Patent ID: 10113339

Abstract:
The invention concerns an Actuator for a fuel tank cap (1) or tailboard in a vehicle comprising a latch (2) for locking the fuel tank cap (1) or tailboard as well as an electric drive (3) to enable an automatic opening and closing cycle of the fuel tank cap or tailboard, wherein a rotatable control plate (4) with a control contour for transmitting a force and/or motion by means of a preferably direct contact to at least one adjacent member is designed such that the transmission of force and/or motion depends on the rotation position of the control plate (4). A compact actuator can be obtained. The invention further concerns a method for actuation the fuel tank cap (1) or tailboard, wherein firstly, a latch release cable (10) is pulled in order to unlock the latch (2), secondly, a rotation motion is transmitted in order to open the fuel tank cap (1) or tailboard, thirdly, the latch release cable (10) is released until the closing step is initiated, and/or fourthly, the cycle comprising the first, second, third, and/or forth sequence runs in reverse order and direction for automatically closing the fuel tank cap (1) or tailboard. A very easy automatic opening and closing cycle can be obtained.