Fuel cap assembly with cylindrical coupler
AssigneeFuel Automation Station, LLC
InventorRicky Dean Shock
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A fuel cap assembly according to an example of the present disclosure includes a fuel cap and a pipe stub that extends from the fuel cap and defines a first internal passage. A sensor element and a fuel tube are adjacent to each other and both extend from the fuel cap through the first internal passage. A cylindrical coupler is composed of an elastomer and defines a second internal passage that extends between an inlet port and an outlet port. The inlet port has a first inner diameter and the pipe stub is receivable into the inlet port. The outlet port has a second inner diameter that differs from the first inner diameter.
Claims20
A fuel cap assembly comprising:
- a fuel cap;
- a pipe stub that extends from the fuel cap and defines a first internal passage;
- a sensor element and a fuel tube adjacent to each other and both extending from the fuel cap through the first internal passage;
- and
- a cylindrical coupler composed of an elastomer and defining a second internal passage that extends between an inlet port and an outlet port, the inlet port having a first inner diameter and the pipe stub being receivable into the inlet port, the outlet port having a second inner diameter that differs from the first inner diameter.
A fuel cap assembly kit comprising:
- a fuel cap;
- a pipe stub that extends from the fuel cap and defines a first internal passage;
- a sensor element and a fuel tube adjacent to each other and both extending from the fuel cap through the first internal passage;
- and
- a plurality of cylindrical couplers, each composed of an elastomer, each said cylinder defining a respective second internal passage that extends between an inlet port and an outlet port, the inlet port having a first inner diameter and the outlet port having a second inner diameter;
- wherein each first inner diameter is substantially the same size and is sized to interchangeably receive and engage the pipe stub;
- and
- wherein each of the second inner diameters have sizes that differ from each other and that differ from the respective first inner diameters.
A method of mounting a fuel cap assembly to a fuel tank comprising:
- providing a fuel cap assembly kit including:
- a fuel cap;
- a pipe stub that extends from the fuel cap and defines a first internal passage;
- a sensor element and fuel tube disposed adjacent to each other and both extending from the fuel cap through the first internal passage;
- and
- a plurality of cylindrical couplers, each enabling the fuel cap to be fit to a different respective size of fuel tank flange, composed of an elastomer, and defining a second internal passage that extends between an inlet port and an outlet port, the inlet port having a first inner diameter, and the outlet port having a second inner diameter, wherein each respective first inner diameter is substantially the same, each of the second inner diameters have sizes that differ from each other and from the respective first inner diameters, and the pipe stub is interchangeably receivable into any of the inlet ports;
- determining a diameter of an inlet flange of a fuel tank;
- selecting one of the cylindrical couplers based on the size of the diameter of the inlet flange and the second inner diameter of the selected cylindrical coupler;
- attaching the inlet port of the selected cylindrical coupler to the pipe stub, such that the pipe stub engages a radially inner surface of the selected cylindrical coupler at the inlet port;
- and
- attaching the outlet port of the selected cylindrical coupler to the inlet flange of the fuel tank, such that the inlet flange of the fuel tank engages the radially inner surface of the selected cylindrical coupler at the outlet port, and such that the sensor element and fuel tube extend from the fuel cap and through the first and second internal passages into the fuel tank.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.