Closure device for a vehicle tank filler neck

Fluent material handling – with receiver or receiver coacting mea – Filling means with receiver or receiver coacting means – Extensible or expansible inserted coupler or centering means...

Patent

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Details

220 862, 220DIG33, 296 9722, 280834, B65D 5118

Patent

active

059882387

DESCRIPTION:

BRIEF SUMMARY
FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The instant invention relates to a closure device for a vehicle tank filler neck, which has a shut-off valve provided with an actuating device and which terminates in a recessed area of the vehicle body, which can be covered by means of a body flap, wherein the body flap has a drive device which is controlled by the actuating device.


BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Such a closure device is known from EP 0 342 679, and has a mechanical coupling acting in both directions between the shut-off valve and the body flap, i.e. it is possible to control the movement of the body flap by actuating the valve, for example from the interior of the vehicle, as well as to control the valve actuation by moving the body flap. This manner of functioning is very dangerous in case of a crash. The deceleration and thrust forces occurring in a crash can cause the unintended opening of the vehicle flap, through which the filler neck valve is also opened, so that highly flammable fuel can come out.


OBJECT AND SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

It is the object of the invention to create a closure device of the type mentioned in the introduction which offers increased crash security. In accordance with the invention this object is attained in that the drive device for the body flap is locked in the closed position of the shut-off valve and can be unlocked by the actuating device of the shut-off valve.
The closure device in accordance with the invention does not constitute any safety risk in case of a crash. In the locked position of the shut-off valve the control path from the body flap to the shut-off valve is blocked, so that the unintentional opening of the shut-off valve by exterior actions on the body flap is impossible.
A preferred embodiment of the invention is distinguished in that the actuating device can be controlled by means of a switch located within the reach of the driver's seat or by remote control, which represents a pleasant improvement of the ease of operation for the user.
The drive device preferably is a servo motor, which is triggered electrically, hydraulically or pneumatically by the actuating device. This simplifies triggering by the actuating device, but does not require an increased outlay on the part of the drive device.
An alternative which is particularly advantageous from the viewpoint of manufacturing technology consists in that the drive device is a gear which is mechanically coupled with the actuating device, wherein the actuating device is locked in the closed position of the shut-off valve. The shu-toff valve is closed by means of the mechanical coupling when the vehicle flap is manually closed, while locking in the closed position prevents manual opening. In this case the locking of the actuating device in the rest position assures the unidirectionality of the triggering path from the actuating device to the drive device.
In connection with the last mentioned embodiment it is particularly advantageous for increasing the crash security, if the gear has a predetermined breaking point, a connection which breaks under excessive stress, or the like. A particularly preferred construction is distinguished in that the connection comprises a thrust guide on the one hand and a sliding head guided therein on the other hand, wherein at least one of the components consisting of thrust guide and sliding head is provided with teeth, which the other part engages with a corresponding projection, wherein the teeth and/or the projection are flexibly, preferably elastically seated. In a preferred manner a deflecting guide is attached to at least one end of the thrust guide, which deflects the sliding head out of the thrust axis direction, so that excessive forces in the thrust axis direction result in a severance of the connection at the end of the thrust guide.
In each case the ease of operation and the safety of the closure device can be further increased if, in accordance with a further feature of the invention, the actuating device for closing the shut-off valve can be controlled by the ignition

REFERENCES:
patent: 1995960 (1935-03-01), Boyd
patent: 2035895 (1936-03-01), Kelly
patent: 2054145 (1936-09-01), Tandy
patent: 2151249 (1939-03-01), Vidmar
patent: 2294190 (1942-08-01), Lee
patent: 2469283 (1949-05-01), Steele
patent: 2574836 (1951-11-01), Marcell
patent: 3133741 (1964-05-01), Garabello
patent: 3374007 (1968-03-01), Ingolia
patent: 5145081 (1992-09-01), Gravino
patent: 5533766 (1996-07-01), Farber

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