Ventilation device for a fuel tank, as well as tank cap with such a

Abstract

A ventilation valve device (1) for a fuel tank of a motor vehicle, in particular for a fuel tank cap, comprising a valve housing (41) in which a valve body (40) actuatable against a valve seat (42) is arranged, wherein the valve body (40) is operatively connected to a pivoting body which is arranged pivotably about a pivot axis for moving the valve body (40), wherein the pivoting body is designed as a pivot arm (50) which engages around a rolling body (60) arranged such that it can be moved out of a bearing seat (70) for the movement coupling of the rolling body (60) and the pivot arm (50), wherein, starting from the bearing seat (70), a movement path (71) is provided for the rolling body (60), which widens in the direction of the valve body (40), characterized in thatthat the bearing seat (70) and / or the movement path (71) of the rolling body (60) has a receiving section, such as a groove (75), which partially receives the pivot arm (50) in its longitudinal extension and in which this section of the pivot arm (50) is received.

Description

[0001] The invention relates to a ventilation valve device for a fuel tank, in particular for a fuel tank cap of a fuel tank according to the preamble of claim 1.

[0002] Ventilation and venting valve devices for a fuel tank, in particular a fuel tank for motorized vehicles, are necessary to provide gas exchange with the environment in certain operating situations and to block it in other operating situations, for example to prevent fuel from leaking. For example, when using such valve devices in motorized vehicles, the requirement is to provide a specified air throughput with a slightly increased internal tank pressure when the vehicle is in its normal or upright position up to a specified tilt from the vertical. On the other hand, if the vehicle is tilted from the vertical beyond a specified threshold, it must be ensured that the valve device is then closed to prevent fuel from leaking.The same applies to operating situations in which the motorized vehicle is braked or accelerated; in such operating situations, there is usually a requirement to prevent fuel from escaping.

[0003] Ventilation and venting valve devices for a fuel tank are well known in the art and are disclosed, for example, in the published patent applications DE 196 14 981 A1, DE 29 32 076 A1, and in the patent specification EP 1 686 300 B1. Due to the pendulum design of the pivoting body, these known ventilation and venting valve devices require a comparatively large installation volume. Furthermore, the pivoting body has a comparatively large mass with a correspondingly large mass inertia, so that the response behavior of the known ventilation and venting valve devices is not optimal, as it is significantly delayed. Furthermore, these pendulum-shaped pivoting bodies can cause undesirable noise emissions during operation.

[0004] The published patent application US 2018 / 0 178 644 A1 relates to an opening / closing device for a fuel tank of a vehicle, comprising a fuel passage, an inlet-side opening / closing valve mechanism, a fuel-side opening / closing valve mechanism, a liquid outlet path, and an opening / closing valve mechanism that opens and closes the liquid outlet opening through a valve body disposed in a portion forming the fuel passage, and having a movable body that can be moved from a first position in which a closing force acts on the valve body to close the liquid outlet opening to a second position in which the closing force decreases, wherein the movable body is positioned in the first position in a state in which the vehicle is stopped and moves from the first position to the second position.when it receives an inertial force due to the movement of the vehicle. Patent DE 696 20 103 T2 relates to a motor vehicle tank with a venting device having venting channels adapted to open at a high point of the tank and interposed with a valve provided with a regulating weight. The regulating weight, under the effect of its weight, presses a closure against the upper seat of the valve when the vehicle is at least partially turned over, in order to prevent the fuel from escaping from the tank through the channels. German Patent Application DE 34 17 507 A1 describes a generic venting and venting valve device for a fuel tank of a motor vehicle.

[0005] The present invention is based on the technical object of improving conventional ventilation and venting valve devices for a fuel tank, in particular a fuel tank or a fuel tank cap of motor vehicles, in particular of motor-driven vehicles.

[0006] The present invention already solves this technical problem with a ventilation and venting valve device for a fuel tank of motor vehicles such as motor-driven control vehicles, in particular for a fuel tank cap of motor vehicles such as motor-driven control vehicles with the features of claim 1. The ventilation and venting valve device according to the invention for a fuel tank has a valve housing in which a valve body which can be actuated against a valve seat is arranged, wherein the valve body is operatively connected, in particular coupled in terms of movement, to a pivoting body which is arranged so as to be pivotable about a pivot axis in order to move the valve body.The pivoting body is designed as a pivoting arm that engages around a rolling body arranged to be movable from a bearing seat for coupling the movement of the rolling body and the pivoting arm. Starting from the bearing seat, a movement path for the rolling body is provided, which widens toward the valve body. The ventilation and venting device according to the invention is characterized in that the bearing seat and / or the movement path of the rolling body has a receiving section, such as a groove, that partially accommodates the pivoting arm in its longitudinal extension, in which this section of the pivoting arm is received.

