US3698160A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Motor vehicle fuel tank venting
Assignee: Old Carco LLC
•
Filing: 1970-07-16
•
Granted: 1972-10-17
•
Expires: 1990-07-16
Abstract
Abstract Positionally responsive valves mounted in a motor vehicle fuel tank and connected into part of the tank evaporative control vent system to aid in the separation of liquid fuel from vapor fuel in the vent system.
Inventors
- 👤 William A Hunter
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-05 14:57
CPC Classifications
B; B01; B01D; B01D53/00; B01D53/34; B60; B60K; B60K15/00; B60K15/03; B60K15/035; B60K15/03504; B60K15/03519; F; F02; F02M; F02M25/00; F02M25/08; F02M25/089; F02M2025/0863; Y; Y10; Y10T; Y10T137/00; Y10T137/0753; Y10T137/0874
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 5
Claim 1
Independent Claim
180 words
In a vented fuel tank system for motor vehiCles of the type comprising: a fuel tank, front and rear vent means positioned in the upper portion of the tank for receiving vapor from the fuel therein, a liquid-vapor separator including a container for receiving vapor and carryover liquid fuel from the tank, vent lines extending between the vent means in the tank and the liquid-vapor separator for transmitting the vapor and liquid fuel from one to the other, drain-back means connected between the liquid-vapor separator and the fuel tank for returning liquid fuel from the separator to the tank, and vapor conduit means extending from the liquid-vapor separator for directing vapor to a vapor receiving means, the improvement comprising: positionally responsive valve means including a moveable valve-element carried by the front vent means for controlling the flow of vapor and liquid fuel into the front vent means, the valve means being normally open when the tank is in a substantially horizontal position and closed by said valve element when the tank is either downwardly inclined or canted to the side.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
180 words
In a vented fuel tank system for motor vehiCles of the type comprising: a fuel tank, front and rear vent means positioned in the upper portion of the tank for receiving vapor from the fuel therein, a liquid-vapor separator including a container for receiving vapor and carryover liquid fuel from the tank, vent lines extending between the vent means in the tank and the liquid-vapor separator for transmitting the vapor and liquid fuel from one to the other, drain-back means connected between the liquid-vapor separator and the fuel tank for returning liquid fuel from the separator to the tank, and vapor conduit means extending from the liquid-vapor separator for directing vapor to a vapor receiving means, the improvement comprising: positionally responsive valve means including a moveable valve-element carried by the front vent means for controlling the flow of vapor and liquid fuel into the front vent means, the valve means being normally open when the tank is in a substantially horizontal position and closed by said valve element when the tank is either downwardly inclined or canted to the side.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
99 words
The combination according to claim 1 wherein the positionally responsive valve means comprises: at least one valve body including, a conical valve seat in the valve body defining an open upper end and tapering to an open truncated lower end smaller in diameter than the upper end, a peripheral abutment disposed about the upper end of the seat, and a freely rolling spherical closure member carried on the seat, the diameter of the closure member being smaller than the diameter of the upper end of the seat but larger than the diameter of the lower end of the seat.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
53 words
The combination according to claim 1 wherein; the fuel tank has the general form of a rectangular parallelpiped, and the vent means comprises four vent lines, one opening into each of the four upper tank corners to provide a pair of front vents and a pair of open rear vents in the tank.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
111 words
The combination according to claim 3 wherein the positionally responsive valve means comprises two valves, one being mounted on each of the front vent lines, each valve including: a valve body, a conical valve seat in the valve body defining an open upper end and tapering to an open truncated lower end smaller in diameter than the upper end, a peripheral abutment disposed about the upper end of the seat, and a freely rolling spherical closure member carried on the seat, the diameter of the closure member being smaller than the diameter of the upper end of the seat but larger than the diameter of the lower end of the seat.
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1975-10-17 | 1976-04-17 | 1976-10-17 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1979-10-17 | 1980-04-17 | 1980-10-17 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1983-10-17 | 1984-04-17 | 1984-10-17 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |