FUEL TANK FILLER NECK CAP

Abstract: A cap for a filler neck of a fuel tank has a pressure/­ vacuum valve assembly (32) which comprises a pres­ sure-release valve (40), a vacuum-relief valve (52), and a pressure-release control member (70) in a vent passageway (31) in the cap. A control spring (80) urges the pressure-release valve (40) normally to close and seal the vent passageway (31) and urges the pressure-release control member (70) to form a re­ stricted opening for the flow of fuel vapor. The pres­ sure-release valve (40) is urged in opposition to the control spring (80) to open the vent passageway in response to a predetermined superatmospheric pressure and allow fuel vapor to flow in the restricted opening. A relatively small increase in pressure in the restricted opening produces a large force against surfaces of both the pressure-release valve (40) and the pressure-­ release control member (70) in opposition to the control spring (80) rapidly to increase the flow of fuel vapor through the vent passageway.

Description: "Fuel tank filler neck cap". The present invention relates to pressure/vacuum valve assemblies for a fuel tank filler neck cap. More particularly, the invention is concerned with an improvement for controlling the flow of fuel vapors when the pressure in the tank reaches a predetermined superatmospheric level. Pressure/vacuum valve assemblies are well known. Such assemblies have previously been incorporated into caps for filler necks of fuel tanks to admit air into the tank through a vent passageway when pressure in the tank decreases to a predetermined subatmospheric level and to vent fuel vapors out of the tank through the vent passageway when pressure in the tank increases to a predetermined superatmospheric pressure. For example, a cap including a conventional pressure/vacuum valve assembly is disclosed in U.S. Patent 4,091,955 assigned to the same assignee as the present application. In general, these conventional pressure/vacuum valve assemblies have included a pressure-release valve positioned in a vent passageway having a surface exposed to the pressure in the tank, a first yieldable control spring urging the pressure-release valve normally to close the vent passageway, a vacuum-relief aperture provided in the pressure-release valve, a vacuum-relief valve member, and a second control spring urging the vacuum-relief valve normally to close the vacuum-relief aperture. In response to a predetermined superatmospheric pressure, the pressure-release valve is urged in opposition to the first control spring to open the vent passageway and, in response to a predetermined subatmospheric pressure, the vacuum-relief valve is urged in opposition to the second control spring to open the vacuum-relief aperture. In a fuel tank filler neck cap, the pressure-release valve member must maintain a seal in its normally closed position until a predetermined superatmospheric pressure is produced in the fuel tank. Once such pressure has been achieved, it is then important that the vent passageway be rapidly opened, be maintained open, and provide a high flow of fuel vapor. Although the pressure/vacuum valve assemblies, such as U.S the one disclosed injUatent 4,091,955, provide a seal in the normally closed position of the pressure release valve, once the predetermined superatmospheric pressure is achieved in the tank, a relatively large pressure increase above the superatmospheric pressure is required in order to maintain the pressure-release valve in an open position and provide a high flow of fuel vapor. One object of the- present invention is to provide a pressure/vacuum valve assembly integral with a fuel tank filler neck cap which responds quickly to a predetermined superatmospheric pressure in the tank to open a vent passageway, and which thereafter provides a comparatively high flow of fuel vapor without a pressure increase above the initial opening super atmospheric pressure. It is another object of the present invention to provide a pressure/vacuum valve assembly which provides a seal in the normally closed position of a pressure-release valve until a predetermined superatmospheric pressure is achieved in the tank and which in response to the predetermined superatmospheric pressure quickly opens the valve passageway and quickly provides high flow of fuel vapor. Still another object of the present invention is to provide a pressure/vacuum valve assembly which employs a first surface area exposed to pressure in the tank to