Note: Descriptions are shown in the official language in which they were submitted.
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SELF-LOCKING TANK CLOSURE
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field of the Invention
The invention relates to a self-locking tank closure for
attachment to a pour-in socket-piece, with a closure flap pre-
stressed in the direction of a seal seat, and turnable about an
axis of revolution in the direction of the inside of the pour-in
socket-piece.
2. De~cription of Related Art
A tank closure of this type is known from DE-A-37 21 049.1.
In self-locking tank closures of this type, which can be screwed
into a pour-in socket-piece of a motor vehicle according to the
style of a tank cover or attached there by means of a bayonet-
closure, the introduction of a modern refueling nozzle, provided
with an absorption apparatus, is difficult, since the available
space on one side is limited by the diameter of the normal pour-in
socket-piece, and on the other side of the opened flap of the tank
closure a substantial part of the canal which is intended for
introduction of the refueling nozzle is covered.
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SUMMARY OF T~E INVENTION
The invention is based upon the task of forming a tank closure
of the hereinabove mentioned type which is built so small that when
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the flap is open a clear width is available, which renders possible
the introduction of a refueling nozzle with an absorption nozzle
(jet) for tank vapors.
This task is solved, in that the closure-flap is made of
flexible material and/or exhibits an arched form.
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By means of the tank closure in accordance with the invention,
which is flexible or arched, it is achieved that the tank closure
conforms in its open position to the border of the introduction~
canal of the tank closure, and in this manner a complete or nearly
complete opening of the tank closure is made possible, and the
inner tube of the tank closure which forms the introduction canal
is nearly completely opened up for introduction of a refueling
nozzle.
According to a preferred embodiment of the invention the
closure flap is made of a spring steel sheet metal. If in this
embodiment the closure flap is pressed out of its seal seat by
introduction of the refueling nozzle and swivels in its open
position, the spring steel sheet metal bends automatically in such
a manner that it takes on the radius of the inner tube of the tank
closure. Because of the elasticity of the spring steel sheet
metal, it is elastic after the locking of the closure flap and goes
back into its flat form, so that it lies tight on the seal seat.
According to another embodiment of the invention it is
provided that the tank closure is permanently arched in such a
manner that it exhibits the form of a circular arc in a cross-
sectional plane parallel to the axis of revolution. In such an
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embodiment no bending action may be performed upon opening of the
tank closure. More importantly, the tank closure maintains
permanently such a form as to guarantee that it conforms tightly in
the open condition to the wall of the inner tube of the tank
closure.
According to a preferred embodiment of the invention the
closure flap is provided with an excess-pressure valve, which opens
upon the occurrence of an excessive inner pressure and releases the
gases to the outside, in order to avoid the danger of an explosion.
According to a preferred further construction of such a tank
closure it is provided that the excessive pressure valve exhibits
a release lever, which is activatable by the edge of the mouth of
the refueling nozzle. Thus, when the refueling nozzle approaches
the tank closure for purpose of filling the tank, it first moves
the release lever, so that the valve opens and the inner pressure
of the tank is slowly removed. Since with a refueling nozzle which
is provided with an absorber, in this case the absorber can already
be activated, the vapors which escape from the tank can be set
aside through the absorber system in an environmentally friendly
manner.
According to a further preferred embodiment, in which the seal
seat is arranged so as to be inclined with respect to the cross-
sectional plane of the pour-in socket-piece, optimal use can be
made of the space which is available in the mouth-region of the
pour-in socket-piece.
In ~n inventive further develop=ent of the tar~ closure
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barrier is provided which impedes the complete opening of the flap
during inner excessive pressure. In this embodiment it is made
sure that the tank vapors which are under pressure, which for
example have gathered in the warm season during use of the vehicle,
escape slowly before the opening of the flap and thus can be
completely absorbed by the absorption apparatus and set aside.
