Adjustable refilling assembly

• US 8,371,344 B2
• Filed: 05/01/2012
• Issued: 02/12/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 07/18/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC (Ford Motor Company)
• Original Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC (Ford Motor Company)
• Inventors: Vandervoort, Doug, Compton, Grant A., Novak, Stanley Jay, Johnson, Brenda, Rasmussen, Kirk, Efstate, Marius
• Primary Examiner(s): Huson, Gregory
• Assistant Examiner(s): ARNETT, NICOLAS ALLEN
• Application Number:
  US13/461,655
• Publication Number:
  US 20120217239A1
• Time in Patent Office: 287 Days
• Field of Search: 141348-350, 141/363, 141/365, 141369-372, 123/1.A, 220 861- 862
• US Class Current: 141/349
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 15/0406 Filler caps for fuel tanks
• CPC Class Codes: F16L 3/003 devices for holding the open end of a hose
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 137/86332 Vent and inlet or outlet in unitary mounting

Abstract

A refilling system for a vehicle including a body panel having a fixed opening, an adjustable refilling assembly partially enclosed by the body panel, the adjustable refilling assembly including a first port and a second port, the adjustable refilling assembly movable between at least a first configuration in which the first port is aligned with the fixed opening and a second configuration in which the second port is aligned with the fixed opening.

Claims

1. A vehicle refilling system, comprising:

a body panel having a fixed opening;

an adjustable refilling assembly partially enclosed by the body panel and including;

a first port, a second port, and an adjustment mechanism having a rotatable slide;

the adjustable refilling assembly movable between at least a first configuration where the first port is aligned with the fixed opening and a second configuration where the second port is aligned with the fixed opening.

2. The refilling system of claim 1 wherein the first configuration inhibits refilling of the second port and the second configuration inhibits refilling of the first port.

3. The refilling system of claim 1 wherein the first and second ports are constructed with a different property.

4. The refilling system of claim 3 wherein the different property includes a different shape.

5. The refilling system of claim 3 wherein the different property includes a different size.

6. The refilling system of claim 3 wherein the first port includes indicia identifying acceptance of diesel fuel and the second port includes indicia identifying acceptance of a reductant.

7. The refilling system of claim 1 wherein the second port is fluidly coupled to a reductant delivery system configured to deliver reductant to an exhaust of the vehicle.

8. The refilling system of claim 1 further comprising a first flexible conduit coupled to the first port, and a second flexible conduit coupled to the second port.

9. The refilling system of claim 8 wherein the adjustable refilling assembly is curved and further includes a clasp coupled to the first and second flexible conduits.

10. The refilling system of claim 9 wherein a pivot is coupled to the clasp.

11. The refilling system of claim 1 wherein the adjustable refilling assembly is adjusted into the first and second configurations via a rotation movement of the slide.

12. The refilling system of claim 1 wherein the adjustment mechanism includes a locking mechanism configured to lock the adjustable refilling assembly in one of the first and second configurations.

13. The refilling system of claim 12 further comprising a resistance mechanism coupled to the slide, the resistance mechanism configured to apply a force opposing movement of the adjustment mechanism while in the first configuration.

14. The refilling system of claim 1 wherein the fixed opening includes a door.

15. A refilling system for an internal combustion engine of a vehicle comprising:

a body panel having a fixed opening; and

an adjustable refilling assembly partially enclosed by the body panel, the adjustable refilling assembly including a moveable adjustment mechanism having a fuel port fluidly coupled to a fuel tank and a reductant port fluidly coupled to a reductant tank;

wherein the adjustable refilling assembly has a first configuration in which the fuel port is aligned with the fixed opening, and a second configuration in which the reductant port is aligned with the fixed opening, the moveable adjustment mechanism having a rotatable slide; and

a fuel door in the fixed opening.

16. A refilling system for an internal combustion engine of a vehicle comprising:

a body panel having a fixed opening; and

an adjustable refilling assembly partially enclosed by the body panel, the adjustable refilling assembly including a moveable adjustment mechanism having a fuel port fluidly coupled a fuel tank and a reductant port fluidly coupled to a reductant tank;

wherein the adjustable refilling assembly has a first configuration in which the fuel port is aligned with the fixed opening, and a second configuration in which the reductant port is aligned with the fixed opening, the moveable adjustment mechanism having a rotatable slide; and

a fuel door in the fixed opening, wherein the engine includes an exhaust with an emission control device, the vehicle further including a reductant delivery system coupled to the reductant tank and including a reductant injector coupled in the exhaust.