Marine fuel vent

Abstract

A marine fuel vent is used in connection with a boat hull and a marine fuel tank. The marine fuel vent comprises a nozzle with a bore through it, a cap at one end, a hose barb at the opposite end, and a threaded portion in between. The cap has a chamber and a wall with at least one hole through it. The cap hole includes a screen disposed in a counterbore. A cover engages the cap. A cover hole is aligned with the cap hole. A cup has a flange at one end, and a floor at the opposite end. The cup is mounted in the boat hull with the flange adjacent the hull outer surface. The nozzle is mounted in the cup with the cap inside the cup, and the threaded portion passing through a cup floor hole. The cup, cover, and screen are made from stainless steel. A bowl is mounted over the threaded portion and against the hull inner surface. The bowl has a shoulder at one end, and an annular groove on the outer surface, so that the bowl can be cut on the annular groove to shorten the bowl. The vent can thereby be installed on boat hulls of varying thickness. A nut engages the threaded portion. The nut has a flange at one end with an annular rim adapted to engage the bowl shoulder so as to center the bowl. The nozzle, bowl, and nut are made from either a thermoplastic or a thermoset resin.

1 . A marine fuel vent for use in connection with a boat hull, a marine fuel tank, and a hose communicating the vent with the tank, the boat hull having an outer surface and an inner surface, the boat hull being of a predetermined thickness and having a mounting hole therethrough, the marine fuel vent comprising:
 a nozzle extending between opposite proximal and distal ends, the nozzle having a central axis, the nozzle having a bore therethrough from the proximal end to the distal end, the nozzle having a cap at the proximal end, the cap having a chamber communicating with the bore, the cap having a cap wall and at least one cap hole through the cap wall, the cap hole having a counterbore, the nozzle having a threaded portion on the central axis adjacent the proximal end, the cap having a shoulder adjacent the threaded portion, the nozzle having attaching means at the distal end for attaching the hose to the nozzle;   at least one screen, the screen being adapted for placement in the counterbore;   a cover having an interior adapted for closely engaging the cap, the cover having a cover wall and at least one cover hole through the cover wall;   a cup having a cup wall extending between opposite first and second ends, the cup having a cup cavity extending between the first and second ends, the cup having a flange attached to the cup wall at the first end, the cup having a floor attached to the cup wall at the second end, the floor having a floor hole therethrough adapted to receive the nozzle threaded portion;   a bowl having a bowl wall extending between opposite first and second ends, the bowl wall having outer and inner surfaces, the bowl having a bowl cavity extending between the first and second ends, the bowl having a shoulder at the second end; and   a nut adapted to engage the threaded portion, the nut having a flange at one end, the flange having an annular rim adapted to engage the bowl shoulder so as to substantially center the bowl on the central axis; so that   upon assembly, the screen will be inserted into the counterbore, the cover will be juxtaposed over the cap, the cover hole will be aligned with the cap hole so as to communicate the cap chamber with the atmosphere, the cup will be inserted into the hull mounting hole with the cup flange adjacent the boat hull outer surface, the nozzle threaded portion will pass through the cup floor hole, the cap will be disposed inside the cup cavity and the nozzle shoulder disposed adjacent the cup floor, the bowl will pass over the nozzle threaded portion, the bowl first end will bear against the boat hull inner surface, the nut will engage the nozzle threaded portion, the nut flange and rim will engage the bowl shoulder, thereby centering the bowl on the central axis, the nut will be tightened, thereby clamping the vent to the boat hull, the hose will be connected between the vent and the tank, thereby communicating the tank with the atmosphere, and allowing fumes to vent safely.   
   
   
       2 . The marine fuel vent of  claim 1 , wherein the bowl further comprises an annular groove on the bowl wall outer surface, so that the bowl wall can be cut on the annular groove to shorten the bowl and thereby enable installation of the vent on a boat hull of greater than the predetermined thickness. 
   
