Expandable Fuel Additive Pourer for Capless Systems
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Solution Overview
Problem
Capless fuel systems present a challenge for introducing fuel additives due to their self-sealing mechanism, which prevents non-standard nozzles or spouts from entering, making it difficult or impossible to add fuel additives, leading to potential spillage hazards.
Innovation Solution
A circumferentially expandable pouring device with a flexible nozzle and flange that accommodates various container neck diameters, forming a leak-proof frictional engagement, allowing for easy use with capless fuel systems.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If a standard fuel additive container with a fixed-size opening is used, then the container is simple and easy to manufacture, but it cannot accommodate capless fuel systems with self-sealing mechanisms that prevent non-standard nozzles from entering
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies the dynamics principle by making the container opening expandable rather than fixed. The opening can dynamically change its size from a closed state to an expanded state that accommodates the fuel additive container neck, allowing it to work with capless fuel systems while maintaining simplicity in its basic container design.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the physical parameter of the container opening from a fixed diameter to an expandable diameter. This parameter change allows the opening to adapt to different container neck sizes and work with capless fuel systems, resolving the contradiction between adaptability and design complexity.
2Reliability
If a device with a tight seal is designed to prevent leakage, then fuel additive transfer reliability is improved, but the device becomes more complex and difficult to manufacture
Solution Approach 1:
The patent uses a flexible membrane or film that can deform to create a tight seal around the container neck. This flexible sealing element conform s to the neck shape and provides a reliable leak-proof connection without requiring complex mechanical seal mechanisms, thus improving reliability while keeping the device simple.
Solution Approach 2:
The seal mechanism dynamically adapts to the container neck size through the expandable opening and flexible sealing elements. This dynamic adjustment creates a tight seal for each specific container without requiring multiple pre-configured seal sizes, reducing complexity while maintaining reliability.
3Adaptability or versatility
If a device is designed to accommodate a range of container neck diameters, then versatility is improved, but the device structure becomes more complex
Solution Approach 1:
The patent employs dynamic expandable structures that can adjust their circumference to match different container neck diameters. This dynamic adaptation allows a single device design to accommodate various container sizes without requiring multiple fixed-size components, thereby improving versatility while minimizing structural complexity.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent creates a universal container opening structure that can serve multiple functions by accommodating different container neck sizes. This multi-functional design eliminates the need for separate devices for different container types, improving versatility without proportionally increasing complexity.
4Ease of operation
If a flexible nozzle is used to facilitate insertion into capless fuel systems, then ease of operation is improved, but the nozzle becomes more complex and less durable
Solution Approach 1:
The patent uses a flexible nozzle constructed from flexible materials or segmented structures that can bend and deform during insertion into capless fuel systems. This flexibility enables easy insertion without requiring complex mechanical expansion or contraction mechanisms, thus improving ease of operation while keeping the nozzle structure relatively simple.
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
Enables safe and efficient transfer of fuel additives into capless gas systems without leakage, accommodating a range of container sizes and ensuring a tight seal, while being simple, economical, and easy to use.
Implementation Method 1
forming a substantially leak-proof frictional engagement between the device and the container
Implementation Method 2
Due to the slight elasticity of the flange, presence of hinge points, and ability of flange to flex inwardly
Implementation Method 3
The nozzle of the device may have a flexible region, preferably constructed of collapsible bellows that bend and stay in position
Data Source
AI summary
Devices that assist in transferring liquid from commercially available fuel additive containers into capless fuel system intakes generally include an enlarged mouth portion and a narrower nozzle portion, with the mouth portion detachably engaging with an additive container, and the nozzle portion inserted into a capless fuel system intake, such that the capless fuel system's opening flap is held in the opened position. The mouth of the device includes a plurality of hinge points that permit circumferential enlargement of the aperture, thereby allowing the device to form a substantially leak-proof frictional engagement with the neck of fuel additive containers having different diameters. In this manner devices can be used with almost all additive containers, regardless of the type, size and/or manufacturer. The device may include at least one flexible region on the nozzle.