Filling heads

Abstract

A filling head, which includes: A filling head housing for conveying operating fluid in a supply sense from a supply-intake region, which is configured for introducing operating fluid into the filling head, to an outlet port, A venting structure which allows the conveying of gas in a venting sense which is opposite to the supply sense,
Where the supply-intake region exhibits a hollow plug-in connector extending along a virtual nozzle path with a plug-in orifice through which an intake space connected fluid-mechanically with the outlet port is accessible,
Where an inner nozzle wall bordering the intake space exhibits functional formations projecting into the intake space as part of the venting structure,
Where on the external side of the plug-in connectors there is provided an active formation which is configured to interact with an internal thread of a supply device for the latter's positional stabilization at the plug-in connector. The filling head provides that the active formation reaches along the nozzle path up to a main body of the filling head housing, from which the plug-in connector projects.

Claims

1. A filling head for introducing operating fluid into an operating fluid tank of a motorized vehicle and for venting the operating fluid tank during the introduction of operating fluid into it, where the filling head comprises: A filling head housing for conveying operating fluid in a supply sense from a supply-intake region, which is configured for temporally provisional intake of a supply device, such as for instance a spigot or reservoir container neck, for introducing operating fluid into the filling head, to an outlet port of the filling head housing, where the outlet port is arranged in the supply sense downstream of the supply-intake region, A venting structure, which during the conveying of operating fluid through the filling head housing in the supply sense allows the conveying of gas in a venting sense which is opposite to the supply sense, Where the supply-intake region of the filling head exhibits a hollow plug-in connector extending along a virtual nozzle path with a plug-in orifice through which an intake space is accessible for temporally provisional intake of the supply device, where the intake space is connected fluid-mechanically with the outlet port, where an inner nozzle wall bordering the intake space radially relative to the nozzle path exhibits in a circumferential direction about the nozzle path functional formations arranged at a distance from one another and projecting into the intake space, such that the functional formations form between them in a circumferential direction venting volumes as part of the venting structure, where on an external side of the hollow plug-in connector there is provided an active formation which is configured so as to interact with an internal thread of the supply device for the latter's positional stabilization at the hollow plug-in connector, wherein the active formation reaches along the nozzle path up to a main body of the filling head housing, from which the hollow plug-in connector protrudes; wherein the active formation further comprises an external thread, wherein the external thread is discontinuous in at least one angular sector around the nozzle path, such that the at least one angular sector is free from an external thread formation.

2. The filling head according to claim 1, wherein the active formation further comprises at least one longitudinal rib extending along the nozzle path and jutting out radially from the hollow plug-in connector.

3. The filling head according to claim 1, wherein the active formation exhibits at least one outer wall section, including an outer wall section surrounding the nozzle path completely, of the hollow plug-in connector.

4. The filling head according to claim 3, wherein the active formation exhibits an outer surface facing away radially from the nozzle path, which is configured as a sliding surface for a sliding abutting contact with a boundary surface of the internal thread.

5. The filling head according to claim 1, wherein the active formation exhibits an outer surface facing away radially from the nozzle path, which is configured as a sliding surface for a sliding abutting contact with a boundary surface of the internal thread.

6. The filling head according to claim 1, wherein on the external side of the hollow plug-in connector there is arranged a sealing formation along the nozzle path at a distance from the plug-in orifice.

7. The filling head according to claim 6, wherein the sealing formation is arranged along the nozzle path between the plug-in orifice and the active formation.

8. The filling head according to claim 1, wherein along the nozzle path following the hollow plug-in connector in the supply sense, there is arranged in the main body of the filling head housing a magnet arrangement whose magnetic field acts on an operating fluid supply route configured in the filling head.

9. The filling head according to claim 1, wherein the filling head housing is fitted together from several housing components, where the hollow plug-in connector with an end section of the main body of the filling head housing is configured integrally.

10. The filling head according to claim 1, wherein the filling head as part of the venting structure exhibits a venting line, which at least section-wise is configured as spatially separate from a main volume of the filling head housing through which operating fluid flows in the supply sense during the supply operation.

11. The filling head according to claim 10, wherein the venting line discharges into the main volume of the filling head housing.

12. The filling head according to claim 11, wherein the filling head housing exhibits at least one integral housing component, which forms part of the main body of the filling head housing and in which both at least one part of the main volume of the filling head housing and at least one part of the venting line are configured.