quickly open the valve passageway in response to superatmospheric pressure and a second surface area forming a restricted opening for the flow of fuel vapor, whereby a small increase in pressure in the restricted opening produces a large force against the first and second surface areas to rapidly increase the flow of fuel vapor. Yet another object of the present invention is to provide a pressure/vacuum valve assembly where subsequent to the rapid release of fuel vapor a relative constant pressure is maintained to keep the vent passageway open until a safe level of pressure is reached in the tank. Various other features and advantages of the present invention will become apparent in view of the following detailed description of one embodiment thereof, which description should be considered in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which: Fig. 1 is an axially sectional side elevational view of a portion of a cap including the pressure/vacuum valve assembly of the present invention; and Fig. 2 is an enlarged fragmentary sectional view of the pressure/vacuum valve assembly of Fig. 1, showing the valve in a pressure-release position. Referring now to Figs. 1 and 2, a cap 10 for a filler neck of a fuel tank includes a molded plastic closure member 12 having an axially inwardly extending shank portion 14 which is threaded as indicated at 16 to engage a threaded filler neck 18 of a fuel tank (not shown). Closure 12 includes a gasket 20 which sealably engages the conventional peripherally and radially outwardly extending lip provided by the filler neck 18. Cap 10 further includes a molded plastic shell member 24 secured to the closure member for rotation with respect to the closure member about the axis of the cap. Closure 12 also includes a flange 22 at its axially outer end. Flange 22 extends radially outwardly of the axis of closure 12. Although the configuration of the cap 10 is not important to the present invention, one embodiment of the cap 10 may include an annular race 26 which is disposed for rotation within the shell 24 and which cooperates with camming surfaces to provide a torque-overriding connection between the shell 24 and closure 12 in the direction which advances the closure 12 into the fuel tank filler neck 18 and which cooperates to provide a direct connection between the shell 24 and closure 12 in the direction which removes the closure 12 from the filler neck 18. Closure 12 further includes a pressure/vacuum valve housing 28 into which is assembled a pressure/vacuum valve assembly 32 constructed according to the present invention. Assembly 32 controls venting of pressure and relief of vacuum which develop within the fuel tank and controls the flow of fuel vapors through the housing to provide rapid venting of fuel vapors in response to a predetermined superatmospheric pressure in the tank. Housing 28 is generally cylindrical and includes a radially inwardly facing surface 29 and an axially outwardly facing radially inwardly extending surface 30. A central circular vent opening 31 is provided in the axially outwardly facing surface 30 for admitting air and venting fuel vapor. The valve assembly 32 is retained within the housing 28 by a circular retainer 34 which is press-fitted into the axially outer end 36 of housing 30. The retainer 34 includes a central circular aperture 37 having a preferred diameter of approximately .496 inch (1.26 cm). The retainer 34 further includes a series of radially spaced-apart circular apertures 38, each having a preferred diameter of approximately .123 inch (.312 cm). Pressure release and vacuum relief are accomplished through the vent passageway formed by housing 28 and through the apertures 37 and 38 provided in the circular retainer 34. The circular retainer 34 further includes an annular axially inwardly opening groove 39 which engages a control spring in a manner to be described later to retain the vent assembly 32 within the housing 28. Continuing to refer to Figs. 1 and 2, the pressure/vacuum valve assembly 32 controls the venting of fuel vapors at a predetermined super atmospheric pressure out of the fuel tank (not shown) through the vent passageway formed by housing 28 and between the closure member 12 and the shell 24 of the cap 10 to the atmosphere. The assembly 32 also controls the entry of air through the vent passageway formed by the housing 30 into the fuel tank when the pressure in the fuel tank decreases to a predetermined subatmospheric level. The pressure/vacuum