EP1456515B1 - Closure cap for an automotive radiator - 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

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

In such a from the DE 200 12 722 U1 Known closure lid is a thermal drive in the form of a Dehnstoffkapsel provided by means of which the bias of the pressed on his sealing seat pressure relief valve body is adjustable and also acts on the rotation between grip element and closure element, wherein the temperature transmission element of the drive through the pressure relief valve body through to the nozzle of the container enough. A pressure transmitting element is not provided in this known closure lid.

At one of the DE 197 53 597 A1 Known closure lid, the rotation between the closure element and grip element is formed by an axial coupling pin, which is acted upon by a temperature-dependent working spring arrangement.

At one of the DE 199 23 775 A1 Further known closure lid, the rotation is formed by an axially movable and arranged within the handle member bracket, which is actuated by a thermal drive in the form of a Dehnstoffelementes.

In both known cases, it is difficult to bring the existing concrete heat in the container without major temperature losses of the heat-influenceable against rotation. This is not least due to the way in between Container interior and anti-rotation valve assembly arranged in the form of an overpressure and a vacuum valve difficult to make. The same applies to such caps, which, as already proposed, work with a pressure-controlled rotation.

The object of the present invention is to provide a closure cap for a stationary neck of a container, in particular motor vehicle radiator, of the type mentioned, at its rotation or their drive in a simpler manner and without unduly high losses present in the container interior temperature or in the Container interior existing pressure to the rotation or their drive can be brought.

To solve this problem, the features specified in claim 1 are provided with a closure cap for a stationary neck of a container, in particular motor vehicle radiator, of the type mentioned.

The inventive measures it is achieved that the temperature-dependent or pressure-dependent operating drive element in the form of a Dehnstoffkapsel or a membrane, the temperature prevailing inside the container or the pressure prevailing inside the container directly, without Losses and can absorb without delay. The transmission of the temperature or pressure conditions in the container interior can be done in the shortest and most direct way directly in the course of the lid axis without disadvantages in the action of the pressure relief valve body and in particular in the action of the vacuum valve body are to be accepted.

Advantageous embodiments of the transmission element or of its position is provided according to the features of claim 2 and / or 3. As a result, a good heat conduction or a lossless pressure transmission is given.

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

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

Advantageous embodiments of the rotation lock result from the features of claim 8 and / or 9.

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

Figur 1

in schematischer längsgeschnittener Darstellung einen Verschlussdeckel für einen Kraftfahrzeugkühler mit druckgesteuerter Verdrehsicherung gemäß einem ersten Ausführungsbeispiel vorliegender Erfindung, wobei rechter und linker Halbschnitt jeweils eine der beiden Endpositionen darstellen, und

Figur 2

eine der Figur 1 entsprechende Darstellung, jedoch bei einem Verschlussdeckel mit temperaturgesteuerter Verdrehsicherung gemäß einem zweiten Ausführungsbeispiel vorliegender Erfindung.

Further details of the invention will be apparent from the following description in which the invention with reference to the embodiments illustrated in the drawings and described in more detail. Show it:

FIG. 1

in a schematic longitudinal sectional view of a closure cap for a motor vehicle radiator with pressure-controlled rotation in accordance with a first embodiment of the present invention, wherein right and left half section each represent one of the two end positions, and

FIG. 2

one of the FIG. 1 corresponding representation, but in a closure lid with temperature-controlled anti-rotation device according to a second embodiment of the present invention.

The closure lid 10 or 110 shown in the drawing according to two embodiments has an overpressure / negative pressure valve arrangement 11 or 111 which has a pressure relief valve body 12 or 112 and negative pressure valve body 13 or 113 which is identical in all exemplary embodiments. The opening pressure of the pressure relief valve body 12, 112 is fixed by means of a helical compression spring 44, 144, as well as the suppression valve body 13, 113 by means of a Helical compression spring 66, 166.

