Cross-Reference to Related Patent Applications

This patent application relates to Italian patent application No . 102022000012698 filed on June 15 , 2022 the entire disclosure of which is incorporated herein by reference .

Technical Field

The present invention concerns a cap, in particular a pressure-applied cap for a vehicular system .

The present invention is preferably, although not exclusively, applied in elements o f vehicular systems having the function of closing openings where it is necessary to prevent the entry of contaminants and/or the leakage of fluids contained in said elements . Said application will be referred to below by way of example .

State of the Art

The use of pressure-applied caps to close openings made in vehicular systems is known . An example of said cap in the state of the art is illustrated in EP3033505 Al .

As illustrated in the cited publication, the cap is press- fitted in an opening of the vehicular system of a vehicle , such as an engine system . Said caps have a high resistance to the vehicular operating temperatures and pressures and at the same time are particularly rigid and also biocompatible .

However, once fitted, the caps of the type illustrated are di f ficult to remove in order to gain access to the engine system through the opening for maintenance or inspection .

The need is therefore felt to facilitate the removal of a cap of the above-mentioned type without compromising the excellent properties described above during standard operation thereof .

The obj ect of the present invention is to meet the above needs in an optimised and inexpensive manner .

Summary of the Invention The above-mentioned obj ect is achieved by a cap and a vehicular system as claimed in the attached claims .

Brief Description of the Drawings

For a better understanding of the present invention, a preferred embodiment is described below by way o f non-limiting example and with reference to the attached drawings in which :

• Figure 1 is a lateral schematic view of an engine system provided with caps according to the invention;

• Figure 2 is a diametral section view of a cap according to the invention; and

• Figures 3 and 4 are respective perspective views from above and below of a cap according to the invention .

Detailed Disclosure of the Invention

Figure 1 illustrates a vehicular system 1 of a vehicle , for example an engine casing .

The vehicular system 1 comprises , in the embodiment illustrated, a plurality of rigid pressure-applied caps 2 according to the invention . Below, the expres sion "rigid pressure-applied cap" will be replaced by "cap" or "pressure cap" for the sake of brevity .

As illustrated in the figures from 2 to 4 , the pressure cap 2 comprises a first structural layer 3 , made of metal material , and a second protective layer 4 , made of polyamide . Advantageously, the second layer 4 is located externally to the first layer 3 so that the latter is contained inside it , in direct contact . Preferably, the entire first layer 3 is entirely surrounded by a second layer 4 throughout the surface thereof .

Advantageously the polyamide of the second layer 4 is a biopolyamide , preferably derived from castor oil , such as PA11 . More preferably, it is a biopolyamide of the family sold under the brand RILSAN .

In detail , the second layer is made over 50% of polyamide , advantageously over 80% , and even more preferably is made entirely of polyamide . Advantageously, the thickness of the first layer 3 ranges from 0 . 5 to 2 mm, preferably from 0 . 75 mm to 1 . 5 mm, while the second layer 4 has a thickness ranging from 0 . 15 mm to 0 . 3 mm, preferably from 0 . 2 to 0 . 3 mm .

The first layer 3 is advantageously made of steel or cast iron or aluminium .

The pressure cap 2 can be made according to the procedure illustrated in the cited publication EP3033505 Al and not reported for the sake of brevity .

As can be seen better in figure 2 , the pressure cap 2 comprises a coupl ing portion 2 ' configured to cooperate with an opening 5 of the vehicular system 1 and an intermediate portion 2 ' ' radially included by the coupling portion 2 ' .

In particular, the coupling portion 2 ' , in the embodiment described, has a circular annular shape and the intermediate portion 2 ' ' has a circular disc shape .

Consequently, the coupling portion 2 ' extends about an axis A which is , in use , advantageously coaxial with the axis of the opening 5 .

In detail , the coupling portion 2 ' comprises an axial wall 2a configured to cooperate in contact with a wall of the above- mentioned opening 5 and therefore extending parallel to the axis A, a radial wall 2b extending from one end of the axial wall 2a and an inclined wall 2c extending from the radial wall 2b, on the opposite side with respect to the axial wall 2a and directed towards the opposite end with respect to the radial wall 2b .

