Torque element and cap assembly including the same
AssigneeFord Global Technologies, LLC
InventorsCharles Qin, Le Hong, Steven Shi, Seven Qi
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
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.
Claims19
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.
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.
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.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.