Land vehicles: bodies and tops – Bodies – Access cover for gas tank filler pipe
Reexamination Certificate
1998-07-23
2001-05-22
Pape, Joseph D. (Department: 3612)
Land vehicles: bodies and tops
Bodies
Access cover for gas tank filler pipe
C220S086200, C220SDIG003
Reexamination Certificate
active
06234555
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The invention concerns a closure apparatus for motor vehicle fuel tanks.
Normally, such an apparatus encompasses a tank cap, which is generally secured in the manner of a bayonet connection on the filling opening of the tank intake pipe. The filling hole as well as the tank cap are placed in a compartmentalized, lidded compartment of the vehicle body, here called the “recess”. A disadvantage of the conventional arrangement is the necessity of manually opening and closing the tank cap upon filling. In particular, with diesel fuels, the tank cap is often dirtied, so that only by the use of gloves can a soiling of the hands be avoided. Further, the possibility exists that a tank cap is not correctly restored on the filling pipe and consequently the smell of fuel enters the vehicle interior. Also, an incorrectly replaced cap can be lost during travel. Finally, after tanking up, a cap can be left behind at a filling station. If this occurs, then liquid fuel can splash out of the filling pipe.
OBJECTIVES AND SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
In regard to the above, it is the purpose of the invention to propose a closure apparatus, which is improved in this respect.
This purpose can be achieved by means of a closing apparatus bearing the features of the present invention. This apparatus embraces a drive element for the automatic opening and closing of the of the tank cap, a transmission rod of said drive element and a control arrangement by which the drive is controllable from within the vehicle interior, preferably from the driver's seat. With such a closure apparatus, the disadvantages enumerated in the above introduction are fully avoided. The only required manual activity upon tanking, is to place the feed nozzle in the filling hole and at the end of the operation to remove same and hang it properly on its support. The opening and the closing of the tank cap is done very simply by a push button or a switch (etc.) placed in the vehicle interior.
The closing of the tank cap can even be accomplished by a logical recognition system. It is further conceivable that when the tank cap is open, turning on the ignition activates a closing action.
In vehicles, many times, a pneumatic or hydraulic onboard network is available. If this is the case, it is then practical to employ a correspondingly activated drive. However, even in vehicles which possess no such onboard utility, hydraulic or pneumatic energy can be easily produced by a compressor or a hydraulic pump. Obviously, an electrical element can also be used. Preferably, pneumatic drive elements are installed, since they are more simply built, lighter and more environmentally friendly. Particularly advantageous is the installation of a double action pneumatic diaphragm cylinder. As a source of pressure, atmospheric pressure will serve, as the diaphragm cylinder is suction activated. The source of the suction is the low pressure generated in the intake manifold of the motor.
Another advantageous embodiment is the provision of a pneumatic or hydraulic hand-pump, which connects to the drive element and loads this in the direction of the opening position. In the case of failure of the control device, the tank cap can be opened by hand. In the case of yet another advantageous embodiment, the opening and closing movement of the tank cap is mechanically coupled with the opening and closing motion of the lid of the tank recess. In this way, with a single operation, both the tank recess lid and the tank cap are opened and closed.
For the opening and closing mechanism, there are a great number of different possibilities available. An arrangement easy to construct and reliable in operation is comprised in that the tank cap is pivotably affixed to an axle, which axle is radially displaced from the cap, but running parallel to the surface plane thereof. The cap then, with a simply designed lever arrangement, or the like, can be opened and shut with the help of a drive. In a more practical way, the pivot axle lies with its ends in first pivot eyes in two retaining lugs set on the outer periphery of the tank cap, the plane surfaces of which lugs run parallel to one another and also parallel to an imaginary diameter line of the tank cap.
The section of the pivot axle which extends between the retaining lugs, penetratingly enters the free ends of two band like carriers embracingly affixed to the outer circumferential surface of the filling pipe, which carriers proceed therefrom on a slant. For its swinging motion, the tank cap possesses a positioning axle which runs parallel to the first pivot axle and the ends of which lie respectively within second pivot eyes in the retaining lugs. On the positioning axle is connected a drive rod of the drive element, preferably being the piston rod of a pneumatic diaphragm cylinder. The two pivot eyes of the retaining lugs are so positioned, that their connection line with a defined plane of the tank top closes an acute angle opening away from the drive rod. By means of this arrangement, there arises a two armed angular, pivotable lever about the pivoting axle. Advantageously, between the drive rod and a position axle, a swinging arm is interposed, which, with its end proximal to the drive, is linkedly connected with the drive rod. Through this design, it is assured that the drive rod carries out only a translation movement. Thereby a possibly required radius linking of the drive rod as well as the securement of drive element on the vehicle body is simplified.
For the locking of the tank cap a locking slider is provided, which is run on the upper side of the tank cap between a released and a locked position. The one end of the locking slider is connected with the position axle, while the other end in the locked position penetrates a wall cutout, the wall radially offset from the tank cap.
The position axle is placed in the second pivot eye of the retaining lugs, which eyes are designed as elongated ovals and which extend parallel to the movement direction of the locking slider. By means of this construction, assurance is given that the drive axle first pulls the locking slider out of its lock position into its release position and only then permits the tank cap to be swung away from the filling pipe. In a particularly advantageous arrangement, the tank cap is, essentially, a pot shaped housing, in which is placed an axially movable gasketing piece matching the opening circumferential rim of the filling pipe. The gasketing piece penetrates the housing upper side with at least two pressure clamps.
The pressure clamps laterally flank the locking slider and act together with it in the manner of a inclined drive in such a way that the gasketing element in the locked position of the tank cap is pressed against the circumferential rim of the filling pipe. This arrangement assures that the tank cap is continually hermetically, tightly seated on the rim of the filling pipe.
The motion transmitting coupling between the tank cap and the tank recess lid is accomplished, in a preferred design, in that the translation movement of the drive rod is transmitted by means of a connection bar to a two armed lever affixed to the inside of the tank lid.
Additional objects, advantages, and features of the invention may be learned from practice of the invention as set forth in the following description, with reference to the attached drawings.
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Buratowski Thaddaus
Emmerich Ulf
Alfmeier Prazision AG Baugruppen und Systemlosungen
Dority & Manning P.A.
Pape Joseph D.
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