Fuel Cap Tether Gap Vapor Venting Design
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Solution Overview
Problem
Fuel caps designed to vent pressurized vapors from fuel tanks often clog due to narrow apertures or pathways, which can be blocked by dirt or fuel deposits, hindering effective vapor release and air intake.
Innovation Solution
A fuel cap assembly with a tether and filter media that includes a gap between the fastener and the cap body to allow vapor passage, and a filter media positioned between the inlet and outlet to mitigate clogging, along with partitions and pathways to enhance filtration and vapor flow.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a narrow aperture or pathway is used in the fuel cap to vent vapors, then the vapor venting function is achieved, but the aperture is prone to clogging by dirt or fuel deposits
Solution Approach 1:
The patent transitions from a single narrow aperture to a three-dimensional vapor passage system with multiple pathways. The tether assembly creates a circumferential gap around the cap stem that forms an additional vapor passage dimension, allowing vapors to flow around rather than through a single narrow point, thereby reducing clogging susceptibility.
Solution Approach 2:
The vapor venting function is segmented into multiple pathways: the original aperture and the new circumferential gap created by the tether assembly. This segmentation distributes vapor flow across multiple routes, so if one pathway becomes partially blocked, vapors can still escape through other pathways.
2Reliability
If a tether is added to secure the fuel cap to the engine, then cap security is improved, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The tether assembly is designed to serve multiple functions simultaneously: it secures the cap to the engine body, provides an additional vapor passage through its circumferential gap, and acts as a structural support element. This multi-functionality reduces the need for separate components, thereby limiting the increase in overall device complexity.
Solution Approach 2:
The vapor passage function is merged into the tether assembly structure itself. The circumferential gap formed by the tether is intentionally designed to serve as a vapor pathway, combining the security function and vapor venting function into a single integrated component rather than requiring separate elements.
3Strength
If the tether fastener extends through the aperture, then the tether can be securely attached, but it may block vapor passage
Solution Approach 1:
The vapor passage is extended from a two-dimensional aperture plane to a three-dimensional circumferential pathway. The gap around the fastener creates a radial dimension for vapor flow, allowing vapors to pass around the fastener in addition to through the aperture, maintaining passage continuity despite the fastener's presence.
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
The solution effectively prevents clogging by allowing vapor passage around the fastener and enhances filtration, ensuring efficient venting and air intake while maintaining cap security.
Implementation Method 1
A gap is formed between the portion of the fastener and the body that allows for venting of vapors from the container around the portion of the fastener that is extending through the aperture
Implementation Method 2
a filter media positioned in the volume, between the inlet and the outlet, which is designed to filter the vapors
Data Source
AI summary
A cap assembly includes a body and a tether. The body is configured to be fastened to a container for closing an opening in the container. An aperture is formed in the body, and the tether has a fastener, where a portion of the fastener extends through the aperture in the body. A gap is formed between the portion of the fastener and the body that allows for venting of vapors from the container around the portion of the fastener that is extending through the aperture.