WO2009013558A1

WO2009013558A1 - Arrangement of a filler neck for a vehicle tank

Info

Publication number: WO2009013558A1
Application number: PCT/IB2007/003147
Authority: WO
Inventors: François PETTORELLI
Original assignee: Renault Trucks
Priority date: 2007-07-23
Filing date: 2007-07-23
Publication date: 2009-01-29
Also published as: EP2181010A1

Abstract

An arrangement for a filler neck (2) of a liquid tank (20) positioned on a motor vehicle, the said filler neck (2) having a longitudinal axis (A) and incorporating a failsafe means having a geometric and/or functional interface capable of cooperating with a liquid dispensing nozzle (23) having a compatible geometric and/or functional interface, said arrangement further includes means for attaching the failsafe means onto the filler neck (2) authorizing at least one degree of freedom of the said failsafe means relative to the filler neck (2). The failsafe means can therefore have at least an angular tilt within the filler neck so as to allow the liquid dispensing nozzle to enter the failsafe means with at least one degree of adjustment. This can prove useful for positioning the liquid dispensing nozzle in the liquid tank environment that usually provides little space

Description

ARRANGEMENT OF A FILLER NECK FOR A VEHICLE TANK

Field of the invention

The present invention relates to an arrangement for a filler neck of a liquid tank.

Technological background

Road vehicles are equipped with a fuel tank. On industrial vehicles such as trucks, the fuel tank is often located on the side of the chassis frame. Mounting brackets are attached to the chassis frame and the substantially parallelepiped fuel tank rests on the said brackets while straps surround the fuel tank and secure the fuel tank onto the chassis frame. Depending on the vehicle, a fuel tank can be fitted on each side of the chassis frame. The fuel tank is provided with an inlet port that is closed by a fuel tank cap. The fuel inlet port is located on the top face of the fuel tank and generally adjacent to the external face of the fuel tank.

For aerodynamic reasons, the fuel tank is often covered with a fairing. The fairing can suitably be provided with an access hatch. The clearance between the top face of the fuel tank and the truck body can be very tight. This is especially true for vehicles having so called low body or very low body.

In addition to a fuel tank, road vehicles and especially freight trucks can be further equipped with a further tank for an additive liquid. To comply with emission standards, diesel powered vehicles can be fitted with an SCR (Selective Catalytic Reduction) catalytic converter. Urea stored in a separate tank is sprayed into the exhaust gas prior to undergoing a depollution treatment in the SCR catalytic converter. As urea is the essential agent in the depollution treatment, petrol stations are equipped with an infrastructure to store and dispense urea. Urea is dispensed by a specific filler nozzle that cooperates with a specific refilling system. It is of the utmost importance that only urea is introduced into the urea tank and that urea is not accidentally put into the fuel tank. On most industrial vehicles, the urea tank is located next to the fuel tank using mounting brackets similar to those supporting the fuel tank, secured onto the vehicle chassis frame. There is therefore a possibility of accidentally filling a tank with an inappropriate liquid.

To prevent an accidental insertion of a urea dispenser nozzle into a fuel tank or the accidental insertion of a fuel dispenser nozzle into a urea tank, the urea dispenser nozzle is equipped with a magnetic switch that interacts with a magnetic ring which is found inside the urea tank refilling system.

In the accidental case of the urea dispenser nozzle being introduced into the fuel tank, the magnet switch prevents misfilling as the magnet switch is not activated. The insertion of a fuel dispenser nozzle into the urea tank is prevented by providing the urea tank refilling system with a small inlet diameter and in any case smaller than the diameter of the fuel filling nozzle.

The urea tank refilling system has therefore a specific design that is matched by a specific urea dispenser nozzle. A consequence is that the urea dispenser nozzle demands more clearance to fit in a refilling neck than a fuel refilling nozzle.

Therefore, access to the filler neck can be difficult (i) because of the fairing that covers the liquid and fuel tank and the low body and (ii) because the liquid dispensing nozzle has to be introduced into the failsafe means on a substantial distance and because of the limited clearance between the diameter of the nozzle and the diameter of the fail safe means to activate the magnetic switch. The technical problem of refilling a liquid tank such as a urea tank is therefore different from refilling, for example, a fuel tank wherein refilling is merely obtained by introducing a fuel dispensing nozzle in a filler neck 2; a fuel dispensing nozzle has a significantly higher diameter, usually 10% to 20% higher. Although it is possible to insert a fuel dispensing nozzle in the fuel tank despite a vehicle low body located above the tank and despite fairings covering the tank on the side of the vehicle, it can prove difficult if not impossible to refill a tank for a liquid such as urea because of the failsafe means inserted in the filler neck 2.