[0007] The invention is based on the idea of making the desired movement of the valve body for opening and closing the valve device dependent, in addition to the operative connection between the valve body and the swivel body, on a movement coupling of the swivel body and another component, a rolling body, so that with a design of the connections between the valve body and the swivel body as well as the swivel body and the rolling body, a more flexible adaptation of the force transmission to the valve body is provided in order to improve the response behavior and / or the required construction volume of the ventilation and venting valve device.

[0008] It should be noted that the term "moving the valve body" can generally mean a linear movement of the valve body in the associated valve housing to open or close the valve. The term "engaging the rolling element by the pivot arm" can mean a relative arrangement of the pivot arm and rolling element, which, depending on the operating situation, can mean a contact between the rolling element and the pivot arm or a spaced-apart relative arrangement of the two components. "Engaging" can mean that the rolling element is surrounded by the pivot arm, at least in sections over a predetermined circumferential section. The valve body can in particular be designed as a valve tappet.

[0009] The term “bearing seat” of the rolling body can in particular mean a support arrangement acting on the rolling body in a defined, predetermined and thus distinguished operating situation, e.g. in the form of a surface or line section such as a conical section, by which the rolling body is carried or supported in the defined, predetermined operating situation. Such a bearing seat can in this respect be designed, for example, as a conical bearing seat. This defined operating situation can, for example, exist with a predetermined orientation of the direction of gravity to the direction of movement or actuation of the valve body and / or when no travel accelerations occur on the device according to the invention. In particular, the defined orexcellent operating situation characterized by the fact that, apart from gravity, no operating forces such as acceleration or braking forces act on the device and the vehicle and thus the valve device is in a desired orientation in which the direction of the acceleration due to gravity can be coincident with or parallel to the path of movement or the direction of movement of the valve body.

[0010] Advantageous developments of the invention and further advantageous, not absolutely necessary, but inventive features are specified in the following general description, the figures, the figure description and the dependent claims.

[0011] Preferably, it can be provided that the weight of the pivot arm is lower, in particular much lower, than that of the rolling body. For example, the weight of the pivot arm without the weight of the pivot shaft can be less than half, in particular less than a third, preferably less than a quarter of the weight of the rolling body. This measure can achieve a further improvement in the temporal response by reducing the inertial mass moved during operation of the valve device according to the invention. In particular, the rolling body can comprise a metal material, e.g. steel, and the pivot arm can comprise a plastic material, or each can be made thereof.

[0012] In order to enable movement of the rolling element out of the bearing seat, e.g. a conical bearing seat, it can expediently be provided that, starting from the bearing seat, which can represent or provide a stable rest position for the rolling element under predetermined operating conditions, a movement path is provided for the rolling element, which widens in the direction of the valve body. The rolling element can be supported or mounted in the bearing seat, particularly in an excellent operating situation, when no travel acceleration forces act on the rolling element and the direction of the gravitational force runs, e.g., parallel to the direction of movement of the valve body, which can be determined by the position and momentum coordinates of the valve body.

[0013] Depending on the design and operating conditions, the rolling body can, in particular, perform a sliding or rolling motion along the movement path. To provide a low-delay response, the movement path can be designed as a rolling track for the rolling body, along which the rolling body preferentially rolls in the vast majority of operating situations, in particular, essentially in all normal operating situations on the movement path. Accident situations do not constitute normal operating situations in this sense.

[0014] For example, it may be provided that a movement or rolling track is provided at least in a predetermined circumferential section. This circumferential section may be related to a seat axis, which may, for example, be aligned coaxially with the direction of movement of the valve body.

[0015] This rolling or movement path can have spherical boundary surface sections which can be convex, concave or conical, for example, in order to provide a predetermined response behavior of the valve device according to the invention to changes in movement, i.e. acceleration or position of the valve device and thus of the vehicle. For example, the rolling or movement path in the direction of the valve body can have sections with a non-constant gradient, so that the response behavior of the valve device according to the invention can be designed, for example, as a function of a tilt angle of the vehicle or the valve device to the vertical or perpendicular. Furthermore, it is also possible to structure the rolling or movement path in the circumferential direction, so that the response behavior of the valve device according to the invention, starting from a rest position in which the rolling body is held in the bearing seat and the vehicle orthe valve device according to the invention is tilted, for example with respect to the direction of movement of the valve body, to the vertical, such that the response behavior of the valve device depends on the azimuth angle of the deflection, e.g. to the direction of gravity. In general, the aeration and venting valve device according to the invention can be designed and arranged such that its response behavior with respect to the opening and / or closing of the valve depends on the polar deflection and / or the azimuthal deflection of the vehicle or of the valve device with respect to the vertical direction or the direction of gravity and, in addition, on driving accelerations. Accordingly, it can be provided that the rolling body is arranged and designed to exert a force for pivoting deflection of the pivot arm due to the operating forces acting on it, such as driving accelerations and gravity.

