Patent Publication Number: US-10759271-B2

Title: Fuel filling device

Description:
FIELD OF TECHNOLOGY 
     The present invention relates to a fuel filling device. 
     BACKGROUND ART 
     As for a device attached to an upper end of a filler pipe (also called an inlet pipe and the like), and opening by an insertion of a fuel filling nozzle of a fuel filling gun so as to feed fuel, there are devices shown in Patent Documents 1 and 2. 
     The device of the Patent Document 1 includes an upper valve member pushed to open by the fuel filling nozzle, and a lower valve member. Thereby, a screw-type fuel inlet cap is unnecessary. However, the valve member of the Patent Document 1 has a structure of turning around one axis, so that a space for allowing the turning to an open position of the valve member which is necessary below the valve member cannot be minimized. 
     On the other hand, in the device of the Patent Document 2, a dust flap which becomes an upper valve member is formed by a pair of semicircular flaps, and each of the flaps has a structure turnably supported in a portion opposite to a portion abutting against the other of the flaps in a closed position so as to minimize a space for allowing the flap to turn to an open position which is necessary below the flap. 
     However, in the aforementioned devices, the aforementioned space is inevitably necessary below the upper valve member opening by the insertion of the fuel filling gun. Consequently, if the devices are simply formed, although the inserted fuel filling nozzle opens the upper valve member, the inserted fuel filling nozzle may not be able to open the lower valve member by abutting against an opening edge portion of a pass-through opening closed by the lower valve member and the like. 
     PRIOR ART DOCUMENTS 
     Patent Documents 
     Patent Document 1: Japanese Patent No. 5666330 
     Patent Document 2: Japanese Unexamined Patent Application Publication No. 2015-96360 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     Problems to be Solved by the Invention 
     A main object of the present invention is to provide a fuel filling device which can smoothly guide an inserted fuel filling nozzle to a far-side pass-through opening positioned at a far side of a closing member while forming the closing member closing a near-side pass-through opening forming this type of fuel filling aperture device by a pair of flap members. 
     Means for Solving the Problems 
     In order to obtain the aforementioned object, in the present invention, a fuel filling aperture device comprises a closing member turned to an open position by an insertion of a fuel filling nozzle to open a fuel filling aperture, and the closing member is provided with a pair of flap members, and urging devices urging each of the flap members to be positioned at a closed position closing a near-side pass-through opening of the fuel filling nozzle. Also, each of the pair of flap members is provided with a turning assembly portion which becomes a center of the turning, and an abutment portion relative to another of the flap members. Also, a far-side pass-through opening for the fuel filling nozzle, and a guide slope face for the fuel filling nozzle, which is a slope face having an opening edge of the far-side pass-through opening as a slope lower end and a vicinity of the near-side pass-through opening as a slope upper end, and formed on both sides of a directly underneath position including the directly underneath position of the abutment portion of the flap member located at the closed position, are formed on a far side of the closing member. 
     When an insertion operation into the fuel filling aperture of the fuel filling nozzle of the fuel filling gun is carried out, first, the pair of flap members forming the closing member turns to the open position so as to allow the fuel filling nozzle to enter far from the near-side pass-through opening. When the fuel filling nozzle enters far from the near-side pass-through opening, the fuel filling nozzle can be guided to the far-side pass-through opening by abutting a tip of the fuel filling nozzle against the guide slope face having the opening edge of the far-side pass-through opening as the slope lower end and having the vicinity of the near-side pass-through opening as the slope upper end, and formed on both sides of the directly underneath position including the directly underneath position of the abutment portion of the flap member located at the closed position. 
     One of aspects of the present invention is that the guide slope face includes a slope gradually increasing a distance from a virtual center axis of the far-side pass-through opening, and gradually reducing a width in a direction orthogonal to the virtual center axis as approaching the slope upper end, and that outside the guide slope face, there is formed a space allowing the flap member located at the closed position to move to the open position. 
     Also, one of the aspects of the present invention is that the fuel filling aperture device is installed in such a way so as to obliquely intersect a virtual center axis of the far-side pass-through opening relative to a vertical line, and that the guide slope face is formed at a portion positioned on an upper side of the virtual center axis. 
     Effect of the Invention 
     According to the present invention, the inserted fuel filling nozzle can be smoothly guided to the far-side pass-through opening positioned at the far side of the closing member while forming the closing member closing the near-side pass-through opening forming this type of fuel filling aperture device by the pair of flap members. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         FIG. 1  is a perspective structural view of a fuel filling aperture device according to one embodiment of the present invention. 
