JPS5940296Y2 - fuel tank cap - Google Patents

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION The present invention relates to a fuel tank cap for closing the filler opening of a fuel tank such as a gasoline tank in an automatic vehicle.

A cap is attached to the filler port of a fuel tank to prevent gasoline from flowing out of the fuel tank.In order to ensure a smooth supply of fuel to the engine, a cap is installed on the filler port of a fuel tank to prevent gasoline from flowing out. It has 4 mechanisms for introducing purple.

However, when the air groove rises, the pressure inside the tank increases due to the vaporized fuel inside the tank, so when you remove the cap when refueling, the pressure inside the tank may blow the cap or the fuel inside the tank may blow out. There is a risk of causing a dangerous situation 4.

Therefore, in the conventional cap, in order to prevent such problems, the cap body 1 is fixed as shown in FIG.
For the measurement, a pair of claws 2, 2 protruding outward are placed at symmetrical positions on the drawing, and the claws 2, 2 are placed on symmetrical positions on the drawing.
A pair of claws 7, 7 extending downward from 2 and protruding outward are provided in two steps.

Then, without unscrewing, the claws 7 and 7 are inserted into the claw insertion grooves 8 and 8 cut at symmetrical positions on the upper surface of the gold filler neck for 90'
The cap 6 is then rotated, and the cap 6 is then mounted with a metal plate by fitting the pawl 2 into the pawl fitting grooves 8, 8 in the same way as the two metal parts and engaging with the end face 5 of the cam wall 4 provided on the filler neck 3. ing.

By adopting this dredging mechanism, even if one claw 2, 2 of the bifurcated claws comes off, the other claw 1.7 can be prevented from blowing back the gasoline that occurs when the internal pressure of the tank is high.
This can be prevented since the engagement with the end face 5 of the holder is prevented from disengaging.

However, with this bifurcated claw type cap, as shown in the figure, when the lid is opened, a large gap sound is generated between the filler neck 3 and the sleeve 6, so if the pressure inside the tank is extremely high, this gap metal may be heard. , gasoline may blow back, and it could not be said to be a sufficient measure against gasoline blowback.

A recently proposed screw-on cap shown in U.S. Pat. No. 3,986,634 includes an outer shell 8 having a lid handle;
It consists of an inner body that is attached to the inside of the outer shell, and a latch member 4 is provided on the inner wall surface of the outer shell, which is the attachment site to the inner body, and a hook-shaped protrusion corresponding to the latch member is provided on the upper side of the inner body. Tightening is done by controlling the torque by providing claws, but in this cap, the claws protruding from the upper side of the internal body are made of synthetic resin such as polyacetal or nylon, so they cannot be tightened in cold temperatures. Because the physical properties of the synthetic resin change significantly due to differences in temperature, such as between warm and warm regions, winter and summer, or night and day, the torque value fluctuates. Since bending force is constantly applied to the nails during construction, there is also a problem in durability.

Moreover, if the claws of this cap become worn or damaged, it is virtually impossible to repair or replace them.

Since the shape of the claw part of the sword is complicated, a complicated process is required to form it.

In addition, a claw protrudes horizontally from the upper side of the main body, and this is received by a latch member on the inner wall of the outer shell, which inevitably increases the diameter of the outer shell. It may be inconvenient for a cap to be used in a small space.

Furthermore, U.S. Patent No. 41096 discloses a technology incorporated into the pulp purple cap that operates when the pressure inside the tank is reduced or increased.
There is one described in the specification of No. 74.

This is done by two diaphragms that create a pressure-tight space between them, and when the inside of the tank becomes negative pressure, the outside air that enters from the port of the negative pressure field pushes away the edge of one diaphragm. When the gas flows into the tank and the tank becomes pressurized, the flange of the other diaphragm is pushed aside and the gas in the tank leaks out to the outside.The structure of the valve is complicated. Become.

