Information
-
Patent Grant
-
6807978
-
Patent Number
6,807,978
-
Date Filed
Thursday, November 21, 200221 years ago
-
Date Issued
Tuesday, October 26, 200419 years ago
-
Inventors
-
Original Assignees
-
Examiners
Agents
-
CPC
-
US Classifications
Field of Search
-
International Classifications
-
Abstract
A cover assembly for a fuel tank of a vehicle includes a cover adapted to close an opening in the fuel tank and an internal port operatively supported by the cover. The cover assembly also includes a fill limiting vent valve attached to the internal port to vent the fuel tank through the cover. The internal port includes at least one convolute therein.
Description
TECHNICAL FIELD
The present invention relates generally to fuel tanks for vehicles and, more particularly, to a cover assembly for a fuel delivery module in a fuel tank of a vehicle.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
It is known to provide a fuel tank in a vehicle to hold fuel to be used by an engine of the vehicle. In such a fuel tank, a cover is provided for a fuel delivery module to seal an opening through which the fuel delivery module has been assembled into the fuel tank. In some cases, the fuel delivery module consists only of a cover/flange to which either an electrical fuel pump and/or a mechanism for indicating fuel is attached. Recently, the trend has been to construct fuel delivery modules with an integral reservoir. Various valves, sensors, pressure regulators, as well as filters have been added over time. In some fuel tanks, a fuel limiting vent valve and other vent valves required for venting the fuel tank are mounted in the fuel tank and vented to a vehicle carbon canister.
The fill limiting vent valve (FLVV), as one of its functions, seals a vent of the fuel tank if the vehicle rolls over in an accident. In an accident, however, a side of the fuel tank may be crumpled and the FLVV impacted. The impact could damage or disconnect the FLVV, leaving an opening through which fuel may escape.
One attempt to solve this problem is to mount the FLVV to the fuel tank. In this configuration, a connector allows the FLVV to move with the tank, without being damaged. However, this configuration is not practical to allow the FLVV to be mounted on the reservoir assembly of the fuel delivery module because it leaves the valves mounted on the reservoir assembly vulnerable to damage.
Therefore, it is desirable to provide a cover assembly for a fuel delivery module of a fuel tank to mount a fill limiting vent valve for venting of the fuel tank. It is also desirable to provide a cover assembly for a fuel delivery module of a fuel tank that allows a fill limiting vent valve to move relative to the fuel tank. It is further desirable to provide a cover assembly for a fuel delivery module of a fuel tank with a fill limiting vent valve, which moves with a side of the fuel tank without damage or disengagement.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
It is, therefore, one object of the present invention to provide a new cover assembly for a fuel delivery module in a fuel tank of a vehicle.
It is another object of the present invention to provide a cover assembly for a fuel delivery module that incorporates a fill limiting vent valve that is allowed to move.
To achieve the foregoing objects, the present invention is a cover assembly for a fuel delivery module in a fuel tank of a vehicle including a cover adapted to close an opening in the fuel tank and an internal port operatively supported by the cover. The cover assembly also includes a fill limiting vent valve attached to the internal port to vent the fuel tank through the cover. The internal port includes at least one convolute therein.
One advantage of the present invention is that a new cover assembly is provided for a fuel delivery module in a fuel tank of a vehicle that incorporates a fill limiting vent valve by eliminating the mounting of a fill limiting vent valve to the reservoir assembly in the fuel tank. Another advantage of the present invention is that the cover assembly allows the fill limiting vent valve to move relative to the fuel tank. Yet another advantage of the present invention is that the cover assembly allows the fill limiting vent valve to move with a side of the fuel tank without damage or disengagement. Still another advantage of the present invention is that the cover assembly can also be used to house and retain a fill limiting vent valve.
Other objects, features, and advantages of the present invention will be readily appreciated, as the same becomes better understood, after reading the subsequent description taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
FIG. 1
is a perspective view of a cover assembly for a fuel delivery module, according to the present invention, illustrated in operational relationship with a fuel tank.
FIG. 2
is an enlarged fragmentary elevational view of the cover assembly of FIG.
1
.
FIG. 3
is an enlarged fragmentary elevational view of another embodiment, according to the present invention, of the cover assembly of FIG.
1
.
FIG. 4
is a sectional view taken along line
4
—
4
of FIG.
3
.
DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT
Referring to the drawings and in particular
FIGS. 1 and 2
, one embodiment of a cover assembly
10
, according to the present invention, is shown for a fuel tank
12
of a vehicle (not shown). The fuel tank
12
includes a bottom wall
14
, a side wall
16
extending around a periphery of the bottom wall
14
and extending generally perpendicular thereto, and a top wall
18
extending from an upper end of the side wall
16
and generally parallel to the bottom wall
14
. The top wall
18
includes an opening
20
for the cover assembly
10
. The fuel tank
12
is made of a rigid material such as plastic. It should be appreciated that, except for the cover assembly
10
, the fuel tank
12
is conventional and known in the art.