         FIG. 2  is a perspective structural view showing a state wherein a cover member forming the fuel filling aperture device is removed from a holder member which is located on a filler pipe side. 
         FIG. 3  is a perspective structural view showing a state wherein a guide member forming the fuel filling aperture device is removed further from the state of  FIG. 2 . 
         FIG. 4  is a perspective structural view showing a state wherein a seal member forming the fuel filling aperture device is removed further from the state of  FIG. 3 . 
         FIG. 5  is a perspective structural view of the cover member. 
         FIG. 6  is a plan structural view showing a state wherein a pair of flap members forming the cover member is located in a closed position by showing only the pair of flap members. 
         FIG. 7  is a plan structural view showing a case wherein the pair of flap members shifts in the state of  FIG. 6 . 
         FIG. 8  is a perspective structural view of essential parts in the state of  FIG. 7 . 
         FIG. 9  is a perspective structural view of the guide member. 
         FIG. 10  is a plan view of the fuel filling aperture device. 
         FIG. 11  is a cross-sectional structural view taken along a position of line A-A in  FIG. 10 . 
         FIG. 12  is a cross-sectional structural view taken along a position of line B-B in  FIG. 10 . 
         FIG. 13  is a cross-sectional structural view taken along a position of line B-B in  FIG. 10 , and shows a condition wherein the pair of flap members turns to an open position. 
         FIG. 14  is a plan structural view on a filler pipe side in the state of  FIG. 2 . 
         FIG. 15  is a cross-sectional structural view taken along a position of line C-C in  FIG. 14 . 
     
    
    
     BEST MODES OF CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION 
     Hereinafter, based on  FIG. 1  to  FIG. 15 , one of typical embodiments of the present invention will be explained. A fuel filling aperture device according to the embodiment is attached to a filler pipe (omitted in the drawings) to form a fuel filling aperture  5 , and opens the fuel filling aperture  5  by an insertion of a fuel filling nozzle N to allow the insertion, and automatically closes the fuel filling aperture  5  when the inserted fuel filling nozzle N is pulled out. 
     Namely, when the fuel filling nozzle N (see  FIG. 11 ) of a fuel filling gun is inserted into the fuel filling aperture  5 , such fuel filling aperture device turns the later-described closing member  11  and far-side closing member  31  to open positions to allow the insertion of the fuel filling nozzle N so as to allow fueling, and when the inserted fuel filling nozzle N is pulled out, the fuel filling aperture device returns the later-described closing member  11  and far-side closing member  31  to closed positions to automatically close the fuel filling aperture  5  (see  FIG. 12 ). Thereby, in such fuel filling aperture device, a cap of a screw-type fuel filling aperture  5  is unnecessary. 
     Such fuel filling aperture device is attached to an upper end portion of the filler pipe (a fuel injection pipe) (not shown in the drawings). 
     In an illustrated example, as shown in  FIG. 1  to  FIG. 3 , such fuel filling aperture device is formed by a cover member  1 , a guide member  2 , a seal member  3 , and a holder member  4 . 
     The holder member  4  is attached to the filler pipe, is integrated with the filler pipe, and is located on a filler pipe side relative to the cover member  1 , the guide member  2 , and the seal member  3 . The seal member  3  is fitted into such holder member  4 , and the guide member  2  is fitted into the seal member  3 . The cover member  1  houses an upper end  42  side of the holder member  4 , wherein the seal member  3  and the guide member  2  are incorporated, inside the cover member  1  so as to be attached to the holder member  4 . 
     In the illustrated example, the seal member  3  fitted in the holder member  4  engages engagement projecting portions shown by reference numeral  32  in  FIG. 4  and formed outside the seal member  3  with window holes  40  formed in the holder member  4 . 
     Also, in the illustrated example, the guide member  2  fitted in the seal member  3  engages engagement pieces  33  formed inside the seal member  3  with engagement step portions shown by reference numeral  21  in  FIG. 3  and formed outside the guide member  2 . 
     Also, in the illustrated example, the cover member attached to the holder member  4  engages engagement projecting portions  41  formed outside the holder member  4  with window holes shown by reference numeral  12  in  FIG. 2 . 
     Namely, in the embodiment, on a far side of the later-described closing member  11  provided in the cover member  1 , there is provided the guide member  2  for the fuel filling nozzle N, and on a far side of the guide member  2 , there is provided the seal member  3  provided with the far-side closing member  31  opened and closed by the fuel filling nozzle N. Also, the guide member  2  can be removed by removing the guide member  2  from the filler pipe side by releasing an engagement of the cover member  1 , and the seal member  3  can be removed by removing the guide member  2 . 
