EP2824064B1

EP2824064B1 - Funnel apparatus for filling of liquids

Info

Publication number: EP2824064B1
Application number: EP13175934.2A
Authority: EP
Inventors: Ching-Chou Lin
Original assignee: Shou King Enterprise Co Ltd
Current assignee: Shou King Enterprise Co Ltd
Priority date: 2013-07-10
Filing date: 2013-07-10
Publication date: 2016-04-27
Anticipated expiration: 2033-07-10
Also published as: EP2824064A1

Description

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Fields of the invention

The present invention relates to a funnel apparatus used for filling of liquids, including anti-freeze liquids or liquids for heat exchangers, and more specifically, for filling of oil into automobiles' motor generator tanks, cooling agents and anti-freeze liquids for automobiles' heat radiators. The present invention provides a more expedient and express way for introducing and filling of liquids into a specified container.

2. Descriptions of Related Art

One known prior art is US5626174 , which comprises a funnel having a fluid receiving body and a tubular member formed to receive fluid therefrom; wherein the tubular member is used to extend into the filling opening of the radiator of an automobile; and a stopper means having a stem, a plug portion integrally extending at one end thereof, and a handle integrally connected at the other end thereof, to close the bore through the spout of the funnel.
The function of the above-identified stopper is to close the tubular member, which translates to mean that when the fluid is at its fullest level inside the radiator after filling, and when the receiving body still has extra fluid, the stopper works to block the tubular member, in order to prevent fluid from proceeding to spill from the tubular member. The above-identified stopper is not fixedly connected to the funnel, this means there is a possibility that the stopper may be lost as a result of misplacement or insufficient care for storage.
Document US 1 942 282 A discloses a funnel according to the preamble of claim 1, with means to control the flow of a liquid into the container and to permit the air to escape from the container when the liquid enters the container. It comprises a funnel, a breather tube, a bracket supporting the breather tube and a stopper at the lower end of the breather tube and brace rods connected to one side of the breather tube. The breather tube is slidably mounted in the funnel but with limited lateral movement by using a wire. Moreover, the outside of the tubular member of the funnel is formed in a cushion to the neck of the container with a pliable material.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention presents a funnel apparatus for filling of liquids according to claim 1, particularly for automobiles, comprising a funnel, a sealing member, a locking means, and a soft tube. The funnel has a fluid receiving body and a tubular member provided for carrying fluids. One end of the receiving body is disposed with a limiting portion, the limiting portion being a circle around the perimeter defined by the inner diameter of the receiving body to fix a locking means hereto. The above-identified tubular member is fixed at the filling opening of the automobile, which has a top end portion and a bottom end portion that are used to introduce a fluid from the receiving body into the filling opening. In addition, the above-identified sealing member has a plunger rod, which has a top end and a bottom end, the top end integrally extends to be disposed with a handle, the bottom end is disposed with a stopper for blocking the tubular member, wherein the plunger rod has recessed portions patterned toward a longitudinal orientation thereon. The above-identified locking means has an assembly bore and a rim. The rim is connected to the assembly bore with a series of spokes. All of which are locked in at one end of the receiving member of the funnel, so that the plunger rod of the sealing means can be stretched over the assembly bore, and to be mounted axially movable on the assembly bore. The above-identified soft tube passes through the recessed portion of the plunger rod, to provide an air ventilation functionality during fluid transport.
A main objective of the present invention is to construct the sealing means to be fixed inside the receiving member of the funnel, making it to be interposed onto the locking means while also preserving axial mobility for the sealing means within the perimeter penned by the inner diameter of the assembly bore of the locking means. Another objective of the present invention is to insert a soft tube through the plunger rod of the sealing means, wherein the plunger rod has slits. The soft tube extends to reach the tubular member centrally and passes out therefrom. Another objective of the present invention is to provide an adapter which enables to change flexibly the diameter of the tubular member of the funnel in accordance to the reservoir opening. This design choice eliminates the above-identified shortcomings. For one aspect, the sealing means is fixedly disposed in the funnel, so the issue of likelihood of losing a device part would be non-existent. As a means for providing air ventilation, the above-identified soft tube can facilitate a fluid to flow from a receiving body through a tubular member and ultimately be introduced smoothly into the filling opening of the radiator. In other words, when a fluid is introduced into the filling opening of the radiator, the air content inside the radiator is conducted to flow out by mediation with the soft tube. Having the structural benefit thereof, a circulatory mechanism is established, and the fluid can be smoothly introduced into the radiator.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The structure and the technical means adopted by the present invention to achieve the above and other objects can be best understood by referring to the following detailed description of the preferred embodiments and the accompanying drawings, wherein:

