WO2008059149A1

WO2008059149A1 - Plug assembly for liquid tank

Info

Publication number: WO2008059149A1
Application number: PCT/FR2007/052248
Authority: WO
Inventors: Pascal Verneuil
Original assignee: Renault S.A.S.
Priority date: 2006-11-14
Filing date: 2007-10-25
Publication date: 2008-05-22
Also published as: FR2908395A1

Abstract

The invention relates to a plug assembly (100) for a liquid tank comprising a plug (200) for closing a filling chute (500) of the tank and a gauge (300) connected to said plug (200), wherein the gauge (300) includes an elongated member (30) for measuring the liquid level in the tank and a grasping bit (320), characterised in that it comprises detent and sliding means (400) for the gauge (300), wherein said means allow the elongated member (310) to slide through the plug (200) and allow the grasping bit (320) to engage the plug (200) so that the gauge (300) can be removed from said tank while maintaining said plug (200) in closed position on the chute (500).

Description

CAP ASSEMBLY FOR RESERVOIR R LIQUI DE

The present invention relates to a cap assembly for a liquid reservoir, such as a windshield washer fluid reservoir or a headlamp and several associated methods.

In general, to indicate the level of liquid remaining in the fluid reservoir of a vehicle, one uses either an electric sensor or a liquid level gauge of the type comprising a transparent pipe indicating, when it is extracted from the reservoir , the height of liquid remaining inside.

Conventionally today, only two plug assemblies comprising a liquid level gauge exist.

A first plug assembly consists of a gauge integral with a closure cap of the liquid reservoir and is removable.

To read the fluid level of the tank, it is necessary to remove the blanking plug in order to use the dipstick.

However, this assembly is limited to the use of blanking plugs not integral with the filler neck of the liquid tank. It then presents a risk of loss of the closure cap, the reservoir often being in a location inaccessible and masked by many organs.

There is a second set of plug adapted for closure plugs secured to the filler neck of the tank by means of flexible hinges, bi stable or via a pivot connection.

In this assembly, the gauge is held, guided and indexed by a housing generated in a fixed part of the plug inside the filler neck. To read the liquid level, it is necessary to open a movable part of the shutter to access the gauge and use it.

This set is complex and presents difficulties in gripping the pipe of the gauge being in a very restricted the filler neck. In addition, the housing of the gauge represents an obstacle in the chute during the filling of liquid in the tank by the user.

The object of the invention is to overcome the drawbacks mentioned above.

More specifically, a first object of the present invention is to provide a plug assembly for measuring a liquid level by a dipstick in a tank, without having to open or remove the plug of the latter. Another object of the present invention is to provide a universal plug assembly that can adapt to any type of plug, regardless of its size.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a plug assembly with ease of gripping the gauge and easy filling of the liquid reservoir.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a cap assembly for indicating the liquid level in a simple and economical way without compromising in any way the effectiveness of the measurement. To this end, the subject of the invention is a liquid tank cap assembly comprising a cap for closing a filler neck of the tank and a gauge connected to said cap, said gauge comprising an elongated element for measuring the level of liquid. in the reservoir and a gripping tip, characterized in that it comprises means for detent and sliding of the gauge, said means allowing the elongated element to slide through the plug and the gripping tip to snap on the plug, so that the gauge can be removed from said tank by keeping said plug closed on the chute.

Advantageously, the latching and sliding means comprise a through orifice formed in the plug to allow the sliding of the gauge. They also have elements on the end of the grip and on the stopper intended to cooperate with each other to ensure that the dipstick is snapped onto the plug.

In addition, the end of gripping comprises a rod which is inserted into the hollow elongated element, this rod being extended by a collar intended to form stop on the orifice of the plug before snapping on it.

Advantageously, the plug assembly has means for attaching the plug to the chute, said means comprising a hinge connected at one end to the plug and extending at the opposite end by an element having a orifice intended to be received on an attachment pin disposed on the chute.

The gauge, meanwhile, comprises, at the opposite end to the gripping tip, a second end forming a stop with the plug.

The invention also relates to a liquid reservoir m uni of a set of cap according to the preceding characteristics.

Furthermore, the object of the invention is also a method of measuring a liquid level in a reservoir implemented by a plug assembly according to the preceding characteristics, characterized in that it comprises a data entry step. the end of the grip of the gauge followed by a step of extraction, by sliding through the closed cap on the trough of the tank, the elem ent elongated gauge thanks to m oyens snap and slidably and a liquid level measurement step on the elongated member exiting the plug.

It also relates to a method of filling liquid in a tank m is implemented with a cap assembly according to the above features, characterized in that it comprises a step of opening the cap and filling liquid in the tank without obstacle, thanks to the prior withdrawal of the dipstick, said step being preceded by a step of gripping the end of the grip of the gauge followed by a step of extraction of the dipstick by sliding until a second end of the gauge comes into abutment on the closed cap.

