Filler neck of a fuel tank with an arrangement for preventing incorrect fueling

• US 20080237231A1
• Filed: 03/27/2008
• Published: 10/02/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 03/27/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Magna Steyr Fuel Systems Gesmbh (M Unicar, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Magna Steyr Fuel Systems Gesmbh (M Unicar, Inc.)
• Inventors: Feichtinger, Stefan
• Granted Patent: US 7,661,550 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 220/86.2
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 15/04 Tank inlets B60K15/077 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 2015/0483 Means to inhibit the introduction of too small or too big filler nozzles
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 137/86332 Vent and inlet or outlet in unitary mounting

Abstract

The filler neck of a fuel tank with an arrangement for preventing incorrect fueling has a rotatable ring and closing elements which are actuated by said ring, with a transmission device having the following features being arranged between the movable part and the rotatable ring:

• • there are two slides which are situated opposite one another and which have run-on faces which face toward one another in the support body,
  • the two slides are connected to one another by means of a rigid bar, which rigid bar is movably articulatedly connected with its first end to the first slide and with its second end to the second slide,
  • the second end of the bar is a bolt which engages into a first slot of the second slide and into a second slot of the rotatable ring.

Claims

1. Filler neck of a fuel tank with an arrangement for preventing incorrect fueling, comprising a neck body, at least one part which can be moved counter to a spring force by inserting a filler pipe of the correct diameter, a rotatable ring and closing elements which are actuated by said ring, with a transmission device being arranged between the movable part and the rotatable ring, wherein

a) two movable parts which are situated and are movable in an axially normal plane are arranged substantially opposite one another in the neck body, which parts are a first and a second slide with run-on faces which face toward one another, which first and second slide are displaced outward when a the filler pipe with the correct diameter is inserted,

b) the two slides are connected to one another by means of a rigid bar, which rigid bar is movably articulatedly connected with its first end to the first slide and of its second end to the second slide,

c) the transmission device is composed of the rigid bar, a first slotted guide between the first slide and the rigid bar, and a second slotted guide between the rigid bar and the rotatable ring, with the slots running in the axially normal plane.

2. Filler neck according to claim 1, wherein the first slot runs at an angle with respect to the sliding direction of the second slide, and the second slot runs approximately in the sliding direction.

3. Filler neck according to claim 1, wherein the rigid bar has, at its second end, a bolt which interacts with the two slots.

4. Filler neck according to claim 1, wherein the closing elements which are actuated by the rotatable ring are a number of locking elements which interact with a flap which is arranged inward toward the tank from the slide.

5. Filler neck according to claim 4, wherein the locking elements are parts which are movable in opposite directions in an axially normal plane and which interact with the rotatable ring by means of three slotted guides.

6. Filler neck according to claim 4, wherein the locking elements are parts which are pivotable in an axially normal plane about an axle which is fixed to the housing, and which interact with the rotatable ring by means of third slotted guides.

7. Filler neck according to claim 1, wherein the closing elements which are actuated by the rotatable ring are a number of parts which are pivotable in an axially normal plane about an axle which is fixed to the housing, and which interact with the rotatable ring by means of third slotted guides.

8. Filler neck according to claim 5, wherein the third slotted guides comprise a slot on the locking element and a pin on the rotatable ring.

9. Filler neck according to claim 6, wherein the third slotted guides comprise a slot on the locking element and a pin on the rotatable ring.

10. Filler neck according to claim 1, wherein the closing elements which are actuated by the rotatable ring are two locking elements which interact with a flap which is arranged inward toward the tank from the slide.