Patent ID: 7757709
Filing Date: 2010-07-20
Classification: B60K,F16K,F16L,G01F,G05D,Y10T

Abstract:
1. An integrated jet fluid level shutoff sensor and fuel tank vent assembly for sensing a predetermined level of fuel within a fuel tank for automatic shutoff fast fill refueling of the fuel tank without pressurizing the fuel tank while fully venting the fuel tank to an outside environment, comprising: a fuel tank; a non-pressurizing receiver connected in communication with the fuel tank, the non-pressurizing receiver being configured to supply fuel to the fuel tank, the non-pressurizing receiver including a receiver body with an inlet and an outlet, a first valve and a second valve, and a first chamber and a second chamber, the first chamber being connected in fluid communication with the inlet, the first valve disposed in said first chamber and biased to close the inlet, the inlet being connectable to a fuel supply, and the first valve operating to open the inlet when a fuel is received in the inlet from the fuel supply, the second valve connected to the second chamber, and the second valve being biased to close the outlet and operating to open the outlet when the second chamber is pressurized; a sensor base section mounted to the fuel tank, the sensor base section including a sensor inlet for receiving fuel from the non-pressurizing receiver, a sensor outlet for returning fuel from the sensor base section to the non-pressurizing receiver, and a jet sensor connected between the sensor inlet and the sensor outlet, the jet sensor being connected in fluid communication between the receiver's first and second chambers, the jet sensor being operative to provide a flow of fuel from the first chamber to the second chamber to pressurize the second chamber when fuel is below the jet sensor passageway, and operative to not pressurize the second chamber when fuel is at or above jet sensor passageway; a protective shield having an upper end and a lower end, said upper end mounted to said sensor base section, said protective shield surrounding said jet sensor, and said lower end being open to the contents of the fuel tank to permit fuel in the fuel tank to reach the jet sensor through said lower end; at least one interior vent channel in the sensor base section for communication with the interior of the fuel tank; and at least one vent outlet port in communication with said at least one interior vent channel, said at least one vent outlet port being connected in communication with the outside environment such that said at least one interior vent and said interior of the fuel tank are connected in communication with the outside environment.