Automotive nozzle-actuated refueling emission system shutoff valve

A valve activated by inserting a fuel nozzle in a fuel tank fill line allows hydrocarbon vapors from the tank to be displaced into an adsorbent canister. The valve closes when nozzle is withdrawn. The valve prevents loss of liquid when fuel tank is accidentally inverted. '

NATURE OF THE INVENTION 
This invention relates in general to a fuel flow shutoff valve. More 
particularly, it relates to a device that will automatically shut off or 
block the flow of fuel in a fuel line connected to the fuel tank of a 
motor vehicle when the motor vehicle containing the fuel tank rolls over 
or otherwise attains an attitude in which fuel normally would escape from 
the system. 
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
The control of hydrocarbon vapors displaced from a vehicle fuel tank during 
refueling is becoming increasingly important throughout the United States. 
One method of control is to adsorb the vapors in a charcoal-filled 
canister mounted on the vehicle. This has proved to be an effective 
control method, but relatively large tubing is required to carry the 
displaced vapors to the charcoal filled canister and the canister must be 
vented to the atmosphere. There is thus created a channel for excessive 
gasoline leakage if the vehicle overturns. Safety regulations limit the 
rollover gasoline spillage to very small quantities. Consequently any 
on-board refueling emissions control system must incorporate a device to 
limit spillage to a minimum amount if the vehicle is unexpectedly 
overturned. 
Devices are known to prevent the spill of fuel from an engine when a motor 
vehicle is involved in an accident causing it to overturn or tip 
sufficiently to lose fuel. For example, U.S. Pat. No. 2,619,185 discloses 
such a device. Also, U.S. Pat. No. 3,942,504 to Ellsworth discloses an 
improved valve construction for effecting the same object. 
A primary object of this invention therefore is to provide a means for 
venting and adsorbing gasoline vapors from a gasoline tank displaced 
during the filling of the tank with additional fuel. Still another object 
of the invention is to provide an improved safety device which if the 
vehicle is overturned will automatically function to prevent the loss of 
any substantial amount of gasoline fuel from the fuel tank. 
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
Briefly stated this invention comprises a valve to be positioned in the 
fill line leading to a fuel tank for a gasoline engine. The valve is so 
positioned that a nozzle from an outside source inserted to inject fuel 
into the line activates a flapper valve which in turn operates a second 
valve enabling communication between the top of the tank and a conduit 
leading to a charcoal adsorption chamber. Upon removal of the nozzle from 
the system the interior valve returns to a closed position so as to seal 
off the top of the tank from the charcoal adsorption system.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
FIG. 1 shows a schematic drawing depicting the use of the valve of this 
invention in a typical vehicle fuel tank system. The fuel tank is equipped 
with components to direct vapors displaced during refueling into tubing 
connected to a canister for absorbing the vapors. The fuel tank (1) 
contains gasoline (2) which was introduced through fill tube (3) and fill 
trap (4). The fill tube is sealed by cap (5). A vapor collection dome (6) 
is formed in the top of the tank to which is connected a vent line (7) 
leading to the bottom of a surge tank (8) for vapor liquid separation. A 
vapor line (9) from the top of the surge tank leads into the 
nozzle-actuated refueling emission system shutoff valve (10) which seals 
the tank-connected components from the vent line (11) leading to the 
adsorption canister. 
FIGS. 2A, 2B and 2C describes details of the valve (10) from FIG. 1. 
The filler neck (13) forms the mounting for the valve. Fastened into the 
filler neck is the liner (14) which contains threads to engage the filler 
cap (not shown). The liner has a hole (15) slightly larger in diameter 
than the fuel dispensing nozzle (16) to guide the nozzle, restrict fuel 
splashback, and to prevent larger nozzles from being inserted. The nozzle 
is of the type which automatically shuts off when fluid begin to back up 
in it. Around filler neck (13) is a collar (17) for mounting the filler 
neck to the vehicle structure. Attached to the end of the filler neck (13) 
is the fill tube (3). Covering hole (15) is a flapper (18) made of thin 
resilient metal which swings away from hole (15) when nozzle (16) is 
inserted, and which seals against hole (15) when nozzle (16) is withdrawn. 
