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Patent Searching and Data


Title:
GROUP OF TWO FUEL FILLER PIPE END SYSTEMS FOR A VEHICLE
Document Type and Number:
WIPO Patent Application WO/2010/113063
Kind Code:
A1
Abstract:
This is a group comprising a first system (1) and a second system that are distinct, each of which comprises an entry neck (14) for a fuel supply spout as well as a passage opening (32) for fuel. One of the systems is provided with a fool-proofing assembly to enable the insertion of a diesel supply spout into said passage opening (32) and to prevent the insertion of a gasoline supply spout to said passage opening (32). The other system lacks such a fool-proofing assembly. According to the invention, each of the two systems comprises a similar end piece (4, 5) for receiving a fuel supply spout.

Inventors:
LE TINNIER CHRISTOPHE (FR)
SANCHEZ LAURENT (FR)
Application Number:
PCT/IB2010/051235
Publication Date:
October 07, 2010
Filing Date:
March 22, 2010
Export Citation:
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Assignee:
ITW DE FRANCE (FR)
LE TINNIER CHRISTOPHE (FR)
SANCHEZ LAURENT (FR)
International Classes:
B60K15/04
Domestic Patent References:
WO2005077698A12005-08-25
Foreign References:
EP1555155A22005-07-20
US20070034287A12007-02-15
Attorney, Agent or Firm:
I.T.W. DE FRANCE (Benjamin J.Lowe Hauptman Ham & Berner, Llp,1700 Diagonal Road, Suite 30, Alexandria Virginia, US)
Download PDF:
Claims:
Claims

[Claim 1] A group of two fuel filler pipe end systems for a vehicle, comprising a first system (1) and a second system (2) that are distinct, each said first system (1) and second system (2) comprising an entry neck (14) for a fuel supply spout and a passage opening (32) for fuel, said second system (2) being provided with a fool-proofing assembly (6) to enable the insertion of a diesel supply spout into said passage opening (32) and to prevent the insertion of a gasoline supply spout to said passage opening (32), said first system lacking such a fool-proofing assembly; characterized in that:

- each said first system (1) and second system (2) comprises a similar end piece (3) for receiving a fuel supply spout, comprising a lateral wall (30), a bottom wall (31) having said passage opening (32), and a head (4) having said entry neck (14);

-said first system (1) comprises an insert (7) for guiding said spout to said passage opening (32) and which is fixed to mounting means (36) of said end piece (3); and

-said second system (2) comprises said fool-proofing assembly (6) and an insert (V) for guiding said spout to said fool-proofing assembly (6) and which is fixed to said mounting means (36) of said end piece (3).

[Claim 2] A group according to claim 1, characterized in that said insert (7) of the first system (1) is able to adopt, in addition to a locking position in which it is rigidly mounted in said end piece (3) of the first system (1), a demounting position in which it may be withdrawn from the end piece (3) of the first system by its neck (14); and in that said insert (7') of the second system (2) is able to adopt, in addition to a locking position in which it is rigidly mounted in said end piece (3) of the second system (2), with said fool-proofing assembly (6) being held by said second insert (7'), a demounting position in which it may be withdrawn from said end piece (3) of the second system by its neck (14), with said fool-proofing assembly (6) being adapted to be withdrawn from said end piece (3) of the second system by its neck (14) after withdrawal of said second insert (7').

[Claim 3] A group according to any one of claims 1 or 2, characterized in that said first and second inserts (7 ; 7') each comprise a frusto-conical wall (78 ; 78') which narrows in the direction of insertion of a spout.

[Claim 4] A group according to claim 3, characterized in that said first and second inserts (7 ; 7') each comprise several teeth (81 ; 81') extending outwardly of said frusto-conical wall (78 ; 78'), each tooth (81 ; 81') being adapted to travel in a corresponding guide groove (36) of said body (5) to bring said first and second inserts (7 ; 7') from said locking position to said demounting position and vice versa.

[Claim 5] A group according to claim 4, characterized in that each said guide groove (36) has an L-shaped profile and extends towards said bottom wall (31).

[Claim 6] A group according to one of claims 4 or 5, characterized in that said frusto-conical wall (78 ; 78') comprises at least one depression (83 ; 83') adapted to cooperate with the point of a tool to make each said tooth (81 ; 81') travel in a corresponding guide groove (36).

