DE20120676U1 - Closure cover for automotive radiators - Google Patents

Abstract

The invention relates to a closure cap (10) for a stationary reservoir neck, especially of an automotive radiator. Said cap has a cap outer part (16) and a cap inner part (15), and the cap outer part (16) comprises a closure element (17) for the reservoir neck and a grip element (18) that permits it to be rotated relative thereto. A torsional stop (19) is provided between the grip element and the closure element (17) of the cap inner part (16). The cap inner part (15) comprises a fluid connection between the reservoir interior and the reservoir exterior and a valve arrangement (11) for releasing and locking said fluid connection. The torsional stop (19) that can be/is engaged under the action of a spring can be disengaged by a thermally or pressure-controlled drive (14), thereby making it possible to adapt the temperature or the pressure prevailing in the reservoir interior to that of the torsional stop of the closure cap in a simple manner and without inadmissibly high heat losses.

Description

F:\IJBDHF\DHFANM\ALL3 84

Applicant:

Heinrich Reutter Theodor-Heuss-Strasse 71336 Waiblingen

General power of attorney: 4.3.5.-No.807/96AV

3531094 20.12.2001

fuh / emz

Title: Cover cap for motor vehicle radiator Description

The present invention relates to a closure cap for a stationary nozzle of a container, in particular a motor vehicle radiator, according to the preamble of claim 1.

In such a closure cap known from DE 197 53 597 A1, the anti-twisting device between the closure element and the handle element is formed by an axial coupling bolt which is acted upon by a temperature-dependent spring arrangement.

In a closure cap further known from DE 199 23 775 A1, the anti-twisting device is formed by an axially movable bracket arranged within the handle element, which is actuated by a thermal drive in the form of an expansion element.

In both known cases, it is difficult to transfer the heat actually present in the container to the anti-twisting device that can be influenced by heat without major temperature losses. This is made difficult not least by the valve arrangement in the form of an overpressure and a vacuum valve arranged between the interior of the container and the anti-twisting device. The same applies to those closure lids that, as already suggested, work with a pressure-controlled anti-twisting device.

The object of the present invention is to provide a closure cap for a stationary nozzle of a container, in particular a motor vehicle radiator, of the type mentioned at the outset, at whose anti-twisting device the temperature or pressure present inside the container can be brought to the anti-twisting device or its drive in a simpler manner and without unacceptably high losses.

To achieve this object, the features specified in claim 1 are provided in a closure cap for a stationary nozzle of a container, in particular a motor vehicle radiator, of the type mentioned.

The measures according to the invention ensure that the temperature-dependent or pressure-dependent drive element in the form of an expansion capsule or a membrane can absorb the temperature or pressure prevailing inside the container directly, without losses and without delay. The transmission of the temperature or pressure conditions inside the container can take place in the shortest and most direct way directly along the lid axis, without having to accept disadvantages in the effect of the pressure relief valve body and in particular in the effect of the vacuum valve body.

Advantageous embodiments of the transmission element or its position are provided according to the features of claim 2 and/or 3. This ensures good heat conduction or lossless pressure transmission.

Advantageous embodiments of the pressure transmission element result from the features of one or more of claims 4 to 6.

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With the features according to claim 7, a support for the anti-twisting drive in the form of the expansion capsule or the membrane is provided in a simple manner.

Advantageous embodiments of the anti-twisting device result from the features according to claim 8 and/or 9.

With the features according to claim 10 and/or 11, an advantageous arrangement or design of the vacuum valve is achieved.

Further details of the invention can be found in the following description, in which the invention is described and explained in more detail using the embodiments shown in the drawing. They show:

Figure 1 shows a schematic longitudinal section of a closure cap for a motor vehicle radiator with pressure-controlled anti-twist device according to a first embodiment of the present invention, with the right and left half sections each representing one of the two end positions, and

Figure 2 is a view corresponding to Figure 1, but with a closure cap with temperature-controlled anti-twist device according to a second embodiment of the present invention.

The closure cover 10 or 110 shown in the drawing according to two embodiments has an overpressure/underpressure valve arrangement 11 or 111, which has an overpressure valve body 12 or 112 and a underpressure valve body 13 or 113 that are the same in all embodiments. The opening pressure of the overpressure valve body 12, 112 is fixed by means of a helical compression spring 44, 144, as is the underpressure valve body 13, 113 by means of a helical compression spring 66, 166.

