Abstract:
A spud assembly for a fuel tank in a vehicle includes a flange tower adapted to be at least partially disposed in a fill spout of a fuel tank. The spud assembly also includes a bead flange extending from the flange tower for engagement with a tank filler neck tube to retain the tank filler neck tube thereto. The spud assembly further includes a check valve disposed within the flange tower to allow fuel to enter the fuel tank from the tank filler neck tube and prevent fuel from exiting the fuel tank to the tank filler neck tube.

Description:
TECHNICAL FIELD 
     The present invention relates generally to fuel tanks for vehicles and, more particularly, to a spud assembly for a fuel tank of a vehicle. 
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     It is known to provide a fuel tank such as a plastic fuel tank in a vehicle to hold fuel to be used by an engine of the vehicle. In some vehicles, a tank filler neck tube extends between a cap and the plastic fuel tank. Typically, the filler neck includes a fill-valve insert telescoped around the exterior of a tank end of the tank filler neck tube and the fill-valve insert has an upper annular ring to receive and seal around an exterior of the tank end of the tank filler neck tube. The fill-valve insert is positively retained against outward dislodgment from a tank fill spout of the fuel tank by a lock ring collar in the event the tank filler neck tube is pulled loose from its compression seal frictional clamp retention in the collar. 
     Another method is to attach a spud assembly to a plastic fuel tank using a face welding such as hot plate welding, spin welding, etc. Typically, this type of weld is prone to fatigue from shear and cantilever loading due to the weld being under a shear force. 
     Although the above spud assembly has worked, it is desirable to provide a spud assembly for a fuel tank in a vehicle that is more robust. It is also desirable to provide a spud assembly for a fuel tank in a vehicle that eliminates a tank to spud weld zone. It is further desirable to provide a spud assembly for a fuel tank in a vehicle that incorporates a check valve and tank drain in the tank filler neck tube. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     It is, therefore, one object of the present invention to provide a spud assembly for a fuel tank in a vehicle. 
     It is another object of the present invention to provide a spud assembly for a fuel tank in a vehicle that eliminates a tank to spud weld zone. 
     It is yet another object of the present invention to provide a spud assembly for a fuel tank in a vehicle that incorporates a check valve and tank drain in a tank filler neck tube. 
     To achieve the foregoing objects, the present invention is a spud assembly for a fuel tank in a vehicle including a flange tower adapted to be at least partially disposed in a fill spout of a fuel tank. The spud assembly also includes a bead flange extending from the flange tower for engagement with a tank filler neck tube to retain the tank filler neck tube thereto. The spud assembly further includes a check valve disposed within the flange tower to allow fuel to enter the fuel tank from the tank filler neck tube and prevent fuel from exiting the fuel tank to the tank filler neck tube. 
     One advantage of the present invention is that a spud assembly is provided for a fuel tank in a vehicle. Another advantage of the present invention is that the spud assembly eliminates a tank to spud weld zone and incorporates a check valve and tank drain in the tank filler neck tube. Yet another advantage of the present invention is that the spud assembly forms a flange tower or spud out of the same material for the tank when the tank is formed. Still another advantage of the present invention is that the spud assembly is simpler and more robust, reduces spit back during filling and allows the fuel tank to be drained without dropping it from the vehicle. A further advantage of the present invention is that the spud assembly is lower in cost, has improved quality and does not require high tech equipment for assembly. 
     Other objects, features and advantages of the present invention will be readily appreciated, as the same becomes better understood after reading the subsequent description taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings. 
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
     FIG. 1 is a fragmentary elevational view of a spud assembly, according to the present invention, illustrated in operational relationship with a fuel tank of a vehicle. 
     FIG. 2 is an enlarged fragmentary plan view of the spud assembly of FIG. 1 illustrating a check valve in an open and closed position. 
    
    
     DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT 
     Referring to the drawings and in particular FIGS. 1 and 2, one embodiment of a spud assembly  10 , according to the present invention, is shown for a fuel tank, generally indicated at  12 , in a vehicle (not shown). The fuel tank  12  includes a fuel pump module  14  therein with a removable cover  16  sealed to the top of the fuel tank  12  with an electrical connector  18  and a fuel line outlet connector  20 . The fuel tank  12  also includes a fuel reservoir  22  which contains an electrical fuel pump  24  with an inlet  26  and a float gage  28  to indicate fuel level. The fuel tank  12  also includes a tank filler neck tube  30  having an upper end  32  provided with a removable fuel cap  34  and mounted in a vehicle body  36  of the vehicle. The tank filler neck tube  30  also has a lower end  38  and a flex segment  40  interconnecting the lower end  38  and a portion of the upper end  32 . The fuel tank  12  is formed of a plastic material such as laminated polyethylene with an embedded vapor barrier film. The fuel tank  12  is formed by a twin sheet vacuum thermo-forming process. It should be appreciated that, except for the spud assembly  10 , the fuel tank  12  is conventional and known in the art. 
