Automatic opening and closing device for fuel inlet of vehicle

An automatic opening and closing device for a fuel inlet of a vehicle may include a cap cover mounted at the fuel inlet of the vehicle, a fuel cap pivotably mounted at the cap cover and configured to selectively open or close the fuel inlet by being pivoted inside the fuel inlet, and a fuel cap operating mechanism mounted in the fuel inlet and configured, when the fuel door is closed, to pivot the fuel cap by being pressed by the fuel door to close the fuel inlet, and, when the fuel door is opened, pivot the fuel cap to open the fuel inlet according to release of pressing by the fuel door.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION

The present application claims priority to Korean Patent Application No. 10-2019-0030259 filed on Mar. 18, 2019, the entire contents of which is incorporated herein for all purposes by this reference.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to an automatic opening and closing device for a fuel inlet of a vehicle. More particularly, it relates to an automatic opening and closing device for a fuel inlet of a vehicle, which is capable of enhancing user convenience by easily opening or closing a fuel inlet while refueling.

Description of Related Art

Generally, a fuel tank for storing fuel which is required for driving an engine is mounted in a vehicle, and a filler neck assembly for refueling is connected to the fuel tank.

The filler neck assembly may include a fill line and a fuel inlet. The fill line is connected to the fuel tank, and the fuel inlet is provided on an end portion of the fill line so that a refueling gun is inserted into the fuel inlet to inject fuel.

A fuel cap for sealing is mounted on the fuel inlet, and a fuel door is mounted in a vehicle body to cover the fuel cap. The fuel door is configured to be pivotably about a coupler coupled to the vehicle body.

The fuel door is mounted to open or close a refueling space provided on a side surface of the vehicle. To inject fuel, the fuel door is pivoted to open the refueling space, the fuel cap is pivoted to open the fuel inlet, and then the refueling gun is inserted into the opened fuel inlet.

In the instant case, after the fuel door is opened, the fuel cap is pivoted to be completely separated from the fuel inlet, and then the refueling gun is inserted into the fuel inlet from which the fuel cap is separated so that fuel is injected.

Meanwhile, in recent years, as the number of self-service gas stations at which a driver refuels directly increases, a case in which the driver opens a fuel cap, inserts a refueling gun into a fuel inlet, and directly injects fuel is increasing.

Therefore, it is required to enhance driver convenience when the driver injects the fuel.

Conventionally, while refueling, a driver may rotate the fuel cap coupled to the fuel inlet by applying a higher level of a force to the fuel cap to open the fuel inlet so that it is hard and inconvenient for the driver to open or close the fuel cap.

Furthermore, it is time consuming for the driver to selectively open or close the fuel inlet by rotating the fuel cap, and there is a concern in that the fuel cap separated from the fuel inlet is lost.

Furthermore, in recent years, a vehicle that needs an injection of a urea solution with fuel, i.e., to which a selective catalyst reduction (SCR) system is applied is increasing, and since the urea solution may be continuously used in the vehicle to which the SCR system is applied to remove nitrogen oxides during the vehicle is running, the vehicle may be refilled with the urea solution as being refueled.

To this end, in addition to a fuel tank, a urea solution tank for storing a urea solution and a separate filler neck for injecting a urea solution into the urea solution tank are provided in the vehicle to which the SCR system is applied. Generally, in a gas station, the urea solution is injected and filled in the urea solution tank through the filler neck using a refueling gun.

FIG. 1is a diagram illustrating a refueling space of a vehicle to which an SCR system. InFIG. 1, a fuel door (which is in an opened state or a removed state) is not illustrated, and a state in which a fuel cap2and a urea solution cap3are mounted in a refueling space1is illustrated.

Here, the refueling space1is a space in which a fuel inlet for injecting fuel in the vehicle and a urea solution inlet for injecting a urea solution are exposed to the outside. The fuel door is mounted to cover or expose the refueling space1.

As shown in the drawing, in the refueling space1, the fuel cap2is mounted at a fuel inlet (having no reference numeral), and the urea solution cap3is mounted at the urea solution inlet (having no reference numeral).

