A fuel filler cap with idling function

Abstract

The present invention discloses a fuel filler cap with an idling function, which includes a valve body connected to a fuel pipe head, a handle cover snap-connected to the valve body, and a ratchet disc rotatably connected to the valve body, the ratchet disc includes a disc portion with ratchet teeth on the outer periphery, the valve body is provided with a pawl for limiting the one-way rotation of the disc portion, the disc portion is provided with an arc-shaped arc groove, the handle cover is provided with a driving column extending downward into the arc groove, the fuel filler cap with an idling function also includes a piston slidably fitted in the handle cover and an elastic member driving the piston to abut against the handle cover, the handle cover is provided with an inclined guide surface, the piston is provided with a convex block abutting against the guide surface, and the elastic member drives the handle cover to reset through the piston. The fuel filler cap with an idling function of the present invention converts the elastic force of the piston into a torque for driving the handle cover to reset, which is safer and more reliable and has a longer service life.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The invention relates to a fuel filler cap, in particular to a fuel filler cap with an idling function. Background Art

[0002] In the vehicle fuel system, the fuel filler cap seals the fuel filler pipe and can be unscrewed to provide access for refueling.

[0003] The fuel filler cap and the fuel pipe head are usually sealed with rubber. When tightened, the torque will be converted into compression force on the rubber through the thread structure, and the fuel filler cap usually has the function of limiting torque. When the tightening torque reaches the set value, the rubber is compressed to the designed state, and the sealing action between the fuel filler cap and the fuel pipe head is completed.

[0004] At present, most fuel filler caps are directly unscrewed when reversely loosened, without buffering idle travel. When reversely loosened, before the torque reaches the loosening torque, there is no relative displacement between the fuel pipe head and the fuel pipe; and when the torque is greater than the loosening torque, the fuel filler cap and the fuel pipe head begin to slide relative to each other, and the compressed part of the rubber begins to rebound until the rubber returns to the uncompressed state, at which time the fuel tank cap is in the open state.

[0005] During the unscrewing process, since there is no buffered idle stroke, a slight accidental touch or misoperation will cause the fuel tank cap to loosen. After the fuel tank cap is loosened, the rubber is in a semi-compressed state, and there may be air leakage at this time. However, it is impossible to detect whether it is in a loose state from the outer surface, which brings the risk of air leakage at the fuel tank port, which is very hidden and difficult to detect.

[0006] The above problem has not been solved. A technology has emerged in the prior art that there is an idle stroke when the fuel filler cap is screwed back. For example, Chinese invention patent application number 201920825998.7 proposes a fuel filler cap with an idle function. An arc-shaped groove is provided on the ratchet so that when the handle cover is turned counterclockwise, a section of idle stroke caused by the groove must be passed before the fuel filler cap can be loosened, thereby improving safety.

[0007] However, in the above-mentioned patent technology, the mechanism for driving the handle cover to reset is relatively complicated and inconvenient to install. It is difficult to ensure that the handle cover can reach the stroke for resetting by applying force to the handle cover through the S-shaped peeling piece. In addition, the S-shaped peeling piece is easily damaged during operation, reducing its rebound amount, resulting in the handle cover being unable to be reliably reset, which affects the safety performance of the fuel filler cap to a certain extent. Summary of the invention

[0008] The object of the present invention is to provide a fuel filler cap with an idling function in view of the above-mentioned defects in the prior art, which can reliably drive the handle cover to reset and improve the safety of the fuel filler cap.

[0009] To achieve the above-mentioned invention objectives, the present invention proposes a fuel filler cap with an idling function, which includes a valve body connected to a fuel pipe head, a handle cover snap-connected to the valve body, and a ratchet plate rotatably connected to the valve body, the ratchet plate including a plate portion with ratchet teeth on the outer periphery, the valve body is provided with a pawl for limiting the one-way rotation of the plate portion, the plate portion is provided with an arc-shaped arc groove, the handle cover is provided with a driving column extending downward into the arc groove, the fuel filler cap with an idling function also includes a piston slidably fitted in the handle cover and an elastic member driving the piston to abut against the handle cover, the handle cover is provided with an inclined guide surface, the piston is provided with a protrusion abutting against the guide surface, and the elastic member drives the handle cover to reset through the piston.

