Seal for filler neck closure assembly

• US 6,446,826 B1
• Filed: 08/11/1999
• Issued: 09/10/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 02/11/1997
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Stant USA Corporation (Vapor Acquisition Corp.)
• Original Assignee: Stant Manufacturing Incorporated
• Inventors: Abney, William III, Harris, Robert S., Foltz, Dean C.
• Primary Examiner(s): Young, Lee
• Assistant Examiner(s): ELOSHWAY, NIKI MARINA
• Application Number:
  US09/367,334
• Time in Patent Office: 1,126 Days
• Field of Search: 220/562, 220/86.2, 220/582, 220/254, 220/255, 220/256, 220/259, 220/810, 220/DIG.33, 220/564, 220/581, 220/202, 220/203.1, 220/203.3, 220/203.4, 220/203.8, 220/203.9, 220/203.11, 220/203.12, 220/203.19, 220/203.2, 220/203.24, 220/203.27, 220/203.28, 220/203.29, 220/265, 220/266, 220/378, 220/86.1, 220/746, 141/312, 141/348, 141/349, 141/350, 296/97.22, 280/834
• US Class Current: 220/86.2
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 15/03504 adapted to avoid loss of fuel or fuel vapour, e.g. with vapour recovery systems
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 15/04 Tank inlets B60K15/077 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 2015/03401 for preventing electrostatic charges
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 2015/0451 Sealing means in the closure cap
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 2015/048 Arrangements for sealing the fuel inlet during filling
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 220/33 Gasoline tank cap

Abstract

A filler neck closure assembly (20) includes a housing (74) formed to include a passage (77), a tank pressure control assembly (84) in passage (77), and an outer shell (44) coupled to housing (74). Closure assembly (20) includes a sleeve (185) that reinforces housing (74) and shields tank pressure control assembly (84). Closure assembly (20) also includes a sealing gasket (192) and a foam ring (210) between housing (74) and a side wall (46) of outer shell (44) leakage of fuel vapor therebetween. Outer shell (44) includes frangible tabs (260) that break away from the rest of outer shell (44) in a controlled manner when outer shell (44) is subjected to an impact during a vehicle crash. Outer shell (44) is formed to include a fluid drain (421) and closure assembly (20) includes a float (425) that closes fluid drain (421) and that moves to open fluid drain (421) to allow accumulated fluid to drain out of outer shell (44).

Claims

1. A filler neck closure assembly for a vehicle fuel tank filler neck, the closure assembly comprising

a housing formed to include a nozzle-receiving passage and adapted to couple to the filler neck, the housing including a cylindrical side wall,

a tank pressure control assembly coupled to the housing, at least a portion of the tank pressure control assembly being surrounded by the cylindrical side wall, the tank pressure control assembly normally closing the nozzle-receiving passage and being operable to open the nozzle-receiving passage,

an outer shell having an outer wall surrounding at least a portion of the cylindrical side wall of the housing and a nozzle-guiding surface extending from the outer wall and defining a central opening in fluid communication with the nozzle-receiving passage, and

a sleeve surrounding the cylindrical side wall to reinforce the cylindrical side wall and to shield the portion of the tank pressure control assembly surrounded by the cylindrical side wall, the sleeve being positioned to lie between the outer shell and the housing and at least a portion of the sleeve being positioned to lie between the outer wall and nozzle-guiding surface of the outer shell.

2. The closure assembly of claim 1, further comprising a seal coupled to the housing and at least a portion of the sleeve being positioned to lie between the seal and the cylindrical side wall.

3. The closure assembly of claim 2, wherein at least a portion of the seal abuts the sleeve.

4. The closure assembly of claim 1, further comprising a ring of absorbent material and at least a portion of the sleeve being positioned to lie between the ring of absorbent material and the cylindrical side wall.

5. The closure assembly of claim 4, wherein at least a portion of the ring of absorbent material abuts the sleeve.

6. The closure assembly of claim 1, wherein the nozzle-guiding surface is formed to include at least one frangible member that breaks in response to engagement with the tank pressure control assembly during application of an impact force to the outer shell causing the outer shell to move axially relative to the tank pressure control assembly.

7. The closure assembly of claim 1, further comprising a torque-override mechanism and at least a portion of the sleeve being positioned to lie between the torque-override mechanism and the cylindrical side wall.

8. The closure assembly of claim 1, wherein the sleeve includes a hoop and a tab appended to the hoop, a first portion of the tab is positioned to lie adjacent to the cylindrical side wall, and a second portion of the tab is spaced from the cylindrical side wall.

