Abstract: A fuel tank fill tube assembly is disclosed for use with a conventional gasoline fill nozzle. The assembly includes a fill tube having a first tubular and cylindrical main body with a predetermined inside diameter. The fill tube further includes an enlarged diameter inlet portion joined at one end to one end of the main body. This inlet portion has a second predetermined diameter which is greater than the diameter of the main body. Both the main body and inlet portions are coaxial with each other. The inlet portion is dimensioned so that the gas fill nozzle is insertable through the inlet portion and, upon insertion, a free end of the gasoline fill nozzle is positioned within the interior of the main body. Additionally, the diameter of the main body is configured so that, upon fuel flow from the gasoline fill nozzle into the interior of the main body, a liquid seal is formed by the fuel flow from the gasoline fill nozzle within the main body.

Abstract: A spud assembly for use with a fuel tank having a body defining an interior chamber and having an outer periphery. The spud assembly includes a base attached to the outer periphery of the fuel tank and the base has a throughbore open to both the interior chamber of the tank as well as exteriorly of the tank. An elongated spud having an axial throughbore is movable relative to the base between a connected and an unconnected position. In its connected position, the spud is positioned through the base throughbore so that the spud fluidly connects the interior of the fuel tank to the spud. Additionally, when the spud is moved to its fully connected position, a locking finger on the base engages a lock abutment surface on the spud to secure the spud and base together. In an alternate embodiment, a locking ring is coaxially disposed over the spud and base when the spud is in its connected position.

Abstract: A fuel tank fill tube assembly is disclosed for use with a conventional gasoline fill nozzle. The assembly includes a fill tube having a first tubular and cylindrical main body with a predetermined inside diameter. The fill tube further includes an enlarged diameter inlet portion joined at one end to one end of the main body. This inlet portion has a second predetermined diameter which is greater than the diameter of the main body. Both the main body and inlet portions are coaxial with each other. The inlet portion is dimensioned so that the gas fill nozzle is insertable through the inlet portion and, upon insertion, a free end of the gasoline fill nozzle is positioned within the interior of the main body. Additionally, the diameter of the main body is configured so that, upon fuel flow from the gasoline fill nozzle into the interior of the main body, a liquid seal is formed by the fuel flow from the gasoline fill nozzle within the main body.

Abstract: A check valve assembly is disclosed for use with a fuel vapor recirculation tube in a fuel system for an automotive vehicle. The vapor recirculation tube has a lower end open to the fuel tank and an upper end open to the upper end of the fuel filler pipe. The check valve assembly includes a housing having a throughbore, and the housing is positioned within and fluidly in series with the recirculation tube adjacent the upper end of the recirculation tube. The housing includes a valve seat at its end closest to the filler pipe while a normally open valve is mounted to the housing and movable from an open position to a closed position in response to liquid fuel flow into the upper end of the recirculation tube.

Abstract: An automotive fuel tank fill assembly for a fuel tank is disclosed having a fuel fill tube with a first end adapted to receive fuel and a second end open to the fuel tank. The fill tube includes a spiral indentation formed around its first end so that the spiral indentation forms both an external and internal thread at the first end of the tube. An inlet valve housing containing a normally closed inlet valve has an external thread. This external thread is dimensioned to threadably engage the internal thread on the fill tube while a latch and detent mechanism locks the inlet valve housing to the fill tube at a predetermined rotational position. Similarly, a mount housing includes an internal thread which threadably engages the external thread on the fill tube. The mount housing includes a locking tab which engages the detent formed on the fill tube at a predetermined rotational position of the mount housing relative to the fill tube.