Abstract:
A nozzle inhibitor is adapted to be arranged in a filler neck included in a fuel-tank fill tube and is configured to allow only a diesel fuel nozzle having an outer diameter that is greater than a specified minimum diameter to be inserted into the fill tube to a depth sufficient so that a user may dispense diesel fuel from that nozzle into the fill tube. The nozzle inhibitor inhibits insertion of a small-diameter unleaded fuel nozzle into the fill tube, yet allows insertion of a relatively larger diameter diesel fuel nozzle into the fill tube so that only diesel fuel is dispensed into a diesel fuel tank coupled to the fill tube.

Description:
PRIORITY CLAIM 
       [0001]    This application claims priority under 35 U.S.C. §119(e) to U.S. Provisional Application Serial No. 61/822,243, filed May 10, 2013, and U.S. Provisional Application Serial No. 61/937,730, filed Feb. 10, 2014, which are both expressly incorporated by reference herein. 
     
    
     BACKGROUND 
       [0002]    The present disclosure relates to a fuel tank fill tube, and more particularly to a device for preventing the introduction of a nozzle for unleaded fuel into the fill tube of a fuel tank of a motor vehicle fitted with a diesel internal combustion engine. 
         [0003]    Unleaded fuel should not be introduced into a fill tube of a consumer motor vehicle powered by a diesel engine. It is customary to use a small-diameter fuel-dispensing nozzle (e.g., 21.5 mm or less) to dispense unleaded fuel into a fuel tank fill tube and to use a medium-diameter fuel-dispensing nozzle (e.g., 23.6 mm) or a large-diameter fuel-dispensing nozzle (e.g., 25.5 mm) to dispense diesel and leaded fuel into a fuel tank fill tube. 
       SUMMARY 
       [0004]    A fuel tank fill tube includes a filler neck and a filler neck closure assembly adapted to allow only a diesel fuel nozzle having an outer diameter that is greater than a specified minimum diameter to be inserted into the filler neck to a depth sufficient so that a user may dispense diesel fuel from that nozzle into a diesel fuel tank coupled to the fill tube. Such a closure assembly inhibits insertion of a small-diameter unleaded fuel nozzle into the filler neck of a diesel fuel tank, yet allows a medium-diameter or large-diameter diesel fuel nozzle to be inserted into the filler neck of the diesel fuel tank. 
         [0005]    In illustrative embodiments, the closure assembly includes a nozzle inhibitor that blocks or allows fuel-dispensing nozzles to be inserted into the filler neck past the nozzle inhibitor. The nozzle inhibitor includes a door support forming an opening, a first door coupled to the door support, and a second door coupled to the door support. The door support is ring-shaped in an illustrative embodiment. The first and the second door are each mounted on the door-support ring for rotation about a door-pivot axis for movement relative to one another between closed positions blocking passage of the fuel-dispensing nozzle past the nozzle inhibitor and into the filler neck and opened positions allowing passage of the fuel-dispensing nozzle past the nozzle inhibitor and into the filler neck. A single door-pivot axis is provided for the first and second doors in illustrative embodiments. 
         [0006]    In illustrative embodiments, a door opener is coupled to each of the first and the second doors and configured to cause rotation of the first and the second doors relative to one another about the single door-pivot axis so that the doors included in the nozzle inhibitor are pivoted to assume the same opened position when a medium-diameter or a large-diameter (diesel) fuel-dispensing nozzle is inserted into the filler neck closure assembly to engage the door opener. The door opener includes a flexible band and a plurality of band movers. The flexible band has a first end coupled to the first door and a second end coupled to the second door. The plurality of band movers engage the flexible band to expand the flexible band temporarily in the radial direction when a medium-diameter or large-diameter (diesel) fuel-dispensing nozzle is inserted into the filler neck closure assembly to engage and move the band movers. 
         [0007]    In illustrative embodiments, each of the first and the second doors include a closure panel that is movable about the door-pivot axis either to block or allow access to the filler neck and an outer tab that couples the closure panel to the door-support ring. The outer tab of the first door is formed to include an L-shaped slot that receives a first end of the flexible band and that is defined by a first leg providing a regular end-travel segment and a second leg providing an end-overtravel segment so that the first door can be pivoted to the same opened position by medium-diameter (diesel) fuel-dispensing nozzles and large-diameter (diesel) fuel-dispensing nozzles. Similarly, the outer tab of the second door is formed to include an L-shaped slot that receives a second end of the flexible band and that is defined by a first leg providing a regular end-travel segment and a second leg providing an end-overtravel segment so that the second door can be pivoted to the same opened position by medium-diameter (diesel) fuel-dispensing nozzle and large-diameter (diesel) fuel-dispensing nozzles. 
         [0008]    In illustrative embodiments, during temporary expansion of the flexible band due to a medium-diameter or a large-diameter (diesel) fuel-dispensing nozzle being inserted into the filler neck closure assembly, the ends of the flexible band slide along a first leg of each of the L-shaped slots formed in the first and the second doors. Sliding the ends of the flexible band along the first leg of each of the L-shaped slots formed in the first and the second doors causes the first and the second doors to pivot in opposite directions about the door-pivot axis, thereby moving the first and second doors included in the nozzle inhibitor to the opened positions. 
