Automotive fuel filler

Abstract: A compact automotive fuel filler defined by a one-piece body (4) consisting of a cup-shaped element (5) having a substantially horizontal axis (6) and designed to house a filler cap (7), and of a tubular element (8) having an internal hole (9) coming out inside a cavity (10) defined inside the cup-shaped element (5) between an end wall (14) of the same and a passage (18) in which to insert a fuel delivery gun. The tubular element (8) presents one end (11) connectable to the fuel delivery duct to the tank, and an axis of symmetry (12) lying in a plane through the axis (6) of the cup-shaped element (5) and forming an acute angle (x) with the same.

Description: The present invention relates to an automotive fuel filler designed for fitment inside a compartment between the inner and outer side panels on the vehicle, in the vicinity of and/or directly inside the wheel housing, and to the front or rear of the wheel housed inside the same. Known fillers of the aforementioned type, such as, e.g. that of FR-A-2593753, comprise a number of connected parts designed to substantially define a cavity enabling troublefree insertion of the fuel delivery gun, and swirlfree fuel delivery. Said parts must also be designated in such a manner as to define means for assembling the filler cap. To meet all these requirements, said parts are of fairly complex design, thus resulting in a large-size filler, which is often difficult to house inside the small space usually available in the vicinity of the vehicle fender. Moreover, assembly of the filler on to the vehicle itself often involves a good deal of time and effort, for assembling the various component parts together and to the vehicle body. The aim of the present invention is to provide a fuel filler of the aforementioned type, which is easy to produce, highly compact, and can be fitted quickly and easily on to the veicle body. With this aim in view, according to the present invention, there is provided an automotive fuel filler, as defined in Claim 1. The present invention will be described by way of example with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: Fig.1 shows a vertical section of the filler according to the present invention; Fig.2 shows a front view of the filler according to the present invention; Fig.3 shows a front view of a variation of the filler according to the present invention; Fig.4 shows a section along line IV-IV of the Fig.3 filler. The filler according to the present invention is housed inside a compartment 1 on the vehicle body, between an inner and outer side panel 2 and 3, e.g. inside a compartent formed in the vicinity of one of the fenders. The filler according to the present invention substantially comprises a body 4 defining a cup-shaped element 5 having a substantially horizontal axis 6 and designed to house, at least partially, a filler cap 7. Said body 4 defines a tubular element 8 having an axial hole 9 coming out inside a cavity 10 inside said cup-shaped element 5, and a bottom end 11 connectable in any convenient manner to the duct (not shown) connecting the filler to the fuel tank. As shown in Fig. 2, the axis 12 of tubular element 8 lies in a plane containing axis 6 of cup-shaped element 5, and forms with said axis 6 an acute angle indicated α in Fig. 1. Said plane may lie in any manner, and is preferably vertical or horizontal. The axial length "1" of cavity 10 in cup-shaped element 5 is substantially equal to the diameter "d" of hole 9 in tubuler element 8. Therefore, when cup-shaped element 5 is defined by a cylindrical side wall 13 and a flat end wall 14, body 4 is defined externally by a first cylindrical solid (element 5) and a second cylindrical solid (element 8) intersecting the first at the side wall of the same. Cup-shaped element 5 presents a vent formed inside a duct 15 connectable to a tube (not shown) communicating with the fuel tank or outside atmosphere. Cup-shaped element 5 also presents a flange 16 enabling assembly of body 4, and consequently also the filler, to outer body panel 3 as described later on. The filler according to the present invention also comprises a ring 17 secured to flange 16 via connecting means, e.g. screws 16a, each of which fits through a hole in ring 17 and into a respective threaded hole in flange 16. Said means may also consist, for example, of welds. Ring 17 defines a passage 18 for the insertion of a fuel delivery gun 19, and presents a shaped edge 20 cooperating with a respective