초록 ▼

A valve assembly for use in a fuel tank of a vehicle which includes a first valve mechanism and a dust preventing member. The valve assembly is secured to the fuel tank and the valve assembly allows selective communication between the inside of the fuel tank and the outside of the fuel tank. The fir

A valve assembly for use in a fuel tank of a vehicle which includes a first valve mechanism and a dust preventing member. The valve assembly is secured to the fuel tank and the valve assembly allows selective communication between the inside of the fuel tank and the outside of the fuel tank. The first valve mechanism includes a valve casing and a valve body. When the valve body is positioned at a first position, the valve body is positioned apart from an aperture of the valve casing. As a result, the valve assembly allows the communication between the inside of the fuel tank and the outside of the fuel tank through the aperture of the valve casing. On the other hand, when the valve body is positioned at a second position, the valve body covers the aperture of the valve casing. As a result, the valve assembly prevents communication between the inside of the fuel tank and the outside of the fuel tank. A dust preventing member is secured to an outer surface of the valve casing and includes a wall member. Accordingly, substantially all of minute dust particles and water vapor in the air flow are forced down by the wall member of the dust preventing means. Therefore, the dust preventing means substantially prevents the introduction of minute dust particles and water vapor into the fuel tank.

대표청구항 ▼

A valve assembly for use in a fuel tank of a vehicle, the valve assembly comprising: first and second valve means and a valve casing, said first valve means comprising bias means and a first valve body, said valve casing being mounted on the fuel tank, said valve casing having a cylinder portion and

A valve assembly for use in a fuel tank of a vehicle, the valve assembly comprising: first and second valve means and a valve casing, said first valve means comprising bias means and a first valve body, said valve casing being mounted on the fuel tank, said valve casing having a cylinder portion and a first aperture, said first valve body being located within said cylinder portion, said first aperture being defined within said cylinder portion, said cylinder portion being defined within said valve casing, said first aperture allowing communication between the inside of said valve casing and the outside of said fuel tank, the first valve body closing selectively said first aperture of said cylinder portion, said bias means biasing said first valve body toward said first aperture of said cylinder portion, said first valve body and said first bias means being located at a first side of said valve casing, said first valve body being positioned selectively at one of a first position and second position, whereby when said first valve body is positioned at said first position, said first valve body covers said first aperture, such that said first valve means prevents communication through said first aperture, and when first valve body is positioned at said second position, said first valve body is located apart from said first aperture, such that the first valve means allows communication between the inside of said valve casing and the outside of said fuel tank through said first aperture said second valve means comprising a second valve body, a second aperture and a third aperture, said second aperture being opened at an upper portion of said valve casing, said third aperture being opened at a lower portion of said valve casing, said second valve body being movable between a first position and a second position, whereby when fuel within the tank is below the third aperture of the valve casing, the second valve body is in said first position and the inside of said fuel tank communicates with an inside of said valve casing through both of said second and third apertures of the valve casing, and when the second valve body is in said second position, the inside of said fuel tank communicates with the inside of said valve casing through said second aperture of the valve casing, such that regardless of the position of said valve body and the fuel, communication between the inside of said fuel tank and the inside of the valve casing is ensured, said valve casing further comprising a fourth aperture, said second valve body being located within said valve casing, said fourth aperture allowing, selectively, communication between the inside of said valve casing and the outside of said fuel tank, whereby when said second valve body is positioned at said first position, the second valve body is positioned apart from said fourth aperture, such that said second valve means allows communication between the inside of said fuel tank and the outside of said fuel tank through said fourth aperture of said valve casing, and when said second valve body is positioned at said second position, said second valve body covers said fourth aperture of said valve casing such that said second valve means prevents communication through said fourth aperture; a first dust preventing means secured to an outer surface of said valve casing, said first dust preventing means having a wall member and a groove, said wall member being located proximate said fourth aperture, said groove being defined around said wall member, whereby when air flows from the outside of said fuel tank to the inside of said fuel tank, the air hits said wall member of said dust preventing means, thereby forcing the air to travel around the wall member, such that said first dust preventing means substantially prevents the introduction of minute dust particles into the inside of said fuel tank; a lid member having a pipe member, said lid member mounted on the fuel tank, the lid member covering said first and second valve means, an end of said pipe member being located under said lid member, said lid member being located apart from said second valve means, a space being defined between said lid member and said second valve means, said pipe member allowing communication between the atmosphere and said space, said end of said pipe member being located apart from said fourth aperture of said valve casing, said dust preventing means being located between said end of said pipe member and said fourth aperture of the valve casing, whereby said dust preventing means prevents smooth communication between said pipe member and said first and fourth apertures of the valve casing, said groove collecting dust therewithin; and a seal means located between said lid member and said valve casing and between said lid member and said fuel tank, the seal means having an opening, the opening allowing communication between said pipe member and said valve casing, the seal means including a thick portion and a thin portion, the thick portion of the seal means providing a seal between the fuel tank and said lid member, the thin portion of the seal means providing a seal between the valve casing and said lid member, whereby the seal means can prevent the introduction of minute dust between said fuel tank, said lid member and said valve casing.