Upon a sudden complete opening of the flap the gases which escape
under pressure cannot be competely absorbed and would eventually
endanger the person who is filling the tank of the vehicle.
In a further preferred embodiment of the invention the barrier
is a pressure sensitive moveable part, which is connected at one
side with the outer atmosphere and at the opposite side with the
inner space of the pour-in socket-piece, wherein a barrier bolt is
connected to the movable part, which bolt impedes the opening of
the flap in one position of the movable part and releases it in the
other position.
Preferably the barrier bolt consists of a ring, which
surrounds the seal seat and is moveable parallel to the plane of
the seal seat. A grasping hook is furthermore provided on this
ring in the opening-path of the closure flap.
Further preferred embodiments of the invention -are to be
understood from the sub-claims. The invention will hereinafter be
explained in more detail with reference to two exemplary
embodiments shown schematically in the Figures.
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BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
There are shown:
Figure 1: a petrol tank closure according to the invention in
longitudinal section;
5Figure 2: the petrol tank closure according to Figure 1 in top
vlew;
Figure 3: the petrol tank closure according to Figure 1 when
the closure flap is open;
Figure 4: a section along the section line IV-IV in Figure 3;
10Figure 5: a longitudinal section of a petrol tank closure with
a permanently pre-arched closure flap.
DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS
In Figure 1 is shown the mouth-end of a petrol pour-în socket-
piece 1 of a motor vehicle. The petrol pour-in socket-piece
15exhibits an inner thread 13, which in the usual manner serves as
the recipient of a tank cover. In the place of the otherwise usual
tank cover, in the representation of Figure 1 a self-locking petrol
tank closure in accordance with the invention is screwed into the
mouth opening of the pour-in socket-piece 1. The petrol tank
20closure exhibits an inner tube 14 consisting of synthetic resin,
which is provided with an outer thread 15 which matches the thread
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13. The inner tube 14 forms the pour-in canal for the refueling ~ -~
nozzle. The inner tube 14 exhibits such an outer diameter that it
can be taken up by a conventional, normal pour-in socket-piece. In
the part thereof which lies at the end of the pour-in socket-piece,
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it is however widened towards the outside and exhibits a ring~
shoulder 16, which rests against the mouth-border 18 of the petrol
pour-in socket-piece 1 via an intervening packing 17. The inner
tube 14 is cut at the end thereof which sticks out of the petrol
S pour-in socket-piece diagonally, so that it exhibits one side which
stands out further from the petrol pour-in socket-piece than the
other side. At this side which sticks out further from the pour-in
socket-piece there are provided in the inner tube 1~ two opposed U-
shaped members (not shown in the drawing), in which a peg 19 rests,
which in this manner forms an axis of revolution 3. A bearing arm
6 is connected with the peg 19, which bears a closure flap 4, which
will be further described hereinafter. A torsion spring 20 is
wound about the peg 19, which spring rests on one side against the
bearing arm 6 and at the other side on the inner wall of the inner
tube 14, so that a turning moment is exerted on the bearing arm 6.
A closure flap 4, consisting of a spring steel sheet metal 5 and an
elastic packing 7 arranged on the spring steel sheet metal, is
fastened on the bearing arm 6.
The closure flap 4 which consists of the spring steel sheet
metal 5 and the elastic packing 7, as well as the bearing arm 6
which bears the closure flap, are pierced for reception of an
excess pressure valve 8.
