FR2489760A1 - MOUTH DEVICE FOR FUEL TANK - Google Patents

Abstract

THE PRESENT INVENTION CONCERNS A MOUTHPIECE DEVICE FOR A FUEL TANK, OF THE TYPE INCLUDING A BODY 1 INCLUDING A FLOAT CARRIED BY A MOBILE ARM 4. THIS DEVICE IS CHARACTERIZED IN THAT THE UPPER PLATE 2 IS CONSTITUTED OF A SINGLE PIECE AND INCLUDES AT LEAST ONE TIP 26 FOR RECEIVING A FUEL SUPPLY PIPE. THE TIP DEFINES A BORE THROUGH THE UPPER PLATE 2 AND IS SURROUNDED BY A CONCENTRIC CYLINDRICAL SLEEVE 31. THE INNER SURFACE OF SLEEVE 1 INCLUDES A TRUNK PROVIDED WITH TEETH 32 IN THE FORM OF A SHALLOW HELICAL THREAD. A CONNECTOR 3 INCLUDES A TRUNCON PROVIDED WITH PARALLEL GROOVES 34, WHICH COOPERATE WITH THE HELICOIDAL TRUNCON 32 TO FIX THE CONNECTOR 3 RIGID AND TIGHTLY TO THE TIP 27. THE DEVICE IS ADAPTABLE TO VARIOUS FUEL TANKS.

Description

MOUTH DEVICE FOR FUEL TANK

  The present invention relates to a mouthpiece device for a fuel tank, of the type comprising an electric circuit intended to provide

  a variable output signal from a fuel level indicator

  in the tank. The fuel level is measured by a float carried by a movable arm, the displacement of which causes a corre-

respondent of the output signal.

  Such a device is described in British Patent Application No. 941, 363 in the name of the Applicant, this device being achieved by means of a number of standard elements, which can be different

  mounted according to the vehicle or according to the intended application. These elements

  generally carry a metal top plate provided for mounting the device on a wall of the tank, a collar for retaining a

  electrical circuit which is usually in the form of a

  tentiometer contained in a metal case, this collar being separate

  mouthpiece, a pivoting arm connected to the housing

  to describe an arc of a circle between two locking tabs, which

  corresponding respectively to the upper and lower level of the reservoir, this arm being mounted on the housing of the electrical circuit, a

  contact, pivotally connected during the movement of the arm of the

  tor, causing a variation of the output signal of the potentiometer, and

  one or more isolated electrical contacts mounted on the top plate

  and intended to be appropriately connected to constitute said electrical circuit. For certain applications, it is advantageous to incorporate, in this device, the part of the fuel supply duct which extends inside the tank, in which case the outer part of the duct, which is usually made of metal, is extends through an opening in the upper plate, in which it is fixed and sealed, for example by welding, said end being bent of

  appropriate way, so as to move towards the ex-

  to which it is to be connected, the said extremity constituting an

  end intended to connect the pipe. In this case, the mounting flange can

  supporting both the electrical circuit box and the power supply conduit

  34 inside the fuel tank.

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  However, these devices have the disadvantage that the pivot point

  Of course, the spacing between the two locking tabs, the length and the direction of the float arm must be carefully selected, so that the mounting of the standard elements used consumes a lot of time and is laborious work. The present invention proposes to overcome these drawbacks, by enacting a mouthpiece device for a fuel tank essentially made of a synthetic material, and which can be used on a large scale.

  number of different vehicles and for various applications.

  The mouthpiece device for a fuel tank, of the type comprising

  a body comprising a float carried by a movable arm, a plate

  the body support and arranged to fix the sealing device

  and an electrical circuit, these elements being mounted in such a way that

  re that the float arm generates an appropriate variation of the

  output of the electrical circuit indicating the fuel level, according to the

  vention, is characterized in that the upper plate is constituted

  molded piece, and comprises at least one end piece intended to receive

  see a fuel supply or return pipe connection, in that said nozzle defines a bore through the top plate and is

  surrounded by a concentric cylindrical sleeve, in that the inner surface

  of the sleeve and the outer surface of the male part of the connector each comprise a section provided with teeth, the arrangement being such that

  the male part of the connector can be fixed to said end piece by a conne-

  xion of pushing said male part into said tip, in contact

  with said inner surface of said sleeve, and that both

  Teeth with teeth have a shape that interacts with

  prevent removal of the male part when it is put in place.

