Auto pollution gasoline tank cap assembly

Claim 2

In combination with a valved nozzle that includes a first tube having a free bayonet like end portion through which a volatile liquid fuel may be discharged into a fill line of a fuel tank, said fill line having a free end, and said nozzle including a second tube having a free bayonet like end portion laterally spaced from said first tube through which fuel vapor may flow to a recovery area, a cap assembly mounted on said free end of said fill tube, said cap assembly including: a. a body mounted on said free end of said fill line, said body having at least one opening extending therethrough; b. movable closure means on said body that may be moved from a first to a second position to seal said opening to prevent escape of fuel vapor from said fill line to the ambient atmosphere during the time fuel is stored in said tank; c. first means for removably holding said closure means in said second position; and d. second means for removably effecting a seal between said opening and said bayonet like end portions of said first and second tubes when said closure means is in said first position to permit said liquid fuel to discharge into said fill line through said first tube and fuel vapor displaced from said tank during the filling thereof to discharge into said second tube to flow therethrough to said recovery area.

Claim 3

The combination as defined in claim 1 in which said opening in said body tapers inwardly and said second means is a plug having a tapered surface capable of sealingly engaging said opening, said plug having first and second bores that extend therethrough and said first and second bores being engaged by said first and second bayonet like end portions of said first and second tubes to support said plug therefrom.

Claim 4

The combination as defined in claim 2 which in addition includes: e. a tapered tubular resilient liner mounted in said opening in said body, with said liner capable of being sealingly engaged by said plug when said closure means is in said first position.

Claim 5

The combination as defined in claim 1 in which said body has first and second laterally spaced openings that extend therethrough that are sealed by said closure means when the latter is in said second position, with said second means being first and second tubular resilient liners mounted in said first and second openings that are capable of being slidably and sealingly engaged by said bayonet like end portions of said first and second tubes when said closure means is in said first position.

Claim 6

The combination as defined in claim 1 which in addition includes: e. third means for permanently securing said body to said fill line.

Claim 7

The combination as defined in claim 1 which in addition includes: e. third means for removably securing said body to said fill line.

Claim 8

In combination with a valved nozzle that includes first and second laterally spaced tubes through which volatile liquid fuel may flow and through which vapor from said fuel may flow, a cap assembly mounted on a free end of a fill line of a tank to prevent escape of fuel vapor from said tank both when said tank is having liquid fuel discharged therein as well as while Said fuel is stored in said tank, said assembly including: a. a locking collar secured to said free end of said fill line; b. a plate in abutting contact with said collar, said plate having first and second spaced openings therein, first and second tubular bosses secured to said plate that extend inwardly towards said fill line, and said first and second bosses in communication with said first and second openings; c. first means for securing said plate to said locking collar; d. first and second tubular liners formed from a resilient material impervious to said fuel, said first and second liners secured to the interior of said first and second bosses, and said first and second liners having such interior transverse cross sections that said first and second liners can be slidably and sealingly engaged by said first and second nozzles when said nozzles is discharging said liquid fuel into said tank; e. a cover member pivotally supported from said plate, said cover member when in a first position permitting said first and second tubes of said nozzle to engage said first and second liners, and said cover member when pivoted to a second position extending across said first and second openings; f. second means for removably holding said cover member in said second position; and g. first and second spaced protuberances on said cover member that sealingly engage said first and second liners when said cover member is in said second position to prevent fuel vapor in said tank escaping to the ambient atmosphere.

Claim 9

In combination with a valved nozzle that includes first and second laterally spaced tubes through which volatile liquid fuel may flow and through which vapor from said fuel may flow, a cap assembly mounted on a free end of a fill line of a tank to prevent escape of fuel vapor from said tank both when said tank is having liquid fuel discharged therein as well as while Said fuel is stored in said tank, said assembly including: a. a locking collar secured to said free end of said fill line; b. a plate in abutting contact with said collar, said plate having first and second spaced openings therein, first and second tubular bosses secured to said plate that extend inwardly towards said fill line, and said first and second bosses in communication with said first and second openings; c. first means for securing said plate to said locking collar; d. first and second tubular liners formed from a resilient material impervious to said fuel, said first and second liners secured to the interior of said first and second bosses, and said first and second liners having such interior transverse cross sections that said first and second liners can be slidably and sealingly engaged by said first and second nozzles when said nozzles is discharging said liquid fuel into said tank; e. a cover member pivotally supported from said plate, said cover member when in a first position permitting said first and second tubes of said nozzle to engage said first and second liners, and said cover member when pivoted to a second position extending across said first and second openings; f. second means for removably holding said cover member in said second position; and g. first and second spaced protuberances on said cover member that sealingly engage said first and second liners when said cover member is in said second position to prevent fuel vapor in said tank escaping to the ambient atmosphere.

Claim 10

The combination as defined in claim 7 in which said free end of said fill tube is defined by a ring shaped flange that has a cylindrical lip extending inwardly from the inner circumference thereof, said flange and lip having a plurality of circumferentially spaced slots therein, said locking collar having first threads on the interior thereof, and said combination in addition including: h. a cylindrical shell having first and second ends, said shell having second threads adjacent said first end that can engage said first threads, and a plurality of lugs that extend outwardly from said second end of said shell, said lugs capable of being moved downwardly through said slots to dispose said shell at least partially in said fill tube with said shell capable of being rotated to dispose said lugs under said lip, and said locking ring and lugs capable of gripping said flange and lip therebetween when said locking ring is rotated in an appropriate direction with said first and second threads in engagement to rigidly secured said locking ring to said fill line.