Fuel filler port device

Abstract

To surely close a drain opening provided in an oil filler port device while smoothly inserting oil filler nozzles having different outer diameters in a fixed range.SOLUTION: A drain opening 5 penetrating the side part of the tubular main body part 3 between the 3a of the introduction part and the oil supply port 2, and a closing member 6 elastically deformed by the introduction of the oil supply nozzle N to close the drain opening 5 are provided. The closing member 6 has a pressure receiving portion 6a which is positioned on the fuel filler port 2 side of a fixing portion 6b to the tubular main member portion 3 and on the center shaft x side of the tubular main member portion 3 and receives a pressing force by introduction of the fuel filler nozzle N, and a valving element portion 6c which closes the drain opening 5 at the time of elastic deformation. The pressure receiving part 6b has a free end part 3a positioned on the introduction part 6ba side and a connection base part 6c with the valving part 6bb positioned on the oil filler port 2 side, and is constituted so as to generate additional elastic deformation in a direction for separating the pressure receiving part 6bb from the center shaft x in the connection base part 6b.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 4

Description

[Technical Field]

[0001] The present invention relates to an improvement to a fuel filler device that opens the fuel filler opening by introducing a fuel filler nozzle, allowing the introduction of the nozzle and enabling fuel to be filled. [Background technology]

[0002] Patent Document 1 discloses a device that is provided at the upper end of a filler pipe (also called an inlet pipe) and is opened by inserting a fuel nozzle of a fuel gun to allow fuel to be supplied.

[0003] The device of Patent Document 1 has a first flap mechanism that is pushed open by the fuel filler nozzle and a second flap mechanism that is positioned further back, thereby eliminating the need for a screw-on fuel filler cap. Between the first flap mechanism and the second flap mechanism, there are provided a drain hole for discharging water, dust, etc. to the outside, and an opening / closing valve for this drain hole. The valve is biased by a return spring to an open position when the fuel nozzle of the fuel gun is not inserted. When refueling, the valve is pushed by the fuel nozzle and rotates against the bias to close the drain hole. This prevents problems caused by the drain hole being open during refueling. [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0004] [Patent Document 1] Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2018-95153 Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0005] In the device of Patent Document 1, the on-off valve is supported at its upper end by a rotating shaft and has a free lower end, and is configured so that when refueling, it is pushed by the fuel supply nozzle and rotates around the rotating shaft to a closed valve position where it closes the drain hole.

[0006] On the other hand, the thickness (outer diameter) of the fuel nozzle varies to some extent and is not constant. For this reason, if the structure of Patent Document 1 is adopted and set to reliably move the on-off valve to the closed position when a narrow fuel filler nozzle is inserted, the on-off valve will create resistance when a wide fuel filler nozzle is inserted, reducing the ease of inserting the fuel filler nozzle (the ease of smoothly introducing the fuel filler nozzle into the fuel filler device). Conversely, if the structure of Patent Document 1 is adopted and set to not reduce the ease of inserting a wide fuel filler nozzle, it will be difficult to reliably move the on-off valve to the closed position when a narrow fuel filler nozzle is inserted.

[0007] The main problem that this invention aims to solve is to provide a structure that allows fuel filler nozzles of different outer diameters within a certain range to be smoothly inserted into this type of fuel filler device, while reliably closing the drain opening provided in the fuel filler device when such a fuel filler nozzle is inserted. [Means for solving the problem]

[0008] In order to achieve the above object, the present invention provides a fuel filler device comprising: a tubular main body having one end serving as an introduction portion for a fuel filler nozzle and the other end serving as a connection portion for a filler pipe; a fuel filler port formed in the tubular main body; a flap that rotates to an open position when the fuel filler nozzle is introduced to open the fuel filler opening; a drain opening penetrating a side portion of the tubular main body between the inlet portion and the fuel filler port; a closing member that closes the drain opening by elastically deforming when the fuel filler nozzle is introduced, the closing member has a fixed portion fixed to the tubular main body portion, a pressure-receiving portion located closer to the fuel filler opening and closer to a central axis of the tubular main body portion than the fixed portion and receiving a pressing force when the fuel filler nozzle is introduced, and a valve body portion that closes the drain opening when elastically deformed, the pressure receiving portion has a free end portion located on the inlet portion side and a connection base portion with the valve body portion located on the fuel filler port side, The connecting base is configured to generate additional elastic deformation in a direction that moves the pressure-receiving portion away from the central axis.

