Abstract:
The device according to the invention comprises a connector on-board the vehicle, connected to the fuel tank via a pouring conduit and provided with a closure valve, and a filling element adapted to be connected to this connector. The filling element is provided with at least one member for detecting the abutment of the filling element on a fixed part of the connector, this member being adapted to control the displacement of a hook for locking the aforementioned element on the connector, between a first position where the hook is disengaged with respect to the connector and a second position where the hook is in engagement on the connector.

Description:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
   The invention relates to a device for filling a vehicle tank with liquid fuel. 
   BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
   The invention is particularly concerned with the domain of automobile racing in which it is sometimes necessary to proceed with filling the fuel tank of a vehicle during a race, such filling having to take place under optimum safety conditions and in a minimum of time. 
   The equipment used up to the present time does not offer sufficient guarantees as to safety. In effect, it proves to be subject to leakages, which involves considerable risks of fire insofar as the motor of the racing vehicle often operates at very high temperature. In addition, the known equipment is heavy and relatively difficult to manipulate, this involving a relatively long time to fill the tank which may appreciably penalize the competitor during the race. 
   A particular risk of this type of equipment is that the operator in charge of filling a tank may attempt to pour fuel while the filling element in his hand is not correctly connected to the corresponding connector provided on the vehicle. 
   It is a more particular object of the invention to overcome these drawbacks by proposing a novel device for filling a vehicle tank with liquid fuel, whose use is securitized, while it allows flow with a high flowrate compatible with those desired, in particular, in the domain of automobile races. 
   In this spirit, the invention relates to a device for filling a vehicle tank with liquid fuel, this device comprising a connector on-board the vehicle, connected to the tank at least via a pouring conduit and provided with a closure valve, and a filling element adapted to be connected on this connector. This device is characterized in that the filling element is provided with at least one member for detecting the abutment of the filling element on a fixed part of the connector, this detection member being adapted to control the displacement of a hook for locking the filling element on the connector, between a first position where the hook is disengaged with respect to the connector and a second position where the hook is in engagement on this connector. 
   Thanks to the invention, the passage of the locking hook from its disengaged position towards its position in engagement on the connector occurs as a function of the detection of the abutment of the filling element on the connector, this avoiding errors of manipulation insofar as, as long as the abutment is not correct, the locking hook cannot attain its second position. 
   According to advantageous but non-obligatory aspects of the invention, a tank filling device may incorporate one or more of the following characteristics, taken in any technically admissible combination:
         A plurality of detection members are distributed around a central axis of the filling element, each being adapted to control a locking hook   The or each detection member is in the form of a finger mobile in translation in a direction substantially parallel to a central axis of the filling element.   The or each locking hook is adapted to prevent the displacement of a locking ring when it is not in engagement with the connector, this ring itself being adapted to prevent the displacement of a control member forming part of the filling element and mobile, with respect to the body of this element, parallel to a central axis of this element.   The locking ring is adapted to surround the or each hook and possibly a part of the connector when this or these hook(s) is or are in the second position mentioned above.   The kinematic linkage between the locking ring and the control member is a function of the position of the member with respect to the body of the filling element. In that case, an element for blocking the relative movement of the locking ring and of the control member is advantageously provided, this blocking element being received in a housing made to that end, of which the ring is adapted to be partially engaged, or not, in a housing made to that end in the control member.   The filling element comprises a slide in the form of a tubular sleeve adapted to come into abutment against an O-ring provided on an inner radial surface of the connector, the displacement of the slide with respect to the body of the filling element being controlled by the afore-mentioned control member. The kinematic linkage between the slide and the control member may be provided to be a function of the position of this member with respect to the body of the filling element.   The connector is provided with an outer peripheral groove for receiving a part of the locking hook or hooks when it is or they are in the second position mentioned above.   The connector is connected to the tank by a fuel flow conduit and by a gaseous phase circulation conduit, while a mobile member is adapted to pass, within this connector, from a first configuration where the mobile member allows a fluidic communication between these conduits and a second configuration where this member isolates these conduits from each other. The mobile member is advantageously adapted to be displaced from its first towards its second configuration by a part of the filling element. In that case, the mobile member may be provided to be displaceable from its first towards its second configuration by a pusher element fast with the control member and adapted to push the valve of the connector against elastic closure means, this valve itself being adapted to displace this mobile member.   The filling element forms two conduits dedicated respectively to the flow of fuel towards the tank and for the circulation of gaseous phase coming from the tank, while the connector is itself connected to the tank by two conduits respectively dedicated to the flow of fuel and to the circulation of gaseous phase, the fuel flow conduits being adapted to be fluidically connected, while the gaseous phase circulation conduits are adapted to be fluidically connected.   The movements of those parts of the filling element which are mobile with respect to the body of this element are controlled by at least one handle articulated on this body about an axis substantially orthogonal to the direction of displacement of this mobile part. In that case, this handle is advantageously equipped with a roller for transmission of effort to one of these mobile parts, this roller being received, with possibility of displacement, in a housing of corresponding shape, made in this mobile part.   Means are provided for elastic return of at least certain of the parts of the filling element mobile with respect to its body and/or of at least certain of the parts of the connector mobile with respect to the fixed part mentioned above, these return means pushing these mobile parts towards a configuration of closure and of separation of the filling element and of the connector.       

