Abstract
A valve suitable for a fuel tank may include a valve housing having a housing part, and a float configured for closing a vent opening, the float being movably arranged inside the valve housing along a middle longitudinal axis running in an axial direction upward or downward. A lower section of the float faces away from the vent opening and faces toward the housing part of the valve housing. At least one spring element is at least partially arranged in or on the housing part and/or is at least partially formed by the housing part. The spring element contacts the float at least when the float moves downward in the valve housing.
Claims
1. A valve suitable for a fuel tank, comprising: a valve housing having a housing part; a float configured for closing a vent opening, the float being movably arranged inside the valve housing along a middle longitudinal axis (M) running in an axial direction (A) upward or downward; a lower section of the float facing away from the vent opening and facing toward the housing part of the valve housing; and at least one spring element at least partially arranged in or on the housing part and/or at least partially formed by the housing part, the spring element contacting the float at least when the float moves downward in the valve housing.
2. The valve according to claim 1, wherein the at least one spring element is at least formed by at least one recess and/or at least one groove formed and/or delimited in the housing part.
3. The valve according to claim 1, wherein the housing part has at least one flat section facing the lower section of the float and/or having at least one cylindrical section starting from the flat section extending in the axial direction (A), and wherein the at least one spring element is formed and/or arranged in the flat section and/or in or on the at least one cylindrical section.
4. The valve according to claim 3, wherein the at least one spring element is fully formed and/or delimited by a recess and/or a groove formed in the flat section of the housing part.
5. The valve according to claim 3, wherein the at least one spring element extends fully or at least partially in the flat section in a peripheral direction (U).
6. The valve according to claim 3, wherein the at least one spring element extends fully or at least partially in the flat section in a radial direction (R).
7. The valve according to claim 3, wherein the at least one spring element extends fully or at least partially in the flat section in a direction towards a component in a radial direction (R) and a peripheral direction (U).
8. The valve according to claim 3, wherein the at least one spring element has a first segment and a second segment, wherein the first segment is formed and/or delimited by at least one recess and/or at least one groove formed in the flat section of the housing part, and wherein the second segment of the at least one spring element is formed and/or delimited by at least one recess and/or at least one groove formed in the at least one cylindrical section of the housing part.
9. The valve according to claim 8, wherein the second segment of the at least one spring element extends in the axial direction (A) in the cylindrical housing part.
10. The valve according to claim 8, wherein the housing part has—with regard to the radial direction (R)—an inner cylindrical section and the second segment of the at least one spring element is formed in the inner cylindrical section.
11. The valve according to claim 8, wherein the housing part has—with regard to the radial direction (R)—an outer cylindrical section and the second segment of the at least one spring element is formed in the outer cylindrical section.
12. The valve according to claim 8, wherein the first segment of the at least one spring element extends in the flat section inward or outward in the radial direction (R) and/or in the peripheral direction (U).
13. The valve according to claim 3, wherein the at least one spring element, starting from the at least one cylindrical section of the housing part, extends in an interior space bordered by the at least one cylindrical section in a direction towards a component in a radial direction (R) and/or in the axial direction (A).
14. The valve according to claim 1, wherein the at least one spring element has a contact area for contacting the float.
15. The valve according to claim 14, wherein the contact area is elevated or protrudes in the axial direction (A) toward the float.
16. The valve according to claim 14, wherein the at least one spring element has a free end section and has a fixed end section connected to the housing part, and wherein the contact area is arranged or formed on the free end section.
17. The valve according to claim 14, wherein the at least one spring element has a first fixed end section and a second fixed end section both connected to the housing part, and wherein the contact area is arranged or formed in a central section or in a third, free section of the at least one spring element.
18. The valve according to claim 1, wherein the at least one spring element is one of V-shaped, U-shaped, or T-shaped.
19. The valve according to claim 1, wherein the at least one spring element has linear longitudinal sections and curved longitudinal sections.
20. The valve according to claim 1, wherein the at least one spring element has a constant diameter over an entire length of the at least one spring element.
21. The valve according to claim 1, wherein the at least one spring element has a varying diameter over an entire length of the at least one spring element.
22. The valve according to claim 2, wherein the groove has a constant width over an entire length of the at least one spring element.
23. The valve according to claim 2, wherein the recess has one of a circular, oval, triangular, rectangular, or polygonal shape.
