Pleated tank vent

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-10639579-B2
Application number	US-201515516279-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Oct 1, 2015
Priority date	Oct 1, 2014
Publication date	May 5, 2020
Grant date	May 5, 2020

Abstract

The technology disclosed herein relates to a tank vent having a housing and a pleated, vapor-permeable microporous membrane. The housing defines a first vapor passageway configured for direct communication with a tank interior and a second vapor passageway configured for direct communication with the atmosphere. The housing also defines a tank mounting surface is mountable to a tank housing and a media mounting surface. The microporous membrane is sealed to the media mounting surface and defines a tubular structure such that the first vapor passageway and the second vapor passageway are in communication through the microporous membrane. Other embodiments including methods are also disclosed.

First claim

The invention claimed is:

1. A urea tank vent comprising:
a housing defining
a first vapor passageway configured for direct communication with a tank interior,
a second vapor passageway configured for direct communication with the atmosphere,
a tank mounting surface mountable to a tank housing,
a media mounting surface;
a vapor-permeable pleated microporous membrane sealed to the media mounting surface, the microporous membrane defining structure having a depth defined between a first end and a second end, wherein the pleats extend along the depth such that pleat folds define the first end and the second end and wherein the first vapor passageway and the second vapor passageway are in communication through the microporous membrane, wherein the microporous membrane defines a tubular structure defining the depth; and
a first endcap defining the media mounting surface, wherein the first endcap comprises an inner circumferential flange abutting an inner circumference of the microporous membrane.

2. The tank vent of claim 1 , wherein the tank mounting surface is weldable to the tank.

3. The tank vent of claim 1 , wherein the tank mounting surface defines a threaded stem that is configured to be received by an opening defined in the tank housing.

4. The tank vent of claim 1 , wherein the tank mounting surface defines a press-fit coupling that is configured to receive an opening defined in the tank housing.

5. The tank vent of claim 1 , wherein the microporous membrane comprises PTFE having an oleophobic treatment.

6. The tank vent of claim 1 , the housing further comprising a gravity-enabled run-off surface partially defining the first vapor passageway, wherein the run-off surface is configured to incline towards the tank interior and away from the microporous membrane.

7. The tank vent of claim 6 , wherein run-off surface is substantially concentric to the microporous membrane.

8. The tank vent of claim 1 , further comprising a media splash guard coupled to the housing, wherein the splash guard at least partially defines the first vapor passageway.

9. The tank vent of claim 1 , wherein the microporous membrane comprises PTFE coupled to a scrim layer.

10. The tank vent of claim 1 , wherein the tank housing is a urea tank.

Assignees

• Donaldson Co Inc

Inventors

• Nelson Robert O
• Dotzler Daniel
• De Leeuw Thomas P J

Classifications

• B60K15/035

  characterised by venting means · CPC title

• B01D46/543 Primary

  using membranes · CPC title

• B01D46/001

  Means for connecting filter housings to supports · CPC title

• B01D2265/04

  Permanent measures for connecting different parts of the filter, e.g. welding, glueing or moulding · CPC title

• B01D46/521

  using folded, pleated material · CPC title