FIELD OF THE INVENTION
Present disclosure relates in general to field of automobiles. Particularly, but not exclusively, the present invention relates to a fuel tank cap for a vehicle. In particular, the present invention relates to a improved fuel tank cap with a lock for a vehicle.
BACKGROUND
As known in the art, a fuel tank is a safe container for flammable fluids. Fuel tank is typically applied to part of an engine system in which the fuel is stored and propelled (fuel pump) or released (pressurized gas) into an engine. Fuel tanks range in size and complexity from the small plastic tank to multi-chambered tanks.
In two wheelers, the fuel tank is provided with an opening for refilling the fuel tank. The opening is covered with a cap to prevent spallation or evaporation of the fuel from the fuel tank. To further prevent any tempering or unauthorized opening of the fuel tank, the cap is provided with a locking system towards its bottom portion to lock the cap in closed position on the fuel tank. Such caps with locking system often are bulky and have higher vertical height such that the cap occupies considerable space on the fuel tank or a portion of the cap occupies space inside the fuel tank and thus reduce overall storage capacity of the fuel tank.
The present disclosure is directed to overcome one or more limitations as stated above and any other problems associated with the prior arts.
SUMMARY OF THE DISCLOSURE
One or more shortcomings of conventional assemblies are overcome, and additional advantages are provided through the provision of fuel tank cap and mechanism for locking a fuel tank by means of a fuel tank cap as defined in the present disclosure.

Additional features and advantages are realized through the techniques of the present disclosure. Other embodiments and aspects of the disclosure are described in detail herein and are considered a part of the present disclosure.
Accordingly, a mechanism for locking a fuel tank by means of a fuel tank cap is disclosed. The fuel tank cap comprises an outer ring with a locking extension and a cover housing. A lid assembly comprises a locking rotor with an extending protrusion. A body has an upper portion and a lower portion. A support plate is rigidly mounted over the body for guiding a sliding plate. The sliding plate is placed over the support plate connected with a plurality of springs. The sliding plate comprises a locking extension adapted to engage/disengage with the locking extension of the outer ring. A cam edge is configured to work in cooperation with the extending protrusion. A plurality of spring slots are adapted to receive the plurality of springs such that one end of the springs abut the support plate and the other end abuts the sliding plate.
In an embodiment, the outer ring and the cover housing are configured to be mounted on an opening of the fuel tank.
In an embodiment, the lid assembly is adapted to be hinged to a cover housing through a hinge pin for enabling the opening and closing of the fuel tank.
In an embodiment, a spring loaded sealing ring supported by a sealing plate (is mounted on the body with the body cover whereby the spring loaded sealing ring provides sealing pressure.
In an embodiment, the sliding plate is configured to slide in a linear motion such that the locking extension is operationally engaged or disengaged with locking extension of the outer ring.

In an embodiment, a rotary clearance is provided between the cam edge of the sliding plate and the protrusion on locking rotor at locked position of the cap.
In an embodiment, the protrusion is configured to abut and push the cam edge to linearly move the sliding plate in a direction away from the locking extension of the outer ring and thereby energizing the plurality of springs.
In an embodiment, a breathing mechanism is provided beneath the support plate comprising a suction valve, a vent valve and a breather vent.
In a further embodiment, pathways of air or fuel vapours are made beneath the support plate and during excess pressure inside a fuel tank, the vent valve opens and expels the excess pressure fuel vapours out to the breather vent.
In a further embodiment, during vacuum creation inside the fuel tank, the suction valve opens and allows the air coming through the breather vent to enter the fuel tank cap.
It is to be understood that the aspects and embodiments of the disclosure described above may be used in any combination with each other. Several of the aspects and embodiments may be combined together to form a further embodiment of the disclosure.
The foregoing summary is illustrative only and is not intended to be in any way limiting. In addition to the illustrative aspects, embodiments, and features described above, further aspects, embodiments, and features will become apparent by reference to the drawings and the following detailed description.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF FIGURES
The novel features and characteristics of the disclosure are set forth in the appended claims. The disclosure itself, however, as well as a preferred mode of use, further objectives and advantages thereof, will best be understood by reference to the following detailed description of an illustrative embodiment when read in conjunction with the accompanying drawings. One or more embodiments are now described, by way of example only, with reference to the accompanying drawings wherein like reference numerals represent like elements and in which:
Figure 1 shows an exploded view of the improved fuel tank cover lock according to an embodiment.
Figure 2 illustrates section view of the improved fuel tank cap lock in closed condition according to an embodiment.
Figure 3 illustrates section view of the improved fuel tank cap lock in opened condition according to an embodiment.
Figure 4a-4b shows perspective view of the improved fuel tank cap lock in closed condition with flap closed and flap open condition according to an embodiment.
Figure 5 shows the section view of the of the fuel tank cap assembly from the top according to an embodiment.
Figure 6 shows an isometric view of the sliding plate according to an embodiment.
Figure 7 shows an isometric view of the top ring according to an embodiment.
Figure 8 shows the isometric view of the cylinder lock according to an embodiment.
Figure 9 shows the isometric view of the fuel tank cap assembly without top cover according to an embodiment.

