A SEALING ARRANGEMENT FOR A FUEL FILLING SYSTEM
TECHNICAL FIELD
[0001] The present subject matter described herein relates to a fuel filling system of an automobile, and particularly, to a CNG fuel filling system having a sealing arrangement to prevent water leakage, rusting and dust problems.
BACKGROUND OF INVENTION
[0002] Automobiles typically include a fuel-filling assembly including a door and a fuel cap on or near the side of the vehicle body. To fill the fuel tank, a user must open the fuel door and remove the fuel cap. Usually, the body panel is made of sheet metal or the like and has an opening therethrough that allows a user access to the fuel-filling assembly from the exterior of the vehicle.
[0003] Further, the fuel-filling assembly includes a neck on which the fuel cap is fastened. The neck is used as a start of connection to the fuel tank. At a filling station, the fuel door is opened and the fuel cap is removed to allow a fuel nozzle to be placed within the neck and the fuel tank to be filled.
[0004] In an another arrangement of the fuel-filling assembly, i.e., capless fuel filling system, the body panel of the vehicle, particularly, rear side body panel is provided with a through hole for mounting of the arrangement. The arrangement includes an adapter assembly, which comprises of an adapter outer and an adapter inner. During assembly of the adapter assembly, the adapter outer is brought from outside of the vehicle and the adapter inner is brought from inside of the vehicle, and are connected to each other with the side body panel in between them. The adapter inner and the adapter outer are mounted on the side body panel. The adapter outer and the adapter inner needs to be sealed with the side body panel against water leakage, rusting and dust problems. Therefore, a proper sealing arrangement must be provided on the adapter assembly to prevent unwanted

leakage and also to satisfy the aesthetic appeal around the capless fuel filling system.
[0005] One solution is to provide the sealing arrangement, where adhesive is used for binding the seal to the adapter outer and the adapter inner, but the adhesive does not provide a reliable solution in long term at the adpter outer, as the seal loses its compression properties and hence, lowers the sealing efficacy due to the dust and water. Another solution is to provide mechanical bonding as connection between the sealing arrangement and the adapter outer which is also challenging because of the external aesthetic aspect, as the bonding link is visible from outside and it reduces the asthetic appeal of the vehicle.
[0006] In a prior art, there is disclosed a fuel door housing that can be assembled to a panel side of a vehicle and can secure a sealing properly. Here, the sealing is provided between fuel lid area, fuel filler area, and side body panel.
[0007] In another prior art, the sealing is provided on the fuel lid, side body and fuel box area. Three seals have been used to seal the fuel box area against the vehicle body.
[0008] In yet another prior art, a sealing is provided between fuel lid and side body panel. The screw and bolt type mechanism is used to mount the fuel box on the side body outer with the use of single based seal with edge type lip for prevention of foreign particles.
[0009] However, referring to the abovementioned prior arts and the solutions available in the art, it is worth considering that they are not cost effecitive in sealing against the side body panel for the prevention of water leakage, dust and foreign particles. Moreover, the prior arts use the sealing arrangement in general fuel filling system i.e., the fuel filling system including, side body panel, fuel box, fuel lid, fuel cap, etc., which is not an effective way if used in the capless fuel filling system in preventing the dust, foreign particles, and ingress of water for long term.

[0010] It is therefore of utmost importance to provide a sealing arrangement in capless fuel filling system, in particular, to the adapter assembly mounted on the side body panel, and also provide a streamline look for sealing of the adapter assemly with the side body panel.
OBJECTS OF THE DISCLOSURE
[0011] It is therefore an object of the present subject matter to overcome the aforementioned and other drawbacks in prior method/product/apparatus.
[0012] It is a primary object of the present subject matter to provide a double sided sealing for the CNG fuel filling system.
[0013] It is another object of the present subject matter to provide a sealing arrangement that is cost effective.
[0014] It is another object of the present subject matter to provide the sealing arrangement on the first housing and the second housing of the fuel filling system.
[0015] It is another object of the present subject matter to provide protrusions in the upper sealing portion and the lower sealing portion to provide protection from dust, fumes, and water ingress.
[0016] It is yet another object of the present subject matter to provide the sealing arrangement that has streamlined appearance with the curvature of the side body panel.
[0017] It is yet another object of the present subject matter to provide the sealing arrangement that has protrusion on lower sealing portion and holes on the second housing.
[0018] These and other objects and advantages of the present subject matter will be apparent to a person skilled in the art after consideration of the following detailed description taken into consideration with accompanying drawings in which preferred embodiments of the present subject matter are illustrated.

