U.S. patent number RE37,776 [Application Number 09/256,903] was granted by the patent office on 2002-07-02 for closure assembly for a tank filler neck.
This patent grant is currently assigned to Stant Manufacturing Inc.. Invention is credited to Dean C. Foltz.
United States Patent |
RE37,776 |
Foltz |
July 2, 2002 |
Closure assembly for a tank filler neck
Abstract
A filler neck closure assembly for a vehicle fuel tank filler
neck, comprising: a housing configured to be mounted in the filler
neck and formed to include a sealing surface and a pressure-relief
valve positioned to lie in the housing and provided with a
nozzle-receiving portion and a sealing portion, wherein the
nozzle-receiving portion is formed to include a nozzle-receiving
opening sized to receive a pump nozzle during refueling of the fuel
tank and the sealing portion is movable with the nozzle portion and
relative to the housing between a closure-sealing position
sealingly engaging the sealing surface and a pressure-relief
position away from the sealing surface to define an opening to vent
fuel vapor from the fuel tank when tank pressure exceeds a
predetermined maximum pressure. The housing is formed to include a
passageway containing the pressure-relief valve therein and defines
an annular space around the pressure-relief valve, between the
pressure-relief valve and the housing, and with a coiled
compression spring positioned in the annular space, the
pressure-relief valve including an axially outwardly extending
annular guide wall adjacent to the annular space which defines a
radially inner side of the annular space, the housing further
including a radially inwardly extending annular lip wherein the
guide wall slidingly engages the lip of the housing to radially
guide the pressure-relief valve during movement of the
pressure-relief valve between the closure-sealing position and the
pressure-relief position.
Inventors: |
Foltz; Dean C. (Shelbyville,
IN) |
Assignee: |
Stant Manufacturing Inc.
(Connersville, IN)
|
Family
ID: |
23689939 |
Appl.
No.: |
09/256,903 |
Filed: |
February 24, 1999 |
Related U.S. Patent Documents
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Application
Number |
Filing Date |
Patent Number |
Issue Date |
|
Reissue of: |
426239 |
Apr 21, 1995 |
05732840 |
Mar 31, 1998 |
|
|
Current U.S.
Class: |
220/86.2;
141/325; 141/348; 141/351; 141/59; 220/203.02; 220/203.1;
220/203.24; 220/203.28; 220/367.1 |
Current CPC
Class: |
B60K
15/04 (20130101); B67D 7/0401 (20130101); B60K
2015/0451 (20130101); B60K 2015/048 (20130101) |
Current International
Class: |
B60K
15/04 (20060101); B67D 5/01 (20060101); B67D
5/04 (20060101); B65B 031/06 (); B65B 047/00 ();
B65B 051/16 () |
Field of
Search: |
;220/86.2,86.3,203.1,203.27,203.29,254,303,304,342,343,367.1,DIG.33
;141/44,45,46,59,198,301,302,304,312,325,326,348,351,354 |
References Cited
[Referenced By]
U.S. Patent Documents
Foreign Patent Documents
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
2102645 |
|
May 1994 |
|
CA |
|
4218287 |
|
Dec 1993 |
|
DE |
|
4242243 |
|
Jun 1994 |
|
DE |
|
4243883 |
|
Jun 1994 |
|
DE |
|
0265829 |
|
May 1988 |
|
EP |
|
WO 94/05592 |
|
Mar 1994 |
|
WO |
|
Primary Examiner: Douglas; Steven O.
Attorney, Agent or Firm: Barnes & Thornburg
Claims
I claim:
1. A filler neck closure assembly for a vehicle fuel tank filler
neck, the assembly comprising
a closure for closing the filler neck, the closure including a
housing formed to include an interior region for receiving fuel
vapor in the filler neck and a vent aperture for discharging fuel
vapor from the interior region, closure retainer apparatus appended
to the housing and configured to engage the filler neck when the
housing is installed in the filler neck to block removal of the
closure from the filler neck, a seal member engaging the housing
and lying in a position to engage the filler neck to establish a
sealed connection between the housing and the filler neck when the
housing is installed in the filler neck, and a movable tank
pressure control assembly mounted for movement in the interior
region of the housing between a filler neck-closing position
blocking discharge of fuel vapor in the filler neck through the
vent aperture and a filler neck-venting position allowing discharge
of fuel vapor in the filler neck through the vent aperture, the
movable tank pressure control assembly including a nozzle-receiving
opening and a door mechanism normally closing the nozzle-receiving
opening.
2. The assembly of claim 1, further comprising an outer shell
formed to include a nozzle-receiving opening aligned with the
nozzle-receiving opening formed in the movable tank pressure
control assembly to allow a fuel pump nozzle to pass through said
nozzle-receiving opening and open the door mechanism to reach the
interior region of the housing, the outer shell being mounted on
the housing for rotation about an axis passing through the interior
region of the housing to allow the outer shell to be rotated
relative to the housing to a predetermined orientation relative to
the housing.
3. The assembly of claim 2, wherein the closure retainer apparatus
includes annular flanges for rotatably engaging the filler neck and
further comprising a torque-override mechanism engaging the outer
shell and housing and providing a torque-limited driving connection
between the outer shell and the housing when the outer shell is
rotated in a cap-advancing direction.
4. The assembly of claim 2, wherein the torque-override mechanism
includes a resilient finger cantilevered to the housing, a driven
tooth appended to the resilient finger to move therewith relative
to the housing, and a plurality of drive teeth appended to the
outer shell and positioned to engage the driven tooth on the
resilient finger in response to rotation of the outer shell about
the axis of rotation.
5. The assembly of claim 4, wherein the housing includes a body
engaging the seal member and a frangible section interconnecting
the body and the resilient finger to support the resilient finger
in a cantilevered position relative to the housing.
6. The assembly of claim 3, wherein the torque-override mechanism
includes a plurality of resilient fingers cantilevered to the
housing, a driven tooth appended to each resilient finger, and a
plurality of drive teeth appended to the outer shall and positioned
to engage the driven teeth on the resilient fingers in response to
rotation of the outer shell about the axis of rotation.
7. The assembly of claim 6, wherein the housing includes a body
engaging the seal member and a frangible section interconnecting
the body and each of the resilient fingers to support the resilient
fingers in cantilevered positions relative to the housing.
8. The assembly of claim 3, wherein the housing includes an outer
body .[.termed.]. .Iadd.formed .Iaddend.to include the vent
aperture and the torque-override mechanism includes a resilient
finger cantilevered to the outer body, a driven tooth appended to
the resilient finger, and a plurality of drive teeth appended to
the outer shell and positioned to engage the driven tooth on the
resilient arm in response to rotation of the outer shell about the
axis of rotation.
9. The assembly of claim 2, wherein the outer shell includes a side
wall having an annular outer edge and a front wall appended to the
annular outer edge and formed to include the nozzle-receiving
opening formed in the outer shell, the side wall and the front wall
cooperate to define an enclosed space receiving an axially outer
portion of the housing therein.
10. The assembly of claim 9, wherein the front wall includes a
nozzle-guiding surface inclined with respect to the axis of
rotation and positioned to lie between the annular outer edge of
the side wall and the nozzle-receiving opening formed in the outer
shell.
11. The assembly of claim 9, wherein the outer shell further
includes a plurality of drive teeth positioned to lie in the
enclosed space and engage the housing to provide a rotational
driving connection between the outer shell and the housing.
12. The assembly of claim 9, further comprising a torque-override
mechanism engaging the outer shell and housing in the enclosed
space and providing a torque-limited driving connection between
.[.the-outer.]. .Iadd.the outer .Iaddend.shell and the housing.
13. The assembly of claim 9, wherein the side wall includes an
annular interior surface and the housing includes an annular flange
lying in the enclosed space and having an annular outer edge
abutting the annular interior surface of the side wall in rotative
bearing engagement.
14. The assembly of claim 13, wherein the housing includes a body
engaging the seal member and a frangible section interconnecting
the body and the annular flange.
15. The assembly of claim 13, wherein the housing includes a body
formed to include the interior region and the annular flange
includes an inner edge appended to the body.
16. The assembly of claim 13, wherein the housing includes a body
formed to include the interior region and the annular flange is
coupled to the body, and further comprising a torque-override
mechanism lying in the enclosed space and including a resilient
finger cantilevered to the annular flange, a driven tooth appended
to the resilient finger to move therewith in the enclosed space
relative to the annular flange, and a plurality of drive teeth
appended to the outer shell to lie in the enclosed space and engage
the driven tooth on the resilient finger in response to rotation of
the outer shell relative to the housing about the axis of
rotation.
17. The assembly of claim 16, wherein the housing further includes
a frangible section appended to the body and the annular flange is
coupled to the body by the frangible section.
18. The assembly of claim 13, wherein the housing is formed to
position the vent aperture to pen into the enclosed space in close
proximity to the annular flange.
19. The assembly of claim 2, wherein the outer shell is formed to
include a spline-receiving space and the movable tank pressure
control assembly is formed to include a spline received in the
spline-receiving space formed in the outer shell so that the
movable tank pressure control assembly is keyed to rotate with the
outer shell relative to the housing in response to rotation of the
outer shell about the axis of rotation.
20. The assembly of claim 19, wherein the outer shell includes a
side wall having an annular outer edge and a front wall appended to
the annular outer edge and formed to include the nozzle-receiving
opening formed in the outer shell, the side wall and the front wall
cooperate to define an enclosed space receiving an axially outer
portion of the housing therein, and the outer shell further
includes lugs positioned to lie in the enclosed space to define the
spline-receiving space therebetween.
21. The assembly of claim 19, wherein the movable tank pressure
control assembly includes a pressure-relief seal plate having an
annular lip and an annular guide wall appended to the annular lip,
a spring lying around the annular guide wall and yieldably biasing
the annular lip to urge the annular lip to a normally closed
position engaging the housing to establish the filler neck-closing
position of the movable tank pressure control assembly, and the
spline is appended to the annular guide wall.
22. The assembly of claim 19, .[.whereto.]. .Iadd.wherein
.Iaddend.the outer shell includes a side wall and a front wall
appended to the side wall, the front wall is formed to include the
nozzle-receiving opening formed in the outer shell, an interior
surface facing toward the movable tank pressure control assembly,
an exterior surface defining a nozzle-guiding surface terminating
at the nozzle-receiving opening, and a lug appended to the interior
surface to define an outer boundary of the spline-receiving space
and positioned to engage the spline included in the movable tank
pressure control assembly during rotation of the outer shell
relative to the housing about the axis of rotation.
23. The assembly of claim 1, wherein the housing includes an inner
body carrying the closure retainer apparatus and an outer body
coupled to the inner body to define the interior region
therebetween and formed to include the vent aperture and an outer
opening receiving the movable tank pressure control assembly to
permit insertion of a fuel-dispensing nozzle into the interior
region of the housing through the nozzle-receiving opening.
24. The assembly of claim 23, wherein the inner body includes a
cylindrical sleeve having an outer end adjacent to the movable tank
pressure control assembly, an opposite inner end, and an exterior
surface extending between the inner and outer ends, the closure
retainer apparatus includes an annular flange appended to the
exterior surface and configured to rotatably engage the filler
neck, the inner body further includes a radially outwardly
extending annular lip appended to the outer end of the cylindrical
sleeve and having an axially inner surface facing in a first
direction toward the annular flange and an axially outer surface
facing in an opposite second direction, and the seal member lies
around the cylindrical sleeve to abut the axially inner surface of
the radially outwardly extending annular lip and the exterior
surface of the cylindrical sleeve in a position lying between the
annular flange and the annular lip.
25. The assembly of claim 24, wherein the movable tank pressure
control assembly includes an annular seal abutting the axial outer
surface of the annular lip, a pressure-relief seal plate formed to
include the nozzle-receiving opening, and a spring yieldably
biasing the pressure-relief seal plate to a normally closed
position engaging the annular seal to block discharge of fuel vapor
in the inner body through the vent aperture.
26. The assembly of claim 23, further comprising an outer shell
formed to include an interior region receiving a portion of the
outer body and a nozzle-receiving opening communicating with the
nozzle-receiving opening formed in the movable tank pressure
control assembly, the outer shell being mounted on the outer body
for rotation relative to the outer body about an axis of rotation,
and a torque-override mechanism engaging the outer shell and outer
body and providing a torque-limited driving connection between the
outer shell and outer body when the outer shell is rotated about
the axis of rotation in a cap-advancing direction.
27. The assembly of claim 26, wherein the outer shell is formed to
include a spline-receiving space and the movable tank pressure
control assembly is formed to include a spline received in the
spline-receiving space formed in the outer shell so that the
movable tank pressure control assembly is keyed to rotate with the
outer shell relative to the housing in response to rotation of the
outer shell about the axis of rotation.
28. The assembly of claim 1, wherein the movable tank pressure
control assembly includes a pressure-relief seal plate formed to
include the nozzle-receiving opening formed in the movable tank
pressure control assembly and a spring engaging the housing and the
pressure-relief seal plate to yieldably urge the pressure-relief
seal plate to a normally closed position against the housing to
establish the filler neck-closing position of the movable tank
pressure control assembly.
