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US4630749A Expired / Lapsed US ⏱️ 0.0 years remaining

Fuel fill tube with vapor vent and overfill protection

Assignee: Motors Liquidation Co
•
Filing: 1986-03-18
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Granted: 1986-12-23
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Expires: 2006-03-18
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Abstract

Abstract A fuel fill tube for a vehicle fuel tank has a canister vapor vent, a shut-off valve and an overfill protection valve. The overfill valve prevents liquid from communicating with the carbon canister during overfill and communicates the liquid to the atmospheric open end of the fill tube.

Inventors

  • 👤 Donald J. Armstrong
  • 👤 Roy A. Giacomazzi
  • 👤 George W. Niepoth

Bibliographic Details

Application Number —
Jurisdiction US
Data Source google_patents
Last Synchronized 2026-10-27 12:55
CPC Classifications
B; B67; B67D; B67D7/00; B67D7/06; B67D7/42; B67D7/54; B60; B60K; B60K15/00; B60K15/03; B60K15/04; B60K2015/0458; B60K2015/048

Claims Analysis

Total Claims: 6
Claim 1
Independent Claim 156 words
A fuel tank fill tube for a vehicle having a fuel tank and a vapor storage canister; said fill tube comprising: an open end adapted to be closed with a fuel cap; a spring closed flap means adjacent said open end for closing said open end from said fuel tank when a cap is installed and being opened by a fuel fill nozzle when refueling of the tank is undertaken, said flap means including a finger portion; spring loaded shut-off means disposed in said fill tube for closing said tube from said canister and being opened by abutment of said finger portion when said flap means is opened; and float valve means for permitting passage of vapor from said tube passing through said shut-off valve to said canister and preventing liquid from flowing to said canister and including overflow means for directing liquid flowing through said shut-off valve to the open end of said fill tube.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim 156 words
A fuel tank fill tube for a vehicle having a fuel tank and a vapor storage canister; said fill tube comprising: an open end adapted to be closed with a fuel cap; a spring closed flap means adjacent said open end for closing said open end from said fuel tank when a cap is installed and being opened by a fuel fill nozzle when refueling of the tank is undertaken, said flap means including a finger portion; spring loaded shut-off means disposed in said fill tube for closing said tube from said canister and being opened by abutment of said finger portion when said flap means is opened; and float valve means for permitting passage of vapor from said tube passing through said shut-off valve to said canister and preventing liquid from flowing to said canister and including overflow means for directing liquid flowing through said shut-off valve to the open end of said fill tube.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim 163 words
A fuel tank fill tube for a vehicle having a fuel tank and a vapor storage canister with canister passage means; said fill tube comprising: an open end adapted to be closed with a fuel cap; a spring closed flap means adjacent said open end for closing said open end from said fuel tank when a cap is installed and being opened by a fuel fill nozzle when refueling of the tank is undertaken, said flap means including a finger portion; spring loaded shut-off valve means disposed in said fill tube for closing said tube from said canister passage means and being opened by abutment of said finger portion when said flap means is opened; floating ball valve means for permitting passage of vapor from said tube passing through said shut-off valve to said canister and preventing liquid from flowing to said canister; and overflow passage means for directing liquid flowing from the fuel tank to the open end of said fill tube.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim 163 words
A fuel tank fill tube for a vehicle having a fuel tank and a vapor storage canister with canister passage means; said fill tube comprising: an open end adapted to be closed with a fuel cap; a spring closed flap means adjacent said open end for closing said open end from said fuel tank when a cap is installed and being opened by a fuel fill nozzle when refueling of the tank is undertaken, said flap means including a finger portion; spring loaded shut-off valve means disposed in said fill tube for closing said tube from said canister passage means and being opened by abutment of said finger portion when said flap means is opened; floating ball valve means for permitting passage of vapor from said tube passing through said shut-off valve to said canister and preventing liquid from flowing to said canister; and overflow passage means for directing liquid flowing from the fuel tank to the open end of said fill tube.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim 176 words
A fuel tank fill tube for a vehicle having a fuel tank and a vapor storage canister with canister passage means; said fill tube comprising: an open end adapted to be closed with a fuel cap; a spring closed flap means adjacent said open end for closing said open end from said fuel tank when a cap is installed and being opened by a fuel fill nozzle when refueling of the tank is undertaken, said flap means including a finger portion; spring loaded shut-off valve means disposed in said fill tube for closing said tube from said canister passage means and being opened by abutment of said finger portion when said flap means is opened; floating ball valve means for permitting passage of vapor from said tube passing through said shut-off valve to said canister and preventing liquid from flowing to said canister; and seal means disposed adjacent said flap means for sealing said fuel fill nozzle during refill and including a lip portion movable in response to liquid overfill to vent the overfill to atmosphere.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim 176 words
A fuel tank fill tube for a vehicle having a fuel tank and a vapor storage canister with canister passage means; said fill tube comprising: an open end adapted to be closed with a fuel cap; a spring closed flap means adjacent said open end for closing said open end from said fuel tank when a cap is installed and being opened by a fuel fill nozzle when refueling of the tank is undertaken, said flap means including a finger portion; spring loaded shut-off valve means disposed in said fill tube for closing said tube from said canister passage means and being opened by abutment of said finger portion when said flap means is opened; floating ball valve means for permitting passage of vapor from said tube passing through said shut-off valve to said canister and preventing liquid from flowing to said canister; and seal means disposed adjacent said flap means for sealing said fuel fill nozzle during refill and including a lip portion movable in response to liquid overfill to vent the overfill to atmosphere.

References Cited (Backward Citations)

US3358871A Cited
US3465911A Cited
US3946771A Cited
US4060108A Cited
US4441533A Cited

USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows

Annuity Stage Window Opens Payment Deadline Surcharge Period Until Estimated Fee Status
3.5 Years (Year 4) 1989-12-22 1990-06-23 1990-12-23 $2000.00 Window Closed / Lapsed
7.5 Years (Year 8) 1993-12-22 1994-06-23 1994-12-23 $3760.00 Window Closed / Lapsed
11.5 Years (Year 12) 1997-12-22 1998-06-23 1998-12-23 $7700.00 Window Closed / Lapsed

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