         [0009]    In illustrative embodiments, during temporary expansion of the flexible band due to a large-diameter (diesel) fuel-dispensing nozzle being inserted into the filler neck closure assembly and moved to engage the door opener, the ends of the flexible band slide along both first and second legs of each of the L-shaped slots formed in the first and the second doors. Sliding the ends of the flexible band along the first leg of each of the L-shaped slots formed in the first and the second doors causes the first and the second doors to pivot in opposite directions about the door-pivot axis, thereby moving the doors included in the nozzle inhibitor to the opened position. Sliding the ends of the flexible band along the second (i.e., overtravel) leg of each of the L-shaped slots formed in the first and the second doors establishes a lost-motion driving connection between the flexible band and the doors to allow the doors to remain in that opened position without causing any additional pivoting of the first and the second doors away from one another in a way that might otherwise damage components included in the filler neck closure assembly using an overtravel system in accordance with the present disclosure. Space is also conserved in the filler neck closure assembly because opening the doors using a large-diameter (diesel) fuel-dispensing nozzle does not cause the doors to move to a relatively wider opened position as compared to the opened position of the doors that is established using a medium-diameter (diesel) fuel-dispensing nozzle. Providing for lost motion of the flexible band relative to the first and the second doors using an overtravel system in accordance with the present disclosure allows for radial movement of the band movers to accommodate the relatively larger large-diameter fuel-dispensing nozzle without increasing size of the filler neck closure assembly to accommodate additional movement of the first and the second doors due to the large-diameter (diesel) fuel-dispensing nozzle. 
         [0010]    Additional features of the disclosure will become apparent to those skilled in the art upon consideration of the following detailed description of illustrative embodiments exemplifying the best mode of carrying out the disclosure as presently perceived. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0011]    The detailed description particularly refers to the following figures in which: 
           [0012]      FIG. 1  is a perspective view of a diesel-engine vehicle provided with a fuel-tank fill tube showing an outer filler-neck access door moved to an opened position relative to a vehicle body panel to expose a filler neck closure assembly made in accordance with the present disclosure and coupled to a filler neck (shown in phantom) leading to a vehicle fuel tank (also shown in phantom), showing a medium-diameter and a large-diameter (diesel) fuel-dispensing nozzle coupled to a diesel fuel supply and sized to be inserted into the filler neck closure assembly during vehicle refueling to discharge liquid diesel fuel into the filler neck leading to the vehicle fuel tank, and showing a small-diameter (unleaded) fuel-dispensing pump nozzle coupled to an unleaded fuel supply that is not authorized for use to refuel the diesel-engine vehicle fuel tank; 
           [0013]      FIG. 2  is a diagrammatic view of a filler neck closure assembly in accordance with the present disclosure showing that the filler neck closure assembly comprises a nozzle inhibitor including first and second doors mounted for pivotable movement about a single door-pivot axis that extends along the filler neck, and suggesting that the nozzle inhibitor is configured to provide inhibitor means for preventing insertion of a small-diameter (unleaded) fuel-dispensing nozzle into a fuel-conducting passageway formed in a filler neck included in the fuel-tank fill tube and coupled to a vehicle fuel tank while allowing insertion of a medium-diameter or (an oversized) large-diameter (diesel) fuel-dispensing pump into the fuel-conducting passageway formed in the filler neck and suggesting that the first and second doors include an overtravel system configured to allow the doors to pivot in opposite directions to assume a single opened position even when opened using a relatively wider large-diameter (diesel) fuel-dispensing nozzle to allow passage of a medium-diameter fuel-dispensing nozzle or a large-diameter fuel-dispensing nozzle through the filler neck closure assembly and into a fuel-conducting passageway formed in the filler neck; 
           [0014]      FIG. 3  is another diagrammatic view of the filler neck closure assembly generally viewed as suggested by line  3 - 3  in  FIG. 2  showing that when a small-diameter (unleaded) fuel-dispensing nozzle is inserted into the filler neck closure assembly, the first and second doors of the nozzle inhibitor are positioned to cooperate with one another to block movement of the small-diameter (unleaded) fuel nozzle past the nozzle inhibitor into a fuel-conducting passageway formed in the filler neck to block a user from dispensing unleaded fuel into the filler neck and the fuel tank of the diesel-engine vehicle; 
           [0015]      FIG. 4  is a view similar to  FIG. 3  showing that when a medium-diameter (diesel) fuel nozzle is inserted into the filler neck closure assembly the first and second doors of the nozzle inhibitor pivot away from one another to assume spread-apart opened positions to allow the medium-diameter (diesel) fuel-dispensing nozzle to be inserted past the nozzle inhibitor and into the filler neck so that a user can dispense diesel fuel into the filler neck and the fuel tank of the diesel-engine vehicle, and showing that a door opener included in the filler neck closure assembly is moved by the medium-diameter (diesel) fuel-dispensing nozzle within L-shaped slots formed in the doors along first legs of the L-shaped slots to cause the doors to pivot in opposite directions out of the way of the inwardly moving medium-diameter (diesel) fuel-dispensing nozzle; 
           [0016]      FIG. 5  is a view similar to  FIGS. 3 and 4  showing that when a large-diameter (diesel) fuel-dispensing nozzle is inserted into the filler neck closure assembly the first and second doors of the nozzle inhibitor pivot away from one another to assume the same spread-apart opened positions shown in  FIG. 4  to allow the large-diameter (diesel) fuel-dispensing nozzle to be inserted past the nozzle inhibitor and into the filler neck so that a user can dispense diesel fuel into the filler neck and the fuel tank of the diesel-engine vehicle, and showing that the door opener included in the filler neck closure assembly is moved by the large-diameter (diesel) fuel-dispensing nozzle within the L-shaped slots formed in the doors along first legs of the L-shaped slots to cause the doors to pivot out of the way of the large-diameter (diesel) fuel-dispensing nozzle and along second legs of the L-shaped slots that permit overtravel of the door opener within the L-shaped slots without further pivoting the doors relative to one another about the single door-pivot axis; 
