The present disclosure, in general, relates to an automobile fuel door assembly and specifically relates to a fuel lid reinforcement structure having enhanced strength, stiffness and durability so as to cater loads generated due to repetitive opening and closing of a fuel lid.
BACKGROUND
[0002] In general, automobiles such as cars have a fuel containment system for storage of fuel, such as gasoline, CNG and, diesel, which is consumed to power the vehicle. This fuel containment system includes a fuel inlet box having an opening closed by a fuel cap that is further covered by a fuel lid. The fuel lid is first opened and then the fuel cap is removed when the fuel is to be added in a fuel tank.
[0003] The fuel lid not only provides an aesthetic covering, but also provides protection against unauthorized access to the fuel cap. The fuel lid usually includes a fuel lid reinforcement structure that is attached with the fuel inlet box via a hinge. The hinge is attached with the fuel lid reinforcement structure on one hand through a male fuel filler hinge bracket and with the fuel inlet box on the other hand through a female fuel filler hinge bracket. In addition, the male fuel filler hinge bracket is attached with the fuel lid reinforcement structure through spot welds and the female fuel filler hinge bracket is attached with the fuel inlet box through bolts.
[0004] The structure of the existing fuel lid reinforcement, sometime, fails to achieve the required endurance limit due to the design parameters. For instance, when the existing fuel lid reinforcement is opened and closed number of times during the filling of the fuel containment system, there may not be sufficient stiffness at the joinery location to bear the repetitive loads acting during full open loading endurance condition of the fuel door assembly unit.

[0005] In addition, the fuel lid reinforcement and a male fuel filler bracket joining area has low bending stiffness which leads to increased deflections, making the spot welds at the joinery location a weak zone.
[0006] Moreover, the structure of the existing fuel lid reinforcement has low section modulus that results in high bending moment around the joinery location.
[0007] The above-mentioned drawbacks cause functional issues that may either leads to replacement or maintenance of parts, which in either way leads to increase in cost.
[0008] Therefore, there is need of a fuel lid reinforcement structure having enhanced strength, stiffness and durability so as to cater loads generated due to repetitive opening and closing of the fuel lid.
OBJECTS OF THE DISCLOSURE
[0009] Some of the objects of the present disclosure, which at least one embodiment herein satisfy, are listed herein below.
[0010] It is a general or primary object of the present disclosure to provide a fuel lid reinforcement structure having enhanced strength and stiffness that help in withstanding the excessive loads.
[0011] It is another object of present disclosure to provide a fuel lid reinforcement structure having enhanced durability.
[0012] It is further object of the present disclosure to provide the fuel lid reinforcement structure having enhanced bending stiffness.
[0013] It is yet another object of the present disclosure to provide the fuel lid reinforcement structure that requires less maintenance.
[0014] It is another object of the present disclosure to provide the fuel lid reinforcement structure having high section modulus.
[0015] These and other objects and advantages will become more apparent

SUMMARY
[0016] This summary is provided to introduce concepts related to providing a fuel lid reinforcement structure having enhanced strength and stiffness that help in withstanding the excessive loads. The concepts are further described below in the detailed description. This summary is not intended to identify key features or essential features of the claimed subject matter, nor is it intended to be used to limit the scope of the claimed subject matter.
[0017] In accordance with an embodiment, the present disclosure provides a fuel lid reinforcement structure comprising two sequin shaped beads at hinge mounting location for connecting a fuel lid with a female fuel filler hinge bracket provided in a fuel inlet box and a bow shaped bead formed adjacent to the hinge mounting location for establishing an end to end connection with top and bottom edges of the fuel lid reinforcement structure.
[0018] In an aspect, the two sequin shaped beads are formed at hinge mounting location.
[0019] In an aspect, one of the two sequin shaped beads is positioned in a varied base plane.
[0020] In an aspect, the sequin shaped beads are connected to the male fuel filler hinge bracket with spot welds.
[0021] In an aspect, a central portion of the bow shaped bead is running at an equal distance from outer circumference of the sequin shaped beads.
[0022] In an aspect, an optimised cut portion is provided in a central region of the fuel lid reinforcement.
[0023] In an aspect, the edge of the cut region near the hinge mounting location is formed with an inverted C-shaped flange.
[0024] To further understand the characteristics and technical contents of the present subject matter, a description relating thereto will be made with reference to the accompanying drawings. However, the drawings are illustrative only but not used to limit the scope of the present subject matter.

