Filler neck to inhibit use of leaded fuel
AssigneeGeneral Motors Corporation
InventorsFrank W. Ball, Paul R. Mutty
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A fuel deflector and restrictor are disposed in the filler neck of an automobile fuel tank to inhibit filling of the tank with improper fuel. An opening in the restrictor permits insertion of and delivery from a fuel nozzle used with non-leaded fuels, but the restrictor obstructs a larger diameter nozzle used with leaded fuels. A resilient deflector member is cantilevered at one end and is biased toward and partly underlies the acceptance opening. The deflector is moved by the smaller diameter non-leaded fuel nozzle upon insertion, but deflects fuel impinging thereon from the unaccepted leaded fuel nozzle through an aperture in the restrictor to actuate the automatic shut-off mechanism of the leaded fuel nozzle.
Claims4
A fuel tank filler neck adapted to inhibit filling of a fuel tank by a leaded fuel nozzle and to permit filling of the fuel tank by an unleaded fuel nozzle, said leaded fuel nozzle having a diameter larger than the diameter of said unleaded fuel nozzle and further having a shut-off mechanism including a signal port, said mechanism being actuated to shut-off fuel flow when said signal port is covered by fuel, said filler neck comprising a restrictor recessed in and extending across the end of said filler neck, said restrictor having an opening with a diameter larger than the diameter of said unleaded fuel nozzle and smaller than the diameter of said leaded fuel nozzle to thereby permit insertion of said unleaded fuel nozzle through said restrictor and to obstruct insertion of said leaded fuel nozzle, said restrictor further having at least one aperture, and a deflector including a flat portion underlying at least a portion of said opening and a curved portion underlying at least a portion of said aperture, said deflector being displaceable by said unleaded fuel nozzle to admit fuel therefrom, said flat portion of said deflector intercepting fuel from said leaded fuel nozzle and diverting such fuel to said curved portion of said deflector which deflects such fuel through said aperture toward said signal port to actuate said mechanism and shut off fuel flow from said leaded fuel nozzle.
A fuel tank filler neck adapted to inhibit filling of a fuel tank by a leaded fuel nozzle and to permit filling of the fuel tank by an unleaded fuel nozzle, said leaded fuel nozzle having a diameter larger than the diameter of said unleaded fuel nozzle and further having a shut-off mechanism including a signal port, said mechanism being actuated to shut off fuel flow when said signal port is covered by fuel, said filler neck comprising a cup-shaped restrictor having a cylindrical side wall terminating in a bottom wall recessed in and extending across the end of said filler neck, said bottom wall having an opening with a diameter larger than the diameter of said unleaded fuel nozzle and smaller than the diameter of said leaded fuel nozzle to thereby permit insertion of said unleaded fuel nozzle through said restrictor and to obstruct insertion of said leaded fuel nozzle, said bottom wall further having a pair of apertures adjacent said opening, each of said apertures having an inner boundary concentric with said opening and an outer boundary concentric with said side wall, and a resilient deflector including a secured end mounted adjacent said side wall, a curved portion underlying at least a portion of each of said apertures, a flat portion underlying at least a portion of said opening, and a free end disposed adjacent said opening, said curved portion being concave toward said apertures, said deflector tapering from a narrow portion near said secured end to a wider portion beneath said apertures and a widest portion beneath said opening, said deflector being displaceable by said unleaded fuel nozzle to admit fuel therefrom and said free end of said deflector being curled to facilitate sliding of said unleaded fuel nozzle on said deflector, said flat portion of said deflector intercepting fuel from said leaded fuel nozzle and diverting such fuel to said curved portion of said deflector which deflects such fuel through said apertures toward said signal port to actuate said mechanism and shut off fuel flow from said leaded fuel nozzle.
A fuel tank filler neck adapted to inhibit filling of a fuel tank by a leaded fuel nozzle and to permit filling of the fuel tank by an unleaded fuel nozzle, said leaded fuel nozzle having a diameter larger than the diameter of said unleaded fuel nozzle and further having a shut-off mechanism including a signal port, said mechanism being actuated to shut-off fuel flow when said signal port is covered by fuel, said filler neck comprising a restrictor recessed in and extending across the end of said filler neck, said restrictor having an opening with a diameter larger than the diameter of said unleaded fuel nozzle and smaller than the diameter of said leaded fuel nozzle to thereby permit insertion of said unleaded fuel nozzle through said restrictor and to obstruct insertion of said leaded fuel nozzle, said restrictor further having at least one aperture disposed in a plane substantially parallel to and closely adjacent the plane of said opening, and a deflector underlying at least a portion of said opening, said deflector being displaceable by said unleaded fuel nozzle to admit fuel therefrom, said deflector intercepting fuel from said leaded fuel nozzle and deflecting such fuel through said aperture toward said signal port to actuate said mechanism and shut off fuel flow from said leaded fuel nozzle.
A fuel tank filler neck adapted to inhibit filling of a fuel tank by a leaded fuel nozzle and to permit filling of the fuel tank by an unleaded fuel nozzle, said leaded fuel nozzle having a diameter larger than the diameter of said unleaded fuel nozzle and further having a shut-off mechanism including a signal port, said mechanism being actuated to shut-off fuel flow when said signal port is covered by fuel, said filler neck comprising a restrictor recessed in and extending across the end of said filler neck, said restrictor having an opening with a diameter larger than the diameter of said unleaded fuel nozzle and smaller than the diameter of said leaded fuel nozzle to thereby permit insertion of said unleaded fuel nozzle through said restrictor and to obstruct insertion of said leaded fuel nozzle, said restrictor further having at least one aperture disposed in a plane substantially parallel to and closely adjacent the plane of said opening, and a deflector underlying at least a portion of said opening and at least a portion of said aperture, said deflector being displaceable by said unleaded fuel nozzle to admit fuel therefrom, said deflector intercepting fuel from said leaded fuel nozzle and deflecting such fuel through said aperture toward said signal port to actuate said mechanism and shut off fuel flow from said leaded fuel nozzle.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.