According to the drawing, the same in all embodiments outer cover 16 and 116 of the closure lid 10 and 110 has a closure element 17, 117, here in the form of an external thread member for screwing and unscrewing the closure lid of the opening of a motor vehicle radiator, not shown here or other container, and a handle member 18, 118 which is rotatable relative to the closure member 17, 117 and by means of a same in all embodiments anti-rotation 19, 119 is non-rotatably connected. A drive 14, 114 for decoupling the anti-rotation device 19, 119 is like the latter itself arranged 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 may be formed instead of a male thread element as a bayonet closure element.

The closure element 17, 117 has an intermediate bottom 21, 121 provided with an axial opening, on whose underside an externally threaded sleeve 23, 123 and on its upper side a connecting sleeve 24, 124 projects axially, via the radial flange 22, 122 of the closure element 17, 117 on Handle member 18, 118 rotatable, but is held axially immovable hanging. The grip element 18, 118 engages under the outside edge of the flange 22, 122 of the connection sleeve 24, 124 of the closure element 17, 117 and has centrally in the center of a axially projecting guide ring 25, 125, within which a compression spring 26, 126 is received, which at one end to the inside of the handle member 18, 118 and the other end to a locking plate 27, 127 of the rotation 19, 119 is supported. The locking plate 27 is on opposite the guide ring 25, 125 radially outer, axially inwardly projecting retaining fingers 28, 128 with the handle member 18, 118 rotatably, but axially displaceably connected. The locking plate 27, 127 has outer peripheral side axially downwardly bent claws 29, 129 which engage in axial grooves 31, 131 of the intermediate bottom 21, 121 of the closure element 17, 117 in their initial position (right half section), so that in this position, the anti-rotation 19 , 119 not only with the handle member 18, 118, but also with the closure member 17, 117 is rotatably connected, which makes it possible to screw on and off the closure lid on or from the container neck, not shown. As will be shown, the anti-rotation device 19, 119 against the action of the compression spring 26, 126 axially movable so that the claws 29, 129 free from the grooves 31, 131 (left half-section), so that the rotation between rotation 19 , 119 and closure member 17, 117 is released, resulting in an idle rotation of the handle member 18, 118 on the closure member 17, 117 and prevents unscrewing of the closure lid 10, 110 from the container neck.

On the closure element 17, 117 of the lid outer part 16, 116, a lid inner part 15, 115 holding the overpressure / vacuum valve assembly 11, 111 is suspended, such that the lid inner part 15, 115 relative to the lid outer part 16, 116 axially immovable, but in the circumferential direction is rotatable. The cover inner part 15, 115 has a valve pot 36, 136 which hangs on the closure element 17, 117 and has the radial flow openings, not shown. An intermediate bottom 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. On the annular sealing surface 41, 141 of the pressure relief valve body 12, 112 with the radially outer sealing surface 42, 142 of a sealing membrane 43, 143 under the action of a certain bias having compression spring 44, 144 on. The pressure relief valve body 12, 112 is approximately hat-shaped, wherein the sealing membrane 43, 143 is received within its axially bent to the intermediate bottom 38, 138 toward the brim.

The drive 14, 114 for the rotation 19, 119 is disposed between the locking plate 27 and the intermediate bottom 21, 121. The drive 14 is provided with an elongated transmission element 54, 154 which extends along the closure lid axis 55, 155, the pressure relief valve body 12, 112 penetrates and in a lower space 47 of the valve pot 36, 136 the test over a bottom opening 48 is in communication with the container, not shown. The transmission element 54, 154 serves to transmit the pressure or temperature conditions in the container interior to the pressure-controlled or thermally controlled drive 14, 114 for the anti-rotation device 19, 119.

The transmission element 54, 154 is formed in the manner of a hollow or solid rod, wherein the anti-rotation 19, 119 facing portion is larger in diameter than the adjoining in the valve head chamber 47 opening portion below the pressure relief valve body 12, 112. Between the thus formed annular shoulder 56th , 156 of the transmission element 54, 154 and a stationary annular disk 59, 159, the radially inner sealing surface 58, 158 of the sealing membrane 43, 143 of the pressure relief valve body 12, 112 is sealingly held. In the upper, larger diameter section, the transmission element 54, 154 serves to guide a surrounding guide sleeve 46, 146 of the pressure relief valve body 12, 112.

