Patent Application
20110168705
1. Field of the Disclosure
The present disclosure relates to a system for conducting liquid fuel to a tank of an automotive vehicle.
2. Related Art
The ability to control, if not prevent, the flow of contamination from the ambient to a vehicular fuel tank is very important, particularly in the context of modern engines using fuel injection equipment having a low tolerance for contamination. Of course, vehicles are often parked outside, and experience extremes in terms of temperature variation. Such variations cause air trapped in a fuel tank to expand and contract, which may have the effect of drawing entrained atmospheric moisture or road splash past a fuel filler cap and into a fuel tank. If unaddressed, this situation may cause filters to plug or fill with water, with disastrous results for engine operation.
It would be desirable to provide a fuel filler system which prevents the ingress of contaminants from the ambient into the filler and fuel tank of a vehicle.
According to an aspect of the present disclosure, a fuel filler system for an automotive vehicle includes a filler pipe connected with a fuel tank, and an interceptor mounted about an open end of the filler pipe, with the interceptor and the filler pipe defining a generally annular contaminant collector which is serviced by a drain extending from the collector. A filler cap closes both the open end of the filler pipe and an open end of the interceptor.
According to another aspect of the present disclosure, a filler cap is configured to prevent contaminants from passing from the generally annular contaminant collector, defined by the filler pipe and interceptor, into the filler pipe. The filler cap also prevents contaminants from passing from the ambient into the generally annular contaminant collector.
According to another aspect of the present disclosure, the interceptor is generally cylindrical and has a first end which is sealed to the filler pipe, and a second, open end, with the interceptor having an inside diameter which is greater than the outside diameter of the filler pipe, so as to allow the interceptor and filler pipe to define a generally annular contaminant collector. The interceptor preferably extends outwardly from the filler pipe so that the second, or open, end of the filler pipe is recessed within the interceptor so that a fuel filler nozzle may pass through the open end of the interceptor and into the fill pipe.
It is an advantage of a fuel filler system according to the present disclosure that the passage of contaminants from the ambient environment to the fuel tank will be prevented.
It is another advantage of a fuel filler system according to the present disclosure that even in the event that one of the seals incorporated in a filler cap according to this disclosure were to fail, contaminants would nevertheless be prevented from entering the fuel system of a vehicle. In cases in which a vacuum builds within the fuel tank, air will pass into the tank as the filler cap is removed, but the air will first need to pass along a torturous path, beginning with a drain tube having its outlet, or vacuum inlet, located in a position shielded from road splash and ambient moisture.
It is yet another advantage of a fuel filler system according to the present disclosure that the integrity of fuel systems of unfinished vehicles, such as chassis cabs, will be protected during storage periods before the vehicle is built out with a body.
It is yet another advantage of a fuel filler system according to the present disclosure that fuel tank pressure or vacuum will be relieved before the filler cap is completely removed. In essence, two seals incorporated in the cap are located such that when the filler cap is partially removed, an inner seal is released first, thus relieving fuel tank pressure or vacuum. Because the cap is still sealed with an outer seal, however, the pressure or vacuum is relieved through a collector without excess noise, and without directing fumes in the direction of the motorist.
Other advantages, as well as features of the present system, will become apparent to the reader of this specification.
As shown in
Cap 42 has a larger diameter sealing provision 41a, which interacts with sealing element, 50, mounted to the inside surface, 26a, of interceptor 26. Cap 42 also has a smaller diameter seal set including O-rings, 46, which seal on the inside diameter, 14a, of filler pipe 14. Thus it is seen that even if seal 50 fails, and drain 38 were to plug, fluid would not pass into filler pipe 14 because it would be unable to pass by O-rings 46.
It is further notable from
As shown in
Those skilled in the art will appreciate in view of this disclosure that filler pipe 14 and interceptor 26 may be formed as one-piece, from materials such as suitable plastic or composite materials, or may be formed alternatively as two pieces out of such materials as stamped steel. What is important is that interceptor 26 be sealed to filler pipe 14 by a generally annular end wall, which is shown at 30 in
The foregoing system has been described in accordance with the relevant legal standards, thus the description is exemplary rather than limiting in nature. Variations and modifications to the disclosed embodiment may become apparent to those skilled in the art. The scope of legal protection can only be determined by studying the following claims.
