Fuel Filler Neck Closure Element for Liquid Drainage and Emission Control
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Solution Overview
Problem
Capless filler necks face issues with liquid accumulation, which interferes with emission protection during refueling, as the liquid outlet opening allows air to be sucked in or emissions to escape when using activated carbon filters or rubber end sleeves.
Innovation Solution
A closure element is designed to be prestressed into an open position, allowing liquid drainage, but moves counter to this prestressing to close the liquid outlet opening when a fuel pump nozzle is hooked in, ensuring tightness and preventing emissions from escaping.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a liquid outlet opening is provided in the filler neck to drain accumulated liquid, then liquid accumulation is prevented, but emission protection is compromised as air is sucked in or emissions escape through the opening
Solution Approach 1:
The closure element is designed to dynamically change position between open and closed states based on operational conditions. During refueling, the closure element closes the liquid outlet opening to prevent emissions. During liquid accumulation, the opening remains open for drainage. This dynamic adaptability resolves the contradiction by allowing the system to optimize for either liquid drainage or emission protection depending on the current operational state.
Solution Approach 2:
The system changes the state parameter of the liquid outlet opening from open to closed based on operational requirements. The closure element responds to parameters such as the presence of a fuel pump nozzle or pressure differential to transition the opening state, thereby adjusting the system's behavior to meet different functional requirements (liquid drainage vs. emission protection).
2Loss of substance
If the filler neck remains open for liquid drainage, then liquid can drain out, but emissions can escape into the environment during refueling
Solution Approach 1:
The closure element dynamically transitions between open and closed positions to control the liquid outlet opening. During refueling operations, it closes to prevent emissions from escaping. During liquid accumulation conditions, it opens to allow drainage. This dynamic control mechanism enables the system to prevent harmful emissions while maintaining necessary liquid drainage functionality.
3Object-affected harmful factors
If a closure element is added to close the liquid outlet opening during refueling, then emission protection is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The closure element is designed to automatically close the liquid outlet opening through self-actuation mechanisms such as elastic restoration or pressure differential without requiring external control systems. The element responds autonomously to operational conditions (presence of fuel pump nozzle, pressure changes) and performs the closure function independently, thereby improving emission protection while minimizing the addition of complex control mechanisms.
Solution Approach 2:
The closure element acts as an intermediary component between the liquid outlet opening and the refueling operation. It mediates the conflict between maintaining an open state for drainage and closing for emission protection by responding to intermediate signals (such as the insertion of the fuel pump nozzle or pressure differential) and executing the appropriate state transition.
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
This design effectively prevents liquid accumulation and maintains high emission protection by automatically closing the liquid outlet opening during refueling, ensuring no significant emissions escape, even when using activated carbon filters or rubber end sleeves.
Implementation Method 1
which is prestressed into the closed position by means of spring prestressing
Implementation Method 2
the closure element is moved counter to the prestressing into a closure position closing the liquid outlet opening
Data Source
AI summary
A filler neck for filling fuel into a vehicle tank includes a closure flap mounted for pivot between a closed position closing the filler neck and an open position releasing the filler neck and which is prestressed into the closed position by spring prestressing and is pivotable into the open position from the closed position by a fuel pump nozzle being hooked into a hooking-in position in the filler neck. A liquid outlet opening permits liquid accumulating in the filler neck when the closure flap is closed to drain out of the filler neck. A closure element is prestressed into an open position releasing the liquid outlet opening. The closure element is arranged and designed in such a manner that, by the fuel pump nozzle being hooked into the hooking-in position, the closure element is moved counter to the prestressing into a closure position closing the liquid outlet opening.