Abstract:
A fuel fill pipe assembly for promoting less turbulent flow in a fuel pipe is disclosed. The assembly includes a pipe extending between a first end to a second end wherein said pipe is suitable for receiving a fuel dispensing nozzle. The pipe includes a vent passage positioned on the pipe for providing space for fuel that is entering or has entered the pipe or is leaving the nozzle that is dispensing the fuel.

Description:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention relates to a fuel fill pipe assembly, which includes a pipe that extends from a fuel tank or other fuel reservoir to a fill pipe access area or location. More particularly, the present invention relates to a fuel fill pipe assembly, which includes a fuel fill pipe for an automotive vehicle wherein the pipe includes a vent passage, which may align with an aerator hole of a fuel fill nozzle. 
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     A great many tanks or other reservoirs which contain and/or store fuel include a fuel fill pipe which extends outwardly from the tank or reservoir to a location where fuel may be dispensed in the fill pipe and flow to the tank or reservoir. For example, and without limitation, automotive vehicles typically include a fuel fill pipe which extends from a gasoline tank of the vehicle to another portion or location of the vehicle where fuel (e.g., gasoline) may be dispensed or pumped into the fill pipe and flow to the gasoline tank. It is generally desirable for fuel to be dispensed in these fill pipes such that the fuel flow into and through the pipe is relatively laminar or smooth as opposed to turbulent because turbulent flow can cause vapor from the fuel to be released into the environment and turbulent flow can be slow and can undesirably increase the time required to dispense the fuel. 
     Furthermore, slow or turbulent fuel flow can cause additional problems for automotive vehicles. For example, and without limitation, fuel may be dispensed to automotive vehicle fill pipes or other fill pipes with a nozzle having an automatic “shut off” feature. Preferably, the automatic “shut off” is triggered when the gasoline tank of the vehicle or other reservoir is full and fuel begins to gather in the fill pipe and the fuel covers or contacts or otherwise affects an aerator hole or shutoff port of the nozzle. However, if the fuel that flows into the fill pipe is turbulent, the fuel being dispensed may flow too slowly and may gather in the pipe prematurely or may splash back upon the shutoff port and trigger the automatic shut off feature prematurely or before the tank or reservoir is full. 
     Therefore, it is desirable to provide a fuel fill pipe, which assists in minimizing the turbulence experienced when fuel is dispensed in the pipe and/or helps minimize the potential of premature shutoffs of a fuel dispensing nozzle. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     According to a first aspect of the present invention, there is disclosed a fuel fill pipe assembly. The assembly includes a pipe extending from a reservoir suitable for supporting fuel, the pipe being suitable for receiving fuel, and a vent passage structure defining a vent passage, the vent passage structure positioned on the pipe for minimizing splash back of the fuel as the fuel enters the pipe from a fuel nozzle. 
     According to a second aspect of the invention, there is disclosed a fuel fill pipe assembly for an automotive vehicle. The assembly includes a pipe extending along a length of the pipe between a proximate end and a distal end, the proximate end suitably attached to a fuel tank of the vehicle, the distal end suitable for receiving a fuel nozzle for dispensing fuel, the pipe having a radius wherein the pipe includes a vent passage structure within the pipe, the vent passage structure positioned at a lower area of the pipe radius for aligning with an aerator hole of the fuel nozzle. 
     These and other objects, aspects, and advantages of the present invention will become apparent upon reading the following detailed description in combination with the accompanying drawings. 
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
     FIG. 1 illustrates a perspective view of a fuel fill pipe according to an aspect of the present invention. 
     FIG. 2 illustrates a side view of the fuel fill pipe shown in FIG.  1 . 
     FIG. 3 illustrates a sectional view of the fuel fill pipe shown in FIGS. 1 and 2 taken along line  3 — 3 . 
     FIG. 4 illustrates a sectional view of the fuel fill pipe shown in FIGS. 1,  2 , and  3  taken along line  4 — 4 . 
