WO2003041984A1

WO2003041984A1 - A dual filler for gas systems for automotive engines

Info

Publication number: WO2003041984A1
Application number: PCT/IT2002/000694
Authority: WO
Inventors: Francesco Gobbi
Original assignee: Emer S.R.L.
Priority date: 2001-11-15
Filing date: 2002-11-04
Publication date: 2003-05-22
Also published as: ITBS20010092U1

Abstract

The invention relates to a filler, for use in particular with gas systems for automotive engines. It comprises a filler body (11) having a filler stem (15), which is externally provided with a first attachment means (24) for attaching elements of a first coupling or filler nozzle (20) and a second attachment means (25) for attaching elements of a second coupling or filler nozzle (21) different from the first.

Description

"A DUAL FILLER FOR GAS SYSTEMS FOR AUTOMOTIVE ENGINES"

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Filed of the invention

This invention concerns a filler, for use in particular with gas systems for automotive engines, to which a coupling member can be attached, also known as a filler nozzle, at the moment of filling with gas.

Prior of Art A filler of the type considered here is attached, either directly or indirectly, by means of a tube for example, to a cylinder or gas container under pressure, which is usually provided with a check valve to prevent gas leaking, and can be fitted with a safety cover. A coupling member or filler nozzle is connected to the filler for the supply of fuel gas from a distributor. In order to be able to connect the coupling or filler nozzle, the filler is usually provided with a means of attachment which engages the coupling member or nozzle and the sealing elements with which the coupling member is equipped. Available at present we have on the one hand a filler with a means of attachment to connect a coupling member or a complementary filler nozzle, the so-called Italian system, and, on the other hand a filler which complies to the

North American regulations given in the "NGN1" standard and which is structured to connect only to a specific coupling or filler nozzle.

The coupling systems of the above types of filler, made up in most cases of a throat or neck around a filler stem, may differ in size and/or shape, so that each filler can be coupled only by using specific coupling elements of a respective coupling or filler nozzle. Consequently, each coupling or filler nozzle requires, in order to be used, a corresponding complementary filler. In other words, when a vehicle is equipped with a given filler it can only be refuelled with a specific type of coupling or filler nozzle and not by a different one. This, evidently, is a practical limitation and a problem that requires solving given that vehicles with gas systems may come from different places and may be equipped originally with one filler type or the other, but all of which should be able to be refuelled in the same way, whatever the coupling or filler nozzle at the refuelling station may be. Objects and Summary of the Invention The present invention is aimed at removing this limitation and resolving the problem explained above so that the same filler can be connected to at least two different filler couplings or filler nozzles of the types mentioned above and which are already available and diffused on the market.

Also an object of this invention is to provide a filler for gas systems for automotive engines made so that it is compatible with each of the two coupling or filler nozzles, that is to say dual purpose, and with the advantage that the same device can meet the dual requirements of both installation and the market.

The objects of the invention are achieved by a filler which comprises a body having a threaded part for attachment purposes when operating, a coupling stem which extends from said threaded part, an axial hole for the passage of the liquid gas, housing a check valve and with an inlet chamber fitted with a seal, and wherein along the filler stem, at two different levels, two external different coupling sections are provided, a first coupling section for an Italian type coupling or filler nozzle and a second coupling section for a coupling or filler nozzle in compliance with the above mentioned "NGN1" standard. Brief description of the Drawings

Greater details of the invention will become more evident from the description which follows, made with reference to the indicative and not limitative drawings, in which: Fig. 1 is a cross section of the filler engaged with a first coupling or filler nozzle; and

Fig. 2 is an analogous cross section of the filler engaged with a second coupling or filler nozzle. Detailed Description of the Invention The filler of the invention comprises a body 11 with axial hole to delimit a conduit 12 for the gas which is supplied for filling a fuel tank cylinder - not included - in the direction of arrow F.

The filer body 11 has a threaded base section 13, an intermediate hexagonal part 14 and a filler stem 15 which extends from the intermediate part. The threaded section 13 serves to attach the coupling when operating, facilitated by the hexagonal engaging part 14.

The axial conduit 12 is provided along its length with an inside housing for a check valve 16, a threaded part 17 for attaching a safety cover and an inlet nozzle 18 at the end of the filler stem 15, containing a seal 19, if required, and for connecting up to a corresponding part of a filler nozzle 20 or 21.

The stem 15 of the filler body 11 has an initial section 22 with a certain diameter and an end section 23 of another set diameter, the latter diameter being smaller than the diameter of the initial section.

On a level with the initial section 22 of the stem 15 a first peripheral means of attachment has been obtained in the shape of an annular throat 24 with an first bottom diameter, whereas on a level with the end section 23 of the stem 13 there is a second means of attachment, once more in the shape of an annular throat 25, but with a smaller bottom diameter.

In this way, the same filler can be coupled to a first coupling or filler nozzle 20 having the attaching elements 20' able to engage the first throat 24, and a second coupling or filler nozzle 21 having attaching elements 21' suitable to engage the other throat 25 of the filler stem as shown in Fig 1 and 2, respectively.

Claims

"A DUAL FILLER FOR GAS SYSTEMS FOR AUTOMOTIVE ENGINES"CLAIMS

1. A filler, for use in particular with gas systems for automotive engines, comprising a filler body (11) with a threaded section (13) for attaching to a gas cylinder or container, stem (15) which protrudes from said threaded section and to which a coupling or filler nozzle can be attached, an axial conduit (12) in said filer body for the passage of the refuelling liquid gas, housing a check valve (16) and having an inlet housing (18) with possibly a seal, characterised in that along the length of the filler stem (15), at two different levels, two external different attaching means are provided, a first attachment means (24) for attaching elements of a first coupling or filler nozzle (20) and a second attachment means (25) for attaching elements of a second coupling or filler nozzle (21) different from the first.

2. A filler in accordance with claim 1, wherein the filer stem (15) has an initial section (22) with a certain diameter and an end section (23) of another selected diameter, the latter being smaller than the diameter of the initial section, and wherein the first attachment means (24) is on a level with said initial section (22) and the second attachment means (25) is on a level with said end section (23) of the filler stem.

3. A filler in accordance with claims 1 and 2, wherein the first and second attachments means (24,25) are formed each from a throat around the filler stem, the throat of the first attachment means having a bottom diameter greater than the throat of the second attachment means.

4. A filler in accordance with the previous claims, wherein the axial conduit of the filler body is provided with a threaded zone for applying a safety cover.

5. A filler in accordance with the previous claims, which is shaped to receive both a first coupling or filler nozzle of the so-called Italian type and a second coupling or filler nozzle in compliance with the NGV1 standard.