SUMMARY OF INVENTION
[0019] A solution to one or more drawbacks of existing technology and additional advantages are provided through the present disclosure. Additional features and advantages are realized through the technicalities of the present disclosure. Other embodiments and aspects of the disclosure are described in detail herein and are considered to be a part of the claimed disclosure.
[0020] The present disclosure offers a solution in the form of a sealing arrangement for a fuel filling system present on the side body panel of a vehicle including a first housing and a second housing coupled to each other and inserted into the side body panel, an upper sealing portion having a groove area coupled to the first housing, wherein the first housing including a ridge mating with the groove of the first sealing portion, a lower sealing portion attached to the second housing, the upper sealing portion has a plurality of primary protrusions and the lower sealing portion has a plurality of secondary protrusions.
[0021] In an aspect of the invention, the lower sealing portion includes a plurality of legs to be coupled with a plurality of holes provided on the the second housing.
[0022] In an aspect of the invention, the plurality of primary protrusions includes a first protrusion, a second protrusion and a third protrusion sealed to an outer side of the side body panel.
[0023] In an aspect of the invention, the plurality of secondary protrusions includes a fourth protrusion, a fifth protrusion and a sixth protrusion sealed to a through hole provided on an inner side of the side body panel.
[0024] In another aspect of the invention, the third protrusion located on the upper sealing portion is disposed on a side of the upper sealing portion.
[0025] In another aspect of the invention, the third protrusion is an edge shaped protrusion.
[0026] In an aspect of the invention, the first protrusion and the second protrusion are located side by side on the other side on the upper sealing portion and at a distance away from the third protrusion.

[0027] In another aspect of the invention, the fourth protrusion, the fifth protrusion and the sixth protrusion are equidistant to each other.
[0028] In another aspect of the invention, the first protrusion, the second protrusion, the fourth protrusion, the fifth protrusion and the sixth protrusion are curved shaped protrusion.
[0029] The foregoing summary is illustrative only and is not intended to be in any way limiting. In addition to the illustrative aspects, embodiments, and features described above, further aspects, embodiments, and features will become apparent by reference to the drawings and the following detailed description.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF ACCOMPANYING DRAWINGS
[0030] It is to be noted, however, that the appended drawings illustrate only typical embodiments of the present subject matter and are therefore not to be considered for limiting of its scope, for the present disclosure may admit to other equally effective embodiments. The detailed description is described with reference to the accompanying figures. In the figures, a reference number identifies the figure in which the reference number first appears. The same numbers are used throughout the figures to reference like features and components. Some embodiments of system or methods or structure in accordance with embodiments of the present subject matter are now described, by way of example, and with reference to the accompanying figures, in which:
[0031] Fig. 1 represents an illustrative view of the sealing arrangement for a fuel door housing present on the side body panel of the vehicle, in accordance with an embodiment of the present subject matter.
[0032] Fig. 2 is an illustrative view of the third protrusion from the plurality of primary protrusions that are located on the first sealing portion, in accordance with an embodiment of the present subject matter.
[0033] Fig. 3 is an illustrative view of the groove section present on the first sealing portion, in accordance with an embodiment of the present subject matter.

[0034] Fig. 4 is an illustrative view of lower sealing portion having secondary protusions that are connected to through hole provided on the side body panel, in accordance with an embodiment of the present subject matter.
[0035] Figs. 5(a), 5(b) and 5(c) represent a second housing with a lower sealing portion, in accordance with an embodiment of the present subject matter.
[0036] Figs. 6(a) and 6(b) represent an exploded view and assembled view of the first housing and the upper sealing portion of the fuel filling system, in accordance with an embodiment of the present subject matter.
[0037] Fig. 7 is an illustrative view of outer housing and the side body panel of the vehicle, in accordance with an embodiment of the present subject matter.
[0038] The figures depict embodiments of the present subject matter for 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 OF INVENTION
[0039] The detailed description of various exemplary embodiments of the disclosure is described herein with reference to the accompanying drawings. It should be noted that the embodiments are described herein in such details as to communicate the disclosure. However, the amount of details provided herein is not intended to limit the anticipated variations of embodiments; on the contrary, the intention is to cover all modifications, equivalents, and alternatives falling within the spirit and scope of the present disclosure as defined by the appended claims.
[0040] It is also to be understood that various arrangements may be devised that, although not explicitly described or shown herein, embody the principles of the present disclosure. Moreover, all statements herein reciting principles, aspects,

