Fuel supply port device

Abstract

The present invention enables a drain opening provided in a fuel supply port device to be securely closed while allowing fuel supply nozzles having outer diameters that differ within a certain range to be inserted smoothly.　The fuel supply port device includes: a drain opening 5 that penetrates through a side portion of a tubular main body portion 3 between an introduction portion 3a and a fuel supply port 2; and a closing member 6 that deforms elastically upon introduction of a fuel supply nozzle N, thereby closing the drain opening 5. The closing member 6 includes: a pressure accepting portion 6b which is located closer to the fuel supply port 2 than a fixed portion 6a that is fixed to the tubular main body portion 3, and closer to a central axis x of the tubular main body portion 3 than the fixed portion 6a, and which accepts a pressing force when the fuel supply nozzle N is inserted; and a valve body portion 6c which closes the drain opening 5 when elastically deformed. The pressure accepting portion 6b has a free end portion 6ba which is positioned on the introduction portion 3a side, and a connection base portion 6bb which is positioned on the fuel supply port 2 side and is connected to the valve body portion 6c, and the pressure accepting portion 6b is configured to generate additional elastic deformation at the connection base portion 6bb in a direction that moves the pressure accepting portion 6b away from the central axis x.

Description

fuel filler device

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

[0002] Patent Document 1 below shows 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 added.

[0003] The fuel filler gun of Patent Document 1 has a first flap mechanism that is pushed open by the fuel filler nozzle and a second flap mechanism positioned further back, thereby eliminating the need for a screw-on fuel filler cap. Between the first and second flap mechanisms are a drain hole for discharging water, dust, and other contaminants, and an on-off valve for the drain hole. When the fuel filler nozzle of the fuel gun is not inserted, the on-off valve is biased by a return spring to a valve-open position. During refueling, the on-off valve is pushed by the fuel filler nozzle and rotates against the bias to close the drain hole. This prevents inconveniences caused by the drain hole being open during refueling.

[0004] Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2018-95153

[0005] In the device of Patent Document 1, the opening / closing valve is supported at its upper end by a pivot shaft and has a free lower end, and is configured so that when refueling, it is pushed by the fuel filler nozzle and rotates around the pivot shaft to a closed valve position that closes the drain hole.

[0006] On the other hand, the thickness (outer diameter) of fuel filler nozzles varies considerably and is not constant. Therefore, 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 insertion of the fuel filler nozzle (the ease of smooth introduction of the fuel filler nozzle into the fuel filler device). Conversely, if the structure of Patent Document 1 is adopted and set not to reduce the ease of insertion of 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.

[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 inlet for a fuel filler nozzle and the other end serving as a connection for a filler pipe; a fuel filler opening formed within 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 that penetrates a side of the tubular main body between the inlet and the fuel filler opening; and a closing member that elastically deforms when the fuel filler nozzle is introduced to close the drain opening, wherein the closing member has a fixed portion relative to the tubular main body, a pressure-receiving portion that is located closer to the fuel filler opening and closer to the center axis of the tubular main body than the fixed portion and that receives a pressing force when the fuel filler nozzle is introduced, and a valve body portion that closes the drain opening when elastically deformed, and the pressure-receiving portion has a free end portion located on the inlet side and a connection base portion with the valve body portion located on the fuel filler opening 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.

[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.

[0014] FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing a fuel filler device according to one embodiment of the present invention in use. FIG. 2 is a perspective view showing a state in which a cap body constituting the fuel filler device has been removed from a tubular main body. FIG. 3 is a perspective view seen from a different position from FIG. 2 and showing a state in which a cap body constituting the fuel filler device has been removed from a tubular main body. FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view of the fuel filler device, showing a state before a fuel filler nozzle is installed. FIG. 5 is a cross-sectional view of a main portion of FIG. 4. FIG. 6 is a cross-sectional view of the fuel filler device, showing a state after a fuel filler nozzle has been installed. FIG. 7 is a cross-sectional view of a main portion of FIG. 6. FIG. 8 is a cross-sectional view of a main portion of the fuel filler device, showing a state after a thicker fuel filler nozzle has been installed. FIG. 9 is an exploded perspective view of a main portion of the fuel filler device.