The liner (14), hole (15), and flapper (18) are widely used with filler 
neck (13) and fill tube (3) in production vehicles to prevent 
larger-diameter leaded fuel nozzles or funnels from being used to fuel the 
vehicle. Flapper (18) is fabricated with folded-over extensions (19) 
forming sockets (20) for attachment of pivots (21) at the end of the valve 
stem (22). The folded-over extensions provide rigidity to the flapper (18) 
to prevent distortion and bending as it is displaced by the nozzle. The 
valve stem (22) is hollow to accommodate a compression spring (23) which 
forces the valve face (24) in tight contact with the sealing surface of 
valve body (25) and forces the flapper (18) close to the rim of hole (15). 
A bellows seal (26) held tightly between valve body (25) and attachment 
ring (27) seals the filler neck volume from the interior of the valve body 
when the valve (22) is moved by the flapper (18). Retaining ring (27) is 
attached in a leak-tight manner to a mating surface (28) formed on filler 
neck (13). A vent tube (29) is formed in the side of valve body (25). 
Valve cap (30) is attached in a leak-tight manner to the valve body (25), 
and contains a guide rod (31) to locate spring (23) and valve stem (22) 
when the valve is in the open position. Vent tube (32) is formed in the 
side of valve cap (30). When the valve is closed the interior of the valve 
cap (30) is sealed off from the interior of the valve body (25) by the 
valve face (24). When the valve is opened by insertion of the fuel nozzle 
(16), a conduit for vapor flow is formed from vent tube (32), through the 
interior of the valve cap (30), through the open end of valve body (25), 
past the outer surface of the bellows seal (26) and out vent tube (29). 
The flow may also be in the opposite direction; in through vent tube (29), 
and out through vent tube (32). The bellows seal (26) prevents vapor from 
within the valve from leaking out into the interior of the filler neck. 
The closing force of spring (23) is sufficient to keep the valve face (24) 
sealed against the valve body (25) under any combination of fuel 
hydrostatic and vapor pressure encountered during rollover which may be 
acting on the bellows seal (26) tending to open the valve. 
FIGS. 3 and 4 show other embodiments of the valve adapted to existing 
filler necks. In FIG. 3, the flapper (18) pushes against the valve tip 
(33) to open the valve as shown by the dotted lines. The seal between the 
valve body and filler neck interior is accomplished by flexible diaphragm 
(34), and the valve is held closed by spring (35). 
In FIG. 4 a flat-surfaced flapper (36) provides the seal between the valve 
body (37) and valve cap (38). 
Operation of the valve during refueling is shown in FIGS. 5 and 6. In FIG. 
5, the refueling nozzle (16) has been inserted in the filler neck, opening 
the valve. Fuel flows through the fill tube 3, through the trap 4, and 
into the tank 1. The trap prevents vapors from flowing back up the fill 
tube. A small hole in the bottom of the fill tube allows the trap to empty 
as fuel is consumed during vehicle operation. Vapors displaced by the 
incoming fuel collect in the vapor collection dome 6, flow through the 
vent line 7 into a surge tank 8, out through the vapor line 9, through the 
open nozzle-actuated shutoff valve 10, and out the vent line 11 leading to 
the adsorption canister (not shown) filled with charcoal or other 
adsorbent material. FIG. 6 shows the system at the point when the 
automatic nozzle has shut off. Liquid and vapor have been splashed into 
the surge tank, where the vapor has separated and been allowed to flow out 
through the valve to the vent line leading to the adsorption canister. At 
the same time fuel has backed up into the filler tube, eventually reaching 
the refueling nozzle and caused it to close automatically. 
FIG. 7 shows the system when it has rolled over 180.degree.. The nozzle 
actuated shutoff valve is held closed by spring tension preventing fuel 
from passing through the valve into the vent line leading to the 
adsorption canister.