Safety installation for the venting and pressure release of closed containers

Claim 2

An installation for the venting and pressure release of tanks, characterized in that at least one pressure release valve means and one venting valve means is arranged in a connecting line coming from a tank, in that said venting valve means is operatively connected with the crankcase of an engine, in that said tank is provided with an equalization tank means and in that said connecting line means comes from said equalization tank means, and in that a safety excess pressure valve means is additionally provided which is combined with the venting and pressure release valve means into a structural valve unit.

Claim 3

An installation according to claim 1, characterized in that the structural valve unit consists of a housing that includes a connection means each for a pressure release line, a vent line and said connecting line leading to the equalization tank means.

Claim 4

An installation according to claim 2, characterized in that the pressure release line connected to the pressure release chamber of the valve unit terminates in a rubber sleeve means that is arranged, covered in the vehicle body.

Claim 5

An installation according to claim 3, characterized in that said rubber sleeve means is open toward the atmosphere.

Claim 6

An installation according to claim 2, characterized in that the venting line connected to a venting chamber of the valve unit terminates by way of an inlet aperture directly in the crankcase of the engine within the area of the oil level.

Claim 7

An installation according to claim 5, characterized in that said venting line terminates in the crankcase through said inlet aperture and by way of an explosion protection means.

Claim 8

An installation according to claim 1, characterized in that the valve means respond to the following pressure ranges: safety excess pressure valve means to about 0.055 atmospheric excess pressure; pressure release valve means to about 0.018 atmospheric excess pressure, and venting valve means to about 0.025 atmospheric excess pressure.

Claim 9

An installation for the venting and pressure release of tanks, comprising: an equalization tank means communicating with a tank, a connecting line leading from said equalization tank means to the crankcase of an engine, at least one pressure release valve means in communication with the equalization tank means, a safety excess pressure valve means in communication with the equalization tank means, a venting valve means arranged in said connecting line, and a housing for combining the above mentioned three valve means into a structural valve unit, said housing including a connection means each for a pressure release line, a vent line and for a line connecting the structural valve unit to the equalizer tank means, said housing further including a sleeve means which is divided in a cross plane into two approximately equal sections by a wall means provided with three valve seat means, one of said sections being further subdivided by a web means so that three chambers are formed consisting of an equalization chamber, a venting chamber and a pressure release chamber which terminate in corresponding connection means.

Claim 10

An installation for the venting and pressure release of tanks, comprising: an equalization tank means communicating with a tank, a connecting line leading from said equalization tank means to the crankcase of an engine, at least one pressure release valve means in communication with the equalization tank means, a safety excess pressure valve means in communication with the equalization tank means, a venting valve means arranged in said connecting line, and a housing for combining the above mentioned three valve means into a structural valve unit, said housing including a connection means each for a pressure release line, a vent line and for a line connecting the structural valve unit to the equalizer tank means, said housing further including a sleeve means which is divided in a cross plane into two approximately equal sections by a wall means provided with three valve seat means, one of said sections being further subdivided by a web means so that three chambers are formed consisting of an equalization chamber, a venting chamber and a pressure release chamber which terminate in corresponding connection means.

Claim 11

An installation according to claim 8, characterized in that said web means subtends an angle of about 120*.

Claim 12

An installation according to claim 8, characterized in that said valve housing is closed at both its two ends by two substantially symmetrical cover means held in said housing, said cover means receiving the valve elements and pressing against the valve seat means in such a manner that The chambers are closed with respect to each other in the normal position.

Claim 13

An installation according to claim 10, characterized in that said valve elements include guide cylinder means, coil spring means, valve pressure plate means and sealing disc means.

Claim 14

An installation according to claim 10, characterized in that the safety excess pressure valve means and the pressure release valve means close the pressure release chamber with respect to the equalization chamber and in that the safety excess pressure valve means opens the pressure release chamber with respect to the equalization chamber in case of an excess pressure in the equalization chamber and the pressure release valve means opens the pressure release chamber with respect to the equalization chamber in case of a vacuum in the equalization chamber.

Claim 15

An installation according to claim 12, characterized in that the venting valve means closes the venting chamber with respect to the equalization chamber and opens the venting chamber with respect to the equalization chamber in case of an excess pressure in the equalization chamber and/or a vacuum in the vent line.