As illustrated in
FIG. 1
, the cover assembly
10
is part of a fuel delivery module, generally indicated at
22
. The fuel delivery module
22
is disposed in the fuel tank
12
to delivery fuel from the fuel tank
12
to an engine (not shown) of the vehicle. The fuel delivery module
22
includes a reservoir assembly
24
having an electrical fuel pump (not shown) mounted therein. The fuel delivery module
22
further includes a plurality of guide rods or tubes
26
to mechanically connect the cover assembly
10
with the reservoir assembly
24
.
Referring to
FIG. 2
, the cover assembly
10
includes a cover
28
to cover or close the opening
20
. The cover
28
is generally circular in shape. The cover
28
includes a base wall
30
having a raised portion
32
. The raised portion
32
has a vent port or tube
34
. The vent tube
34
extends radially from the raised portion
32
and has a passageway
36
of a predetermined diameter such as ⅝ inches extending axially therethrough for a function to be described. The cover
28
further includes a skirt or side wall
38
extending generally perpendicular and axially from the base wall
30
. The cover
28
is made from a rigid material such as plastic. It should be appreciated that a conduit (not shown) is attached to the vent tube
34
and a carbon canister (not shown) to vent fuel vapors from the fuel tank
12
.
The cover
28
also includes an internal port or tube
40
extending toward the reservoir assembly
24
. The internal port
40
has a first end
42
connected to the raised portion
32
and extending downwardly to a free end
44
. The internal port
40
has a passageway
46
extending axially therethrough and communicating with passageway
36
of the vent tube
34
. The internal port
40
also has at least one convolute
48
therein to increase the flexibility of the port
40
in that area. Preferably, the convolute
48
is spaced between the first end
42
and the second end
44
. The wall of the convolute
48
may have a thinned portion
50
having a thickness less than a thickness of the wall of the internal port
40
to further improve flexibility of the internal port
40
. The internal port
40
further includes at least one, preferably a plurality, more preferably two, projections or knobs
52
extending radially outwardly from the second end
44
for a function to be described. The internal port
40
is made of rigid material such as plastic. Preferably, the cover
28
and internal port
40
are molded as one-piece being integral and unitary by conventional injection molding processes. It should be appreciated that the internal port
40
is connected to a fill limiting vent valve to be described disposed in the interior of the fuel tank
12
. It should also be appreciated that the convolute
48
is easy to mold.
The cover assembly
10
includes a fill limiting vent valve
54
extending into the passageway
46
of the internal port
40
. The fill limiting vent valve
54
is generally cylindrical and circular in shape and has an annular groove or channel
56
in an upper end thereof. The fill limiting vent valve
54
also includes a seal
58
such as an o-ring disposed in the groove
56
. The cylindrical wall of the internal port
40
provides sealing for the seal
58
attached to the fill limiting vent valve
54
. The fill limiting vent valve
54
further includes at least one, preferably a plurality of, more preferably two, retention hooks
60
extending therefrom. The retention hooks
60
are generally “L” shaped and cooperate with the knobs
52
to provide mechanical retention of the fill limiting vent valve
54
to the internal port
40
. The retention hooks
60
are preferably molded onto the fill limiting vent valve
54
. It should be appreciated that the retention hooks
60
are equal in number to the knobs
52
. It should also be appreciated that the fill limiting vent valve
54
vents to a charcoal canister (not shown) through the vent tube
34
. It should further be appreciated that the fill limiting vent valve
54
is conventional and known in the art.
In manufacture of the cover assembly
10
, the cover
28
is molded by conventional processes such as injection molding. The fill limiting vent valve
54
is assembled to the cover
28
by pushing the fill limiting vent valve
54
with the seal
58
into the end of the internal port
40
and secured with a twist to allow the hooks
60
to be engaged with the knobs
52
to retain the vent valve
54
to the internal port
40
. The cover
28
is then secured to the top wall
18
of the fuel tank
12
by suitable means. It should be appreciated that the process of securing the cover
28
to the top wall
18
is conventional and known in the art. It should also be appreciated that the internal port
40
allows the fill limiting vent valve
54
to move with a side of the fuel tank
12
without damage or disengagement.
Referring to
FIGS. 3 and 4
, another embodiment, according to the present invention, of the cover assembly
10
is shown. Like parts of the cover assembly
10
have like reference numerals increased by one hundred (100). In this embodiment, the cover assembly
110
includes an adapter or carrier
162
disposed within and molded to the cover
28
. The adapter
162
is generally circular in shape. The adapter
162
includes a base wall
164
and a skirt or side wall
166
extending generally perpendicular and axially from the base wall
164
. The adapter
162
is made from a rigid material such as plastic. It should be appreciated that the adapter
162
is attached to the cover
28
by latching a plurality of the retaining snaps (not shown) into an equivalent number of apertures (not shown) in the skirt
166
of the cover
28
. It should be appreciated that, in this embodiment, the cover
28
is made of a metal material.