     FIG. 5 illustrates a fuel fill pipe assembly that includes the fuel fill pipe of FIGS. 1 through 4. 
     FIG. 6 illustrates a perspective view of a conventional dispensing nozzle that may be used to dispense fuel to the fill pipe assemblies of FIG.  5 . 
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
     Referring now to FIGS. 1 and 5, there is illustrated a fuel fill pipe assembly  10  which is used to receive fuel that flows from a fuel dispensing or receiving area to a reservoir or tank for storing, supporting or containing the fuel. One of skill in the art will appreciate that the fuel fill pipe assembly  10  can be used to receive fuel for a gasoline tank  12  of an automotive vehicle. However, one of skill in the art will also appreciate that the fuel fill pipe assembly  10  or variations of the fuel fill pipe assembly  10  can be used in a variety of applications other than automotive vehicles. For instance, the fuel fill pipe assembly  10  or slight variations of the fuel fill pipe assembly  10  may also be used for reservoirs such as boat fuel tanks or other fuel tanks or reservoirs which have fill pipes. For illustrative purposes, however, the non-limiting embodiment of the fuel fill pipe assembly  10  that is shown in FIGS. 1 and 5 is for use in an automotive vehicle wherein the assembly  10  includes a conventional fuel tank or reservoir  12 , a fuel fill pipe  14  and a vent passage structure  16  which is attached or integrated into the pipe  14 . 
     Referring now to FIGS. 1,  4  and  5 , the fuel fill pipe  14  is elongated with a length that extends between a proximate end  20  located near the fuel tank  12  and a distal end  22  near a fill pipe access area. In the embodiment shown, the pipe  14  includes a cylindrical inner surface  30 , which defines an annular hole, opening or passageway  32  that extends along the elongation or length of the pipe  14 . The pipe  14  also includes an outer surface  36  that extends along the elongation or length of the pipe  14 . 
     In a non-limiting embodiment of the invention, the distal end  22  of the pipe  14  includes a first generally cylindrical portion  40  having a first inner diameter, a second generally cylindrical portion  42  having a second inner diameter and a generally frusto-conical portion  44  disposed between the first and second cylindrical portions  40 ,  42 . In the embodiment shown, the first diameter of the first cylindrical portion  40  is greater than the second diameter of the second cylindrical portion  42 . Preferably, the inner diameter of the second cylindrical portion  47  is relatively small (e.g., less than 1.3 inches or approximately 1.0 inch). 
     It shall be recognized that, in alternative embodiments of the invention, the fill pipe may be formed in a variety of configurations of varying size and/or shape. For example, the pipe may be generally square, elliptical, triangular, polygonal or other combination of shapes and/or curves along the length or elongation of the pipe. Furthermore, the pipe may vary in size along its length or may vary in length. 
     In a non-limiting embodiment, the first cylindrical portion  40  of the distal end  22  may be attached to a member  24  of an automotive vehicle such that the member  24  and/or the cylindrical portion  40  can cooperatively receive a conventional fuel nozzle such as the nozzle  80  shown in FIG.  6 . Further, a conventional closure device  50  (i.e., a gas cap)  50  may be used to selectively provide access to the first cylindrical portion  40  or generally the passageway  32  of the pipe  14 . 
     The person of skill in the art will recognize that a variety of closure devices may be used in conjunction with the fill pipe assembly or for certain pipes, a closure device may be integrally attached to the member  24  or may be unneeded. Furthermore, the skilled artisan will recognize that the first cylindrical portion  40 , the cap  50 , and the member  24  may be altered in shape or size or otherwise without departing from the scope of the present invention. 