Description
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0031] Various embodiments of the valve according to the disclosure are depicted in the enclosed schematic drawings as set forth below.
[0032] FIG. 1A is a perspective view of a valve with a spring element according to a first embodiment.
[0033] FIG. 1B is a sectional view of the valve with a spring element according to the first embodiment.
[0034] FIG. 1C is a bottom view of the valve with a spring element according to the first embodiment.
[0035] FIG. 1D is a perspective view of the housing part of the valve according to FIGS. 1A-1C with a spring element according to the first embodiment.
[0036] FIG. 1E is a bottom view of the housing part of the valve according to FIGS. 1A-1C with a spring element according to the first embodiment.
[0037] FIG. 1F is a side view of the housing part of the valve according to FIGS. 1A-1C with a spring element according to the first embodiment.
[0038] FIG. 1G is a top view of the housing part of the valve according to FIGS. 1A-1C with a spring element according to the first embodiment.
[0039] FIG. 2A is a bottom view of a housing part of a valve with a spring element according to a second embodiment in perspective.
[0040] FIG. 2B is a top view of the housing part according to FIG. 2A with a spring element according to the second embodiment.
[0041] FIG. 2C is a detailed view of the spring element according to the second embodiment according to FIG. 2A and FIG. 2B.
[0042] FIG. 3A is a top view of a housing part of a valve with a spring element according to a third embodiment in perspective.
[0043] FIG. 3B is a bottom view of the housing part according to FIG. 3A with a spring element according to the third embodiment in perspective.
[0044] FIG. 3C is a sectional view of the housing part according to FIG. 3A and FIG. 3B with a spring element according to the third embodiment with float.
[0045] FIG. 4A is a top view of a valve with a spring element according to the fourth embodiment in perspective.
[0046] FIG. 4B is a bottom view of the housing part according to FIG. 4A with a spring element according to the fourth embodiment in perspective.
[0047] FIG. 5A is a top view of a valve with a spring element according to a fifth embodiment in perspective.
[0048] FIG. 5B is a sectional view of the housing part with a spring element according to the fifth embodiment.
[0049] FIG. 6A is a top view of a housing part of a valve with a spring element according to a sixth embodiment in perspective.
[0050] FIG. 7 is a top view of a housing part of a valve with a spring element according to a seventh embodiment in perspective.
[0051] FIG. 8 is a top view of a housing part of a valve with a spring element according to an eighth embodiment in perspective.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION
[0052] The valve 100, shown in FIG. 1A to FIG. 1F, is intended for venting a fuel tank and has a valve housing with several housing parts 2a, 2b, 2c. A first housing part 2a and a second housing part 2b close the valve 100 towards the surroundings, a third housing part 2c (e.g., insert) is introduced inside the first housing part 2a and serves to guide a float 3, which is arranged inside the valve housing and movably mounted on the middle longitudinal axis M running along axial direction A. Above a lower section of the valve 100, inlets 4 have been provided, arranged here in the first housing part 2a with regard to the installation position, so fuel can flow into the valve. As a result of this, the float 3 for closing a vent opening 5a of the valve 100 located in the upper section of the valve 100 with regard to the installation position is moved upward. Until the vent opening 5a is closed, the air present in the valve 100 can escape from the valve 100 through it and an outlet 5b present in the second housing part 2b. Afterwards, a drop of the fuel level inside the valve 100 leads to a drop or downward movement of the float 3. A housing part facing the lower segment of the float 3, here the housing part 2a formed in the shape of a cup, has a flat section 6, in which spring elements 1—here three of them—are formed, delimited in each case by two arched grooves 7a, 7b formed fully in the flat section 6 that merge in a groove section 7c likewise formed like an arch. The arched grooves 7a, 7b extend in each case in peripheral direction U, so that—with regard to the radial direction R—a spring element 1 is formed by an outer and inner arched groove 7a, 7b. The arched grooves 7a, 7b have a constant width along their entire length. Therefore, the spring element 1 has a curved longitudinal segment with constant diameter and likewise extends here fully in peripheral direction U. A free end section 1a of the spring elements 1 makes contact in each case with the float 3 or at least makes contact with it during the downward movement or at least during part of it, in order to cushion its downward movement. Thus, the free end section 1a forms a contact area 8 of the spring element 1 with the float 3. To strengthen the damping effect or allow an early damping of the downward movement, the free end section 1a is elevated in axial direction A compared with the remaining element or protrudes in axial direction A towards the float 3 or forms such an elevated or protruding contact area 8. A second end section 1b is connected to the housing part 2a or overlaps with the flat section 6 of the housing part 2a. By means of the elongated slot provided for the housing part 2a, the so-called keyhole, the closing behavior of the float 3 can be influenced, particularly if sloshing movements occur. Furthermore, this helps the flowing-through of the valve 100 during venting.