As described above, in addition to the fuel inlet and the fuel cap2, the urea solution inlet and the urea solution cap3are additionally mounted in the vehicle to which the SCR system is applied. Therefore, as compared with a vehicle that does not use a urea solution, a hand operating space (see a circle inFIG. 1) for opening or closing the fuel cap2in the refueling space1is inevitably narrow.

To sufficiently secure the hand operating space, a size of the fuel door may be increased along with the refueling space1. However, when the size of the fuel door is increased, an aesthetic appearance of the vehicle may be degraded.

In recent years, to improve and secure the aesthetic appearance of the vehicle, there is a tendency to reduce the size of the fuel door. In the instant case, the hand operating space for opening or closing the fuel cap2is inevitably narrow so that measures are urgent to enhance user convenience.

BRIEF SUMMARY

Various aspects of the present invention are directed to providing an opening and closing device configured for a fuel inlet of a vehicle, which is configured for easily open or close a fuel inlet while refueling to enhance user convenience.

Various aspects of the present invention are directed to providing an opening and closing device configured for a fuel inlet of a vehicle without causing the loss of a fuel cap.

Various aspects of the present invention provide an automatic opening and closing device configured for a fuel inlet of a vehicle, which may include a cap cover mounted at the fuel inlet of the vehicle, a fuel cap pivotably mounted at the cap cover and configured to selectively open or close the fuel inlet by being pivoted inside the fuel inlet, and a fuel cap operating mechanism mounted in the fuel inlet and configured, when the fuel door is closed, to pivot the fuel cap by being pressed by the fuel door to close the fuel inlet, and, when the fuel door is opened, pivot the fuel cap to open the fuel inlet according to release of pressing by the fuel door.

Other aspects and exemplary embodiments of the present invention are discussed infra.

The above and other features of the disclosure are discussed infra.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be fully described in a detail which is suitable for implementation by those skilled in the art to which an exemplary embodiment of the present invention pertains with reference to the accompanying drawings. However, the present invention is not limited to the exemplary embodiments included herein and may be implemented in other forms.

Throughout the present disclosure, when a portion is referred to as “including” a component, it refers that the portion can further include other components, not excluding the other components unless specifically stated otherwise.

The present invention is directed to providing an opening and closing device configured for a fuel inlet, which is configured for easily opening or closing a fuel inlet while refueling to enhance user convenience and solving a problem of the loss of a fuel cap.

To the present end, as a device configured for opening or closing a fuel inlet of a filler neck assembly in a vehicle, an automatic opening and closing device configured for a fuel inlet is configured for automatically opening or closing a fuel inlet by being interlocked with opening or closing of a fuel door.

As it is known, in a conventional vehicle, a fuel door is opened for refueling, a fuel cap is removed from a fuel inlet to open the fuel inlet, and then a refueling gun is inserted into the fuel inlet to inject fuel.

In this regard, when the fuel inlet is opened, a method in which the fuel cap is pivoted inwardly of the fuel inlet is applied to the automatic opening and closing device configured for a fuel inlet according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention instead of a method in which the fuel cap is completely separated or removed from the fuel inlet.

When the fuel door is opened for refueling, the automatic opening and closing device configured for a fuel inlet according to an exemplary embodiment of in various aspects of the present invention, the fuel cap is automatically pivoted inwardly of the fuel inlet to open the fuel inlet.

FIG. 2is a diagram illustrating a state in which the fuel inlet and a urea solution inlet are mounted in a vehicle to which the automatic opening and closing device configured for a fuel inlet according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention is applied. A reference numeral1denotes a refueling space which is opened or closed by a fuel door5, and a reference numeral20denotes the automatic opening and closing device configured for a fuel inlet according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention.

The refueling space1is a space which is provided on a side surface of a vehicle body or the like to be coverable by the fuel door5and in which an end portion of a fuel inlet10is exposed.