This invention introduces outside air into the tank when the pressure inside the tank decreases due to the use of fuel in the tank, and when the pressure inside the tank increases due to a rise in temperature, the system introduces outside air into the tank. This is a cap that allows leakage to the outside of the high-pressure gas tank so that the pressure inside the tank is always approximately equal to atmospheric pressure.It solves all four disadvantages of conventional caps, and the tightening torque is almost equal to that of the external environment. The purpose of this invention is to provide a cap that is not affected by the gas, is small in size, has a simple internal structure, and has no fear of gasoline being blown back.

In order to achieve such a target sound, the present invention is attached to a handle member of the upper lid, and a male thread is formed to be screwed into the filler neck of the fuel filler port 4 of the fuel tank so that the filler neck is closed. Inside the cylindrical cap body, there is a diaphragm metal mounting with a vent hole in the center,
A lower spring receiver located on the tank side of the diaphragm B, an upper spring receiver located on the atmosphere side, and a disk disposed within the cap body that contacts the lower surface of the diaphragm to open and close the vent hole; A first spring for pressing the disk metal toward the atmosphere side is accommodated between the spring receiver, and a second spring for pressing the diaphragm metal toward the tank is housed between the diaphragm and the upper spring. A stopper metal is attached to the diaphragm to restrict the downward movement of the disk beyond a predetermined amount, while a stopper metal is attached to the lower spring receiver to abut against the disk and restrict the upward movement of the disk beyond the predetermined amount. It's a cap.

Hereinafter, a fourth embodiment of a fuel cap 11 according to the present invention will be described based on FIGS. 2 to 11.

As shown in FIG. 3, a handle member 1 made of synthetic resin is attached to a cap body 14 made of synthetic resin with a male screw 13 formed thereon to be screwed together with a filler neck 12 that forms the filler neck of the fuel tank.
5 is assembled, and the handle member 15 is attached to the top plate part 1.
6, a handle portion 17 protruding from the top surface, and a top plate portion 16.
The cylindrical threaded part 19 is formed in the cap body 14 by a skirt part 18 extending downward and a cylindrical threaded part 19 provided radially inward from the skirt part 18 and extending downward. It is screwed with a female screw 20 with a tt-g.
Cap 1 to completely block filler neck 12
1.When installing, hold the handle part 17 gold and remove the handle member 1.
54 rotations, the cap body 14 fully rotates through the threaded portion 19, and the cap 11 is attached to the filler neck 12.
Do it with all your might.

An O-ring 21 is attached to the cap body 14 to completely seal the oil inlet of the filler neck 12.

In order to prevent the cap 11 filler neck 12 from being too tightly tightened and becoming unable to remove the cap 11 from the filler neck 12 during lubrication, the threaded portion 19 is tightened to a certain torque due to its flexure. As is clear from FIGS. 4 and 5, six notches 22 extending in the axial direction are provided, and the threaded portion 19 is composed of six arch-shaped hanging pieces 23.

Therefore, since the threaded portion 19 is elastically deformed in the radial direction, even if the handle portion 17 is rotated and the cap body 14 is screwed into the filler neck 12, after a certain tightening force is obtained, no matter how much Even when the handle member 154 is rotated, the diameter of the threaded portion 19 is reduced in the radial direction, and the thread of the threaded portion 19 is
As it returns over the thread of the female screw 20, the handle member 1
5 rotates idly, and a rotational force exceeding a certain level is not transmitted to the cap body 14.

This prevents the cap 11 from being overtightened.

When removing the cap 11 from the filler neck 12, if the frictional bonding force between the cap body 14 and the filler neck 12 is stronger than the frictional bonding force between the cylindrical threaded portion 19 and the cap body 14, the nozzle member 15 Even if the cap is rotated, the threaded portion 19 only comes off the female thread 20, and the rotation of the handle member 15 is not transmitted to the cap body 14.

