GB2337252A

GB2337252A - A fuel filler port and cap

Info

Publication number: GB2337252A
Application number: GB9911176A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Akira Isayama; Yasunobo Endo; Tomoyuki Inoue; Shinya Murabayashi
Original assignee: Honda Motor Co Ltd
Current assignee: Honda Motor Co Ltd
Priority date: 1998-05-13
Filing date: 1999-05-13
Publication date: 1999-11-17
Anticipated expiration: 2019-05-13
Also published as: GB9911176D0; DE19922042A1; JPH11321351A; GB2337252B; JP3583288B2; DE19922042B4

Abstract

A suspension member 62 is provided on a fuel filler cap 5 for hooking on to the inside of a filler lid 4, and a catch 40 is provided on the inside of the lid 4 for receiving the suspension member 62, to keep the cap and its connector 60 from obstructing the filler opening. There is connecting member 6 between the cap 5 and the filler opening 3, which may be an elongate connector 60, with a ring 61 at one end and an eyelet 60a at the other end. The ring 61 may be rotatably mounted on an outer circumference of the cap 5. The suspension member 62 may be disposed on the ring portion 61 at a location spaced circumferentially from the connection between the ring 61 and the elongate connector. The connecting member 6 may be secured via eyelet 60a to a boss 3a on the wall of the filler opening 3, by a machine crew 7.

Description

- 1 FUEL FILLER 2337252 The present invention relates to a fuel filler of

a vehicle such as an automobile, particularly one which comprises a filler cap closingly mountable on a filler port of a filler pipe connected to a fuel tank, and a lid for covering the filler opening in the vehicle body, in which the filler port is disposed.

In a fuel filler ofthis type, it is normal to provide a cbnnectingZ--_mmber for securely connecting the filler cap to the filler opening, to prevent loss of the cap. However, the cap can then hang down from the filler opening and touch the surface of the vehicle body, which may possibly get dirty or scratched as a result.

To avoid this it is-,known to provide a cap holder on the inside of the fiUer opening lid, in which the cap is placed when the tank is being filled. However, the cap and its connect member then project into the filler opening and may obstruct insertion of the refuelling nozzle.

According to the present invention there is provided a fuel filler of a vehicle, comprising a filler cap connectible to a fuel tank filler port in a filler opening, a lid for said-filler opening, and a connecting member between said cap suspension member is p c provided on the insid suspension member, to a i#pd said opening, wherein a -A on said cap and a catch i said lid for receiving said E'EMPend the cap from the lid. T_ With such an arrangement, the filler cap can be suspended from the said- Watch so that it is located lower than the said lid-and thus does not obstruct the filler opening.

The filler cap is-, screwed into the filler port. Then, so as to pomit the necessary rotation of the cap, the said conne4Ing member preferably comprises Aown - 2 an elongate connector connected to said filler opening, and a ring connected to said connector and rotatably mounted on an outer circumference of said cap.

Preferably the said suspension member is disposed on the said ring and is formed integrally therewith.

With this arrangement, since the suspension member is disposed on the ring, which is rotatable relative to the cap, the positional relationship between the connecting member and the suspension member does not change when the fuel cap is rotated. Accordingly, the connecting member will not project into the filler opening and obstruct to the insertion of the refuelling nozzle.

Preferably the said suspension member is connected to said ring at a location spaced circumferentially from the connection between said ring and said elongate connector.

With such an arrangement there is no possibility of the connecting member being oriented upwardly when the suspension member is engaged with the catch thereby further preventing any risk of the connecting member obstructing the insertion of the refuelling nozzle.

Furthermore, an existing filler cap can be modified to one with a said suspension member just by providing it with a said connecting member, which provides a cost advantage.

An embodiment of the invention will now be described by way of example and with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:- Fig. 1 is a perspective view of a fuel filler of the present invention; Fig. 2 is a partially cut-away side view of the filler cap; and Fig. 3 is a view showing a connecting member alone.