           [0017]      FIG. 6  is an exploded perspective assembly view of an illustrative fill tube showing that the fill tube includes (in series, left to right) a filler neck, a flow director, a filler neck closure assembly made in accordance with the present disclosure to include a nozzle inhibitor having an overtravel system, a retainer flange, and an outer fuel-dispensing nozzle receiver cooperating with the retainer flange to form a nozzle-inlet unit and suggesting that the filler neck closure assembly is adapted to be received in a chamber formed by the filler neck and to be trapped in the chamber by the fuel-nozzle receiver and an adapter flange; 
           [0018]      FIG. 7  is an exploded perspective assembly view of the filler neck closure assembly showing that the nozzle inhibitor of the filler neck closure assembly includes a door-support ring defining a central opening and two doors mounted to the door-support ring to block or allow a nozzle to pass through the central opening and showing that the door opener includes a housing, a flexible band adapted to be mounted in the housing, and a plurality of ball bearing band movers adapted to be mounted in the housing and to expand the flexible band when a medium-diameter or large-diameter (diesel) fuel-dispensing nozzle is inserted into the filler neck closure assembly to engage the door opener; 
           [0019]      FIG. 8  is a perspective view of the filler neck closure assembly of  FIG. 7  assembled and partially broken away to show that the flexible bands extends into L-shaped slots formed in the doors of the nozzle inhibitor to move the doors relative to the door-support ring when the flexible band is expanded in response to a medium-diameter or large-diameter (diesel) fuel-dispensing nozzle being inserted into the filler neck closure assembly to engage the door opener; 
           [0020]      FIG. 9  is a broken-away perspective view of the fill tube of  FIG. 6  suggesting that a small-diameter (unleaded) fuel-dispensing nozzle is inserted into the filler neck closure assembly to engage the door opener of the filler neck closure assembly and showing that the small-diameter (unleaded) fuel-dispensing nozzle is blocked from moving past the nozzle inhibitor into the filler neck; 
           [0021]      FIG. 10  is a top plan view of the filler neck closure assembly of  FIG. 9  showing that the small-diameter (unleaded) fuel-dispensing nozzle does not push the band movers of the door opener outwardly to expand the flexible band and move the doors of the nozzle inhibitor from blocking the opening in the door-support ring of the nozzle inhibitor; 
           [0022]      FIG. 11  is a bottom plan view of the filler neck closure assembly of  FIGS. 9 and 10  showing the flexible band of the door opener unmoved in the L-shaped slots formed in the doors such that the doors are not moved from blocking the opening in the door-support ring of the nozzle inhibitor; 
           [0023]      FIG. 12  is a broken away perspective view of the fill tube of  FIG. 6  suggesting that a medium-diameter (diesel) fuel-dispensing nozzle is inserted into the door opener of the filler neck closure assembly and showing that the medium-diameter (diesel) fuel-dispensing nozzle is allowed to move past the nozzle inhibitor into the filler neck; 
           [0024]      FIG. 13  is a top plan view of the filler neck closure assembly of  FIG. 12  showing that the medium-diameter (diesel) fuel-dispensing nozzle pushes the band movers of the door opener outwardly to expand the flexible band and move the doors of the nozzle inhibitor away from one another to allow the medium-diameter (diesel) fuel-dispensing nozzle to move through the opening in the door-support ring of the nozzle inhibitor; 
           [0025]      FIG. 14  is a bottom plan view of the filler neck closure assembly of  FIGS. 12 and 13  showing the flexible band of the door opener moved along a first leg of the L-shaped slots formed in the doors to cause the doors to move to allow the medium-diameter (diesel) fuel-dispensing nozzle to move through the opening in the door-support ring of the nozzle inhibitor; 
           [0026]      FIG. 15  is a broken away perspective view of the fill tube of  FIG. 6  suggesting that a large-diameter (diesel) fuel-dispensing nozzle is inserted into the door opener of the filler neck closure assembly and showing that the large-diameter (diesel) fuel-dispensing nozzle is allowed to move past the nozzle inhibitor into the filler neck; 
           [0027]      FIG. 16  is a top plan view of the filler neck closure assembly of  FIG. 15  showing that the large-diameter (diesel) fuel-dispensing nozzle pushes the band movers of the door opener outwardly to expand the flexible band and move the doors of the nozzle inhibitor to allow the large-diameter (diesel) fuel-dispensing nozzle to move through the opening in the door-supporting of the nozzle inhibitor; and 
           [0028]      FIG. 17  is a bottom plan view of the filler neck closure assembly of  FIGS. 15 and 16  showing the flexible band of the door opener moved along a first leg of the L-shaped slots formed in the doors to cause the doors to uncover the opening formed by the door-support ring and along a second leg of the L-shaped slots formed in the doors so that the doors do not overtravel past the position in which the opening is uncovered providing for lost motion of the flexible band relative to the first and the second doors allowing for radial movement of the band movers to accommodate the large-diameter (diesel) fuel-dispensing nozzle without accounting for spaced needed to accommodate additional movement of the first and the second doors. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
       [0029]    An illustrative filler neck closure assembly  10  incorporated into a fuel-tank fill tube  21  of a diesel vehicle  11  is exposed by opening an outer access door  24  relative to a vehicle body panel  26  as shown in  FIG. 1 . The filler neck closure assembly  10  is coupled to a filler neck  28  (shown in phantom) leading to a vehicle fuel tank  30  (also shown in phantom). Filler neck closure assembly  10  is configured in accordance with the present disclosure to allow only relatively larger (medium- and large-) diameter (diesel) fuel-dispensing nozzles  32 A,  32 B into fuel-tank fill tube  21  as suggested diagrammatically in  FIGS. 1 and 2 . 
