U.S. patent application number 11/815454 was filed with the patent office on 2008-06-12 for clousure system for fuel tank filling pipe.
This patent application is currently assigned to INERGY AUTOMOTIVE SYSTEMS RESEARCH (SA). Invention is credited to Patrice Baudoux, Gwereg Paolini, Ludovic Ridon, Francois Ruat.
Application Number | 20080135552 11/815454 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 35045281 |
Filed Date | 2008-06-12 |
United States Patent
Application |
20080135552 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Baudoux; Patrice ; et
al. |
June 12, 2008 |
Clousure System For Fuel Tank Filling Pipe
Abstract
A closure system for the head of a fuel tank filling pipe,
including: an essentially circular closure piece provided with a
relief; and a moving part for (un)locking the closure piece by a
rotational movement about the axis of the closure piece, the moving
part including a relief configured to engage with the relief of the
closure piece by a bayonet system. The reliefs are of a symmetrical
shape allowing continuous rotation in both the clockwise and
anticlockwise directions of the moving part relative to the closure
piece.
Inventors: |
Baudoux; Patrice; (Flavy Le
Martel, FR) ; Paolini; Gwereg; (Margny les Compiegne,
FR) ; Ridon; Ludovic; (Valenciennes, FR) ;
Ruat; Francois; (Duvy, FR) |
Correspondence
Address: |
OBLON, SPIVAK, MCCLELLAND MAIER & NEUSTADT, P.C.
1940 DUKE STREET
ALEXANDRIA
VA
22314
US
|
Assignee: |
INERGY AUTOMOTIVE SYSTEMS RESEARCH
(SA)
Brussels
BE
|
Family ID: |
35045281 |
Appl. No.: |
11/815454 |
Filed: |
February 3, 2006 |
PCT Filed: |
February 3, 2006 |
PCT NO: |
PCT/EP06/50655 |
371 Date: |
August 3, 2007 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
220/203.01 |
Current CPC
Class: |
B60K 2015/0422 20130101;
B60K 2015/0445 20130101; B60K 15/0406 20130101; B60K 15/05
20130101; B60K 2015/0451 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
220/203.01 |
International
Class: |
B65D 51/16 20060101
B65D051/16 |
Foreign Application Data
Date |
Code |
Application Number |
Feb 4, 2005 |
FR |
05.01128 |
Claims
1-10. (canceled)
11. A closure system for a head of a fuel tank filling pipe,
comprising: an essentially circular closure piece provided with a
relief; and a moving part for (un)locking the closure piece by a
rotational movement about the axis of the closure piece, the moving
part including a relief configured to engage with the relief of the
closure piece by a bayonet system, the reliefs being of a
symmetrical shape allowing continuous rotation in both clockwise
and anticlockwise directions of the moving part relative to the
closure piece.
12. The system according to claim 11, the system enabling automatic
opening of the pipe through action of a filling nozzle when in the
unlocked position.
13. The system according to claim 12, wherein the closure piece is
in a form of a moving plate pivoting about an axis.
14. The system according to claim 11, further comprising a rod
connected to the pipe head, fixed to a periphery of the closure
piece and enabling the closure piece to pivot, the rod including a
torsion spring with one end connected to the closure piece and
enabling the closure piece to be kept in a closed position.
15. The system according to claim 11, wherein the reliefs of the
bayonet system are located in a first case on an inner surface of
the rotary piece, which is in a shape of a ring, and a second case
on a perimeter of the closure piece, and wherein the reliefs have a
geometry that allows a rotary movement of the ring between locked
and unlocked positions of the bayonet, and also allows a vertical
movement parallel to the axis of the closure piece of the ring for
compression/decompression of a seal situated between the closure
piece and the pipe head.
16. The system according to claim 15, wherein the closure piece
comprises arms and the ring comprises a shelf and recesses
corresponding in number, size, and shape to the arms of the closure
piece, and wherein the shelf and the arms are bevelled in a
complementary manner.
17. The system according to claim 16, wherein the shelf comprises a
repetition of a following alternation: descending profile; flat
profile; rising profile; recess.
18. The system according to claim 11, wherein the moving part
comprises a drive tongue.
19. The system according to claim 11, wherein the moving part
includes teeth on its outer perimeter.
20. The system according to claim 11, further comprising a
protective shield for the closure piece, which is movable in a same
plane by pivoting about an axis parallel to the axis of the pipe.
Description
[0001] The present invention relates to a closure system for a fuel
tank filling pipe.
