Automotive filler cap assembly

• US 6,234,557 B1
• Filed: 03/17/2000
• Issued: 05/22/2001
• Est. Priority Date: 06/11/1999
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Hyundai Motor Company (Hyundai Motor Group)
• Original Assignee: Hyundai Motor Company (Hyundai Motor Group)
• Inventors: Bae, Han
• Primary Examiner(s): Pape, Joseph D.
• Application Number:
  US09/527,151
• Time in Patent Office: 431 Days
• Field of Search: 296/97.22, 220/86.2, 220/DIG.33, 280/834
• US Class Current: 296/97.22
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 15/0406 Filler caps for fuel tanks
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 15/05 Inlet covers
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 2015/0546 Arrangements for checking the position of the inlet cover
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 2015/0576 with actuator fixed to the vehicle body
• CPC Class Codes: E05B 83/34 for fuel inlet covers essentially flush with the vehicle surface

Abstract

A filler cap assembly includes a filler cap for opening and closing a fuel inlet, a first detecting arrangement for detecting if a fuel tank door is opened or not, a second detecting arrangement for detecting if the filler cap is placed in the fuel inlet, and an actuating arrangement for opening and closing the filler cap according to signals from the first and second sensors.

Claims

1. A filler cap assembly comprising:

a filler cap for opening and closing a fuel inlet;

first means for detecting if a fuel tank door is opened or not;

second means for detecting if the filler cap is placed in the fuel inlet; and

means for actuating the filler cap according to signals from the first and second sensors.

2. A filler cap assembly of claim 1 wherein the filler cap comprises a body that is threaded on its lower portion so as to be screwed into a fuel inlet, a cap head formed at an upper end of the body, a second conductor fixed to a lower end of the body, and a driven gear mounted around an upper portion of the body so as to be engaged with the driving gear of the actuator.

3. A filler cap assembly of claim 1 wherein the actuating means is mounted near a fuel inlet for selectively rotating the filler cap and being electrically connected to a battery when the first detecting means detects that the opening lever is operated for opening the fuel tank door.

4. A filler cap assembly of claim 1 wherein the first detecting means comprises a first conductor fixed to the cable and slidably housed in a cylindrical housing, and two first sensing terminals mounted around the housing such that an electric connection is established between the first two sensing terminals when the first conductor is located between the first two sensing terminals.

5. A filler cap of claim 1 wherein the second detecting means comprises a pair of sensing terminals arranged with a predetermined distance therebetween for establishing an electric connection between a battery and the actuator when the second conductor of the filler cap is located between the second sensing terminals.

6. A filler cap assembly of claim 1 wherein the actuating means comprises a motor electrically connected to a pair of sensing terminals and a long driving gear fixed to a rotational shaft of the motor.