[0009] In one aspect of the present invention, the pressure-receiving portion is formed so that the distance between the pressure-receiving portion and the valve body portion gradually increases as the pressure-receiving portion approaches the free end portion.

[0010] In addition, one aspect of the present invention is that the blocking member has a connecting portion that connects the fixed portion and the valve body portion so that the valve body portion is positioned closer to the central axis than the fixed portion, and is configured so that the drain opening is blocked by the valve body portion due to elastic deformation of this connecting portion.

[0011] In one aspect of the present invention, the blocking member is formed of a leaf spring having one surface facing the central axis.

[0012] Another aspect of the present invention is to have a cover member for the blocking member, which has an upper part on the introduction part side that is rotatably supported by the tubular main body part, and a lower part that contacts the pressure-receiving part of the blocking member from the central axis side, and has a sliding surface for the fuel filling nozzle facing the central axis side between the upper and lower parts. [Effects of the Invention]

[0013] According to this invention, when a narrower fuel filler nozzle is introduced, the closure member is elastically deformed so as to close the drain opening with the valve body, but elastic deformation of the connecting base is not caused, and when a wider fuel filler nozzle is introduced, additional elastic deformation of the connecting base is caused. As a result, this invention can provide a fuel filler device of this type with a structure that allows fuel filler nozzles of different outer diameters to be smoothly inserted, while reliably closing the drain opening of the fuel filler device when such a fuel filler nozzle is inserted. [Brief explanation of the drawings]

[0014] [Figure 1] FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing a fuel filler device according to an embodiment of the present invention in use. [Figure 2] FIG. 2 is a perspective view showing the fuel filler device with the cap body removed from the tubular main body. [Figure 3] FIG. 3 is a perspective view showing the fuel filler device with the cap body removed from the tubular main body. [Figure 4] FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view of the fuel filler device, showing the state before the fuel filler nozzle is introduced. [Figure 5] FIG. 5 is a cross-sectional view of the essential part of FIG. [Figure 6] FIG. 6 is a cross-sectional view of the fuel filler device, showing the state after the fuel filler nozzle has been installed. [Figure 7] FIG. 7 is a cross-sectional view of the essential part of FIG. [Figure 8] FIG. 8 is a cross-sectional view of the essential parts of the fuel filler device, showing the state after a thick fuel filler nozzle has been installed. [Figure 9] FIG. 9 is an exploded perspective view of the essential parts of the fuel filler device. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0015] A typical embodiment of the present invention will now be described with reference to Figures 1 to 9. A fuel filler device 1 according to this embodiment is attached to a filler pipe P to form a fuel filler port 2, and opens the fuel filler port 2 when a fuel filler nozzle N is introduced, allowing the introduction of the fuel filler nozzle N, and automatically closes the fuel filler port 2 when the introduced fuel filler nozzle N is removed.

[0016] That is, when a fuel filler nozzle N (see Figures 6 to 8) of a fuel filler gun is inserted into the fuel filler neck 2, the sub-flap 10b and flap 4, which will be described later, are rotated to the open position to allow the fuel filler nozzle N to be inserted and enable fuel to be filled, and when the inserted fuel filler nozzle N is removed, the sub-flap 10b and flap 4, which will be described later, are returned to the closed position to automatically close the fuel filler neck 2. As a result, the fuel filler neck device 1 does not require a screw-on type cap for the fuel filler neck 2.

[0017] The fuel filler device 1 is attached to the upper end of a filler pipe P (fuel injection pipe). For convenience, the vehicle body is omitted from each drawing, and only the filler pipe P and the fuel filler device 1 are shown.

[0018] In the illustrated example, the fuel filler device 1 includes a tubular main body 3, a fuel filler opening 2, a flap 4, a drain opening 5, and a closing member 6.

[0019] The tubular main body 3 has one end serving as an inlet 3a for the fuel nozzle N and the other end serving as a connecting portion 3b for the filler pipe P. In the illustrated example, the tubular main body 3 has an upper part indicated by reference numeral 7 in FIG. 4 and a lower part indicated by reference numeral 8. The upper part 7 and the lower part 8 are each hollow and substantially tubular. In the illustrated example, the upper part 7 and the lower part 8 are integrated with each other such that the lower part of the upper part 7 is fitted into the upper part of the lower part 8. The fuel filler device 1 is attached to the filler pipe P by fitting the lower part 8 as the connecting part 3b into the filler pipe P. The majority of the upper part 7 is positioned above the upper end of the filler pipe P.

