IPC분류정보
국가/구분 |
United States(US) Patent
등록
|
국제특허분류(IPC7판) |
|
출원번호 |
US-0275251
(2005-12-20)
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발명자
/ 주소 |
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출원인 / 주소 |
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대리인 / 주소 |
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인용정보 |
피인용 횟수 :
5 인용 특허 :
21 |
초록
▼
A filler neck closure includes a closure base, a handle, and an apparatus mount. The closure base is adapted to mate with a fuel tank filler neck to close an opening into a fuel-conducting passageway formed in the fuel tank filler neck. In certain embodiments, a fuel treatment apparatus and/or vent
A filler neck closure includes a closure base, a handle, and an apparatus mount. The closure base is adapted to mate with a fuel tank filler neck to close an opening into a fuel-conducting passageway formed in the fuel tank filler neck. In certain embodiments, a fuel treatment apparatus and/or vent apparatus is coupled to the apparatus mount.
대표청구항
▼
The invention claimed is: 1. A filler neck closure comprising a fuel cap including a handle and a closure base arranged to underlie the handle and adapted to mate with a fuel tank filler neck to close an opening into a fuel-conducting passageway formed in the filler neck, an apparatus mount coupled
The invention claimed is: 1. A filler neck closure comprising a fuel cap including a handle and a closure base arranged to underlie the handle and adapted to mate with a fuel tank filler neck to close an opening into a fuel-conducting passageway formed in the filler neck, an apparatus mount coupled to the closure base and arranged to extend into an interior region formed in the closure base, and a fluid management system including a fuel treatment apparatus coupled to the apparatus mount and configured to dispense fuel preserver into the fuel-conducting passageway formed in the filler neck to mix with fuel extant in a fuel tank coupled to the fuel tank filler neck and filler neck vent apparatus coupled to the apparatus mount and interposed between the handle and the fuel treatment apparatus. 2. The filler neck closure of claim 1, wherein the closure base includes an annular skirt having an inner wall configured to define a boundary of the interior region formed in the closure base and retainer means for mating with a fuel tank filler neck to retain the fuel cap in place on the fuel tank filer neck and wherein the retainer means is located on the inner wall of the annular skirt and arranged to surround a portion of the apparatus mount. 3. The filler neck closure of claim 2, wherein the closure base further includes an upright tube having an upper end located in close proximity to the handle, a lower end coupled to the apparatus mount, and a middle portion located between the upper and lower ends, and the annular skirt is coupled to the middle portion of the upright tube. 4. The filler neck closure of claim 3, wherein the annular skirt includes a radially outwardly extending proximal portion coupled to the middle portion of the upright tube and a tubular distal portion arranged to extend downwardly from a perimeter portion of the radially outwardly extending proximal portion and formed to include the inner wall on which the retainer means is located. 5. The filler neck closure of claim 3, wherein the closure further includes a radially outwardly extending annular platform coupled to the upper end of the upright tube and arranged to face toward a top wall of the handle and further comprising torque transmitter means on the top wall and the annular platform for providing a torque-limited driving connection between the top wall of the handle and the annular platform of the closure base to cause the closure base to turn on a filler neck during fuel cap installation in response to rotation of the handle in a clockwise, cap-advancing direction about an axis of rotation until the closure base is mated with the filler neck and torque transmitted by the torque transmitter means begins to exceed a predetermined torque limit. 6. The filler neck closure of claim 2, wherein the annular skirt includes a radially outwardly extending proximal portion, the closure base further includes a radially outwardly extending annular platform positioned to lie in spaced-apart relation to the radially outwardly extending proximal portion of the annular skirt and interposed between a top wall of the handle and the radially outwardly extending proximal portion of the annular skirt, and further comprising an O-ring seal coupled to the closure base and arranged to cause the radially outwardly extending proximal portion of the annular skirt to lie between the O-ring seal and the radially outwardly extending annular platform. 7. The filler neck closure of claim 6, further comprising torque transmitter means on the handle and the annular platform for providing a torque-limited driving connection between the handle and the annular platform to cause the closure base to turn on a filler neck during fuel cap installation in response to rotation of the handle in a clockwise, cap-advancing direction about an axis of rotation until the closure base is mated with the filler neck and torque transmittal by the torque transmitter means begins to exceed a predetermined torque limit. 