[0053] The following figures show in each case only a housing part 2a that has the spring elements 1. The basic structure and mode of operation of such a valve having a housing part 2a correspond to those of the valve 100 described above.
[0054] In the embodiment shown in FIG. 2A to FIG. 2C, the spring elements 1, here once again three of them, are formed in each case between two recesses or grooves 9a, 9b that are fully formed in the flat section 6 of the housing part 2a. The spring elements 1 and the recesses or grooves 9a, 9b have longitudinal sections 10a, 10b that run straight as well as longitudinal sections 10a, 10b, 11a, 11c that run curved, wherein the longitudinal sections 10a, 10b, 11a, 11c have a constant width and the longitudinal section 11b has a varying width. The spring element 1 also has curved longitudinal sections 12a, 12b, here formed on the first and second end section 1a, 1b, and a central, linear longitudinal section 13 lying in between. The linear longitudinal section 13 runs perpendicularly to the radial direction R of the housing part 2a. The curved longitudinal section 12a runs in a direction towards a component in radial direction R and in peripheral direction U. The curved longitudinal section 12b runs largely in peripheral direction U and forms the contact area 8 for the float 3.
[0055] In the embodiment shown in FIG. 3A to FIG. 3C, the inner sides of the spring elements 1, here four of them, are arranged on an inner, cylindrical section 14a of the housing part 2a and act together with a guiding section 15 of the float 3 introduced inside the cylindrical section 14a, in order to achieve a cushioning or damping of the float 3 when it moves downward. The spring elements 1 are linear, in this example “rod-shaped”, and starting from the cylindrical section 14a, they extend both in radial direction R and also in axial direction A into an interior formed by the cylindrical section 14a, so that a first end section 1a is or comes in contact with the guiding section 15 of the float 3. The spring elements 1 are arranged, regularly spaced from one another, in peripheral direction on the cylindrical section 14a.
[0056] In the embodiment shown in FIG. 4A to FIG. 4B, spring elements—here three of them—have been formed which, with a first segment 16a, extend to the flat section 6 of the housing part 2a, and with a second segment 16 b to the inner, cylindrical section 14a of the housing part 2a, wherein a free end section 1a, which forms the contact area 8, is formed in the flat section 6. The spring elements 1 are oriented in radial direction R in the flat section 6 and lengthened in the inner, cylindrical section 14a, in which they extend in axial direction A. As a result of that, the spring elements 1 are “L-shaped” in a vertical section. The spring elements 1 are themselves in each case likewise delimited from one another by grooves 17a, 17b extending L-shaped in the linear and in the cylindrical section 14a and in the flat section 6. Starting from the cylindrical section 14a, the spring elements 1 widen to their first, free end section 1a. The grooves 17a, 17b have a constant width over their entire length. Due to such design, the length of the spring element 1 is reduced in the flat section 6, and a length of the spring element 1 necessary for damping the downward movement of the float 3 is reached by forming the second segment 16b in the inner, cylindrical section 14a.
[0057] In the embodiment shown in FIG. 5A to FIG. 5B, the spring elements—here three of them—are formed straight in the flat section 6 and have a constant diameter across their entire length. In addition, the spring elements 1 extend into an outer, cylindrical section 14b of the housing part 2a, so that the spring elements 1 are “L-shaped” once again. The segment 16b of the spring elements 1 formed in the outer, cylindrical section 14b is in each case delimited by straight grooves 18a, 18b with constant width that extend in axial direction A, so that the segments 16b also extend in axial direction A in the outer, cylindrical section 14b, namely downward towards the flat section 6. A second end section 1b merges with the cylindrical section 14b. The segments 16a of the spring elements 1 formed in the flat section are likewise delimited by grooves 18a, 18b and also formed straight in the flat section 6, have constant width and run in a direction towards a component in radial direction and in peripheral direction U in the flat section 6. Thus, the spring elements 1 extend from the outer, cylindrical section 14b into the flat section 6. A first end section 1a of the spring element 1, in turn, forms a contact area 8 for the float 3. Also in this embodiment, the formation of the spring element 1 is reduced in the flat section 6 and a length of the spring element 1 necessary for damping the downward movement of the float 3 is achieved by forming the second segment 16b in the outer, cylindrical section 14b.
