Fuel Hose and Nozzle Heating Using Separate Air Passageways

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Solution Overview

Problem

Fuel dispensers are prone to freezing and clogging in low temperatures, leading to inefficient and aesthetically unpleasing solutions such as heated cabinets and cumbersome shrouds that provide inefficient heating.

Innovation Solution

A fuel dispensing device with separate passageways for fluid and heated air, where the heated air heats the fluid without mixing, allowing for efficient heating of fuel hoses and nozzles without external heating components, reducing energy consumption and maintaining a sleek design.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If heated cabinets are used to prevent fluid from freezing, then the fluid can be protected from freezing, but the device becomes aesthetically unpleasing and cumbersome

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvefreezing protectionVSAvoidcabinet structure

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The heating function is extracted from the entire cabinet and concentrated only to the hose and nozzle areas where freezing actually occurs. This eliminates the need for a large heated cabinet while maintaining freezing protection, thereby improving aesthetics and reducing device complexity.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

Solution Approach 2:

Heating is applied locally to the hose and nozzle rather than uniformly across the entire cabinet. This targeted approach provides sufficient freezing protection while avoiding the aesthetic and complexity issues of a full cabinet heating system.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #3Local quality

2Reliability

If shrouds are used to contain the hose and nozzle for heating, then freezing can be prevented, but the shroud gets in the way of user handling and provides inefficient heating

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvefreezing protectionVSAvoiduser handling

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The heating function is extracted from a enclosing shroud structure and integrated directly into the hose and nozzle. This eliminates the shroud that interfered with user handling while maintaining freezing protection through direct heating elements.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

Solution Approach 2:

The heating elements are merged with the hose and nozzle structures themselves rather than being separated in a shroud. This integration improves ease of operation by removing obstructive shrouds while maintaining effective heating for freezing protection.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #5Merging (Combining)

3Temperature

If traditional heating methods are used, then fluid can be heated, but energy consumption is high and heating efficiency is low

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvefluid temperatureVSAvoidenergy consumption

Core Design Contradiction:

TemperatureVSUse of energy by moving object

Solution Approach 1:

Heating is applied locally only to the hose and nozzle where the fluid is most susceptible to freezing, rather than heating a large volume of fluid or a entire cabinet. This localized heating significantly reduces energy consumption while maintaining effective temperature control.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #3Local quality

Solution Approach 2:

The heating elements are integrated into the fluid flow path, providing continuous heating as fluid passes through the hose and nozzle. This ensures consistent temperature maintenance with minimal energy input compared to periodic or ambient heating methods.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #20Continuity of useful action

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 fuel from freezing within hoses and nozzles, ensuring continuous dispensing while reducing energy usage and maintaining a user-friendly, aesthetically appealing design by using lower wattage heating and integrating heating elements closer to the fluid, thus enhancing efficiency and usability.

Implementation Method 1

The heat element can be in communication with the second passageway and can be configured to heat the air passing through the second passageway, thereby heating the fluid within the first passageway that is adjacent the second passageway

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectThermal conduction: Conduction (thermal)

Implementation Method 2

The heat element can be configured to heat the air passing through the second passageway, thereby heating the fluid within the first passageway

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectConvection: Convection

Data Source

PatentUS11440790B2Devices and methods for heating fuel hoses and nozzles

Publication Date: 2022.09.13 WAYNE FUELING SYSTEMS LLC

AI summary

Various exemplary devices and methods for heating fuel hoses and nozzles are provided. In general, the devices and methods for heating fuel hoses and nozzles can be configured to heat fluid dispensable by a user into a fuel tank or other type of container. In some embodiments, a fuel dispensing device can include a first passageway configured to pass fluid therethrough and can include a second passageway configured to pass heated air therethrough. The heated air passing through the second passageway can be configured to heat the fluid passing through the first passageway. In some embodiments, a fuel dispensing device can include a single hose configured to pass fluid and heated air through separate passageways therein, and the device can include a manifold configured to facilitate passage of the fluid and the heated air from separate sources into the single hose.