JP2002337916A - Fuel tank cap - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a fuel tank cap which can reduce the possibility of fuel leakage further while allowing the outside air to come in and is immovable even in the case where a high-pressure car washing is made. SOLUTION: For the fuel tank cap 1 comprising a cap body 2 for covering and closing a fuel injection port of a fuel tank mounted on a car and a ring-like packing 3 provided at the cap body 2 and stuck to the periphery of the fuel injection port for sealing, an air induction passage 28 for inducting the outside air into the fuel tank is formed between the cap body 2 and the ring-like packing 3 and a lip closing valve 33 is provided, extending in a loop-like shape from the inner circumferential side of the ring-like packing and being pressed at its tip constantly against the inner wall 36 of the cap body 2, so as to induce the outside air by opening the air induction passage 28 when the pressure inside the fuel tank becomes negative.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a fuel tank cap for closing a fuel inlet of a fuel tank exposed outside the vehicle.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Unlike commercial vehicles, fuel tanks of many commercial vehicles are mounted on a chassis frame without being covered by a vehicle outer plate, and are exposed outside the vehicle. Therefore, as shown in FIG. 10, the fuel tank cap 50 is provided with a key 51 for preventing theft of fuel.

The key 51 is of a cylinder type. The key hole is openably and closably covered with a child lid 52 in order to prevent water from entering through a key hole (not shown) and freezing in the key hole.

[0004] The child lid 52 is adapted to rotate about a shaft 54 inserted into the cap body 53, and by sliding, slides on the keyhole. The shaft portion 54 is urged toward the fuel tank by a spring 56 so that the back side is pressed against the cap body 53.

[0005] The fuel tank cap 50 has a flat rubber packing 58 inside a cap body 53 to prevent the fuel in the fuel tank from leaking. A rubber packing 58 is interposed between the surface and the seal.

[0009] As shown in FIG. 9, on the back surface 59 of the cap body 53, an annular thin step portion 60 that forms a seating surface of the rubber packing 58 is formed.

The step portion 60 is provided with an air inlet 61 which partially cuts out the step portion 60 so as to prevent the fuel tank from becoming negative pressure with fuel consumption.

[0008]

However, in order to satisfy the conflicting demands of introducing outside air while preventing fuel leakage, a shaft hole for inserting the air inlet 61 and the shaft portion 54 of the child lid 52 is required. It is difficult to obtain a perfect seal without any risk of fuel leakage from 63 or keyholes,
There has always been a demand for further improvement in sealing properties.

In particular, there is a demand for eliminating the possibility of fuel leakage due to running vibration when the fuel is full or running on a rough road.

In addition, when the high pressure car wash is performed, the child cap 52 may shift due to water pressure, and the high pressure car wash liquid may enter through the keyhole, or the entered water may freeze and the key 51 may not move. Was.

Accordingly, an object of the present invention is to solve the above-mentioned problems, to further reduce the risk of fuel leakage while allowing the inflow of outside air, and to provide a cap for a fuel tank which does not move even in a high-pressure car wash. Is to provide.

[0012]

In order to achieve the above object, the present invention provides a cap body for covering and closing a fuel inlet of a vehicle fuel tank, and a peripheral edge of the fuel inlet provided in the cap body. A fuel tank cap having an annular packing that seals tightly to the fuel tank, wherein an air introduction path for introducing outside air into the fuel tank is formed between the cap body and the annular packing; The tip of the gasket extends annularly from the inner peripheral side of the packing, and the tip end is constantly pressed against the inner wall of the cap body. When the pressure in the fuel tank becomes negative, the air introduction path is opened to introduce outside air. A lip opening / closing valve is provided.

When the pressure in the fuel tank falls below a certain level,
The lip on / off valve separates from the cap body and introduces outside air, and at other times, the lip on / off valve always adheres to the cap body and exhibits high sealing properties, thus allowing outside air to flow into the fuel tank. In addition, fuel leakage in the fuel tank can be more reliably prevented.