     Referring to FIGS. 1 and 2, the spud assembly includes a spud or flange tower  42 . The flange tower  42  is generally cylindrical in shape with a generally circular cross-section. The flange tower  42  extends axially and has a first cavity  44  in one end thereof. The flange tower  42  also includes a second cavity  46  in the other end thereof. The flange tower  42  includes a first aperture  48  extending axially therethrough to allow fluid communication between the first cavity  44  and the second cavity  46 . The flange tower  42  includes a second aperture  50  in the axial end thereof to allow the second cavity  46  to fluidly communicate with the interior of the tank filler neck tube  30 . The flange tower  42  includes a plurality of, preferably three or four, prongs or fingers  51  extending radially to form the second aperture  50 . The fingers  51  are also spaced circumferentially such that the second aperture  50  extends circumferentially therebetween. The fingers  51  form a cage to retain a check valve  70  to be described in the second cavity  46 . The flange tower  42  also includes a valve seat  52  adjacent the first aperture  48  for a function to be described. The flange tower  42  is formed from a plastic material, preferably the same material as the fuel tank  12  the same time the fuel tank  12  is formed. It should be appreciated that the flange tower  42  is a monolithic structure being integral, unitary and one-piece. 
     The spud assembly  10  includes a bead flange  56  extending radially outwardly from the flange tower  42  to retain the tank filler neck tube  30 . The flange tower  42  is disposed in an opening  58  formed by a fill spout  60  of the fuel tank  12  such that the bead flange  56  is disposed outside an end of the fill spout  60 . The spud assembly  10  may include a spin weld  62  between the flange tower  42  and the fill spout  60  to secure the flange tower  42  to the fill spout  60 . The tank filler neck tube  30  has a recess  64  extending radially outwardly in the lower end thereof to receive the bead flange  56 . The spud assembly  10  may include a clamp  66  disposed about the lower end  38  of the tank filler neck tube  30  between the recess  64  and a free end thereof to secure the lower end  38  to the fill spout  60 . The clamp  66  includes an adjustment screw  68  to allow the clamp  66  to be secured and unsecured to the tank filler neck tube  30 . It should be appreciated that the clamp  66  is conventional and known in the art. 
     The spud assembly  10  also includes a check valve  70  disposed in the second cavity  46  and cooperating with the valve seat  52 . The check valve  70  is of a spherical or ball type and has a first position engaging the first valve seat  52  to close the first aperture  48 . The check valve  70  has a second position engaging the fingers  51  to open the first aperture  48 . The check valve  70  is made of a rigid material such as plastic. It should be appreciated that fluid flows through the second cavity  46 , past the check valve  70  and fingers  51  and through the second aperture  50  when the check valve  70  is in the second position. 
     The spud assembly  10  includes a fuel tank drain  72  to allow the fuel tank  12  to be drained. The fuel tank drain  72  is a conduit having one end extending through an aperture  74  in the flange tower  42  and through the first cavity  44  and into the tank filler neck tube  30  and a second end extending into the fuel tank  20 . The spud assembly  10  also includes a clocking feature (not shown) to orient the fuel tank drain  72  in the same place each time after spin welding or another type of welding process. It should be appreciated that the fuel tank drain  72  may be secured in the aperture  74  by suitable means such as welding. 
     In operation, the spud assembly  10  is illustrated in an assembled state in which the tank filler neck tube  30  is secured to the fill spout  60  by the clamp  66 . The check valve  70  engages the fingers  51  in the second position. Fuel enters the tank filler neck tube  30  when the fuel cap  34  is removed and flows to the spud assembly  10 . In the spud assembly  10 , fuel flows through the first cavity  44 , first aperture  48 , second cavity  46  around the check valve  70 , and second aperture  50  and into the fuel tank  12 . If the fuel vaporizes in the fuel tank  12 , pressure in the fuel tank  12  may cause the check valve  70  to disengage the fingers  51  and engage the valve seat  52  to prevent fuel vapor from entering the first cavity  44  and tank filler neck tube  30 . When the vehicle is moving or the fuel tank  20  is disposed at an angle such that fuel flows from the fuel tank  12  to the spud assembly  10 , the fuel flows through the second aperture  50  and causes the check valve  70  to engage the valve seat  52  to prevent fuel from entering the first cavity  44  and flowing to the tank filler neck tube  30 . 
     The present invention has been described in an illustrative manner. It is to be understood that the terminology, which has been used, is intended to be in the nature of words of description rather than of limitation. 
     Many modifications and variations of the present invention are possible in light of the above teachings. Therefore, within the scope of the appended claims, the present invention may be practiced other than as specifically described.