A fuel tank assembly includes a fuel tank including a fuel inlet. A fuel cap is threadably engageable with the fuel inlet. The fuel cap has a grip provided for manipulation by a user. A vent path extends between a vent channel and the interior of the fuel tank. In a first configuration, the fuel cap
A fuel tank assembly includes a fuel tank including a fuel inlet. A fuel cap is threadably engageable with the fuel inlet. The fuel cap has a grip provided for manipulation by a user. A vent path extends between a vent channel and the interior of the fuel tank. In a first configuration, the fuel cap is fully threaded to the fuel inlet to a fully closed position. The assembly is operable to transition to a second configuration in which the vent path is unobstructed and the fuel cap is fully threaded to the fuel inlet to the fully closed position. To enable unthreading of the fuel cap from the fuel inlet, the fuel tank assembly is operable to transition from the first configuration to the second configuration in response to a movement that does not alter the threaded engagement with the fuel inlet.
대표청구항▼
1. A fuel tank assembly comprising: a fuel tank including a fuel inlet, the fuel inlet providing access to an interior of the fuel tank;a fuel cap threadably engageable with the fuel inlet to selectively close the fuel inlet, the fuel cap having a grip portion provided for manipulation by a user;a v
1. A fuel tank assembly comprising: a fuel tank including a fuel inlet, the fuel inlet providing access to an interior of the fuel tank;a fuel cap threadably engageable with the fuel inlet to selectively close the fuel inlet, the fuel cap having a grip portion provided for manipulation by a user;a vent channel; anda vent path between the vent channel and the interior of the fuel tank, wherein, in a first configuration of the fuel tank assembly the fuel cap is fully threaded to the fuel inlet to a fully closed position,wherein the fuel tank assembly is operable to transition to a second configuration in which the vent path is unobstructed regardless of the pressure inside the fuel tank and the fuel cap is fully threaded to the fuel inlet to the fully closed position,wherein, to enable unthreading of the fuel cap from the fuel inlet, the fuel tank assembly is operable to transition from the first configuration to the second configuration in response to opening of a fuel door to uncover the grip portion, the fuel door separate from the fuel cap and movable between a closed position covering the grip portion to prevent removal of the fuel cap from the fuel inlet, and an open position in which the grip portion is uncovered to enable removal of the fuel cap from the fuel inlet, andwherein a pressure release valve is operable by movement of the fuel door to the open position to establish the vent path and transition the fuel tank assembly from the first configuration to the second configuration. 2. The fuel tank assembly of claim 1, wherein the first configuration is a continuous fuel storage configuration in which unthreading of the fuel cap is not enabled. 3. The fuel tank assembly of claim 1, wherein the vent path between the vent channel and the interior of the fuel tank is a first vent path, the fuel tank assembly further comprising: a normally closed pressure control valve operable to transition from a closed position to an open position to provide a second vent path between the vent channel and the interior of the fuel tank,wherein, when the fuel tank assembly is in the first configuration, the normally closed pressure control valve is operable to open in response to a pressure differential outside of a predetermined range. 4. The fuel tank assembly of claim 1, further comprising a top plate located between the fuel door and the fuel tank and configured to support the pressure release valve and a pressure actuator through which a closing force is transmitted to the pressure release valve when the fuel door is in the closed position. 5. The fuel tank assembly of claim 4, wherein the vent path between the vent channel and the interior of the fuel tank is a first vent path, the fuel tank assembly further comprising: a normally closed pressure control valve supported by the top plate and operable to transition from a closed position to an open position to provide a second vent path between the vent channel and the interior of the fuel tank,wherein, when the fuel tank assembly is in the first configuration, the normally closed pressure control valve is operable to open in response to a pressure differential outside of a predetermined pressure range. 6. A fuel tank assembly comprising: a fuel tank including a fuel inlet, the fuel inlet providing access to an interior of the fuel tank;a fuel cap threadably engageable with the fuel inlet to selectively close the fuel inlet, the fuel cap having a grip portion provided for manipulation by a user;a vent channel; anda vent path between the vent channel and the interior of the fuel tank, wherein, in a first configuration of the fuel tank assembly the fuel cap is fully threaded to the fuel inlet to a fully closed position,wherein the fuel tank assembly is operable to transition to a second configuration in which the vent path is unobstructed regardless of the pressure inside the fuel tank and the fuel cap is fully threaded to the fuel inlet to the fully closed position,wherein, to enable unthreading of the fuel cap from the fuel inlet, the fuel tank assembly is operable to transition from the first configuration to the second configuration in response to a movement of the grip portion that does not alter the threaded engagement with the fuel inlet,wherein the fuel cap further comprises: a body portion engageable with the fuel inlet;a movable portion including the grip portion, the movable portion coupled to the body portion and movable relative to the body portion between a retracted position in which the grip portion is stowed to inhibit manipulation and an extended position in which the grip portion is presented for manipulation; anda valve assembly,wherein, in the first configuration, the movable portion is in the retracted position, and the valve assembly obstructs the vent path, andwherein, in the second configuration, the movable portion is in the extended position. 7. The fuel tank assembly of claim 6, wherein the valve assembly is located within the body portion and suspended between an upper spring and a lower spring. 8. The fuel tank assembly of claim 6, wherein the vent path between the vent channel and the interior of the fuel tank is a first vent path, the fuel tank assembly further comprising: a normally closed pressure control valve operable to transition from a closed position to an open position to provide a second vent path between the vent channel and the interior of the fuel tank,wherein, when the fuel tank assembly is in the first configuration, the normally closed pressure control valve is operable to open in response to a pressure differential outside of a predetermined range. 