Helmeted lock ring for a sender module closure system for a fuel tank

Abstract

An improved sender module closure system for providing a reliable, sealed interface between a sender module and a fuel tank at the access port thereof, includes an interfacing ring set composed of a base ring and a helmeted lock ring. The base ring is permanently connected to the fuel tank at the access port, and has a plurality of upstanding lock fingers. The helmeted lock ring is a separate piece, composed of a lock ring component and an integrally connected helmet component. The lock ring component has a plurality of finger apertures, one for receiving each lock finger. The helmet component protectively covers the sender module and has helmet apertures for external access to connectors of the sender module.

1 . In a sender module closure system comprising: a fuel tank having an access port; a base ring connected to said fuel tank in concentric relation to said access port, said base ring having a plurality of upstanding lock fingers spaced therearound, each lock finger having a laterally oriented lip, each said lip having a staging socket; a sender module having connectors and an annular flange; and a resilient seal disposed between said fuel tank and said annular flange; the improvement thereto comprising: 
 a helmeted lock ring comprising: 
 a lock ring component having an inner periphery, said lock ring component having a plurality of finger apertures, one finger aperture respectively for each said lock finger, said lock ring component having a plurality of lock bosses, a lock boss being respectively located adjacent each said finger aperture; and  
 a helmet component comprising a helmet sidewall connected to said inner periphery of said lock ring component in upstanding orientation with respect thereto, and a helmet cover wall connected to said helmet sidewall in generally perpendicular orientation with respect thereto, said helmet component having at least one helmet aperture formed therein for external access to said connectors of said sender module;  
   wherein each said lock finger is received through a respective finger aperture, whereupon said helmeted lock ring is rotated relative to said base ring until each said lock boss is seated into a respective staging socket, said rotation causing said lock ring component to press upon said annular flange so as to compress said resilient seal into sealing relation with respect to said fuel tank and said annular flange.    
     
     
         2 . The system of  claim 1 , further comprising a lug at said inner periphery of said lock ring component spanning each said helmet aperture which is formed in said helmet sidewall; wherein said helmeted lock ring is a single piece construction, wherein said helmet sidewall is integrally connected to said lock ring component, and said helmet cover wall is integrally connected to said helmet sidewall.  
     
     
         3 . The system of  claim 2 , wherein each said lip further has a prestage ramp, a staging boss disposed between said prestage ramp and said staging socket and an over-travel boss adjoining said staging socket in opposed disposition with respect to said staging boss.  
     
     
         4 . The system of  claim 3 , wherein each said finger aperture comprises an entry portion configured for passing therethrough said lock finger and a lock portion; and wherein said lock ring component has a plurality of lock shelves, one lock shelf respectively for each finger aperture, wherein each lock shelf tangentially adjoins its respective said lock portion, each said lock boss being disposed on a respective lock shelf.  
     
     
         5 . The system of  claim 4 , wherein each said lock shelf radially adjoins its respective entry portion, a flat being formed between the radially adjoining entry portion and the respective lock boss.  
     
     
         6 . The system of  claim 5 , wherein each said lock portion has an end which defines a maximum rotation of said lock ring component with respect to said base ring when the lock finger respectively therein abuts the end; 
 wherein said maximum rotation coincides with each said lock boss engaging its respective over-travel boss.    
     
     
         7 . The system of  claim 6 , further comprising a bossed service tool having a plurality of bosses; wherein said lock ring component further comprises tool engagement features disposed at an outer perimeter thereof, wherein the helmeted lock ring is rotatable by assistance of the bossed service tool when the bosses thereof are engaged with said engagement features.  
     
     
         8 . The system of  claim 7 , wherein said plurality of lock fingers comprises seven lock fingers equally spaced around said base ring.  
     
     
         9 . The system of  claim 8 , wherein each said lip faces radially inward toward a center of said base ring.  
     
     
         10 . The system of  claim 9 , wherein said base ring further comprises an anchor portion which is anchorably embeded in said fuel tank.  
     