A reference numeral3denotes a urea solution cap which is mounted to open or close a urea solution inlet4in the refueling space1. In a vehicle to which a selective catalytic reduction (SCR) system is applied, an end portion of the urea solution inlet4is located in the refueling space1, and the urea solution cap3is engaged with the urea solution inlet4.

Therefore, as shown inFIG. 2, the fuel inlet10and the urea solution inlet4are configured to be spaced at a predetermined interval apart from each other in a side direction on the vehicle body inside the refueling space1, and the fuel door5is mounted to open or close the refueling space1.

The fuel door5is configured to be connected to the vehicle body via a hinge bracket6to thereby be pivotable about a coupler with respect to the vehicle body. The fuel door5opens refueling space1while being pivoted outwardly from a vehicle body surface about the coupler with respect to the vehicle body to thereby expose the fuel inlet10and the urea solution inlet4, or the fuel door5closes the refueling space1while being pivoted toward the vehicle body surface about the coupler with respect to the vehicle body.

Furthermore, a fuel cap is configured to be rotatably coupled inside the fuel inlet10.

The fuel cap is pivoted inwardly of the fuel inlet10to open the fuel inlet10. When the fuel cap is pivoted outward the fuel inlet10, the fuel cap closes and blocks the fuel inlet10.

FIG. 2illustrates a state in which the fuel inlet10is opened by pivoting the fuel cap inwardly of the fuel inlet10when the fuel door5is opened.

When the fuel door5is closed in the state ofFIG. 2, the fuel cap is pivoted in an opposite direction to seal the fuel inlet10.FIG. 3illustrates a state in which a fuel cap21closes the fuel inlet10when the fuel door5is in a closed state.

When the fuel door5is actually to be in the closed state, it is to be in a state in which the refueling space1ofFIG. 2is covered by the fuel door5so that not only the refueling space1is not exposed in outward appearance but also the fuel cap21and the urea solution cap3, which are located in the refueling space1, are to be invisible in outward appearance. However, when the fuel door5is assumed as being transparent and is to be in the closed state,FIG. 3illustrates the fuel cap21and the urea solution cap3in the refueling space1.

A closed state of the refueling space1by the fuel door5(i.e., the closed state of the fuel door5) is a state in which the refueling space1is covered by the fuel door5to not be exposed to the outside. In the state in which the refueling space1is covered by the fuel door5, the fuel cap21and the urea solution cap3in the refueling space1are actually obscured by the fuel door5to not be exposed in outward appearance.

In an exemplary embodiment of the present invention, since an automatic opening and closing operation of the fuel cap21is performed by being interlocked with the opening or closing of the fuel door5, in a state in which the fuel door5is opened as shown inFIG. 2, the fuel cap21is also automatically opened such that a refueling gun may be inserted to a position at which refueling is available through an internal path of the fuel inlet10.

Meanwhile, as shown inFIG. 3, in a state in which the fuel door5is closed, the fuel inlet10is automatically to be in a closed state by the fuel cap21in the refueling space1covered by the fuel door5.

Hereinafter, a configuration of the automatic opening and closing device configured for a fuel inlet according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings.

FIG. 4is a perspective view exemplarily illustrating a fuel inlet in which the automatic opening and closing device configured for a fuel inlet according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention is mounted, andFIG. 5andFIG. 6are cross-sectional views illustrating the fuel inlet in which the automatic opening and closing device configured for a fuel inlet according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention is mounted.

FIG. 7is an exploded perspective view exemplarily illustrating a main configuration of the automatic opening and closing device configured for a fuel inlet according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention,FIG. 8is an exploded perspective view exemplarily illustrating a retainer and a door button which are mounted in the fuel inlet, andFIG. 9is an exploded perspective view exemplarily illustrating a flap mechanism mounted in the fuel inlet.

First, the fuel inlet10is mounted at an end portion of an injection pipe. The fuel inlet10has the internal path into which a refueling gun is inserted while refueling and may include a housing11including a first housing12and a second housing13.

The first housing12is fixed and coupled to the second housing13by vibration welding or the like, and a retainer14is mounted inside the housing11having a configuration in which the first housing12is coupled to the second housing13.

