Angled Sealing Flap Neck End for Fuel Containers
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing neck ends for containers, such as fuel tanks, lack effective space optimization and theft protection, with previous solutions either being unreliable or requiring excessive mechanical effort, and often allowing unsuitable fuel filling due to incomplete sealing or easy manipulation.
Innovation Solution
A neck end design featuring a lower sealing flap angled at right angles to the neck axis, allowing for reduced space requirements and incorporating an anti-theft mechanism beneath the flap to prevent pipe insertion, while ensuring liquid flow and secure filling, with the flap positioned obliquely to avoid collision with the upper pivoting flap and allowing for a mechanical barrier to prevent theft.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If hooks are distributed over the circumference of the neck to prevent incorrect filling, then filling with unsuitable fuel is prevented, but the displacement of hooks requires a lot of mechanical effort and can be pushed away by inserting the pump nozzle in a tilted manner
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces the mechanical hook displacement system with a geometric blocking system. Instead of using hooks that require mechanical displacement, the invention uses a blocking element with a blocking surface that geometrically prevents the pump nozzle from being inserted at incorrect angles or with insufficient diameter, eliminating the need for mechanical effort to displace safety elements.
Solution Approach 2:
Instead of actively displacing safety elements (hooks) to allow filling, the invention inverts the approach by having a blocking element that passively blocks incorrect insertions and automatically allows correct insertions without requiring active displacement mechanisms.
2Device complexity
If the lower sealing flap is arranged horizontally in the neck, then the closure mechanism is simple, but the space requirement is excessive and the lower sealing flap may collide with the upper pivoting flap during opening
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the orientation of the lower sealing flap from horizontal to oblique, tilting it relative to the neck axis. This dimensional change in orientation allows the flap to open along a different path that avoids collision with the upper pivoting flap while reducing the vertical space required for the closure mechanism.
Solution Approach 2:
The lower sealing flap is designed with an asymmetric oblique orientation rather than a symmetric horizontal position. This asymmetric arrangement optimizes the opening path and space utilization, preventing interference with the upper flap while maintaining sealing effectiveness.
3Device complexity
If no anti-theft means is provided in the neck end, then the structure is simple, but unauthorized access and theft of container contents is possible
Solution Approach 1:
The blocking element serves multiple functions: it prevents incorrect filling by blocking unsuitable pump nozzles, prevents theft by blocking hose insertion, and maintains a relatively simple structure. This multi-functionality addresses both security concerns and structural simplicity without requiring separate dedicated anti-theft devices.
4Reliability
If hooks are used to prevent incorrect filling, then fuel type safety is improved, but the pump nozzle can still be inserted partially and filling with unsuitable fuel is possible with disregard of safety instructions
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces the mechanical hook system with a geometric blocking surface that completely prevents insertion of unsuitable pump nozzles. The blocking surface is designed to contact the pump nozzle at a point that prevents any further insertion, making it impossible to partially insert and ignore safety instructions, unlike the hook system which only prevented complete insertion.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
The design achieves optimized space usage and enhanced theft protection by allowing liquid flow while preventing unauthorized access, ensuring secure filling and reducing the risk of unsuitable fuel introduction, with improved reliability and reduced mechanical effort.
Implementation Method 1
an anti-theft means for preventing the introduction of a pipe or tube, which means is formed by a mechanical barrier to introduction and allows liquid through
Implementation Method 2
an anti-theft means for preventing the introduction of a pipe or tube, which means is formed by a mechanical barrier to introduction and allows liquid through
Data Source
AI summary
The invention relates to an in particular capless neck end for a container, in particular a fuel container, with a double-flap closure which is formed by an upper pivoting flap (12) and a lower sealing flap (2). Neck ends of this type are known from WO 2006/084908. These known neck ends require too much installation space and are not optimally protected from the contents of the container being pumped out. This is improved by the invention in that the lower sealing flap is arranged in such a manner that it is arranged at an angle to the transverse section plane arranged at right angles to the neck axis (S) when in the closed state, and either the articulation point or, when in the closed state, the end opposite the articulation point of the lower sealing flap is arranged above the lower end of the first circular segment path. Furthermore, an anti-theft means (25) in the form of a mechanical barrier is provided below the double-flap closure.