Operating fluid reservoir having an integrated venting and/or air admission valve

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-2016201817-A1
Application number	US-201414910782-A
Country	US
Kind code	A1
Filing date	Jul 30, 2014
Priority date	Aug 9, 2013
Publication date	Jul 14, 2016
Grant date	—

Abstract

The present invention discloses an improved operating fluid reservoir ( 1 ) having a venting and/or air admission valve. The operating fluid reservoir ( 1 ) is characterized in that a valve housing ( 10 ) is formed integrally with an operating fluid reservoir wall ( 2 ). A vent opening ( 3 ), via which a valve housing interior ( 11 ) is in fluid communication with a vent line ( 5 ), is embodied as a through opening ( 3 ) through the operating fluid reservoir wall ( 2 ). A valve body ( 20 ), which is arranged in the valve housing interior ( 11 ), can be introduced into the valve housing interior ( 11 ) via an introduction opening ( 16 ) in the valve housing ( 10 ). The valve body ( 20 ) comprises a holding device ( 23; 14, 24 ), by means of which the valve body ( 20 ) is held movably in the valve housing ( 10 ).

First claim

1 - 10 . (canceled)

11 . Operating fluid reservoir having a venting and/or air admission valve, wherein the operating fluid reservoir has the following features:
the venting and/or air admission valve comprises a hollow valve housing fastened in the interior of the operating fluid reservoir; a valve housing interior is in fluid communication with a vent line via a vent opening; the valve housing interior is in fluid communication with the interior of the operating fluid reservoir via at least one ventilation opening; the venting and/or air admission valve comprises a valve body arranged in the valve housing interior; in the installed position of the operating fluid reservoir, the valve body is at a distance from the vent opening when an operating fluid level within the operating fluid reservoir is below a shutoff level, with the result that the valve body ( 20 ) is in an open position and the valve housing interior and the vent line are in fluid communication; and in the installed position of the operating fluid reservoir, the valve body is subject to a lift from the operating fluid in the valve housing interior such that the valve body is in a closed position and closes the vent opening when an operating fluid level within the operating fluid reservoir is above the shutoff level, with the result that the valve housing interior and the vent line are not in fluid communication via the vent opening; the valve housing is formed integrally with an operating fluid reservoir wall; the vent opening is embodied as a through opening through the operating fluid reservoir wall; the valve body can be introduced into the valve housing interior via an introduction opening in the valve housing,
characterized by the following features:
the valve body comprises a holding device, by means of which the valve body is held movably in the valve housing;
the holding device comprises a latching device, which can be passed through the vent opening into the vent line from the valve housing interior in a process involving elastic deformation of the latching device; and
the latching device situated in the vent opening engages behind the operating fluid reservoir wall surrounding the vent opening.

12 . Operating fluid reservoir according to claim 11 , characterized by the following features:
at least one latching opening projecting radially through the valve housing wall is provided in the valve housing; the holding device comprises at least one latching projection connected to the valve body and extending radially from the valve body; the valve body can be introduced into the valve housing interior via the introduction opening; and the latching projection can be latched into the latching opening in a process involving elastic deformation of the valve housing and/or of the valve body and/or of the latching projection.

13 . Operating fluid reservoir according to claim 11 , characterized in that the operating fluid reservoir comprises at least one bypass venting device, by means of which the valve housing interior and the vent line are in fluid communication with one another and/or can be put in fluid communication with one another.

14 . Operating fluid reservoir according to claim 13 , characterized in that the bypass venting device is designed as a bypass vent opening in the operating fluid reservoir wall, by means of which the valve housing interior is in fluid communication with the vent line, irrespective of the position of the valve body.

15 . Operating fluid reservoir according to claim 13 , characterized in that the bypass venting device comprises a bypass vent line connected to the valve housing and/or a bypass vent groove, wherein the valve housing interior is in fluid communication with the vent opening through the bypass vent line and/or the bypass vent groove in the closed position of the valve body.

16 . Operating fluid reservoir according to claim 13 , characterized in that the bypass venting device is designed as a recess in the operating fluid reservoir wall surrounding the vent opening, wherein the valve housing interior is in fluid communication with the vent opening through the recess in the closed position of the valve body.

17 . Operating fluid reservoir according to claim 1 , characterized in that the valve body is of hollow design and has a valve body interior.

18 . Operating fluid reservoir according to claim 17 , characterized in that at least one vent opening, via which the valve body interior is in fluid communication with the valve housing interior, is provided in the valve body.

19 . Method for producing an operating fluid reservoir according to claim 1 , comprising the following method steps:
injection moulding or deep drawing a first reservoir shell having an integrated valve housing, which surrounds a vent opening in the reservoir shell; removing the first reservoir shell from the mould; introducing a valve body into the valve housing via an introduction opening in the valve housing,
Wherein the method is characterized by the following method steps:
latching a holding device comprising a latching device of the valve body into a vent opening in the reservoir in a process involving elastic deformation of the latching device, so that the latching device situated in the vent opening engages behind the reservoir shell surrounding the vent opening; and
connecting the first reservoir shell to a second reservoir shell to form the operating fluid reservoir.

Assignees

• Kautex Textron Gmbh & Co Kg

Inventors

• Koukan Ibrahim
• Linsenboll Roland
• Maglovski Jaroslav

Classifications

• F16K24/044

  the float being rigidly connected to the valve element, the assembly of float and valve element following a substantially translational movement when actuated, e.g. also for actuating a pilot valve · CPC title

• B60K2015/03557

  comprising elements of the venting device integrated in the fuel tank, e.g. vapor recovery means · CPC title

• B29C2045/0093

  of articles provided with an attaching element · CPC title

• Y10T137/3099

  Float responsive · CPC title

• B60K2015/03289

  Float valves; Floats therefor · CPC title