[0016] Depending on the design, the rolling body can be cylindrical, barrel-shaped, or spherical, for example. A cylindrical design of the rolling body is particularly suitable for applications in which the response behavior of the valve device during acceleration and / or deflection in one or more narrow azimuth angle ranges to the vertical must be defined, for example a predetermined reaction of the valve device or a predetermined response behavior is only provided when driving acceleration and braking forces occur. The use of a spherical rolling body with an adapted rolling track / trajectory path is particularly advantageous for use in motor-driven, freely movable guided vehicles in which the response behavior of the valve device must be defined essentially independently of the azimuth angle at which acceleration and / or deflection to the vertical occurs.

[0017] To design the engagement of the rolling body by the pivot arm, it can be provided that the pivot arm has at least one curved engagement section facing the rolling body, which is arranged and designed to engage with the moving rolling body and to pivot the pivot arm to move the valve body. It can expediently be provided that the described engagement of the pivot arm with the rolling body is not permanent, i.e. not present in all operating situations, but is designed in such a way that engagement or non-engagement can occur depending on the operation. In order to provide a possible coupling between the rolling body and the pivot arm in all normal operating situations, it can expediently be provided that the pivot arm engages the rolling body in all normal operating states.As shown, this encompassing can, depending on the operating situation, comprise the pivot arm resting on the rolling element or a spaced-apart arrangement of the two components relative to one another. It can be provided that the encompassing section has a partial section in the form of a contact section, against which the rolling element rests on the encompassing section of the pivot arm in the event of contact between the rolling element and the pivot arm, in particular when the rolling element is moved in the direction of the valve body. For example, the encompassing section can have a contact section extending to a center of the rolling element or into a receiving space for the rolling element provided by the housing, in particular in the form of a projection, via which the rolling element can generate a torque for pivoting the pivot arm and thus for moving the valve body into the closed position. This contact section can be attached to the rolling element, which, for example,can be designed as a ball, in particular such that the contact section is designed for tangential contact with the rolling body.

[0018] According to the invention, an operative connection between the valve body and the pivoting body is designed to convert a pivoting movement of the pivot arm into a linear movement of the valve body. To design this operative connection between the pivot arm and the valve body, it can expediently be provided that the pivot axis of the pivot arm is arranged laterally spaced from the predetermined path of movement (direction of movement) of the valve body. It can expediently be provided that the pivot axis runs approximately perpendicular to the path of movement of the valve body. In the described embodiment, the path of movement of the valve body can be defined by a valve housing in which the valve body is arranged so as to be movable, in particular so as to be linearly movable, whereby the direction of movement of the valve body can also be defined.In order to design a valve device according to the invention with a low overall height, it can be expediently provided that the pivot axis lies approximately at the level of a coupling or connecting section of the valve body with the pivot arm.

[0019] It can expediently be provided that the operative connection between the valve body and the pivot arm is designed, at least in one region of the operative connection, in such a way that a translational movement of the valve body is in an approximately linear relationship with the pivoting movement of the pivot arm, i.e. the movement Δx of the valve body is defined approximately by Δx = C * α, where α is the pivot angle of the pivot arm in degrees and C is a constant. This constant C can, depending on the embodiment, be in the range of 0.02 mm / degree and 0.5 mm / degree, in particular between 0.05 mm / degree and 0.2 mm / degree, preferably approximately 0.1 mm / degree. Depending on the embodiment, the pivot angle range of the pivot arm can be less than 25 degrees and greater than 5 degrees, in particular less than 20 degrees and greater than 10 degrees, preferably approximately 15 degrees.

[0020] In order to provide an effective force transmission for moving the valve body, it can be expediently provided that the ratio of the distance of the pivot axis of the pivot arm to a center axis of the valve body (axis of movement) and the distance of the pivot axis of the pivot arm to a center point or center axis of the rolling body is in a range between 0.7 and 1.1, in particular in a range between 0.8 and 1, preferably approximately 0.9.

[0021] In order to adjust a specific response behavior of the aeration and venting valve device according to the invention, it can be provided that the seat and / or the rolling track or movement path of the rolling body is designed to be non-rotationally symmetrical around the seat, for example by structuring the rolling track / movement path using webs and / or ribs that can extend from the seat of the rolling body towards the valve body. Thus, the movement or rolling behavior of the rolling body can be different in different circumferential sections and thus the response behavior of the aeration and venting valve device according to the invention, i.e. with regard to the closing / opening of the valve, can be specifically controlled.

