JPH0661748U - Tank cap - Google Patents

Abstract

(57) [Summary] [Purpose] To provide a tank cap that can protect the ratchet mechanism from water and dust. [Structure] In a tank cap 3 provided with ratchet mechanisms 50 and 55 that allow rotation in one direction between the outer cap 10 and the inner cap 30, a breather tube connection port 36 is passed through the outer cap from the center of the inner cap 30. The tank cap 3 is characterized in that a seal member 61 is disposed between the outer tube 10 and the inner tube 30 on the outer circumference of the breather tube connection port 36.

Description

[Detailed description of the device]

[0001]

[Industrial applications]

 The present invention relates to a tank cap for a fuel tank with a torque limiter mechanism.

[0002]

[Prior art]

 Some tank caps that are screwed into the fuel filler port of a vehicle-mounted fuel tank to be closed are equipped with a torque limiter mechanism in order to provide a moderation of operation from a product standpoint.

In this torque limiter mechanism, a tank cap is composed of an outer cap and an inner cap, and a ratchet mechanism is interposed between them.

That is, when the tank cap is screwed into the filler port, the outer cap rotates together with the inner cap to screw the inner cap into the filler port at the beginning when the tightening is weak. When the tightening torque becomes more than a certain level, the ratchet mechanism that allows one-way rotation allows the inner cap to remain tightened and only the outer cap to idle. On the contrary, when removing the tank cap, the ratchet mechanism transmits the reverse rotation of the outer cap to the inner cap, and the outer cap can be integrally rotated and removed.

[0005]

[Problems to be solved]

 This ratchet mechanism is interposed between the outer cap and the inner cap, but there is a gap between the two caps for smooth operation. In particular, a vehicle that runs off-road and has a structure in which the tank cap itself is exposed to the outside runs in sand, dust, water, etc. even during normal driving, so sand, dust, muddy water, etc. Etc. may be scattered and applied.

The present invention has been made in view of the above points, and an object thereof is to prevent sand, dust, muddy water, and the like from entering in a normal traveling state.

[0007]

[Means and Actions for Solving the Problems]

 In order to achieve the above object, the present invention provides a tank cap having a ratchet mechanism between the outer cap and the inner cap, which allows the ratchet mechanism to rotate in one direction, and penetrates the outer cap from the center of the inner cap through the breather tube connection port. After that, the tank cap was provided with a sealing member between the outer cap and the inner cap on the outer periphery of the breather tube connection port.

The seal member prevents invasion of sand, dust, muddy water, and the like.

[0009]

【Example】

 An embodiment of the present invention shown in FIGS. 1 to 3 will be described below. FIG. 1 is a sectional view showing a state in which a tank cap 3 is screwed into a fuel filler port 1a of a fuel tank 1 via a seal packing 2, FIG. 2 is a sectional view taken along line II-II in FIG. 1, and FIG. FIG. 3 is an exploded perspective view of a tank cap 3 and a fuel filler port 1a that are partially broken.

The fuel tank 1 is made of resin, and the fuel filler port 1a of the fuel tank 1 projects in a cylindrical shape and has an external thread formed on the outer circumference. A level plate 5 for setting the level of the liquid surface is provided on the inner periphery of the level plate 5. The level plate 5 has a cylindrical shape, and the level of the liquid surface is set at the lower end edge, and a small hole for venting air is formed on the side surface of the cylinder. A plurality of 5a are formed.

The tank cap 3 that is screwed into the filler opening 1 a is a combination of an outer cap 10 and an inner cap 30. The inner cap 30 is rotatably fitted in the outer cap 10 and the inner cap 30 Is screwed into the fuel filler port 1a.

The outer cap 10 has a substantially bowl shape, and a side portion 13 extends vertically downward from an upper wall 11 via a shoulder portion 12. The side portion 13 has an inner peripheral wall 14 formed on the inner side, and an outer peripheral wall 15 on the outer side forms corrugated irregularities around the inner peripheral wall 14 so that a finger can be put on the convex portion to easily rotate.

The center of the upper wall 11 has a cylindrical opening 16, and the cylindrical opening 16 forms a cylindrical protrusion 17 on the inside. Four protrusions 19 are provided on the periphery of the bottom surface of the inner cylindrical space 18 formed by the inner peripheral wall 14 and the upper wall 11. Further, notches 20 are formed in the inner peripheral surface near the opening edge of the inner peripheral wall 14 in the circumferential direction, and locking claws 21 project inward at about six places on the lower edge thereof.

