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Sept. 21, 2014, 1:59 a.m.
9/21/2014
By Aaron Waldron
LiveRC.com
During yesterday’s practice, we spotted
Leann Tessmann using a vertical fuel gun with the Pro-Line logo to fuel up Ty’s Hot Bodies D812 during a pit stop. During the noon-time lunch break today, Pro-Line’s Daniel Adams invited me into the team’s storage booth for a sneak peek at what they’re calling the “Fuel Stick.” As it turns out, Tessmann and fellow teammate Kyle McBride have been instrumental in the project’s design process that began nearly three months ago.
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“The concept was to create something that’s more convenient and ergonomic,” said Daniel, who pointed out that the vertical grip design makes for a more natural arm position, and this means that the pit man doesn’t have to stick his elbow in the air or bend his wrist to point a traditional gun-type fuel filler downward. “For shorter people in pit lane, like Leann, or when the pit wall is really tall, it’s much easier to use,” Daniel said.
Three of the handmade Fuel Stick prototypes are here in Italy - the blue unit you see here, the gun metal gun we spotted yesterday, and a black stick that Scott McBride will be using to fill Kyle’s car this week. The wooden box in which these fuel sticks were shipped to Italy were handmade, and Daniel said they haven't yet decided what packaging will be used when the devices are sold.
Daniel said that the unit was tested up against every current fuel gun on the market, and the new Fuel Stick was faster and more consistent - and much of that is owed to the six vent tubes that displace the tank volume the fuel pushes out as it rushes downward. The fuel gun holds up to 150cc of fuel, with graduated marks on the canister to help track usage. Four different seals (two for the canister, two more for the plunger) ensure there are no leaks.
The secret, however, is the tiny screen we spotted in the tip of the gun. Called a “diffuser,” Daniel said that the screen helps break up the flow of the fuel and disperses it more evenly in the tank, which eliminates bubbles and prevents the tank from “burping” as the fuel and air fight for space inside the tank. “We never would’ve thought that little thing would make such a difference,” said Daniel.
To cap it off (literally), an quick flip-open lid requires only the flick of a thumb, and leaves no extra pieces or a cap hanging from a chain.
Daniel emphasized that the guns in use this weekend were assembled specifically for this race, so details may change before it hits the shelves - which is tentatively scheduled for the beginning of 2015.
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