Internally Mounted Fuel Tank Inlet Check Valve
AssigneeGM Global Technology Operations LLC
InventorRebecca J. Marquardt
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
An inlet check valve (ICV) assembly for a plastic fuel tank in which the ICV housing thereof is attached internally to the tank shell, and the fuel fill pipe/hose assembly has attachment to the tank shell. The fuel tank includes a shell spout having a spout spud, wherein an internal mounting surface is disposed circumspect the shell spout. The ICV housing includes an inversion of the weld pad for plastic welding at the internal mounting surface of the tank shell. In one embodiment, the ICV assembly has a high profile upper sleeve with a sleeve spud to which the fuel fill pipe/hose assembly also attaches.
Claims16
An inlet check valve assembly for internal mounting with respect to a plastic fuel tank, comprising:
- an upper sleeve;
- a flange having a weld pad, wherein said upper sleeve is disposed in upstanding relation to said weld pad;
- and
- an inlet check valve connected with said flange opposite said weld pad.
A fuel tank assembly, comprising:
- a plastic tank shell having a spout opening, said tank shell comprising:
- a shell spout integrally connected with said tank shell, said shell spout having a spout passage communicating with said spout opening, said shell spout further having a spout spud disposed on said shell spout substantially adjacent a terminus thereof, and
- a mounting surface disposed at an internal surface of said tank shell adjacently circumscribing said spout opening;
- and
- an inlet check valve assembly comprising:
- an upper sleeve received in said shell spout passage;
- a flange having a weld pad, wherein said upper sleeve is disposed in upstanding relation to said weld pad, and wherein said weld pad is sealingly welded to said mounting surface;
- and
- an inlet check valve connected with said flange opposite said weld pad.
A plastic fuel tank, comprising:
- a plastic tank shell having a spout opening, said tank shell comprising:
- a shell spout integrally connected with said tank shell, said shell spout having a spout passage communicating with said spout opening, said shell spout further having a spout spud disposed on said shell spout substantially adjacent a terminus thereof, and a mounting surface disposed at an internal surface of said tank shell adjacently circumscribing said spout opening.
A method for enabling fueling a fuel tank, comprising the steps of:
- fabricating a plastic tank shell of a plastic fuel tank, wherein the tank shell includes a shell spout;
- fabricating an inlet check valve assembly;
- sealing the inlet check valve assembly to an internal mounting surface of the tank shell circumscribing the shell spout;
- and
- connecting a fuel fill pipe/hose assembly in sealing relation to the shell spout.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.