Fuel cutoff valve

Abstract

A fuel cutoff valve comprises a casing and a float mechanism having a float and a seat portion. An upper vent hole is formed in the upper wall portion of the float, and a side portion communication hole is formed in the side wall portion. The passage area of the side portion communication hole is set so as to allow a large volume of vapors entering the float chamber to escape into the valve chamber. The passage area of the upper vent hole is set so that vapor entering the float chamber when the vehicle inclines escapes into the valve chamber, and the float chamber fills with fuel lifting the float, whereas when the vehicle turns sharply, the float is lifted without the float chamber filling with fuel.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a sectional view showing a fuel cutoff valve attached to the upper wall of a fuel tank of an automobile in an embodiment of the invention.

FIG. 2 is an exploded sectional view of the fuel cutoff valve.

FIG. 3 is an exploded perspective view of the float mechanism.

FIG. 4 shows operation of the fuel cutoff valve when large ascending vapor occurs.

FIG. 5 shows operation of the fuel cutoff valve with the vehicle in an inclined state.

FIG. 6 shows operation of the fuel cutoff valve during vehicle sway.

Claims

1. A fuel cutoff valve that is mounted on an upper wall of a fuel tank, and opens and closes a connection conduit to connect the fuel tank and outside, the fuel cutoff valve comprising: a casing forming a valve chamber for connecting the fuel tank interior with the connection conduit; anda float mechanism having (i) a float that is housed within the valve chamber and that rises and falls according to a fuel level within the valve chamber, and (ii) a seat portion disposed on an upper portion of the float, for opening and closing the connection conduit;wherein the float includes (i) an upper wall portion furnished with the seat portion, (ii) a side wall portion extending downwardly from a periphery of the upper wall portion, (iii) a float chamber that is formed with the upper wall portion and the side wall portion, and opens at a bottom of the float, (iv) an upper vent hole formed in the upper portion of the float for connecting the float chamber with the valve chamber, and (v) a side communicating hole formed in the side wall portion below the upper vent hole for connecting the float chamber with the valve chamber,wherein the upper vent hole is formed to have greater air flow resistance than the side communicating hole.

2. The fuel cutoff valve according to claim 1, wherein the side communicating hole has a first passage area, the first passage area being configured to allow vapor entering the float chamber to flow out the valve chamber for preventing the float from rising, andthe upper vent hole has a second passage area, the second passage area being configured to meet a first and second condition, whereinthe first condition is that when the fuel rises at a first rate of rise and blocks the side communicating hole, vapor flows from the float chamber to the valve chamber and the fuel fills the float chamber, causing the float to rise, andthe second condition is that when the fuel rises at a second rate of rise faster than the first rate of rise and blocks the side communicating hole, vapor keeps in float chamber and the fuel enters a lower part of the float chamber, causing the float to rise.

3. The fuel cutoff valve according to claim 1, wherein the connection conduit has a passage area that is smaller than that of the side communicating hole.

4. The fuel cutoff valve according to claim 1, wherein the casing comprises a bottom plate for closing a bottom opening of the valve chamber, and the bottom plate comprises basal communicating holes formed facing an lower end of the float and connecting the fuel tank with the valve chamber.

5. The fuel cutoff valve according to claim 1, wherein the float mechanism comprises a rubber seat member installed on an upper part of the float, the seat portion being formed on the upper face of the seat member.

6. The fuel cutoff valve according to claim 1, further comprising a spring that presses the float in an upward direction.