9. The closure assembly of claim 8, wherein the housing further includes an annular flange appended to the housing, the annular flange is formed to include a slot, the first portion of the tab is positioned to lie in the slot, and the second portion of the tab is positioned to lie outside the slot.

10. The closure assembly of claim 8, wherein the second portion is angled relative to the first portion to secure the hoop axially relative to the cylindrical side wall.

11. The closure assembly of claim 8, wherein the housing includes an axially outwardly facing surface and an axially inwardly facing surface, the second portion of the tab engages the axially outwardly facing surface to prevent the hoop from moving in a first axial direction relative to the housing, and the sleeve includes an edge engaging the axially inwardly facing surface to prevent the hoop from moving in a second axial direction relative to the housing.

12. The closure assembly of claim 8, wherein the outer shell is coupled to the housing for rotation and further comprising a torque-override mechanism including a resilient finger appended to the housing, the torque-override mechanism further including a tooth appended to the outer shell and engaging the resilient finger to provide a torque override connection between the outer shell and the housing, and the first portion of the tab being positioned to lie between the resilient finger and the cylindrical side wall.

13. The closure assembly of claim 1, wherein the housing includes an annular flange formed to include a plurality of circumferentially spaced slots, the sleeve includes a hoop and a plurality of tabs appended to the hoop, and the tabs each include a first portion positioned to lie in a respective one of the plurality of slots.

14. The closure assembly of claim 13, wherein each of the tabs includes a second portion angled relative to the respective first portion to prevent the hoop from moving in a first axial direction relative to the housing, and the sleeve includes an edge engaging the housing to prevent the hoop from moving in a second axial direction relative to the housing.

15. The closure assembly of claim 14, wherein the annular flange includes a frangible portion configured to provide a fracture-initiation site during application of the impact force to the annular flange and the edge of the sleeve engages the frangible portion of the annular flange.

16. The closure assembly of claim 1, wherein the housing is made of a plastics material and the sleeve is made of a metal material.

17. A filler neck closure assembly for a vehicle fuel tank filler neck the closure assembly comprising

a housing formed to include a nozzle-receiving passage, the housing including an inner body adapted to couple to the filler neck and an outer body coupled to the inner body to define a vapor flow path between the inner and outer bodies,

a tank pressure control assembly coupled to the housing, the tank pressure control assembly normally closing the nozzle-receiving passage and being operable to open the nozzle-receiving passage, and

a seal coupled to the housing, the seal including an annular portion adapted to form a seal between the inner body and the filler neck and a sleeve portion appended to the annular portion and arranged to surround at least a portion of the inner body and at least a portion of the outer body to seal the vapor flow path between the inner and outer bodies.

18. The closure assembly of claim 17, wherein the seal has an L-shaped cross-section defined by the annular portion and the sleeve portion.

19. The closure assembly of claim 17, further comprising a ring of absorbent material and the sleeve portion including a cylindrical wall portion positioned to lie between the ring of absorbent material and the cylindrical side wall.

20. The closure assembly of claim 19, wherein the ring of absorbent material abuts the cylindrical wall portion of the sleeve portion.

21. The closure assembly of claim 17, further comprising an outer shell having a cylindrical wall surrounding the cylindrical side wall of the housing and the sleeve portion including a cylindrical wall portion positioned to lie between the cylindrical wall of the outer shell and the cylindrical side wall of the housing.

22. The closure assembly of claim 17, wherein the sleeve portion includes a cylindrical wall portion and a connector portion interconnecting the cylindrical wall portion and the annular portion.

23. The closure assembly of claim 22, wherein the connector portion extends radially outwardly from the annular portion and the cylindrical wall portion extends axially from the connector portion.

24. The closure assembly of claim 23, wherein the cylindrical wall portion includes an outer edge spaced apart from the connector portion and the outer edge is formed to include a bead that encompasses the outer body.

25. The closure assembly of claim 22, wherein the inner body includes a cylindrical wall and an annular lip appended to the cylindrical wall and extending radially outwardly therefrom, the annular portion abuts the cylindrical wall and the annular lip, the connector portion extends radially from the annular portion beyond the annular lip, and the cylindrical wall portion encompasses the annular lip.

26. The closure assembly of claim 25, wherein the outer body includes a cylindrical side wall positioned to lie between the annular lip and the cylindrical wall portion.

