Mis-fuel inhibitor

• US 8,714,214 B2
• Filed: 02/19/2010
• Issued: 05/06/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 03/12/2009
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Illinois Tool Works Inc.
• Original Assignee: Illinois Tool Works Inc.
• Inventors: Cisternino, Franco A.
• Primary Examiner(s): Maust, Timothy L
• Assistant Examiner(s): KELLY, TIMOTHY PATRICK
• Application Number:
  US13/255,845
• Publication Number:
  US 20120024422A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,537 Days
• Field of Search: 141348-350, 141/367, 220/86.2
• US Class Current: 141/350
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 15/04 Tank inlets B60K15/077 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 2015/0429 actuated by the nozzle
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 2015/0483 Means to inhibit the introduction of too small or too big filler nozzles

Abstract

A mis-fuel inhibitor in an inlet neck assembly of a vehicle fuel system discriminates between nozzle diameters, allowing entrance of nozzle diameters at or greater than a predetermined minimum diameter while inhibiting entrance of nozzles having diameters less than the predetermined minimum diameter. An actuator responsive to nozzle diameters engages and disengages locking arms that are associated with a primary shutoff valve flapper door.

Claims

1. An inhibitor for a vehicle fuel system refueling inlet assembly for limiting fuel nozzle access by nozzle diameter, said inhibitor comprising:

a movable obstruction blocking access through the inlet assembly;

an actuator responsive to nozzle diameter upstream of said movable obstruction, said actuator including a non-circular expandable opening; and

a locking member connected to said actuator and selectively engaging and disengaging said movable obstruction dependent upon a size of said non-circular expandable opening, such that when said locking member is caused to disengage said movable obstruction to enable fuel nozzle access, said locking member is moved a sufficient distance to prevent engagement with the fuel nozzle.

2. The inhibitor of claim 1, wherein said actuator having a fixed portion and movable wings on opposite ends of said fixed portion.

3. The inhibitor of claim 2, wherein each of said movable wings have an arm selectively engaging said movable obstruction.

4. The inhibitor of claim 2, wherein each of said movable wings include a plurality of wing segments.

5. The inhibitor of claim 4, wherein distal segments of each of said movable wings have an arm selectively engaging said movable obstruction.

6. The inhibitor of claim 4, wherein said movable obstruction being a primary shutoff valve flapper door.

7. The inhibitor of claim 6, wherein distal segments of each of said movable wings have an arm selectively engaging said flapper door.

8. The inhibitor of claim 7, wherein with adjacent wing segments connected to one another by flexible connections.

9. A vehicle fuel system inlet neck assembly, comprising:

a service flapper door being arranged so that when closed, said service flapper door is non-perpendicularly positioned with respect to an axis extending through the fuel system assembly;

an inhibitor located downstream from said service flapper door for limiting fuel nozzle access by nozzle diameter, said inhibitor having a non-circular expandable opening therethrough;

a primary shutoff positioned with respect to said inhibitor to receive a refueling nozzle inserted through said non-circular expandable opening, said primary shutoff including a moveable obstruction blocking entrance to the fuel system downstream from the primary shutoff;

said inhibitor including an actuator having a movable portion defining said non-circular expandable opening, said movable portion being responsive to refueling nozzles of an established minimum diameter to expand said non-circular expandable opening; and

a locking arm projecting from said movable portion and engaging said movable obstruction absent a nozzle of the established minimum diameter and being disengaged from said movable obstruction by a nozzle of at least the established minimum diameter being inserted through said non-circular expandable opening.

10. The inlet neck assembly of claim 9, wherein said actuator having a fixed portion and movable wings on opposite ends of said fixed portion.

11. The inlet neck assembly of claim 10, wherein said movable wings being independently movable with respect to each other.

12. The inlet neck assembly of claim 10, wherein each of said movable wings have a locking arm associated with said movable obstruction.

13. The inlet neck assembly of claim 10, wherein each of said movable wings have a plurality of wing segments movable with respect to one another.

14. The inlet neck assembly of claim 10, wherein said movable obstruction being a flapper door.

15. The inlet neck assembly of claim 9, wherein said actuator defining a U-shaped construction having a radial opening and a fixed portion opposite said radial opening, with movable portions opposed to one another and defining said expandable opening there between.

16. A vehicle fuel system refueling nozzle inlet inhibitor for limiting fuel nozzle access by nozzle diameter, said inhibitor comprising:

an actuator having first and second groups of peripherally connected segments defining an axial non-circular opening through said actuator, said non-circular opening defining a diameter smaller than a minimum acceptable nozzle diameter and larger than a maximum unacceptable nozzle diameter, said actuator defining a U-shaped construction having a radial opening and a fixed portion opposite said radial opening, with movable portions opposed to one another and defining said expandable axial non-circular opening there between;

said axial non-circular opening expanding under force exerted by insertion of a nozzle of at least the minimum acceptable diameter causing movement of said segments; and

first and second locking arms extending toward one another from two of said segments.

17. The nozzle inlet inhibitor of claim 16, wherein including a flapper door obstructing insertion of a refueling nozzle, and said first and second locking arms engaging said flapper door without expansion of said opening and disengaging said flapper door upon expansion of said opening.

18. The nozzle inlet inhibitor of claim 16, wherein said actuator including first and second independently movable wings.

19. The nozzle inlet inhibitor of claim 18, wherein said first and second independently movable wings each including a plurality of independently movable wing segments.