System and method for vibration resistant rollover valve

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-10041456-B2
Application number	US-201715612154-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Jun 2, 2017
Priority date	Jun 28, 2016
Publication date	Aug 7, 2018
Grant date	Aug 7, 2018

Abstract

A system includes a fuel delivery system of an engine, the fuel delivery system including a vent tube, walls providing a seat and forming a cavity at an opening of the vent tube, a floor of the cavity, the floor including a convex portion protruding from the floor, and a stopper in the cavity for sitting in the seat during a rollover situation.

First claim

The invention claimed is:

1. A system, comprising:
a reservoir chamber;
a vent tube to vent gases from the reservoir chamber;
walls between the reservoir chamber and the vent tube, the walls providing a seat and forming a cavity at an opening of the vent tube;
a floor of the cavity, the floor including a convex portion protruding from the floor; and
a stopper positioned in the cavity for sitting in the seat during a rollover situation.

2. The system of claim 1 , wherein the walls are angled away from the seat at an angle between 30 degrees and 50 degrees.

3. The system of claim 1 , wherein the convex portion is positioned in a center of the floor.

4. The system of claim 1 , wherein a shape of the convex portion includes a dimple.

5. The system of claim 1 , wherein the walls are straight.

6. The system of claim 1 , wherein the walls are curved.

7. The system of claim 1 , wherein the floor comprises a cup sitting within the cavity.

8. The system of claim 7 , wherein the cup sits within spaced legs forming alternatively spaced flow path openings.

9. The system of claim 1 , wherein the stopper comprises a ball.

10. A fuel delivery system of an engine, comprising:
a cavity formed between a reservoir chamber and a vent tube, the cavity forming a seat at an entrance of the vent tube;
a stopper positioned in the cavity for sitting in the seat during a rollover situation; and
a floor of the cavity, the floor including a convex portion protruding from the floor to prevent the stopper from sitting in the seat during normal operation.

11. The fuel delivery system of claim 10 , wherein the stopper comprises a ball.

12. The fuel delivery system of claim 10 , wherein the convex portion comprises a dimple.

13. The fuel delivery system of claim 12 , wherein the dimple comprises a round shape.

14. A method, comprising:
providing a reservoir chamber for a fuel delivery system of an engine and a vent tube to vent the reservoir chamber;
allowing the vent tube to vent fuel vapors out of the reservoir chamber during normal operation;
blocking the vent tube with a stopper during a rollover situation to prevent fuel from flowing out of the reservoir chamber via the vent tube; and
providing a cavity with a floor having a dimple below the vent tube, the dimple to prevent the stopper from blocking the vent tube during normal operation.

15. The method of claim 14 , further comprising the stopper unblocking the vent tube when the engine is back in a normal position.

Assignees

• Kohler Co

Inventors

• Radue Martin L
• Koenigs William D

Classifications

• F16K17/366

  the closure member being a movable ball (F16K17/38 takes precedence) · CPC title

• Y10T137/0874

  Vent opening or closing on tipping container · CPC title

• F02M37/20

  characterised by means for preventing vapour lock · CPC title

• F02M37/007

  characterised by its use in vehicles, in stationary plants or in small engines, e.g. hand held tools · CPC title

• F02M37/0023 Primary

  Valves in the fuel supply and return system · CPC title