[Claim 7] A group according to claim 6, characterized in that said frusto-conical wall (78 ; 78') comprises two said depressions (83 ; 83') that are diametrically opposite each other.

[Claim 8] A group according to one of claims 3 to 7, characterized in that said first insert (7) comprises a second frusto-conical wall (79) disposed in register with said frusto-conical wall (78) and having a more pronounced slope than the latter.

[Claim 9] A group according to claim 8, characterized in that said first insert (7) leads to a circular opening (80) of which the diameter is slightly greater than that of a diesel supply spout.

[Claim 10] A group according to any one of claims 1 to 9, characterized in that said fool-proofing assembly (6) comprises a ring (40) and a shutter (41), said ring having a passage aperture (43) for a supply spout, said shutter (41) being moveable between an obturating position in which it obturates the passage aperture (43) and an open position in which it clears the passage through the ring (40), said ring (40) being elastically deformable to allow said shutter (41) to pass from said obturating position to said open position.

[Claim 11] A group according to any one of claims 1 to 10, characterized in that said fool-proofing assembly (6) is prevented from moving axially relative to said end piece (3) by being sandwiched between said bottom wall (31) and said guide insert (7').

[Claim 12] A group according to claim 11, characterized in that said fool-proofing assembly (6) comprises curved flexible arms (49) which project and which bear on said lateral wall (30) of said end piece (3).

Description:
Description

Title of Invention: GROUP OF TWO FUEL FILLER PIPE END

SYSTEMS FOR A VEHICLE

[I] The invention relates to the filling of vehicles with fuel, and more particularly to the filler pipe end systems with which automotive vehicles are provided to cooperate with the spout at the end of a fuel supply nozzle.

[2] It is known that the outer diameter of the spout of such a nozzle in practice has a value which depends on the fuel distributed. Thus, the spout of a nozzle belonging to a pump supplying diesel has a greater diameter than the spout of a nozzle belonging to a pump supplying gasoline.

[3] Various devices are known for preventing a gasoline pump filler nozzle spout from being inserted into a filler system for a diesel vehicle. Such a device is described by the international application WO 2005/077698.

[4] Such devices are present only on some diesel vehicles and are of course absent from gasoline vehicles.

[5] The invention is directed to a simple, convenient and economic way of providing filler pipe end systems, whether or not equipped with such a fool-proofing assembly.

[6] To that end it provides a group of two fuel filler pipe end systems for a vehicle, comprising a first system and a second system that are distinct, each said first system and second system comprising an entry neck for a fuel supply spout and a passage opening for fuel, said second system being provided with a fool-proofing assembly to enable the insertion of a diesel supply spout into said passage opening and to prevent the insertion of a gasoline supply spout to said passage opening, said first system lacking such a fool-proofing assembly; characterized in that:

[7] - each said first system and second system comprises a similar end piece for receiving a fuel supply spout, comprising a lateral wall, a bottom wall having said passage opening, and a head having said entry neck;

[8] - said first system comprises an insert for guiding said spout to said passage opening and which is fixed to mounting means of said end piece; and

[9] - said second system comprises said fool-proofing assembly and an insert for guiding said spout to said fool-proofing assembly and which is fixed to said mounting means of said end piece.

[10] Thus, in the group according to the invention, the system equipped with the fool- proofing assembly and the system not having it both comprise a similar end piece and an insert fixed to the mounting means for that end piece.

[I I] In the system not having a fool-proofing assembly, the insert is provided to guide the spout that has entered via the entry neck to the passage opening whereas in the system provided with a fool-proofing assembly, the insert is provided to guide the spout to the assembly, which assembly is disposed between the guide insert and the bottom wall of the end piece where the passage opening is formed.

[12] The fact of providing a similar end piece for both systems is particularly advantageous from the point of view of the rationalization of the manufacturing.

[13] In particular, it is possible to equip a fuel filler pipe with the end piece that the two systems of the group according to the invention comprise without yet knowing whether the system will be equipped with or lack a fool-proofing assembly preventing the introduction of a gasoline supply spout.