     In a further non-limiting embodiment of the invention, the distal end  22  of the pipe  14  or the member  24  may include a guide member  52 , which extends generally perpendicular to the larger cylindrical portion  40 . In the embodiment shown, the guide member  52  is annularly shaped and includes a fuel access opening  54  in the center of the guide member  52 . The opening  54  provides access to the fuel pipe  14  such that an individual or machine may dispense fuel into the pipe  14  and, therefore, into the reservoir or tank  12  by directing fuel through the opening  54 . The opening  54  may be sized to receive a conventional fuel nozzle or the opening  54  may receive the pipe  14  such that the conventional nozzle may be directly inserted into the pipe  14 . A conventional nozzle  80  for automotive vehicles is shown in FIG.  6  and the nozzle includes a conventional elongated dispensing portion  82  which may be directed through the opening  54  to dispense (i.e., pump) gasoline into the fuel pipe  14  and the receptacle  12 . 
     The person of skill in the art will recognize that member  24  the guide portion  52  and other components of the distal end  22  of the fuel fill pipe  14  may be formed in a variety of configurations without departing from the scope of the present invention. 
     Referring to FIGS. 1-4, the fuel fill pipe assembly  10  or fill pipe  14  also includes a vent passage structure  16  positioned within the fill pipe  14 . The vent passage structure  16  may be a bend, a well, a dent or other structure which provides additional space to the passageway  32  of the pipe  14 . In the non-limiting embodiment shown, the vent passage  16  is concave with respect to the passageway  32  of the pipe  14  and extends outwardly from the passageway  32  of the pipe  14 . Furthermore, a portion of the passage structure  16  is defined by the outer surface  42  of the pipe  14  and the portion is generally convex with respect to the area outside of the pipe  14 . The passage structure  16  is generally angular and/or arcuate in cross section and resides in the lower radius of the smaller diameter portion  42  of the fill pipe  14 . In the embodiment shown, the passage  16  defines an open area or passage  60  in the smaller diameter portion  42  of fuel pipe  14  near the frusto-conical portion  44  of the pipe  14  and the passage  60  of the passage structure  16  gets progressively smaller as the passage structure  16  extends down the elongation of the pipe  14  toward the proximate end  20  until the smaller diameter portion is substantially cylindrical. In alternative embodiments of the invention, the passage structure  16  may be in different shapes such as arcuate or otherwise, and may vary or maintain a constant size along the length of the pipe. 
     In other alternative embodiments, the passage structure  16  may be relatively small or relatively large and may extend very slightly away from the internal open portion of the pipe or they may extend greater distances away from the passageway  32 . 
     In further alternative embodiments, the passage structure  16  may extend into the frusto-conical portion  44  or the larger cylindrical portion  40  of pipe. In even further alternative embodiments of the invention, the distal end  22  of the pipe may have an alternative configuration and the passage structure  16  may be positioned or placed upon areas of the alternative configurations. The passage structure  16  may be continuous or non-continuous, elongated or non-elongated and may be positioned at variable locations along the length of the pipe  14 . 
     In the embodiment shown, the pipe  14 , the passage structure  16  and the remainder of the assembly  10  are formed from a suitable metal such as steel, aluminum, iron or a combination thereof. In alternative embodiments, the pipe  14  may be formed from other metals, plastics, rubber or other suitable materials. The tank  12  is also formed of a suitable metal such as steel, aluminum, iron, a combination thereof or some other suitable material. The cap  50  may be formed of plastic metal or other suitable material. 
     Assembly or Formation 
     The fill pipe  14  may be formed or assembled in a variety of manners. In one non-limiting embodiment, the pipe  14  may be formed from a conventional cylindrical metal pipe material having a substantially uniform or non-uniform diameter. In the embodiment, the pipe  14  is formed according to conventional methods such as hydroforming, casting or other suitable forming methods. Furthermore, one or more mandrels or other forming devices may be used to enlarge, constrict or otherwise shape portions of the pipe  14  to form the large cylindrical portion  40 , the frusto-conical portion  44  and the smaller cylindrical portion  42  or other desired portions. In an alternative embodiment, the fill pipe  14  may be cast, hydroformed or otherwise formed to directly form the large cylindrical portion  40 , the frusto-conical portion  44  and the small cylindrical portion  42 . 
