Capless refill adapter for a fluid refilling system

• US 10,640,358 B2
• Filed: 06/21/2017
• Issued: 05/05/2020
• Est. Priority Date: 06/21/2017
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC (Ford Motor Company)
• Original Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC (Ford Motor Company)
• Inventors: Zitkovic, Jr., Mike Terrence, Song, Xiankai, Danowski, Christopher Anthony
• Primary Examiner(s): Arnett, Nicolas A
• Application Number:
  US15/629,535
• Publication Number:
  US 20180370786A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,049 Days
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 13/04 concerning exhaust collecting exhaust gases with central suction systems not forming part of vehicles, e.g. in workshops or tunnels B08B15/002, otherwise along carriageways E01C1/005; extensions for melting snow on roads E01H5/00, E01H6/00; exhaust or silencing apparatus for internal combustion engines per se F01N; pipes, joints or supports therefor F16L
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 15/035 characterised by venting means
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 15/04 Tank inlets B60K15/077 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 15/0406 Filler caps for fuel tanks
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 2015/03217 Fuel level sensors
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 2015/03309 Tanks specially adapted for particular fuels
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 2015/03523 Arrangements of the venting tube
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 2015/0432 having a specific connection between the cap and the vehicle or tank opening
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 2015/0461 comprising a filler pipe shutter, e.g. trap, door or flap for fuel inlet
• CPC Class Codes: B67D 7/0288 Container connection means for dispensing beverages on draught B67D1/0829
• CPC Class Codes: F01N 2610/1413 Inlet and filling arrangements therefore
• CPC Class Codes: F01N 3/2066 Selective catalytic reduction [SCR]

Abstract

Methods and systems are provided for an adapter for a fluid refilling system. In one example, an adapter configured for use with a diesel exhaust fluid (DEF) system may include a first end configured to couple with a DEF refill passage, a second end including an aperture shaped to receive a DEF nozzle, a pivotable door closing the aperture and biased against the aperture by a biasing member, and a magnetic ring positioned within the adapter and downstream of the pivotable door. The pivotable door may be formed of a material permeable to DEF vapors and may include a plurality of vent holes configured to flow vapors from the DEF system to atmosphere.

Claims

1. An adapter, comprising:

a body including a first end shaped to couple with a diesel exhaust fluid (DEF) refill passage and a second end including an aperture shaped to receive a DEF nozzle;

a pivotable door sealing the aperture and forming an external surface of the adapter; and

a magnetic ring positioned within the body, downstream of the pivotable door between the first end and the second end, wherein the second end forms a nozzle insertion passage extending in a direction away from the pivotable door and the first end, with the nozzle insertion passage in fluidic communication with atmosphere, and wherein the nozzle insertion passage has a passage diameter less than 23.8 millimeters and a passage length greater than a length from a nozzle opening of a fuel additive bottle to a shoulder of the fuel additive bottle.

2. The adapter of claim 1, wherein an interior of the body forms a fluid passage, and wherein the fluid passage extends from the first end to the aperture.

3. The adapter of claim 2, further comprising a main ventilation passage formed by the body between the first end and the second end, the main ventilation passage extending in a radial direction relative to a central axis of the body.

4. The adapter of claim 1, wherein the pivotable door includes a protruding portion extending away from the aperture and into the nozzle insertion passage, and wherein the protruding portion includes a groove shaped to guide the DEF nozzle toward a midpoint of the pivotable door.

5. The adapter of claim 1, further comprising a plurality of protrusions formed along a perimeter of the nozzle insertion passage and extending radially toward a central axis of the body, and wherein a distance between opposing protrusions of the plurality of protrusions is less than 19.8 millimeters.

6. The adapter of claim 1, wherein the pivotable door is coupled to a permeable membrane formed of a material permeable to DEF vapor.

7. The adapter of claim 1, wherein the pivotable door includes a plurality of venting channels configured to flow DEF vapor from an interior of the adapter to atmosphere.

8. The adapter of claim 1, wherein the body includes a first portion and a second portion, the second portion removably coupled to the first portion and partially surrounding the first portion, and wherein the first portion forms the first end and the second portion forms the second end.

9. The adapter of claim 8, wherein the first portion of the body includes a slot shaped to receive the magnetic ring, and wherein the magnetic ring is retained in face-sharing contact with the slot by the second portion of the body.

10. An adapter, comprising:

a body including a first end shaped to couple with a diesel exhaust fluid (DEF) refill passage and a second end including an aperture shaped to receive a DEF nozzle;

a pivotable door sealing the aperture and forming an external surface of the adapter;

a magnetic ring positioned within the body, downstream of the pivotable door between the first end and the second end, wherein an interior of the body forms a fluid passage, and wherein the fluid passage extends from the first end to the aperture; and

a main ventilation passage formed by the body between the first end and the second end, the main ventilation passage extending in a radial direction relative to a central axis of the body, wherein the main ventilation passage is fluidly coupled to the fluid passage by a plurality of secondary ventilation passages extending in a direction parallel to the central axis.

11. The adapter of claim 10, wherein the magnetic ring is positioned upstream of the main ventilation passage and the plurality of secondary ventilation passages relative to a direction of DEF flow from the DEF nozzle through the adapter.

12. An adapter, comprising:

a body including a first end shaped to couple with a diesel exhaust fluid (DEF) refill passage and a second end including an aperture shaped to receive a DEF nozzle;

a pivotable door sealing the aperture and forming an external surface of the adapter, wherein the pivotable door includes a plurality of venting channels configured to flow DEF vapor from an interior of the adapter to atmosphere;

a magnetic ring positioned within the body, downstream of the pivotable door between the first end and the second end; and

a plurality of protrusions formed along a perimeter of a nozzle insertion passage and extending radially toward a central axis of the body.

13. The adapter of claim 12, wherein an interior of the body forms a fluid passage, and wherein the fluid passage extends from the first end to the aperture.

14. The adapter of claim 13, further comprising a main ventilation passage formed by the body between the first end and the second end, the main ventilation passage extending in a radial direction relative to the central axis of the body.

15. The adapter of claim 12, wherein the adapter includes a biasing member biasing the pivotable door against an opening, wherein the biasing member is formed of a polymer material, and wherein the pivotable door is formed of a material permeable to DEF vapors.

16. The adapter of claim 15, wherein the biasing member includes a first section and a second section, with the first section being coupled to the pivotable door and the second section including a hooked portion coupled with a slot formed by a perimeter surface of the body.

17. The adapter of claim 12, wherein the pivotable door includes a protruding portion extending away from the aperture and into the nozzle insertion passage, and wherein the protruding portion includes a groove shaped to guide the DEF nozzle toward a midpoint of the pivotable door.

18. The adapter of claim 12, wherein a distance between opposing protrusions of the plurality of protrusions is less than 19.8 millimeters.