   
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
     The invention will be more readily understood on reading the following description of an embodiment of a device in accordance with its principle, given solely by way of example and made with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: 
       FIG. 1  is a side view of a device according to the invention of which a part is installed on an automobile vehicle shown partially in section. 
       FIG. 2  is a section along plane II in  FIG. 1 . 
       FIG. 3  is a section on a larger scale of detail III in  FIG. 2  when the filling element arrives in abutment against the connector. 
       FIG. 4  is a view similar to  FIG. 3 , but on a smaller scale, during a subsequent step of the positioning of the filling element. 
       FIG. 5  is a view similar to  FIG. 4  during another subsequent step, and 
       FIG. 6  is a view similar to  FIG. 3  when the filling element and the connector are in established fluidic communication, to which the bottom of the view of  FIG. 2  has been added. 
   

   DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENT 
   Referring now to the drawings, the device D shown in the Figures is a connection comprising a connector A intended to be fixed on an automobile vehicle and a filling element E intended to be manipulated by an operator in order to fill the tank R of this vehicle. 
   The connector A comprises a body  1  intended to be fixed on an automobile vehicle projecting slightly with respect to the bodywork C of this vehicle. 
   The body  1  defines two branch connections  2  and  3  on which may be respectively connected a pipe T 1  for flow of the fuel up to the tank R and a pipe T 2  for flow of gaseous phase coming from the tank R. In order to render the drawing clearer, the tank R and the pipes T 1  and T 2  are shown solely in  FIG. 2 . 
   With the exception of the presence of the branch connection  3 , the connector A is symmetrical about a vertical axis X A –X′ A  in the Figures. 
   The body  1  of the connector A contains a valve  4  of which the outer face  41  is flush with an annular surface  11  formed by the neck  12  of the body  1  which projects beyond the bodywork C. The surface  11  is perpendicular to axis X A –X′ A . 
   The body  1  also contains a bush  5  which is provided with a part  51  whose outer diameter is slightly smaller than the diameter of the inner surface  13  of the body  11 . The bush  5  also comprises a narrowed part  52  of which the outer diameter corresponds substantially to the inner diameter of a sleeve  14  defined by the body  1 . 
   In this way, the bush  5  is guided in translation with respect to the body  1 , due to the cooperation of parts  51  and  52  respectively with zones  13  and  14  of the body  1 . 
   The bush  51  likewise defines a central sleeve  53  in which the rod  42  of the valve  4  is guided. 
   A return spring  6  is arranged between the inner face  43  of the valve  4  and a zone of abutment formed at the foot of the sleeve  53 , which sleeve is connected to part  51  of the bush  5  by a plurality of tabs of which only one is visible in the Figures, with reference  54 . 
   When the valve  4  and the bush  5  are in the configuration of  FIG. 2 , the interior volume of the body  1  is isolated from the outside, while the branch connections  2  and  3  communicate together, as represented by double arrow F 1 . 
   An O-ring  7  is mounted in a groove made in the inner radial surface of the body  12 . Another O-ring  8  is mounted in a groove made on the peripheral surface of the valve  4 . A part of the bush  5  is disposed between the O-rings  7  and  8  in the configuration of  FIG. 2 . 
