Filler neck apparatus for preventing fuel from mixing

A filler neck apparatus may include a housing into which a fuel filling gun is selectively inserted, a rotation protrusion pivotally mounted on a side of the housing and elastically biased in a direction, wherein the rotation protrusion contacts with the fuel filling gun while the fuel filling gun is inserted into the housing, a slider slidably installed in the housing and elastically biased in a direction wherein the slider is selectively coupled to the rotation protrusion, and wherein a locked state of the slider is released by the rotation protrusion and is movable in a direction when the slider is released from the rotation protrusion, a flapper pivotally mounted on the housing and opening or closing the bottom end of the housing by the fuel filling gun, a stopper pivotally mounted on the housing and selectively locking the flapper, and a link pivotally connecting the slider and the stopper.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED PATENT APPLICATION

This application claims the benefit of Korean Patent Application No. 10-2013-0060064, filed on May 28, 2013, the entire contents of which is incorporated herein for all purposes by this reference.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to a filler neck device for preventing a gasoline fuel from mixing in a diesel car.

2. Description of Related Art

In general, a fuel tank for storing fuel required for combustion of an engine is provided in a car, and the fuel tank is connected to a fuel filling pipe, and a fuel filler neck for a car that represents a fuel supply hole is provided at an end of the fuel filling pipe so as to supply fuel.

A diameter of a fuel supply gun for injecting fuel into the fuel filler neck varies depending on a gasoline or diesel fuel, and the supply speed of fuel also varies.

Generally, the diameter of the fuel supply gun for injecting the diesel fuel is greater than the diameter of the fuel supply gun for injecting the gasoline fuel.

Thus, the diameter of the fuel supply hole for a diesel car is greater than the diameter of the fuel supply hole for a gasoline car.

Conventionally, the diesel fuel has been usually used for a large car, and recently, a car that uses the diesel fuel is widely spread, and self-fuel filling due to a high oil price is increasing.

However, due to a difference between a diameter of the fuel supply gun and a diameter of a fuel injection hole caused by a gasoline or diesel fuel, the fuel supply gun for the diesel car cannot be inserted into the fuel injection hole for the gasoline car. However, the fuel supply gun for the gasoline car can be inserted into the fuel injection hole for the diesel car so that the gasoline fuel may be supplied to the diesel car due to an oil-filling mistake.

In this case, if a diesel engine is driven in a state in which the gasoline fuel flows in a fuel system for the diesel car, the diesel car may stall during driving and may stop suddenly, mechanical abrasion caused by the gasoline fuel may occur, and when the diesel car stalls during driving, components relating to the gasoline fuel must be replaced with new one.

BRIEF SUMMARY

Various aspects of the present invention are directed to providing a filler neck device for preventing fuel from mixing, wherein rotation of a stopper is locked or unlocked according to the diameter of a fuel filling gun using a plurality of rotation protrusions disposed at sides of a housing in a circumferential direction of the housing so that gasoline can be prevented from mixing in a fuel tank for a diesel car.

According to an aspect of the present invention, a filler neck apparatus for preventing fuel from mixing, may include a housing into which a fuel filling gun is selectively inserted, a rotation protrusion that is pivotally mounted on a side of the housing and elastically biased in a direction, wherein the rotation protrusion contacts with the fuel filling gun while the fuel filling gun is inserted into the housing, a slider slidably installed in the housing and elastically biased in a direction wherein the slider is selectively coupled to the rotation protrusion, and wherein a locked state of the slider is released by action of the rotation protrusion and is movable in a direction when the slider is released from the rotation protrusion, a flapper that is pivotally mounted on a bottom end of the housing and opens or closes the bottom end of the housing by the fuel filling gun, a stopper that is pivotally mounted on the bottom end of the housing and selectively lock the flapper, and a link that pivotally connects the slider and the stopper.

The rotation protrusion may include an upper protrusion part pivotally mounted to the housing and a portion of the upper protrusion part is inserted into the housing through an opening formed in a side of the housing, a lower connection part that protrudes downwardly from a bottom surface of the upper protrusion part, and a hanging jaw that protrudes from a bottom end of the lower connection part and is selectively inserted in and fastened to a hanging hole of the slider so that the slider is selectively prevented from descending.

As a protrusion length of the rotation protrusion increases from a top end of the upper protrusion part to a downward direction in a radial direction of the housing, wherein when a diesel fuel filling gun is inserted into the housing, the rotation protrusion is rotatable due to a contact with the fuel filling gun, and as the hanging jaw is released from the hanging hole of the slider, the flapper is configured to be opened.