In the embodiment described, the inclined wall 2c extends in a tapering manner so as to reduce its distance from the axis A moving away from the radial wall 2b .

In particular, the axial wall 2a, radial wall 2b and inclined wall 2c are connected to one another by means of curved portions 2d with predefined radius .

According to the geometry described above , a space 2 ' ’ ’ is therefore present radially comprised between the axial wall 2a and the inclined wall 2c and axially delimited, on one side , by the radial wall 2b and open on the opposite side .

The intermediate portion 2 ' ' comprises essentially a single wall 2e which is connected to the inclined wall 2c ; preferably it is connected to the inclined wall 2c by means of a curved portion 2d .

The above-mentioned curved portions 2d are advantageously made with the same radius of curvature .

In particular, the single wall 2e is substantially positioned at the same height as the end of the axial wall 2a opposite to the radial wall 2b .

The pressure cap 1 advantageously comprises a weakened portion 6 configured to break under the action of a predefined force . For example, said predefined force can be provided by a tool such as a screwdriver or a speci fic device adapted for the purpose , such as a hook element .

Preferably, the weakened portion 6 is made in the intermediate portion 2 ' ’ . Advantageously, the weakened portion 6 is made as a lowered portion 7 in the intermediate portion 2 ’ ’ , namely in the single wall 2e .

Preferably the lowered portion 7 is substantially centred with respect to the intermediate portion 2 ’ ’ and, according to the embodiment illustrated, is rectangular .

In detail , the weakened portion 6 defines a cut 8 with respect to the first layer 3 defining the intermediate portion 2 ’ ’ , namely the single wall 2e . In other words , two portions of the first layer 3 are separated from each other by a cut 8 . In particular, said cut 8 is made in the deepest portion of the lowered portion 7 with respect to the single wall 2e .

In particular, according to the embodiment described, said cut 8 is made on one of the sides of the rectangle , preferably on one of the smaller sides of the rectangle .

The cut 8 is occupied entirely by the second layer 4 which makes a bridge portion 9 between the two parts separated by the cut 8 of the first layer 3 .

The dimensions and the shape of the cut 8 and of the bridge 9 can vary according to the dimensions and type of the pressure cap 1 required .

Operation of the embodiment of the pressure cap 1 according to the invention described above is as follows .

In an operating condition, the cap 1 is press- fitted in the opening 5 , namely so that a force is exerted between the axial wall 2a and the opening 5 . Said force is guaranteed by the " spring" ef fect provided by the inclined wall 2c which can be compressed according to the interference between opening 5 and axial wall 2a .

I f it is necessary to remove the cap 1 from the opening 5 , the user can perforate the cap 1 by acting on the weakened portion 6 . In particular, the user can act on the short side which is deeper than the single wall 2e which is made substantially only by the second layer 4 and is therefore less strong . Once penetrated by means of a suitable tool , such as a hook or a screwdriver, the cap can be easily removed thanks to the lever acting between the insertion point of the tool and the axial wall 2a .

From the above , the advantages of a pressure cap according to the invention are evident .

Thanks to the weakened portion, it is possible to easily remove the pressure cap once fitted in the opening without harming the structural , thermal and chemical/physical resistance thereof .

In particular, the provision of the intermediate portion of the cap in a speci fic lowered, visually identi fiable point allows easy identi fication by the user who can easily remove it by exerting a reduced force and with the help of a suitable tool , such as a hook or a screwdriver .

In fact , the presence of the first metal layer and the second polyamide layer ensures the known properties of resistance to high temperatures , to thermal shocks and to the operating pressures of the above-mentioned vehicular applications .

Furthermore , polyamide is a very environmentally friendly compound . Lastly, it is clear that modi fications and variations can be made to the pressure cap according to the present invention which do not depart from the protective scope defined by the claims .

For example , the forms described and the ranges reported can vary with respect to the description, within the limits of the claims .