초록 ▼

A fuel vapor vent valve assembly for a vehicle fuel tank for venting fuel vapor from the fuel tank to a fuel vapor emission device disposed external of the fuel tank, wherein the assembly comprises a valve housing having a fuel vapor vent outlet opening or orifice defined by a valve seat and communi

A fuel vapor vent valve assembly for a vehicle fuel tank for venting fuel vapor from the fuel tank to a fuel vapor emission device disposed external of the fuel tank, wherein the assembly comprises a valve housing having a fuel vapor vent outlet opening or orifice defined by a valve seat and communicating with a fuel tank vapor space interior of the fuel tank and with a fuel vapor emission device, such as a charcoal canister, exterior of the fuel tank. A fuel level responsive valve-moving device, such as a float, is disposed in the housing for movement therein. A vapor vent valve is disposed on the device in a manner for closing and opening the vent orifice in response to the fuel level in the fuel tank. The vent valve includes a partial spherical, radius-defined sealing surface that mates with a sealing surface of the valve seat to provide liquid/vapor tight sealing relation therebetween when the valve is in the closed position relative to the valve seat. The vent valve includes an axle about which the valve surface is rotated relative to the valve seat surface in response to initial downward movement of the valve-moving device when the valve and valve seat surfaces are in sealing relation. The valve surface is configured such that a small degree of rotation of the valve relative to the valve seat interrupts or breaks the sealing relation therebetween, providing a vapor flow path that reduces the pressure differential across the valve to facilitate its reopening by further downward movement of the valve-moving device.

대표청구항 ▼

[ We claim:] [1.] A fuel vapor vent valve assembly for a vehicle fuel tank for venting fuel vapor from the fuel tank to a fuel vapor emission device disposed external of the fuel tank, said assembly comprising:valve housing having a fuel vapor vent opening communicating with the interior of said fue

[ We claim:] [1.] A fuel vapor vent valve assembly for a vehicle fuel tank for venting fuel vapor from the fuel tank to a fuel vapor emission device disposed external of the fuel tank, said assembly comprising:valve housing having a fuel vapor vent opening communicating with the interior of said fuel tank and with said fuel vapor emission device, a valve seat being associated with said opening,a fuel level responsive valve-moving device disposed in said housing for movement in response to level of fuel, anda fuel vapor vent valve for closing and opening relative to said valve seat to control fuel vapor flow through said vent opening in response to movement of said valve-moving device, said vent valve including a partial spherical, radius-defined sealing surface that mates with a sealing surface of said valve seat to provide liquid/vapor tight sealing relation therebetween when said valve is in the closed position relative to said valve seat, said vent valve having an axle with an axis substantially intersecting a center of the radius of said valve sealing surface and about which said valve is rotated in said valve seat so as to rotate said valve sealing surface relative to said valve seat sealing surface in response to downward movement of said valve-moving device when said valve and valve seat surfaces are in said sealing relation, said valve sealing surface being configured such that rotation of said valve relative to said valve seat interrupts said sealing relation and provides a vapor flow path that reduces the pressure differential across said valve to facilitate its reopening by further downward movement of said valve-moving device.