[14] The differentiation may be made at a final stage of the manufacture, by mounting on the end piece either a simple insert for guiding to the passage opening, or a fool- proofing assembly and an insert for guiding to that assembly.

[15] According to preferred features, said insert of the first system is able to adopt, in addition to a locking position in which it is rigidly mounted in said end piece of the first system, a demounting position in which it may be withdrawn from the end piece of the first system by its neck; and in that said insert of the second system is able to adopt, in addition to a locking position in which it is rigidly mounted in said end piece of the second system, with said fool-proofing assembly being held by said second insert, a demounting position in which it may be withdrawn from said end piece of the second system by its neck, with said fool-proofing assembly being adapted to be withdrawn from said end piece of the second system by its neck after withdrawal of said second insert.

[16] The possibility of demounting the insert for guiding to the passage opening or the fool-proofing assembly and the insert for guiding to the fool-proofing assembly provides numerous particularly advantageous possibilities.

[17] It is for example possible to transform such an end system without any fool-proofing assembly into a system equipped with such an assembly, by demounting and extracting the original insert and replacing it by a fool-proofing assembly and by an insert for guiding to that assembly.

[18] It is also possible, for example for considerations of maintenance, to replace the fool- proofing assembly in place in an end system with another fool-proofing assembly.

[19] According to other features that are preferred as being particularly simple, convenient and economical, with regard both to manufacture and to use:

[20] - said first and second inserts each comprise a frusto-conical wall which narrows in the direction of insertion of a spout;

[21] - said first and second inserts each comprise several teeth extending outwardly of said frusto-conical wall, each tooth being adapted to travel in a corresponding guide groove of said body to bring said first and second inserts from said locking position to said demounting position and vice versa; [22] - each said guide groove has an L-shaped profile and extends towards said bottom wall; [23] - said frusto-conical wall comprises at least one depression adapted to cooperate with the point of a tool to make each said tooth travel in a corresponding guide groove; [24] - said frusto-conical wall comprises two said depressions that are diametrically opposite each other; [25] - said first insert comprises a second frusto-conical wall disposed in register with said frusto-conical wall and having a more pronounced slope than the latter; [26] - said first insert leads to a circular opening of which the diameter is slightly greater than that of a diesel supply spout; [27] - said fool-proofing assembly comprises a ring and a shutter, said ring having a passage aperture for a supply spout, said shutter being moveable between an obturating position in which it obturates the passage aperture and an open position in which it clears the passage through the ring, said ring being elastically deformable to allow said shutter to pass from said obturating position to said open position; [28] - said fool-proofing assembly is prevented from moving axially relative to said end piece by being sandwiched between said bottom wall and said guide insert; and/or [29] - said fool-proofing assembly comprises curved flexible arms which project and which bear on said lateral wall of said end piece.

[30] The features and advantages of the invention will appear from the following description, given by way of preferred but non-limiting example, with reference to the accompanying drawings in which: [31] - Figure 1 is an exploded perspective view of a first system that the group of systems according to the invention comprises;

[32] - Figure 2 is a section view of the first system of Figure 1, in the assembled state;

[33] - Figure 3 is an exploded perspective view of a second system that the group of systems according to the invention comprises; [34] - Figure 4 is an exploded perspective view of the fool-proofing assembly that the second system of Figure 3 comprises; [35] - Figure 5 is a view from above of the fool-proofing assembly of Figure 4, in the assembled state and in a configuration it adopts when it is in place in the body of the second system;

[36] - Figure 6 is a section view of the second system of Figure 3; and

[37] - Figure 7 is a perspective view of the members common to the first and second systems. [38] The group of two systems for a filler pipe comprises a first system 1 without a fool- proofing device and a second system 2 equipped with such a device. [39] System 1 will now be described with the aid of Figures 1, 2, and 7.

[40] System 1 for a filler pipe comprises an end piece 3 and a spout guide insert 7.

