Land vehicles: bodies and tops – Bodies – Access cover for gas tank filler pipe
Reexamination Certificate
2001-06-26
2003-04-08
Pape, Joseph D. (Department: 3612)
Land vehicles: bodies and tops
Bodies
Access cover for gas tank filler pipe
C220S375000, C220SDIG003
Reexamination Certificate
active
06543833
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a cap device in which a long coupling member is coupled at one end to a cap.
The present invention is based on Japanese Patent Applications No. 2000-190697 and No. 2000-200744, which are incorporated herein by reference.
2. Description of the Related Art
This type of cap device is known as disclosed in JP-A-62-173321.
FIG. 24
is a cross sectional view showing a conventional fuel tank inlet portion of a motor vehicle. In
FIG. 24
, a recess
102
, which is opened and closed with a fuel filler lid
101
, is provided at a rear part of a body panel
100
of a motor vehicle. A fuel tank inlet
104
a
of a filler pipe
104
is formed in its bottom wall
102
a
. The fuel tank inlet
104
a
is closed with a filler cap
110
in a sealing manner. A coupling string
114
which is slidably supported in an annular groove
111
a
is coupled to the filler cap
110
through a ring
112
. The other end of the coupling string
114
is placed in a tubular cover
116
extending into the body panel
100
.
In the conventional filler cap device, to feed fuel into the fuel tank, the fuel filler lid
101
is opened, the filler cap
110
is removed from the filler pipe
104
, the coupling string
114
is drawn out of the tubular cover
116
, and the filler cap
110
hangs down. To close the filler cap
110
, the coupling string
114
is put into the tubular cover
116
. Thus, the filler cap device is constructed so as to prevent the filler cap
110
from dropping and being lost when fuel is fed and so as not catch the coupling string
114
in the fuel filler lid
101
when the fuel filler lid
101
is tightened.
When the conventional filler cap device is used in cold districts, it frequently occurs that rainwater, snow or the like enters a clearance between the annular groove
111
a
of the filler cap
110
and the ring
112
, and is frozen. In this case, an ice block is formed and it hinders the rotation of the ring
112
. The hindering state of the rotation of the ring
112
is transmitted through the coupling string
114
to the filler cap
110
. This makes it difficult to rotate the filler cap
110
itself, and hence makes it difficult to smoothly remove the filler cap
110
from the fuel tank inlet
104
a.
Further, in the conventional cap structure, when fuel is fed, the filler cap
110
hangs down at a position close to the body panel
100
. Accordingly, there is a fear that the filler cap
110
interferes with the fuel feed gun or comes in contact with the body panel
100
and those rub together. Further, the tubular cover
116
is deeply projected into the body panel
100
. Because of this, a freedom of layout of component parts within the body panel
100
is restricted, and the construction is complex.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The present invention is directed to solve the above problem, and to provide a cap device which is free from the difficulty in attaching and detaching of the cap, which is caused by the freezing, even when it is used in cold districts.
Further the present invention is directed for solving the above problems, and has an object to provide a cap device which never interferes with a fuel feed gun and a body panel when a filler cap is removed to feed fuel, and is simple in construction.
To achieve the above object, there is provided a first cap device in which a long, flexible coupling member is coupled at one end to a filler cap for opening and closing a fuel tank inlet, and is slidably mounted at the other end to a guide member located near the fuel tank inlet, the cap device comprising:
a rotary ring being rotatably mounted around the circumferential outer surface of the filler cap and fastened to one end of the coupling member; and
protrusions being provided on a surface of a part which slides when the rotary ring and the circumferential outer surface of the filler cap rotate relative to each other.
In the first cap device, when the filler cap is removed from the fuel tank inlet, the filler cap is supported at a position near the fuel tank inlet, by the coupling member. Therefore, there is no fear of losing the filler cap and failing to cap the fuel tank inlet. One end of the coupling member is fastened to the rotary ring, which is rotatably mounted on the circumference of the filler cap. When the filler cap is turned to remove it, the rotary ring and the filler cap rotate relative to each other. Therefore, if the filler cap is coupled to the slide support member, the opening and closing operations of the filler cap may be normally performed.
Protrusions are formed on a surface of a part which slides when the rotary ring and the circumferential outer surface of the filler cap rotate relative to each other. The protrusions reduce a contact area of the rotary ring and the filler cap. This reduces a freezing force at the sliding part. Further, it secures a space between the rotary ring and the outer surface of the filler cap. This space functions as a drain channel, lessening the freezing at the sliding part. The protrusions are preferably positioned on at least the lower side of the rotary ring, which is a part of the sliding part. In particular, the contact area of the lower side of the slanted block most frequently comes in contact it. Accordingly, the draining function of the groove is enhanced. Alternately, the protrusions may be positioned on the inner surface of the rotary ring and/or the side surface of the filler cap. With this, the operation and effect of the invention are further enhanced. Thus, when the protrusions may be provided on at least one of the lower side and the inner side of the sliding part of the rotary ring, and the side surface of the filler cap, the operation and effect are secured as mentioned above.
According to the second aspect of the invention, there is provided a cap device in which a long, flexible coupling member is coupled at one end to a filler cap for opening and closing a fuel tank inlet, and is slidably mounted at the other end to a guide member located near the fuel tank inlet, the cap device comprising:
a rotary ring being rotatably mounted around the circumferential outer surface of the filler cap and fastened to one end of the coupling member; and sharpened protrusions for removing foreign materials such as ice blocks being provided on a sliding part where the rotary ring and the circumferential outer surface of the filler cap slide relative to each other. According to the second aspect of the present invention, the sharpened protrusions scrap out foreign materials such as ice blocks which are present on the sliding part between the rotary ring and the filler cap. Therefore, the rotation of the filler cap is not obstructed at the rotary ring and no hindrance occurs in the opening/closing operation of the filler cap, even in environments where freezing easily occurs.
In the cap device, the sharpened protrusions are slanted in a rotating direction of the rotary ring. This feature further enhances the function of remove foreign materials such as ice blocks.
The rotary ring preferably includes drain channels which are located close to the protrusions on the inner surface of the rotary ring, and extends from the upper end to the lower end of the rotary ring. With this technical feature, the sharpened protrusions scrap out foreign materials such as ice blocks attaching to the sliding part, and discharge the scraped ones to exterior through the drain channels. As a result, a smooth rotation of the rotary ring is ensured.
According to the third aspect of the invention, there is provided a first cap device in which an fuel tank inlet of a filler pipe is located in a recess of a body panel, and which has a filler cap for hermetically closing the fuel tank inlet and fuel filler lid being turned on a hinge so as to open and close an opening of the recess, the cap device comprising:
a coupling member coupled at one end to the filler cap and at the other end to a slide support member; and
a guide member, disposed on the back side of the fuel filler lid, f
Hagano Hiroyuki
Nakagawa Masayuki
Law Office of David G. Posz
Pape Joseph D.
Toyoda Gosei Co,., Ltd.
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