Background of the invention
[0002] The present invention relates to the installation of a valve in the interior
of a tank such as a float operated vent valve in the interior of a fuel tank, for
example, a motor vehicle fuel tank, where the valve serves the purpose of
controlling venting of fuel vapors from the tank.
[0003] In motor vehicle fuel tank systems, it is required to control the
emissions of fuel vapor from the tank, particularly during refueling. Currently,
production passenger car and light truck vehicles burning gasoline fuel have
vapor vent lines from the tank connected to a storage container such as a
canister filled with carbonaceous material for adsorption of the vapors during
periods of vehicle engine shutdown, and for subsequent purge during vehicle
engine operation.
[0004| Heretofore, fuel vapor vent valves for motor vehicle fuel tanks have
been installed in the upper wall of the tank through an access opening in the tank
provided for this purposes with a portion of the valve body or housing extending
exteriorly of the tank and a portion with the float and float operated valve therein
extending through the access opening into the interior of the tank.
[0005[ The access opening for a fuel tank vapor vent valve must necessarily
be at the highest point of the upper wall of the tank in order to be assured of
being in the vapor dome within the tank. Thus, the access opening required for
the vapor vent valve must be separately located from the access opening
provided for installation in the tank of the float operated fuel level transducer or
fuel level signal "sender" as such devices are often called. Such an arrangement
thus requires attaching and sealing of the valve body about the separate access
opening in the tank.
[0006] Currently many production motor vehicle tanks are formed of non-
metallic material, such as molded plastic, of a composition having desired
mechanical properties for robustness in service and mounting of the tank. This
presents the problem of permeation of the vapors through the plastic wall of the
tank where the material chosen for its mechanical properties is not impervious to
the fuel vapors. The problem of vapor permeation through the tank wall has
resulted in forming the tank with a barrier layer of relatively fuel impervious
material in the wall of the tank which is otherwise formed of different more
permeable material having the desired mechanical properties. This construction
has presented problems in providing a fuel impervious seal about the vent valve
body and the tank wall when a separate access opening for a vent valve is cut in
the vapor barrier layer.
[0007] It has proven to be prohibitively costly and troublesome to attach the
valve body to the tank wall by separate fasteners disposed about a sealing
member for sealing about the separate access opening. Heretofore, in order to
eliminate the costly use of separate fasteners, portions of the valve body have
been formed of plastic material weldable to the tank wall material by any suitable
weldment technique, as, for example, hot plate welding or spin welding.
[0008] However it has been found that the access opening in the vapor barrier
layer of the tank wall provides a path for vapors to penetrate the more permeable
material of the valve and tank wall and escape to the atmosphere.
[0009] The foregoing expediencies employed for providing a separate access
opening in the tank for mounting a fuel vapor vent valve in the tank have proven
to be difficult and quite costly during the manufacture and assembly of the tank
prior to installation on the motor vehicle.
[0010] It has thus been desired to provide a way or means of installing the
valve on the interior of the tank without separate fasteners or weldment and in a
manner which maintains the integrity of the fuel vapor impervious barrier layer in
the tank wall and eliminates the need for a separate access opening in the tank
wall for installation of the valve.
BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[00111 The present invention provides a technique for mounting a valve on the
interior of a tank wall without the need for a separate access opening through the
tank wall and without the need for fasteners or weldment. The invention relates
particularly to mounting of a vapor vent valve on the interior of the upper wall of a
fuel tank without the need for a separate access opening for the vapor vent valve
and thus breaking of the fuel vapor barrier layer provided in a non-metallic tank
wall.
[0012j The present invention provides a deflectable mounting member
extending from a mounting portion the valve body which member is deflected
when inserted in an interiorly formed recess in the tank wall. The periphery of
the deflectable member frictionally engages the recess to retain the valve therein.