     
         11 . A ring set for a sender module closure system, said ring set comprising: 
 a base ring having a plurality of upstanding lock fingers spaced therearound, each lock finger having a laterally oriented lip, each said lip having a staging socket, a prestage ramp, a staging boss disposed between said prestage ramp and said staging socket and an over-travel boss adjoining said staging socket in opposed disposition with respect to said staging boss; and    a helmeted lock ring comprising: 
 a lock ring component having an inner periphery, said lock ring component having a plurality of finger apertures, one finger aperture respectively for each said lock finger, said lock ring component having a plurality of lock bosses, a lock boss being respectively located adjacent each said finger aperture; and  
 a helmet component comprising a helmet sidewall connected to said inner periphery of said lock ring component in upstanding orientation with respect thereto, and a helmet cover wall connected to said helmet sidewall in generally perpendicular orientation with respect thereto, said helmet component having at least one helmet aperture formed therein, wherein a lug located at said inner periphery spans each said helmet aperture which is formed in said helmet sidewall;  
   wherein each said lock finger is received through a respective finger aperture, whereupon said helmeted lock ring is rotated relative to said base ring until each said lock boss is seated into a respective staging socket, said rotation causing said lock ring component to move toward said base ring.    
     
     
         12 . The ring set of  claim 11 , wherein said helmeted lock ring is a single piece construction, wherein said helmet sidewall is integrally connected to said lock ring component, and said helmet cover wall is integrally connected to said helmet sidewall.  
     
     
         13 . The ring set of  claim 12 , wherein each said finger aperture comprises an entry portion configured for passing therethrough said lock finger and a lock portion; and wherein said lock ring component has a plurality of lock shelves, one lock shelf respectively for each finger aperture, wherein each lock shelf tangentially adjoins its respective said lock portion, each said lock boss being disposed on a respective lock shelf; and wherein each said lock shelf radially adjoins its respective entry portion, a flat being formed between the radially adjoining entry portion and the respective lock boss.  
     
     
         14 . The ring set of  claim 13 , wherein each said lock portion has an end which defines a maximum rotation of said helmeted lock ring with respect to said base ring when the lock finger respectively therein abuts the end; and wherein said maximum rotation coincides with each said lock boss engaging its respective over-travel boss.  
     
     
         15 . The ring set of  claim 14 , wherein said plurality of lock fingers comprises seven lock fingers equally spaced around said base ring; wherein each said lip faces radially inward toward a center of said base ring; wherein said lock ring component further comprises tool engagement features disposed at an outer perimeter thereof; and wherein said base ring further comprises an anchor portion.  
     
     
         16 . A helmeted lock ring for a sender module closure system, comprising: 
 a lock ring component having an inner periphery, said lock ring component having a plurality of finger apertures, said lock ring component having a plurality of lock bosses, a lock boss being respectively located adjacent each said finger aperture; and    a helmet component comprising a helmet sidewall connected to said inner periphery of said lock ring component in upstanding orientation with respect thereto, and a helmet cover wall connected to said helmet sidewall in generally perpendicular orientation with respect thereto, said helmet component having at least one helmet aperture formed therein, wherein a lug located at said inner periphery spans each helmet aperture which is formed in said helmet sidewall.    
     
     
         17 . The helmeted lock ring of  claim 16 , wherein said helmeted lock ring is a single piece construction, wherein said helmet sidewall is integrally connected to said lock ring component, and said helmet cover wall is integrally connected to said helmet sidewall.  
     
     
         18 . The helmeted lock ring of  claim 17 , wherein each said finger aperture comprises an entry portion and a lock portion; and wherein said lock ring component has a plurality of lock shelves, one lock shelf respectively for each finger aperture, wherein each lock shelf tangentially adjoins its respective said lock portion, each said lock boss being disposed on a respective lock shelf; and wherein each said lock shelf radially adjoins its respective entry portion, a flat being formed between the radially adjoining entry portion and the respective lock boss.