As shown inFIG. 8, rotating stoppers15are mounted at both left and right positions of the retainer14inside the housing11. Although not exemplified in detail in the drawings, each of the stoppers15is provided to be rotatably coupled to the retainer14through hinge pins on both sides of the stopper15and provided to be elastically pivoted by a stopper spring16which is provided between the retainer14and the stopper15.

All the stoppers15on both left and right sides of the retainer14are pivoted about the hinge pins in the retainer14. When each of the stoppers15is pivoted outward the retainer14, the stopper spring16may be extended. Contrarily, each of the stoppers15may be pivoted inwardly of the retainer14by the elastic restoration force of the extending stopper spring16.

Furthermore, a hook15ais provided in each of the stoppers15to be configured to be hooked to a flapper cover34of a flap mechanism30which will be described below.

The stopper15is mounted to distinguish specifications of refueling guns and prevent mixture of diesel fuel and gasoline fuel. In a conventional diesel vehicle, a fuel mixture prevention device including the fuel inlet10with the stopper15is provided.

The fuel mixture prevention device is configured to prevent gasoline fuel from being injected into a diesel vehicle and utilizes the fact that a diameter of a diesel refueling gun used to inject diesel fuel is greater than that of a gasoline refueling gun used to inject gasoline fuel.

That is, only when the diesel refueling gun having a large diameter is inserted, the stoppers15on both the left and right sides of the retainer14are pressed by the diesel refueling gun and, simultaneously, pivoted outward. In the instant case, the hook15aof the stopper15is separated from the flap mechanism30and thus the flap mechanism30is unlocked.

Thus, the flap mechanism30may be pivoted while being pushed inward by the diesel refueling gun inserted into a refueling pipe. In the instant case, the flap mechanism30opens the internal path of the housing11of the fuel inlet10such that the diesel refueling gun may be inserted to a position at which refueling is available.

Meanwhile, when the gasoline refueling gun having a relatively small diameter is inserted, the gasoline refueling gun is not able to press the stoppers15outward such that the stoppers15is not able to be pivoted. In the instant case, in a state in which the hook15aof the stopper15is continuously hooked to the flap mechanism30, the flap mechanism30is not unlocked such that a state in which the fuel inlet10is closed, i.e., the internal path of the housing11is blocked, is maintained.

Consequently, the gasoline fueling gun is not able to pass through the internal path of the fuel inlet10and not able to be inserted to a refueling position such that incorrect refueling of gasoline fuel may be prevented.

FIG. 9exemplifies a configuration of the flap mechanism30. The flap mechanism30may include a flapper33coupled to an internal surface of the housing11by a hinge pin31and pivoted about the hinge pin31to open or close the internal path of the housing11and the internal path of the retainer14, the flapper cover34integrally coupled to a front surface of the flapper33, a sealing member35mounted on the flapper cover34and configured to seal between the flapper cover34and the internal surface of the housing11, and a flapper spring32mounted between the flapper33and the internal surface of the housing11in a state of being mounted on the hinge pin31and configure to provide an elastic restoration force for rotating the flapper33to block the internal path of the housing11and the internal path of the retainer14.

A locking groove34awhich is a portion hooked to the hook15aof the stopper15is formed in the flapper cover34.

Consequently, as described above, when the diesel refueling gun is inserted into the internal path of the housing11and then pushes the stoppers15on both of the left and right sides of the retainer14to rotate the stoppers15outward while passing the internal path of the retainer14, the hook15aof each of the stoppers15is separated from the locking groove34aof the flapper cover34such that the flapper cover34is unlocked.

This is that a locked state of the flap mechanism30is released. When the diesel refueling gun comes into contact with the flapper cover34to move the flapper cover34inward (which is a direction in which the diesel refueling gun is inserted into the housing11of the fuel inlet10for refueling), the flapper33is pivoted inwardly of the housing11of the fuel inlet10together with the flapper cover34and the sealing member35, and then the diesel refueling gun may be inserted to a position at which refueling is available by passing through the flapper33.