and embodiments of the present disclosure, as well as specific examples, are intended to encompass equivalents thereof.
[0041] It should also be noted that in some alternative implementations, the functions/acts noted may occur out of the order noted in the figures. For example, two figures shown in succession may be executed concurrently or may sometimes be executed in the reverse order, depending upon the functionality/acts involved.
[0042] Unless otherwise defined, all terms (including technical and scientific terms) used herein have the same meaning as commonly understood by one of ordinary skill in the art to which example embodiments belong. It will be further understood that terms, e.g., those defined in commonly used dictionaries, should be interpreted as having a meaning that is consistent with their meaning in the context of the relevant art and will not be interpreted in an idealized or overly formal sense unless expressly so defined herein.
[0043] In the following detailed description of the embodiments of the disclosure, reference is made to the accompanying drawings that form a part hereof, and in which are shown by way of illustration specific embodiments in which the disclosure may be practiced. These embodiments are described in sufficient detail to enable those skilled in the art to practice the disclosure, and it is to be understood that other embodiments may be utilized and that changes may be made without departing from the scope of the present disclosure. The following description is, therefore, not to be taken in a limiting sense.
[0044] Hereinafter, a description of an embodiment with several components in communication with each other does not imply that all such components are required. On the contrary, a variety of optional components are described to illustrate the wide variety of possible embodiments of the present disclosure.
[0045] Referring Fig. 1, a sealing arrangement for a CNG fuel filling system present on a side body panel (103) of a vehicle is illustrated in accordance with an embodiment of the present subject matter. The fuel filling housing includes two parts, namely, a first housing (101) that is inserted into the side body panel (103);

and a second housing (102) that is positioned on the other side of the side body panel (103). The first housing (101) gets coupled to the second housing (102) after the first housing (101) gets inserted into the side body panel (103).
[0046] The sealing arrangement is provided on the first housing (101) and the second housing (102). The first housing (101) has an upper sealing portion (104) attached to it by a groove (108). The goove (108) is a part of the upper sealing portion (104). The first housing (101) has a ridge that mates with the groove (108) of the upper sealing portion (104). The groove (108) helps hold the upper sealing portion (104) with the first housing (101) without any additional requirement of bonding.
[0047] It is further in accordance with an embodiment of the present subject matter that the upper sealing portion (104) has a plurality of primary protusions (106). The primary protrusions (106) further comprises of a first protrusion (301), a second protrusion (302), and a third protrusion (201). The first protrusion (301) and the second protrusion (302) are located side by side to each other, whereas the third protrusion (201) is located at the other side of the upper sealing portion (104). The plurality of primary protrusions (106) gets sealed to the outer side of the side body panel (103).
[0048] Furthermore, the second housing (102) of the fuel door housing has a lower sealing portion (105). The lower sealing portion (105) is in direct contact with the side body panel (103). The lower sealing portion (105) has a plurality of secondary protrusions (107). The plurality of secondary protrusions (107) further comprises of a fourth protrusion (401), a fifth protrusion (402), and a sixth protrusion (403). The fourth protrusion (401), the fifth protrusion (402) and the sixth protrusion (403) are located equidistant to each other that gets sealed to the inner side of the side body panel (103).
[0049] Referring Fig. 2, the third protrusion (201) from the plurality of primary protrusions (106) that are located on the upper sealing portion (104) is illustrated in accordance with an embodiment of the present subject matter. The third protrusion (201) is located on the side of the upper sealing portion (104) and away

from other protrusions i.e., the first protrusion (301) and the second protusion (302) of the plurality of primary protrusions (106). The third protrusion (201) is edge shaped, thereby helping prevent the inflow of water and dust after getting compressed at a required torque.
[0050] According to an embodiment, the third protrusion (201) is provided as an edge shaped protrusion in interference with the side body panel (103). Since, the third protrusion (201) is torqued against the side body panel (103), it stretches out and matches with the profile of the side body panel (103) and provides sealing against water, fumes and dust, thereby eliminating the appearance issues and making the profile streamline in nature providing an aesthetic appeal through the sealing engagement between the upper sealing portion (104) and the side body panel (103).
[0051] Referring Fig. 3, there is illustrated the groove (108) section present on the upper sealing portion (104) in accordance with an embodiment of the present subject matter. The figure also illustrates the positioning of the first protrusion (301) and the second protrusion (302), forming a part of the primary protrusions (106). The first housing (101) has an upper sealing portion (104) attached to it by the groove (108). The groove (108) is a part of the upper sealing portion (104). The first housing (101) has a ridge (101a) (shown in Fig. 6a) that mates with the groove (108) of the upper sealing portion (104). The goove (108) self-holds the upper sealing portion (104) with the first housing (101) without any requirement of additional bonding.
[0052] The first protrusion (301) and the second protrusion (302) are located side by side to each other and have a curved shaped protrusion. The curved shape of the first protrusion (301) and the second protrusion (302) provide a maximum land area after it gets compressed when torqued against the side body panel (103), thereby helping block the ingress of any undesirable foreign material.
[0053] Furthermore, the curved shape of the second protrusion (302) helps provide the proper shape and balance to the third protrusion (201). The second protrusion (302) also blocks the entry and exit of any foreign particles.