[0025] Various objects, features, aspects, and advantages of the inventive subject matter will become more apparent from the following detailed description of preferred embodiments, along with the accompanying drawing figures in which like numerals represent like components.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF FIGURES
[0026] The illustrated embodiments of the present disclosure will be best understood by reference to the drawings, wherein like parts are designated by like numerals throughout. The following description is intended only byway of exam pie, and simply illustrates certain selected embodiments of devices, systems, and processes that are consistent with the subject matter as claimed herein, wherein:
[0027] FIG. 1 illustrates a connection assembly between a fuel lid and a fuel inlet box, and the enlarged view of the same, in accordance with an embodiment of the present disclosure; and
[0028] FIG. 2 illustrates an enlarged view of a fuel lid reinforcement structure in accordance with an embodiment of the present disclosure.
[0029] The figures depict embodiments of the present subject matter for the purposes of illustration only. A person skilled in the art will easily recognize from the following description that alternative embodiments of the structures and methods illustrated herein may be employed without departing from the principles of the disclosure described herein.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION
[0030] A few aspects of the present disclosure are explained in detail below with reference to the various figures. Example implementations are described to illustrate the disclosed subject matter, not to limit its scope, which is defined by the claims. Those of ordinary skill in the art will recognize a number of equivalent variations of the various features provided in the description that follows.
EXEMPLARY EMBODIMENTS

[0031] While the present disclosure may be embodied in various forms, there are shown in the drawings, and will hereinafter be described, some exemplary and non-limiting embodiments, with the understanding that the present disclosure is to be considered an exemplification of the invention and is not intended to limit the invention to the specific embodiments illustrated. Not all of the depicted components described in this disclosure may be required, however, and some implementations may include additional, different, or fewer components from those expressly described in this disclosure. Variations in the arrangement and type of the components may be made without departing from the scope of the claims as set forth herein.
[0032] FIG. 1 illustrates a connection assembly 100 between a fuel lid 102 and a fuel inlet box 104 in accordance with an embodiment of the present disclosure. The fuel lid 102 includes a fuel lid reinforcement structure 106. The fuel lid reinforcement structure 106 is attached with the fuel inlet box 104 via a hinge 108. The hinge 108 is attached with the fuel lid reinforcement structure 106 on one hand through a male fuel filler hinge bracket 110 and with the fuel inlet box 104 on the other hand through a female fuel filler hinge bracket 112. In other words, the male fuel filler hinge bracket 110 is attached with the fuel lid reinforcement structure 106 through spot welding and the female fuel filler hinge bracket 112 is attached with the fuel inlet box 104 through bolts.
[0033] The connection assem bly 100 between the fuel lid 102 and the fuel inlet box 104 in accordance with the prior art as well as the present disclosure is same. The existing fuel lid reinforcement structure has been redesigned to enhance its stiffness, strength, and durability.
[0034] To enhance the design of the existing fuel lid reinforcement structure, the present disclosure proposes the fuel lid reinforcement structure 106 having improved features providing enhanced strength, stiffness and durability.
[0035] FIG. 2 illustrates an enlarged view of a fuel lid reinforcement structure 106 in accordance with an embodiment of the present disclosure The fuel lid reinforcement structure 106 includes two sequin shaped beads 202-B1, 202-B2 at hinge mounting location 202-M that are used for mounting the hinge 108 through

