Sealing unit, tank unit and motor vehicle

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9776504-B2
Application number	US-201414290534-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	May 29, 2014
Priority date	May 29, 2013
Publication date	Oct 3, 2017
Grant date	Oct 3, 2017

Abstract

The present disclosure pertains to a sealing unit such a fuel tank cap for a tank unit of a motor vehicle. The sealing unit includes a cover element that can be arranged on or at least partially in an opening of a tank component of the motor vehicle such that it seals the opening of the tank component in an at least fluid-tight fashion. An actuator is arranged on an outer side of the cover element that faces away from the opening. In a non-actuated, normal position rests, flat against the outer side of the cover element. The actuator can be transferred into a gripping position, in which it at least partially extends oblique or transverse to the outer side of the cover element.

First claim

The invention claimed is:

1. A sealing unit for a tank unit of a motor vehicle comprising:
a cover element configured to be at least partially received in an opening of a tank component of the motor vehicle such that it seals the opening thereof in a fluid-tight fashion;
a hinge element having a rotational axis and a guide section,
an actuator having a projection arranged on the hinge element facing away from the opening, the projection received in the guide section and the actuator positionable between a non-actuated normal position resting flat against the outer side of the cover element in a first position along the rotational axis and a gripping position extending oblique to the outer side of the cover element in a second axial position along the rotational axis;
wherein the actuator is displaced along the rotational axis from the first position to the axial position as the actuator rotates about the rotational axis from the non-actuated normal position into the gripping position.

2. The sealing unit according to claim 1 further comprising two actuators are arranged on the hinge element which and can be rotatably transferred in opposite rotating directions from the non-actuated normal position into the gripping position, wherein the two actuators are arranged such that they extend parallel to one another in at least the non-actuated normal position.

3. The sealing unit according to claim 1 further comprising a hinge bearing unit receiving the hinge element, the hinge bearing unit having a first bearing on an outer section of the cover element and a second bearing arranged centrally on the cover element.

4. The sealing unit according to claim 3 , wherein the first bearing and the cover element comprise a common component, and wherein the second bearing comprises a component that is separate from the cover element affixed on the cover element.

5. The sealing unit according to claim 3 , wherein the first bearing and the second bearing comprises at least one receptacle for the hinge element.

6. The sealing unit according to claim 1 further comprising a handle section including a recess formed in at least one of the cover element or the actuator for taking hold of the actuator in the non-actuated normal position.

7. The sealing unit according to claim 1 further comprising a handle section including a projection formed on the actuator for taking hold thereof in the non-actuated normal position.

8. The sealing unit according to claim 1 , wherein the actuator comprises a cam section arranged on a side opposite the rotational axis, wherein the cam section extends at least partially into the cover element when the actuator is positioned into the gripping position.

9. The sealing unit according to claim 1 further comprising a spring unit biasing the actuator into the non-actuated normal position.

10. The sealing unit according to claim 9 , wherein the spring unit comprises a leg spring imparting a spring force in at least a circumferential direction of the hinge element and acting upon the actuator in a resetting fashion.

11. The sealing unit according to claim 9 , wherein the spring unit comprises a coil spring fixed transverse to the rotational axis of the hinge element imparting a spring force in at least a direction transverse to the rotational axis of the hinge element and acting upon the actuator.

12. The sealing unit according to claim 11 , wherein the coil spring is disposed within a cavity formed in the cover element.

13. The sealing unit according to claim 1 further comprising a holding plate arranged on the cover element on a side opposite the actuator, the holding plate being spaced apart from the cover element at least in the gripping position for arranging the sealing unit in a sealing unit receptacle.

14. The sealing unit according to claim 1 further comprising:
a tappet element that protrudes into a cavity of the cover element through an opening on a side of the cover element that faces away from the outer side;
a spring element disposed over the tappet element and forms a guide for the spring element; and
a cap-like terminal element fixing the spring element on the tappet element.

15. A tank unit comprising:
a tank having an enclosed storage volume and an opening providing access to the enclosed volume; and
a sealing unit at least partially arranged in the opening such that it seals the enclosed storage volume in a fluid-tight fashion, the sealing unit including:
a cover element configured to be at least partially received in an opening of a tank component of the motor vehicle such that it seals the opening thereof in a fluid-tight fashion;
a hinge element having a rotational axis and a guide section,
an actuator having a projection arranged on the hinge element and facing away from the opening, the projection received in the guide section and the actuator positionable between a non-actuated normal position resting flat against the outer side of the cover element in a first position along the rotational axis and a gripping position at least partially extending oblique to the outer side of the cover element in a second position along the rotational axis;
wherein the actuator is displaced along the rotational axis from the first position to the axial position as the actuator rotates about the rotational axis from the non-actuated normal position into the gripping position.

Assignees

• Gm Global Tech Operations Llc

Inventors

• Betzen Heiko
• Frommann Markus

Classifications

• B60K15/0406 Primary

  Filler caps for fuel tanks · CPC title

• B60K2015/0451

  Sealing means in the closure cap · CPC title

• B60K2015/03447

  for improving the sealing · CPC title

• B60K15/03

  Fuel tanks · CPC title

• B60K2015/0419

  Self-sealing closure caps, e.g. that don't have to be removed manually · CPC title