[0054] According to an embodiment of the present subject matter, the lower sealing portion (105) having the plurality of secondary protusions (107) that are provided to seal the gap between the inner side of the side body panel (103) and the second housing (102) is illustrated in Fig. 4. The plurality of secondary protrusions (107) further comprises of the fourth protrusion (401), the fifth protrusion (402) and the sixth protrusion (403) that are located equidistant to each other and gets sealed to the inner side of the side body panel (103). The holes on the side body panel (103) and the plurality of secondary protrusions (107) will self-hold the seal without any requirement of bonding with triple protrusion.
[0055] Referring Figs. 5a and 5b, there are depicted respective exploded view of the lower sealing portion (105) and the second housing (102) of the fuel filling system. According to an embodiment of the present subject matter, the lower sealing portion (105) consists of the plurality of legs (501) formed or extended in a direction opposite to the plurality of protrusions (107). Accordingly, a plurality of holes (502) are provided on the second housing (102), in accordance to the plurality of legs (501). The plurality of holes (502) provided on the second housing (102) are at regualar gap or intermittent gap. The plurality of legs (501) are formed in a shape where the cross-section of the proximal portion of the plurality of legs (501) adjacent to the lower sealing portion (105) is uniform and the cross-section of the distal portion is larger than the proximal end. This change in cross-section of the legs (501) help in retention of the lower sealing portion (105) with the second housing (102). This arrangement of the plurality of legs (501) with the plurality of holes (502) facilitates in self-holding of the lower sealing (105) to the second housing (102) without any requirement of bonding, as illustrated in Fig. 5c.
[0056] Referring Figs. 6a and 6b, there are depicted respective exploded and assembled views of the first housing (101) and the upper sealing portion (104) of the fuel filling system. The first housing (101) includes a ridge (101a) mating with the groove (108) of the upper sealing portion (104) (as shown in Fig. 1).

[0057] Referring Fig. 7, there is depicted an exploded view of the side body panel (103) of the vehicle and the first housing (101). The side body panel (103) is provided with a through hole (109) into which the first housing (101) is mounted from outer side of the vehicle. The characteristic sealing arrangement of the type as described hereinabove and illustrated with the help of accompanying drawings and forming the key characteristic aspect of the present subject matter, for the purposes of better understanding and comprehension of the same.
TECHNICAL ADVANTAGES
[0058] With the help of the solution as proposed herein in the context of the present disclosure, the inflow/outflow of the dust, foreign particles, and water at the trim line of the side body panel hole is eliminated with the help of the key characterisitc sealing arrangement as proposed herein.
[0059] The present disclosure further provides for an easy assembly, with minimal inclusion of the additional components, thereby satisfying various structural and operational requirements and parameters.
[0060] It will be understood by those within the art that, in general, terms used herein, and especially in the appended claims (e.g., bodies of the appended claims) are generally intended as "open" terms (e.g., the term "including" should be interpreted as "including but not limited to," the term "having" should be interpreted as "having at least," the term "includes" should be interpreted as "includes but is not limited to," etc.). It will be further understood by those within the art that if a specific number of an introduced claim recitation is intended, such an intent will be explicitly recited in the claim, and in the absence of such recitation, no such intent is present. For example, as an aid to understanding, the following appended claims may contain usage of the introductory phrases "at least one" and "one or more" to introduce claim recitations. However, the use of such phrases should not be construed to imply that the introduction of a claim recitation by the indefinite articles "a" or "an" limits any particular claim containing such

