Martinrea Industries, Inc.

Pilot Industries, Inc.

Daniel Paul Cunkle

David J Gabbey

Stephen J Anderson

Larry Martin Vandervoort

Larry Marin Vandervoort

David John Gabbey

A capless automotive fueling system having a funnel with a port open to receive a fuel filling nozzle. A spring loaded valve is movable between an open position in which the port is open and a closed position in which the fuel valve overlies and sealingly covers the port. A shield is movable between a first position in which the shield overlies and covers the valve, and a second position in which the shield is laterally disposed to one side of the valve to permit insertion of the fuel filling nozzle. A motor is drivingly connected to the shield and, on activation, moves the shield from its first and to its second position. Alternatively, two latches engage the valve to retain the valve in a closed position. Upon insertion of a properly sized fuel nozzle, the nozzle engages the latches and pivots them to an open position.

Capless automotive fueling system

A spud assembly for use with a fuel tank having a body defining an interior chamber and having an outer periphery. The spud assembly includes a base attached to the outer periphery of the fuel tank and the base has a throughbore open to both the interior chamber of the tank as well as exteriorly of the tank. An elongated spud having an axial throughbore is movable relative to the base between a connected and an unconnected position. In its connected position, the spud is positioned through the base throughbore so that the spud fluidly connects the interior of the fuel tank to the spud. Additionally, when the spud is moved to its fully connected position, a locking finger on the base engages a lock abutment surface on the spud to secure the spud and base together. In an alternate embodiment, a locking ring is coaxially disposed over the spud and base when the spud is in its connected position. The locking ring is rotatable between an unlocked position in which the spud and base can be disconnected from each other, and a locked position in which the spud and base are secured together.

Spud assembly for a fuel tank

A positive sealing inlet (PSI) valve assembly is provided for an automotive fuel tank fill tube. The PSI valve assembly includes a tubular housing having an interior and an exterior and this housing is fluidly mounted in series with the fuel tank fill tube. The housing includes a wall extending across the interior of the housing adjacent one end and this wall includes a through opening. A flapper valve is movable between an open and a closed position. In its closed position, the flapper valve overlies and closes the wall opening. Conversely, in its open position, the flapper valve is positioned away from the wall opening to permit nozzle insertion through the wall opening. The PSI valve is pivotally connected to a valve holder and this valve holder is mounted entirely within the interior of the housing. A spring is operatively disposed between the valve holder and flapper valve and urges the vent valve towards its closed position.

Vent valve assembly

An automotive fuel tank fill assembly for a fuel tank is disclosed having a fuel fill tube with a first end adapted to receive fuel and a second end open to the fuel tank. The fill tube includes a spiral indentation formed around its first end so that the spiral indentation forms both an external and internal thread at the first end of the tube. An inlet valve housing containing a normally closed inlet valve has an external thread. This external thread is dimensioned to threadably engage the internal thread on the fill tube while a latch and detent mechanism locks the inlet valve housing to the fill tube at a predetermined rotational position. Similarly, a mount housing includes an internal thread which threadably engages the external thread on the fill tube. The mount housing includes a locking tab which engages the detent formed on the fill tube at a predetermined rotational position of the mount housing relative to the fill tube.

Growing community of inventors

Jonesville, MI, United States of America

Daniel Paul Cunkle