Fuel Vent Shield Deflects Debris in Fill Pocket Housing
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing fuel filling systems face issues with venting, as traditional methods either require costly double-walled pipes or allow debris to enter the fuel system due to open vents, and existing solutions either incur high costs or allow contamination.
Innovation Solution
A fuel venting system comprising a fill pocket housing with a vent shield and diverter, which directs debris away from the fill pipe and includes a filter assembly that allows for easy servicing and self-cleaning, minimizing the risk of contamination while maintaining cost-effectiveness.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a double walled fill pipe is used to vent inside the fuel pocket, then the fuel system can be vented effectively, but the cost and sealing complexity increase significantly
Solution Approach 1:
The invention extracts the venting function from the fill pipe structure itself and relocates it to the fill pocket housing. By placing a vent opening in the housing with a shield to direct airflow, the system achieves effective venting without requiring a complex double-walled pipe structure, thereby reducing sealing complexity while maintaining venting reliability
Solution Approach 2:
The invention introduces a shield as an intermediary element between the vent opening and the fill pipe. This shield acts as a mediator that directs airflow away from the fill pipe, allowing the vent opening to be positioned in the housing rather than requiring the fill pipe to provide both filling and venting functions through a complex double-walled structure
2Ease of operation
If an open vent is located near the top of the fill pocket housing, then the fuel system can vent easily, but debris can fall into the fill pipe during fueling
Solution Approach 1:
The invention converts the potentially harmful airflow that could carry debris into the fill pipe by using a shield to redirect it. The shield transforms the airflow pattern so that it vents effectively while being directed away from the fill pipe opening, thus converting a potential contamination hazard into a safe venting operation
Solution Approach 2:
The shield serves as an intermediary element that sits between the open vent and the fill pipe. It mediates the airflow, allowing the vent to remain open and easily operational while preventing debris from being carried into the fill pipe by the venting airflow
3Object-affected harmful factors
If the fill pocket is tightly sealed against dust and debris, then contamination is prevented, but the cost and complexity of sealing increase
Solution Approach 1:
The invention extracts the contamination protection function from the sealing requirement and relocates it to a passive shield structure. Instead of requiring tight seals to prevent debris entry, the shield passively deflects airflow and debris away from the fill pipe, achieving protection without complex sealing
Solution Approach 2:
The shield structure provides self-service contamination protection by using the venting airflow itself to deflect debris away from the fill pipe. The design leverages the natural airflow pattern during venting to create a protective effect, eliminating the need for active sealing mechanisms or complex protective structures
Data Source
AI summary
A fuel venting system for use with a fuel system of a vehicle. The system includes a fill pocket housing including an upper back wall having vent openings allowing fluid flow therethrough. A vent shield extends proximate to the vent openings on a back side of the upper back wall and extends outward away from the upper back wall as the back wall extends downward, with the vent shield also having side walls extending from the back wall to define a bottom opening. A diverter has side walls mounted to the upper back wall and a back wall extending between the side walls to surround the vent shield to form a gap between the diverter walls and the vent shield to receive a filter therein.