29. The assembly of claim 28, wherein the door mechanism includes a
vacuum-relief valve coupled to the pressure-relief seal plate for
movement between a closed position closing the nozzle-receiving
opening and an open position opening the nozzle-receiving opening
and a spring yieldably biasing the vacuum-relief valve to the
closed position.
30. The assembly of claim 28, wherein the housing includes an
exterior surface abutting the seal member and an interior surface
lying in the interior region, the movable tank pressure control
assembly further includes an annular seal engaging the interior
surface, and the spring is configured to yieldably urge the
pressure-relief seal plate against the annular seal to establish
the filler neck-closing position and partition the interior region
into an inner chamber positioned to communicate with the filler
neck and an outer chamber communicating with the vent aperture
formed in the housing.
31. The assembly of claim 30, wherein the spring is positioned to
lie in the outer chamber.
32. The assembly of claim 28, further comprising an outer shell
formed to include an interior region receiving a portion of the
housing and a nozzle-receiving opening communicating with the
nozzle-receiving opening formed in the pressure-relief seal plate,
the outer shell being mounted on the housing for rotation relative
to the housing about an axis of rotation, the outer shell being
formed to include a spline-receiving space, and the pressure-relief
seal plate including a spline received in the spline-receiving
space formed in the outer shell so that the pressure-relief seal
plate is keyed to rotate with the outer shell relative to the
housing in response to rotation of the outer shell about the axis
of rotation.
33. A filler neck closure assembly for a vehicle fuel tank filler
neck, the assembly comprising
a housing configured to mount in the filler neck and formed to
include a sealing surface, and
a pressure-relief valve positioned to lie in the housing, the
pressure-relief valve including a nozzle-receiving portion and a
sealing portion, the nozzle-receiving portion being formed to
include a nozzle-receiving opening sized to receive a pump nozzle
during refueling of the fuel tank the sealing portion being movable
relative to the housing between a closure-sealing position
sealingly engaging the sealing surface and a pressure-relief
position away from the sealing surface to define an opening
therebetween to vent fuel vapor from the fuel tank when tank
pressure exceeds a predetermined maximum pressure, the
nozzle-receiving portion moving axially with the sealing portion
during movement of the sealing portion between the closure-sealing
position and the pressure-relief position, and wherein the housing
is formed to include a passageway extending therethrough and
containing the pressure-relief valve therein, the housing and the
pressure-relief valve cooperate to define an annular space around
the pressure-relief valve and between the pressure-relief valve and
the housing, and a coiled compression spring is positioned in the
annular space, the pressure-relief valve includes an axially
outwardly extending annular guide wall adjacent to the annular
space and the guide wall defines a radially inner side of the
annular space, the housing further includes a radially inwardly
extending annular lip appended to the housing and the guide wall
slidingly engages the lip of the housing to radially guide the
pressure-relief valve during movement of the pressure-relief valve
between the closure-sealing position and the pressure-relief
position.
34. A filler neck closure assembly for a vehicle fuel tank filler
neck, the assembly comprising
a housing configured to mount in the filler neck and formed to
include a sealing surface,
a pressure-relief valve positioned to lie in the housing, the
pressure-relief valve including a nozzle-receiving portion and a
sealing portion, the nozzle-receiving portion being formed to
include a nozzle-receiving opening sized to receive a pump nozzle
during refueling of the fuel tank, the sealing portion being
movable relative to the housing between a closure-sealing position
sealingly engaging the sealing surface and a pressure-relief
position away from the sealing surface to define an opening
therebetween to vent fuel vapor from the fuel tank when the tank
pressure exceeds a predetermined maximum pressure, the
nozzle-receiving portion moving axially with the sealing portion
during movement of the sealing portion between the closure-sealing
position and the pressure-relief position, the housing being formed
to include a passageway extending therethrough and containing the
pressure-relief valve therein, the pressure-relief valve including
an axially outwardly extending annular guide wall, the housing and
the pressure-relief valve cooperating to define an annular space
around the annular guide wall of the pressure-relief valve and
between the annular guide wall and the housing the annular guide
wall being adjacent to the annular space to .[.dating.].
.Iadd.define .Iaddend.a radially inner side of the annular
space,
a coiled compression spring positioned to lie in the annular space
and surround the annular guide wall between the sealing portion of
the pressure-relief valve and the annular lip of the housing,
and
an outer shell rotatably connected to the housing, the outer
.[.shall.]. .Iadd.shell .Iaddend.including a plurality of axially
inwardly directed drive teeth, the housing further including a
plurality of driven teeth and means for biasing the driven teeth
axially outwardly, the driven teeth being configured to engage the
drive teeth to provide a torque-limited connection between the
outer shell and the housing when the outer shell is rotated in a
closure-advancing direction.
35. The assembly of claim 34, wherein the drive teeth on the outer
shell are positioned to lie radially outwardly of the coiled
compression spring.
36. A filler neck closure assembly for a vehicle fuel tank filler
neck, the assembly comprising
a housing configured to mount in the filler neck and formed to
include a sealing surface, and
a pressure-relief valve positioned to lie in the housing, the
pressure-relief valve including a nozzle-receiving portion and a
sealing portion, the nozzle-receiving portion being formed to
include a nozzle-receiving opening sized to receive a pump nozzle
during refueling of the fuel tank, the sealing portion being
movable relative to the housing between a closure-sealing position
sealingly engaging the sealing surface and a pressure-relief
position away from the sealing surface to define an opening
therebetween to vent fuel vapor from the fuel tank when tank
pressure exceeds a predetermined maximum pressure, the
nozzle-receiving portion moving axially with the sealing portion
during movement of the sealing portion between the closure-sealing
position and the pressure-relief position, wherein the housing is
formed to include a radially inwardly extending lip appended to an
axially outer portion of the housing, the filler neck closure
further comprises a spring engaging the lip of the housing
.[.mad.]. .Iadd.and .Iaddend.the pressure-relief valve to yieldably
bias the pressure-relief valve toward the closure-sealing position,
an outer shell adjacent to an axial outer end of the housing, and a
radially outwardly extending flange appended to the housing and
interconnecting the outer shell and the housing, the flange
including a frangible section configured to fracture in response to
an impact to the outer shell leaving the housing intact to seal the
filler neck, the flange being appended to the housing axially
adjacent to the lip.
37. The assembly of claim 36, wherein the lip is integrally
appended to an axially upper edge of the housing, the flange is
formed to include a groove to define the frangible portion of the
flange, and the groove is formed to lie adjacent to the radially
outer edge of the lip.
38. A filler neck closure assembly for a vehicle fuel tank filler
neck, the assembly comprising
a housing configured to mount in the filler neck, the housing being
formed to include an interior region having an outlet in fluid
communication with the filler neck and a vent aperture for
discharging fuel vapor extant in the interior region from the
housing,
an outer shell rotatably coupled to the housing,
a pressure-relief valve movable relative to the housing between a
closed position partitioning the interior region to define an inner
chamber communicating with the outlet and an outer chamber
communicating with the vent aperture and blocking the flow of fuel
vapor from the inner chamber to the outer chamber and a
pressure-relief position allowing the flow of fuel vapor from the
inner chamber to the outer chamber to vent fuel vapor from the fuel
tank through the interior region of the housing and the vent
aperture formed in the housing when tank pressure exceeds a
predetermined maximum pressure, and
a spline interposed between the outer shell and the housing, the
spline imparting rotational movement from the outer shell to the
pressure-relief valve to rotate the pressure-relief valve relative
to the housing in response to rotational movement of the outer
shell relative to the housing, the spline blocking independent
rotational movement of the outer shell relative to the
pressure-relief valve.
39. The assembly of claim 38, wherein the outer shell is formed to
include a spline-receiving space and the spline is appended to the
pressure-relief valve and the spline is received in the
spline-receiving space.
40. The assembly of claim 38, wherein the outer shell includes an
axis of rotation and a front wall formed to include an outer
opening sized to receive a pump nozzle during refueling of the fuel
tank, the outer opening includes a first central axis coincident
with the axis of rotation of the outer shell, and the
pressure-relief valve is formed to include an inner opening sized
to receive a pump nozzle during refueling of the fuel tank, the
inner opening having a second central axis spaced apart from the
first central axis.
41. The assembly of claim 40, further comprising a base positioned
to lie between the filler neck and the housing, the base including
an axially inner wall formed to include an unleaded discriminator
opening sized to receive a pump nozzle during refueling of the fuel
tank, the outer opening, the inner opening, and the unleaded
discriminator opening each being positioned to receive the pump
nozzle during refueling of the fuel tank.
42. The assembly of claim 38, further comprising a circular plate
pivotably appended to the pressure-relief valve and movable between
a closed position engaging the pressure-relief valve and a fully
open position away from the pressure-relief valve, the
pressure-relief valve being formed to include a nozzle-receiving
opening sized to receive a pump nozzle, during refueling of the
fuel tank, the circular plate covering the nozzle-receiving opening
when the circular plate is in the closed position and engaging the
pump nozzle when in the fully open position during refueling of the
fuel tank.
43. The assembly of claim 42, further comprising a spring mounted
in the housing and engaging the circular plate to yieldably bias
the circular plate toward the closed position, the spring acting
through the circular plate to yieldably bias the pump nozzle
radially outwardly during refueling of the fuel tank.
44. A filler neck closure assembly for a vehicle fuel tank filler
neck, the assembly comprising
a housing configured to mount in the filler neck and formed to
include an interior region and a sealing surface,
a pressure-relief valve positioned to lie in the interior region of
the housing, the pressure-relief valve being movable relative to
the housing between a closure-sealing position sealingly engaging
the sealing surface and a pressure-relief position away from the
sealing surface to define an opening therebetween to vent fuel
vapor from the fuel tank when tank pressure exceeds a predetermined
maximum pressure, and
an outer shell mounted on the housing for rotation about an axis
passing through the interior region formed in the housing, the
outer shell including a side wall and a front wall cooperating with
the side wall to define an enclosed space receiving an axially
outer portion of the pressure-relief valve when the pressure-relief
valve is in the pressure-relief position.
45. The assembly of claim 44, wherein the front wall is further
formed to include axially inwardly cantilevered drive teeth
positioned to lie in the enclosed space of the outer shell and
engaging the housing to provide a rotational driving connection
between the outer shell and the housing.
46. The assembly of claim 44, wherein the front wall is further
formed to include a funnel-shaped nozzle-guiding surface to guide
the radial movement of the pump nozzle toward the nozzle-receiving
opening as the pump nozzle advances axially toward the
nozzle-receiving opening during refueling of the fuel tank.
47. The assembly of claim 44, further comprising a torque-override
mechanism for providing a torque-limited connection between the
outer shell and the housing so that the outer shell rotates
independently of the housing upon the application of torque above a
predetermined maximum torque on the outer shell, the
torque-override mechanism being appended to the outer shell and the
housing and positioned to lie in the enclosed space defined by the
side wall and front wall of the outer shell.
48. The assembly of claim 44, wherein the pressure-relief valve is
formed to include a spline, the outer shell is rotatably coupled to
the housing and is formed to include a spline-receiving space, and
the spline is received in the spline-receiving space so that the
pressure-relief valve rotates with the outer shell relative to the
housing when the outer shell rotates relative to the housing.
49. The assembly of claim 48, further comprising a flapper door and
a spring engaging the flapper door to yieldably bias the flapper
door against the nozzle-receiving portion to cover the
nozzle-receiving opening, the flapper door being pivotably
connected to the pressure-relief valve and arranged to rotate
relative to the housing with the pressure-relief valve when the
pressure-relief valve rotates relative to the housing in response
to rotation of the outer shell relative to the housing.
50. The assembly of claim 44, further comprising a base interposed
between the filler neck and the housing and a sealing gasket
interposed between the base and the housing and sealingly engaging
the base and the housing to block the flow of liquid fuel, fuel
vapor, and air therebetween.
51. The assembly of claim 50, wherein the housing is formed to
include an inner body received by the base and an outer body
connected to the inner body and the outer shell is connected to the
outer body.
52. The assembly of claim 51, wherein the outer body is formed to
include an interior region, the inner body is formed to include an
interior region in fluid communication with the interior region of
the outer body, and the pressure-relief valve is received in the
interior region of the outer body.
53. The assembly of claim 51, further comprising an o-ring seal
mounted on the sealing surface to provide a seal between the
pressure-relief valve and the inner body of the housing thereby
blocking the flow of liquid fuel, fuel vapor, and air therebetween
when the pressure-relief valve is in the closure-sealing position,
the inner body of the housing being formed to include a radially
outwardly extending annular lip having an axially outwardly facing
surface including the sealing surface and engaging the o-ring seal
and an axially inwardly-facing surface engaging the sealing
gasket.
54. The assembly of claim 44, wherein the side wall is formed to
include an axially inner edge lying in a first plane and an axially
outer edge lying in a second plane that is inclined relative to the
first plane.
55. The assembly of claim 54, wherein the front wall is formed to
include a nozzle-receiving opening sized to receive a pump nozzle
during refueling of the fuel tank and a funnel-shaped
nozzle-guiding surface to guide the radial movement of the pump
nozzle toward the nozzle-receiving opening as the pump nozzle
advances axially toward the nozzle-receiving opening during
refueling of the fuel tank.
