GB2388365A

GB2388365A - Filler neck closure

Info

Publication number: GB2388365A
Application number: GB0210677A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Raymond Paul Doherty
Original assignee: Ford Global Technologies LLC
Current assignee: Ford Global Technologies LLC
Priority date: 2002-05-10
Filing date: 2002-05-10
Publication date: 2003-11-12
Anticipated expiration: 2022-05-10
Also published as: GB0210677D0; GB2388365B

Abstract

A closure 10 for a filler neck of a container, such as a fuel tank, comprises a hollow cylindrical body 12 having an aperture 21, a ball valve 11 rotatably mounted in the body and having a passageway 23, in one condition the passageway aligns with the aperture 21, and in another condition the ball valve 11 closes the aperture 21. The body 12 comprises a ball carrier 15 telescopically assembled to a ball housing 16 which are held together by lock means 20, 40, on the ball valve 11, such that the housing can be assembled to the carrier only when the ball valve is one rotational position relative to the carrier 15, and that rotation of the ball valve locks the assembly together. The lock means 20, 40, on the ball valve may co-operate with second lock means on the carrier 15 so that the ball valve 11 can only be assembled to the carrier 15 in a second rotational position, which may be 180 degrees from the first rotational position. The ball valve 11 may be rotatable within the body on trunnions 26, 27, a fixed trunnion formed in the carrier 15 and a second trunnion pivotally mounted in aligned apertures in the housing and carrier, and preferably drivably connected to the ball valve 11 for rotation thereof. The lock means on the ball valve 11 may include a U-shaped groove 40 surrounding a second open-ended aperture 20 on the ball valve which may cooperate with an inwardly projecting arcuate rim (fig 3, 30) on the carrier 15, which surrounds first said open-ended aperture 28, wherein rotation of the ball valve 11, to said first position locks the rim (30) into the groove. The lock means on the ball valve may also include a second open-ended aperture 20 which may cooperate with the second trunnion, wherein rotation of the ball valve 11 to said second position axially locks the second trunnion within first and second open-ended apertures. The housing 16 may have an annular end-wall 33 and an annular seal 32 may be mounted on the inner surface of the annular wall 33 for sealing against the ball valve. A pressure relief valve 35 may be provided in said end wall for venting excess pressure inside the closure 10.

Description

GB 2388365 A continued (72) Inventor(s): (58) Field of Search:

Raymond Paul Doherty UK CL (Edition T) B8T TEDV TWK TWO INT CL7 B60K 15/04, B65D 47/26 47/30

(74) Agent and/or Address for Service: Other: ONLINE: EPODOC, JAPIO, WPI, TXTGB1, Land Rover TXTEP1, TXTWO1, TXTUS0, TXTUS1, TXTUS2, Patent Department 53G1614, TXTUS3 Banbury Road, Lighthorne, WARWICK, CV35 ORG, United Kingdom

A Filled Neck Closure Ed This invention relates to closures for filler necks, and in particular to closures for the filler necks of motor 5 vehicle fuel filler systems.

Background of the Invention

The filler neck of a motor vehicle fuel system is typically closed by a screw or bayonet cap. This has a particular 10 disadvantage in that the cap can be mislaid when the fuel system is being filled, or may be lost or stolen if its not lockable within the filler neck.

It has been proposed to replace the conventional cap with 15 ball valve which is located within the filler neck mouth.

In particular GB-A-2360032 proposes the use of a bail valve which has a passageway therethrough and is rotatably mounted in the neck of the filler so that in one condition the valve is open for receiving fuel, and in another 20 condition presents an impermeable portion which closes the filler neck.

The present invention provides an improved ball valve with an impermeable portion and which has a simpler 25 construction.

( Stte According to a first aspect of the present invention there is provided a closure for a filler neck of a container comprises a cylindrical hollow body having an aperture 5 therethrough, and a ball valve rotatably mounted in the body and having a passageway therethrough such that in one condition the passageway aligns with the aperture, and in another condition the ball valve closes the aperture, wherein the body comprises a ball carrier telescopically 10 assembled to a ball housing and which are held together by lock means on the ball valve such that housing can be assembled to the carrier only when the ball valve is in one rotational position relative to the carrier, and rotation of the ball valve locks the assembly together.

The lock means on the ball valve also co-operate with second lockmeans on the carrier such that the ball valve can only be assembled to the carrier in a second rotational position relative to the carrier. Preferably the second 20 rotational position is 180 degrees of arc from the first position when rotated about an axis transverse to the passageway. The ball valve is rotatable within the body on trunnions, 25 a fixed trunnion formed in the carrier, and second trunnion pivotally mounted in aligned apertures in the housing and carrier, and drivably connected to the ball valve.

f Preferably said aligned apertures comprise a circular aperture in the housing and a first open-ended aperture in the carrier.

5 The lock means on the ball valve include a U shaped groove surrounding a second open-ended aperture on the ball valve which co-operates with an inwardly projecting arcuate rim on the carrier which surrounds said first open-ended aperture so that the ball valve can be axially engaged with 10 the carrier when in said second rotation position, and rotation of the ball valve to said second rotational position locks the rim into the groove.

