Capless Refueling Port Articulating Plug Pressure Management
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Solution Overview
Problem
Capless refueling systems face issues with fuel quality degradation due to contaminant buildup and pressure buildup in underground fuel storage tanks, leading to service disruptions and increased operating costs, as they often lack effective drainage mechanisms and fail to adequately dissipate vacuum pressure during refueling.
Innovation Solution
A capless refueling port design featuring an articulating unitary plug that flexes to partially seal a drain tube during refueling, reducing air leakage and allowing pressure dissipation after refueling, while a recirculation line collects residual fuel vapor to minimize emissions.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a drain tube is added to drain contaminants from the fuel port, then fuel quality is improved, but air leakage occurs during refueling leading to over pressurization of the underground fuel storage tank
Solution Approach 1:
The patent employs a dynamic plug that can change its position and sealing properties based on operational conditions. During refueling, the plug moves to seal the drain tube inlet, preventing air leakage. After refueling, it moves to allow drainage. This dynamic behavior resolves the contradiction by adapting the system's drainage function to different operational phases, eliminating air leakage during refueling while maintaining contaminant drainage capability.
Solution Approach 2:
The system changes the flow parameters of the drain tube by using a plug that can transition between open and closed states. This parameter change allows the system to control air flow dynamically - blocking air during refueling (when pressure differentials would cause leakage) while permitting fluid drainage when needed, thus resolving the contradiction between drainage function and air leakage prevention.
2Reliability
If the drain tube is open during refueling to drain contaminants, then fuel quality is maintained, but vacuum pressure buildup in the fuel filler pipe and fuel tank occurs
Solution Approach 1:
The dynamic plug responds to pressure differential changes during refueling by adjusting its position. When vacuum pressure builds up, the pressure differential causes the plug to move and seal the drain tube inlet, preventing further vacuum buildup while maintaining the ability to drain contaminants when pressure conditions are favorable. This dynamic response resolves the contradiction between maintaining drainage functionality and preventing vacuum pressure buildup.
3Object-generated harmful factors
If a capless fueling port is used to reduce fuel vapor emissions, then environmental performance is improved, but pressure buildup in the underground fuel storage tank occurs due to air leakage
Solution Approach 1:
The plug acts as an intermediary component between the drain tube and the atmosphere. It selectively controls what passes through the drain tube - allowing fuel contaminants to be drained while blocking air from entering the system during refueling. This intermediary function resolves the contradiction by maintaining the capless design's emission reduction benefits while preventing air leakage-induced pressure buildup through intelligent flow control.
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 effectively reduces pressure buildup in underground fuel storage tanks, minimizes fuel vapor emissions, and prevents over-pressurization, thereby reducing service disruptions and operating costs at fueling stations.
Implementation Method 1
an articulating unitary plug that flexes due to nozzle insertion to rest upon and at least partially seal the drain tube
Implementation Method 2
a recirculation line collects residual fuel vapor to minimize emissions
Data Source
AI summary
A capless refueling port attached to a fuel tank of a vehicle is presented. In one example, the capless refueling port includes a main opening, an articulating unitary plug mounted within a nozzle chamber of the fuel port, and a drain tube. The articulating plug is configured to partially or fully close an inlet of the drain tube connected to the fuel port during refueling; the articulating plug is further adjusted to open after refueling, allowing the fuel port to dissipate any residual pressure in the nozzle chamber to the atmosphere.