     The passage structure  16  in the fill pipe  14  may be formed in a variety of manners as well. In one embodiment, the pipe  14  is placed upon a fixture and the passage is formed in the pipe  14  with metal forming tools. In an alternative embodiment, the passage structure  16  may be formed in the pipe by hydroforming the pipe with a die or dies that are suitably shaped to form the passage structure  16  in the pipe  14 . In still another embodiment, the pipe  14  may be cast or otherwise formed with the passage structure  16 . 
     The fill pipe  14  may be attached to the tank  12  and the member  24  in a variety of conventional manners such as the use of fasteners, welding or the like. 
     The person of skill in the art will recognize that a variety of manners or methods of metal or material forming may be utilized to form the pipe  14  or to place or position the passage  16  in a given pipe. The person of skill in the art shall further recognize that the manner used to form the pipe  14  and the passage structure  16  may depend on the materials used to form the pipe  14 . 
     Operation 
     Referring again to FIGS. 1-4, the manner in which the assembly  10  assists in the flow of fuel to the tank will be discussed. 
     Generally, fuel that flows into a pipe, especially fuel that initially enters a pipe, may experience turbulent flow. In such cases, the fuel flowing into the pipe may tend to back up or build up, thereby undesirably restricting flow into and through the pipe. Smaller diameter pipes can assist in promoting more laminar flow, thereby helping to alleviate the turbulent flow problem. However, smaller diameter pipes can still experience turbulent flow near the tip of a nozzle that is dispensing fuel, and such turbulence can cause premature shut-offs of such nozzles if the turbulent fuel splashes back at the nozzle and triggers the automatic shut-off of the nozzle. 
     Specifically in the case of automotive vehicles, but also with other fill pipes that are designed to receive fuel, nozzles or other dispensing devices dispense, pour or otherwise place the fuel in the pipe. An example of such a nozzle is the nozzle  80  shown in FIG.  6 . The nozzle  80  and many nozzles similar to it include an aerator hole or shut-off port in a region  84  of the nozzle and the region  84  is usually received within the pipe  14  such that the shut-off port faces or is exposed to a portion of the inner surface  30  of the pipe  14  that is on the lower radius of the pipe  14 . Such ports generally sense or have air flow through the port stopped by fuel that advances toward or contacts the port and upon interaction with such fuel, the nozzle automatically stops pumping or dispensing fuel. It is desirable to have such automatic shut-off when the tank  12  is full, however, such automatic shut-off is undesirable prior to the tank being full. In the non-limiting embodiment shown, the opening  54  of the fill pipe  14  is designed to receive a nozzle such as the nozzle  80  of FIG.  6 . The nozzle  80  may dispense fuel at, near or beyond the interface between the frusto-conical portion  44  and the smaller cylindrical portion  42  of the pipe  14 . As the fuel flows into the pipe  14 , the passage structure  16  provides greater space between fuel flowing from the nozzle  80  and into the smaller portion  42  of the pipe  14  thereby making fuel back up or fuel splash back toward the nozzle  80  and/or automatic shut-off less likely. 
     In a preferred embodiment, the vent passage structure  16  is designed to circumferentially align with the aerator hole of the nozzle  80 , which triggers an automatic shut-off of the nozzle when the hole is filled with, covered by, or otherwise affected by fuel. 
     Additionally, in some situations, the shape and/or positioning of the vent passage structure  16  can assist fuel that is dispensed in the pipe  14  to flow in a laminar manner soon after the fuel is dispensed as opposed to having a cylindrical pipe without the passage structure  16 . 
     It should be understood that the invention is not limited to the exact embodiment or construction, which has been illustrated and described but that various changes may be made without departing from the spirit and the scope of the invention.