The lock means on the ball valve also include the second 15 open-ended aperture which co-operates with the second trunnion allowing the housing to axially engage the carrier with insertion of the second trunnion into the first aperture on the carrier and second open-ended aperture with the ball valve in said one position, and rotation of the 20 ball valve to said second position axially locks the second -ion within said first and second open-ended apertures.

The housing may be provided with an annular end wall adjacent the mouth of the aperture and preferably an 25 annular seal is mounted on the inner surface of the annular wall for sealing against the ball valve. A pressure relief valve may also be located in said end wall for venting excess pressure inside the closure.

( Another aspect of the present invention provides a container having a filler neck closed by a closure as described above, and in particular a fuel tank for an internal combustion engine, especially for a motor vehicle.

Description off the Drawings

The invention will be described by way of example and with reference to the accompanying drawings in which: Fig.1 is a cross-section of a closure according to 10 the present invention, Fig. 2 is a section on the line IIII of Fig.1, and Fig. 3 is an exploded isometric view of the closure of Fig 1.

15 Detailed Description of the InvenLion

With reference to Figs. l to 3, there is shown a vehicle fuel filler closure 10 which in use is located in the upper end portion of a vehicle fuel filler pipe. The closure 10 has a mouth 18 and an outlet 19 and is formed 20 from a plurality of coaxial components comprising a ball valve 11, a cylindrical hollow body 12, cylindrical pipe 13, which are enclosed within a cylindrical metal cover 14.

The ball valve 11 and body 12 are preferably moulded from a fuel resistant and low permeability plastics material, 25 for example acetal resin.

In use the mouth 18 may be protected by a locable fuel flap or cover (not shown).

The body 12 comprises a moulded plastic ball carrier 15 and a moulded plastic housing 16. The ball carrier 15 has a hemi-spherical bowl 17 open towards the mouth 18 and has a aperture 21 in its base which is closed by a resiliently 5 loaded flap 22. The external cylindrical surface of the carrier 15 is provided at its inner end portion with an annular seal 29, preferably an 0 ring. The carrier 15 is provided on one side with an integrally formed inwardly projecting trunnion 26 and on the diametrically opposite 10 side has an open-ended U-shaped aperture 28 with its open end facing upwards. The aperture 28 has at its closed end an inwardly projecting arcuate rim 30.

The ball valve 11 is generally spherical in shape and has 15 a passageway 23 extending diametrally through the valve with an inner end 24 having a diameter substantially the same as the aperture 21 in the ball carrier 15, and a wider outer end having a diameter substantially the same as the mouth 18. A portion of the outer surface of the ball valve 20 11 is formed from a part-spherical or domed plate 25 which may be made from a suitable metal e.g. aluminium, or a metal plated moulded plastics material. The area of the plate 25 is larger than the area of the mouth'18. In use the plate 25 may be sealed in the mouth 18 of the aperture.

The ball valve 11 has a cavity on one side for receiving the trunnion 26 and on the diametrically opposite side has

an open-ended U-shaped aperture 20 with its open side facing the inner portion 24. The aperture 20 is surrounded by a U-shaped groove 40.

5 Referring to Fig. 1, the ball valve 11 is rotatably supported in the ball carrier by two axially aligned trunnions 26 and 27. One trunnion 26 is formed as a simple inward projection on the ball carrier 15 and the other trunnion 27 is formed a separate member which engages in 10 the open-ended aperture 28 in the ball carrier, located diametrically opposite to the trunnion 26.

The ball valve 11 is held in the carrier 15 by the housing 16. The housing 16 is a substantially cylindrical sleeve 15 having a sidewall 31 which is telescopically slidable over the ball carrier 15 and seals against the O ring 29.

The housing 16 has an annular end wall 33 adjacent the mouth 18 and on its inner surface supports a low permeability annular inner seal 32. In use the seal 32 20 seats against the domed plate 25 on the ball valve 11. The sidewall 31 on its external cylindrical surface has an annular seal 34, preferably an O ring, located at its inner end portion.

25 A spring loaded pressure relief valve 35 is located in the end wall 33 for venting the fuel tank. A circular aperture 36 is provide in the sidewall 31, and in use is coaxial with the trunnion 26 formed on the carrier 15. The upper

portion of the aperture 36 is surrounded by a radially inwardly projecting rim 45. The trunnion 27 is mounted for rotation within the aperture 36 and is insertable therein from the inside of the housing.

The trunnion 27 comprise a cylindrical portion 41 having a square section cavity 42 therein, a larger diameter collar 43 and a square section portion 44. In use, the cylindrical portion 41 is inserted into the aperture 36 with collar 43 10 seated against the inner surface of the housing 16, and the square section portion 44 passes through the open aperture 28 in the ball carrier, and drivably engages in the U-

shaped aperture 20 in the ball valve. The mechanism for turning the trunnion 27 to rotate the ball valve 11 is not 15 shown and could for example comprise an electric motor or manually operable lever.

