Fuel inlet device for a fuel tank

U.S. Patent Number: 5381838

Abstract: In a fuel inlet device for a fuel tank, a flap valve is provided at an end of a fuel filler tube opening into the fuel tank, and a float which rises with a rise in a surface level of the fuel in the tank closes this flap valve when the fuel surface level has reached a prescribed level. Thus, when the surface level of the fuel in the fuel tank has reached a prescribed level, the flap valve linked with the float is closed, and prevents any more fuel from being filled into the fuel tank because the filling nozzle detects this rise in the surface level of the fuel in the filler tube, and stops filling any more fuel into the tank. Therefore, it is possible to connect the breather tube in the fuel tank directly with a canister device without the intervention of a relief valve, and the internal pressure of the fuel tank can be maintained substantially no higher than the atmospheric pressure. Thus, the release of fuel vapor from the filler cap can be avoided.

Inventors: Watanabe; Hideo (Saitama, JP), Takahashi; Shoji (Saitama, JP), Suzuki; Takeshi (Saitama, JP), Oikawa; Masatoshi (Kanagawa, JP)

Assignee: Honda Giken Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha (JP) Nifco, Inc. (JP)

Application Number: 08/177,875

Issued: 1995-01-17

Expired: 2007-01-17

Classes: 141/198 ; 141/212; 141/217; 141/229; 220/86.2

Field of search: 141/198,211,212,217,218,220,223,229 220/86.2 137/409,592,448

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