Support arm assembly

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9789761-B2
Application number	US-201214238764-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Aug 17, 2012
Priority date	Aug 17, 2011
Publication date	Oct 17, 2017
Grant date	Oct 17, 2017

Abstract

The present invention relates to a support arm assembly ( 39 ) for mounting in a fuel tank ( 1 ). The support arm assembly ( 39 ) comprises an arm ( 43 ) having a connector ( 51 ) for mounting the support arm assembly ( 39 ). A fuel fill limiter is mounted on the arm ( 43 ). The support arm assembly ( 43 ) can be installed in a fuel tank ( 1 ) through an access aperture (A) and mounted within the fuel tank ( 1 ). The present invention also relates to a fuel tank ( 1 ) in combination with the support arm assembly ( 43 ).

First claim

The invention claimed is:

1. A support arm assembly for mounting in a fuel tank, the support arm assembly comprising:
an arm having a connector for mounting the support arm assembly;
a fuel fill limiter mounted on the arm;
a biasing member that spring biases the support arm assembly to unattachably abut a roof of the fuel tank; and
wherein the support arm assembly is shaped so that when the support arm assembly is mounted in the fuel tank, the support arm assembly extends from a first chamber of the fuel tank, over a saddle arch of the fuel tank, into a second chamber of the fuel tank.

2. A support arm assembly as claimed in claim 1 comprising a fuel transfer tube for connection to a fuel pump.

3. A support arm assembly as claimed in claim 2 , comprising:
a fuel level sender unit having a sender arm float, wherein the fuel level sender unit is mounted on the arm; and
a guide member connected to a distal end of the fuel transfer tube, wherein the guide member biases the fuel transfer tube away from the sender arm float.

4. A support arm assembly as claimed in claim 1 , wherein said fuel fill limiter comprises a fuel fill limit vent valve.

5. A support arm assembly as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the fuel fill limiter comprises a hollow member in fluid communication with a breather vent, an opening being provided in said hollow member to place the breather vent in fluid communication with an interior of the fuel tank.

6. A support arm assembly as claimed in claim 5 , wherein said opening is formed in a lower region of the hollow member, or in a base of the hollow member.

7. A support arm assembly as claimed in claim 5 , wherein the hollow member is a tubular member, the tubular member extending substantially vertically within the fuel tank, in use.

8. A support arm assembly as claimed in claim 1 comprising a roll over vent valve mounted on the arm.

9. A support arm assembly as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the support arm assembly is generally U-shaped and has a fixed geometry.

10. A support arm assembly as claimed in claim 1 further comprising a fuel level sender unit having a sender arm float, wherein the fuel level sender unit is mounted on the arm.

11. A support arm assembly as claimed in claim 1 , wherein at least one breather port is provided on the arm.

12. A support arm assembly as claimed in claim 11 comprising a breather conduit connected to the breather port; wherein, in use, the support arm assembly supports the breather conduit in a substantially horizontal position.

13. A support arm assembly as claimed in claim 1 , wherein a chamber is formed in said connector for collecting debris.

14. A support arm assembly as claimed in claim 1 further comprising a locking device for securing the support arm assembly in position.

15. A support arm assembly as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the biasing member is configured to abut the fuel tank.

16. A support arm assembly as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the biasing member comprises a support foot that has one end supported on an inside surface of the fuel tank and a second end engaging the support arm assembly.

17. A support arm assembly as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the support arm assembly is moveable relative to the roof of the fuel tank while the support arm assembly is in a position wherein at least a portion of the support arm assembly abuts the roof of the fuel tank.

18. A support arm assembly as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the support arm assembly is mounted in the fuel tank, using the connector, at a first location in the first chamber, the first location being on a sidewall of the saddle arch in the first chamber and is opposite an opening in the fuel tank;
wherein the biasing member abuts the fuel tank at a second location, the second location being on a sidewall of the saddle arch in the second chamber; and
wherein the support arm assembly abuts the roof of the fuel tank at a third location, separated from the saddle arch.

19. A fuel tank assembly, comprising
a fuel tank comprising a first chamber, a second chamber and a saddle arch between the first chamber and the second chamber;
a support arm assembly mounted in the fuel tank, the support arm assembly comprising:
an arm having a connector for mounting the support arm assembly;
a fuel fill limiter mounted on the arm;
a biasing member that spring biases the support arm assembly to unattachably abut against a roof of the fuel tank;
wherein the support arm assembly is shaped to extend from the first chamber, over the saddle arch, into the second chamber.

20. The fuel tank assembly of claim 19 , wherein the biasing member comprises a resilient support foot that has one end supported on an inside surface of the fuel tank and a second end engaging the support arm assembly.

21. A vehicle, comprising:
a fuel tank comprising a first chamber, a second chamber and a saddle arch between the first chamber and the second chamber; and
a support arm assembly in the fuel tank, the support arm assembly including:
an arm having a connector for mounting the support arm assembly in the fuel tank;
a fuel limiter supported on the arm;
a biasing member that biases the support arm assembly to unattachably abut an upper surface of the fuel tank;
wherein the support arm assembly is shaped to extend from the first chamber, over the saddle arch, into the second chamber.

22. The vehicle of claim 21 , wherein the biasing member comprises a resilient support foot that has one end supported on an inside surface of the fuel tank and a second end engaging the support arm assembly.

Assignees

• Thirlaway George
• Checkley Steve
• Grant Adam
• Jaguar Land Rover Ltd

Inventors

• Thirlaway George
• Checkley Steve
• Grant Adam

Classifications

• Y10T137/86348

  Tank with internally extending flow guide, pipe or conduit · CPC title

• B60K15/03 Primary

  Fuel tanks · CPC title

• Y10T137/8807

  Articulated or swinging flow conduit · CPC title

• B60K15/077 Primary

  with means modifying or controlling distribution or motion of fuel, e.g. to prevent noise, surge, splash or fuel starvation · CPC title

• B60K15/03519 Primary

  Valve arrangements in the vent line · CPC title