Fuel tank valve apparatus

Abstract

A fuel tank valve apparatus for use with a fuel tank. The fuel tank apparatus has an inlet neck defining a valve chamber, a valve housing positioned in the valve chamber, a valve positioned to move within the valve housing to regulate flow of liquid fuel into the fuel tank, and a retainer. The inlet neck is attachable to the fuel tank. The valve housing is retained in the inlet neck for communicating with the fuel tank. Connecting the inlet neck to the fuel tank maintains the integrity of the tank and inlet neck material.

1 . A fuel tank valve apparatus comprising: 
 a fuel tank including a wall and an inlet neck extending from said wall, said inlet neck having an inner end appended to said wall and an outer end arranged to define a rim, said inlet neck defining a valve chamber having an inlet opening defined by said rim and an outlet opening communicating with the interior volume of said fuel tank;    a valve housing positioned at least partially in said valve chamber;    a valve positioned in said valve housing to regulate flow of liquid fuel into said fuel tank through a filler neck coupled to said inlet neck; and    a retainer coupled to said valve housing and arranged to engage said inlet neck to retain said valve housing in a fixed position in said valve chamber so that said valve housing is retained proximate to said fuel tank.    
     
     
         2 . The apparatus of    claim 1   , wherein said retainer includes an outwardly extending projection coupled to said housing and engaged with said inlet neck.  
     
     
         3 . The apparatus of    claim 2   , wherein said inlet neck is overmolded over said retainer.  
     
     
         4 . The apparatus of    claim 1   , wherein said retainer includes at least one annular, radially outwardly extending lip coupled to said housing and attached to said inlet neck.  
     
     
         5 . The apparatus of    claim 4   , wherein said retainer includes multiple axially spaced apart, annular, radially outwardly extending lips coupled to said housing and attached to said inlet neck.  
     
     
         6 . The apparatus of    claim 1   , wherein said retainer includes a sealing lip formed to contact a jumper hose placed over said inlet neck.  
     
     
         7 . A fuel tank valve apparatus for installation on a fuel tank, said fuel tank valve apparatus comprising: 
 an inlet neck defining a valve chamber having an inlet opening defined by an open end of said inlet neck, said inlet neck being attachable to said fuel tank;    a valve housing formed for at least partially being disposed in said valve chamber;    a valve retained in communication with said valve housing; and    a retainer for coupling said valve housing with said inlet neck to retain said valve housing in a fixed position in said valve chamber to position said valve relative to said fuel tank.    
     
     
         8 . The apparatus of    claim 7   , wherein said retainer includes an outwardly extending projection coupled to said housing and engaged with said inlet neck.  
     
     
         9 . The apparatus of    claim 8    wherein said inlet neck is overmolded over said outwardly extending projection.  
     
     
         10 . The apparatus of    claim 7   , wherein said retainer includes at least one annular, radially outwardly extending lip coupled to said housing and attached to said inlet neck.  
     
     
         11 . The apparatus of    claim 10   , wherein said retainer includes multiple axially spaced apart, annular, radially outwardly extending lips coupled to said housing and attached to said inlet neck.  
     
     
         12 . The apparatus of    claim 7   , wherein said retainer includes a sealing lip formed to contact a jumper hose placed over said inlet neck.  
     
     
         13 . A non-permeable fuel tank attachment for installation on a fuel tank, said non-permeable fuel tank attachment comprising: 
 an inlet neck defining a chamber having an inlet opening defined by an open end of said inlet neck, said inlet neck being attachable to said fuel tank, said inlet neck being formed of a material compatible for attachment to said fuel tank and providing a non-permeable connection and barrier to prevent the escape of from said fuel tank.    
     
     
         14 . A non-permeable fuel tank attachment of    claim 13   , said non-permeable fuel tank attachment further comprising: 
 a valve housing formed for at least partially being disposed in said valve chamber.    
     
     
         15 . A non-permeable fuel tank attachment of    claim 14   , said non-permeable fuel tank attachment further comprising: 
 a valve retained in communication with said valve housing; and    a retainer for coupling said valve housing with said inlet neck to retain said valve housing in a fixed position in said valve chamber to position said valve relative to said fuel tank.    
     
     
         16 . The apparatus of    claim 14   , wherein said retainer includes an outwardly extending projection coupled to said housing and engaged with said inlet neck.  
     
     
         17 . The apparatus of    claim 16   , wherein said inlet neck is overmolded over said outwardly extending projection.  
     
     
         18 . The apparatus of    claim 15   , wherein said retainer includes at least one annular, radially outwardly extending lip coupled to said housing and attached to said inlet neck.  
     
     
         19 . The apparatus of    claim 18   , wherein said retainer includes multiple axially spaced apart, annular, radially outwardly extending lips coupled to said housing and attached to said inlet neck.  
     
     
         20 . The apparatus of    claim 15   , wherein said retainer includes a sealing lip formed to contact a jumper hose placed over said inlet neck.  
     
     
         21 . A method of installing a fuel tank apparatus on a fuel tank, said fuel tank including a hydrocarbon impermeable barrier layer, said fuel tank apparatus including an inlet neck, a valve housing positioned at least partially in a valve chamber defined by said inlet neck, a valve positioned in said valve housing, and a retainer coupled to said valve housing for engaging said inlet neck to retain said valve housing in said chamber without interrupting said hydrocarbon impermeable barrier layer of said tank, said method including the steps of: 
 forming said valve housing;    positioning said valve in said valve housing;    providing said retainer on said valve housing for engagement with said inlet neck;    forming said inlet neck over said retainer of said valve housing; and    engaging said inlet neck with said fuel tank without interrupting said hydrocarbon impermeable barrier layer of said tank, to position said valve in communication with said fuel tank.    
     
     
         22 . The method as set forth in    claim 21   , further comprising the step of providing outwardly extending projections on an exterior surface of said valve housing, providing means for limiting the inward range of travel of the cartridge in the valve chamber, and inserting said valve housing into said valve chamber.  
     
     
         23 . The method as set forth in    claim 22   , further comprising the step of forming said inlet neck of a material compatible for welding to said fuel tank.  
     
     
         24 . A method of installing a fuel tank apparatus on a fuel tank, said fuel tank being formed of a plastics material, said fuel tank apparatus including an inlet neck defining a valve chamber, a valve housing positioned at least partially in said valve chamber, a valve at least partially retained in said valve housing, and a retainer coupled to said valve housing for engaging said inlet neck to retain said valve housing in said valve chamber, said method including the steps of: 
 providing said valve housing;    positioning said valve in said valve housing;    providing said retainer on said valve housing for engagement with said inlet neck;    forming said inlet neck over said retainer of said valve housing; and    attaching said inlet neck to said fuel tank to position said valve in communication with said fuel tank.