US3635264A

US3635264A - Fueling means

Info

Publication number: US3635264A
Application number: US32311A
Authority: US
Inventors: Hudson M Milburn
Original assignee: Outboard Marine Corp
Current assignee: Outboard Marine Corp
Priority date: 1970-04-27
Filing date: 1970-04-27
Publication date: 1972-01-18
Anticipated expiration: 1989-01-18
Also published as: CA947729A

Abstract

A fuel supply system including a fuel storage container communicating through an air-vapor conduit and a fuel conduit with a connector including a male member having an end part adapted for insertion into the bore of a valve housing included in a fuel tank. The means for supporting and moving said plunger includes a first passage connected to the fuel conduit and terminating at the end part together with a second passage communicating with the air-vapor conduit and communicating with the end part. The connector further includes a plunger which is supported for engagement, when the end part is inserted into the bore, with a piston which is movable in the valve housing relative to a position preventing flow to or from the interior of the fuel tank. The plunger is further supported for movement between a first position wherein the passages in the connector are sealed against fluid flow and a second position spaced from the end part, whereby the piston is displaced to a position affording communication between the fuel tank interior and the fuel and air-vapor passages and thereby also with the fuel storage container.

Description

[ 51 Jan. 18,1972

ABSTRACT Primary Examiner-Edward J. Earls AHOrney- Robert K. Gerling, Robert E. Clemency. John W. Michael, Gerrit D. Foster, Bayard H. Michael, Paul R. Puerner, Joseph A. Gemignani, Andrew 0. Riteris and Spencer B. Michael A fuel supply system including a fuel storage container communicating through an air-vapor conduit and a fuel conduit with a connector including a male member having an end part adapted for insertion into the bore of a valve housing included Hudson M. Milburn, Peterborough, Ontario, Canada Assignee: Outboard Marine Corporation, Waukegan, lll.

Apr. 27, 1970 Appl.No.: 32,311

United States Patent Milburn [54] FUELING MEANS [72] Inventor:

221 Filed:

12 Claims, 8 Drawing Figures A57 in a fuel tank. The means for supporting and moving said plunger includes a first passage connected to the fuel conduit and terminating at the end part together with a second passage communicating with the air-vapor conduit and communicating with the end part. The connector further includes a plunger which is supported for engagement, when the end part is inserted into the bore, with a piston which is movable in the valve housing relative to a position preventing flow to or from the interior of the fuel tank. The plunger is further supported for movement between a first position wherein the passages in the connector are sealed against fluid flow and a second position spaced from the end part, whereby the piston is displaced to a position affording communication between the fuel tank interior and the fuel and air-vapor passages and thereby also with the fuel storage container.

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526746639 ll] 1 090924283 218 6 r rUU. U 23 2 3 23 1 FUELING MEANS BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION The invention relates generally to arrangements for fueling gas tanks associated with portable tools and machines which are powered by internal combustion engines, i.e., for instance, for supplying fuel to the gas tank of a chain saw. In the past, fire hazards have existed in refueling such tanks, particularly when the internal combustion engine is hot. Such refueling as has commonly occurred in the past has exposed vaporized fuel to the atmosphere and has usually included the undesirable possibility of fuel spillage, both of which conditions constitute fire hazards.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The invention provides an arrangement or system for refueling a fuel tank in operative working connection with an internal combustion engine while, at the same time, insuring against spillage of the fuel or escape to the atmosphere of vaporized fuel.

The invention thus provides an arrangement or system including a fuel supplying an an air-vapor venting connector which is removably connectable to a fuel tank in such manner as to provide a sealed connection between the connector and the fuel tank and in such manner as to afford communication between the fuel tank and a fuel conduit and an air-vapor conduit, both of which extend from the connector. The conduits are connected to a fuel storage container with the fuel conduit communicating with the bottom of the container and with the air-vapor conduit communicating with the top of the container through a one-way valve which prevents flow from the container to the connector while affording flow from the connector to the storage container.

The connector also includes means whereby the fuel and air-vapor conduits are sealed prior to disconnection of the connector from the fuel tank. In addition, the fuel tank includes means for automatic sealing thereof upon disconnec tion of the connector.