Therefore, when removing the cap 11, the handle member 15
In order to transmit the rotational force to the cap main body 14, the upper surface and the projecting edge of an inwardly protruding ring 25 protrudingly provided on the inner peripheral surface of the skirt portion 18 surrounding the projecting edge 24 provided on the upper part of the cap main body 14. Serrated teeth 26 and 27 are formed on the lower surface of the portion 24, as shown in FIG. , the needle member 15 is the cap body 14
The teeth 26, 27i111ii are brought into alignment.

This anastomosis can be removed by descending again.

That is, when the handle member 15 fully rotates, the threaded portion 19 rotates in a direction that allows it to engage with the male thread 20, so that the handle member 15 rises and the two toothed portions 26. 27 meshes.

As a result, the rotational force of this handle member 15 is
When the handle member 154 is further rotated, the handle member 15 and the cap body 14 are rotated as one, and the cap 11 is removed from the filler neck 12.

The inwardly protruding ring 25 is attached to the skirt portion 18 using a fixing method 4 such as ultrasonic welding, high frequency welding, hot air welding, etc.
#1 is attached to the slide core 4 or molded integrally with the handle member by injection molding.

As shown in FIG. 3, a diaphragm 29 having a ventilation hole in the center is attached to the cap body 14, and an upper spring receiver 30 located on the atmosphere side across the diaphragm 29 is molded integrally with the gap body 14. The lower spring receiver 31 located on the tank side is fixed to the cap body 14 by a fixing method such as ultrasonic welding, high frequency welding, press fitting, or the like.

The diaphragm 29 has an upper spring receiver 30 and a lower spring receiver 3.
The lower spring receiver 31 is made of the same synthetic resin as the cap body 14.

A disk 33 that comes into contact with the lower surface of the diaphragm 29 is installed at the upper end of the first spring 32 whose lower end is supported by the lower spring receiver 31, and the elastic force of the first spring 32 causes the disk 3 to
3 is pressed toward the atmosphere side, that is, toward the upper side.

Further, between the upper spring receiver 30 and the diaphragm 29, there is a second diaphragm 29 that presses the diaphragm 29 downward.
A spring 34 is housed therein.

The lower spring receiver 31 is provided with four ventilation holes 36 that communicate with the inside of the tank and a first chamber 35 formed by the lower spring receiver 31 and the diaphragm 29. A second chamber 46 formed by the disk 30 and the diaphragm 29 is provided with a plurality of ventilation holes 37 communicating with the outside, and furthermore, a ventilation hole 45 is provided in the disk 33.

When the pressure inside the tank is approximately equal to the atmosphere, the first spring 32 and the second spring 34 are activated as shown in FIG.
The elastic force of disc 3 is in a balanced state.
3 is in contact with the lower surface of the diaphragm 29, but when the fuel in the tank decreases due to use and the pressure in the tank becomes lower than the atmospheric pressure, the pressure between the handle member 15 and the cap body 14 is removed from the outside. Gap, depth of cut 22~
The diaphragm 29 is pushed down together with the disk 33 against the elastic force of the first spring 32 by the pressure of the outside air flowing into the second chamber 46 through the ventilation hole 37 and the elastic force of the second spring 34. The diaphragm 29 is provided with a stopper that completely restricts its downward movement so that only the disk 33 resists the elastic force of the first spring 32 and falls away from the diaphragm 29 when the pressure inside the tank decreases beyond a predetermined value. 38 is sticking out.

This stopper 38 has a dish-shaped cross section 4, and its center portion 40 fits into a groove 41 in the center of the diaphragm 29, and its peripheral portion 42 engages with a flat portion 43 provided at the peripheral portion of the diaphragm 29. Due to the contact between the peripheral portion 42 and the flat portion 43, the downward movement of the diaphragm 29 is regulated to a constant amount.

Therefore, when the pressure in the tank decreases, disk 3
3 moves downward away from the diaphragm 29, the outside air passes through the entire gap between the disk 33 and the diaphragm 29, as shown by the arrow in FIG. Introduce it into the tank after all.

