Fuel Nozzle Drip Catcher Integration and Shrinkable Coating

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing automatic dispensing valves for diesel fuel at gas stations face issues with additional costs due to separate diesel drip collectors, mechanical wear of soft plastic protective covers, exposure to external stresses, and potential overflow, leading to environmental contamination.

Innovation Solution

An integrated return drip collector within the housing connection piece of the dispensing valve, utilizing a metal housing with a return channel and receiving chamber, and a shrinkable plastic protective coating for sealing, eliminating the need for additional components and enhancing durability.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Object-affected harmful factors

If a separate cylindrical return droplet collector is added to the nozzle, then diesel fuel residue can be collected, but device complexity and cost increase

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvediesel fuel residue contaminationVSAvoidnumber of components
Core Design Contradiction:
Object-affected harmful factorsVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The return droplet collector is integrated into the housing connection piece, merging two previously separate components (housing connection piece and return droplet collector) into a single unified structure. This eliminates the need for a separate cylindrical return droplet collector while maintaining the fuel residue collection function, thereby reducing device complexity and cost.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #5Merging (Combining)

2Reliability

If a soft plastic protective cover is added to the nozzle, then protection is provided, but mechanical wear increases and replacement frequency increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveprotection against damageVSAvoidservice life of protective cover
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSDuration of action of moving object

Solution Approach 1:

The protective cover material is modified to have fuel-resistant properties through parameter changes in material composition or treatment. This enables the protective cover to resist diesel fuel degradation, maintaining its mechanical integrity and protective function over extended periods, thereby increasing service life and reducing replacement frequency.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

3Object-affected harmful factors

If the receiving chamber volume is increased, then overflow is prevented, but device complexity and size increase

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveoverflow preventionVSAvoidreceiving chamber volume
Core Design Contradiction:
Object-affected harmful factorsVSVolume of stationary object

Solution Approach 1:

The return droplet collector is nested within the housing connection piece, with the receiving chamber utilizing the internal space of the housing connection piece. This nested arrangement allows the receiving chamber to have sufficient volume to prevent overflow during rapid refueling operations, while the overall device size remains compact and does not require additional external space.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #7Nested doll (Nesting)

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 reduces costs, prevents environmental contamination, ensures long-term reliability, and effectively collects diesel fuel residues without additional components, offering a significant economic and environmental advantage.

Implementation Method 1

the plastic material is provided with the proviso is set up so that it shrinks when exposed to the diesel fuel and thus has a sealing effect

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectShrinkage: Thermal Contraction

Data Source

PatentEP2019079B1Automatic fuel nozzle with drip catcher
Publication Date: 2012.04.11 JAKOBSEN KATRIN
  • EP2019079B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP2019079B1 patent drawingFigure 2

AI summary

The valve has a tap pipe (1) engaged in a housing support (3), and a recirculating drop collector (4) integrated in the housing support. A return channel (5) of the drop collector is attached to a retaining chamber (8) of the drop collector, where the chamber is arranged in the housing support or in housing (2). The housing support is coated with a protective coating (11) made of a plastic material, which is provided with a proportion such that the material shrinks during exposure of the diesel oil and the material is sealed.