     (Holder Member  4 ) 
     The holder member  4  has a substantially cylindrical shape, and opens both of an upper end  42  and a lower end  43  (see  FIG. 4 ). In the illustrated example, the holder member  4  is attached to the filler pipe by fitting a lower end  43  side thereof into the filler pipe. In the holder member  4 , a large diameter portion  44  is located between the upper end  42  and a position approximately in a middle in an up-and-down direction of the holder member  4 , and a small diameter portion  45  is located on the lower end  43  side thereof. Also, the holder member  4  is formed by a tapered portion  46  gradually reducing both inner and outer diameters of the holder member  4  as approaching downwardly between the large diameter portion  44  and the small diameter portion  45 . The seal member  3  is fitted into the large diameter portion  44  from the upper end  42  of the holder member  4 . The reference numeral  47  shown in the drawings represents a branch pipe communicating an upper end with the tapered portion  46  and extending downwardly. 
     (Seal Member  3 ) 
     As shown in  FIG. 11 , the seal member  3  comprises a cylindrical main member  34  and the far-side closing member  31 . The cylindrical main member  34  opens both of an upper end and a lower end, and has a substantially cylindrical shape. Between the upper end and lower end, an internal space of the cylindrical main member  34  is divided into up and down by a partition wall  35 . An outer diameter of the cylindrical main member  34  is substantially equal to an inner diameter of the holder member  4 . 
     In the partition wall  35 , there is formed a circular pass-through opening  36  allowing the fuel filling nozzle N to pass through. In the closed position, the far-side closing member  31  presses the partition wall  35  from a lower side by urging of an urging device (omitted in the drawings) to close the pass-through opening  36 , thereby maintaining a closed state of the fuel filling aperture  5  unless the fuel filling nozzle N is inserted. 
     (Cover Member  1 ) 
     As shown in  FIG. 5 , the cover member  1  comprises a cylindrical main member  13  and the closing member  11 . The cylindrical main member  13  opens a lower end, and includes an inner flange  13   a  forming a circumference shape at an upper end. Also, the cover member  1  has an embodiment wherein a pass-through opening of the fuel filling nozzle N is formed by narrowing down an upper end opening by the inner flange  13   a . Hereinafter, such pass-through opening of the cover member  1  is called a near-side pass-through opening  6 . 
     In the illustrated example, such cylindrical main member  13  has a substantially cylindrical shape. An inner diameter of the cylindrical main member  13  is substantially equal to an outer diameter of the holder member  4  on the upper end  42  side. 
     As shown in  FIG. 11 , in the closed position, the closing member  11  presses the inner flange  13   a  from a lower side to close the near-side pass-through opening  6 , thereby maintaining the closed state of the fuel filling aperture  5  unless the fuel filling nozzle N is inserted. In the illustrated example, as shown in  FIG. 12 , such closing member  11  is provided with a pair of flap members  14  and  14 , and urging devices  15  positioning each of the pair of flap members  14  to the closed position by urging. 
     The pair of flap members  14  and  14  is respectively provided with turning assembly portions  141  which become a center of the turning; and abutment portions  142  relative to the other of the flap members  14 . 
     In the illustrated example, as shown in  FIG. 10 , the near-side pass-through opening  6  has a circular hole shape. As shown in  FIG. 6 , the pair of flap members  14  and  14  respectively includes main member portions  143  having a semicircular shape in a state of a plan view. Namely, the main member portions  143  of the pair of flap members  14  and  14  respectively include straight portions  143   a  and arc-shaped portions  143   b , and in the closed position, both of the straight portions  143   a  abut against each other, so that two main member portions  143  and  143  form a circular plate shape as a whole. Namely, the straight portions  143   a  in the main member portions  143  of such flap members  14  function as the abutment portions  142 . 
     In the illustrated example, as shown in  FIG. 12 , the flap members  14  are turnably combined with the cylindrical main member  13  with turning shafts  144  placed outside the arc-shaped portions  143   b  of the main member portions  143 , and having a shaft center line located parallel to the straight portions  143   a . As shown in  FIG. 6 , a pair of arm portions  145  and  145  protrudes outwardly from the arc-shaped portions  143   b  of the main member portions  143 , and turnably assembles the flap members  14  inside the cylindrical main member  13  by passing the turning shafts  144  through shaft holes  145   a  formed in the arm portions  145 . 
     In the illustrated example, the urging devices  15  are torsion coil springs  15   a  placed between the pair of arm portions  145  and  145  by passing the turning shafts  144  into spring winding portions  15   b , and one spring end of the torsion coil spring  15   a  abuts against a back surface portion  146  of the flap member  14 , and the other spring end of the torsion coil spring  15   a  is fixed on the cylindrical main member  13  side. 