[0010] In addition, the present invention also proposes the following subsidiary technical solutions:

[0011] The handle cover comprises a guide rod protruding toward the ratchet disc, and the piston is provided with a guide hole matched with the guide rod.

[0012] The handle cover comprises a reset block surrounding the outer periphery of the guide rod, and the guide surface is arranged on the reset block.

[0013] The ratchet disc is provided with a guide column protruding toward the handle cover, and the outer side of the piston is provided with a sliding groove matched with the guide column.

[0014] The ratchet disc further comprises a barrel portion connected below the ratchet disc, and the guide column is arranged on a bottom plate of the barrel portion.

[0015] The piston comprises a main body and a plate connected to the main body. The elastic member is sleeved on the main body, and one end of the elastic member abuts against the plate and the other end abuts against the ratchet disc.

[0016] The valve body comprises a retaining ring portion, and the ratchet comprises an elastic arm connected to the retaining ring portion and a tooth portion connected to the elastic arm, wherein the tooth portion is matched with the ratchet teeth.

[0017] The retaining ring portion includes a central hole, the valve body is provided with a stepped surface below the central hole, and the disc portion is provided with a convex ring supported on the stepped surface.

[0018] The disc portion is provided with a reinforcement ring surrounding the outside of the arc-shaped groove.

[0019] The convex block is provided with a hemispherical convex point which abuts against the guide surface.

[0020] Compared with the prior art, the advantages of the present invention are:

[0021] The fuel filler cap with idling function of the present invention is provided with a piston slidably matched with the handle cover and an elastic member driving the piston to abut against the handle cover, an inclined guide surface is provided inside the handle cover, and the piston is provided with a convex block abutting against the guide surface. The elastic member provides the handle cover with a force in the same direction as the fuel filler cap through the piston. On the one hand, when the handle cover is loosened due to touch, the handle cover can be reliably reset, and on the other hand, the fuel filler cap can be conveniently tightened, which is safer and more reliable. At the same time, the elastic member, piston, etc. driving the handle cover to reset in the present invention are simple in structure and very convenient to install. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0022] Figure 1 It is a cross-sectional schematic diagram of the fuel filler cap with idling function of the present invention.

[0023] Figure 2 It is a structural schematic diagram of the fuel filler cap with idling function of the present invention.

[0024] Figure 3 It is a structural schematic diagram of the valve body in the present invention.

[0025] Figure 4 It is a schematic structural diagram of the ratchet disc in the present invention.

[0026] Figure 5 It is a schematic diagram of the matching of the ratchet disc and the ratchet pawl on the valve body in the present invention.

[0027] Figure 6 yes Figure 1 Enlarged view of part I in the middle.

[0028] Figure 7 It is a schematic diagram of another viewing direction of the ratchet disc in the present invention.

[0029] Figure 8 It is a schematic diagram of the handle cover in the present invention.

[0030] Fig. 9 It is a schematic diagram of the buckle connection between the handle cover and the valve body in the present invention.

[0031] Fig.10 It is a schematic diagram of the piston being connected to the ratchet disc in the present invention. DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0032] The technical solution of the present invention is further described in detail below in conjunction with preferred embodiments and the accompanying drawings.

[0033] like Figure 1 and Figure 2As shown, a fuel filler cap with an idling function corresponding to a preferred embodiment of the present invention includes a valve body 1 connected to the oil pipe head, a ratchet plate 2 rotatably connected to the valve body 1, a handle cover 3 snap-connected to the valve body 1, a piston 4 slidably fitted in the handle cover 3, and an elastic member 5 sleeved on the piston 4.

[0034] The valve body 1 comprises a connecting portion 10 and a retaining ring portion 11 arranged at the upper end of the connecting portion 10 . The connecting portion 10 is provided with threads on its outer periphery for threaded connection with a tubing head. A rubber ring 12 is provided on the connecting portion 10 for sealing the tubing head.