56. A filler neck closure assembly for a vehicle fuel tank filler
neck, the filler neck closure assembly comprising
a housing configured to mount in the filler neck,
a closure portion mounted in the housing and having an aperture for
receiving a nozzle to introduce fuel into the filler neck,
a plate,
means for supporting the plate for movement relative to the closure
portion between a closed position blocking the flow of air through
the aperture means and an open position allowing the flow of air
through the aperture means when the tank pressure is less than a
predetermined minimum pressure, the supporting means being appended
to the closure portion,
a spring lying in the housing and yieldably biasing the plate
against the closure portion, the spring having a spring constant
such that the plate sealingly engages the closure portion when the
tank pressure is above the predetermined minimum pressure and such
that the plate disengages from the closure portion when tank
pressure is below the predetermined minimum pressure to form an
opening therebetween allowing the flow of air through the aperture
means, through the opening, and into the fuel tank, the closure
portion being formed to include a spline, and
an outer shell rotatably connected to the housing and formed to
include a spline-receiving space positioned to receive the spline
so that the closure portion rotates relative to the housing with
the outer shell as the outer shell rotates relative to the
housing.
57. A filler neck closure assembly for a vehicle fuel tank filler
neck, the filler neck closure assembly comprising
a housing configured to mount in the filler neck,
a closure portion mounted in the housing and having aperture means
for receiving a nozzle to introduce fuel into the filler neck,
a plate,
means for supporting the plate for movement relative to the closure
portion between a closed position blocking the flow of air through
the aperture means and an open position allowing the flow of air
through the aperture means when the tank pressure is less than a
predetermined minimum pressure, the supporting means being appended
to the closure portion,
a spring lying in the housing and yieldably biasing the plate
against the closure portion, the spring having a spring constant
such that the plate sealingly engages the closure portion when the
tank pressure is above the predetermined minimum pressure and such
that the plate disengages from the closure portion when tank
pressure is blow the predetermined minimum pressure to form an
opening therebetween allowing the flow of air through the aperture
Weans, through the opening, and into the fuel tank, the closure
portion being mounted for movement relative to the housing between
a closed position blocking the flow of fuel vapor between the
housing and the closure portion and an open position allowing the
flow of fuel vapor between the closure portion and the housing when
the tank pressure is above a predetermined maximum pressure,
and
a compression spring yieldably biasing the closure portion toward
the closed position, the compression spring having a first end
engaging the closure portion, a second end engaging the housing,
and the compression spring being positioned to lie axially outward
of the spring yieldably biasing the plate against the closure
portion.
58. A filler neck closure assembly for a vehicle fuel tank filler
neck, the assembly comprising
a housing configured to be received by the filler neck,
a sealing gasket positioned to lie between the housing and the
filler neck, the sealing gasket being subject to damage due to
overtightening of the closure assembly on the filler neck,
an outer shell rotatably connected to the housing, the outer shell
being formed to include a nozzle-receiving opening, and
a torque-override mechanism for providing a torque-limited
connection between the outer shell and the housing to protect the
gasket from over tightening of the closure assembly on the filler
neck resulting from the application of torque above a predetermined
maximum torque on the outer shell, the torque-override mechanism
including drive teeth appended to the outer shell.
59. The assembly of claim 58, further comprising a base disposed in
the filler neck between the filler neck and the housing, the base
being formed to include a mouth having a lip arranged to engage the
sealing gasket and an axially inner wall having an unleaded
discriminator.
60. The assembly of claim 58, wherein the torque-override mechanism
further includes a flange appended to the housing, the flange
having a plurality of driven teeth and a spring for yieldably
biasing the driven teeth axially outwardly, and the driven teeth
are configured to engage the drive teeth.
61. The assembly of claim 60, wherein the spring includes resilient
fingers connected to the flange and cantilevered therefrom and the
driven teeth are appended to the resilient fingers.
62. The assembly of claim 58, wherein the drive teeth are spaced
apart along a generally circular path that is positioned to lie
radially outwardly of the sealing gasket.
63. The assembly of claim 58, wherein the outer shell is formed to
include a front wall arranged to define a generally funnel-shaped
nozzle-guiding surface terminating at the nozzle-receiving
opening.
64. The assembly of claim 63, further comprising a latching portion
integrally appended to the front wall and positioned to engage the
pump nozzle during refueling of the fuel tank to prevent
inadvertent axial movement of the pump nozzle out of the
nozzle-receiving opening.
65. The assembly of claim 58, wherein the outer shell is formed to
include a front wall arranged to define a generally planar
boot-seating surface adjacent to the nozzle-receiving
opening..Iadd.
66. A self-closing cap adapted to be mounted onto a filler neck of
a fuel tank of an automotive vehicle wherein said neck includes a
restrictive flap pivotally connected thereto,
comprising:.Iaddend.
.Iadd.a closure ring having an annular body and means for
detachably mounting the periphery of said annular body around a
peripheral edge of a filler neck,.Iaddend.
.Iadd.a closure flap assembly including a circular member having an
opening for receiving a nozzle, a closure flap, means for pivotally
mounting an edge of said closure flap over said opening, and means
for affixing said circular member to said annular body such that
the orientation of said pivotal mounting means is adjustable
relative to a pivotal connection between said restrictive flap and
said neck, and.Iaddend.
.Iadd.a cover means detachably mountable over said closure flap
assembly..Iaddend..Iadd.
67. The self-closing cap as defined in claim 66, wherein said
closure flap is spring biased over said opening in said circular
member..Iaddend..Iadd.
68. The self-closing cap as defined in claim 66, wherein said means
for affixing said circular member to said annular body includes a
ratchet lock mechanism..Iaddend..Iadd.
69. The self-closing cap as defined in claim 66, wherein said cover
means includes a port for receiving a nozzle and a guide face for
guiding said nozzle into said port..Iaddend..Iadd.
70. The self-closing cap as defined in claim 69, wherein said guide
face is inclined with respect to said circular member of said
closure flap assembly to facilitate the guiding of said nozzle into
said port..Iaddend..Iadd.
71. The self-closing cap as defined in claim 70, wherein said
filler neck is inclined at an oblique angle with respect to an
adjacent wall of said vehicle, and said inclination of said guide
face orients said face at an angle that facilitates the insertion
of a fuel nozzle from an automatic filling
machine..Iaddend..Iadd.
72. The self-closing cap as defined in claim 69, wherein said cover
means includes means for guiding the nozzle of an automatic
fuel-dispensing machine..Iaddend..Iadd.
73. A self-closing cap for attachment to the fuel filler neck of a
vehicle that is particularly adapted for use with an automatic
filling machine, said neck having a restrictive flap within its
inner diameter that is connected thereto by a pivotal connection,
comprising:.Iaddend.
.Iadd.a closure ring having an annular body and means for
detachably mounting the periphery of said annular body around the
periphery of a filler neck,.Iaddend.
.Iadd.a closure flap assembly including a circular member having an
opening, a closure flap, means for pivotally mounting said closure
flap over said opening, and means for affixing said circular member
at a selected position with respect to the periphery of said
annular body of said closure ring after said ring has been mounted
around the periphery of said filler neck such that the orientation
of said pivotal mounting means is angularly adjustable relative to
said annular body to a position substantially 180.degree. opposite
from said pivotal connection of said restrictive flap,
and.Iaddend.
.Iadd.a cover means detachably mountable over said closure flap
assembly..Iaddend..Iadd.
74. The self-closing cap as defined in claim 73, wherein both said
restrictive flap and said closure flap are spring biased over said
neck inner diameter and opening, respectively, and wherein said
180.degree. orientation between said pivotal connection and said
pivotal mounting means facilitates the insertion and withdrawal of
a fuel dispensing nozzle from an automatic filling machine through
said cap and filler neck..Iaddend..Iadd.
75. The self-closing cap as defined in claim 73, wherein said
affixing means includes a ratchet lock
mechanism..Iaddend..Iadd.
76. The self-closing cap as defined in claim 73, wherein said cover
means includes a port for receiving a fuel nozzle, and a guide face
for guiding said nozzle into said port..Iaddend..Iadd.
77. The self-closing cap as defined in claim 76, wherein said guide
face is inclined with respect to said circular member of said
closure flap assembly to facilitate the guiding of said fuel nozzle
into said port..Iaddend..Iadd.
78. The self-closing cap as defined in claim 77, wherein said
filler neck is inclined at an oblique angle with respect to an
adjacent wall of said vehicle, and said inclination of said guide
face facilitates the insertion of said fuel nozzle into said port
and through said opening..Iaddend..Iadd.
79. The self-closing cap as defined in claim 77, wherein said cover
means includes means for guiding the nozzle of an automatic fuel
dispensing machine..Iaddend..Iadd.
80. A self-closing cap adapted to be mounted onto a filler neck of
a fuel tank of an automotive vehicle, comprising:.Iaddend.
.Iadd.a closure ring having an annular body and means for
detachably mounting the periphery of said annular body around a
peripheral edge of a filler neck, and.Iaddend.
.Iadd.a closure flap assembly including a circular member having an
opening for receiving a nozzle, a closure flap, means for pivotally
mounting an edge of said closure flap over said opening, and means
for permanently affixing said circular member to said annular body
such that the orientation of said pivotal mounting means is
angularly adjustable relative to said annular body,
and.Iaddend.
.Iadd.a cover means detachably mountable over said closure flap
assembly..Iaddend.
Description
BACKGROUND AND SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to a closure assembly for a tank
filler neck, and particularly to a capless closure assembly for a
vehicle fuel tank filler neck that operates to close the filler
neck automatically as soon as a fuel-dispensing pump nozzle is
removed from the filler neck following refueling of the tank. More
particularly, the present invention relates to a filler neck
closure assembly that cooperates with a fuel-dispensing pump
nozzle, which may be connected to a robotic refueling system, to
provide an automatic opening and closing mechanism for the filler
neck and that functions automatically to vent excess tank pressure
and relieve unwanted tank vacuum after refueling is completed.
A removable fuel cap with a sealing gasket is typically used to
close the open end of a fuel tank filler neck. After an attendant
fills the fuel tank and withdraws the pump nozzle from the filler
neck, the fuel cap is attached to the filler neck so that the
sealing gasket forms a seal between the fuel cap and the filler
neck. Thus, the fuel cap closes the open end of the filler neck to
block discharge of liquid fuel and fuel vapor from the fuel tank
through the filler neck. Additionally, some fuel caps are provided
with pressure-relief and vacuum-relief valves to permit some
controlled venting of fuel vapors in the filler neck while the fuel
cap is mounted on the filler neck.
It has been observed that fuel caps are often lost or damaged over
time and, as a result, the open end of the filler neck might not be
closed and sealed in accordance with original equipment
specifications during operations of the vehicle. Accordingly, a
filler neck configured to "open" automatically as a fuel-dispensing
pump nozzle is inserted into the filler neck during refueling and
"close" automatically once the pump nozzle is withdrawn from the
filler neck without requiring an attendant to reattach a fuel cap
to the filler neck would be an improvement over many conventional
capped filler neck systems. .[..Although.]. .Iadd.Although
.Iaddend.conventional fuel caps function to close filler necks in a
satisfactory manner, it is thought that a capless filler neck could
make vehicle refueling more convenient for consumers because no
action other than inserting a pump nozzle into the outer end of the
filler neck would be required to begin refueling a vehicle.
Advantageously, such a capless filler neck system would be
configured in accordance with the present invention to include a
liquid fuel and fuel vapor control apparatus.
Filler necks with self-closing closure mechanisms are known in the
art. See, for example, U.S. Pat. Nos. 3,938,564 to Jones: 5,056,570
to Harris et al.: and 5,271,438 to Griffin et al. In addition, U.S.
Pat. Nos. 5,195,566 to Ott et al.: 4,986,439 to Ott et al.:
4,702,839 to Boehmer et al.: and 4,424,839 to Otani et al., and
German document Nos. DE 42 18 287 A1 to Ott and DE 42 43 883 A1 to
Soutter all disclose self-closing caps.
A robotic refueling system operates to detect a vehicle arriving at
a vehicle-refueling station, locate a fuel tank filler neck in the
vehicle, and move a fuel-dispensing pump nozzle automatically into
and out of the filler neck at the proper times so that the fuel
tank on board the vehicle can be filled with fuel without any
manual movement or operation of the pump nozzle by an attendant.
For example, U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,238,034 to Corfitsen: 3,642,036 to
Ginsburgh, and 3,527, 268 to Ginsburgh: as well as German document
No. DE 42 42 243 A1 to Hagele all disclose automatic fueling
systems for vehicles provided with filler neck closures suited for
use with such systems.
A capless filler neck closure that is configured to control air,
vapor, and liquid flow into and out of a fuel tank filler neck and
is compatible with robotic refueling systems, yet is configured to
be assembled quickly and easily using a minimal number of parts
would be an improvement over known filler neck closures. An
inexpensive yet effective capless filler neck closure that is
reliable, easy to manufacture, and easy to install is needed. This
need is expected to grow once robotic refueling systems become
widely available. A capless filler neck closure that is configured
to open automatically in response to engagement with a moving pump
nozzle regardless of whether the pump nozzle is moved manually by
an attendant or robotically by a robotic refueling system, and to
close automatically after refueling is completed, and that is
configured to relieve unwanted excess pressure and vacuum
conditions in the tank automatically any time that such conditions
develop and the filler neck is closed, would be welcomed by many
vehicle manufacturers, vehicle owners, and service station
operators.
