Automotive fuel filler pipe valve

Details Automotive fuel filler pipe valve Automotive fuel filler pipe valve

2000-03-31

2001-05-15

Douglas, Steven O. (Department: 3751)

Fluent material handling, with receiver or receiver coacting mea

Filling means with receiver or receiver coacting means

Supply means carried receiver flow control opening means

C141S301000, C220S086200, C220SDIG003

Reexamination Certificate

active

06230768

ABSTRACT:

TECHNICAL FIELD
The invention relates to an automotive fuel filler pipe valve assembly.
BACKGROUND ART
It is known to guide a pipe coming from a tank of an automobile to a receptacle at a body panel which, in turn, is adapted to be inserted in an opening of the body panel. The receptacle may be moulded from plastic material and may contain valves for allowing fuel overflow or venting of excess gas pressure in the tank. In such a structure, the opening in the automotive body is adapted to be closed by an appropriate lid. The lid may be lockable with the locked position being releasable from inside the vehicle. For example, automatic unlocking may be effected when the vehicle is stopped, but is not key-locked yet. The lid may also be locked by means of a central locking mechanism.
It has also been proposed to provide a valve, which is alternately opened or closed, in the automotive body between the tank pipe and the opening. When closed, the valve blocks the connection between the pipe and the automotive body opening, whereas, when open it releases a through passage between the opening and the pipe, through which a fuel gun may be introduced. Such a construction has the advantage that a lid is no longer required on the automotive body. The lid is susceptible of being torn off readily and also is an obstacle in automatic filling. In the case described, the valve member is constituted by a sphere having a passage with the sphere being pivotally supported about an axis, for example, through 90° in order to interconnect the openings in the opened position and to block them from each other in the closed position. A sphere also helps in obtaining sufficient sealing against dust and splash-water. The valve receptacle in which the sphere is supported may be made of plastic material and may be breakably attached to the automotive body so that the valve receptacle may be released in an accident and fuel prevented from exiting.
It is an object of the invention to create an automotive fuel filler pipe valve assembly which enables an automatic opening and closing of the tank filler pipe, which is automatically locked in the closed position.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The inventive automotive fuel filler pipe valve uses a spherical or cylindrical valve member including a through passage which alternately interconnects two openings in the housing or separates them from each other. The one opening, which is the larger one, faces the opening of the automotive body panel, whereas the smaller opening is connected to the pipe leading to the tank. Associated with the smaller opening is a seal seat which, in turn, interacts with a closing member biased against the seal seat by a spring. In the opened condition of the valve member, the fuel gun may be passed through the passage of the valve member and may be moved against the locking member, which then will open and allow filling.
In addition, the inventive valve provides a locking member which is adapted to be moved between a locking and a releasing position and, when in its locking position, blocks the closing member in its closed position and releases it in its releasing position. The valve member is actuated by means of a drive. A transmission is provided between the drive or valve member and the locking member such that the locking member is moved into its locking position when the drive pivots the valve member into the closed position. The drive may be effected in the easiest way by a linkage. As an alternative, actuation by a force may be provided, which acts on the valve member via transmission means.
When the valve member is in the closed position the closing member will automatically be closed so that no fuel can exit from the tank pipe.
Finally, a connection housing is provided between the valve receptacle and a connection for the tank pipe, which accommodates the closing member and the locking member. The junction between the valve receptacle and the connection has to be made tight since the fuel is filled into the tank pipe through the connection housing.
Various constructional aspects are possible in configuring the closing member. One aspect of the invention provides that the closing member include a pivotally supported flap which interacts with the free end of a filler pipe defining the second opening.
Another aspect of the invention provides that the drive be an electric motor which is coupled to a drive pin of the valve member via a belt transmission or other transmission means.
As mentioned earlier, the locking member is also actuated by the drive. This may be accomplished, according to another aspect of the invention, by coupling the electric motor, via a worm gear, to a rod which is rotatable about its axis and has a lateral locking extension which constitutes the locking member, and which is pivoted in the locking position via the closing member, e.g. the flap. According to a further aspect of the invention, two parallel spaced, pivotable rods may be provided, which have a locking extension each.


REFERENCES:
patent: 5901760 (1999-05-01), Parker et al.
patent: 5931206 (1999-08-01), Simdon et al.

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