Lockable plug for capless fuel tank filler neck

Abstract

A filler neck closure system includes a capless fuel tank filler neck and a closure. The closure is coupled to the capless fuel tank filler neck to close an opening into the fuel tank filler neck.

1 . A capless filler neck barricade comprising 
 a capless fuel tank filler neck formed to include a nozzle-receiving passageway and a top aperture opening into the nozzle-receiving passageway and    a lockable plug including a barrier arranged to occlude the top aperture and a plug retainer mounted for movement relative to the barrier between an extended position engaging the capless fuel tank filler neck to retain the barrier in the top aperture to block unauthorized entry of a fuel-dispensing pump nozzle and a siphon tube into the capless fuel tank filler neck through the top aperture and a retracted position disengaging the capless fuel tank filler neck to allow removal of the barrier from the top opening.    
     
     
         2 . The barricade of  claim 1 , wherein the lockable plug further includes control means for moving the plug retainer relative to the barrier between the extended and retracted positions.  
     
     
         3 . The barricade of  claim 2 , wherein the control means includes a key-actuated lock cylinder.  
     
     
         4 . The barricade of  claim 3 , wherein the barrier is formed to include a chamber and the key-actuated lock cylinder is arranged to extend into the chamber and to include an outer face formed to include a key slot and exposed through a central aperture formed in the barrier and arranged to open into the chamber.  
     
     
         5 . The barricade of  claim 2 , wherein the plug retainer includes first and second retention arms and an arm mover configured to move first and second retention arms relative to the barrier to establish the extended and retracted positions of the plug retainer and the control means includes means for actuating the arm mover to move the first and second retention arms relative to the barrier.  
     
     
         6 . The barricade of  claim 5 , wherein the plug retainer and the control means cooperate to define a barrier lock associated with the barrier and configured to retain the barrier in the top aperture formed in the capless fuel tank filler neck, the capless fuel tank filler neck includes a top wall formed to include the top aperture and a retainer rim appended to an underside of the top wall and arranged to extend into the nozzle-receiving passageway to define an outer boundary of the top aperture, the barrier includes a cover plate arranged to engage the top wall and a lock housing coupled to the cover plate and arranged to extend through the top aperture, the arm mover is configured to move the first and second retention arms from retracted positions inside the lock housing through apertures formed in the lock housing to extended positions outside of the lock housing to cause the first and second retention arms to engage a downwardly facing surface provided on the retention rim to lock the lockable plug and prevent unauthorized withdrawal of the lockable plug from the top aperture formed in the capless fuel tank filler neck.  
     
     
         7 . The barricade of  claim 1 , wherein the capless fuel tank filler neck includes a fill pipe adapted to be coupled to a fuel tank and a fill pipe closure unit coupled to an outer end of fill pipe, the fill pipe closure unit is formed to include the top aperture and an outer portion of the nozzle-receiving passageway communicating with the top aperture, and the barrier is arranged to extend into the top aperture and the outer portion of the nozzle-receiving passageway.  
     
     
         8 . The barricade of  claim 7 , wherein the fill pipe closure unit includes a plug housing formed to include the top aperture and an appearance door mounted for movement relative to the plug housing between a closed position closing the top aperture and an opened position exposing the top aperture, the lockable plug further includes a retainer controller coupled to the plug retainer to provide a barrier lock associated with the barrier, and the barrier includes a lock housing configured to contain the barrier lock and arranged to extend into the outer portion of the nozzle-receiving passageway through the top aperture and a cover plate coupled to the lock housing and arranged to rest on a top wall of the fill pipe closure unit in a location outside of the top aperture to provide means for supporting the lock housing in a stationary position in the top aperture when the plug retainer is moved to assume the extended position and when the plug retainer is moved to assume the retracted position.  
     
     
         9 . The barricade of  claim 7 , wherein the fill pipe closure unit includes a top wall formed to include the top aperture, the barrier includes a cover plate arranged to mate with the top wall of the fill pipe closure unit and a lock housing arranged to extend through the top aperture into the nozzle-receiving passageway, and the plug retainer is mounted to the lock housing for movement between the extended and retracted positions.  
     