[0035] like Figure 3 As shown, the connecting portion 10 is provided with a circular central blind hole 100 and a stepped hole 101 located above the central blind hole 100 and arranged coaxially therewith, and the diameter of the stepped hole 101 is larger than the diameter of the central blind hole 100. The retaining ring portion 11 is provided with a central hole 110 arranged coaxially therewith, and the diameter of the central hole 110 is larger than the diameter of the stepped hole 101.

[0036] like Figure 4 and Figure 5 As shown, the ratchet disc 2 includes a disc portion 20, a barrel portion 21 connected to the disc portion 20, and a circle of ratchet teeth 22 arranged on the outer periphery of the disc portion 20. The disc portion 20 is accommodated in the central hole 110, and the barrel portion 21 sinks into the central blind hole 100. A plurality of ratchet pawls 13 are arranged on the retaining ring portion 11, and the ratchet pawls 13 include elastic arms 130 and tooth portions 131 connected to the elastic arms 130 and matched with the ratchet teeth 22.

[0037] The ratchet 13 allows the ratchet disc 2 to rotate in only one direction. In this embodiment, the ratchet disc 2 can only rotate clockwise relative to the retaining ring 11. When the ratchet disc 2 rotates clockwise, the ratchet teeth 22 press down the tooth portion 131. After the elastic arm 130 is deformed to a certain extent, the ratchet disc 2 can rotate past the current position. By controlling the length, width, angle of the elastic arm 130, or the matching depth of the tooth portion 131 and the ratchet 22, the torque required for the rotation of the ratchet disc 2 can be controlled. This torque is the same as the torque required to tighten the oil filler cap. That is, when the ratchet disc 2 reaches the torque rotation, the rubber ring 12 also reaches the set compression amount. At this time, the oil filler cap and the oil pipe head are in a sealed state, and it can be judged by sound and feel whether it is tightened in place. When the ratchet disc 2 rotates counterclockwise, it is blocked by the ratchet 13, which will drive the valve body 1 to rotate counterclockwise at the same time, so that the valve body 1 can be loosened and removed from the oil pipe head.

[0038] like Figure 3 , Figure 6 and Figure 7As shown, a stepped surface 111 is formed between the center hole 110 and the stepped hole 101, and a convex ring 200 is provided at the lower end of the disc 20, and the convex ring 200 is supported by the stepped surface 111. The provision of the convex ring 200 can reduce the machining accuracy of the lower surface of the disc 20, so that the ratchet 22 and the pawl 13 can be reliably matched, and the torque required for tightening the fuel filler cap can be ensured.

[0039] The cylinder 21 is hollow, and a bottom plate 210 is disposed at the bottom. Two guide pillars 211 extending upward are disposed on the bottom plate 210 , and the two guide pillars 211 are centrally symmetrical.

[0040] like Figure 8 and Fig. 9 As shown, the handle cover 3 includes a cover body 30 and an annular cover portion 31 connected to the cover body 30. A plurality of undercuts 32 are provided on the cover portion 31. The undercuts 32 are buckled on the outer edge of the retaining ring portion 11. The undercuts 32 and the cover body 30 are respectively located below and above the retaining ring portion 11, thereby limiting the position of the disc portion 20 and enabling the handle cover 3 to rotate relative to the valve body 1. In order to facilitate the buckling of the handle cover 3 onto the retaining ring portion 11, grooves 33 are provided on both sides of the portion of the cover portion 31 where the undercuts 32 are provided, so that the portion is more easily deformed, thereby facilitating installation.

[0041] refer to Figure 8 The cover 30 is provided with two driving posts 34 extending toward the ratchet disc 2, and the driving posts 34 are used to drive the ratchet disc 2 to rotate. Figure 4 and Figure 5 Two centrally symmetrical arc-shaped arc grooves 23 are formed on the disc portion 20 of the ratchet disc 2 , and two driving posts 34 are respectively connected to the two arc grooves 23 .

