Fuel Nozzle Servicing Tool with Tapered Uprights
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Solution Overview
Problem
The maintenance and servicing of fuel dispensing nozzles are challenging due to the difficulty in detaching the nozzle from the hose, which often results in the nozzle slipping and spilling residual fuel, creating an inconvenience and safety hazard.
Innovation Solution
A tool with a semicircular base plate and tapered uprights that securely holds the nozzle over a bucket, allowing for easy detachment of the hose while containing residual fuel for drainage, featuring adjustable components for accommodating various nozzle sizes and shapes.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If the technician manually holds the nozzle during detachment, then the nozzle can be positioned for service, but the nozzle slips and moves making the task difficult
Solution Approach 1:
The servicing tool acts as an intermediary device between the technician and the nozzle. The tool's uprights and tapered gap provide a stable interface that holds the nozzle body securely, eliminating the need for the technician to directly grip and hold the nozzle during detachment operations.
Solution Approach 2:
The tool enables the nozzle to be self-held through its geometric design. The tapered gap between uprights naturally accommodates various nozzle sizes and shapes, allowing the nozzle to be securely positioned without external support during the detachment process.
2Force
If great force is applied to loosen the coupling member, then the hose can be detached, but the nozzle slips in the technician's hand
Solution Approach 1:
The servicing tool serves as a mediator that absorbs and manages the forces applied during detachment. The tool's structure provides a stable base that resists the torsional forces applied to the coupling member, preventing these forces from causing the nozzle to slip in the technician's hand.
Solution Approach 2:
The asymmetric tapered gap design allows the tool to accommodate nozzles of various sizes while providing stable support. The narrowing gap from front to back creates a secure fit that prevents slipping even when significant force is applied to loosen the coupling member.
3Productivity
If the nozzle is detached from the hose, then the servicing can proceed, but residual fuel spills out creating safety hazard
Solution Approach 1:
The tool is designed to position the nozzle over a drainage container before detachment occurs. The uprights and base plate create a structure that naturally guides residual fuel into the container, preparing the system in advance to capture spills before they become a safety hazard.
Solution Approach 2:
The tool converts the potentially harmful spill of residual fuel into a beneficial drainage process. By positioning the nozzle over a container and providing a guided path for fuel flow, the tool transforms what would be a safety hazard into a controlled disposal process.
4Device complexity
If a fixed-size tool is used, then the structure is simple, but it cannot accommodate various nozzle sizes and shapes
Solution Approach 1:
The servicing tool achieves universality through its tapered gap design. The narrowing space between uprights can accommodate nozzles of various diameters and shapes, allowing a single tool structure to serve multiple nozzle types without requiring size-specific variations.
Solution Approach 2:
The tool utilizes geometric parameter changes in its tapered gap design. The gradual narrowing from front to back creates a range of effective widths that can adapt to different nozzle dimensions, providing versatility while maintaining structural simplicity.
Data Source
AI summary
A tool for servicing a fuel dispensing nozzle, said tool comprising a substantially semicircular base plate with two uprights protruding from the top to receive a fuel pump nozzle therein; said base plate being formed to fit on the mouth of a bucket and substantially cover the mouth of said bucket, while leaving open a portion of the bucket; said base plate having on its bottom surface protruding guides to ensure a snug fit on the mouth of said bucket; so that a fuel dispensing nozzle may be easily secured for separation from a hose and residual fuel may be easily drained from said nozzle and said hose.