[0020] In the illustrated example, the fuel filler opening 2 is formed in the lower part 8, and the flap 4 is also provided therein. A circular inner flange 8a is formed within the lower part 8 so as to surround the central axis x of the tubular main body 3, and the inside of this inner flange 8a functions as the fuel filler port 2, and the downward-facing side of this inner flange 8a functions as a valve seat 9 for the flap 4.

[0021] The flap 4 is rotatably coupled to the lower part 8 around an axis 4a at a location located below the valve seat 9 on one side (the right side in FIG. 4) of the central axis x of the tubular main body 3. The flap 4 has a free end located below the valve seat 9 on the other side (left side in FIG. 4) of the central axis x of the tubular main body 3. As shown in FIG. 4, the flap 4 is adapted to close the fuel filler opening 2 by bringing its upper portion into close contact with a valve seat 9 . Also, as shown in Figure 6, when the fuel filler nozzle N is introduced, the flap 4 is pushed by the tip thereof and rotated around the axis 4a so that the free end faces downward, thereby opening the fuel filler opening 2 and allowing the fuel filler nozzle N to be introduced beyond the fuel filler opening 2. Furthermore, unless the fuel filler nozzle N is inserted, the flap 4 is biased by a torsion coil spring designated by reference symbol 4b in Fig. 4 to be positioned in a closed position (Fig. 4) with its top in close contact with the valve seat 9. When the fuel filler nozzle N is inserted, the flap 4 is pushed by the tip of the fuel filler nozzle N and rotated to the open position (Fig. 6), and when the fuel filler nozzle N is removed after refueling is completed, the flap 4 is biased by the torsion coil spring 4b to return to the closed position (Fig. 4).

[0022] In the illustrated example, the fuel filler device 1 further includes a cap body 10. The cap body 10 comprises a cylindrical main body 10a and a sub-flap 10b. The cylindrical main body 10a has an open lower end and a circumferential flange 10c at its upper end that protrudes toward the center of the cylindrical main body 10a. The flange 10c narrows the upper end opening to form a passage opening 10d for the fuel filler nozzle N.

[0023] In the illustrated example, the cylindrical main body 10a has a substantially cylindrical shape. The inner diameter of the cylindrical main body 10a is substantially equal to the outer diameter of the upper part 7 of the tubular main body portion 3. By fitting the upper part 7 of the tubular main body portion 3 into the cap body 10 from the lower end of the cylindrical main body 10a of the cap body 10, the cylindrical main body 10a of the cap body 10 covers the sides and the top of the upper part 7 from the outside, and the cap body 10 and the tubular main body portion 3 are combined together.

[0024] The sub-flap 10b is combined with the cylindrical main body 10a so as to be rotatable about an axis (not shown). When the sub-flap 10b is in the closed position (FIG. 4), it is pressed against the flange from below by a biasing means (not shown) to close the passage opening 10d, thereby maintaining the closed state of the passage opening 10d unless the fueling nozzle N is inserted. Also, as shown in Figure 6, when the fuel filler nozzle N is introduced, the sub-flap 10b is pushed by its tip and rotated so that its free end faces downward, opening the passage opening 10d and allowing the fuel filler nozzle N to be introduced beyond the passage opening 10d.

[0025] A drain opening 5 penetrates the side of the tubular main body 3 between the introduction portion 3 a and the fuel filler port 2 . That is, the drain opening 5 is provided on the front side of the flap 4 which is rotated to the open position by the introduction of the fuel filler nozzle N to open the fuel filler opening 2. In the illustrated example, the drain opening 5 is formed on the other side (left side in FIG. 4) of the central axis x of the tubular main body 3.

[0026] In the illustrated example, the drain opening 5 is configured by aligning a through hole 5a formed in the side of the upper part 7 to connect the inside and outside of the upper part 7 with a through hole 5b formed in the side of the cap body 10 to connect the inside and outside of the cap body 10.

