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US 2009/0152263 A1Published application
Method for manufacturing a plastic fuel tank comprising a built in-neck
AssigneeInergy Auto. Systems Research (Societe Anonyme)
InventorsBjorn Criel, Serge Dupont
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A method for manufacturing a plastic fuel tank including a built-in neck, by molding a parison in a mold. The neck is molded by locally deforming the parison using a concave counter-form and a convex form configured to enter the counter-form, these two parts being secured one of them to the mold and the other to a core located inside the mold, or vice versa.
Claims12
1-11. (canceled)
12:
- A method for manufacturing a plastic fuel tank including a built-in neck, by molding a parison in a mold, the method comprising:
- molding the neck by locally deforming the parison using a concave counter-form and a convex form configured to enter the counter-form, these two parts being secured one of them to the mold and the other to a core located inside the mold, or vice versa.
13:
- The method according to claim 12, wherein the tank is based on HDPE and includes a layer of a barrier material or has been subjected to a surface treatment to render the tank impermeable to the fuel.
14:
- The method according to claim 12, wherein the parison consists of two sheets resulting from cutting of an extruded tubular parison.
15:
- The method according to claim 12, comprising:
- introducing a parison into the mold;
- introducing the core into the mold, inside the parison;
- closing the mold;
- pressing the parison against the mold cavity by blowing through the core and/or drawing a vacuum behind the mold;
- and
- molding the neck by displacing the form within the counter-form.
4 more elements
16:
- The method according to claim 12, wherein the neck is molded so as to compensate for reduction in thickness that has a natural tendency to form in a final part of the neck of an end furthest from the parison.
17:
- The method according to claim 12, further comprising, during withdrawal of the form from the counter-form, keeping the parison under compression around the neck.
18:
- The method according to claim 12, wherein the tank is blow-molded or thermoformed.
19:
- An apparatus configured to implement the method according to claim 12 and comprising a mold and a core situated inside the mold, these two pieces including one with a concave counter-form and the other with a convex form configured to penetrate the counter-form to mold a neck.
20:
- The apparatus according to claim 19, wherein either the form or the counter-form is secured to a support including at least one spring.
21:
- The apparatus according to claim 19, wherein the form is secured to the mold and the counter-form is secured to the core.
22:
- A fuel tank obtained by a method according to claim 12, the fuel tank comprising a built-in neck with a wall thickness having a tolerance of 0.1 mm, and a filler pipe, a spout, or a flange fixed to the neck by screwing or by welding using a heating filament incorporated into a welding coupling.