Inlet Check Valve Mount for Fuel Tank Filler Neck
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing fuel tank filler neck systems fail to effectively regulate the flow of liquid fuel and fuel vapor, leading to unwanted discharge from the fuel tank between refueling periods, which compromises fuel efficiency and storage integrity.
Innovation Solution
A fuel system with a tubular housing and an inlet check valve apparatus that includes a spud anchor, O-ring seal, weld ring, and retainer, forming a valve carrier to control the flow through a fuel-transfer channel, ensuring the filler neck is closed during non-refueling periods and opens during refueling, preventing fuel loss and vapor escape.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If the filler neck remains open to allow fuel refueling, then fuel can be conducted into the tank, but fuel and vapor discharge occurs during non-refueling periods
Solution Approach 1:
The filler neck system employs a dynamic check valve mechanism that automatically transitions between open and closed states based on fuel flow conditions. During refueling, the valve opens to allow fuel entry; during non-refueling periods, the valve closes to prevent discharge. This dynamic state change resolves the contradiction by making the system adaptive to operational requirements rather than fixed in one state.
Solution Approach 2:
The check valve apparatus is designed to automatically control fuel flow without external intervention. The valve mechanism self-activates based on pressure differential and flow direction, opening when fuel enters during refueling and closing when refueling stops. This self-service capability ensures continuous prevention of fuel and vapor discharge without requiring manual operation or additional control systems.
2Loss of substance
If a fuel cap is used to close the filler neck during non-refueling periods, then fuel discharge is prevented, but the system becomes more complex and harder to operate
Solution Approach 1:
The invention extracts the closing function from the traditional fuel cap and integrates it directly into the filler neck structure through an embedded check valve apparatus. This eliminates the need for a separate removable cap while maintaining the prevention of fuel discharge. The check valve is built into the filler neck assembly, simplifying the overall system by removing unnecessary components and reducing operational complexity.
Solution Approach 2:
The check valve mechanism is merged with the filler neck structure to form an integrated assembly. The valve housing, seal, and actuating components are combined within the filler neck body, creating a unified structure that performs both refueling and sealing functions. This merging reduces the number of separate parts and simplifies installation and maintenance compared to separate cap and filler neck components.
3Reliability
If the filler neck is closed to prevent fuel vapor escape, then storage integrity is improved, but fuel refueling becomes less efficient
Solution Approach 1:
The check valve provides dynamic control of the filler neck opening, automatically adjusting between closed and open states based on real-time refueling conditions. During active refueling, the valve opens to maintain high productivity; during idle periods, it closes to ensure storage integrity. This dynamic adaptation resolves the contradiction by optimizing both parameters at different times without compromise.
Solution Approach 2:
The system changes the flow state parameter of the filler neck from closed to open based on refueling operational status. The check valve responds to pressure and flow parameter changes, opening when refueling flow is detected and closing when it stops. This parameter-based control ensures storage integrity during non-refueling while maintaining refueling efficiency when needed.
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 blocks fuel and vapor discharge between refueling periods while allowing controlled flow during refueling, enhancing fuel efficiency and storage integrity by maintaining a fluid leak barrier and accommodating thermal expansion differences between materials.
Implementation Method 1
The spud anchor is coupled to a tubular housing also included in the fuel conductor and made of polyoxymethylene (POM) to establish a mechanical joint and a fluid leak barrier between the tubular housing and the spud anchor
Implementation Method 2
the weld ring is pressed onto the tubular housing to engage and compress the O-ring seal to establish a fluid leak barrier between the weld ring and the tubular housing
Implementation Method 3
The retainer is a spring made of an elastic stainless steel material. The retainer is installed on an exposed upstream portion of the weld ring to surround the tubular housing and snap into an annular groove formed in the tubular housing to create a mechanical joint
Implementation Method 4
The spud is configured to be fastened to the spud anchor and adapted to be coupled to a fuel tank and a fill tube associated with the fuel tank
Data Source
AI summary
A fuel system includes a fuel tank filler neck associated with a fuel tank. The fuel tank filler neck includes a fill tube for receiving a fuel-dispensing pump nozzle and a fuel conductor interconnecting an interior region of the fuel tank and a passageway formed in the fill tube.