Pressure release vent cap

• US 5,108,001 A
• Filed: 07/03/1990
• Issued: 04/28/1992
• Est. Priority Date: 07/03/1990
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Stant USA Corporation (Vapor Acquisition Corp.)
• Original Assignee: Stant (Vapor Acquisition Corp.)
• Inventors: Harris, Robert S.
• Primary Examiner(s): Marcus, Stephen
• Assistant Examiner(s): CRONIN, STEPHEN K
• Application Number:
  US07/547,937
• Time in Patent Office: 665 Days
• Field of Search: 220/203, 220/209, 220/303, 220/367, 220/DIG. 32, 220/DIG. 33, 137/493, 137/493.9, 137/493.6
• US Class Current: 220/203.06
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 15/0406 Filler caps for fuel tanks
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 220/33 Gasoline tank cap

Abstract

A pressure relief and venting closure cap for a filler neck of a vehicle gas or coolant system tank having an initial rotary drive which opens a vent valve in response to a differential movement between a cap shell and a vent valve actuator to vent the filler neck and wherein continued rotation of the cap shell causes disconnection of the cap shell and the filler neck. There are two separate drives from the cap shell, one to operate the vent valve and one to rotate a sealing element which screwingly connects the cap to the filler neck. A lost motion connection is provided for the drive to the sealing element so that disconnection can only take place after venting. A torque over-ride is provided for the closure to limit its rotary closing screwing movement after the vent valve is closed. A second drive between the lost motion connection and the vent valve is provided to stop differential rotation between the cap shell and the vent valve actuator when the closure member is rotated.

Claims

1. A pressure relief, vent and closure cap rotatably engageable with a tank filler neck having an opening, comprising

an outer rotatable shell means rotatable about an axis and having an inner drive portion and an outer skirt portion,

a movable pressure relief valve means for opening and closing the filler neck opening upon an excess pressure being developed in said filler neck and having a vent passage therein,

first bias means for moving said pressure relief valve means to close said filler neck opening,

a movable vent valve means for opening and closing said vent passage,

second bias means for moving said vent valve means to close said vent passage,

a rotatable drive hub means axially shiftable in a first direction along said axis in response to relative rotary movement of said inner drive portion of said outer rotatable shell means with respect to said drive hub means, a third bias means for resisting shifting of said rotatable hub means,

said drive hub means contacting said vent valve means after said drive hub means has been axially shifted a first axial distance in opposition to said third bias means and along said direction by a limited rotation of said inner drive portion of said rotatable shell means with respect to said drive hub means,

wherein further rotation of said inner drive portion of said rotatable shell means with respect to said drive hub means in a same rotative direction further axially shifts said drive hub means to move the vent valve means in opposition to said second bias means to open said vent passage,

rotatable closure means for sealing attachment to said filler neck and said opening,

lost motion drive means connected between said outer skirt portion and said rotatable closure means to rotate said rotatable closure means to screwingly detach and attache said outer shell means to said filler neck in response to rotary movement of said outer skirt,

said lost motion drive means only allowing said rotatable closure means to be detached from said filler neck when the rotatable shell means is rotated in said same rotational direction in excess of the further rotation that causes the vent passage to open,

wherein rotation of said shell means in a direction reverse to said first direction first causes said inner drive mechanism to allow said second bias means to close said vent passage, and

wherein continued rotation of said shell means in said reverse direction past a rotative position that causes the closure of said vent valve means then causes the outer skirt portion to rotate the rotatable closure means through the lost motion connection to sealingly and screwingly attach the outer shell means to said filler neck, the lost motion drive means including an input side that has at least one track thereon, the track having end portions which are drivingly engaged by a lug on the outer skirt portion when rotation of the rotatable drive hub occurs and which ends do not engage the lug at other times so as to allow the lug to freely traverse the track when drive to the rotatable drive hub does not occur.

