Capless automotive fueling system with miss-fuel inhibitor

Abstract

A fuel inlet assembly for an automotive vehicle having an elongated tubular and cylindrical housing open at each end and defining a port in between the ends of the housing. A flapper valve is associated with the fluid port and is movable between an open and a closed position. At least two latches are pivotally mounted to the housing adjacent the fluid port and movable between a latch position and a release position. The latches engage the flapper valve to prevent the flapper valve from moving to its open position. A flexible bump is attached to each latch so that the bump pivots with its associated latch and each bump protrudes radially inwardly from its associated latch. Each bump has a cam surface which, when engaged by a fuel nozzle, pivots the bump and its associated latch to the release position. However, the latch is collapsible in a radially outward direction towards its associated latch when that latch is in its release position thus enabling a fuel nozzle to pass past the collapsed bumps and engage the flapper valve. As such, only a fuel nozzle with a predetermined size range will engage the bumps and pivot the latches to an open position and also allow the fuel nozzle to pass the bumps and extend through the fluid port.