[0022] In a similar way, the rolling path / movement path of the rolling body can be designed as a function of a distance to a center point of the seat of the valve body, for example by providing a structuring, in particular by means of different gradients of the movement path / roller path as a function of a distance to the seat, so that, for example, a progressive response behavior in the form of a progressive closing / opening behavior of the valve device according to the invention can be provided as a function of the degree of tilting of the vehicle from the horizontal.

[0023] The excellent operating situation of the ventilation valve device according to the invention can be characterized in that, apart from gravity, no operating forces such as acceleration or braking forces act on the device and the vehicle and thus the valve device are in a desired orientation in which the direction of the final acceleration can be in coincidence with the movement path of the valve body.

[0024] In order to ensure the functionality of the aeration and venting valve device according to the invention in all operating situations and, in particular, to ensure that the device opens again after the valve device has closed and after the operating conditions causing this closing have been eliminated, it can expediently be provided that the pivot arm has a support section at an end section facing away from the pivot axis for operation-dependent engagement with the rolling body. It can be provided that this support section is part or a section of the grip around the rolling body, so that a rolling body returning to the bearing seat, in particular a conical bearing seat, entrains the pivot arm to open the valve. It can preferably be provided that the support section extends over a center axis of the seat or of the rolling body in the bearing seat position of the rolling body.

[0025] In order to design an operative connection between the valve body and the pivot arm, it can be provided that the valve body has a driver section on a longitudinal end section facing away from the valve seat, which driver section is designed and configured to interact with an associated driver section of the pivot arm when the pivot arm is pivoted such that, depending on the pivoting direction of the pivot arm, the valve body can be moved in an opening direction or a closing direction of the valve body. For example, it can be provided that the driver section of the valve body has two driver surfaces or contact surfaces spaced apart in the longitudinal direction of the valve body, which can in particular be designed as longitudinal surfaces with a surface normal that lies parallel to the longitudinal direction of the valve body, wherein these longitudinal surfaces can be designed and arranged to interact with associated driver surfaces orContact surfaces of the pivot arm for moving the valve body when the pivot arm is pivoted. In particular, it can be provided that the valve body has a taper in the region of its driver section into which the pivot arm engages or surrounds the valve body, such that when the pivot arm is pivoted, its outer surface section engages or strikes an associated boundary surface of the driver section and in this way deflects the valve body. It can be particularly expedient in this case for the pivot arm to extend perpendicular to the valve body in the region of the driver section of the valve body.

[0026] In order to provide a coupling between the valve body and the rolling body in all operating situations, particularly those in which the rolling body does not directly engage the encompassing portion of the pivot arm, it can be expediently provided that the valve body has a stop or actuating portion on a longitudinal end portion facing away from the valve seat for direct, operational contact with the rolling body. Preferably, it can be provided that the above-described driver portion of the pivot arm for coupling to the valve body and the actuating portion or stop portion of the valve body are arranged one behind the other in the direction of movement of the valve body.For example, it can be provided that the valve body has the said actuating section, which interacts directly with the rolling body, at its longitudinal end facing away from the valve seat, and that the valve body has the said driver section in the longitudinal direction towards the valve seat, so that the driver section and actuating section can be arranged within a predetermined longitudinal end section of the valve body.

[0027] In order not to disrupt the movement of the rolling body, starting from its seat operating position, via the movement path / roller belt adjoining the seat due to the arrangement of the pivot arm and thus to change the response behavior of the ventilation and venting valve device according to the invention, the invention provides that the seat and / or the roller track / movement path of the rolling body adjoining it in the direction of the valve body has a receiving section which receives the pivot arm in sections along its longitudinal extent, e.g. in the form of a groove, in which this section of the pivot arm is received, in particular is completely received radially. Expediently, it can be provided that the receiving section is dimensioned such that the pivot arm remains within the receiving section over its entire operational pivoting range.However, it should be noted that the pivot arm can extend in a section in the direction of the valve body outside the receiving section, in particular approximately perpendicular to the valve body, and the entire arrangement can be designed such that the rolling body can come into contact with this section of the pivot arm arranged outside the receiving section during operation and can deflect it to pivot the pivot arm and thus to move the valve body.

[0028] The venting and venting valve device according to the invention is characterized not only by its rapid response but also by a small overall volume for the valve arrangement and the associated actuating arrangement. It can be expedient to provide, in addition to the described valve device that reacts to the relative position of the ROV valve or the motor vehicle and / or driving accelerations, a pressure relief valve in the venting and venting valve device according to the invention, which, in the installed position of the device, is in fluid communication with the ROV valve on both the tank side and the venting side. With this measure, it can be achieved that the venting and venting valve device according to the invention comprises all the necessary valves for a tank or a tank cap, wherein all valves are fluidly connected to the tank and also fluidly connected to a venting channel in the installed position of the device, which simplifies the construction of a tank cap in particular.