A plurality of upper protrusion parts is disposed at regular intervals along a circumferential direction of the housing from an upper portion of the housing, wherein a front side of each of the plurality of the upper protrusion parts is formed of a curved surface having a predetermined curvature along the circumferential direction of the housing, and wherein the fuel filling gun uniformly contacts the front side of the each of the plurality of the upper protrusion parts in the circumferential direction of the housing so that an insertion force of the fuel filling gun is able to be uniformly transferred to the upper protrusion parts.

The housing may include rotation protrusion insertion parts that are provided at both sides of the housing in a state in which openings formed in sides of the housing are disposed between rotation protrusion insertion parts and that may have a C-shaped cross-sectional insertion groove formed in the housing, wherein hinge protrusions formed at both sides of the rotation protrusion are inserted in and mounted in the rotation protrusion insertion parts and are rotatably combined with the rotation protrusion insertion parts.

The housing may include a leaf spring fixing part that is connected to both sides of the opening formed in sides of the housing in a transverse direction, wherein the rotation protrusion is elastically supported by a leaf spring, a top end of which is hung in and fixed to the leaf spring fixing part, and is restored to an original position of the rotation protrusion.

The filler neck apparatus may further include a retainer mounted on a top end of the housing, wherein the retainer may include an inlet part having a diameter increasing upwardly, an insertion part that protrudes from a bottom end of the inlet part in a circumferential direction of the housing in a direct downward direction and is inserted into the housing, a flange part that protrudes laterally from a top end of the insertion part, and fastening protrusions that protrude from a bottom surface of the flange part in a direct downward direction, are inserted into the rotation protrusion insertion parts and fix the hinge protrusions of the rotation protrusion.

The housing may include a housing guide that protrudes from an inner wall of the housing in a radial direction of the housing, wherein the slider slidably contacts with the housing guide, and wherein the housing regulates rotation of the slider in the circumferential direction of the housing.

The slider may include a fixing part for a slider spring that protrudes from an outer side of the slider in a L-shape, is opened in a downward direction and in which a top end of the slider spring is inserted and fixed, wherein the slider is elastically supported by the slider spring and is restored to an original position of the slider.

The link is hinge-coupled to hinge protrusions of the slider and hinge protrusions of the stopper through hinge grooves formed in top and bottom ends of the link and converts a rotation motion of the stopper into a straight line motion of the slider.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

The present invention will now be described more fully with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which exemplary embodiments of the invention are shown, so that one of ordinary skill in the art can easily embody the present invention.

The present invention relates to a filler neck device for preventing fuel from mixing, wherein, when a gasoline fuel filling gun80is inserted into the filler neck device for preventing fuel from mixing, a flapper70is prevented from being opened and a gasoline fuel can be prevented from mixing in a fuel tank for a diesel car.

The filler neck device for preventing fuel from mixing according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention is applied to a fuel system for the diesel car, and a gasoline fuel filling gun and a diesel fuel filling gun are generally disposed in one gas station and supply fuel for a gasoline car and fuel for the diesel car. However, due to a mistake of a fuel filling person, the gasoline fuel filling gun80may be inserted into a fuel injection hole for the diesel car. The purpose of the present invention is to fundamentally prevent the gasoline fuel filling gun80from being inserted into the fuel injection hole.

In other words, the filler neck device for preventing fuel from mixing according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention allows the gasoline fuel filling gun80having a relatively small diameter not to be inserted into the fuel injection hole and only a diesel fuel filling gun81having a relatively large diameter to be inserted into the fuel injection hole.

To this end, the filler neck device for preventing fuel from mixing according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention is installed at the fuel injection hole in which a fuel filling gun is inserted, and includes a housing20, a retainer10, rotation protrusions30, a slider40, a slider spring44, a link50, a stopper60, a flapper70, and a flapper spring73.

Here, the fuel filling gun is inserted in the fuel injection hole means that, as the flapper70disposed in the lowest position in a vertical direction is pushed and opened, the fuel filling gun is downwardly inserted in the fuel injection hole.

The housing20is a cylindrical tubular structure in which a central axis of the housing20is disposed in a vertical direction. At least an inner diameter of the housing20is greater than an outer diameter of a fuel filling gun for a commonly-used diesel car so that not only a fuel filling gun for a passenger diesel car but also a fuel filling gun for a commonly-used diesel car having a larger diameter than that of the fuel filling gun for the commonly-used diesel car can pass through the housing20.

The housing20has openings210, which are formed in sides of the housing20and in which the rotation protrusions30may be inserted, and the openings210are spaced apart from each other by a predetermined gap in the circumferential direction of the housing20, and rotation protrusion receiving parts21having C-shaped cross-sectional grooves facing each other are provided at both sides of the housing20in a state in which the openings210are disposed between the rotation protrusion receiving parts21.

