GB2117492A - Fuel control valve for vehicles - Google Patents

Abstract

A valve for incorporation into the fuel inlet tube 10 of a vehicle to prevent loss of fuel by syphoning or on inversion of the vehicle following an accident comprises a body member 16 movable in the tube under the influence of gravity, the body having a plurality of axial slots 20 on its outer surface to allow fuel to pass between the body and the tube but to prevent a syphon tube being inserted past the body, the end of the body normally uppermost in use having a seating 18 thereon adapted to co-operate with a corresponding seating 14 extending inwardly from the wall of the tube such that on inversion of the valve the body, under the influence of gravity seats against the seating 14 to close off the tubes. <IMAGE>

Description

SPECIFICATION Improvements in or relating to valves The invention relates to valves and is especially, though not exclusively, applicable to valves for preventing the stealing by syphoning of fuel from fuel tanks and also for preventing spillage of fuel in the event of a vehicle carrying the fuel tank being inverted.

Rising costs in fuel have led to an increase in occurrences of theft of fuel from vehicle fuel tanks.

This has been counteracted to some extent by the fitting of lockable fuel filler caps to the fuel inlet pipes leading to such fuel tanks. The invention seeks to provide means for preventing syphoning of fuel from fuel tanks without need to provide lockable filler cap, and for minimising spillage of fuel should a vehicle be inverted.

The invention provides therefore apparatus comprising a fluid inlettube having retained therein a body member having a plurality of substantially axially extending channels, said body member being movable between a first position in which fluid may pass between the body member and walls of the inlet tube, and a second position which passage of fluid along the tube is prevented by abutment of a portion of the body member with a corresponding portion of the fluid inlet tube.

The tube is preferably of circular cross-section, and the portion wherein the body member is retained is preferably cylindrical. The said portion of the fluid inlet tube is preferably an annular seat extending into the tube from a wall thereof, and is desirablyfrustoconical. The said portion of the body member is preferably of a shape complementaryto that of said portion of the tube. The body member is desirably hollow, preferably of generally cylindrical shape having a conical orfrusto-conical end surface co-operable with said portion of the tube. Desirably the said channels are axially-extending channels provided in the cylindrical exterior surface of the body member, access to said channels by fluid being prevented when the body member is in said second position.The body member is preferably made from plastics material and, when arranged in the first position, is preferably supported by one or more projections extending into the tube, upon which said body member rests.

The body member is preferably movable under the influence of gravity, the portions on the body member and tube being at an upper end of said body member and tube respectively so that the body member moves to said second position when the tube is inverted. The body member preferably extends across a substantial portion of the cross sectional area of the tube to prevent a syphon tube being inserted down the tube and into the fuel tank.

An embodiment of the invention will now be described by way of example only and with reference to the accompanying drawings in which: Figure 1 is a cross sectional view of apparatus according to the invention shown in a first position, Figure 2 is apparatus of Figure 1 shown in an inverted position, and Figure 3 is a cross sectional view on line Ill-Ill of Figure 1.

The Figures show a fuel inlet pipe 10 giving access from a filler cap (not shown) to a fuel tank (not shown) of a motor vehicle. The pipe is provided with asmall lip 12, one surface 14 of which isfrusto conical. Thetube 10contains a body member 16 which is substantially cylindrical in shape having, at an end nearest the surface 14, a conical surface 18 which is complementary over a portion thereof to the frusto-conical surface 14 on the lip 12. The body member 16 has a maximum diameter slightly less than the internal diameter of the tube 16 so that fluid may pass between the body member 16 and the walls of the tube 10.In addition, axially-extending grooves 20 are provided in the body member 16, the minimum radial dimension between opposed grooves being greater than the minimum internal radius of the lip 12 so that when the body member comes into contact with the surface 14 fluid is unable to pass along the grooves 20.

In its normal position the body member 16 rests on a number of projections which extend radially into the tube 10 these being conveniently provided by rivets applied in a fluid tight manner. Thus, in the position shown in Figure 1 when it is desired to fill the fuel tank with fuel, the body member rests on the rivets 22 and fuel passes downwardly between the body member and the walls of the tube 10 and also along the grooves 20. Any attempt to use a large diameter tube to syphon petrol from the fuel tank will be thwarted since the tube will not be able to pass beyond the body member 16. Though it would be possible to utilise a very small diameter tube passing along one of the grooves 20, in practice this would be extremely difficult to achieve, being also time consuming. The small diameter of the tube would mean that syphoning an appreciable amount of fuel would take a long time.Also, if the body member is situated some distance from the filler cap it would be extremely difficult to ensure that a syphon tube is aligned with one of the grooves 20.