[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 by introducing a fuel filler nozzle N, 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 gun is inserted into the fuel filler opening 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 filling, 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 opening 2. As a result, the fuel filler opening device 1 does not require a screw-on type cap for the fuel filler opening 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 of the fuel nozzle N and the other end serving as a connection 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 and a lower part indicated by reference numeral 8 in FIG. 4. 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 into the filler pipe P as the connection portion 3b. 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 and the flap 4 are formed in the lower part 8. A circumferential inner flange 8a is formed in the lower part 8 so as to surround the central axis x of the tubular main body 3, with the inside of this inner flange 8a functioning as the fuel filler opening 2 and the downward-facing side surface of this inner flange 8a functioning as a valve seat 9 for the flap 4.

[0021] The flap 4 is rotatably assembled to the lower part 8 about a shaft 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 (the 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 configured to close the fuel filler opening 2 with its upper portion in close contact with the valve seat 9. As shown in FIG. 6 , when a fuel filler nozzle N is inserted, the flap 4 is pushed by the tip of the fuel filler nozzle N and rotates about the shaft 4a so that its free end faces downward, opening the fuel filler opening 2 and allowing the fuel filler nozzle N to be inserted beyond the fuel filler opening 2. The flap 4 is configured to be positioned in a closed position ( FIG. 4 ) with its upper portion in close contact with the valve seat 9 unless the fuel filler nozzle N is inserted, due to the bias of a torsion coil spring indicated by reference symbol 4b in FIG. 4 . When the fuel filler nozzle N is introduced, the flap 4 is pushed by the tip of the fuel filler nozzle N and rotated to the open position (Figure 6), and when the fuel filler nozzle N is removed after refueling is completed, the flap 4 is returned to the closed position (Figure 4) by the biasing force of the torsion coil spring 4b.

[0022] In the illustrated example, the fuel filler device 1 further includes a cap body 10. The cap body 10 includes 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, forming 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 in the closed position (FIG. 4), the sub-flap 10b is pressed against the flange from below by a biasing means (not shown) to close the passage opening 10d, thereby maintaining the passage opening 10d closed unless the fuel filler nozzle N is introduced. Also, as shown in FIG. 6, when the fuel filler nozzle N is introduced, the sub-flap 10b is pushed by the tip of the fuel filler nozzle N and rotates 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 3a and the fuel filler opening 2. That is, the drain opening 5 is provided on the front side of the flap 4, which is rotated to an open position by the introduction of a 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 (the 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 installation region 11 for the closure member 6, which will be described later, is formed inside the upper part 7. The upper end of this installation region 11 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 installation region 11 is located slightly above the lower end of the upper part 7. The inner wall of the upper part 7 in the installation region 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 portion 3, between the upper end of the installation region 11 and a second portion 11b, which will be described later and in which the drain opening 5 is formed. Furthermore, the inner wall of the upper part 7 in the installation region 11 forms a second portion 11b consisting of a wall surface that is inclined downward between the first portion 11a and the lower end of the installation region 11 so that the distance from the central axis x of the tubular main body portion 3 gradually decreases as it extends 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 positioned on the downward 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., the fuel tank.

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

[0030] A fixed portion 6a is formed on the upper end of the leaf spring S. A pressure-receiving portion 6b is formed on the lower end 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 configured to receive a pressing force when the fuel filler nozzle N is introduced. The valve body portion 6c is located between the fixed portion 6a and the pressure-receiving portion 6b of the leaf spring S, and is configured to close the drain opening 5 during elastic deformation. The leaf spring S also has a connecting portion 6d between the fixed portion 6a and the valve body portion 6c, connecting them so that the valve body portion 6c is located 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 so that the valve body portion 6c and the pressure-receiving portion 6b are wider than the remaining 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 vertical middle of the connecting portion 6d. The portion of the leaf spring S between the upper end of the connecting portion 6d and the first bent portion Sa is formed along the central axis x of the tubular main body portion 3, forming a support surface portion 6e with one surface (the other surface of the leaf spring S) constantly in contact with the first portion 11a of the mounting region 11. Between the first bent portion Sa of the connecting portion 6d and the lower end, the leaf spring S forms an inclined surface portion 6f that is inclined in a direction that gradually increases the distance from the first portion 11a of the mounting region 11 as it approaches the lower end.

