Device for protection against incorrect refuelling

Abstract

A device for protection against incorrect refuelling, the device including a housing having housing tabs, a separating element to be opened to permit refuelling, and a closing element arranged in, and axially moveable axially relative to the housing. The closing element has at a periphery thereof closing tabs assigned to the housing tabs to form a catch connection which is reversibly released by insertion of a suitable filler nozzle to open the separating element.

Claims

1. A device for protection against incorrect refuelling, the device comprising: a housing having a substantially cylindrical body with a central axis, and at least one housing tab that is an outer periphery of the housing; a separating element to be opened to permit refuelling; and a closing element arranged in, and axially moveable axially relative to the housing, the closing element having at a periphery thereof at least one closing tab assigned to the at least one housing tab to form a catch connection which is reversibly released by insertion of a suitable filler nozzle to open the separating element, the at least one closing tab being disposed between the central axis and the assigned at least one housing tab, wherein the at least one closing tab and the assigned at least one housing tab are configured such that on insertion of the suitable filler nozzle in the device, each of the at least one closing tab and the assigned at least one housing tab are moved radially outward relative to the central axis to release the catch connection between the at least one closing tab and the assigned at least one housing tab.

2. The device of claim 1, wherein the housing and the closing element are coaxially arranged.

3. The device of claim 1, wherein the housing has a tank-side housing end, a filling-side housing end, and a housing interior.

4. The device of claim 3, wherein the separating element is arranged on the tank-side housing end.

5. The device of claim 4, wherein the separating element is configured such that in a separating element starting position of the separating element, the housing interior and a tank are separated to prevent filling of the tank via a filler nozzle.

6. The device of claim 1, wherein the separating element comprises a flap.

7. The device of claim 1, wherein the separating element is moveable into an open position by the suitable filler nozzle.

8. The device of claim 1, wherein the closing element tapers in a direction of a tank-side housing end of the housing.

9. The device of claim 1, wherein the closing element comprises a plurality of notches to subdivide the closing element at least partially into several closing element segments.

10. The device of claim 1, wherein the closing element is at least partially elastically moveable.

11. The device of claim 1, wherein the at least one closing tab and the at least one housing tab are elastically moveable.

12. The device of claim 1, further comprising an elastic clamping element arranged on an outer periphery of the housing, the clamping element being configured to apply a radial return force to the at least one housing tab such that in an absence of the suitable filler nozzle being inserted into the device, the at least one housing tab is held in a housing tab starting position.

13. The device of claim 1, wherein the at least one housing tab has a catch device configured such that, in an absence of the suitable filler nozzle being inserted into the device, the at least one closing tab is to engage at a closing tab end in the catch device to form the catch connection.

14. The device of claim 1, wherein: the at least one closing tab has a first end and a second end disposed opposite each other in a direction of the central axis, the separating element being disposed closer to the first end than to the second end, the at least one closing tab further including a radially inward protrusion disposed between the first end and the second end in the direction of the central axis, the first end being a first minimum distance from the central axis, the second end being a second minimum distance from the central axis, the protrusion being a third minimum distance from the central axis that is greater than the first distance and less than that of the second distance; and the protrusion is configured such that on insertion of the suitable filler nozzle in the device, the at least one closing tab and the assigned at least one housing tab are moved radially outward relative to the central axis to release the catch connection between the at least one closing tab and the assigned at least one housing tab so that the least one closing tab and the assigned at least one housing tab each move in a direction perpendicular to the central axis.

15. The device of claim 1, wherein the closing element comprises a plurality of slip elements formed on an outer periphery of the closing element in a direction from the closing element to the housing.

16. The device of claim 15, wherein the housing has at least one axial sliding block guide on an inner periphery of the housing assigned to at least one of the slip elements such that a respective slip element of the at least one of the slip elements is guided axially in a corresponding one of the at least one axial sliding block guide.

17. The device of claim 16, wherein the at least one axial sliding block guide is configured such that the at least one of the slip elements is moveable radially outward only in a region of a tank-side housing end of the housing.

18. The device of claim 1, further comprising at least one spring element arranged in a region of a tank-side housing end of the housing, the at least one spring element being configured to apply an axial return force to the closing element such that in an absence of the suitable filler nozzle being inserted into the device, the closing element is pressed into a closing element starting position.