[0002] Filling pipes found on fuel tanks, particularly tanks
carried in motor vehicles, are closed during normal use of the
tank, when the tank is not being filled. The pipe is generally
closed by a plug inserted into the top of the pipe with a rotary
movement to close the pipe with a liquid- and gas-tight seal.
Various kinds of metal and/or plastic plugs are found, being sealed
by a seal created by screwing or turning a key inserted into the
centre of the part external to the pipe.
[0003] The operations of removing the plug before filling the tank
and replacing this plug and closing the pipe after filling it are
usually done by hand by the user or by the employee of a filling
station delivering the fuel. When tank filling is finished, the
person may sometimes forget to replace the plug, thus resulting in
the plug being lost and the pipe left open to the atmosphere for an
indefinite period of time. During this period some of the liquid
fuel may be lost and vapour may escape into the surrounding
atmosphere.
[0004] To prevent plugs being lost and the atmosphere polluted,
closure systems integrated into the filling pipe have been put
forward as replacements for the traditional plug. The improved
versions of these generally comprise fastening means for preventing
the said systems opening accidentally, for example when the bowl
(the depression in the bodywork, closed by the fuel flap, where the
filling pipe is located) with a pressure washer.
[0005] For example, application WO 03/010022 in the applicant's
name thus discloses a closure device with fastening means that can
be disengaged by exerting pressure parallel to the axis of the pipe
head, and are re-engaged automatically by the closure of the fuel
flap. Such a system has the advantage of automatic locking coupled
to the closure of the flap, and of being operational even if the
vehicle's electrical system fails (disengagement being effected
manually by the insertion of the nozzle). However, in such a system
in which locking/unlocking is connected to the opening/closing of
the flap by a system of links, the hinged flaps must have their
hinge towards the front end of the vehicle (to assist automatic
closure when the vehicle is being driven), which means that the
direction of rotation of the bayonet depends on the side of the
vehicle. Different parts therefore have to be provided depending on
the model (some having the fuel flap on the left, others on the
right), which doubles the tooling cost.
[0006] More sophisticated systems have also been put forward, in
which the locking of the closure system can be independent of the
locking of the flap. For example, application FR 04.13408 in the
applicant's name relates to a closure system comprising a moving
ring capable of preventing the movement of a closure piece by a
bayonet system, and in which the movement between the opening and
closing (or vice-versa) of the bayonet system is dependent on a
dedicated actuator and consists of a progressive helical movement
which progressively compresses (or decompresses) a seal placed
between the closure piece and the pipe head. The drawback of such a
system is that the closure piece moves in one direction for locking
(compressing the seal) and in the other direction for unlocking
(decompressing the seal), which complicates the mechanism of the
system and also subjects the parts to localized wear, the helical
movement generally occupying less than 360.degree..
[0007] The present invention solves the problems noted above by
providing a completely symmetrical bayonet system, which can
therefore be turned either clockwise or anticlockwise for locking
(or unlocking) and even turned continuously, always in the same
direction, from a locked position to an unlocked position of the
system. It is therefore a sort of "universal" bayonet system (or
reversible double bayonet), able to be turned continuously either
clockwise or anticlockwise, opened by turning it left and closed by
turning it right, or vice-versa.
[0008] To this end, the present invention relates to a closure
system for the head of a fuel tank filling pipe, the said system
comprising: [0009] an essentially circular closure piece provided
with a relief; and [0010] a moving part for (un)locking the closure
piece by a rotational movement about the axis of the closure piece,
the said moving part having a relief able to engage with the relief
of the closure piece by means of a bayonet system, the said reliefs
being of a symmetrical shape allowing continuous rotation in both
the clockwise and anticlockwise directions of the moving part
relative to the closure piece.
[0011] The expression "fuel tank" is used here to refer to any type
of tank capable of storing a liquid and/or gas fuel under varying
conditions of pressure and temperature. Of more particular interest
are tanks of the type found in motor vehicles. The expression
"motor vehicle" is intended to include cars, motor cycles and
lorries.
[0012] The filling pipe is a pipe which communicates with the
interior of the tank and allows fuel to be introduced.
[0013] The tank and the pipe may be made of metal or plastic.
[0014] The closure system of the invention is suitable for a tank
and filling pipe assembly in which at least one of the two
components of the assembly is made of plastic. It is particularly
suitable for an assembly in which the filling pipe is made of
plastic. This closure system itself preferably includes at least
one plastic component. It is most particularly preferred for it to
be made mainly of plastic.
[0015] The term "plastic" is used here to denote any material
comprising at least one synthetic resin polymer.