the male fuel filler hinge bracket 110 over the fuel lid 102 and on the other hand the same hinge 108 is connected with a female fuel filler hinge bracket 112 provided in the fuel inlet box 104. The two sequin shaped beads 202-B1, 202-B2 are connected to the male fuel filler hinge bracket 110 with spot welds. In addition, the two sequin shaped beads 202-B1, 202-B2 are formed at hinge mounting location 202-M. In an aspect, one of the two sequin shaped beads 202-B1, 202-B2 is provided in a varied base plane for increasing the stiffness of the fuel lid reinforcement structure 106. In an aspect, sequin shaped bead 202-B2 is provided in a varied base plane.
[0036] The fuel lid reinforcement structure 106 also includes a bow shaped bead 204 formed adjacent to the hinge mounting location 202-M for establishing an end to end connection with top and bottom edges of the fuel lid reinforcement structure 106. In an aspect, a central portion of the bow shaped bead 204 runs at an equal distance from outer circumferences of the sequin shaped beads 202-B1, 202-B2, to provide extra stiffness during fuel lid full open loading condition.
[0037] Moreover, fuel lid reinforcement structure 106 includes an optimized cut portion 206 in its central region. The cut portion is designed so as to provide sufficient stiffness at the hinge mounting location 202-M of the reinforcement structure 106 as well as to provide provision to paste sticker for fuel identification. In an aspect, edge of the cut portion 206 nearing the hinge mounting location 202-M is formed with an inverted C-shaped flange 208 for improving the localized stiffness around the hinge mounting location 202-M.
ADVANTAGES
[0038] The proposed fuel lid reinforcement structure of the present disclosure has enhanced strength, stiffness and durability that in turn helps in overcoming the design's constraint associated with the existing fuel lid reinforcement structure. It also has high bending stiffness that reduces the chances of bending of the structure.

EQUIVALENTS
[0039] The above description does not provide specific details of the manufacture or design of the various components. Those of skill in the art are familiar with such details, and unless departures from those techniques are set out, techniques, known, related art or later developed designs and materials should be employed. Those in the art are capable of choosing suitable manufacturing and design details.
[0040] Further, the terminology used herein is for the purpose of describing particular embodiments only and is not intended to be limiting of the disclosure. It will be appreciated that several of the above-disclosed and other features and functions, or alternatives thereof, may be combined into other systems or applications. Various presently unforeseen or unanticipated alternatives, modifications, variations, or improvements therein may subsequently be made by those skilled in the art without departing from the scope of the present disclosure as encompassed by the following claims.
[0041] The claims, as originally presented and as they may be amended, encompass variations, alternatives, modifications, improvements, equivalents, and substantial equivalents of the embodiments and teachings disclosed herein, including those that are presently unforeseen or unappreciated, and that, for example, may arise from applicants/patentees and others.
[0042] It will be appreciated that variants of the above-disclosed and other features and functions, or alternatives thereof, may be combined into many other different systems or applications. Various presently unforeseen or unanticipated alternatives, modifications, variations, or improvements therein may be subsequently made by those skilled in the art which are also intended to be encompassed by the following claims.

WE CLAIM:

1. A fuel lid reinforcement structure (106) comprising:
two sequin shaped beads (202-B1, 202-B2) at hinge mounting location (202-M) for connecting a fuel lid (102) with a hinge (108) provided in a fuel inlet box (104); and
a bow shaped bead (204) formed adjacent to the hinge mounting location (202-M) for establishing an end to end connection with top and bottom edges of the fuel lid reinforcement structure (106).
2. The fuel lid reinforcementstructure (106) as claimed in claim 1, wherein the two sequin shaped beads (202-B1, 202-B2) are formed at hinge mounting location (202-M).
3. The fuel lid reinforcement structure (106) as claimed in claim 1, wherein one of the two sequin shaped beads (202-B1, 202-B2) is provided in a varied base plane.
4. The fuel lid reinforcementstructure (106) as claimed in claim 1, wherein the two sequin shaped beads (202-B1, 202-B2) are connected to the hinge (108) with spot welds.
5. The fuel lid reinforcement structure (106) as claimed in claim 1, wherein a central portion of the bow shaped bead (204) runs at an equal distance from outer circumferences of the two sequin shaped beads (202-B1, 202-B2).

6. The fuel lid reinforcement structure (106) as claimed in claim 1, comprising a cut portion (206) in a central region of the fuel lid reinforcement (106).
7. The fuel lid reinforcement structure (106) as claimed in claim 6, wherein edge of the cut portion (206) near the hinge mounting location (202-M) is formed with an inverted C-shaped flange (208).