On the other hand, the inner cap 30 has a bowl-like shape from an upper wall 31 and a side portion 32 that can fit in the cylindrical space 18 of the outer cap 10, and the side portion 32 includes an outer peripheral wall 33 and an inner peripheral wall 34. An annular space 35 is formed between 33 and the inner peripheral wall 34. A female screw is formed on the inner peripheral surface of the outer peripheral wall 33 so as to be screwed with the male screw of the fuel filler port 1a of the fuel tank 1.

A joint pipe portion 36 to which a breather tube is joined is formed in the center of the upper wall 31, and the joint pipe portion 36 projects outwardly perpendicularly to the upper wall 31 and also inwardly. It is protruding. In addition, on the outer surface of the upper wall 31, a projecting strip 37 is formed in an annular shape around the joining pipe part 36, and a gap 38 is formed between the projecting strip 37 and the joining pipe part 36. Is projected. Further, on the outer peripheral surface of the outer peripheral wall 33, there are formed projection locking claws 40 directed in the circumferential direction.

Inside the inner cap 30, a bottomed cylindrical member 41 is covered below the inner peripheral wall 34, and a gas-liquid separation chamber 42 is formed inside. The bottomed cylindrical member 41 has an opening edge thereof fitted to the opening edge of the inner peripheral wall 34 to form a columnar gas-liquid separation chamber 42 therein, and the joining pipe portion 36 is formed in the gas-liquid separation chamber 42. Droops. Further, a small hole 43 is formed in the bottom of the bottomed cylindrical member 41 so that the fuel accumulated inside is returned to the inside of the fuel tank 1 again.

On the outer surface of the upper wall 31 of the inner cap 30 as described above, the ratchet wheel 50 is arranged on the outer periphery of the annular protrusion 37. The ratchet wheel 50 has serrated teeth 51 on the outer peripheral edge and four concave portions 52 on the inner peripheral edge. The ratchet wheel 50 engages with the convex portion 39 on the inner cap 30 side to form the inner cap 30. The ratchet wheel 50 is adapted to rotate integrally.

On the other hand, an annular outer ratchet 55 is provided on the inner surface of the upper wall 11 of the outer cap 10. The outer ratchet 55 has four recesses 56 formed on the outer peripheral edge thereof, and engages with the projections 19 on the outer cap 10 side so that the outer ratchet 55 rotates integrally with the outer cap 10. .

The outer ratchet 55 has long claws 57 extending obliquely inward from six locations on the inner peripheral edge thereof. 2 is a sectional view taken along the line II-II in FIG. 1. When the outer cap 10 and the inner cap 30 are combined with each other by interposing a ratchet mechanism including a ratchet wheel 50 and an outer ratchet 55, FIG. 2 is referred to. The ratchet wheel 50 has a serrated tooth 51 formed in a clockwise direction, and the tip of a long pawl 57 extending counterclockwise from the inner peripheral edge of the outer ratchet 55 meshes with the tooth 51.

The inner cap 30 is fitted inside the outer cap 10, and the joint pipe portion 36 on the inner cap 30 side penetrates through the central cylindrical opening 16 on the outer cap 10 side, so that the inner cap 30 is attached to the outer cap 10. Is rotatable about the joint pipe portion 36, but its relative movement is restricted by the ratchet mechanism interposed.

That is, in FIG. 2, when the outer cap 10 rotates counterclockwise, the long claws 57 bite into the serrated teeth 51 of the ratchet wheel 50 to rotate the inner cap 30 integrally.

On the other hand, with respect to the clockwise rotation of the outer cap 10, when the external force is not applied to the inner cap 30, the long cap 57 and the serrated teeth 51 mesh with each other to integrally form the inner cap 30. Although it is rotated, if there is a certain amount of force to fix the inner cap 30, the long pawl 57 elastically deforms and gets over the tooth crests of the serrated teeth 51, and only the outer cap 10 idles. .

Whether or not the inner cap 30 is integrally rotated with respect to the clockwise rotation of the outer cap 10 can be set by the elastic force of the long pawl 57.

The ratchet mechanism including the ratchet wheel 50 and the outer ratchet 55 is interposed in the space 60 between the inner surface of the bottom portion of the outer cap 10 and the outer surface of the bottom portion of the inner cap 30. An annular dust seal 61 is interposed between the cylindrical protrusion 17 of the outer cap 10 and the ridge 37 of the inner cap 30 so as to close the gap.

There is a slight gap between the outer cap 10 and the inner cap 30 for smooth operation, and the dust seal 61 that closes the gap is made of felt material impregnated with oil to prevent slippage. I am doing well. The material is not limited to the felt material, and a rubber material having a small friction coefficient may be used.