Accordingly, there is provided a system which is sealed to the atmosphere and which affords fuel flow either by force or gravity or otherwise to fill a smaller fuel tank from a larger storage container without exposing the contents of either of the fuel tank or the storage container to escape into the atmosphere or spillage. It is to be understood that during operation, gasoline or other fuel is transferred from the storage container to the fuel tank concurrently with transfer to the storage container from the fuel tank of the gaseous contents present in the fuel tank prior to the transfer of fuel.

Another of the features of the invention is the provision of means for automatically stopping fuel flow from the storage container upon filling of the fuel tank.

One of the objects of the invention is the provision of a new and improved arrangement or system for refueling fuel tanks in such manner as to avoid a fire hazard and thereby to permit refueling at the point of use of the associated internal combustion engine and without unnecessary downtime.

Other objects and advantages of the invention will become known by reference to the following description and accompanying drawings in which:

DRAWINGS FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a fueling system in accordance with the invention.

FIG. 2 is a perspective view, partially broken away, of a fuel storage container embodied in the system shown in FIG. 1.

FIG. 3 is a fragmentary view, partially in section, taken along line 33 of FIG. 2.

FIG. 4 is an enlarged partially broken away and sectional view of the coupling between the fuel tank and the connector shown in FIG. 1 with the connector being removed from the fuel tank.

FIG. 5 is a fragmentary view similar to FIG. 4 showing the relationship of the connector and the fuel tank when assembled.

FIG. 6 is a view similar to FIG. 4 showing the relationship of the connector to the fuel tank when the plunger of the connector is displaced.

FIG. 7 is a fragmentary sectional view taken along line 7-7 of FIG. 4. I

FIG. 8 is a fragmentary sectional view taken along line 8-8 of FIG. 4.

DESCRIPTION Shown in the drawings is a fuel supply system 11 for the fuel tank of a tool or machine such as, for instance. the fragmentarily illustrated chain saw 13 which includes an internal combustion engine (not shown) in working association with a fuel tank 17. The tank 17 includes (See FIGS. 4 through 6) a female connector structure 19 adapted for cooperation which a male connector or coupling 21 which, in turn, is connected through a flexible fuel conduit 23 and a flexible air-vapor conduit 27 with a fuel storage reservoir or container 29 which desirably has a capacity several times that of the fuel tank 17 and is conventionally filled with fuel.

More particularly, the fuel storage container 29 can be constructed in any suitable fashion from any suitable metal or plastic and includes at the top thereof a carrying handle 31 and a filler neck 33 having threadedly mounted thereon a vented cap 37.

Means are provided for connecting the fuel conduit 23 to the storage container 29 to facilitate fuel flow from the storage container 29 and for connecting the air-vapor conduit 27 to the storage container 29 so as to deliver transferred air-vapor to the top of the storage container 29 and so as to prevent return fluid flow through the air-vapor conduit to the male connector 21. While various arrangements can be employed, in the disclosed construction, the fuel conduit 23 is suitably connected to the bottom of the storage container 27 for communication with the interior thereof.

Because of economic desirability, the fuel conduit 23 and air vapor conduit 27 are integrated into a single flexible hose member, although it should be understood that separate fuel and air-vapor conduits could be employed. In view of the integrated relationship of the fuel conduit 23 and the air-vapor conduit 27, the air-vapor conduit is suitably connected to the storage container 29 at the bottom and communicates with a breather pipe 39 which extends interiorly of the container. At its upper end, i.e., adjacent to the top of the container 29, the breather pipe 39 communicates with a one-way check valve 41 having a screened vent 43. The one-way check valve 41 is conventionally constructed to prevent flow from the storage container 29 while permitting flow to the storage container. Because of the conventional construction, the one-way check valve 41 will not be further described.

Except as otherwise described herein, the fuel tank 17 can be conventionally constructed of suitable metal or plastic. The female coupling structure 19 includes (See FIGS. 4 through 6) a valve member or housing 51 which has an enlarged head 53 and can be suitably fixedly attached to the fuel tank 17. In the particularly disclosed construction, the fuel tank 17 includes an interiorly threaded filling neck 57 which receives a threaded portion 59 of the valve housing 51 in such manner as to capture a gasket 61 between the head 53 and the filler neck 57 and thereby seal the valve housing 5-1 to the fuel tank 17 The valve housing 51 includes means cooperable with the male connector 21 for selectively affording and preventing communication with the interior of the tank. While various arrangements can be employed, in the disclosed construction, the valve housing 51 includes a main or central bore 63 having a main portion 67 and an outlet portion or opening 69 which is located in the head 53, which has a lesser diameter than the main portion 67, and which connects with the main portion 67 through a funnel-shaped portion 71. At its other end, the main bore 63 also includes a threaded portion 73 for purposes to be later referred to. Also included in the valve housing 51 are one or more transverse bores 77 communicating between the tank interior and the main portion 67 of the central bore 63.

