Fuel Filling Neck Affixation Ring for Selective Anti-Misfueling

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing fuel filling neck designs, such as those described in German patent DE 10 2004 002 994 B3, are limited in their ability to prevent mis-fueling between gasoline and diesel engines, as they require a specific fuel nozzle diameter to function correctly, and do not easily allow for servicing or operation without a drive ring.

Innovation Solution

The introduction of an affixation ring that can be detachably mounted on the drive ring's side opposite the sealing element, allowing the drive ring to be easily inserted, affixed, and removed for servicing, and enabling operation without the drive ring when necessary, using a bayonet lock or manual insertion methods.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If a drive ring is installed in the filling neck to prevent mis-fueling, then fueling safety is improved, but device complexity and difficulty of servicing increase

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvefueling safetyVSAvoidstructure complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The filling neck is segmented into modular components: the drive ring can be independently removed from the filling neck by detaching the affixation ring. This segmentation allows the drive ring to be serviced or replaced without replacing the entire filling neck assembly, reducing overall system complexity while maintaining safety functionality.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The drive ring is extracted as a separate, removable component from the filling neck. The affixation ring provides a detachable mounting mechanism that allows the drive ring to be taken out for servicing or replacement independently, simplifying maintenance procedures while preserving the anti-misfueling function when installed.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

2Reliability

If a drive ring is permanently installed to prevent mis-fueling, then fueling safety is improved, but ease of repair and adaptability worsen

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvefueling safetyVSAvoidservicing difficulty
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSEase of repair

Solution Approach 1:

The mounting system transitions from a permanent fixed connection to a dynamic, detachable connection. The affixation ring allows the drive ring to be easily attached and detached using a bayonet lock mechanism, enabling quick servicing and adaptation to different fueling requirements without permanent installation.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

Solution Approach 2:

The drive ring can be easily removed (discarded from the installed state) and reinstalled or replaced as needed. The affixation ring's detachable design allows the drive ring to be recovered and reused on different filling necks or vehicles, facilitating maintenance and adaptation while maintaining safety when required.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #34Discarding and recovering

Data Source

PatentEP2326526B1Fuelling system for fuelling of a vehicle tank
Publication Date: 2013.06.19 ITW AUTOMOTIVE PRODS
  • EP2326526B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP2326526B1 patent drawingFigure 2~3
  • EP2326526B1 patent drawingFigure 4~5

AI summary

Filling neck (10) to feed fuel into a motor vehicle tank using a filling nozzle, having a slotted drive ring (22) with an insertion portion conically tapering toward the vehicle tank, the cross-sectional constriction being less than the filling nozzles cross-section, the drive ring being configured in floating manner in a cup-shaped housing portion of the filling the outside diameter of said ring in its relaxed state being less than the inside diameter of cup-shaped housing portion, a sealing element (30) being associated with the distal end of the drive ring and in its closed position blocks access to the tank, characterized in that an affixation ring (48) is detachably mounted, on the side of the drive ring opposite the sealing element (30), in the filling neck (10) and clamps in place the drive ring relative to a direction opposite that of the direction of insertion of the filling nozzle (20).