[0016] All types of plastic may be suitable. Very suitable plastics
belong to the category of thermoplastics.
[0017] The term "thermoplastic" denotes any thermoplastic polymer,
including thermoplastic elastomers, and their blends. The term
"polymer" denotes both homopolymers and copolymers (especially
binary or ternary copolymers). Without implying any limitation,
examples of such copolymers are: random copolymers, linear block
copolymers, other block copolymers and graft copolymers.
[0018] Any type of thermoplastic polymer or copolymer whose melting
point is below the decomposition temperature is suitable. Synthetic
thermoplastics that have a melting range spread over at least 10
degrees Celsius are particularly suitable. Examples of such
materials include those that exhibit polydispersion in their
molecular weight.
[0019] In particular, polyolefins, polyvinyl halides, thermoplastic
polyesters, polyketones, polyamides and copolymers thereof may be
used. A blend of polymers or copolymers may also be used, as may a
blend of polymeric materials with inorganic, organic and/or natural
fillers such as the following non-exhaustive list: carbon, salts
and other inorganic derivatives, and natural or polymeric fibres.
In particular, polyamides filled with fibres (such as glass) are
suitable. Advantageously, at least some of these polymeric
materials contain a conductive filler (such as carbon black) to
avoid problems with static electricity. It is also possible to use
multilayer structures consisting of stacked layers bonded together,
comprising at least one of the polymers or copolymers described
above.
[0020] The purpose of the closure system according to the invention
is to act as a plug that will seal the top of the filling pipe
during periods when the tank is not being filled, in order to
prevent any escape and loss of liquid fuel and vapour into the
atmosphere if the tank contains fuel.
[0021] The closure system according to the invention is preferably
integrated into the head of the filling pipe, that is to say, it is
incorporated non-removably (in the sense that, unlike a plug, it
does not have to be removed to gain access to the filling aperture,
though it may of course be removed for repair or replacement) in an
assembly of components all mounted on the top end of the filling
pipe, their function being to guide a fuel dispensing nozzle and to
facilitate filling. To this end, the pipe head comprises an
aperture which communicates with (forms a continuation of) the
filling pipe and which the closure piece of the system according to
the invention seals shut when in the closed (locked) position.
[0022] The closure system according to the invention preferably
enables automatic opening of the pipe through the action of a
filling nozzle when it is in the unlocked position. The expression
"automatic opening" means that the pipe is opened simply by the
action of the dispensing nozzle, with no other mechanical
intervention. The dispensing nozzle is of the type fitted to the
hoses of fuel pumps in service stations.
[0023] The closure system includes a closure piece, meaning a
device which closes the passage of gases and liquids through the
abovementioned opening in the pipe head. This closure piece may
take various forms, but according to the invention must be of
essentially circular cross section. It is therefore a basically
cylindrical part (that is, in the shape of a cylinder, with the
exception of the relief of the bayonet) and may be elongate or flat
(a disc). One suitable shape is the shape of a moving disc which
blocks the passage when in the closed position. This disc
preferably pivots about an axis. It is advantageously plastic but
preferably has a metal cover, notably for reasons of appearance and
abrasion-resistance (because of wear following repeated insertions
of filling nozzles).
[0024] This disc may optionally be coupled to a rotary block
comprising a cylindrical aperture (as in application FR 03.12782 in
the applicant's name, the contents of which are introduced into
this application by reference for this purpose).
[0025] This disc may also include a device for calibrating the
pressure in the filling pipe and in particular a pressure/vacuum
(SPD or Securite en Pression et Depression) valve, as described in
application FR 2753138, the contents of which are also introduced
by reference into this application.
[0026] The closure piece is therefore preferably retractable when
force is directed against it along an axis parallel to the axis of
the pipe head. Various means may be present to make the closure
piece retractable. One means that has given good results is a rod
connected to the pipe head and fixed to the periphery of the
closure piece, which can act as an axis of rotation to allow the
closure piece to pivot. In this variant, the closure piece is
preferably provided with means for attaching the rod to its
perimeter.
[0027] The closure piece is kept closed by a restoring spring. A
spring that is suitable is a torsion spring mounted around the rod
with one end connected to the closure piece.