         [0030]    An overtravel system  62 ,  72  in accordance with the present disclosure is included in filler neck closure assembly  10  to allow large-diameter (diesel) fuel-dispensing nozzles  32 B to be inserted into fuel tank fill tube  21  as suggested diagrammatically in  FIGS. 5  and illustratively in  FIGS. 15-17  without opening doors  15 ,  16  included in a nozzle inhibitor  12  provided in filler neck closure assembly  10  to an opened position wider than the opened position established using a medium-diameter (diesel) fuel-dispensing nozzle  32 A as suggested diagrammatically in  FIG. 4  and illustratively in  FIGS. 12-14 . Doors  15 ,  16  of nozzle inhibitor  12  are arranged to pivot relative to one another about a single door-pivot axis  20  in illustrative embodiments. 
         [0031]    The filler neck closure assembly  10  includes a nozzle inhibitor  12  and a door opener  22  as shown diagrammatically in  FIG. 2 . Nozzle inhibitor  12  is configured to provide inhibitor means for preventing insertion of the small-diameter (unleaded) fuel-dispensing pump nozzle  36  into a fuel-conducting passageway  29  formed in the filler neck  28  included in the fuel-tank fill tube  21  and coupled to the vehicle fuel tank  30  while allowing insertion of a medium-diameter diesel fuel-dispensing nozzle  32 A as suggested in  FIGS. 2 and 4  or large-diameter diesel fuel-dispensing nozzle  32 B into the fuel-conducting passageway  29  formed in the filler neck  28  as suggested in  FIGS. 2 and 5 . 
         [0032]    Doors  15 ,  16  included in nozzle inhibitor  12  pivot apart to assume an opened position as suggested diagrammatically in  FIG. 4  in response to engagement of an inwardly moving medium-diameter (diesel) fuel-dispensing nozzle  32 A with the door opener  22  included in filler neck closure assembly  10  (such opening of doors  15 ,  16  is also shown illustratively in  FIGS. 12-14 ). Because filler neck closure assembly  10  includes overtravel system  62 ,  72 , doors  15 ,  16  can pivot apart to assume the same opened position as suggested diagrammatically in  FIG. 5  in response to engagement of an inwardly moving large-diameter (diesel) fuel-dispensing nozzle  32 B with the door opener  22  included in filler neck closure assembly  10  (such opening of doors  15 ,  16  is also shown illustratively in  FIGS. 15-17 ). 
         [0033]    As suggested in  FIG. 1 , a diesel vehicle  11  having a diesel motor includes a fuel tank  30  and a fuel-tank fill tube  21  comprising a filler neck closure assembly  10  in accordance with the present disclosure and a filler neck  28  extending between fuel tank  30  and filler neck closure assembly  10 . Because vehicle  11  has a diesel engine, only diesel fuel  34  can be pumped into fuel tank  30 . Filler neck closure assembly  10  includes a nozzle inhibitor  12  that is configured to block admission of a small-diameter (unleaded) fuel-dispensing nozzle  36  into fuel-conducting passageway  29  formed in filler neck  28  during a tank-refueling activity to avoid accidental discharge of unleaded fuel  38  into fuel tank  30  of a diesel vehicle  11  having a diesel motor as suggested diagrammatically in  FIGS. 1-3  and illustratively in  FIGS. 9-11 . Nozzle inhibitor  12  is configured to admit a medium-diameter (diesel) fuel-dispensing nozzle  32 A into fuel-conducting passageway  29  formed in filler neck  28  during a tank-refueling activity as suggested diagrammatically in  FIGS. 2 and 4  an illustratively in  FIGS. 12-14 . 
         [0034]    Nozzle inhibitor  12  includes an overtravel system (e.g., slot  62  formed in outer tab  65  formed in door  15  and slot  72  formed in outer tab  66  formed in door  16 ) that is operable to sense the presence of an inwardly moving relatively wider large-diameter (diesel) fuel-dispensing nozzle  32 B in filler neck closure assembly  10  as nozzle  32 B engages door opener  22  and then to pivot doors  15 ,  16  about door-pivot axis  20  to assume the same opened position as suggested diagrammatically in  FIGS. 2 and 5  and illustratively in  FIGS. 15-17  so that the relatively wider large-diameter (diesel) fuel-dispensing nozzle  32 B can pass into fuel-conducting passageway  29  formed in filler neck  28  to deliver diesel fuel  34  to fuel tank  30  without damaging any components included in filler neck closure assembly  10  and without requiring the size of assembly  10  to be increased. Filler neck closure assembly  10  is thus configured to accept a wide variety of wide-diameter (diesel) fuel-dispensing nozzles to enhance the versatility of fuel-tank fill tube  21 . 
         [0035]    As suggested in  FIG. 1 , a diesel-engine vehicle  11  is provided with a fuel-tank fill tube  21  and an outer filler-neck access door  24  has been moved by a tank-refueling attendant relative to a vehicle body panel  26  to expose a filler neck closure assembly  10  included in fill tube  21  and coupled to an outer end of filler neck  28 . A small-diameter (unleaded) fuel-dispensing nozzle  36  is coupled to unleaded fuel supply  38  and a symbol  27  suggests that nozzle  36  cannot be passed through filler neck closure assembly  10  to reach into fuel-conducting passageway  29  formed in filler neck  28  to deliver unleaded fuel  38  into a fuel tank  30  that should only receive diesel fuel  34  from a (diesel) fuel-dispensing nozzle such as nozzle  32 A or  32 B. 