[0058] In the embodiments shown in each case in FIG. 6 to FIG. 8, the spring elements 1, in each case three of them, are fully arranged and evenly spaced from one another in the flat section in peripheral direction U.
[0059] In the embodiment shown in FIG. 6, the spring elements 1 are formed or delimited in the flat section 6 by the flat recesses 19a, 19b formed in the housing part 2a. The outer recess 19a—with regard to the radial direction R—is largely a U-shaped polygon, the inner recess 19b—with regard to the radial direction R—has a triangular shape. The spring element 1 has in each case a first and a second fixed end section 20a, 20b connected to the housing part 2a. Thus, the spring element is connected on both sides. Starting from these end sections 20a, 20b, the spring elements 1 extend straight in a direction towards a component in radial direction R and towards the exterior in peripheral direction U. A central section 20c of the spring elements 1 lying between the end sections 20a, 20b and a central section 20c of the spring elements 1 separated from it in radial direction forms the contact area 8. Thus, the spring elements 1 are formed overall in a V-shape and have a constant diameter over their entire length.
[0060] The embodiment shown in FIG. 7 differs from the previous embodiment shown in FIG. 6 by the form of the recesses that form or delimit the spring element 1. According to FIG. 7, these recesses are designed as V-shaped grooves 21a, 21b. The spring elements 1 are likewise V-shaped and have a first and second end section 22a, 22b as well as a central section 22c. The grooves 21a, 21b have largely a linear design and a curved shape merely in the areas surrounding the central section 22c and their width widened. The contact area 8 is, in turn, formed in the central section 22c.
[0061] The embodiment shown in FIG. 8 includes three spring elements 1 formed as “torsion springs.” The spring elements 1 are largely T-shaped and—with regard to the radial direction R—their outer sides are delimited by a T-shaped recess 23a and their inner sides by a groove 23b extending perpendicularly to the radial direction R. The spring elements 1 are connected to the housing part 2a with a first and second end section 24a, 24b or merge with it. A third, free end section 24c protrudes in radial direction R into the recess 23a and creates the contact area 8 for the float 3. Thus, the cushioning or damping of the float 3 takes place through the spring elements 1 connected on both sides to the housing part 2a, wherein the forces that are generated when there is contact with the float 3 in the contact area are transferred to a rotation of the spring elements 1. In other words, the free end section 24c creates a kind of lever, and consequently the spring elements 1 are formed as a kind of “torsion elements.”
LIST OF REFERENCE SIGNS
[0062] 1 Spring element [0063] 1a Free end section of the spring element [0064] 1b Fixed end section of the spring element [0065] 2a First housing part [0066] 2b Second housing part [0067] 2c Third housing part [0068] 3 Float [0069] 4 Inlets [0070] 5a Vent opening [0071] 5b Outlet [0072] 6 Flat section [0073] 7a, b Groove [0074] 8 Contact area [0075] 9a, 9b Groove/Recess [0076] 10a, 10b Linear longitudinal sections [0077] 11a, 11b, 11c Curved longitudinal sections [0078] 12a, 12b Curved longitudinal sections [0079] 13 Linear longitudinal section [0080] 14a Inner, cylindrical section [0081] 14b Outer, cylindrical section [0082] 15 Guiding section of the float [0083] 16a Segment of the spring element [0084] 16b Segment of the spring element [0085] 17a, 17b Groove [0086] 18a, 18b Groove [0087] 19a, 19b Recess [0088] 20a, 20b End sections [0089] 20c Central section [0090] 21a, 21b Groove [0091] 22a, 22b End sections [0092] 22c Central section [0093] 23a Recess [0094] 23b Groove [0095] 24a, 24b End sections [0096] 24c Free end section [0097] 100 Valve [0098] A Axial direction [0099] M Middle longitudinal axis [0100] U Peripheral direction [0101] R Radial direction