[0032] The fixing portion 6a is formed by bending one end of the leaf spring S to form a C-shaped cross section. The fixing 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 forming 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 portion of the mounting region 11 across the width of the mounting region 11 (see FIGS. 5 and 9 ). In the illustrated example, the fixing portion 6a is fixed to the tubular main body portion 3 by fitting into this slit 11c from the inside of the tubular main body portion 3.

[0033] The valve body 6c has a size sufficient 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 connecting portion 6d. The upper end of the valve body 6c is integrated with the lower end of the intermediate portion 6g by forming a fourth bent portion Sd between the connecting portion 6d and the lower end of the intermediate portion 6g, which 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 closure member 6 is not elastically deformed ( FIGS. 4 and 5 ), the valve body 6c is positioned inward of the second portion 11b of the installation region 11 with a gap between the valve body 6c and the drain opening 5, and the gap between the valve body 6c and the second portion 11b gradually increases as the closure member 6 approaches the lower end of the valve body 6c.

[0034] The pressure-receiving portion 6b has a free end portion 6ba located on the inlet 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 blocking 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 approximately midway up and down the valve body portion 6c. The free end portion 6ba, which serves as 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 from the valve body portion 6c gradually increases as it approaches the free end portion 6ba. In the illustrated example, the lower end of the blocking member 6 has a V-shaped vertical cross section due to the valve body portion 6c and pressure-receiving portion 6b formed as described above.

[0035] 4 and 5 , before the fuel filler nozzle N is introduced, the valve body portion 6c of the closure member 6 is positioned 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 the sliding surface 12c of the 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 path 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 below, 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, the sub-flap 10b is first rotated to the open position. Then, the tip of the fuel filler nozzle N passes between the rotated sub-flap 10b and the closure member 6 and abuts against the flap 4, rotating the flap 4 to the open position, opening the fuel filler opening 2, and allowing the fuel filler nozzle N to be introduced further back than the fuel filler opening 2. Therefore, when the fuel filler nozzle N is introduced further back through the passage opening 10d, a pressing force due to the introduction of the fuel filler nozzle N can be applied to the pressure-receiving portion 6b of the closure member 6. In the illustrated example, the pressing force is applied to the pressure-receiving portion 6b of the closure member 6 via a cover member 12 (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 closure member 6 so as to bring the valve body portion 6c into close contact with the second portion 11b and close the drain opening 5. In the illustrated example, when a pressing force is applied to the pressure-receiving portion 6b of the closing 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, whereby the valve body portion 6c comes into close contact with the second portion 11b to close the drain opening 5 (FIGS. 6 and 7). That is, in this embodiment, when the fueling nozzle N is introduced, the drain opening 5 is closed by the valve body portion 6c due to elastic deformation of the connecting portion 6d mainly about 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 both the connecting portion 6d of the blocking member 6 and, if additional elastic deformation described below has occurred, the connecting base portion 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, the connecting base 6bb is configured to undergo additional elastic deformation in a direction that moves the pressure-receiving portion 6b away from the central axis x. In the illustrated example, the distance between the connecting base 6bb and the free end 6ba of the pressure-receiving portion 6b in the closing member 6 is shorter than the distance between the upper end (first bent portion Sa) of the inclined surface portion 6f and the connecting base 6bb. This allows the connecting portion 6d to be elastically deformed when a narrower fuel filler nozzle N is introduced, but the connecting base 6bb is not elastically deformed. On the other hand, when a wider fuel filler nozzle N is introduced, the closing member 6 can be configured to allow both the connecting portion 6d and the connecting base 6bb to elastically deform, as shown in FIG. 8. Specifically, when a thicker fuel filler nozzle N is introduced, the closing member 6 causes additional elastic deformation (elastic deformation in a direction that reduces the inward angle of the fifth bent portion Se) in the connecting base portion 6bb (the fifth bent portion Se) so as to narrow the distance between the pressure-receiving portion 6b and the valve body portion 6c that comes into contact with 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 with different outer diameters within a certain range to be smoothly inserted, while reliably closing 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 closure member 6. The cover member 12 has an upper part 12a on the inlet portion 3a side and rotatably supported by the tubular main body 3, and a lower part 12b that contacts the pressure-receiving part 6b of the closure member 6 from the central axis x side of the tubular main body 3. The cover member 12 also has a sliding surface 12c for the fuel filler nozzle N facing the central axis x side between the upper part 12a and the lower part 12b.