A guide member is provided on the mounting portion, spaced from the
deflectable member, and likewise extending outwardly from the mounting portion
of the valve body and the guide member enters into the recess upon insertion of
the deflectable member. The guide member contacts the inner surface of the
recess and prevents lateral movement of the deflectable member so as to
prevent removal of the deflectable member from its engagement with the recess.
In the preferred embodiment, the deflectable member comprises a relatively thin
disc having voids therein and preferably the voids comprise radially extending
slots which form deflectable finger-like portions therebetween. In the preferred
embodiment, the guide member also has a relatively thin disc-like configuration
but slides freely into the mounting recess. The present invention thus enables
the valve body mounting portion, deflectable member and guide to be formed in
a one-piece construction, preferably by molding of plastic material.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE/DRAWINGS *
[00131 FIG. 1 is an elevation view of a valve employing the mounting provision
of the present invention;
[0014] FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the valve assembly of FIG. 1; and,
[00.15] FIG. 3 is a section view taken through the wall of a fuel tank with the
invention mounting portion of a valve assembly installed therein.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
[0016] Referring to FIGS. 1 and 2, the valve assembly is indicated generally
at 10 and includes a valve body or housing indicated generally at 12 having a
lower portion 14 containing a float assembly 16 and an upper portion 18 secured
to the lower portion; and, with upper portion 18 having an outlet fitting 20 which
has formed therein an outlet port 22, The function and operation of the float
operated valve within the housing 12 for controlling vapor flow to the outlet port
22 is well known in the art and the description thereof has been omitted for the
sake of brevity.
[0017) The valve housing upper portion 18 provided therewith and has
extending upwardly therefrom a mounting portion 24 which preferably has an
elongated rod-like configuration. The mounting portion 24 has provided at the
upper end thereof a resiliency deflectable member outstanding therefrom,
denoted by reference numeral 26, which member 26 preferably has a relatively
thinkdisc-like configuration with voids 28 formed therein providing resiliently
deflectable portions between the voids. In the presently preferred practice, the
deflectable member 26 has the voids configured in the form of radially outwardly
extending slots as shown in FIG. 2. The outer periphery of the disc 26 is
chamfered to provide a relatively sharp edge; and, in the preferred practice is
chamfered on both sides as denoted by reference numeral 30, the purpose of
which will be described hereinafter in greater detail.
[0018[ A guide member 32 is disposed along mounting portion 24 and
outstanding therefrom in spaced arrangement with the deflectable member 26;
and, guide member 32, in the presently preferred practice, has a relatively thin
disc configuration as shown in the drawings. In the present practice of the
invention the mounting portion 24, deflectable member 26 and guide member 32
are preferably formed integrally as a one-piece member and preferably by
molding of a suitable resinous or plastic material. It will be understood however
that the mounting portion 24, may be formed separately from the valve body 12,
as may also members 26 and 32.
[0019] Referring to FIG. 3, a portion of the upper wall of a fuel tank 34 is
shown as having a raised or inverted cup-shaped portion 36 which has the inner
periphery 38 thereof formed to provide a recess 37 for mounting valve assembly
10.
[0020] The outer periphery of the deflectable member 26 is sized so as to
provide a slight interference fit with the inner periphery 38 of the recess 37 in the
upper tank wall. In the present practice of the invention, the outer periphery of
the guide member 32 is formed to provide a closely fitting but free-sliding fit
within the inner periphery 38 of the base portion of the upper tank wall. However,
alternatively the guide member 32 could be formed similar to the deflectable
member 26 and both could be deflectable. However, an alternative arrangement
would require a greater installation force.
[0021] It will be understood with reference to FIG. 3 that, upon installation, as
the deflectable member 26 is inserted into the recess 38, the outstanding
portions of the member 26 are deflected into an umbrella-like configuration as
illustrated in FIG. 3 with the sharp peripheral edge thereof, formed by chamfers
30, frictionally engaging recess wall 38 prevent removal thereof. The guide
member 32 slidably contacts the inner wall of the recess 38 for preventing lateral
movement of the mounting portion 24 once the valve is installed in the recess 38.