helical groove or other means for securing cap 7. Between ring 17 and flange 16, provision is made for a sealing member 21. Body 4, together with ring 17 and seal 21, is fitted easily on to body side panel 3 via screws 22, which fit through holes inside side panel 3 and into respective threaded holes in flange 16. The filler according to the present invention may be fitted quickly and easily on to the vehicle body, by screwing ring 17 and seal 21 to body 4 by means of screws 16a, and then securing the assembly so formed to side panel 3 using screws 22. Moreover, as shown in Fig. 1 the overall size of the filler, particularly in the direction of horizontal axis 6, is extremely compact, only slightly greater then the length "l" of cavity 10 in cup-shaped element 5, and the axial length of cap 7 partially housed inside cavity 10. Despite the compact size of the filler according to the present invention, delivery gun 19 may be inserted easily by simply inserting it downwards inside passage 18 (assuming the axis of tubular element 8 lies in a vertical plane) and towards end wall 14 of cup-shaped element 5. Once inserted, the bottom end 23 of gun 19 is housed inside hole 9 of tubular element 8, almost contacting the inner surface of hole 9, and the top portion 24 of gun 19 is fitted through passage 18, almost contacting ring 17. By appropriately selecting angle α, axis 12 may obviously be positioned angularly in relation to axis 6, for enabling correct positioning of gun 19 inside cavity 10 and hole 9. Fuel delivery into the tank has been found to be swirl-free by virtue of the air being released from cavity 10 into the tank or externally through the hole formed in duct 15. With reference to the variation shown in Fig.s 3 and 4, in which any details similar or identical to those already described are indicated using the same numbering system, the axial length "l" of cavity 10 defined inside element 5 is, in this case also, substantially equal to the diameter "d" of hole 9 in tubular element 8. Inner cavity 10 of length "l" in cup-shaped element 5 is defined between end wall 14 of cup-shaped element 5 and passage 18 for the insertion of fuel delivery gun 19. Said passage 18 is formed, at least partialy, through a diaphragm 117, in turn, formed in one piece with body 4 inside cup-shaped element 5, and facing and substantially coaxial with the inlet end 113 of the same, which projects laterally in relation to tubular element 8 and coaxially with the rest of cup-shaped element 5. Passage 18 for the insertion of fuel delivery gun 19 comprises a shaped seat 181 formed through diaphragm 117 and defined by an edge 182 designed to cooperate with, support and retain filler cap 7; and an axial groove 183 formed inside cup-shaped element 5, on side wall 13, between inlet end 113 and diaphragm 117, at the intersection of side wall 13 of cup-shaped element 5 and tubular element 8, and of such a length as to define a radial slot 184 in diaphragm 117. Edge 182 is designed to cooperate with a helical groove or other known means (not shown) for securing cap 7. In particular, seat 181 comprises a pair of diametrically-opposed radial recesses 185, one of which is formed at radial slot 184 with which it defines, in gapfree manner, a single compartment 186 enabling the passage of delivery gun 19 through diaphragm 117. Inlet end 113 of cup-shaped element 5 presents a peripheral flange 16 designed to fit on to outer side panel 3 of the vehicle body, and supporting filler assembly means consisting, in the non-limiting embodiment shown, of screws 122 fitted through flange 16 and supported on respective U clips 123 having threaded seats 124 and clipped on to flange 16 inside respective seats 161; and a locating pin 162 formed in one piece with and projecting axially in relation to the front surface 163 of flange 16. Inlet end 113 is also designed to cooperate in fluidtight manner with cap 7, both frontally, via edge 114, and radialy via inner lateral surface 115, depending on the type of cap 7 employed. The advantages of the fuel filler according to the present invention will be clear from the foregoing description. In addition to being extremely easy to manufacture and assemble it is also axially compact, by virtue, in particular, of the cap 7 assembly seat being recessed inside cup-shaped element 5, while at the same time enabling troublefree insertion of the fuel delivery gun by virtue of radial slot 184 and the passage 186 formed by radial slot 184 and seat 181.