19. The device of claim 18, wherein the at least one spring element is formed integrally with the separating element.

20. A device for protection against incorrect refuelling, the device comprising: a housing having a substantially cylindrical body with a central axis, and a plurality of housing tabs that are an outer periphery of the housing; a separating element to be opened to permit refuelling; and a closing element arranged in, and axially moveable axially relative to the housing, the closing element having at a periphery thereof a plurality of closing tabs assigned to the housing tabs to form a catch connection which is reversibly released by insertion of a suitable filler nozzle to open the separating element, the closing tabs being disposed between the central axis and the assigned housing tabs, wherein the closing tabs and the assigned housing tabs are configured such that on insertion of the suitable filler nozzle in the device, each of the closing tabs and the assigned housing tabs are moved radially outward relative to the central axis to release the catch connection between the closing tabs and the assigned housing tabs.

Description

DRAWINGS

(1) Embodiments will be illustrated by way of example in the drawings and explained in the description below.

(2) FIG. 1 illustrates an exploded view of a device, in accordance with embodiments.

(3) FIG. 2 illustrates a cross-section view (A-A) of the device of FIG. 1.

(4) FIG. 3 illustrates a longitudinal depiction of the device of FIG. 1.

(5) FIG. 4 illustrates a tank-side cross section depiction of the device of FIG. 1.

(6) FIG. 5 illustrates a filling-side cross section depiction of the device of FIG. 1.

DESCRIPTION

(7) With reference to FIGS. 1 to 5, embodiments of a device 1 are described below. FIG. 1 illustrates an exploded view of the device 1 for protection against incorrect refuelling, and serves for a brief description of the basic components of the device 1. Details are illustrated more closely in FIGS. 2 to 5.

(8) The device 1 comprises a housing 2 with a closing element 9, a clamping element 19 and a spring element 21, wherein the spring element 21 is designed integrally with the separating element 20. The housing 2 may have a tank-side housing end 3, a filling-side housing end 4 and a housing interior 5. The housing 2 may be designed substantially cylindrical. The housing 2 may have a plurality of housing tabs 8 on its periphery. The housing tabs 8 are evenly distributed over the periphery of the housing 8.

(9) The closing element 9 may have a plurality of closing tabs 14 on its periphery, wherein the closing tabs 14 are evenly distributed over the periphery of the closing element 9. The closing element 9 may be substantially conical, in particular hopper-like. The closing element 9 tapers in the direction of the tank-side housing end 3. The closing element 9 comprises a plurality of notches 11, whereby the closing element 9 is subdivided at least partially into several closing element segments 13. A plurality of slip elements 10 is arranged in the region of the closing element segments 13.

(10) The separating element/spring element assembly 22 is designed as a circular ring and may have a flap-like separating element 20 and a plurality of tab-like spring elements 21. The spring elements 21 are distributed substantially evenly over the circular separating element/spring element assembly 22. The separating element/spring element assembly 22 may be connected via one and/or a plurality of clip connections to the tank-side housing end 3. The spring elements 21 apply an axial return force to the closing element 9, whereby in the absence of the suitable filler nozzle, the closing element 9 is pressed into a closing element starting position.

(11) FIG. 2 illustrates a cross-section view (section A-A) of the device 1 of FIG. 1. The closing element 9 is arranged coaxially in the housing 2 (in the housing interior 5). FIG. 2 illustrates the hopper-like formation of the closing element 9.

(12) A housing tab 8 is assigned to each closing tab 14, wherein a respective closing tab 14 with its assigned housing tab 8 in the region of a closing tab end 15 forms the respective catch connection 17. The housing tab 8 assigned to the respective locking tab 14 comprises a catch device 18, wherein in the absence of a suitable filler nozzle, the respective closing tab 14 is engaged preferably at the closing tab end 15 in the catch device 18 of the assigned housing tab 8, and thus, the respective catch connection 17 is formed.

(13) The closing tabs 14 and assigned housing tabs 8 are configured such that introduction of the suitable filler nozzle releases all catch connections 17 between the respective closing tabs 14 and the assigned housing tabs 8. On further insertion of the suitable filler nozzle in the direction of the tank-side housing end 3, the closing element 9 moves axially relative to the housing 2 in the direction of the tank-side housing end 3. The movement described is indicated in FIG. 2 by way of an arrow. This movement allows the suitable filler nozzle to be inserted so far in the device 1 that it opens the separating element 20 (folds it aside in the tank-side direction), allowing refilling of a tank.

(14) The closing tabs 14 are configured such that they each have a radially inward protrusion 16 in the axial direction, wherein the protrusion 16 is configured such that on insertion of the suitable filler nozzle, the closing tabs 14 and the assigned housing tabs 8 are moved radially outward, releasing the respective catch connections 17 between the closing tabs 14 and assigned housing tabs 8.