Furthermore, when the diesel refueling gun is pulled in an opposite direction to be drawn out from the fuel inlet10, the flapper33is pivoted in an opposite direction about the hinge pin31by the elastic restoration force of the flapper spring32such that the internal path of the housing11of the fuel inlet10is closed again by the flap mechanism30of the flapper33.

In the instant case, as a force of the diesel refueling gun pressing the stoppers15on both the left and right sides of the retainer14is removed, the stoppers15are pivoted by the elastic restoration force of the stopper spring16in a direction opposite to a direction when the diesel refueling gun is inserted, i.e., an inward direction thereof. Consequently, the hook15aof the stopper15is hooked to the locking groove34aof the flapper cover34again so that thereafter, only when the diesel refueling gun is inserted, the fuel inlet10is opened and otherwise the flap mechanism30is to be in a locked state of maintaining the closed state.

InFIG. 9, a reference numeral33adenotes a hinge formed at an upper end portion of the flapper33and coupled to the hinge pin31.

Meanwhile, the automatic opening and closing device20for a fuel inlet according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention includes the fuel cap21, a cap cover22, and a fuel cap operating mechanism. As shown in the drawings, the automatic opening and closing device20for a fuel inlet may be mounted at an end portion of the fuel inlet10.

FIG. 7exemplifies a flap type rotary fuel cap21and the cap cover22at which the flap type rotating fuel cap21is mounted in the automatic opening and closing device20for a fuel inlet according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention.

As shown in the drawing, the fuel cap21is rotatably mounted at the fuel inlet10via the cap cover22. The cap cover22is configured to support the fuel cap21to be rotatable in the fuel inlet10.

The cap cover22is a ring-shaped member which is mounted to an end portion of the housing11of the fuel inlet10. The fuel cap21is rotatably coupled to the internal surface of the housing11via a hinge pin24.

In the instant case, the hinge pin24is coupled to pass through a cylindrical-shaped hinge23formed to protrude from the fuel cap21, and both end portions of the hinge pin24are coupled to the cap cover22. Therefore, in the cap cover22, the fuel cap21is configured to be pivotable inwardly of the fuel inlet10about the hinge pin24as the rotation center.

The cap cover22may have engagement portions22aformed on both left and right sides thereof. The engagement portions22aare engaged with the end portion of the housing11of the fuel inlet10through an engagement structure such as a hook-bump structure, a protrusion-groove structure, or the like such that the cap cover22may be fixed to the housing11of the fuel inlet10.

Furthermore, the fuel cap21, more particularly the hinge23of the fuel cap21, has a gear-shaped portion25. The gear-shaped portion25may be configured such that teeth are formed on the hinge23of the fuel cap21at predetermined intervals in a circumferential direction so that the hinge23of the fuel cap21is configured as a kind of gear.

Meanwhile, the fuel cap operating mechanism includes a door button28and a button spring29. The door button28is mounted in the fuel inlet10to be slidable in a forward-backward direction thereof.

as shown inFIG. 8, the door button28is mounted at one side of the retainer14, e.g., an upper end portion of the retainer14, to be slidable in the forward-backward direction in the fuel inlet10. In addition to the door button28, a button cover29ais mounted at the retainer14to be located behind the door button28.

The door button28is a bar or a bar-shaped member which is formed to extend in a predetermined length and mounted lengthily in the fuel inlet10in the forward-backward direction thereof. The door button28has a rack gear28aon one surface thereof, and the rack gear28ais engaged with the gear-shaped portion25formed on the hinge23of the fuel cap21.

The rack gear28amay be configured such that teeth are formed on one surface of the door button28, e.g., on a lower surface of the door button28to be configured to correspond to the hinge23of the fuel cap21, at predetermined intervals in a longitudinal direction thereof.

Thus, the door button28having the rack gear28aformed thereon is configured as a kind of rack. In the instant case, the hinge23of the fuel cap21on which the gear-shaped portion25is formed is configured as a kind of pinion gear.

That is, when the door button28slides in the retainer14in the forward-backward direction thereof, a linear movement force of the door button28is changed into a pivoting force of the hinge23such that the fuel cap21may be entirely pivoted about the hinge23.