[0027] In the illustrated example, an area 11 for incorporating the closing member 6, which will be described later, is formed inside the upper part 7. The upper end of this area 11 for incorporating is located substantially at the upper end of the upper part 7, i.e., at the introduction portion 3a, and the lower end of this area 11 for incorporating is located slightly above the lower end of the upper part 7. The inner wall of the upper part 7 in the mounting area 11 forms a first portion 11a consisting of a wall surface that is substantially parallel to the central axis x of the tubular main body 3, between the upper end of the mounting area 11 and a second portion 11b described below in which the drain opening 5 is formed. In addition, the inner wall of the upper part 7 in the mounting area 11 forms a second part 11b between the first part 11a and the lower end of the mounting area 11, which is made up of a wall surface that is inclined so that the distance from the central axis x of the tubular main body 3 gradually decreases as it goes downward. In the illustrated example, the drain opening 5 is formed in the second portion 11b within the tubular main body 3, and this second portion 11b functions as a valve seat for the valve body portion 6c of the blocking member 6 described below.

[0028] The fuel filler device 1 is provided such that the central axis x of the tubular main body 3 intersects with a vertical line so that the drain opening 5 is located on the lower side of the incline. This allows drainage objects such as water, fuel, and other liquids and dust that have entered the fuel filler device 1 on the front side of the flap 4 to flow out or spill out from the drain opening 5 to the outside, preventing them from entering the back side of the flap 4, i.e., into the fuel tank.

[0029] The closing member 6 is provided inside the upper part 7 of the tubular main body 3 on the other side (the left side in FIG. 4) of the central axis x. The closing member 6 includes a fixed portion 6a, a pressure-receiving portion 6b, and a valve body portion 6c. In this embodiment, the closing member 6 is formed of a leaf spring S with one surface facing the central axis x. More specifically, the closing member 6 is formed by forming a plurality of bent portions (bent or curved portions extending across the width of the leaf spring S) on a strip-shaped leaf spring S with a gap between adjacent bent portions along its length. The leaf spring S as the blocking member 6 is configured to have a length in the vertical direction that fits within the mounting area 11 and a width in the horizontal direction that fits within the mounting area 11, and its other surface faces the first part 11a and the second part 11b of the mounting area 11.

[0030] The leaf spring S has a fixing portion 6a formed on its upper end side. The pressure-receiving portion 6b is formed on the lower end side of the leaf spring S. The pressure-receiving portion 6b is located closer to the fuel filler opening 2 and closer to the central axis x of the tubular main body 3 than the fixed portion 6a, and is adapted to receive a pressing force when the fuel filler nozzle N is introduced. The valve body portion 6c is located between the portion of the leaf spring S that becomes the fixed portion 6a and the portion that becomes the pressure-receiving portion 6b, and is configured to close the drain opening 5 during the elastic deformation. A connecting portion 6d is provided between the fixed portion 6a and the valve portion 6c, connecting them so that the valve portion 6c is positioned closer to the central axis x of the tubular main body 3 than the fixed portion 6a. In the illustrated example, the leaf spring S is configured to be wider at the valve body portion 6c and the pressure receiving portion 6b than at other portions.

[0031] The connecting portion 6d has an upper end connected to the fixed portion 6a and a lower end connected to the valve body portion 6c. A first bent portion Sa is formed in the middle of the connecting portion 6d in the vertical direction. The area between the upper end of the connecting portion 6d and the first bending portion Sa is formed along the central axis x of the tubular main body 3, and forms a support surface portion 6e whose one surface (the other surface of the leaf spring S) is always in contact with the first portion 11a of the mounting region 11. Between the first bent portion Sa and the lower end of the connecting portion 6d, there is an inclined surface portion 6f that is inclined in a direction that gradually increases the distance to the first portion 11a of the mounting region 11 as it approaches the lower end.

[0032] The fixed portion 6a is formed by bending one end of the leaf spring S to form a C-shaped cross section. The fixed portion 6a is configured such that the curved portion of the C-shape is positioned outward from the support surface portion 6e of the connecting portion 6d, and the lower end of the upper and lower ends that form the open portion of the C-shape is integrated with the upper end of the connecting portion 6d to form a second bent portion Sb. In the illustrated example, a slit 11c is formed in the upper part of the mounting region 11 across the width of the mounting region 11. In the illustrated example, the fixing part 6a is fixed to the tubular main body 3 by fitting the fixing part 6a into this slit 11c from the inside of the tubular main body 3.

