GB2528773A

GB2528773A - Fuel cap arrangement for a vehicle

Info

Publication number: GB2528773A
Application number: GB1510633.9A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Venugopal Reddi; Sanjay Masur
Original assignee: Daimler AG
Current assignee: Mercedes Benz Group AG
Priority date: 2015-06-17
Filing date: 2015-06-17
Publication date: 2016-02-03
Also published as: GB201510633D0

Abstract

The invention relates to a fuel cap arrangement 10 for a vehicle (12 figure 8) with a fuel cap 20 configured to seal a filler pipe of a fuel tank of the vehicle and with a fuel door 22 configured to close a housing 14, in which an end section of the filler pipe is arranged. The fuel cap arrangement comprises means for preventing the fuel door from closing, if the fuel cap is in a position which is different from a closing position, in which the fuel cap seals the filler pipe. The means comprise a sensor element 44 configured to determine the position of the fuel cap, and an actuator unit 28 configured to lock the fuel door in an at least partially open position in dependence on a signal from the sensor element.

Description

Fuel Cap Arrangement for a Vehicle The invention relates to a fuel cap arrangement for a vehicle with a fuel cap configured to seal a filler pipe of a fuel tank of the vehicle. The fuel cap arrangement comprises a fuel door configured to close a housing, in which an end section of the filler pipe is arranged.

Herein, means are provided for preventing the fuel door from closing, if the fuel cap is in a position which is different from a closing position, in which the fuel cap seals the filler pipe.

Fuel such as gasoline comprises volatile components and thus generates hydrocarbon vapors in the fuel tank. With increasing temperature inside the fuel tank the tank pressure is also increased. Further, the sloshing of fuel in the fuel tank can increase the generation of hydrocarbon vapors. This can lead to a leakage of hydrocarbon vapors into the atmosphere, if the filler pipe is not properly tightened or sealed by the fuel cap. This leads to a pollution of the atmosphere. Further, if too much hydrocarbon vapor is discharged into the atmosphere, evaporative emission norms cannot be met. Also, if vapors escape through the fuel cap, this can lead to the risk that an object in the vicinity of the fuel cap can catch fire if a spark is present. Further, the evaporation of hydrocarbons diminishes the amount of fuel in the fuel tank.

It is therefore desirable to provide a person operating the fuel cap with any information whether the fuel cap is correctly closed or not. In this context it is known to provide an acoustic feedback when the fuel cap has reached its closed position. For example the fuel cap can produce a ratchet click sound. However, there are cases where it is not possible to hear this sound and it can therefore not be determined, if the fuel cap is properly closed. It is also possible that this acoustic feedback function is not present in some designs of fuel caps.

Usually a driver who wishes to perform a fueling operation first opens the locked fuel door or fuel flap and then unscrews or opens the fuel cap. After refueling the driver usually closes the fuel cap by turning it in the required direction. Then the driver pushes the fuel door and hence closes the housing, in which the end section of the filler pipe is arranged.

However, it can happen that once the refueling is done, the fuel cap is not closed properly. It can therefore occur that the driver closes the fuel door although the fuel cap is not closed completely. There are vehicles where a check engine" light is illuminated in an instrument panel of the vehicle, if the fuel cap or fuel door is not properly closed. However this does not give any information as to where the problem lies.

Document US 2012/0319830 Al describes a system for preventing the illumination of a vehicle check engine light by notifying the driver if a fuel door is not completely closed.

Herein a sensor detects the position of the fuel door. Further an interference member comes into contact with the fuel door when the fuel cap is not properly seated in a fuel injection port. This prevents the fuel door from closing. The interference element can be arranged at an inner surface of the fuel door or at an outer surface of the fuel cap.

Such a fuel cap arrangement only allows relatively small tolerances in the design of the fuel door, the interference element and the fuel cap in order to assure that the interference element does not obstruct a closing of the fuel door even though the fuel cap correctly seals the fuel injection port of filler pipe.

It is therefore an object of the present invention to provide an improved fuel cap arrangement of the initially mentioned kind, which allows to verify whether the fuel cap is in the closing position in a particularly simple and reliable manner.

This object is solved by a fuel cap arrangement having the features of claim 1.

Advantageous configurations with convenient further developments of the invention are specified in the dependent claims.

In the fuel cap arrangement according to the invention the means comprise a sensor element configured to determine the position of the fuel cap, and an actuator unit configured to lock the fuel door in an at least partially open position in dependence on a signal from the sensor element. Thus a person operating the fuel cap can particularly easily and in a reliable manner verify whether the fuel cap is in the closing position or not.

