초록 ▼

A vent valve assembly utilizes a lever arrangement that opens a vapor discharge opening such as during normal operation of a motor vehicle to permit fuel vapor venting and that seals the vapor discharge opening such as when the motor vehicle is inclined to prevent liquid fuel from discharging throug

A vent valve assembly utilizes a lever arrangement that opens a vapor discharge opening such as during normal operation of a motor vehicle to permit fuel vapor venting and that seals the vapor discharge opening such as when the motor vehicle is inclined to prevent liquid fuel from discharging through the vapor discharge opening.

대표청구항 ▼

That which is claimed is: 1. A vent valve assembly for attachment in an aperture of a fuel tank wall, the vent valve assembly comprising: a cap member defining a vapor-inlet opening and a vapor-outlet opening therethrough; a valve housing attachable to the cap member, the valve housing defining a c

That which is claimed is: 1. A vent valve assembly for attachment in an aperture of a fuel tank wall, the vent valve assembly comprising: a cap member defining a vapor-inlet opening and a vapor-outlet opening therethrough; a valve housing attachable to the cap member, the valve housing defining a chamber therein and at least partially disposed within an interior of a fuel tank; a float defining a hangar, a perimeter and a catch member depending from proximate the perimeter, the float being disposed in the chamber of the valve housing and responsive to a first vehicle condition and a second vehicle condition; a leveraged sealing device movable relative to the vapor-inlet opening to open and close the vapor-inlet opening respectively in the first vehicle condition and in the second vehicle condition; means for connecting the float and the leveraged sealing device such that a first movement of the float moves the leveraged sealing device in a direction away from the vapor-inlet opening to disengage the leveraged sealing device from about the vapor-inlet opening in the first vehicle condition to permit fuel vapor discharge from the interior and a second movement of the float moves the leveraged sealing device in a direction of the vapor-inlet opening in the second vehicle condition to prevent the liquid fuel from discharging through the vapor-inlet opening and the vapor-outlet opening; and wherein the means for connecting includes a lever arm defining a proximal end and a distal end, the leveraged sealing device interposed between the proximal end and the distal end, the proximal end rotatably connected proximate the cap member and the valve housing, the distal end defining a first surface and a second surface, the first surface rotatably engaged with the hangar, and the second surface engageable with the catch member. 2. The vent valve assembly lever assembly as in claim 1, wherein the hangar of the float is configured to move the distal end in a direction away from the vapor-inlet opening to disengage the leveraged sealing device from about the vapor-inlet opening, the catch member is configured to move the distal end in a direction of the vapor-inlet opening in the second vehicle condition such that the leveraged sealing device becomes substantially parallel to an outside diameter of the vapor-inlet opening to seal the vapor-inlet opening upon initial contact. 3. The vent valve assembly as in claim 1, wherein the leveraged sealing device is spaced apart from the vapor-inlet opening from about 1 mm to about 8 mm in the first vehicle condition, the proximal end of the lever arm connected proximate the cap member and the valve housing such that a rotation of the lever arm limits an axial movement of the float from about 2 mm to about 16 mm in the second vehicle condition. 4. A vent valve assembly for attachment in an aperture of a fuel tank wall, the vent valve assembly comprising: a cap member defining a vapor-inlet opening and a vapor-outlet opening therethrough for selective passage of a fuel vapor from an interior of a fuel tank; a valve housing attachable to the cap member, the valve housing defining a longitudinal axis and a chamber therein and at least partially disposed within the interior of the fuel tank; a float defining a hangar, a perimeter and a catch member depending proximate the perimeter, the float being disposed in the chamber of the valve housing and responsive to a first vehicle condition and a second vehicle condition; and a lever arm defining a proximal end, a distal end and a sealing surface therebetween, the proximal end pivotally connected proximate the cap member and the valve housing, the distal end defining a first surface and a second surface, the first surface rotatably engaged with the hangar, the second surface engageable with the catch member, the hangar of the float configured to move the distal end in a direction away from the vapor-inlet opening to disengage the sealing surface from about the vapor-inlet opening in the first vehicle condition to permit the fuel vapor to discharge from the interior of the fuel tank, the catch member configured to move the distal end in a direction of the vapor-inlet opening in the second vehicle condition such that the sealing surface seals the vapor-inlet opening to prevent discharge of a liquid fuel from the interior of the fuel tank. 5. The vent valve assembly as in claim 4, wherein the vapor-inlet opening is formed about the longitudinal axis of the valve housing, the portion of the lever arm spaced apart from the vapor-inlet opening. 