The means for preventing and affording communication with the tank interior also includes a piston 79 which is located in the central bore 63 and which has a skirt 81 of slightly less diameter than the main bore portion 67 and a head 83 having a diameter slightly less than the diameter of the main bore outlet portion 69.

Means are provided for sealing the piston 79 to the valve housing 51 and for biasing the piston to a sealing position. While various arrangements can be employed, the sealing means comprises a seal retaining means in the form of an annular groove 87 in the piston head 83 and a seal in the form of an O-ring 89 located in the groove 87 and adapted to seat against the funnel-shaped bore portion 71 when the piston 79 is located in the sealing position by the biasing means.

While various arrangements can be employed, in the disclosed construction, the piston biasing means comprises a helical spring 91 arranged with one end located within the skirt 81 and seated against the undersurface of the piston head 83. The other end of the spring 91 is located around a button 93 extending upwardly from a plug 97 which forms a bottom seat for the spring 91 and which is threaded into the otherwise open lower threaded portion 73 of the central or main bore 63.

As can be readily understood from the foregoing, the piston 79 is accordingly movable within the main bore 63 between an upper sealing position to which it is biased by the spring 91 and a lower position affording communication between the transverse bores 77 and the central bore outlet portion 69.

The fuel tank 17 also includes means for preventing the occurrence of excessive pressure buildup within the fuel tank or of excessive low pressure or vacuum within the fuel tank. Pressure buildup can occur as a consequence of heating of the fuel as, for instance, when the fuel tank is exposed to a hot sun while a low pressure or vacuum condition occurs in the fuel tank 17 when the engine sucks or withdraws fuel from the fuel tank 17. In the disclosed construction, such means is provided by a so-called Verna valve 99 which is of conventional construction. The valve 99 is mounted in the head 83 of the piston 79 and in communication with the interior of the fuel tank through an aperture or bore 111 in the piston head 83. However, the valve 99 could be located anywhere on the fuel tank 17 so as to relieve the pressure in the fuel tank 17 in the event of excessive buildup of pressure and so as to permit flow into the fuel tank 17 from the atmosphere upon the creation in the fuel tank 17 of an excessively low pressure or vacuum condition.

The male connector 21 includes a male housing or member 113 having, at its lower end, a projecting portion 117 with an outer end part 119 having a diameter slightly less than the diameter of the outlet portion 69 of the main bore 63 in the female valve housing 51 on the fuel tank 17. Extending from the outer end part 119 of the projecting portion 117 and interiorly of the housing 113 is a fuel passage 121 which connects with a nipple 123 to which is attached the fuel conduit 23. Also extending from the outer end part 119 of the projecting portion 117 and interiorly of the housing 113 is an airvapor passage 127 which connects with a nipple 129 connected to the air-vapor conduit 27 and which is separate from the fuel passage 121.

Means are provided for normally sealing or closing the airvapor passage 127 and the fuel passage 121 at the end part 119 of the projecting portion 117 and, additionally, for displacing the piston 79 in the female valve housing 51 from its sealing position upon insertion of the projecting part 117 into the main bore 63 of the female valve housing 51. While various arrangements can be employed, in the disclosed construction, such means is in the form of a bore 131 extending axially within the male housing 113 and through the projecting part 117 radially inwardly of the fuel passage 121 and the air-vapor passage 127. In addition, this means includes a plunger 133 having a stem 137 extending through the axial bore 131, together with an enlarged head 139 which is connected to the lower end of the stem 137 and carries a gasket 141 which engages the end part 119 of the projecting portion 117 and, together with the head 139, seals the open ends of the fuel passage 121 and the air-vapor passage 127 when the plunger 133 is in its uppermost position. lt is noted that the bottom surface 143 of the plunger head 139 is engageable with the piston 79 of the female valve housing 51 on the fuel tank 17 when the projecting part 117 of the male connector housing 113 is inserted into the main bore 63 of the female valve housing 51.