If the fuel cap is in the position which is different from the closing position the locked fuel door cannot be moved. This clearly indicates to the person operating the fuel cap that the fuel cap does not properly seal the filler pipe of the fuel tank.

If the fuel cap is not completely closed, i.e. brought into the closing position, the fuel door cannot move from the at least partially open position as the fuel door is locked. Therefore, if the person or user tries to close the fuel door by force or in such an abusive manner the fuel door will not move since it is locked in the at least partially open position. However, when the fuel cap is completely closed, the sensor element determines this closing position of the fuel cap. This will disengage the locked fuel door. Therefore, the fuel door can be closed if the fuel cap completely tightens or seals the filler pipe of the fuel tank.

This fuel cap arrangement allows for an easy verification of the closing position of the fuel cap by the person operating the fuel cap. In case the fuel cap is not closed properly, the person or customer will come to know immediately that the fuel cap is not closed. This is due to the fact that the fuel door is locked as long as the fuel cap is in the position which is different from the closing position. Therefore, such a person, for example an end user of the vehicle or fuel station staff, knows if he has completely locked the fuel cap after refueling. Thus the tightening or sealing of the filler pipe by means of the fuel cap can be achieved in a particularly reliable manner.

As a tight sealing of the filler pipe with the fuel cap can be particularly reliably ensured, evaporative emission norms or go green norms can be easily met. Further, the possibilities of lighting a fire if sparks are present are reduced, as it can be easily seen when the fuel cap is not properly locked. If the fuel pipe is tightly sealed with the fuel cap moved into the closed position, also a drying out or an emptying of the fuel tank can be avoided.

In an advantageous embodiment the fuel cap arrangement comprises a first pinion gear fixed to fuel door and a second pinion meshing with the first pinion gear. The actuator unit locks the second pinion gear in a predetermined position relative to the first pinion gear, if the fuel cap is in the position which is different from the closing position. Such a fuel cap arrangement allows to lock the fuel door in the predetermined position in a particularly secure manner.

The second pinion gear can comprise a first recess, in which a plunger of the actuator unit is inserted to lock the fuel door if the fuel door closes the housing. The second pinion gear can further comprise a second recess, in which the plunger is inserted to lock the fuel door if the fuel door is in the at least partially open position. By inserting the plunger, a piston or the like into the corresponding recess, the closing position and the at least partially open position, in particular fully open position, of the fuel door can be particularly well defined.

Preferably the sensor element is configured as a proximity sensor or as a contact sensor which detects a proximity or a contact of a corresponding element located at the fuel cap, if the fuel cap is in the closing position. Thus, the sensor element is able to detect if the corresponding element moves away from the proximity sensor or contact sensor. A corresponding signal provided from the sensor element to the actuator unit will then assure the locking of the fuel door.

The corresponding element can in particular be configured as a protrusion protruding in a radial direction of the fuel cap. This allows the proximity sensor or the contact sensor to be integrated in a stop which comes in abutment with the protrusion as the fuel cap is completely closed. The proximity sensor or the contact sensor can in particular be a reed switch or a hall sensor, wherein the corresponding element comprises a magnet.

It has further proven advantageous if the fuel cap arrangement comprises signaling means at the fuel door and/or at the housing. Herein the signaling means are configured to signal whether the fuel cap is in the closing position in dependence on the signal from the sensor element. As the signaling means are located at the fuel door or at the housing the corresponding information can be provided to the person operating the fuel cap immediately after the refueling has been performed and the fuel cap has been closed improperly.

Therefore the person does not need to be warned by a "check engine" light or a fuel door ajar" signal displayed inside the vehicle, for example at the dashboard or instrument panel. The driver is rather alerted before he enters the vehicle. This is particularly

comfortable.

In particular, visual and/or acoustic information can be provided to the person operating the fuel cap by the signaling means. This can for example be done after a delay of a predetermined length of time, for example a few seconds after the not complete closing of the fuel cap.

The acoustic or visual information near the fuel cap area can also include an indication that the fuel door is not closed or not closed completely.

In a further advantageous embodiment the actuator unit is configured to close the fuel door in dependence on a signal from the sensor element, wherein the signal indicates that the fuel cap is in the closing position. The actuator unit can therefore automatically close the fuel door, if the person operating the fuel cap has correctly or completely sealed the filler pipe by means of the fuel cap but has forgotten to properly close the fuel door.