introduced claim recitation to disclosures containing only one such recitation, even when the same claim includes the introductory phrases "one or more" or "at least one" and indefinite articles such as "a" or "an" (e.g., "a" and/or "an" should typically be interpreted to mean "at least one" or "one or more"); the same holds true for the use of definite articles used to introduce claim recitations. Also, even if a specific number of an introduced claim recitation is explicitly recited, those skilled in the art will recognize that such recitation should typically be interpreted to mean at least the recited number (e.g., the bare recitation of "two recitations," without other modifiers, typically means at least two recitations or two or more recitations). Furthermore, in those instances where a convention analogous to "at least one of A, B, and C, etc." is used, in general, such construction is intended in the sense one having skill in the art would understand the convention (e.g., "a system having at least one of A, B, and C" would include but not be limited to systems that have A alone, B alone, C alone, A and B together, A and C together, B and C together, and/or A, B, and C together, etc.). In those instances, where a convention analogous to "at least one of A, B, or C, etc." is used, in general, such construction is intended in the sense one having skill in the art would understand the convention (e.g., "a system having at least one of A, B, or C" would include but not be limited to systems that have A alone, B alone, C alone, A and B together, A and C together, B and C together, and/or A, B, and C together, etc.). It will be further understood by those within the art that virtually any disjunctive word and/or phrase presenting two or more alternative terms, whether in the description, claims, or drawings, should be understood to contemplate the possibilities of including one of the terms, either of the terms or both terms. For example, the phrase "A or B" will be understood to include the possibilities of "A" or "B" or "A and B."
[0061] It will be further appreciated that functions or structures of a plurality of components or steps may be combined into a single component or step, or the functions or structures of one-step or component may be split among plural steps or components. The present disclosure contemplates all of these combinations. Unless stated otherwise, dimensions and geometries of the various structures

depicted herein are not intended to be restrictive of the disclosure, and other dimensions or geometries are possible. Also, while a feature of the present disclosure may have been described in the context of only one of the illustrated embodiments, such feature may be combined with one or more other features of other embodiments, for any given application. It will also be appreciated from the above that the fabrication of the unique structures herein and the operation thereof also constitute methods in accordance with the present disclosure. The present disclosure also encompasses intermediate and end products resulting from the practice of the methods herein. The use of "comprising" or "including" also contemplates embodiments that "consist essentially of or "consist of the recited feature.

claim:
1. A sealing arrangement for a fuel filling system present on the side body
panel (103) of a vehicle, the arrangement comprising:
a first housing (101) and a second housing (102) coupled to each other and inserted into the side body panel (103); wherein
an upper sealing portion (104) consisting of a groove (108) coupled to the first housing (101), wherein the first housing (101) comprises a ridge (101a) mating with the groove (108) of the upper sealing portion (104);
a lower sealing portion (105) attached to the second housing (102);
and the upper sealing portion (104) comprising a plurality of primary protrusions (106), and the lower sealing portion (105) comprising a plurality of secondary protrusions (107).
2. The sealing arrangement as claimed in claim 1, wherein the lower sealing portion (105) comprises a plurality of legs (501) to be coupled with a plurality of holes (502) provided on the the second housing (102).
3. The sealing arrangement as claimed in claim 1, wherein the plurality of primary protrusions (106) comprises of a first protrusion (301), a second protrusion (302), and a third protrusion (201) sealed to an outer side of the side body panel (103).
4. The sealing arrangement as claimed in claim 1, wherein the plurality of secondary protrusions (107) comprises of a fourth protrusion (401), a fifth protrusion (402), and a sixth protrusion (403) sealed to a through hole provided on an inner side of the side body panel (103).

5. The sealing arrangement as claimed in claim 3, wherein the third protrusion (201) located on the upper sealing portion (104) is disposed on a side of the upper sealing portion (104).
6. The sealing arrangement as claimed in claim 5, wherein the third protrusion (201) is an edge shaped protrusion.
7. The sealing arrangement as claimed in claim 3, wherein the first protrusion (301) and the second protrusion (302) of the plurality of primary protrusions (106) are located side by side on the other side on the upper sealing portion (104) and at a distance away from the third protrusion (201).
8. The sealing arrangement as claimed in claim 4, wherein the fourth protrusion (401), the fifth protrusion (402) and the sixth protrusion (403) of the plurality of secondary protrusions (107) are equidistant to each other.
9. The sealing arrangement as claimed in any of the preceding claims, wherein the first protrusion (301), the second protrusion (302), the fourth protrusion (401), the fifth protrusion (402) and the sixth protrusion (403) are curved shaped protrusion.