         [0036]    Nozzle inhibitor  12  includes a door-support ring  14 , a first door  15 , and a second door  16 . First door  15  is mounted on door-support ring  14  for pivotable movement about a door-pivot axis  20  between a closed position suggested in  FIGS. 2 and 3  and an opened position suggested in  FIG. 4 . Second door  15  is mounted on door-support ring  14  for pivotable movement about door-pivot axis  20  between a closed position suggested in  FIGS. 2 and 3  and an opened position suggested in  FIG. 4 . The door-pivot axis  20  extends parallel to the filler neck  28 . 
         [0037]    An exploded perspective assembly view of fuel-tank fill tube  21  is provided in  FIG. 6 . Fill tube  21  includes a filler neck  28  formed to include a fuel-conducting passageway  29 . Fill tube  21  also includes a normally closed filler neck closure assembly  10  that is configured to control admission of a fuel-dispensing nozzle into the fuel-conducting passageway  29  of the filler neck  28 . A nozzle inhibitor  12  included in filler neck closure assembly  10  is configured to block passage of a small-diameter (unleaded) fuel-dispensing nozzle  36  through filler neck closure assembly  10 . Nozzle inhibitor  12  is configured to allow passage of a medium-diameter (diesel) fuel-dispensing nozzle  32 A through filler neck closure assembly  10 . Nozzle inhibitor  12  is also configured to allow passage of a relative larger large-diameter (diesel) fuel-dispensing nozzle  32 B through filler neck closure assembly  10 . 
         [0038]    As suggested in  FIG. 6 , nozzle-inlet unit  85  comprises an outer fuel-dispensing nozzle receiver  86  and a retainer flange is included in fill tube  21 . Fill tube  21  also includes a flow director  74  sized to fit into an outer portion of filler neck  28  and direct fuel flow into fuel-conducting passageway  29  formed in filler neck  28 . Filler neck closure assembly  10  is arranged to lie between nozzle-inlet unit  85  and flow director  74  as suggested in  FIG. 6 . 
         [0039]    Nozzle inhibitor  12  included in filler neck closure assembly  10  includes pivotable doors  15 ,  16  that can be closed to block passage of a small-diameter (unleaded) fuel-dispensing nozzle  36  through filler neck closure assembly  10  so that unleaded fuel cannot be discharged into diesel fuel tank  30  through filler neck  28 . Door  15  includes an outer tab  66  formed to include a drive-pin slot  56  having a first leg  71  and a second leg  72 . Door  16  includes an outer tab  65  formed to include a drive-pin slot  55  having a first leg  61  and a second leg  62 . Second legs  62 ,  72  cooperate to form an overtravel system in accordance with the present disclosure for allowing a relatively larger large-diameter (diesel) fuel-dispensing nozzle  32 B to pass through filler neck closure assembly  10  in addition to allowing passage of a medium-diameter (diesel) fuel-dispensing nozzle  32 A through filler neck closure assembly  10 . 
         [0040]    An illustrative nozzle inhibitor  12  includes a door-support ring  14 , a first door  15 , and a second door  16  as shown in  FIG. 7 . The door-support ring  14  is formed to include an opening  40  sized to allow a medium-diameter or a large-diameter fuel-dispensing nozzle  32 A or  32 B to pass through a central opening  40  formed in the door-support ring  14 . A single door-pivot pin  18  illustratively couples the first and the second doors  15 ,  16  to the door-support ring  14  for rotation about the door-pivot axis  20  as shown in  FIG. 7 . In the illustrative embodiment, the first and the second doors  15 ,  16  pivot in opposite directions about the door-pivot axis  20  to move the doors  15 ,  16  in nozzle inhibitor  12  between a closed position (as shown in  FIGS. 9-11 ) and an opened position (shown in  FIGS. 12-14  and in  FIGS. 15-17 ). 
         [0041]    First door  15  of nozzle inhibitor  12  includes a closure panel  75  and an outer tab  65  coupled to a perimeter edge of closure panel  75  as shown in  FIG. 7 . Outer tab  65  is supported for movement about door-pivot axis  20  relative to door-support ring  14 . Outer tab  65  is formed to include a multi-direction L-shaped pin-receiving slot  55  having a first leg  61  and a second “overtravel” leg  62 . Closure panel  75  has a semicircular shape and is sized to cover about half the central opening  40  formed in door-support ring  14  when first door  15  is moved to assume the closed position. 
         [0042]    Second door  16  of nozzle inhibitor  12  includes a closure panel  76  and an outer tab  66  coupled to a perimeter edge of closure panel  76  as shown in  FIG. 7 . Outer tab  66  is supported fro movement about door-pivot axis  20  relative to door-support ring  14 . Outer tab  66  is formed to include a multi-direction L-shaped pin-receiving slot  56  having a first leg  71  and a second “overtravel” leg  72 . Closure panel  76  has a semicircular shape and is sized to cover about half the central opening  40  formed in door-support ring  14  when second door  16  is moved to assume the closed position. Second legs  62 ,  72  cooperate to form an overtravel system included in outer tabs  65 ,  66  of first and second doors  15 ,  16  of nozzle inhibitor  12 . 
         [0043]    The door opener  22  illustratively includes a housing  42 , plurality of band movers  44 , and a flexible band  46  as shown, for example, in  FIG. 6 . The housing  42  includes a lower shell  48  and an upper shell  50  that cooperate to support the plurality of band movers  44  and the flexible band  46  for movement relative to the housing  42 . The plurality of band movers  44  are illustratively mounted in the housing  42  to move inward and outward in a radial direction relative to the housing  42  as suggested in  FIGS. 7-15 . The flexible band  46  is illustratively a wire band mounted in the housing  42  to be elastically expanded and contracted within the housing  42  as suggested in  FIGS. 7-15 . 