[0033] The valve body 6c has a size that allows it to close the drain opening 5 from inside the tubular main body 3. In the illustrated example, the lower end of the connecting portion 6d is provided with an intermediate portion 6g that protrudes downward, forming a third bent portion Sc between the connecting portion 6d and the lower end of the intermediate portion 6g. The upper end of the valve body 6c is integrated with the lower end of the intermediate portion 6g so as to form a fourth bent portion Sd that forms a substantially right angle with the lower end of the intermediate portion 6g on the central axis x side of the tubular main body 3. In the illustrated example, when the blocking member 6 is not elastically deformed (Figures 4 and 5), its valve body portion 6c is positioned inward of the second portion 11b of the installation area 11 with a gap between it and the drain opening 5, and the gap between the valve body portion 6c and the second portion 11b gradually increases as it approaches the lower end of the valve body portion 6c.

[0034] The pressure receiving portion 6b has a free end portion 6ba located on the introduction portion 3a side, and a connection base portion 6bb with the valve body portion 6c located on the fuel filler port 2 side. When the closing member 6 is not elastically deformed (FIGS. 4 and 5), the pressure-receiving portion 6b is located above the valve body portion 6c. The lower end of the pressure-receiving portion 6b is integrated with the lower end of the valve body portion 6c by forming a connection base portion 6bb, which serves as a fifth bent portion Se, between the two. The upper end of the pressure-receiving portion 6b is located at a position approximately midway in the vertical direction of the valve body portion 6c. The free end 6ba, which is the upper end of the pressure receiving portion 6b, is curved toward the valve body portion 6c. The pressure receiving portion 6b is formed so that the distance between the pressure receiving portion 6b and the valve body portion 6c gradually increases as the pressure receiving portion 6b approaches the free end portion 6ba. In the illustrated example, the lower end side of the closing member 6 has a V-shaped vertical cross section due to the valve body portion 6c and the pressure-receiving portion 6b formed as described above.

[0035] As shown in Figures 4 and 5, before the fuel nozzle N is introduced, the valve body portion 6c of the closure member 6 is located at a distance from the second portion 11b of the installation area 11, and the drain opening 5 is open. In the illustrated example, before the fuel filler nozzle N is introduced, the pressure-receiving portion 6b of the closure member 6 and a sliding surface 12c of a cover member 12 (described later) are located on the other side of the central axis x (the left side in FIG. 4) and are positioned so as to be substantially located on the movement trajectory of the side surface of the fuel filler nozzle N introduced through the passage opening 10d. The fuel filler nozzle N is introduced into the fuel filler opening 2 by rotating the cover member 12, as described later, between the cover member 12 positioned in this way and the inner wall of the upper part 7 located on one side of the central axis x (the right side in FIG. 4). When the fuel filler nozzle N is introduced, first the sub-flap 10b is rotated to the open position, and then the tip of the fuel filler nozzle N abuts against the flap 4 through the gap between the rotated sub-flap 10b and the blocking member 6, causing the flap 4 to be rotated to the open position, opening the fuel filler opening 2 and allowing the fuel filler nozzle N to be introduced further inside the fuel filler opening 2. Therefore, when the fuel filling nozzle N is introduced through the passage opening 10d to the rear, a pressing force due to this introduction can be applied to the pressure-receiving portion 6b of the closing member 6. In the illustrated example, the pressing force is applied to the pressure-receiving portion 6b of the closing member 6 via a cover member 12, which will be described later. The pressing force acting on the pressure-receiving portion 6b moves the pressure-receiving portion 6b away from the central axis x of the tubular main body portion 3 and elastically deforms the closing member 6 so that the valve body portion 6c comes into close contact with the second portion 11b and closes the drain opening 5. In the illustrated example, when a pressing force is applied to the pressure-receiving portion 6b of the blocking member 6 as described above, the connecting portion 6d is elastically deformed in a direction narrowing the distance between the inclined surface portion 6f and the first portion 11a, thereby causing the valve body portion 6c to adhere closely to the second portion 11b and block the drain opening 5 (Figures 6 and 7). That is, in this embodiment, when the fuel nozzle N is introduced, the drain opening 5 is closed by the valve body portion 6c due to elastic deformation in the connecting portion 6d, mainly centered on the first bent portion Sa.