In the embodiment of FIG. 1 in which the drive is pressure-controlled, the transmission element 54 is formed as a hollow rod with a through hole. The hollow bar 54 is facing away from the lower space 47 provided with a flange 57 which rests on the intermediate bottom 21 of the closure element 17. On the flange 57 of the locking plate 27 facing a drive 14 forming membrane 50 outer circumference pressure-tight clamped held. The container interior against the handle member 18 pressure-tight sealing membrane is located in the FIG. 1 The membrane 50 is provided at an annular region between said central region 51 and its clamping region with a ring bulge 52, which allows the axial deflection of the central region 51 of the membrane 50 shown centered on the flange 57. The central region 51 of the membrane 50 is pressed by the action of the compression spring on the locking plate 27 on the flange 57.

In the embodiment of FIG. 2 the drive 114 is formed by a thermal capsule 150, which rests on the outer edge side on the intermediate bottom 121 of the closure element 117 and on the center of the central region of the locking plate 127 rests under the action of the compression spring 126. The thermal capsule 150 now on the bottom side in the end closed thermal transfer hollow rod 154 via. Thermal capsule 150 and hollow rod 154 include an expanding material that expands under the influence of heat as the temperature increases. The thermostat 154 may also be formed as a solid rod and transfer the heat from the container interior to the expansion material in the thermal capsule 150.

The negative pressure valve body 13, 113 according to the two embodiments is at the bottom of the intermediate bottom 38, 138 of the valve pot 36, 136 at a location of the central region surrounding the central opening 39, 139 eccentrically to the longitudinal axis 55, 155 of the closure lid 10, 110 is arranged. The vacuum valve body 13, 113, which may have different shapes, is disposed within a secondary chamber 60, 160, which communicates via an opening 61, 161 in the intermediate bottom 38, 138 with the pressure relief valve chamber 37. The secondary chamber 60, 160 is approximately pot-shaped, wherein the open side points to the container interior. Within the secondary chamber 60, 160, a horizontal intermediate plate 62, 162 is provided, in the bore of the vacuum valve body 13, 113 is held. The bottom of the intermediate plate 62, 162 is provided with a sealing washer 64, 164, on which the vacuum valve body 13 with its annular sealing surface 65, 165 under the action of the compression spring 66, 166 seated in the opening 61, 161 in the intermediate bottom 38, 138th facing the auxiliary chamber part between the vacuum valve body 13, 113 and the intermediate plate 62, 162 is arranged. In this way, when negative pressure prevailing in the container interior of the vacuum valve body 13, 113 of the sealing disc 64, 164 against the action of the compression spring 66, 166 are lifted, so that a pressure equalization takes place.

During engine operation, the coolant will heat up, causing the temperature or pressure in the reservoir to rise. By the transmission element 54, 154, with the Drive 14, 114 is connected, at pressure increase according to FIG. 1 Left half-section, the diaphragm 50 deflected and axially against the action of the compression spring 44 in the direction of arrow B moves, while in the embodiment according to FIG. 2 , left half-section, due to the increase in temperature of the expansion expands and the thermal capsule 150 axially against the action of the compression spring 144 in the direction of arrow B expands. 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 jaws 29, 129 of the anti-rotation 19, 119 and the locking plate 27, 127 from the grooves 31, 131 of the closure element 17, 117 come free. In this state, the rotationally fixed connection between the closure element 17, 117 and handle element 18, 118 is released, so that the grip element 18, 118 against the closure element 17, 117 rotates hollow. This no-load connection between handle element 18, 118 and closure element 17, 117 prevents unscrewing of the closure lid 10, 110 from the container neck. Return to normal output values of pressure or temperature inside the container, the anti-rotation 19, 119 passes under the action of the compression spring 44, 144 back to its original position, so that the closure lid 10, 110 through the rotationally fixed connection of handle element 18, 118 and closure element 17, 117 can be unscrewed again.