[0042] like Figure 5 As shown, each arc groove 23 includes a first end 23a and a second end 23b. When the fuel filler cap is tightened by rotating clockwise, the driving column 34 is located at the second end 23b. At this time, if the fuel filler cap needs to be loosened, the handle cover 3 needs to be rotated counterclockwise to rotate the driving column 34 to the first end 23a, thereby driving the ratchet plate 2 and the valve body 1 to rotate. In other words, there is an idle stroke when the fuel filler cap is loosened. During this idle stroke, even if the handle cover is accidentally touched or hit and accidentally deflected, the fuel filler cap and the oil pipe head will not be loosened, which is safer.

[0043] The rotation angle of the handle cover 3 in the idle stroke depends on the center angle of the arc groove 23, and the center angle is preferably 90 degrees.

[0044] A reinforcement ring 24 is provided on the disc portion 20 and is located outside the arc groove 23 . The reinforcement ring 24 is located in the stepped hole 101 and can enhance the overall strength and rigidity of the ratchet disc 2 .

[0045] like Figure 2 As shown, the handle cover 3 also includes a narrow and long handle 35 connected to the cover body 30. The handle 35 protrudes outward from the cover body 30, so that the handle cover 3 can be rotated after being pinched by fingers. Figure 6 and Figure 8 As shown, an accommodating chamber 37 for accommodating the piston 4 and the elastic member 5 is formed in the cavity 350 formed by the handle 35 through two retaining walls 36. A guide rod 38 connected to the handle 35 and a reset block 39 connected between the handle 35 and the retaining wall 36 are arranged at the center of the accommodating chamber 37. The reset block 39 is in an arc shape, and its bottom surface is an inclined guide surface 390 for matching with the top of the piston 4.

[0046] Further references Figure 6 and Fig.10 A guide hole 40 is provided at the center of the piston 4, and the guide rod 38 is slidably engaged in the guide hole 40; two vertically arranged slide grooves 41 are also provided on the side of the piston 4, and the guide column 211 is slidably engaged in the slide groove 41. Through the cooperation between the guide column 211 and the slide groove 41 and the cooperation between the guide rod 38 and the guide hole 40, the piston 4 can be reliably moved up and down without deflection or dislocation.

[0047] The piston 4 includes a body 42 and a plate 43 connected to the top of the body 42. The plate 43 is provided with an outwardly convex block 44. The outermost end of the block 44 is provided with a hemispherical convex point 45, and the convex point 45 abuts against the guide surface 390. The elastic member 5 is sleeved on the body 42, and its two ends abut against the plate 43 and the bottom plate 210 respectively. It is in a compressed state and provides a thrust to drive the piston 4 upward to press against the guide surface 390. The elastic member 5 is preferably a spring, which is a very common part in the prior art and has the advantages of low cost and reliable use.

[0048] Under normal circumstances, the convex point 45 of the piston 4 contacts the highest point of the guide surface 390, and at this time, the driving column 34 of the handle cover 3 is located at the second end 23b of the arc groove 23. When the handle cover 3 is subjected to force to rotate counterclockwise (the force may be caused by active loosening or accidental touch), the guide surface 390 of the reset block 39 gradually pushes the piston 4 downward to compress the elastic member 5; when the handle cover 3 loses the force, the elastic member 5 will restore the deformation, driving the piston 4 to push the guide surface 390 upward, so that the handle cover 3 rotates in the opposite direction to reset. In other words, as long as the handle cover 3 loses the force, its driving column 34 is always located at the second end 23b. If the fuel filler cap needs to be loosened from the oil pipe head, it must first rotate for a period of idle travel, which effectively prevents the fuel filler cap from being loosened due to accidental touch or impact, and further improves safety and reliability; at the same time, when the handle cover passes through the idle travel, the elastic member can continuously apply resistance to the handle cover, giving the user clear force feedback; this resistance can also prevent the handle cover from being loosened due to accidental touch to a certain extent.

