Remotely controlled gas cap assembly

• US 5,072,986 A
• Filed: 09/21/1990
• Issued: 12/17/1991
• Est. Priority Date: 09/21/1990
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Chen Y. Tzei, Shiau R. Jang, Wu D. Tai
• Original Assignee: Chen Y. Tzei, Shiau R. Jang, Wu D. Tai
• Inventors: Tzei, Chen Y., Tai, Wu D., Jang, Shiau R.
• Primary Examiner(s): Herrmann, Allan D.
• Assistant Examiner(s): YIP, WINNIE S
• Application Number:
  US07/586,009
• Time in Patent Office: 452 Days
• Field of Search: 74/102, 74/105, 49/339, 49/340, 49/344, 220/DIG. 33, 220/86.1, 220/86.2, 220/335, 257/228, 257/299, 257/58, 296/97.22
• US Class Current: 296/97.22
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 15/05 Inlet covers
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 2015/0419 Self-sealing closure caps, e.g. that don't have to be removed manually
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 2015/0576 with actuator fixed to the vehicle body
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 220/33 Gasoline tank cap
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 74/18944 Link connections

Abstract

A remotely controlled gas cap assembly includes a strip mounted around a fuel inlet of a fuel tank. The strip extends around the fuel inlet and has two spaced end plates which face each other. A transverse pivot pin is pivotally mounted on the two end plates. A link protruding from the pivot pin is attached to a bar having two sides each formed with an annular groove. The control assembly further has a remotely controllable pneumatic cylinder with a piston rod. The piston rod has a distal forked end which is comprised of two opposite branch rods. A roller is provided on an inner side of each branch rod which is received in a corresponding annular groove in each side of the bar and is movable along the annular groove. A gas cap is integrally formed with the link. A rubber block protrudes from an inner side of the gas cap. The gas cap is lifted to expose the fuel inlet when the piston rod is in a first position. The rubber block of the gas cap seals the fuel inlet when the piston rod is in a second position.

Claims

1. A remotely controlled gas assembly for an automobile comprising:

a strip mounted around a fuel inlet of a fuel tank of the automobile, said strip extending around said fuel inlet and having two spaced end plates which face each other, a transverse pivot pin being pivotally mounted on said two end plates, a link protruding from a middle portion of said pivot pin at a first end thereof, a second end of said link being attached to a middle portion of a bar having two sides each formed with an annular groove;

a remotely controllable pneumatic cylinder mounted to a frame of the automobile;

a piston rod protruding from a first end of said pneumatic cylinder, said piston rod having a distal forked end which is comprised of two opposite branch rods, a roller being provided on an inner side of each branch rod, each roller being received in a corresponding annular groove in each side of said bar and being movable along said annular groove; and

a gas cap being intergrally formed with said link, said gas cap comprising a rubber block protruding from an inner side thereof, said gas being lifted to expose said fuel inlet when said piston rod is in a first position, said rubber block of said gas cap sealing said fuel inlet when piston rod is in a second position.

2. A remotely controlled gas cap assembly as claimed in claim 1, wherein said rubber block has a rubber flange formed at a middle portion thereof such that said rubber flange rests on an outer edge of said fuel inlet to seal said fuel inlet when said gas cap covers said fuel inlet, said gas cap together with an outer surface of said automobile to form a smooth surface when gas cap covers said fuel inlet.

3. A remotely controlled gas cap assembly as claimed in claim 1, wherein an annular gasket is formed on an inner wall of said fuel inlet to cooperate with said rubber block to seal said fuel inlet when said piston rod is in said second position.

4. A remotely conntrolled gas cap assembly as claimed in claim 1, wherein an inner passage is formed in said rubber block of said gas cap for equalizing the pressure between the inside of the fuel tank and outside.

5. A remotely controlled gas assembly as claimed in claim 1, further comprising an adjusting screw provided to a second end of said pneumatic cylinder for manual operation when the pneumatic cylinder does not function properly.