On the other hand, in the notch 20 of the inner peripheral wall 14 of the outer cap 10, an annular dust seal 62 made of a felt material is interposed between the locking claw 40 provided on the outer peripheral wall 33 on the inner cap 30 side. To be done. Like the dust seal 61, the dust seal 62 is made of a felt material impregnated with oil to improve the slip. Not only the felt material but also a rubber material having a small friction coefficient may be used.

When the inner cap 30 is fitted with the ratchet mechanism interposed inside the outer cap 10, the dust seals 61 and 62 are interposed with respect to the outer cap 10 so that the joining pipe portion 36 is aligned with the cylindrical opening 16. When the inner cap 30 is inserted, the locking claws 21 on the outer cap 10 side and the locking claws 40 on the inner cap 30 side engage with each other to lock them, and the space 60 in which the ratchet mechanism is interposed is dust-sealed. The inside is blocked by 61 and the outside is blocked by dust seal 62, and it is possible to prevent sand, dust, muddy water, etc. from entering space 60 under normal traveling conditions.

The end portion of the breather tube 4 is fitted and joined to the joint pipe portion 36 on the inner cap 30 side that penetrates the cylindrical opening 16 of the outer cap 10, and the other end of the breather tube 4 is opened to the atmosphere. There is. Therefore, the dust seal 61 can prevent sand, dust, water, etc. from entering through the gap between the outer cap and the breather tube under normal traveling conditions.

When the seal packing 2 is fitted to the bottom of the annular space 35 of the inner cap 30 and the breather tube 4 is screwed into the oil filler opening 1a, the opening end of the oil filler opening 1a presses the seal packing 2 to seal it. The inside of the fuel tank 1 and the outside world are shut off from each other.

Since the tank cap 3 of this embodiment has the structure as described above, when the tank cap 3 is fitted to the fuel filler port 1a and the outer cap 10 is rotated clockwise, the inner cap 30 rotates integrally. Then, when the inner cap 30 is screwed and tightened to some extent, the ratchet mechanism causes the outer cap 10 to rotate idly. On the contrary, when the outer cap 10 is rotated counterclockwise to remove the tank cap 3, the inner cap 30 is integrally rotated by the ratchet mechanism to unscrew the inner cap 30 from the fuel filler port 1a. You can

The space 60 between the outer cap 10 and the inner cap 30 in which such a ratchet mechanism is interposed can be prevented by a dust seal 61 and a dust seal 62 from invading sand, dust, water, etc. in a normal running state. .

[0032]

[Effect of device]

 According to the present invention, since the seal member is arranged in the gap between the outer cap and the inner cap on the outer circumference of the breather tube connection port, it is possible to prevent the entry of sand, dust, water, etc. in a normal running state.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a cross-sectional view showing a state where a tank cap according to an embodiment of the present invention is screwed into a fuel filler port.

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

FIG. 3 is an exploded perspective view of the same tank cap and a fuel filler port that are partially cut away.

[Explanation of symbols]

1 ... Fuel tank, 2 ... Seal packing, 3 ... Tank cap, 4 ... Breather tube, 5 ... Level plate, 10
… Outer cap, 11… Top wall, 12… Shoulder, 13… Side, 14
... Inner peripheral wall, 15 ... Outer peripheral wall, 16 ... Cylindrical opening, 17 ... Cylindrical protrusion, 18 ... Cylindrical space, 19 ... Convex part, 20 ... Notch, 21 ... Locking claw, 30 ... Inner cap, 31 ... Top Wall, 32 ... Side part, 33 ... Outer wall, 34 ... Inner wall, 35 ... Annular space, 36 ... Junction pipe part, 37 ...
Protrusion, 38 ... Void, 39 ... Convex part, 40 ... Locking claw, 41 ... Bottom cylindrical member, 42 ... Gas-liquid separation chamber, 43 ... Small hole, 50 ... Ratchet wheel, 51 ... Serrated tooth, 52 ... Recess, 55 ... Outer ratchet, 56 ... Recess, 57 ... Long claw, 60 ... Space, 61, 62 ... Dust seal.

Claims (1)

[Scope of utility model registration request] 1. A tank cap having a ratchet mechanism between the outer cap and the inner cap that allows rotation in one direction, wherein a breather tube connection port is extended upward from the center of the inner cap through the outer cap. A tank cap, wherein a seal member is provided between an outer cap and an inner cap on the outer circumference of the breather tube connection port.