     
         10 . The barricade of  claim 9 , wherein the fill pipe closure unit further includes a retainer rim appended to an underside of the top wall and arranged to extend into the nozzle-receiving passageway and the plug retainer is configured and arranged to engage a downwardly facing surface on the retainer rim to trap the retainer rim between the cover plate and the plug retainer upon movement of the plug retainer to the engaged position while the lock housing is arranged to extend through the top aperture into the nozzle-receiving passageway.  
     
     
         11 . The barricade of  claim 9 , wherein the lock housing is formed to include a chamber, the cover plate is formed to include a central aperture opening into the chamber, the lockable plug further includes a retainer controller located in the chamber and configured to include an outer face formed to include a key slot and exposed through the central aperture, and the retainer controller is configured to provide means for moving the plug retainer between the engaged and retracted positions in response to movement of a key inserted into the key slot relative to the lock housing.  
     
     
         12 . The barricade of  claim 1 , wherein the barrier includes a cover plate arranged to mate with the capless fuel tank filler neck and a lock housing arranged to extend through the top aperture into the nozzle-receiving passageway, and the plug retainer is mounted to the lock housing form movement between the extended and retracted positions.  
     
     
         13 . The barricade of  claim 12 , wherein the capless fuel tank filler neck further includes a retainer rim appended to an underside of the top wall and arranged to extend into the nozzle-receiving passageway and the plug retainer is configured and arranged to engage a downwardly facing surface on the retainer rim to trap the retainer rim between the cover plate and the plug retainer upon movement of the plug retainer to the engaged position while the lock housing is arranged to extend through the top aperture into the nozzle-receiving passageway.  
     
     
         14 . The barricade of  claim 13 , wherein the plug retainer includes first and second retention arms and an arm mover configured to move the first and second retention arms relative to the barrier to establish the extended and retracted positions of the plug retainer, and each of the first and second retention arms engage the downwardly facing surface on the retainer rim upon movement of the plug retainer to the extended position.  
     
     
         15 . The barricade of  claim 13 , wherein the lockable plug further includes means coupled to the lock housing for actuating the arm mover to move the first and second retention arms relative to the barrier.  
     
     
         16 . The barricade of  claim 12 , wherein the lock housing is formed to include a chamber, the cover plate is formed to include a central aperture opening into the chamber, the lockable plug further includes a retainer controller located in the chamber and configured to include an outer face formed to include a key slot and exposed through the central aperture, and the retainer controller is configured to provide means for moving the plug retainer between the engaged and retracted positions in response to movement of a key inserted into the key slot relative to the lock housing.  
     
     
         17 . The barricade of  claim 16 , wherein the retainer controller is a key-actuated lock cylinder.  
     
     
         18 . A capless filler neck barricade comprising 
 a capless fuel tank filler neck formed to include a nozzle-receiving passageway and a top aperture opening into the nozzle-receiving passageway and    a lockable plug including a harrier arranged to extend into the top aperture and a portion of the nozzle-receiving passageway to close the top aperture and a barrier lock coupled to the barrier and to the capless fuel tank filler neck to retain the barrier, the barrier lock including a retention arm mounted for movement relative to the barrier to an extended position to mate with a portion of the capless fuel tank filler neck to block removal of the barrier from the top aperture and the portion of the nozzle-receiving passageway.    
     
     
         19 . The barricade of  claim 18 , wherein the barrier lock further includes a key-actuated lock cylinder mounted in a chamber formed in the barrier and means for moving the retention arm relative to the barrier to the extended position in response to movement of a key in a key slot formed in the key-actuated lock cylinder.  
     
     
         20 . The barricade of  claim 18 , wherein the barrier includes a lock housing and a cover plate, the retention arm is mounted on the lock housing for movement between the extended position and a retracted position disengaging the portion of the capless fuel tank filler neck, and the cover plate is coupled to the lock housing and arranged to mate with the capless fuel tank filler neck to anchor the lockable plug in a fixed position in the capless fuel tank filler neck when the retention arm is moved to assume the extended position.