Means are provided for biasing the plunger 133 to its uppermost position sealing the fuel and air-

vapor passages

121 and 127. While various arrangements can be employed, in the disclosed construction, such means is in the form of a spring 147 which is located in encircling relation to the plunger stem 137 and in a counterbore 149 in the male housing 113, which counterbore 149 is coaxial with the plunger bore 131. The spring 147 is seated, at its lower end, against the lower end of the counterbore 149 and, at its upper end, the spring 147 is engaged against a snap ring or collar 151 on the plunger stern 137, whereby the plunger 133 is urged upwardly into its sealing position. The counterbore 149 is closed by a threaded plug 153 which also carries an O-ring 157 to seal the plunger stem 137 to the male housing 113. If desired, a sealing member can also be employed between the plug 153 and the male housing 1 13.

When the plunger 133 is in its sealing or retracted position, the stem 137 extends outwardly from the top of the male housing 113 and, at its upper end, includes an operating knob 159. When the knob 159 is depressed against the action of the spring 147, the plunger 133 is moved to its advanced position, thereby opening the ends of the fuel and air-

vapor passages

121 and 127.

Projecting radially outwardly from the base of the projecting part 117 is a flat surface 161 which mates with the upper surface of the head 53 of the female valve housing 51. Although other arrangements can be employed, means in the fonn of an O-ring 163 retained in an annular groove 167 in the surface 161 are employed to seal the male connector 21 to the female valve housing 51 when the connector 21 is fully inserted into the female valve housing 51.

Cooperating means are employed on each of the male connector 21 and the female valve housing 51 for releasably retaining the male connector 21 and the female valve housing 51 in assembled relation such that the O-ring 163 is in sealing engagement with each of the female valve housing 51 and the male connector 21. While various arrangements can be employed as, for instance, a resilient rubber boot, a bayonet-type construction, or a screw coupling, in the disclosed construction, a series of metal spring members or fingers 169 are attached to the periphery of the lower part of the male connector housing 113. The spring fingers 169 each have an inwardly bent lower end portion 171 which, upon insertion of the male projecting part 117 into the main bore 63 of the female valve housing 51, engage a chamfered camming surface 173 on the outer periphery of the female housing head 53, thereby to cam the spring fingers 169 outwardly for passage over the outer periphery of the female housing head 53. As the projecting part 117 reaches a position of full engagement with the female valve housing 51, the spring fingers 169 collapse inwardly into gripping relation to the head 53 as the end portions 171 engage a retaining undercut chamfered surface 177 around the periphery of the head 53. The chamfer on the surface 177, together with the resiliency of the spring fingers 169, facilitate withdrawal of the male connector 21 from assembled relation with the female valve housing 51.

Means are provided for automatically terminating fuel flow from the storage container 29 to the fuel tank 17 when the fuel tank is filled. In the disclosed construction, such means is provided by dimensioning the air-vapor conduit 27 with a relatively small diameter which, in conjunction with the length of such conduit, serves to prevent backflow through the airvapor conduit 27 from the fuel conduit 23 when the fuel tank 17 is full and when the plunger 133 is in its lower or passage opening position. Thus, the dimensions of the air-vapor conduit are such as to facilitate automatic shutdown of flow from the storage container 29 immediately after filling of the fuel tank 17. Alternatively, the fuel passage 121 in the male housing 1 13 can be provided with a passage portion of such diameter and of such length as to prevent return fuel flow therethrough.

Means are also provided to infonn the operator when the tank 17 is filled and flow has been discontinued. While various arrangements can be employed, in the disclosed construction, such means is in the form of a portion 179 of the air-vapor conduit 27 which is located adjacent to the nipple 129 and which is transparent. Thus, under normal operating conditions, when the tank 17 s filled, the operator will be able to see fuel through the transparent portion 179 of the air-vapor conduit 27 adjacent to the nipple 129, and will know when to permit retraction of the plunger 133 and disconnection of the connector 21 from the female housing 51.

In operation, and when the storage container 29 is filled with fuel, it is noted that the spring 147 biases the plunger 133 to its retracted or sealing position, closing the ends of the fuel passage 121 and air-vapor passage 127 in the projecting portion 1 17 of the housing 1 13. At the same time, the spring 91 in the female housing 51 biases the piston 79 so that the O-ring 89 is in sealing engagement between the head 53 and the piston 79, thereby preventing flow past and around the piston 79 and outwardly of the opening 69 in the central bore 63 of the female housing 51.