The excess pressure valve 8 consists of a valve body 21, which
I presses against the elastic packing 7 with a packing-border. A
peg-shaped body 22 is arranged on the side of the valve body 21
which faces the elastic packing, which body 22 consists of four
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ribs displaced by soo, of which ribs 22a, 22b and 22c are to be
seen in Figure 1~ The peg-shaped body 22 consisting of the ribs
projects [protrudes] through the opening in the elastic seal 7 and
the spring steel sheet metal 5 as well as the corresponding
aperture in the bearing arm 6. The ribs 22a, 22b, and 22c are so
formed that they form a striking shoulder for a conical spring 23,
which presses with its other end against a corresponding striking
shoulder of the bearing arm 6. Four ribs are arranged on the
bearing arm 6, of which two are to be seen in the drawing, namely
the ribs with the reference numerals 24a and 24b. The ribs 24a,
24b as well as the two additional ribs not shown, protrude into the
spaces between the ribs 22a, 22b, and 22c, so that the peg-shaped
body 22 affixed to the valve body 21 is held against turning, but
is moveable longitudinally.
By means of the operation of the spring 23 the valve body 21
is pressed firmly against the packing 7, so that the aperture in
the packing is closed. However, as soon as an excess pressure
loads the inner side, which is in a position to lift off the peg-
shaped body 22 consisting of the ribs 22a, 22b, 22c and 22d, the
tight connection between the valve body 21 and the elastic packing
7 is lifted and vapors can stream out of the inner space.
Since the excess pressure valve 8 exhibits a release arm 9,
which is spaced from the seal surface 7, the excess pressure valve
can also be opened in the following manner: the release arm 9 is
pressed in the direction of the packing 7, whereby the valve body
is tilted and the opening to the inner space is released at the
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side which lles opposite the release arm 9. Such a release is
especially possible by hitting of a refueling nozzle onto the
release arm 9.
The end of the inner tube 14 which projects from the pour-in
socket-piece is surrounded by a closure cap 25. This consists of
a peripheral outer-jacket 26, of an inner plank 27 and an
interiorly placed lead-in guide 28. By means of a radial bore 34
one can for example conduct away water which may have gathered in
I front of the closed flap. The peripheral plank 27 is supported
¦ 10 (the packing 17 intervening therebetween) upon the mouth border 18
of the petrol pour-in socket-piece. In this manner there results
~ a tight connection between the closure cap 25 and the petrol pour-
¦ in socket-piece 1.
The end of the lead-in guide 28 which points at the petrol
pour-in socket-piece presents the place struck against and
consequently the seal seat 2 for the closure flap 4. Ribs 29 are
affixed to the outer jacket 26, whereby the packing 17 is also then
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held in the position shown when the petrol tank closure is
separated from the pour-in socket-piece.
The closure cap 25 is adapted to the diagonally-cut form of
the inner tube 14. On the side on which the inner tube 14 is
longer and on which the peg 19 for the bearing arm 6 is arranged,
a hollow space is provided in the closure cap 25, in which a
movable part, namely an elastic membrane 10, is arranged, which is
loaded by a spring 35. The outer jacket 26 of the closure cap 25
~ is pierced by a hole 30, so that the membrane 10 which is in the
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hollow space is exposed to the outer atmospheric pressure on this
side. On the inner side of the membrane 10 lies the inner pressure
out of the petrol tank. According to the size of the inner
pressure the membrane 10 is moved in the direction of the hole 30
or away from this. The inner tube 14 is at its end facing
outwardly provided with an inner shoulder 31, in which the ring 11
is arranged. The inner shoulder 31, and the ring 11 are so
dimensioned that the ring 11 is moveable in the direction of the
bearing arm 6. In the direction perpendicular to this it is
however led with little play through the inner shoulder 31 of the
inner tube 14. The middle of the membrane 10 is connected via a
frame 32 with the ring 11, so that the movement of the membrane is
transferred to the ring 11. A hook 12 is arranged on the ring 11
at the end thereof remote from the axis of revolution 3, which hook
then grasps behind the closure cap 4 which consists of the spring
steel sheet metal 5 and the packing 7, when - as shown in Figure 1
- the slidable ring 11 is in its right-hand stroke position. This
is then the case, when the inner pressure in the petrol tank and
therefore on the membrane 10 is sufficient to move the membrane 10
radially outwardly. By means of the hook 12, the opening of the
closure lock flap 4 is thus hindered.