This is particularly true in the case of failsafe means having a magnetic interface which, to be operative requires the smallest possible radial clearance between a first magnetic element embedded in the filler neck and a second magnetic element that is carried by the liquid dispensing nozzle. The limited radial clearance combined with the length of the magnetic interface therefore does not authorise a misalignment of the liquid dispensing nozzle of more than a few degrees. In practice, the difference between the external diameter of the external diameter of a urea dispensing nozzle and the internal diameter of a matching magnetic failsafe means is less than 2 mm and preferably less than 0.5 mm. The available space between the top surface of the urea tank and the truck body can be very limited; this means that the usual clearance between a fuel tank and a vehicle body can prove to be insufficient to permit access of a urea refilling nozzle to a urea tank refilling system.

Summary of the invention

It is an object of the invention to improve access of a liquid dispensing nozzle to a filler neck that is equipped with failsafe means.

The present invention regards an arrangement for a filler neck of a liquid tank positioned on a motor vehicle, the said filler neck having a longitudinal axis and incorporating a failsafe means having a geometric and/or functional interface capable of cooperating with a liquid dispensing nozzle having a compatible geometric and/or functional interface; the said arrangement further includes means for attaching the failsafe means onto the filler neck authorizing at least one degree of freedom of the said failsafe means relative to the filler neck.

Thus, the refilling arrangement according to the invention allows a degree of freedom of the failsafe means that are inserted within the filler neck of the liquid tank. In a liquid tank of the prior art, the liquid dispensing nozzle is introduced into the filler neck according to an inserting angle that is set by the failsafe means. In contrast, with the arrangement according to the invention, the insertion of the liquid dispensing nozzle into the failsafe means can occur with at least one degree of freedom; with the invention, the failsafe means can have at least an angular tilt within the filler neck so as to allow the liquid dispensing nozzle to enter the failsafe means with at least one degree of adjustment. This can prove useful for positioning the liquid dispensing nozzle in the liquid tank environment that usually provides little space.

In an embodiment of the invention, the means for attaching the failsafe means onto the filler neck authorizes at least one rotation of the said failsafe means around at least one axis of rotation perpendicular to the axis of the filler neck. It can be noted that it is important to ensure that the failsafe means can rotate at least within a vertical plane of the fuel tank; since the liquid tank filler neck is located on the top surface of the liquid tank, since the free space between the top surface of the fuel tank and a vehicular structural component such as a vehicle body can be limited and since the liquid dispensing nozzle equipped with an interface compatible with the interface of the failsafe means can be bulky, the complete introduction of the liquid dispensing nozzle into the failsafe means is made possible by the degree of freedom that is afforded to the failsafe means. The rotation that is afforded to the failsafe means in the arrangement according to the invention makes it possible to adjust the inserting angle according to which the liquid dispensing nozzle is introduced into the neck filler.

In an embodiment of the invention, the axis of rotation of the failsafe means is parallel to the vehicle longitudinal axis. According to this embodiment of the invention, the failsafe means are able to tilt within a vertical plane and within a plane that is perpendicular to the vehicle. In the common case of a liquid tank that is secured onto an industrial vehicle chassis frame generally next to a fuel tank, the filler neck is positioned on the top surface of the liquid tank. The free space between the top surface of the liquid tank and a vehicle body can be tight. A user holding the liquid dispensing nozzle to refill the liquid tank has therefore to insert the liquid dispensing nozzle in the neck filler and engage the geometrical and/or functional interface of the liquid dispensing nozzle into the geometric and/or functional interface of the failsafe means to authorize the flow of liquid. The user can be hampered in the action of introducing the liquid dispensing nozzle into the filler neck and into the proof fooling means by the lack of space above the liquid tank and by a liquid tank fairing to a point where the nozzle cannot be fully inserted into the failsafe means and therefore the liquid cannot be delivered in the liquid tank. Given the lack of space surrounding the filler neck, it is found that the refilling system of the invention should at least offer an angular displacement within a plan that is vertical and perpendicular to the vehicle axis as an angular adjustment within this plan is the most appropriate as angularly adjusting the position of the liquid dispensing nozzle is the most obvious and intuitive adjustment for the user and, for most industrial vehicles, an angular adjustment according to this plan makes it possible to insert the liquid dispensing nozzle firstly in the filler neck and secondly in the failsafe means.

