COMPUTER ACTIVATED GAS CAP
First Claim
1. An automated gas cap mechanism for opening and closing the fuel tank of a vehicle comprising:
- a housing;
a filler compartment door;
a door support link, the filler compartment door being mounted on the door support link;
an axle mounted in the housing, wherein the axle is configured to rotate and move longitudinally in the housing, the axle having first and second ends mounted in slots formed in the housing;
a crank mounted on the axle, the crank having an arm pivotally coupled to the door support link;
a gas cap coupled to the axle; and
a drive motor coupled to the axle;
wherein the drive motor rotates the axle and crank to retract the filler compartment door into the housing and wherein the drive motor drives the axle in a linear direction to open the gas cap.
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Accused Products
Abstract
An automated gas cap mechanism for opening and closing the fuel tank of a vehicle includes a housing with a filler compartment door mounted on a door support link that is coupled to an axle having first and second ends mounted in slots formed in the housing and configured to rotate and to move longitudinally in the housing. A crank is mounted on the axle and an arm on the crank is pivotally coupled to the door support link. A drive motor is operable to rotate the axle and crank to retract the filler compartment door into the housing and drive the axle in a linear direction to open a gas cap coupled to the axle.
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Citations
20 Claims
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1. An automated gas cap mechanism for opening and closing the fuel tank of a vehicle comprising:
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a housing; a filler compartment door; a door support link, the filler compartment door being mounted on the door support link; an axle mounted in the housing, wherein the axle is configured to rotate and move longitudinally in the housing, the axle having first and second ends mounted in slots formed in the housing; a crank mounted on the axle, the crank having an arm pivotally coupled to the door support link; a gas cap coupled to the axle; and a drive motor coupled to the axle; wherein the drive motor rotates the axle and crank to retract the filler compartment door into the housing and wherein the drive motor drives the axle in a linear direction to open the gas cap. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8)
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9. A computer actuated gas cap mechanism for opening and closing the fuel tank of a vehicle comprising:
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an onboard computer for controlling the operation of the mechanism; a drive motor for driving the mechanism, the mechanism further including; a housing including a plurality of slots formed in inside surfaces of the housing; an axle mounted in the housing and coupled to the drive motor, the axle having first and second ends mounted in opposed ones of the slots and wherein the axle is configured to rotate and move linearly along the slots; a filler compartment door; a door support link coupled to the drive motor, the filler compartment door being mounted on the door support link; a bell crank mounted on the axle, the bell crank having an arm pivotally connected to the door support link; a gas cap coupled to the axle; and wherein the drive motor is operable to rotate the axle and bell crank to retract the filler compartment door into the housing and to drive the axle in a linear direction along the slots to open the gas cap. - View Dependent Claims (10, 11, 12, 13, 14)
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15. A computer actuated gas cap mechanism for opening and closing the fuel tank of a vehicle comprising:
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a drive motor for driving the mechanism, the mechanism including; a housing including opposed slots formed in inside surfaces of the housing, the slots each having an enlarged portion at one end thereof and a narrow portion extending from the enlarged portion; an axle mounted in the housing and coupled to the drive motor, the axle having first and second end cams mounted in opposed ones of the slots and wherein the axle is configured to rotate when the end cams are positioned in the enlarged end portions of the slots and move in a linear direction along when the end cams are positioned in the narrow portions of the slots; a filler compartment door; a door support link coupled to the drive motor, the filler compartment door being mounted on the door support link; a bell crank mounted on the axle, the bell crank having an arm pivotally connected to the door support link; a gas cap coupled to the axle; and wherein the drive motor is operable to rotate the axle and bell crank to retract the filler compartment door into the housing and to drive the axle in a linear direction along the slots to open the gas cap. - View Dependent Claims (16, 17, 18, 19, 20)
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Specification