FLUSH-MOUNT FUEL CAP WITH VALVE
The present invention provides a fuel cap adapted to close an inlet of a fuel tank. The fuel cap includes a body portion adapted to engage the inlet of the fuel tank. The body portion defines a central axis. The fuel cap also includes a valve coupled to the body portion. The valve selectively allows an airflow through the body portion. The fuel cap further includes a cap cover coupled to the body portion and movable along the central axis relative to the body portion.
The present invention relates to fuel caps, and more particularly to fuel caps for use with vehicles and engine-driven equipment.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTIONMotorcycle fuel caps often include check valves through which an airflow may be drawn to replace the volume of used fuel in a fuel tank. Such check valves are often positioned near the top of the fuel caps, or at least closer to the top of the fuel caps than the bottom of the fuel caps. Positioning the check valves near the top of the fuel caps is often desired to locate the check valves above an upper surface of the fuel tanks to prevent liquid “runoff” (e.g., rain) on the fuel tanks from entering the fuel tank with the airflow. Motorcycle fuel caps often include “drip edges” under which the airflow must first pass before being upwardly redirected to enter the check valves. The drip edge on the fuel caps functions as a barrier to prevent liquids from coming into contact with the check valve and entering the fuel tank.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTIONThe present invention provides, in one aspect, a fuel cap adapted to close an inlet of a fuel tank. The fuel cap includes a body portion adapted to engage the inlet of the fuel tank. The body portion defines a central axis. The fuel cap also includes a valve coupled to the body portion. The valve selectively allows an airflow through the body portion. The fuel cap further includes a cap cover coupled to the body portion and movable along the central axis relative to the body portion.
The present invention provides, in another aspect, a fuel tank assembly including a fuel tank having a fuel inlet in an upper surface of the fuel tank and a fuel cap engageable with the fuel inlet. The fuel cap includes a valve for selectively allowing an airflow through the fuel cap. An upper portion of the fuel cap is substantially aligned with the upper surface of the fuel tank when the fuel cap is engaged with the fuel inlet. The valve is positioned below the upper surface of the fuel tank when the fuel cap is engaged with the fuel inlet.
The present invention provides, in yet another aspect, a fuel cap adapted to close an inlet of a fuel tank. The fuel cap includes a body portion adapted to engage the inlet of the fuel tank. The body portion defines a central axis. The fuel cap also includes a movable portion coupled to the body portion and movable along the central axis relative to the body portion. The movable portion includes a passageway therethrough. The fuel cap further includes a valve coupled to the body portion. The valve selectively allows an airflow through the body portion and the passageway of the movable portion.
Other features and aspects of the invention will become apparent by consideration of the following detailed description and accompanying drawings.
Before any embodiments of the invention are explained in detail, it is to be understood that the invention is not limited in its application to the details of construction and the arrangement of components set forth in the following description or illustrated in the following drawings. The invention is capable of other embodiments and of being practiced or of being carried out in various ways. Also, it is to be understood that the phraseology and terminology used herein is for the purpose of description and should not be regarded as limiting. The use of “including,” “comprising,” or “having” and variations thereof herein is meant to encompass the items listed thereafter and equivalents thereof as well as additional items. Unless specified or limited otherwise, the terms “mounted,” “connected,” “supported,” and “coupled” and variations thereof are used broadly and encompass both direct and indirect mountings, connections, supports, and couplings. Further, “connected” and “coupled” are not restricted to physical or mechanical connections or couplings.
DETAILED DESCRIPTIONThe drive assembly 14 is preferably coupled to the frame 18 beneath the seat 38 between the front wheel 30 and the rear wheel 34 of the motorcycle 10. With continued reference to
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The cap cover 86 includes an axially-extending receiving portion 166 extending from a bottom surface 170 of the cap cover 86. As shown in
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In the illustrated construction of the fuel cap 62, the valve assembly 198 also includes a valve body 222 having an upwardly-extending conduit or “snorkel” 226 (see
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To complete the assembly of the fuel cap 62, the retractable portion 82 is inserted into the body portion 74 through the bottom end 206 of the body portion 74. The retractable portion 82 may be oriented such that the keyways 122 align with the keys 118 on the body portion 74 to allow the retractable portion 82 to slide upwardly to its extended position. The coil spring 282 may then be inserted into the retractable portion 82 such that the upper end of the spring 282 sits in the cylindrical groove 290. The valve assembly 198 may then be inserted into the body portion 74 and coupled to the body portion 74 by engaging the tabs 270 on the bottom cover 230 and the lip portions 278 on the body portion 74.