         [0044]    The housing  42  extends around an opening  43  and is formed to include a plurality of generally cylindrical chambers  45 , an annular cavity  47 , and a guide notch  80  as shown in  FIGS. 7 and 8 . The opening  43  is sized to receive the large-diameter fuel nozzle  32 B along with any relatively smaller diameter fuel-dispensing nozzles  36  or  32 A. Chambers  45  extend radially outward from the opening  43  and receive the plurality of band movers  44 . The annular cavity  48  is sized to receive the flexible band  46  that extends around most of the housing  42 . The guide notch  80  causes the even opening of the doors  15 ,  16 . 
         [0045]    The plurality of band movers  44  are illustratively ball bearings as shown in  FIG. 7 . Each of the plurality of band movers  44  is mounted in a corresponding chamber  45  formed by the housing  42  to move inward and outward in a radial direction relative to the housing  42  as suggested in  FIGS. 7-15 . Each of the plurality of band movers  44  is arranged to extend into the opening  43  defined by the housing  42  and to be pushed outwardly, away from the opening  43 , when the medium-diameter or large-diameter fuel-dispensing nozzles  32 A,  32 B are inserted into the filler neck closure assembly  10  as suggested in  FIGS. 12-17 . 
         [0046]    The flexible band  46  illustratively extends around the plurality of band movers  44  and is adapted to expand/contract around the opening  43  defined by the housing  42  as shown in  FIG. 8 . The flexible band  46  is made from elastic metallic wire and is arranged to push the plurality of band movers  44  inwardly toward the opening  43  until the band movers  44  are acted upon by a nozzle being inserted into the door opener  22  to push the band movers  44  outwardly and expand the flexible band  46  as shown in  FIGS. 12-17 . The flexible band  46  illustratively has a first end  51  that extends into a companion L-shaped slot  55  formed in outer tab  65  of first door  15  and a second end  52  that extends into a companion L-shaped slot  56  formed in outer tab  66  of second door  16 . These ends  51 ,  52  cooperate to pivot doors  15 ,  16  relative to one another about door-pivot axis  20  between opened and closed positions in response to expansion and contraction of flexible band  46 . 
         [0047]    In the illustrative embodiment, the filler neck closure assembly  10  is received in a chamber  90  formed by a flow director  74  as suggested in  FIG. 6 . The flow director includes a fuel-transport tube  92  and a closure receiver  93  coupled to the fuel-transport tube  92 . The fuel-transport tube  92  extends from the closure receiver  93  and down into the fuel-tank filler neck  28  to guide a nozzle inserted through the filler neck closure assembly  10  toward the fuel tank  30 . The closure receiver  93  defines the chamber  90  and is adapted to support the filler neck closure assembly  10 . 
         [0048]    The closure receiver  93  illustratively includes a floor  94  and a side wall  95  as shown in  FIG. 6 . The floor  94  extends outward from the fuel-transport tube  92  and underlies the filler neck closure assembly  10 . The floor  94  is formed to include a locating hole  99  that receives a locator peg  41  that extends downwardly from the door-support ring  14  of the nozzle inhibitor  12  to locate the filler neck closure assembly  10 . The side wall  95  extends from the floor and around the filler neck closure assembly  10  to locate the filler neck closure assembly  10  as suggested in  FIG. 6 . The side wall  95  is formed to include a door tab passage slot  96  and door panel passage slots  97 ,  98 . 
         [0049]    The door tab passage slot  96  is sized and arranged so that the outer tabs  65 ,  66  of the doors  15 ,  16  extend out of the closure receiver  90  as suggested in  FIG. 6 . The door panel passage slots  97 ,  98  are sized and arranged so that the closure panels  75 ,  76  of the door panels  15 ,  16  extend out of the closure receiver  90  when the doors  15 ,  16  are moved to the opened positions allowing passage of a fuel nozzle through the central opening  40  formed in the door-support ring  14  of the nozzle inhibitor  12 . 
         [0050]    The nozzle inhibitor  12  further includes a bushing  76 , a plurality of pads  77 , and a plurality of spring fingers  73  as shown in  FIG. 7 . The bushing  76 , pads  77 , and spring fingers  73  are all monolithically formed with the door-support ring  14  in the illustrative embodiment. The bushing  76  extends around the pin  18  between the base plate  14  and the doors  15 ,  16  to provide a bearing surface for movement of the door  15 . The pads  77  are arranged to underlie the doors  15 ,  16  and blocks the doors  15 ,  16  from being improperly pried open. The spring fingers  73  extend outwardly from the door-support ring  14  away from the opening  40  to center the nozzle inhibitor  12  within the closure receiver  90 . 
         [0051]    The pads  77  are illustratively arranged in a circumferentially-spaced-apart pattern over a top surface  78  of the door-support ring  14  around the opening  40  as shown in  FIG. 7 . The pads  77  are located between the door-support ring  14  and the doors  15 ,  16  to engage the doors  15 ,  16  when they are pushed downwardly by a small-diameter (unleaded) fuel-dispensing nozzle  36  being inserted into the filler neck closure assembly  10 . The pads  77  thus prevent the doors  15 ,  16  from opening when a small-diameter (unleaded) fuel-dispensing nozzle  36  pushes the doors  15 ,  16  toward the door-support ring  14  and tries to pry them open. 
         [0052]    The spring fingers  73  push against the side wall  95  of the closure receiver  93  and push the door-support ring  14  along with the rest of the filler neck closure assembly  10  toward the center of the chamber  90  as suggested in  FIG. 6 . Each spring finger  73  is arranged to extend outwardly from the door-support ring  14  and circumferentially around a portion of the door-support ring  14 . 