Each of the rotation protrusion receiving parts21has a structure in which a top end of the rotation protrusion receiving part21is opened with a C-shaped receiving groove, a bottom end and sides of the rotation protrusion receiving part21are closed and receiving grooves facing each other are formed in the rotation protrusion receiving part21. Thus, hinge protrusions34of the rotation protrusions30are inserted in top ends of the rotation protrusion receiving parts21and are mounted in and supported in the insertion groove formed in an inner bottom surface of the rotation protrusion receiving part21.

Also, leaf spring fixing parts22are disposed at the openings formed in sides of the housing20and connects both rotation protrusion receiving parts21to each other, and a top end of a leaf spring35is inserted in and hung from an upward direction of the leaf spring fixing parts22to a lower direction thereof.

A stopper support protrusion part23diagonally protrudes from one side of a bottom end of the housing20, and a hinge hole is formed in a bottom end of the stopper support protrusion part23so that a central protrusion61of the stopper60can be rotatably supported through the hinge hole.

Also, a flapper support protrusion part24protrudes from the other side of the bottom end of the housing20, and a hinge hole is formed in a bottom end of the flapper support protrusion part24so that a rotation shaft of the flapper70can be rotatably supported through the hinge hole.

The retainer10includes an insertion part11that is inserted in and mounted in an inner side of a top end of the housing20, and an inlet part12having a diameter increasing upwardly from a top end of the insertion part11.

An outer diameter of the insertion part11of the retainer10corresponds to an inner diameter of the housing20and the insertion part11of the retainer10is inserted into the housing20, and a flange part13is horizontally formed on a top end of the insertion part11of the retainer10in a direction of the outer diameter of the insertion part11of the retainer10, and fastening protrusions protrude from the flange part13in a direct downward direction.

In this case, the fastening protrusions15are inserted into top ends of the rotation protrusion receiving parts21so that the retainer10can be fixed to the housing20and hinge shafts34of the rotation protrusions30can be rotatably fixed.

In addition, openings are formed in the insertion part11of the retainer10at regular intervals in the circumferential direction of the housing20, like in the housing20so that the rotation protrusions30can protrude laterally from an inner side of the housing20through the openings.

The inlet part12of the retainer10has a structure in which a diameter of an exterior part of the inner part12is relatively greater than a diameter of the housing20and an inner side of the inlet part12from the exterior part to the top end of the insertion part11is formed rounded so that the fuel filling gun can be easily inserted into the housing20.

Also, the flange part13protrudes horizontally from the top end of the insertion part11of the retainer10in the direction of the outer diameter of the insertion part11of the retainer10, and a plurality of reinforcement ribs14are vertically formed between the insertion part11of the retainer10and the flange part13at regular intervals in the circumferential direction of the housing20so that the strength of the inlet part12of the retainer10can be reinforced.

The rotation protrusions30directly contact the fuel filling gun when the fuel filling gun is inserted into the filler neck device for preventing fuel from mixing illustrated inFIG. 1. The rotation protrusions30are rotatably mounted in a top end of sides of the housing20and each include upper protrusion parts31disposed in an upper portion of each rotation protrusion30and having an approximately trapezoidal cross-sectional shape based on a cross-section in a vertical direction, lower connection parts32that protrude directly downwardly from centers of bottom surfaces of the upper protrusion parts31, and hanging jaws33that protrude from bottom ends of the lower connection parts32.

The upper protrusion parts31of the rotation protrusion30have hinge protrusions34that protrude laterally from both sides of each upper protrusion part31, and the hinge protrusions34are inserted in and mounted in the rotation protrusion receiving parts21and are rotatably supported thereon.

Also, the upper protrusion parts31of the rotation protrusion30are laterally inserted into the housing20through the openings210formed in the housing20and the insertion part11of the retainer10, and a front side of each upper protrusion part31that is positioned at an inner side of an opened surface of the insertion part11of the retainer10, protrudes from its top end to a downward direction longer in a radial direction of the housing20, and when the fuel filling gun is inserted into the housing20in the downward direction, the upper protrusion parts31of the rotation protrusion30are pushed backward (an outer side of the housing20) and are rotated.

Also, the front side of each upper protrusion part31is formed of a curved surface having a predetermined curvature along the circumferential direction of the housing20, and the fuel filling gun uniformly contacts the front side of each upper protrusion part31in the circumferential direction of the housing20so that an insertion force of the fuel filling gun is uniformly transferred to the upper protrusion parts31.