8. The filler neck closure of claim 1, wherein the apparatus mount includes a tubular sleeve having an upper end coupled to the closure base, a lower end coupled to the fuel treatment apparatus, and a middle portion between the upper and lower ends of the tubular sleeve, and the filler neck vent apparatus is coupled to the middle portion of the tubular sleeve. 9. The filler neck closure of claim 8, wherein the filler neck vent apparatus includes a partition wall coupled to the middle portion of the tubular sleeve and arranged to lie in an interior region formed in the tubular sleeve and a pressure-relief valve mounted in a pressure-relief aperture formed in the partition wall and configured to provide means for venting pressurized fuel vapor extant in a compartment provided in the interior region of the tubular sleeve between the partition wall and the fuel treatment apparatus to a vent chamber opened to the atmosphere and located between the partition wall and the handle whenever pressure of fuel vapor extant in the compartment exceeds a preset limit. 10. The filler neck closure of claim 9, wherein the partition wall is made of a monolithic plastics material and includes a plate coupled to the middle portion of the tubular sleeve and an elongated vent sleeve appended to the plate and formed to define the pressure-relief aperture and a vent passageway communicating with the pressure-relief aperture and wherein the pressure-relief valve includes a retainer cap formed to include at least one pressure-discharge passageway and coupled to one end of the vent sleeve, a valve stem arranged to move back and forth in the pressure-relief channel relative to the retainer cap, a seal ring arranged to lie in the pressure-relief channel against an annular valve seat included in another end of the vent sleeve and formed to define the pressure-relief aperture, and a pressure spring located in the vent passageway and arranged normally to apply a biasing force to urge the valve stem against the seal ring on the annular valve seat to close the pressure-relief aperture and yield upon exposure of the valve stem to pressure of fuel vapor in the compartment in excess of a preset limit to allow pressurized fuel vapor in the compartment to vent to the atmosphere through each pressure-discharge passageway formed in the retainer cap. 11. The filler neck closure of claim 9, wherein the filler neck vent apparatus further includes a vacuum-relief valve mounted in a vacuum-relief aperture formed in the partition wall and configured to provide means for admitting atmospheric air extant in the vent chamber located between the partition wall and the handle into the compartment provided in the interior region of the tubular sleeve between the partition wall and the fuel treatment apparatus whenever a vacuum extant in the compartment exceeds a preset limit to relieve any unwanted vacuum extant in the compartment and in a fuel tank filler neck in fluid communication with the compartment. 12. The filler neck closure of claim 11, wherein the vacuum-relief valve includes a seal ring, a valve stem, and a vacuum spring configured to urge the valve stem relative to the partition wall normally against a valve seat provided on the partition wall to close the vacuum-relief aperture until a vacuum extant in the compartment exceeds the preset limit. 13. The filler neck closure of claim 1, wherein the filler neck vent apparatus includes a partition wall coupled to the apparatus mount to form a vent chamber opened to the atmosphere and located between the handle and the partition wall and to form a compartment located between the partition wall and the fuel treatment apparatus and opened to a fuel-conducting passageway formed in a fuel tank filler neck upon mating of the closure base to the fuel tank filler neck and the filler neck vent apparatus further includes a pressure-relief valve mounted in a pressure-relief aperture formed in the partition wall and configured to provide means for venting pressurized fuel vapor extant in the compartment into the vent chamber whenever pressure extant in the compartment exceeds a preset limit. 14. The filler neck closure of claim 13, wherein the apparatus mount includes a tubular sleeve having an upper end coupled to the closure base and formed to define a boundary of the vent chamber and a lower end coupled to the fuel treatment apparatus and wherein the tubular sleeve, partition wall, and closure base cooperate to form a monolithic element made of a plastics material. 15. The filler neck closure of claim 14, wherein the partition wall includes a plate coupled to a middle portion of the tubular sleeve arranged to interconnect the upper and lower portions of the tubular sleeve and an elongated vent sleeve appended to the plate and formed to define the pressure-relief aperture and a vent passageway communicating with the pressure-relief aperture and a portion of the pressure-relief means is located in the vent passageway. 16. The filler neck closure of claim 1, wherein the filler neck vent apparatus includes a partition wall coupled to the apparatus mount to form a vent chamber opened to the atmosphere and located between the handle and the partition wall and to form a compartment located between the partition wall and the fuel treatment apparatus and opened to a fuel-conducting passageway formed in a fuel tank filler neck upon mating of the closure base to the fuel tank filler neck and the filler neck vent apparatus further includes a vacuum-relief valve mounted in a vacuum-relief aperture formed in the partition wall and configured to provide means for admitting atmospheric air extant in the vent chamber into the compartment whenever a vacuum extant in the compartment exceeds a preset limit to relieve any unwanted vacuum extant in the compartment and in a fuel tank filler neck in fluid communication with the compartment. 