Vehicle fuel refueling port

Abstract

This utility model provides a vehicle energy refueling port. The vehicle energy refueling port includes a recessed box-shaped portion located on an outer body panel extending along the vehicle's length, recessed inwards towards the vehicle body while opening outwards; an oil inlet or charging port located at the inner bottom of the box-shaped portion; an outer cover for closing the opening of the box-shaped portion; and a hinge assembly for rotatably supporting the outer cover. The hinge assembly includes a hinge installed within the box-shaped portion and a hinge shaft rotatably connected to the hinge with its central axis parallel to the vehicle height direction and fixed to one end of the outer cover. The outer cover is configured such that, in the closed state, its outer surface is not on the same plane as the outer surface of the outer body panel around the opening of the box-shaped portion, and that it does not interfere with the opening edge or internal components of the box-shaped portion during rotation. Based on this structure, the outer cover is both visible and its opening and closing structure is simplified, reducing costs.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] This utility model relates to a vehicle energy refueling port, including a fuel filler port and a charging port. Background Technology

[0002] In the prior art, automobiles using fuels such as gasoline and diesel have fuel filler caps, while electric vehicles or hybrid vehicles have charging ports. The fuel filler cap and charging port are mechanically similar. Both include a recessed box-shaped portion located on an outer panel extending along the vehicle's length, recessed inwards and opening outwards; an inlet (fuel filler or charging port) formed at the inner bottom of the box-shaped portion; and an outer cover rotatably mounted at the end of the box-shaped portion opening for closing it.

[0003] In the aforementioned vehicle refueling ports, to meet the design requirement of concealing the outer cover, the outer cover is typically designed so that, when closed, its outer surface lies on the same plane (flat or curved) as the outer surface of the vehicle body panel around the opening of the housing. Because the outer cover must not interfere with the housing when opening and closing, the opening and closing structure of the outer cover is relatively complex. Furthermore, while a structure that integrally molds the housing and the vehicle body panel can reduce costs, in this case, if the portion of the vehicle body panel around the opening of the housing is not flat or gently protruding outwards, it is difficult to simultaneously meet both the aforementioned design requirements and the requirement that the opening and closing trajectory of the outer cover not interfere with the housing.

[0004] On the other hand, in recent years, users have increasingly favored the appearance design of exterior covers. If the design freedom of exterior covers is increased in response to such demand, it will not only make the exterior covers more visible, but also potentially simplify the opening and closing structure of the exterior covers and reduce the cost of vehicle fuel filler ports. Utility Model Content

[0005] In view of the above situation, the purpose of this utility model is to provide a vehicle energy refueling port that can both make the outer cover visible and simplify the opening and closing structure of the outer cover.

[0006] As a technical solution to the above-mentioned technical problems, this utility model provides a vehicle energy refueling port, which includes a recessed box-shaped portion disposed on an outer body panel extending along the vehicle length direction, recessed towards the inside of the vehicle body while opening towards the outside of the vehicle body; an oil filling port or charging port disposed at the inner bottom of the box-shaped portion; an outer cover for closing the opening of the box-shaped portion; and a hinge assembly for rotatably supporting the outer cover. The hinge assembly is characterized in that: the hinge assembly includes a hinge installed within the box-shaped portion, and a hinge shaft rotatably connected to the hinge with its central axis parallel to the vehicle height direction and fixed to one end of the outer cover; the outer cover is configured such that, in the closed state, its outer surface is not on the same plane as the outer surface of the outer body panel at the periphery of the opening of the box-shaped portion, and that it does not interfere with the opening edge and internal components of the box-shaped portion during rotation.

[0007] The advantages of the vehicle energy refueling port of this utility model with the above structure are that by making the outer surface of the outer cover and the outer surface of the outer body panel at the opening periphery of the box part not on the same plane, the outer cover can be made visible, and the opening and closing structure of the outer cover can be realized through a simple hinge assembly. It can also avoid the outer cover from interfering with the opening edge and internal components of the box part when rotating, thereby reducing the cost of the vehicle energy refueling port.

[0008] In addition, in the above-mentioned vehicle energy refueling port of this utility model, it is preferable that the outer cover is configured as a curved shape protruding outward from the vehicle body, and the hinge shaft is configured to be closer to the outer side in the vehicle width direction than the upper edge and lower edge of the outer cover.

[0009] Based on the above structure, it can ensure that the outer cover is visible, and can easily avoid interference between the outer cover and the opening edge of the box and the internal components when the outer cover rotates.