9. The fuel tank assembly of claim 6, wherein the body portion is generally tubular in shape and includes an inner cylindrical surface, an outer cylindrical surface, and a bottom wall. 10. The fuel tank assembly of claim 9, further comprising: a first seal located between the valve assembly and the inner cylindrical surface of the body portion above the vent channel; anda second seal located between the valve assembly and the bottom wall below the vent channel, the second seal being selectively established when the movable portion is in the retracted position. 11. The fuel tank assembly of claim 10, wherein the vent path between the vent channel and the interior of the fuel tank is a first vent path, the fuel tank assembly further comprising: a normally closed pressure control valve supported by the valve assembly and operable to transition from a closed position to an open position to provide fluid communication between the fuel tank and the vent channel when the normally closed pressure control valve experiences a pressure differential between the interior of the fuel tank and the vent channel outside of a predetermined range; andan aperture in the valve assembly, separate from the normally closed pressure control valve, located between the first seal and the second seal,wherein, when the movable portion is in the retracted position, the aperture is aligned with the vent channel. 12. The fuel tank assembly of claim 6, wherein the vent path between the vent channel and the interior of the fuel tank is a first vent path, the fuel tank assembly further comprising: a normally closed pressure control valve operable to transition from a closed position to an open position to provide a second vent path between the vent channel and the interior of the fuel tank,wherein, when the fuel tank assembly is in the first configuration, the normally closed pressure control valve is operable to open in response to a pressure differential outside of a predetermined range. 13. A fuel tank assembly comprising: a fuel tank including a fuel inlet, the fuel inlet providing access to an interior of the fuel tank;a fuel cap threadably engageable with the fuel inlet to selectively close the fuel inlet, the fuel cap having a first body portion with threads engageable with the fuel inlet, the fuel cap further having a second body portion defining a grip portion provided for manipulation by a user, the second body portion being rotatable relative to the first body portion through a limited rotational range by exterior manipulation of the grip portion;a vent channel; anda vent path between the vent channel and the interior of the fuel tank, wherein, in a first configuration of the fuel tank assembly the fuel cap is fully threaded to the fuel inlet to a fully closed position,wherein the fuel tank assembly is operable to transition to a second configuration in which the vent path is unobstructed regardless of the pressure inside the fuel tank and the fuel cap is fully threaded to the fuel inlet to the fully closed position,wherein, to enable unthreading of the fuel cap from the fuel inlet, the fuel tank assembly is operable to transition from the first configuration to the second configuration, without altering the threaded engagement with the fuel inlet, in response to rotation of the second body portion relative to the first body portion from a blocking position in which the vent path is blocked to a venting position to establish the vent path,wherein the first body portion is operable to be driven by the second body portion to rotate in an opening direction for unthreading the fuel cap from the fuel inlet only when the second body portion is in the venting position, andwherein the vent path between the vent channel and the interior of the fuel tank is a first vent path, the second body portion of the fuel tank assembly further including a normally closed pressure control valve operable to transition from a closed position to an open position to provide a second vent path between the vent channel and the interior of the fuel tank, wherein, when the fuel tank assembly is in the first configuration, the normally closed pressure control valve is operable to open in response to a pressure differential outside of a predetermined pressure range. 14. The fuel tank assembly of claim 13, wherein the limited rotational range of the second body portion relative to the first body portion is less than 360 degrees. 15. A fuel tank assembly comprising: a fuel tank including a fuel inlet, the fuel inlet providing access to an interior of the fuel tank;a fuel cap threadably engageable with the fuel inlet to selectively close the fuel inlet, the fuel cap having a first body portion with threads engageable with the fuel inlet, the fuel cap further having a second body portion defining a grip portion provided for manipulation by a user, the second body portion being rotatable relative to the first body portion through a limited rotational range by exterior manipulation of the grip portion;a vent channel; anda vent path between the vent channel and the interior of the fuel tank, wherein, in a first configuration of the fuel tank assembly the fuel cap is fully threaded to the fuel inlet to a fully closed position,wherein the fuel tank assembly is operable to transition to a second configuration in which the vent path is unobstructed regardless of the pressure inside the fuel tank and the fuel cap is fully threaded to the fuel inlet to the fully closed position,wherein, to enable unthreading of the fuel cap from the fuel inlet, the fuel tank assembly is operable to transition from the first configuration to the second configuration, without altering the threaded engagement with the fuel inlet, in response to rotation of the second body portion relative to the first body portion from a blocking position in which the vent path is blocked to a venting position to establish the vent path,wherein the first body portion is operable to be driven by the second body portion to rotate in an opening direction for unthreading the fuel cap from the fuel inlet only when the second body portion is in the venting position, andwherein the second body portion includes one of an aperture and a seal member, and the first body portion includes the other of the aperture and the seal member, and wherein when the second body portion is in the blocking position, the aperture is closed by the seal member. 16. The fuel tank assembly of claim 15, wherein the vent path extends through the aperture when the second body portion is in the venting position. 17. The fuel tank assembly of claim 15, further comprising a biasing member urging the seal member in a closing direction.
연구과제 타임라인
LOADING...
LOADING...
LOADING...
LOADING...
LOADING...
이 특허에 인용된 특허 (37)
Heckman Greg A. (Dixon IL), Auto venting fuel cap.
Hahner Rainer,DEX ; Walter Rudiger,DEX ; Wagner Axel,DEX ; Puempel Andreas G. R.,CAX ; Savoni Lou,CAX ; Siekmann Jim, Fuel tank with filling level measurement.
Hahner Rainer,DEX ; Walter Rudiger,DEX ; Wagner Axel,DEX ; Puempel Andreas G. R.,CAX ; Savoni Lou,CAX ; Siekmann Jim, Fuel tank with incorporated deformable reservoir.
※ AI-Helper는 부적절한 답변을 할 수 있습니다.