Filler cap for tank

The invention relates to a lid, in particular fuel tank cap, having a handle portion for the handling of the lid during insertion and removal into and out of a nozzle as well as with an engagement part for engagement of the cover in the connection piece, said handle part and engagement part being connected via a detent device which is designed such that the handle member after overcoming a detent resistance of a detent position can continue to rotate relative to the engagement part with decreased rotation resistance in the screw, and on the one hand at least one detent depression and on the other hand, at least one in and out of the or the latching recess (es) is movable having run catch member, said or the locking element (s) towards the associated (n) latching depression (s) is subjected to a spring and wherein a stop to limit the angle of rotation of the handle portion is provided to overcome the detent resistance.

To close a filler neck fuel cap are named in the prior art, having a handle part for handling the fuel cap when screwing in and out in and out of the filler neck and an engaging part that is inserted for screwing the fuel cap in the filler neck and by screwing the filler neck forms a positive connection. This can be done in the form of a threaded closure or a bayonet closure.

When closing the filler neck using the Tankdekkels it is important that the fuel cap has reached the intended end position, so that the tank is sealed against fuel loss. For this purpose, it is necessary that the operator receives a signal, from which it can be concluded that the end position is actually reached.

In the prior art it is known for this purpose to connect the handle part and engagement part via a latching device with one another, which is configured such that it blocks in the unscrewing direction, but the handle part after overcoming a detent resistance of the detent position can continue to rotate relative to the engagement part in screwing-in direction. The locking resistance is adjusted so that the engagement part is carried along when the lid is screwed to the end position, ie, the driving resistance is considerably lower. On reaching the end position, the handle portion can be rotated further by overcoming the detent resistance. Several, closely spaced locking recesses are extended so that a rattling noise is produced, which is to show the user acoustically that the end position is reached. Also tactile user experiences through the rapid change from up erhöhendem and humiliating rotational resistance information as that the end position is reached.

In this type of locking device, a high wear on the catch members, which can impair the function of in such a cover usually existing pressure and vacuum relief valve is formed. Therefore, various proposals have been made to display the reaching the end position by a single optical or acoustic signal (see FIG.<patcit id="pcit0001" dnum="DE20308736U1"><text>DE 203 08 736 U1</text></patcit>; <patcit id="pcit0002" dnum="DE20308737U1"><text>DE 203 08 737 U1</text></patcit>). Apart from the fact that the mechanism for generation of the signals is relatively complicated, is the use of such a cap requires a certain attention.

In the <patcit id="pcit0003" dnum="US20020066734A1"><text>US 2002/0066734 A1</text></patcit> A lid according to the preamble of claim 1 is disclosed in which, in contrast to the above-described lid by overcoming the detent resistance not more latching recesses must be overrun, but the latching device has only a single detent position. Here, a stop for limiting the angle of rotation of the handle part, after overcoming the detent resistance is provided, which prevents the handle portion rotating further. Thereby, the user receives a haptic signal acting the fact that he has reached the end position. Structurally, this is solved so that the handle member forms two locking recesses into which in the detent position engages a respective detent member. The catch members are attached to circumferentially extending leaf spring-like webs, so that the locking members can dodge at overcoming the detent resistance.

The invention is based on the object to make a cover of the aforementioned type so that it is a simple construction and the user nevertheless at the end position a secure feel for are that it has closed the socket with the cover in the intended fashion ,

This object is achieved by a cover gemäβß claim 1, in which the or the detent member (s) guided in a guide channel at least substantially radially displaced or are. In this way, a locking connection between the handle part and engagement part is realized, which can be produced in a mechanically simple manner and is subject to little wear.

The angle of rotation between the locking position and the stop position will be so great that the reduction of the rotational resistance by overcoming the detent resistance is clearly felt. It should therefore be expediently at least 10 °, more preferably at least 15 °. Excessive rotation angle but should be avoided in order not to give the impression that the lid was broken.

