Device for filling fuel for road vehicles

Abstract: Device (1) for filling fuel for road vehicles, wherein a tank (2), which is provided with a cover (11) fitted on the tank (2) itself, such as to rotate between an open position and a closed position, accommodates a cap (7), which is rotated by being sprung, between a position of opening and a position of closure of a filler (5) for filling fuel which flows into the tank (2); and wherein a thrust element (21), which is disposed inside the tank (2), and is mobile together with the cover (11), can engage the cap (7), in order to make it spring towards its position of closure, when the cover (11) itself is displaced towards its closed position.

Description: The present invention relates to a device for filling the fuel for road vehicles. Road vehicles, in particular motor vehicles, to which the following description refers specifically, without however detracting from general applicability, are provided with a tank, which can be supplied with fuel from the exterior, via a filling device which comprises a filler, which opens inside a tank, which is integral with the body of the vehicle. The tank is normally provided with a cover, which can be displaced between a closed position and an open position, and accommodates a cap, which is pivoted on the filler, such as to rotate by being sprung, between a position of opening and a position of closure of the filler. The devices of the above-described type for filling fuel normally have the disadvantage that the cap for closure of the filler can continue to be disposed in its position of opening, even when the cover of the tank is closed. Consequently, an incorrect manoeuvre by the person carrying out the filling can give rise to uncontrolled leakage of the fuel from the filler whilst the motor vehicle is in motion, or worse still, to intake of foreign bodies into the tank. A device not having this disadvantage is known from US 5 501 607 A, which discloses all features of the preamble of claim 1. The object of the present invention is to provide an alternative and improved device for filling fuel. According to the present invention, a device for filling the fuel for road vehicles according to claim 1 is provided. The invention will now be described with reference to the attached drawings, which illustrate a nonlimiting embodiment, in which: figures 1 and 2 illustrate schematically in cross-section a preferred embodiment of the filling device according to the invention, in two different operating positions. In the attached figures, 1 indicates as a whole a device for filling fuel in a motor vehicle A. The device 1 comprises a tank 2 of a known type, which is integral with a body 3 of the motor vehicle A, and has a substantially parallelepiped shape. The tank 2 has a base wall 4, through which there pass a filler 5 and a bracket 5a, which is integral with the filler 5 itself, an annular end mouth 6 of which opens inside the tank 2 itself. Inside the tank 2, there is fitted a cap 7, which is pivoted in a known manner on the bracket 5a of the filler 5, in order to rotate by being sprung relative to the tank 2, around a fixed shaft 7a, which, in the particular example described, extends parallel to the base wall 4 itself, between a position of opening (Figure 1), in which the cap 7 itself is disposed in a position substantially at right-angles to the base wall 4, and a position of closure (Figure 2), in which an annular gasket 7b of the cap 7 co-operates in keeping the annular end mouth 6 of the filler 5 sealed against dust and water from the exterior. In other words, the cap 7 is produced, in a manner which is known and is not shown, such that, as far as its rotation around the shaft 7a is concerned, it acts as a bistable mechanical unit, wherein the two positions of opening and closure are two positions of stable balance, and displacement from one of these two positions towards the other gives rise, at a certain point, to passing beyond a dead centre, and to subsequent springing towards the other position of stable balance. There passes through the tank 2 a dividing baffle 8, which extends parallel to the shaft 7a, from the base wall 4, in a direction at right-angles to the base wall 4 itself, and subdivides the tank 2 into two compartments 9 and 10, which communicate with one another above the free end of the baffle 8, opposite that which is connected to the base wall 4, and the compartment 9 of which accommodates both the cap 7 and the mouth 6 of the filler 5. In particular, when it is in its position of opening, the cap 7 is disposed in a position which is adjacent and substantially parallel to the baffle 8. The tank 2 is provided with a cover 11, which is parallel to the shaft 7a, and is connected to the tank 2 itself by means of a coupling 12, which is articulated such that it can be displaced, relative to the tank 2, between an open position (Figure 1), which is substantially at right-angles to the base wall 4, and a closed position (Figure 2), which is substantially parallel to, and facing the base wall 4. When it is disposed in its open position, the cover 11 permits access to the cap 7 from the exterior. The articulated coupling 12 is a known coupling, which comprises a crank 13, which is connected in a rotary manner, firstly to the tank 2, by means of a fixed pin 14 which is parallel to the shaft 7a, and faces the free end of the baffle 8, and secondly to a pin 15, which is integral with an intermediate portion of the cover 11, and is mobile together with the cover 11 itself. The articulated coupling 12 also comprises a fixed cam 16, which is integral with the tank 2, has a profile in the shape of a cam, through which the crank 13 passes, and constitutes the base of a base-roller coupling, in which the roller is defined by a cam-shaped profile, through which the crank 13 also passes, of a cam 17 which is supported by the cover 11, and is mobile together with the cover 11 itself. Finally, the articulated coupling 12 comprises a spring 18, which is stretched between a hook 19, which is disposed inside the compartment 10, and is integral with the baffle 8, and an intermediate point of the crank 13, in order to keep the two cams 16 and 17 constantly in contact with one another. Owing to its configuration, the articulated coupling 12 allows the door 11 to rotate between the aforementioned closed and open positions, by rotating simultaneously around the pins 14 and 15, with a law of displacement which is determined by the shape of the cams 16 and 17, and is always in a direction opposite the direction of rotation of the crank 13 around the pin 14. The crank 13 constitutes the first arm of a rocker arm 20, which is pivoted on the pin 14, and comprises a further arm 21, which is integral with the crank 13, extends inside the compartment 9, and rotates together with the crank 13 around the pin 14, along a path of displacement, which has a section in common with a path of displacement of the cap 7, between its positions of opening and closure. In particular, when the cover 11 is disposed in its open position, and the cap 7 is disposed in its position of opening, the arm 21 is disposed (Figure 1) parallel to the baffle 8, and at right-angles to the base wall 4, between the baffle 8 itself and the cap 7, i.e. immediately upstream from the path of displacement of the cap 7, from its position of opening to its position of closure. Displacement of the cover 11 towards its closed position gives rise to opposite rotation of the arm 21 around the pin 14, with consequent displacement of the arm 21 along the said common section, in a direction which is compatible with that of displacement of the said cap 7 towards its position of closure. The arm 21 thus constitutes a thrust element, which, when the cover 11 is closed, and in the case in which the cap 7 is disposed in its position of opening, can engage the cap 7 itself, and thrust it towards its position of closure, towards which the cap 7 will spring, as soon as it has passed its aforementioned dead centre. According to a variant, not shown, the shaft 7a is inclined by an angle other than zero, relative to the pins 14 and 15 and to the base wall 4. It is apparent from the foregoing that the presence of the arm 21 permits automatic closure of the cap 7, when the cover 11 is closed.

