Torque-limit signal system for filler neck cap

• US 20030205578A1
• Filed: 02/04/2003
• Published: 11/06/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 09/18/2000
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Stant Manufacturing Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Stant Manufacturing Incorporated
• Inventors: Newport, James B
• Granted Patent: US 6,739,472 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 220/304
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 15/0406 Filler caps for fuel tanks
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 220/33 Gasoline tank cap

Abstract

A torque-limit signal cap (10) for a filler neck (14) includes an axially outer portion (16), a filler neck closure (12), and a torque-limit signaler (20). The torque-limit signaler (20) operates during cap installation to interrupt temporarily a driving connection established between the axially outer portion (16) and the closure (12) to provide a tactile and/or auditory signal to a user turning the cap (10) in the filler neck (14) indicating that sufficient torque has been applied to the axially outer portion (16) to seat the closure (12) in a filler neck-closing position in the filler neck (14).

Claims

1. A torque-limit signal cap for a filler neck, the cap comprising

an axially outer portion rotatable about an axis of rotation,

an axially inner portion adapted to close the filler neck, and

a torque-limit signaler coupled to the axially outer and inner portions and configured to disable temporarily transmission of torque about the axis of rotation in a cap-advancing direction from the axially outer portion to the axially inner portion during rotation of the axially outer portion about the axis of rotation in the cap-advancing direction to signal a person rotating the outer portion that the axially inner portion is seated in a filler neck-closing position, the torque-limit signaler comprising

a first drive receiver coupled to the axially inner portion for movement relative to the axially inner portion between an axially raised position and an axially lowered position,

a first lug coupled to the axially outer portion to rotate therewith and contact the first drive receiver in the raised position during rotation of the axially outer portion about the axis of rotation in the cap-advancing direction to cause the axially inner portion to rotate about the axis of rotation, the first lug being formed to include an inclined first drive surface configured to urge the first driver receiver in an axially inner direction from the axially raised position to the axially lowered position to allow limited lost-motion rotation of the axially outer portion relative to the axially inner portion once torque in excess of a predetermined amount is applied to the axially outer portion about the axis of rotation during continued rotation of the axially outer portion about the axis of rotation in the cap-advancing direction,

a second lug coupled to the axially outer portion to rotate therewith and formed to include a second drive surface, and

a second drive receiver coupled to the axially inner portion and located to contact the second drive surface provided on the second lug after limited lost-motion rotation of the axially outer portion relative to the axially inner portion about the axis of rotation in the cap-advancing direction to apply a clockwise torque to the axially inner portion to reestablish torque transmitting connection in the cap-advancing direction without further lost motion and to provide a torque-limit signal indicating to a person rotating the axially outer portion about the axis of rotation in the cap-advancing direction that such limited lost-motion rotation of the axially outer portion relative to the axially inner portion has occurred and sufficient torque has been applied to the axially outer portion about the axis of rotation in the cap-advancing direction during installation of the axially inner portion in a filler neck to seat the axially inner portion in a filler neck-closing position in the filler neck.

2. The cap of claim 1, wherein the second lug includes a third drive surface positioned to lie in spaced-apart relation to the inclined first drive surface provided on the first lug to define a drive notch therebetween and the first drive receiver includes a flexible spring arm coupled at one end to the axially inner portion and provided with a spring head at an opposite end that is arranged to extend into the drive notch when the first drive receiver lies in the axially raised position to maintain contact with the inclined first drive surface on the first lug to provide a torque-limited connection during rotation of the axially outer portion about the axis of rotation in the cap-advancing direction.

3. The cap of claim 2, wherein the axially outer portion includes a handle rotatable about the axis of rotation and a torque-transmission member positioned to lie between the handle and the axially inner portion and formed to include an axially inwardly facing surface and the first and second lugs are appended to the axially inwardly facing surface of the torque-transmission member.

4. The cap of claim 3, wherein the torque-transmission member is formed to include a head retainer notch having a head-receiving opening in the axially inwardly facing surface and receiving the spring head therein when the second drive surface on the second lug contacts the second drive receiver oh the axially inner portion and the first lug is positioned to lie between the drive notch and the head retainer notch formed in the torque-transmission member.

5. The cap of claim 2, wherein the axially upper portion is formed to include a head retainer notch arranged to receive the spring head therein when the second drive surface on the second lug contacts the second drive receiver on the axially inner portion.