13. The filling head according to claim 10, wherein the filling head housing exhibits at least one integral housing component, which forms part of the main body of the filling head housing and in which both at least one part of the main volume of the filling head housing and at least one part of the venting line are configured.

14. The filling head according to claim 13, wherein the filling head housing exhibits more than one integral housing component, of which every housing component forms part of the main body of the filling head housing and in every one of which at least one part of the main volume of the filling head housing and also at least one part of the venting line are configured.

15. The filling head according to claim 2, wherein the at least one longitudinal rib extending along the nozzle path is a plurality of such longitudinal ribs arranged at a distance from one another in a circumferential direction around the nozzle path.

16. A filling head for introducing operating fluid into an operating fluid tank of a motorized vehicle and for venting the operating fluid tank during the introduction of operating fluid into it, where the filling head comprises: A filling head housing for conveying operating fluid in a supply sense from a supply-intake region, which is configured for temporally provisional intake of a supply device, such as for instance a spigot or reservoir container neck, for introducing operating fluid into the filling head, to an outlet port of the filling head housing, where the outlet port is arranged in the supply sense downstream of the supply-intake region, A venting structure, which during the conveying of operating fluid through the filling head housing in the supply sense allows the conveying of gas in a venting sense which is opposite to the supply sense, Where the supply-intake region of the filling head exhibits a hollow plug-in connector extending along a virtual nozzle path with a plug-in orifice through which an intake space is accessible for temporally provisional intake of the supply device, where the intake space is connected fluid-mechanically with the outlet port, where an inner nozzle wall bordering the intake space radially relative to the nozzle path exhibits in a circumferential direction about the nozzle path functional formations arranged at a distance from one another and projecting into the intake space, such that the functional formations form between them in a circumferential direction venting volumes as part of the venting structure, where on an external side of the hollow plug-in connector there is provided an active formation which is configured so as to interact with an internal thread of the supply device for the latter's positional stabilization at the hollow plug-in connector, wherein the active formation reaches along the nozzle path up to a main body of the filling head housing, from which the hollow plug-in connector protrudes, wherein the active formation further comprises at least one longitudinal rib extending along the nozzle path and jutting out radially from the hollow plug-in connector.

17. The filling head according to claim 16, wherein the at least one longitudinal rib extending along the nozzle path is a plurality of such longitudinal ribs arranged at a distance from one another in a circumferential direction around the nozzle path.

18. A filling head for introducing operating fluid into an operating fluid tank of a motorized vehicle and for venting the operating fluid tank during the introduction of operating fluid into it, where the filling head comprises: A filling head housing for conveying operating fluid in a supply sense from a supply-intake region, which is configured for temporally provisional intake of a supply device, such as for instance a spigot or reservoir container neck, for introducing operating fluid into the filling head, to an outlet port of the filling head housing, where the outlet port is arranged in the supply sense downstream of the supply-intake region, A venting structure, which during the conveying of operating fluid through the filling head housing in the supply sense allows the conveying of gas in a venting sense which is opposite to the supply sense, Where the supply-intake region of the filling head exhibits a hollow plug-in connector extending along a virtual nozzle path with a plug-in orifice through which an intake space is accessible for temporally provisional intake of the supply device, where the intake space is connected fluid-mechanically with the outlet port, where an inner nozzle wall bordering the intake space radially relative to the nozzle path exhibits in a circumferential direction about the nozzle path functional formations arranged at a distance from one another and projecting into the intake space, such that the functional formations form between them in a circumferential direction venting volumes as part of the venting structure, where on an external side of the hollow plug-in connector there is provided an active formation which is configured so as to interact with an internal thread of the supply device for the latter's positional stabilization at the hollow plug-in connector, wherein the active formation reaches along the nozzle path up to a main body of the filling head housing, from which the hollow plug-in connector protrudes, wherein the functional formations form a control gate with a bayonet contour, where the control gate exhibits an insertion gate section located nearer to the plug-in orifice; and a locking gate section located further away from the plug-in orifice and extending more in a circumferential direction about the nozzle path than along the nozzle path, where the insertion gate section extends further along the nozzle path than does the locking gate section.

19. The filling head according to claim 18, wherein the control gate exhibits a stop section, which as a mechanical end stop of a cam guided along the control gate joins the locking gate section in such a way that the locking gate section is situated between the insertion gate section and the stop section, where the stop section proceeds along the nozzle path in the supply sense at least to the end of the active formation.