The male connector 21 is assembled to the female connector 19 to facilitate the filling of the tank 17 with fuel by engaging the projecting portion 117 of the male connector 21 on the head 139 of the plunger 133 against the piston 79 in the female housing 51 and inserting the male connector 21 into the female housing 51 until the sealing ring 163 is held in sealing engagement between the male connector housing 113 and the female housing 51 by reason of gripping engagement of the spring fingers 171 with the head 53 of the female housing 51 Insertion of the projecting portion 117 into the female housing 51 causes displacement by the plunger head 139 of the piston 79 in the female housing 51 from its sealing position to a partially retracted position. However, there is still no opportunity for communication between the storage tank 29 and the fuel tank 17 due to sealing engagement of the gasket 141 against the lower end of the projecting portion 117 of the male connector housing 113, thereby retaining the fuel and

airvapor passages

121 and 127 sealed. However, when the knob 159 is displaced toward the connector housing 113 to displace the plunger 133 to its advanced position, the fuel passage 121 and the air-vapor passage 127 are opened, the piston 79 is displaced further into the female valve housing 51 and communication is established from the fuel passage 121 and air-vapor passage 127 to the interior of the fuel tank 17 throug'hthe central portion 67 of the main bore in the female housing 51 and through the transverse bores 77.

When the storage container 29 is raised to an elevated position with respect to the fuel tank 17, gravity will cause flow of fuel from the storage container 29 through the fuel conduit 23 and through the fuel passage 121 and through the bores 77 in the female housing and into the fuel tank 17. At the same time, the vapor in the fuel tank 17 will flow in the opposite direction through the bores 77 and central bore 63 of the valve housing 51, through the air-vapor passage 127 and through the air-vapor conduit 27 and finally through the oneway check valve 41 into the upper end of the fuel storage container 29. As consequence, the fuel tank 17 can be filled without exposure to the atmosphere of vapor from the system and while avoiding the possibility of spillage of fuel. When the fuel tank 17 is full, the fuel will tend to flow upwardly in the air-vapor passage 127 and into the air-vapor conduit 27. However, the relatively small diametrical size of the air-vapor conduit 27, together with the length of the air-vapor conduit, operates to discontinue fuel flow after an initial partial filling of the air-vapor conduit 27, which filling can be viewed through the transparent portion 179 of the air-vapor conduit 27. Thus, the system serves to automatically discontinue fuel flow from the storage container 29 when the fuel tank 17 is full and to permit the operator to recognize this condition by seeing fuel through the transparent portion 179 of the airvapor conduit 27.

The operator then withdraws the knob 159 to return the plunger 133 to its retracted position sealing the fuel passage 121 and air-vapor passage 127 at the lower end of the projecting portion 117. Subsequent withdrawal movement of the male connector housing 113 from the female housing 51 will overpower the spring fingers 169 and permit withdrawal of the projecting part 117 of the male connector housing 113 from the female housing 51. Such withdrawal permits the piston 79 to move under the action of the spring 91 upwardly into its sealing position with the O-ring $9 engaged between the valve housing head 53 and the piston 79, thereby preventing loss of either fuel or vapor from the fuel tank 17 It is to be noted that upon separation of the male connector 21 from the female housing 51, both the male connector 21 and the female housing 51 automatically seal to prevent the escape of fuel or vapor. Upon reuse of the male connector 21 during the next filling cycle, whatever minor amount of fuel may be retained in the air-vapor conduit 27 and passage 127 is permitted to flow into the female housing 51 upon movement of the plunger 133 from its sealing position due to the partial vacuum which would be expected in the fuel tank and due to the weight of fuel. Upon drainage of the minor amount of fuel from the air-vapor passage 127 and conduit 27, the vapor from the fuel tank 17 can then be transferred to the storage container 29 during fuel flow from the storage container 29 to the fuel tank 17 1n the disclosed construction, it is intended that the operator actively retain the plunger 133 in open position to permit fuel flow from the storage container 29 to the fuel tank 17 and that such fuel flow be afforded by gravity. However, it is within the contemplation of the invention to provide a handoperated pump in the fuel supply system, i.e., either in the fuel conduit 23 or in the fuel passage 121, and to provide releasable arrangements for locking the plunger 133 in open position, whereby it is unnecessary for the operator to personally and physically retain the plunger 133 in open position and so as to enable operation of the pump by the operator.

