# US 10,696,537 B2 · Fuel capless unit having variable spring stiffness > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 10,696,537 B2 - Document ID: US10696537B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 15/979,994 - Filed: 2018-05-15 - Published: 2019-11-21 - Granted: 2020-06-30 - Earliest claimed: 2018-05-15 - Assignees: Ford Global Technologies, LLC - Applicants: Ford Global Technologies, LLC - Inventors: Mahmoud Yousef Ghannam; Swadad Carremm; Aed Dudar - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US10696537B2 ## CPC - B60K 15/05: Inlet covers - B67D 7/3281: {Details} - B60K 15/04: Tank inlets (B60K15/077 takes precedence) - B67D 7/42: Filling nozzles - B60K 2015/0323: {Sensors for detecting presence or absence of the filling nozzle} - B60K 2015/0461: {comprising a filler pipe shutter, e.g. trap, door or flap for fuel inlet} - B60K 2015/049: {Means for determining the position of the filler nozzle in the filler pipe} - B60K 2015/0507: {Arrangements for adjusting the inlet cover} - B60K: ARRANGEMENT OR MOUNTING OF PROPULSION UNITS OR OF TRANSMISSIONS IN VEHICLES; ARRANGEMENT OR MOUNTING OF PLURAL DIVERSE PRIME-MOVERS IN VEHICLES; AUXILIARY DRIVES FOR VEHICLES; INSTRUMENTATION OR DASHBOARDS FOR VEHICLES; ARRANGEMENTS IN CONNECTION WITH COOLING, AIR INTAKE, GAS EXHAUST OR FUEL SUPPLY OF PROPULSION UNITS IN VEHICLES - B67D: DISPENSING, DELIVERING OR TRANSFERRING LIQUIDS, NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR (cleaning pipes or tubes or systems of pipes or tubes B08B9/02; emptying or filling of bottles, jars, cans, casks, barrels, or similar containers, not otherwise provided for B67C; water supply E03; pipe systems F17D; domestic hot-water supply systems F24D; measuring volume, volume flow, mass flow or liquid level, metering by volume G01F; coin-freed or like apparatus G07F) ## Abstract A capless fuel system comprises a fuel inlet body, a flapper pivotably mounted within the fuel inlet body, a biasing member associated with the flapper, an axially movable shaft associated with the biasing member, and a tension calibrator associated with the biasing member, whereby tension on the controller spring may be adjusted by the calibrator. The biasing member may be of a variety of biasing elements but is preferably a controller spring. The shaft is reversibly movable from a tensioning position in which the electromechanical driver assembly is deactivated to a tension-lowering position in which the electromechanical driver assembly is activated. The capless fuel system includes a fuel pump nozzle position sensing system. The capless fuel system relies upon a single, multi-function flapper that functions as both the capless fuel system debris cover and a sealing member to prevent evaporative emission leaks. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A capless fuel system for a vehicle comprising: a fuel inlet body; a flapper pivotably mounted within said fuel inlet body; a biasing member associated with said flapper, said biasing member having an end; an axially movable shaft having an end that presses directly against said end of said biasing member; and a tension calibrator associated with said biasing member, whereby tension by said end of said shaft against said end of said biasing member may be adjusted by said calibrator. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The capless fuel system of claim 1, wherein said biasing member is a controller spring. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The capless fuel system of claim 1, wherein said flapper is a single, multi-function flapper that functions as both a capless fuel system cover and a sealing member to prevent evaporative emissions leaks. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The capless fuel system of claim 1, further including a fuel pump nozzle position sensing system. ### Claim 5 (depends on 4) The capless fuel system of claim 4, wherein said fuel pump nozzle position sensing system includes a camera. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) The capless fuel system of claim 1, further including an electromechanical driver assembly, said axially movable shaft being movably associated with said electromechanical driver assembly. ### Claim 7 (depends on 6) The capless fuel system of claim 6, further including an interface portion support channel associated with said axially movable shaft to interface with said biasing member. ### Claim 8 (depends on 6) The capless fuel system of claim 6, wherein said axially movable shaft is reversibly movable from a tensioning position in which said electromechanical driver assembly is deactivated to a tension-lowering position in which said electromechanical driver assembly is activated. ### Claim 9 A vehicle capless fuel system for use with a fuel pump having a fuel pump nozzle, the system comprising: a fuel inlet body; a flapper pivotably mounted within said fuel inlet body; a biasing member associated with said flapper, said biasing member having an end; an axially movable shaft having an end that presses against said end of said biasing member and applies tension directly thereto; and a nozzle position sensing system, whereby said sensing system senses the presence of the fuel pump nozzle and adjusts said tension applied by said axially movable shaft against said end of said biasing member in response thereto a tension calibrator associated with said biasing member, whereby tension by said end of said shaft against said end of said biasing member may be adjusted by said calibrator. ### Claim 10 (depends on 9) The vehicle capless fuel system of claim 9, wherein said fuel pump nozzle position sensing system includes a camera. ### Claim 11 (depends on 9) The vehicle capless fuel system of claim 9 further including a tension calibrator associated with said biasing member, whereby tension on said biasing member may be adjusted by said calibrator. ### Claim 12 (depends on 9) The vehicle capless fuel system of claim 9, wherein said biasing member is a controller spring. ### Claim 13 (depends on 9) The vehicle capless fuel system of claim 9, wherein said flapper is a single, multi-function flapper that functions as both a capless fuel system cover and a sealing member to prevent evaporative emissions leaks. ### Claim 14 (depends on 9) The vehicle capless fuel system of claim 9, further including an electromechanical driver assembly, said axially movable shaft being movably associated with said electromechanical driver assembly. ### Claim 15 (depends on 14) The vehicle capless fuel system of claim 14, further including an interface portion support channel associated with said axially movable shaft to interface with said biasing member. ### Claim 16 (depends on 14) The vehicle capless fuel system of claim 14, wherein said axially movable shaft is reversibly movable from a tensioning position in which said electromechanical driver assembly is deactivated to a tension-lowering position in which said electromechanical driver assembly is activated. ### Claim 17 A method for regulating the tension applied by a biasing member on a vehicle capless fuel system flapper for use with a fuel pump having a fuel pump nozzle, the method comprising: forming a vehicle capless fuel system having a fuel inlet body, a flapper pivotably mounted within said fuel inlet body, a biasing member associated with said flapper, said biasing member having an end, an axially movable shaft having an end that presses directly against said end of said biasing member, a tension calibrator associated with said biasing member, whereby tension by said end of said shaft directly against said end of said biasing member may be adjusted by said calibrator, and a nozzle position sensing system; moving the fuel pump nozzle toward said vehicle capless fuel system; causing the axially movable shaft to move axially in response to the presence of the fuel pump nozzle, said axial movement of said axially movable shaft being to relieve tension on said biasing member. ### Claim 18 (depends on 17) The method for regulating tension applied by a biasing member of claim 17, wherein said fuel pump nozzle position sensing system includes a camera. ### Claim 19 (depends on 17) The method for regulating tension applied by a biasing member of claim 17, further including a tension calibrator associated with said biasing member for adjusting tension on said biasing member. ### Claim 20 (depends on 17) The method for regulating tension applied by a biasing member of claim 17, wherein said flapper is a single, multi-function flapper that functions as both a capless fuel system cover and a sealing member to prevent evaporative emissions leaks.