According to the present invention, a filler neck closure assembly
is provided for a vehicle fuel tank filler neck. The filler neck
closure assembly includes a housing configured to mount in the
filler neck and formed to include a sealing surface. A
pressure-relief valve is mounted for movement in the housing and
formed to include a nozzle-receiving portion and a sealing portion.
The nozzle-receiving portion is formed to include an inner
nozzle-receiving opening that receives a pump nozzle during
refueling of the fuel tank. The sealing portion normally engages
the sealing surface formed in the housing.
The sealing portion of the pressure-relief valve is movable
relative to the housing between a closure-sealing position and a
pressure-relief position in response to changing pressure
conditions in the filler neck so as to relieve excess fuel vapor
pressure that develops from time to time in the filler neck.
Normally, the filler neck pressure is below a predetermined maximum
pressure and the sealing portion of the pressure-relief valve is
retained in the closure-sealing position sealingly engaging the
sealing surface to block discharge of liquid fuel and fuel vapor
from the filler neck to the atmosphere past the pressure-relief
valve. However, when filler neck pressure exceeds the predetermined
maximum pressure, the sealing portion is moved by such high
pressure away from the sealing surface in the housing to the
pressure-relief position to define a venting opening between the
housing and the pressure-relief valve. This allows pressurized fuel
vapor to vent from the fuel tank to the atmosphere through the vent
opening.
The pressure-relief valve is configured so that the
nozzle-receiving portion formed therein moves along with the
sealing portion formed therein when the sealing portion moves
between the closure-sealing position and the nozzle-receiving
position to vent pressurized fuel vapor from the filler neck to the
atmosphere. Illustratively, the sealing portion is arranged to
surround the nozzle-receiving portion.
In preferred embodiments, the filler neck closure assembly is
installed in the filler neck of a vehicle fuel tank. The filler
neck closure assembly is a "capless system" because it does not
include a traditional fuel cap that is separate and removable from
the filler neck. Significantly, the filler neck closure assembly is
configured to allow an attendant or a robotic mechanism to insert a
fuel-dispensing pump nozzle into the filler neck during refueling
of the fuel tank without first removing a separate fuel cap from
the mouth of the filler neck. In addition, after refueling is
completed and the pump nozzle is withdrawn, the closure assembly
automatically closes the filler neck so that it is unnecessary for
an attendant or a robotic mechanism to install a separate fuel cap
on the filler neck to close the mouth of the filler neck.
Vehicles having fuel tanks are often operated in environments in
which fuel in the fuel tank experiences temperature fluctuations
resulting in fuel vapor pressure fluctuations in the fuel tank. The
pressure-relief valve is mounted in the housing to relieve unwanted
fuel vapor pressure in the fuel tank in excess of a predetermined
maximum pressure that can develop, for example, during operation of
a vehicle in hot environments.
Illustratively, the pressure-relief valve in accordance with the
present invention is a slidable, spring-loaded disk mounted at an
outer end of the filler neck adjacent to the mouth of the filler
neck. In addition, a vacuum-relief valve is provided in the housing
to relieve unwanted vacuum in the fuel tank. The vacuum-relief
valve functions to admit air from the atmosphere into the filler
neck so as to increase tank pressure when tank pressure is less
than a predetermined minimum pressure. Vacuum conditions can
develop in a fuel tank during the cool-down of a vehicle that can
occur, for example, at night. Illustratively, the vacuum-relief
valve is a spring-loaded valve pivotably mounted on the
pressure-relief valve.
The pressure-relief valve is formed to include a central opening
that is normally closed by the pivotable spring-loaded
vacuum-relief valve mounted on the pressure-relief valve. During
refueling, an attendant or robotic mechanism passes a pump nozzle
through the central opening formed in the pressure-relief valve and
pivots the vacuum-relief valve to an opened position so that the
pump nozzle can be used to discharge liquid fuel into the fuel tank
filler neck without disrupting the position and filler-neck closing
function of the pressure-relief valve. Normally, the sealing
portion of the pressure-relief valve is urged by a spring to its
closure-sealing position closing the filler neck during refueling.
Advantageously, the pump nozzle can pass through the central
opening formed in the nozzle-receiving portion of the
pressure-relief valve without disturbing or moving the surrounding
sealing portion of the pressure-relief valve.
During fuel tank cool-down, excessive vacuum in the fuel tank and
filler neck creates a suction force in the filler neck sufficient
to pivot the spring-loaded vacuum-relief valve away from is seat
against the pressure-relief valve to an opened position. Such
automatic "opening" of the vacuum-relief valve functions to allow a
flow of air from the atmosphere into the fuel tank filler neck
through the central opening formed in the pressure-relief valve,
thereby relieving the unwanted low tank and filler neck pressure
automatically. This inflow of atmospheric air can occur even though
the pressure-relief valve remains in a filler neck-closing
position.
In preferred embodiments, the closure assembly includes an outer
shell connected to the housing and positioned to lie adjacent to an
outer side of the slidable spring-loaded pressure-relief valve. The
outer shell has a front wall that defines a nozzle-guiding surface
and that is formed to include a nozzle-receiving opening in fluid
communication with the central opening formed in the adjacent
pressure-relief valve. The front wall is generally funnel-shaped so
that a pump nozzle engaging the nozzle-guiding surface defined by
front wall and advancing into the closure assembly during refueling
of the fuel tank is guided radially inwardly toward the
nozzle-receiving opening formed in the outer shell. Advantageously,
the nozzle-guiding surface on the front wall is helpful both to
attendants manually guiding pump nozzles into the closure assembly
and to robotic refueling systems automatically guiding pump nozzles
into the closure assembly. In addition, the front wall provides a
seating surface to accommodate fuel vapor recovery nozzle
assemblies that include external fuel vapor recovery boots.
The closure assembly is easily installed into the filler neck of
the fuel tank at the time of vehicle manufacture or repair. The
installer simply grasps the outer shell of the closure assembly and
places a threaded inner end of the housing into engagement with the
threaded filler neck. Rotation of the outer shell by the installer
in a clockwise closure-advancing direction brings the threads on
the housing into interlocking engagement with the threads in the
filler neck. Continued rotation of the outer shell causes the outer
shell and the housing unit to be drawn into the filler neck. Once
the housing is properly seated in the filler neck, the outer shell
can be rotated or indexed relative to the seated housing to assume
a corrected installation orientation and position on the filler
neck.
An annular sealing gasket is provided on an outer portion of the
housing. As the installer rotates the outer shell and housing unit
in the closure-advancing direction, the closure assembly advances
to a tight seated position in the filler neck in which the sealing
gasket is trapped between the filler neck and the housing to
establish a liquid fuel and fuel vapor seal therebetween.
Advantageously, the closure assembly is designed and constructed to
protect the sealing gasket from damage that might be caused by over
tightening the housing in the filler neck. The closure assembly is
configured to divert excessive closure-advancing torque that an
installer might apply to the outer shell away from the housing and
the sealing gasket.
The torque-limiting mechanism interposed between the outer shell
and the housing allows torque applied to the outer shell below a
predetermined maximum torque to be transmitted from the outer shell
to the housing and torque applied to the outer shell above the
predetermined maximum torque to be diverted away from the housing
and the sealing gasket trapped between the housing and the filler
neck. The torque-limiting mechanism causes the outer shell to
rotate independently of the housing when the torque applied to the
outer shell exceeds the predetermined maximum torque, for example,
when the installer continues to rotate the outer shell after the
closure assembly has advanced to the tight seated position in the
filler neck, rather than transmitting the torque from the outer
shell to the housing. The independent rotation of the outer shell
relative to the housing protects the sealing gasket while also
permitting the installer to orient the outer shell in a proper
radial installation position relative to the filler neck without
affecting or damaging the seal formed between the filler neck and
the housing.
Advantageously, the radial orientation of the central opening of
the pressure-relief valve relative to the outer shell is fixed by a
spline appended to the pressure-relief valve and mounted in an
opening of the outer shell. The spline cooperates with the outer
shell to radially fix the pressure-relief valve relative to the
outer shell and to cause the pressure-relief valve to rotate
relative to the housing in response to rotation of the outer shell
relative to the housing when the outer shell is rotated or indexed
to assume the corrected installation orientation and position on
the filler neck.
Additionally, a frangible connection between the outer shell and
the housing is designed and configured to enhance and control
breakage of the closure assembly between the outer shell and the
housing in a manner that is designed to leave the filler neck
closed during an impact to the closure assembly. A flange that
connects the housing and the outer shell has a frangible section to
enhance breakage of the flange relative to the housing. The closure
assembly is configured so that the filler neck will remain closed
after the separation of the outer shell and the flange from the
housing.
Also in preferred embodiments, various components of the closure
assembly are decorated with selected codes, adornments, and/or
patterns to facilitate detection of the filler neck and closure
assembly. For example, the outer shell and a flapper door included
in the vacuum-relief valve can cooperate to provide information
useful for visual detection of the location of the filler neck and
closure assembly. The outer shell can be made from a material
having a light color and the flapper door can be made from a
material having a dark color. Together, the outer shell and flapper
door, which includes a flat plate that is visible behind the
nozzle-receiving opening, can present a "bulls-eye" pattern that is
easily recognizable by an attendant guiding a pump nozzle into the
closure assembly.
Some robotic refueling systems use a filler neck detection system
to locate the filler neck for the robotic refueling system prior to
docking the pump nozzle in the closure assembly. In these
instances, codes, adornments, and/or patterns of the type described
can provide docking verification information that can be used by
the robotic refueling system.
Additional objects, features, and advantages of the invention will
become apparent to those skilled in the art upon consideration of
the following detailed description of the preferred embodiments
exemplifying the best mode of carrying out the invention as
presently perceived.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
The detailed description particularly refers to the accompanying
figures in which:
FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a vehicle including a fuel tank
filler neck closure assembly in accordance with the present
invention and a diagrammatic illustration of a robotic refueling
system including a refueling zone containing the vehicle a vehicle
detector, a filler neck detector, and a robotically-controlled pump
nozzle connected to the filler neck detector;
FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the fuel tank filler neck closure
assembly of FIG. 1 showing an outwardly-facing nozzle-guiding
surface of the closure assembly having a pump nozzle-receiving
opening, a pump nozzle moving toward the nozzle-guiding surface,
and the expected path (represented by a dotted line) of a tip of
the pump nozzle on the nozzle-guiding surface toward and into the
nozzle-receiving opening formed in the closure assembly;
FIG. 3 is an exploded perspective view of the closure assembly of
FIG. 1 showing an outer shell including the nozzle-guiding surface,
a housing including an annular outer body that is connectable to
the outer shell, a threaded inner body that is connectable to the
outer body, a base sized to receive the inner body and fit into an
outer end of a filler neck, an O-ring seal between the inner body
and the base, and various components that can be arranged inside
the housing to define a spring-loaded, annular, slidable
pressure-relief valve and a spring-loaded, pivotable vacuum-relief
valve in the closure assembly;
FIG. 4 is a sectional view taken along line 4--4 of FIG. 2 showing
the slidable pressure-relief valve and the pivotable vacuum-relief
valve in their closed non-venting positions;
FIG. 4a is a partial sectional view of the spline and drive teeth
shown at right angles to their locations in FIGS. 4;
FIG. 5 is a view of the closure assembly of FIG. 4 showing a pump
nozzle passing through the nozzle-receiving opening formed in the
outer shell, holding a pivotable spring-biased flapper door in a
fully opened position, and dispensing liquid fuel into a fuel tank
filler neck;
FIG. 6 is a view similar to FIG. 5 showing another type of pump
nozzle passing through the nozzle-receiving opening formed in the
outer shell and dispensing liquid fuel into the fuel tank filler
neck, this pump nozzle carrying a fuel vapor recovery boot that is
arranged to seat against a boot-seating surface on the outer shell
when the pump nozzle is inserted into the filler neck during
refueling of the fuel tank;
FIG. 7 is a view of the closure assembly of FIG. 4 showing the
slidable pressure-relief valve after it has been moved in an
axially outward direction in the closure assembly to a
pressure-relief position due to the presence of superatmospheric
fuel vapor pressure in the filler neck, thereby permitting the flow
of pressurized fuel vapor from a vehicle fuel tank through the
filler neck and closure assembly to the atmosphere;
FIG. 8 is a view similar to FIG. 7 showing the spring-loaded,
pivotable flapper door in the vacuum-relief valve after it has been
pivoted in the closure assembly to a vacuum-relief position due to
the presence of subatmospheric fuel vapor pressure in the filler
neck, thereby permitting the flow of ambient air from the
atmosphere into the vehicle fuel tank through the closure assembly
and filler neck;
FIGS. 9-13 show the outer shell of the closure assembly of FIG. 2
in various positions as it is rotated relative to the filler neck
toward a preferred orientation position after the installation of
the housing and the base into the filler neck;
FIG. 9 is a side elevation view of the closure assembly of FIG. 4
after advancing the closure assembly into the base by rotating the
outer shell so that both a lip on the base and a lip on the closure
assembly sealingly trap the O-ring seal therebetween but before the
outer shell is rotated relative to the filler neck to a preferred
orientation;
FIG. 10 is a front elevation view of the closure assembly of FIG.