This automatic closing of the fuel door can also be performed after a predefined time delay.

Finally, it has proven advantageous if the sensor element is configured to provide a further signal to a sliding door mechanism of the vehicle. Herein the sliding door mechanism is configured to limit a movement of the sliding door, if the further signal indicates that the fuel door is in the at least partially open position. The further signal can in particular be sent to an electronic control unit of the vehicle which then limits the movement or opening distance of the sliding door. This avoids a collision of the sliding door with the fuel door which is in the open position, for example during refueling. For example, a limiter on a sliding door guide can be activated in order to stop the movement of the sliding door before it collides with the open fuel door.

The features and feature combinations mentioned above in the description as well as the features and feature combinations mentioned below in the description of figures and/or shown in the figures alone are usable not only in the respectively specified combination, but also in other combinations or alone, without departing from the scope of the invention.

Thus, implementations are also to be considered as encompassed and disclosed by the invention, which are not explicitly shown in the figures or explained, but arise from and can be generated by separated feature combinations from the explained implementations.

Further advantages, features and details of the invention are apparent from the claims, the following description of preferred embodiments as well as based on the drawings.

Therein show: Fig. 1 a fuel cap arrangement of a vehicle with a housing accommodating an end section of a filler pipe which is closed by a fuel cap, wherein a fuel door closes the housing; Fig. 2 an enlarged perspective view of an actuator unit utilized to open and to close the fuel door; Fig. 3 the fuel cap arrangement according to Fig. 1, wherein the fuel door is opened; Fig. 4 an enlarged perspective view of pinion gears of the actuator unit meshing with each other in the open position of the fuel door; Fig. 5 a perspective view and an enlarged detail of the fuel cap in a closing position, wherein a protrusion of the fuel cap is in contact with a stop provided adjacent to the fuel cap; Fig. 6 the opening of the fuel cap by rotating it about an axis of rotation, wherein the protrusion moves away from the stop; Fig. 7 a flow chart illustrating steps during a refueling operation of the vehicle; Fig. 8 the vehicle with the fuel door in its open position, wherein a text message and an acoustic signal indicates to a person operating the fuel cap to correctly close the fuel cap; and Fig. 9 a section of an instrument panel of the vehicle, wherein a "check engine" light indicates an improper closing of the filler pipe by means of the fuel cap.

Fig. 1 schematically shows a fuel cap arrangement 10 for a vehicle 12 (see Fig. 8). The fuel cap arrangement 10 comprises a housing 14, which forms an tank recess 16 (see Fig. 3). Within the tank recess lSan end section 18 of a filler pipe of a fuel tank of the vehicle 12 is arranged (see Fig. 8). A fuel cap 20 of the fuel cap arrangement 10 is not accessible in the situation shown in Fig. 1, as a fuel door 22 of the fuel cap arrangement closes the housing 14.

The fuel door 22 is hinged to the housing 14. A first pinion gear 26 is formed in one piece with a shaft 24 which provides an axis of rotation for the fuel door 22. In the example shown the first pinion gear 26 has the form of one half of a disk. An actuator unit 28 of the fuel cap arrangement 10 comprises a second pinion gear 30 engaging the first pinion gear 26. A motor 32 is utilized to rotate the second pinion gear 30 about an axis of rotation which is parallel to the axis of rotation provided by the shaft 24.

As can be better seen from Fig. 2, a retractable plunger 34 or piston protrudes from a top face 36 of a housing 38, in which the motor 32 of the actuator unit 28 is arranged. This plunger 34 is inserted in a first recess 40 provided in the second pinion gear 30. as the fuel door 22 closes the housing 14. The plunger 34 or such a fuel door 22 locking means can be easily integrated into the fuel door 22 actuator mechanism. This reduces a need for additional parts or mechanisms.

Fig. 3 shows the fuel cap arrangement 10 with the fuel door 22 moved into an open position, in which the fuel cap 20 can be accessed by a person operating the fuel cap 20.

As can be better seen from Fig. 4, the retractable plunger 34 is engaged or inserted in a second recess 42 provided in the second pinion gear 30, as the fuel door 22 is in the open position shown in Fig. 3. The plunger 34 therefore locks the fuel door 22 in its open state or position.

The plunger 34 is operated in dependence on a signal provided to the actuator unit 28.

This signal is generated by a sensor element such as a reed switch 44 located within a stop 46 which is arranged on a wall 48 inside the tank recess 16 (see fig. 3).

