FILLING HEAD FOR A FUEL TANK, PARTICULARLY OF A VEHICLE

Abstract

A filling head (12) for a fuel tank, particularly of a vehicle, the head including a tubular sleeve (16) of which a first longitudinal end (16a) defines a filling opening and of which a second longitudinal end (16b) is intended to be fixed to one end (14a) of a fuel pipe (14). The head further includes a ring (18) mounted in the sleeve and having a passage orifice for a filling nozzle, wherein the sleeve is made of HDPE and its second end is intended to be fixed by welding to the end of the fuel pipe. An annular seal (36) is mounted between the ring and the sleeve near the second end.

Claims

1. A filling head (12, 112) for a fuel tank, particularly of a vehicle, the filling head comprising a tubular sleeve (16, 116) of which a first longitudinal end (16a, 116a) defines a filling opening and of which a second longitudinal end (16b, 116b), the filling head further comprising a ring (18, 118) mounted in said tubular sleeve and comprising a passage orifice for a filling nozzle, characterized in that said tubular sleeve is made of HDPE and such that the second longitudinal end can be connected by welding to a fuel pipe, and in that annular sealing means (36, 136) are mounted between said ring and said tubular sleeve near said second longitudinal end.

2. The filling head (12, 112) according to claim 1, in which said annular sealing means comprise at least one annular sealing gasket (36, 136).

3. The filling head (12, 112) according to claim 2, in which said annular sealing gasket (36, 136) is housed in an external annular groove of said ring (18, 118) and presses against an internal cylindrical surface of said tubular sleeve (16, 116).

4. The filling head (12, 112) according to claim 1, in which said second end (16b, 116b) of said tubular sleeve (16, 116) has an additional thickness (24, 142).

5. The filling head (12, 112) according to claim 4, in which said additional thickness (24) extends along an axis (A) of said tubular sleeve (16, 116), from said second longitudinal end (16b, 116b) to beyond said annular sealing means (36, 136).

6. The filling head (12, 112) according to claim 4, in which said second longitudinal end (16b, 116b) comprises a rim (22, 122) or a cylindrical bearing surface of diameter D2 for welding, which is connected to a cylindrical wall of diameter D1 of said tubular sleeve, wherein diameter D2 is greater than diameter D1.

7. The filling head (12, 112) according to claim 6, in which said annular sealing means (36, 136) collaborate with an internal cylindrical surface of said cylindrical wall or of said cylindrical rim (22, 122).

8. The filling head (12, 112) according to claim 7, in which said additional thickness (124, 142) extends into the cylindrical rim (22, 122) and a portion of said cylindrical wall.

9. The filling head (12, 112) according to claim 1, in which said annular sealing means (36, 136) are situated a distance away from a plane (P1) passing through a free welding edge of said second longitudinal end, measured along an axis (A) of said tubular sleeve, which represents 0.01.Math.D to 0.3.Math.D, D being an internal diameter of said tubular sleeve (16, 116).

10. The filling head (12, 112) according to claim 1, in which said annular sealing means (36, 136) have a mean diameter d comprised between 0.5.Math.D and 1.Math.D, D being an internal diameter of said tubular sleeve (16, 116).

11. The filling head (12) according to claim 6, in which said additional thickness (24) defines an annular step (26) on an external annular surface of said cylindrical wall.

12. An assembly comprising a filling head (12, 112) according to claim 1 and a fuel pipe (14, 114), said pipe being made of HDPE and having an end (14a, 114a) fixed by welding to said second longitudinal end (16b, 116b) of the tubular sleeve (16, 116) forming a weld joint.

13. An assembly according to claim 12, in which said annular sealing means (36, 136) are situated at a distance (L1) from a jointing plane (P1) of the weld joint, the distance being measured along an axis (A) of said tubular sleeve, which represents 0.01.Math.D to 0.3.Math.D, D being an internal diameter of said tubular sleeve (16, 116) and/or of said pipe (14, 114).

14. An assembly according to claim 13, in which said annular sealing means (36, 136) have a mean diameter d comprised between 0.5.Math.D and 1.Math.D.

15. An assembly according to claim 14, in which said ring (18, 118) and/or said tubular sleeve (16, 116) is at least partially surrounded by said end of said pipe (14, 114).