9;
FIG. 11 is an enlarged sectional view taken along line 11--11 of
FIG. 10 showing a torque-override connection mechanism including
drive teeth appended to a bottom side of the outer shell and a
flexible finger appended to the housing, the finger having a driven
tooth in engagement with the drive teeth;
FIG. 12 is a side elevation view similar to FIG. 9 showing the
outer shell after it has been rotated about its axis of rotation
relative to the housing to its preferred orientation;
FIG. 13 is a front elevation view of the closure assembly of FIG.
12;
FIGS. 14-16 show a second embodiment of a closure assembly in
accordance with the present invention having a spring-loaded,
annular, slidable pressure-relief valve formed to include a
nozzle-receiving opening and an annular vacuum-relief valve seat
and a sleeve inserted into the nozzle-receiving opening;
FIG. 14 is a view similar to FIG. 4 of the second embodiment of a
filler neck closure showing the annular valve seat for a
spring-loaded, pivotable vacuum-relief valve inserted into the
nozzle-receiving opening formed in the slidable pressure-relief
valve and the sleeve inserted into the nozzle-receiving opening and
arranged to secure the valve seat in the nozzle-receiving
opening;
FIG. 15 is a view similar to FIG. 14 showing the slidable
pressure-relief valve after it has been moved in an axially outward
direction to a pressure-relief position due to the presence of
superatmospheric fuel vapor pressure in the filler neck, thereby
permitting the flow of pressurized fuel vapor from a vehicle fuel
tank through the filler neck and closure assembly to the
atmosphere;
FIG. 16 is a view similar to FIG. 15 showing a spring-loaded,
pivotable flapper door in the vacuum-relief valve after it has been
pivoted in the closure assembly to a vacuum-relief position due to
the presence of subatmospheric fuel vapor pressure in the filler
neck, thereby permitting the flow of ambient air from the
atmosphere into the vehicle fuel tank through the closure assembly
and filler neck;
FIG. 17 is a view similar to FIGS. 4-8 showing the outer shell
after it has been broken away from the housing by an impact
(represented by two double arrows) leaving the housing and a
pressure control subassembly in the housing intact and in a closed
position continuing to close the vehicle filler neck;
FIG. 18 is a front elevation view of the outer shell of FIG. 12 and
FIG. 14 showing the nozzle-guiding surface of the outer shell
cooperating with the flapper door to form a "bulls-eye" pattern as
the closure assembly is seen by an external filler neck detector;
and
FIG. 19 is a side elevation view of the closure assembly of FIG. 4
with a portion broken away showing a dust cover mounted on a fuel
door of a vehicle (not shown) in a position engaging the
boot-seating surface of the outer shell to prevent dust from
collecting in the closure assembly when the fuel door is
closed.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
A closure assembly 10 in accordance with the present invention for
a filler neck 12 of a vehicle fuel tank 14 is compatible for use
both when vehicle fuel tank 14 is refueled by an attendant (not
shown) and when vehicle fuel tank 14 is refueled using a robotic
refueling system 16 (shown diagrammatically in FIG. 1). In
addition, closure assembly 10 functions to vent excess fuel vapor
pressure from vehicle fuel tank 14 when tank pressure is too high
and allow air into vehicle fuel tank 14 when tank pressure is too
low.
Illustrative robotic refueling system 16 is operable within a
refueling zone 18 illustratively shown by an area indicated by
dashed lines in FIG. 1. When a vehicle 22 enter refueling zone 18
for refueling, a vehicle detector 20 having an external
nozzle-positioning sensor 28 determines the position of vehicle 22
within refueling zone 18. Vehicle detector 20 also determines the
approximate location of closure assembly 10.
Once robotic refueling system 16 determines the approximate
location of closure assembly 10, a pump nozzle assembly 82 appended
to a pump nozzle conveyor 25 advances to the approximate location
of closure assembly 10 as shown in FIG. 2. A filler neck detector
26 for determining a more precise position of closure assembly 10
may be included with robotic refueling system 16. Once the position
of closure assembly 10 is established, pump nozzle conveyor 25
advances pump nozzle assembly 82 toward closure assembly 10 so that
a pump nozzle 24 can penetrate closure assembly 10 and refuel
vehicle fuel tank 14. Closure assembly 10 is shown in more detail
in FIGS. 3 and 4.
An exploded perspective view of closure assembly 10 of FIG. 2 is
provided in FIG. 3 to illustrate a preferred embodiment showing the
various components of the closure assembly 10. An outer shell 30
including a funnel-shaped front wall 70 arranged to define an outer
nozzle-receiving opening 74 is mounted on outer body 32. Outer body
32 is connected to inner body 34. The outer and inner bodies 32, 34
cooperate to define a housing 35 having an internal valve-receiving
space 26 as shown best in FIG. 4. Inner body 34 is received by a
base 44 that fits into a filler neck 12 and a sealing gasket or
sealing member 46 is positioned between inner body 34 and base 44
to sealingly engage both inner body 34 and base 44 thereby blocking
the flow of fuel vapor or ambient air therebetween.
It will be understood that the pressure in fuel tank 14 could
increase or decrease after filling due to changes, for example, in
fuel temperature. As shown best in FIG. 3, a tank pressure control
subassembly 38 includes a pressure-relief valve subassembly 40 and
a vacuum-relief valve subassembly 42. Tank pressure control
subassembly 38 is received in valve-receiving space 36 and
configured to maintain the tank and filler neck pressure in a range
between a predetermined minimum pressure and a predetermined
maximum pressure.
Pressure-relief valve subassembly 40 includes a closure portion
including a seal plate 132 having a nozzle-receiving portion 133
and a sealing portion 135. Seal plate 132 is biased inwardly by a
compression spring or coiled compression spring 140 so that sealing
portion 135 sealingly engages an O-ring or annular seal or O-ring
seal 138. O-ring 138 is trapped between inner body 34 and sealing
portion 135 to establish a seal therebetween so that
pressure-relief valve subassembly 40. O-ring 138, and inner body 34
cooperate to block the flow of air into fuel tank 14 and the flow
of liquid fuel and fuel vapor out of fuel tank 14 between sealing
portion 135 and inner body 34 when the tank pressure is below the
predetermined maximum tank pressure.
Sealing portion 135 of pressure-relief valve subassembly 40 is
movable relative to housing 35 and causes nozzle-receiving portion
133 to move along with sealing or filler neck-closing or closed
portion 135 between an axially inward closure-sealing position
shown in FIG. 4 sealingly engaging O-ring 138 and an axially
outward pressure-relief or filler neck-venting or open position
shown in FIG. 7 away from O-ring 138 to define an opening
therebetween to vent fuel vapor from fuel tank 14 when tank
pressure exceeds the predetermined maximum pressure.
Nozzle-receiving portion 133 is formed to include an inner
nozzle-receiving opening or aperture 154 formed to receive the pump
nozzle 24 during refueling of fuel tank 14.
An axially inwardly extending upstanding annular seal-receiving
wall 137 is appended to seal plate 132 adjacent to inner
nozzle-receiving opening 154 as shown in FIGS. 3 and 4.
Vacuum-relief valve subassembly 42 includes an annular valve seat
134 mounted on seal-receiving wall 137 and an annular door seal
retainer 136 engages annular valve seat 134 to retain annular valve
seat 134 against seal-receiving wall 137. Vacuum-relief valve
subassembly 42 further includes a flapper door 180 that is
pivotably appended to seal plate 132 of pressure-relief valve
subassembly 40. It should be understood that vacuum-relief valve
subassembly 42 moves with seal plate 132 as the pressure-relief
valve subassembly 40 moves between the pressure-relief position
shown in FIG. 7 and the closure-sealing position shown in FIG.
4.
As shown in FIG. 4, flapper door 180 of vacuum-relief subassembly
42 is biased axially outwardly by torsion spring 200 to a sealing
position sealingly engaging seal plate 132 to block the flow of air
through the inner nozzle-receiving opening 154 when tank pressure
is above the predetermined minimum tank pressure. Flapper door 180
is drawn inwardly away from the sealing position when the tank
pressure is below the predetermined minimum pressure to pivot to a
vacuum-relief or open position shown in FIG. 8 away from seal plate
132 to form an opening therebetween thereby allowing the flow of
air through inner nozzle-receiving opening 154 to fuel tank 14 to
relieve subatmospheric tank pressure. It can be seen, then, that
vacuum-relief valve subassembly 42 is movable relative to
pressure-relief valve subassembly 40 between the vacuum-relief
position shown in FIG. 8 and the sealing position shown in FIG. 4.
It can also be seen that tank pressure control subassembly 38
operates to maintain the tank pressure in a predetermined range
between the predetermined minimum pressure and the predetermined
maximum pressure.
In addition to providing a path for the flow of ambient air through
filler neck 12 and into vehicle fuel tank 14, inner
nozzle-receiving opening 154 also receives pump nozzle 24 of vapor
recovery nozzle assembly 82 as shown in FIG. 6 or a pump nozzle 23
of a standard nozzle assembly 81 as shown in FIG. 5 during
refueling. The coaction between closure assembly 10 and pump nozzle
23 is substantially similar to the coaction between closure
assembly 10 and pump nozzle 24. All descriptions of the coaction of
both pump nozzles 23. 24 with closure assembly 10 below are
presented with respect to pump nozzle 24 of vapor recovery nozzle
assembly 82 unless specifically stated otherwise.
Pump nozzle 24 engages flapper door 180 when pump nozzle 24
advances into closure assembly 10 and acts against torsion spring
200 to move flapper door 180 to a fully open position shown in FIG.
6 during refueling. In this manner, vacuum-relief valve subassembly
42 cooperates with inner nozzle-receiving opening 154 both to
relieve subatmospheric tank pressure below a predetermined minimum
pressure and to allow ingress of pump nozzle 24 into filler neck 12
during refueling.
Pump nozzle 24 can engage out shell 30 when moving to penetrate
closure assembly 10. Outer shell 30 includes a cylindrical side
wall 52 that is formed in the shape of a truncated right circular
cylinder as shown in FIGS. 2-4. An inner edge 54 of cylindrical
side wall 52 defines a circle and is positioned to lie in a plane
that is perpendicular to a central axis 56 of cylindrical side wall
52. Cylindrical side wall 52 extends axially outwardly from inner
edge 54. An axially outer edge 58 of cylindrical side wall 52 is
formed at an angle 60 to central axis 56 as shown in FIG. 4. Thus,
cylindrical side wall 52 includes a short side 62 and a long side
64 as shown in FIGS. 3 and 4. Angle 60 is selected to correspond to
an angle 66 formed between a side wall 68 of vehicle fuel tank 14
and filler neck 12 illustrated in FIG. 1 so that outer edge 58 of
cylindrical side wall 52 is essentially flush with body panels 53
of vehicle 22.
Outer shell 30 further includes front wall 70 appended to outer
edge 58 of cylindrical side wall 52 as shown in FIGS. 2-4, and
front wall 70 and cylindrical side wall 52 cooperate to define an
enclosed space or interior region 73 of outer shell 30 adjacent to
a ratchet side 88 of front wall 70 as shown in FIG. 4. Front wall
70 includes an edge 72 arranged to define outer nozzle-receiving
opening 74. Front wall 70 is generally funnel-shaped thereby
providing an outwardly-facing nozzle-guiding surface 76. As pump
nozzle 24 advances toward outer nozzle-receiving opening 74, it may
engage nozzle-guiding surface 76 as shown in FIG. 2. The
funnel-like shape of nozzle-guiding surface 76 acts to radially
direct pump nozzle 24 toward outer nozzle-receiving opening 74 as
pump nozzle 24 advances into closure assembly 10. One illustrative
path that pump nozzle 24 could travel as pump nozzle 24 enters
closure assembly 10 is represented by dashed line 77 shown in FIG.
2.
Nozzle-guiding surface 76 is shaped so that nozzle-guiding surface
76 is generally flat between short side 62 and edge 72 and is
generally S-shaped between long side 64 and edge 72, as shown in
FIGS. 2-4. The transition of nozzle-guiding surface 76 radially
between short side 62 and long side 64 is gradual around the face
of nozzle-guiding surface 76 as shown best in FIGS. 2 and 3. The
S-shape of nozzle-guiding surface 76 provides a flat annular
boot-seating surface 78 arranged to engage a boot 80 of a vapor
recovery pump nozzle assembly 82 as shown in FIG. 6. Thus, front
wall 70 is shaped both to direct advancing pump nozzle 24 toward
nozzle-receiving opening 74 as shown in FIG. 2 and to provide
boot-seating surface 78 for boot 80 of vapor recovery pump nozzle
assembly 82 as shown in FIG. 6.
Outer nozzle-receiving opening 74 is generally circular, as shown
in FIGS. 2 and 3, though it is within the scope of the invention as
presently perceived to provide an outer nozzle-receiving opening 74
of any shape so long as outer nozzle-receiving opening 74 is sized
as described below relative to other openings of closure assembly
10. Additionally, outer nozzle-receiving opening 74 includes a
first central axis 84 illustrated in FIGS. 3 and 4 that is
generally coincident with central axis 56 of cylindrical side wall
52. First central axis 84 may be spaced-apart from central axis 56
so long as first central axis 84 is positioned as described below
relative to other openings of closure assembly 10.