Claim 16

An installation according to claim 13, characterized in that the valve means respond to the following pressure ranges: safety excess pressure valve means to about 0.055 atmospheric excess pressure; pressure release valve means to about 0.018 atmospheric excess pressure, and venting valve means to about 0.025 atmospheric excess pressure.

Claim 17

An installation according to claim 13, characterized in that the pressure release line connected to the pressure release chamber of the valve unit terminates in a rubber sleeve means that is arranged, covered in the vehicle body.

Claim 18

An installation according to claim 15, characterized in that said rubber sleeve means is open toward the atmosphere.

Claim 19

An installation according to claim 16, characterized in that the venting line connected to the venting chamber of the valve unit terminates by way of an inlet aperture directly in the crankcase of the engine within the area of the oil level.

Claim 20

An installation according to claim 17, characterized in that said venting line terminates in the crankcase through said inlet aperture and by way of an explosion protection means.

Claim 21

An installation according to claim 17, characterized in that the equalization tank means is arranged above the inlet aperture of a filler pipe for said tank and is in communication with said tank by way of at least two lines.

Claim 22

An installation according to claim 19, characterized in that said two connecting lines terminate at mutually opposite sides of the tank.

Claim 23

An installation according to claim 16, characterized in that said two connecting lines terminate at the two ends of said tank pointing in and opposite the driving direction of the vehicle.

Claim 24

An installation according to claim 21, characterized in that the valve means respons to the following pressure ranges: safety excess pressure valve means to about 0.055 atmospheric excess pressure; pressure release valve means to about 0.018 atmospheric excess pressure, and venting valve means to about 0.025 atmospheric excess pressure.

Claim 25

An installation according to claim 22, characterized in that said valve elements include guide cylinder means, coil spring means, valve pressure plate means and sealing disc means.

Claim 26

An installation according to claim 23, characterized in that said tank is a fuel tank in a motor vehicle.

Claim 27

An installation according to claim 8, characterized in that the safety excess pressure valve means and the pressure release valve means close the pressure release chamber with respect to the equalization chamber and in that the safety excess pressure valve means opens the pressure release chamber with respect to the equalization chamber in case of an excess pressure in the equalization chamber and the pressure release valve means opens the pressure Release chamber with respect to the equalization chamber in case of a vacuum in the equalization chamber.

Claim 28

An installation according to claim 8, characterized in that the venting valve means closes the venting chamber with respect to the equalization chamber and opens the venting chamber with respect to the equalization chamber in case of an excess pressure in the equalization chamber and/or a vacuum in the vent line.

Claim 29

An installation according to claim 8, characterized in that the equalization tank means is arranged above the inlet aperture of a filler pipe for said tank and is in communication with said tank by way of at least two lines.

Claim 30

An installation according to claim 27, characterized in that said two connecting lines terminate at mutually opposite sides of the tank.

Claim 31

An installation according to claim 28, characterized in that said two connecting lines terminate at the two ends of said tank pointing in and opposite the driving direction of the vehicle.

Claim 32

An installation for venting and pressure release of tanks, comprising: an equalization tank means communicating with a tank, a connecting line leading from said equalization tank means to the crankcase of an engine, at least one pressure release valve means in communication with the equalization tank means, a safety excess pressure valve means in communication with the equalization tank means, a venting valve means arranged in said connecting line, and a housing for combining the above mentioned three valve means into a structural valve unit, said housing including a connection means each for a pressure release line, a vent line and for a line connecting the structural valve unit to the equalizer tank means, said valve housing being closed at both its two ends by two substantially symmetrical cover means held in said housing, said cover means receiving the valve elements and pressing against the valve seat means in such a manner that chambers of said housing are closed with respect to each other in the normal position.

Claim 33

An installation for venting and pressure release of tanks, comprising: an equalization tank means communicating with a tank, a connecting line leading from said equalization tank means to the crankcase of an engine, at least one pressure release valve means in communication with the equalization tank means, a safety excess pressure valve means in communication with the equalization tank means, a venting valve means arranged in said connecting line, and a housing for combining the above mentioned three valve means into a structural valve unit, said housing including a connection means each for a pressure release line, a vent line and for a line connecting the structural valve unit to the equalizer tank means, said valve housing being closed at both its two ends by two substantially symmetrical cover means held in said housing, said cover means receiving the valve elements and pressing against the valve seat means in such a manner that chambers of said housing are closed with respect to each other in the normal position.

