Attitude sensitive fuel tank vent valve

Claim 2

An attitude sensitive control valve for an aircraft fuel tank and comprising: a. a cup defining an elongated cylindrical walled chamber having a central port in the bottom and a lateral aperture in the side thereof, said cup adapted to be secured inverted to a fuel tank panel to vent said tank through said port, b. a cap mounted at the mouth of said cup having end walls sloping to the axis of said cup, c. an elongated cylindrical float in said cylindrical walled chamber in said cup having on the end adjacent said port a gasket to close said port when moved to the bottom of said cup and having on the opposite end a domed surface, and d. a heavy sphere in said cap which rolls along the walls of said cap to contact and move said float when said tank tilts to an angle where the thrust from said sphere exceeds the weight of said float.

Claim 3

The combination set forth in claim 1 wherein a passage smaller than said sphere is formed in the end of the cap.

Claim 4

The combination set forth in claim 1 in which the end of said cap has a conical wall.

Claim 5

The combination set forth in claim 1 wherein said cap has a conical end wall and a cylindrical side wall which threadedly engages the mouth of said cup and a passage smaller than said sphere is formed in the apex of the conical wall.

Claim 6

The combination set forth in claim 1 wherein a shoulder to engage said gasket is formed on the bottom of said cup.

Claim 7

The combination set forth in claim 1 wherein said float comprises a rigid float cup filled with floatation material, a flange extending radially outward from said cup, and a shoulder is formed in said cylindrical walled chamber for selectively engaging said flange to limit axial movement of said float in a direction away from said port.

Claim 8

An attitude sensitive control valve for an aircraft fuel tank and comprising: a. a valve cup defining an elongated cylindrical walled chamber having a central port in the bottom and a lateral aperture in the side thereof, and laterally extending feet securing said cup in an inverted position to the top panel of said fuel tank to vent said tank through said port, b. a cap mounted on said cup having end walls sloping to the axis of said cup, c. an elongated cylindrical float cup in said valve cup, the mouth of which faces said central port, said valve cup filled with floatation material and having, on the end adjacent said port, a gasket to close said port when moved to the bottom of said cup and having on the opposite end a domed surface, and d. a heavy sphere in said cap which rolls along the walls of said cap to move and contact said float when said tank tilts to an angle where the thrust from said sphere exceeds the weight of said float.

Claim 9

An attitude sensitive control valve for an aircraft fuel tank and comprising: a. a valve cup defining an elongated cylindrical walled chamber having a central port in the bottom and a lateral aperture in the side thereof, and laterally extending feet securing said cup in an inverted position to the top panel of said fuel tank to vent said tank through said port, b. a cap mounted on said cup having end walls sloping to the axis of said cup, c. an elongated cylindrical float cup in said valve cup, the mouth of which faces said central port, said valve cup filled with floatation material and having, on the end adjacent said port, a gasket to close said port when moved to the bottom of said cup and having on the opposite end a domed surface, and d. a heavy sphere in said cap which rolls along the walls of said cap to move and contact said float when said tank tilts to an angle where the thrust from said sphere exceeds the weight of said float.

Claim 10

The combination set forth in claim 7 wherein a radially extending flange is formed on the exterior of said float cup, and a shoulder is formed in said valve cup for selectively engaging said flange to limit axial movement of said float in a direction away from said port.