The adapter
162
also includes an internal port or tube
140
extending toward the reservoir assembly
124
. The internal port
140
has a first end
142
connected to the base wall
164
and extending downwardly to a free end
144
. The internal port
140
has a passageway
146
extending axially therethrough and communicating with a passageway (not shown) in the cover
28
. The internal port
140
also has a plurality of convolutes
148
therein to increase the flexibility of the port
140
in that area. Preferably, the convolutes
148
are spaced between the first end
142
and the second end
144
. The internal port
140
further includes at least one, preferably a plurality, more preferably two, projections or knobs
152
extending radially outwardly from the second end
144
for a function to be described. The internal port
140
is made of rigid material such as plastic. Preferably, the adapter
162
and internal port
140
are molded as one-piece being integral and unitary by conventional injection molding processes. It should be appreciated that the convolutes
148
give more flexibility.
The cover assembly
110
includes a fill limiting vent valve
154
extending into the passageway
146
of the internal port
140
. The fill limiting vent valve
154
is generally cylindrical and circular in shape and has an annular groove or channel
156
in an upper end thereof. The fill limiting vent valve
154
also includes a seal
158
such as an o-ring disposed in the groove
156
. The cylindrical wall of the internal port
140
provides sealing for the seal
158
attached to the fill limiting vent valve
154
. The fill limiting vent valve
154
further includes at least one, preferably a plurality of, more preferably two, retention hooks
160
extending therefrom. The retention hooks
160
are generally “L” shaped (
FIG. 4
) and cooperate with the knobs
152
to provide mechanical retention of the fill limiting vent valve
154
to the internal port
140
. The retention hooks
160
are preferably molded onto the fill limiting vent valve
154
. It should be appreciated that the retention hooks
160
are equal in number to the knobs
152
. It should also be appreciated that the manufacture of the cover assembly
110
is similar to the cover assembly
10
.
The present invention has been described in an illustrative manner. It is to be understood that the terminology, which has been used, is intended to be in the nature of words of description rather than of limitation.
Many modifications and variations of the present invention are possible in light of the above teachings. Therefore, within the scope of the appended claims, the present invention may be practiced other than as specifically described.
Claims
- 1. A cover assembly for a fuel tank of a vehicle comprising:a cover adapted to close an opening in the fuel tank; an internal port operatively supported by said cover and having a free end and at least one convolute interposed between the free end and the cover; and a fill limiting vent valve attached to said free end of said internal port to vent the fuel tank through said cover.
- 2. A cover assembly as set forth in claim 1 wherein said at least one convolute has a wall with a thickness less than a thickness of a wall of said internal port.
- 3. A cover assembly as set forth in claim 1 wherein said internal port includes a plurality of convolutes therein.
- 4. A cover assembly as set forth in claim 1 wherein said internal port has at least one projection extending radially outwardly from said free end.
- 5. A cover assembly as set forth in claim 4 wherein said fill limiting vent valve has at least one retention hook cooperating with said at least one projection to retain said fill limiting vent valve to said internal port.
- 6. A cover assembly for a fuel tank of a vehicle comprising:a cover adapted to close an opening in the fuel tank having a fuel reservoir disposed therein; a vent port extending from said cover; an internal port operatively supported by said cover and fluidly communicating with said vent port; said internal port having a free end and at least one convolute interposed between the free end and the cover; and a fill limiting vent valve attached to said internal port to vent the fuel tank through said vent port.
- 7. A cover assembly as set forth in claim 6 wherein said at least one convolute has a wall with a thickness less than a thickness of a wall of said internal port.
- 8. A cover assembly as set forth in claim 6 wherein said internal port includes a plurality of convolutes therein.
- 9. A cover assembly as set forth in claim 6 wherein said internal port comprises at least one projection extending radially outwardly from said free end.
- 10. A cover assembly as set forth in claim 9 wherein said fill limiting vent valve has at least one retention hook cooperating with said at least one projection to retain said fill limiting vent valve to said internal port.
- 11. A fuel tank assembly comprising:a fuel tank having an opening formed in a wall thereof; a fuel reservoir disposed within said fuel tank; a cover assembly operatively connected to said fuel reservoir to close said opening; and wherein said cover assembly comprises a cover closing the opening in the fuel tank, an internal port operatively supported by said cover, said internal port having a free end within the fuel tank and at least one convolute interposed between the free end and the cover; and a fill limiting vent valve attached to said free end of said internal port to vent the fuel tank through said cover to a vapor canister.
- 12. A fuel tank assembly as set forth in claim 11 wherein said at least one convolute has a wall with a thickness less than a thickness of a wall of said internal port.
- 13. A fuel tank assembly as set forth in claim 11 wherein said internal port includes a plurality of convolutes therein.
- 14. A fuel tank assembly as set forth in claim 11 wherein said internal port comprises at least one projection extending radially outwardly from said free end.
- 15. A fuel tank assembly as set forth in claim 14 wherein said fill limiting vent valve has at least one retention hook cooperating with said at least one projection to retain said fill limiting vent valve to said internal port.
US Referenced Citations (13)