   
       3 . The marine fuel vent of  claim 1 , wherein:
 the nozzle, bowl, and nut are made from a polymer selected from the group consisting of thermoplastic resins and thermoset resins;   the cup, cover, and screen are made from a metal selected from the group consisting of stainless steel, brass, bronze, monel, and aluminum.   
   
   
       4 . The marine fuel vent of  claim 1 , wherein the attaching means further comprises a hose barb at the distal end of the nozzle for attaching the hose. 
   
   
       5 . The marine fuel vent of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 an outer gasket disposed between the cup flange and the hull outer surface; and   an inner gasket disposed between the cup floor and the cap shoulder;   the inner and outer gaskets being made from an elastomer.   
   
   
       6 . The marine fuel vent of  claim 1 , wherein the nozzle is substantially straight from the proximal end to the distal end. 
   
   
       7 . The marine fuel vent of  claim 1 , wherein the nozzle is an elbow, with the proximal end at a substantially right angle to the distal end. 
   
   
       8 . A marine fuel vent for use in connection with a boat hull, a marine fuel tank, and a hose communicating the vent with the tank, the boat hull having an outer surface and an inner surface, the boat hull being of a predetermined thickness and having a mounting hole therethrough, the marine fuel vent comprising:
 a nozzle extending between opposite proximal and distal ends, the nozzle having a central axis, the nozzle having a bore therethrough from the proximal end to the distal end, the nozzle having a cap at the proximal end, the cap having a chamber communicating with the bore, the cap having a cap wall and at least one cap hole through the cap wall, the cap hole having a counterbore, the nozzle having a threaded portion on the central axis adjacent the proximal end, the cap having a shoulder adjacent the threaded portion, the nozzle having attaching means at the distal end for attaching the hose to the nozzle;   at least one screen, the screen being adapted for placement in the counterbore;   a cover having an interior adapted for closely engaging the cap, the cover having a cover wall and at least one cover hole through the cover wall;   a cup having a cup wall extending between opposite first and second ends, the cup having a cup cavity extending between the first and second ends, the cup having a flange attached to the cup wall at the first end, the cup having a floor attached to the cup wall at the second end, the floor having a floor hole therethrough adapted to receive the nozzle threaded portion;   the cup, cover, and screen being made from a metal selected from the group consisting of stainless steel, brass, bronze, monel, and aluminum;   a bowl having a bowl wall extending between opposite first and second ends, the bowl wall having outer and inner surfaces, the bowl having a bowl cavity extending between the first and second ends, the bowl having a shoulder at the second end;   a nut adapted to engage the threaded portion, the nut having a flange at one end, the flange having an annular rim adapted to engage the bowl shoulder so as to substantially center the bowl on the central axis; and   the nozzle, bowl, and nut being made from a polymer selected from the group consisting of thermoplastic resins and thermoset resins; so that   upon assembly, the screen will be inserted in the counterbore, the cover will be juxtaposed over the cap, the cover hole will be aligned with the cap hole so as to communicate the cap chamber with the atmosphere, the cup will be inserted into the hull mounting hole with the cup flange adjacent the boat hull outer surface, the nozzle threaded portion will pass through the cup floor hole, the cap will be disposed inside the cup cavity and the nozzle shoulder disposed adjacent the cup floor, the bowl will pass over the nozzle threaded portion, the bowl first end will bear against the boat hull inner surface, the nut will engage the nozzle threaded portion, the nut flange and rim will engage the bowl shoulder, thereby centering the bowl on the central axis, the nut will be tightened, thereby clamping the vent to the boat hull, the hose will be connected between the vent and the tank, thereby communicating the tank with the atmosphere, and allowing fumes to vent safely.   
   
   
       9 . The marine fuel vent of  claim 8 , wherein the bowl further comprises an annular groove on the bowl wall outer surface, so that the bowl wall can be cut on the annular groove to shorten the bowl and thereby enable installation of the vent on a boat hull of greater than the predetermined thickness. 
   