20. A filling head for introducing operating fluid into an operating fluid tank of a motorized vehicle and for venting the operating fluid tank during the introduction of operating fluid into it, where the filling head comprises: A filling head housing for conveying operating fluid in a supply sense from a supply-intake region, which is configured for temporally provisional intake of a supply device, such as for instance a spigot or reservoir container neck, for introducing operating fluid into the filling head, to an outlet port of the filling head housing, where the outlet port is arranged in the supply sense downstream of the supply-intake region, A venting structure, which during the conveying of operating fluid through the filling head housing in the supply sense allows the conveying of gas in a venting sense which is opposite to the supply sense, Where the supply-intake region of the filling head exhibits a hollow plug-in connector extending along a virtual nozzle path with a plug-in orifice through which an intake space is accessible for temporally provisional intake of the supply device, where the intake space is connected fluid-mechanically with the outlet port, where an inner nozzle wall bordering the intake space radially relative to the nozzle path exhibits in a circumferential direction about the nozzle path functional formations arranged at a distance from one another and projecting into the intake space, such that the functional formations form between them in a circumferential direction venting volumes as part of the venting structure, where on an external side of the hollow plug-in connector there is provided an active formation which is configured so as to interact with an internal thread of the supply device for the latter's positional stabilization at the hollow plug-in connector, wherein the active formation reaches along the nozzle path up to a main body of the filling head housing, from which the hollow plug-in connector protrudes, wherein the filling head housing is fitted together from several housing components, where the hollow plug-in connector with an end section of the main body of the filling head housing is configured integrally, wherein a magnet arrangement is accommodated in the integral housing component exhibiting the hollow plug-in connector and the end section of the main body of the filling head housing.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

(1) The invention may take physical form in certain parts and arrangement of parts, a preferred embodiment of which will be described in detail and illustrated in the accompanying drawings which forms a part hereof and wherein:

(2) FIG. 1 A longitudinal section of a first embodiment of the invention's filling head of the present application,

(3) FIG. 2 A perspective view of the filling head of the first embodiment of FIG. 1,

(4) FIG. 3 A longitudinal section of a second embodiment of the invention's filling head of the present application,

(5) FIG. 4 A perspective view of the filling head of the second embodiment of FIG. 2,

(6) FIG. 5 A longitudinal section of a third embodiment of the invention's filling head of the present application, and

(7) FIG. 6 A perspective view of the filling head of the third embodiment of FIG. 3,

DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

(8) Referring now to the drawings wherein the showings are for the purpose of illustrating preferred and alternative embodiments of the invention only and not for the purpose of limiting the same, in FIGS. 1 and 2, a first embodiment of a filling head of the present application is labelled generally with 10. The filling head exhibits a filling head housing 12, which in the present example is formed from three housing components 14, 16, and 18 fitted together. The housing components 14, 16, and 18 are made from a thermoplastic synthetic by injection molding and welded together at their connecting regions facing towards one another. The synthetic of at least one housing component 14, 16, and 18, preferably of all housing components 14, 16, and 18, is filled, for example with glass fibers, in order to increase the strength of the carbon and thus of the respective housing component.

(9) The filling head housing 12 exhibits a main body 20, from which a plug-in connector 22 protrudes along a virtual nozzle path S forming a straight nozzle axis. The main body 20 surrounds a main volume 24 of the filling head housing 12. In the main volume 24 there is arranged at the inlet-side end a preferably annular magnet arrangement 26. In the main volume 24 there is arranged on the side of the magnet arrangement 26 that is nearer the tank during operation a flowline component 28.

(10) The plug-in connector 22 exhibits a plug-in orifice 30, through which an intake space 32 surrounded radially outside both by the plug-in connector 22 and by the magnet arrangement 26 is accessible from outside.

(11) The plug-in connector 22 of the first embodiment exhibits at its external side 22a which faces away from the intake space 32 an external thread 34 as an active formation, which starting from an end face 20a, which forms a longitudinal end further away from the tank of the main body 20 of the filling head housing 12, extends over approximately three fourth of the length of the plug-in connector 22.

(12) Between the end of the external thread 34 nearest to the plug-in orifice 30 and the plug-in orifice 30 itself there is arranged on the external side 22a of the plug-in connector 22 a sealing arrangement 36 in the shape for example of an O-ring in a groove 38 provided for same. The sealing arrangement 36 seals between supply processes against a lid not depicted in drawings, which is arranged detachably for covering the plug-in orifice 30 at the free longitudinal end of the plug-in connector 22.