27. The closure assembly of claim 17, wherein the outer body includes a cylindrical side wall having a set of tab-receiving recesses formed therein, the inner body includes a cylindrical wall and a set of tabs appended to the cylindrical wall, the tabs are received in respective tab-receiving recesses, and the sleeve portion of the seal encompasses the tabs and the tab-receiving recesses.

28. The closure assembly of claim 17, wherein the inner body includes a cylindrical wall and an annular lip appended to the cylindrical wall and extending radially outwardly therefrom, the outer body includes a cylindrical side wall and a set of snap ledges appended to the cylindrical side wall, the snap ledges engage the annular lip, and the sleeve portion encompasses the annular lip and the snap ledges.

29. A filler neck closure assembly for a vehicle fuel tank filler neck, the closure assembly comprising

a housing formed to include a nozzle-receiving passage and adapted to couple to the filler neck, the housing including a first cylindrical side wall,

a tank pressure control assembly coupled to the housing, at least a portion of the tank pressure control assembly being surrounded by the first cylindrical side wall, the tank pressure control assembly normally closing the nozzle-receiving passage and being operable to open the nozzle-receiving passage,

an outer shell coupled to the housing, the outer shell including a second side wall surrounding the first cylindrical wall side wall so that an annular space is defined between the first cylindrical side wall and the second side wall, and

a ring of absorbent material positioned to lie in the annular space between the first cylindrical side wall and the second side wall, the absorbent material being configured to absorb axial and radial impacts applied to the outer shell.

30. The closure assembly of claim 29, wherein the ring of absorbent material is wedged between the first cylindrical side wall and the second side wall.

31. The closure assembly of claim 29, further comprising a torque-override mechanism positioned to lie axially outwardly of the annular space and the ring of absorbent material is positioned to lie axially inwardly of the torque-override mechanism.

32. The closure assembly of claim 31, wherein the outer shell includes a front wall appended to the second side wall and the torque-override mechanism is positioned to lie axially between the front wall and the ring of absorbent material.

33. The closure assembly of claim 29, wherein the ring of absorbent material is made of a hydrophillic material.

34. The closure assembly of claim 29, wherein the ring of absorbent material fills substantially all of the annular space.

35. The closure assembly of claim 29, wherein the housing includes an annular flange and the ring of absorbent material abuts the annular flange and abuts the second side wall.

36. The closure assembly of claim 29, wherein the second side wall is cylindrical.

37. A filler neck closure assembly for a vehicle fuel tank filler neck, the closure assembly comprising

a housing formed to include a nozzle-receiving passage and adapted to couple to the filler neck, the housing including a first cylindrical side wall,

a tank pressure control assembly coupled to the housing at least a portion of the tank pressure control assembly being surrounded by the first cylindrical side wall, the tank pressure control assembly normally closing the nozzle-receiving passage and being operable to open the nozzle-receiving passage,

an outer shell coupled to the housing the outer shell including a second cylindrical side wall surrounding the first cylindrical wall side wall so that an annular space is defined between the first and second cylindrical side walls,

a ring of absorbent material positioned to lie in the annular space between the first and second cylindrical side walls, the absorbent material being configured to absorb axial and radial impacts applied to the outer shell, and

a seal including a sleeve portion between the first cylindrical side wall and the ring of absorbent material.

38. A filler neck closure assembly for a vehicle fuel tank filler neck, the closure assembly comprising

a housing formed to include a nozzle-receiving passage and adapted to couple to the filler neck, the housing including a first cylindrical side wall,

a tank pressure control assembly coupled to the housing, at least a portion of the tank pressure control assembly being surrounded by the first cylindrical side wall, the tank pressure control assembly normally closing the nozzle-receiving passage and being operable to open the nozzle-receiving passage,

an outer shell coupled to the housing, the outer shell including a second cylindrical side wall surrounding the first cylindrical wall side wall so that an annular space is defined between the first and second cylindrical side walls,

a ring of absorbent material positioned to lie in the annular space between the first and second cylindrical side walls, the absorbent material being configured to absorb axial and radial impacts applied to the outer shell, and

a sleeve surrounding the first cylindrical wall to reinforce the first cylindrical wall and a portion of the ring of absorbent material abutting a portion of the sleeve.

