Reinforced fuel tank and method for reinforced fuel tank construction
AssigneeFord Global Technologies, LLC
InventorsBrian Aitken, Mark Bunge
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A method for manufacturing a fuel tank is described herein. The method includes subsequent to molding of a housing of a fuel tank, positioning a strut inside the housing. The method additionally includes snap-fitting a flexible projection of the strut with a corresponding flange section in a first wall of the housing, the flange section surrounding an opening in the first wall of the housing and the flexible projection including a surface overlapping an interior surface of the flange section subsequent to the snap-fitting.
Claims20
A method, comprising:
- subsequent to molding of a housing of a fuel tank, positioning a strut inside the housing;
- and
- snap-fitting a flexible projection of the strut with a corresponding flange section in a first wall of the housing, the flange section surrounding an opening in the first wall of the housing and the flexible projection including a surface overlapping an interior surface of the flange section subsequent to the snap-fitting.
A fuel tank in a fuel delivery system, comprising:
- a housing including a first wall opposing a second wall, the first wall including a flange section surrounding an opening;
- a strut extending between the first wall and the second wall, the strut including a flexible projection extending from a shaft of the strut, a first end, a second end, and a fitting channel positioned between the flexible projection and the first end, with a portion of the flange section extending into the fitting channel;
- and
- a weld connecting the second end to the second wall.
A method for manufacturing a fuel tank in a fuel delivery system, comprising:
- molding a plastic housing of the fuel tank;
- inserting a strut through an opening in a first wall of the plastic housing;
- and
- snap-fitting a flexible projection of the strut with a corresponding flange section in the first wall to mate a fitting channel in the strut with a portion of the flange section, the flange section surrounding the opening in the first wall.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.