JP2016088119A - Fuel cap - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a fuel cap which can prevent a situation that a positive pressure valve does not operate by fixation of a valve element and a valve seat.SOLUTION: A fuel cap includes: an approximately cylindrical casing 11 mounted on a filler neck 30 connected to a fuel tank; a cover body 12 mounted on one end side of the casing 11; a positive pressure valve 14 which is arranged in the casing 11, and changes from a closed state that a valve element 21 is pressed to an other end side of the casing 11 with respect to a valve seat 42a to an open state when the valve element 21 moves to a cover body 12 side; and a protrusion member 16 which is arranged in the casing 11 so as to protrude from an opening on the other end of the casing 11 and moves to the cover body 12 side together with the valve element 21 when pressed to the cover body 12 side.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 1

Description

  The present invention relates to a fuel cap provided with a positive pressure valve.

  Patent Document 1 describes a tank cap that opens and closes an injection port of a fuel tank of an automobile. The tank cap includes a pressure regulating valve that regulates the pressure in the tank. The pressure regulating valve includes a positive pressure valve and a negative pressure valve, and adjusts the pressure in the fuel tank within a predetermined range. When the pressure in the fuel tank becomes a positive pressure exceeding the first pressure value with the fuel cap attached to the filler neck, the positive pressure valve is opened, and the fuel tank is communicated with the outside air. On the other hand, when the inside of the fuel tank has a negative pressure lower than the second pressure value, the negative pressure valve is opened to allow the inside of the fuel tank to communicate with the outside air.

JP 2006-69666 A

  By the way, when the internal pressure of the fuel tank rises at the time of abnormality such as when a pipe (for example, a pipe connected to the charcoal canister) that discharges fuel vapor evaporated in the fuel tank is clogged, the positive pressure valve operates. However, since such an abnormality rarely occurs, the positive pressure valve rarely operates. Therefore, in the conventional fuel cap, the state in which the valve body of the positive pressure valve is pressed against the valve seat continues for a long period of time, and the valve body may adhere to the valve seat. Then, due to this sticking, there is a possibility that the positive pressure valve does not operate at the time of abnormality.

  An object of this invention is to provide the fuel cap which can avoid that a positive pressure valve falls into the state which does not operate | move by adhesion with a valve body and a valve seat.

  A first invention is a fuel cap, a substantially cylindrical casing attached to a filler neck connected to a fuel tank, a lid attached to one end of the casing, a valve body provided in the casing, Is installed in the casing so as to protrude from the opening at the other end of the casing and the positive pressure valve that changes to the open state when the valve body moves from the closed state pressed against the valve seat to the other end side of the casing. And a projecting member that moves to the lid side together with the valve body when pushed to the lid side.

  In the first invention, the projecting member projects from the opening at the other end of the casing. Therefore, for example, when the fuel cap removed from the filler neck is placed on the cap place from the other end side of the casing, the projecting member is pushed toward the lid. Moreover, even if a fuel cap is attached to the cap hanger provided on the back surface of the fuel lid, the protruding member is pushed toward the lid. When the projecting member is pushed and moved toward the lid, the positive pressure valve body also moves toward the lid along with the projecting member. Along with this movement, the valve body moves away from the valve seat.

  According to 1st invention, a valve body can be separated from a valve seat by pushing the protrusion member which protrudes from opening of the other end of a casing to a cover body side. The valve element can be separated from the valve seat by utilizing the time of refueling to remove the fuel cap. Thereby, it is possible to prevent the state in which the valve body is pressed against the valve seat from continuing for a long period of time. Therefore, it can be avoided that the positive pressure valve does not operate due to the sticking of the valve body and the valve seat.

Sectional view of the fuel cap according to the embodiment

  Hereinafter, the embodiment will be described in detail with reference to FIG. FIG. 1 is a cross-sectional view of the fuel cap 10. FIG. 1A is a cross-sectional view of the fuel cap 10 with the positive pressure valve 14 closed. FIG. 1B is a cross-sectional view of the fuel cap 10 with the positive pressure valve 14 opened. The fuel cap 10 is attached to a filler neck 30 of a fuel supply pipe connected to a fuel tank. The fuel cap 10 of the present embodiment is provided with a protruding member 16 so that the first valve body 21 of the positive pressure valve 14 can be separated from the first valve seat 42a by using the time of refueling when the fuel cap 10 is removed. It has been.

[Composition of fuel cap]
As shown in FIG. 1, the fuel cap 10 includes a casing 11, a lid body 12, a torque panel 13, a positive pressure valve 14, a negative pressure valve 15, a protruding member 16, and a gasket 17. Hereinafter, in the axial direction of the casing 11, the lid 12 side is referred to as an upper side, and the side opposite to the lid 12 is referred to as a lower side.

  The casing 11 is formed in a substantially cylindrical shape. A male screw is formed on the outer peripheral surface of the casing 11. When the casing 11 is inserted into the filler neck 30 and the fuel cap 10 is rotated in a predetermined direction, the male screw of the casing 11 engages with the female screw of the filler neck 30 and the fuel cap 10 is fixed to the filler neck 30. . A gasket 17 that seals the gap between the casing 11 and the filler neck 30 is attached to the upper part of the outer peripheral surface of the casing 11.