  According to a preferred embodiment, the connector, or each connector,

  carrier, has an end piece for connecting the outer fuel pipe

  rant, this tip forming an angle (preferably 900) relative to the male part, such that prior to mounting the connector, this part is previously oriented so that its tip is disposed

  in the most appropriate radial position to allow the connection

  In this case, the teeth of the male part and the sleeve co-operate in such a manner as to prevent rotation of the connector when it is mounted. According to an object of the present invention, one of the toothed sections has parallel grooves which are slightly spaced apart, each groove having an inclined leading edge, and the other section

  provided with teeth having a shallow helical thread. -

  Preferably, the teeth in the form of parallel grooves are

  in the interior of the room, and the teeth in the form of

  are located along the lower surface of the cylindrical sleeve

  perpendicular circular section, to allow molding by means of

  a threaded core which can then be unscrewed out of the molded part.

  The section with parallel grooves is molded in a conventional manner.

  using complementary mold halves.

  According to a preferred embodiment, the pitch "x" of the threading is 1.00 mm and the angle of the leading edge is equal to the Co = 300, while the grooves have a height of 1.00 mm and a width of 0.50 mm, the angle

  6 of the leading edge being equal to 450.

  Preferably, the upper plate and the body are molded in one piece.

  According to another aspect of a preferred embodiment of the invention, the body of the device is molded in one piece and the float is fixed in

appropriately to this body.

  The present invention will be better understood with reference to the description

  of an exemplary embodiment and the appended drawing, in which

  Figure 1 shows an exploded isometric view of the main components of

  2 shows a sectional view of the body of the device along line II-II of FIG. 1

  Fig. 3- shows a detailed sectional view showing the connection

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  xion of the supply line or return line to the top plate

upper body,

  Figures 4a and 4b show partial enlarged views of

  these complementary locking of the connection device shown in FIG. 3, and FIGS. 5a and 5b show partial elevational and sectional views, respectively, illustrating the float arm attached to the body of the

device.

  With reference to FIG. 1, the essential components of the sealing device

  for fuel tank comprises a main body 1, an upper plate 2, pipe connectors 3 for connecting the fuel supply and return pipes, a float arm 4, a float arm support 5, a printed circuit board 6 and a contact blade 7 having a contact terminal 7a or terminals intended for

  scan one or more resistant electrical tracks 24 of the circuit

  premium. According to this embodiment, the main body 1 and the upper plate 2 are made in one piece by molding. made of rigid synthetic material

  suitable resistant to liquid fuel. In the case where the reservoir,

  adapted to be equipped with the device according to the invention, is a tank with

  the appropriate synthetic material is the acetal. The design of

  mold, cores, and the layout of the cut-off lines are well

naked in the prior art.

  Referring more particularly to FIGS. 1 and 2, the body 1 molded in one piece comprises an open housing 8, whose base 9 is constituted by a rectangular support 10, whose surface carries the printed circuit

  6, and which comprises two fasteners 11 formed in the walls la-

  12 and 13, and a fastener 14 formed in the wall

  15. The fixing members 11, 14 are placed in a position

  such that, when mounted, the printed circuit is maintained

  be the surface of the support 10, and the faces a and b. The side wall 13 37 has a central opening defined by the edges of the walls 16 and -5-

  17, connected by a portion 18 of reduced depth sidewall. This-

  part 18 comprises a boss 19 provided with a bore 20 which constitutes

  support of the pivot axis of the arm 4 of the float. The depth

  part 18 and the boss 19 allow the mounting of the arm 4 of the float in its support 5, as described below. Still referring to FIGS. 1 and 2, the upper plate 2 comprises,

  its upper surface, a housing 21 serving to house two connection terminals

  22 and 23, these terminals being held in position during operation.

  of molding, so that they are incorporated into the

  this mold. Terminal 22 serves as a ground terminal, while terminal 22a is connected to the fuel pump. Terminal 23 is provided for the gauge,

  while the terminal 23a is connected to a warning device, by e-

  xample a light. As shown in figs. 1 and 2, the extremes

  The ends of the terminals 23 are arranged near the upper end of the support surface 10 of the body 1 and have nose-shaped protuberances 25 to facilitate contact and to form retaining members.