The annular packing and the lip opening / closing valve are preferably formed integrally with an elastic material such as rubber having elasticity.

Preferably, the annular packing is in contact with the cap body on a flat surface, and the air introduction path is formed of a groove formed in the cap body.

Further, a cap insertion hole for embedding a key cylinder is formed in a cap body which covers and closes a fuel injection port of a fuel tank exposed to the outside of the vehicle, and a cap for slidably covering the outside of the cylinder insertion hole. In a fuel tank cap in which a shaft hole for inserting a shaft portion is formed substantially parallel to and adjacent to the cylinder insertion hole,
A diameter-enlarging groove for expanding the diameter of the cylinder insertion hole is formed on the back side of the cylinder insertion hole, and a communication groove extending from the diameter-enlarging groove to the shaft hole is formed. The packing is packed and sealed.

The back packing can be compressed in the enlarged diameter groove and the communication groove, and high sealing performance can be easily obtained.

A guide groove for guiding a lock plate for locking the rotation of the cap body slidably outward in a radial direction is formed on the diameter-enlarged groove and the communication groove,
The back packing preferably has a groove seal portion that fits in the guide groove.

The lock plate has an insertion hole for inserting an engagement projection extending eccentrically in the axial direction from the main body of the key cylinder, and is disposed in the guide groove so as to slide in the slide direction. It is preferable that both sides along the entire length be brought into contact with the groove seal portion over the entire length.

Further, a key cylinder is embedded and provided in a cap body that covers and fills a fuel injection port of a fuel tank exposed to the outside of the vehicle, and a child lid for opening and closing the key hole of the key cylinder is provided outside the key cylinder. In a fuel tank cap rotatably provided along the end face of
The handle protruding in the axial direction from the lid surface of the child lid is formed in a columnar or conical shape.

Even if the handle is exposed to high-pressure water or the like, the handle can release the pressure and prevent the child lid from moving.

[0022]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS Preferred embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings.

As shown in FIG. 1, a fuel tank cap 1 is a cap body 2 for covering and closing a fuel inlet (not shown) of a fuel tank (not shown) exposed to the outside.
An annular gasket 3 provided in the cap body 2 for sealing in close contact with an edge of the fuel inlet; a key cylinder 4 embedded in the cap body 2;
A cap 5 for opening and closing a keyhole (not shown) of
Lock plate 6 for locking rotation of cap body 2
And a stopper 7 for elastically biasing and attaching the cap body 2 to the fuel tank side, and a back cover 8 for covering the back side of the cap body 2.

As shown in FIGS. 1 and 3, the cap body 2 has a central portion 9 protruding in a truncated cone shape, and extends from the rear side of the top of the central portion 9 to the fuel tank side to form the key cylinder 4 and the child lid 5. A block portion 11 for holding the shaft portion 10, a ring portion 12 extending radially outward from the outer periphery of the central portion 9, and a skirt portion 13 extending from the outer peripheral end of the ring portion 12 to the fuel tank side. .

In the block portion 11, a cylinder insertion hole 14 for embedding the key cylinder 4 is formed.
A shaft hole 15 for inserting the shaft portion 10 of the child lid 5 slidably covering the outside of the cylinder insertion hole 14 is formed substantially parallel to the cylinder insertion hole 14.

The cylinder insertion hole 14 is provided in the cap body 2
Is formed on the center axis of the key cylinder 2 so as to penetrate through the cap body 2, and exposes an engagement projection 17 extending eccentrically in the axial direction from the main body 16 of the key cylinder 4 while exposing the key hole of the key cylinder 4 to the outside. It is made to let.

The shaft hole 15 is formed so as to penetrate the cap body 2 from front to back, so that the child lid 5 can be assembled to the cap body 2 from the back.

