IP Library › Granted Patent US 12703327
Granted Patent B2
US 12703327 · App. 18/285,400 · Granted Aug 11, 2026

Filling device for a vehicle, and vehicle having such a filling device

Inventors: Michael Forstner (Aufhausen, DE); Thorsten Hambusch (Landshut, DE)
Assignee: Bayerische Motoren Werke Aktiengesellschaft
B60S1/50
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 12703327
App. No.
18/285,400
Granted
Aug 11, 2026
Kind
B2
Abstract

A filling device for a motor vehicle includes a vehicle body flap forming at least part of a vehicle skin and being designed to pivot between a first position and a second position differing from the first position. The vehicle body flap has an opening. A container stores a fluid. A filler neck is provided on the vehicle body flap such that the container can be filled with fluid in a direction of flow via the opening and the filler neck, the filler neck forming a channel that connects the opening in the vehicle body flap to the container. In the area of the opening, the channel has a filling portion in which a baffle wall is formed that reduces the flow cross-section in relation to the opening located upstream of the baffle wall and in relation to a portion of the channel located downstream of the baffle wall.

Claims (25)

1 . A filling apparatus for a vehicle, comprising:

a body flap, which at least sectionally forms an outer skin of the vehicle and is configured to be pivoted between a first position and a second position, which differs from the first position, wherein the body flap has an opening;

a container for storing a fluid; and

a filler neck which is provided on the body flap such that the container is fillable with fluid in a direction of flow via the opening and the filler neck, wherein

the filler neck forms a channel which connects the opening in the body flap to the container, a filling portion of the channel being in a region of the opening,

a baffle is arranged in the filling portion of the channel, the baffle reducing a flow cross section in relation to the opening arranged upstream of the baffle and in relation to a channel portion of the channel situated downstream of the baffle, wherein a baffle filling opening formed by the baffle determines the reduced flow cross section; and

a ventilation pipe is formed adjacent to the baffle filling opening, one end portion thereof extending from the baffle in the direction upstream of the opening and/or the other end portion thereof extending downstream in relation to the baffle.

2 . The filling apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein

the filler neck and the container are configured such that the baffle and the ventilation pipe are arranged above a fluid filling level in the filler neck, which level is based on a predetermined maximum fluid filling level of the container.

3 . The filling apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein

the baffle reduces the flow cross section by ½ to ¾ in relation to the flow cross section of the channel portion downstream of the baffle.

4 . The filling apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein

the baffle reduces the flow cross section by at least ⅔ to ¾ in relation to the flow cross section of the channel portion downstream of the baffle.

5 . The filling apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein

the filler neck is configured as a separate component and is shaped so as to be inserted with a lower end portion downstream of the baffle into a container neck of the container.

6 . The filling apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein

the filler neck is an injection-molded filler neck.

7 . A vehicle, comprising:

a filling apparatus for the vehicle, the filling apparatus comprising:

a body flap, which at least sectionally forms an outer skin of the vehicle and is configured to be pivoted between a first position and a second position, which differs from the first position, wherein the body flap has an opening;

a container for storing a fluid; and

a filler neck which is provided on the body flap such that the container is fillable with fluid in a direction of flow via the opening and the filler neck, wherein

the filler neck forms a channel which connects the opening in the body flap to the container, a filling portion of the channel being in a region of the opening,

a baffle is arranged in the filling portion of the channel, the baffle reducing a flow cross section in relation to the opening arranged upstream of the baffle and in relation to a channel portion of the channel situated downstream of the baffle, wherein a baffle filling opening formed by the baffle determines the reduced flow cross section; and

a ventilation pipe is formed adjacent to the baffle filling opening, one end portion thereof extending from the baffle in the direction upstream of the opening and/or the other end portion thereof extending downstream in relation to the baffle.