Fill system for fuel and liquid

Abstract

A fill system, particularly for use as a fuel fill system for filling a tank of a vehicle such as a boat, is disclosed including a fill device for mounting on the vehicle and a closure for substantially closing an opening of the fill. The closure is generally a unitary component provided a vent to the atmosphere for pressure balance between the atmosphere and the fuel tank of the vehicle. The closure includes a vent passageway leading to one or more vent ports, and the construction of the vent passageway and ports minimizes fuel splashing through the closure.

1 . A closure for a fill, the closure comprising: 
 a unitary component having a first portion connectable with the fill and a second portion for spanning across the first portion to substantially close the fill, wherein a vent opening is formed between the first and second portions and extends laterally outwardly therefrom to provide fluid communication with the fill and atmosphere outside of the closure.    
   
   
       2 . The closure of  claim 1  wherein the vent opening comprises a series of vent ports.  
   
   
       3 . The closure of  claim 1  wherein the vent opening is positioned outboard of a vent tube opening in the fill.  
   
   
       4 . The closure of  claim 1  wherein the component includes an exterior surface bearing indicia indicating an orientation for the closure when secured with the fill.  
   
   
       5 . The closure of  claim 4  wherein the orientation indicates a desirable orientation of the vent opening relative to an opening in a vent tube of the fill.  
   
   
       6 . The closure of  claim 1  further including a compressible sealing member located around the first portion for preventing liquid passage between the closure and the fill.  
   
   
       7 . The closure of  claim 1  including a cavity in the first portion in fluid communication with an opening in the fill, and a passageway in fluid communication with the cavity and with the vent opening.  
   
   
       8 . The closure of  claim 7  wherein the unitary component further includes a recessed portion in fluid communication with the cavity and with the passageway.  
   
   
       9 . A fill system comprising: 
 a fill member including a fill passage for fluid conveyance; and    a unitary closure member connectable with the fill member for substantially closing the fill passage, the closure member including a vent passageway in fluid communication from an interior of the fill member and an atmospheric exterior of the closure when secured with the fill member.    
   
   
       10 . The fill system of  claim 9  wherein the closure member has a first portion connectable with the fill member and a second portion for spanning across the first portion to substantially close the fill member, wherein the vent passageway is formed between the first and second portions and extends laterally outwardly therefrom to provide fluid communication with the fill member and the atmospheric exterior.  
   
   
       11 . The fill system of  claim 9  further including a recessed portion to receive a compressible sealing member located around the first portion of the closure member to prevent fluid flow between the fill and closure members.  
   
   
       12 . The fill system of  claim 9  further including a compressible sealing member located around the first portion of the closure member to prevent fluid flow between the fill and closure members  
   
   
       13 . The fill system of  claim 9  wherein the vent passageway includes a vent opening to the atmosphere.  
   
   
       14 . The fill system of  claim 13  further including a compressible sealing member located around the first portion of the closure member to prevent fluid flow between the fill and closure members, the sealing member providing a gap between the fill and closure members to permit venting to the atmosphere therethrough.  
   
   
       15 . The fill system of  claim 14  wherein the closure member further includes a recessed portion for receiving the compressible sealing member.  
   
   
       16 . The fill system of  claim 14  wherein the vent opening comprises a series of vent ports.  
   
   
       17 . The fill system of  claim 9  wherein the fill member includes a vent tube having an opening into the fill passage, and the closure member vent opening is positioned outboard of the vent tube opening in the fill passage.  
   
   
       18 . The fill system in  claim 9  further including a fire arrestor, wherein the fill member includes a vent tube having an opening into the fill passage, and the fire arrestor is located within the vent tube.  
   
   
       19 . The fill system in  claim 18  wherein the fire arrestor includes a porous portion for permitting flow therethrough.  
   
   
       20 . The fill system in  claim 18  wherein the fire arrestor is accessible for cleaning or removal.  
   
   
       21 . The fill system of  claim 9  wherein the closure member includes an exterior surface bearing indicia indicating an orientation for the closure member when secured with the fill member.  
   
   
       22 . The fill system of  claim 21  wherein the fill member includes a vent tube having an opening into the fill passage, wherein the vent passageway includes a vent opening, and the indicia indicates a desirable orientation of the vent opening relative to the vent tube opening.  
   
   
       23 . The fill system of  claim 9  wherein the closure member includes a cavity in fluid communication with the fill passage, and includes a vent passageway in fluid communication with the cavity and with the vent opening.  
   
   
       24 . The fill system of  claim 9  wherein the closure member further includes a recessed portion in fluid communication with the cavity and with the vent passageway.  
   
   
       25 . The fill system of  claim 9  wherein the closure member further includes an exterior surface with a manually movable portion secured thereon, the movable portion providing a grip for securing or removing the closure member from the fill member.