Referring to Fig. 1, reference 1 denotes the body of a vehicle such as an automobile. A fuel filler opening 3 is provided at a suitable position on the 3 - vehicle body, leading to a filler port 2 at one end of a filler pipe connected to a fuel tank. A lid 4 for the opening 3 is mounted via a hinge on one side thereof so as to be openable and closable. The lid is normally locked in a closed state and is opened when a disposed in the vicinity of the driver's seat operated.

As shown in Fig. 2, a filler cap 5 is threadedly engageable with the filler port 2. To refill the fuel tank, the lid 4 is opened and the cap 5 is removed to permit a refuelling nozzle to be inserted in the port 2. The cap 5 has a knob Si'mounted on a flange portion 50b at an outer edge of the cap main body 50. The body 50 has a threaded portion 50a to engage with the port 2. An 0-ring 52 on the body 50 comes into pressure contact with the open end of the port 2 to tightly close it. A tubular flange Sia on the knob 51 fits over the flange portion 50b on the cap:bpdy 50, and a retainer 53 fitted into the flange Sia abuts the back of the flange portion 50b to secure the knob 51 to the cap body 50.

In addition, the fk-1ler cap 5 is linked to the filler opening 3 via a c ecting member 6. As shown in Fig. 3, the connecting m er 6 comprises an elongate connector 60 having an eyelet 60a at one end thereof and a ring 61 at its other end. The connecting member is secured via eyelet 60a t4.-a boss 3a on the wall of the filler opening 3, by a M-Whine screw 7. The ring 61 is rotatably mounted on thylcircumference of the flange 51a. Thus the cap 5 is!"nnected to the filler opening 3 in such manner as to 4-rotatable when it is removed and/or replaced.

A suspension member 62 is formed on the ring 61 at a location spaced 90' circumferentially from the connector 60. A catch iW-is provided on the inside of the lid 4, to receive ti suspension member 62 so that the filler cap 5 can be held suspended from the lid 4. Thus it is not necessary-for the cap 5 to be suspended is control is 4 - from the filler opening 3 so as to come into contact with the surface of the vehicle body 1.

The suspension member 62 has a spherical head 62b at the distal end of a pin portion 62a which protrudes radially outwardly from the ring 61. The catch 40 comprises a box-like body 40a which opens upwardly, formed with an engagement slot 40b whose width is greater than the thickness of the pin portion 62a but smaller than the diameter of the head 62b. Thus, when the pin portion 62a is inserted into the slot 40b from above, the head 62 is caught in the bottom of the slot, whereby the cap 5 is suspended as aforesaid.

When refilling the fuel tank, with the cap 5 so suspended, the cap does not project into the filler opening case 3, and the connector 60 extends substantially horizontally so as also not to obstruct the filler opening. Thus a refuelling nozzle can be inserted into the port 2 without any obstruction.

The hook portion 62 could be spaced more than 900 from the connection between the connector 60 and the ring 61, so that the connector 60 is oriented downwardly when the hook 62 is engaged with on the catch 40.

Thus, the outer surface of the vehicle body 1 can be protected against dirt and scratches that might be caused through contact of the filler cap with the body, and moreover the filler cap and its connecting member do not obstruct the filler port.

Claims

CLAIMS:

1. A fuel filler of a vehicle, comprising a filler cap connectible to a fuel tank filler port in a filler opening, a lid for said filler opening, and a connecting member between said cap and said opening, wherein a suspension member is provided on said cap and a catch is provided on the inside of said lid for receiving said suspension member, to suspend the cap from the lid.

2. A fuel filler according to claim 1, wherein said connecting member comprises an elongate connector connected to said filler opening, and a ring connected to said connector and rotatably mounted on an outer circumference of said cap.

3. A fuel filler according to claim 2, wherein said suspension member is disposed on said ring portion.

4. A fuel filler according to claim 3, wherein said suspension member is connected to said ring at a location spaced circumferentially from the connection between said ring and said elongate connector.

5. A fuel filler according to claim 4, wherein said circumferential spacing is approximately 900.

6. A fuel filler according to any of the preceding claims, wherein the said catch is located near to the bottom edge of the said lid.

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