Filler neck for a motor vehicle operating-liquid tank

Abstract

The invention relates to a filler neck for an operating-liquid tank (3) for a motor vehicle. The filler neck (1) comprises a mouth-hole neck (11), into which a nozzle can be inserted in order to fill the operating-liquid tank (3). A ventilation path is provided in the filler neck (1), which ventilation path allows a ventilation flow parallel and oppositely to the filling volumetric flow through the mouth-hole neck (11) during filling. The filler neck (1) according to the invention is characterized in that the ventilation path comprises at least one ventilation channel (18) provided in a wall arrangement (14) of the mouth-hole neck (11), which at least one ventilation channel is at least partially surrounded by an outer wall (14a) and an inner wall (14b) of the wall arrangement (14) along the longitudinal extent of the at least one ventilation channel.

Claims

1. A filler neck for an operating liquid tank for a motor vehicle, wherein the filler neck comprises: a mouth hole neck in which a dispensing valve member is introducible to fill the operating liquid tank; a ventilation path which, during a filling operation, permits a ventilation flow parallel with and counter to a filling volume flow through the mouth hole neck; the ventilation path comprises at least one ventilation channel which is provided in a wall of the mouth hole neck, the wall of the mouth hole neck having an inner wall and an outer wall, and the at least one ventilation channel surrounded by the outer wall and the inner wall of the wall of the mouth hole neck over at least a portion of a longitudinal extent of the at least one ventilation channel; wherein the inner wall of the wall of the mouth hole neck which surrounds the at least one ventilation channel has in a region of a mouth hole opening at least one material recess arranged such that the at least one ventilation channel in the region of the mouth hole opening is open in a direction toward an inner space of the mouth hole neck.

2. The filler neck as claimed in claim 1, wherein the ventilation path of the filler neck comprises at least two ventilation channels which are separated from each other by a radial wall which is connected to the inner wall and the outer wall.

3. The filler neck as claimed in claim 1, wherein the at least one ventilation channel is constructed in a conical manner and tapers from an end facing the operating liquid tank to the mouth hole opening.

4. The filler neck as claimed in claim 1, wherein the inner wall of the wall of the mouth hole neck which surrounds the at least one ventilation channel has in a region of an end facing away from the mouth hole opening at least one additional material recess arranged such that the at least one ventilation channel in the region facing away from the mouth hole opening is open in the direction toward the inner space of the mouth hole neck.

5. The filler neck as claimed in claim 1, wherein there is provided in the filler neck an annular magnet which is arranged upstream of the mouth hole neck with respect to the ventilation flow.

6. The filler neck as claimed in claim 5, wherein the ventilation path leads along the outer side of the annular magnet.

7. The filler neck as claimed in claim 1, wherein the at least one ventilation channel is in a plan view of the mouth hole neck arranged so as not to extend completely in the wall thereof.

8. The filler neck as claimed in claim 7, wherein in a plan view of the mouth hole neck the at least one ventilation channel extends through less than 300° round the periphery of the mouth hole neck.

9. The filler neck as claimed in claim 1, wherein the at least one ventilation channel has in total a cross-sectional surface area of between 10 mm.sup.2 and 100 mm.sup.2.

Description

(1) Other advantages, details and features of the invention will be appreciated from the embodiments explained below. In the drawings:

(2) FIG. 1 is a cross section through an operating liquid container with a filler neck according to the invention;

(3) FIG. 2a is a plan view of the upper side of the upper portion of a filler neck according to a first embodiment of the present invention;

(4) FIG. 2b is a lateral sectioned illustration of the upper portion of the filler neck illustrated in FIG. 2a;

(5) FIG. 3a is a plan view of the upper side of the upper portion of a filler neck according to a second embodiment of the present invention;

(6) FIG. 3b is a plan view of the lower side of the upper portion of the filler neck illustrated in FIG. 3a;

(7) FIG. 3c is a lateral sectioned view of the upper portion of the filler neck illustrated in FIGS. 3a and 3b;

