GB2528774A

GB2528774A - Fuel cap arrangement for a vehicle

Info

Publication number: GB2528774A
Application number: GB1510635.4A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Venugopal Reddi; Sanjay Masur
Original assignee: Daimler AG
Current assignee: Mercedes Benz Group AG
Priority date: 2015-06-17
Filing date: 2015-06-17
Publication date: 2016-02-03
Also published as: GB201510635D0

Abstract

The invention relates to a vehicle 10 fuel cap 18, configured to seal the end section of a filler pipe of the fuel tank to stop the release of hydrocarbon vapours produced through heat and tank pressure, the filler pipe is situated within a tank recess 14. Situated around the filler pipe is a visual indicator 24,26,30,32 to show a closed position of the fuel cap indicator 20 in a simple and reliable manner. The closed position may be confirmed by using a proximity sensor and a light.

Description

Fuel cap arrangement for a vehicle The invention relates to a fuel cap arrangement for a vehicle, with a fuel cap configured to seal a filler pipe of a fuel tank of the vehicle and with a tank recess accommodating an end section of the filler pipe. The fuel cap arrangement comprises means for visually indicating a closed position of the fuel cap.

Fuel such as gasoline comprises volatile components and thus generates hydrocarbon vapors in the fuel tank. With increasing temperature inside the fuel tank the tank pressure is also increased. This can lead to a leakage of hydrocarbon vapors into the atmosphere, if the filler pipe is not properly tightened or sealed by the fuel cap. However, if too much hydrocarbon vapor is discharged into the atmosphere, evaporative emission norms cannot be met. Also, if vapors escape through the fuel cap, this can lead to the risk that an object in the vicinity of the fuel cap can catch fire if a spark is present. Further, the evaporation of hydrocarbons diminishes the amount of fuel in the fuel tank.

It is therefore desirable to provide a person operating the fuel cap with an information whether the fuel cap is correctly closed or not. In this context it is known to provide an acoustic feedback when the fuel cap has reached its closed position. For example the fuel cap can produce a ratchet click sound. However, there are cases where it is not possible to hear this sound and it can therefore not be determined, if the fuel cap is properly closed. It is also possible that this acoustic feedback function is not present in some designs of fuel caps.

Document US 5 638 975 A describes a fuel cap for use in a filler neck or filler pipe of a tank. The fuel cap includes a closure mechanism for closing the filler neck and a handle mechanism for rotating the closure mechanism relative to the filler neck to a sealed position. In a top wall of a shell of the fuel cap a handle grip is used to impart rotational torque to the fuel cap about an axis of rotation. On a perimeter edge of the top wall retaining lugs are provided that couple the shell, a torque transmission ring and a stub of the fuel cap together, wherein the stub is inserted into the filler neck. A semicircular portion of the top wall includes an indicator window. The torque transmission ring of the fuel cap comprises a lug with an indicator dot. The indicator dot is located so that, when the cap is in its closed position, the indicator dot is visible through the indicator window.

This provides for a visual indication that the fuel cap is closed.

This fuel cap comprising the shell, the torque transmission ring, and the stub which is introduced into the filler neck is rather complex.

It is therefore an object of the present invention to provide a fuel cap arrangement of the initially mentioned kind, which allows to visually indicate a closed position of the fuel cap in a simple and reliable manner.

This object is solved by a fuel cap arrangement having the features of claim 1.

Advantageous configurations with convenient further developments of the invention are specified in the dependent claims.

In the fuel cap arrangement according to the invention the means for visually indicating the closed position of the fuel cap comprise a first reference element, which is movable together with the fuel cap and at least one second reference element arranged at a fixed position relative to the fuel cap. Herein a predetermined positioning of the first reference element relative to the at least one second reference element indicates the closed position of the fuel cap. By positioning the first reference element correctly relative to the at least one second reference element, it can be visualized that the fuel cap is in the proper position or orientation.

This fuel cap arrangement allows for the utilization of a particularly simple fuel cap.

Nevertheless the visual indication of the closed position of the fuel cap is reliably perceivable by a person operating the fuel cap. Therefore, such a person, for example an end user of the vehicle or fuel station staff, knows if he has completely locked the fuel cap after refueling. Thus the tightening or sealing of the filler pipe by means of the fuel cap can be achieved in a particularly reliable manner.

The fuel cap arrangement also helps in indicating to which side or into which direction the fuel cap should be turned for opening and closing. As a tight sealing of the filler pipe with the fuel cap can be particularly reliably ensured, evaporative emission norms or go green norms can be easily met. Further, the possibilities of lighting a tire if sparks are present are reduced, as it can be easily seen when the fuel cap is not properly locked. If the tuel pipe is tightly sealed with the fuel cap moved into the closed position, also a drying out or an emptying ot the tuel tank can be avoided.