FIG. 1 is an exploded diagonal perspective of the funnel apparatus;
FIG. 2 shows an assembled diagonal perspective of the funnel apparatus;
FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view of the funnel apparatus along a Cartesian x-axis;
FIG. 4 is an exploded top perspective frontal view of the funnel apparatus;
FIG. 5 is an example of the funnel apparatus operating in an open installation;
FIG. 5-1 is an enlarged view of the plunger rod, showing an example for the situation when the stopper is pushing against the assembly bore; and
FIG. 6 shows an example for the situation when the funnel apparatus operates in a closed installation.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

In order to enable a person skilled in the relevant technology to practice the invention described in the specification, the objectives, technical features and effects will be further understood in connection with the Preferred Embodiments and in conjunction with the Drawings below. Further, the description presented below intends not to limit the technological scope of the present invention.
First, referring to the drawings in FIGs. 1 to 4, the assembled and exploded drawings for the funnel apparatus for filling of fluids in the present invention are presented, comprising a funnel 1, a locking means 2, a sealing means 3, and a soft tube 4. The funnel 1 has a fluid receiving member 11 and a tubular member 12 for passing fluid. One end of the receiving member 11 is disposed with a limiting portion 11 a. The above-identified limiting portion 11 a is formed circularly around the perimeter described by the inner diameter of the receiving member 11, to lock a locking means 2 fixed hereto. The above-identified tubular member 12 can be fixed at the filling opening 6 of an liquid reservoir of an automobile, to introduce the fluid from the receiving member 11 into the filling opening 6. The tubular member 12 has a top end portion 121a and a bottom end portion 121b.
The sealing means 3 has a plunger rod 31, the plunger rod 31 has recessed portions 311, slits 312, a handle 32 and a stopper 33. The above-identified recessed portions 311 are set to be formed in a longitudinal orientation along the body surface of the plunger rod 31. A top end 31 a of the plunger rod 31 integrally broadens to be disposed with a handle 32, to work as a facilitator in the form of a grip structure for aiding pulling or pressing during the axial movement of the sealing means 3. The bottom end 31b of the plunger rod 31 is disposed with a stopper 33, which serves to block the tubular member 12. The above-identified stopper is tightly attached onto the perimeter defined by the inner diameter of the bottom end 31b of the plunger rod 31. The plunger rod is equipped with holes and is designed to be matching with respect to the recessed portion 311 of the plunger rod 31. By way of the above, the soft tube 4 is provided to be inserted into the recessed portion 311 of the top end 31a of the plunger rod 31, passes through the stopper 33, extends to reach the tubular member 12, before passing out of the funnel 1 whereby a section of the soft tube 4 is exposed to work for ventilating air during fluid transport. The slits 312 are disposed on the outer wall surface of the plunger rod 31 in a longitudinal orientation, in such a way as the slits 312 can serve as an inspection tool for the user for examining the soft tube 4 inserted in the recessed portion 311, whether to check if the soft tube 4 is congestion-free.
The locking means 2 has an assembly bore 21 and a rim 22. The rim 22 is connected to the assembly bore 21 with a series of spokes 23. The rim 22 is fixedly locked onto the limiting portion 11 a of the receiving member 11 of the funnel 1. The assembly bore 21 of the locking means 2 stretches over a connecting hub 24. An end of the connecting hub 24 has an extending lip 24a and the other end thereof has a tubing 24b. The extending lip 24a is configured to push against an end of the assembly bore 21, the tubing 24b is tightly attached to a perimeter defined by an inner diameter of the assembly bore, and the bottom end 31b of the plunger rod 31 of the sealing means 3 is passed through the connecting hub 24 before the stopper 33 is tightly attached onto the bottom end 31b of the plunger rod 31. As a result of the above configuration, the plunger rod 31 can move in a direction co-axially to the locking means 2.
FIG. 5 shows an example for an embodiment of the present invention in its open state. In the open state, the fluid inside the receiving member 11 is introduced into the filling opening 6 of the radiator. The stopper 33 of the plunger rod 31 is pushed against the assembly bore 21. FIG. 5-1 provides an enlarged view detailing a portion of this limiting structure. An end of the perimeter defined by the inner diameter of the assembly bore 21 is disposed with extending fingers 211. The above-identified stopper 33 is disposed with a circular recessed groove 331. By way of the above, when the stopper 33 is fixed at the assembly bore 21, the extending fingers 211 of the assembly bore 21 work to push against the circular recessed groove 331. As a result, the passageway of the circular member 12 is presented to be in an open state. By the benefit of this structural design, the fluid can flow toward the tubular member 12 for exit, and from there the soft tube 4 that extends into the radiator can transfer the air therein for exit, to guide the fluid smoothly into the radiator.
In another aspect of the present invention, and in an effort to increase flexibility for the perimeter described by the inner diameter of the tubular member 12 to be adaptable for locking filling openings 6 of all sizes, there is further disposed an adapter 5 with a matching opening diameter. The adapter 5 has variable diameters, to help the funnel to be fixed in place and avoid disproportionate posture leading to fluid spillage. The adapter 5 has a lid 51 and a tubular member 52. The outer diameter of the tubular member 52 thereof matches the inner diameter of the filling opening 6, and can be set to probe deeper into the opening diameter of the filling opening 6. The shape of the lid 51 is matching to the filling opening 6, and is pushed over the outer perimeter of the filling opening 6.
FIG. 6 shows an embodiment for the funnel apparatus of the present invention in its closed state. In this state, the tubular member 12 of the receiving member 11 is closed, and the fluid is stopped from being introduced into the filling opening 6 of the radiator. As shown by the figure thereof, the handle 32 of the plunger rod 31 is pressed downward in an axial direction to cause the stopper 33 to detach from the assembly bore 21. Further, the stopper 33 works to block the passageway of the tubular member 12. As a result of this, the passageway of the tubular member 12 is presented in a closed state, and in this state, the fluid can be stopped from flowing toward the tubular member 12 for exit. The funnel 1 can be removed from the filling opening 6, and the remaining fluid can be retained inside the receiving member 11.
The above sections are only for the description of the preferred embodiments of the current invention, not for limiting the scope of the current invention.