The door button28may be mounted in a state of being accommodated in an accommodating portion18formed on the retainer14, and a through-hole18athrough which the door button28passes may be formed on a front surface of the accommodating portion18of the retainer14.

Furthermore, a button hole27through which the door button28passes may also be formed in an upper end portion of the cap cover22. Thus, the door button28sequentially passes through the through-hole18aof the retainer14and the button hole27of the cap cover22.

Furthermore, the button cover29ais mounted in the accommodating portion18of the retainer14to be located behind the door button28. The button spring29is mounted between the button cover29aand the door button28in a state of being inserted into the accommodating portion18of the retainer14.

The button spring29is configured as a component for elastically supporting the door button28in the retainer14. The button spring29is mounted to elastically support the door button28in the button cover29acoupled to the retainer14.

When the door button28is pressed by the fuel door5ofFIG. 10to be moved backward, the button spring29is compressed and deformed by the door button28. When a force of the fuel door5pressing the door button28is released, the button spring29in the compressed state provides an elastic restoration force for returning the door button28forward thereof.

Furthermore, when the fuel door5is opened in a state in which the door button28passes through the through-hole18aformed in the accommodating portion18of the retainer14and the button hole27formed in the cap cover22, a front end portion of the door button28protrudes from a front surface of the cap cover22mounted at the fuel inlet10.

When the fuel door5is closed in the above-described state, the fuel door5presses the protruding end portion of the door button28, and thus the door button28slides backward from the accommodating portion18of the retainer14while compressing the button spring29.

Hereinafter, an operating state of the automatic opening and closing device configured for a fuel inlet according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.

FIG. 10is a cross-sectional view exemplarily illustrating a closed state of the automatic opening and closing device20for a fuel inlet according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention.FIG. 10shows a state in which the front end portion of the door button28is pressed by the fuel door5in front of the cap cover22.

Furthermore,FIG. 11is an incised perspective view exemplarily illustrating a closed state of the automatic opening and closing device20for a fuel inlet according to the exemplary embodiment of the present invention, i.e., a state in which, when the fuel inlet10is in a closed state, the gear-shaped portion25of the fuel cap21is engaged with the rack gear28aof the door button28.

To describe the closed state of the automatic opening and closing device20for a fuel inlet (i.e., a closed state of the fuel inlet10) with reference to the drawings, when the fuel door5is closed as usual, the door button28is pressed by the fuel door5to be in a state of being moved backward thereof.

In the instant case, the button spring29is maintained in the compressed state by the door button28. Since the gear-shaped portion25of the fuel cap21is engaged with the rack gear28aof the door button28, when the door button28is moved backward as described above, the fuel cap21is to be in a state of closing the fuel inlet10as shown inFIG. 10.

While the fuel door5is closed, the door button28is continuously pressed by the fuel door5. In the instant case, since the door button28is continuously maintained in the state of being moved backward, the closed state of the fuel inlet10by the fuel cap21is also continuously maintained.

Since the rack gear28ais engaged with the gear-shaped portion25, the closed state of the fuel inlet10by the fuel cap21may be maintained unless the door button28is moved forward again.

As described above, the fuel cap21blocks the internal path of the fuel inlet10such that foreign materials, dust, and the like may be prevented from flowing into the fuel inlet10.

FIG. 12is a cross-sectional view exemplarily illustrating an opened state of the automatic opening and closing device20for a fuel inlet according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention. InFIG. 12, the fuel door5ofFIG. 10is omitted, and a state in which the front end portion of the door button28is not pressed by the fuel door5is shown.

FIG. 13is an incised perspective view exemplarily illustrating a state in which the fuel cap21is engaged with the door button28when the automatic opening and closing device20for a fuel inlet according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention is opened, i.e., an opened state of the fuel inlet10.

When the fuel door5ofFIG. 10is opened to inject fuel into a vehicle, the fuel inlet10which is closed by the fuel cap21is automatically opened while the fuel cap21is pivoted inwardly of the fuel inlet10.