Claim 34

An installation for the venting and pressure release of tanks, especially fuel tanks of an automotive vehicle which supply fuel to an engine with a crankcase; said installation comprising: an equalizing tank spaced from the fuel tank, at least one conduit for communicating said equalizing tank with the fuel tank, pressure release valve means for communicating said equalizing tank with atmosphere when said equalizing tank is in a first predetermined pressure range with respect to the atmosphere, venting valve means for communicating said equalizing tank with the crankcase when said equalizing tank is in a second predetermined pressure range with respect to the crankcase, and an excess pressure safety valve means for communicating said equalizing tank with atmosphere when the pressure in said equalizing tank is in a third predetermined pressure range with respect to the atmosphere.

Claim 35

An installation for the venting and pressure release of tanks, especially fuel tanks of an automotive vehicle which supply fuel to an engine with a crankcase; said installation comprising: an equalizing tank spaced from the fuel tank, at least one conduit for communicating said equalizing tank with the fuel tank, pressure release valve means for communicating said equalizing tank with atmosphere when said equalizing tank is in a first predetermined pressure range with respect to the atmosphere, venting valve means for communicating said equalizing tank with the crankcase when said equalizing tank is in a second predetermined pressure range with respect to the crankcase, and an excess pressure safety valve means for communicating said equalizing tank with atmosphere when the pressure in said equalizing tank is in a third predetermined pressure range with respect to the atmosphere.

Claim 36

An installation according to claim 31, wherein said first predetermined pressure range includes all equalizing tank pressures below a certain predetermined pressure.

Claim 37

An installation according to claim 32, wherein said third predetermined pressure range includes all equalizing tank pressures above a certain predetermined pressure.

Claim 38

An installation according to claim 33, wherein said equalizing tank is disposed above the fuel tank and wherein at least two conduits communicate the fuel tank to the equalizing tank.

Claim 39

An installation according to claim 33, characterized in that the valve means responds to the following pressure ranges: safety excess pressure valve means to about 0.055 atmospheric excess pressure; pressure release valve means to about 0.018 atmospheric excess pressure, and venting valve means to about 0.025 atmospheric excess pressure.

Claim 40

An installation according to claim 35, wherein said equalizing tank is disposed above the fuel tank and wherein at least two conduits communicate the fuel tank to the equalizing tank.

Claim 41

An installation according to claim 33, wherein a venting conduit is provided between said venting valve means and said crankcase, said venting conduit being connected at a lower zone of the crankcase at a point immediately above the height of the oil level in the crankcase.

Claim 42

An installation according to claim 33, wherein said pressure release valve means includes a movable pressure release valve member arranged for selectively opening and closing a first opening between a chamber communicating directly with the equalizing tank and a chamber communicating directly with atmosphere, wherein said venting valve means includes a movable venting valve member arranged for selectively opening and closing a second opening between a chamber communicating directly with the equalization tank and a chamber communicating directly with the crankcase, wherein said excess pressure safety valve means includes a movable safety valve member arranged for selectively opening and closing a third opening between a chamber communicating directly with the equalizing tank and a chamber communicating directly with atmosphere, and wherein said above recited valve members and chambers are all located in a common housing.

Claim 43

An installation according to claim 33, wherein a common housing is provided with first, second and third separate chambers, said first chamber being in direct communication with said equalizing tank by open conduit means, said second chamber being in direct communication with atmosphere by open conduit means, said third chamber being in direct communication with said crankcase by open conduit means, said second chamber being in communication with said first chamber by way of a pressure release valve structure forming part of said pressure release valve means and by way of an excess pressure safety valve structure forming part of said excess pressure safety valve means, said third chamber being in communication with said first chamber only by way of a venting valve structure forming part of said venting valve means.

Claim 44

An installation according to claim 31, wherein said third predetermined pressure range includes all equalizing tank pressures above a certain predetermined pressure.

Claim 45

An installation according to claim 31, wherein a venting conduit is provided between said venting valve means and said crankcase, said venting conduit being connected at a lower zone of the crankcase at a point immediately above the height of the oil level in the crankcase.