[0022] The present invention thus provides a unique and novel technique for
installing a valve in the inner wall of a tank and particularly a vapor vent valve in
the upper wall of a fuel tank without the need for a separate access opening in
the tank wall, fasteners or weldment.
[0023] Although the invention has hereinabove been described with respect to
the illustrated embodiments, it will be understood that the invention is capable of
modification and variation and is limited only by the following claims.
WE CLAIM
1. A method of installing a valve assembly (10) in a tank (34), the valve
assembly (10) having a lower portion (14) and an upper portion (18), the
method comprising the steps of:
a. providing a rod-shaped member (24) on the upper portion (18) the valve
(10) extending upwardly therefrom;
b. disposing a resiliency deflectable member (26) on a top-end of the rod-
shaped member(24), and disposing a guide member (32) longitudinally
downwardly spaced apart from the deflectable member (26);
c. forming a recess (37) in an inner surface (38) of the wall of the tank (34),
said deflectable member (26) being configured for an interference fit in
said recess (37);
d. engaging the periphery of said deflectable member (26) with the inner
surface of the recess (37) and inserting and deflecting said deflectable
member (26) in said recess (37) and
e. inserting said guide member (32) in said recess (37).
2. The method as claimed in claim 1, wherein said step of forming the recess
(37) comprises molding a recess having a cylindrically configured inner wall.
3. The method as claimed in claim 1, wherein said step of forming the resiliency
deflectable member (26) comprises forming a relatively thin disc.
4. The method as claimed in claim 1, wherein said step of forming a resiliency
deflectable member comprises forming a relatively thin disc having a plurality
of circumferentially spaced voids (28) therein.
5. The method as claimed in claim 4, wherein said step of forming a disc with
voids comprises forming a plurality of radially extending slots.
6. The method as claimed in claim 1, wherein said step of forming said guide
member (32) comprises sizing the periphery thereof for a free sliding fit in
said recess.
7. The method as claimed in claim 1, wherein said step of forming the
deflectable member (26) and forming the guide member (32) comprise
integrally molding a one piece member.
8. The method as claimed in claim 1, wherein said step of forming the
deflectable member comprises forming a relatively thin disc.
9. A valve assembly (10) for installation in a tank (34) comprising:
a. a valve housing (12) having an outlet (20) and a valve (16) for controlling
flow to the outlet (20);
b. a rod-shaped member (24) disposed on one end of the housing (12), and
having thereon a resiiiently deflectable member (26) adapted for insertion
and engagement with a recess (37) in an inner surface (38) of the wall of
the tank (34); and,
c. a guide member (32)spaced apart from the rod-shaped member (24) and
disposed in spaced apart relationship with the deflectable member (26).
10.The assembly as claimed in claim 9, wherein said deflectable member (26)
comprises a periphery configured for an interference fit in a recess (37) of the
tank (34).
11.The assembly as claimed in claim 9, wherein said deflectable member (26)
comprises a relatively thin disc.
12.The assembly as claimed in claim 11, wherein said disc comprises a plurality
of circumferentially spaced voids (28).
13.The assembly as claimed in claim 12, wherein said voids (28) comprise
radially extending slots.
14.The assembly as claimed in claim 9, wherein said rod-shaped member (24),
deflectable member (26) and said guide member (32) are formed integrally
as one piece.
15.The assembly as claimed in claim 14, wherein said one piece is formed by
molding.

This invention relates to a fuel tank (34) has a recess (37) formed on the inner
surface (38) of the upper wall. A vent valve (10) has a mounting portion (24)
extending therefrom with a resiliently deflectable disc (26) formed thereon and a
guide disc spaced from the deflectable disc (32). Upon insertion into the recess
the deflectable disc (26) is deflected and the pheriphery thereof frictionally
engages the inner surface (38) of the tank wall recess (37). The guide member
(32) slidably fits into the recess (37) to prevent lateral movement of the
mounting portion and removal from the recess (37).