  An upper support member 25 and a valve chamber forming member 42 are provided in the casing 11. The upper support member 25 is disposed in the upper part in the casing 11. The upper support member 25 is formed in a substantially ring shape. The upper support member 25 is fixed to the inner peripheral surface of the casing 11 at the outer peripheral portion. A plurality of recesses are formed on the outer peripheral surface of the upper support member 25. Each concave portion forms a flow passage through which gas flows between the outer peripheral surface of the upper support member 25 and the inner peripheral surface of the casing 11 when the positive pressure valve 14 or the negative pressure valve 15 is operated.

  The valve chamber forming member 42 is disposed in the lower part in the casing 11. The valve chamber forming member 42 is integrated with the casing 11. The valve chamber forming member 42 forms a valve chamber that houses the negative pressure valve 15. The valve chamber forming member 42 includes an upper portion 43 extending inward from the inner peripheral surface of the casing 11, an intermediate portion 44 extending downward from the inner end of the upper portion 43, and a lower portion 45 extending inward from the lower end of the intermediate portion 44. Yes. The upper part 43 is formed in a substantially ring shape. One step is formed in the upper portion 43. The intermediate part 44 is formed in a substantially cylindrical shape. The valve chamber is formed inside the intermediate portion 44. The lower part 45 is formed in a substantially ring shape. The protruding member 16 is inserted into the through hole 36 that penetrates the center of the lower portion 45. In the valve chamber forming member 42, a bent portion that connects the upper portion 43 and the intermediate portion 44 functions as a valve seat (a first valve seat 42 a described later) of the positive pressure valve 14.

  The lid body 12 is a part that the user grips when removing the fuel cap 10. The lid 12 is formed in a downward cup shape. The lid body 12 is attached to the upper end portion of the casing 11 via the torque panel 13. The torque panel 13 is a component for idling the lid 12 when the force for rotating the lid 12 is excessive. Around the place where the torque panel 13 and the lid 12 are attached, a vent hole is formed (not shown) for communicating the internal space of the lid 12 to the outside of the lid 12. The torque panel 13 is formed with a through hole through which gas flows when the positive pressure valve 14 or the negative pressure valve 15 is operated.

  The positive pressure valve 14 allows the inside of the fuel tank to communicate with the outside of the vehicle when the internal pressure of the fuel tank increases. The positive pressure valve 14 includes a first valve body 21, a first valve seat 42 a, a first elastic member 23, and a valve support member 24. The first valve body 21 is made of rubber, for example. The first valve body 21 is formed in a substantially ring shape. From the inner end of the first valve body 21, a substantially cylindrical protruding portion extends upward. A valve support member 24 is placed on the first valve body 21. The first valve seat 42 a is configured by the above-described bent portion of the valve chamber forming member 42. The valve chamber forming member 42 is made of, for example, a synthetic resin. The first elastic member 23 is, for example, a coil spring. The first elastic member 23 is provided on the valve support member 24. The upper end of the first elastic member 23 is supported by the upper support member 25. The first elastic member 23 is provided in a compressed state by the valve support member 24 and the upper support member 25. Since the upper support member 25 is fixed to the casing 11, the first elastic member 23 pushes the first valve body 21 downward via the valve support member 24. As shown in FIG. 1A, when the positive pressure valve 14 is in the closed state, the lower surface of the first valve body 21 is in contact with the first valve seat 42a.

  The negative pressure valve 15 causes the inside of the fuel tank to communicate with the outside of the vehicle when the internal pressure of the fuel tank decreases. The negative pressure valve 15 includes a second valve body 31, a second valve seat 21 a, and a second elastic member 33. The second valve body 31 is made of rubber, for example. The second valve body 31 is formed in a substantially disc shape. The second valve body 31 is disposed in the upper part of the internal space of the intermediate portion 44 of the valve chamber forming member 42. The second valve seat 21 a is configured by the lower surface of the first valve body 21. The 2nd valve seat 21a is located inside the contact surface with the 1st valve seat 42a among the lower surfaces of the 1st valve body 21. As shown in FIG. The second elastic member 33 is, for example, a coil spring. The second elastic member 33 is provided on the lower portion 45 of the valve chamber forming member 42. A second valve element 31 is placed on the upper end of the second elastic member 33. The second elastic member 33 is provided in a compressed state by the second valve body 31 and the lower portion 45. Since the lower part 45 is integrated with the casing 11, the second elastic member 33 pushes the second valve body 31 upward. As shown in FIG. 1A, when the negative pressure valve 15 is in the closed state, the upper surface of the second valve body 31 is in contact with the second valve seat 21a.