[0029] It can expediently be provided that the aeration and venting valve device according to the invention has a housing and a housing cover closing off the housing, wherein the housing can provide the seat of the rolling body and can be designed and constructed to accommodate at least the pivot arm and the rolling body. This design measure simplifies maintenance of the device according to the invention, since all moving components of the device according to the invention are accessible by removing the housing cover. It can be provided that the housing of the device according to the invention has a section for fluid connection to a tank.

[0030] With the specified housing-side arrangement of the components of the device according to the invention, it can be expediently provided that the valve seat and the valve housing are arranged on the housing cover, and the housing cover has a ventilation duct on the side of the valve seat facing away from the tank in the installed position. This ventilation duct can be arranged and configured for fluid connection to a filter system, for example, an activated carbon filter.

[0031] The invention further relates to a tank cap which is equipped with a ventilation valve device designed as described and which can comprise further functional units, for example a locking cylinder.

[0032] The invention will be explained below by describing an embodiment of a ventilation valve device designed according to the invention for a fuel tank of a motor vehicle, in particular for a fuel tank cap, which can be used for example for a motor-driven vehicle, with reference to the attached figures, wherein Fig. 1: the valve device according to the invention in a perspective view, Fig. 2: the valve device according to the invention of the Fig. 1 in a frontal view, Fig. 3: a sectional view of the valve device according to the invention in the section plane III-III of the Fig. 2, Fig. 4: a sectional view of the valve device according to the invention of Fig. 1 in section plane IV-IV of the Fig. 2, Fig. 5: the valve device according to the invention with the housing cover removed, Fig. 6: the valve assembly without housing cover of the Fig. 5 in a frontal view, Fig. 7: a sectional view of the valve device according to the invention without housing cover in the section plane VII-VII of the Fig. 6, Fig. 8: a sectional view similar to the Fig. 7 with a cutting plane which is approximately 90° to the cutting plane of the Fig. 7 is rotated, and Fig. 9: a sectional view through the valve device according to the invention with the Fig. 8 shows the section plane VIII-VIII.

[0033] Fig. 1 shows a perspective view of a valve device 1 according to the invention, which is particularly sensitive or responsive to driving acceleration forces, i.e., reacts, for installation in a fuel tank cap, in particular in a fuel tank cap of a motor-driven vehicle such as a motorcycle or quad. The valve device according to the invention can be attached to such a fuel tank cap as one of further functional units, such as a locking cylinder and a sealing device, in order to provide the required functionalities.

[0034] Fig. 1 shows the valve device 1 according to the invention in a perspective view, looking at the side facing away from the tank. The valve device has a housing 2 and can comprise a housing pot or housing extension 20 and a cover 22, wherein a nozzle 23 with a ventilation opening 23a can be arranged on the side facing away from the tank, which can be designed to be fluidically connectable, for example, to a filter, in particular a carbon filter. To attach the valve device 1 according to the invention to a tank cap, in the described embodiment it can have a plurality of fastening passages, here in the form of bolt receptacles 28.

[0035] Fig. 2 shows the valve device of the Fig. 1 in a frontal view of the side facing away from the tank and defines two section planes III-III and IV-IV, the corresponding sections are referred to with reference to the Fig. 3 and Fig. 4 discussed below.

[0036] Fig. 3 shows the ventilation valve device 1 according to the invention, which reacts in particular to driving acceleration forces, in the sectional plane III-III of the Fig. 2 to illustrate the components. The housing 2 can have a housing pot 20 which, in the installed position, faces the tank of the motor vehicle and which can be closed off on the side facing away from the tank by means of an intermediate plate 21 and a cover 22 to define an installation space in which the valve 4 is arranged, which is designed here as a so-called roll-over (ROV) valve and provides a valve function depending on the acting vehicle acceleration forces and / or depending on the current position or orientation of the valve or of the vehicle having it.

[0037] In the installed position, the valve device 1 is sealed to the tank by means of a tank sealing ring 25, wherein the housing extension 20 has a housing opening 27 on its section facing the tank in the installed position for fluid exchange on the side facing the tank. As shown, fluid exchange takes place on the side facing away from the tank via the ventilation opening 23a of the nozzle 23, see Fig. 4.

[0038] Arranged in the housing 2 of the valve device 1 is the ROV valve 4, comprising a valve tappet or valve body 40 that is linearly movable in a valve housing 41 and can have a sealing section 40a for closing the ROV valve 4 by the valve body 40 being movable with its sealing section 40a against the associated valve seat 42 of the valve housing 41 and resting against it in a closed position. To actuate the valve 4, the valve body 40 is operatively connected to a pivot arm 50 that is rotatably mounted about a pivot axis 50a, wherein the pivot axis can be oriented perpendicular to the movement path or direction of movement of the valve body 40 in the valve housing 41.