(8) FIG. 4a is a plan view of the upper side of the upper portion of a filler neck according to a third embodiment of the present invention;

(9) FIG. 4b is a lateral sectioned view of the upper portion of the filler neck illustrated in FIG. 4a;

(10) FIG. 4c is a spatial illustration of the upper portion of the filler neck illustrated in FIGS. 4a and 4b;

(11) FIG. 5a is a plan view of the upper side of the upper portion of a filler neck according to a fourth embodiment of the present invention;

(12) FIG. 5b is a plan view of the lower side of the upper portion of the filler neck illustrated in FIG. 5a;

(13) FIG. 5c is a side view of the upper portion of the filler neck illustrated in FIGS. 5a and 5b;

(14) FIG. 5d is a spatial illustration of the upper portion of the filler neck illustrated in FIGS. 5a, 5b and 5c;

(15) FIG. 6a is a cross-sectional illustration through a filler neck known from the prior art; and

(16) FIG. 6b is a cross-sectional illustration through a filler neck according to the invention.

(17) In the description which now follows, the same reference numerals refer to identical components or identical features so that a description given with reference to a figure in relation to a component also applies to the other figures so that a repetition of the description is prevented.

(18) As can be seen in FIG. 1, the filler neck 1 according to the invention is arranged on a filler pipe 2 of an operating liquid tank 3. This operating liquid tank is in the embodiment described constructed as a urea container for a liquid urea solution as a reduction medium for the catalytic exhaust gas denitrification in a motor vehicle.

(19) The operating liquid container 3 may be constructed as an integrally constructed extrusion blow-molded plastics material tank. The filler pipe 2 and the filler neck 1 may also comprise thermoplastic plastics material. An upper portion 10 of the filler neck 1, which is described with reference to the following Figures, and the remaining components described may also be produced with an injection-molding method. In the embodiment described, the entire arrangement comprising the filler neck 1, filler pipe 2 and operating liquid tank 3 is in multiple parts. The filler neck 1 is, as will be described below, constructed as a filler head with a connection 4 for a filling ventilation line 5. The filling ventilation line 5 opens via an immersion pipe 6 as a switch-off nipple in a predetermined ventilation position in the operating liquid tank 3.

(20) The filling ventilation line 5 is guided from the operating liquid tank 3 to the filler neck 1 via a compensation container 7 which acts as a collection container for any liquid which accumulates in the filling ventilation line 5. When the operating liquid tank 3 is filled, a urea solution is directed into the operating liquid tank 3 via a dispensing valve member not illustrated in the figures, with the result that the liquid level rises therein and the gas which occurs in the operating liquid tank 3 is displaced via the filling ventilation line 5 to the filler neck 1 until the rising liquid level closes the immersion pipe 6. Then, the liquid level in the filler pipe 2 increases until it reaches and closes a shutdown hole 8 on a dispensing valve member which is not illustrated in the figures, with the result that a switching operation of the dispensing valve member is initiated. The filling operation is consequently ended.

(21) FIGS. 2a and 2b show different views of an upper portion 10 of the filler neck 1 illustrated in FIG. 1. In this instance, FIG. 2a is a plan view of the upper side of the upper portion 10 and FIG. 2b is a laterally sectioned illustration of the upper portion 10 illustrated in FIG. 2a.

(22) In the figures, it can be seen that the upper portion 10 comprises a mouth hole neck 11, at the upper end of which a mouth hole opening 12 or mouth hole 12 is provided. Through the mouth hole opening 12, a dispensing valve member which is not illustrated in the Figures can be introduced into the inner space of the filler neck 10.

(23) The upper portion 10 comprises in the embodiment illustrated four securing openings 19 through which, for example, securing screws can be guided and connected to a lower portion 20 of the filler neck 1 as illustrated in FIG. 6b.