Finally, the cap cover 86 may be coupled with the retractable portion 82. When coupling the cap cover 86 and the retractable portion 82, the cap cover 86 is first oriented such that the slots 174 in the receiving portion 166 are aligned with the corresponding projections 138 on the retractable portion 82. The receiving portion 166 is then pressed axially into the retractable portion 82, causing the projections 138 to slide through the slots 174, during which time the guide members 146 engage an outer peripheral surface of the receiving portion 166 to provide additional alignment and support of the receiving portion 166 in the retractable portion 82. Continued insertion of the receiving portion 166 into the retractable portion 82 causes the respective inclined surfaces 158, 186 of the arcuate tabs 150, 178 to engage each other, further causing the tabs 150 on the retractable portion 82 to deflect radially inwardly. Upon completion of the insertion of the receiving portion 166 into the retractable portion 82, the tabs 150 snap back to their undeformed shape to allow the respective abutment surfaces 162, 190 of the tabs 150, 178 to engage each other, thereby preventing the cap cover 86 from being disengaged or removed from the retractable portion 82.
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A combination of features on the cap cover 86 and retractable portion 82 combine to establish a labyrinth or a tortuous passageway through which replacement air must pass before reaching the inlet 302 of the snorkel 226. With reference to
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After passing through the channels 318a-318d in succession, the replacement air may pass through the gaps G3 between the arcuate tabs 178 and those gaps G2 between the arcuate tabs 150 that are aligned with the gaps G3 (see
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To re-install the fuel cap 62, the fuel cap 62 is first screwed into the fuel inlet 58 until the O-ring 98 seals the body portion 74 against the fuel inlet 58. Then, the cap cover 86 is depressed downwardly against the bias of the coil spring 282 until the raised portions 134 adjacent each recess 126 are below the respective keys 118 on the body portion 74. The cap cover 86 is then rotated in a clockwise direction a relatively small amount (e.g., by about 10 degrees) to move the keyways 122 in the retractable portion 82 out of alignment with the respective keys 118 on the body portion 74, then the cap cover 86 is released. The raised portions 134 adjacent each recess 126 maintain each key 118 in its respective recess 126, and substantially prevent unintentional counter-clockwise rotation of the cap cover 86 to maintain the fuel cap 62 in its retracted position.
Various features of the invention are set forth in the following claims.
Claims
1. A fuel cap adapted to close an inlet of a fuel tank, the fuel cap comprising:
- a body portion adapted to engage the inlet of the fuel tank, the body portion defining a central axis;
- a valve coupled to the body portion, the valve selectively allowing an airflow through the body portion; and
- a cap cover coupled to the body portion and movable along the central axis relative to the body portion.
2. The fuel cap of claim 1, wherein the body portion includes a first end and a second end opposite the first end, wherein the valve is positioned adjacent the first end, and wherein the cap cover is coupled to the second end of the body portion.
3. The fuel cap of claim 1, further comprising a conduit coupled to the body portion and positioned between the valve and the cap cover, wherein the airflow passes through the conduit before passing through the valve.
4. The fuel cap of claim 3, wherein the conduit includes an inlet through which the airflow passes to enter the conduit, and wherein the inlet is positioned above an upper surface of the body portion.
5. The fuel cap of claim 1, wherein the valve selectively allows the airflow through the body portion in only a single direction.
6. The fuel cap of claim 1, wherein the body portion is a first body portion, and wherein the fuel cap further includes a second body portion coupled to the first body portion and movable along the central axis relative to the first body portion.
7. The fuel cap of claim 6, further comprising a spring positioned in the first body portion, wherein the cap cover is coupled to the second body portion and is movable with the second body portion along the central axis against the bias of the spring.