In a further embodiment of the invention provides that the latching depression (s) at least substantially radially inwardly open and are and that and the locking member (s) is urged radially outwardly by the spring or are. This allows a particularly compact design. There is the possibility to mold the latching depression (s) in a locking ring, in the bordering a guide member with the or the guided therein detent member (s). The stop may then protrude from the locking ring inside.

According to the invention is also proposed that a further stop is provided which blocks the rotary movement of the handle part in the unscrewing direction relative to the engagement part. Although such a blockage can also by a combination of locking organ (s) and catch depression (s) are made. However, an additional stop relieves the locking device and can be configured more robust, so that damage to the locking device during boring of the cover is avoided out of the socket.

In a particularly preferred embodiment of the invention it is proposed that a resetting device for automatically turning back the handle portion is provided from an unlatched position to the latched position. Such resetting device ensures that the handle part by overcoming the detent resistance is automatically reset to the locked position when the user releases the handle part, especially when he has the handle portion is further rotated up to the stop. In this way it is avoided that the handle part is in a non-fixed state, after leaving the detent. In addition, a potentially irritating idling is avoided if the cover is to be rotated out of the socket again.

The reset means may conveniently comprise a spring relative to the engagement member, preferably increasingly acted upon further rotation of the handle portion, ie, stretched, wherein a voltage is sufficient, reliable returns the handle portion back into the locking position. It may be a different matter from the locking device spring starts against the handle part when leaving the locked position. It is particularly advantageous for this purpose zoom to pull the spring anyway for impingement of the catch or organ (s) is provided in the direction of the latching recess (es). This can be done in that the detent member or at least one of the detent members, after leaving the detent depression (s) runs onto a ramp that creates such movement of the or the detent member (s) against the action of the spring during further rotation of the handle portion, that the handle part is moved back under the action of the spring automatically into the latching position. The ramp so the spring on the locking member is increasingly tensioned. If the handle portion is released, the locking member slides due to the load which then progressively relaxing spring the ramp toward the locked position back.

In the drawing the invention using an exemplary embodiment is illustrated in more detail. Show it:<dl id="dl0001"><dt>figure 1</dt><dd>the lid according to the invention in vertical section;</dd><dt>figure 2</dt><dd>the lid of Figure 1 with an engaged handle part in the horizontal section and</dd><dt>figure 3</dt><dd>the lid in the representation according to Figure 2 in entrasteter position of the handle portion.</dd></dl>

The illustrated in Figures 1 tank lid has a hat-shaped handle part 2, whose outer shape is designed so that a protruding upward web is formed, on which the fuel cap 1 can be gripped. The handle part 2 is placed over an engaging part 3, which has an engaging portion 4th The engaging portion 4 is on the outside with non-illustrated engaging elements, such as a thread, is provided through which the gas cap may be 1 engaged with a corresponding thread in a fuel tank filler neck. The engaging portion 4 goes up over radially in a horizontally outwardly bent collar 5, which is under understood from the handle part 2 by means of snap protrusions 6, 7th A seal ring 8 surrounds the transition between engagement portion 4 and collar 5 and serves towards sealing the neck.

Inner side, the engaging portion 4, a tray 9 which forms a valve seat ring 10th The tray 9 has here non-illustrated openings through which a connection is made to the tank. On the valve seat ring 10 is a disk-like valve ring 11 rests on the upper side. It is acted upon from above by a first valve plate 12, which is pressed by a compressively stressed first valve spring 13 in the direction of the valve seat ring eleventh From the underside of the valve ring 10 is acted upon by a second valve plate 14 which is supported by a shell on the support 9, pressure-loaded second valve spring 15 is pressed in the direction of the valve ring fourteenth In this case, it is so on to the valve ring 14 that they surrounded the area enclosed by him opening sealingly. The second valve spring 15 has a lower spring force than the first valve spring. 13

At an overpressure of sides of the tank valve lift ring 10 and the valve plates 12, 14 against the action of the first valve spring 13 from. In this way flow out of the sealed tank with the lid 1 to the outside atmosphere gas, wherein in the engaging part 3 and the handle part corresponding ducts and openings 2 are present. In the case of a negative pressure, the second valve plate 14 lifts from the valve ring 11 from against the action of the second valve spring 15, so that via the opening in the valve ring 10 and a central opening in the first valve plate 12 air can flow into the tank.