Outer body 32 is appended to outer shell 30. Outer body 32 includes
a cylindrical side wall 106 having an axially outer edge 108
defining an inlet 104, shown best in FIGS. 3 and 4. Cylindrical
side wall 106 extends axially inwardly from outer edge 108 to an
axially inner edge 109 which is arranged to define inner opening
105. Cylindrical side wall 106 is provided with a plurality of
openings defining venting windows 110 in fluid communication with
an interior region 112 of outer body 32 that is defined by
cylindrical side wall 106 as shown in FIGS. 3 and 4.
A radially outwardly extending annular flange 100 is appended to
cylindrical side wall 106 of outer body 32 at edge 108. Cylindrical
side wall 52 of outer shell 30 is formed to include a plurality of
snaps 94 having snap inner walls 98 and being positioned along a
radially inner surface 96 of cylindrical side wall 52 as shown in
FIGS. 3 and 4. Flange 100 of outer body 32 has an edge 102 that
snap-fits into outer shell 30 so that snap inner walls 98 engage
edge 102, thereby coupling outer shell 30 to outer body 32. Snap
inner walls 98 and edge 102 are of radially uniform cross section
so that edge 102 can slide along snap inner walls 98 to provide a
rotatable coupling between outer shell 30 and outer body 32.
Inner body 34 is formed to include a second cylindrical side wall
114 arranged to define an outer opening 118, an outlet 120 opposite
outer opening 118, and a second interior region 116 therebetween in
fluid communication with outer opening 118 and outlet 120. Inner
body 34 is connected to outer body 32, and second cylindrical side
wall 114 of inner body 34 cooperates with cylindrical side wall 106
of outer body 32 to define valve-receiving space 36 having a
central axis 37 coincident with central axis 56 of outer shell 30
as shown in FIG. 4.
Inner body 34 includes a radially outwardly extending annular lip
122 appended to second cylindrical side wall 114 adjacent to outer
opening 118. Lip 122 includes an axially outwardly facing first
sealing surface 124 and an axially inwardly facing second sealing
surface 126. Outer body 32 includes radially inwardly extending
annular ledges 128 appended to inner edge 109 as shown in FIGS. 3
and 4. Lip 122 of inner body 34 snap-fits behind ledges 128 of
outer body 32 so that second sealing surface 126 engages ledges 128
to retain engagement between inner body 34 and outer body 32 as
shown in FIG. 4. Radially outwardly extending tabs 130 are appended
to lip 122 and are received by recesses 112 formed in cylindrical
side wall 106 of outer body 32 as shown in FIG. 3 to key inner body
34 to outer body 32 to eliminate rotational movement of inner body
34 relative to outer body 32. Inner body 34 and outer body 32
cooperate to form a housing 35.
Filler neck 12 includes a cylindrical wall 13 that defines an
interior region 15. In preferred embodiments, base 44 is received
by interior region 15. In addition, base 44 includes a cylindrical
side wall 206 that defines a closure-receiving space 210 as shown
in FIGS. 3 and 4. Inner body 34 is received by closure-receiving
space 210 of base 44.
Base 44 may also include an unleaded discriminator 205 as shown,
for example, in FIG. 4, to restrict penetration of pump nozzles 24
into filler neck 12 to only those pump nozzles 24 connected to
unleaded fuel sources. It is within the scope of the invention as
presently perceived to use closure assembly 10 in a filler neck of
a vehicle fuel tank that includes a base that does not have
unleaded discriminator 205 and in filler neck 12 of vehicle fuel
tank 14 that includes base 44 having unleaded discriminator
205.
It is also within the scope of the invention as presently perceived
to either mount closure assembly 10 directly in interior region 15
of filler neck 12 without interposing base 44 between closure
assembly 10 and filler neck 12, or to mount closure assembly 10 in
base 44 which in turn is received by interior region 15 of filler
neck 12 as shown in FIGS. 3 and 4. Advantageously, closure assembly
10 is well-suited for use as a retrofit module for vehicle fuel
tank filler necks configured for use with a fuel cap. Such vehicle
fuel tank filler necks can easily be modified by simply bringing
threads or closure retainer apparatus 216 formed on housing 35 into
interlocking engagement with thread-engaging grooves formed in the
filler neck and rotating outer shell 30 in a clockwise
closure-advancing direction 242. Rotation of outer shell 30 causes
housing 35 to rotate and to be drawn into the filler neck. After
installation, the filler neck carries closure assembly 10 and can
be refueled either by an attendant or by a robotic refueling system
16. Use of closure assembly 10 with base 44, which can be
interposed between filler neck 12 and closure assembly 10, is
described below.
Cylindrical side wall 206 of base 44 is provided with
thread-engaging grooves 208 and is formed to include an axially
outwardly-facing mouth 212 and an axially inner edge 213. Unleaded
discriminator 205 is appended to edge 213 and is formed to include
nozzle-directing opening 214 as shown in FIG. 4. Nozzle-directing
opening 214 and mouth 212 are in fluid communication with
closure-receiving space 210.
Second cylindrical side wall 114 of inner body 34 is formed to
include threads 216 that are received by thread-engaging grooves
208 when closure assembly 10 is received in closure-receiving space
210. Gasket 46 is positioned to lie between mouth 212 and second
sealing surface 126 of annular lip 122 as shown in FIGS. 3 and 4
and is arranged to provide a seal therebetween to block the flow of
ambient air into filler neck 12 or fuel vapor out of filler neck 12
between inner body 34 and base 44. This seal helps to ensure that
the flow of fuel vapor out of fuel tank 14 and the flow of ambient
air into fuel tank 14 is directed through tank pressure control
subassembly 38.
Tank pressure control subassembly 38 includes pressure-relief valve
subassembly 40 which is positioned to lie within valve-receiving
space 36 formed by outer body 32 and inner body 34 of housing 35 as
shown in FIGS. 3 and 4. Pressure-relief valve subassembly 40
includes annular seal plate 132 which is formed to include the
sealing portion 135 and the nozzle-receiving portion 133. O-ring
138 sealingly engages both sealing portion 135 of seal plate 132
and first sealing surface 124 of inner body 34 when the tank
pressure is below the predetermined maximum pressure. Seal plate
132 of pressure-relief valve subassembly 40 is yieldably urged
against O-ring 138 by compression spring 140 to sealingly engage
O-ring 138 thereby preventing the flow of air into and fuel vapor
out of the vehicle fuel tank 14 between seal plate 132 and O-ring
138.
Compression spring 140 is positioned inside of a compression
spring-receiving space 141 of valve-receiving space 36, as shown
best in FIG. 4, to engage an axially outwardly-facing surface 142
of an annular lip 146 of seal plate 132 and an axially
inwardly-facing surface 132 of a radially inwardly extending
annular lip 145 formed on edge 108 of outer body 32.
Outwardly-facing surface 142 of seal plate 132 and inwardly-facing
surface 143 of outer body 32 define axially inner and axially outer
boundaries of compression spring-receiving space 141. Cylindrical
side wall 106 of outer body 32 defines an axially outer boundary of
compression spring-receiving space 141. Compression spring 140 has
a spring constant designed to yieldably urge the pressure-relief
valve subassembly 40 inwardly against O-ring 138 provided on inner
body 34.
Seal plate 132 of pressure-relief valve subassembly 40 includes an
upstanding annular guide wall 148 appended to outwardly-facing
surface 142 as shown in FIGS. 3 and 4. Guide wall 148 slidably
engages lip 145 and is positioned to lie inside of inlet 104
defined by lip 145 to guide the radial movement of pressure relief
valve subassembly 40 during axial outward and inward movement of
pressure-relief valve subassembly 40 between the closure-sealing
position shown in FIG. 4 and the pressure-relief position shown in
FIG. 7. Guide wall 148 also defines an axially inner boundary of
compression spring-receiving space 141.
Axially outwardly-facing nozzle-directing ribs 150 are appended to
outwardly-facing surface 142 of nozzle-receiving portion 133 as
shown in FIGS. 3 and 4. Each nozzle-directing rib 150 has a top
surface 151 that is angled relative to outwardly-facing surface
142. Top surface 151 extends from a proximal end 153 positioned to
lie inside of inner nozzle-receiving opening 154 to a distal end
155 radially outward of inner nozzle-receiving opening 154. Top
surface 151 adjacent to distal end 155 of each nozzle-directing rib
150 is positioned to lie axially outwardly of both proximal end 153
and of outwardly-facing surface 142. Top surfaces 151 cooperate to
radially direct pump nozzle 24 toward inner nozzle-receiving
opening 154 when pump nozzle 24 enters closure assembly 10 to
refuel vehicle fuel tank 14.
Nozzle-receiving portion 133 of seal plate 132 includes inner
nozzle-receiving opening 154 and axially inwardly directed
upstanding annular seal-receiving wall 137 appended to axially
inwardly-facing surface 144 of seal plate 132 as shown in FIG. 4.
Seal-receiving wall 137 encircles inner nozzle-receiving opening
154. In addition, axially inwardly directed arcuate
retainer-engaging walls (not shown) are appended to seal plate 132
and are positioned to lie radially outward of seal-receiving wall
137. Retainer-engaging walls are formed to include lug-receiving
openings (not shown).
Annular valve seat 134 is received by seal-receiving wall 137 as
shown in FIG. 4. Annual valve seat 134 includes an axially inwardly
facing annular flapper door-seating surface 156, an axially
outwardly facing annular seal plate-engaging wall 158, and a
wall-engaging portion 160 therebetween. Flapper door-seating
surface 156, wall-engaging portion 160, and seal plate-engaging
wall 158 cooperate to define an annular groove 162. A retainer 136
is received in groove 162 and cooperates with seal-receiving wall
137 to retain annular valve seat 134 against seal-receiving wall
137 are shown in FIG. 4. Radially outwardly directed lugs 139 are
appended to retainer 136 as shown in FIG. 3 and are received by
lug-receiving openings (not shown) to hold retainer 136 against
seal plate 132.
Flapper door 180 is pivotably appended to seal plate 132 of
pressure-relief valve subassembly 40 as shown in FIGS. 3 and 4 to
provide closure assembly 10 with a door mechanism. Flapper door 180
includes two spaced-apart axially inwardly extending arms 182. Seal
plate 132 also includes two spaced-apart axially inwardly extending
arms 186 that are arranged to define a flapper door arm-receiving
space 184 therebetween as shown in FIG. 3. Arms 182 of flapper door
180 are received by flapper door arm-receiving space 184 of seal
plate 132. Shaft-receiving openings 188 are formed in arms 182 of
flapper door 180 and shaft-receiving openings 190 are formed in
arms 186 of seal plate 132. Shaft-receiving openings 188, 190 are
arranged to lie along a straight line. Pivot shaft 192 is rotatably
received by shaft-receiving openings 188, 190 as shown, for
example, in FIGS. 3 and 4 so that flapper door 180 can pivot about
pivot shaft 192.
Flapper door 180 includes a circular plate 194 appended to arms
182. Circular plate 194 includes a circumferential sealing surface
196 that engages flapper door-seating surface 156 when flapper door
180 is in a sealing position as shown, for example, in FIG. 4.
Circular plate 194 also includes a raised axially outwardly
directed nozzle-engaging surface 198. Nozzle-engaging surface 198
engages pump nozzle 24 when pump nozzle 24 penetrates closure
assembly 10.
Flapper door 180 is yieldably urged against annular valve seat 134
by torsion spring 200 to prevent the flow of air into or fuel vapor
out of vehicle fuel tank 14 between the flapper door 180 and
annular valve seat 134 when tank pressure is above the
predetermined minimum tank pressure. Torsion spring 200 is coiled
about pivot shaft 192 and includes a first end 187 engaging one arm
186 of seal plate 132 and a second end 189 engaging an inwardly
directed surface 202 of flapper door 180. Torsion spring 200 has a
spring constant designed to yieldably urge the flapper door 180
outwardly against annular valve seat 134.
Torsion spring 200 is specifically selected to have a spring
constant such that circular plate 194 of flapper door 180 sealingly
engages annular valve seat 134 when the tank pressure is above the
predetermined minimum pressure and such that circular plate 194
disengages from annular valve seat 134 when tank pressure is below
the predetermined minimum pressure to form an opening therebetween.
Torsion spring 200 is positioned to lie in housing 35 and is formed
to include a central axis 201 arranged to lie along a line that is
perpendicular to central axis 37 of housing 35.
Closure assembly 10 is positioned in filler neck 12 of vehicle fuel
tank 14 to receive pump nozzle 23 as shown in FIG. 5 or pump nozzle
24 as shown in FIG. 6. As pump nozzle 23, 24 penetrates closure
assembly 10, camming engagement of pump nozzle 23, 24 with flapper
door 180 forces flapper door 180 inwardly against the outward bias
of torsion spring 200 to assume a fully opened nozzle-received
position having nozzle-engaging surface 198 in engagement with
nozzle 23, 24. Nozzle-engaging surface 198 prevents contact between
pump nozzle 23, 24 and sealing surface 196 of flapper door 180.
Minimizing contact between sealing surface 196 and pump nozzle 23,
24 or other foreign objects reduces the risk of damage to or
contaminating of sealing surface 196.