[0049] The oil filler cap with idling function of the present invention is very convenient to assemble. It only needs to first set the ratchet disc 2 in the valve body 1, then fit the piston 4 with the elastic member 5 on the guide column 211, and finally cover the handle cover 3.

[0050] The fuel filler cap with idling function of the present invention is provided with a piston slidably matched with the handle cover and an elastic member driving the piston to abut against the handle cover, an inclined guide surface is provided inside the handle cover, and the piston is provided with a convex block abutting against the guide surface. The elastic member provides the handle cover with a force in the same direction as the fuel filler cap through the piston. On the one hand, when the handle cover is loosened due to touch, the handle cover can be reliably reset, and on the other hand, the fuel filler cap can be conveniently tightened, which is safer and more reliable. At the same time, the elastic member, piston, etc. driving the handle cover to reset in the present invention are simple in structure, very convenient to install, and have a longer service life.

[0051] It should be pointed out that the above preferred embodiments are only for illustrating the technical concept and features of the present invention, and their purpose is to enable people familiar with the technology to understand the content of the present invention and implement it accordingly, and they cannot be used to limit the protection scope of the present invention. Any equivalent changes or modifications made according to the spirit of the present invention should be included in the protection scope of the present invention.

Claims

1. A fuel filler cap with an idling function, comprising a valve body (1) connected to a fuel pipe head, a handle cover (3) snap-connected to the valve body (1), and a ratchet disc (2) rotatably connected to the valve body (1), the ratchet disc (2) comprising a disc portion (20) with ratchet teeth (22) arranged on the outer periphery, the valve body (1) being provided with a ratchet pawl (13) for limiting the unidirectional rotation of the disc portion (20), the disc portion (20) being provided with an arc-shaped arc groove (23), the handle cover (3) being provided with a driving column (34) extending downward into the arc groove (23), characterized in that: The fuel filler cap with idling function further comprises a piston (4) slidably matched in the handle cover (3) and an elastic member (5) driving the piston (4) to abut against the handle cover (3); the handle cover (3) is provided with an inclined guide surface (390); the piston (4) is provided with a convex block (44) abutting against the guide surface (390); and the elastic member (5) drives the handle cover (3) to reset via the piston (4); The handle cover (3) comprises a guide rod (38) protruding toward the ratchet disc (2), and the piston (4) is provided with a guide hole (40) matched with the guide rod (38); The handle cover (3) comprises a reset block (39) surrounding the outer periphery of the guide rod (38), and the guide surface (390) is arranged on the reset block (39); The ratchet disc (2) is provided with a guide column (211) protruding toward the handle cover (3), and the outer side of the piston (4) is provided with a slide groove (41) matched with the guide column (211); The piston (4) comprises a main body (42) and a plate (43) connected to the main body (42); the elastic member (5) is sleeved on the main body (42), with one end of the elastic member abutting against the plate (43) and the other end abutting against the ratchet disc (2).

2. The fuel filler cap with idling function according to claim 1, characterized in that: The ratchet disc (2) further comprises a barrel portion (21) connected below the ratchet disc (2), and the guide column (211) is arranged on a bottom plate (210) of the barrel portion (21).

3. The fuel filler cap with idling function according to claim 1, characterized in that: The valve body (1) comprises a retaining ring portion (11), and the ratchet (13) comprises an elastic arm (130) connected to the retaining ring portion (11) and a tooth portion (131) connected to the elastic arm (130), wherein the tooth portion (131) is matched with the ratchet tooth (22).

4. The fuel filler cap with idling function according to claim 3, characterized in that: The retaining ring portion (11) comprises a central hole (110), the valve body (1) is provided with a stepped surface (111) located below the central hole (110), and the disc portion (20) is provided with a convex ring (200) supported on the stepped surface (111).

5. The fuel filler cap with idling function according to claim 1, characterized in that: The disk portion (20) is provided with a reinforcement ring (24) surrounding the outside of the arc-shaped groove (23).

6. The fuel filler cap with idling function according to claim 1, characterized in that: The convex block (44) is provided with a hemispherical convex point (45) which abuts against the guide surface (390).

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