Patent US20120004984A1 successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
US4376446A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Vent valve for fuel tanks and the like
Assignee: Kaman Aerospace Corp
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Filing: 1978-03-15
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Granted: 1983-03-15
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Expires: 1998-03-15
Abstract
Abstract A vent valve for venting fuel and other such tanks includes a float having a valve closure poppet for opening and closing the valve at a predetermined liquid level in the tank. The valve also has a bellows actuator which relieves excessive internal tank pressures by holding the closure poppet open in opposition to buoyant forces on the float when the excessive pressures are encountered. The bellows actuator and the valve poppet are self-compensating since higher internal tank pressures cause the actuator to increase the valve opening for greater pressure relief.
Inventors
- 👤 Benjamin S. Liff
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-09 00:05
CPC Classifications
B; B60; B60K; B60K15/00; B60K15/03; B60K15/035; B60K15/03519; F; F16; F16K; F16K17/00; F16K17/02; F16K24/00; F16K24/04; F16K24/042; F16K24/044; Y; Y10; Y10T; Y10T137/00; Y10T137/2931; Y10T137/3003; Y10T137/3084; Y10T137/309; Y10T137/3099; Y10T137/7287; Y10T137/7358; Y10T137/7439; Y10T137/7491
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 18
Claim 1
Independent Claim
241 words
A vent valve for a fuel tank and the like for performing both venting and pressure relieving functions comprising: a valve housing defining inlet and exit openings in fluid communication through an internal fluid passageway for venting fluids in a tank through the passageway from the inlet opening to the exit opening; movable closure means associated with the valve housing for closing the fluid passageway and preventing fluid flow through the valve housing between the inlet and exit openings, the closure means including a float having a substantially fixed buoyancy and movable relative to the valve housing by buoyant forces of liquid in the tank, the float having upper and lower positions established by the liquid level in the tank and in the upper position causing the closure means to close the fluid passageway and the tank, and in the lower position causing the closure means to open the fluid passageway and freely vent the tank; and pressure responsive actuating means responsive to the pressure in the tank above the liquid in both the open and closed positions of the passageway and operatively associated with the movable closure means at the upper position of the float for opposing closure of the fluid paassageway by the float at tank pressures above a preselected level and depressing the float from the upper position in opposition to the buoyant forces of the liquid to open the fluid passageway and relieve pressures within the tank.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
241 words
A vent valve for a fuel tank and the like for performing both venting and pressure relieving functions comprising: a valve housing defining inlet and exit openings in fluid communication through an internal fluid passageway for venting fluids in a tank through the passageway from the inlet opening to the exit opening; movable closure means associated with the valve housing for closing the fluid passageway and preventing fluid flow through the valve housing between the inlet and exit openings, the closure means including a float having a substantially fixed buoyancy and movable relative to the valve housing by buoyant forces of liquid in the tank, the float having upper and lower positions established by the liquid level in the tank and in the upper position causing the closure means to close the fluid passageway and the tank, and in the lower position causing the closure means to open the fluid passageway and freely vent the tank; and pressure responsive actuating means responsive to the pressure in the tank above the liquid in both the open and closed positions of the passageway and operatively associated with the movable closure means at the upper position of the float for opposing closure of the fluid paassageway by the float at tank pressures above a preselected level and depressing the float from the upper position in opposition to the buoyant forces of the liquid to open the fluid passageway and relieve pressures within the tank.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
74 words
A vent valve for fuel tanks and the like as defined in claim 1 wherein the movable closure means comprises a movable closure element having a first position closing the fluid passageway of the housing and preventing fluid flow through the passageway and a second position different from the first and permitting fluid flow through the passageway, and the closure element is connected with the float for movement between the first and second positions.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
24 words
A vent valve for fuel tanks and the like as defined in claim 2 wherein the closure element comprises a portion of the float.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
51 words
A vent valve as defined in claim 2 wherein the pressure responsive actuating means includes a displaceable actuating rod movable into contact with the closure element in the first position and movable further to displace the closure element toward the second position in opposition to the buoyant forces on the float.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
35 words