Claims

A funnel apparatus for filling of liquids, comprising:
a funnel (1) which has a liquid receiving member (11) and a tubular member (12) provided for carrying fluids; and

a stopper (33) which can be controlled manually by a handle (32) to close the tubular member (12), to avoid the liquid to flow out from the funnel (1); and

a tube (4) to provide air ventilation;
characterized in that:
an end of the receiving member (11) has a limiting portion (11a) that encompasses a circular area with an inner diameter of the receiving member (11); and

the tubular member (12) has a passageway and has a top portion (121a) and a bottom portion (121b) through which the fluid flows from the receiving member (11) into a filling opening portion, whereby the limiting portion (11a) is provided in order for locking means (2) to be locked thereon, and the tubular member (12) is provided in order for being locked onto the filling opening portion of a liquid reservoir of an automobile;

the locking means (2) having an assembly bore (21) and a rim (22), wherein the rim (22) is connected to the assembly bore (21) with a series of spokes (23), which are fixed at the limiting portion (11a) of the receiving member (11), wherein the assembly bore (21) is plunged onto a connecting hub (24), which has an extending lip (24a) and a tubing (24b), wherein the extending lip (24a) pushes against an end of the assembly bore (21), the tubing (24b) being tightly attached onto the inner diameter of the assembly bore (21);

the funnel (1) further comprising sealing means (3) ,

wherein the sealing means (3) comprise a plunger rod (31), wherein the plunger rod (31) has a top end (31a), a bottom end (31b), and a recessed portion (311) patterned in a longitudinal orientation, wherein the plunger rod (31) has a plurality of slits (312) disposed in a longitudinal orientation on an outer surface thereof, whereby the slits (312) enable inspection of said tube (4), being a soft tube (4) inserted in the recessed portion (311); and

wherein the top end (31a) integrally broadens and is disposed with said handle (32) and

wherein the stopper (33) is tightly attached onto the bottom end (31b) of the plunger rod (31) of the sealing means (3) wherein the bottom end (31b) of the plunger rod (31) of the sealing means (3) passes through the connecting hub (24), in such a way that the plunger rod (31) can move axially on the locking means (2); said stopper (33) acting as a valve for blocking or opening the tubular member (12); and

wherein the soft tube (4) has a long-strip shape and is inserted into the recessed portion (311) of the plunger rod (31) to pass through the stopper (33) to stretch through the tubular member (12) and traverse the funnel (1) with a predetermined length of the soft tube (4) reaching outside the funnel.
The funnel apparatus for filling of liquids according to claim 1, wherein extending fingers (211) are formed at an end of the inner diameter of the receiving member (11).
The funnel apparatus for filling of liquids according to claim 1, wherein the stopper (33) is provided with a circular recessed groove (331).
The funnel apparatus for filling of liquids according to claim 1 and 2 comprising an adapter (5) with variable diameters comprising a lid (51) and a tubular member (52) and being fixable to the tubular member (12).