Figure 10 shows the top view of the fuel tank cap assembly without top cover to show the vapour breathing path according to an embodiment.
The accompanying drawings depict embodiments of the disclosure for purposes of illustration only. One skilled in the art will readily recognize from the following description that alternative embodiments of the structure illustrated herein may be employed without departing from the principles of the disclosure described herein.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION
While the embodiments in the disclosure are subject to various modifications and alternative forms, specific embodiment thereof has been shown by way of example in the figures and will be described below. It should be understood, however, that it is not intended to limit the disclosure to the particular form disclosed, but on the contrary, the disclosure is to cover all modifications, equivalents, and alternatives falling within the scope of the disclosure.
It is to be noted that a person skilled in the art would be motivated from the present disclosure and modify the fuel tank cap and mechanism for locking a fuel tank by means of a fuel tank cap, which may vary from one application to another. However, such modifications should be construed within the scope of the disclosure. Accordingly, the drawings show only those specific details that are pertinent to understand the embodiments of the present disclosure, so as not to obscure the disclosure with details that will be readily apparent to those of ordinary skill in the art having benefit of the description herein.
The terms "comprises", "comprising", or any other variations thereof used in the disclosure, are intended to cover a non-exclusive inclusion, such that a device, system, assembly that comprises a list of components does not include only those components but may include other components not expressly listed

or inherent to such system, or assembly, or device. In other words, one or more elements in a system or device proceeded by "comprises... a" does not, without more constraints, preclude the existence of other elements or additional elements in the system or device.
The following paragraphs describe the present disclosure with reference to Figures 1 to 10. In the figures the same element or elements which have same functions are indicated by the same reference numerals.
Referring to Figures la and lb, a cap with a locking system for a fuel tank is disclosed. The cap may have an outer ring (1), a cover housing (H) a lid assembly (L) and a hinge pin (14). The lid assembly (L) may further have a top cover (11), a flap (2), a body (12) a cylinder lock (3), a slide plate (4) and a support plate (5), a sealing gasket plate (15), releasing valve (7), suction valve (8), mounting screw (16), sealing ring (24).
The outer ring and the bottom cover may be configured to be mounted fixedly on the opening of the fuel tank. The lid assembly (L) may hinged to the cover housing (H) through a hinge pin (14) for enabling opening and closing of the fuel tank opening. In the embodiment as illustrated the lid assembly is hinged by a hinged connection provided between the outer ring and the top cover of the lid assembly. It may be understood that in an alternate embodiment, the lid assembly may be hinged though a hinged connection between any other component mounted on the fuel tank and any other component of the lid assembly. In yet another embodiment, the lid assembly may not be hinged but configured for completely detaching or separating from the outer ring when opened/unlocked.
Further, as illustrated the body (12) may be mounted with a sealing ring at its bottom portion for sealing the fuel tank opening (not shown) when the lid

assembly is at closed position The body(12) may further be provided with a breathing mechanism by providing passages made in the body (12) between the top of the body (12) and support plate (5) in assembled condition, thus connecting the inner space of the fuel tank with environment for pressure management in the fuel tank. The body may be provided with appropriate valves as described later to facilitate management of high or low pressure in the fuel tank and thus enabling smooth operation of a two wheeler.
The support plate (5) may be rigidly mounted over the body (12) with a sealing gasket in between as shown in figure-2. The support plate provides for a guiding mechanism for guiding a sliding motion of the sliding plate (4) connected with the springs (6) (shown in figure-1) as described later in the description. The springs (6) can interchangeable also be referred as resilient means (6) in the below description.
A spring loaded sealing ring (24) supported by a sealing ring plate (25) at the top face and at the other end supported by body cover (21) which is mounted on the body. At locked condition the spring loaded sealing ring provides sufficient sealing pressure on the housing as shown in figure -2.
The sliding plate (4) may be placed over the support plate (5) with the springs (6) as shown figure-5. The sliding plate may have a locking extension (4A), a cam edge 4b two spring slots (4C, 4D) . The sliding plate (4) is configured to slide in a linear motion such that the locking extension is engaged or disengaged with a corresponding locking extension 1A provided on the outer ring. Further, the cam edge is configured to work in cooperation with a protrusion 3A provided towards a top portion of the cylinder lock as shown in figure 8 and 5. When rotor of the cylinder lock is rotated, the protrusion 3 A also rotates about the axis of the cylinder lock and is configured to abut and push the cam edge 4B to linearly move the sliding plate in a direction away from the locking extension