A standard pump nozzle assembly 81 can include a collar 83 mounted
to pump nozzle 23 as shown in FIG. 5. Collar 83 can be formed to
include an axially outer wall 85. Front wall 70 of outer shell 30
is formed to include a latching portion 71 adjacent to outer
nozzle-receiving opening 74, as shown in FIG. 5. Latching portion
71 is positioned to engage outer wall 85 of collar 83 after pump
nozzle 23 is inserted into closure assembly 10 to prevent pump
nozzle 23 from inadvertently sliding axially outward out of closure
assembly 10. Once refueling is complete, pump nozzle 23 is released
from closure assembly 10 by lifting pump nozzle 23 to move collar
83 to a position that is radially inward of latching portion 71 and
moving pump nozzle 23 axially outwardly and away from closure
assembly 10.
Pump nozzle 24 of vapor recovery nozzle assembly 82 is connected to
boot 80 as shown in FIG. 6. Front wall 70 of outer shell 30 is
contoured to provide boot-seating surface 78 so that boot 80 can
seat against front wall 70 to minimize the escape of fuel vapor
between boot 80 and boot-seating surface 78 during refueling of
vehicle fuel tank 14.
Typically, vapor recovery pump nozzle assembly 82 further includes
a catch 91 having an axially outwardly-facing outer wall 92. Catch
91 is typically connected to pump nozzle 24 as shown in FIG. 6.
Outer wall 92 engages latching portion 71 after pump nozzle 24 is
inserted into closure assembly 10 to prevent pump nozzle 24 from
sliding axially outwardly out of closure assembly 10 during
refueling of fuel tank 14. Once refueling is complete, pump nozzle
24 is released from closure assembly 10 by lifting pump nozzle 24
to move outer wall 92 to a position that is radially inward of
latching portion 71 and moving pump nozzle 24 axially outwardly and
away from closure assembly 10.
When either an attendant or a robotic refueling system 16 prepares
to refuel vehicle 22, pump nozzle 24 is directed toward closure
assembly 10. Front wall 70 of outer shell 30 is contoured to
provide a funnel-like nozzle-guiding surface 76 arranged to direct
advancing pump nozzle 24 toward outer nozzle-receiving opening 74.
After passing through nozzle-receiving opening 74, a tip 232 of
advancing pump nozzle 24 engages nozzle-engaging surface 198 of
flapper door 180.
Camming engagement of pump nozzle 24 and nozzle-engaging surface
198 caused by the advancement of pump nozzle 24 causes tip 232 to
act against torsion spring 200 to force flapper door 180 into the
fully open refueling position shown in FIG. 5. In addition, torsion
spring 200 acts through flapper door 180 to bias pump nozzle 24
downwardly thereby directing pump nozzle 24 toward nozzle-directing
opening 214 of base 44. Pump nozzle 24 continues to advance until
tip 232 penetrates nozzle-directing opening 214 and, for vapor
recovery pump nozzle assembly 82, until boot 80 engages
boot-seating surface 78 as shown in FIG. 6.
Nozzle-directing opening 214 of base 44 is formed to include a
third central axis 234 that is typically spaced apart from a
central axis 215 of filler neck 12 as shown in FIG. 4. Central axis
215 of filler neck 12 is typically coincident with central axis 56
of outer shell 30 and first central axis 84 of outer
nozzle-receiving opening 74 of outer shell 30. Third central axis
234 is typically spaced apart from first central axis 84 of outer
nozzle-receiving opening 74 as illustrated in FIG. 4.
In addition, inner nozzle-receiving opening 154 of seal plate 132
is formed to include a second central axis 236. Second central axis
236 is also typically spaced-apart from first central axis 84 of
outer nozzle-receiving opening 74. Second central axis 236 is
positioned so that inner nozzle-receiving opening 154 receives
advancing pump nozzle 24 from outer nozzle-receiving opening 74 and
then guides advancing pump nozzle 24 to nozzle-directing opening
214 of base 44 as shown in FIGS. 5 and 6.
Inner nozzle-receiving opening 154 is sized and second central axis
236 of inner nozzle-receiving opening 54 is spaced apart from first
central axis 84 so that sufficient overlap of outer
nozzle-receiving opening 74 and inner nozzle-receiving opening 154
is present in an axial direction to permit pump nozzle 24 to be
received by both first nozzle-receiving opening 74 and inner
nozzle-receiving opening 154. Likewise, nozzle-directing opening
214 is sized and third central axis 234 is spaced apart from first
central axis 84 and second central axis 236 so that sufficient
overlap of outer and inner nozzle-receiving openings 74, 154 and
nozzle-directing opening 214 is present in an axial direction to
permit pump nozzle 24 to be received by all three of outer and
inner nozzle-receiving openings 74, 154 and nozzle-directing
opening 214 as shown in FIGS. 5 and 6. However, it is within the
scope of the invention as presently perceived to provide a closure
assembly having two or all three of the first, second, and third
central axes 84, 236, 234 coincident.
In operation, when vehicle 22 is not being refueled,
pressure-relief valve subassembly 40 permits fuel vapor from the
vehicle fuel tank 14, designated by arrows 238 of FIG. 7, to vent
from vehicle fuel tank 14 when the pressure inside of vehicle fuel
tank 14 is above the predetermined maximum pressure as indicated by
double arrow 239 of FIG. 7. Under normal tank pressure conditions
with tank pressure below the predetermined maximum pressure a shown
in FIG. 4, pressure-relief valve subassembly 40 is in its
closure-sealing position having inwardly facing surface 144 of
annular lip 146 of seal plate 132 yieldably urged against O-ring
138 by compression spring 140 blocking the flow of fuel vapor
between inlet 104 and outlet 120 of housing 35 thereby preventing
the flow of fuel vapor 238 out of vehicle fuel tank 14.
Seal plate 132 is urged outwardly away from O-ring 138 in response
to pressure against flapper door 180 and seal plate 132 in excess
of a predetermined superatmospheric pressure. Movement of seal
plate 132 away from O-ring 138 opens the vent passageway allowing
for the discharge of fuel vapor 238 from the vehicle fuel tank 14,
through outlet 120 into closure assembly 10, between O-ring 138 and
seal plate 132, and out of venting windows 110 of outer body 32 as
shown in FIG. 7. Once sufficient fuel vapor 238 has been discharged
from vehicle fuel tank 14 to lower the pressure in vehicle fuel
tank 14 below the predetermined maximum tank pressure, compression
spring 140 yieldably urges annular lip 146 of seal plate 132
inwardly against O-ring 138.
In addition, vacuum-relief valve subassembly 42 permits ambient air
from the atmosphere outside the closure assembly 10, designated by
arrows 240 of FIG. 8, to enter vehicle fuel tank 14 when the
pressure inside of vehicle fuel tank 14 is below a predetermined
minimum pressure as indicated by double arrow 241 of FIG. 8. Under
normal tank pressure conditions with tank pressure above the
predetermined minimum pressure, sealing surface 196 of flapper door
180 is yieldably urged against flapper door seating surface 156 of
annular valve seat 134 by torsion spring 200, thereby providing a
seal to block the flow of fuel vapor 238 out of or ambient air 240
into the vehicle fuel tank 14 through inner nozzle-receiving
opening 154 of pressure-relief valve subassembly 40 as shown in
FIG. 4.
In its sealing position, flapper door 180 provides a seal between
sealing surface 196 and flapper door-seating surface 156. Once the
pressure in vehicle fuel tank 14 decreases below the predetermined
subatmospheric pressure, flapper door 180 is drawn inwardly,
pivoting away from annular valve seat 134 and allowing the flow of
ambient air 240 from outside of the vehicle fuel tank 14, through
inlet 104 and into valve-receiving space 36, through inner
nozzle-receiving opening 154, through outlet 120, and into vehicle
fuel tank 14 as shown in FIG. 8. Once sufficient ambient air 240
has entered vehicle fuel tank 14 to raise the pressure in vehicle
fuel tank 14 above the predetermined minimum tank pressure, torsion
spring 200 yieldably urges flapper door 180 against annular valve
seat 134.
Installation of closure assembly 10 into closure-receiving space
210 illustrates in FIGS. 9-13 is simplified by a torque-override
connection between outer shell 30 and outer body 32 that ensures
proper installation of closure assembly 10 in closure-receiving
space 210. Flange 100 of outer body 32 includes six peripherally
and slightly axially outwardly extending resilient fingers 220 each
having a driven tooth 222. Driven teeth 222 are equally spaced
about the circumference of flange 100 to serve as engaging means to
receive torque from outer shell 30. Driven teeth 222 each include
an inclined face 224 and an upright face 226.
Outer shell 30 also includes a plurality of inclined drive teeth 86
spaced equally about the circumference of ratchet side 88 of front
wall 70 of outer shell 30 to serve as engaging means for propelling
flange 100 about axis of rotation 56 through engagement with driven
teeth 222 as shown in FIGS. 3, 4, and 11. Drive teeth 86 each
include an inclined face 228 and an upright face 230. Each upright
face 230 cooperates with the inclined face 228 of the next adjacent
tooth 86 to define an interdental pocket 87.
A person wishing to install closure assembly 10 in base 44 at a
time of vehicle manufacture or repair grasps outer shell 30 and
applies torque thereto in a clockwise closure-advancing direction
designated by arrow 242 in FIG. 3. Torque is transmitted to flange
100 by the engagement of drive teeth 86 against driven teeth 222.
Resilient fingers 220 bias driven teeth 222 toward front wall 70,
thus biasing driven teeth 222 against drive teeth 86 to establish a
torque-transmitting connection. Closure-advancing torque
transmitted to outer shell 30 by engagement of inclined faces 228
of drive teeth 86 and inclined faces 224 of driven teeth 222, as
shown in FIG. 10, is further transmitted to flange 100, outer body
32, and inner body 34.
As the installer continues to apply torque in closure-advancing
direction 242, threads 216 of inner body 34 interlock with
thread-engaging grooves 208 formed on base 44 so that closure
assembly 10 advances to a tight seated position in base 44 in which
annular gasket 46 is trapped between the mouth 212 of base 44 and
sealing surface 126 of inner body 34 to establish a seal between
the inner body 34 and base 44 as shown in FIG. 9. Note, however,
that outer shell 30 may by oriented in a position other than the
preferred orientation when closure assembly 10 achieves the tight
seated position in base 44 as shown in FIG. 10 where outer shell 30
is at an angle 246 away from the desired orientation.
Advantageously, closure assembly 10 is designed to accommodate
additional closure-advancing torque which an installer might apply.
When closure assembly 10 is advanced to a tight seated position,
inner body 34 is no longer able to rotate with respect to base 44.
Thus, closure-advancing torque applied to outer shell 30 and
transmitted to flange 100 in the above-described manner cannot be
further transmitted to inner body 34. Therefore, each additional
increment of closure-advancing torque applied to outer shell 30
translates to an additional increment of engaging force applied by
drive teeth 86 to driven teeth 222. Since the torque cannot be
translated into rotational motion, it builds up in outer shell 30
to the point at which the torque overcomes the frictional forces
between drive teeth 86 and driven teeth 222. Resilient fingers 220
flex so that driven teeth 222 can move relative to drive teeth 86
out of interdental pockets 87 along inclined faces 224, 228, as
shown in FIG. 11.
Owing to the relative angles of inclined faces 228, 224 of drive
teeth 86 and driven teeth 222, respectively, the movement of drive
teeth 86 relative to driven teeth 222 biases resilient fingers 220
axially inwardly. Continued application of torque will cause each
driven tooth 222 to move from its original interdental pocket 87 to
the adjacent interdental pocket 87, at which point each resilient
finger 220 will bias each driven tooth 222 axially outwardly so
that each driven tooth 222 is presented for driving engagement with
an adjacent drive tooth 86.
If additional closure-advancing torque is applied to outer shell 30
driven teeth 222 will continue to move relative to drive teeth 86
as above-described with a characteristic "clicking" noise. That is,
outer shell 30 will essentially rotate freely with respect to
flange 100 and will thus absorb excess torque while maintaining the
seal between inner body 34 and base 44 intact.
The torque-overriding connection prevents over tightening of inner
body 34 in base 44, thereby ensuring that gasket 46 sealingly
engages both second sealing surface 126 and mouth 212. It also
allows for the rotation of outer shell 30 after installation of
closure assembly 10 into filler neck 12 to adjust the orientation
of outer shell 30 so that the short side 62 is positioned generally
below long side 64 as shown in FIGS. 11 and 12, and outer edge 58
of cylindrical side wall 52 is essentially flush with vehicle body
panels 53.
Although in preferred embodiments first central axis 84 of outer
nozzle-receiving opening 74 is coincident with central axis 56 of
outer shell 30, second central axis 236 of inner nozzle-receiving
opening 154 is spaced-apart from central axis 56 of outer shell 30.
Improper orientation of second central axis 236 of inner
nozzle-receiving opening 154 could make it difficult for a user to
insert pump nozzle 24 into closure assembly 10. Advantageously,
closure assembly 10 is configured to orient pressure-relief valve
subassembly 40 thereby orienting inner nozzle-receiving opening 154
when the user orients outer shell 30.
