Vent assembly for fuel tanks

Abstract

A vent assembly for use on a tank containing liquid fluid requiring venting, the assembly comprising: a vent portion that includes a top surface, and at least one venting channel, each venting channel capable of providing fluid communication between a tank on which the vent portion is disposed and atmosphere external the tank, the channel having an exit to atmosphere that is disposed on the vent portion below the top surface of the vent portion.

1 . A vented cap for use on a tank containing liquid fluid requiring venting, the cap comprising: 
 a cap portion that includes a top surface, and at least one venting channel, each venting channel capable of providing fluid communication between a tank on which the cap may be engageably disposed and atmosphere external the tank, the channel having an exit to atmosphere that is disposed on the cap below the top surface of the cap portion.    
     
     
         2 . The vented cap of  claim 1 , further comprising an angle-dependent valve assembly disposed in the cap and capable of fluid communication with the at least one venting channel and the tank.  
     
     
         3 . The vented cap of  claim 2  wherein the cap is configured for use as a fuel cap for the fuel tank of a motor vehicle.  
     
     
         4 . The vented cap of  claim 3  wherein the angle-dependent valve assembly comprises a rollover or check valve assembly disposed below the top surface of the cap portion.  
     
     
         5 . The vented cap of  claim 4  wherein the cap is configured for use on a fuel tank for a motorcycle, all-terrain vehicle, or personal watercraft.  
     
     
         6 . An assembly comprising: 
 a vented cap for use on a tank containing liquid fluid requiring venting, the cap comprising a cap portion that includes a top surface and at least one venting channel, each venting channel capable of providing fluid communication between a tank on which the cap may be engageably disposed and atmosphere external the tank, the channel having an exit to atmosphere that is disposed on the cap below the top surface of the cap portion; and    a tank to which the cap may be engageably disposed.    
     
     
         7 . The assembly of  claim 6  wherein the tank comprises a tank for a motor vehicle.  
     
     
         8 . The assembly of  claim 7  wherein the motor vehicle is a motorcycle, all-terrain vehicle, or personal watercraft.  
     
     
         9 . The vented cap of  claim 7 , further comprising an angle-dependent valve assembly disposed in the cap and capable of fluid communication with the at least one venting channel and the tank.  
     
     
         10 . A method of making a vented cap, comprising: 
 providing a cap portion for a removable cap for a tank requiring venting of a liquid that may be contained in the tank;    providing in the cap portion at least one venting channel, each venting channel capable of providing fluid communication between a tank on which the cap may be engageably disposed and atmosphere external the tank, the channel having an exit to atmosphere that is disposed on the cap below the top surface of the cap portion.    
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 10 , further comprising associating with the cap portion an angle-dependent valve assembly and capable of fluid communication with the at least one venting channel and the tank.  
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 11  further comprising configuring the cap for use as a fuel cap for the fuel tank of a motor vehicle.  
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 12  wherein the angle-dependent valve assembly comprises a rollover or check valve assembly disposed below the top surface of the cap portion.  
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 13  wherein the cap is configured for use on a fuel tank for a motorcycle, all-terrain vehicle, or personal watercraft.  
     
     
         15 . A vent assembly for use on a tank containing liquid fluid requiring venting, the assembly comprising: 
 a vent portion that includes a top surface, and at least one venting channel, each venting channel capable of providing fluid communication between a tank on which the vent portion is disposed and atmosphere external the tank, the channel having an exit to atmosphere that is disposed on the vent portion below the top surface of the vent portion.    
     
     
         16 . The assembly of  claim 15 , further comprising an angle-dependent valve assembly disposed in the vent portion and capable of fluid communication with the at least one venting channel and the tank.  
     
     
         17 . The assembly of  claim 16  wherein the vent portion is configured for use as a fuel cap for a tank for an internal combustion engine.  
     
     
         18 . The assembly of  claim 17  wherein the angle-dependent valve assembly comprises a rollover or check valve assembly disposed below the top surface of the cap portion.  
     
     
         19 . The cap of  claim 1  wherein the exit is disposed on a bottom surface of the cap portion.  
     
     
         20 . The cap of  claim 19  further comprising an angle-dependent valve assembly disposed in the cap and capable of fluid communication with the at least one venting channel and the tank.