Power fuel tank cover for automobiles

• US 5,234,122 A
• Filed: 08/10/1992
• Issued: 08/10/1993
• Est. Priority Date: 08/07/1992
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Bing J. Cherng
• Original Assignee: Bing J. Cherng
• Inventors: Cherng, Bing J.
• Primary Examiner(s): Shoap, Allan N.
• Assistant Examiner(s): SCHWARZ, PAUL
• Application Number:
  US07/927,347
• Time in Patent Office: 365 Days
• Field of Search: 220/211, 220/335, 220/263, 220/86.2, 220/DIG. 33, 296/97, 296/22, 292/201
• US Class Current: 220/211
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 15/0406 Filler caps for fuel tanks
• 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 2015/0445 using hinges
• CPC Class Codes: E05B 81/34 of geared transmissions
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 220/33 Gasoline tank cap
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 292/1082 Motor

Abstract

This invention relates to a power fuel tank cover and in particular to one including a motor, a collar having a circular member and a tubular member formed at one side thereof, a worm rod inserted into the tubular member of the collar, a sleeve fitted into said collar, a worm gear mounted on the sleeve and engaged with the worm rod, an actuating cylinder with external threads being threadedly engaged with the center hole of the worm gear, a lid pivotally connected with an upper portion of the actuating cylinder and having a seat with a groove at a bottom, a positioning plate on a top and a hole extending through the seat and the positioning plate for receiving a ball, a plug and a spring, a connecting member pivotally connected between the collar and the lid, and a press plate threadedly engaged with the positioning plate by a screw connected with a linking rod via a ring which is in turn connected with a fixing plate, whereby the fuel tank may be automatically opened and closed simply by pressing a switch near the driver seat hence facilitating the operation of filling gasoline.

Claims

1. A power fuel tank cover comprising:

a motor;

a collar having a circular member and a tubular member formed at one side thereof, said tubular member being formed with a hole which is in communication with an opening of the circular member;

a worm rod inserted into the tubular member of said collar;

a sleeve fitted into said collar;

a worm gear mounted on said sleeve and engaged with said worm rod, said worm gear having a center hole with internal threads;

an actuating cylinder with external threads being engaged with the center hole of said worm gear;

a lid pivotally connected with an upper portion of said actuating cylinder and having a seat with a groove at a bottom, a positioning plate on a top and a hole extending through said seat and said positioning plate for receiving a ball, a plug, and a spring, said positioning plate extending outward to form a block;

a connecting member pivotally connected between said collar and said lid; and

a press plate threadedly engaged with the positioning plate by a screw connected with a linking rod via a ring which is in turn connected with a fixing plate, said fixing plate being designed to engage with a fuel tank cover;

wherein the motor, when activated, rotates an axle connected to a cable which in turn rotates the worm rod, causing the worm gear to activate the actuating cylinder, thus urging the lid to a position perpendicular to the collar, thereby causing the fuel tank cover, to open inasmuch as the lid is connected to the fuel tank cover via the fixing plate and the linking rod.

2. The power fuel tank cover as claimed in claim 1, wherein said connecting member is provided with an inclined shoulder at both sides.

3. The power fuel tank cover as claimed in claim 1, wherein said actuating cylinder has a lower portion with a smooth surface engaged with a rubber packing.

4. the power fuel tank cover as claimed in claim 1, wherein said plug is composed of an upper circular member and a lower circular member with an inclined surface.

5. The power fuel tank cover as claimed in claim 1, wherein said plug is formed with a conical hole at a center thereof.