On the other hand, when the pressure inside the tank increases due to an increase in humidity, such as when an AAA battery is left in the hot summer sun, the diaphragm 29, together with the disk 33, is activated by the elastic force of the first spring 32 and the pressure inside the tank. , but after being pushed up a certain amount, the diaphragm 29 is moved upward, causing the disk 33 and the diaphragm 29 to
In order to create a gap 1f between the high-pressure gas 4 in the tank and release the high-pressure gas 4 in the tank to the outside, the disc 33 has four protruding claws 33a as shown in FIG. Elongated holes 44 for guiding each are bored in the lower spring receiver 31, and when the disk 33 moves upward by a certain amount, the claw portion 33a comes into contact with the upper end 44a of the elongated hole 44, preventing further upward movement of the disk. is regulated.

Therefore, when the pressure inside the tank becomes greater than the atmosphere, the diaphragm 29 moves upwardly away from the disk 33 due to the pressure inside the tank, as shown in FIG. 45, disk 3
3 and the diaphragm 29, and through the ventilation hole 284 of the diaphragm 29, from the first chamber 35 to the second chamber 46.
, the ventilation holes 37, the notches 22, and the entire gap between the cap body 14 and the handle member 15 to leak to the outside air.

At this time, the peripheral portion 42 of the stopper 38 separates from the flat portion 43 of the diaphragm 29, and the diaphragm 29 is bent as shown.

When attaching cap 11 to gold filler neck 12,
When the cap body 14 is placed on the filler neck 12 and the handle 17 of the handle member 15 is rotated clockwise, the arcuate hanging piece 23 also rotates.

Initially, this hanging piece 23 enters the hollow part in the cap body 14, but once the threaded part 19 is screwed together, the rotational force of the handle 17 is transmitted to the cap body 14 through the threaded part 19, and the cap body 14 is rotated. Male thread part 13 is filler neck 1
Start fully screwing into the female threaded part of No.2.

After the handle 17 continues to rotate four times, the cap body 14 is screwed onto the filler neck 12, and the O-ring 21 completely seals the oil filler port of the filler neck 12, the tightening torque due to the rotation is applied. When a certain value is reached and the handle 17 is rotated completely, the threaded portion 19 of the arcuate hanging piece 23 will move over the entire thread of the male thread 20 of the cap body 14.

That is, this arc-shaped hanging piece 23 is made of synthetic resin and has elastic gold because it has a 22-metal notch.
If a rotational force is applied after completion of tightening, the threaded state of the threaded connection will come off, and a situation will occur where the threaded portion 19 is forced to exceed the thread of the female thread 20.

In this case, the threaded portion 19 makes a clicking sound and begins to rotate idly, allowing the operator to know that the tightening force of the cap 11 has reached a certain value.

When the internal pressure of the tank decreases due to the use of fuel after this cap installation is completed, the ventilation holes 37,
Atmospheric air flows into the tank through the second chamber 46, the vent hole 45, the first chamber 35, and the vent hole 36, thereby eliminating the negative pressure.

In addition, when the pressure inside the tank increases due to an increase in humidity, the disk 33 moves to the diaphragm 2 as shown in FIG.
After rising at 1 where the upper end 44a of the long hole 44 and the disk 33 come into contact with each other, only the diaphragm 29 rises due to the pressure inside the tank, and the disk 33 and the diaphragm 2
A gap is created between 9 and 9.

Then, the high pressure gas inside the tank escapes to the outside through this gap, and the pressure inside the tank decreases.

FIG. 11 shows another embodiment of the present invention, in which a protrusion 47 that contacts the upper surface of the disk protrudes from the lower spring receiver 31 in order to restrict the upward movement of the disk 33.
In order to restrict the downward movement of the disk 33, a protrusion 48 that abuts the lower end of the disk 33 is provided protruding from the lower spring receiver 31.

Components having the same member numbers in this example and those in the previous example are designated as the same member 4.

In the illustrated embodiment, the disk 33 and the stopper 38 are made of purple metal, but they may also be made of synthetic resin.