   As for the filling element E, it comprises a body  101  substantially symmetrical about an axis X E –X′ E  and with respect to which a control ring  102  is mobile, said ring defining two concentric conduits C 2  and C 2  dedicated respectively to the flow of fuel in the direction of the connector A and to the collection of gaseous phase coming from this connector. 
   The ring  102  is intended to be connected to two concentric pipes T′ 1  and T′ 2  and, to that end, forms two branch connections  103  and  104 . 
     105  denotes the circular partition for separation between the conduits C 1  and C 2 , this partition being divergent opposite the branch connection  103 . In the vicinity of the divergent part  105   a  of the partition  105 , the ring  102  forms a pusher element  106  intended to come into abutment against the face  41  of the valve  4 . 
   Seven hooks  107  are each articulated about an axis  108  substantially perpendicular to axis X E –X′ E  and are each provided with a nose  107   a  intended to engage in an outer peripheral groove  15  made on the neck  12 . 
   A hook  107  is visible to the left of each of  FIGS. 2 to 6 , it being understood that the noses  107   a  of certain other hooks are also visible in this Figure, while the other hooks are disposed in that part of the element E torn away in  FIGS. 2 to 6 . In practice, the seven hooks  107  of the element E are regularly distributed about axis X E –X′ E . Each hook  107  is also provided with a heel  107   b  intended to interact with a locking ring  110  as will be evident from the following explanations. 
   In the configuration of  FIG. 2 , and in the absence of outside effort, the spring  112  exerts on the associated finger  111  the effort F 2  which is such that the extension  111  transmits to the heel  107   c  an outwardly directed radial effort F 3  tending to pivot the hook  107  radially outwardly about its axis  108 . 
   The same applies to all the fingers  111  and hooks  107 . 
   When, from this position, the position of  FIG. 3  is attained, the hooks  107  come into place around the neck  12 , which is why they are not impeded as they are tipped outwardly by the effort F 3 . As shown in  FIG. 3 , the end faces  111   c  of the fingers  111  then come into abutment on the surface  11  of the body  1 , this pushing them, parallel to axis X E –X′ E , against the effort F 2 . 
   The extension  111   b  of each finger  111  is in that case no longer opposite the heel  107   c  of the adjacent hook  107  of which the nose  107   a  may in that case engage in the groove  15  of the hook  12  as represented by arrow F 4 , this making it possible to obtain a locking of the element E on the connector A. 
   It will be noted that each finger  111  performs a function of detection of the correct abutment of element E on the neck  12  and makes it possible to control the position of the adjacent hook  107  insofar as, as long as it is not pushed by the surface  11  of the body  1 , a finger  111  opposes by its extension  111   b  the engagement of the nose  107   a  of the hook  107  in the groove  15 . 
   When all the fingers  111  have been pushed against the elastic effort exerted by the adjacent springs  112 , all the hooks  107  may come into engagement in the groove  15  and in that case no longer oppose, by their respective heels  107   b , the movements of the locking ring  110  in the direction of the connector A. 
   In the configuration of  FIG. 4 , a tight abutment is made between the element E and the connector A, this avoiding any risk of leakage, even if the valve  4  has not yet been displaced. 
   The displacement of the ring  110  in the direction of the connector A is controlled thanks to the ring  102  as these two rings are fast in translation parallel to axis X E –X′ E  thanks to a plurality of balls  113  installed in housings  114  distributed about axis X E –X′ E  in the ring  110 , these balls being wider than the ring  110  and projecting in recesses  115  made on the inner radial surface of an outer part  116  of the ring  102 . 
   The displacement of the control ring parallel to axis X E –X′ E  is controlled by two handles  120  and  121  each articulated on the body  102  about an axis  122  or equivalent perpendicular to axis X E –X′ E . 
   The handle  120  bears a roller  123 , while the handle  121  bears a roller  124 , these rollers each being disposed in a housing  125 ,  126  respectively, made in the outer surface of the ring  102 . The rollers  123  and  124  may move in the housings  125  and  126  perpendicularly to the directions X E –X′ E  and  122 , this being represented by the double arrow F 15  in  FIG. 1 . 
   In practice, the handle  120  is provided to pass from the configuration represented in solid lines to that represented in mixed lines in  FIG. 1 , the roller  123  in that case making a reciprocating movement in the housing  125 . 
   In the same way, the handle  121  may attain a low configuration represented solely by its end in mixed lines in  FIG. 1 . 