Each of the lower connection parts32of the rotation protrusion30is disposed between a slider40and a leaf spring35that will now be described, and the hanging jaws33of the rotation protrusion30are inserted into hanging holes42of the slider40so that the slider40can be prevented from moving in the downward direction.

A rear side of the rotation protrusion30is formed of a vertical flat plane and contacts the leaf spring35so as to easily receive an elastic force of the slider spring44.

The leaf spring35has an overall plate shape and has elasticity. A top end of the leaf spring35is bent in a U-shape and thus is hung in the leaf spring fixing parts22so that the leaf spring fixing parts22having a plate shape can be inserted into the U-shaped hanging grooves formed in the top end of the leaf spring35, and when the retainer10is assembled with the top end of the housing20, the retainer10is fixed by a downward pressurized force by the flange part13positioned in a side of the retainer10, and when a top end of the leaf spring35is pressurized in a lateral direction of the housing20, the leaf spring35can be rotatably deformed centering on the leaf spring fixing part22due to elasticity.

The slider40is inserted into the housing20in a circular ring shape and is elastically supported by a slider spring44to be movable in the vertical direction.

In this case, the slider40is disposed between the insertion part11of the retainer10and an inner wall of the housing20, and a housing guide25protrudes from the inner wall of the housing20in a radial direction of the housing20so that the slider40can be prevented from rotating in the cylindrical direction, and the hanging jaws33of the rotation protrusion30can be easily inserted into the hanging holes42of the slider40that is regulated in the circumferential direction of the housing20.

L-shaped spring fixing protrusions41protrude from one side of the slider40at regular intervals in the circumferential direction of the housing20, and a top end of the slider spring44is inserted in and fixed to inner sides of the spring fixing protrusions41, and a bottom end of the slider spring44is fixed in a spring fixing groove formed in a bottom end of an inner side of the housing20.

Also, the hanging holes42are formed in the slider40at regular intervals in the circumferential direction of the housing20so the hanging jaws33of the rotation protrusion30can be hung in the hanging holes42of the slider40.

Hinge protrusions43may protrude from one side of the slider40and may be hinge-coupled to the link50that will now be described.

The link50is a component for connecting the slider40and the stopper60and has a shape of a bar that extends in the vertical direction, and hinge grooves are formed in top and bottom ends of the link50, and the link50is hinge-coupled to the hinge protrusions43of the slider40and hinge protrusions62formed on a top end of the stopper60through the hinge grooves.

In this case, the link50converts a rotation motion that occurs in the stopper60into a straight line motion and transfers force to the slider40.

The stopper60has an approximately C-shape, and the hinge protrusions62are formed on both sides of the stopper60and are hinge-coupled to the hinge grooves formed in the stopper support protrusion part23of the housing20and are rotatable in the vertical direction.

Also, hanging grooves63are formed in the stopper60, and the flapper70is inserted in the hanging grooves63so that rotation of the flapper70can be prevented.

The flapper70has a long plate shape and a gateway for a fuel injection hole through which the fuel filling gun passes, is rotatably installed at the bottom end of the housing20and opens or closes the bottom end of the housing20.

In this case, one end of the flapper70is hung in the hanging groove63of the stopper60, and a hinge part71is formed on the other end of the flapper70and is hinge-coupled to the housing20through a hinge hole formed in the hinge part71.

That is, the hinge shaft72passes through the hinge hole formed in the hinge part71of the flapper70and the hinge hole formed in the flapper support protrusion part24of the housing20and are combined therewith, and thus the other end of the flapper70is hinge-coupled to the housing20.

Also, a flapper spring73is inserted in and installed at the hinge shaft72, and one end of the flapper spring73is fixed to the housing20, and the other end of the flapper spring73is fixed to the flapper70so that the flapper70is returned to its original position (in a direction in which the flapper70is closed) by an elastic restoring force of the flapper spring73.

An operating state of the filler neck device for preventing fuel from mixing having the above structure according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention will now be described.

When the gasoline fuel filling gun80is inserted into the filler neck device for preventing fuel from mixing, the gasoline fuel filling gun80having a relatively small diameter rather than a minimum inner diameter of the rotation protrusion30does not push the rotation protrusions30and descends toward the flapper70while the gasoline fuel filling gun80is inserted into the housing20.

In this case, although the gasoline fuel filling gun80pushes the flapper70in the downward direction, the flapper70is locked in the hanging grooves63of the stopper60and is not opened.

In general, the slider40is unlocked from the rotation protrusion30to descend and the stopper60may be rotated so that the flapper70can be opened.