[0010] In addition, in the above-mentioned vehicle energy refueling port of this utility model, the peripheral portion of the opening of the box on the outer panel of the vehicle body is a flat shape parallel to the vehicle height direction, or the peripheral portion of the opening of the box on the outer panel of the vehicle body is a sloping shape that gradually expands from the inside to the outside in the vehicle width direction.

[0011] Based on the above structure, when the box body and the outer body panel are integrally molded, it is also easy to meet the requirement that the outer cover does not interfere with the opening edge of the box and the internal components when it rotates, thereby reducing the cost of the vehicle energy refueling port through integral molding. Attached Figure Description

[0012] Figure 1 is a perspective view showing the outline structure of the vehicle energy refueling port (fuel filler) according to an embodiment of the present invention.

[0013] Figure 2 is a top view of the filler neck in Figure 1.

[0014] Figure 3 is a cross-sectional view along the arrow direction on line (3)-(3) in Figure 2.

[0015] Figure 4 is a cross-sectional view of the oil filler port of a modified embodiment of the present invention, corresponding to Figure 3. Detailed Implementation

[0016] Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the accompanying drawings. In this embodiment, the application of the present invention to a vehicle using fuels such as gasoline or diesel will be used as an example. Therefore, in this embodiment, the vehicle fuel filler port is a refueling port.

[0017] Figure 1 is a perspective view showing the outline structure of the fuel filler neck in this embodiment, and Figure 2 is a top view of the fuel filler neck. In Figure 1, arrow Up indicates the top of the vehicle body, arrow Fr indicates the front of the vehicle body (front in the vehicle length direction), and arrow Rr indicates the rear of the vehicle body (rear in the vehicle length direction).

[0018] As shown in Figures 1 and 2, the oil filling port of this embodiment includes a box part 2, an outer cover 3, and a hinge assembly (hinge shaft 4 and hinge 5).

[0019] The box portion 2 is provided on the vehicle body outer panel 1 extending along the vehicle length direction. Here, the vehicle body outer panel 1 is, for example, the side outer panel on the rear side of the vehicle body. In this embodiment, the box portion 2 is integrally formed on the side outer panel.

[0020] As shown in Figure 1, the box portion 2 is configured as a recessed area that is recessed towards the inside of the vehicle body while opening towards the outside of the vehicle body. The box portion 2 has a rounded polygonal inner bottom and a sidewall extending from the periphery of the inner bottom towards the outside of the vehicle body. The sidewall surrounds the inner bottom of the box portion 2 and forms the opening of the box portion 2.

[0021] An oil filling port 21 is provided on the inner bottom of the box section 2. Although not shown, the oil filling port 21 is equipped with a known oil filler cap for closing it. The oil filler cap can be removed when refueling the car. In addition, although not shown, the inner bottom of the box section 2 is also provided with a spring mechanism for automatically springing up when the outer cover 3 (described later) is pressed.

[0022] The outer cover 3 is used to close the opening of the box 2. As shown in Figure 1, the top view shape and size of the outer cover 3 are basically the same as the shape and size of the opening of the box 2. Previously, to meet the design requirement that the outer cover was not visible, it was usually configured such that its outer surface was on the same plane (flat or curved) as the outer surface of the vehicle body panel 1 around the opening of the box 2 when closed. Because the outer cover 3 needs to not interfere with the box (the components installed on the opening edge and the inner bottom) when opening and closing, the opening and closing structure of the outer cover 3 is relatively complex. In response to the recent trend of some users preferring visible outer covers, in this embodiment, the outer cover 3 is configured as a curved shape protruding outward from the opening of the box 2, that is, the outer surface of the outer cover 3 in the closed state is not on the same plane as the outer surface of the vehicle body panel 1 around the opening of the box 2. This not only meets the user's needs but also simplifies the installation structure of the outer cover 3 and reduces costs.

[0023] The hinge shaft 4 is used to rotatably support the outer cover 3, that is, the outer cover 3 can be rotated inward in the vehicle width direction with the hinge shaft 4 as the fulcrum to close the opening of the box part 2, or rotated outward in the vehicle width direction to open the opening of the box part 2.

[0024] Figure 3 is a cross-sectional view along line (3)-(3) in Figure 2, pointing in the direction of the arrow. As shown in Figures 2 and 3, the hinge shaft 4 is mounted on the front end of the outer cover 3 (the end near the front side in the vehicle length direction) with its central axis 100 parallel to the vehicle height direction. Specifically, as shown in Figure 2, the hinge 5 has a main body that is bow-shaped when viewed from above. The upper and lower ends of this main body are mounted on the front end of the inner bottom of the box part 2 (the end near the front side in the vehicle length direction). The hinge shaft 4, which is fixed to the outer cover 3, is rotatably inserted into the intermediate cylindrical part that protrudes forward from the main body of the hinge 5 in the vehicle length direction. That is, the hinge shaft 4 and the hinge 5 are rotatably connected relative to each other.