[0028] According to the invention, the closure piece is connected
to a rotatable piece (which is preferably basically ring-shaped,
and which for simplicity will hereinafter be referred to by the
term "ring") in a bayonet system, of which the engaging parts (the
reliefs) are preferably situated, one on an inner surface (or, much
preferred, on the perimeter of an inner aperture) of the ring, and
one on the outer perimeter of the closure piece. These reliefs are
preferably of a geometry that allows not only a rotary movement of
the ring between the locked and unlocked positions of the bayonet,
but also a "vertical" movement (parallel to the axis of the closure
piece) of this ring for the compression/decompression of a seal
situated between the closure piece and the pipe head or, more
precisely, around the perimeter of the opening in the latter which
the closure piece is designed to close. This seal may be of any
kind. An O-ring seal gives goods results. The material of this seal
will preferably be chosen to withstand fuel vapour. Fluorinated
elastomers are suitable for this.
[0029] For example, one part (the ring, for example) may thus
comprise cutouts suitable in number, size and shape for allowing
the movement and passage of arms located on the other part (the
closure piece). In particular, the cutouts in the ring (or in the
closure piece) advantageously comprise a shelf and recesses
corresponding in number, size and shape to the number of arms
located on the closure piece (or on the ring). As a matter of very
particular preference, the shelf and the arms are bevelled in a
complementary manner, i.e. have a discontinuous relief such as to
facilitate both their vertical and rotary movements.
[0030] In such systems, when the bayonet is in the locked position,
the cutouts are engaged on a "horizontal" part (perpendicular to
the axis of the closure piece and of the ring) of the shelf and
immobilize the closure piece (pushing it along the axis does not
allow it to pivot).
[0031] When the bayonet is being opened, the first movement
imparted to the ring is a movement of rotation only, about the axis
of the closure piece (describing for example at least 1/8, or 1/6,
and preferably at least 1/4 of a revolution (this fraction being in
fact decided by the number of arms)), followed by a similar
movement of rotation combined with a movement of translation
parallel to this axis, for example about a few tenths of a
millimetre, or even around 1 mm, depending on the nature of the
seal (so that its compression is sufficient to achieve the desired
leaktightness)) in a direction allowing decompression of the
seal.
[0032] As a result, in this variant, the ramp comprises a
repetition of flat profiles, rising ramps, descending ramps and
recesses, in a defined sequence. The alternation (which is repeated
a number of times equal to the number of recesses/arms) is
preferably as follows: descending profile; flat profile; rising
profile; recess (the rising direction being that which opens the
device and decompresses the seal).
[0033] According to the invention, either the rotation of the ring
is connected to the opening of the flap (e.g. by a system of links
as described earlier), or it comes about by the intervention of a
dedicated actuator. Any type of actuator is suitable for this
purpose. A "manual" actuator (such as a lever, wire, ignition key,
etc.) is one possibility. Another is an automatic (mechanical
(motor), electrical or pneumatic) actuator.
[0034] If the rotation of the ring is connected to the opening of
the flap, the bayonet ring generally moves in one direction to
open, and in the opposite direction to close, the system according
to the invention. If so, the ring need simply be provided with a
drive tongue which can be connected to the fuel flap by a suitable
mechanical link (a system of links, for example). This tongue is
then subjected to a to-and-fro movement between a position in which
the system is locked and a position in which the system is
unlocked. The actual movement of the flap may be manual or
electrical/mechanical (via a motor).
[0035] If the rotation of the ring is imparted by a dedicated
actuator (independent of the fuel flap), this actuator is
preferably also connected to a dedicated motor and may for example
comprise a worm gear, and a pinion or rack system. In the case of
pinion/rack systems, the ring is preferably provided with pinions
(notches, teeth) on its outer perimeter.
[0036] In one particularly advantageous variant, and as described
in application EP 2004/052157 in the applicant's name (the contents
of which application are for this purpose incorporated by reference
into the present application), the closure system according to the
present invention also has a protective shield for the closure
piece which is movable in basically the same plane, preferably
basically at right angles to the axis of the pipe.
[0037] As a matter of decided preference, the said shield is
movable by pivoting about an axis parallel to the axis of the pipe,
in the same plane. Note that this variant also gives good results
with other closure systems than those of the invention. Such a
movement (of pivoting about an axis rather than of translation)
allows the use of a protective shield of reduced size (a fraction
of a slide), with its movement limited when compared with the
complete slide (shield) system described in the abovementioned
application (FIGS. 13 to 18). The result is a more reliable system
with less friction-induced wear.
[0038] The present invention is illustrated, without any
restriction being implied, in FIGS. 1 to 10.
[0039] FIGS. 1 and 2 illustrate 2 variants of the rotary piece
(ring);
[0040] FIG. 3 illustrates a variant of the closure piece suitable
for the two rings illustrated in FIGS. 1 and 2; and
[0041] FIGS. 4 to 10 illustrate a variant with an improved
protective shield.