(13) For the sake of better understanding, FIG. 1 depicts a coupling sleeve 40 with an internal thread 42 configured in it with the external thread 34 bolted in place. The coupling sleeve 40 is part of a reservoir container neck to be emptied manually through the filling head 10. A ready for delivery neck 44 of the reservoir container, to which the coupling sleeve 40 also belongs, is indicated in FIG. 1 in rough schematic form by a dashed line in the intake space 32.

(14) A ready for delivery spigot 46 as one possible supply device arranged in the intake space 32 is depicted by a dotted line in rough schematic form as a further possible supply device in comparison with the ready-for-delivery neck 44. The spigot 46 extends along the nozzle path S from the plug-in orifice 30 beyond the axial position of the magnet arrangement 26, such that it is made sure that the magnetic field produced by the magnet arrangement 26 can act on a valve device arranged in the spigot 46, in order to open it automatically for the passage of operating fluid under proper arrangement of the spigot 46 in the supply-intake region 48 of the filling head 10. Obviously, only either a neck 44 or a spigot 46 can be accommodated in the intake space 32 at the same time.

(15) Quite fundamentally, the intake space 32 and the main volume 24 define a supply route 50 inside the filling head 10, through which during a supply process there flows operating fluid, which is released from a ready for delivery supply device 44 or 46, in the supply sense L in the direction from the plug-in orifice 30 towards the outlet port 52. Gas displaced during the supply process by the operating fluid flowing in the supply sense L from the tank T connected to the filling head 10, in contrast, flows through the filling head 10, i.e. the main volume 24 and the intake space 32, in a venting sense E opposite to the supply sense L. Merely for the sake of completeness, the tank T is depicted in rough schematic form only in FIG. 1.

(16) The flowline component 28 following the magnet arrangement 26 in the supply sense L serves particularly for conveying in the supply sense L through the filling head 10 operating fluid released by the supply device 44 or 46. However, the flowline component 28 exhibits apertures 54 penetrating through the flowline component 28 for venting the tank T connected fluid-mechanically with the filling head 10, such that sections of the main volume 24 outside the flowline component 28 can also be reached by operating fluid during a supply process and consequently are part of the supply route 50.

(17) The inner wall 22b of the plug-in connector 22 facing towards the intake space 32 exhibits a plurality of essentially identical functional formations 56 arranged in a circumferential direction around the nozzle path S at a distance from one another. The functional formations 56 are, as is also the external thread 34, configured integrally with the plug-in connector 22. In the present embodiment example, three functional formations 56 are provided each of which protrude away from the inner wall 22b radially inwards towards the nozzle path S.

(18) End faces 56a of the functional formations 56 facing radially inwards towards the nozzle path S form contact surfaces for supply devices introduced into the intake space 32, in particular for a spigot 46, which unlike the neck 44 usually is not positionally stabilized via the external side 22a of the plug-in connector 22 in the latter.

(19) In the space in a circumferential direction between two functional formations 56 there is consequently always made available a venting volume, through which gas can flow through the plug-in connector 22 in the venting sense E from the tank T connected with the filling head 10 to the plug-in orifice 30 and beyond it. Even when a supply device is introduced into the intake space 32, this flow space is retained radially outside the supply device between two functional formations 56 arranged at a distance from one another in a circumferential direction.

(20) A marginal section of the functional formations 56 is configured as a control gate for locking a lid at the plug-in connector 22. The control gate is configured to form a bayonet lock with a cam sliding along it of the lid which is not depicted in the drawings. For this purpose, the control gate exhibits an insertion gate section 56b first proceeding solely axially in an initial region, then proceeding axially and in a circumferential direction, and exhibits a locking gate section 56c directly joining the insertion gate section 56b and proceeding essentially in a circumferential direction. The locking gate section 56c can exhibit a rest lug 56d that is overridable by the cam of the lid, in order to form with the cam a latching engagement which secures the lid at the plug-in connector 22 beyond the frictional engagement between the cam and the locking gate section 56c.

(21) At the longitudinal end of the locking gate section 56c opposite to the insertion gate section 56b there is formed a stop section 56e. The latter proceeds essentially axially along the nozzle path S and forms a physical barrier for the cam abutting the locking gate section 56c. The region 56f of the functional formations 56 forming the stop section 56e is lengthened up to the magnet arrangement 26 as a longitudinal rib projecting radially from the inner wall 22a and extending axially along the nozzle path S. This region 56f serves on the one hand for positional stabilization of a supply device introduced into the intake space 32, in particular a spigot 46, and on the other for guiding a gas flow for venting through the inlet connector 22.

