Internally Mounted Fuel Tank Inlet Check Valve

Abstract

An inlet check valve (ICV) assembly for a plastic fuel tank in which the ICV housing thereof is attached internally to the tank shell, and the fuel fill pipe/hose assembly has attachment to the tank shell. The fuel tank includes a shell spout having a spout spud, wherein an internal mounting surface is disposed circumspect the shell spout. The ICV housing includes an inversion of the weld pad for plastic welding at the internal mounting surface of the tank shell. In one embodiment, the ICV assembly has a high profile upper sleeve with a sleeve spud to which the fuel fill pipe/hose assembly also attaches.

1 . An inlet check valve assembly for internal mounting with respect to a plastic fuel tank, comprising:
 an upper sleeve;   a flange having a weld pad, wherein said upper sleeve is disposed in upstanding relation to said weld pad; and   an inlet check valve connected with said flange opposite said weld pad.   
     
     
         2 . The assembly of  claim 1 , further comprising a sleeve spud disposed on said upper sleeve. 
     
     
         3 . The assembly of  claim 1 , further comprising a lower sleeve connected to said flange opposite said weld pad, wherein said inlet check valve is connected to said lower sleeve. 
     
     
         4 . The assembly of  claim 3 , wherein said upper sleeve has a high profile, wherein said upper sleeve is longer than said lower sleeve; further comprising a sleeve spud disposed on said upper sleeve substantially adjacent a terminus thereof. 
     
     
         5 . The assembly of  claim 3 , wherein said upper sleeve has a short profile, wherein said upper sleeve is shorter than said lower sleeve. 
     
     
         6 . A fuel tank assembly, comprising:
 a plastic tank shell having a spout opening, said tank shell comprising:
 a shell spout integrally connected with said tank shell, said shell spout having a spout passage communicating with said spout opening, said shell spout further having a spout spud disposed on said shell spout substantially adjacent a terminus thereof, and 
 a mounting surface disposed at an internal surface of said tank shell adjacently circumscribing said spout opening; and 
   an inlet check valve assembly comprising:
 an upper sleeve received in said shell spout passage; 
 a flange having a weld pad, wherein said upper sleeve is disposed in upstanding relation to said weld pad, and wherein said weld pad is sealingly welded to said mounting surface; and 
 an inlet check valve connected with said flange opposite said weld pad. 
   
     
     
         7 . The assembly of  claim 6 , further comprising a fuel fill pipe/hose assembly sealingly fitted on said shell spout and said spout spud. 
     
     
         8 . The assembly of  claim 6 , further comprising a sleeve spud disposed on said upper sleeve. 
     
     
         9 . The assembly of  claim 8 , further comprising a fuel fill pipe/hose assembly sealingly fitted on said shell spout, on said spout spud and on said sleeve spud. 
     
     
         10 . The assembly of  claim 6 , further comprising a lower sleeve connected to said flange opposite said weld pad, wherein said inlet check valve is connected to said lower sleeve; further comprising a sleeve spud disposed on said upper sleeve substantially at a terminus thereof, wherein said upper sleeve has a high profile such that said sleeve spud is exposed with respect to said shell spout. 
     
     
         11 . The assembly of  claim 10 , further comprising a fuel fill pipe/hose assembly sealingly fitted on said shell spout, on said spout spud and on said sleeve spud. 
     
     
         12 . The assembly of  claim 6 , further comprising a lower sleeve connected to said flange opposite said weld pad, wherein said inlet check valve is connected to said lower sleeve; and wherein said upper sleeve has a short profile, wherein said upper sleeve is disposed entirely within said shell spout. 
     
     
         13 . The assembly of  claim 12 , further comprising a fuel fill pipe/hose assembly sealingly fitted on said shell spout and said spout spud. 
     
     
         14 . A plastic fuel tank, comprising:
 a plastic tank shell having a spout opening, said tank shell comprising:
 a shell spout integrally connected with said tank shell, said shell spout having a spout passage communicating with said spout opening, said shell spout further having a spout spud disposed on said shell spout substantially adjacent a terminus thereof, and a mounting surface disposed at an internal surface of said tank shell adjacently circumscribing said spout opening. 
   
     
     
         15 . A method for enabling fueling a fuel tank, comprising the steps of:
 fabricating a plastic tank shell of a plastic fuel tank, wherein the tank shell includes a shell spout;   fabricating an inlet check valve assembly;   sealing the inlet check valve assembly to an internal mounting surface of the tank shell circumscribing the shell spout; and   connecting a fuel fill pipe/hose assembly in sealing relation to the shell spout.   
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 15 , wherein said step of connecting further comprises connecting the fuel fill pipe/hose assembly in sealing relation to the inlet check valve assembly.