Dual Nozzle Receiving Assembly with Moveable Door

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing fuel nozzle-receiving assemblies for vehicles require separate fill points for diesel fuel and diesel emission fluid (DEF), leading to increased housing size and potential for cross-contamination, especially in vehicles that do not need the additional fluid fill point.

Innovation Solution

A compact nozzle-receiving assembly with a moveable door that integrates a fuel inlet and an additive inlet, where the additive inlet is secured to the door and extends from its interior surface, allowing for a single fill point and segregating diesel fuel and DEF systems to prevent cross-contamination, with a magnetic interlock ring and flexible tube for secure fluid flow.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Adaptability or versatility

If two separate fill points are installed for diesel fuel and DEF, then both fluids can be dispensed, but the housing size increases and complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveability to dispense both diesel fuel and DEFVSAvoidhousing size
Core Design Contradiction:
Adaptability or versatilityVSVolume of stationary object

Solution Approach 1:

The patent combines two separate fill points (diesel fuel and DEF) into a single integrated fill housing. The door assembly integrates both the fuel inlet and additive inlet, allowing both fluids to be dispensed through one unified structure rather than requiring two separate housings, thereby reducing overall housing size while maintaining adaptability.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Solution Approach 2:

The single fill housing is designed to serve multiple functions: it accommodates both diesel fuel dispensing and DEF dispensing operations. The door assembly universally handles both fluid types through integrated inlets and a common door structure, making the housing versatile for vehicles requiring either or both fluids.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

2Adaptability or versatility

If two separate fill points are installed for diesel fuel and DEF, then both fluids can be dispensed, but the device complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveability to dispense both diesel fuel and DEFVSAvoidhousing complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Adaptability or versatilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent merges the operational complexity of managing two separate fill points into a single integrated door assembly. By combining the fuel inlet and additive inlet within one door structure with a single actuator mechanism, the system reduces the number of separate components and simplifies the overall device architecture while maintaining the ability to handle both fluids.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Solution Approach 2:

The door assembly is designed as a universal component that performs multiple functions: it opens to expose both fuel and additive inlets, provides misfuel inhibition for both compartments, and can be actuated by a single mechanism. This multi-functionality reduces device complexity compared to having separate door mechanisms for each fill point.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

3Reliability

If separate fill points are used for diesel fuel and DEF, then fluid segregation is achieved, but the housing size increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveprevention of cross-contaminationVSAvoidhousing size
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSVolume of stationary object

Solution Approach 1:

The patent segments the internal structure of the single fill housing into distinct compartments for diesel fuel and DEF. The fuel inlet and additive inlet are spatially separated within the housing, and the door assembly provides separate access paths to each fluid compartment, ensuring physical segregation and preventing cross-contamination while maintaining a compact single-housing design.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The patent uses vertical and lateral spatial arrangement within the single housing to achieve fluid segregation. The fuel inlet and additive inlet are positioned at different locations and orientations within the housing volume, creating distinct dispensing zones that prevent mixing while utilizing the three-dimensional space efficiently to avoid increasing overall housing size.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #17Another dimension (Dimensionality change)

Data Source

PatentEP3388272B1Dual nozzle-receiving assembly
Publication Date: 2020.01.29 ILLINOIS TOOL WORKS INC
  • EP3388272B1 patent drawingFigure 1~2
  • EP3388272B1 patent drawingFigure 3~4
  • EP3388272B1 patent drawingFigure 5

AI summary

A nozzle-receiving assembly includes a housing including a fuel inlet that is configured to receive a first nozzle of a fuel dispenser in order to dispense fuel into a fuel fill pipe coupled to the fuel inlet. A door is moveably secured to the housing. The door is configured to be moved between an open position and a closed position. An additive inlet is secured to the door. The additive inlet is configured to receive a second nozzle of an additive dispenser to dispense additive into an additive conduit coupled to the additive inlet.