(22) In each of the preferably integral housing components 16 and 18 there is configured a section of a venting line 58. These housing components thus each exhibit a section of the venting line 58 and a section of the main volume 24. In the housing component 16, the venting line 58 discharges into the main volume 24. Through the apertures 54 in the flowline component 28, displaced gas flowing into the main volume 24 via the venting line 58 can travel into the interior flow volume 28a of the flowline component 28 and from there through the annular magnet arrangement 26 into the intake space 32 of the plug-in connector 22 and through the plug-in orifice 30 finally out into the external environment.

(23) FIGS. 3 and 4 depict a second embodiment of the invention's filling head 110 of the present application in longitudinal section (FIG. 3) and in perspective view (FIG. 4).

(24) Identical and functionally identical components and component sections as in the first embodiment are labelled in the second embodiment with the same reference labels, but increased numerically by 100. The second embodiment is described hereunder only in so far as it differs from the first embodiment, to whose description otherwise express reference is made also for elucidating the second embodiment.

(25) For the sake of improved clarity, the coupling sleeve of the reservoir container is not shown in FIG. 3. Due to its standardized shape, however, this is unnecessary. The internal thread of the coupling sleeve looks in the second embodiment the same as in the first embodiment.

(26) In contrast to the first embodiment, the filling head 110 of the second embodiment exhibits at its external side 122a no external thread but rather a plurality of longitudinal ribs 164. The longitudinal ribs 164 are so designed that a virtual cylindrical or slightly conical envelope, whose cylinder or cone axis respectively coincides with the nozzle path S and which is conceived as abutting tangentially on rear faces 164a of the longitudinal ribs 164, over at least half of its longitudinal extension does not exhibit a larger diameter than the inner diameter of the internal thread of the coupling sleeve known from FIG. 1. The diameter of the envelopes can be slightly smaller than the inner diameter of the internal thread of the coupling sleeve, in order to facilitate translational sliding of the coupling sleeve, in particular of the internal thread, over the longitudinal ribs 164. In order to prevent excessive tipping over of the coupling sleeve which is merely slid onto the longitudinal ribs 164, preferably over at least half of the longitudinal extension of the longitudinal ribs 164 the diameter of the envelopes is not smaller by more than 0.75 mm than the inner diameter of the internal thread.

(27) In order to facilitate the sliding of the internal thread of the coupling sleeve onto the longitudinal ribs 164—and also the sliding of the internal thread off the longitudinal ribs 164—the rear faces 164a facing radially away from the nozzle path S are smooth and step-free. In order to facilitate the demolding of the housing component 114 exhibiting the plug-in connector 22, the rear faces 164a of the longitudinal ribs 164 can exhibit a conical virtual envelope, whose cone axis coincides with the nozzle path S. The cone angle can correspond to a usual draft angle of between 2° and 4°. A virtual conical envelope tapers in the direction from the main body 120 of the filling head housing 112 towards the plug-in orifice 130.

(28) In order to facilitate the sliding of the internal thread of the coupling sleeve onto the longitudinal ribs 164, the longitudinal ribs 164 can exhibit insertion chamfers 164b at their longitudinal end located away from the main body 120. These insertion chamfers 164b are surfaces which are tilted relative to the nozzle path S about tilt axes orthogonal to the nozzle path S in such a way that the margin of an insertion chamfer 164b that is further away from the main body 120 along the nozzle path S is nearer to the nozzle path S than its opposite margin along the nozzle path S that is nearer to the main body 120.

(29) Preferably, the longitudinal ribs 164 are arranged around the nozzle path S at an equidistant angular spacing, although this is not mandatory. The longitudinal ribs 164 likewise are preferably configured identically, although for example they can also exhibit differing circumferential dimensions.

(30) When the internal thread of a coupling sleeve is slid translationally onto the plug-in connector 122, the radially inner end regions of the internal thread of the coupling sleeve end up abutting onto the rear faces 164a of the longitudinal ribs 164 and are centered by means of the longitudinal ribs 164. Three longitudinal ribs 164 are sufficient for centering. A higher number of longitudinal ribs 164 results in improved securing of the coupling sleeve against tipping over about a tipping axis orthogonal to the nozzle path S.

