Small engine fuel tank with integrated evaporative controls

• US 20050284450A1
• Filed: 06/23/2004
• Published: 12/29/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 06/23/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Eaton Intelligent Power Limited (Eaton Corporation PLC.)
• Original Assignee: Eaton Corp. (Wisconsin) (Eaton Corporation PLC.)
• Inventors: Mills, Vaughn K.
• Granted Patent: US 7,213,583 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 123/519
• CPC Class Codes: F02M 25/0854 Details of the absorption canister
• CPC Class Codes: F02M 37/10 submerged in fuel, e.g. in reservoir
• CPC Class Codes: F02M 37/20 characterised by means for preventing vapour lock

Abstract

A fuel tank assembly for small engines having a vapor storage canister disposed within the tank in the vapor dome with an atmospheric vent line to the canister through the tank wall and a canister vapor outlet line also through the tank wall. A fuel vapor vent valve is disposed in the vapor dome of the tank with the vent valve outlet connected to the canister inlet. A fuel filler tube extends through the tank wall to a desired depth to prevent vapor from escaping through the filler tube when the fuel level rises to the lower end of the filler tube and alerts the operator by rapid rise of fuel in the filler tube.

Claims

1. A fuel tank assembly for small engines comprising:

(a) a tank wall structure having an access opening for refueling including a closure therefor and a fuel feed outlet and an upper region of the tank wall structure defining a vapor dome above the fuel level;

(b) a vapor storage device disposed within the tank in the vapor dome and having a vapor inlet, an atmospheric air inlet communicating exteriorly through the tank wall structure and a vapor purge outlet communicating exteriorly through the tank wall structure; and

,

(c) a rollover/vent valve disposed within the tank and having an inlet communicating with the vapor dome and an outlet communicating with the storage device vapor inlet.

2. The assembly defined in claim 1, wherein the rollover/vent valve is disposed adjacent the upper portion of the tank wall structure.

3. The assembly defined in claim 1, wherein the storage device is disposed adjacent the upper portion of the tank wall structure.

4. The assembly defined in claim 1, wherein the fuel feed outlet is disposed in the lower region of the fuel tank wall structure for gravity feed.

5. The assembly defined in claim 1, wherein the rollover/vent valve includes a float operator.

6. A method of making a fuel tank assembly for small engines comprising:

(a) forming a fuel tank wall structure having a refueling access opening with a closure, a fuel vapor dome region and a fuel feed outlet;

(b) disposing a fuel vapor storage canister within the tank in the region of the vapor dome and venting the canister through the tank wall structure to the atmosphere and connecting a canister purge outlet through the tank wall structure; and

,

(c) disposing a rollover/vent valve in the vapor dome region and connecting the outlet of the valve to the canister.

7. The method defined in claim 6, wherein the step of disposing a rollover/vent valve includes disposing a float operated valve.

8. The method defined in claim 6, wherein the step of disposing a storage canister includes disposing a canister adjacent the upper region of the tank wall structure.

9. The method defined in claim 6, wherein the step of disposing a rollover/vent valve includes disposing a valve adjacent the upper region of the tank wall structure.

10. The method defined in claim 6, wherein the step of forming a fuel tank wall structure includes forming a fuel outlet in the bottom of the tank wall structure for gravity feed.

11. The method defined in claim 6, wherein the step of venting the canister includes connecting a conduit for communicating through the sidewall of the tank structure.

12. The method defined in claim 6, wherein the step of connecting a canister purge outlet includes connecting a conduit for communicating through the side of the tank wall structure.