2. A cap rotatably engageable with a tank filler pipe having an opening comprising

an outer rotatable shell means rotatable about an axis and having an inner drive portion and an outer skirt portion,

a movable pressure relief valve means for opening and closing the filler neck opening upon an excess pressure being developed in said filler neck and having a vent passage therein,

first bias means for moving said pressure relief valve means to close said filler neck opening,

a movable vent valve means for opening and closing said vent passage,

second bias means for moving said vent valve means to close said vent passage,

a rotatable drive hub means axially shiftable in a first direction along said axis in response to relative rotary movement of said inner drive portion of said outer rotatable shell with respect to said drive hub means,

said drive hub means contacting said vent valve means after said drive hub means has been axially shifted a first axial distance, along said direction by a limited rotation of said inner drive portion of said rotatable shell means and wherein further rotation of said inner drive portion of said rotatable shell means in a same direction further axially shifts said drive hub means to move the vent valve means in opposition to said second bias means to open said vent passage,

rotatable closure means for sealing attachment to said filler neck and said opening,

said rotary closure means including thread sealing means which thread sealing means is adapted to mate with threads located on said filler neck upon rotation of said threaded sealing means,

lost motion drive means connected between said outer skirt portion and said rotatable closure means to rotate said rotatable closure means to thread and unthread said outer shell means to said filler neck in response to rotary movement of said outer skirt,

said lost motion drive means only allowing said rotatable closure means to be detached from said filler neck when the rotatable shell means to rotated in said direction in excess of the further rotation that causes the vent passage to open, the lost motion drive means including an input side that has at least one channel thereon, the channel having end portions which are drivingly engaged by a lug on the outer skirt portion when rotation of the rotatable drive hub means occurs and which ends do not engage the lug at other times so as to allow the lug to freely traverse the channel when drive to the rotatable drive hub does not occur.

3. A cap rotatably engageable with a tank filler neck having a mouth, the cap comprising

means for engaging the filler neck, the engaging means providing a filler neck venting passageway open to the atmosphere,

means for normally closing the filler neck venting passageway,

means for selectively actuating the closing means to open the filler neck venting passageway,

means for selectively rotating the engaging means relative to the filler neck in at least a cap-removal direction, the rotating means including a handle including an interior surface and means appended to the interior surface for moving the actuating means against the closing means so that the closing means is moved from a passageway-closing position to a passageway-opening position upon rotation of the rotating means in the cap-removal direction prior to rotation of the engaging means, and

means for releasing the actuating means from the closing means when the rotating means applies an excess torque to the closing means and the closing means is in the passageway-closing position.

4. The cap of claim 3, wherein the moving means includes at least one drive element depending from the interior surface of the handle and the actuating means includes at least one driven element in engagement with the at least one drive element.

5. The cap of claim 4, wherein the drive element is configured to impart rectilinear movement to the actuating means in response to rotation of the driven element about its axis of rotation during rotation of the rotating means in the cap-removal direction so that the direction of motion of the actuating means is substantially parallel to the axis of rotation of the at least one drive element.

6. The cap of claim 3, wherein the engaging means includes a closure member configured to close the filler neck and an inner surface defining a first venting aperture through the closure member and providing a valve seat surrounding the venting aperture, the closing means includes a pressure-relief valve positioned in the second venting aperture, and means for yieldably biasing the pressure-relief valve in an axially inward direction against the valve seat normally to close the first venting aperture and for yieldably biasing the vacuum-relief valve in an axially outward direction against the pressure-relief valve normally to close the second venting aperture, and the actuating means includes a plunger axially movable in the engaging means to a vacuum-relief valve-actuating position moving the vacuum-relief valve against the biasing means upon movement of the actuating means to said actuating position to open the second venting aperture in response to rotation of the handle relative to the filler neck.

7. The cap of claim 6, wherein the driven element is cylindrical to define an axis of rotation and is configured to impart rectilinear movement of the actuating means in response to rotation of the driven element about its axis of rotation during rotation of the shell means in the cap-removal direction so that the direction of motion of the actuating means is substantially parallel to the axis of rotation of the driven element.

