Automatic tank closure for a fuel tank

• US 20050178469A1
• Filed: 10/04/2004
• Published: 08/18/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 10/04/2003
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Alfmeier Prã¤Zision AG Baugruppen und Systemlã¶Sungen
• Original Assignee: Alfmeier Prã¤Zision AG Baugruppen und Systemlã¶Sungen
• Inventors: Stephan, Markus, Vetter, Siegfried
• Granted Patent: US 7,096,899 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 141/351
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 15/0406 Filler caps for fuel tanks
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 2015/0429 actuated by the nozzle
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 2015/0445 using hinges
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 2015/0451 Sealing means in the closure cap

Abstract

An automatic tank closure for a motor vehicle tank with a housing having a penetrating input opening and having an opening and closing closure flap with pivotal bearings, which is subjected to spring loading in the closing direction is provided. The closure flap is located within the input opening for the closing of the same and whereby in the closed position between the closure flap and the housing is placed a sealing surface with a sealing seat, which conically widens itself toward the interior of the tank and coacts with a sealing ring. The sealing ring is designed with at least one lip seal and sealingly coacts with the sealing surface.

Claims

1. An automatic tank closure for a motor vehicle tank, comprising:

a housing having therethrough an input opening, the input opening normally closed by a closure flap held in a closed position by spring force, whereby in a closed space defined between the closure flap and the housing a sealing ring is inserted, a portion of the housing defining a conical, sealing seat widening toward a tank interior, the sealing seat configured to coact with the sealing ring and possessing a sealing surface wherein the sealing ring has at least one lip-seal which coacts with the sealing surface.

2. A tank closure in accord with claim 1, wherein the sealing ring possesses a smooth side remote from the lip-seal with which it abuts against a counter surface which supports the sealing ring.

3. A tank closure in accord with claim 1, wherein the sealing ring includes two lip-seals which are axially disposed thereon at a specified spacing.

4. A tank closure in accord with claim 3, wherein the two lip-seals are disposed in angular cross-section to one another, whereby the two lip-seals embrace an angle (α

) opening to the sealing surface.

5. A tank closure in accord with claim 2, wherein at a location proximate the smooth side two axially separated lip-seals are present.

6. A tank closure in accord with claim 1, further comprising a pivotal bearing configured to permit an axial displacement of the closure flap into the closed position, the sealing surface defining a length such that it is sealingly contacted by the sealing ring in a case of changed axial positions of the closure flap due to axial movement thereof.

7. A tank closure in accord with claim 6, wherein the pivotal bearing is molded onto the closure flap by at least one pivotal eye, the pivotal eve defining an elongated opening therethrough for a pivotal axle, which can penetrate the pivotal eye and extend itself transversely to the axis of the elongated opening.

8. A tank closure in accord with claim 1, wherein the closure flap is affixed on the housing with such a tolerance, that a self acting centering of the closure flap in regard to the sealing seat is enabled.

9. A tank closure in accord with claim 1, wherein the sealing ring is affixed on a rim zone of the closure flap.

10. A fuel tank closure, comprising:

a housing defining an input opening therethrough and a sealing seat disposed proximate the input opening, the input opening configured for insertion of a filler nozzle into a tank interior, the sealing seat having a sealing surface conical in cross section widening in a direction of the tank interior;

a closure flap attached to a portion of the housing and urged by a spring force to close the input opening, a counter force applied by the filler nozzle sufficient to overcome the spring force to open the input opening, the sealing surface and the closure flap defining a space therebetween when the input opening is closed; and

a sealing ring defining at least one lip-seal thereabout, the sealing ring disposed in the space between the sealing surface and the closure flap, the lip-seal configured to contact the conically shaped sealing surface to seal the input opening when the spring force urges the closure flap to close the input opening.

11. The tank closure as in claim 10, wherein closure flap defines a groove therein, the sealing ring disposed in the space between the sealing surface and the groove of the closure flap.

12. The tank closure as in claim 10, wherein the sealing ring defines a first lip-seal and a second lip-seal disposed axially apart from each other such that the first lip-seal is disposed between the input opening and the second lip-seal, the first and second lip-seals each defining a rim having an inner portion and an opposing outer portion, the inner portion disposed proximate the portion of the housing attached to the closure flap, the outer portion of the first lip-seal and the inner portion of the second lip-seal configured to seal against the sealing surface.

13. The tank closure as in claim 11, wherein the sealing ring defines a third lip-seal and a fourth lip-seal disposed axially apart from each other such that the third lip-seal is disposed between the input opening and the fourth lip-seal, the third and fourth lip-seals each defining a rim having an inner portion and an opposing outer portion disposed at an angle to each other in a groove of the closure flap to prevent fuel vapor permeation therethrough.

14. The tank closure as in claim 11, further comprising a pivotal bearing configured to axial displace the closure flap to open and close the input opening, the pivotal bearing affixed on the housing and defining a tolerance to enable self-centering of the closure flap relative to the sealing seat.

15. A fuel tank closure, comprising:

a housing defining an input opening therethrough and a sealing seat disposed proximate the input opening, the input opening configured for insertion of a filler nozzle into a tank interior, the sealing seat having a sealing surface conical in cross section widening in a direction of the tank interior;

a closure flap attached to a portion of the housing and urged by a spring force to close the input opening, a counter force applied by the filler nozzle sufficient to overcome the spring force to open the input opening, the sealing surface and the closure flap defining a space therebetween when the input opening is closed; and

a sealing ring defining a first lip-seal and a second lip-seal disposed in the space between the sealing surface and the closure flap and axially apart from each other such that the first lip-seal is disposed between the input opening and the second lip-seal, the first and second lip-seals each defining a rim having an inner portion and an opposing outer portion, the inner portion disposed proximate the portion of the housing attached to the closure flap, the outer portion of the first lip-seal and the inner portion of the second lip-seal configured to contact the conically shaped sealing surface to seal the input opening when the spring force urges the closure flap to close the input opening,

16. The tank closure as in claim 15, wherein the sealing ring defines a third lip-seal and a fourth lip-seal disposed axially apart from each other such that the third lip-seal is disposed between the input opening and the fourth lip-seal, the third and fourth lip-seals each defining a rim having an inner portion and an opposing outer portion disposed at an angle to each other in a groove of the closure flap to prevent fuel vapor permeation therethrough.

17. The tank closure as in claim 15, further comprising a pivotal bearing configured to axial displace the closure flap to open and close the input opening, the pivotal bearing affixed on the housing and defining a tolerance to enable self-centering of the closure flap relative to the sealing seat.