Conductive Refueling Nozzle Grip for Static Discharge
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional fueling nozzles may not effectively remove static electricity from a customer's body during operation, leaving room for improvement in safety.
Innovation Solution
The fueling nozzle features a conductive metal grip and cover connected to a ground wire, along with an oil guard with ribs to prevent fuel oil from entering the main body, ensuring static electricity is removed and fueling is conducted safely.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a static electricity removal panel is provided for removing static electricity before fueling operation, then static electricity can be removed while the customer touches it, but static electricity may still charge to the customer's body during fueling nozzle operation
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines the static electricity removal function with the fueling nozzle itself by making the grip and cover conductive and connecting them to ground wire. This integration eliminates the need for a separate static electricity removal panel while ensuring continuous static electricity discharge during the entire fueling operation, thereby improving reliability without significantly increasing device complexity.
Solution Approach 2:
The fueling nozzle automatically discharges static electricity through its conductive structure and ground wire connection during normal operation. The system serves itself by utilizing the inherent conductivity of metal components and the ground connection to continuously neutralize static electricity on the customer's body throughout the fueling process, without requiring separate active control mechanisms.
2Reliability
If the conductive cover is fixed to the grip, then the cover cannot be removed or rotated, but this may increase assembly complexity
Solution Approach 1:
The conductive cover is divided into multiple segments that can be separately assembled onto the grip. This segmentation allows for easier manufacturing and assembly while ensuring that each segment is properly positioned and secured. The segmented structure maintains the conductive continuity across all segments, ensuring reliable static electricity discharge functionality without requiring complex single-piece manufacturing.
3Reliability
If ribs are mounted on the oil guard to store dropped fuel oil, then fuel oil entering the main body is prevented, but the oil guard structure becomes more complex
Solution Approach 1:
The oil guard incorporates curved or rounded rib structures that guide dropped fuel oil into collection areas. The curved geometry naturally directs fuel flow using surface tension and gravity, eliminating the need for complex mechanical barriers or additional containment components. This curved design effectively prevents fuel oil from entering the main body while maintaining a relatively simple overall structure.
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 solution effectively removes static electricity from the customer's body during fueling and prevents fuel oil from entering the main body, enhancing safety and efficiency of the fueling process.
Implementation Method 1
the grip and the cover for covering the grip are made of conductive metal, and to the grip is connected the ground wire, so that static electricity charged to a customer's body during fueling operation can be removed through the grip
Data Source
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AI summary
[OBJECT] To provide a safety fueling nozzle capable of certainly removing static electricity generated while the fueling nozzle is used. [MEANS OF REALIZING THE OBJECT] A fueling nozzle 11 including: a main valve 12a opening though operation of a valve opening lever 14 to allow fuel oil to flow; an automatic valve closing mechanism 12b releasing engagement between the main valve and the valve opening lever to terminate fueling when sealed with a liquid surface in a tank to which the fuel oil is supplied; a main body 12 having the main valve and the automatic valve closing mechanism; a grip 15 made of conductive metal, the grip being held together with the valve opening lever when the valve opening lever is operated; a fueling hose 2 connected to the grip, the fueling hose suppling the fuel oil to the main body; a discharge pipe 13 discharging fuel oil that has passed though the main valve; a ground wire mounted to the fueling hose and connected to the grip; and a conductive cover 16 covering the grip.