17. The filler neck closure of claim 16, wherein the apparatus mount includes a tubular sleeve having an upper end coupled to the closure base and formed to define a boundary of the vent chamber and a lower end coupled to the fuel treatment apparatus and wherein the tubular sleeve, partition wall, and closure base cooperate to form a monolithic element made of a plastics material. 18. The filler neck closure of claim 16, wherein the filler neck vent apparatus further includes a pressure-relief valve mounted in a pressure-relief aperture formed in the partition wall and configured to provide means for venting pressurized fuel vapor extant in the compartment into the vent chamber whenever pressure extant in the compartment exceeds a preset limit. 19. A filler neck closure comprising a closure base adapted to mate with a filler neck, a handle located above the closure base, a torque transmitter arranged to interconnect the closure base and the handle and configured to provide a temporary torque-limited driving connection between the closure base and the handle, a tubular sleeve coupled to the closure base and formed to include an interior region, a partition wall arranged to divide the interior region of the tubular sleeve into an upper region between the partition wall and the handle and a lower region below the partition wall, a fuel treatment apparatus coupled to the tubular sleeve to locate the partition wall between the handle and the fuel treatment apparatus, and valve apparatus coupled to the partition wall and configured to regulate flow of air and fuel vapor between the upper and lower regions formed in the tubular sleeve. 20. The filler neck closure of claim 19, wherein the closure base includes an upright tube, an annular platform coupled to and arranged to extend radially outwardly from an upper end of the upright tube, and an annular skirt including an annular proximal portion coupled to and arranged to extend radially outwardly from a middle portion of the upright tube and a tubular distal portion arranged to extend axially downwardly from a perimeter portion of the annular proximal portion and wherein the annular platform is coupled to the torque transmitter and is arranged to lie between the handle and the annular proximal portion. 21. A filler neck closure comprising a closure base adapted to mate with a filler neck, a handle located above the closure base, a tubular sleeve coupled to the closure base and formed to include an interior region, a partition wall arranged to divide the interior region of the tubular sleeve into an upper region between the partition wall and the handle and a lower region below the partition wall, a fuel treatment apparatus coupled to the tubular sleeve to locate the partition wall between the handle and the fuel treatment apparatus, a pressure-relief valve mounted in a pressure-relief aperture formed in the partition wall, and a vacuum-relief valve mounted in a vacuum-relief aperture formed in the partition wall. 22. A filler neck closure comprising a fuel cap including a handle and a closure base arranged to underlie the handle and adapted to mate with a fuel tank filler neck to close an opening into a fuel-conducting passageway formed in the filler neck, an apparatus mount coupled to the closure base and arranged to extend into an interior region formed in the closure base, and a fluid management system including a filler neck vent apparatus coupled to the apparatus mount, wherein the closure base includes an annular skirt having an inner wall configured to define a boundary of the interior region formed in the closure base and retainer means for mating with a fuel tank filler neck to retain the fuel cap in place on the fuel tank filer neck and wherein the retainer means is located on the inner wall of the annular skirt and arranged to surround a portion of the apparatus mount. 23. The filler neck closure of claim 22, wherein the closure base further includes an upright tube having an upper end located in close proximity to the handle, a lower end coupled to the apparatus mount, and a middle portion located between the upper and lower ends, and the annular skirt is coupled to the middle portion of the upright tube. 24. The filler neck closure of claim 23, wherein the annular skirt includes a radially outwardly extending proximal portion coupled to the middle portion of the upright tube and a tubular distal portion arranged to extend downwardly from a perimeter portion of the radially outwardly extending proximal portion and formed to include the inner wall on which the retainer means is located. 25. The filler neck closure of claim 23, wherein the closure further includes a radially outwardly extending annular platform coupled to the upper end of the upright tube and arranged to face toward a top wall of the handle and further comprising torque transmitter means on the top wall and the annular platform for providing a torque-limited driving connection between the top wall of the handle and the annular platform of the closure base to cause the closure base to turn on a filler neck during fuel cap installation in response to rotation of the handle in a clockwise, cap-advancing direction about an axis of rotation until the closure base is mated with the filler neck and torque transmitted by the torque transmitter means begins to exceed a predetermined torque limit. 