Watercraft fueling apparatus and methods

• US 7,913,722 B2
• Filed: 05/07/2007
• Issued: 03/29/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 05/07/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Alex W. Dorst
• Original Assignee: Alex W. Dorst
• Inventors: Dorst, Alex W.
• Primary Examiner(s): Maust; Timothy L
• Assistant Examiner(s): ARNETT, NICOLAS ALLEN
• Application Number:
  US11/745,393
• Publication Number:
  US 20080276853A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,422 Days
• Field of Search: 141/5, 141/86, 141/326, 141/349, 141/350, 141/311.A, 220/86.2, 220/573, 137/312
• US Class Current: 141/86
• CPC Class Codes: B63B 17/00 Vessels parts, details, or accessories, not otherwise provided for vehicle fittings for preventing or indicating unauthorised use or theft of vehicles in general B60R25/00; propeller guards, line cutters or other means for protecting propellers or rudders B63H5/165; protection of power legs of outboard propulsion units B63H20/36; locking devices for boats, surfboards or parts or accessories thereof E05B73/007
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 137/5762 With leakage or drip collecting

Abstract

A fuel fill port that helps prevent spillage of fuel during watercraft fueling includes a housing having an opening for installation on a surface of the watercraft and a cap for sealing the opening. A fill tube has one end sized to accept a fuel dispensing nozzle and another end for connection to a fuel tank. A catch basin defined by a bottom portion of the housing is positioned such that backflow of fuel from the fill tube collects within the catch basin. A fill vent has one end positioned relative the fill tube to allow excess fuel from the fuel tank to flow into the catch basin and another end adapted for connection to the fuel tank. One or more passages from the catch basin to the fuel tank guides fuel from the catch basin to the fuel tank.

Claims

1. A fuel fill port on a surface of a watercraft, the fill port comprising:

an opening in the fill port;

a removable cap covering and sealing said opening;

a main fill tube having an open top end positioned proximate to and below said opening, the main fill tube also having a distal end for connecting to a fuel tank, the main fill tube sized to accept therein a fuel dispensing nozzle inserted through said opening;

a catch basin having an open top positioned below said opening such that back splash of fuel from the main fill tube is collected within the catch basin;

an overflow tube connected between the fuel tank and the catch basin such that excess fuel in the fuel tank is conveyed via the overflow tube into the catch basin;

a fill vent positioned near a bottom portion of said catch basin and extending in a direction towards said open top of said catch basin, wherein said fill vent is in communication with said overflow tube;

a back splash cover positioned within said catch basin and above said fill vent to prevent said excess fuel from escaping from said open top of said catch basin; and

an opening from the catch basin to the main fill tube positioned to permit drainage of the contents of the catch basin into the main fill tube.

2. A fuel fill port according to claim 1, further comprising:

a tank breather vent positioned within said opening and in communication with a breather port to permit air to flow from said fuel tank and externally from said watercraft when said removable cap is sealing said opening.

3. A fuel fill port according to claim 1, wherein said back splash cover comprises a breathable material.

4. A fuel fill port according to claim 1, further comprising:

a plurality of openings from said catch basin to said main fill tube positioned to permit drainage of the contents of the catch basin into the main fill tube.

5. A fuel fill port according to claim 1, wherein said catch basin is positioned peripherally from said main fill tube.

6. A fuel fill port according to claim 5, wherein said peripheral position of said catch basin is a position where said catch basin entirely surrounds said main fill tube.

7. A fuel fill port according to claim 5, wherein said peripheral position of said catch basin is a position where said catch basin partially surrounds said main fill tube.

8. A fuel fill port according to claim 1, wherein said removable cap comprises an identification to signify fuel.

9. A watercraft comprising a fuel fill port according to claim 1.

10. A fuel fill port according to claim 1, wherein an open top end of the fill vent is positioned below the open top end of the main fill tube.

11. A method for fueling a fuel tank of a watercraft through a fill port, said fill port comprising an access opening, a main fill tube connected to said fuel tank having an open top end positioned proximate to and below said opening, a catch basin having an open top and positioned peripherally from said main fill tube, an overflow tube connected between said fuel tank and said catch basin, a fill vent in communication with said overflow tube, said fill vent positioned near a bottom portion of said catch basin and extending in a direction towards said open top of said catch basin, and a drain opening from said catch basin to said main fill tube, the method comprising:

accepting fuel into said fuel tank via said main fill tube;

retaining a back splash of fuel from said main fill tube in said catch basin;

draining said back splash of fuel retained in said catch basin into said fuel tank through said drain opening and said main fill tube;

venting air displaced in said fuel tank through said overflow tube and externally from said watercraft;

transporting any excess of fuel in said fuel tank to said catch basin via said overflow tube;

retaining said excess of fuel from said fuel tank in said catch basin;

preventing said excess of fuel from escaping from said open top of said catch basin via a back splash cover positioned within said catch basin and above said fill vent; and

draining said excess of fuel retained in said catch basin into said fuel tank through said drain opening and said main fill tube.

12. A method according to claim 11, wherein said fill port further comprises a removable cap for covering and sealing said access opening and a tank breather vent positioned within said access opening and in communication with a breather port, wherein said venting step further comprises:

venting said displaced air in said fuel tank through said tank breather vent and said breather port when said removable cap is covering and sealing said access opening.

13. A method according to claim 11, wherein said back splash cover comprises a breathable material.

14. A fuel fill port comprising:

a housing for installation on a surface of a watercraft, the housing having an opening proximate the surface;

a cap removably coupled to the housing for sealing the opening;

a fill tube extending through the housing, a first end of the fill tube sized to accept a fuel dispensing nozzle and a second end of the fill tube adapted for connection to a fuel tank;

a catch basin defined by a bottom portion of the housing and positioned relative the opening and the first end of the fill tube such that backflow of fuel from the fill tube collects within the catch basin;

a fill vent extending through the housing, a first end of the fill vent positioned relative the first end of the fill tube to allow excess fuel from the fuel tank to flow into the catch basin and a second end of the fill vent adapted for connection to the fuel tank;

a back splash cover positioned over a top portion of the catch basin and above the fill vent to prevent the excess fuel from escaping a top portion of the catch basin; and

a passage from the catch basin to the fuel tank for guiding fuel from the catch basin to the fuel tank.

15. A fuel fill port according to claim 14, further comprising:

a breather vent extending through the housing, a first end of the breather vent adapted for connection to a breather port and a second end of the breather vent terminating proximate the opening to allow air to escape through the breather port when the cap seals the opening.

16. A fuel fill port according to claim 14, wherein the fill tube and fill vent extend through the bottom portion of the housing and are substantially parallel to one another.

17. A fuel fill port according to claim 14, wherein the first end of the fill vent is below the first end of the fill tube.

18. A fuel fill port according to claim 14, wherein the passage from the catch basin to the fuel tank comprises a plurality of openings from said catch basin to said fill tube and positioned to permit drainage of the contents of the catch basin into the fill tube.

19. A fuel fill port according to claim 14, wherein said catch basin is positioned peripherally from said fill tube.

20. A fuel fill port according to claim 14, wherein said back splash cover comprises a breathable material.

21. A fill port for fueling a fuel tank of a watercraft, the fill port comprising:

means for accepting fuel and conveying said fuel into the fuel tank;

means for retaining a back splash of fuel;

means for venting air displaced in said fuel tank externally from the watercraft;

means for transporting an excess of fuel in the fuel tank to said means for retaining a back splash of fuel;

means for preventing said excess of fuel from escaping a top portion of said means for retaining a back splash of fuel; and

means for draining said back splash of fuel and said excess of fuel back into the fuel tank.