         [0053]    In the illustrative embodiment, the fill tube  21  includes an outer fuel-dispensing nozzle receiver  86  and a retainer flange  87  in addition to the filler neck  28  and the filler neck closure assembly  10  as shown, for example, in  FIG. 6 . The fuel-nozzle receiver  86  is illustratively adapted for use with a screw-on fuel cap (not shown). The retainer flange  87  is adapted to be coupled to the closure receiver  94  and extends over the chamber  90  formed by the closure receiver  94  to block the filler neck closure assembly  10  from moving out of the chamber  90 . 
         [0054]    The fuel-nozzle receiver  86  is formed to include internal threads  89  and a mount ring  88  as shown in  FIG. 6 . The internal threads  89  are adapted to mate with external threads of a screw-on fuel cap. The mount ring  88  is adapted to be coupled to the filler neck  28 . In alternative embodiments, the receiver  86  may be a capless unit including a flapper door that blocks dust and dirt from entering the filler neck  28  prior to insertion of a fuel nozzle into the fill tube  21 . 
         [0055]    Turning now to  FIGS. 9-11 , the filler neck closure assembly  10  is shown with the first and second doors  15 ,  16  nozzle inhibitor  12  in the closed position. First door  15  blocks access through a first portion of the central opening  40  in the door-support ring  14  and the second door  16  blocks access through a second portion of the central opening  40  in the door-support ring  14  such that the first and the second doors  15 ,  16  cooperate to block access to any filler neck  28  attached to the filler neck closure assembly  10  prior to a user inserting a medium-diameter or a large-diameter (diesel) fuel-dispensing nozzle  32 A,  32 B into the door opener  22 . Insertion of a medium-diameter or a large-diameter (diesel) fuel-dispensing nozzle  32 A,  32 B into the door opener  22  pushes the plurality of band movers  44  outwardly in a radial direction and moves the first and second doors  15 ,  16  of nozzle inhibitor  12  about door-pivot axis  20  to the same opened position as shown in  FIGS. 12-14  or in  FIGS. 15-17 . 
         [0056]    When no fuel-nozzle or a small-diameter fuel nozzle  36  are inserted into the door opener  22 , the plurality of band movers  44  included in the door opener  22  are unmoved as shown in  FIGS. 9-11 . Thus, the doors  15 ,  16  of nozzle inhibitor  12  remain in the closed position blocking admission to the filler neck  28  through the central opening  40  in the door-support ring  14  as shown in  FIG. 10 . 
         [0057]    Further, while the doors  15 ,  16  of nozzle inhibitor  12  are in the closed positions, a first end  51  of the flexible band  46  is received in an L-shaped slot  55  formed in an outer tab  65  included in the first door  15  as shown in  FIG. 8 . Similarly, a second end  52  of the flexible band  46  is received in an L-shaped slot  56  formed in an outer tab  66  included in the second door  16  as shown in  FIG. 8 . 
         [0058]    The doors  15 ,  16  of nozzle inhibitor  12  have moved to the opened position when a user inserts a medium-diameter (diesel) fuel nozzle  32 A into the door opener  22  as suggested in  FIGS. 12-14 . When the doors  15 ,  16  of nozzle inhibitor  12  are moved to the opened position, the first and the second doors  15 ,  16  allow access through the central opening  40  in the door-support ring  14  into a filler neck  28  attached to the filler neck closure assembly  10  as shown in  FIG. 12 . The medium-diameter (diesel) fuel nozzle  32 A pushes the plurality of band movers  44  outwardly in a radial direction and thereby moves the doors  15 ,  16  of nozzle inhibitor  12  to opened positions as shown in  FIG. 13 . Further, the first end  51  of the flexible band  46  has traveled along a first leg  61  of the L-shaped slot  55  formed in the outer tab  65  of the first door  15  to pivot the first door  15  about the door-pivot axis  20  as shown in  FIG. 14 . Similarly, that the second end  52  of the L-shaped flexible band  46  has traveled along a first leg  71  of the L-shaped slot  56  formed in the outer tab  66  of the second door  16  to pivot the second door  16  about the door-pivot axis  20 . 
         [0059]    The doors  15 ,  16  of nozzle inhibitor  12  are also moved to the opened positions when a user inserts a large-diameter (diesel) fuel-dispensing nozzle  32 B into the door opener  22  as suggested in  FIGS. 15-17 . As with the medium-diameter (diesel) fuel-dispensing nozzle  32 A, the large-diameter (diesel) fuel-dispensing nozzle  32 B pushes the plurality of band movers  44  outwardly in a radial direction (albeit further) and thereby moves the doors  15 ,  16  of nozzle inhibitor  12  to opened positions as shown in  FIGS. 15-17 . The doors  15 ,  16  are moved to the same opened positions shown in  FIGS. 12-14  owing to the provision of an overtravel system  62 ,  72  in outer tabs  65 ,  66  of doors  15 ,  16 . 
         [0060]    When the large-diameter (diesel) fuel-dispensing nozzle  32 B pushes the band movers  44  further outward in the radial direction, the first end  51  of the flexible band  46  travels along first and second legs  61 ,  62  of the L-shaped slot  55  formed in the outer tab  65  of the first door  15  to pivot the first door  15  about the door-pivot axis  20  without causing the first door  15  to overtravel past the position in which the first portion of the central opening  40  in the door-support ring  14  is open. Similarly the second end  52  of the flexible band  46  travels along first and second legs  71 ,  72  of the slot  56  formed in the outer tab  66  of the second door  16  to pivot the second door  16  about the door pivot-axis  20  without causing the second door  16  to overtravel past the position in which the second portion of the central opening  40  in the door-support ring  14  is open. As a result of the lost motion between the ends  51 ,  52  of the flexible band  46  relative to the doors  51 ,  52 , the first and the second doors  15 ,  16  do not open further than required to unblock the central opening  40  reducing the need for space in the fill tube  21  to accommodate additional movement of the first and the second doors  15 ,  16 . 
