초록

A capless fuel filling system for a vehicle including a closure assembly that forms an iris arrangement that is rotatable to form a seal for a fuel filling tube or provide access to the fuel filling tube.

대표청구항 ▼

1. A vehicle closure assembly, comprising: a capless fuel filling system, including: a rotatable top closure ring; anda plurality of iris blades rotatably engaged with the top closure ring so as to be rotatable between a fully closed position with the plurality of iris blades fully interlaced and co

1. A vehicle closure assembly, comprising: a capless fuel filling system, including: a rotatable top closure ring; anda plurality of iris blades rotatably engaged with the top closure ring so as to be rotatable between a fully closed position with the plurality of iris blades fully interlaced and collectively forming a seal for a fuel filling tube, and an open position allowing access to the fuel filling tube, depending on a top closure ring rotational position. 2. The assembly of claim 1, wherein the closure assembly further comprises: a pivot ring comprising a plurality of posts that correspond to the plurality of iris blades;each iris blade of the plurality of iris blades forming a passage to receive a corresponding post of the plurality of posts; anda fuel tube bezel forming a plurality of holes to receive the plurality of posts to pivotably secure each iris blade of the plurality of iris blades between the pivot ring and the fuel tube bezel on the corresponding post of the plurality of posts. 3. The assembly of claim 2, wherein the plurality of iris blades is covered by the pivot ring to conceal the plurality of iris blades from view from outside the vehicle when the plurality of iris blades is in the open position. 4. The assembly of claim 2, wherein the closure assembly further comprises: a bottom closure ring coupled to the rotatable top closure ring to circumferentially enclose the pivot ring, the plurality of iris blades, and the fuel tube bezel. 5. The assembly of claim 4, wherein the fuel tube bezel comprises a cylinder for interfacing with the fuel filling tube that extends through a central aperture formed by the bottom closure ring, the cylinder comprising a latch for securing the closure assembly to the fuel filling tube. 6. The assembly of claim 1, further comprising: a flapper door forming a seal in the fuel filling tube downstream of the closure assembly. 7. The assembly of claim 1, wherein the rotatable top closure ring comprises a top surface that forms a radial pattern of alternating knobs and depressions. 8. The assembly of claim 1, wherein each iris blade of the plurality of iris blades comprises a sprocket; and the rotatable top closure ring comprising a bottom surface that forms a plurality of gear teeth that engage the sprocket of each iris blade of the plurality of iris blades to rotate the plurality of iris blades based on rotation of the top closure ring. 9. The assembly of claim 1, wherein each iris blade of the plurality of iris blades comprises a beveled edge that interlaces with adjacent iris blades when the plurality of iris blades is in the closed position. 10. The assembly of claim 1, wherein each iris blade of the plurality of iris blades rotates in the same sense of rotation as the top closure ring, and each iris blade of the plurality of iris blades rotates in a direction that is different than a direction of insertion of a fuel nozzle into the fuel filling tube. 11. A closure assembly for a capless fuel filling system of a vehicle, comprising: a top closure ring;a pivot ring positioned below the top closure ring, the pivot ring comprising a plurality of posts;a plurality of iris blades engaged with the top closure ring, each iris blade of the plurality of iris blades forming a passage for receiving a corresponding post of the plurality of posts;a fuel tube bezel forming a plurality of holes for receiving the plurality of posts such that the plurality of iris blades are positioned between the pivot ring and the fuel tube bezel; anda bottom closure ring coupled to the top closure ring to circumferentially enclose the pivot ring, the plurality of iris blades, and the fuel tube bezel. 12. The system of claim 11, wherein the plurality of iris blades are rotatable between a closed position with the plurality of iris blades collectively forming a seal for a fuel filling tube, and an open position allowing access to the fuel filling tube, depending on a top closure ring rotational position. 13. The system of claim 12, wherein each iris blade of the plurality of iris blades comprises a sprocket; and the top closure ring comprises a bottom surface that forms a plurality of gear teeth that engage the sprocket of each iris blade of the plurality of iris blades to rotate the plurality of iris blades based on rotation of the top closure ring. 14. The system of claim 13, wherein each iris blade of the plurality of iris blades rotates in a direction that is different than a direction of insertion of a fuel nozzle into the fuel filling tube. 15. The system of claim 13, wherein each iris blade of the plurality of iris blades rotates in the same sense of rotation as the top closure ring. 16. The system of claim 15, wherein each iris blade of the plurality of iris blades comprises a beveled edge that interlaces with adjacent iris blades when the plurality of iris blades is in the closed position. 17. The system of claim 11, wherein the fuel tube bezel comprises a cylinder that extends through a central aperture formed by the bottom closure ring, and the cylinder comprises a latch for mounting the closure assembly to a fuel filling tube. 18. A capless fuel filling system for a vehicle comprising: a fuel filling tube;a spring-biased flapper door; anda closure assembly positioned upstream of the spring-biased flapper door, the closure assembly comprising: a rotatable top closure ring comprising a bottom surface forming a plurality of gear teeth;a pivot ring positioned below the rotatable top closure ring, the pivot ring comprising a plurality of posts;a plurality of iris blades, each iris blade of the plurality of iris blades comprising a sprocket rotatably engaged with corresponding gear teeth of the plurality of gear teeth so that the plurality of iris blades rotate between a closed position with the plurality of iris blades collectively forming a seal for the fuel filling tube and an open position to allow access to the fuel filling tube depending on a rotatable top closure ring rotational position, and the sprocket forming a passage for receiving a corresponding post of the plurality of posts;a fuel tube bezel forming a plurality of holes for receiving the plurality of posts such that the plurality of iris blades are positioned between the pivot ring and the fuel tube bezel; anda bottom closure ring coupled to the top closure ring to circumferentially enclose the pivot ring, the plurality of iris blades, and the fuel tube bezel. 19. The system of claim 18, wherein each iris blade of the plurality of iris blades comprises a beveled edge that interlaces with adjacent iris blades when the plurality of iris blades is in the closed position. 20. The system of claim 18, wherein each iris blade of the plurality of iris blades rotates in the same sense of rotation as the rotatable top closure ring, wherein each iris blade of the plurality of iris blades rotates in a direction that is different than a direction of insertion of a fuel nozzle into the fuel filling tube, and wherein the system is sealable against fuel vapors even without a removable cap.