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
Reexamination Certificate
2000-09-18
2001-08-28
Maust, Timothy L. (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
C141S285000, C141S301000, C220S086200
Reexamination Certificate
active
06279626
ABSTRACT:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to a closure for a tank, in particular a fuel tank for a motor vehicle
BACKGROUND INFORMATION
A conventional closure is described in U.S. Pat. No. 5,485,871, according to which a tank filling pipe is provided with an airtight shut-off valve. The valve cover can be unlocked by operating a button, so that it can be moved by the filling nozzle to the inside of the tank filling pipe.
This is problematical due to the fact that the closure mechanism can easily be damaged by improper handling or an accident because it projects out of the tank filling pipe. This is a disadvantage on motor vehicles in particular when this mechanism projects out of the body of the vehicle.
Moreover, the device described in U.S. Pat. No. 5,485,871 is technically complicated and therefore expensive and susceptible to malfunction.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The closure according to the present invention, whose closure flap has an internal locking mechanism by which the closure flap can be locked and unlocked by the user, has the advantage that it offers a technically simple option for a closure whose locking device is not accessible from the outside. Therefore, the closure according to the present invention cannot be opened by an unauthorized third party.
A locking device that ensures automatic locking of the closure is especially advantageous. Operational reliability is increased by automatic locking after the tank filling operation. In addition, this prevents the closure from inadvertently being left open when the vehicle is driven away. The closure according to the present invention is also very suitable for automatic filling of the tank by an automatic fueling system and for pressurized fueling to accelerate the process.
In particular, it is also advantageous if the locking device has a control device by means of which it can be linked to other operating conditions. For example, this makes it possible for the locking device to be released only after the engine of the vehicle is turned off, so that the tank closure cannot be unlocked while the engine is running.
An operating mechanism which detects an approaching filling nozzle, for example, and activates an opening mechanism for the closure cap, e.g., a spring/lever mechanism, by way of a controller increases operating convenience in an advantageous manner because the closure does not need to be opened or touched manually.
According to another advantageous embodiment, a closure valve, having at least one filling opening for fuel or the like, is provided in the tank filling pipe for airtight closure. In another advantageous embodiment, this closure valve is provided with a restoring spring, so that it can be pushed out of the valve seat by the filling nozzle, so the filling opening to the tank is opened. This embodiment also permits a refinement according to the present invention for pressurized tank filling where a separate filling opening and a separate vent opening are provided in the closure valve, so that air and vapors can be vented through a suction channel on the filling nozzle. It is advantageous that a locking device and/or at least one additional gasket are provided in the tank filling pipe. This guarantees a secure hold of the filling nozzle, so that a pressure can be built up.
REFERENCES:
patent: 3133741 (1964-05-01), Garabello
patent: 5145081 (1992-09-01), Gravino
patent: 5485871 (1996-01-01), Romanek et al.
patent: 5568828 (1996-10-01), Harris
patent: 5988238 (1999-11-01), Palvolgyi
patent: 34 25 461 (1986-01-01), None
patent: 41 09 337 (1991-10-01), None
patent: 197 46 236 (1998-05-01), None
patent: 2 529 532 (1998-01-01), None
Kappenstein Ulrich
Schmitt Manfred
Kenyon & Kenyon
Maust Timothy L.
Robert & Bosch GmbH
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