6. The vent valve assembly as in claim 4, wherein the chamber of the valve housing defines an inner diameter, the portion of the lever arm spaced apart from the vapor-inlet opening at a distance of at least about one-half of the inner diameter. 7. The vent valve assembly as in claim 4, wherein the valve housing defines a cradle, the proximal end rotatably disposed in the cradle. 8. The vent valve assembly as in claim 4, wherein the lever assembly further includes a sealing block attached to the lever arm, the sealing block angled in cross section, the sealing surface disposed on the sealing block. 9. The vent valve assembly as in claim 8, wherein the lever arm is spaced apart from the vapor inlet opening such that the longitudinal axis extends through the sealing block to align the sealing surface with the vapor-inlet opening. 10. The vent valve assembly as in claim 4, further comprising a resilient lip member defined about the vapor-inlet opening, the sealing surface configured to seal about the resilient lip member to close vapor-inlet opening in the second vehicle condition. 11. The vent valve assembly as in claim 10, wherein the sealing surface defines a surface area larger than an outside diameter of the resilient lip member. 12. The vent valve assembly as in claim 10, wherein the resilient lip member is overmolded with the cap member. 13. The vent valve assembly as in claim 10, wherein the resilient lip member flares circumferentially away from the vapor-inlet opening, the resilient lip member configured to flatten between a base of the cap member and the sealing surface in the second vehicle condition. 14. The vent valve assembly as in claim 10, wherein the resilient lip member is disposed substantially flush with the base of the cap member. 15. The vent valve assembly as in claim 10, wherein the resilient lip member is circumferentially chamfered. 16. The vent valve assembly as in claim 4, wherein a vehicle in the first vehicle condition is on a substantially horizontal plane. 17. The vent valve assembly as in claim 4, wherein a vehicle in the second vehicle condition is on a grade of at least 10 degrees from a horizontal plane. 18. The vent valve assembly as in claim 4, wherein the valve housing defines a fuel vapor entry aperture therethrough, the fuel vapor entry aperture in communication with the vapor-inlet opening to pass the fuel vapor through the vapor-outlet opening in the first vehicle condition. 19. The vent valve assembly as in claim 4, wherein the valve housing defines a plurality of drainage holes therein, the drainage holes configured in the first vehicle condition to drain the liquid fuel accumulated in the chamber during the second vehicle condition to actuate the float such that the sealing surface disengages from about the vapor-inlet opening. 20. The vent valve assembly as in claim 4, wherein the sealing member is spaced apart from the vapor-inlet opening from about 1 mm to about 8 mm in the first vehicle condition, the proximal end of the lever arm connected proximate the cap member and the valve housing such that a rotation of the lever assembly limits an axial movement of the float from about 2 mm to about 16 mm in the second vehicle condition. 21. A vent valve assembly for attachment in an aperture of a fuel tank wall, the vent valve assembly comprising: a cap member defining a vapor-inlet opening and a vapor-outlet opening therethrough for selective passage of a fuel vapor from an interior of a fuel tank, the vapor-inlet opening defining an outside diameter; a valve housing attachable to the cap member, the valve housing defining a longitudinal axis and a chamber therein and at least partially disposed within the interior of the fuel tank; a float defining a catch member and a hangar depending from proximate the catch member, the float being disposed in the chamber of the valve housing and responsive to a first vehicle condition and a second vehicle condition; and a lever assembly including a lever arm defining a proximal end and a distal end and a sealing device interposed between the proximal end and the distal end, a lever arm axis being defined by the proximal end and the distal end, the proximal end rotatably connected proximate the cap member and the valve housing, the sealing device defining a sealing surface thereon, the sealing surface defining a plane that intersects the lever arm axis such that the sealing surface precedes the lever arm axis as the float responds to a second vehicle condition, the lever arm spaced apart from the vapor inlet opening such that the longitudinal axis extends through the sealing device to align the sealing surface with the vapor-inlet opening, the distal end rotatably engaged with the hanger of the float, the hangar of the float configured to move the distal end in a direction away from the vapor-inlet opening to disengage the sealing surface from about the vapor-inlet opening in the first vehicle condition to permit fuel vapor discharge from the interior of the fuel tank, the catch member configured to move the distal end in a direction of the vapor-inlet opening in the second vehicle condition such that the sealing surface becomes substantially parallel to the outside diameter to seal the vapor-inlet opening to prevent fuel vapor discharge from the interior of the fuel tank. 22. The vent valve assembly as in claim 21, wherein the chamber of the valve housing defines an inner diameter, the distal end spaced vertically apart from the vapor-inlet opening at a distance of at about one-third to about one-half of the inner diameter. 