[0025] Furthermore, the hinge shaft 4 is configured such that its central axis 100 coincides with an imaginary straight line 200 connecting the upper and lower edges of the outer end of the opening of the box 2. Simultaneously, the outer cover 3, supported by the hinge shaft 4, is configured such that its upper and lower edges slightly extend into the inner side of the outer edge of the opening of the box 2, while the central axis 100 of the hinge shaft 4 is closer to the outer side in the vehicle width direction than the upper and lower edges of the outer cover 3. Thus, when the outer cover 3 opens and closes, its upper and lower edges will not touch the outer edge of the opening of the box 2, and the hinge shaft 4 will not touch other components inside the box 2 (hinge mounting components, filler cap, springs, etc.). In other words, the outer cover 3 will not interfere with the opening edge of the box 2 or its internal components when it rotates.

[0026] Based on the structure of the above-described filler neck in this embodiment, the outer cover 3 can be made visible in appearance, and the installation structure of the outer cover 3 can be simplified, thereby reducing the cost.

[0027] However, this utility model is not limited to the above-described embodiments and can be applied and modified in various ways.

[0028] Figure 4 is a diagram corresponding to Figure 3 showing a modified example of the fuel filler neck of this utility model. As shown in Figure 4, in this modified example, the periphery of the opening of the box portion 2 on the outer body panel 1 is a sloping shape that gradually expands from the inside to the outside in the vehicle width direction. The structure of other parts is basically the same as in the above-described embodiment.

[0029] Similar to the embodiments described above, in this embodiment, the outer surface of the outer cover 3 is not on the same plane as the outer surface of the vehicle body panel 1 around the opening of the box portion 2, thus making the outer cover 3 visible in appearance. Furthermore, even if the box portion 2 and the vehicle body panel 1 are integrally molded, a structure can be achieved where the outer cover 3 does not interfere with the opening edge of the box portion 2 or the internal components when rotating, thus reducing the cost of the fuel filler neck through integral molding.

[0030] In addition, in the above embodiment, the outer cover 3 is provided at the front end of the opening of the box part 2, but the present invention is not limited to this, and the outer cover 3 may also be provided at the rear end of the opening of the box part 2.

[0031] In addition, in the above embodiments, the box part 2 and the outer cover 3 are rounded corners and have multiple shapes, but the present invention is not limited to this, and the box part 2 and the outer cover 3 can also be circular or elliptical.

[0032] Furthermore, in the above embodiments and modifications, the case where the vehicle energy filler port is a refueling port was described using a car that uses fuels such as gasoline or diesel. For vehicles that use electric power, such as electric vehicles or hybrid vehicles, the vehicle energy filler port is a charging port. In this case, the fuel filler port 21 of the box part 2 in the above embodiments can be replaced with a known charging port; the other structures are the same, so the description is omitted here.

Claims

1. A refueling port for a vehicle, comprising a pocket-shaped case portion provided on an outer panel of a vehicle body extending in a vehicle longitudinal direction, recessed toward an inner side of the vehicle body while opening toward an outer side of the vehicle body, a filler port or a charging port provided on an inner bottom portion of the case portion, an outer cover for closing the opening of the case portion, and a hinge assembly for rotatably supporting the outer cover, characterized in that: the hinge assembly includes a hinge mounted in the case portion, and a hinge shaft rotatably connected with the hinge while being fixed to one end portion of the outer cover in a state in which a central axis thereof is parallel to a vehicle height direction; and the outer cover is provided so that, in a closed state, an outer surface thereof is not on the same plane as an outer surface of the opening peripheral portion of the case portion, and, when rotated, does not interfere with an opening edge portion and an internal member of the case portion.

2. The refueling port for a vehicle according to claim 1, characterized in that: the outer cover is configured in a curved shape that protrudes toward the outer side of the vehicle body; and the hinge shaft is disposed closer to the outer side in a vehicle width direction than upper and lower end edge portions of the outer cover.

3. The refueling port for a vehicle according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that: the opening peripheral portion of the case portion on the outer panel of the vehicle body is in a flat shape parallel to the vehicle height direction.

4. The refueling port for a vehicle according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that: the opening peripheral portion of the case portion on the outer panel of the vehicle body is in a slope shape that gradually expands from the inner side to the outer side in the vehicle width direction. ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​

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