6. The cap of claim 5, wherein the first lug is positioned on the axially upper portion to lie between the drive notch and the head retainer notch and arranged to maintain contact with the spring head during flexure of the spring arm from the axially raised position to the axially lowered position and the spring arm is configured to provide means for yieldably urging the spring head into the head retainer notch at about the point that the second drive surface on the second lug contacts the second drive receiver on the axially inner portion allowing the spring head to move to assume the axially raised position in the head retainer notch to produce an audible snapping sound associated with the torque-limit signal to provide notice to the person rotating the axially outer portion to cease rotating the axially outer portion in the cap-advancing direction.

7. The cap of claim 2, wherein the spring head is formed to include an inclined surface arranged to mate with the inclined first drive surface on the first lug during rotation of the axially outer portion about the axis of rotation in the cap-advancing direction as long as torque that is not in excess of the predetermined amount is applied to the axially outer portion and the spring head is formed to include a third drive receiver arranged to mate with the third drive surface on the second lug during rotation of the axially outer portion in a cap-removal direction that is opposite to the cap-advancing direction.

8. The cap of claim 7, wherein the axially inner portion is formed to include an interior edge defining a lost-motion signal slot, the spring arm is cantilevered to the interior edge to extend into the lost-motion signal slot and to position the spring head for movement relative to the axially inner portion as the first drive receiver is moved between the axially raised and lowered positions, and one portion of the interior edge defines the second receiver surface and lies in spaced-apart confronting relation to the spring head.

9. The cap of claim 1, wherein the axially-inner portion includes a closure base, an O-ring seal around an exterior surface of the closure base, and a radially extending annular flange positioned to overlie the O-ring seal and formed to include an interior edge defining a lost-motion signal slot, the first drive receiver includes a spring arm cantilevered at one end to one portion of the interior edge and provided with a spring head at an opposite end, the spring arm is arranged to extend into the lost-motion signal slot, and another portion of the interior edge defines the second receiver surface and lies in spaced-apart confronting relation to the spring head.

10. The cap of claim 9, wherein the second lug is positioned to move back and forth in the lost-motion signal slot from a first extreme position contacting the second drive receiver to an opposite second extreme positioning contacting a third drive receiver provided on the spring head.

11. The cap of claim 10, wherein the axially upper portion is formed to include a head retainer notch and a drive notch positioned to lie between the second lug and the head retainer notch and the spring head is positioned to lie in the head retainer notch when the second lug is in the first extreme position and to lie in the drive notch when the second lug is in the opposite second extreme position.

12. The cap of claim 9, wherein the second lug is positioned to move back and forth in the lost-motion signal slot from a first extreme position contacting the second drive receiver to an opposite second extreme position contacting a third drive receiver provided on the spring head, the axially upper portion is formed to include a head retainer notch and a drive notch positioned to lie between the second lug and the head retainer notch, the spring head is positioned to lie in the head retainer notch when the second lug is in the first extreme position and to lie in the drive notch when the second lug is in the opposite second extreme position, the first lug is positioned to lie between the drive notch and the head retainer notch, and the spring head is urged by the spring arm to maintain contact with the first lug during movement of the second lug in the lost-motion signal slot between the first and second extreme positions to produce an audible snapping sound associated with the torque-limit signal upon movement of the spring head into the head retainer notch to provide notice to the person rotating the axially outer portion to cease rotating the axially outer portion in the cap-advancing direction.

13. The cap of claim 9, wherein the axially outer portion includes a handle located over the radially extending annular flange and a torque-transmission member located between the handle and the radially extending annular flange, and further comprising a lost-motion driver comprising a first arcuate lost-motion drive slot formed in the torque-transmission member and a first drive post mounted on an underside of the handle and arranged to extend into the first arcuate lost-motion drive slot and move therein along an arc length thereof during rotation of the handle about the axis of rotation relative to the torque-transmission member.

14. The cap of claim 13, further comprising a rotary spring coupled at one end to the handle and at another end to the torque-transmission member.

15. The cap of claim 9, wherein the torque-transmission member includes a central portion and a radially extending annular rim surrounding the central portion, the radially extending annular rim is positioned to overlie the radially extending annular flange of the axially inner portion and formed to include the first and second lugs, and the central portion is formed to include the first arcuate lost-motion drive slot.

16. The cap of claim 15, wherein the central portion includes a central rotary spring mount cup and a flat ring arranged to extend around the central rotary spring mount cup and formed to include the first arcuate lost-motion drive slot and further comprising a rotary spring coupled at one end to the handle and at another end to the central rotary spring mount cup.