The invention will be better understood and other advantages will appear on reading the following description, given by way of non-limiting example and with reference to the appended drawings in which:

Figure 1 is a perspective view of a plug assembly according to the invention;

FIG. 2 is a side view of a plug assembly according to the invention; FIG. 3 is a view of one end of a liquid level gauge;

Fig. 4 is a view of the opposite end of the liquid level gauge of Fig. 3;

- Figure 5 is a side view of a plug assembly according to the invention attached to a filler neck of a liquid tank.

FIGS. 1 and 2 show a plug assembly 100 comprising, on the one hand, a plug 200 intended to close a filler neck of a liquid reservoir (not shown) such as a reservoir of lava liquid ice for a motor vehicle and secondly, a liquid level gauge 300 connected to the cap 200.

The gauge 300 includes an elongated member 310 for measuring the liquid level in the liquid reservoir and a gripping tip 320. The cap assembly 100 also includes snap and slide means 400 of the fluid level gauge. 300 allowing the elongated member 310 to slide through the stopper 200 and the gripping tip 320 to snap onto the stopper 200, so that the fluid level gauge 300 can be removed from said reservoir now the cap 200 closed on the filler neck of the tank.

The elongate element 310 of the liquid level gauge 300 is here a hollow translucent pipe, adapted to measure the level of liquid. This pipe 310 may be PVC or any other translucent plastic material.

It is assembled at one of its ends to the gripping tip 320. As illustrated in FIG. 3, the gripping tip 320 comprises a rod 321 inserted into the pipe 310, this rod being extended by a circular flange 322 intended to form a stop on the cap 200 before snapping on it, as will be described later. The rod 321 and the collar 322 comprise a central orifice 323 therethrough for venting the liquid level gauge 300.

Due to this venting, the level of the liquid fraction inside the gauge 300 will reach that of the level of liquid in the tank.

As shown in FIG. 4, the pipe 310 of the gauge 300 is assembled, at its opposite end dipping inside the filler neck, to a second endpiece 330 intended to prevent the loss of the gauge 300 by the cap 200. This second endpiece 330 is in the form of a hollow sphere 331 which is pierced to let the liquid circulate in the pipe 310.

However, other embodiments of tips can be used.

With reference again to FIG. 1, the latching and sliding means 400 advantageously comprise a through orifice 410 formed in the stopper 200 to allow the sliding of the liquid level gauge 300 therethrough.

The plug 200 is here in the form of a flat surface

210 which is provided on its outer circumference with a flange 220. This flange 220 is intended to snap onto the filler neck of the tank to sealingly connect the plug 200 to the tank. The through hole 410 is placed substantially in the center of the flat surface 210 of the stopper 200.

Its shape and its dimensions are adapted to allow the sliding of the pipe 310 of the gauge 300. Furthermore, the latching and sliding means 400 comprise elements on the gripping tip 320 and on the stopper 200 intended to cooperate between them to ensure the snap of the gripping tip 320 on the stopper 200.

As a non-limiting example, the plug 200 may have a recess around the orifice 410 whose shape is adapted to receive and allow the snap of the collar 322 of the gripping tip 320.

Advantageously, as illustrated in Figures 1, 2 and 5, the cap 200 also has means for being hooked on the filler neck 500 of the reservoir.

Thus, a flexible hinge 230 is connected at one of its ends to the flange 220 of the stopper 200 and is extended at the opposite end by an element 240 having an orifice 241 intended to be received on a hooking stud. 530 disposed on the filler neck 500 of the tank.

Preferably, this hinge 230 is made of polypropylene.

The chute is in the form of a filling pipe 510 provided at one end with a head 520 having a filling orifice 521 whose shape is adapted to be obstructed by the stopper 200.

In FIG. 5, the filling orifice 521 has an oval shape identical to that of the stopper 200.

The hooking peg 530, on the other hand, is a protuberance coming from molding with the filler neck 500. It is located on its head 520 at a distance adapted from the filling orifice 521 to allow, on the one hand, hooking of the cap

200 through the element 240 on the chute and other on the other hand, the snap-fastening of the flange 220 of the stopper 200 in the filling opening 521 of the chute 500.

An alternative embodiment may provide to have the hooking stud 530 on the stopper 200 and to fix the hinge 230 on the head 520 of the pleating chute 500.

Advantageously, a set of plug 100 according to the invention allows the use of a sim ple plug 200 avoiding any plug m uni of a fixed part integral with the chute on which is closed a movable part of shutter and any complex plug having a bi stable hinge or pivot connection.

