Fuel Tank Filler Neck Insert With Flexible Barrier Fingers
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing filler neck designs for fuel tanks do not effectively control fuel flow and prevent flame propagation during refueling, as they lack adequate barriers to manage the gaps between the refueling nozzle and the filler neck insert.
Innovation Solution
The insert for the filler neck features an inner and outer set of flexible fingers that engage with the refueling nozzle, creating a first barrier with gaps for fluid flow and a second barrier that reduces these gaps, ensuring a secure seal and preventing flame propagation by maintaining small gaps or eliminating them altogether.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If gaps are provided between the refueling nozzle and first barrier to allow fluid flow, then fuel can be discharged into the fuel tank, but flame propagation risk increases
Solution Approach 1:
The barrier structure is segmented into multiple fingers with gaps between them, allowing fuel flow while maintaining flame prevention. The inner and outer sets of fingers create multiple barrier levels that segment the flow path while restricting flame propagation through the gaps.
Solution Approach 2:
The gap dimensions are precisely controlled to fall within specific ranges that permit fuel flow but block flame propagation. The second barrier further reduces gap sizes to eliminate flame propagation pathways while maintaining fuel discharge capability.
2Reliability
If the passage minimum diameter is equal to or less than the refueling nozzle outer diameter, then the refueling nozzle is securely engaged, but the gaps between nozzle and first barrier are reduced affecting fluid flow
Solution Approach 1:
The barrier is divided into multiple fingers with controlled gaps, creating a segmented structure that maintains secure nozzle engagement while preserving adequate fluid flow paths through the gaps between fingers.
Solution Approach 2:
Different regions of the barrier structure have different properties - the fingers provide localized engagement points for secure nozzle holding, while the gaps between fingers provide localized flow paths for adequate fuel discharge.
3Device complexity
If a single barrier is used to prevent flame propagation, then the structure is simple, but it cannot simultaneously allow adequate fluid flow and prevent flame propagation
Solution Approach 1:
The barrier is segmented into multiple fingers arranged in inner and outer sets, creating a multi-level structure that maintains relative simplicity while achieving both adequate fluid flow and effective flame prevention through the segmented gap configuration.
Solution Approach 2:
The barrier structure extends in multiple dimensions with inner and outer sets of fingers arranged concentrically, creating a three-dimensional gap structure that controls fluid flow in one dimension while restricting flame propagation in another dimension.
4Manufacturing precision
If rigid barriers are used to control gaps, then the gap size is precisely controlled, but the structure cannot accommodate various nozzle sizes
Solution Approach 1:
The barrier fingers are made flexible rather than rigid, allowing them to dynamically adjust their position and the gap size according to the inserted nozzle's dimensions, thereby maintaining precise gap control while accommodating various nozzle sizes.
Solution Approach 2:
The physical state of the barrier fingers changes from rigid to flexible, enabling the gap dimensions to vary dynamically based on the nozzle size while maintaining controlled gap ranges that satisfy both flow and flame prevention requirements.
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 restricts fluid flow and prevents the passage of flames, reducing the risk of fire propagation and fuel discharge during refueling, while accommodating various nozzle sizes without the need for additional seals.
Implementation Method 1
The inner set of fingers may be carried by the main body, have a slot between adjacent fingers in the inner set of fingers and collectively defining part of the passage into which a refueling nozzle is inserted during a refueling event. The passage has a minimum diameter defined between the fingers of the inner set of fingers that is equal to or less than the outer diameter of a refueling nozzle. And the outer set of fingers may be carried by the main body and located radially outwardly of the inner set of fingers
Implementation Method 2
Upon insertion of a refueling nozzle into the passage the refueling nozzle engages the inner set of fingers and outwardly displaces at least a portion of the fingers into engagement with the outer set of fingers
Data Source
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AI summary
In at least one implementation, a filler neck for a fuel tank may include an outer tube attached to the fuel tank through which fuel is discharged into the fuel tank during a refueling event, and an insert. The insert may be carried by the outer tube and have a passage adapted to receive a refueling nozzle during a refueling event, a first barrier adapted to engage a refueling nozzle inserted in the passage and having one or more gaps through which fluid may flow between the refueling nozzle and first barrier, and a second barrier adapted to engage the first barrier to reduce the size of the gaps when the first barrier is engaged with a refueling nozzle.