Claims: Device (1) for filling fuel for road vehicles, the device (1) for filling comprising a tank (2), a cover (11), which is fitted on the tank (2), and is mobile relative to the tank (2) itself, between an open position and a closed position, a filler (5), for filling fuel which flows into the tank (2), a cap (7), which is accommodated inside the tank (2), and is rendered mobile by being sprung, between a position of opening and a position of closure of the filler (5), and a thrust element (21), which is mobile together with the cover (11), in order to engage the said cap (7), and make it spring towards its position of closure, when the cover (11) itself is displaced towards its closed position; the said cover (11) being connected to the tank (2) by means of an articulated coupling (12); the device (1) being characterised in that the said articulated coupling (12) comprises a first and a second cam (16,17), which have profiles in the shape of a cam which are in contact with one another, the said cams (16,17) being interposed between the said cover (11) and tank (2), and being integral, one with the said cover (11) and the other with the said tank (2); and a crank (13), which extends through the said cam-shaped profiles, the crank (13) being connected to the said tank (2), in order to rotate relative to the tank (2) itself around a first shaft (14), and being connected to the said cover (11), in order to rotate relative to the cover (11) itself, around a second shaft (15) which is parallel to the first shaft (14). Device (1) according to claim 1, wherein the said tank (2) comprises a base wall (4), through which the said filler (5) passes; the said cap (7) being pivoted on the said filler (5), such as to rotate around a third shaft (7a), which is parallel to the said first and second shafts (14, 15). Device (1) according to claim 1 or claim 2, and comprising a rocker arm (20) which is pivoted on the said tank (2), such as to rotate, relative to the tank (2) itself, around the said first shaft (14); the said rocker arm (20) comprising a first arm, which comprises the said crank (13), and a second arm (21), which comprises the said thrust element (21). Device (1) according to claim 3, wherein the second arm (21) is shaped such that, when the said cover (11) is in its open position, the arm is disposed in a position which is adjacent and substantially parallel to the said cap (7) in the said position of opening, and outside a path of displacement of the cap (7) itself, between the said positions of opening and closure.

Inventors: ZANNINO ROBERTO, ZANNINO, ROBERTO
Applicants: FIAT AUTO SPA, FIAT AUTO S.P.A.
Application year: 2001
Main classification: B60K15
IPC codes: B60K15