Abstract: A vapor handling system is provided to control fuel vapor in a vehicle fuel system to prevent the fuel vapor from escaping to the atmosphere during filling of the vehicle fuel tank. An on-board vacuum-actuated system is included for preventing overfilling of the tank by automatically triggering shut-off of fuel flow from a fuel-dispensing nozzle when the fuel tank is full. A control valve system is also included for protecting the canister from exposure to liquid fuel during an overfill condition which may be caused by a malfunction of a fuel-dispensing nozzle.

Abstract: A flow-metering valve assembly is provided for vehicle fuel tanks. The assembly includes a valve housing having an interior wall configured to define a chamber having an inlet and an exhaust outlet. The interior wall provides a first flow-metering surface situated in close proximity to the outlet. A spring-biased pressure-relief element is situated in the chamber and includes a valve member having an inner surface confronting the inlet and an upstanding skirt attached to the valve member. The skirt has a distal portion extending in an outward direction toward the outlet means to provide a second flow-metering surface. The first and second surfaces cooperate to define a variable flow-metering orifice therebetween.

Abstract: A fuel vapor recovery system of a motor vehicle is disclosed including a valve. The valve is situated between a fuel tank and a conduit leading from the fuel tank to a canister. The valve includes a chamber having a first opening to the fuel tank and a second opening to the conduit. The valve also includes a ball for closing the first opening, the ball having a mass selected to effect a first closing pressure on the first opening when the vehicle is stationary. The size of the ball is selected relative to the chamber to permit movement within the chamber to effect a second closing pressure less than the first closing pressure when the vehicle is subjected to vibration. The first closing pressure is selected to produce a predetermined head pressure in the fuel tank during introduction of fuel into the fuel tank which effectively blocks the introduction of fuel in excess of a predetermined maximum fuel capacity, thereby preventing overfilling of the fuel tank.

Abstract: A flow-metering valve assembly is provided for vehicle fuel tanks. The assembly includes a valve housing having an interior wall configured to define a chamber having an inlet and an exhaust outlet. The interior wall provides a first flow-metering surface situated in close proximity to the outlet. A spring-biased pressure-relief element is situated in the chamber and includes a valve member having an inner surface confronting the inlet and an upstanding skirt attached to the valve member. The skirt has a distal portion extending in an outward direction toward the outlet means to provide a second flow-metering surface. The first and second surfaces cooperate to define a variable flow-metering orifice therebetween.

Abstract: A roll-over valve is provided for use in a vehicle fuel system having an outlet for discharging fuel vapor. The roll-over valve includes a hollow valve member that terminates in a distal tip. A roll-over ball is provided for moving the distal tip from an outlet-opening position to an outlet-closing position in response to tilting of the hollow valve member during vehicle rollover conditions. Weighted members in the form of weighted balls are disposed within the hollow valve member to counteract the lifting force that may be imposed upon the hollow valve member by the formation of a low pressure area over the distal tip due to high flow rates of vapor over the tip. The weighted balls aid in preventing the valve member from being urged upwardly to prematurely seal the outlet. The hollow valve member is formed to include a sealed chamber so that a buoyant force is created when fuel enters the valve.

Abstract: A flow-metering valve assembly is provided for vehicle fuel tanks. The assembly includes a valve housing having an interior wall configured to define a chamber having an inlet and an exhaust outlet. The interior wall provides a first flow-metering surface situated in close proximity to the outlet. A spring-biased pressure-relief element is situated in the chamber and includes a valve member having an inner surface confronting the inlet and an upstanding skirt attached to the valve member. The skirt has a distal portion extending in an outward direction toward the outlet means to provide a second flow-metering surface. The first and second surfaces cooperate to define a variable flow-metering orifice therebetween.

Abstract: A roll-over valve is provided for use in a vehicle fuel system having an outlet for discharging fuel vapor. The roll-over valve includes a hollow valve member that terminates in a distal tip and includes a side wall. The distal tip is formed to include a top aperture and the side wall is formed to include at least one side aperture. The top aperture and side aperture cooperate to prevent the formation of a low pressure area that might otherwise be formed over the distal tip to prevent the hollow valve member from prematurely sealing the outlet. A roll-over ball is provided for moving the distal tip from an outlet-opening position to an outlet-closing position in response to tilting of the hollow valve member during vehicle roll-over conditions. A ball is provided in the hollow valve member for closing the top aperture during a selected first range of tilting positions of the hollow valve member.

Abstract: An improved roll-over valve includes a hollow valve housing, a valve member in the valve housing, and a base for retaining the valve member in the valve housing. A ball is provided for moving the valve member within the valve housing. The valve member is positioned within the hollow valve housing for movement generally along a longitudinal axis between an outlet-opening and -closing position. The valve member includes a ball-receiving cup configured to define a first inclined ramp portion. The base retains the valve member within the housing and includes a second inclined ramp portion. The base is coupled to the valve housing the present the first and second inclined ramp portions in opposing spaced-apart relation to define a ball-receiving space therebetween. The ball is positioned in the ball-receiving space in substantially camming relation to each of the opposing first and second inclined ramp portions.

Abstract: An in-line fuel reservoir for a high pressure fuel metering system having a high pressure pump for pumping fuel to an engine and a low pressure pump for pumping fuel from a fuel tank to the high pressure pump. The fuel reservoir has a fuel supply chamber, a fuel supply inlet to the fuel supply chamber which is coupled to the low-pressure pump, a fuel supply outlet from the fuel supply chamber which is coupled to the high pressure pump, a fuel return inlet coupled to the engine, a fuel return outlet coupled to the fuel tank, a first fuel opening between the fuel return inlet and the fuel supply chamber, a second fuel opening between the fuel return inlet and the fuel return outlet and a valve assembly for controlling the flow of fuel through the first and second fuel openings to direct returned fuel to the fuel supply chamber and the fuel tank. The full reservoir may also include a vent opening between the fuel supply chamber and the fuel return outlet to vent vapor and fuel from the fuel supply chamber.

Abstract: A fuel-processing assembly for a fuel system has a housing, a fuel-entry port and a fuel-exit port, and a passageway within the housing through which fuel can flow from the entry port to the exit port. A heater is provided for heating the fuel. A spring is coiled around the heater to cause the fuel to flow spirally around the heater to induce turbulence into the flow of fuel and promote contact between fuel and the heater. A separator is provided for separating fuel from water entrained in the fuel. A by-pass aperture adjacent the separator allows fuel to flow around the separator if the flow of fuel through the separator becomes impeded.