[0039] In the described embodiment, the operative connection between the pivot arm and the valve body can be designed in the form of a motion coupling. For this purpose, the valve body 40 can have a driver or coupling section 43 on its side facing away from the sealing section 40a, which can be encompassed by an associated driver section / coupling section of the pivot arm 50, so that upon a pivoting movement of the pivot arm 50 about the rotation axis 50a, the valve body 40 can be moved linearly in its valve housing 41. In the described embodiment, it can be provided that in the region of the driver section 43 of the valve body, the pivot arm 50 extends approximately perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the valve body, so that upon a pivoting movement of the pivot arm 50 over a comparatively small angular range, the described linear movement of the valve body is established.

[0040] According to the invention, the movement of the pivot arm 50 and thus the movement of the valve tappet or valve body 40 is caused by a rolling body, which can be designed as a ball 60, acting on the pivot arm 50 in a predetermined direction (such as the direction of gravity) depending on the driving acceleration forces that occur and / or depending on the relative position of the valve device (e.g. with regard to the movement path of the valve body) in order to move the valve body 40 into a closed position or an open position. For this purpose, a bearing seat 70 can be provided for the rolling body 60, which the rolling body assumes in an excellent operating situation of the valve device according to the invention or is supported on this bearing seat in its bearing seat position. This operating situation can be characterized in that no driving acceleration forces act on the rolling body 60 and a predetermined orientation of the valve device according to the invention orof the vehicle having them. This predetermined orientation can be determined by the vehicle being in an upright position, for example such that the direction of gravity runs parallel or coaxial to the path of movement of the valve body 40 in the valve housing 41.

[0041] In the described embodiment, the ball seat 70 can be arranged and formed conically, in particular on the inside of the housing cup 20, to which a conical movement path 71, for example, can be connected in the direction of the valve body 40, on which the rolling body 60 can be moved from the described designated operating position upon the occurrence of driving acceleration forces and / or a change in position. This movement path 71 for the rolling body, e.g., a ball, can expediently be designed as a roller track on which the rolling body rolls depending on the operating conditions.

[0042] For the movement coupling of the rolling body 60 with the pivot arm 50, it is provided according to the invention that the pivot arm encompasses the rolling body, for example, over a not inconsiderable circumferential section, in particular over a circumferential section of at least 160°, preferably at least 180°, as is the case with the described embodiment of the valve device according to the invention, see Fig. 3.

[0043] The described gripping of the rolling body can be designed in such a way that when the rolling body moves, it takes the swivel arm with it due to the described gripping and with the swiveling of the swivel arm, the valve body can be deflected due to the operative connection between the swivel arm and the valve body, in particular for closing or opening the valve.

[0044] Fig. 3 shows a section through the valve device 1 according to the invention, this section running through the pivot arm 50. In order to provide a rotationally symmetrical response of the valve device according to the invention, in the described embodiment, the encompassing section 51 of the pivot arm 50 is arranged in a pivot arm receptacle 75, in particular a groove of the bearing seat 70 and the movement path 71. This groove 75 can be designed such that, within the provided pivoting range of the pivot arm, the encompassing section 51 of the pivot arm is freely movable within the groove 75 designed as a pivot arm receptacle.

[0045] In order to provide a movement coupling between the rolling body and the valve body, in particular mediated via the pivot arm, in operating situations in which the rolling body 60 moves towards the valve body 40, the pivot arm 50 can have a contact section 53, in particular in the form of a projection, extending towards a center of the rolling body or into a receiving space for the rolling body provided by the housing, via which contact section the rolling body 60 can generate a torque for pivoting the pivot arm 50 and thus for moving the valve body 40 into the closed position. This contact section 53 can be adapted to the rolling body, which can be designed as a sphere, for example, in particular such that the contact section is designed for tangential contact with the rolling body. In principle, the contact section can be designed as a partial section of the encompassing section 51 of the pivot arm.

[0046] To ensure that the valve opens again when the rolling body moves back into its bearing seat position, the pivot arm 50 can have a support section 51a at its free end, against which the rolling body rests when it moves back towards its seat and thus causes a corresponding pivoting of the pivot arm 30. In this respect, it can be provided that the support section 51a projects into the bearing seat 70 when the valve body 40 reaches the closed position and thus, when the rolling body 60 moves back, is held in the Fig. 3 is moved downwards, strikes the support section 51a, so that the swivel arm pivots until the support section is at least partially received again in the receiving section of the bearing seat.

