Fuel-dispensing nozzle inhibitor

A filler neck closure assembly associated with a vehicle fuel tank filler neck, the assembly comprising

• inhibitor means for preventing insertion of a small-diameter unleaded fuel-dispensing pump nozzle into a fuel-conducting passageway formed in a filler neck coupled to a vehicle fuel tank while allowing insertion of a large-diameter diesel fuel-dispensing pump nozzle into the fuel-conducting passageway formed in the filler neck, the inhibitor means including a nozzle conduit formed in the fill tube and formed to include a nozzle-receiving passageway, a flapper door mounted for movement relative to the nozzle conduit to open and close the nozzle-receiving passageway, and a flapper-door anchor coupled to the nozzle conduit and associated with the flapper door, and
• wherein the flapper-door anchor includes a hoop-shaped flapper door lock and a multi-part lock opener coupled to the nozzle conduit and to the hoop-shaped flapper door lock,
• wherein the hoop-shaped flapper door lock includes a variable-circumference band that is expandable to change from a normal narrow-diameter mode characterized by a first diameter and circumference to a large-diameter mode characterized by a relatively larger second diameter and circumference, a first door-motion blocker coupled to a first end portion of the variable-circumference band, and a second door-motion blocker coupled to a second end portion of the variable-circumference band and arranged normally to cooperate with the first door-motion blocker to assume a drawn-together formation to trap the flapper door therebetween when the variable-circumference band assumes the narrow-diameter mode to retain the flapper door in a closed position closing the nozzle-receiving aperture,
• wherein the multi-part lock opener includes several band movers located in an interior region formed in the variable-circumference band and arranged to lie along an interior surface of the variable-circumference band in spaced relation to one another, and
• wherein the band movers cooperate to move relative to the variable-circumference band and to one another to expand the diameter and circumference of the variable-circumference band to assume the large-diameter mode and move the first and second door-motion blockers away from one another to assume a spread-apart formation disengaging the flapper door so as to release the flapper door in response to movement of the large-diameter fuel-dispensing nozzle through the nozzle-receiving passageway formed in the nozzle conduit to engage the band movers and move the band movers in radially outward directions to expand the variable-circumference band.

A filler neck closure assembly associated with a vehicle fuel tank filler neck, the assembly comprising

• inhibitor means for preventing insertion of a small-diameter unleaded fuel-dispensing pump nozzle into a fuel-conducting passageway formed in a filler neck coupled to a vehicle fuel tank while allowing insertion of a large-diameter diesel fuel-dispensing pump nozzle into the fuel-conducting passageway formed in the filler neck, the inhibitor means including a nozzle conduit formed in the fill tube and formed to include a nozzle-receiving passageway, a flapper door mounted for movement relative to the nozzle conduit to open and close the nozzle-receiving passageway, and a flapper-door anchor coupled to the nozzle conduit and associated with the flapper door, and wherein the flapper-door anchor includes a hoop-shaped flapper door lock and wherein the hoop-shaped flapper door lock includes a variable-circumference band that is expandable to change from a normal narrow-diameter mode characterized by a first diameter and circumference to a large-diameter mode characterized by a relatively larger second diameter and circumference, a first door-motion blocker coupled to a first end portion of the variable-circumference band, and a second door-motion blocker coupled to a second end portion of the variable-circumference band and arranged normally to cooperate with the first door-motion blocker to assume a drawn-together formation to trap the flapper door therebetween when the variable-circumference band assumes the narrow-diameter mode to retain the flapper door in a closed position closing the nozzle-receiving aperture.

A fuel-dispensing nozzle inhibitor comprising

• a nozzle conduit positionable on a fuel fill tube,
• wherein the fuel fill tube is constructed to direct fuel to a fuel tank, and
• wherein the nozzle conduit defines a nozzle-receiving passageway for receiving a fuel-dispensing nozzle with at least one of a first diameter selected for a first fuel type and a second diameter for a second fuel type, the second diameter being smaller than the first diameter,
• a closure positioned adjacent to a bottom portion of the nozzle conduit,
• wherein the closure has an opened position to permit insertion of the fuel-dispensing nozzle past the closure if the fuel-dispensing nozzle has the first diameter, and
• wherein the closure has a closed position to prevent insertion of the fuel-dispensing nozzle past the closure if the fuel-dispensing nozzle has the second diameter,
• a lock that retains the closure in a closed position if the fuel-dispensing nozzle has the second diameter and releases the closure if the fuel-dispensing nozzle has the first diameter, and
• a plurality of independently operable actuators within the nozzle conduit,
• wherein the actuators are adapted to contact the fuel-dispensing nozzle when inserted into the nozzle-receiving passageway,
• wherein the actuators cooperate with the lock to release the closure if the fuel-dispensing nozzle has the first diameter, and
• wherein the actuators cooperate with the lock to maintain the lock in the closed position if the fuel-dispensing nozzle has the second diameter.