communication between said chamber and said fuel tank is interrupted by a valve on a float moving in an upstanding sleeve in said fuel tank in response to fuel level in said fuel tank.

11. The method of claim 9 wherein communication between said chamber and said fuel tank is interrupted by a solenoid actuated valve in response to fuel level in said fuel tank.

12. The method of claim 9 including normally closing said valve by spring biasing said valve toward the valve seat when there is no fuel flow.

13. The method of claim 12 wherein said diaphragm assists said spring in closing said valve after said predetermined fuel level is reached.

14. The method of claim 9 including venting fuel vapor from the fuel tank during fueling.