8. The cap of claim 6, wherein the actuating means further includes means interconnecting the plunger and the engaging means for blocking rotation of the plunger during axial movement toward its vacuum-relief valve-actuating position.

9. The cap of claim 8, wherein the moving means includes at least one drive element depending from the interior surface of the handle and the actuating means includes at least one driven element in engagement with the at least one drive element.

10. A cap rotatably engageable with a tank filler neck having a mouth, the cap comprising

closure means rotatably engaging the filler neck for closing the filler neck, the closure means including means for selectively establishing a passage extending through the closure means to interconnect an interior region of the filler neck and atmosphere surrounding the filler neck in fluid communication,

means for extending into the closure means for actuating the establishing means, the means for extending being movable relative to the closure means between inactive and actuating positions,

shell means for providing a hand grip to permit rotation, the shell means including a handle having an interior surface and means appended to the interior surface for moving the means for extending to its actuating position in response to rotation of the shell means relative to the filler neck in a cap-removal direction without substantially rotating the closure means relative to the filler neck, said shell means moving said closure means to a position closing said passageway upon reverse rotation of the shell means, and

overload means disconnecting said shell means from the closure means when said closure means closes said passageway.

11. The cap of claim 10, wherein the moving means includes at least one drive element depending from the interior surface of the handle and the means for extending includes at least one driven element in engagement with the at least one drive element.

12. The cap of claim 11, wherein the engaging means includes a closure member configured to close the filler neck and an inner surface defining a first venting aperture through the closure member and providing a valve seat surrounding the venting aperture, the closing means includes a pressure-relief valve formed to include a second venting aperture, a vacuum-relief valve positioned in the second venting aperture, and means for yieldably biasing the pressure-relief valve in an axially inward direction against the valve seat normally to close the first venting aperture and for yieldably biasing the vacuum-relief valve in an axially outward direction against the pressure-relief valve normally to close the second venting aperture, and the actuating means includes a plunger axially movable in the engaging means to a vacuum-relief valve-actuating position moving the vacuum-relief valve against the biasing means upon movement of the actuating means to an actuating position to open the second venting aperture in response to rotation of the rotating means relative to the filler neck.

13. The cap of claim 11, wherein the actuating means further includes means interconnecting the plunger and the engaging means for blocking rotation of the plunger during axial movement toward its vacuum-relief valve-actuating position.

14. A cap rotatably engageable with a tank filler neck having a mouth, the cap comprising

closure means for engaging and closing the filler neck,

vent path means for providing a controllable vent path through said closure means,

means for opening said vent path upon movement of the opening means relative to the closure means from an inactive position to an actuating position,

shell means for selectively rotating said closure means relative to said filler neck, the shell means including a handle and means fixed to the handle for camming the opening means to impart motion to the opening means upon rotation of the shell means in a selected direction preparatory to rotating the closure means within the filler neck so that the opening means is moved relative to the closure means to its actuating position to open the vent path means, said shell means upon reverse rotation causing said closure means to engage and close said filler neck, and

releasing means for disconnecting rotation of said shell means from the closure means when said closure means closes the filler neck.

15. The cap of claim 14, wherein said opening means comprises a plunger configured to move axially within said closure means.

16. The cap of claim 15, wherein said camming means includes at least one cylindrical cam for axially displacing said plunger within said closure means in response to rotational movement of said shell means.

17. The cap of claim 16, wherein said vent path means includes a vent passageway and a pressure-vacuum valve in the vent passageway.

18. The cap of claim 17, wherein said plunger is configured to displace a portion of said pressure-vacuum valve when said plunger is moved axially downwardly by said at least one cylindrical cam.

19. The cap of claim 18, wherein said shell means is configured to rotate freely around said closure means during an initial portion of the rotation in the first direction followed by engaging rotation with respect to said closure means to engage said closure means with said filler neck, and said shell means is configured to rotate freely around said closure means during an initial portion of the rotation in the direction opposite said first direction followed by engaging rotation with respect to said closure means to disengage said closure means from said filler neck.