[41] The end piece 3 illustrated in Figure 7 comprises a head 4 and a body 5 on which the head 4 may be mounted. [42] The head 4 comprises a main lateral wall 10 of cylindrical general shape, a fixing skirt 11, an indexing tooth 12, an annular collar 13 and a entry neck 14 for a spout. [43] The fixing skirt 11 which is joined to a first end of the wall 10, has an L-shaped profile. It comprises a wing 1 IA transversely oriented to the lateral wall 10 and an axially oriented wing 1 IB. [44] The indexing tooth 12 is disposed adjacent that skirt 11 and enables the head 4 to be correctly positioned relative to the body 5 on assembly of these two members. [45] In the vicinity of the skirt 11, the lateral wall has, on its inward side, a circular groove 15 provided to enable the fixing of the body 5 on the head as will be seen below. [46] The annular collar 13 projects transversely to the lateral wall 10 from the end thereof that is away from the skirt 11. [47] Upstream of that collar 13 (away from the skirt 11), the head 4 comprises a transverse shoulder 17 which extends towards its axis to meet the entry neck 14. [48] The head 4 furthermore comprises two guide ribs 16 which project from the inward side of the neck 14 in order to cooperate in well-known manner with a cap. [49] The body 5 comprises a cylindrical lateral wall 30 and a planar bottom wall 31, in which is formed a passage aperture 32 for a filler spout. [50] The body 5 also comprises an annular collar 33 which extends transversely to the lateral wall 30 from the end thereof that is away from the bottom wall 31. [51] This collar 33 comprises an indexing cut-out 34 of which the contour matches the indexing rib 12 of the head 4. A snap-fastening rib 35 with a C-shaped contour projects from the collar 33 away from the bottom wall 31. [52] The body 5 is furthermore provided with four guide grooves 36 passing through which are regularly spaced over the lateral wall 30. [53] The grooves 36 have an L-shaped profile and extend from the collar 33 towards the bottom wall 31. [54] From the collar 33, each groove 36 has a first portion 36A which extends in the axial direction of the body 5, and a second portion 36B which extends at a right angle to portion 36A. [55] The assembly of the end piece 3 is carried out by positioning, in a first phase, the tooth 12 of head 4 to face the cut-out 34 of body 5; then by bringing the head 4 towards the body 5 so as to induce the snap-fastening of the rib 35 in the groove 15 (Figure 5).

[56] Once assembled, head 4 and body 5 of the end piece 3 are definitively fixed, the wing 1 IA of that head resting against the collar 33 of the body.

[57] The guide insert 7 comprises two frusto-conical walls 78, 79 disposed in register with each other and being of different slope.

[58] The first frusto-conical 78 narrows in the direction of insertion of a spout and with a slope of approximately 45° relative to the main axis of the insert 7.

[59] The second frusto-conical wall 79 also narrows in the direction of insertion of a spout but with a more pronounced slope (approximately 80°) to form a circular opening 80 of which the diameter is slightly greater than that of a diesel supply spout.

[60] The insert 7 further comprises four teeth 81 which project from the upstream edge 82 of the first frusto-conical wall 78 and extend outwards transversely to the main axis of the insert. The four teeth 81 are regularly spaced around the periphery of the frusto- conical wall 78.

[61] The frusto-conical wall 78 furthermore comprises two diametrically opposite depressions 83 which extend parallel to the main axis of the insert 7. These depressions 83 enable the insert 7 to be locked onto the body 5 on mounting as will be seen in detail below.

[62] The mounting of the system 1 is carried out simply by inserting the insert 7 into the end piece 3.

[63] First of all the teeth 81 are slid over the guide ribs 16 until the insert 7 enters inside the head 4. Next, the end of a screwdriver is inserted into one of the depressions 83 and the insert 7 is made to turn until the four teeth 81 locate at the guide grooves 36 of the body 5.

[64] The teeth 81 then slide along portion 36A which extends parallel to the axis of the end piece 3 until they come into abutment.

[65] Lastly, a quarter turn movement is made with the screwdriver to make the teeth 81 pass along the portions 36B of the grooves 36.

[66] The insert is then in locking position.

[67] By performing the opposite movement with the screwdriver, the teeth 81 return into vertical alignment with the portions 36 A to make the insert 7 occupy a demounting position in which it may be removed from the end piece 3 by its neck 14.

[68] The operation of the system 1 will now be described.

[69] When the user inserts the gasoline or diesel fuel filler spout into the system 1, this is simply guided by the insert 7 towards the opening 32 situated in the bottom wall 31 of the body 5.