8. The fuel cap of claim 1, further comprising a tortuous passageway through at least one of the cap cover and the body portion, wherein the airflow passes through the tortuous passageway before passing through the valve.
9. The fuel cap of claim 8, further comprising a first cylindrical wall extending from the cap cover and a second cylindrical wall extending from the body portion concentric with the first cylindrical wall, wherein the tortuous passageway is formed between the first and second cylindrical walls.
10. A fuel tank assembly comprising:
- a fuel tank including a fuel inlet in an upper surface of the fuel tank; and
- a fuel cap engageable with the fuel inlet, the fuel cap including a valve for selectively allowing an airflow through the fuel cap;
- wherein an upper portion of the fuel cap is substantially aligned with the upper surface of the fuel tank when the fuel cap is engaged with the fuel inlet, and wherein the valve is positioned below the upper surface of the fuel tank when the fuel cap is engaged with the fuel inlet.
11. The fuel tank assembly of claim 10, wherein the fuel cap includes
- a body portion engageable with the fuel inlet, the body portion defining a central axis; and
- a cap cover coupled to the body portion and movable along the central axis relative to the body portion, wherein the valve is coupled to the body portion and selectively allows the airflow through the body portion.
12. The fuel tank assembly of claim 11, wherein the body portion includes a first end and a second end opposite the first end, wherein the valve is positioned adjacent the first end, and wherein the cap cover is coupled to the second end of the body portion.
13. The fuel tank assembly of claim 11, further comprising a conduit coupled to the body portion and positioned between the valve and the cap cover, wherein the airflow passes through the conduit before passing through the valve.
14. The fuel tank assembly of claim 13, wherein the conduit includes an inlet through which the airflow passes to enter the conduit, and wherein the inlet is positioned above an upper surface of the body portion.
15. The fuel tank assembly of claim 11, further comprising a tortuous passageway through at least one of the cap cover and the body portion, wherein the airflow passes through the tortuous passageway before passing through the valve.
16. The fuel tank assembly of claim 15, further comprising a first cylindrical wall extending from the cap cover and a second cylindrical wall extending from the body portion concentric with the first cylindrical wall, wherein the tortuous passageway is formed between the first and second cylindrical walls.
17. The fuel tank assembly of claim 10, wherein the valve selectively allows the airflow through the fuel cap in only a single direction.
18. The fuel tank assembly of claim 10, wherein the fuel cap includes
- a first body portion engageable with the fuel inlet, the first body portion defining a central axis;
- a second body portion coupled to the first body portion and movable along the central axis relative to the first body portion; and
- a cap cover coupled to the second body portion and movable along the central axis with the second body portion.
19. The fuel tank assembly of claim 18, further comprising a spring positioned in the first body portion, wherein the cap cover and the second body portion are movable along the central axis against the bias of the spring.
20. A fuel cap adapted to close an inlet of a fuel tank, the fuel cap comprising:
- a body portion adapted to engage the inlet of the fuel tank, the body portion defining a central axis;
- a movable portion coupled to the body portion and movable along the central axis relative to the body portion, the movable portion having a passageway therethrough; and
- a valve coupled to the body portion, the valve selectively allowing an airflow through the body portion and the passageway of the movable portion.
21. The fuel cap of claim 20, further comprising a cap cover coupled to the movable portion, wherein the cap cover is movable with the movable portion along the central axis relative to the body portion.
22. The fuel cap of claim 20, further comprising a conduit coupled to the body portion and positioned within the passageway of the movable portion, wherein the airflow passes through the conduit before passing through the valve.
23. The fuel cap of claim 22, wherein the conduit includes an inlet through which the airflow passes to enter the conduit, and wherein the inlet is positioned above an upper surface of the body portion.
24. The fuel cap of claim 20, wherein the valve selectively allows the airflow through the body portion and the passageway of the movable portion in only a single direction.
Type: Application
Filed: Jun 30, 2006
Publication Date: Jan 3, 2008
Inventors: Tony Nicosia (Brookfield, WI), Craig DeRuyter (Belgium, WI), Ken Dietzler (Milwaukee, WI), Joerg Lienenkamp (Witten-Bommern)
Application Number: 11/427,813
International Classification: B65D 53/00 (20060101);