Mis-fuel inhibitor
First Claim
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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.
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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.
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Citations
19 Claims
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1. An inhibitor for a vehicle fuel system refueling inlet assembly for limiting fuel nozzle access by nozzle diameter, said inhibitor comprising:
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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. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8)
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9. A vehicle fuel system inlet neck assembly, comprising:
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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. - View Dependent Claims (10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15)
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16. A vehicle fuel system refueling nozzle inlet inhibitor for limiting fuel nozzle access by nozzle diameter, said inhibitor comprising:
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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. - View Dependent Claims (17, 18, 19)
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Specification