According to the drawing, the outer cover 16 or 116 of the closure cover 10 or 110, which is the same in all embodiments, has a closure element 17, 117, which here is in the form of an external thread element for screwing the closure cover on and off the opening of a nozzle (not shown here) of a motor vehicle radiator or other container, and a handle element 18, 118, which can be rotated relative to the closure element 17, 117 and can be connected non-rotatably by means of an anti-twist device 19, 119, which is the same in all embodiments. A drive 14, 114 for uncoupling the anti-twist device 19, 119 is arranged, like the latter itself, in a space between the handle and the closure element 18 and 17 or 118 and 117. It is understood that the closure element 17, 117 can be designed as a bayonet closure element instead of as an external thread element.

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The closure element 17, 117 has an intermediate base 21, 121 provided with an axial opening, on the underside of which an externally threaded sleeve 23, 123 and on the upper side of which a connecting sleeve 24, 124 protrudes axially, via the radial flange 22, 122 of which the closure element 17, 117 is held hanging on the handle element 18, 118 so as to be rotatable but axially immovable. The handle element 18, 118 engages under the flange 22, 122 of the connecting sleeve 24, 124 of the closure element 17, 117 on the outer edge and has a guide ring 25, 125 projecting axially inwards in the middle, within which a compression spring 26, 126 is accommodated, which is supported at one end on the inside of the handle element 18, 118 and at the other end on a locking plate 27, 127 of the anti-twist device 19, 119. The locking plate 27 is connected to the handle element 18 at holding fingers 28, 128 which are radially outer and project axially inwards relative to the guide ring 25, 125, in a rotationally fixed but axially displaceable manner. The locking plate 27, 127 has claws 29, 129 on the outer circumference which are bent axially downwards and which engage in axial grooves 31, 131 of the intermediate base 21, 121 of the closure element 17, 117 in its initial position (right half section), so that in this position the anti-twist device 19, 119 is connected in a rotationally fixed manner not only to the handle element 18, 118, but also to the closure element 17, 117, which makes it possible to screw the closure lid onto and off the container nozzle (not shown). As will be shown, the anti-twist device 19, 119 is counteracting the effect of the

Compression spring 26, 126 is axially movable such that the claws 29, 129 are released from the grooves 31, 131 (left half section), so that the rotational lock between the anti-twist device 19, 119 and the closure element 17, 117 is canceled, which leads to an idle rotation of the handle element 18, 118 on the closure element 17, 117 and prevents the closure lid 10, 110 from being unscrewed from the container neck.

An inner lid part 15, 115 holding the overpressure/underpressure valve arrangement 11, 116 is suspended from the closure element 17, 117 of the outer lid part 16, 116 in such a way that the inner lid part 15, 115 is axially immobile relative to the outer lid part 16, 116, but can be rotated in the circumferential direction. The inner lid part 15, 115 has a valve pot 36, 136 which hangs from the closure element 17, 117 and which has radial flow openings (not shown). An intermediate base 38, 138 of the valve pot 36, 136 is provided with a central opening 39, 139 around which an axially inwardly raised annular sealing surface 41, 141 is provided. The pressure relief valve body 12, 112 rests on the ring sealing surface 41, 141 with the radially outer sealing surface 42, 142 of a sealing membrane 43, 143 under the effect of the compression spring 44, 144 having a certain preload. The pressure relief valve body 12, 112 is approximately hat-shaped, with the sealing membrane 43, 143 being accommodated within its rim which is bent axially towards the intermediate base 38, 138.

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The drive 14, 114 for the anti-twist device 19, 119 is arranged between the locking plate 27 and the intermediate floor 21, 121. The drive 14 is provided with an elongated transmission element 54, 154 that extends along the closure cover axis 55, 155, penetrates the pressure relief valve body 12, 112 and opens into a lower chamber 47 of the valve pot 36, 136, which is connected to the container (not shown) via a bottom opening 48. The transmission element 54, 154 serves to transmit the pressure or temperature conditions inside the container to the pressure-controlled or thermally controlled drive 14, 114 for the anti-twist device 19, 119.

The transmission element 54, 154 is designed in the manner of a hollow or solid rod, with the section facing the anti-twist device 19 being larger in diameter than the adjoining section opening into the valve pot chamber 47 below the pressure relief valve body 12, 112. The radially inner sealing surface 58, 158 of the sealing membrane 43, 143 of the pressure relief valve body 12, 112 is held in a sealing manner between the annular shoulder 56, 156 of the transmission element 54, 154 thus formed and a stationary annular disk 59, 159. In the upper, larger-diameter section, the transmission element 54, 154 serves to guide a guide sleeve 46, 146 of the pressure relief valve body 12, 112 that surrounds it.