16. A filling head (12, 112) for a vehicle fuel tank, the filling head comprising: a tubular sleeve (16, 116) with a first longitudinal end (16a, 116a) that defines a filling opening and a second longitudinal end 916b, 116b); a ring (18, 118) mounted in said tubular sleeve and comprising a passage orifice for a filling nozzle; wherein said tubular sleeve is made of HDPE such that the second longitudinal end can be joined by welding to a fuel pipe; wherein an annular seal (36, 136) is mounted between said ring and said tubular sleeve near said second longitudinal end.

Description

DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES

[0028] The invention will be better understood and further details, features and advantages of the invention will become more clearly apparent from reading the following description given by way of nonlimiting example and from referring to the attached drawings in which:

[0029] FIG. 1 is a partial schematic view in perspective of one embodiment of an assembly according to the invention, comprising a filling head and a fuel pipe;

[0030] FIG. 2 is a partial schematic view in axial section of the assembly of FIG. 1;

[0031] FIG. 3 is a view on a larger scale of a detail of FIG. 2;

[0032] FIG. 4 is a partial schematic view in perspective of another embodiment of an assembly according to the invention, comprising a filling head and a fuel pipe;

[0033] FIG. 5 is a partial schematic view in axial section of the assembly of FIG. 4; and

[0034] FIG. 6 is a view on a larger scale of a detail of FIG. 5.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0035] FIG. 1 shows a first exemplary embodiment of an assembly 10 according to the invention comprising a filling head 12 and a fuel pipe 14. As mentioned in the foregoing, this assembly 10 is intended to be fitted to a vehicle, the head 12 in general being accessible through a flap of the vehicle and the pipe 14 connecting the head 12 to the fuel tank of the vehicle.

[0036] The vehicle tank is filled by a means of a filling nozzle which is inserted into the head 12 which essentially comprises two parts, namely a tubular sleeve 16 and a ring 18 mounted in the sleeve 16 (FIG. 2).

[0037] The fuel pipe 14 has a tubular overall shape and has one end 14a, in this instance the upper end, intended to be fixed by welding, for example using a heating mirror, to the fuel pipe 14. The end 14a of the pipe has an internal diameter denoted D3. Its tubular wall has a thickness denoted E3 at this end 14a and is made of HDPE (FIG. 3).

[0038] Moreover, although this is not visible in the drawings, the cylindrical internal surface of the pipe 14 is covered with a barrier layer impermeable to the fuel and thus making it possible to avoid the migration of fuel through the tubular wall of the pipe 14.

[0039] In the embodiment of FIGS. 1 to 3, the head 12 is of the capless type.

[0040] The sleeve 16 has a tubular overall shape and is made of HDPE. It is made as a single piece. It comprises a first longitudinal end 16a, in this instance an upper end, which defines a filling opening 20, and a second longitudinal end 16b, in this instance a lower end, which is intended to be fixed to the end 14a of the pipe 14.

[0041] The sleeve 16, over a major part of its length, has an internal diameter denoted D1 and a wall thickness denoted E1. At its lower end 16b of connection to the pipe 14, the sleeve 16 comprises a cylindrical rim 22. This cylindrical rim has an internal diameter denoted D2 and a wall thickness E2. As can be seen in the drawings, the diameter D2 is greater than the diameter D1 and is also here substantially equal to the diameter D3. The thickness E2 represents 150 to 300% of the thickness E1. The thickness E2 is, for example, around 5 mm. The thickness E2 may be greater than the thickness E3.

[0042] Because E2 is greater than E1, the sleeve 16 comprises an additional thickness 24 (which is radial with respect to the axis A of the sleeve or the opening thereof). This additional thickness 24 extends axially from the free edge (when the head has not yet been welded to the pipe) or the welded edge of the end 16b of the sleeve 16 over the entire rim 22 thereof and is extended over part of the rest of the sleeve. The axial distance between the plane P1 passing through the free or welded edge of the end 16b, which is the plane of jointing between the sleeve and the pipe when these are welded together, and a plane P2 passing through the upper end of the additional thickness 24 is denoted L1. The planes P1 and P2 are substantially perpendicular to the axis A and therefore substantially mutually parallel.

[0043] The upper end of the additional thickness 24 here forms an annular step 26 on the external cylindrical surface of the sleeve 16.

