Fuel tank

Abstract

A fuel tank includes a tank body and a fuel inlet projecting upwardly from the tank body. A fuel cap can be removably coupled onto the fuel inlet, the fuel cap including a hollow neck portion that projects into the fuel inlet when the fuel cap is installed on the fuel inlet. A chamber in the neck portion has an opening in a lower portion of the chamber and a communicating passage in an upper portion of the chamber. The upper portion of the chamber of the neck is placed in communication with an interior of the tank body via the communicating passage when the fuel cap is installed on the fuel inlet so that the fuel level within the chamber of the neck portion and a fuel level in the tank body outside the neck portion are equalized when the fuel cap is coupled onto the fuel inlet.

1 . A fuel tank, comprising:
 a tank body configured for storing fuel therein, a fuel inlet provided on a face of the tank body and projecting upwardly therefrom; and   a fuel cap removably coupleable onto the fuel inlet, the fuel cap comprising a hollow neck portion configured to project into the fuel inlet when the fuel cap is installed on the fuel inlet, a chamber in the neck portion having an opening in a lower portion of the chamber and a communicating passage in an upper portion of the chamber, the upper portion of the chamber of the neck placed in communication with an interior of the tank body via the communicating passage when the fuel cap is installed on the fuel inlet so that a fuel level within the chamber of the neck portion and a fuel level in the tank body outside the neck portion are equalized when the fuel cap is coupled to the fuel inlet.   
   
   
       2 . The fuel tank of  claim 1 , wherein the fuel cap comprises a cap body attached to the neck portion, with an upper end face of the neck joined to a bottom face of the cap body, the communicating passage formed between joined faces of the cap body and the neck. 
   
   
       3 . The fuel tank of  claim 1 , further comprising a canister for adsorbing evaporative fuel in the tank body thereonto, and a discharging passage being in communication with the canister, wherein one end of the discharging passage is a hole defined in an upper portion of the fuel inlet. 
   
   
       4 . The fuel tank of  claim 1 , further comprising a seal disposed around the fuel inlet, the seal configured to direct overflow fuel that spills out of the fuel inlet in a desired direction. 
   
   
       5 . The fuel tank of  claim 4 , further comprising an inspection window formed in the seal, the inspection window configured to allow the monitoring a fuel level sensor coupled to the tank body. 
   
   
       6 . The fuel tank of  claim 4 , wherein the fuel inlet is removably attached to the tank body. 
   
   
       7 . An engine generator having an engine and a generator and comprising the fuel tank of  claim 1 . 
   
   
       8 . The engine generator of  claim 7 , further comprising a canister configured to adsorb fuel vapor directed to the canister from the fuel tank body. 
   
   
       9 . A fuel tank, comprising:
 a tank body configured for storing fuel therein, a fuel inlet provided on a top face of the tank body and projecting upwardly therefrom; and   a fuel cap removably coupleable onto the fuel inlet, the fuel cap comprising a neck portion configured to project into the fuel inlet when the fuel cap is installed on the fuel inlet, the neck portion comprising means inhibiting a rise of a liquid level due to an increase in temperature in the fuel tank when the fuel cap is coupled to the fuel inlet.   
   
   
       10 . The fuel tank of  claim 9 , wherein said means further equalize a liquid level inside the neck portion and within the fuel inlet outside the neck portion when the fuel cap is coupled to the fuel inlet.