         [0061]    In the illustrative embodiment, the guide notch  80  formed in the lower shell  48  of the housing  42  extends inwardly toward the opening  43  from an outer surface  79  of the lower shell  48  of the housing  42  as shown, for example, in  FIGS. 7 and 8 . The guide notch  80  forms inner corners  81 ,  82  and outer corners  83 ,  84  as shown in  FIG. 8 . In the illustrative embodiment, another guide notch  80 ′ formed in the door-support ring  14  of the nozzle inhibitor  12  having a profile that matches the guide notch  80  but extends inwardly toward the opening  40  from an outer surface  89  of the door-support ring  14  as shown, for example, in  FIGS. 7 and 8 . The guide notch  80 ′ forms inner corners  81 ′,  82 ′ and outer corners  83 ′,  84 ′ as shown in  FIG. 8 . 
         [0062]    Ends  51 ,  52  of the flexible band  46  move along the initial portion of the door slots  61 ,  71  and simultaneously to inner corners  81 ,  82 ,  81 ′,  82 ′ in the guide notches  80 ,  80 ′. Each end  51 ,  52  is defined by a wire as suggested in the drawings. If one wire end  51 ,  52  moves into initial contact with inner corners  81 ,  81 ′/ 82 ,  82 ′ ahead of the opposite wire  51 ,  52  contacting opposing inner corner  81 ,  81 ′/ 82 ,  82 ′, the contact temporarily causes resistance and encourages the other end of the wire  51 ,  52  to move to the opposite inner corner  81 ,  82 ,  81 ′,  82 ′ before the flexible band  46  expands further. Similarly, if one wire end  51 ,  52  moves into initial contact with corners  83 ,  83 ′/ 84 ,  84 ′ ahead of the opposite wire  51 ,  52  contacting opposing outer corner  83 ,  83 ′/ 84 ,  84 /, the contact temporarily causes resistance and encourages the other end of the wire  51 ,  52  to move to the opposite inner corner  83 ,  83 ′/ 84 ,  84 ′. This resistance encourages even opening of doors  15 ,  16  during insertion through the closure assembly  10 . 
         [0063]    The illustrative closure assembly  10  uses actuators  44  which are moved radially out from a center point and expanding a spring band  46  as suggested in  FIG. 7 . The actuators  44  cause the ends  51 ,  52  of the band  46  to do some work. In this instance the actuators  44  are made from ball bearings and the spring band  46  is a circlet of wire rather than a ribbon style band (in other embodiments a ribbons style band may be used). The principle is that small changes in diameter achieve larger changes in circumference. If the circumference is fixed then the diameter change translates into usable work. 
         [0064]    The ends  51 ,  52  of the wire spring band  46  are mated to two half doors  15 ,  16 , one wire end  51 ,  52  for each. The doors  15 ,  16  are pinned and rotate about the same door-pivot axis  20  similar to the operation of a set of scissors. In this case as one end of the wire  51  is pulled its corresponding door  15 , on the other side of the door-pivot axis  20 , moves in the opposite direction. The other end of the wire  52  is coupled similarly to the other door  16 . Insertion of the nozzle  32 A,  32 B in the closure assembly  10  pushes the balls  44  outward radially expanding the diameter of the band  46  and pulling on both ends  51 ,  52  of the wire  46  simultaneously causing the doors  15 , 16  to move away from each other and open a path for the fuel-dispensing nozzle  32 A,  32 B. 
         [0065]    The location of the point of rotation established by door-pivot axis  20  on the housing as well as the circumference of the wire band  46  and the shape of the doors  15 ,  16  have been designed such that the doors  15 ,  16  will swing open and allow passage of the smallest diameter (diesel) fuel-dispensing nozzle  32 A that is commercially available is inserted. In order to prevent the doors  15 ,  16  from swinging further, with insertion of larger nozzles  32 B, a bearing surface has been made in the housing  42  and multi-directional slots  55 ,  56  formed in the doors  15 ,  16 . 
         [0066]    When the smallest diameter (diesel) nozzle  32 A is inserted the wire ends  51 ,  52  move along the initial portion of the first door slots  61 ,  71  of L-shaped slots  55 ,  56  and simultaneously to a slight corner feature  81 ,  82  in the track  80  on the housing  42 , if one wire end has moved farther than the other this corner feature  81 ,  82  causes resistance and forces the focus of the pull on the other end of the wire  51 ,  52 . If a larger nozzle  32 B is inserted the ends of the wire  51 ,  52  will ride over the corner feature  81 ,  82  in the housing  42  and down the second direction of the slots  55 ,  56  in the door  15 ,  16  while doing no further work to open the door  15 ,  16 . Additional stop features can also be added to the housing  42  to positively stop the doors  15 ,  16 . While the illustrative closure assembly  10  is adapted for use with medium to large diesel sized nozzles (e.g., 23.6 mm-25.5 mm), in other embodiments, the closure assembly  10  may be adapted for use with oversized nozzles or other fuel dispensing nozzles (e.g. up to or greater than 32.0 mm). The track or guide feature  80  in the housing  42  causes the even opening of the doors along with the positive stop  82 ,  83  for the doors and the multi-directional slots  55 ,  56  in the doors  15 ,  16  themselves which prevent movement after the full open position is attained.