[0036] When the fuel filler nozzle N introduced into the fuel filler device 1 as described above is removed, the flap 4 and the sub-flap 10b each return to the closed position before pivoting, and the connecting portion 6d of the blocking member 6 and, if additional elastic deformation described below has occurred, the connecting base 6bb also elastically return, causing the valve body portion 6c to separate from the second portion 11b, and the drain opening 5 to be opened (Figures 4 and 5).

[0037] In this embodiment, an additional elastic deformation occurs in the connection base portion 6bb in a direction that moves the pressure-receiving portion 6b away from the central axis x. In the illustrated example, the distance between the connection base 6bb in the blocking member 6 and the free end 6ba of the pressure-receiving portion 6b is smaller than the distance between the upper end (first bend portion Sa) of the inclined surface portion 6f and the connection base 6bb, and when a narrow fuel nozzle N is introduced, the connecting portion 6d is elastically deformed but the connection base 6bb is not elastically deformed. On the other hand, when a thick fuel nozzle N is introduced, as shown in FIG. 8, it is possible to cause elastic deformation of both the connecting portion 6d and the connecting base portion 6bb. Specifically, when the thicker fuel filler nozzle N is introduced, the connecting base 6bb (the fifth bent portion Se) is subjected to additional elastic deformation (elastic deformation in a direction that reduces the inward angle of the fifth bent portion Se) so as to narrow the distance between the pressure-receiving portion 6b and the valve body portion 6c that contacts the second portion 11b and closes the drain opening 5 due to the elastic deformation of the connecting portion 6d, and the additional elastic deformation can expand the distance between the pressure-receiving portion 6b and the central axis x of the tubular main portion 3 within a certain range. This allows the thicker fuel filler nozzle N to be introduced beyond the fuel filler opening 2 with little resistance.

[0038] As a result, the fuel filler device 1 of this embodiment allows fuel filler nozzles N having different outer diameters within a certain range to be smoothly inserted, and makes it possible to reliably close the drain opening 5 provided in the fuel filler device 1 when such a fuel filler nozzle N is inserted.

[0039] In this embodiment, the fuel filler device 1 also has a cover member 12 for the closing member 6. The cover member 12 has an upper part 12a on the side of the introduction part 3a that is rotatably supported by the tubular main body part 3, and a lower part 12b that contacts the pressure-receiving part 6b of the blocking member 6 from the side of the central axis x of the tubular main body part 3. In addition, the cover member 12 has a sliding contact surface 12c for the fuel supply nozzle N facing the central axis x between the upper portion 12a and the lower portion 12b.

[0040] In the illustrated example, the cover member 12 has a plate shape that is long in the vertical direction. The cover member 12 has a split groove 12d extending from its upper end to the middle of its length, dividing the cover member 12 into left and right halves. One end of the split groove 12d is open at the upper end. A shaft 12e is formed at the upper end of the cover member 12 and extends between the groove walls that make up the split groove 12d. A bearing portion 13 for the shaft 12e is formed in the upper part 7 between the upper end of the upper part 7 and the slit 11c formed in the installation area 11. The bearing portion 13 is composed of a receiving surface 13a of the shaft 12e and a protruding piece 13b of a size that can fit into a split groove 12d that protrudes upward and inward from the receiving surface 13a. In the example shown, the shaft 12e is positioned on the receiving surface 13a, and the protruding piece 13b is inserted into the split groove 12d from below so that the protruding piece 13b is positioned inside the shaft 12e, thereby holding the shaft 12e in the bearing portion 13. This supports the upper portion 12a of the cover member 12 so that it can rotate within the upper part 7. In the illustrated example, the cover member 12 supported in this manner is located closer to the central axis x of the tubular main body 3 than the closing member 6, and is positioned so as to cover the closing member 6 from the central axis x side. The cover member 12 has a length that positions its lower end at a level substantially equal to the level of the connecting base portion 6bb (fifth bent portion Se) of the closing member 6. The cover member 12 is configured so that one surface of its lower portion 12b contacts the pressure-receiving portion 6b of the closing member 6 from the central axis x side of the tubular main body 3 due to its own weight. The cover member 12 is supported by the closing member 6 so as to assume an orientation in which the distance from the central axis x gradually decreases toward the lower portion 12b. The other surface of the lower portion 12b of the cover member 12 functions as the sliding surface 12c. The cover member 12 is gently bent at a position approximately midway in the vertical direction so that the central axis x side is the inner side of the bend, and the sliding surface 12c is positioned below this bent point. Between the upper part 12a and the lower part 12b of the cover member 12, a gap is formed between the cover member 12 and the blocking member 6, so that the force acting on the sliding surface 12c of the cover member 12 acts only on the pressure-receiving part 6b.