of the outer ring and thereby energizing the spring (6). The sliding plate may be biased towards the locking extension of outer ring by springs (6). The springs may be placed in spring slots such that one end of the springs abut the support plate and the other end abuts the sliding plate as shown in figure-8.
To open the fuel tank cap, the cover flap (2) is lifted and key (not shown) is inserted inside the locking rotor (3) at key hole (3b) shown in figure 8 and 4. On rotating the locking rotor (3) through the key (not shown), the spring (6) loaded sliding plate (4) moves backwards linearly through the cam action between edge (4B) on slide plate (4) and the protrusion (3A) on locking rotor (3). This movement disengages the locking extension (4A) on slide plate (4) from the locking extension (1A) on the outer ring (1), thereby allowing the user to swing open the top cover (11) and fuel lid seal assembly about the outer ring hinge (1 B).
On releasing the key (not shown) rotation torque, springs (6) housed in the slots (4C and 4D) of the sliding plate (4) push the slide plate (4) back into its original position. Through the cam action between edge (4B) on slide plate (4) and the protrusion (3A) on locking rotor (3), the locking rotor (3) is also returned towards its original position. A rotary clearance is provided between the edge (4B) on slide plate (4) and the protrusion (3A) on locking rotor (3) so that even though the slide plate (4) returns to its original position due to the resilient means (6) action, the locking rotor (3) does not return to the home position. This enables the user to allow to lift the top cover (11) and fuel lid seal assembly directly through the key, as key cannot be withdrawn from the locking rotor (3) at any position other than the home position. This enhances ease of use for the user.
To lock the fuel lid assembly (L) a) again, the user has to push down top cover (11), thereby engaging the locking extension (4A) on slide plate (4) from the

locking extension (1A) on the outer ring (1). The slide plate (4) is pushed back against the spring (6) force until the locking extension (4A) on slide plate (4) engages with the locking extension (1A) on the outer ring (1), hence locking the fuel lid.
A breathing mechanism is required to ensure proper running of a motorcycle. Beneath the support plate (5), a suction valve (8), a vent valve (7), and a breather vent (9) are provided as shown in figure -10. A roll over steel ball (18) is provided in the cap which prevents the fuel leakage in case the vehicle turned down. The said steel ball restricts the path of the fuel to flow through the vent provided for vapour emission.
Pathways for air or fuel vapours are made beneath the support plate (5). In case of excess pressure inside the fuel tank, the vent valve (7 (i.e. umbrella valve)) opens and expels the excess pressure fuel vapours out to the breather vent (9). In case of vacuum inside the fuel tank, the suction valve (8) (i.e. umbrella valve) opens and allows the air coming through the breather vent (9) to enter the fuel tank.
As the locking mechanism is present on the top of the fuel tank cap (as opposed to general accepted locking arrangement where the locking unit is mounted on the lower side) the overall height of the fuel tank cap is considerably reduced, thereby providing free space inside the fuel tank and hence increasing its storage capacity.
Further, various modifications and variations may be made without departing from the scope of the present invention. Therefore, it is intended that the present disclosure covers such modifications and variations provided they come within the ambit of the appended claims and their equivalents.

EQUIVALENTS:
With respect to the use of substantially any plural and/or singular terms herein, those having skill in the art can translate from the plural to the singular and/or from the singular to the plural as is appropriate to the context and/or application. The various singular/plural permutations may be expressly set forth herein for sake of clarity.
It will be understood by those within the art that, in general, terms used herein, and especially in the appended claims (e.g., bodies of the appended claims) are generally intended as "open" terms (e.g., the term "including" should be interpreted as "including but not limited to," the term "having" should be interpreted as "having at least," the term "includes" should be interpreted as "includes but is not limited to," etc.). It will be further understood by those within the art that if a specific number of an introduced claim recitation is intended, such an intent will be explicitly recited in the claim, and in the absence of such recitation no such intent is present. For example, as an aid to understanding, the following appended claims may contain usage of the introductory phrases "at least one" and "one or more" to introduce claim recitations. However, the use of such phrases should not be construed to imply that the introduction of a claim recitation by the indefinite articles "a" or "an" limits any particular claim containing such introduced claim recitation to inventions containing only one such recitation, even when the same claim includes the introductory phrases "one or more" or "at least one" and indefinite articles such as "a" or "an" (e.g., "a" and/or "an" should typically be interpreted to mean "at least one" or "one or more"); the same holds true for the use of definite articles used to introduce claim recitations. In addition, even if a specific number of an introduced claim recitation is explicitly recited, those skilled in the art will recognize that such recitation should typically be interpreted to mean at least the recited number (e.g., the bare recitation of "two recitations," without other modifiers, typically means at least two recitations, or two or more recitations). Furthermore, in those instances where a convention