A vent valve for a fuel tank and the like as defined in claim 1 wherein the closure means includes a closure element mounted adjacent to the inlet of the fluid passageway in the housing.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
29 words
A vent valve for fuel tanks and the like as defined in claim 1 wherein the pressure responsive actuating means comprises a bellows operatively associated with the closure means.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
23 words
A vent valve as defined in claim 6 wherein the bellows is an elastomeric bellows mounted in sealed relationship on the valve housing.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
197 words
In a tank receiving and dispensing a liquid and having a limited capacity, an integrated vent and pressure relief valve comprising: a fluid conduit having a first end within the tank, a second end outside of the tank and a fluid passageway between the first and second ends for passage of fluids between the interior and exterior of the tank; closure means including a float responsive to the liquid level within the tank and having a closure element movable from a first position in which the passageway in the fluid conduit is open and a second position in which the passageway is closed, the element being urged to move from the first to the second position to close the passageway by buoyant forces of the float in the tank as the liquid approaches a predetermined level; and pressure relief means responsive to pressure within the tank and operatively associated with the closure means for displacing the closure element from the second position and opening the fluid passageway in opposition to the buoyant forces of the float in liquid levels in the tank at or above the predetermined level and at internal tank pressures above a selected level.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
197 words
In a tank receiving and dispensing a liquid and having a limited capacity, an integrated vent and pressure relief valve comprising: a fluid conduit having a first end within the tank, a second end outside of the tank and a fluid passageway between the first and second ends for passage of fluids between the interior and exterior of the tank; closure means including a float responsive to the liquid level within the tank and having a closure element movable from a first position in which the passageway in the fluid conduit is open and a second position in which the passageway is closed, the element being urged to move from the first to the second position to close the passageway by buoyant forces of the float in the tank as the liquid approaches a predetermined level; and pressure relief means responsive to pressure within the tank and operatively associated with the closure means for displacing the closure element from the second position and opening the fluid passageway in opposition to the buoyant forces of the float in liquid levels in the tank at or above the predetermined level and at internal tank pressures above a selected level.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
28 words
In a tank, the integrated vent and pressure relief valve as defined in claim 8 wherein the pressure relief means comprises a bellows responsive to internal tank pressures.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
62 words
In a tank, the integrated vent and pressure relief valve as defined in claim 9 wherein the bellows in response to pressures above the selected level mechanically engages the closure element in the second position and urges the closure element toward the first position in opposition to the float when the liquid is at or above the predetermined level in the tank.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
41 words
In a tank, the integrated vent and relief valve of claim 9 wherein the bellows is mounted within the tank and is disengaged from the closure element at tank pressures below the selected level and liquid levels below the predetermined level.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
22 words
In a tank, the integrated vent and relief valve of claim 10 wherein the closure element comprises a portion of the float.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
50 words
In a tank, the integrated vent and relief valve as defined in claim 8 wherein the pressure relief means comprises a bellows mounted on the fluid conduit, and the closure means is also mounted on the conduit with the closure element operatively associated with the bellows within the fluid passageway.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
37 words
The integrated vent and relief valve as defined in claim 13 wherein the bellows is an elastomeric bellows mounted in sealed relationship to the fluid conduit and exposed within the tank to pressure outside of the conduit.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
37 words
The integrated vent and relief valve of claim 13 wherein the bellows mechanically engages the closure element to displace the element from the second position in opposition to the liquid in the tank at the predetermined level.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
56 words
In a tank, the integrated vent and relief valve as defined in claim 8 wherein the closure element in the closure means comprises a portion of the float responsive to the liquid level in the tank, and the closure element cooperates with the first end of the fluid conduit to open and close the fluid passageway.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1986-03-14 | 1986-09-13 | 1987-03-15 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1990-03-14 | 1990-09-13 | 1991-03-15 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1994-03-14 | 1994-09-13 | 1995-03-15 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |