Capless refueling mechanism

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9987922-B2
Application number	US-201615238255-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Aug 16, 2016
Priority date	Aug 16, 2016
Publication date	Jun 5, 2018
Grant date	Jun 5, 2018

Abstract

A capless refueling mechanism attached to a vehicle fuel tank is disclosed. In one example, the capless refueling mechanism includes a guide plate, main opening, misfueling inhibitor mechanism with a first and second pendulum arm mounted within the main opening, and a sealing door pivotably coupled to the refueling mechanism. The first and second pendulum arm of the misfueling inhibitor may be adjusted to move from a first position to a second position, allowing a fuel nozzle sized to fit the main opening to open the sealing door and dispense fuel into the fuel tank.

First claim

The invention claimed is:

1. A capless refueling mechanism, comprising:
a body including an opening adapted to receive a fuel nozzle;
a door pivotably coupled to the body and adapted to cover the opening;
a pair of arms, each rotatably coupled to the body about an arm axis arranged parallel to a central axis of the body and each including a first mating structure adapted to mate with the door, wherein each arm of the pair of arms includes a curved vertical front surface, a guide flange extending from a top portion of the arm, a hooked protrusion on a back surface of the arm, the back surface opposite the curved vertical front surface, and a tapered opening in a bushing.

2. The capless refueling mechanism of claim 1 , wherein the door is positioned forward of the opening and the pair of arms is positioned forward of the door within the body, relative to the central axis, the pair of arms positioned between an exterior of a vehicle in which the capless refueling mechanism is installed and the opening.

3. The capless refueling mechanism of claim 1 , wherein the capless refueling mechanism is movable between a first position where the pair of arms mates with the door and the door covers the opening and a second position where the pair of arms are rotated about the arm axis away from the door and the door is pivoted inward, into an interior of the body, and away from the opening.

4. The capless refueling mechanism of claim of claim 3 , wherein, in the first position, a space between each of the pair of arms is narrower than the opening, and wherein, in the second position, the space between each of the pair of arms is larger than the opening.

5. The capless refueling mechanism of claim 3 , wherein, in the first position, the first mating structure of each of the pair of arms is interlocked with a corresponding second mating structure on the door.

6. The capless refueling mechanism of claim 1 , wherein each arm of the pair of arms includes a first end rotatably coupled to a pivot mounting block and a second end including the first mating structure.

7. The capless refueling mechanism of claim 1 , wherein each arm of the pair of arms includes guide pin extending from a top portion of the arm, the guide pin having an extended circular rod that fits into a recessed opening in the body to allow rotational arm motion.

8. The capless refueling mechanism of claim 1 , wherein a first surface of the door includes an indented portion having a radius of curvature adapted to receive a portion of the fuel nozzle.

9. The capless refueling mechanism of claim 1 , wherein the door is angled relative to the central axis and the opening.

10. The capless refueling mechanism of claim 1 , further comprising a plurality of ribs arranged along a portion of an internal surface of the body, along a direction substantially parallel to the central axis.

11. The capless refueling mechanism of claim 1 , further comprising a guide plate coupled to an end of the body, wherein the guide plate includes the opening, with guide ribs disposed on a lower bottom wall of the opening.

12. A refueling mechanism, comprising:
a filler pipe body having a central axis and including an interior passage an opening positioned forward of the interior passage, and a rear ramped opening element;
a door pivotably coupled to the body, forward of the opening, the door angled relative to the central axis, where the opening is only covered by the door and no additional caps;
a pair of arms, each rotatably coupled to the body and positioned forward of the door; and
a latch device hingedly attached to a top portion of the door, the latch device mounted to a top internal wall of the filler pipe body and the rear ramped opening element, the latch device abutting and sealing against the top internal wall of the filler pipe body and the rear ramped opening element along contact interfaces.

13. The refueling mechanism of claim 12 , wherein the pair of arms is movable between a first position where the pair of arms is coupled with the door and the door covers the opening and a second position where the pair of arms is rotated away from the central axis and the door and the door is rotated away from the opening, and wherein each arm includes a curved vertical front surface, a guide flange extending from a top portion of the arm, a hooked protrusion on a back surface of the arm, the back surface opposite the curved vertical front surface, and a tapered opening in a bushing.

14. The refueling mechanism of claim 13 , wherein, in the first position, a space between the pair of arms is smaller than a diameter of the opening of the filler pipe body.

15. The refueling mechanism of claim 13 , wherein each arm of the pair of arms includes a first end rotatably coupled to a pivot mounting block and a second end including a first mating feature, where the pivot mounting block is coupled to a top edge of an outer circumference of the filler pipe body and the second end of each arm extends from the pivot mounting block toward a bottom edge of the outer circumference, along the outer circumference and across the opening.

16. The refueling mechanism of claim 15 , wherein the second end of each arm includes a hooked protrusion adapted to mate with an extension positioned on an outer edge of the door when the arms are in the first position.

17. A refueling system for a vehicle, comprising:
a fuel passage coupled to a fuel tank of the vehicle; and
a capless refueling mechanism including a first end coupled to the fuel passage and a second end facing an exterior of the vehicle, the mechanism including:
an outer body including an opening fluidly coupled with the fuel passage;
a rear ramped opening element;
a door rotatably coupled to the body, forward of the opening relative to the exterior of the vehicle, and including a first mating feature;
a pair of arms rotatably coupled to the body, forward of the door, and including a second mating feature adapted to mate with the first mating feature; and
a latch device hingedly attached to a top portion of the door, the latch device mounted to a top internal wall of the outer body and the rear ramped opening element, the latch device abutting and sealing against the top internal wall of the outer body and the rear ramped opening element along contact interfaces.

18. The refueling system of claim 17 , wherein the first mating feature includes two extensions positioned on opposite sides of an outer edge of the door and extending outward from an outer surface of the door, toward the exterior of the vehicle and wherein the second mating feature includes two hooked protrusions, one on each arm of the pair of arms, and wherein each arm includes a curved vertical front surface, a guide flange extending from a top portion of the arm, a hooked protrusion on a back surface of the arm, the back surface opposite the curved vertical front surface, and a tapered opening in a bushing.

19. The refueling system of claim 18 , wherein the outer surface of the door includes an indented portion positioned between the two extensions and having a radius of curvature adapted to receive an outer surface of a fuel nozzle.

Assignees

• Ford Global Tech Llc

Inventors

• Song Xiankai
• Zitkovic Jr Michael Terrence

Classifications

• B60K15/0406 Primary

  Filler caps for fuel tanks · CPC title

• B60K2015/0429

  actuated by the nozzle · CPC title

• B60Y2400/302

  Temperature sensors · CPC title

• B60K13/04

  concerning exhaust · CPC title

• B60K2015/0461

  comprising a filler pipe shutter, e.g. trap, door or flap for fuel inlet · CPC title