Funnel for a fuel tank filler pipe
AssigneeFord Global Technologies, LLC
InventorsMike Zitkovic, Xiankai Song
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
Systems are provided for refueling a fuel tank of a motor vehicle via a funnel including an insert. In one example, a system may include a funnel including an insert coupled to an inner circumference of the funnel, the insert including a plurality of projections positioned on an inner perimeter of the insert. The plurality of projections may include a first projection spanning a first axial length, a second projection spanning a second axial length, and a third projection spanning a third axial length.
Claims20
A refueling funnel for a vehicle, comprising:
- an insert coupled to an inner perimeter of the funnel, the insert including:
- an inner surface having a first projection positioned at an inlet and a second projection positioned at an outlet end, with the first projection and the second projection each extending radially inward toward an insert central axis;
- an inlet side of the first projection forming an exterior of the insert and an outlet side of the first projection having ribs extending toward the outlet end;
- an inlet side of the second projection contacting a fuel nozzle and an outlet side of the second projection having ribs extending toward the outlet end;
- and
- an aperture through an exterior wall of the insert positioned at the outlet end of the insert adjacent to the second projection.
A refueling system of a vehicle, comprising:
- an insert coupled to an inner circumference of a funnel, wherein the funnel is coupled to an inner circumference of a filler pipe, the funnel comprising at least one funnel projection, and wherein the insert includes an inner surface having a plurality of insert projections;
- a first insert projection positioned at an inlet end of the insert;
- and
- a first funnel projection positioned at an outlet end of the insert and extending in a direction of a central axis of the funnel from an outlet portion of the funnel to an inlet portion of the funnel, and the first funnel projection forming a pocket positioned to prevent the insert from moving into the outlet portion of the funnel.
A refueling structure for a filler pipe of a vehicle, comprising:
- a funnel coupled to an inner circumference of the filler pipe, the funnel comprising a plurality of ribs extending toward an inlet portion of the funnel, the funnel further comprising a crescent-shaped anchor rib, one or more breaks in the anchor rib forming a reservoir, where the funnel includes a fence in an interior of the funnel, the fence having a plurality of apertures;
- the plurality of ribs separating slots that form a fluid pathway from an interior of the funnel into the reservoir, the plurality of apertures fluidly coupled to the reservoir, the reservoir positioned on a side of a funnel wall;
- and
- the reservoir positioned around an exterior of an outlet portion of the funnel, the plurality of apertures providing a venting path for fuel entering the funnel, where fuel from a fuel nozzle flows through the plurality of apertures and into the reservoir during refueling in order to reduce foaming and spitback resulting from fuel colliding with surfaces of the funnel.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.