However, if the person who will fill the tank of the vehicle
attempts to open the flap, he pushes with the refueling nozzle
against the release lever 9, so that the excess pressure valve ~
opens and the petrol vapors can escape from the inside of the
petrol tank. These can then be absorbed by a refueling nozzle
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equipped with an absorption nozzle. This is possible, since the
petrol vapors escape only slowly. To the extent that the inner
pressure is removed, the elastic membrane 10 moves as a result of
the action of the spring 35 radially inwardly, i.e. in the
direction of the closure flap (in the drawing, to the left). Since
the ring 11 follows this movement because of its coupling to the
membrane 10, the hook 12 which is arranged on the ring 11 is moved
in corresponding manner, so that the closure flap is released and
can be pushed open with the refueling nozzle.
Figure 2 shows the petrol tank closure in a view from above.
one can recognize in particular the closure cap 25 with its outer
jacket 26 with the air-opening 30 for the membrane 10. In the top
view the lead-in guide 28 for the refueling nozzle is also to be
seen, which is closed at its lower end by the closure flap which is
covered with the pacXing 7. One may well see also the release
lever 9 of the excess pressure valve 8. The support peg 19 as well
as the bearing arm 6 arranged on this and the torsion spring 20
wound about the support peg 19 are in the presentation of Figure 2
hidden by the closure cap 25, and so they are drawn with broken
lines.
Figure 3 shows the section through the same petrol tank
closure as Figure 1, however with an open closure flap. As appears
from a comparison of Figures 1 and 3, the membrane 10 lies nearer
to the center than in Figure 1. This is traceable to the fact that
the pressure at the inner side has fallen after opening of the
valve and the flap. Accordingly, the ring 11 as well as the hook
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12 have moved in such a manner that the hook 12 has set free the
open path for the closure flap 4.
Since the closure flap 4 consists of elastic bendable parts,
namely the spring steel sheet metal 5 and the packing 7, these
parts have become deformed as a result of the opening movement of
the flap 4 in adaptation to the periphery of the inner tube. This
makes possible the almost complete pull-back of the closure flap
out of the lead-in canal for the refueling nozzle. The extent of
the opening movement is still increased by the fact that the inner
tube 14 exhibits a recess 33 at the place at which the opened
closure flap 4 is, in which recess the bearing arm and the excess
pressure valve 8 (to the extent that it projects over the bearing
arm) can be fitted.
The elastic deformation of the closure flap 4 is especially
clearly to be seen in the section of Figure 4. The springy steel
sheet metal 5 is rounded off at both its edges which are laid put
at both sides of the bearing arm 6, whereby it can slide there with
least possible rubbing against the wall of the inner tube 14. As
can equally well be seen very clearly in Figure 4, the closure flap
4 can be opened so far until its parts strike against the inner
wall of the petrol pour-in socket-piece.
Figure 5 shows an embodiment of the invention in which,
instead of a deformable closure flap, a preformed closure flap in
the shape of a half circle is provided. Instead of an elastically
; 25 deformable spring steel sheet metal, the closure flap consists of
a preformed part 5, which is covered with a packing 7. The plane
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of the section in Figure 5 is chosen to be perpendicular to the
longitudinal axis of the bearing arm 6.
In this embodiment the closure flap must not be deformed when
it is opened, so that no additional forces need be brought to bear.
Of course, the valve seat 2 must be conformed in a saddle shape to
the form of the closure flap, in order to obtain a tight seat.
Since the other parts of the petrol tank closure according to
Figure 5 are identical to those of the petrol tank closure
explained in connection with Figures 1 through 4, a repeated
description is omitted.
Having thus described the principles of the invention,
together with several illustrative embodiments thereof, it is to be
understood that although specific terms are employed, they are used
in a generic and descriptive sense, and not for purposes of
limitation, the scope of the invention being set forth in the
following claims.
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