In the embodiment of Figure 1, in which the drive is pressure-controlled, the transmission element 54 is designed as a hollow rod with a through-hole. The hollow rod 54 is provided with a flange 57 facing away from the lower space 47, which rests on the intermediate floor 21 of the closure element 17. A membrane 50 forming the drive 14 is held pressure-tightly clamped to the flange 57 on the outer circumference facing the locking plate 27. The membrane, which seals the interior of the container pressure-tight against the handle element 18, rests centrally on the flange 57 in the pressure-free initial position shown in Figure 1 and covers the through-hole 56. The membrane 50 is provided with an annular curvature 52 on an annular region between the aforementioned central region 51 and its clamping region, which enables the axial deflection of the central region 51 of the membrane 50. The central region 51 of the membrane 50 is pressed onto the flange 57 by the action of the compression spring on the locking plate 27.

In the embodiment of Figure 2, the drive 114 is formed by a thermal capsule 150, which rests on the outer edge of the intermediate base 121 of the closure element 117 and on which the central area of the locking plate 127 rests under the action of the compression spring 126. The thermal capsule 150 now extends on the base into the thermal transmission hollow rod 154, which is closed at the end. The thermal capsule 150 and the hollow rod 154 contain an expansion material which expands under the influence of

Heat expands when the temperature increases. The thermal rod 154 can also be designed as a solid rod and transfer the heat from the inside of the container to the expansion material in the thermal capsule 150.

The vacuum valve body 13, 113 according to the two embodiments is arranged on the underside of the intermediate base 38, 138 of the valve pot 36, 136 at a point in the ring area surrounding the central opening 39, 139, eccentrically to the longitudinal axis 55, 155 of the closure cover 10, 110. The vacuum valve body 13, 113, which can have different shapes, is arranged within a secondary chamber 60, 160, which is connected to the pressure relief valve chamber 37 via an opening 61, 161 in the intermediate base 38, 138. The secondary chamber 60, 160 is approximately pot-shaped, with the open side facing the interior of the container. A horizontal intermediate plate 62, 162 is provided within the secondary chamber 60, 160, in the bore of which the vacuum valve body 13, 113 is held. The underside of the intermediate plate 62, 162 is provided with a sealing disk 64, 164, on which the vacuum valve body 13 rests with its annular sealing surface 65, 165 under the action of the compression spring 66, 166, which is arranged in the secondary chamber part facing the opening 61, 161 in the intermediate base 38, 138 between the vacuum valve body 13, 113 and the intermediate plate 62, 162. In this way, when there is a negative pressure inside the container, the vacuum valve body 13, 113 can be separated from the sealing disk 64, 164.

be lifted against the action of the compression spring 66, 166 so that pressure equalization takes place.

During engine operation, the coolant will heat up, so that the temperature or pressure in the container increases. When the pressure increases, the transmission element 54, 154, which is connected to the drive 14, 114■, causes the membrane 50 to be deflected as shown in Figure 1, left half section, and moved axially in the direction of arrow B against the effect of the compression spring 44, while in the embodiment according to Figure 2, left half section, the expansion material expands due to the increase in temperature and the thermal capsule 150 expands axially in the direction of arrow B against the effect of the compression spring. In both cases, the locking plate 27, 127 is raised in the direction of arrow B while compressing the compression spring 44, 144, so that the claws 29, 129 of the anti-twist device 19, 119 or the locking plate 27, 127 are released from the grooves 31, 131 of the closure element 17, 117. In this state, the rotationally fixed connection between the closure element 17, 117 and the handle element 18, 118 is removed, so that the handle element 18, 118 rotates hollow relative to the closure element 17, 117. This free-running connection between the handle element 18, 118 and the closure element 17, 117 prevents the closure lid 10, 110 from being unscrewed from the container neck. If the pressure or temperature inside the container returns to normal initial values, the anti-twisting device 19, 119 is released under the action of the compression spring 44,

144 back into its original position, so that the closure cover 10, 110 can be unscrewed again through the rotationally fixed connection of handle element 18, 118 and closure element 17, 117.