20. The cap of claim 19, wherein said shell means and said at least one cylindrical cam cooperate to move said plunger axially downwardly to displace a portion of said pressure-vacuum valve during a predetermined part of the initial portion of the rotation of said shell means in the direction opposite said first direction to begin venting and said shell means and said at least one cylindrical cam also cooperate to provide means for sustaining a venting during continued rotation of the shell means through a remaining part of the initial portion of the rotation in the direction opposite said first direction and before said shell means is coupled to said closure means to disengage said closure means from said filler neck.

21. A cap rotatably engageable with a tank filler neck having a mouth, the cap comprising

closure means including a closure member rotatably engaging the filler neck,

seal means for establishing a seal between the closure member and the filler neck,

a handle rotatable between a cap-retaining position and a cap-removing position, the handle including an interior surface and at least one driving member depending from the interior surface,

actuation means responsive to a force applied by the driving member upon rotation of the handle in a cap-removal direction for creating a vent passageway between the filler neck and the atmosphere through the sealed closure means, the actuation means maintaining the seal established by the seal means during a predetermined amount of rotation of the handle in the cap-removal direction from its cap-retaining position to accommodate discharge through the vent path prior to breaking the seal established by the seal means,

said handle upon reverse rotation coupling said closure means to engage and seal the filler neck,

releasing means for disconnecting said handle from said closure means in response to excess torque being applied thereto when the closure means is in its sealed position.

22. The cap of claim 21, wherein the handle further includes drive means for applying a rotation-inducing torque to the closure means during continued rotation of the handle past said predetermined amount of rotation, the drive means establishing a lost-motion connection between the handle and the closure means to delay rotation of the closure means relative to the filler neck and breakage of the seal established by the seal means until after the pressure in the filler neck has substantially normalized due to discharge through the vent path.

23. The cap of claim 21, wherein the moving means includes at least one drive element depending from the rotating means and the actuating means includes at least one driven element in engagement with the at least one drive element.

24. The cap of claim 21, wherein the closure means includes an inner surface defining a first venting aperture and providing a valve seat surrounding the venting aperture, the establishing means includes a pressure-relief valve formed to include a second venting aperture, a vacuum-relief valve positioned in the second venting aperture, and means for yieldably biasing the pressure-relief valve in an axially inward direction against the valve seat normally to close the first venting aperture and for yieldably biasing the vacuum-relief valve in an axially outward direction against the pressure-relief valve normally to close the second venting aperture, and the actuation means includes a plunger axially movable in the closure means to a vacuum-relief valve-actuating position moving the vacuum-relief valve against the biasing means upon movement of the actuation means to its actuating position to open the second venting aperture in response to rotation of the handle relative to the filler neck.

25. The cap of claim 24, wherein the actuation means further includes means interconnecting the plunger and the closure means for blocking rotation of the plunger during axial movement toward its vacuum-relief valve-actuating position.

26. A cap rotatably engageable with a tank filler neck having a mouth, the cap comprising

a closure rotatably engageable with the filler neck to cover the filler neck mouth and formed to include a vent passageway extending therethrough in communication with the filler neck,

a valve supported int he vent passageway for movement between passageway-opening and passageway-closing positions,

a handle shell including a drive member positioned to apply a rotation-including drive force to the closure upon rotation of the handle shell,

a plunger supported in a space between the handle shell and the closure for movement between inactive and valve-actuating positions, the handle shell including an interior surface and at least one cam member appended to the interior surface and configured to move the plunger to its valve-actuating position upon rotation of the handle shell in a cap-removal direction, thereby moving the valve to its passageway-opening position, and

torque over-ride means connected between the handle and the closure member to disconnect rotation of the handle from the closure member when the closure member completely closes the filler neck.

27. The cap of claim 26, wherein the valve is a vacuum-relief valve.

28. The cap of claim 27, wherein the plunger includes a driven cam for riding on the cam member and a spring acting between the plunger and the closure to urge the driven cam into camming engagement with the cam member on the handle shell.