[0042] The ring shown in FIG. 1 comprises 3 recesses (1) and a
shelf (2) in 3 parts each having an identical sequence: rising
profile (3), flat profile (4) and descending profile (5). This ring
has teeth (6) around its perimeter intended to mesh with mating
teeth on an actuator (not shown). Such a system is suitable for
continuous (360.degree.) rotary operation, moving successively from
a locked position (in which the arms of the corresponding closure
piece lie on the flat profile (4) of the shelf) to an unlocked
position (in which these arms are in the recesses (1)). This
rotation can be either to the right or to the left because of the
geometry of the ring.
[0043] The ring illustrated in FIG. 2 is identical to that in FIG.
1 except for the fact that the teeth (6) have been replaced by a
drive tongue (7). Such a system is suitable for to-and-fro
operation (between a locked position and an unlocked position as
described above) and, therefore, for a system connected to the fuel
flap which, because of its geometry, can be located either on the
right or the left of the vehicle.
[0044] FIG. 3 shows a closure piece with arms (8) designed to
engage with the shelf of a ring which may be as in FIG. 1 or as in
FIG. 2. For this purpose, the arms are bevelled at their ends (9)
to allow them to ride easily over the profile of the shelf and in
particular to engage on and follow the different slopes of the
shelf between two consecutive recesses, and so compress/decompress
a seal (not shown). This closure piece also includes means (10) of
attachment to a rod (hinge pin) connected to a pipe head (not
shown); and a relief (11) providing a tight housing for a seal
(also not shown) for preventing leakage between the closure piece
and the orifice it is designed to close.
[0045] FIG. 4 is an exploded view of a variant of the invention
with a pivoting protective shield. All the parts of the system may
be distinguished, namely: a closure piece (1), a body (2) or
support for a bayonet ring (3) designed to be connected to a slider
(4), which in turn is designed to be connected to a hinge pin (5),
which in turn is designed to be connected to a fuel flap (6). Also
visible are a protective shield in the form of a fraction of a
slide (7) and a restoring spring (8) for the said shield designed
to be connected to a pushbutton (9) provided with a spring (10),
besides a link (11) for respectively compressing and decompressing
the spring (8). The other parts shown in this figure are for
connecting/protecting the active components of the system (and
consist in particular of: a cover (12); a filling bowl (13) fixed
to the head by means of a fixing plate (14); and fixing means
consisting of clips (15) and screws (16)).
[0046] FIGS. 5 and 6 are a general view of the closing/(un)locking
system seen in the previous figure where the different components
have been assembled, leaving out the parts relating to the
protective shield, in order better to show how locking and
unlocking take place. As can be seen in these figures, the head is
locked and unlocked by means of the flap (6), the bayonet ring (3)
being connected to the slider (4), which moves under the action of
the flap (6) (opening/closing) via the hinge pin (5). FIG. 5 shows
the locked position of the system and FIG. 6 the unlocked
position.
[0047] FIGS. 7 to 12 show the operation of the protective shield,
the movement of which is coupled to the (un)locking action
described above.
[0048] FIGS. 7 and 8 show the system in the locked position with
the protective shield on top; FIG. 9 shows the system in an
unlocked position but with the protective shield still in place;
FIG. 10 shows the system entirely unlocked and unprotected (shield
retracted); and lastly, FIGS. 11 and 12 show how the system
operates during locking.
[0049] In these figures it can be seen that the spring (8) is
slightly compressed when assembled in the protective shield (7) in
the locked position and retained by the button (9) (which has an
index (17) inserted in a hole (18) in the shield (7)).
[0050] During unlocking, the slider (4) moves the link (11) and in
so doing pulls (stretches, places under tension) the spring.
Pressing on the button (9) releases the index (17) from the hole
(18) in the protective shield (7). In so doing the shield is
released and the spring (8) returns to its initial position, taking
with it the protective shield (7) which advances until it meets the
link (11).
[0051] During re-locking (shown in FIGS. 11 and 12), the flap (6)
drives, via the connecting pin (5), the slider (4), which in turn
drives the link (11), which pivots the protective shield (7) via
the barrier (19) on the link, which compresses (places under
tension) the spring (8). One end of the spring is fixed in a recess
(20) in the cover (12), the other end being positioned in a recess
(21) of the protective shield (7). The protective shield (7) slides
over the index (17) of the button (9), which is mounted "flexibly"
with a spring (22), and the hole (18) in the protective shield (7)
engages on the index (17) of the button (9).
* * * * *