[0044] The ring 18 has a cylindrical overall shape and is mounted coaxially in the sleeve 16. Here it extends over substantially the entire length of the sleeve 16 along the axis A. At its radially external end it comprises an annular bearing flange 30 bearing against the free edge of the end 16a of the sleeve. An annular cover 32 is attached and fixed to this end 16a to hold the ring 18 fixedly in the sleeve 16.

[0045] The ring 18 may comprise centring means intended to collaborate with the filling nozzle, and poka-yoke means. The poka-yoke means make it possible to prevent the tank from being filled using a diesel nozzle when the tank contains petrol, or vice versa, so as to prevent the tank from being filled with a petrol nozzle when the tank contains diesel.

[0046] The ring 18 comprises at least one flap 28, and, here, two. Each flap is able to move between a closed position and an open position. The movement into the open position is brought about by the insertion of the nozzle and the return to the closed position is generally brought about by return means such as a spring.

[0047] The ring 18 is mounted sealingly inside the sleeve 16. In the example depicted, sealing means are mounted between the ring 18 and the sleeve 16.

[0048] At its external periphery the ring comprises external annular grooves housing annular seals 34, 36 which collaborate with the sleeve 16 and more particularly with the cylindrical internal surface of diameter D1 of the sleeve.

[0049] An upper seal 34 is mounted between the ring 18 and the end 16a of the sleeve. The other, lower, seal 36 is mounted between the ring and the end 16b of the sleeve.

[0050] The seals 34, 36 in this instance are o-ring seals made for example of FKM (a fluoroelastomer).

[0051] The ring 18 may be made of POM (polyoxymethylene).

[0052] A plane passing through the seal 36 and substantially perpendicular to the axis A is denoted P3.

[0053] As can be seen in the drawings, the seal 36 collaborates with the additional thickness 24 of the sleeve 16 and is therefore situated in the immediate vicinity of the edge thereof that is welded to the pipe 14.

[0054] The axial distance between the planes P1 and P3 (and/or P1 and P2) represents 0.01.Math.D to 0.3.Math.D, preferably 0.05.Math.D to 0.2.Math.D, and more preferably, 0.1.Math.D to 0.15.Math.D.

[0055] The seal 36 preferably has a mean diameter d comprised between 0.5.Math.D and 1.Math.D, preferably between 0.7.Math.D and 0.9.Math.D, and more preferably between 0.75.Math.D and 0.85.Math.D.

[0056] The closest distance h between the seal 36 and the welded edge is between 0.05.Math.D and 0.5.Math.D, preferably between 0.1.Math.D and 0.3.Math.D, and more preferably between 0.15.Math.D and 0.25.Math.D.

[0057] D is an internal diameter of the sleeve 16 and is in particular D1. As an alternative, D is an internal diameter of the pipe 14 and is, for example, D3.

[0058] This embodiment is particularly advantageous in so far as the seal 36 is very close to the welded edge and the HDPE wall of the sleeve through which wall fuel is liable to migrate is small in size (length). The additional thickness of this wall makes it possible to limit or even eliminate any leak of fuel as a result of this migration (arrow 38).

[0059] FIG. 4 shows another exemplary embodiment of an assembly 110 according to the invention comprising a filling head 112 and a fuel pipe 114.

[0060] The description from the preceding exemplary embodiment applies to this other exemplary embodiment to the extent where it does not contradict what follows.

[0061] The head 112 essentially comprises two parts, namely a tubular sleeve 116 and a ring 118 which is mounted in the sleeve 116 (FIG. 5). The head 112 is also equipped with a cap 119, for example of the quarter-turn type.

[0062] The fuel pipe 114 is similar to the one described in the foregoing.

[0063] The sleeve 116 has a tubular overall shape and is made of HDPE. It is made as a single piece. It comprises a first longitudinal end 116a, here the upper end, which defines a filling opening 120 and which is intended to be fixed to the end 114a of the pipe 14, and a second longitudinal end 116b, here the lower end, which is housed inside the pipe 114.

[0064] The sleeve 116 here comprises several portions arranged one on top of the other along the axis A: a tubular lower portion 116a, a tubular upper portion 116c of greater diameter, and an intermediate portion 116b of frustoconical overall shape widening from the bottom upwards.

[0065] The lower portion 116a has an internal diameter denoted D11 and a wall thickness denoted E11. The upper portion 116c has an internal diameter denoted D13 and a wall thickness denoted E13. The intermediate portion 116b has a wall thickness denoted E12. The thicknesses E11, E12 and E13 here are similar.

