초록 ▼

Pressure relief apparatus for use with fuel delivery systems are described herein. An example pressure relief apparatus includes a pressure relief system coupled to a body of a fuel cap to define a first side of the body and a second side of the body. The pressure relief system comprises a plurality

Pressure relief apparatus for use with fuel delivery systems are described herein. An example pressure relief apparatus includes a pressure relief system coupled to a body of a fuel cap to define a first side of the body and a second side of the body. The pressure relief system comprises a plurality of fluid valves to enable fluid flow from the first side of the body to the second side of the body when a first pressure differential across the pressure relief system from the first side to the second side is greater than a first reference pressure and to enable fluid flow from the second side of the body to the first side of the body when a second pressure differential across the pressure relief system from the second side to the first side is greater than a second reference pressure.

대표청구항 ▼

1. A pressure relief apparatus for use with a fuel cap, comprising: a body defining a cavity and an annular wall projecting from a lower surface of the cavity, the cavity to receive or trap contaminates or liquid;a pressure relief system coupled to the body to define a first side of the pressure rel

1. A pressure relief apparatus for use with a fuel cap, comprising: a body defining a cavity and an annular wall projecting from a lower surface of the cavity, the cavity to receive or trap contaminates or liquid;a pressure relief system coupled to the body to define a first side of the pressure relief system oriented toward atmosphere and a second side of the pressure relief system opposite the first side to be oriented toward a fuel tank, the pressure relief system having a first valve including a first valve body having a first end defining a first inlet oriented toward atmosphere and a second end defining a first outlet oriented toward the fuel tank, the first valve body housing a first flow control member to control fluid flow between the first inlet and the first outlet, the first valve body projecting from the lower surface of the cavity and toward an upper surface of the annular wall a distance substantially equal to a depth between the lower surface and the upper surface of the annular wall to prevent the contaminates or liquid in the cavity from flowing from the first side of the pressure relief system to the second side of the pressure relief system via the first inlet, the pressure relief system having a second valve body including a first end defining a second inlet oriented toward the fuel tank and a second end defining a second outlet oriented toward atmosphere and the cavity, the second valve body surrounding a second flow control member of the second valve along substantially an entire length of the second flow control member, the pressure relief system to enable fluid flow from the first side of the pressure relief system to the second side of the pressure relief system when a first pressure differential across the pressure relief system from the first side to the second side is greater than a first reference pressure, and the pressure relief system to enable fluid flow from the second side of the pressure relief system to the first side of the pressure relief system when a second pressure differential across the pressure relief system is greater than a second reference pressure. 2. A pressure relief apparatus of claim 1, wherein the first valve body defines a first flow passage and the second valve body defines a second flow passage, the first and second valve bodies being integrally formed with the body. 3. A pressure relief apparatus of claim 2, wherein the first valve includes the first flow control member disposed within the first flow passage and movable between a first position at which the first flow control member is spaced away from a valve seat of the first valve to enable fluid flow through the first flow passage and a second position at which the first flow control member sealingly engages the valve seat to prevent fluid flow through the first flow passage. 4. A pressure relief apparatus of claim 2, wherein the second valve includes the second flow control member disposed within the second flow passage and movable between a first position at which the second flow control member is spaced away from a valve seat of the second valve to enable fluid flow through the second flow passage and a second position at which the second flow control member sealingly engages the valve seat to prevent fluid flow through the second passage. 5. A pressure relief apparatus of claim 1, wherein the second side of the pressure relief system is to be in fluid communication with a fuel gas or vapor and the first side of the pressure relief system is in fluid communication with air at atmospheric pressure. 6. A pressure relief apparatus of claim 5, wherein the first reference pressure comprises about 1 pound per square inch (psi). 7. A pressure relief apparatus of claim 5, wherein the second reference pressure is greater than atmospheric pressure. 8. A pressure relief apparatus of claim 1, wherein at least a portion of the first valve body or the second valve body is integrally formed with the body. 9. A pressure relief apparatus of claim 1, wherein the body includes a threaded portion to enable the body to be removably coupled to a fuel fill apparatus, wherein the body is removed from the fuel fill apparatus to operatively decouple the pressure relief apparatus from a fuel delivery system during a filling event. 