On the back side of the cylinder insertion hole 14,
A diameter-enlarging groove 18 for expanding the diameter of the cylinder insertion hole 14 by a predetermined depth is formed, and a communication groove 19 connecting the diameter-enlarging groove 18 to the shaft hole 15 is formed.
And the communication groove 19 are sealed by packing a back packing 20 described later.

In the block portion 11, a guide groove 21 for guiding the lock plate 6 slidably outward in the radial direction is formed on the enlarged diameter groove 18 and the communication groove 19, and the guide groove 21 is formed. Inside, a back packing 20 for sealing the cylinder insertion hole 14 and the shaft hole 15 from the back is provided.

As shown in FIG. 1, FIG. 2 and FIG. 8, the back packing 20 is integrally formed of an elastic material such as rubber or silicon, and is integrally packed in the enlarged diameter groove 18 and the communication groove 19. And a sheet-shaped groove sealing portion 23 that is located on the back side of the packing portion 22 and fits in the guide groove 21.

An escape hole 24 through which the engaging projection 17 of the key cylinder 4 is rotatably inserted is inserted into the groove seal portion 23.
Are formed. The escape hole 24 is formed to have a size that fits on the rear end surface 25 of the key cylinder 4, and allows the engagement projection 17 to move while sealing the outer peripheral portion of the rear end surface 25 of the key cylinder 4. .

As shown in FIGS. 1 and 3, the ring portion 12 of the cap body 2 is connected to the central portion 9 via an annular projection 26 projecting in a ring shape toward the rear side, as shown in FIG. Thus, the back surface 27 in contact with the annular packing 3 is formed substantially flat.

As shown in FIGS. 2, 3, 4 and 6,
On the back surface 27 of the ring portion 12, a ventilation groove 2 for air introduction extending radially from the skirt portion 13 toward the annular protrusion 26.
8 are formed at one location, and four recesses 29 are formed at regular intervals to be depressed to optimize the surface pressure.

The ventilation groove 28 forms an air introduction passage for guiding outside air into the fuel tank between the cap body 2 and the annular packing 3, and is disposed substantially at the center between the adjacent concave portions 29. The recess 29 is sufficiently separated from the recess 29.

The skirt portion 13 has a plurality of convex portions 30 extending in the axial direction on the outer periphery thereof, so that the skirt portion 13 can be easily gripped when the fuel tank cap 1 is attached or detached.

The annular packing 3 is formed of an elastic material such as rubber or silicon like the back packing 20, and includes a ring-shaped plate-shaped seal portion 32 located on the back side of the ring portion 12, and a plate-shaped seal. An annular lip opening / closing valve 33 extending from the portion 32 to the inner peripheral side and crimping the distal end side to the central portion 9 of the cap body 2.

The lip opening / closing valve 33 includes a labyrinth portion 34 extending from the plate-like seal portion 32 to the back side so as to avoid the annular protrusion 26 and then extending radially inward, and a labyrinth portion 3.
4 and a lip tip portion 35 extending toward the inner peripheral side while extending toward the cap body 2 and pressing the tip side against the central portion 9 of the cap body 2.

The labyrinth portion 34 is formed so as to be sufficiently thinner than the plate-like seal portion 32 and to form a gap between the labyrinth portion 32 and the annular projection 26. It has become.

The lip tip portion 35 is formed so that the plate thickness is reduced toward the tip, and the lip tip portion 35 does not bend when the tip portion is brought into contact with the central portion 9 of the cap body 2 so that the central portion 9 is inclined. It is curved along and adheres to the back surface of the central portion 9. Further, the lip tip 35 is formed in a circular shape in a plan view, and the center 9 is formed with the tip side narrowed in a truncated cone shape, so that the tip of the lip on-off valve 33 is also compressed in the circumferential direction and is strong. Is pressed against the inner wall 36 of the central portion 9.

