Adapter for a capless fuel tank filler neck to test a fuel tank for leaks
AssigneeSTAR EnviroTech, Inc.
InventorGregory Michael McCollom
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A filler neck adapter to be inserted through the open fuel mouth of a capless filler neck of a fuel tank of a motor vehicle. The adapter has a hollow flow body to create a continuous flow path between a source of pressure or vacuum and the fuel tank to enable the fuel tank to be tested for leaks. A resilient seal surrounds the flow body of the adapter so as to lie between movable and stationary seal stops. A force-generating member is moved along the flow body to push the movable seal stop and the seal towards the stationary seal stop. Accordingly, the seal is compressed between the movable and stationary seal stops so as to bulge outwardly towards and thereby create an air-tight seal against the fuel mouth of the filler neck.
Claims18
An adapter for a capless fuel tank filler neck of a motor vehicle by which fuel is delivered to a fuel tank of the motor vehicle, where the fuel tank filler neck has an open fuel mouth through which the fuel flows to the fuel tank, and where the fuel tank filler neck also has a closure positioned thereacross to block access to the fuel tank, said adapter to be removably attached to the fuel tank filler neck by which to couple a source of pressure or a source of vacuum to the fuel tank so that the fuel tank can be tested for leaks, said adapter comprising a hollow flow body including first and opposite ends, the first end of said flow body having a set of screw threads and the opposite end of said flow body being inserted into the open fuel mouth and extending through the filler neck when said adapter is attached to the filler neck, the opposite end of said flow body having a length sufficient to engage and displace the closure positioned across the filler neck so as to permit access to the fuel tank, said adapter also comprising a seal surrounding said flow body such that said seal lies between said flow body and the fuel mouth of the fuel tank filler neck when said flow body is inserted into the fuel mouth, said seal being responsive to a force applied thereto whereby to cause said seal to be deformed and thereby move into air-tight sealing engagement with the fuel mouth of the fuel tank filler neck while the fuel tank is being tested for leaks.
A combination including a capless fuel tank filler neck of a motor vehicle by which fuel is delivered to a fuel tank of the motor vehicle, where the fuel tank filler neck has an open fuel mouth through which the fuel flows to the fuel tank, and where the fuel tank filler neck also has a pair of movable closure doors that are initially positioned thereacross and lying one after another along said fuel tank filler neck to block access to the fuel tank, and an adapter to be removably attached to the fuel tank filler neck by which to couple a source of pressure or a source of vacuum to the fuel tank so that the fuel tank can be tested for leaks, said adapter comprising:
- a hollow flow body to be inserted through the open fuel mouth and down the filler neck when said adapter is attached to the filler neck, said flow body including first and opposite ends, the first end of said flow body having a set of screw threads and the opposite end of said flow body being inserted through the filler neck and having a length sufficient to engage and displace each one of said pair of movable closure doors initially positioned across the filler neck so as to permit access to the fuel tank;
- a seal surrounding said flow body so as to lie between said flow body and the fuel mouth of the fuel tank filler neck when said flow body is inserted through the fuel mouth;
- a stationary first seal stop surrounding said flow body, said seal lying against said first seal stop;
- and
- a force-generating surface surrounding said flow body and moving along the set of screw threads at the first end of said flow body towards said stationary first seal stop such that said seal is compressed between said force-generating surface and said first seal stop to cause said seal to be deformed and thereby create an air-tight seal against the fuel mouth of the fuel tank filler neck while the fuel tank is being tested for leaks.
A combination including a capless fuel tank filler neck of a motor vehicle by which fuel is delivered to a fuel tank of the motor vehicle, where the fuel tank filler neck has an open fuel mouth through which the fuel flows to the fuel tank, and where the fuel tank filler neck also has a pair of movable closure doors that are initially positioned thereacross and lying one after another along said fuel tank filler neck to block access to the fuel tank, and an adapter to be removably attached to the fuel tank filler neck by which to couple a source of pressure or a source of vacuum to the fuel tank so that the fuel tank can be tested for leaks, said adapter comprising:
- a hollow flow body to be inserted through the open fuel mouth and down the filler neck when said adapter is attached to the filler neck, said flow body including first and opposite ends, the first end of said flow body having a set of screw threads and the opposite end of said flow body being inserted through the filler neck and having a length sufficient to engage and displace each one of said pair of movable closure doors initially positioned across the filler neck so as to permit access to the fuel tank;
- a seal surrounding said flow body so as to lie between said flow body and the fuel mouth of the fuel tank filler neck when said flow body is inserted through the fuel mouth;
- a stationary first seal stop surrounding said flow body;
- a movable second seal stop surrounding the set of screw threads at the first end of said flow body and being movable relative to said stationary first seal stop, said seal being located between said stationary first seal stop and said movable second seal stop;
- and
- a force-generating surface surrounding said flow body and moving along the set of screw threads at the first end of said flow body towards said first and second seal stops so as to push said movable second seal stop and said seal over said flow body towards said stationary first seal stop, whereby said seal is compressed between said first and second seal stops to cause said seal to be deformed and thereby create an air-tight seal against the fuel mouth of the fuel tank filler neck while the fuel tank is being tested for leaks.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.