Chamber-like Venting Path for Filler Neck
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing filler neck designs for auxiliary liquid reservoirs, particularly urea reservoirs in motor vehicles, face challenges in reliable venting during high refilling rates, leading to potential liquid surge and contamination, while also occupying excessive installation space and not supporting vapor recovery methods effectively.
Innovation Solution
A filler neck design featuring a widened neck housing with a chamber-like or labyrinth-like venting path parallel to the refilling flow, incorporating a profiled mouth hole stub with gas outlet channels and a receiving structure for the filler nozzle, allowing direct venting through the mouth hole and minimizing installation space.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a separate venting path with axial vent holes is provided at a distance from the mouth hole, then venting function is achieved, but installation space increases and vapor recovery method is not supported
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines the venting function with the existing filler neck structure by utilizing the annular space between the inner cage and neck sleeve, eliminating the need for separate venting components and reducing installation space while maintaining reliable venting function
Solution Approach 2:
The filler neck structure is designed to serve multiple functions simultaneously: refilling, venting, and supporting vapor recovery methods. The annular space with vent holes enables both atmospheric venting and vapor recovery operations through the same structural elements
2Productivity
If the filler neck allows high refilling rates up to 40 l/min, then refilling efficiency is improved, but liquid surge and contamination risk increases
Solution Approach 1:
The venting function is segmented into multiple axial vent holes distributed in the annular space, allowing venting flow to occur through multiple pathways simultaneously. This distributes the venting capacity and prevents liquid surge while maintaining high refilling rates
Solution Approach 2:
The annular space with vent holes acts as an intermediary pathway that separates the refilling volume flow from the venting flow. This intermediary structure allows high-rate refilling while preventing liquid surge by providing a dedicated venting route that does not interfere with the refilling jet
3Reliability
If axial vent holes are arranged at a distance from the mouth hole, then venting path is established, but the path length increases and installation space is consumed
Solution Approach 1:
The venting path is arranged in the radial dimension within the annular space between the inner cage and neck sleeve, rather than extending axially. This dimensional change allows the venting holes to be positioned at the end of the nozzle housing where space is available, creating an effective venting path without increasing the axial length or requiring additional installation space
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 reliable venting and efficient refilling at high rates, prevents liquid surge, and supports vapor recovery methods, reducing contamination and installation space requirements.
Implementation Method 1
The permanent magnet is part of a system for preventing refilling errors and serves as a switching magnet for the release of a filler nozzle introduced into the filler neck
Implementation Method 2
The axial vent holes provided in the system according to DE 20 2005 011 575 U1 form a venting path which is spatially separate from the refilling volume flow
Implementation Method 3
The axial shift of the guide pipe in relation to the housing is conducted against a force realized by compression springs, which are arranged between the filler neck and the guide pipe, so that, after extraction of the nozzle, the guide pipe is moved into its initial position
Data Source
Figure 1
Figure 2~3
Figure 4~6
AI summary
The invention relates to a filler neck (1) for an auxiliary liquid reservoir for a motor vehicle, in particular for a urea reservoir, having a neck housing (9), which defines a mouth hole stub (10) for a filler nozzle (7) and a filling channel (11) leading into the reservoir, wherein a receiving structure for a filler nozzle (7) is provided within the neck housing (9). At least one venting path, which is of enlarged cross section, at least in a section or sections, and of chamber-like or labyrinth-like design, is formed within the neck housing (9), allowing a venting flow parallel and counter to the refilling volume to flow through the neck housing (9) during refilling.