As shown in FIG. 1, the child lid 5 has a disk-shaped lid plate 37, a shaft portion 10 extending from the outer peripheral portion of the rear surface of the lid plate 37 to the rear side, and a shaft portion 10 extending from the outer peripheral portion of the front surface of the child lid 5. And a handle 38 that is eccentric with respect to and protrudes toward the front side in the axial direction.

The shaft portion 10 is formed so as to be slightly tapered toward the back side, and a screw hole for attaching a screw is formed at the tip.

The handle 38 is formed in a substantially conical shape so that the force can be released even if high-pressure water or the like is applied.

As shown in FIGS. 1, 2 and 8, the lock plate 6 is formed in a rectangular plate shape that is long in the sliding direction so as to slide along the guide groove 21. The lock plate 6 has an insertion hole 3 for inserting an engagement projection 17 extending eccentrically in the axial direction from the main body 16 of the key cylinder 4.
9 Specifically, the insertion hole 39 is substantially the engagement protrusion 17.
Is formed so as to surround the periphery of.

The lock plate 6 is arranged in the guide groove 21 so that the surface on the cap body 2 side contacts the groove seal portion 23 of the back packing 20 provided on the block portion 11. In addition, both sides along the sliding direction are brought into contact with the groove seal portion 23 over the entire length. Thus, the lock plate 6 uniformly presses the back packing 20 so that the back packing 20 is not deformed.

Next, the operation will be described.

When the vehicle is run with the fuel tank cap 1 attached to the fuel tank, the pressure in the fuel tank starts to decrease as the fuel is consumed. At this time, the atmospheric pressure becomes
8 acts on the lip on-off valve 33,
Press 3 inward in the radial direction.

As shown in FIG. 7, the lip on-off valve 33 is
Outside air flows into the fuel tank 40 away from the inner wall 36 of the central portion 9. When the air pressure in the fuel tank 40 approaches the atmospheric pressure due to the inflow of the outside air, the lip on-off valve 33 returns to the original position shown in FIG.
The fuel tank 40 is closed.

Also, when driving on a bad road in a full state,
Even in a situation where the fuel in the fuel tank 40 is directly applied to the fuel tank cap 1, the fuel is supplied to the fuel inlet 41.
Does not leak from

Since the annular packing 3 presses the lip on-off valve 33 against the inner wall 36 of the central portion 9, fuel does not flow directly to the back side of the lip on-off valve 33, but seeps out to the back side of the lip on-off valve 33. The fuel is also sealed by the labyrinth part 34 and the plate-shaped seal part 32. In particular, the ventilation groove 28 of the cap body 2 is formed so as to block the flow of fuel (light oil) while permitting the flow of air by utilizing the difference in viscosity, and the cap body 2 and the plate-shaped seal portion 3
Since this is the only route for ventilating between the two, the outside air always flows during traveling, and the fuel does not leak out of the ventilation groove 28 against the airflow.

As shown in FIGS. 1, 2 and 8, the groove seal portion 23 of the back packing 20 covers the entire guide groove 21, and the hydraulic pressure of the fuel acts on the cylinder insertion hole 14 and the shaft hole 15. prevent. And, the packing portion 22 of the back packing 20
Are tightly sealed in the enlarged diameter groove 18 and the communication groove 19 while being elastically deformed, so that the cylinder insertion hole 14 and the shaft hole 15 are tightly sealed, and the groove seal portion 23 and the block portion 11 It prevents the fuel that has entered from leaking into the cylinder insertion hole 14 or the shaft hole 15.

Further, when the car is washed by spraying high-pressure water, and the water hits the child lid 5 of the fuel tank cap 1, the handle 38 is formed in a conical shape, so that the water is hit from any direction. Can release the force, and the child lid 5 does not rotate. Therefore, water can be prevented from entering the keyhole, and water can be prevented from entering the fuel tank and the keyhole from being frozen.