  for the installation of the printed circuit board 6, the protuberances

  rances are subsequently connected to the tracks of the circuit by welding. The top surface of the top plate 2 also carries two end caps

  26 and 27, for receiving the power supply connectors 3 and

  turn of the ducts, each nozzle having a through bore 28, 29

  respectively the upper plate. Bore 28 is aligned with and

  in another bore 28a of larger diameter, extending

  towards a boss la, constituting a part of the main body 1, this

  The invention is adapted to fit and support an end of an inner conduit 30 (see Fig. 2), the other end of the conduit being attached to a filter 30a. Each tip is contained in a concentric cylindrical sleeve 31 of circular section, extending to the upper surface of the upper plate, and a section 32 of the inner surface of

  each sleeve is molded to include constrictions,

  sensing in the form of a thread of substantially helical shape, low screw pitch. As shown in detail in FIGS. 4a, the x difference between the peaks is also 1.00 mm and the angle of the leading edge o <is equal to 300. It will be noted that the fact of making the constrictions in the form of a thread makes it possible to to use, for molding, a nucleus

  37 can then be unscrewed from the molded part.

2 489760

  Referring more particularly to FIGS. 1 and 3, each tip is

  arranged to receive a tube connector 3, which is preferably made

  synthetic material such as acetal. Each connector 3 comprises an annular plug 33, the outer surface of which comprises a molded section having constrictions. For example, the constrictions are spaced apart parallel grooves, which can easily be molded by conventional methods using two mold halves, and whose profile is illustrated in detail in FIG. 4b. The throats have

  a width of 0.50 mm and a peak of 1.00 mm, the leading edge of each

  throat at an angle of & = 450. Bore 35 of plug 33

  carries a shoulder (see Fig. 3), so as to cooperate with a corresponding shoulder of the outer surface of the corresponding end piece 26 or 27, and allow the establishment of an O-ring 36. Therefore, in

  choosing effective diameters of the constricted sections 32, 34 of the

  ends 26, 27, and connectors 3 well adapted, the connectors 3 can

  very easily be put in place because of the angles of the edges of attack

  than areas with restrictions. When these elements are

  the constrictions cooperate to form a firm fixation

  and watertight supplemented by the seal 36. The constricted sections 32, 34

  terate to lock the connector in position and prevent it from being torn off. The tests show that this interaction is very strong and ensures a tight junction. Each connector 3 has a

  end piece 37 making it possible to connect to an outer tube of food

  tion or return (not shown), this tip forming an angle of 900 with the plug 33 and, depending on the position of the supply ducts and

  back, each connector 3 can be oriented appropriately

  the mounting of the respective ends, so that it is in the most appropriate radial position. It has been found that the interaction

  between the constrictions 32 and 34 of the tips and plugs also prevents

  rotation of the connectors after they have been put in place.

  With reference to FIG. 1, the arm 4 of the float is mounted on a support

  5. This support is in the form of a flange 38 in form of

  of U, generally of synthetic material, comprising two parallel arms

  39 and 49 with two aligned openings 41 and 41 ', the opening 41 having an insertion slot 42 which opens into the opening 41. The outer face of the arm 40 also carries two lugs 43 and 44, provided with 7-

  each of openings 45 and a slot 46.

  Referring more particularly to FIG. 5b, the arm 4 of the float is folded back to 900 to form a bent shaft 47 and allow mounting of the support 5 on the boss 19 of the body 1, so that the arms 39 are in alignment with the faces comprising the Bore 20. The contact member 7, which also has an opening 48, is then mounted between the face of the boss 19 and the arm 40, so that the corresponding openings are aligned. As shown in figs. 1 and 5b, a connecting end 39 of the ground terminals 22 is in contact with the contact element 7. The bent shaft 47 of the arm 4 is then pushed to

  through openings and bores and snapped into one of the openings

  tures 45 of the two pins 43 and 44, as mentioned below. In reference

  this in fig. 5a, the arm 4 of the float is pivotably mounted by

  through its bent shaft 47 and support 5, so as to extend

  dre across the face of the main body 1 and through a notch

  arranged in the wall 12 of this body.

