GB2129782A

GB2129782A - Filling and covering device for the petrol tank of a vehicle

Info

Publication number: GB2129782A
Application number: GB08230988A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Cheng Teh-O
Original assignee: TEH O CHENG
Current assignee: TEH O CHENG
Priority date: 1982-10-29
Filing date: 1982-10-29
Publication date: 1984-05-23

Abstract

A filling and covering device for the petrol tank of a vehicle comprises, a housing (10) having a top opening and a bottom opening for communicating with the inlet of the petrol tank, a first cover (21) pivotally mounted on the top of the housing (10) and normally biassed downward to abut against the top of the housing (10), a second cover (22) pivotally mounted below the first cover (21) in said housing (10) and normally biassed upward to extend across the entire cross section of the housing (10), the second cover (22) having a passage (224) for the admission of the air, valve means (50) provided in the passage (224), and a plate member (71) having a plurality of apertures (72) disposed across the entire cross section at the bottom portion of the housing (10). <IMAGE>

Description

SPECIFICATION A novel filling and covering device for the petrol tank of a vehicle This invention relates to a filling and covering device for the petrol tank of a vehicle for the convenience of refueling and safety purpose.

In common practice, a petrol tank of a vehicle is provided with a conduit like filler which- is connected to the inlet thereof through a rubber connection as shown in Figure 1. In some cases, the conduit like filler is fixedly coupled with the inlet of the petrol tank as shown in Figure 2. The top end of the filler is usually provided with a cap which is lockable by means of a key. Because of the need of a key for such cap, the inconvenience has been caused such that the driver has to get out of the car to unlock the cap when refueling. Especially, in the cold weather this will cause a great trouble to the driver.

According to the invention, a filling and covering device for a petrol tank comprises, a housing having a top opening and a bottom opening for being communicatively coupled with the inlet of the petrol tank, the housing further having a hole for communicating with the petrol tank through a side pipe; a first cover pivotally mounted on the top of the housing; and normally biassed downward to abut against the top of the housing; a second cover pivotally mounted below the first cover in the housing and normally biassed upward to block up the cross section of the housing, the second cover having a passage for the admission of the air, valve means provided in the passage, and a plate member having a plurality of apertures fitly disposed across the bottom portion of the housing.

According to an aspect of the invention, the valve means includes a plug member which is held by a spring member and is longitudinally movable reiative to the axis of the housing.

An object of the invention is to provide a filling and covering device for a petrol tank which is made convenient and can protect from thieves without using a key operated lock.

This and other objects, of the present invention will be more apparent in the following description of a preferred embodiment with reference to the accompanying drawings.

Figure 1 is a schematic view of a bonnet of a petrol tank in the prior art; Figure 2 is a schematic view of another form of a bonnet of a petrol tank in the prior art; Figure 3 is a section view of a filling and covering device constructed according to the present invention; Figure 4 is a view illustrating a plate member which has a plurality of apertures; Figure 5 is a top view of the device constructed according to the invention; and Figure 6illustrates a spring member which is provided in the second circular cover of the device.

Referring to Figure 3, a filling and covering device 1 constructed according to the present invention includes a housing 10 which is constituted of three annular members 11, 12 and 13. The annular member 11 has a thick cylindrical wall 111 and a threaded portion 112 which is coupled with the threaded end of the annular member 12. The annular member 12 has a bottom portion 121 of which the wall is thicker and the outer periphery is eccentric relative to the inner wall thereof. This bottom portion 121 is threadedly fixed the upper end of the annular member 13.

When the device 1 is used the bottom end of the annular member 13 can be connected to the inlet of a petrol tank through a rubber connection or through a fixed joint. In case of the rubber connection the housing 10 should have a coupling member for mounting on the automobile body.

As embodied herein and as shown in Figures 3 and 5, there is further provided a cover 21 which is pivotally mounted on the top of the annular member 11. The cover 21 has one end thereof provided with a lip 211 and the other end thereof pivoted in a recess 113 by means of a pin 212 which is mounted on the wall 111 of the annular member 11. A spring 31 is sleeved onto the pin 212 with its extremities 311 engaged with the wall 111 and its intermediate bent portion 312 engaged with the edge portion of the cover 21. This spring 31 normally biasses the cover 21 to abut against the top edge of the housing 10.

Between the contact surfaces of the cover 21 and the top edge of the housing 10 is provided a sealing member 41. There is further provided a recess 114 below the lip 211 so that the cover 21 can be easily turned up by using the nozzle of a petrol pump hose when filling the petrol.