[0047] In order to ensure that the valve body is moved towards or into the closed position in all operating situations in which the rolling body moves towards the valve body, it can expediently be provided for a direct movement coupling between the rolling body and the valve body, i.e. without mediation via the pivot arm. For this purpose, it can be provided that an actuator or actuating section 44, in particular in the form of a stop section, is arranged on an end of the valve body opposite the sealing section 40a and facing the rolling body 60, on which stop section the rolling body 60 acts depending on the operating situation to move the valve body, in particular to move the valve body into its closed position. In particular, the arrangement can be designed such that when the rolling body 60 is moved towards the valve body depending on the operating situation, it acts directly on the actuating orStop section 44 of the valve body 40 and moves the valve body towards its closed position.

[0048] In the described embodiment, the driving acceleration force and position-sensitive venting and venting valve device 1 according to the invention can, in addition to the valve explained, also have a pressure relief valve 9, which is connected to the tank side via the housing 2 and the housing opening 27 and, on the side facing away from the tank, to the inlet / outlet 45 of the gaseous fluid. The pressure relief valve 9 can be designed and configured to transition from a generally set closed position to an open position upon reaching a predetermined overpressure prevailing on the side facing the tank, which can be determined by a predetermined threshold, so that pressure relief can take place via the nozzle 23 or its vent opening 23a.For example, it can be provided that the pressure relief valve remains spring-loaded in a closed position as long as a predetermined tank-side gas pressure is not exceeded and when the threshold value is exceeded, the pressure relief valve 9 opens against the spring preload.

[0049] Fig. 3 shows the Fig. 2 shown section III-III and Fig. 4 the in Fig. 2 through the valve device 1 according to the invention, from which the relative arrangement of the rolling body in the seat 70 and the pivot arm receptacle 75 with the support section 51a in the described seating position of the rolling body are clearly evident. The sections of the Fig. 3 and Fig. 4 are rotated approximately at an angle of 45° to each other about an axis that is approximately coaxial with an axis of the valve body. In other embodiments, the Fig. 3 and Fig. 4 may be oriented at a different angle to each other.

[0050] In the illustrated embodiment, a flat seal 24 may be provided to seal the outlet / insert 45 for the gaseous fluid, which is remote from the tank, to the cover 22. A sealing ring 26 may be provided between the intermediate plate 21 and the housing pot 20 to secure and seal the interior of the valve device according to the invention, which has the opening 27 on the tank side and the ventilation opening 23a on the outlet / inlet side remote from the tank.

[0051] Fig. To clarify the structure of the described embodiment of the valve device according to the invention, Figure 5 shows the housing pot 20 with the intermediate plate 21 and cover 22 removed in a perspective oblique view of the valve body 40 with the associated sealing section 40a and the pressure relief valve 9 with the associated valve tip 90. The pivot arm 50 can be seen to be rotatably mounted on the housing pot 20. Also visible is the driver section or coupling section 52 of the pivot arm 50, which encompasses the section of the valve body that is tapered in diameter here over a circumferential section of approximately 180°, so that this driver section provides contact surfaces for contact with associated contact surfaces of the valve body 40, which are designed by the stepped taper of the valve body.

[0052] Fig. 6 shows the representation of the Fig. 5 in a frontal view with a view of the valve body 40 and the pressure relief valve 9. The driving section 52 of the swivel arm 50 can again be seen, which is mounted rotatably about the axis of rotation 50a on the housing pot 20, the axis of rotation in the illustration of the Fig. 6 runs parallel to the drawing plane.

[0053] Fig. 7 shows a section through the Fig. 6 indicated section plane VII-VII of the Fig. 5 specified components of the valve device 1 according to the invention. In particular, the design of the swivel arm holder 75, which is arranged in the bearing seat 70 and the movement path or roller track 71, emerges therefrom.

[0054] Depending on the design, the valve stroke of the valve body can be in the range between 2 and 3 mm, in particular approximately 2.5 mm. Depending on the design, the pivoting range of the pivot arm can be between approximately 5 and 12°, in particular between approximately 7 and 11°.

[0055] In the described embodiment, both the bearing seat 70 and the movement path 71 are conical and are rotationally symmetrical on the peripheral portion of the lever arm receptacle 75.

[0056] Fig. Figure 8 shows a further section through the components of the Fig. 5, where the cutting plane is compared to the cutting plane of the Fig. 7 is rotated by an angle of approximately 90°.