Claims (11)

1. Closure lid ( 10 , 110 ) for a stationary nozzle of a container, in particular a motor vehicle radiator, with an outer lid part ( 16 , 116 ) and with an inner lid part ( 15 , 115 ), wherein the outer lid part ( 16 , 116 ) has a closure element ( 17 , 117 ) for the container nozzle and a handle element ( 18 , 118 ) that can be rotated relative to the handle element, between which and the closure element ( 17 , 117 ) of the outer lid part ( 16 , 116 ) an anti-twist device ( 19 , 119 ) acts, wherein the inner lid part ( 15 , 115 ) has a flow connection between the container interior and the container exterior and a valve arrangement ( 11 , 111 ) for releasing and Blocking the flow connection, which valve arrangement ( 11 , 111 ) has an axially movable pressure relief valve body ( 12 , 112 ) which is pressed towards the inside of the container against a sealing seat on the inner part of the lid ( 15 , 115 ) under prestress in such a way that it can be lifted off the sealing seat when a limit value of the internal pressure of the container is exceeded, and a vacuum valve body ( 13 , 113 ), characterized in that the anti-twisting device ( 19 , 119 ) which can be engaged or engaged under spring prestress can be disengaged by means of a thermally or pressure-controlled drive ( 14 , 114 ) in the form of an expansion capsule ( 150 ) or a membrane ( 50 ), that the drive ( 14 , 114 ) is arranged in the outer part of the lid ( 126 , 116 ) and is provided with an elongated Pressure or temperature transmission element ( 54 , 154 ) is provided which penetrates the pressure relief valve body ( 12 , 112 ) in the lid axis ( 55 , 155 ) and extends into the region of the lid inner part ( 15 , 115 ) which is connected to the nozzle of the container, and that the vacuum valve body ( 13 , 113 ) is arranged eccentrically to the lid axis ( 55 , 155 ). 2. Closure cap according to claim 1, characterized in that the pressure or temperature transmission element ( 54 , 154 ) is designed as a hollow or solid rod, along the outer circumference of which the prestressed pressure relief valve body ( 12 , 112 ) is guided. 3. Closure lid according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the pressure or temperature transmission element ( 54 , 154 ) ends in a lower chamber ( 47 , 147 ) of the inner lid part ( 15 , 115 ), which is connected to the interior of the container via an opening ( 48 , 148 ). 4. Closure cap according to at least one of claims 1 to 3, characterized in that the pressure transmission element ( 54 ) has a through-bore ( 56 ), the outlet side of which facing away from the container is covered by the membrane ( 50 ). 5. Closure cap according to claim 4, characterized in that the membrane ( 50 ) rests with its central region ( 51 ) on the outlet side of the through-bore ( 56 ) and is clamped in a pressure-tight manner on the circumference. 6. Closure cap according to claim 5, characterized in that the membrane ( 50 ) is clamped to the peripheral region of an end flange ( 57 ) of the pressure transmission element ( 54 ). 7. Closure lid according to at least one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the lid inner part ( 15 , 115 ) has a centrally perforated intermediate base ( 21 , 121 ), on the upper side of which the flange ( 57 ) provided with the membrane ( 50 ) or the expansion capsule ( 150 ) rests and on the underside of which the valve arrangement ( 11 , 111 ) hangs. 8. Closure cap according to at least one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the anti-twisting device ( 19 , 119 ) is formed by an approximately U-shaped locking plate ( 27 , 127 ), the molded-in central region of which rests on the pressure-controlled or thermally controlled drive ( 14 , 114 ). 9. Closure cap according to claim 8, characterized in that the locking plate ( 27 , 127 ) is connected to the handle element ( 18 , 118 ) in a non-rotatable but axially movable manner and that the outer ends ( 29 , 129 ) of the locking plate ( 27 , 127 ) penetrate into recesses of the closure element ( 17 , 117 ). 10. Closure cap according to at least one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the annular sealing seat for the pressure relief valve body ( 12 , 112 ) is provided on a centrally perforated intermediate base ( 21 , 121 ) of a housing ( 36 , 136 ) of the valve arrangement ( 11 , 111 ), and that the vacuum valve ( 13 , 113 ) is arranged at a location on the underside of the annular intermediate base ( 21 , 121 ). 11. Closure cap according to claim 10, characterized in that the vacuum valve body ( 13 , 113 ) is arranged in a bell-shaped chamber ( 60 , 160 ) which is open towards the container and is connected to the space of the pressure relief valve chamber through an opening ( 61 , 161 ) in the intermediate floor ( 38 , 138 ).