However, when the gasoline fuel filling gun80is inserted into the filler neck device for preventing fuel from mixing, as described above, rotation of the rotation protrusions30is not affected. Thus, since the hanging jaws33of the rotation protrusions30are inserted in the slider40, the slider40does not descend, and the stopper60connected to the slider40via the link50cannot be also rotated.

As a result, unless the rotation protrusions30can be pushed, furthermore, unless the hanging jaws33of the rotation protrusions30are simultaneously separated from the hanging holes42of the slider40, the slider40cannot move in the downward direction, and the stopper60is locked by the link50and the slider40. Thus, the flapper70is maintained in a state in which it is fastened to the stopper60and is not opened. Thus, the gasoline fuel filling gun80can be prevented from being clogged by the flapper70and a gasoline fuel from being injected into a fuel tank for a diesel car.

When the diesel fuel filling gun81having a relatively large diameter rather than a minimum inner diameter of the rotation protrusions30is inserted into the filler neck device for preventing fuel from mixing, the diesel fuel filling gun81and is inserted into the housing20, the diesel fuel filling gun81pushes the rotation protrusions30and causes the rotation protrusions30to be rotated in an outer direction of the housing20.

Subsequently, the hanging jaws33of the rotation protrusions30escape from the hanging holes42of the slider40, and a locked state of the slider40is released.

When the diesel fuel filling gun81is inserted in the direct downward direction, the pushed state of the rotation protrusions30is maintained, and the fuel filling gun contacts the flapper70and pushes the flapper70in the downward direction. In this case, as the locked state of the slider40is released, the locked state of the stopper60connected to the slider40via the link50is also released, and thus the flapper70can be opened.

That is, if one end of the flapper70is inserted into the hanging grooves63of the stopper60and the diesel fuel filling gun81presses the stopper60in the downward direction, the top end of the stopper60is rotated, and the bottom end of the link50that is hinge-coupled to the top end of the stopper60is rotated in the downward direction, and the slider40that is hinge-coupled to the top end of the link50is pulled in the downward direction and descends so that the flapper70can be opened.

If the diesel fuel filling gun81is removed from an inner side of the housing20, the flapper70is rotated at an original position, i.e., in a direction in which the flapper70is closed, by an elastic restoring force of the flapper spring73, and the bottom end of the housing20is opened. When the fuel filling gun ascends toward the bottom end of each upper protrusion part31of the rotation protrusion30, the slider40ascends at the original position by an elastic restoring force of the slider spring44, and each upper protrusion part31of the rotation protrusion30is rotated toward the inner side of the housing20by an elastic restoring force of the leaf spring35, and the hanging jaws33of the rotation protrusion30are returned to the hanging holes42of the slider40and are hung therein.

Thus, in this operating state, when the gasoline fuel filling gun80is inserted into the filler neck device for preventing fuel from mixing, movement of the rotation protrusions30is not changed, the slider40is hung in the hanging jaws33of the rotation protrusion and is locked, the stopper60connected to the slider40via the link50is also locked, and the flapper70is hung in the stopper60and is not opened so that the gasoline fuel filling gun80cannot be inserted into the filler neck device for preventing fuel from mixing, gasoline can be prevented from being injected into a fuel tank for a diesel car.

Also, when the diesel fuel filling gun81is inserted into the filler neck device for preventing fuel from mixing, as the rotation protrusions30are pushed and rotated, the locked state of slider40due to the hanging jaws33of the rotation protrusion30is released, and the stopper60connected to the slider40is also unlocked, the diesel fuel filling gun81is inserted into the filler neck device for preventing fuel from mixing, and the flapper70is opened so that only a diesel fuel can be supplied to the filler neck device for preventing fuel from mixing.

Advantages of a filler neck device for preventing fuel from mixing according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention will now be described as follows.

When a diesel fuel filling gun is inserted into a filler neck device for preventing fuel from mixing according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention, rotation protrusions are pushed and are rotated so that the locked state of a slider due to hanging jaws of the rotation protrusions is released, a stopper connected to the slider is also unlocked, the diesel fuel filling gun is inserted into the filler neck device for preventing fuel from mixing, and a flapper is opened so that the diesel fuel can be supplied to the filler neck device for preventing fuel from mixing.

However, when a gasoline fuel filling gun is inserted into the filler neck device for preventing fuel from mixing according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention, movement of the rotation protrusions is not changed, the slider is hung and unlocked due to the hanging jaws of the rotation protrusions, the stopper connected to the slider via a link is also unlocked, the flapper is hung in the stopper and is not opened so that the gasoline fuel filling gun cannot be inserted into the filler neck device for preventing fuel from mixing according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention and gasoline can be prevented from being injected into a fuel tank for a diesel car.