In the engagement part 3 is 16 clipped rotatably inside a shell. At this lower shell 16, the first valve spring supports 13 from the lower side. The lower shell 16 has a 17th of their upstanding locking ring in the locking ring 17 protrudes from above a guide housing 18 into which is above other rotationally fixed upstanding coupling lugs 19, 20 connected to the handle portion. 2

As can be seen in particular from Figures 2 and 3, the guide housing 18 has a radially extending guide channel 21 in which a catch member 22 is guided in a radially displaceable. The locking member 22 is subjected to a force by a compression spring 23rd The compression spring 23 is supported at one end on the locking member 22 and the other end on the guide housing 18th The locking member 22 has at its projecting out of the guide channel 21 end two detents 24, 25, which lie in the direction of rotation of the guide housing 18 in a row. The latching noses 24, 25 correspond with complementarily shaped detent recesses 26, 27, which are formed on the inside of the locking ring 17th In addition, the locking ring 17 radially projecting from the inner side to the inside first and second stops 28, 29 which limit the rotational mobility of the guide housing 18 with respect to the locking ring 17th

Nearby 2 clipping member 22 and locking recesses 26, 27 in the detent position, ie, the locking lugs 24, 25 snap into the locking recesses 26, 27th Handle portion 2 and engagement part 3 are then so far via the locking of locking member 22 and locking ring 17 rotationally fixed together so that the fuel cap 1 can be screwed into a dedicated tank neck up to its end position. The driving resistance to the end position is substantially less than the detent resistance between locking lugs 24 and 25 and locking recesses 26, 27. The screwing-in direction is shown in Figures 2 and 3 a rotation in the clockwise direction.

Achieved the fuel cap 1 its final position, further rotation of the engaging part 3 is blocked. The user is, however, try the handle part 3 continue rotating because he is not sure if in fact reached the end position. In this case, it overcomes the locking resistance to the oblique surfaces of the latching lugs 24, 25 and the locking recesses 26, 27. The locking member 22 is pushed against the action of the compression spring 23 into the guide housing 18 so that the locking lug in rotationally leading 24 on a ramp 30 of the locking ring 17 runs. This ramp 30 has 18 is a smaller and smaller radius, so that the latching member 22 is inserted further in accordance with further rotation of the handle part 2 in the guide housing 18 and the compression spring 23 braced always higher in relation to the rotational axis of the guide housing. Overall, however, thereby building up resistance to rotation is significantly less than the detent resistance it was during the extension of the latching lugs 24, 25 from the detent recesses 26, to overcome the 27th This is clearly noticeable to the user.

The lost motion of the handle part 2 relative to the engagement part is possible only up to the position shown in Figure 3. In this position, a first projection 31 strikes the guide housing 18 at the first stop 28th The combination of high locking resistance, low idle resistance and blocking by the first stop 28 provides the user with a clear tactile signal that the distortion achieved reliably and further rotation is no longer necessary. He then leaves the handle part 2 los. The action of the compression spring 23 is so strong that the detent 24 on the ramp 23 again slides in the direction of the locking recesses 26, 27 and so that the handle portion 2 is returned to the locking position shown in FIG. 2 The locking lugs 24, 25 engage again into the locking recesses 26, 27th Thereby abuts a second projection 32 on the second stop 29th If now the handle part in the unscrewing direction (counter-clockwise) rotated 2, the rotational movement about the guide housing 18, the second projection 32 and the second stop 29 on the locking ring 17 and thus the engaging portion 3 and the engaging portion 4 is transmitted. The detents 24, 25 are thus relieved of a torque transmission.