To describe a process of opening the fuel inlet10in more detail, when the fuel door5is opened to inject fuel into the vehicle, the pressing of the door button28by the fuel door5is first released.

As described above, when the pressing of the door button28by the fuel door5is released, i.e., when the force pressing the front end portion of the door button28is removed, the door button28is moved forward in a direction of protruding from the fuel inlet10by the elastic restoration force of the compressed button spring29.

The elastic restoration force of the button spring29acts as a force pushing the door button28forward thereof. Thus, the door button28is moved forward and thus the front end portion of the door button28is to be in a state of long protruding forward through the button hole27of the cap cover22.

Furthermore, since the gear-shaped portion25of the fuel cap21is in a state of being engaged with the rack gear28aof the door button28, when the door button28is moved forward, the fuel cap21is pivoted inwardly of the fuel inlet10about the hinge23and the hinge pin24as the center portion of pivoting. Consequently, the fuel inlet10which is closed by the fuel cap21is to be in an opened state.

Therefore, in accordance with the automatic opening and closing device20according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention, when the fuel door5is opened, the fuel inlet10is automatically opened.

As described above, when the door button28is moved forward and the fuel cap21is pivoted in an opening direction thereof, the gear-shaped portion25of the fuel cap21is engaged with the rack gear28aof the door button28to generate a sound. Through the present sound, a user (a driver) may recognize that the fuel cap21is pivoted in the opening direction and the fuel inlet10is opened inside the fuel door5.

Meanwhile, when the fuel door5is closed, the fuel inlet10is automatically closed to be in the state ofFIG. 10, andFIG. 11again.

That is, the front end portion of the door button28is pressed again by the fuel door5, and the button spring29is compressed again while the door button28slides backward by the pressing force of the fuel door5.

Furthermore, before the fuel cap21engaged with the door button28is pivoted in a direction closing the fuel inlet10and then the fuel door5is opened, i.e., the pressing by the fuel door5is released, the door button28and the fuel cap21are each maintained in a closed position as shown inFIG. 10, andFIG. 11.

As described above, even when the door button28is moved backward and the fuel cap21is pivoted in a closing direction thereof, the gear-shaped portion25of the fuel cap21is engaged with the rack gear28aof the door button28to generate a sound. Through the present sound, the user (the driver) may recognize that the fuel cap21is pivoted in the closing direction and the fuel inlet10is closed inside the fuel door5.

Therefore, in accordance with an automatic opening and closing device configured for a fuel inlet according to the exemplary embodiments of the present invention, when a fuel door is opened for refueling, a fuel inlet which is closed by a fuel cap is automatically opened, and when the fuel door is closed again after the refueling, the fuel inlet is automatically closed by the fuel cap.

As described above, the fuel inlet is automatically opened or closed by being interlocked with an opening and closing operation of the fuel door such that there is no demand for the user to separately operate the fuel cap for refueling and thus user convenience may be enhanced.

Furthermore, since there is no need to secure a hand operating space to be large, it is not necessary to form a large refueling space which is an internal space of the fuel door in a closed state on a side surface of a vehicle. Therefore, it is possible to reduce a refueling space and a size of the fuel door and improve appearance of the vehicle.

Furthermore, since a flap type rotary opening and closing structure in which the fuel cap is pivoted in a state of being connected to the fuel inlet to selectively open or close the fuel inlet is mounted, there is no concern for losing the fuel cap.

As described above, in accordance with an automatic opening and closing device configured for a fuel inlet of a vehicle according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention, an automatic opening and closing operation of a fuel cap is performed by being interlocked with the opening or closing of a fuel door such that user convenience may be enhanced while refueling.

Furthermore, a hand operating space for opening or closing the fuel cap is unnecessary such that it is possible to reduce a refueling space which will be covered by the fuel door and a size of the fuel door, and thus appearance of a vehicle may be improved.

Furthermore, since the fuel cap is pivotably coupled to a fuel inlet of a filler neck assembly via a cap cover, there is no concern for losing the fuel cap while refueling.