In addition, the above 1. In the second embodiment, both the handle member and the cap body metal are made of synthetic resin.
Of course, the present invention is not limited to resin, and can be applied to caps made of a wide variety of other materials.

As mentioned above, according to the present invention, within a certain range, the diaphragm and the disk move up and down within a certain range, and when the diaphragm and the disk move up and down beyond this range, only the diaphragm or only the disk moves. Since it is designed to move up and down, when the pressure inside the tank is reduced by one diaphragm, the diaphragm and the disc operate to bring in outside air, and when the pressure inside the tank becomes high, the gas inside the tank is released to the outside. Since the tank operates normally, the pressure inside the tank is always approximately equal to atmospheric pressure, and the cap is no longer blown off when refueling.

Since there is no abnormally high pressure inside the sludge tank, there is no need to increase the strength of the tank.

Moreover, the internal structure is significantly simplified compared to the conventional cap that requires two valves.

Furthermore, when the cap is made of the metal alloy or resin of the present invention, the tightening torque of the cap is hardly affected by the external environment, and the cap can be made compact, which is particularly preferable.

[Brief explanation of the drawing]

Fig. 1 is a sectional view showing a conventional fuel cap 4, Fig. 2 is a plan view of the fuel cap according to the present invention, Fig. 3 is an expanded sectional view taken along the line ■-■ in Fig. 2, Figure 4 is I of Figure 3.
A cross-sectional view taken along the line V-IV, Figure 5 is a cross-sectional view taken along the ■-■ line in Figure 3,
Fig. 6 is a sectional view taken along the line VI-Vl in Fig. 4, Fig. 7 is a sectional view taken along the line ■-■ in Fig. 5, Fig. 8 is a sectional view of main parts when the tank is under negative pressure, and Fig. 9 Figure 10 is a sectional view of the main part when the tank is under high pressure condition, Figure 10 is a perspective view of the disk goldstone, Figure 11 is a perspective view of the disk.
The figure is a sectional view of a main part of another embodiment of the present invention. In the drawing, 11... Cap, 12...
Filler neck, 13... Male thread, 14...
...Cap body, 15...Handle member,
19...Threaded part, 20...Female thread, 2
2...Notch, 28...Vent hole, 29
...Diaphragm, 30...Upper spring receiver, 31...Lower spring receiver, 32...
・First spring, 33... Disk, 34... Second spring, 36... Ventilation hole, 38... Stop collar 44... Elongated hole, 47,48...
protrusion.

Claims (3)

[Scope of utility model registration request] (1) A cylindrical cap body that is attached to the handle member of the upper lid, and a male thread that engages with the filler neck of the fuel tank filler neck to close the filler neck. A vent hole has a diaphragm l attached thereto, a lower spring receiver located on the tank side across the diaphragm metal, and an upper spring receiver located on the atmosphere side. A first spring metal is housed between the opening/closing disc of the ventilation hole 4 and the lower spring holder, and a first spring metal is housed between the diaphragm and the upper spring holder, and a first spring metal is housed between the diaphragm 4 and the upper spring holder, and the diaphragm 4 is pressed to the tank holder. A second spring 4 is housed therein, and a stopper metal 5 is attached to the diaphragm to restrict the downward movement of the diaphragm by a predetermined amount or more, while a stopper metal is attached to the diaphragm to prevent the disk from moving upward by a predetermined amount or more. A fuel tank cap provided on the lower spring receiver. (2) The disc is provided with a protruding claw part that engages in a long hole formed in the lower spring holder, and when the upper end of the long hole comes into contact with the claw part, the amount of upward movement of the disc is adjusted. The fuel tank cap according to claim 1, wherein the fuel tank cap is regulated. (3) The above-mentioned utility model registration request wherein a protrusion is provided on the lower spring receiver to abut against the upper end surface of the disk, and the upward movement of the disk is regulated by the contact between the protrusion and the upper end surface of the disk. Fuel tank guard cap as described in Range 1.