Closure device for a fuel tank

Abstract

The invention relates to a closure device for a fuel tank in a motor vehicle. The closure device has a filling-level transmitter and a blocking element which both together form a constructional unit. The blocking element is adjustable so that is it movable to a position in which the blocking element closes an opening in the tank.

Description

[0001] 1. Field of the Invention[0002] The invention relates to a closure device having a blocking body for a fuel tank such as a fuel tank in a motor vehicle.[0003] 2. Description of the Related Art[0004] Fuel tanks for motor vehicles have a filler neck via which the fuel tank may be filled. As the tank is being filled, the fuel flowing into the tank displaces gas in the tank. To avoid uncontrolled flowing away of the displaced gas, tanks have ventilation systems via which the gas is conducted away in a defined manner both during the filling of the tank and during operation. Fuel should be prevented from entering the ventilation system to ensure reliable functioning of the ventilation system, particularly as the tank is being filled.[0005] It is generally known to allow the filler pipe to open into the fuel tank below the upper boundary wall thereof and to arrange the ventilation system above this opening. A gas-filled space thereby remains above the liquid level in the tank and ha...

AI Technical Summary

Benefits of technology

[0009] The closure device includes a filling-level transmitter and a blocking element which form a constructional unit. The blocking element is movable and closes the opening in one position. The constructional unit makes it possible for the closure device according to the invention to be constructed relatively compactly. The closure device requires few components and therefore takes up little space. The present invention obviates the need for lines which are complicated to lay and have to be sealed with respect to the tank.

[0010] Accordingly, both the filling-level transmitter and the blocking element may be held by a common carrier and arranged at the opening which is to be selectively closed. The carrier on which the filling-level transmitter and the blocking element are held may be designed with an appropriate configuration to adapt to the most varied openings and therefore to be used universally. Furthermore, the closure device may be assembled as a constructional unit outside the tank and functionally tested before installation, thereby simplifying the installation of the constructional unit in the tank.

[0012] In a further embodiment, the blocking element is actuated via a mechanical link. The closure device may be made to be particularly simple and robust if lever-type transmitters or submerged transmitters are used as the filling-level transmitter. In this case, a float or lever arm is used as the actuating element for the blocking element. The mechanical link may include a gear mechanism, a cam mechanism or a lever mechanism arranged between the actuating element and the blocking element to facilitate the actuation of the blocking element. The blocking element may be a flap, a cone or a slide which is arranged pivotably or rotatably. The gear mechanism and the lever mechanism may be configured so that they only move the blocking element into its closing position after a certain filling level is reached. If the gear mechanism is a toothed-gear mechanism, a toothed-gear segment may be used instead of a complete toothed gear so that they only move the blocking element into its closing position after a certain filling level is reached.

Problems solved by technology

The signals generated by these sensors are passed to a control component which then acts upon the control valves in response to the corresponding control signals A problem with this known device is the complicated installation of this system because of the multiplicity of signal and control lines.

The closure device requires few components and therefore takes up little space.

The closure device thereby requires particularly few components and can therefore be of very small construction.

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