   
       10 . The marine fuel vent of  claim 8 , wherein the attaching means further comprises a hose barb at the distal end of the nozzle for attaching the hose. 
   
   
       11 . The marine fuel vent of  claim 8 , further comprising:
 an outer gasket disposed between the cup flange and the hull outer surface; and   an inner gasket disposed between the cup floor and the cap shoulder;   the inner and outer gaskets being made from an elastomer.   
   
   
       12 . The marine fuel vent of  claim 8 , wherein the nozzle is substantially straight from the proximal end to the distal end. 
   
   
       13 . The marine fuel vent of  claim 8 , wherein the nozzle is an elbow, with the proximal end at a substantially right angle to the distal end. 
   
   
       14 . A marine fuel vent for use in connection with a boat hull, a marine fuel tank, and a hose communicating the vent with the tank, the boat hull having an outer surface and an inner surface, the boat hull being of a predetermined thickness and having a mounting hole therethrough, the marine fuel vent comprising:
 a nozzle extending between opposite proximal and distal ends, the nozzle having a central axis, the nozzle having a bore therethrough from the proximal end to the distal end, the nozzle having a cap at the proximal end, the cap having a chamber communicating with the bore, the cap having a cap wall and at least one cap hole through the cap wall, the cap hole having a counterbore, the nozzle having a threaded portion on the central axis adjacent the proximal end, the cap having a shoulder adjacent the threaded portion, the nozzle having a hose barb at the distal end of the nozzle for attaching the hose to the nozzle;   at least one screen, the screen being disposed in the counterbore;   a cover having an interior adapted for closely engaging the cap, the cover having a cover wall and at least one cover hole through the cover wall, the cover being juxtaposed over the cap, the cover hole being aligned with the cap hole so as to communicate the cap chamber with the atmosphere;   a cup having a cup wall extending between opposite first and second ends, the cup having a cup cavity extending between the first and second ends, the cup having a flange attached to the cup wall at the first end, the cup having a floor attached to the cup wall at the second end, the floor having a floor hole therethrough adapted to receive the nozzle threaded portion;   the cup, cover, and screen being made from stainless steel;   a bowl having a bowl wall extending between opposite first and second ends, the bowl wall having outer and inner surfaces, the bowl having a bowl cavity extending between the first and second ends, the bowl having a shoulder at the second end, the bowl having an annular groove on the bowl wall outer surface, so that the bowl wall can be cut on the annular groove to shorten the bowl and thereby enable installation of the vent on a boat hull of greater than the predetermined thickness;   a nut adapted to engage the threaded portion, the nut having a flange at one end, the flange having an annular rim adapted to engage the bowl shoulder so as to substantially center the bowl on the central axis; and   the nozzle, bowl, and nut being made from a polymer selected from the group consisting of thermoplastic resins and thermoset resins; so that   upon assembly, the cup will be inserted into the hull mounting hole with the cup flange adjacent the boat hull outer surface, the nozzle threaded portion will pass through the cup floor hole, the cap will be disposed inside the cup cavity and the nozzle shoulder disposed adjacent the cup floor, the bowl will pass over the nozzle threaded portion, the bowl first end will bear against the boat hull inner surface, the nut will engage the nozzle threaded portion, the nut flange and rim will engage the bowl shoulder, thereby centering the bowl on the central axis, the nut will be tightened, thereby clamping the vent to the boat hull, the hose will be connected between the vent and the tank, thereby communicating the tank with the atmosphere, and allowing fumes to vent safely.   
   
   
       15 . The marine fuel vent of  claim 14 , further comprising:
 an outer gasket disposed between the cup flange and the hull outer surface; and   an inner gasket disposed between the cup floor and the cap shoulder;   the inner and outer gaskets being made from an elastomer.   
   
   
       16 . The marine fuel vent of  claim 14 , wherein the nozzle is substantially straight from the proximal end to the distal end. 
   
   
       17 . The marine fuel vent of  claim 14 , wherein the nozzle is an elbow, with the proximal end at a substantially right angle to the distal end.