Fluent material handling – with receiver or receiver coacting mea – Multiple passage filling means for diverse materials or flows – With valve
Reexamination Certificate
2000-09-27
2001-11-27
Douglas, Steven O. (Department: 3751)
Fluent material handling, with receiver or receiver coacting mea
Multiple passage filling means for diverse materials or flows
With valve
C220SDIG003, C220S304000, C220S295000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06321801
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a fuel supply apparatus, through which fuel is supplied to a tank through a fuel path of a fuel inlet pipe.
2. Description of the Related Art
In a fuel supply apparatus, a fuel tank cap must be removed to supply fuel through the fuel inlet pipe. The fuel tank cap has a gasket pressed against an opening (filler neck) of the fuel inlet pipe, in order to prevent fuel vapor in the fuel tank from being released to the air. The fuel tank cap has the gasket mounted on an outer circumference of a cylindrical casing main body. The gasket receives a torsional force and is in close contact with the filler neck for sealing when the fuel tank cap is screwed in place within the inlet opening of the filler neck.
Conventional fuel supply apparatus exhibit poor operability in opening and closing the fuel tank cap. Specifically an undesirably large torsional force is required to close the fuel tank cap. Moreover, the torsional force is generally not uniform over the whole gasket, which interferes with desired enhancements of the sealing properties.
Another problem is that a fuel supply nozzle may collide with the seat surface, which is sealed with the gasket, when the fuel supply nozzle is inserted through the inlet opening. Damage to the seat surface generally leads to reduced sealing properties.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
An object of the present invention is to provide a fuel supply apparatus that has excellent opening and closing functions with enhanced sealing properties of the fuel tank from outside air.
At least part of the above and other related objects is attained by a fuel supply apparatus through which fuel is supplied to a tank, in which the fuel is stored, through a fuel path defined by an inlet pipe. The fuel supply apparatus includes a casing main body detachably attached to the inlet pipe; a handle mounted on the casing main body to open and close the fuel path; a ring-shaped sealing member interposed between the casing main body and an inner wall of the inlet pipe; and a diameter expansion unit that presses the sealing member and expands its diameter as a result of the operating force of the handle when moved in a closing direction, which seals the casing main body against the inlet pipe.
In the fuel supply apparatus according to the present invention, movement of the handle in an opening direction causes the casing main body to be detached from the inlet pipe and when removed enables a fuel supply nozzle to be inserted to supply fuel into the tank through the fuel path defined by the inlet pipe. Moving the handle in a closing direction, on the other hand, causes the casing main body to be attached to the inlet pipe. The diameter expansion unit then presses the sealing member and expands the diameter of the sealing member. The expansion of the diameter of the sealing member forms a seal between the casing main body and the inlet pipe. The sealing member seals the casing main body against the inlet pipe by taking advantage of the pressing force, and is not subject to the torsional force discussed in the prior art. This arrangement of the present invention ensures uniform sealing.
In accordance with one embodiment of the present fuel supply apparatus, the diameter expansion unit includes a seal pressing member that presses the sealing member to expand the diameter of the sealing member and a cam unit that converts rotational force of the casing main body into a force pressing the sealing member against the seal pressing member.
In this structure, it is further preferable that the cam unit includes an upper cam formed on an outer circumference of the casing main body, the seal pressing member having a lower cam formed on the seal pressing member and pressed by the upper cam to move downwardly, and a guide member mounted on the inlet pipe with a guide groove, that guides both the upper cam and the lower cam.
In another embodiment, the upper cam has an engagement projection on its lower surface, and the lower cam has an engagement recess on its upper surface to receive the engagement projection. The engagement recess moves integrally with the engagement projection when the upper cam and the lower cam come off the guide groove.
The sealing member may be attached to an outer circumference of the casing main body.
In accordance with another embodiment of the present invention, the sealing member is pressed by the seal pressing member to perform a sealing function, and includes a rubber seal member having a circular spring chamber, and a restoration spring disposed in the spring chamber.
The restoration spring includes a circular upper ring, a circular lower ring arranged apart from the upper ring by a predetermined distance, and a joint spring that connects the upper ring with the lower ring and generates a pressing force when a compressive force is applied to the upper ring and the lower ring.
In accordance with another embodiment of the present invention, the sealing member includes a rubber seal member having a pressure groove with a V-shaped cross section, wherein an end of the seal pressing member fits in the pressure groove.
It is preferable that a lubricant be applied on the surface of the pressure groove to provide for a smoother movement of the seal pressing member.
It is further preferable that the rubber seal member has a restoration projection which protrudes from a bottom face of the pressure groove and which generates a restoring force when pressed by the seal pressing member.
In accordance with still another preferable embodiment of the present invention, the sealing member generates a restoring force by taking advantage of air pressure within an airtight rubber seal member included therein when the sealing member is pressed by the seal pressing member.
The fuel supply apparatus may further include a pressure regulation valve disposed in the casing main body and which regulates pressure in the fuel tank within a predetermined range.
In accordance with another preferable application of the present invention, the fuel supply apparatus further has a seat surface, on which the sealing member is seated. The seat surface is formed at a specific position that does not contact with a fuel supply nozzle inserted into the fuel path. This arrangement protects the seat surface from damage by the fuel supply nozzle inserted into the fuel path, thus maintaining the high sealing properties.
The structure of the present invention has a seat surface located inside the inlet pipe, which is sealed with the sealing member. Compared with the prior art structure that seals in the vicinity of the inlet opening of the inlet pipe, this present arrangement desirably reduces the required size of the sealing member and attains excellent sealing properties with smaller force.
The diameter expansion unit converts the rotational force of the casing main body into a force pressing the sealing member against the seat surface to enhance sealing properties. The sealing member is, accordingly, compressed toward the seat surface and generates high sealing properties. This arrangement is free from the frictional force and the resulting torsional force of the prior art structure, and ensures a high degree of freedom in sealing member material, surface treatment, e.g. surface conditions, and shape required to attain the high sealing properties.
The present invention is also directed to another fuel supply apparatus through which fuel is supplied to a tank, in which the fuel is stored, through a fuel path defined by an inlet pipe. This fuel supply apparatus includes a casing main body detachably attached to the inlet pipe; a handle mounted on the casing main body to open and close the fuel path; a sealing member attached to an outer wall of the casing main body and has a ring-shaped seal rubber member. When pressed in an axial direction, the sealing member expands in a radial direction to be in close contact with an inner wall of the inlet pipe and thereby seals the casing main body against the inlet pipe. This fuel supply ap
Hagano Hiroyuki
Nakagawa Masayuki
Douglas Steven O.
Pillsbury & Winthrop LLP
Toyoda Gosei Co,., Ltd.
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