The operating mode of the plug assembly 100 according to the invention results directly from the foregoing description.

It is assumed that this set 100 closes the reservoir containing the liquid whose level one wishes to know. During the method of measuring a liquid level implemented by the plug assembly 100, the level of liquid in the reservoir will be read without having to open the reservoir cap 200.

The collar 322 of the gripping tip 320 of the gauge 300, located outside the stopper 200, is first grasped between the thumb and the index finger in order to seal the airtight opening. free 323 from the end 320.

Then, by sliding through the stopper 200 closed on the chute 500 of the reservoir, the pipe 310 of the dipstick 300 is extracted in order to visualize the liquid level. This sliding is done more precisely through the through hole 410 m in the plug 200.

Finally, the liquid level is measured on the translucent pipe 310 of the gauge 300 coming out of the stopper 200.

Thus, the operator no longer has to open the cap for reading the reservoir liquid level, contrary to what was the case previously.

Furthermore, a liquid filling process in the tank can be implemented with a plug assembly according to the invention, more easily. In a first step, grasping the gripping tip 320 and extracting the gauge 300 by sliding as described above, until the second tip 330 of the gauge 300 comes into abutment on the cap 200 closed on the chute 500. The cap 200 is then opened. The weight of the dipstick 300 acting on the cap 200, and more particularly that of the second cap 330, is sufficient to keep the stopper 200 open. This again makes it possible to avoid complex plugs with bi stable hinges or with pivot connection. The filling orifice 521 of the chute 500 is then totally clear thanks to the prior removal of the gauge 300.

This allows the unobstructed introduction of a filling gun or spout for the filling of liquid in the tank. It is understood from reading the description above that the plug assembly is very simplified embodiment compared to those of the prior art, which allows to manufacture at a lower cost, while providing a liquid level measurement and a fast and efficient liquid filling in the tank. Of course, the present invention is not limited to the particular embodiments which have just been described but extends to any variant within its spirit. In particular, the present invention is not limited to the accompanying drawings. The specific references illustrated in the preceding paragraphs are non-limiting examples of the invention.

Claims

claims

A liquid reservoir cap assembly (100) comprising a cap (200) for closing a filler neck (500) of the reservoir and a gauge (300) connected to said cap (200), said gauge (300) comprising a elongate element (310) for measuring the level of liquid in the reservoir and a gripping tip (320), characterized in that it comprises means for snapping and sliding (400) of the gauge (300), the said means allowing the elongated member (310) to slide through the plug (200) and the gripping tip (320) to snap onto the plug (200) so that the gauge (300) can be removed from said tank by keeping said cap (200) closed on the chute (500).

2. Stopper assembly according to claim 1, characterized in that said latching and sliding means (400) comprise a through orifice (410) formed in the plug (200) to allow the sliding of the gauge.

(200).

3. Stopper assembly according to one of claims 1 to 2, characterized in that said latching and sliding means (400) comprise elements on the gripping tip (320) and on the plug (200) intended to cooperate with each other to ensure the snapping of the gauge (300) on the plug (200).

4. Stopper assembly according to one of claims 2 or 3, characterized in that the gripping tip (320) comprises a rod (321) which is inserted into the elongated element (310) hollow, this rod ( 321) being extended by a collar (322) intended to form a stop on the orifice (410) of the stopper (200) before snapping onto it.

5. Stopper assembly according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that it has means for hanging the plug (200) on the chute (500), said means comprising a hinge (230) connected at one end, at the plug (200) and extending, at the opposite end, by a member (240) having an orifice to be received on a hooking stud (530) disposed on the chute (500).

6. A cap assembly according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the gauge (300) comprises, at the end opposite the gripping tip (320), a second end (330) forming a stop with the stopper (200).

7. A fluid reservoir of a vehicle with a plug assembly according to one of claims 1 to 6.

8. A method for measuring a liquid level in a reservoir implemented by a plug assembly (100) according to one of claims 1 to 6, characterized in that it comprises a step of gripping the tip gripping (320) of the dipstick (300) followed by an extraction step, by sliding through the stopper (200) closed on the chute (500) of the reservoir, the elongated element (310) of the dipstick (300) by the latching and sliding means (400) and a liquid level measurement step on the elongated member (310) out of the plug (200).

9. A method of filling liquid in a reservoir implemented with a plug assembly (100) according to one of Claims 1 to 6, characterized in that it comprises a step of opening the stopper (200) and filling of the liquid in the reservoir without obstacle, thanks to the prior withdrawal of the dipstick (200), said step being preceded by a step of gripping the gripping tip (320) of the gauge (300) followed by a step of extracting the gauge (300) by sliding until a second end (330) the gauge (300) comes to a stop on the closed cap (200).