26. The filler neck closure of claim 23, wherein the annular skirt includes a radially outwardly extending proximal portion, the closure base further includes a radially outwardly extending annular platform positioned to lie in spaced-apart relation to the radially outwardly extending proximal portion of the annular skirt and interposed between a top wall of the handle and the radially outwardly extending proximal portion of the annular skirt, and further comprising an O-ring seal coupled to the closure base and arranged to cause the radially outwardly extending proximal portion of the annular skirt to lie between the O-ring seal and the radially outwardly extending annular platform. 27. The filler neck closure of claim 26, further comprising torque transmitter means on the handle and the annular platform for providing a torque-limited driving connection between the handle and the annular platform to cause the closure base to turn on a filler neck during fuel cap installation in response to rotation of the handle in a clockwise, cap-advancing direction about an axis of rotation until the closure base is mated with the filler neck and torque transmittal by the torque transmitter means begins to exceed a predetermined torque limit. 28. The filler neck closure of claim 22, wherein the apparatus mount is a tubular sleeve having a first portion coupled to the closure base and a second portion extending downwardly from the first portion and the filler neck vent apparatus is coupled to the second portion of the tubular sleeve. 29. The filler neck closure of claim 28, wherein the filler neck vent apparatus includes a partition wall coupled to the second portion of the tubular sleeve and arranged to lie in an interior region formed in the tubular sleeve and a pressure-relief valve mounted in a pressure-relief aperture formed in the partition wall and configured to provide means for venting pressurized fuel vapor extant in a filler neck receiving the tubular sleeve to a vent chamber opened to the atmosphere and located between the partition wall and the handle whenever pressure of fuel vapor extant in the fuel tank filler neck exceeds a preset limit. 30. The filler neck closure of claim 29, wherein the partition wall is made of a monolithic plastics material and includes a plate coupled to the second portion of the tubular sleeve and an elongated vent sleeve appended to the plate and formed to define the pressure-relief aperture and a vent passageway communicating with the pressure-relief aperture and wherein the pressure-relief valve includes a retainer cap formed to include at least one pressure-discharge passageway and coupled to one end of the vent sleeve, a valve stem arranged to move back and forth in the pressure-relief channel relative to the retainer cap, a seal ring arranged to lie in the pressure-relief channel against an annular valve seat included in another end of the vent sleeve and formed to define the pressure-relief aperture, and a pressure spring located in the vent passageway and arranged normally to apply a biasing force to urge the valve stem against the seal ring on the annular valve seat to close the pressure-relief aperture and yield upon exposure of the valve stem to pressure of fuel vapor in the compartment in excess of a preset limit to allow pressurized fuel vapor in the filler neck to vent to the atmosphere through each pressure-discharge passageway formed in the retainer cap. 31. The filler neck closure of claim 29, wherein the filler neck vent apparatus further includes a vacuum-relief valve mounted in a vacuum-relief aperture formed in the partition wall and configured to provide means for admitting atmospheric air extant in the vent chamber located between the partition wall and the handle into the fuel tank filler neck whenever a vacuum extant in the fuel tank filler neck exceeds a preset limit to relieve any unwanted vacuum extant in the fuel tank filler neck. 32. The filler neck closure of claim 31, wherein the vacuum-relief valve includes a seal ring, a valve stem, and a vacuum spring configured to urge the valve stem relative to the partition wall normally against a valve seat provided on the partition wall to close the vacuum-relief aperture until a vacuum extant in the fuel tank filler neck exceeds the preset limit. 33. The filler neck closure of claim 28, wherein the filler neck vent apparatus further includes a vacuum-relief valve mounted in a vacuum-relief aperture formed in the partition wall and configured to provide means for admitting atmospheric air extant in the vent chamber located between the partition wall and the handle into the fuel tank filler neck whenever a vacuum extant in the fuel tank filler neck exceeds a preset limit to relieve any unwanted vacuum extant in the fuel tank filler neck. 34. The filler neck closure of claim 33, wherein the vacuum-relief valve includes a seal ring, a valve stem, and a vacuum spring configured to urge the valve stem relative to the partition wall normally against a valve seat provided on the partition wall to close the vacuum-relief aperture until a vacuum extant in the fuel tank filler neck exceeds the preset limit.
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