IP Library Granted Patent US 10,663,069
Granted Patent B2
US 10,663,069 · App. 16/194,620 · Granted May 26, 2020

Fuel cap with duck bill valve

Inventors: Gary Stenz (Mt. Calvary, WI); Mark Huibregtse (Elkhart Lake, WI); Brian Hartwig (New Holstein, WI)
Assignee: Kohler Co.
F16K15/147B60K15/05
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 10,663,069
App. No.
16/194,620
Granted
May 26, 2020
Kind
B2
Abstract

A valve member provides for the flow of vapors from a fuel tank of an internal combustion engine to escape the fuel tank. The valve member may include a valve and a boss or spacer. The valve is configured to selectively control the flow of vapor from the fuel tank. The boss or spacer is positioned in a predetermined relationship to the valve, and the boss or spacer prevents a deformation of the valve from disrupting the selectively controlled flow of vapor from the fuel tank.

Claims (34)

1. A valve member comprising:

a first valve configured to selectively control a flow of vapor from a fuel tank; and

a boss positioned in a predetermined relationship to the first valve,

wherein the boss prevents a deformation of the first valve from disrupting the selectively controlled flow of vapor from the fuel tank,

a second valve configured to selectively control a flow air into the fuel tank, wherein the boss is a ring outside of a width of the second valve.

2. The valve member of claim 1 , wherein the boss is spaced from the first valve in a direction of a circumference of the valve member.

3. The valve member of claim 1 , wherein the boss is spaced from the first valve in a direction of the center of the valve member.

4. The valve member of claim 1 , wherein the boss is a ring inside of a width of the second valve.

5. The fuel cap of claim 1 , wherein the valve, if deformed, disrupts the selectively controlled escape of vapor from the fuel tank.

6. The fuel cap of claim 1 , further comprising:

a tether configured to anchor the fuel cap to the fuel tank or an engine including the fuel tank.

7. A fuel cap comprising:

an evaporative emission reduction device configured to reduce escape of vapors from a fuel tank;

a valve configured to selectively control the escape of vapors from the fuel tank;

a spacer positioned in a predetermined relationship to the valve, wherein the spacer prevents deformation in the valve; and

a valve retainer configured to support the valve and align the valve with the evaporative emission reduction device.

8. The fuel cap of claim 7 , further comprising:

a valve member shaped in a disc and comprising the valve.

9. The fuel cap of claim 8 , wherein the spacer is between the valve and an outer circumference of the valve member.

10. The fuel cap of claim 8 , wherein the spacer is between an outer circumference of the valve member and a center of the valve member.

11. The fuel cap of claim 10 , wherein the spacer includes a first ring outside of the valve in a direction of an outer circumference of the valve member.

12. The fuel cap of claim 11 , wherein the spacer includes a second ring that overlaps the valve.

13. The fuel cap of claim 8 , wherein the valve is a first valve, and the valve member includes a second valve configured to selectively control a flow air into the fuel tank.

14. The fuel cap of claim 7 , wherein the evaporative emission reduction device is an adsorption filter configured to adsorb vapors from the fuel tank.

15. A method of manufacturing a fuel cap including an evaporative emission reduction device and a valve, the method comprising:

providing an evaporative emission reduction device to a fuel cap;

mounting a deformation prevention member on a valve member;

aligning the valve member to the evaporative emission reduction device with a valve retainer; and

securing the deformation prevention member, the valve retainer, and the evaporative emission reduction device to the fuel cap with a retainer sleeve.

16. The method of manufacturing the fuel cap of claim 15 , further comprising:

anchoring the fuel cap to a fuel tank or an engine with a tether.

17. The method of manufacturing the fuel cap of claim 15 , wherein mounting the deformation prevention member on the valve member comprises:

mounting a first deformation prevention member on the valve member; and

mounting a first deformation prevention member on the valve member.

Assignments (4)
PATENT SECURITY AGREEMENT (ABL) Recorded May 3, 2024
From: CURTIS INSTRUMENTS, INC.; DISCOVERY ENERGY, LLC; HEILA TECHNOLOGIES, INC.
To: BANK OF AMERICA, N.A., AS COLLATERAL AGENT
Reel/Frame 067306/0903 →
PATENT SECURITY AGREEMENT (TERM) Recorded May 2, 2024
From: CURTIS INSTRUMENTS, INC.; DISCOVERY ENERGY, LLC; HEILA TECHNOLOGIES, INC.
To: BANK OF AMERICA, N.A, AS COLLATERAL AGENT
Reel/Frame 067290/0853 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded May 1, 2024
From: KOHLER CO.
To: DISCOVERY ENERGY, LLC
Reel/Frame 067289/0516 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Nov 29, 2018
From: STENZ, GARY; HUIBREGSTE, MARK; HARTWIG, BRIAN
To: KOHLER CO.
Reel/Frame 047623/0792 →