In an embodiment of the invention, the means for attachment can include a carrier capable of at least one degree of freedom relative the filler neck onto which the failsafe means are connected.

Further, the carrier can include a spherical portion capable of rotating relative to the filler neck.

In this embodiment, the filling arrangement according to the invention can receive the liquid dispensing nozzle whatever the inserting angle might be. The filling arrangement in this embodiment proves to be very tolerant with regard to the inserting angle of the liquid dispensing nozzle.

Further, the carrier can seat on an inwardly pointing annular rib provided in the neck filler and on a retaining ring that is axially secured into the filler neck. This allows the carrier to rotate within the neck filler while axially maintaining within the filler neck the carrier and the failsafe means that are onboard the carrier.

In concrete terms, the retaining ring includes a cylindrical portion that in engaged in a tight fit way on the internal surface of the filler neck and a hemi toroidal portion whereon the carrier seats. The carrier can include a conical portion whereon rests a conical portion provided on the failsafe means.

In another embodiment of the invention, an elastic carrier is interposed between the internal surface of the filler neck and the failsafe means. Thus, the failsafe means can angularly adjust its position according to the inserting angle of the liquid dispensing nozzle.

The elastic carrier can have a tapered cross section pointing towards the failsafe means to provide more flexibility towards the failsafe means.

It can be envisaged that the failsafe means can be comprised of a sleeve having a specific geometry and that incorporates a functional interface.

In order to match the failsafe means that are engaged within the filler neck, a liquid nozzle has therefore to match the geometry of the failsafe means and has to be with a functional interface that matches the functional interface of the failsafe means. In some cases the functional interface can for example be of the magnetic type; thus a magnetic ring can be interposed between the internal part and the internal part. Conveniently, the sleeve can be comprised of an external and an internal concentric parts between which the functional interface is interposed.

To limit the angular displacement, the sleeve can jut out of the carrier so as to limit the angular displacement of the carrier. The disposition proves useful insofar as it maintains the upper aperture of failsafe means pointing towards the upper aperture of the filler neck. In concrete term, the carrier can rotate within a cone having an included angle of around 10° to 15°.

It is important to maintain the upper aperture of the failsafe means pointing towards the upper aperture of the filler neck so as to ensure the liquid dispensing nozzle can come within the sleeve.

Brief description of the drawings

Fig. 1 is a longitudinal section of an arrangement according to a first embodiment of the invention in a non refilling position,

Fig. 2 is a longitudinal section of the arrangement of Fig 1 in a refilling position,

Fig. 3 is a longitudinal section of an arrangement according to another embodiment of the invention, Fig. 4 depicts a tank equipped with a liquid refilling system according to Figs 1-2 or according to Fig. 3.

Description of the invention

Fig 4 shows the environment within a vehicular XYZ frame that surrounds a liquid tank 20 that can, for example, be filled with urea. On most industrial vehicles, the urea tank 20 is located next to a vehicle fuel tank using mounting brackets 21 similar to those supporting the fuel tank, secured onto the vehicle chassis frame 22. A filler neck 2 is inserted in the liquid tank 20. As appears on Fig. 1 , the filler neck 2 of a liquid tank 20 is comprised of a portion of cylindrical pipe. The filler neck 2 is, for example, at least partially inserted into the liquid tank 20; the dotted line 3 of Fig. 1 divides the filler neck 2 into an upper part which includes an upper aperture that emerges from the liquid tank 20 and the lower part that includes a lower aperture that is enclosed within the liquid tank 20. The upper part of the filler neck 2 is provided with means for attachment for a tank cap (not shown on the drawing). As illustrated on Fig. 1 , the filler neck 2 can suitably be provided with two or more ramps 4 on which two or more bayonets provided in the tank cap can be locked.

An arrangement 1 is located in the filler neck 2; the arrangement 1 is comprised of a failsafe means and of a means for attachment of the said failsafe means onto the internal surface of the filler neck 2.