(15) The catch connections 17 between the respective closing tabs 14 and the assigned housing tabs 8 are released reversibly by insertion of the suitable filler nozzle, i.e. when the suitable filler nozzle is removed from the device 1, all closing tabs 14 together with the assigned housing tabs 8 form the catch connections 17 again (catch).

(16) The closing element 9 comprises a plurality of slip elements 10, wherein the slip elements 10 are arranged on the outer periphery of the closing elements 12 in the direction of the housing 2. An axial sliding block guide on an inner periphery of the housing 7 is assigned to each slip element 10, wherein the respective slip element 10 can be guided axially in the respective sliding block guide of the housing 2.

(17) The slip elements 10 are arranged on the closing element 9 (on the closing element segments 13) in the region of the tank-side housing end 3. The sliding block guide is configured such that the slip elements 10 can be moved radially outward in particular only in the region of the tank-side housing end 3.

(18) In the device 1, stop elements 23 are arranged on the closing element 9 in the region of the tank-side housing end 3 and, on axial movement of the closing element 9 in the direction of the tank-side housing end 3 (arrow direction in FIG. 2), cooperate with the spring elements 21 and serve as an application point for the axial return force of the spring elements 21.

(19) The reduction in diameter of the device 1 by way of the hopper-like closing element 9 prevents incorrect refuelling with an unsuitable filler nozzle, since the diameter of the device 1 is less than than the diameter of the unsuitable filler nozzle. The unsuitable filler nozzle, depending on diameter, is blocked at a point of the hopper-like closing element 9, preventing further insertion in the direction of the separating element 20 (in the direction of the tank-side housing end 3), and thus, does not reach the separating element 20. The separating element remains in the separating element starting position.

(20) In the device 1, the flap-like separating element 20 can be moved by a suitable filler nozzle into an open position, folded aside in the tank-side direction. The elastic clamping element 19 is arranged on an outer periphery of the housing 6, wherein the clamping element 19 applies a radial return force to the housing tab 8, whereby in the absence of the suitable filler nozzle, the housing tabs 8 are held in a housing tab starting position.

(21) FIG. 3 illustrates a longitudinal depiction of the device 1, showing in particular a part of the outer periphery of the housing 6, the arrangement of the clamping element 19 and the arrangement of one of the housing tabs 8.

(22) FIGS. 4 and 5 illustrate cross-section views of the device 1, FIG. 4 illustrating a tank-side view, while FIG. 5 illustrating a filling-side view.

(23) FIG. 4 illustrates, in particular, the separating element/spring element assembly 22. The spring elements 21 and the flap-like separating element 20 are evenly distributed over the periphery of the circular separating element/spring element assembly 22. The tab-like spring elements 21 and the flap-like separating element 20 extend radially inward.

(24) FIG. 5 illustrates, in particular the housing 2 and the coaxially arranged closing element 9 together with the separating element 20. The closing element segments 13 of the closing element 9 taper in the direction of the tank-side housing end 3.

(25) The term “coupled” or “connected” may be used herein to refer to any type of relationship, direct or indirect, between the components in question, and may apply to electrical, mechanical, fluid, optical, electromagnetic, electromechanical or other connections. In addition, the terms “first,” “second, etc. are used herein only to facilitate discussion, and carry no particular temporal or chronological significance unless otherwise indicated.

(26) This written description uses examples to disclose the invention, including the preferred embodiments, and also to enable any person skilled in the art to practice the invention, including making and using any devices or systems and performing any incorporated methods. The patentable scope of embodiments is defined by the claims, and may include other examples that occur to those skilled in the art. Such other examples are intended to be within the scope of the claims if they have structural elements that do not differ from the literal language of the claims, or if they include equivalent structural elements with insubstantial differences from the literal languages of the claims. Aspects from the various embodiments described, as well as other known equivalents for each such aspects, may be mixed and matched by one of ordinary skill in the art to construct additional embodiments and techniques in accordance with principles of this application.

LIST OF REFERENCE SIGNS

(27) 1 Device 2 Housing 3 Tank-side housing end 4 Filling-side housing end 5 Housing interior 6 Outer periphery of housing 7 Inner periphery of housing 8 Housing tab 9 Closing element 10 Slip element 11 Notch 12 Outer periphery of closing element 13 Closing element segment 14 Closing element tab 15 Closing element tab end 16 Protrusion 17 Catch connection 18 Catch device 19 Clamping element 20 Separating element 21 Spring element 22 Separating element/spring element assembly 23 Stop element