Sock inlet check valve for fuel tank

Abstract

Reducing fuel vapor within a vehicle fuel tank is accomplished by employing a flexible fuel sock attached to spud near the top surface of the fuel tank. The fuel sock resides within the fuel tank and retains liquid fuel during tank refueling so that the fuel is confined within the fuel sock until the fuel reaches the bottom of the fuel tank or the current level of fuel within the tank. The fuel conduit may be flexible and buoyant to accommodate any level of fuel in the tank and reduction of fuel refueling vapors. A check valve may be situated within the spud.

1 . In a vehicle having a fuel tank defining a fuel inlet, an apparatus for reducing fuel vapor generation in the fuel tank comprising: 
 a fuel conduit extending from the fuel inlet to a location proximate a bottom of the fuel tank.    
   
   
       2 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the fuel conduit is flexible.  
   
   
       3 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the fuel conduit is buoyant.  
   
   
       4 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein a rigid tube protrudes from the fuel inlet and into the fuel tank, the fuel conduit joined to the rigid tube.  
   
   
       5 . The apparatus of  claim 4 , further comprising: 
 a check valve, the check valve situated within the rigid tube.    
   
   
       6 . An apparatus for reducing fuel tank vapor generation in a fuel tank, comprising: 
 a rigid tube protruding through a fuel tank wall; and    a fuel conduit, the fuel conduit extending from the rigid tube to proximate a fuel tank bottom.    
   
   
       7 . The apparatus of  claim 6 , wherein the fuel conduit is flexible.  
   
   
       8 . The apparatus of  claim 6 , wherein the fuel conduit is buoyant.  
   
   
       9 . The apparatus of  claim 6 , further comprising a check valve, the check valve situated within the rigid tube to permit one-way fuel flow into the fuel tank.  
   
   
       10 . An apparatus for reducing fuel tank vapor generation in a fuel tank, comprising: 
 a rigid tube protruding through a fuel tank wall; and    a flexible fuel conduit, a first end of the fuel conduit connected to the rigid tube and extending from the rigid tube to proximate a fuel tank bottom.    
   
   
       11 . The apparatus of  claim 10 , further comprising a one-way check valve, the one-way check valve situated within the rigid tube and permitting fuel to only flow into the fuel tank.  
   
   
       12 . The apparatus of  claim 11 , wherein the flexible fuel conduit is buoyant.  
   
   
       13 . The apparatus of  claim 12 , further comprising a second end of the fuel conduit, wherein the second end of the fuel conduit is proximate a bottom surface of the fuel tank.  
   
   
       14 . The apparatus of  claim 13 , wherein the second end of the fuel conduit is located under a surface of fuel within the fuel tank.