The housing 16 is telescopically insertable into the open end of the cylindrical filler pipe 13 and sits against a 20 shoulder 51 formed between a larger diameter outer end portion 53 and a smaller diameter inner portion 54. The pipe 13 may be formed from metal, eg. steel, or may be formed from a suitable plastics material.

25 The flap 22 on the carrier 15 is pivoted to the carrier by a pin 61 and is biased into a closed condition over the aperture 21 by a spring 62. The flap 22 may be sealed to the rim of the aperture 21 in the closed condition.

( The metal cover 14 fits over the housing 16 and larger portion 53 of the filler pipe 13 and may have end portions swaged behind the shoulder 51 to lock the assembly.

5 The closure 10 is assembled in a number of steps.

1) The trunnion 27 is first located in the aperture 36 in the housing 16 from the inside thereof.

2) The ball valve 11 is assembled axially into the pre-

assembled ball carrier 15 in the orientation shown in Fig 10 3 and located on trunnion 26 with aperture 20 aligned with aperture 28.

3) The ball valve is rotated about the trunnion 26 by 180 degrees of arc engaging the rim 30 on the carrier in the groove 40 on the ball valve 11. In this condition the 15 aperture 20 is open outwardly.

4) The pre-assembled housing 16 and trunnion 27 are axially slide over the carrier 15 and ball valve 11 with the square portion 44 engaging in the aperture 20 in the ball valve 11 and cylindrical portion 41 engaging in the aperture 28 in 20 the carrier 15..

5) The ball valve is again rotated through 180 degrees locking the trunnion 27 in position in the ball valve and the rim 45 on the housing within the groove 40, hence the housing 16 to the ball carrier 15.

25 6) The combined housing and carrier, i.e. the body 12 is then assembled into the filler pipe 13.

and finally 7) The cover 14 is assembled over the body 12 and filler

( pipe 13.

The closure valve 10 is opened by rotation of the ball valve 11 about the trunnions 26 27 so that the passageway 5 23 is aligned with the mouth 18 and aperture 21. The valve is closed by rotation of the ball valve ll using the trunnion 27, until the domed plate 25 fills the mouth 18 and seats against the seal 32.

Claims

1. A closure for a filler neck of a container comprises a cylindrical hollow body having an aperture therethrough, and a ball valve rotatably mounted in the body and having 5 a passageway therethrough such that in one condition the passageway aligns with the aperture, and in another condition the ball valve closes the aperture, wherein the body comprises a ball carrier telescopically assembled to a ball housing and which are held together by lock means on 10 the ball valve such that housing can be assembled to the carrier only when the ball valve is in one rotational position relative to the carrier, and rotation of the ball valve locks the assembly together.

15

2. A closure as claimed in Claim 1 wherein the lock means on the ball valve co-operate with second lockmeans on the carrier such that the ball valve can only be assembled to the carrier in a second rotational position.

20

3. A closure as claimed in Claim 2 wherein the second rotation position is 180 degrees of arc from the first rotational position.

4. A closure as claimed in any one of Claims 1 to 3 wherein 25 the ball valve is rotatable within the body on trunnions, a fixed trunnion formed in the carrier, and second trunnion pivotally mounted in aligned apertures in the housing and carrier, and drivably connected to the ball valve for

( rotation thereof.

5. A closure as claimed in Claim 4 wherein said aligned 5 apertures comprise a circular aperture in the housing and a first open-ended aperture in the carrier.

6. A closure as claimed in Claim 5, wherein the lock means on the ball valve include a U-shaped groove surrounding a 10 second open-ended aperture on the ball valve which co-

operates with an inwardly projecting arcuate rim on the carrier which surrounds said first open-ended aperture so that the ball valve can be axially engaged with the carrier when in said second rotational position, and rotation of 15 the ball valve to said one rotational position locks the rim into the groove.

7. A closure as claimed in Claim 6 wherein the lock means on the ball valve also includes the second open-ended 20 aperture which co-operates with the second trunnion allowing the housing to axially engage the carrier with ball valve insitu by insertion of the second trunnion into the first aperture on the carrier, and second open-ended aperture with the ball valve in said one position, and 25 rotation of the ball valve to said second position axially locks the second trunnion within said first and second open-ended apertures.

(

8. A closure as claimed in Claim 6 or Claim 7, wherein the lock means includes an inwardly projecting arcuate rim surrounding the circular aperture in the housing and which 5 is engagable within the U-shaped groove in the ball valve.

9. A closure as claimed in any one of Claims 1 to 7 wherein the housing is provided an annular end wall adjacent the mouth of the aperture and an annular seal is mounted on the 10 inner surface of the annular wall for sealing against the ball valve.

10. A closure as claimed in Claim 9, wherein a pressure relief valve is located in said end wall for venting excess 15 pressure inside the closure.

11. A closure for the filler neck of a container and which is substantially as described herein and with reference to the accompanying drawings.

12. A container having a filler neck closed by a closure as claimed in any one of Claims 1 to 11.

13. A container as claimed in Claim 12 and which in use is 25 a fuel tank for an internal combustion engine.