[70] In a variant not shown, provided for a gasoline vehicle rather than a diesel vehicle, the insert 7 is replaced by a similar insert but in which the opening 80 has a smaller diameter than that of a diesel spout and greater than that of a gasoline spout.

[71] The system 2 will now be described with the aid of Figures 3 to 7.

[72] System 2 comprises an end piece identical to the end piece 3 described earlier, a fool- proofing assembly 6 and an insert 7' for guiding the spout.

[73] The fool-proofing assembly 6 comprises a ring 40 and a shutter 41.

[74] The ring 40 comprises a cylindrical lateral wall on the inside of which it comprises several tabs 42 separated from each other by slots. The set of tabs 42 forms a frusto- conical entry part which narrows in the direction of insertion of a fuel filler spout, not shown.

[75] The ring 40 comprises a passage aperture 43 for the spout (Figure 5).

[76] The ring 40 is divided by a slot 44 which is parallel to the main axis of the ring 40.

The lateral wall comprises an actuating portion 46 which comprises two cut-outs which extend face to face with each other from the slot 44. Thus, on the portion away from the root of the tabs 42, or on the downstream portion, the lateral wall comprises a large rectangular cut-out which straddles the slot 44. On the downstream portion, the actuating portion 46 comprises two hooks 47 which delimit the rectangular cut-out.

[77] Diametrically opposite the slot 44, the ring 40 comprises two mounting appendices

48 spaced apart from each other and situated on the periphery.

[78] Two flexible arms 49 emerge from the outer lateral surface of the lateral wall of ring

40. Each arm 49 is molded in one piece with the rest of the ring 40.

[79] Each arm 49 has an elongate arcuate or curved form such that on going from its root on the appendix 48, it diverges radially from the lateral wall of the ring 40.

[80] When the ring 40 is not disposed in the body 5, it is at the free end 50 of the arm 49 that the latter is the furthest from the lateral wall of the ring 40.

[81] The arms 49 emerge from the lateral wall of the ring 40 at two diametrically opposite regions and extend in the same direction such that their free ends 50 are also diametrically opposite.

[82] The height of the arms 49 is considerably less than that of the tabs 42.

[83] Furthermore, these arms 49 have a certain flexibility by virtue of the elasticity of the material from which they are made.

[84] The shutter 41 is provided with two mounting lugs 60 each placed against one of the mounting appendices. The lugs 60 are pivotally mounted using a pivot shaft 61. Between the appendices 48, a helical spring 62 is disposed which has an elongate branch comprising an end situated against the side of the shutter 41 which faces outwardly of the ring 40 and an elongate branch comprising an end situated against the ring 40.

[85] The shutter 41 is movable between an obturating position in which it obturates the aperture 43 and an open position in which it is transversely disposed relative to the ob- turating position and in which it clears the passage through the ring 40 for a filler spout of specific diameter, i.e. a diesel filler spout. By virtue of the spring 62, the shutter 41 is biased towards its obturating position. [86] The shutter 41 comprises a radial projection 64 disposed at an opposite distal position relative to lugs 60. In obturating position, this radial projection 64 laterally engages above the hooks 47. Thus, the shutter 41 is locked in its obturating position. [87] The guide insert 7' comprises a wall 78' of frusto-conical general shape which narrows in the direction of insertion of a spout to form a circular opening 80' of which the diameter corresponds to the entry diameter of the ring 40. [88] The insert 7' comprises four teeth 81' which project from the upstream edge 82' of the frusto-conical wall 78' and extend outwards transversely to the axis of that wall 78'.

The four teeth 81' are regularly spaced around the periphery of the frusto-conical wall

78'.