   The passage of the handles  120  and  121  from their configuration represented in solid lines to that represented in mixed lines takes place by exerting thereon efforts F 5  and F 6  directed towards the connector A when the element E is in abutment against the connector A. 
   Due to the efforts F 5  and F 6 , the rollers  123  and  124  exert on the ring  102  efforts F 7  and F 8  which may be transmitted, through the balls  113 , to the locking ring  110 . 
   If the application of the efforts F 5  and F 6  from the configuration of  FIG. 4  is continued, the rings  102  and  110  are disconnected in translation as the ring  110  comes opposite a recess  130  made in the body  102 , with the result that each ball  113  may be driven towards the adjacent recess  130 , this allowing the continuation of the movement of lowering of the ring  102  during the passage from the configuration of  FIG. 4  to that of  FIG. 5 , the ring  110  remaining in abutment on an outer radial flange  16  of the neck  12 . 
   Furthermore, a slide in the form of a sleeve  140  is rendered fast in translation with the ring  102  thanks to a plurality of balls  141  received in housings  142  of the slide  140  distributed about the axis X E –X′ E , these balls projecting in the direction of recesses  143  made in the ring  102 . 
   In this way, continuation of the movement of the control ring  102  in the direction of the connector A has the effect of also displacing the slide  140  which pushes the bush  5 , while the pusher element  106  pushes the valve  4 . 
   The slide  140  then comes into contact with the O-ring  7  with which it ensures a tight contact, as represented in  FIG. 5 . 
   The ring  102  is provided with three O-rings  150 ,  151  and  152  which are all in abutment against the inner radial surface of the slide  140  in the configurations of  FIGS. 2 to 5 . 
   It will be noted that, in the configuration of  FIG. 5 , a tight contact between parts  140  and  1  is obtained, even if no flow has occurred yet, this being an intrinsic token of safety of the device. 
   In the configuration of  FIG. 5 , the balls  141  are opposite a recess  144  made in the body  102 , this making it possible to disconnect the elements  102  and  140  in translation. 
   If the application of efforts F 5  and F 6  on the handles  120  and  121  is continued, the continuation of the movements of the ring  102  in the direction of the connector A has the effect of pushing the valve  4  against the elastic effort generated by the spring  6 , thanks to the pusher element  106 . When the spring  6  is compressed, this also has the effect of displacing the bush  5  up to the configuration of  FIG. 6  where its part  52  obturates the openings  17  made between the sleeve  14  and an annular web  18  of the body  1 . In this way, the bush  5  isolates the branch connections  2  and  3 , i.e. the tubes T 1  and T 2 , with respect to each other. 
   By reason of the movement of the ring  102 , its divergent part  105   a  comes opposite that part of the bush  5  previously disposed between the O-rings  7  and  8 , with the result that a communication is created between the channel C 1  and the branch connection  2  around the pusher element  6  and the valve  4 , as well as a communication between the branch connection  3  and the channel C 2  around the partition  105 . 
   The flow of fuel occurs as represented by arrows F 9  in  FIG. 6 , while the flow of the gaseous phase occurs as represented by arrows F 10 . 
   Return springs  160  are disposed between the body  101  and the ring  102 , with the result that, in the event of elimination of the efforts F 5  and F 6 , these springs cause the control ring  102  to follow a movement inverse to that previously described, this leading to a disconnection of the elements A and E. In other words, the device of the invention may be considered as being equipped with a “dead man” system, springs  160  ensuring an automatic disconnection in the event of the operator stopping his action. 
   Among the advantages of the device of the invention, it may be noted that the connector A may be a very light part which does not project over a considerable distance with respect to the bodywork C, with the result that it does not risk injuring an operator or a pilot. 
   Furthermore, in the configuration of  FIG. 6 , the section of flow of the fuel is large, this allowing a high rate of filling of the tank R. In practice, a flowrate of the order of 90 litres in 28 seconds may be attained. 
   Taking into account its structure, the element E is light, while presenting good ergonomics, particularly due to the mode of actuation of the handles  120  and  121 . 
   Taking into account the characteristics of the device  1 , there is very little risk of leakages or drainings occurring at the level of the surfaces of the elements A and E in contact, while these elements are particularly robust. A final essential point is that the risks of false manœuvre are set aside, even if the operator acts under conditions of intense stress during a race.