     As shown in  FIG. 6 , on surface portions  147  of the pair of flap members  14  and  14 , there are respectively formed seal projecting pieces  148  abutting against an opening edge portion of the near-side pass-through opening  6  for the fuel filling nozzle N, i.e., an inner face  13   b  of the inner flange  13   a  at the closed position; and bordering projecting pieces  149  continuing to terminals  148   a  of the seal projecting pieces  148 , and forming an edge at least at one portion of the abutment portions  142 . 
     In the embodiment, the seal projecting piece  148  is formed in such a way so as to form an edge around the whole arc-shaped portion  143   b  of the main member portion  143  of the flap member  14 . Then, in the closed position, the flap member  14  abuts the seal projecting piece  148  against the inner face  13   b  of the inner flange  13   a  without a gap so as to seal between the arc-shaped portion  143   b  of the main member portion  143  and the cylindrical main member  13 . 
     Thereby, in the embodiment, even in a case wherein both of the pair of flap members  14  and  14  or one of the pair of flap members  14  and  14  slightly shift or shifts to a position in a shaft center line direction of the turning shaft  144  thereof from a predetermined position (see  FIG. 7 ), the edge projecting piece  149  of the flap member  14  located at the closed position can press the opening edge portion of the near-side pass-through opening  6 , i.e., the inner face  13   b  of the inner flange  13   a , and even in such a case, a sealing performance of the closing member  11  is not lowered. 
     Also, in the embodiment, on the surface portions  147  of the flap members  14 , there are formed groove-shaped recessed portions  143   c  wherein a cross-sectional shape in a direction parallel to a center axis of the turning, i.e., the shaft center line of the turning shafts  144  has an arc shape (see  FIG. 6 ). In the illustrated example, the groove-shaped recessed portion  143   c  is formed such that a position above a virtual first straight line L 1  connecting a center of the arc-shaped portion  143   b  and a center of the straight portion  143   a  of the flap member  14  is the bottom; a direction formed between the straight portion  143   a  and the arc-shaped portion  143   b  along the virtual first straight line L 1  is a groove length direction; a direction orthogonal to the virtual first straight line L 1  is a groove width direction; and the groove-shaped recessed portion  143   c  becomes shallow as approaching the arc-shaped portion  143   b . Then, in the illustrated example, in a state wherein the pair of flap members  14  and  14  is located in the closed position, in the abutment portion  142 , the groove-shaped recessed portion  143   c  of one flap member  14  and the groove-shaped recessed portion  143   c  of the other flap member  14  align so as to be continuous (see  FIG. 6 ). Also, in the embodiment, the edge projecting piece  149  is formed only at a portion positioned outside the groove-shaped recessed portion  143   c  in the abutment portion  142 . Thereby, in the embodiment, when the fuel filling nozzle N is inserted, a tip of the fuel filling nozzle N abuts against the flap member  14  using the groove-shaped recessed portion  143   c , and the edge projecting piece  149  is provided at a portion wherein the above-mentioned abutment does not occur. 
     (Guide Member  2 ) 
     As shown in  FIG. 12 , the guide member  2  is fitted between an upper end of the seal member  3  and the partition wall  35  from an upper end side of the seal member  3 . In the guide member  2 , in the aforementioned fitted state, there is formed a pass-through opening  22  positioned above the pass-through opening  36  of the seal member  3 . 
     In the illustrated example, on a far side of the closing member  11 , there is formed a far-side pass-through opening  7  for the fuel filling nozzle N by the pass-through opening  36  of the seal member  3  and the pass-through opening  22  of the guide member  2 . 
     As shown in  FIG. 9 , the guide member  2  includes a peripheral wall  25 , and an inner portion  26  extending inwardly from the peripheral wall  25  and having the pass-through opening  22 . On an upper face of the inner portion  26  of the guide member  2 , there are provided guide slope faces  23  which are slope faces having an opening edge of the pass-through opening  22 , i.e., an opening edge of the far-side pass-through opening  7  as a slope lower end  23   a  and having a vicinity of the later-described near-side pass-through opening  6  of the cover member  1  as a slope upper end  23   b , and formed on both sides of a directly underneath position x including the directly underneath position x (see  FIG. 12 ) of the abutment portion  142  of the flap member  14  forming the closing member  11  located in the closed position, for the fuel filling nozzle N. 