valve assembly 32 includes a circular pressure-release valve member 40 including an annular, axially inwardly facing valve edge 42 which seats against a valve seat 44 provided by the axially outwardly facing surface 30 of the housing 28 to close the venting opening 31. The pressure-release valve member 40 includes a central circular aperture 46. In a preferred embodiment, the pressure-release valve member has a circular axially inner surface 47 exposed to the fuel vapor pressure within the fuel tank (not shown). In the preferred embodiment, the axially inner surface 47 has a diameter of .65 inch (1.65 cm). The effective surface area 48 exposed to the pressure in the tank is therefore .332 sq. inch (2.14 sq. cm). An axially outwardly extending guiding stem portion 50 of a vacuum-relief valve member 52 is received in the aperture 46, holding valve member 52 in alignment in the valve assembly 32. The valve member 52 includes an annular, axially outwardly facing valve edge 54 which cooperates with a seat region on the axially inner surface 47 of the pressure-release valve member 40. Valve edge 54 is held against the axially inner surface 47 by a vacuum-relief control spring 58 disposed between an axially inwardly facing surface 60 of the valve member 52 and the bottom 62 of a spring retainer cup 64 provided at the axially inner end of the housing 28. The vacuum-relief control spring 58 has a predetermined spring constant which allows the vacuum-relief valve member 52 to be urged in opposition to the spring 58 in response to a predetermined subatmospheric pressure within the fuel tank (not shown) to open the aperture 46 and allow air to pass through the housing 28 into the fuel tank. A venting aperture 66 is provided at the bottom 62 of the spring retainer cup 64 for venting air and pressure into and out of the fuel tank. In the preferred embodiment, the venting aperture 66 has a diameter of approximately .100 inch (.254 cm). In addition, retainer cup 64 contains four radially disposed slots 65 to provide additional area for flow of vapor and/or air. The pressure/vacuum valve assembly 32 further includes a circular pressure-release control plate 70 for controlling the flow of fuel vapor through the housing when the pressure-release valve member 40 is unseated to its open position, shown in Fig. 2, in response to a predetermined superatmospheric pressure in the tank. The circular pressure-release control plate 70 is seated on the axially outer surface 72 of the pressure-release valve member 40. The control plate 70 includes a central circular aperture 74 and an annular axially outwardly opening groove 76. An annular radially outwardly extending flange 78 has an axially inner surface 79 which is exposed to the pressure of the fuel vapor when the pressure-release valve member 40 is in its open position. In the preferred embodiment, control plate 70 has a diameter of approximately 1.22 inches (3.10 cm) and the aperture 74 has a diameter of .250 inch (.635cm). The valve edge 42 of the pressure-release valve member 40 is yieldably urged against the seat 44 provided on the axially outwardly facing surface 30 of the housing 28, and the pressure-release control member 70 is urged against the axially outer surface 72 of the pressure-release valve member 40 by a pressure-release control spring 80. Spring 80 is held in place between the pressure-release control plate 70 and the retainer 34 which is press-fitted into the axially outer end 36 of housing 30. Control spring 80 is positioned in the grooves 39, 77 of the retainer 34 and the pressure-release control member 70, respectively, and has a spring constant for yieldably urging the pressure-release valve member 40 against the seat 44 normally to close the vent opening 31 in the housing 30. In its closed position, the pressure-release valve member 40 provides a seal between the valve edge 42 and the valve seat 44 until the pressure in the fuel tank reaches a predetermined super atmospheric pressure. In response to the predetermined superatmospheric pressure against the axially inner surface 44 of the pressure-release valve member 40, the valve 40 is urged axially outwardly to open the vent passageway. Axially outward movement of the venting valve 40 occurs relatively quickly in order to rapidly open the vent passageway. The axially outward movement of the pressure-release valve member 40 results in corresponding movement of the pressure-release control member 70. The axially inner surface 79 of the control