Misfueling solution

A new device to prevent motorists putting the wrong kind of fuel in their cars has been developed at Wolverhampton University.

The inventor, Martin White a retired Royal Navy Commander, partnered with the Caparo Innovation Centre at Wolverhampton University  to develop and license the patent rights for the new device.
 
The misfuelling problem mainly arises for drivers of diesel cars who accidentally fill up with petrol. The nozzle from a diesel fuel pump is bigger than that from a petrol fuel pump, which prevents drivers accidentally fuelling a petrol car with diesel.

But the other way around, it is a serious and growing problem.

The diesel misfuelling prevention device is a retrofit product, which is installed as a direct replacement for the vehicle’s existing fuel filler cap. In its normal state, the mechanical device forms a physical barrier across the fuel intake aperture preventing access to the fuel tank.

The device is configured so that when a diesel fuel filler nozzle is inserted the physical barrier swings out of the way allowing fuel to be added to the vehicle. The device can distinguish between petrol and diesel fuelling nozzles and will not open when it is attempted to insert the smaller diameter petrol nozzle, therefore preventing the wrong fuel being added to the vehicle.