Claims: A fuel filler for a vehicle comprising: a cup-shaped body (4) defined by a flat end wall (14) and a tubular wall (13) having a substantially horizontal axis when the fuel filler is mounted to the vehicle, said body (4) being designed to receive and house, at least partially, a fuel filler cap (7); and a tubular element (8), an inner hole (9) of which debouches in correspondence with a cavity (10) defined inside the cup-shaped body (4), one end of said tubular element (8) being connectable with a fuel delivery duct to a vehicle tank; the tubular element (8) having an axis (12) lying in the same plane in which the axis (6) of said cup-shaped body (4) lies and forming in said plane and with the latter axis (6) an angle (α) less than 90°; the cup-shaped body (4) carrying means (17,117) for enabling assembly of said cap (7) to said filler and for defining a passage (18) for the insertion of a fuel delivery gun (19) inside the filler, and a peripheral flange (16) for assembling said body (4) to the vehicle body; characterized in that, in combination, said tubular wall (13) of the body (4) extends from the flat end wall (14) of the body (4); said tubular element (8) extends radially from the tubular wall (13) of the body (4); the tubular element (8) has an uniform inner diameter, the extension of which is substantially equal to the length of the horizontal axis (6) of the tubular wall (13) of said cup-shaped body (4). A fuel filler as claimed in Claim 1, characterized in that said cup-shaped body (4) presents a vent formed in a duct (15) connectable to a tube communicating with the fuel tank. A fuel filler as claimed in Claim 1 or 2, characterized in comprising a ring (17) designed to fit on to said flange (16) via connecting means (16a); said ring (17) defining a passage (18) for the insertion of said fuel delivery gun (19) and presenting a shaped edge (20) designed to receive said cap (7). A fuel filler as claimed in Claim 3, characterized in that the connecting means comprise a first series of screws (16a) designed to fit through respective holes in said ring (17) and into respective threaded holes on said flange (16); the latter also presenting a second series of screws (22) for securing said filler to said vehicle body. A fuel filler as claimed in Claim 3 or 4, characterized in that a sealing member (21) is provided between said ring (17) and said flange (16). A fuel filler as claimed in Claim 1 or 2, characterized in that said cup-shaped body (4) comprises a diaphragm (117) formed in one piece with said body (4) inside the cup-shaped body (4) and facing substantially coaxial with an inlet end (113) of the cup-shaped body (4) provided with said peripheral flange (16); said inlet end (113) projecting laterally in relation to said tubular element (8), the length of said cavity (10) being defined between the end wall (14) of the cup-shaped body (4) and said diaphragm (117); and said passage (18) for the insertion of the fuel delivery gun (19) being formed at least partially through said diaphragm (117). A fuel filler as claimed in Claim 6, characterized in that said passage (18) for the insertion of the delivery gun (19) comprises a shaped seat (181) formed through said diaphragm (117) and defined by an edge (182) cooperating with, supporting and retaining said filler cap (7); and an axial groove (183) formed inside said cup-shaped body (4), between said inlet coil (113) of the same and said diaphragm (117), at the intersection of a side wall (13) of said cup-shaped body (4) and said tubular element (8), and of such a length (1) as to define a radial slot (184) in said diaphragm (117). A fuel filler as claimed in Claim 7, characterised by the fact that said shaped seat (181) formed through said diaphragm (117) comprises a pair of diametrically-opposed radial recesses (185), one of which is formed at said radial slot (184) on said diaphragm (117) for defining with the same, in gapfree manner, a single compartment (186). A fuel filler as claimed in any one of the foregoing Claims from 6 to 8, characterised by the fact that said peripheral flange (16) is designed to fit on to a side panel (3) of said vehicle; said flange (16) supporting filler assembly means (122, 123) and a locating pin (162) formed in one piece with and projecting axially in relation to a front surface (163) or said said flange (16).

Inventors: COMOLI ELIO, COMOLI, ELIO
Applicants: FIAT AUTO SPA, FIAT AUTO S.P.A.
Application year: 1989
Main classification: B60K15
IPC codes: B60K15