17. The cap of claim 1, wherein the axially outer portion includes a handle rotatable about the axis of rotation and a torque-transmission member positioned to lie between the handle and the axially inner portion, the torque-transmission member is formed to include an axially inwardly facing surface, and the first and second lugs are appended to the axially inwardly facing surface of the torque-transmission member.

18. The cap of claim 17, wherein the first and second lugs cooperate to define a drive notch therebetween, the torque-transmission member is formed to include a head retainer notch, the first lug is positioned to lie between the drive notch and the head retainer notch, the first drive receiver includes a spring arm cantilevered at one end to the axially inner portion and provided with a spring head at an opposite end that is arranged to extend into the drive notch when the second lug is located to contact the spring head and to extend into the head retainer notch when the second drive surface on the second lug is located to contact the second drive receiver.

19. The cap of claim 18, wherein the axially inner portion includes a closure base, an O-ring seal around an exterior surface of the closure base, and a radially extending annular flange positioned to overlie the O-ring seal, the radially extending annular flange is formed to include an interior edge defining a lost-motion signal slot, and the second lug depends from the torque-transmission member and is positioned to move back and forth in the lost-motion signal slot from a first extreme position contacting the second drive receiver provided on a portion of the interior edge and an opposite second extreme position contacting a third drive receiver provided on the spring head.

20. A torque-limit signal cap for a filler neck, the cap comprising

a handle rotatable about an axis of rotation,

a closure adapted to close the filler neck,

a torque-transmission member rotatable about the axis of rotation, the torque-transmission member being positioned to lie between the handle and the closure, and

signal means for allowing only limited lost-motion rotation of the torque-transmission member relative to the closure through a predetermined acute angle from a first united position wherein the closure is coupled to the torque-transmission member for rotation therewith to a second united position wherein the closure is again coupled to the torque-transmission member for rotation therewith during continued rotation of the handle in a cap-advancing direction about the axis of rotation following an initial rotation of the handle, torque-transmission member, and closure together as a unit in the first united position in the cap-advancing direction about the axis of rotation to signal a person rotating the handle to cease rotating the handle in the cap-advancing direction so that torque is no longer applied to the handle once the torque-transmission member has been moved relative to the closure to assume the second united position.

21. The cap of claim 20, wherein the signal means includes a drive notch formed in the torque-transmission member, a head retainer notch formed in the torque-transmission member, a first lug appended to the torque-transmission member and positioned to lie between the drive notch and the head retainer notch, a flexible spring arm cantilevered at one end to the closure and provided with a spring head at an opposite end, the spring head is urged by the flexible spring arm to extend into the drive notch upon movement of the torque-transmission member relative to the closure to assume the first united position, and the spring head is urged by the flexible spring arm to extend into the head retainer notch upon movement of the torque-transmission member relative to the closure to assume the second united position.

22. The cap of claim 21, wherein the signal means further includes a second lug appended to the torque-transmission member and positioned to lie in spaced-apart relation to the first lug to define the drive notch therebetween and the second lug is arranged to contact the closure following limited lost-motion rotation of the torque-transmission member in the cap-advancing direction about the axis of rotation to establish the second united position.

23. The cap of claim 22, wherein the spring head and the flexible spring arm cooperate to provide a first drive receiver coupled to the closure for movement relative to the closure between an axially raised position and an axially lowered position, the first lug is formed to include an inclined first drive surface configured to urge the first drive receiver in an axially inner direction from the axially raised position to the axially lowered position to allow limited lost-motion rotation of the torque-transmission member relative to the closure once torque in excess of a predetermined amount is applied to the handle about the axis of rotation during continued rotation of the handle in the cap-advancing direction, the second lug is formed to include a second drive surface, the closure is formed to include an interior edge defining a lost-motion signal slot containing the second lug, spring head, and flexible spring arm, and one portion of the interior edge defines a second receiver surface arranged to contact the second drive surface on the second lug following limited lost-motion rotation of the torque-transmission member relative to the closure through the predetermined acute angle.

