Patent ID: 6763966
Filing Date: 2004-07-20
Classification: B60K,Y10S

Abstract:
A torque-limit signal cap for a filler neck, the cap comprisinga handle rotatable about an axis of rotation, a closure adapted to close the filler neck, and a torque-limit signaler coupled to the handle and the closure and configured to disable temporarily transmission of torque about the axis of rotation in a cap-advancing direction from the handle to the closure during rotation of the handle about the axis of rotation in the cap-advancing direction to signal a person rotating the handle that the closure is seated in a filler neck-closing position, the torque-limit signaler comprising a first drive receiver coupled to the closure for movement relative to the closure between a driver-engaged position and a driver-disengaged position, a driver coupled to the handle to rotate therewith and contact the first driver receiver in the driver-engaged position during rotation of the handle about the axis of rotation in the cap-advancing direction to cause the closure to rotate about the axis of rotation, the driver being configured to urge the first drive receiver from the driver-engaged position to the driver-disengaged position to allow limited lost-motion rotation of the handle relative to the closure once torque in excess of a predetermined amount is applied to the handle about the axis of rotation during continued rotation of the handle about the axis of rotation in the cap-advancing direction, and a second drive receiver coupled to the closure and located to contact the driver while the first drive receiver is maintained in the driver-disengaged position and after limited lost-motion rotation of the handle relative to the closure about the axis of rotation in the cap-advancing direction to produce a torque-limit signal indicating to a person rotating the handle about the axis of rotation in the cap-advancing direction that such limited lost-motion rotation of the handle relative to the closure about the axis of rotation has occurred and sufficient torque has been applied to the handle about the axis of rotation in the cap-advancing direction during installation of the closure in a flier neck to seat the closure in a filler neck-closing position in the filler neck.