However, together with the visual indication at the closed position at the fuel cap a ratchet sound can be provided to ensure that the person operating the tuel cap perceives the correct closure of the tuel cap.

In an advantageous embodiment the tirsi reference element comprises at least one symbol which can in particular be an arrow which is located at a handle of the fuel cap.

Herein the at least one second reference element comprises a visual marking located at the tank recess. Such reference elements are particularly simple and can be provided at particularly low cost. The visual marking can for example be a painted area or an engraved element. Also a sticker can provide the visual marking located at the tank recess. The position of the symbol such as the arrow relative to the visual marking indicates to the user operating the tuel cap the closed or open position of the tuel cap.

The visual marking can comprise a first arc-shaped section which is different from a second arc-shaped section. Herein the closed position of the fuel cap is indicated by positioning the at least one symbol in a segment of a circle which is delimited by the second arc-shaped section. To visually indicate the closed position ot the fuel cap, the second arc-shaped section can in particular have a green color, whereas the first arc-shaped section can have a red color, for example.

Further, symbols ot a lock or the like can be provided next to the arc-shaped sections.

Herein, a closed lock can indicate that the second arc-shaped section illustrates the closed position of the tuel cap. In a like manner, a symbol of an unlocked lock next to the first arc-shaped section can indicate that the tuel cap has not yet reached the closed position if the at least one symbol is positioned in a segment ot a circle which is delimited by the tirst arc-shaped section.

Alternatively or additionally, the reference element can comprise a protrusion protruding in a radial direction of the fuel cap. Herein the at least one second reterence element is configured to interact with the protrusion in dependence on the positioning of the protrusion relative to the at least one second reference element. For example, the second reference element can be configured as a stop against which the protrusion abuts when the fuel cap is in the closed position.

Preferably however, the at least one second reference element comprises a proximity sensor configured to detect an approach of the protrusion. Thus, a signal of the proximity sensor can be utilized to visually indicate if the fuel cap has reached the closed position or not.

Herein, the at least one second reference element can comprise at least one light source which is configured to be activated in dependence on a signal provided by the proximity sensor. This makes it particularly simple to detect if the fuel cap has reached the closed position.

A first light source can be provided which is configured to feed light at least into the protrusion if the fuel cap is in the closed position. Herein, a second light source can be provided which is configured to feed light at least into the protrusion if the fuel cap is in the open position. The light provided by the first light source differs from the light provided by the second light source. This difference in the light emitted from the at least two light sources particularly easily indicates to a person operating the fuel cap whether the fuel cap has reached the closed position or not.

The light sources can in particular be activated if they receive a corresponding signal from the proximity sensor. However, the position of the protrusion relative to the second reference element can also be detected by means other than a proximity sensor, for example by capacitive sensing.

It has further proven advantageous if at least the protrusion is configured to at least partially emit the light towards a person operating the fuel cap. Further, the protrusion can protrude from a ring shaped dial element, which is configured to at least partially emit the light fed from the protrusion into the dial element towards the person operating the fuel cap. Thus, the ring shaped dial element can emit light from the first light source or from the second light source depending on the position of the protrusion relative to the second reference element.

The features and feature combinations mentioned above in the description as well as the features and feature combinations mentioned below in the description of figures and/or shown in the figures alone are usable not only in the respectively specified combination, but also in other combinations or alone, without departing from the scope of the invention.

Thus, implementations are also to be considered as encompassed and disclosed by the invention, which are not explicitly shown in the figures or explained, but arise from and can be generated by separated feature combinations from the explained implementations.

Further advantages, features and details of the invention are apparent from the claims, the following description of preferred embodiments as well as based on the drawings.

Therein show: Fig. 1 partially a vehicle body with an opening accommodating a tank recess which can be closed by a lid, wherein the lid is shown in an open position, and wherein a fuel cap closing a filler pipe of a fuel tank of the vehicle is moved into a closed position; Fig. 2 a variant of the fuel cap moved into the closed position, wherein a protrusion of a dial element abuts against a proximity sensor arranged at the tank recess; Fig. 3 in a perspective view the protrusion approaching the proximity sensor, wherein a light source arranged at the proximity sensor emits green light into the protrusion and into a ring shaped dial element from which the protrusion protrudes in a radial direction; Fig. 4 the fuel cap according to fig. 2. wherein the fuel cap is in the open or unlocked position; and Fig. 5 in a perspective view the proximity sensor emitting red light into the protrusion and into the ring shaped dial element as the fuel cap has not yet reached its closed or locked position.