Claims (10)

1. A sealing cap (10, 110), for a fixed connecting piece of a container, in particular a motor vehicle radiator, having a cap exterior part (16, 116) and a cap interior part (15, 115), whereby the cap exterior part (16, 116) has a sealing element (17, 117) for the container connecting piece and a grip element (18, 118) that can rotate relative to the former, a torsional stop (19, 119) functioning between the grip element and the sealing element (17, 117) of the cap exterior part (16, 116), whereby the cap interior part (15, 115) has a flow connection between the interior and the exterior of the container and a valve arrangement (11,111) for releasing and blocking the flow connection, said valve arrangement having an axially movable overpressure valve element (12, 112), which is pressed with biasing in the direction of the interior of the container against a sealing seat on the cap interior part (15, 115) such that it can be lifted off from the sealing seat when a limit value of the container interior pressure is exceeded, and an underpressure valve element (13, 113), which is arranged so as to be concentric with respect to the cap axis (55, 155), whereby the torsional stop (19, 119), which can be or is engaged with spring biasing, can be disengaged by a thermally or pressure-controlled drive (14, 114) in the form of an expansion capsule (150) or a diaphragm (50), and the drive (14, 114) is arranged in the cap exterior part (16, 116) and is provided with an elongated pressure or temperature transmitting element (54, 154) which penetrates the overpressure valve element (12, 112) in the cap axis (55, 155) and extends into the area of the cap interior part (15, 115), which has a connection with the connecting piece of the container, wherein the pressure or temperature transmitting element (54, 154) discharges in a lower chamber (47, 147) of the cap interior part (15, 115), the chamber being connected to the interior of the container via an opening (48, 148).
2. The sealing cap as recited in Claim 1, wherein the pressure or temperature transmitting element (54, 154) is configured as a hollow or solid bar, along whose exterior circumference the biased overpressure valve element (12, 112) is guided
3. The sealing cap as recited in Claims 1 or 2, wherein pressure transmitting element (54) has a through borehole (56), whose output side, facing away from the container, is covered by the diaphragm (50).
4. The sealing cap as recited in Claim 3, wherein the diaphragm (50) with its central area (51) rests on the output side of the through borehole (56) and is clamped on the circumferential side in a pressure-tight manner.
5. The sealing cap as recited in Claim 4, wherein the diaphragm (50) is clamped on the circumferential area of an end-face flange (57) of the pressure transmitting element (54).
6. The sealing cap as recited in at least one of the preceding claims, wherein the cap interior part (15, 115) has an intermediate base (21, 121), which is pierced through in the center, on whose upper side the flange (57) that is provided with the diaphragm (50) or the expansion capsule (150) rests, and from whose lower side the valve arrangement (11, 111) hangs.
7. The sealing cap as recited in at least one of the preceding claims, wherein the torsional stop (19, 119) is formed by a roughly U-shaped blocking plate (27, 127), whose molded central area rests on the drive (14, 114) that is controlled either by pressure or thermally.
8. The sealing cap as recited in Claims 7, wherein the blocking plate (27, 127) is connected to the handle element (18, 118) so that it can move axially but not rotate, and the exterior ends (29, 129) of the blocking plate (27, 127) penetrate into recesses in the sealing element (17, 117).
9. The sealing cap as recited in at least one of the preceding claims, wherein the annular sealing seat for the overpressure valve element (12, 112) is provided on a centrally penetrated intermediate base (21, 121) of a housing (36, 136) of the valve arrangement (11, 111), and the overpressure valve (13, 113) is arranged at a location on the lower side of the annular intermediate base (21, 121).
10. The sealing cap as recited in Claim 9, wherein the overpressure valve element (13, 113) is arranged in a bell-shaped chamber (60, 160), which is open facing the container and which is connected to the interior of the overpressure valve chamber via an opening (61, 161) in the intermediate base (38, 138).

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