As described above, the cap body 2 for covering and covering the fuel inlet of the vehicle fuel tank, and the annular packing 3 provided on the cap body 2 and in close contact with the periphery of the fuel inlet for sealing. In the fuel tank cap 1 provided, a ventilation groove 28 for guiding outside air into the fuel tank is formed between the cap body 2 and the annular packing 3, and the annular packing 3 is formed from the inner peripheral side of the annular packing 3. A lip opening / closing valve 33 is provided which is annularly extended and has a tip portion constantly pressed against the inner wall 36 of the cap body 2 to open the ventilation groove 28 and introduce outside air when the pressure in the fuel tank becomes negative. Therefore, fuel leakage in the fuel tank can be more reliably prevented while allowing outside air to flow into the fuel tank.

Since the annular packing 3 and the lip opening / closing valve 33 are integrally formed of an elastic material such as rubber having elasticity, the cap 1 for the fuel tank is attached to the fuel inlet so as to be attached to the inner wall 36 of the cap body 2. The lip on-off valve can be easily crimped.

The annular packing 3 is connected to the cap body 2.
Since the air flow path is formed by forming the ventilation groove 28 in the cap body 2 so as to allow the inflow of the outside air, the leakage of the fuel can be easily prevented with a simple structure.

Further, on the back side of the cylinder insertion hole 14, a diameter-enlarging groove 18 for expanding the diameter of the cylinder insertion hole 14 is formed, and a communication groove 19 connecting the diameter-enlarging groove 18 to the shaft hole 15 is formed. Since the common back packing 20 is packed in and sealed to the communication groove 18 and the communication groove 19, the back packing 20 can be compressed and elastically deformed in the enlarged diameter groove 18 and the communication groove 19, and easily with a simple structure. In addition, both the cylinder insertion hole 14 and the shaft hole 15 can be tightly sealed.

A guide groove 21 for guiding the lock plate 6 for locking the rotation of the cap body 2 slidably outward in the radial direction is provided on the enlarged diameter groove 18 and the communication groove 19. Since the back packing 20 is formed to have the groove seal portion 23 that fits in the guide groove 21, the path through which fuel is transmitted can be complicated, and fuel leakage can be more securely prevented.

The lock plate 6 is connected to the main body 1 of the key cylinder 4.
6 is provided with an insertion hole 39 for inserting the engaging projection 17 extending eccentrically in the axial direction, and is disposed in the guide groove 21 so that both sides along the sliding direction are formed in the groove seal portion 23 over the entire length. Since the contact is made to be in contact, the groove seal portion 23 can be evenly pressed, and both sides can be prevented from being caught during sliding movement, and the sealing property of the groove seal portion 23 can be kept good.

Further, since the handle 38 projecting in the axial direction from the surface of the cap 5 is formed in a conical shape, it can be released without receiving pressure even if it is hit with high-pressure water, and the cap 5 moves. This can prevent the cleaning liquid from entering the fuel tank and freezing the keyhole.

The cap body 2 has one ventilation groove 28.
Although only one place is provided, the present invention is not limited to this. For example, a plurality may be provided at equal intervals in the circumferential direction.

When a plurality of lip on-off valves are provided at equal intervals in the circumferential direction, the lip on-off valve can be more uniformly deformed toward the center.

The handle 38 of the child lid 5 is formed in a conical shape. However, the present invention is not limited to this. The shape may be a pyramid or a column, as long as the shape allows the power of high-pressure water to escape. You may.

The annular packing 3 and the back packing 20
Is not limited to those made of rubber or silicon, but may be made of another material such as vinyl or polyethylene as long as it is elastic and does not pass fuel.

[0063]

In summary, according to the present invention, the following excellent effects can be obtained. (1) The possibility of fuel leakage can be further reduced while allowing the inflow of outside air. (2) The child lid can be prevented from moving during high-pressure car washing.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a side sectional view of a fuel tank cap showing a preferred embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a view taken along the line II-II in FIG.