39. A filler neck closure assembly for a vehicle fuel tank filler neck, the closure assembly comprising

a housing formed to include a nozzle-receiving passage and adapted to couple to the filler neck, the housing including a first cylindrical side wall,

a tank pressure control assembly coupled to the housing at least a portion of the tank pressure control assembly being surrounded by the first cylindrical side wall, the tank pressure control assembly normally closing the nozzle-receiving passage and being operable to open the nozzle-receiving passage,

an outer shell coupled to the housing, the outer shell including a second cylindrical side wall surrounding the first cylindrical wall side wall so that an annular space is defined between the first and second cylindrical side walls,

a ring of absorbent material positioned to lie in the annular space between the first and second cylindrical side walls the absorbent material being configured to absorb axial and radial impacts applied to the outer shell, and

a seal having a cylindrical portion surrounding the first cylindrical wall and a portion of the ring of absorbent material abutting a portion of the cylindrical portion of the seal.

40. A filler neck closure assembly for a vehicle fuel tank filler neck, the closure assembly comprising

a housing formed to include a nozzle-receiving passage and including a first portion adapted to couple to the filler neck, the first portion being made of a conductive grounding material,

a plate supported by the housing and formed to include a nozzle-receiving opening, the plate being adapted so that a fuel-dispensing pump nozzle is insertable through the nozzle-receiving opening into the nozzle-receiving passage,

a door coupled to the plate and movable between a first position closing the nozzle-receiving opening and a second position opening the nozzle-receiving opening, the door being made of a conductive grounding material, and

an electrical coupler contacting the door and contacting the first portion to provide a grounding path for static electricity associated with the pump nozzle when contact is made between the pump nozzle and the door during insertion of the pump nozzle through the nozzle-receiving opening.

41. The closure assembly of claim 40, wherein the electrical coupler is a spring configured to bias the door toward the first position.

42. The closure assembly of claim 40, wherein the door is directly coupled to the plate.

43. The closure assembly of claim 40, wherein the door is spaced apart from the housing when the door is in the first position closing the nozzle-receiving opening.

44. The closure assembly of claim 40, wherein the door is made of a non-metallic conductive grounding material.

45. The closure assembly of claim 40, wherein the first portion is made of a non-metallic conductive grounding material.

46. The closure assembly of claim 40, wherein the door and the first portion are made of conductive acetal containing a carbon filler.

47. The closure assembly of claim 40, wherein the housing defines an axis, and the electrical coupler extends axially inwardly from the door to the first portion when the door is positioned in its first position.

48. A filler neck closure assembly for a vehicle fuel tank filler neck, the closure assembly comprising

a housing formed to include a nozzle-receiving passage and adapted to be coupled to the filler neck,

a tank pressure control assembly coupled to the housing, the tank pressure control assembly normally closing the nozzle-receiving passage and being operable to open the nozzle-receiving passage,

an outer shell coupled to the housing and formed to include a nozzle-receiving opening, the outer shell including an accumulation area in which liquid accumulates, the outer shell being formed to include a drain communicating with the accumulation area, and

a float retained in the accumulation area, the float being movable between a first position closing the drain and a second position opening the drain so that liquid flows from the accumulation area through the drain and out of the filler neck closure assembly.

49. The closure assembly of claim 48, wherein the accumulation area is positioned to lie outside the nozzle-receiving passage.

50. The closure assembly of claim 48, wherein the float has a specific gravity between about 0.7 and about 0.8.

51. The closure assembly of claim 48, wherein the outer shell includes a substantially funnel-shaped shoulder adjacent to the drain and the float seats against the shoulder when in the first position.

52. The closure assembly of claim 48, wherein the float is a spherical ball.

53. The closure assembly of claim 52, further comprising a retainer coupled to the outer shell adjacent to the drain and the retainer being configured to retain the spherical ball adjacent to the drain.

54. The closure assembly of claim 48, wherein the float includes an upper portion above the drain, a stem extending from the upper portion through the drain, and a retaining portion appended to the stem beneath the drain, and the upper portion and the retaining portion are configured to retain the float adjacent to the drain.

55. The closure assembly of claim 54, wherein the outer shell further includes a recess beneath the drain in fluid communication therewith and the retaining portion is constrained to move within the recess as the float moves between the first and second positions.

57. The closure assembly of claim 49, further comprising a seal coupled to the plate adjacent to the nozzle-receiving opening, the door including a disk hang a sealing surface and a bump appended to the disk, the sealing surface engaging the seal to close the nozzle-receiving opening when the door is in the first position, the sealing surface being spaced apart from the seal when the door is in the second position, the bump including a first surface adapted to engage the fuel-dispensing pump nozzle to maintain the sealing surface in spaced-apart relation with the fuel-dispensing pump nozzle during insertion of the fuel-dispensing pump nozzle through the nozzle-receiving opening, the bump including a second surface, and the standoff rib being appended to the second surface.

