Abstract:
A valve includes a fuel passageway and a vent passageway in a single unitary fitting. The valve is externally threaded to be threaded into a hole made in the cap of a fuel container. The fuel passageway includes nipples for attachment of conduits. The vent passageway includes an O-ring to receive a nozzle connected to the fuel passageway and used for conducting fuel from the container to a fuel tank.

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention relates to a novel fuel valve for use in connection with the fueling of hobby equipment such as gas powered airplanes, cars, boats and other equipment. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     In order to fuel hobby type gas powered equipment, it is typically required to pump fuel from a plastic container containing premixed fuel through a hand pump to the equipment. Fuel valves are often used to connect the necessary hoses and other equipment. Typically, current fuel valve systems require that two holes or openings be made in the container. A first hole is made in the cap of the fuel container to connect the fuel intake and feed lines to the pump and fuel nozzle. A second hole is also made to provide a vent hole and to accommodate a nozzle seal. 
     The present invention improves upon the prior art by the use of a novel fuel valve system which requires the creation of a single hole in the cap. The invention includes a base in which two passageways are located. One passageway serves as a complete fuel line and the second serves as both a vent and nozzle retention port. 
    
    
     DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
     These and other features, objects and advantages of the present invention will become apparent from the following description and drawings wherein like reference numerals represent like elements in several views, and in which: 
     FIG. 1 is a perspective view of prior art fuel valve systems. 
     FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the present invention. 
     FIG. 2A is a bottom view of a cap for use with the embodiment shown in FIG.  2 . 
     FIG. 3 is a another perspective view showing the fuel valve seated on a cap of a fuel container. 
     FIG. 4 is a partial cross-sectional view of the fuel valve. 
     FIG. 5 is a front view of the fuel nozzle. 
     FIG. 6 is a cross-sectional view showing the nozzle seated within the valve. 
    
    
     DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT 
     Set forth below is a description of what are currently believed to be the preferred embodiments or best examples of the invention claimed. Future and present alternatives and modifications to the preferred embodiments are contemplated. Any alternates or modifications in which insubstantial changes in function, in purpose, in structure or in result are intended to be covered by the claims of this patent. 
     As shown in FIG. 1, a typical prior art fuel valve system  10  is mounted to the cap  12  of fuel container  14 . The prior art system includes filter  20 , intake line  22  which is connected to first valve  24  which is in communication with feed line  26 , pump  28  and nozzle  29 . To provide venting, additional valve  30  is secured to and penetrates cap  12 . Valve  30  is also configured to receive nozzle  29  for storage and an O-ring  32  on nozzle  29  acts as a seal. 
     As shown, the prior art system requires two holes must be made in the cap to assemble the system. This increases the potential for leaks of flammable liquids and requires additional assembly. In addition, the external O-ring on the nozzle is subject to wear and cracking which inhibits a proper seal from being formed. 
     As shown in FIGS. 2-3, the present invention requires that a single hole  52  be made in cap  50  which is attached to a fuel container  54 . The present invention includes valve  56  containing a fuel passageway  58  and venting passageway or port  60  as shown in FIG.  4 . 
     Fuel passageway  58  is in communication with a nipple  62  which allows a fuel line  64  and filter  66  to be attached to valve  56 . A second nipple  70  which is also in communication with passageway  58  permits fuel feed line  72 , pump  74 , and nozzle  80  to be connected together as shown in FIG.  2 . This structure forms a complete system that allows fuel to be drawn out of container  54  to fuel a piece of equipment by the insertion of nozzle  80  into the equipment or a feed tube in communication with the equipment fuel tank. 
     A stem  90  having external threads  92  is provided on valve  56  as well as lower surface  94 . O-ring  96  and fastener  98  are also provided. 
     Valve  56 , which may be made of plastic, may also include metal insert  100  which is press-fitted into chamber  101  having boss or lower seat  102 . An O-ring  104  is seated on boss  102 . 
     In use, a user first drills a single hole  52  in cap  50 . The size of hole  52  should be slightly larger than stem  90 . Stem  90  is then inserted through hole  52  until the stepped configuration between stem  90  and surface  94  results in surface  94  acting as a stop by engaging top surface  51  of cap  50 . O-ring  96  is then placed over stem  90  and fastener  98  is used to compress O-ring  96  against cap surface  53  to secure valve  56  to cap  50 . Hose  64  and attached filter are attached to nipple  62 , and afterwards, cap  50  may then be secured to container  54 . 
     Next, hose  72 , pump, and attached nozzle  80  are secured to nipple  70 . This forms a complete fuel line in which operation of the pump delivers fuel to nozzle  80  for dispensing from the nozzle to the tank fill line. 
     During the dispensing of fuel, passageway  60  acts as a vent. Once fueling is completed, passageway  60  acts as a port in which nozzle  80  may be seated as shown in FIG. 6 for storage and to seal passageway  60 . To accomplish this, metal insert  100  is press-fitted into enlarged aperture or chamber  101  after O-ring  104  has been inserted and is resting upon boss  102 . The use of insert  100  in this manner provides an economical way to manufacture the valve with an internal O-ring and also assists in preventing wear from contact with metal nozzle  80 . The aperture  103  defined by insert  100  is sized to form a close fit with nozzle  80  as is the remainder of passageway  60  of valve  56  as is shown in FIG.  6 . O-ring  104  forms a snap fit with annular groove  106  on nozzle  80 . This seals off passageway  60  and also releasably retains the nozzle valve  56  for storage purposes. 
     While the preferred embodiments of the present invention have been illustrated and described, it will be understood by those of ordinary skill in the art that changes and other modifications can be made without departing from the invention in its broader aspects. Various features of the present invention are set forth in the following claims.