Various of the features of the invention are set forth in the following claims.

1. A fuel supply system including a fuel tank having a valve housing with means for selectively affording communication with and preventing communication with the interior of said tank, said means including a main bore communicating with the interior of said tank and including a piston movable in said main bore between a first position preventing communication with said tank interior, and a second position affording communication with said tank interior, and a connector including a male member having an end part adapted for insertion into said main bore, a first passage connected to a fuel supply source and terminating with an open end at said end part, a second passage terminating with an open end at said end part, a plunger, means for supporting said plunger on said male member for engagement with said piston when said end part is inserted into said bore so as to displace said piston from said first piston position in response to insertion of said end part into said main bore and for movement of said plunger between a first position wherein said passages are sealed against fluid flow and a second position spaced from said end part, whereby when said end part is inserted in said main bore and said plunger is moved to said second position, said piston is displaced to said second piston position, thereby affording communication between said fuel tank interior and said first and second passages.

2. A fuel supply system in accordance with claim 1 including means for automatically terminating fuel flow after filling of said tank.

3. A fuel supply system in accordance with claim 2 including a conduit connected to said second passage and wherein said automatic fuel flow terminating means comprises a portion of at least one of said second passage and said conduit with restricted diameter and of a length such that said diameter and length cooperate to prevent fuel flow under normal pressure conditions.

4. A fuel system in accordance with claim 1 wherein said fuel tank includes means biasing said piston to said first position preventing communication with said tank interior.

5. A fuel system in accordance with claim 1 wherein said main bore has a threaded portion, and including a plug threadedly received in said threaded portion, and wherein said biasing means includes a spring seated, at one end, against the undersurface of said piston and seated at the opposite end against said plug.

6, A fuel system in accordance with claim 1 wherein said main bore includes a main portion and an outlet portion of lesser diameter than said main portion and wherein said piston has a skirt with a diameter slightly less than said main portion and a head with a diameter slightly less than said outlet portion and seal retaining means on one of said valve housing and said piston head, and a seal carried by said seal retaining means for engagement between said piston and said valve housing when said piston is in said first position.

7. A fuel system in accordance with claim 1 including means in said male member for biasing said plunger to said first position.

8. A fuel system in accordance with claim 7 wherein said means for supporting and moving said plunger includes a bore in said male member and a stem on said plunger guided by and movable in said bore, wherein said means biasing said plunger to said first position includes a counterbore in said male member in coaxial relation to said bore, a collar on said stem, and a spring encircling said stem and engaged at one end against the base of said counterbore and at the other end against said collar.

9. A fuel system in accordance with claim 1 wherein said end part is at the end of a projecting portion and said male member includes a surface extending radially from said projecting portion and including therein an annular groove adjacent to said projecting portion, and a sealing member located in said annular groove.

10. A fuel supply system including a device with a fuel tank having a filler neck and a housing threaded in said neck, said housing including a central bore having, at one end, an opening, a transverse bore communicating with said central bore and with the interior of said tank, and a piston movable in said bore between a first position preventing fluid flow relative to said opening and a second portion affording communication between said opening and the interior of said tank, a fuel storage container including a check valve located at the top of said container, an air-vapor conduit communicating with said check valve, and a fuel conduit communicating with the bottom of said container, and a connector including a male member having an end part adapted for insertion into said opening so as to displace said piston toward said second position, a first passage connected to said fuel supply conduit and terminating with an open end at said end part, a second passage connected to said air-vapor conduit and terminating with an open end at said end part, a plunger, means for supporting said plunger on said male member for engagement with said piston when said end part is inserted into said central bore, whereby upon insertion of said end part into said bore said piston is displaced from said first position toward said second position, and for movement of said plunger between a first position engaged with said end part wherein said passages are sealed against fluid flow and a second position spaced from said end part whereby when said end part is inserted in said opening and said plunger is in said second position, said piston is displaced to said second piston position, thereby affording communication between said fuel tank interior and said air-vapor and fuel conduits, and means for attaching said connector to said housing and for sealing said connector to said housing when said connector is attached to said housing.