58. The closure assembly of claim 57, further comprising a support web appended to the standoff rib and appended to the second surface of the bump, the support web rigidifying the bump and rigidifying the standoff rib.

59. The closure assembly of claim 58, wherein the door is coupled to the plate at a location through which the axis passes, and the standoff rib is positioned between the location and the support web.

60. The closure assembly of claim 57, wherein the disk has a first thickness and the bump has a second thickness between the first and second surfaces, and the second thickness is substantially equivalent to the first thickness.

61. The closure assembly of claim 57, wherein the standoff rib is angled with respect to the second surface and the standoff rib is substantially perpendicular to the disk.

56. A filler neck closure assembly for a vehicle fuel tank filler neck, the closure assembly comprising

a housing formed to include a nozzle-receiving passage and adapted to couple to the filler neck,

a plate supported by the housing and formed to include a nozzle-receiving opening, the plate being adapted so that a fuel-dispensing pump nozzle is insertable through the nozzle-receiving opening into the nozzle-receiving passage,

a door coupled to the plate and pivotable about an axis between a first position closing the nozzle-receiving opening and a second position opening the nozzle-receiving opening, and

a standoff rib appended to the door, the standoff rib being positioned to engage the housing to limit the amount by which the door pivots during insertion of the fuel-dispensing pump nozzle through the nozzle-receiving opening upon movement of the door to the second position and to disengage the housing upon movement of the door away from the second position toward the first position.

62. The closure assembly of claim 56, further comprising a spring extending between the door and the housing to normally bias the door in the first position.

63. The closure assembly of claim 62, wherein the standoff rib is positioned in spaced-apart relation to the spring and extends away from the spring.

64. The closure assembly of claim 56, wherein the filler neck defines another nozzle-receiving opening having a diameter smaller than a diameter of the nozzle-receiving opening, and the standoff rib orients the door so that the door is adapted to guide the fuel-dispensing pump nozzle through the another nozzle-receiving opening when the standoff rib engages the housing.

65. The closure assembly of claim 56, in combination with a vehicle fuel tank filler neck, wherein the filler neck includes a portion coupled to the housing and defining another nozzle-receiving opening having a diameter smaller than a diameter of the nozzle-receiving opening, and the standoff rib orients the door so that the door is adapted to guide the fuel-dispensing pump nozzle through the another nozzle-receiving opening when the standoff rib engages the housing.

66. The closure assembly of claim 56, wherein the door includes a bump adapted to contact the fuel-dispensing pump nozzle during insertion thereof through the nozzle-receiving opening, and the standoff rib is coupled to the bump.

67. The closure assembly of claim 66, wherein the bump includes a first surface and a second surface facing away from the first surface, the first surface is adapted to contact the fuel-dispensing pump nozzle during insertion thereof through the nozzle-receiving opening, the second surface defines a cavity, and the standoff rib is coupled to the second surface in the cavity.

68. A filler neck closure assembly for a vehicle fuel tank filer neck, the closure assembly comprising

a housing formed to include a nozzle-receiving passage and adapted to be coupled to the filler neck,

a tank pressure control assembly coupled to the housing, the tank pressure control assembly normally closing the nozzle-receiving passage and being operable to open the nozzle-receiving passage, and

an outer shell coupled to the housing, the outer shell including a side wall and a font wall coupled to the side wall, the front wall being formed to include a nozzle-receiving opening in fluid communication with the nozzle-receiving passage, the front wall including at least one frangible member that breaks in response to engagement with the tank pressure control assembly during application of an impact force to the outer shell causing the outer shell to move axially relative to the tank pressure control assembly.

69. The closure assembly of claim 68, wherein the front wall is formed to include a groove adjacent to the at least one frangible member and the groove is sized to weaken the front wall of the outer shell.

70. The closure assembly of claim 69, wherein the at least one frangible member includes two frangible members separated by a slot and the groove is formed in the outer shell to lie adjacent to the slot and adjacent to the frangible members.

71. The closure assembly of claim 70, wherein the groove is formed with varying depth along its length.

72. The closure assembly of claim 69, wherein the groove has a V-shaped cross section.

73. The closure assembly of claim 68, wherein the housing includes a cylindrical wall defining an axis and the at least one frangible member is inclined with respect to the axis.