As can be best seen from Fig. 5, the fuel cap 20 comprises a tooth-shaped protrusion 50 which protrudes in a radial direction of the fuel cap 20. Within this protrusion 50 a magnet (not shown) is arranged. The reed switch 44 located within the stop 46 detects whether the protrusion 50 is in contact with the stop 46 or not. Instead of the reed switch 44 other contact sensors or proximity sensors can be utilized to determine the position of the fuel cap 20. For example, a hall sensor can detect the proximity or the contact as the protrusion 50 approaches the stop 46. If the protrusion 50 abuts against the stop 46, the plunger 34 is inserted into the first recess 40 provided in the second pinion gear 30. This locks the fuel door 22 in the closed position shown in Fig. 1.

In Fig. San arrow 52 indicates a direction in which the fuel cap 20 must be rotated about its axis of rotation to open and thus to give access to the filler pipe. In the example shown the fuel cap 20 must be rotated anti-clockwise to open. As the fuel cap 20 is rotated, there is no longer a contact between the protrusion 50 and the stop 46 with the reed switch 44 (see Fig. 6). This is due to the fact that the magnet arranged within the protrusion 50 has

S

moved away from the reed switch 44. This break in contact again activates the plunger 34 which is moved into the second recess 42 provided in the second pinion gear 30 as the fuel door 22 is in its open position. Due to this locking of the pinion gears 26, 30 in their position, the fuel door 22 cannot be closed anymore. This indicates to the person operating the fuel cap 20 that the fuel cap 20 is not completely closed.

Fig. 7 illustrates a refueling operation of the vehicle 12 with the fuel cap arrangement 10.

After a start 54, a symbol 56 and/or a fuel gauge 58 indicates that the vehicle 12 should be refueled. In a following step 60 an ignition is turned off. Next the actuator unit 28 performs an unlocking 62 of the fuel door 22. In a next stop 64 the fuel door 22 is opened by for example the driver. The next step is an opening 66 of the fuel cap 20 by turning it into the direction indicated by the arrow 52 in Fig. 6. This leads to a transmission 68 of a signal from the reed switch 44 to the actuator unit 28. With other words, the sensor circuit contact of the fuel cap 20 is opened. As a consequence, the fuel door 22 is locked in a further step 70 by the actuator unit 28. Herein the plunger 34 or such a latch locks the fuel door 22.

In a further step 72, a pump nozzle is introduced into the end section 18 of the filler pipe of the fuel tank. After a completion 74 of the refueling it is checked in a subsequent step 76, whether the fuel cap 20 is closed completely or not. If the fuel cap 20 is closed completely, the sensor circuit of the reed switch 44 is closed in a step 78 as the protrusion of the fuel cap 20 comes into contact with the stop 46. Subsequently an unlocking 80 of the fuel door 22 or fuel flap is performed by the actuator unit 28. In a next step 82 the fuel door 22 is closed and the refueling operation comes to an end 84.

However, if in the step 76 it is determined that the fuel cap 20 is not completely closed the sensor circuit of the reed switch 44 is still open in a step 86. Consequently the fuel door 22 is still locked or kept locked in a step 88. If however in a subsequent step 90 the fuel cap 20 is closed properly, it will be determined in step 76 that the fuel cap 20 is completely closed. Then the procedure continues with step 78 until it comes to the end 84. In step 90 an acoustic and/or visual indication can be provided to the user, that the fuel cap 20 should be closed properly. Also an audiovisual indicator can be provided.

Fig. 8 partially shows the vehicle 12 with the open fuel door 22. If the fuel cap 20 is not completely closed, then the fuel door 22 cannot move from this open position and is kept locked until the fuel cap 20 is closed securely. Even if a user tries to close the fuel door 22 by force the fuel door 22 will not move since it is locked in that open position.

In this situation signaling means 92 can be activated to communicate to the person operating the fuel cap 20 that the fuel cap 20 should be further closed to tightly seal the filler pipe of the fuel tank. These signaling means 92 can comprise an acoustic or audio signal provided by a loudspeaker 94. The loudspeaker 94 can provide an acoustic warning tone or an audio message to properly close the fuel door 22. The signaling means 92 can further comprise a visual indication such as a symbol and/or a text message requesting the operator to close the fuel cap 20. For example such a visual indication or information can be shown on a display 96 located at the fuel door 22 or somewhere near the fuel filler area.