Outer shell 30 is provided with two axially-inwardly directed lugs
248 appended to ratchet side 88 of front wall 70 as shown in
.[.FIG. 4..]. .Iadd.FIG. 4 and FIG. 4A..Iaddend.
Two axially outwardly directed splines 252 are appended to seal
plate 132 adjacent to guide wall 148 as shown in FIGS. 3 and 4. The
lugs 248 are spaced apart so that the spline-receiving space 250
receives the splines 252. Each spline 252 engages a lug 250,
thereby eliminating independent rotational movement of outer shell
30 relative to seal plate 132 of pressure-relief valve subassembly
40. Pressure-relief valve subassembly 40 rotates with outer shell
30 relative to housing 35 when the user applies sufficient
closure-advancing torque to cause outer shell 30 to rotate relative
to housing 35.
Although it should not frequently be necessary to remove closure
assembly 10 from closure-receiving space 210, a torque-transmitting
connection can be established in a closure-removal direction
represented by arrow 244 in FIGS. 3 and 11. In removal of closure
assembly 10, drive teeth 86 engage driven teeth 222 to provide a
positive connection between flange 100 and outer shell 30. As shown
in FIG. 11, when torque is applied to outer shell 30 to rotate
closure assembly 10 in closure-removal direction 244, the torque is
transmitted to flange 100 by way of engagement of upright faces 230
of drive teeth 86 against upright faces 226 of driven teeth 222.
Since it is not necessary to accommodate excess torque in closure
removal, upright faces 226, 230 can be provided for the
torque-transmitting connection rather than inclined faces 224, 228
as are provided to establish the closure-advancing connection. The
cooperation of resilient fingers 220, drive teeth 86, and driven
teeth 222 to provide a torque-overriding connection in one
direction and a direct connection in the other direction is well
known in the art, and is specifically described in U.S. Pat. Nos.
4,280,346 to Evans and 5,110,003 to MacWilliams, the entire
disclosures of which are hereby incorporated by reference.
A second embodiment of a closure assembly 310 including a second
embodiment of a tank pressure control subassembly 338 is shown in
FIGS. 14-16. Closure assembly 310 includes outer shell 30 having
front wall 70 which is formed to include nozzle-guiding surface 76
and outer nozzle-receiving opening 74. Outer shell 30 is rotatably
connected to outer body 32 of housing 35. Outer body 32 and inner
body 34 of housing 35 cooperate to define valve-receiving space 36.
Tank pressure control subassembly 338 including pressure-relief
valve subassembly 340 and vacuum-relief valve subassembly 342 is
received by valve receiving space 36.
Pressure-relief valve subassembly 340 includes an annular seal
plate 332 formed to include a nozzle-receiving portion 33 and a
sealing portion 335. Seal plate 332 is biased inwardly by a
compression spring 140 so that sealing portion 335 sealingly
engages an O-ring 138. O-ring 138 is trapped between the first
sealing surface 124 of inner body 34 and sealing portion 335 to
establish a seal therebetween so that pressure-relief valve
subassembly 340. O-ring 138, and inner body 34 cooperate to block
the flow of air into fuel tank 14 and the flow of fuel vapor out of
fuel tank 14 between sealing portions 335 and inner body 34 when
the tank pressure is below the predetermined maximum tank
pressure.
Sealing portion 335 of pressure-relief valve subassembly 340 is
movable relative to housing 35 and causes nozzle-receiving portion
333 to move along with sealing portion 335 between an axially
inward closure-sealing position shown in FIG. 14 sealingly engaging
O-ring 138 and an axially outward pressure-relief position shown in
FIG. 15 away from O-ring 138 to define an opening therebetween to
vent fuel vapor from fuel tank 14 when tank pressure exceeds the
predetermined maximum pressure. Nozzle-receiving portion 333 is
formed to include an inner nozzle-receiving opening 354 formed to
receive the pump nozzle 24 during refueling of fuel tank 14.
Vacuum-relief valve subassembly 342 includes an annular valve seat
134 mounted in inner nozzle-receiving opening 354 and an annular
door seal-retainer sleeve 356 engaging annular valve seat 134 and
positioned to lie in inner nozzle-receiving opening 354 as shown in
FIGS. 14 and 16. Vacuum-relief valve subassembly 342 further
includes a flapper door 180 that is pivotably appended to seal
plate 332 of pressure-relief valve subassembly 340. It should be
understood that vacuum-relief valve subassembly 342 moves with seal
plate 332 as the pressure-relief valve subassembly 340 moves
between the pressure-relief position shown in FIG. 15 and the
closure-sealing position shown in FIG. 14.
Flapper door 180 of vacuum-relief subassembly 342 is biased axially
outwardly by torsion spring 200 to a sealing position shown in FIG.
14 sealingly engaging seal plate 332 to block the flow of air
through the inner nozzle-receiving opening 354 when tank pressure
is above the predetermined minimum tank pressure. Flapper door 180
is drawn inwardly away from the sealing position when the tank
pressure is below the predetermined minimum pressure to pivot to
the vacuum-relief position shown in FIG. 16 away from seal plate
332 to form an opening therebetween thereby allowing the flow of
air through inner nozzle-receiving opening 354 to fuel tank 14 to
relieve subatmospheric tank pressure.
Seal plate 332 of pressure-relief valve subassembly 340 includes an
upstanding annular guide wall 348 appended to an outwardly-facing
surface 336 as shown in FIG. 14. Guide wall 348 slidably engages
lip 145 and is positioned to lie inside of inlet 104 defined by lip
145 to guide the radial movement of pressure relief valve
subassembly 340 during axial outward and inward movement of
pressure-relief valve subassembly 340 between the closure-sealing
position shown in FIG. 14 and the pressure-relief position shown in
FIG. 15.
Nozzle-receiving portion 333 of seal plate 332 includes a radially
inwardly extending ledge 350 having an inner edge 352 defining
inner nozzle-receiving opening 354 as shown in FIG. 14. Annular
valve seat 134 is inserted into inner nozzle-receiving opening 354
so that ledge 350 is received in groove 162 of annular valve seat
134. A door seal-retainer sleeve 356 is inserted in inner
nozzle-receiving opening 354 and cooperates with ledge 350 to
retain annular valve seat 134 against inner edge 352 as shown in
FIGS. 14-16.
Door seal-retainer sleeve 356 includes an axially inner annular
wall 364 engaging wall-engaging portion 160 of annular valve seat
134 as shown in FIG. 14. Door seal-retainer sleeve 356 further
includes an axially outer annular wall 366 engaging seal
plate-engaging wall 158 of annular valve seat 134. Outer annular
wall 366 is formed to include axially inwardly opening notches 368
that engage axially outwardly directed tabs 370 formed in outwardly
facing surface 336 of seal plate 332. Notches 368 cooperate with
tabs 370 and inner annular wall 164 of seal plate 332 cooperates
with wall-engaging portion 160 of annular valve seat 134 to retain
door seal-retainer sleeve 356 in snap-fit engagement with seal
plate 332, thereby retaining annular valve seat 134 against inner
edge 352 of seal plate 332 as shown in FIG. 14.
Outer annular wall 366 of door seal-retainer sleeve 356 is formed
to further include a funnel-shaped top surface 372 surrounding
inner nozzle-receiving opening 354 as shown in FIG. 14. As pump
nozzle 24 advances from outer nozzle-receiving opening 74 toward
inner nozzle-receiving opening 354 it may engage top surface 372.
The funnel-like shape of top surface 372 acts to radially direct
pump nozzle 24 toward inner nozzle-receiving opening 354 as pump
nozzle 24 advances into closure assembly 10 when pump nozzle 24
enters closure assembly 10 to refuel vehicle fuel tank 14.
Flapper door 180 is pivotably appended to seal plate 332 of
pressure-relief valve subassembly 40 as shown in FIGS. 14 and 16.
Flapper door 180 includes two spaced-apart axially inwardly
extending arms 182. Seal plate 332 also includes two spaced-apart
axially inwardly extending arms 386 that are arranged to define a
flapper door arm-receiving space 384 therebetween as shown in FIG.
14. Arms 182 of flapper door 180 are received by flapper door
arm-receiving space 384 of seal plate 332. Shaft-receiving openings
188 are formed in arms 182 of flapper door 180 and shaft-receiving
openings 390 are formed in arms 386 of seal plate 332.
Shaft-receiving openings 188, 390 are arranged to lie along a
straight line. Pivot shaft 192 is rotatably received by
shaft-receiving openings 188, 190 as shown, for example, in FIG. 14
so that flapper door 180 can pivot about pivot shaft 192.
Flapper door 180 is yieldably urged against annular valve seat 134
by torsion spring 200 to prevent the flow of air into or fuel vapor
out of vehicle fuel tank 14 between the flapper door 180 and
annular valve seat 134 when tank pressure is above the
predetermined minimum tank pressure. Torsion spring 200 is coiled
about pivot shaft 192 and includes a first end 187 engaging one arm
386 of seal plate 332 and a second end 189 engaging an inwardly
directed surface 202 of flapper door 180. Torsion spring 200 has a
spring constant designed to yieldably urge the flapper door 180
outwardly against annular valve seat 134.
Advantageously, in both closure assembly 10 and closure assembly
310, flange 100 is configured to enhance separation of flange 100
from edge 108 of outer body 32 if closure assembly 10 is subjected
to an impact greater than a predetermined magnitude, represented by
arrow 258 and arrow 259, both of which represent impacts that could
cause flange 100 to separate from housing 35 as shown in FIG. 17.
Flange 100 is formed to include a frangible section 254 arranged to
enhance breakage of closure assembly 10 at frangible section 254,
shown in FIGS. 4, 14, and 17. Flange 100 is formed to include
annular groove 256 adjacent to edge 108 of cylindrical side wall
106 as shown in FIGS. 3 and 4. Annular groove 256 is sized to form
frangible section 254 adjacent to groove 256 to enhance the
probability that flange 100 will separate from cylindrical side
wall 106 adjacent to groove 256 rather than other elements of
closure assembly 10.
Separation of flange 100 from outer body 32 at frangible section
254 will result in the separation of outer shell 30 and flange 100
from closure assembly 10 along fracture line 255 as shown in FIG.
17. Pressure-relief valve subassembly 40, vacuum-relief valve
subassembly 42, annular slip 145 of outer body 32, and annular lip
122 of inner body 34 will not be affected by removal of flange 100.
Compression spring 140 will continue to act against annular lip 146
of seal plate 132 to urge surface 144 against O-ring 138 to provide
a seal preventing the flow of fuel vapor out of vehicle fuel tank
14, and torsion spring 200 will still act against inwardly-facing
surface 202 of flapper door 180 to urge sealing surface 196 into
sealing engagement against annular valve seat 156 to prevent the
flow of ambient air into vehicle fuel tank 14. This construction is
intended to maximize the likelihood that filler neck 12 will remain
sealed even if closure assembly 10 is subjected to an impact that
causes separation of outer shell 30 and flange 100 from outer body
32.
Certain robotic refueling systems 16 use filler neck detector 26 to
determine the location of closure assembly 10. Filler neck detector
26 can use computer vision and recognition technology to determine
the location of closure assembly 10, in which case external
nozzle-positioning sensor 28 would include a camera positioned to
view closure assembly 10 from in front of front wall 70 as shown in
FIG. 18. To accommodate filler neck detector 26, outer shell 30 is
made from a material having a light color and flapper door 180 is
made from a material having a contrasting dark color. This provides
closure assembly 10 with a "bulls-eye" appearance from the vantage
point of the camera as shown in FIG. 18 that can easily and readily
be recognized by computer vision and recognition technology.
Although the preferred outer shell 30 and flapper door 180 present
a generally "bulls-eye" pattern for detection by computer vision
and recognition technology, it is within the scope of the invention
as presently perceived to provide any pattern of contrasting
shades, either a light pattern on a dark background or a dark
pattern on a light background, as seen from a front elevation view
of closure assembly 10. It is important that the contrast is
sufficient to permit a computer vision and recognition system to
distinguish the pattern from the background. It is, therefore,
within the scope of the invention as presently perceived to provide
a pattern of nearly any shape or a pattern including several shapes
such as stripes, dots, dashes, arrows, or any combination of these
or other contrasting designs that can be provided on or near the
face of closure assembly 10 and detected by filler neck detector
26.
Outer shell 30 can be made from a material having a dark color and
flapper door 180 can be made from a material having a contrasting
light color. This configuration was not chosen for the preferred
embodiment because flapper door 180 may darken with use-related
contact and wear and may, as a result, eventually fail to provide
the desired contrast.
Closure assembly 10 can be mounted on a vehicle 22 having a fuel
door 260 and a dust cover 262 mounted on fuel door 260 as shown in
FIG. 19. Dust cover 262 has an axially inwardly-facing surface 264
engaging boot-seating surface 78 of outer shell 30. Dust cover 262
is connected to fuel door 260 and is positioned to move away from
outer shell 30 when fuel door 260 swings to an opened position.
Dust cover 262 is typically made from an open cell foam pad,
through any material that can be mounted on fuel door 260 to cover
outer shell 30 and reduce the amount of dust that collects in
closure assembly 10 can be used.
Although the invention has been described in detail with reference
to preferred embodiments, variations and modifications exist within
the scope and spirit of the invention as described and defined in
the following claims.
* * * * *