analogous to "at least one of A, B, and C, etc." is used, in general such a construction is intended in the sense one having skill in the art would understand the convention (e.g., "a system having at least one of A, B, and C" would include but not be limited to systems that have A alone, B alone, C alone, A and B together, A and C together, B and C together, and/or A, B, and C together, etc.). In those instances where a convention analogous to "at least one of A, B, or C, etc." is used, in general such a construction is intended in the sense one having skill in the art would understand the convention (e.g., "a system having at least one of A, B, or C" would include but not be limited to systems that have A alone, B alone, C alone, A and B together, A and C together, B and C together, and/or A, B, and C together, etc.). It will be further understood by those within the art that virtually any disjunctive word and/or phrase presenting two or more alternative terms, whether in the description, claims, or drawings, should be understood to contemplate the possibilities of including one of the terms, either of the terms, or both terms. For example, the phrase "A or B" will be understood to include the possibilities of "A" or "B" or "A and B."
While various aspects and embodiments have been disclosed herein, other aspects and embodiments will be apparent to those skilled in the art. The various aspects and embodiments disclosed herein are for purposes of illustration and are not intended to be limiting, with the true scope and spirit being indicated by the following claims.

LIST OF REFERENCE NUMERALS
Cover housing (H)
Lid assembly (L)
Outer Ring (1)
Locking extension on outer ring (1A)
Outer ring hinge (IB)
Flap (2)
Cylinder lock/Locking rotor (3)
Protrusion on locking rotor (3A)
Key hole (3B)
Slide plate (4)
Locking extension (4A)
Cam edge (4B)
Plurality of spring slots (4C, 4D)
Support plate (5)
Plurality of springs/Resilient means (6)
Releasing valve (7)
Suction valve (8)
Breather vent (9)
Top cover (11)
Body (12)
Mounting screws (13)
Hinge pin (14)
Sealing gasket plate (15)
Mounting screw (16, 17)
Steel ball (18)

Gasket (20)
Body cover (21)
Sealing for rotor (22)
Mounting Screw body cover (23)
Sealing ring (24)
sealing ring plate (25)
Spring sealing ring (26)

We Claim:
1. A mechanism for locking a fuel tank by means of a fuel tank cap; the fuel
tank cap comprising:
an outer ring (1) with a locking extension (1 A);
a cover housing (H);
a lid assembly (L) comprising;
a locking rotor (3) with an extending protrusion (3A); a body (12) having an upper portion and a lower portion;
a support plate (5) rigidly mounted over the body (12) for guiding a sliding plate (4); the sliding plate (4) placed over the support plate (5) connected with a resilient means (6); the sliding plate (4) comprising;
a locking extension (4A) adapted to engage/disengage with the locking extension (1A) of the outer ring (1);
a cam edge (4B) configured to work in cooperation with the extending protrusion (3A);
a plurality of spring slots (4C, 4D) adapted to receive the resilient means (6) such that one end of the springs abut the support plate (5) and the other end abuts the sliding plate (4).
2. The locking mechanism as claimed in claim 1, wherein the outer ring (1) and the cover housing (H) are configured to be mounted on an opening of the fuel tank.
3. The locking mechanism as claimed in claim 1, wherein the lid assembly (L) is adapted to be hinged to the cover housing (H) through a hinge pin for enabling the opening and closing of the fuel tank.

4. The locking mechanism as claimed in claim 1, wherein a spring (26) loaded sealing ring (24) supported by a sealing plate (25) is mounted on the body (12) with the body cover (21) whereby the spring loaded sealing ring (24) provides sealing pressure.
5. The locking mechanism as claimed in claim 1, wherein the sliding plate (4) is configured to slide in a linear motion such that the locking extension (4A) is operationally engaged or disengaged with locking extension (1A) of the outer ring(l).
6. The locking mechanism as claimed in claim 1, wherein a rotary clearance is provided between the cam edge (4B) of the sliding plate (4) and the protrusion (3A) on locking rotor (3) at locked position of the cap.
7. The locking mechanism as claimed in claim 6, wherein the protrusion (3A) is configured to abut and push the cam edge (4B) to linearly move the sliding plate (4) in a direction away from the locking extension (1A) of the outer ring (1) and thereby energizing the resilient means (6).
8. The locking mechanism as claimed in claim 1, wherein a breathing
mechanism is provided beneath the support plate (5) comprising a suction valve
(8), a vent valve (7) and a breather vent (9).
9. The locking mechanism as claimed in claim 8, wherein pathways of air or
fuel vapours are made beneath the support plate (5) and during excess pressure
inside a fuel tank, the vent valve (7) opens and expels the excess pressure fuel
vapours out to the breather vent (9).

10. The locking mechanism as claimed in claim 8, wherein during vacuum creation inside the fuel tank, the suction valve (8) opens and allows the air coming through the breather vent (9) to enter the fuel tank cap.