Torque element and cap assembly including the same

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-10479196-B2
Application number	US-201715709212-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Sep 19, 2017
Priority date	Oct 12, 2016
Publication date	Nov 19, 2019
Grant date	Nov 19, 2019

Abstract

The present disclosure provides a torque element to transmit torque between a first part and a second part of a cap assembly. The torque element includes a base having a first surface and a second surface opposite to the first surface; and an annular wall extending from the base in a direction away from the second surface. The first surface of the base includes at least one first ratchet and the annular wall includes at least one second ratchet on an outer side.

First claim

The invention claimed is:

1. A torque element to transmit a torque between a first part and a second part in a cap assembly, comprising:
a base having a first surface and a second surface opposite to the first surface; and
an annular wall extending from the base in a direction away from the second surface;
wherein the first surface of the base includes at least one first ratchet and the annular wall includes at least one second ratchet on an outer side thereof; and
wherein the second ratchet includes a second inclined surface and a second locking surface adjoined to the second inclined surface, and a third gradient of the second inclined surface relative to a side surface of the annular wall is smaller than a fourth gradient of the second locking surface relative to the side surface of the annular wall.

2. The torque element of the claim 1 , wherein the annular wall is substantially perpendicular to the second surface of the base.

3. The torque element of the claim 1 , wherein the base and the annular wall are integrally formed as one piece.

4. The torque element of the claim 1 , wherein the first ratchet includes a first inclined surface and a first locking surface adjoined to the first inclined surface, and a first gradient of the first inclined surface relative to the first surface is smaller than a second gradient of the first locking surface relative to the first surface.

5. The torque element of the claim 4 , wherein the first inclined surface and the second inclined surface face toward a counterclockwise rotation direction.

6. A cap assembly, comprising:
a main body;
a top cover mounted to the main body and having an outer surface and an inner surface opposite to the outer surface; and
a torque element positioned between the main body and the top cover to transmit torque there-between; wherein the torque element including:
a base having a first surface and a second surface opposite to the first surface; and
an annular wall extending from the base in a direction away from the second surface;
wherein the first surface of the base includes at least one first ratchet, and the inner surface of the top cover includes at least one third ratchet cooperated with the first ratchet.

7. The cap assembly of the claim 6 , wherein an outer side of the annular wall of the torque element includes at least one second ratchet, the annular wall is adjacent to an inner wall of the main body, and the inner wall of the main body includes at least one fourth ratchet cooperated with the second ratchet.

8. The cap assembly of the claim 7 , wherein the at least one second ratchet and the at least one fourth ratchet are configured such that the top cover drives the torque element to rotate clockwise, and the torque element is able to rotate clockwise relative to the main body.

9. The cap assembly of the claim 8 , wherein when the main body rotates to a locked position or after the locked position and a first predetermined torque value is exceeded, the at least one second ratchet slides over the at least one fourth ratchet.

10. The cap assembly of the claim 9 , wherein the at least one first ratchet and the at least one third ratchet are configured such that the top cover drives the torque element to rotate counterclockwise, and the top cover may rotate counterclockwise relative to the torque element.

11. The cap assembly of the claim 10 , wherein when the main body rotates to an unlocked position or after the unlocked position and a second predetermined torque value is exceeded, the at least one first ratchet slides over the at least one third ratchet.

12. The cap assembly of the claim 11 , wherein the first ratchet includes a first inclined surface and a first locking surface adjoined to the first inclined surface, and a first gradient of the first inclined surface relative to the first surface is smaller than a second gradient of the first locking surface relative to the first surface; wherein the third ratchet includes a third inclined surface and a third locking surface adjoined to the third inclined surface, and a fifth gradient of the third inclined surface relative to the inner surface of the top cover is smaller than a sixth gradient of the third locking surface relative to the inner surface of the top cover; wherein, when the top cover is rotated counterclockwise, the first inclined surface of the first ratchet engages with the third inclined surface of the third ratchet such that the top cover is able to rotate counterclockwise relative to the torque element.

13. The cap assembly of the claim 12 , wherein the second ratchet includes a second inclined surface and a second locking surface adjoined to the second inclined surface, and a third gradient of the second inclined surface relative to a side surface of the annular wall is smaller than a fourth gradient of the second locking surface relative to the side surface of the annular wall; wherein the fourth ratchet includes a fourth inclined surface and a fourth locking surface adjoined to the fourth inclined surface, and a seventh gradient of the fourth inclined surface relative to the inner wall of the main body is smaller than an eighth gradient of the fourth locking surface relative to the inner wall of the main body; and wherein, when the top cover is rotated clockwise, the second inclined surface of the second ratchet engages with the fourth inclined surface such that the torque element is able to rotate clockwise relative to the main body.

14. The cap assembly of the claim 6 , wherein the base has an annular shape and the torque element further includes a first and second arms extending from an inner surface of the annular wall and an annular ring connected between the first arm and the second arm and coaxial with the base; and wherein the top cover includes a pole extending from the inner surface thereof and passing through the annular ring to position the torque element.

15. A cap assembly, comprising:
a torque element including a base having a first surface and a second surface opposite to the first surface, wherein the first surface includes at least one first ratchet; and an annular wall extends from the base and away from the second surface, an outer side surface of the annular wall includes at least one second ratchet;
a top cover having an outer surface and an inner surface opposite to the outer surface, wherein the inner surface of the top cover includes at least one third ratchet cooperated with the first ratchet of the torque element; and
a main body having a cylinder portion, wherein an inner wall of the cylinder portion includes at least one fourth ratchet cooperated with the second ratchet of the torque element;
wherein the torque element is positioned in the cylinder portion of the main body, the first surface of the torque element is adjacent to the inner surface of the top cover; the first ratchet and the third ratchet are configured such that the top cover may rotate counterclockwise relative to the torque element and generate a click sound when the third ratchet slides over the first ratchet; and the second ratchet and the fourth ratchet are configured such that the torque element may rotate clockwise relative to the main body and generate a click sound when the second ratchet slides over the fourth ratchet.

16. The cap assembly of the claim 15 , wherein the first ratchet includes a first inclined surface and a first locking surface adjoined to the first inclined surface, and the second ratchet includes a second inclined surface and a second locking surface adjoined to the second inclined surface, and wherein the first inclined surfac

Assignees

• Ford Global Tech Llc

Inventors

• Qin Charles
• Hong Le
• Shi Steven
• Qi Seven

Classifications

• B60K15/0406 Primary

  Filler caps for fuel tanks · CPC title

• B60K2015/0451

  Sealing means in the closure cap · CPC title

• B65D41/0492

  formed by several elements connected together (B65D41/0478 takes precedence) · CPC title

• B60K2015/0441

  with torque control · CPC title

• B65D51/248 Primary

  the closure being provided with transient audible or visual signaling means, e.g. for indicating dispensing, or other illuminating or acoustic devices, e.g. whistles (B65D55/026, B65D55/028 take precedence; for indicating incorrect storage B65D79/02) · CPC title