(31) The longitudinal ribs 164 that reach up to the main body 120 also ensure stiffening of the plug-in connector 122, compared with a plug-in connector 122 with shorter longitudinal ribs which terminate at a distance from the main body 120, or compared with a plug-in connector 122 which exhibits only a few turns of an external thread where the external thread likewise ends at a distance from the main body 122.

(32) FIGS. 5 and 6 depict a third embodiment of the invention's filling head 210 of the present application in longitudinal section (FIG. 5) and in perspective view (FIG. 6). Once again it is the case that identical and functionally identical components and component sections as in the first embodiment exhibit in the third embodiment the same reference labels, but increased numerically by 200. Likewise, identical and functionally identical components and component sections as in the second embodiment are labelled in the third embodiment with the same reference labels, but increased numerically by 100.

(33) The third embodiment is described hereunder only in so far as it differs from the first and from the second embodiment, to whose description otherwise express reference is made also for elucidating the third embodiment.

(34) The third embodiment of the filling head 210 is functionally nearer to the second embodiment, since the active formation of the third embodiment also does not permit screwed engagement with the internal thread 242 of the coupling sleeve 240, but instead, like the second embodiment, low-backlash translational sliding on and sliding off of the coupling sleeve 240 onto the active formation or away from the active formation respectively.

(35) The active formation of the third embodiment is formed by an outer wall section 274 of the plug-in connector 222. The outer wall section 274 forms part of the external side 222a of the plug-in connector 122 that is observable from outside.

(36) The outer wall section 274 is closed and proceeds in a circumferential direction around the nozzle path S. The outer wall section 274 can, unlike the depicted embodiment, also be formed from several outer wall part-sections, of which each one extends only over a predefined angular region and between which are configured outer wall sections recessed towards the nozzle path S. The transition between segmented outer wall part-sections and a plurality of longitudinal ribs 164 is fluid.

(37) The depiction of the coupling sleeve 240 of FIG. 5 that is slid onto the outer wall section 274 is also transferable to the second embodiment of FIG. 3. The internal thread 242 abuts against the outer wall section 274 with its radially inner surface regions.

(38) Once again it is the case that the outer wall section exhibits an outer diameter which over at least half of the longitudinal extension of the outer wall section along the nozzle path S is not greater than the inner diameter of the internal thread 242. Preferably, to guarantee an only low level of free play and thereby low tipping tendency of the reservoir container pushed onto the filling head 210 by means of the coupling sleeve 240, the outer diameter of the outer wall section is smaller by not more than 0.75 mm than the inner diameter of the internal thread 142 of the coupling sleeve 240 over at least half of the longitudinal extension of the outer wall section.

(39) The outer wall section can be cylindrical or conical. In the case of a conical outer wall section 274, it tapers in the direction from the main body 220 of the filling head housing 212 towards the plug-in orifice 230. The cone angle lies once again preferably within the range of usual draft angles, i.e. in particular between 2° and 4°, said angles included. The outer wall section 274 too is configured as smooth and step-free, in order to guarantee as far as possible the most undisturbed sliding-on and sliding-off movement of the coupling sleeve 240 onto the outer wall section 174 or away from it, respectively.

(40) In the depiction shown in FIG. 5, the increased diameter of the outer wall section 274 of the plug-in connector 222 on the right-hand side of the plug-in connector 222 compared with the first two embodiments is formed by an increased wall thickness. Alternatively, the wall thickness of the plug-in connector 222 known from the first two embodiments can be retained and the intake space 232 increased radially, as is depicted on the left-hand side of the plug-in connector 222. The radial overhang dimension of the functional formations 256 relative to the nozzle path is then larger by the radial dimension increase of the functional formations 256. The venting through the plug-in connector 222 with a radially enlarged intake space 232 is improved because of the larger cross-section through which gas can flow.

(41) In order to facilitate the sliding on of the coupling sleeve 240, the outer wall section 274 too can exhibit an insertion chamfer 274b tapering towards the plug-in orifice 230.

(42) In each of the perspective depictions of FIGS. 2, 4, and 6 there is depicted a component V which is part of the vehicle carrying the respective filling head 10, 110, and 210, but not of the filling head.

(43) While considerable emphasis has been placed on the preferred embodiments of the invention illustrated and described herein, it will be appreciated that other embodiments, and equivalences thereof, can be made and that many changes can be made in the preferred embodiments without departing from the principles of the invention. Furthermore, the embodiments described above can be combined to form yet other embodiments of the invention of this application. Accordingly, it is to be distinctly understood that the foregoing descriptive matter is to be interpreted merely as illustrative of the invention and not as a limitation.