A vehicle 10 which is partly shown in fig. 1 comprises a vehicle body 12 with an opening which accommodates a tank recess 14. To cover the tank recess 14, a lid 16 is provided, which is shown in an open position in fig. 1. With the lid 16 moved into the open position, a fuel cap 18 can be operated by a person who wishes to refuel the vehicle 10. The fuel cap iSis shown in its closed position in fig. 1. A fuel cap arrangement comprising the fuel cap 18 and the tank recess 14 has means for visually indicating the closed position of the fuel cap 18.

In the variant of the fuel cap arrangement shown in fig. 1, symbols such as two arrows 20 are arranged on a handle element 22 of the fuel cap 18. In a periphery of the fuel cap 18 a visual marking 24 is applied to the tank recess 14. The visual marking 24 comprises a first arc-shaped section 26 and a second arc-shaped section 28. The two sections 26, 28 differ from each other, for example, by an application of different colors to the tank recess 14 in the periphery of the fuel cap 18. In particular the first section 26 of the visual marking 24 can have a red color, whereas the second section 28 of the visual marking 24 can have a green color.

As long as one of the two arrows 20, which points towards the visual marking 24, is positioned in a segment of a circle which is delimited by the first arc-shaped section 26, the fuel cap 18 is not fully closed. However, as the arrow 20 is moved further by rotating the fuel cap 18 about a rotational axis, the arrow 20 is positioned in a segment of a circle which is delimited by the second arc-shaped section 28. In this position of the fuel cap 18 tight sealing of the filler pipe by means of the fuel cap 18 is achieved. Thus, by positioning a first reference element in the form of one of the arrows 20 relative to a second reference element in the form of the visual marking 24, a visual feedback can be provided to a person operating the fuel cap 18 whether the fuel cap 18 is in the proper position or orientation to assure a tight sealing of the filler pipe.

Together with this visual indication a ratchet sound can indicate that the fuel cap 18 is correctly closed, i.e. moved into the closed position which is shown in fig. 1.

Further symbols 30, 32 can be utilized to indicate in which direction the fuel cap 18 shall be turned to be moved into the closed position. For example, an opened lock can be utilized as the first symbol 30, which illustrates that the adjacent first section 26 represents a zone in which the fuel cap 18 is not completely sealing the filler pipe if the arrow 20 is located in the corresponding segment of a circle. In a like manner, a closed lock can be utilized as the second symbol 32. This second symbol 32 can in particular be located at the tank recess 14 adjacent to the second section 28 in a circumferential direction of the fuel cap 18.

Fig. 2 shows another way of visually indicating or displaying the correct closure of the filler pipe by means of the fuel cap 18. Here again, the fuel cap 18 comprises the handle element 22, which allows to apply a torque to the fuel cap 18 when turning it into the closed position shown in fig. 2.

Here, however, the fuel cap 18 comprises a ring shaped dial element 34, which can in particular be made of an acrylic material. This dial element 34 has a protrusion in the form of a stopper 36, which protrudes in a radial direction of the fuel cap 18. As the dial element 34 is integrally mounted with the fuel cap 18, the stopper 36 moves about the axis of rotation of the fuel cap 18 as the fuel cap 18 is opened or closed. The stopper 36 is preferably made in one piece with the dial element 34. The stopper 36 is another type of a first reference element which can be moved into a predetermined position relative to a second reference element to indicate the closed position of the fuel cap 18.

In the variant shown in fig. 2, the second reference element is configured as a proximity sensor 38, which is configured to detect whether the stopper 36 approaches the proximity sensor 38. As the stopper 36 abuts against the proximity sensor 38, the fuel cap 18 has reached its fully closed position. Here again, a ratchet sound can be provided to indicate the correct sealing of the filler pipe by means of the fuel cap 18 moved into the closed position.

As can be seen from fig. 3, the proximity sensor 38 comprises a light source such as an LED 40, which emits light 42 as the stopper 36 approaches the proximity sensor 38. For example, the LED 40 can emit a green light 42 as the stopper 36 comes near enough to the proximity sensor 38. The green light 42 is fed into the stopper 36 and further into the entire dial element 34. As the stopper 36 and the dial element 34 are made of a transparent material such as acrylic plastic, the green light is then emitted towards the person operating the fuel cap 18. This green color of the glowing dial element 34 indicates that the fuel cap 18 completely tightens or seals the filler pipe.

Whereas fig. 2 shows the fuel cap 18 in the locked or closed position, fig. 4 shows the fuel cap 18 in an open position or unlocked position. Here, the stopper 36 is further away from the proximity sensor 38.

