Vehicle fuel vapor recovery system

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9457649-B2
Application number	US-201314096818-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Dec 4, 2013
Priority date	Dec 4, 2013
Publication date	Oct 4, 2016
Grant date	Oct 4, 2016

Abstract

A vehicle fuel filler tube collar includes an end wall and a side wall. The end wall has an inner surface and an outer surface with a first tube receiving surface extending from the inner surface to the outer surface. The tube receiving surface defines a tube receiving opening having a first diameter. The side wall extends from the end wall and has a first end that is contiguous with the end wall and a second end opposite the end wall. The side wall has an inner collar surface that defines a vent opening at the second end, and an outer collar surface. The vent opening at the second end has a second diameter larger than the first diameter.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A vehicle fuel filler tube assembly comprising:
a fuel filler tube having an outer surface, a fuel receiving end and a fuel tank attachment end opposite the fuel receiving end, the fuel filler tube having a cylindrical shape proximate the fuel receiving end;
a cap protector having a first surface defining a fuel filler compartment and a second surface opposite the first surface outside of the fuel filler compartment, the cap protector defining an upper tube receiving opening that extends from the first surface to the second surface with the fuel filler tube extending therethrough, the cap protector defining an upper vent inlet opening that extends from the first surface to the second surface at a location spaced apart from the upper tube receiving opening;
a collar circumscribing the fuel receiving end of the fuel filler tube, the collar comprising:
an end wall having an inner surface and an outer surface with a tube receiving surface extending from the inner surface to the outer surface and defining a lower tube receiving opening having a first diameter, the fuel filler tube extending through the lower tube receiving opening with the tube receiving surface contacting the outer surface of the fuel filler tube; and
a side wall extending from the end wall, the side wall having a first end that is contiguous with the end wall and a second end opposite the end wall, the side wall having an inner collar surface and an outer collar surface that both have an arcuate contour defining a cylindrical shape, the second end having a flat arcuate end surface that contacts the second surface of the cap protector, the side wall and the outer surface of the fuel filler tube defining a gap therebetween at the second end, the gap further defining a lower vent inlet opening, the lower vent inlet opening having a second diameter defined by the inner collar surface at the second end, the second diameter being larger than the first diameter, the flat arcuate end surface of the second end of the side wall encircling the upper vent inlet opening and the upper tube receiving opening, the side wall further defining a chamber opening spaced apart from the second end that extends from the inner collar surface to the outer collar surface, the inner collar surface including a plurality of first ribs and a plurality of second ribs that protrude in a radially inward directions and extend along the arcuate contours of the inner collar surface, the plurality of first ribs being parallel to one another, at least one of the plurality of second ribs extending between a first one of the plurality of first ribs to a second one of the plurality of first ribs, such that the plurality of first ribs, the plurality of second ribs, the lower vent inlet opening and the outer surface of the fuel filler tube define a non-linear labyrinth path between the upper vent inlet opening and the chamber opening.

2. The vehicle fuel filler tube assembly according to claim 1 , wherein
the inner surface of the end wall and the inner collar surface of the side wall are perpendicular to one another.

3. The vehicle fuel filler tube assembly according to claim 1 , wherein
the inner surface of the end wall and the inner collar surface of the side wall at least partially define an air vent chamber.

4. The vehicle fuel filler tube assembly according to claim 1 , wherein the chamber opening extends perpendicular to the vent opening.

5. The vehicle fuel filler tube assembly according to claim 1 , wherein
the inner collar surface includes a screen fixedly attached thereto that covers the chamber opening.

6. The vehicle fuel filler tube assembly according to claim 1 , wherein
the collar includes a first collar portion and a second collar portion,
the first collar portion including a first snap fitting projection and a first attachment recess, and
the second collar portion including a second snap fitting projection and a second attachment recess, such that with the first snap fitting projection fitted to the second attachment recess and the second snap fitting projection fitted to the first attachment recess.

7. The vehicle fuel filler tube assembly according to claim 1 , wherein
the outer surface of the fuel filler tube, the inner surface of the end wall and the inner collar surface of the side wall at least partially define an air vent chamber.

8. The vehicle fuel filler tube assembly according to claim 1 , wherein
the outer surface of the fuel filler tube includes an alignment projection, and the collar includes an alignment concavity formed on the inner collar surface that is dimensioned to receive the alignment projection.

9. The vehicle fuel filler tube assembly according to claim 1 , wherein
the second surface of the cap protector, the outer surface of the fuel filler tube, the inner surface of the end wall, and the inner collar surface of the side wall define an air vent chamber, and the first vent inlet opening and the second vent inlet opening are in fluid communication such that the air vent chamber is in fluid communication with the fuel filler compartment.

10. The vehicle fuel filler tube assembly according to claim 1 , wherein
the non-linear labyrinth path defines a plurality of filter passages between the upper vent inlet opening and the chamber opening.

11. The vehicle fuel filler tube assembly according to claim 1 , wherein
the plurality of second ribs extend in directions perpendicular to the plurality of first ribs.

12. The vehicle fuel filler tube assembly according to claim 1 , wherein
the fuel receiving end of the fuel filler tube defines a central axis extending therethrough, and
the collar defines a central axis extending therethrough that is coaxially aligned with the central axis of the fuel receiving end of the fuel filler tube.

13. The vehicle fuel filler tube assembly according to claim 1 , wherein
the cap protector is generally planar in an area around the upper tube receiving opening, the upper vent inlet opening and at a location of contact with the flat arcuate end surface of the second end.

Assignees

• Nissan North America Inc

Inventors

• Fujiwara Souichi
• Dawe Brandon Michael

Classifications

• B60K2015/047

  Manufacturing of the fuel inlet or connecting elements to fuel inlet, e.g. pipes or venting tubes · CPC title

• B60K2015/03538

  the venting tube being connected with the filler tube · CPC title

• B60K15/04 Primary

  Tank inlets (B60K15/077 takes precedence) · CPC title