member 70 cooperates with the axially outwardly facing surface 30 of housing 28 to provide an annular restricted opening 86 for the flow of fuel vapors from the tank. The clearance between the axially inner surface 79 of the control plate 70 and the surface 30 of the housing 28 is very small. It should be noted that before the pressure-release valve member 40 is moved axially outward in response to the predetermined superatmospheric pressure, the pressure level in the restricted opening 86 will be less than the super atmospheric pressure. Therefore, once the fuel vapors begin to flow through the restricted opening, the pressure level in the opening will increase until it reaches the predetermined superatmospheric level. As shown in Fig. 2, the combined surface area 88 (.950 sq. in.; 6.13 sq. cm) of the inner surfaces 47, 79 is substantially larger than the surface area 48 of the pressure-release valve member 40. When the fuel vapor flows through the opening 86, the combined surface area 88 of the surfaces 47, 79 is exposed to the predetermined super atmospheric pressure. Due to the restriction of opening 86, a relatively small increase in pressure level in the annular opening 86 produces a greater force against the spring 80 to increase the size of opening 86 and the flow rate of the fuel vapors through the opening 86. The combination of the relatively small increase in pressure level in the opening 86 on inner surface 79 and the predetermined superatmospheric pressure on inner surface 47 creates a force on the combined surfaces 79 and 47 which is substantially greater than the initial force produced by the predetermined super atmospheric pressure on surface 47 to rapidly increase the size of opening 86. The radially outwardly extending flange 78 of the pressure-release control member 70 also includes a radially outer surface 90 which, in cooperation with the radially inwardly facing surface 29 of the housing 28, forms a radially outer restricted opening 92. From the opening 86, fuel vapor flows through opening 92 and into the housing 28 to be released into the atmosphere. Subsequent to the initial rapid release of fuel vapor, the pressure level in opening 86 stabilizes. The radially outer opening 92 serves to restrict the flow of fuel vapor, after the initial rapid release, to maintain a constant pressure against the surfaces 47, 79. This constant pressure is generally at or slightly below the predetermined superatmospheric pressure to keep the pressure-release valve 40 from being urged back against the seat 44 immediately after the rapid release and also to maintain the valve 40 in an open position until the pressure in the tank drops to a safe level. It will be understood that the constant pressure level must exert a force against the surfaces 47 and 79 which generally equals the force being exerted by the compressed control spring 30 in order to keep the vent passageway open after the initial rapid release of the fuel vapor. It can be appreciated from the above description that the pressure/vacuum valve assembly 32 of the present invention seals the vent passageway formed by the housing 28 until the pressure within the fuel tank reaches a predetermined superatmospheric pressure. When the predetermined super atmospheric pressure is applied to the effective surface area 48 of the axially inner surface 47 of the release valve member 40, the valve member 40 is quickly moved axially outward from its seat 44 to allow immediate release of the pressure. In response to axially outward movement of the release valve member 40, fuel vapor flows into the annular restricted opening 86. The axially inner surface 79 of the control member 70 is therefore also exposed to the superatmospheric pressure in the fuel tank and the pressure level in the opening 86 begins to increase. In response to a relatively small increase in pressure in the opening 86, the combined pressures against surfaces 79 and 47 produces a greater force against the control spring 80 to further move the pressure-release valve 40 and pressure-release control member 70 axially outward, thereby to rapidly increase the flow rate of the fuel vapor through the vent passageway in the housing 28. Subsequent to the initial rapid release of fuel vapor, the radially outer opening 92 restricts the fuel flow to maintain a constant pressure against surfaces 47, 79 at or slightly below the superatmospheric pressure to keep the vent passageway open until the pressure in the tank drops to a safe level.