FIG. 3 is a rear view of the cap body.

FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view taken along line IV-IV of FIG. 2;

FIG. 5 is a sectional view taken along line VV of FIG. 2;

FIG. 6 is a sectional view taken along line VI-VI of FIG. 2;

FIG. 7 is a sectional view taken along line VI-VI of FIG. 2 in a state where outside air is flowing.

FIG. 8 is a view taken on line VIII-VIII of FIG. 2;

FIG. 9 is a rear view of a conventional fuel tank cap.

FIG. 10 is a sectional view taken along line AA of FIG. 9;

[Explanation of symbols]

 REFERENCE SIGNS LIST 1 fuel tank cap 2 cap body 3 packing 28 ventilation groove (air introduction path) 33 lip on-off valve 36 inner wall

 ──────────────────────────────────────────────────続 き Continuing on the front page (72) Inventor Takeo Yamaki 3-26-7 Minamioi, Shinagawa-ku, Tokyo IC L Building ICL Corporation (72) Inventor Yoshiko Maru Minami, Shinagawa-ku, Tokyo 3-26-7 Oi IC L Building ILC Corporation F Term (Reference) 3D038 CA07 CA20 CA22 CA27 CA34 CB03 CC14 CC15 3E084 AA06 AA12 AB04 BA02 CA01 DA01 HA03 KA19

Claims (7)

[Claims] 1. A fuel comprising: a cap body for covering and closing a fuel inlet of a vehicle-mounted fuel tank; and an annular annular packing provided in the cap body and in close contact with and sealing to a periphery of the fuel inlet. In the tank cap, an air introduction passage for guiding outside air into the fuel tank is formed between the cap body and the annular packing, and a tip end is extended annularly from the inner peripheral side of the annular packing. A cap for a fuel tank, which is always press-fitted to the inner wall of the cap body and provided with a lip opening / closing valve for opening the air introduction path and introducing outside air when the inside of the fuel tank becomes a negative pressure. . 2. The fuel tank cap according to claim 1, wherein the annular packing and the lip on-off valve are integrally formed of an elastic material such as rubber having elasticity. 3. The cap for a fuel tank according to claim 1, wherein the annular packing is in contact with the cap body on a flat surface, and the air introduction path includes a groove formed in the cap body. 4. A child lid for forming a cylinder insertion hole for embedding a key cylinder in a cap body that covers and closes a fuel injection port of a fuel tank exposed to the outside of a vehicle, and slidably covers the outside of the cylinder insertion hole. In a fuel tank cap in which a shaft hole for inserting a shaft portion is formed substantially parallel to and adjacent to the cylinder insertion hole, a diameter-enlarging groove for expanding the cylinder insertion hole is formed on the back side of the cylinder insertion hole. A fuel tank cap, wherein a communication groove is formed from the enlarged diameter groove to the shaft hole, and a common back packing is packed in the enlarged diameter groove and the communication groove to seal. 5. A guide groove for guiding a lock plate for locking the rotation of the cap body slidably outward in a radial direction is formed on the enlarged diameter groove and the communication groove. 5. The cap for a fuel tank according to claim 4, wherein the back packing has a groove seal portion fitted into the guide groove. 6. The lock plate has an insertion hole for inserting an engagement protrusion extending eccentrically in the axial direction from the main body of the key cylinder, and is disposed in the guide groove so as to slide in the slide direction. The fuel tank cap according to claim 5, wherein both sides along the entire length are in contact with the groove seal portion over the entire length. 7. A key body embedded and provided in a cap body for covering and closing a fuel injection port of a fuel tank exposed to the outside of a vehicle, and a child lid for closing a key hole of the key cylinder so that the key hole can be opened and closed outside the key cylinder. A fuel tank cap rotatably provided along an end face of the fuel tank cap, wherein a handle protruding in an axial direction from a surface of the child lid is formed in a columnar or conical shape.