US 5,690,153 AGranted

Filling system for robot-capable filling of a vehicle with fuel

AssigneeMercedes-Benz AG

InventorsReinhard Steinkaemper, Adolf Kremer

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Abstract

A filling system for robot-capable filling of a motor vehicle with fuel includes a filler nozzle and a tank filler neck having a cylindrical docking extension provided with a central opening mounted on the filler side. In the upper section of the extension, rotatable around the axis of symmetry for the opening and closing of the tank closure, the filler nozzle is dockable by its outlet end to form a positive connection between the filler nozzle and the docking extension. In order to achieve in simple fashion a docking of the filler nozzle on the filler neck of the vehicle fuel tank for filling the tank that is always functionally reliable and free of impediments, it is provided that the positive elements of the two docking partners are lockable in one another in a locked position that acts axially and locks in a circumferential direction, with the positive elements of one of the docking partners being guided radially movably and flexibly tensioned in a working position opposite to the force of a pretensioning spring. The positive elements of the other docking partner are mounted rigidly, and the two docking partners are so designed that the radially displaceable positive elements are operable by a force directed axially to the docking extension.

Claims16

Dependent claims

A filling system for an automated filling of a vehicle with fuel, comprising:

a filler nozzle;
a filler neck for a tank of the vehicle;
a docking extension provided on a filling side of said filler neck, said docking extension having a cylindrical shape and a central passageway in an upper rotatable section thereof, said upper rotatable section being rotated around an axis of symmetry for opening and closing the tank;
wherein said filler nozzle has an outlet end which docks with said docking extension to form a positive connection between said filler nozzle and said docking extension;
positive locking elements distributed along a circumference of said filler nozzle and docking extension and running axially in a toothed manner so as to engage one another when said filler nozzle is ready to fill said tank;
wherein said filler nozzle and said docking extension are docking partners having said positive elements lockable in one another in a locked position, said positive elements acting axially to lock in a circumferential direction;
wherein positive elements of one of said docking partners are movably guided radially and tensioned flexibly in a working position against a force of a pretensioning spring;
and
wherein positive elements of the other of said docking partners are rigidly mounted, said docking partners actuating said radially movable positive elements via a force directed in an axial direction with respect to said docking extension.

6 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.