As the request to properly close the fuel cap 20 or to subsequently close the fuel door 22 can be displayed or communicated in the vicinity of the fuel cap 20, it is not necessary to illuminate a check engine light 98 which can be present in an instrument panel 100 of the vehicle 12 (see Fig. 9). However, such a check engine light 98 or another light 98 indicating an open status of the fuel cap 20 and/or of the fuel door 22 can additionally signal to a user of the vehicle 12 that the fuel cap 20 and/or the fuel door 22 should be closed properly.

lithe user of the vehicle 12 forgets to close the fuel door 22 after properly closing the fuel cap 20, the actuator unit 28 can automatically close the fuel door 22, in particular after a predetermined delay time.

The fuel cap arrangement 10 described above ensures a complete closing or sealing of the fuel cap 20 by using the locked fuel door 22 or fuel flap as indication of a not correctly closed status of the fuel cap 20.

List of reference signs fuel cap arrangement 12 vehicle 14 housing 16 tank recess 18 end section fuel cap 22 fuel door 24 shaft 26 pinion gear 28 actuator unit pinion gear 32 motor 34 plunger 36 top face 36 housing recess 42 recess 44 reed switch 46 stop 48 wall protrusion (with inserted magnetic sensor / contact sensor) 52 arrow 54 start 56 symbol 58 fuel gauge step 62 unlocking 64 step 66 opening 68 transmission step 72 step 74 completion 76 step 78 step unlocking 82 step 84 end 86 step 88 step step 92 signaling means 94 loudspeaker 96 display 98 light instrument

Claims

Claims Fuel cap arrangement for a vehicle (12) with a fuel cap (20) configured to seal a filler pipe of a fuel tank of the vehicle (12) and with a fuel door (22) configured to close a housing (14), in which an end section (18) of the filler pipe is arranged, wherein the fuel cap arrangement (10) comprises means for preventing the fuel door (22) from closing, if the fuel cap (20) is in a position which is different from a closing position, in which the fuel cap (20) seals the filler pipe, characterized in that the means comprise a sensor element (44) configured to determine the position of the fuel cap (20) and an actuator unit (28) configured to lock the fuel door (22) in an at least partially open position in dependence on a signal from the sensor element (44).
2. Fuel cap arrangement according to claim 1, characterized in that the fuel cap arrangement (10) comprises a first pinion gear (26) fixed to the fuel door (22) and a second pinion gear (30) meshing with the first pinion gear (26), wherein the actuator unit (28) locks the second pinion gear (30) in a predetermined position relative to the first pinion gear (26), if the fuel cap (20) is in the position which is different from the closing position.
3. Fuel cap arrangement according to claim 2, characterized in that the second pinion gear (30) comprises a first recess (40), in which a plunger (34) of the actuator unit (28) is inserted to lock the fuel door (22) if the fuel door closes the housing (14) and a second recess (42), in which the plunger (34) is inserted to lock the fuel door (22) if the fuel door (22) is in the at least partially open position, in particular in a fully open position.
4. Fuel cap arrangement according to any one of claims 1 to 3, characterized in that the sensor element (44) is configured as a proximity sensor or as a contact sensor, which detects a proximity or a contact of a corresponding element (50) located at the fuel cap (20) if the fuel cap (20) is in the closing position.
5. Fuel cap arrangement according to claim 4, characterized in that the corresponding element (50) is configured as a protrusion protruding in a radial direction of the fuel cap (20).
6. Fuel cap arrangement according to claim 4 or 5, characterized in that the proximity sensor or contact sensor is a reed switch or a hall sensor, wherein the corresponding element (50) comprises a magnet.
7. Fuel cap arrangement according to any one of claims 1 to 6, characterized in that the fuel cap arrangement (10) comprises signaling means (92), in particular configured to provide visual and/or acoustic information, at the fuel door (20) and/or at the housing (14), wherein the signaling means (92) are configured to signal whether the fuel cap (20)is in the closing position in dependence on the signal from the sensor element (44).
8. Fuel cap arrangement according to any one of claims 1 to 7, characterized in that the actuator unit (28) is configured to close the fuel door (22) in dependence on a signal from the sensor element (44), wherein the signal indicates that the fuel cap (20) is in the closing position.
9. Fuel cap arrangement according to any one of claims 1 to 8, characterized in that the sensor element (44) is configured to provide a further signal to a sliding door mechanism of the vehicle (12), wherein the sliding door mechanism is configured to limit a movement of the sliding door if the further signal indicates that the fuel door (22) is in the at least partially open position.