This disclosure is directed to vehicle fuel systems that include door opening modules for controlling a fuel door opening sequence. An exemplary door opening module may include an actuator (e.g., a motor, an electromagnet, a solenoid, etc.) for automatically moving the fuel door to an ajar position after a fuel tank depressurization sequence is completed. Sound messages may be communicated to a user during the depressurization sequence by an audio actuator.

A lid opening and closing device for a vehicle which includes a restriction member that can operate between a restriction position at which movement of a rod at the lid closed position is restricted and a restriction release position at which the restriction is released, an electric motor that operates for a predetermined time in response to a door switching between a locked state and an unlocked state for driving the restriction member, and a case that houses the restriction member and the electric motor, wherein at least the restriction release position of the restriction member is resiliently held by a holding mechanism. Thus, even when the restriction member stops at position halfway between the restriction release position and the restriction position, convenience is enhanced by carrying out an operation of locking the door by moving the rod to the lid closed position without requiring an unlocking operation.

A fuel tank cap locking device includes: a cap configured to open and close a fuel filler port; an operation unit; an engagement unit movable in conjunction with the operation unit; and a lock unit configured to lock movement of the engagement unit from the engagement position to the allowable position. The lock unit includes a lock member that is movable between an interference position where the lock member interferes with an interfered portion formed at a predetermined position of the engagement unit and locks, and a non-interference position where the lock member does not interfere with the interfered portion and the lock is released when the engagement unit moves from the engagement position to the allowable position by the swing operation of the operation unit.

A closing device includes a box with a hole, a roto-translating pin disposed in the hole of the box in such a way to rotate and translate from a retracted closing position to an extracted opening position. The closing device has a spring to push the roto-translating pin in the opening position, a locking device to lock the roto-translating pin in the closing position, a first actuator to move the locking device, a second actuator to move the first actuator. The roto-translating pin has a shoulder that protrudes externally from the roto-translating pin to be stopped against the internal wall of the box around the hole in such manner to stop the extraction travel of the roto-translating pin.

A vehicle security system may be automatically activated when a vehicle (e.g., car or truck) is temporarily stopped. Specifically, if a car is stopped at a gas station or other type of temporary stop (e.g., where a car would not be fully closed and locked) the vehicle security system may engage (e.g., based on opening of a gas cap cover). The vehicle security system monitors for theft of contents from inside a vehicle in a temporary stopped state. Sensors monitor if a passerby reaches into an open (or partially open) window to grab a parcel, handbag, phone, etc. from inside the vehicle. In a temporary stop condition, a vehicle may not be fully locked to engage a standard anti-theft security system. If a driver's attention is diverted away from the vehicle during the temporary stopped condition a quick and quiet theft scenario (e.g., a reach and grab) may be attempted.

A fuel cell vehicle includes a travel prohibition control unit. In the case where a lid sensor detects an open state of a lid, the travel prohibition control unit performs travel prohibition control to prohibit travel of the fuel cell vehicle. In the case where the number of shift control operations has reached a release number within release time, the travel prohibition control unit releases the travel prohibition control, and in the case where the number of shift control operations has not reached the release number within the release time, the travel prohibition control unit continues the travel prohibition control. The release number is two or more.

A fuel lid structure includes: a lid box constituting a fuel opening portion of a vehicle body; a lid hinge that is made of resin and is pivotable with respect to the lid box; a fuel lid body pivotably attached to the lid box via the lid hinge; and an alerting unit configured to alert a replenishment worker to a body or the like of the replenishment worker hitting the fuel lid body in an open state by at least one of imparting of a sense of resistance and emission of a sound.

A vehicle performs notification about an open/closed state of a lid member covering an interface for supplying driving energy. The vehicle includes a notification portion that performs notification when the lid member is in the open state and a connection detecting portion that detects a connection state of a driving energy supply device to the interface. In the vehicle, the notification portion suspends notification when the driving energy supply device is connected to the interface during the open state of the lid member.

The invention relates to a flap actuator, comprising a flap, an actuating drive for actuating the flap along an actuating path from a closed position to an open position, and a linkage mechanism, the linkage mechanism comprising a toggle joint having a first leg and a second leg. The first leg is rotatably supported at a first rotation point and the second leg is rotatably supported via a second rotation point. Furthermore, the first leg and the second leg are rotatably linked to each other at a moveable third rotation point, wherein the second leg includes a guiding slot along a longitudinal direction of the second leg and the first leg includes a guiding projection engaging the guiding slot, wherein the guiding projection forms the third rotation point and is supported in the guiding slot to be moveable along the longitudinal direction. The toggle joint comprises an elastic element which, when the flap is in its closed position, exerts a force on the toggle joint so that the toggle joint causes a restoring force on the flap in the closing direction, and/or the guiding slot has a length L and a width B, wherein L>B, and the second leg, at a position P.sub.os2 along the longitudinal direction of the guiding slot at which the guiding projection is situated when the flap is in its closed position, includes a second recess having a width Br.sub.2, wherein Br.sub.2>Br, and wherein the guiding projection, when the flap is in its closed position, is in at least partial engagement with the second recess so that the toggle joint causes a retaining force and/or a restoring force on the flap in the closing direction.

A controller controls a valve device for opening and closing of a passage to control a flow of evaporative fuel evaporating and flowing from a fuel tank. The valve device includes a valve body housed in the passage to open and close the passage, a biasing member biasing the valve body to close the passage, and a driver driving the valve body to open the fuel passage. The controller includes a detector detecting load of the driver and a determiner to determine the position of the valve body. The determiner determines that the passage is open when a magnitude of the change of the driver load is equal to or greater than a threshold value. The controller accurately detects an open valve position without detecting an internal pressure change of the fuel tank.