(24) In the filler neck 1 there is provided a ventilation path which during the filling operation permits a ventilation flow parallel with and counter to the filling volume flow through the mouth hole neck 11. The ventilation path comprises in the embodiment of the ventilation neck 1 illustrated in FIGS. 2a and 2b nine ventilation channels 18 which are surrounded over the longitudinal extent of the mouth hole neck 11 by an outer wall 14a and an inner wall 14b of the wall 14. The respective ventilation channels 18 are further separated from each other by means of radial walls 15. The ventilation channels 18 are consequently constructed as passages or holes 18 through the wall 14 of the mouth hole neck 11.

(25) In the plan view of FIG. 2a, it can be seen that the ventilation channels 18 extend over an angle of approximately 300° around the periphery of the mouth hole neck 11. It can thereby be ensured that, in the installation position of the filler neck 1, the lower ends of the ventilation channels 18, for example, during a refueling operation, are not covered by operating liquid which has accumulated inside the filler neck 1 so that no operating liquid reaches the outer side of the filler neck 1 as a result of the ventilation by the ventilation channels 18.

(26) In FIG. 2b, it can be seen that the respective ventilation channels 18 are constructed in a conical manner and taper from the end facing the operating liquid tank 3 to the mouth hole opening 12 thereof. This tapering is produced by the spacing of the outer wall 14a with respect to the inner wall 14b being reduced over the longitudinal extent of the mouth hole neck 11 in the direction of the mouth hole opening 12. As a result of this construction of the upper portion 10 of the filler neck 1, “spitback” and “splashback” can be reduced during a filling operation and in particular during a refueling operation and when the dispensing valve member is switched off since any operating liquid which has been introduced into the ventilation channel 18 can be better separated on the outer wall 14a or on the inner wall 14b as a result of the tapering of the ventilation channel 18. The operating liquid subsequently again flows in the direction of gravitational force into the lower region of the filler neck 1 and via openings which are not illustrated back into the operating liquid tank 3 again.

(27) The upper portion 10 illustrated in FIGS. 3a to 3c according to a second embodiment of the present invention differs from the upper portion 10 according to the first embodiment of the invention illustrated in FIGS. 2a and 2b in that the ventilation path comprises only two ventilation channels 18 which are surrounded over the longitudinal extent of the mouth hole neck 11 by the outer wall 14a and the inner wall 14b of the wall 14. The two ventilation channels 18 are separated from each other by means of a radial wall 15.

(28) In FIGS. 3a and 3b, it can be seen that, in a plan view of the mouth hole neck 11, the ventilation channels 18 extend through approximately 110° round the periphery of the mouth hole neck. The cross-sectional surface areas of the respective ventilation channels 18 in the upper portion 10 according to the second embodiment are larger than the cross-sectional surface areas of the respective ventilation channels 18 of the upper portion 10 according to the first embodiment of the present invention.

(29) However, the entire cross-sectional surface area of the ventilation channels 18 of the upper portion 10 according to the second embodiment is not significantly smaller than the entire cross-sectional surface area of the ventilation channels 18 of the upper portion 10 according to the first embodiment since only a single radial wall 15 has to be provided between the two ventilation channels 18 in the upper portion 10 according to the second embodiment. Therefore, a high ventilation volume flow of at least 40 l/min is further achieved.

(30) The two ventilation channels 18 have a corresponding conical construction in the same manner as the ventilation channels 18 of the upper portion 10 according to the first embodiment of the present invention.

(31) FIGS. 4a to 4c illustrate an upper portion 10 according to a third embodiment of the filler neck 1 according to the invention, wherein the upper portion is illustrated in FIG. 4a as a plan view, in FIG. 4b as a laterally sectioned view and in FIG. 4c as an oblique spatial view from above.

(32) The upper portion 10 according to the third embodiment differs from the upper portion 10 according to the second embodiment in that the inner wall 14b in the region of the mouth hole opening 12 has material recesses 16 such that the ventilation channels 18 in the region of the mouth hole opening 12 are open in the direction toward the inner space of the mouth hole neck 11. The inner wall 14b consequently has a number of material recesses 16 which corresponds to the number of ventilation channels 18. The remaining construction of the upper portion 10 according to the third embodiment is identical to the construction of the upper portion 10 according to the second embodiment.

