Push to release fuel door operator assembly

• Main Authors: Lungershausen, Dirk Rainer, Frommann, Markus, Betzen, Heiko
• Format: Patent
• Language: English
• Published: 14.01.2020
• Subjects: ACCESSORIES THEREFOR; ARRANGEMENT OR MOUNTING OF PLURAL DIVERSE PRIME-MOVERS INVEHICLES; ARRANGEMENT OR MOUNTING OF PROPULSION UNITS OR OFTRANSMISSIONS IN VEHICLES; ARRANGEMENTS IN CONNECTION WITH COOLING, AIR INTAKE, GASEXHAUST OR FUEL SUPPLY OF PROPULSION UNITS, IN VEHICLES; AUXILIARY DRIVES FOR VEHICLES; BOLTS OR FASTENING DEVICES FOR WINGS, SPECIALLY FOR DOORS ORWINDOWS; FIXED CONSTRUCTIONS; HANDCUFFS; INSTRUMENTATION OR DASHBOARDS FOR VEHICLES; KEYS; LAND VEHICLES FOR TRAVELLING OTHERWISE THAN ON RAILS; LOCKS; MOTOR VEHICLES; PERFORMING OPERATIONS; SAFES; TRAILERS; TRANSPORTING; VEHICLES IN GENERAL; WINDOW OR DOOR FITTINGS

A push to release fuel filler door assembly for a motor vehicle includes a door on the exterior of the vehicle having a latch that cooperates with a spring biased plunger which rotates and translates axially. The plunger includes radially extending pins which are received in complementary helical tracks on the inner surface of an inner housing. The tracks define a closed path having a first segment, in which the pins travel while the fuel door is being closed, a second segment in which they travel while the fuel door is opening and a latching recess between the first and second segments in which the pins reside when the door is closed. The inner housing typically includes three segments or sections and is, in turn, received and retained within an outer housing which mounts on a fuel door inlet assembly.