10. A fuel cap apparatus, comprising: a body defining a cavity between a lower surface and an annular wall projecting from the lower surface, the cavity to trap a contaminant or liquid;a first valve having a first elongated body defining a first inlet to be in fluid communication with and oriented toward a fuel reservoir and a first outlet to be in fluid communication with atmospheric pressure and oriented toward the cavity, the first elongated body projecting from the lower surface of the cavity, the first valve having a first flow control member positioned in a first flow passage of the first elongated body and biased toward a first valve seat via a first biasing element, the first elongated body to substantially surround an entire length of the first flow control member between the first inlet and the first outlet, the first flow control member includes an annular groove to receive an O-ring that is to sealingly engage the first valve seat to substantially prevent fluid flow between the first inlet and the first outlet of the first valve, the first flow control member comprising a first passageway to pressure balance the first flow control member; anda second valve having a second elongated body positioned adjacent the first valve and having a second inlet to be in fluid communication with atmospheric pressure and oriented toward the cavity and a second outlet to be in fluid communication with and oriented toward the fuel reservoir, the second elongated body projecting from the lower surface of the cavity and toward an upper surface of the annular wall defining the cavity a distance substantially equal to a depth between the lower surface and the upper surface to prevent the contaminants or liquid in the cavity from flowing through the second inlet and into the fuel reservoir, the second inlet being in fluid communication with the cavity, the second valve having a second flow control member positioned in a second flow passage of the second elongated body and biased toward a second valve seat via a second biasing element, the second flow control member includes an annular groove to receive an O-ring that is to sealingly engage the second valve seat to prevent fluid flow between the second inlet and the second outlet of the second valve, the second flow control member having a second passageway to pressure balance the second flow control member. 11. A fuel cap apparatus of claim 10, wherein the first valve and the second valve are at least partially integrally formed with the body of the fuel cap apparatus. 12. A fuel cap apparatus of claim 10, wherein the first valve enables fluid flow between the first inlet and the first outlet of the first valve when a pressure within the fuel reservoir is greater than a first predetermined pressure. 13. A fuel cap apparatus of claim 12, wherein the first predetermined pressure is about 1 pound per square inch (psi). 14. A fuel cap apparatus of claim 10, wherein the second valve enables fluid flow between the second inlet and the second outlet of the second valve when a pressure within the reservoir is less than atmospheric pressure. 15. A pressure system of claim 10, wherein the first and second valves are operatively decoupled from the fuel reservoir during a filling event. 16. A pressure relief apparatus for use with a fuel delivery system, comprising: means for defining a cavity to trap contaminants or impurities;first means for controlling fluid flow from a first side of the pressure relief apparatus to a second side of the pressure relief apparatus when a pressure differential across the first means for controlling fluid flow from the first side to the second side is greater than a first predetermined reference pressure, the first means for controlling fluid flow projecting from a lower surface of the means for defining the cavity and toward an upper surface of the means for defining the cavity a distance substantially equal to a depth between the lower surface and the upper surface to prevent contaminants or impurities in the cavity from flowing through at least one of a first inlet or a first outlet defined by the first means for controlling fluid flow in fluid communication with the cavity; andsecond means for controlling fluid flow from the second side of the pressure relief apparatus to the first side of the pressure relief apparatus when a pressure differential across the second means for controlling fluid flow from the second side to the first side is greater than a second predetermined reference pressure, the second means for controlling fluid flow positioned within a second means for defining a fluid flow path, the second means for defining the fluid flow path extending a distance substantially equal to a length of the second means for controlling fluid flow. 17. A pressure relief apparatus of claim 16, further comprising first means for moving the first means for controlling fluid flow between a first position to enable a gas or vapor to flow from the first side and to the second side when the pressure of the gas or vapor at the first side is greater than the first predetermined pressure, and a second position to prevent diurnal emissions of a gas or vapor from the first side to the second side when the pressure of the gas or vapor at the first side is less than the first predetermined pressure. 18. A pressure relief apparatus of claim 16, further comprising second means for moving the second means for controlling fluid flow between a first position to enable air to flow from the second side and to the first side when the pressure of a gas or vapor at the first side is less than atmospheric pressure, and a second position to prevent air flow from the second side to the first side when the pressure of the gas or vapor at the first side is greater than atmospheric pressure. 19. A pressure relief apparatus of claim 1, wherein the second valve body projects from the lower surface of the cavity and toward the upper surface of the annular wall a distance substantially equal to the depth between the lower surface and the upper surface of the annular wall. 20. A fuel cap apparatus of claim 3, wherein the first flow control member includes an annular groove to receive an O-ring that is to sealingly engage the valve seat to substantially prevent fluid flow between the first inlet and the first outlet of the first valve, the first flow control member comprising a first passageway to pressure balance the first flow control member. 21. A fuel cap apparatus of claim 4, wherein the second flow control member includes an annular groove to receive an O-ring that is to sealingly engage the valve seat to prevent fluid flow between the second inlet and the second outlet of the second valve, the second flow control member having a second passageway to pressure balance the second flow control member. 22. A fuel cap apparatus of claim 1, wherein the first flow control member comprises a first path and a second path to fluidly couple the first inlet and the first outlet, the first path to at least partially extend through the body of the first flow control member, the first path having a first axis that is substantially parallel relative to a longitudinal axis of the first flow control member, and second path having an axis that is non-parallel relative to the first axis. 23. A fuel cap apparatus of claim 3, wherein the valve seat is integrally formed with the first valve body.