(33) As a result of the material recesses 16, the effective cross-sectional surface area of the ventilation channels 18 is increased in the upper region of the mouth hole neck 11 so that a ventilation flow is produced in the ventilation channels 18. Furthermore, a filler neck 1 having the upper portion 10 according to the third embodiment has the same positive properties with respect to “spitback” and “splashback” as a filler neck 1 with an upper portion 10 according to the second embodiment.

(34) In FIGS. 5a to 5d, an upper portion 10 of a filler neck 1 according to a fourth embodiment of the present invention is illustrated. In this instance, FIG. 5a shows the upper portion 10 as a plan view, FIG. 5b shows the lower side of the upper portion 10 as a plan view, FIG. 5c shows the upper portion 10 as a laterally sectioned view and FIG. 5d shows the upper portion 10 as a spatial illustration from a position obliquely above.

(35) The upper portion 10 according to the fourth embodiment differs from the upper portion 10 according to the second embodiment in that the inner wall 14b of the wall 14 which surrounds the ventilation channels 18 has in the region of the end facing away from the mouth hole opening 12 at least one material recess 17 such that the ventilation channels 18 in the region facing away from the mouth hole opening 12 are open in the direction toward the inner space of the mouth hole neck 11.

(36) Furthermore, the two ventilation channels 18 in the region of the material recesses 17 are separated from each other by means of two additional radial walls 15. However, these radial walls 15 which are illustrated in FIG. 5a at the left and right of the central radial wall 15 are not continuous in the longitudinal extent of the mouth hole neck 10, but instead extend only in the region of the material recesses 17. Only the central radial wall 15 is continuous over the entire longitudinal extent of the mouth hole neck 11 and separates the two ventilation channels 18 from each other.

(37) As a result of the material recesses 17 in the lower region of the upper potion 10, the ventilation channels 18 have in the lower region an increased cross section so that an increased ventilation volume flow is enabled, which in turn enables more rapid filling of the operating liquid tank 3. The remaining construction of the upper portion 10 of the filler neck 1 according to the fourth embodiment is identical to the upper portion 10 of the filler neck 1 according to the second embodiment of the present invention.

(38) In all the upper portions 10, there is provided on the mouth hole neck 11 a threaded collar 13 onto which a container which is not illustrated for filling the operating liquid tank 3 can be screwed.

(39) FIG. 6a is a cross section through a filler neck known from the prior art. It can be seen that the ventilation path through the mouth hole neck is not separated from the filling channel. It can further be seen that the ventilation flow is guided through the annular space of the annular magnet 30.

(40) FIG. 6b shows a filler neck 1 according to the present invention in which a compensation volume 31 is illustrated to an enlarged scale. The annular magnet 30 is further retained by means of the inner wall 14b and the wall 14 in such a manner that the ventilation path is guided along the outer side of the annular magnet 30, whereby the ventilation capacity is increased again. The operating liquid tank 3 can thereby again be filled more quickly since more gas can be discharged from the operating liquid tank 3 per time unit.

LIST OF REFERENCE NUMERALS

(41) 1 Filler neck 2 Filler pipe 3 Operating liquid tank 4 Connection for filling ventilation line 5 Filling ventilation line 6 Immersion pipe 7 Compensation container 10 Upper portion of the filler neck 11 Mouth hole neck 12 Mouth hole opening/Mouth hole 13 Threaded collar 14 Wall (of the mouth hole neck) 14a Outer wall (of the wall) 14b Inner wall (of the wall) 15 Radial wall (between the outer wall and the inner wall) 16 Material recess 17 Material recess 18 Ventilation channel 19 Securing opening 20 Lower portion of the filler neck 30 Annular magnet 31 Compensation volume