[0066] At its upper end 16a for connection to the pipe 114, the sleeve 116 comprises a cylindrical rim 122. This cylindrical rim 122 has an internal diameter denoted D2 and a wall thickness E2.

[0067] The rim 122 extends around part of the intermediate portion 116b or even of the upper portion and is connected to the intermediate portion 116b by a radial wall 123 which has a thickness, this time axial, denoted E4.

[0068] The rim 122 is spaced radially away from the portions 116b, 116c and delimits around them an annular space 140 in which to house a lower portion of the ring 118. This space 140 is delimited radially on the outside by an internal cylindrical surface of the rim 122, and radially on the inside by the external cylindrical surface of the upper portion which extends downwards by virtue of an annular additional thickness 142 of a piece of the intermediate portion 116b.

[0069] The rim 122 has an internal diameter denoted D2 and a wall thickness denoted E2.

[0070] As can be seen in the drawings, the diameter D2 is greater than the diameters D11, D12 and D13 and is also here substantially equal to the diameter D3. The thickness E2 and/or the thickness E4 represent 150 to 300% of the thickness E11, E12 or E13. The thickness E2 and/or E4 is/are for example approximately 5 mm. The thickness E2 and/or E4 may be greater than the thickness E3.

[0071] E2 and/or E4 is/are greater than E11, E12 or E13, which means that the sleeve 116 is thickened in the region of its rim 122 and/or of its radial wall 123 of connection of the rim 122 to the rest of the sleeve 116. The additional thickness extends axially over the entire axial dimension of the rim, in the wall 123, and over a piece of the portion 116b, as mentioned in the foregoing in the case of the additional thickness 142.

[0072] The ring 118 has a cylindrical overall shape and is mounted coaxially in the sleeve 116 and more particularly in the space 140. Its lower portion is thus engaged in the space 140 and its upper portion is situated above the sleeve 116 and accepts the cap 119 at its upper end.

[0073] The ring 118 and/or the sleeve 116 may comprise centring means intended to collaborate with the filling nozzle and poka-yoke means.

[0074] The ring 118 and/or the sleeve 116 may comprise at least one flap 128 able to move and urged into a position of rest by return means such as a spring.

[0075] The ring 118 is mounted sealingly in the sleeve 116. In the example depicted, sealing means are mounted between the ring 118 and the rim 122 of the sleeve 116.

[0076] The lower portion of the ring 118 at its external periphery comprises an external annular groove to house an annular sealing gasket 136 which collaborates with the internal cylindrical surface of diameter D1 of the rim 122.

[0077] The seal 136 in this instance is an o-ring seal, made for example of FKM (a fluoroelastomer).

[0078] The ring 118 may be made of POM (polyoxymethylene).

[0079] A plane passing through the seal 136 and substantially perpendicular to the axis A is denoted P3.

[0080] As may be seen in the drawings, the seal 136 is situated in the immediate vicinity of the free edge (when the head has not yet been welded to the pipe) of the sleeve or of the edge of the sleeve welded to the pipe 14.

[0081] The axial distance between the planes P1 and P3 represents 0.01.Math.D to 0.3.Math.D, preferably 0.05.Math.D to 0.2.Math.D and more preferably 0.1.Math.D to 0.15.Math.D.

[0082] The seal 136 preferably has a mean diameter d comprised between 0.5.Math.D and 1.Math.D, preferably between 0.7 D and 0.9.Math.D and more preferably between 0.75.Math.D and 0.85.Math.D.

[0083] The closest distance h between the seal 136 and the welded edge is comprised between 0.05.Math.D and 0.5.Math.D, preferably between 0.1.Math.D and 0.3.Math.D, and more preferably between 0.15.Math.D and 0.25.Math.D.

[0084] D is an internal diameter of sleeve 116 and in particular is D1. As an alternative, D is an internal diameter of the pipe 114 and is, for example, D3.

[0085] This other exemplary embodiment is also particularly advantageous in so far as the seal 136 is very close to the welded edge and the walls (wall 123 and rim 122) made of HDPE of the sleeve through which the fuel is liable to migrate are small in size (thickness in the case of the wall 123 and length in the case of the rim 122). The additional thickness of these walls makes it possible to limit or even eliminate any leak of fuel as a result of this migration (arrow 138).