S

Fig. 5 shows the stopper 36 approaching the proximity sensor 38. However, the distance between the stopper 36 and the proximity sensor 38 is still such that the LED 40 does not yet emit the green light 42. Therefore, the stopper 36 and the dial element 34 are not yet illuminated in green. Rather, the proximity sensor 38 comprises a second light source such as a second LED 44, which emits light 46 differing from the light 42 provided by the first LED 40. For example, the light 46 emitted by the second LED 44 can have a red color. Thus, when the fuel cap 18 is not completely closed or, for example, half closed, the proximity sensor 38 can emit the red light 46 through the second LED 44. As a consequence, the indicator dial in the form of the dial clement 34 and the stopper 36 are illuminated in red. This red light is emitted towards the person operating or turning the fuel cap 18. The red color of the light 46 indicates that the fuel cap 18 does not yet completely tighten or seal the filler pipe of the fuel tank of the vehicle 10.

Instead of providing two light sources such as the two LEDS 40, 44 only one light source, in particular an LED, can be provided with different filters or the like in order to produce the two types of light 42, 46, wherein the light 42 differs from the light 46.

After confirmation of the fuel cap lock position, fuel Lid 16 will be close. Once Lid 16 closes LED light will stop glowing.Again next time Lid opens for filling LED starts glowing automatically.

List of reference signs vehicle 12 vehicle body 14 tank recess 16 lid 18 fuel cap arrow 22 handle element 24 visual marking 26 section 28 section symbol 32 symbol 34 dial element 36 stopper 38 proximity sensor

LED

42 light 44 LED 46 light

Claims

Claims Fuel cap arrangement for a vehicle (10) with a fuel cap (18) configured to seal a filler pipe of a fuel tank of the vehicle (10) and with a tank recess (14) accommodating an end section of the filler pipe, wherein the fuel cap arrangement comprises means for visually indicating a closed position of the fuel cap (18), characterized in that the means comprise a first reference element (20, 36) which is movable together with the fuel cap (18) and at least one second reference element (24, 26, 28, 38, 40, 44) arranged at a fixed position relative to the fuel cap (18), wherein a predetermined positioning of the first reference element (20, 36) relative to the at least one second reference element (24, 26, 28, 38, 40, 44) indicates the closed position of the fuel cap (18).
2. Fuel cap arrangement according to claim 1, characterized in that the first reference element comprises at least one symbol, in particular an arrow (20) located ata handle element (22) of the fuel cap (18), wherein the at least one second reference element comprises a visual marking (24) located at the tank recess (14).
3. Fuel cap arrangement according to claim 2, characterized in that the visual marking (24) comprises a first arc-shaped section (26) which is different from a second arc-shaped section (28), wherein the closed position of the fuel cap (18) is indicated by positioning the at least one symbol (20) in a segment of a circle which is delimited by the second arc-shaped section (28).
4. Fuel cap arrangement according to claim 3, characterized in that an open position of the fuel cap (18) is indicated by positioning the at least one symbol (20) in a segment of a circle which is delimited by the first arc-shaped section (26).
5. Fuel cap arrangement according to any one of claims 1 to 4, characterized in that the first reference element comprises a protrusion (36) protruding in a radial direction of the fuel cap (18), wherein the at least one second reference element (38, 40, 44) is configured to interact with the protrusion (36) in dependence on the positioning of the protrusion (36) relative to the at least one second reference element (38, 40, 44).
6. Fuel cap arrangement according to claim 5, characterized in that at least one second reference element comprises a proximity sensor (38) configured to detect an approach of the protrusion (36).
7. Fuel cap arrangement according to claim 6, characterized in that at least one second reference element comprises at least one light source (40, 44) which is configured to be activated in dependence on a signal provided by the proximity sensor (38).
8. Fuel cap arrangement according to any one of claims 5 to 7, characterized by a first light source (40) configured feed light (42) at least into the protrusion (36) if the fuel cap (18) is in the closed position and a second light source (44) configured feed light (46) at least into the protrusion (36) if the fuel cap (18) is in the open position, wherein the light (42) provided by the first light source (40) differs from the light (46) provided by the second light source (44).
9. Fuel cap arrangement according to claim 8, characterized in that at least the protrusion (36) is configured to at least partially emit the light (42, 46) towards a person operating the fuel cap (18).
10. Fuel cap arrangement according to claim 8 or 9, characterized in that the protrusion (36) protrudes from a ring shaped dial element (34) configured to at least partially emit the light (42, 46) fed via the protrusion (36) into the dial element (34) towards a person operating the fuel cap.