     The guide slope face  23  includes a slope gradually increasing a distance from a virtual center axis y of the far-side pass-through opening  7 , and gradually reducing a width in a direction orthogonal to the virtual center axis y as approaching the slope upper end  23   b  (see  FIG. 11  and  FIG. 12 ). 
     Also, in the embodiment, the fuel filling aperture device is installed in such a way so as to obliquely intersect the virtual center axis y of the far-side pass-through opening  7  relative to a vertical line z (see  FIG. 11 ), and the guide slope face  23  is formed at a portion positioned on an upper side sandwiching the virtual center axis y (see  FIG. 11 ). 
     More specifically, the guide slope face  23  is formed by an assembly of a virtual straight line which is the virtual straight line in a direction orthogonal to the turning shaft  144  of the flap member  14 , and passes the directly underneath position x. In a state of a plan view, the guide slope face  23  has a triangle shape wherein the far-side pass-through opening  7  is a base  23   c  (see  FIG. 14 ). 
     Also, as shown in  FIG. 9 , outside the guide slope face  23 , there are formed spaces  24  allowing the flap members  14  located in the closed position to move to the open position. In the illustrated example, outside two oblique sides  23   d  and  23   d  of the guide slope face  23 , there are respectively formed the spaces  24 . Specifically, the guide slope face  23  is formed by a raised-portion front face  23   f  facing the far-side pass-through opening  7  in a mountain-shaped raised portion  23   e  formed on an upper face side of the guide member  2 . On right and left of the raised-portion front face  23   f , respectively, there are formed raised-portion side faces  23   g  formed in such a way so as to gradually reduce a cross-sectional area of the mountain-shaped raised portion  23   e  as approaching upwardly. Thereby, on the right and left of the raised-portion front face  23   f , i.e., the guide slope face  23 , there are respectively formed the spaces  24 . The oblique side  23   d  and the raised-portion side face  23   g  of the guide slope face  23  form the same face, and are formed in such a way so as to follow a turning track of the straight portion  143   a  of the flap (see  FIG. 12  and  FIG. 13 ). Thereby, the flap members  14  located in the closed position are allowed to move to the open position. Especially, in the embodiment, it is set such that a gap is not substantially formed between the oblique side  23   d  and the raised-portion side face  23   g  of the guide slope face  23 , and the straight portion  143   a  which becomes a free end of the flap member  14 . This is to smoothly guide the fuel filling nozzle N to the far-side pass-through opening  7 , and to prevent a spiral wire material (called an anchor spring and the like) (not shown in the drawings) provided in an outer peripheral portion of the fuel filling nozzle N from falling between the flap member  14  located in the open position, and the guide slope face  23  and the raised-portion side face  23   g.    
     When an insertion operation into the fuel filling aperture  5  of the fuel filling nozzle N of the fuel filling gun is carried out, first, the pair of flap members  14  and  14  forming the closing member  11  turns to the open position so as to allow the fuel filling nozzle N to enter far from the near-side pass-through opening  6 . When the fuel filling nozzle N enters far from the near-side pass-through opening  6 , the fuel filling nozzle N can be guided to the far-side pass-through opening  7  by abutting the tip of the fuel filling nozzle N against the guide slope faces  23  having the opening edge of the far-side pass-through opening  7  as the slope lower end  23   a  and having the vicinity of the near-side pass-through opening  6  as the slope upper end  23   b , and formed on both sides of the directly underneath position x including the directly underneath position x of the abutment portion  142  of the flap member  14  located in the closed position. 
     In the embodiment, the fuel filling aperture device is installed in such a way so as to obliquely intersect the virtual center axis y of the far-side pass-through opening  7  relative to the vertical line z, so that the guide slope face  23  positioned on the upper side of the virtual center axis y is positioned in front of the fuel filling nozzle N entering in the aforementioned manner, and the fuel filling nozzle N is smoothly guided to the far-side pass-through opening  7  positioned on a lower side of the guide slope face  23  by the guide slope face  23 . 
     Incidentally, obviously, the present invention is not limited to the embodiment explained hereinabove, and includes all embodiments which can obtain the object of the present invention. 
     EXPLANATION OF SYMBOLS 
     N a fuel filling nozzle 
       11  a closing member 
       14  flap members 
       141  turning assembly portions 
       142  abutment portions 
       147  surface portions 
       148  seal projecting pieces 
       148   a  terminals 
       149  edge projecting pieces 
       15  urging devices 
       5  a fuel filling aperture 
     Incidentally, all contents of the specification, claims, drawings, and abstract of Japanese Patent Application No. 2015-200984 filed on Oct. 9, 2015 are cited in their entireties herein and are incorporated as a disclosure of the specification of the present invention.