  As shown in fig. 2, a short cut 50 may be

  initially molded into the body and comprise a stop face 51, de-

  cut at a right angle and arranged in such a way as to give an indication

  surrounding the position of the arm 4, this position corresponding for example to the information: full tank. The lower edge of the notch can be

  cut in such a way that the underside is also an ar-

  whose position is chosen according to the particular application

  planned. The lower stop determines the arc in which the arm 4 of the float can pivot, and preferably corresponds to the position indicating

  that the tank is empty. It should be noted that it is possible to predict

  size 50 depending on the particular application to which the

  to see is destined. The pivoting arc 4 (5a) of the arm 4 of the float corresponds to a similar scanning arc of the contact element 7 on the resistance tracks of the printed circuit 6, which makes it possible to obtain

  an appropriate variation of the electrical signal supplied to the level gauge.

  A detection unit, comprising the contact arm and the printed circuit,

  is described in more detail in a patent application of the same

36 wanderer.

  As previously mentioned, the upper position of the float arm

  4 and the arc described by this arm between this upper position and the posi-

  which corresponds to the empty reservoir, depend on the particular applications

  the shape of the tank, the location of the

  tif in relation to the walls of the tank, etc. The mouthpiece

  described has been designed so that it can be adapted to different

  tions, in particular by placing the float arm 4 in a languet-

  43 or 44, or by machining the wall 12 suitably. To facilitate this adaptability, a slot 52 (see Fig. 1) is initially

  molded into the side wall 12, so as to provide a stop face su-

  53 which serves as the basic position of the swivel arm when it is

  fastened in the lug 44. In particular, when the pivoting arm 4 is

  in this position, the end wall 15 can also be used

  at least partially to determine the lower position of that

arms.

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Claims (7)

claims   1. Mouthpiece device for a fuel tank, of the type comprising   a body (1) comprising a float carried by a movable arm (4), a plate   that upper (2) supporting the body and arranged to fix the   mouth, and an electrical circuit (6) indicating the level of the car-   characterized in that the upper plate (2) consists of a single molded part, and comprises at least one end piece (26, 27) for receiving a fuel supply pipe connection or return, in   said nozzle defines a bore (28, 29) passing through the plate   and is surrounded by a concentric cylindrical sleeve (31),   that the inner surface of the sleeve and the outer surface of the   each of the couplings have a section provided with teeth, the   such that the male part of the connector (3) can be fixed   said tip (26, 27), by a connection of pushing said male part into said tip into contact with said inner surface of said sleeve, and that the two sections provided with teeth have a shape such that they interact to prevent the removal of the male part when it is put in place.   2. Mouthpiece device according to claim 1, characterized in that each connector (3) has a tip (37) for connecting an outer pipe, this end being bent at right angles towards said male part, previously at the mounting of the connector, and being arranged so that its tip is oriented in the radial position best suited to its connection to the external supply pipe, and in that   the sections provided with teeth of the male part and the sleeve are arranged   to prevent a relative displacement by rotation when the connection he is mounted.   Mouthpiece device according to one of claims 1 or   2, characterized in that one of the sections provided with teeth has parallel grooves spaced from each other, each groove having a leading edge forming an angle with respect to the wall, and in that the other   section has shallow helical teeth.   4. A mouthpiece according to claim 3, characterized in that the teeth are made in molding, in that the section comprising shallow helical teeth is located on the inner face of the cylindrical sleeve (31) of section circular axis, to allow the molding to be carried out by means of a core which can be unscrewed out of the molded part, and in that the section carrying   spaced apart members is made by means of a two-part mold.   Mouthpiece device according to one of Claims 3 or 5,   4, characterized in that the helical section has peaks x equal to 1.00 mm, and in that the angle of the leading edge O <is equal to 300, and in that the parallel grooves have equal peaks at 1.00 mm, the grooves having a width of 0.50 mm and a leading edge forming an angle = 450.   Mouthpiece device according to one of the preceding claims   characterized in that the male part of the connector (3) is   connected to the tip (27) by an O-ring (36).   An orifice device according to any one of the preceding claims   cedeentes, characterized in that the upper plate (2) and the body (1)   21 are made in one piece by molding.