In the embodiment of the invention that is illustrated, the failsafe means is comprised of a hollow cylindrical sleeve 6 that has a specific geometry and which fulfils a specific function. The internal geometry of the sleeve 6 is such that a liquid dispensing nozzle 230 having a matching geometry can be inserted in the sleeve 6. In other terms, a specific liquid dispensing nozzle based on a specific geometry is required to fill up the tank. In addition, the sleeve 6 carries a magnetic ring 7. The sleeve 6 can be made of two concentric parts i.e. an internal part 8 and an external part 9 that fit into each other. The magnetic ring 7 is interposed between the said internal and external part that form the sleeve 6. The part of the sleeve 6 that points outwards from the liquid tank 20 can suitably be provided with a chamfer to facilitate the introduction of the nozzle in the sleeve 6. The external part 9 of the sleeve 6 can be provided with a conical portion as depicted on Fig. 1. According to the invention, the sleeve 6 is secured onto the filler neck 2 by means for attachment that allows at least one degree of freedom relative to the said sleeve 6.

In the illustrated embodiment, the degree of freedom that is granted to the failsafe means is rotation. In the embodiment of the invention illustrated on Figs 1 and 2, the sleeve 6 is inserted into a carrier 10 that is provided with an external spherical portion. The carrier 10 includes an internal conical surface whereon the conical portion of the sleeve 6 is engaged.

To secure the carrier 10 within the filler neck 2, the filler neck 2 is provided with an inward annular rib 12 and a retaining ring 13 is inserted into the filler neck 2. The retaining ring 13 is engaged within the filler neck 2 in a tight fit way. The retaining ring 13 can suitably include a cylindrical portion 13a and hemi toroidal portion 13b; the spherical portion of the carrier 10 rests onto the annular rib 12 and onto the retaining ring 13. It can be noted that the rib 12 and the retaining ring 13 are spaced apart along the filler neck axis A and that the widest diameter of the spherical portion of the carrier 10 is placed between the rib 12 and the annular ring 13 so as to block the carrier 10 in two axial and radial directions in the filler neck 2. The carrier 10 is thus unable to have any translation displacement with regard to the filler neck 2 but can rotate on the annular rib 12 provided in the filler neck 2 and on the hemi toroidal portion of the retaining ring. Rotation of the carrier 10 within the filler neck 2 is however limited by the part of the sleeve 6 pointing towards the tank. The sleeve 6 juts out of the carrier 10 towards the tank; the part of the sleeve 6 that emerges from the carrier 10 works as a stop that limits the angular displacement of the carrier 10. The carrier can rotate within a cone having an included angle α of around 10° to 15°.

At a filling station, a user can refill the fuel tank and can refill other liquid tanks such as, for example, a urea tank 20 in the case of vehicles fitted with a SCR exhaust treatment system.

As can be appreciated from Fig. 4, the space that surrounds the liquid tank 20 where urea can be stocked can be extremely limited. In this context, the arrangement according to the invention proves to be particularly useful.

The refilling operation of the liquid tank 20 occurs as follows.

A user holding a liquid dispensing nozzle 23, moves the liquid dispensing nozzle 23 closer to the filler neck 2 and inserts the tip of the liquid dispensing nozzle 23 into the filler neck 2. As the liquid dispensing nozzle 23 penetrates further into the filler neck 2, the said liquid dispensing nozzle 23 reaches the failsafe means; in the illustrated embodiment of the invention are comprised of a sleeve 6 having a diameter that matches the diameter of the liquid dispensing nozzle 23 and that incorporate a magnetic ring 7. The liquid dispensing nozzle 23 is then inserted into the sleeve 6.

When the vehicular environment (for example: vehicle body and/or tank fairing) that surrounds the liquid tank 20 prevents the user from approaching and fully inserting the liquid dispensing nozzle 23 into the failsafe sleeve 6 according to the axis A of the said filler neck 2, the failsafe sleeve 6 can tilt and can receive the liquid dispensing nozzle 23. Fig 2 shows the failsafe sleeve 6 in a tilted position. It is important to point out that the radial clearance between the liquid dispensing nozzle 23 and the sleeve 6 is very limited to ensure that the magnetic switch that is onboard the liquid dispensing nozzle 23 does interact with the magnetic ring 7. The liquid dispensing nozzle 23 can therefore fully enter the failsafe sleeve 6 up to a point where the magnet switch that is onboard the liquid dispensing nozzle 23 interacts with the magnet ring of failsafe sleeve 6.

Fig. 3 shows another embodiment of the invention wherein the means for attachment that connects the failsafe sleeve 6 to the internal surface of the filler neck 2 is comprised of an elastic carrier 15.