[0041] When the fuel filler nozzle N is inserted through the passage opening 10d to the rear, the fuel filler nozzle N comes into contact with the sliding surface 12c of the cover member 12, and the cover member 12 is rotated in a direction that increases the distance between the lower portion 12b of the cover member 12 and the central axis x of the tubular main body 3. As a result, when the fuel filler nozzle N is inserted, the fuel filler nozzle N does not come into direct contact with the pressure-receiving portion 6b of the closure member 6, but rather the pressing force caused by the insertion of the fuel filler nozzle N acts indirectly on the pressure-receiving portion 6b of the closure member 6 via the cover member 12, which is formed so as to be able to smoothly come into contact with the fuel filler nozzle N.

[0042] It should be noted that the present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiments, but includes all embodiments that can achieve the object of the present invention. [Explanation of symbols]

[0043] x center axis P filler pipe N Fuel nozzle S leaf spring Sa First bending section Sb Second bending section Sc 3rd bending section Sd 4th bending section Se 5th bending section 1 Fuel filler device 2 fuel filler 3 Tubular main body 3a Introduction 3b Connection 4 Flap 4a axis 4b Torsion coil spring 5 Drain opening 5a through hole 5b Through hole 6 Closure member 6a Fixed part 6b Pressure receiving part 6ba free end 6bb connection base 6c Valve body 6d connection part 6e Support surface part 6f Slope section 6g Middle part 7 Upper parts 8 Lower parts 8a Inner flange 9 Valve seat 10 Cap body 10a Cylindrical body 10b Subflap 10c flange 10d Passage gate 11 Built-in area 11a Part 1 11b Part 2 11c Slit 12 Cover member 12a upper part 12b lower part 12c Sliding surface 12d split groove 12e shaft body 13 Bearing 13a Receiving surface 13b Projection piece

Claims

1. a tubular main body having one end serving as an inlet for the fueling nozzle and the other end serving as a connection portion for a filler pipe; a fuel filler port formed in the tubular main body; a flap that rotates to an open position when the fuel filler nozzle is introduced to open the fuel filler opening; a drain opening penetrating a side portion of the tubular main body between the inlet portion and the fuel filler port; a closing member that closes the drain opening by elastically deforming when the fuel filler nozzle is introduced, the closing member has a fixed portion fixed to the tubular main body portion, a pressure-receiving portion located closer to the fuel filler opening and closer to a central axis of the tubular main body portion than the fixed portion and receiving a pressing force when the fuel filler nozzle is introduced, and a valve body portion that closes the drain opening when elastically deformed, the pressure receiving portion has a free end portion located on the inlet portion side and a connection base portion with the valve body portion located on the fuel filler port side, A fuel filler device configured to generate additional elastic deformation in the connection base portion in a direction that moves the pressure-receiving portion away from the central axis.

2. 2. The fuel filler device according to claim 1, wherein the pressure receiving portion is formed so that the distance between the pressure receiving portion and the valve body portion gradually increases as the pressure receiving portion approaches the free end portion.

3. 2. The fuel filler device according to claim 1, wherein the blocking member has a connecting portion that connects the fixed portion and the valve body portion so that the valve body portion is positioned closer to the central axis than the fixed portion, and the drain opening is blocked by the valve body portion due to elastic deformation of the connecting portion.

4. 2. The fuel filler device according to claim 1, wherein the closing member is formed of a leaf spring having one surface facing the central axis.

5. a cover member for the closing member; 5. The fuel filler device according to claim 1, wherein the cover member has an upper portion on the inlet side that is rotatably supported by the tubular main body portion, and a lower portion that contacts the pressure-receiving portion of the blocking member from the central axis side, and has a sliding surface for the fuel filler nozzle facing the central axis side between the upper and lower portions.

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