11. A fuel supply system including a device with a fuel tank having a housing including a central bore communicating with the interior of said tank, and a piston movable in said bore between a first position preventing fluid flow and a second portion affording communication with the interior of said tank, a fuel storage container, an air-vapor conduit communicating with said storage container, a fuel conduit communicating with said storage container, and a connector including a male member having an end part adapted for insertion into said bore so as to displace said piston toward said second position, a first passage connected to said fuel supply conduit and terminating with an open end at said endpart, a second passage connected to said air-vapor conduit and terminating with an open end at said end part, a plunger, means for supporting said plunger on said male member for engagement with said piston when said end part is inserted into said central bore, whereby upon insertion of said end part into said bore said piston is displaced from said first position toward said second position, and for movement of said plunger between a first position engaged with said end part wherein said passages are sealed against fluid flow and a second position spaced from said end part whereby when said end part is inserted in said opening and said plunger is in said second position, said piston is displaced to said second piston position, thereby affording communication between said fuel tank interior and said storage container.

12. A fuel supply system including a fuel tank having a valve housing with means for selectively affording communication with and preventing communication with the interior of said tank, said means including a main bore communicating with the interior of said tank and including a piston movable in said main bore between a closed position preventing communication with said tank interior and an open position, and a connector including a male member having an end part adapted for insertion into said main bore, a first passage connected to a fuel supply source and terminating with an open end at said end part, a venting passage terminating with an open end at said end part, a plunger, means for supporting said plunger on said male member end part for engagement with said piston when said end pan is inserted into said bore and so as to displace said piston from said closed position in response to insertion of said end part into said main bore and for movement of said plunger outwardly of said end part from a position wherein said passages are sealed against fluid flow to a position spaced from said end part, whereby when said end part is inserted in said main bore and said plunger is moved to said spaced position, said piston is displaced from said closed position and said passages are opened, thereby affording communication between said fuel tank interior and said first and second passages.

Claims

6. A fuel system in accordance with claim 1 wherein said main bore includes a main portion and an outlet portion of lesser diameter than said main portion and wherein said piston has a skirt with a diameter slightly less than said main portion and a head with a diameter slightly less than said outlet Ortion and seal retaining means on one of said valve housing and said piston head, and a seal carried by said seal retaining means for engagement between said piston and said valve housing when said piston is in said first position.

11. A fuel supply system including a device with a fuel tank having a housing including a central bore communicating with the interior of said tank, and a piston movable in said bore between a first position preventing fluid flow and a second portion affording communication with the interior of said tank, a fuel storage container, an air-vapor conduit communicating with said storage container, a fuel conduit communicating with said storage container, and a connector including a male member having an end part adapted for insertion into said bore so as to displace said piston toward said second position, a first passage connected to said fuel supply conduit and terminating with an open end at said end part, a second passage connected to said air-vapor conduit and terminating with an open end at said end part, a plunger, means for supporting said plunger on said male member for engagement with saId piston when said end part is inserted into said central bore, whereby upon insertion of said end part into said bore said piston is displaced from said first position toward said second position, and for movement of said plunger between a first position engaged with said end part wherein said passages are sealed against fluid flow and a second position spaced from said end part whereby when said end part is inserted in said opening and said plunger is in said second position, said piston is displaced to said second piston position, thereby affording communication between said fuel tank interior and said storage container.

12. A fuel supply system including a fuel tank having a valve housing with means for selectively affording communication with and preventing communication with the interior of said tank, said means including a main bore communicating with the interior of said tank and including a piston movable in said main bore between a closed position preventing communication with said tank interior and an open position, and a connector including a male member having an end part adapted for insertion into said main bore, a first passage connected to a fuel supply source and terminating with an open end at said end part, a venting passage terminating with an open end at said end part, a plunger, means for supporting said plunger on said male member end part for engagement with said piston when said end part is inserted into said bore and so as to displace said piston from said closed position in response to insertion of said end part into said main bore and for movement of said plunger outwardly of said end part from a position wherein said passages are sealed against fluid flow to a position spaced from said end part, whereby when said end part is inserted in said main bore and said plunger is moved to said spaced position, said piston is displaced from said closed position and said passages are opened, thereby affording communication between said fuel tank interior and said first and second passages.