Patent ID: 7654403
Filing Date: 2010-02-02
Classification: B60K,F16K

Abstract:
1. A cap for a filler neck of a fuel tank, the cap comprising a closure adapted to mate with a filler neck to close a mouth opening into the filler neck, the closure being formed to include a vent aperture opened to the atmosphere surrounding the closure, a vacuum-relief regulator mounted for movement relative to the closure from a normally closed position blocking flow of atmosphere through the vent aperture to an opened position allowing flow of atmosphere through the vent aperture into the filler neck when the closure is mated with the filler neck and pressure in the filler neck drops below a predetermined subatmospheric level, retainer means for retaining the vacuum-relief regulator in the opened position after the vacuum-relief regulator has moved from the normally closed position to assume the opened position so that atmosphere and fuel vapor can continue to flow through the vent aperture formed in the closure even after pressure extant in the filler neck rises above the predetermined subatmospheric level, wherein the closure includes an anchor flange and the retainer means includes a first latch coupled to the vacuum-relief regulator and formed to include a retainer flange arranged to mate with the anchor flange upon movement of the vacuum-relief regulator to the opened position to block return of the vacuum-relief regulator to the normally closed position, and wherein the closure includes a partition member formed to include the vent aperture and the vacuum-relief regulator includes a vacuum-relief valve member arranged to carry the first latch and to mate with the partition member to close the vent aperture upon movement of the vacuum-relief regulator to assume the normally closed position and a coiled vacuum-relief control spring arranged to urge the vacuum-relief valve member to mate with the partition member and formed to include a central passageway receiving the first latch therein.