[0057] The rotational symmetry of the seat or the movement path 71 of the discussed embodiment of a valve device 1 according to the invention shows Fig. 9 in one in Fig. 8. This also shows the necessary play of the gripping section 51 of the pivot arm 50 within the pivot arm receptacle 75 to provide a predetermined pivotability of the pivot arm 50 about the rotation axis 50a. List of reference symbols 1 valve device 2 housings 4 ROV valve 9 Pressure relief valve 20 housing pot 21 Intermediate plate 22 Cover 23 nozzles 23a Ventilation opening 24 Flat gasket 25 tank sealing ring 26 Sealing ring 27 Housing opening 28 Fastening bushing / bolt receptacle 40 valve tappets / valve bodies 40a Sealing section 41 Valve housing 42 Valve seat 43 Carrying section, coupling section 44 Actuator / actuating section 45 Inlet / outlet of the gaseous fluid 50 swivel arm 50a rotation axis 51 Encircling section 51a supporting section 52 Carrying section / coupling section 53 Annex section 60 rolling elements / ball 70 Ball seat / bearing seat 71 Movement path / rollerway 75 groove / swivel arm mount 90 valve tip

Claims

[1] Ventilation and venting valve device (1) for a fuel tank of a motor vehicle, in particular for a fuel tank cap, comprising a valve housing (41) in which a valve body (40) actuatable against a valve seat (42) is arranged, wherein the valve body (40) is operatively connected to a pivoting body which is arranged pivotably about a pivot axis for moving the valve body (40), wherein the pivoting body is designed as a pivot arm (50) which engages around a rolling body (60) arranged such that it can be moved out of a bearing seat (70) for the movement coupling of the rolling body (60) and the pivot arm (50), wherein starting from the bearing seat (70) a movement path (71) is provided for the rolling body (60), which widens in the direction of the valve body (40), characterized bythat the bearing seat (70) and / or the movement path (71) of the rolling body (60) has a receiving section, such as a groove (75), which receives the pivot arm (50) in sections along its longitudinal extent and in which this section of the pivot arm (50) is received. [2] Ventilation and venting valve device (1) according to claim 1, characterized by that the rolling body (60) is arranged and designed to exert a force for pivoting the pivot arm (50) due to the operating forces acting on it, in particular the acceleration forces acting on it. [3] Ventilation and venting valve device (1) according to one of claims 1 or 2, characterized byin that the pivot arm (50) for enclosing the rolling body (60) has at least one curved enclosing section (51) facing the rolling body (60), which is arranged and designed to bear against the moving rolling body (60) and to pivot the pivot arm (50) to move the valve body (40). [4] Ventilation and venting valve device (1) according to one of claims 1 to 3, characterized by that in all normal operating conditions the swivel arm (50) engages around the rolling body (60). [5] Ventilation and venting valve device (1) according to one of claims 1 to 4, characterized by that the pivot axis of the pivot arm (50) is arranged laterally spaced from the direction of movement of the valve body (40). [6] Ventilation and venting valve device (1) according to one of claims 1 to 5, characterized by that the bearing seat and / or the movement path (71) is designed to be non-rotationally symmetrical. [7] Ventilation and venting valve device (1) according to one of claims 1 to 6, characterized by that the pivot arm (50) has a support section (51a) at an end section facing away from the pivot axis for operation-dependent engagement with the rolling body (60). [8] Ventilation and venting valve device (1) according to one of claims 1 to 7, characterized by in that, for the operative connection of the valve body (40) to the pivot arm (50), the valve body (40) has, on a longitudinal end section facing away from the valve seat (42), a driver section which is designed and arranged to cooperate with an associated driver section of the pivot arm (50) when the pivot arm (50) is pivoted in such a way that, depending on the pivoting direction of the pivot arm (50), the valve body (40) can be moved in an opening direction or a closing direction of the valve body (40). [9] Ventilation and venting valve device (1) according to one of claims 1 to 8, characterized bythat the valve body (40) has an actuator (44) for operational direct contact with the rolling body (60). [10] Ventilation and venting valve device (1) according to one of claims 1 to 9, characterized by that the pivot arm (50) in the region of the end section of the valve body (40) runs approximately perpendicular to the direction of movement of the valve body (40). [11] Ventilation and venting valve device (1) according to one of claims 1 to 10, characterized by that the device (1) further comprises a pressure relief valve (9) which, in the installed position of the device (1), is in fluid communication with the aeration and venting valve both on the tank side and on the venting side and is arranged and designed to change from a closed position to an open position upon detection of an increased internal pressure. [12] Ventilation and venting valve device (1) according to one of claims 1 to 11, characterized bythat the device (1) has a housing (2) and a housing cover closing the housing (2), wherein the housing (2) provides the bearing seat of the rolling body (60) and is designed and constructed to receive at least the pivot arm (50), the rolling body (60), and a section of the valve body (40). [13] Ventilation and venting valve device (1) according to claim 12, characterized by that the housing (2) has a section for fluid connection to a tank. [14] Ventilation and venting valve device (1) according to one of claims 12 or 13, characterized by that the valve seat (42) and the valve housing (41) are arranged on the housing cover, and the housing cover has a ventilation channel on its side of the valve seat (42) facing away from the tank in the installed position. [15] Tank cap comprising a ventilation valve device (1) according to one of claims 1-14.

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