  The protruding member 16 is a columnar member, for example. The upper end of the protruding member 16 is fixed to the center of the lower surface of the second valve body 31. The protruding member 16 is attached to the movable second valve body 31 supported by the second elastic member 33. The protruding member 16 extends in the vertical direction along the axial direction of the casing 11. As described above, the protruding member 16 is inserted through the through hole 36 in the lower portion 45 of the valve chamber forming member 42. A gap is formed between the outer peripheral surface of the protruding member 16 and the inner end of the lower portion 45. As shown in FIG. 1A, the protruding member 16 protrudes below the opening at the lower end of the casing 11 when the positive pressure valve 14 is closed. That is, the length of the protruding member 16 is longer than the height from the lower surface of the second valve element 31 to the lower end of the casing 11 when the positive pressure valve 14 is closed. In the fuel cap 10, the lower end of the protruding member 16 is located on the lowermost side.

[Operation of positive pressure valve]
The positive pressure valve 14 operates when the fuel system is abnormal. First, the fuel system will be described. The fuel system has a function of releasing fuel vapor from the fuel tank to the outside of the vehicle through the charcoal canister. The fuel vapor evaporated in the fuel tank is adsorbed by the charcoal canister. Then, the air from which the fuel vapor has been removed by the charcoal canister is discharged out of the vehicle from an open air pipe connected to the outlet of the charcoal canister.

  When a pipe such as an open air pipe is clogged, the fuel system cannot release fuel vapor in the fuel tank from the open air pipe to the outside of the vehicle. When such a fuel system malfunctions, the fuel vapor in the fuel tank can be released outside the vehicle through the positive pressure valve 14.

  Specifically, the internal pressure of the fuel tank acts on the first valve body 21 of the positive pressure valve 14 via the second valve body 31 of the negative pressure valve 15. When the internal pressure of the fuel tank rises when the fuel system is abnormal, the pressure acting on the first valve body 21 increases. When this pressure exceeds the operating pressure of the first valve body 21, the first elastic member 23 contracts, and the first valve body 21 moves upward together with the second valve body 31 and the valve support member 24. As a result, as shown in part A of FIG. 1B, the first valve body 21 is separated from the first valve seat 42a, and the positive pressure valve 14 is opened. The fuel vapor in the fuel tank passes through the through hole 36 in the lower portion 45 of the valve chamber forming member 42 and the gap between the first valve body 21 and the first valve seat 42a, as shown by the broken line in FIG. And released outside the vehicle. When the internal pressure of the fuel tank decreases with the release of the fuel vapor, the first elastic member 23 extends and the positive pressure valve 14 returns to the closed state. Thus, the positive pressure valve 14 prevents the internal pressure of the fuel tank from becoming excessive.

[Effects of the embodiment, etc.]
As described above, since it is rare that an abnormality occurs in the fuel system, the first valve body 21 is rarely separated from the first valve seat 42a in the positive pressure valve 14 that operates abnormally in the fuel system. If the state in which the first valve body 21 is pressed against the first valve seat 42a continues for a long period of time, the first valve body 21 may adhere to the first valve seat 42a and the positive pressure valve 14 may not operate. There is.

  Therefore, in the present embodiment, the protruding member 16 is provided so that the first valve body 21 of the positive pressure valve 14 can be separated from the first valve seat 42a by using the time of refueling where the fuel cap 10 is removed. . Specifically, the protruding member 16 protrudes from the opening at the other end of the casing 11. Therefore, for example, when the fuel cap 10 removed from the filler neck 30 is placed on the cap place from the other end side of the casing 11, the protruding member 16 is pushed toward the lid 12 (in the direction of arrow P in FIG. 1). Even if the fuel cap 10 is attached to the cap hanger provided on the back surface of the fuel lid, the protruding member 16 is pushed toward the lid 12 side. The protruding member 16 can be pushed toward the lid 12 by the user's normal action. The force acting on the protruding member 16 is transmitted to the first elastic member 23 through the first valve body 21 and the like. When the protruding member 16 is pushed and the first elastic member 23 contracts, the protruding member 16 moves to the lid 12 side together with the first valve body 21. Along with this movement, the first valve body 21 moves away from the first valve seat 42a.

  According to the present embodiment, the state where the first valve body 21 is pressed against the first valve seat 42a can be prevented from continuing for a long period of time. For this reason, the positive pressure valve 14 can be prevented from falling into a state in which the first valve body 21 and the first valve seat 42a are fixed, and the positive pressure valve 14 can be reliably operated when the fuel system is abnormal. When the fuel system is abnormal, it is possible to prevent the internal pressure of the fuel tank from becoming excessive due to the inactivation of the positive pressure valve 14. Therefore, it is possible to prevent the fuel tank from being damaged or the fuel from leaking from the gap of the fuel system.

  The present invention can be applied to a fuel cap provided with a positive pressure valve.

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 10 Fuel cap 11 Casing 12 Cover body 14 Positive pressure valve 15 Negative pressure valve 16 Projection member 21 1st valve body (valve body)
23 1st elastic member 42a 1st valve seat (valve seat)

Claims (1)

A fuel cap,
A substantially cylindrical casing attached to a filler neck connected to the fuel tank;
A lid attached to one end of the casing;
A positive pressure valve that is provided in the casing and changes to an open state when the valve body moves to the lid body side from a closed state in which the valve body is pressed against the other end side of the casing against the valve seat;
A fuel cap provided in the casing so as to project from the opening at the other end of the casing, and a projecting member that moves to the lid side together with the valve body when pushed to the lid side.

Images