[89] The frusto-conical wall 78' furthermore comprises two diametrically opposite depressions 83' which extend parallel to the main axis of the insert 7'. These depressions

83' enable the insert 7' to be locked onto the body 5 on mounting as will be seen in detail below. [90] The mounting of the system 2 is carried out by first of all inserting the fool-proofing assembly 6 into the end piece 3 by its neck 14. [91] To do this, the arms 49 of the ring 40 are brought towards the lateral wall of that ring

40 beforehand. [92] Once the fool-proofing assembly 6 is disposed in the bottom of the body 5, the arms

49 do not return to their resting position (Figure 4), their respective central regions abutting the lateral wall 30 if the body 5 (Figure 5). [93] The end 50 of each arm 49 is disposed facing the outer lateral surface of the lateral wall of the ring 40, a small radial distance separating each end 50 from the lateral wall. [94] As the arms 49 are identical, their deformation is also identical such that the fool- proofing assembly 6 is in coaxial position that is to say that it is positioned coaxially with the body 5. [95] In order to hold the fool-proofing assembly 6 in the body 5, the insert 7' is next inserted into the end piece 3 in the same way as for the insert 7. [96] Thus, the teeth 81' are first of all slid over the guide ribs 16 until the insert 7' enters inside the head 4. Next, the end of a screwdriver is inserted into one of the depressions

83' and the insert 7' is made to turn until the four teeth 81' locate adjacent the guide grooves 36 of the body 5. [97] The teeth 81' then slide along portion 36A which extends parallel to the axis of the end piece 3 until they come into abutment. [98] Lastly, a quarter turn movement is made with the screwdriver to make the teeth 81' pass along the portions 36B of the grooves 36.

[99] The insert 7' is then in locking position in which it holds the fool-proofing assembly

6 at the bottom of the body 5 of the end piece 3.

[100] By performing the opposite movement with the screwdriver, the teeth 81 'return into vertical alignment with the portions 36 A to make the insert 7' occupy a demounting position in which it may be removed from the end piece 3 by its neck 14.

[101] The operation of the system 2 will now be described.

[102] When a user inserts a gasoline fuel filler spout into the system 2, it is first of all guided by the insert 7' towards the ring 40. As the diameter of the spout is not sufficiently great, the tabs 42 are not radially urged and the ring 40 remains in its operating position. The shutter 41 thus remains in its closed position and the user cannot further insert the filler spout.

[103] When a user inserts a diesel fuel filler spout (of which the diameter is greater than that of a gasoline spout) into the system 2, it is first of all guided by the insert 7' towards the ring 40. This ring 40 may initially be axially displaced by the urging of the end of the spout. By virtue of the arms 49 this displacing movement is cushioned and noiseless. The ring 40 is elastically mounted in the housing but without play.

[104] At the same time, the ring 40 widens sufficiently for the slot 44 to move apart by a distance enabling the hooks 47 to free the shutter 41. On passage of the spout, the ring 40 returns to its axial position. The shutter 41 is then driven by the spout. The filling operation may then begin. When the filler spout is withdrawn, the shutter 41 returns to its obturating position and the ring 40 closes again to once again lock the shutter 41 in its closed position.

[105] The ring 40 closes by itself since it is formed from elastic material but also by virtue of the contours of the arms 49 which push against the wall of the ring 40.

[106] If on extraction of the spout, the fool-proofing assembly 6 is axially displaced, the arms 49 will re-establish the balance and re-position the assembly 6 along the axis in the coaxial position. Thus, the arm 49 compressed against the surface relaxes while the other arm 49 is constrained to pivot towards the lateral wall 30 of the ring 40.

[107] When the owner of a diesel vehicle equipped with a system 1 wishes to pass to system 2 equipped with a fool-proofing assembly 6, is suffices to purchase a mounting kit comprising the fool-proofing assembly 6 and the insert 7'.

[108] For the mounting, the garage mechanic merely has to remove the insert 7 of the pre- installed system 1, place the fool-proofing assembly in the body 5 against its bottom wall, insert the insert 7' into the body 5 through the neck 14 and lastly lock it.

[109] In a variant of the invention not shown, the fool-proofing assembly has a rather different conformation in which the ring does not comprise peripheral arms.

[110] In another variant not shown, the head and the body of the end piece are not fixed by snap-fastening but are welded to each other. [I l l] In still another variant not shown, the body comprises indexing means reproducibly ensuring that the fool-proofing assembly is correctly positioned in the end piece. [112] In still another variant not shown, the means for mounting the insert on the body are different and do not comprise guide grooves, for example the insert is screwed onto the body. [113] Numerous other variants are possible according to circumstances, and in this connection it is to be noted that the invention is not limited to the examples described and shown.