24. The cap of claim 20, wherein the signal means comprises

a first drive receiver coupled to the closure for movement relative to the closure between an axially raised position and an axially lowered position,

a first lug coupled to the torque-transmission member to rotate therewith and contact the first drive receiver in the raised position during rotation of the torque-transmission member about the axis of rotation in the cap-advancing direction to cause the closure to rotate about the axis of rotation, the first lug being formed to include an inclined first drive surface configured to urge the first driver receiver in an axially inner direction from the axially raised position to the axially lowered position to allow limited lost-motion rotation of the torque-transmission member relative to the closure once torque in excess of a predetermined amount is applied to the handle and torque-transmission member about the axis of rotation during continued rotation of the handle and torque-transmission member about the axis of rotation in the cap-advancing direction,

a second lug coupled to the torque-transmission member to rotate therewith and formed to include a second drive surface, and

a second drive receiver coupled to the closure and located to contact the second drive surface provided on the second lug after limited lost-motion rotation of the torque-transmission member relative to the closure about the axis of rotation in the cap-advancing direction while the first drive receiver is maintained in the axially lowered position to apply a clockwise torque to the closure to provide a torque-limit signal indicating to a person rotation the handle and the torque-transmission member about the axis of rotation in the cap-advancing direction that such limited lost-motion rotation of the torque-transmission member relative to the closure has occurred and sufficient torque has been applied to the handle and the torque-transmission member about the axis of rotation in the cap-advancing direction during installation of the closure in a filler neck to seat the closure in a filler neck-closing position in the filler neck.

25. The cap of claim 24, wherein the second lug includes a third drive surface positioned to lie in spaced-apart relation to the inclined first drive surface provided on the first lug to define a drive notch therebetween and the first drive receiver includes a flexible spring arm coupled at one end to the closure and provided with a spring head at an opposite end that is arranged to extend into the drive notch when the first drive receiver lies in the axially raised position to maintain contact with the inclined first drive surface on the first lug to provide a torque-limited connection during rotation of the handle and the torque-transmission member about the axis of rotation in the cap-advancing direction.

26. The cap of claim 24, wherein the closure includes a closure base, an O-ring seal around an exterior surface of the closure base, and a radially extending annular flange positioned to overlie the O-ring seal and formed to include an interior edge defining a lost-motion signal slot and the first drive receiver includes a flexible spring arm cantilevered at one end to one portion of the interior edge and provided with a spring head at an opposite end, the flexible spring arm is arranged to extend into the lost-motion signal slot, and another portion of the interior edge defines the second receiver surface and lies in spaced-apart confronting relation to the spring head.

27. The cap of claim 26, wherein the second lug is positioned to move back and forth in the lost-motion signal slot from a first extreme position contacting the second drive receiver to an opposite second extreme positioning contacting a third drive receiver provided on the spring head.

28. The cap of claim 27, wherein the axially upper portion is formed to include a head retainer notch and a drive notch positioned to lie between the second lug and the head retainer notch and the spring head is positioned to lie in the head retainer notch when the second lug is in the first extreme position and to lie in the drive notch when the second lug is in the opposite second extreme position.

29. A torque-limit signal cap for a filler neck, the cap comprising

an axially outer portion rotatable about an axis of rotation,

an axially inner portion adapted to close the filler neck, and

a torque-limit signaler coupled to the axially outer and inner portions and configured to provide means for temporarily interrupting a driving connection established between the axially outer and inner portions to cause the axially outer portion to rotate through a predetermined acute angle about the axis of rotation relative to the axially outer portion once torque in excess of a predetermined amount is applied to the axially outer portion about the axis of rotation in a cap-advancing direction to provide a limited lost-motion signal to a user rotating the axially outer portion during installation of a cap in a filler neck to indicate that sufficient torque has been applied to the axially outer portion during installation of the axially inner portion in a filler neck to seat the axially inner portion in a filler neck-closing position in the filler neck and for reestablishing the driving connection between the axially outer and inner portions after the axially outer portion has been rotated through the predetermined acute angle to discontinue provision of the limited lost-motion signal to the user.

30. The cap of claim 29, wherein the axially outer portion includes a handle rotatable about the axis of rotation and a torque-transmission member positioned to lie between the handle and the axially inner portion and the torque-limit signaler is coupled to the torque-transmission member.

31. The cap of claim 30, further comprising a lost-motion driver comprising a first arcuate lost-motion drive slot formed in the torque-transmission member and a first drive post mounted on an underside of the handle and arranged to extend into the first arcuate lost-motion drive slot and move therein along an arc length thereof during rotation of the handle about the axis of rotation relative to the torque-transmission member.

32. The cap of claim 31, further comprising a rotary spring coupled at one end to the handle and at another end to the torque-transmission member.