The elastic carrier 15 can be made at least partly of rubber or of any other elastomeric material that is compatible with the liquid stored in the tank. The filler neck 2 can be provided with two inward pointing annular ribs 12; the elastic ring 15 can, for example, be glued onto the internal surface of the filler neck 2 between the said two annular rings.

The failsafe sleeve 6 can be similar to the failsafe sleeve 6 of Figs. 1 and 2 or can have different details provided it includes the geometrical and functional interface that is compatible with the liquid dispensing nozzle 23. In the embodiment depicted on Fig 3, the degree of freedom of the failsafe sleeve 6 is granted by the elastic ring 15. When the liquid dispensing nozzle 23 is inserted into the failsafe sleeve 6 according to an inserting angle that does not coincide with the filler neck 2 axis A, the elastic ring 15 is subjected to an elastic deformation that makes it possible for the failsafe sleeve 6 to match the entering angle of the liquid dispensing nozzle 23.

The invention is not limited to the illustrated embodiments described above and shown in the drawings, but can be varied within the scope of the following patent claims.

It can be envisaged to attach the failsafe means into the filler neck 2 by a functional joint that allows rotation of the said failsafe means around a single geometrical axis.

In the two embodiments illustrated above, the failsafe means can rotate around different axis; these embodiments of the invention are therefore very tolerant vis-a-vis the entering angle of the liquid dispensing nozzle 23 in the filler neck 2.

However in a basic embodiment of the invention, it can be envisaged to authorize a single rotation of the failsafe means.

It is possible to envisage that the failsafe means can move according to a single rotation about an axis that is parallel to the vehicle longitudinal axis X. In an industrial vehicle as partly illustrated on Fig. 4, the liquid tank 20 is secured onto the chassis frame and the filler neck emerges laterally from the liquid tank 20. Therefore, a user tends to introduce the liquid dispensing nozzle 23 perpendicularly to the liquid tank 20 as illustrated on Fig. 4.

Claims

1. An arrangement for a filler neck (2) of a liquid tank (20) positioned on a motor vehicle, the said filler neck (2) having a longitudinal axis and incorporating a failsafe means having a geometric and/or functional interface capable of cooperating with a liquid dispensing nozzle (23) having a compatible geometric and/or functional interface, characterized in that the said arrangement further includes means for attaching the failsafe means onto the filler neck (2) authorizing at least one degree of freedom of the said failsafe means relative to the filler neck (2).

2. The arrangement according to claim 1 , characterized in that the means for attaching the failsafe means onto the filler neck authorizes at least one rotation of the said failsafe means around at least one axis of rotation B perpendicular to the axis A of the filler neck (2).

3. The arrangement according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the at least one axis of rotation about of the failsafe means is parallel to the vehicle longitudinal axis X.

4. The arrangement according to one of claims 1 to 4, characterized in that the means for attachment includes a carrier (10) onto which the failsafe means are connected.

5. The arrangement according to claim 4, characterized in that the carrier (10) includes a spherical portion capable of rotating relative to the filler neck (2).

6. The arrangement according to one of claims 4 to 5, characterized in that the carrier (10) seats on an inwardly pointing annular rib

(12) provided in the neck filler and on a retaining ring (13) that is axially secured into the filler neck (2).

7. The arrangement according to claim 6, characterized in that the retaining ring (13) includes a cylindrical portion (13a) that is engaged in a tight fit way on the internal surface of the filler neck (2) and a hemi toroidal portion (13b) whereon the spherical portion of the carrier (10) seats.

8. The arrangement according to one of claims 4 to 7, characterized in that the carrier (10) includes a conical portion whereon rests a conical portion provided on the failsafe means.

9. The arrangement according to one of claims 1 to 3, characterized in that an elastic carrier (15) is interposed between the internal surface of the filler neck (2) and the failsafe means.

10. The arrangement according to claim 8, characterized in that the elastic carrier (15) has a tapered cross section pointing towards the failsafe means.

11. The arrangement according to one of claims 1 to 9, characterized in that the failsafe means is comprised of a sleeve (6) having a specific geometry and that incorporates a functional interface.

12. The arrangement according to claim 11, characterized in that the sleeve (6) is comprised of an internal and an external concentric parts (8,9) between which a functional interface is interposed.

13. The interface according to one of claims 11 to 12, characterized in that a magnetic ring (7) is interposed between the internal part (8) and the internal part (9).

14. The arrangement according to one of claims 3 to 13, characterized in that the sleeve (6) juts out of the carrier (10, 15) so as to limit the angular displacement of the carrier (10).