23. The vent valve assembly as in claim 21, wherein the valve housing defines a cradle, the proximal end rotatably disposed in the cradle. 24. The vent valve assembly as in claim 21, wherein the float defines a perimeter, the catch member depending from proximate the perimeter, the distal end defining a first surface and a second surface, the first surface rotatably engaged with the hangar, the second surface engageable with the catch member 25. The vent valve assembly as in claim 21, further comprising a resilient lip member defined about the vapor-inlet opening, the sealing surface being larger than an outside diameter of the resilient lip member and configured to seal about the outside diameter of the resilient lip member to close vapor-inlet opening in the second vehicle condition. 26. The vent valve assembly as in claim 25, wherein the resilient lip member is overmolded with the cap member. 27. The vent valve assembly as in claim 21, wherein the valve housing defines a fuel vapor entry aperture therethrough, the fuel vapor entry aperture in communication with the vapor-inlet opening to pass the fuel vapor through the vapor-outlet opening in the first vehicle condition. 28. The vent valve assembly as in claim 21, wherein the valve housing defines a plurality of drainage holes therein, the drainage holes configured to drain the liquid fuel accumulated in the chamber in the second vehicle condition to actuate the float such that the sealing surface disengages from about the vapor-inlet opening in the first vehicle condition. 29. The vent valve assembly as in claim 21, wherein the sealing member is spaced apart from the vapor-inlet opening from about 1 mm to about 8 mm in the first vehicle condition, the proximal end of the lever arm connected proximate the cap member and the valve housing such that a rotation of the lever assembly limits an axial movement of the float from about 2 mm to about 16 mm in the second vehicle condition. 30. The vent valve assembly as in claim 21, further comprising an annular ring depending from the valve housing, the annular ring configured to press into a portion of the cap member to hold the valve housing and the cap member together and to seal off communication between the valve housing and an external atmosphere. 31. A vent valve assembly for attachment in an aperture of a fuel tank wall, the vent valve assembly comprising: a cap member defining a vapor-inlet opening and a vapor-outlet opening therethrough configured for selective passage of a fuel vapor from an interior of a fuel tank; a valve housing attachable to the cap member, the valve housing defining a chamber therein and at least partially disposed within the interior of the fuel tank; a float defining a hangar, a perimeter, and a catch member depending proximate the perimeter, the float disposed in the chamber of the valve housing and responsive to a first vehicle condition and a second vehicle condition; a lever arm defining a proximal and distal end, the proximal end connected proximate the valve housing and the cap member, the distal end defining a first surface and a second surface, the first surface rotatably engaged with the hangar, the second surface engageable with the catch member; and a sealing surface disposed proximate the lever arm and movable relative to the vapor-inlet opening to open and close the vapor-inlet opening respectively in the first vehicle condition and in the second vehicle condition. 32. The vent valve assembly as in claim 31, wherein the valve housing defines a fuel vapor entry aperture therethrough, the fuel vapor entry aperture in communication with the vapor-inlet opening to pass the fuel vapor through the vapor-outlet opening in the first vehicle condition. 33. The vent valve assembly as in claim 31, wherein the valve housing defines a plurality of drainage holes therein, the drainage holes configured to drain a liquid fuel accumulated in the chamber in the second vehicle condition to actuate the float such that the sealing surface disengages from about the vapor-inlet opening in the first vehicle condition. 34. The vent valve assembly as in claim 31, wherein a first movement of the float moves the sealing surface in a direction away from the vapor-inlet opening to disengage the sealing surface from about the vapor-inlet opening in the first vehicle condition to permit fuel vapor discharge from the interior and a second movement of the float moves the sealing surface in a direction of the vapor-inlet opening in the second vehicle condition to prevent a liquid fuel from discharging through the vapor-inlet opening and the vapor-outlet opening.