Referring again to Figure 3, there is further provided a second circular cover 22 which has an inclining surface 225, at the end of the annular member 12. The cover 22 has two lobes 221 which is pivoted to two brackets 124 which are projected from the end of the annular member 12, by means of a pin 222. A spring 32 which is shown in Figure 6, is sleeved onto the pin 222 with one extremity 321 thereof being engaged with the bottom side of the cover 22 and another extremity 322 being engaged with the end of the annular member 13. The cover 22 is normally biassed to abut against the end of the annular member 13 and between the contact surfaces thereof is provided a sealing member 42.

As embodied herein, the cover 22 has a recess 223 and a passage 224 which is in communication with the recess 223. The recess 223 is provided with a valve means 50 including a cylindrical casing 51 which has a bottom opening (not shown) and is coupled with a flanged annular member 52. The flanged annular member 52 has an upper lip portion 53 engaged in the bottom opening of the cylindrical casing 51. There is further provided a plug member 60 which has a conical shaped portion 61 adaptable to plug in the passage 224, a cylindrical portion 62 lossely passing through the flanged annular member 52 and a circular base member 63 at the outside of the flanged annular member 62.A conical spring 33 is provided around the plug member 60 in the casing 51 and the upper end portion of the spring 33 is engaged in an annular groove (not shown) which is provided at the periphery of the cylindrical portion 62.

The plug member 60 is springily movable as it is held by the spring 33. Normally, the base member of the plug member 60 is abutted against the bottom end of the flanged annular member 52 by the pressure in the housing 10 and the conical portion 61 of the plug member 60 blocks up the passage 224.

When the petrol is drawn by the fuel pump, the pressure in the housing 10 become low and the passage 224 is opened. Accordingly the air will enter into the housing 10 through an opening 115 which is provided in the wall of the annular member 11 and the passage 224, thereby enabling the fuel pump to smoothly take the petrol from the tank.

As is shown in Figure 3, there is further provided a hole 70 on the wall of the housing 1 for communicating with the petrol tank (not shown) through a side pipe (not shown) so that the escape of the air from the tank can pass through the hole 70 when the petrol tank is refueled.

As embodied herein, there is further provided a circular plate 71 which has a plurality of apertures 72 therein and is provided across the bottom portion of the housing 10, as shown in Figures 3 and 4. This plate member 71 can allow the fuel to pass into the tank but prevent the fuel from being stolen by someone.

Referring again to Figure 3, there is further provided a projection 73 which is extended from a portion of the inner wall of the housing 10 and has a surface inclining relative to the inner wall of the housing 10. This projection 73 is used to guide the petrol pump hose substantially toward the central portion of the plate member 71.

It can be noted that the device 1 is very convenient for use as it is not necessary to provide a key operated lock on the cover 21 and as the covers 21 and 22 are easily opened and closed just by using the nozzle of a petrol pump hose when filling the petrol, as shown in Figure 7.

With the invention thus explained, it is apparent that obvious modifications and variations can be made without departing from the scope of the invention. It is therefore intended that the invention be limited only as indicated in the appended claims.

Claims

1. A filling and covering device for the petrol tank of a vehicle comprising: a housing structure having a top opening and a bottom opening for being communicatively coupled with the inlet of the petrol tank through said bottom opening; a covering mechanism pivotally mounted in the top portion of said housing structure and normally biassed to close said top opening of said housing structure, said covering mechanism having a passage formed therein for the admission of the air; valve means provided in said passage; and a plate member having multiplicity of apertures disposed in full cross section in the bottom portion of said housing structure.

2. A filling and covering device for a petrol tank comprising: a housing structure having a top opening and a bottom opening for being communicatively coupled with the inlet of the petrol tank; a first cover pivotally mounted on the top of said housing structure and normally biassed downward to abut against the top opening of said housing structure; a second cover pivotally mounted below said first cover in said housing structure and normally biassed upward to biock up the cross section of said housing structure, said second cover having a passage for the admission of the air; valve means provided in said passage; and a plate member having a multiplicity of apertures disposed in full cross section at the bottom portion of said housing structure.

3. A device as claimed in Claim 1 or 2, wherein said valve means includes a plug member which is held by a spring member and is longitudinally movable relative to the axis of said housing.

4. A device as claimed in Claim 3, wherein said housing further has a first hole and a second hole which are provided in the wall thereof, said first hole adapted for communicating with the petrol tank through a side pipe and said second hole being capable of admitting the air from the atmosphere.

5. A device substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to the accompanying drawings.