[0040] In the illustrated example, the cover member 12 has a plate-like shape that is long in the vertical direction. The cover member 12 has a split groove 12d that divides the cover member 12 into left and right halves from its top end to approximately the middle of its length. One end of the split groove 12d is open at the top end. A shaft 12e is formed at the top end of the cover member 12, spanning 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 top end of the upper part 7 and the slit 11c formed in the installation area 11 (see FIGS. 5 and 9 ). The bearing portion 13 is composed of a receiving surface 13a for the shaft 12e and a protruding piece 13b that protrudes upward and inward from the receiving surface 13a and is large enough to fit into the split groove 12d. In the illustrated example, the shaft 12e is positioned on the receiving surface 13a, and the protrusion 13b is inserted into the split groove 12d from below so that the protrusion 13b is positioned inside the shaft 12e, thereby holding the shaft 12e in the bearing portion 13. This allows the upper portion 12a of the cover member 12 to be rotatably supported within the upper part 7. In the illustrated example, the cover member 12 supported in this manner is positioned closer to the central axis x of the tubular main body 3 than the closing member 6, covering the closing member 6 from this 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 connection base 6bb (fifth bent portion Se) of the closing member 6. One surface of the lower portion 12b of the cover member 12 is brought into contact with 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 a position in which the distance from the central axis x gradually decreases toward the lower portion 12b. This allows the other surface of the lower portion 12b of the cover member 12 to function as the sliding surface 12c. The cover member 12 is also gently bent at a position about 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 located below this bent point. A gap is formed between the cover member 12 and the closing member 6 between the upper portion 12a and the lower portion 12b of the cover member 12, so that a force applied to the sliding surface 12c of the cover member 12 is applied only to the pressure-receiving portion 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 generated 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 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.

[0043] x central axis P filler pipe N fuel filler nozzle S leaf spring Sa first bent portion Sb second bent portion Sc third bent portion Sd fourth bent portion Se fifth bent portion 1 fuel filler device 2 fuel filler port 3 tubular main body portion 3a introduction portion 3b connection portion 4 flap 4a shaft 4b torsion coil spring 5 drain opening 5a through hole 5b through hole 6 blocking member 6a fixing portion 6b pressure receiving portion 6ba free end portion 6bb connection base portion 6c valve body portion 6d connecting portion 6e support surface portion 6f inclined surface portion 6g intermediate portion 7 upper part 8 lower part 8a inner flange portion 9 valve seat 10 cap body 10a cylindrical main body 10b sub-flap 10c flange 10d Passage opening 11 Installation area 11a First part 11b Second part 11c Slit 12 Cover member 12a Upper part 12b Lower part 12c Sliding surface 12d Split groove 12e Shaft body 13 Bearing portion 13a Receiving surface 13b Projection piece The entire contents of the specification, claims, drawings and abstract of Japanese Patent Application No. 2024-108602, filed on July 5, 2024, are hereby cited and incorporated as the disclosure of the specification of the present invention.

Claims

1. A fuel filler device comprising: a tubular main body having one end serving as an inlet for a fuel filler nozzle and the other end serving as a connection for a filler pipe; a fuel filler opening formed within 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 that penetrates a side of the tubular main body between the inlet and the fuel filler opening; and a closing member that elastically deforms when the fuel filler nozzle is introduced to close the drain opening, wherein the closing member has a fixed part that is attached to the tubular main body, a pressure-receiving part that is located closer to the fuel filler opening and closer to the center axis of the tubular main body than the fixed part and that receives a pressing force when the fuel filler nozzle is introduced, and a valve body that closes the drain opening when elastically deformed, and the pressure-receiving part has a free end that is located on the inlet side and a connection base that is connected to the valve body that is located on the fuel filler opening 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. A 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. A fuel filler device as described in 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 this connecting portion.

4. A 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 fuel filler device as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 4, further comprising a cover member for the blocking member, the cover member having an upper part on the inlet 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 a sliding surface for the fuel filler nozzle facing the central axis side between the upper and lower parts.

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