Should the vehicle become inverted the body member 16 assumes the position shown in Figure 2 and passage of fuel from the fuel tank is prevented by the conical surface 18 of the body member 16 coming into contact with the annular frusto-conical surface 14 of the tube. This may not prevent the passage of every drop of fuel from the fuel tank but will at least serve to prevent the passage of a large proportion of the fuel. Thus the danger of a fire due to fuel leakage following an accident will be greatly diminished.

The tube is preferably made from some noncorroding material such as galvanised steel, aluminium or p-astics material (provided the latter is not affected by the fuel to be used) and the body member may be made from any suitable material such as plastic or other polymeric material. The apparatus may be supplied as a section of tube 10 complete with body member 16 to be inserted in an existing fuel inlet pipe, or alternatively the existing fuel pipe may be adapted by providing the lip 12 and rivets 22 after insertion of the body member 16.

Whilst endeavouring in the foregoing specification to draw attention to those features of the invention believed to be of particular importance it should be understood that the applicant claims protection in respect of any patentable feature or combination of features hereinbefore referred to whether or not particular emphasis has been plced thereon.

CLAIMS (Filed on 25 Mar 1983) 1. Apparatus comprising a fluid inlet tube having retained therein a body member having a plurality of substantially axially extending channels, said body member being movable between a first position in which fluid may pass between the body member and walls of the inlet tube, and a second position which passage of fluid along the tube is prevented by abutment of a portion of the body member with a corresponding portion of the fluid inlet tube.

2. Apparatus as claimed in claim 1, in which the tube is of circular cross-section and the portion wherein the body member is retained is cylindrical.

3. Apparatus as claimed in claim 1 or claim 2, in which the said portion of the fluid inlet tube is an annular seat extending into the tube from a wall thereof.

4. Apparatus as claimed in claim 3, in which the annular seat is frusto-conical.

5. Apparatus as claimed in claim 3 or claim 4, in which the said portion of the body member is of a shape complementary to that of the said portion of the tube.

6. Apparatus as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, in which the said channels are axially-extending channels provided in the cylindrical exterior surface of the body member, access to said channels by fluid being prevented when the body member is in said second position.

7. Apparatus as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, in which the body member is made from plastics material.

8. Apparatus as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, in which one or more projections extend into the tube axially spaced from the said portion of the tube to provide abutments for the member when it occupies said first position.

9. Apparatus as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, in which the body member is movable under the influence of gravity, the said portions on the body member and tube being at an upper end of said body member and tube respectively so that the body member moves to said second postion when the tube is inverted.

10. Apparatus as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, in which the body member extends across a major portion of the cross sectional area of the tube to prevent a syphon tube being inserted down the tube and into the fuel tank.

11. Apparatus substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to the accompanying drawings.

12. Any novel subject matter or combination including novel subject matter herein disclosed, whether or not within the scope of or relating to the same invention as any of the preceding claims.

**WARNING** end of DESC field may overlap start of CLMS **.

Claims (12)

**WARNING** start of CLMS field may overlap end of DESC **. to draw attention to those features of the invention believed to be of particular importance it should be understood that the applicant claims protection in respect of any patentable feature or combination of features hereinbefore referred to whether or not particular emphasis has been plced thereon. CLAIMS (Filed on 25 Mar 1983)

1. Apparatus comprising a fluid inlet tube having retained therein a body member having a plurality of substantially axially extending channels, said body member being movable between a first position in which fluid may pass between the body member and walls of the inlet tube, and a second position which passage of fluid along the tube is prevented by abutment of a portion of the body member with a corresponding portion of the fluid inlet tube.

2. Apparatus as claimed in claim 1, in which the tube is of circular cross-section and the portion wherein the body member is retained is cylindrical.

3. Apparatus as claimed in claim 1 or claim 2, in which the said portion of the fluid inlet tube is an annular seat extending into the tube from a wall thereof.

4. Apparatus as claimed in claim 3, in which the annular seat is frusto-conical.

5. Apparatus as claimed in claim 3 or claim 4, in which the said portion of the body member is of a shape complementary to that of the said portion of the tube.

6. Apparatus as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, in which the said channels are axially-extending channels provided in the cylindrical exterior surface of the body member, access to said channels by fluid being prevented when the body member is in said second position.

7. Apparatus as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, in which the body member is made from plastics material.

8. Apparatus as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, in which one or more projections extend into the tube axially spaced from the said portion of the tube to provide abutments for the member when it occupies said first position.

9. Apparatus as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, in which the body member is movable under the influence of gravity, the said portions on the body member and tube being at an upper end of said body member and tube respectively so that the body member moves to said second postion when the tube is inverted.

10. Apparatus as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, in which the body member extends across a major portion of the cross sectional area of the tube to prevent a syphon tube being inserted down the tube and into the fuel tank.

11. Apparatus substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to the accompanying drawings.

12. Any novel subject matter or combination including novel subject matter herein disclosed, whether or not within the scope of or relating to the same invention as any of the preceding claims.