Receptacles – Container attachment or adjunct – Filling member
Patent
1998-01-26
1999-07-13
Cronin, Stephen K.
Receptacles
Container attachment or adjunct
Filling member
141301, 141302, 141348, 141350, B60K 1506, B65B 3106
Patent
active
059214244
DESCRIPTION:
BRIEF SUMMARY
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The invention relates to a closure device for a vehicle tank filler neck, which has an opening provided with a flap for the entry of the filling tube of a fuel pump nozzle, wherein the flap is prestressed against the lower edge of the opening by means of a spring.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
It is necessary at present to combine closure devices for vehicle tank filler necks with additional, separate fluid switching elements in order to cover all functions and operational states of a vehicle tank. For example, an underpressure or overpressure valve is required in order to ventilate the vehicle tank for pressure equalization. Responsible treatment of the environment and recent requirements of the law have furthermore accelerated the development of so-called ORVR systems (On-board Refueling Vapor Recovery System), by means of which the fuel vapors created during filling--independently of a miscellaneous removal via the gas displacement line of the gas pump--as well as the vapors escaping during vehicle operation via the overpressure valve are caught in the vehicle ("on-board") in a recovery container provided with an activated charcoal filter. During vehicle operation the recovery container is washed by the combustion feed gases, which remove the fuel residue from the activated charcoal filter and furnish it to the combustion chamber. Therefore further valves are required, which during fill-up release appropriate aspirating and recovery openings and during vehicle operation release appropriate pressure equalization openings.
The latest regulations furthermore require a completely pressure-free operation of the vehicle tank in order to further reduce the emission of fuel vapors. The overpressure and underpressure valves used up to now for the pressure-equalized connection to the recovery container can therefore no longer be used and must be replaced by separate switching valves, which release the pressure equalization connection during vehicle operation.
The already widely used employment of a so-called overfill valve, which prevents the overfilling of the tank as far as into the filler neck, further increases the number of fluid switching elements.
OBJECT AND SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
It is the object of the invention to further develop a closure device of the type mentioned at the outset in such a way that it contains all fluid switching elements required for the functioning of a vehicle tank. This object is attained in accordance with the invention in that an additional load in the closing direction can be placed on the flap with the aid of a contact pressure device, wherein the actuation device controls a selector valve which, when the flap is in the non-loaded position, connects the filler neck below the flap with a first recovery line leading to the fuel vapor recovery container, but in the position where the flap is under a load connects a pressure equalization line connected to the vehicle tank with a second recovery line of a narrower flow cross section leading to the recovery container and equipped with a roll-over valve.
The device in accordance with the invention combines the functions of a filler neck closure, an ORVR valve and a pressure equalization valve, which are controlled together with the release or closing of the flap.
In accordance with a particularly preferred embodiment of the invention it is provided that in the position where the flap is under a load, the selector valve connects the filler neck below the flap with an overfill line originating at the gas recovery chamber of the vehicle tank. The function of an overfill valve is also integrated in this way.
A further advantageous embodiment of the invention is distinguished in that the selector valve is a combined rotary and cross slide valve, wherein the first recovery line terminates at the circumference of a bushing in which the rotary and cross slide valve is seated and which is open toward the filler neck, while the pressure equalization line, the second recovery line and possibly the overfill line ter
REFERENCES:
patent: 4955950 (1990-09-01), Seiichi et al.
patent: 5056570 (1991-10-01), Harris et al.
patent: 5103877 (1992-04-01), Sherwood et al.
patent: 5186220 (1993-02-01), Scharrer
patent: 5271438 (1993-12-01), Griffin et al.
patent: 5404906 (1995-04-01), Aoshima et al.
patent: 5437317 (1995-08-01), Takatsuka et al.
patent: 5791387 (1998-08-01), Palvolgyi
Blau Internatiional GesmbH
Cronin Stephen K.
Newhouse Nathan
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