Claims: CLAIMS: 1. A cap for a filler neck of a fuel tank comprising a housing (28) providing a vent passageway for venting fuel vapor out of the tank when pressure in the tank increases to a predetermined superatmospheric pressure, the housing (28) including an axially outwardly facing, radially inwardly extending surface (30), a vent opening (31) provided in the surface, a pressure valve assembly (32) in the housing (28) for controlling the venting of fuel vapor, the valve assembly (32) including a first valve member (40) having a first axially inner surface area (47) exposed to the pressure in the tank, yieldable means (80) urging the first valve member (40) against a valve seat (44) provided by the housing surface (30) normally to close the vent opening (31), a second valve member (70) disposed between the first valve member (40) and the yieldable means (80) for controlling flow of fuel vapors from the tank through the vent passageway, the second valve member (76) including a second axially inner surface area (79) encircling the first valve member (40), the second inner surface (79) forming an annular restricted opening (86) with the housing surface (30) for the flow of fuel vapor in the vent passageway, the predetermined superatmospheric pressure applying a force to the first inner surface area (47) to urge the -first valve member (40) in opposition to the yieldable means (38) and open the vent opening (31), exposure of the second inner surface (7) to a relatively small pressure increase in the restricted opening (86) producing a relatively larger force in opposition to the yieldable means (80) to rapidly increase the flow of fuel vapor. 2. A cap according to claim 1 wherein the second valve member (7p) includes a plate carried on an axially outer surface (72) of the first valve member (40), the plate being urged against the axially outer surface (72) by the yieldable means (80) and being urged simultaneously with the first valve member (40) in opposition to the yieldable means (80) in response to the predetermined superatmospheric pressure. 3. A cap according to claim 2 wherein the plate includes a radially outwardly extending annular flange (78) encircling the first valve member (40), the flange (78) providing the axially inner surface area (79) of the plate. 4. A cap according to any preceding claim wherein the housing (28) includes a radially inner surface (29) and the second valve member (70) includes a radially outer surface (90), the housing inner surface (29) and the outer surface (90) of the second valve member (70) forming another restricted opening (92) for the flow of fuel vapor. 5. A cap according to claim 4 wherein the other restricted opening (92) limits the flow of fuel vapor to maintain a generally constant pressure against the first and second axially inner surfaces (47,79) to keep the vent opening (31) open until a safe pressure level below the predetermined superatmospheric level is reached in the tank. 6. A cap for a filler neck of a fuel tank wherein a vent valve assembly comprises a housing (28) providing a cylindrical vent passageway defined by a cylindrical wall (29), an axially outwardly facing, radially inwardly extending surface (30), a central opening (31) formed in the surface (30), a first circular valve member (70) disposed in the vent passageway to face the surface (30), a spring (80) urging the valve member (70) towards the surface (30), a second circular valve member (40) engaging the first valve member (70) to close the central opening (31), the diameter of the first valve member (70) being substantially larger than the diameter of the second valve member (40) and slightly smaller than the diameter of the cylindrical wall (29) to define a narrow annular space (92) therebetween such that when excessive pressure develops in the tank to move the second valve member away (40) from the opening (31), the excessive pressure is applied to the full diameter of both the first and second valve members (70,40). 7. A cap for a filler neck of a fuel tank, wherein a vent valve assembly comprises a housing (28) providing a vent passageway for venting fuel vapor out of the tank when pressure in the tank increases to a predetermined superatmospheric pressure, the housing (28) including an axially outwardly facing surface (30) and a radially inwardly facing surface (29), a central vent opening (31) formed in the axially outwardly facing surface (30) of the housing (28), an axially outer valve member (70) disposed in the housing (28) and forming first and second annular restricted openings (86,92) with the two surfaces (30,29) of the housing for the flow of fuel vapor, an axially inner valve member (40) retained between the axially outer valve member (70) and the axially outwardly facing surface (30) of the housing (28), and yieldable means (80) engaging the axially outer valve member (70) to urge the axially inner valve member (40) toward the axially outwardly facing surface (30) of the housing (28) normally to close the vent opening (31), a force being applied against the axially inner valve member (40) in opposition to the yieldable means (80) to open the vent opening (31) and allow fuel vapor to flow past the inner valve member (40) into the restricted openings (86,92) when pressure in the tank reaches the predetermined superatmospheric pressure, a relatively small increase in pressure in the restricted opening (86,92) producing a greater force in opposition to the yieldable means (80) to increase the flow of fuel vapor.

Inventors: HARRIS, ROBERT S.
Applicants: STANT INC.
Application year: 1982
Main classification: B65D51
IPC codes: B60K15, B65D51, F16K17