Fuel tank
AssigneeGeneral Motors Corporation
InventorsJohn B. Giacoletti, Thomas C. Ryding, Walter C. Zetye
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A vehicle fuel tank has a flexible bladder disposed within a metal shell. A vent line extending from within the bladder is controlled by an altitude sensitive valve, and a pressure balance line interconnects the vent line and the space between the shell and the bladder to minimize any pressure differential across the bladder. The bladder contains a fuel level sensor having a float which moves an arm through a vertical path. A fender is suspended within the bladder and is contoured to follow the path of the sensor arm to preclude interference between the bladder and the arm.
Claims4
A fuel tank comprising an enclosure having a flexible wall and a rigid wall and adapted to contain liquid fuel, a fuel level sensor disposed within said enclosure and including a pivotally mounted arm having an end free for movement along an arcuate path in a selected plane and further including a float secured to said free end and responsive to the level of fuel within said enclosure for positioning said end of said arm along said path, means responsive to the position of said end of said arm for indicating the fuel level in said enclosure, and a fender having a flange secured to said rigid wall and a contoured portion disposed in said plane adjacent said arcuate path to prevent interference between said flexible wall and said arm should said flexible wall collapse.
A fuel tank comprising an enclosure adapted to contain liquid fuel and having a rigid upper wall portion, a flexible upper wall portion, and flexible side and lower wall portions, a fuel level sensor suspended from said rigid wall portion within said enclosure and including a pivotally mounted, longitudinally extending arm having a transversely extending end free for movement along a vertical arcuate path and further including a float secured on said free end and responsive to the level of fuel within said enclosure for positioning said end of said arm along said path, means responsive to the position of said end of said arm for indicating the fuel level in said enclosure, and a fender having a flange secured to said rigid wall portion and a contoured portion depending therefrom adjacent said arcuate path, said contoured portion extending transversely at least coterminously with said end of said arm and said float to prevent interference between said flexible wall portions and said sensor arm and float should any of said flexible wall portions collapse.
A fuel tank comprising an enclosure adapted to contain liquid fuel and having a rigid upper wall portion, a flexible upper wall portion, and flexible side and lower wall portions, a fuel level sensor suspended from said rigid wall portion within said enclosure and including a pivotally mounted, longitudinally extending arm having a transversely extending end free for movement along a vertical arcuate path and further including a float secured on said free end and responsive to the level of fuel within said enclosure for positioning said end of said arm along said path, means responsive to the position of said end of said arm for indicating the fuel level in said enclosure, and a fender having a flange secured to said rigid wall portion and a contoured wall depending therefrom adjacent said arcuate path, said contoured wall extending transeversely at least coterminously with said end of said arm and said float to prevent interference between said flexible wall portions and said sensor arm and float should any of said flexible wall portions collapse, said contoured wall having a plurality of vertically spaced, transversely extending slots permitting fuel flow therethrough to minimize hydraulic effects created by said fender which might affect said sensor.
A fuel tank comprising a metal shell forming upper, lower and side walls, said upper wall having an aperture formed therein, a flexible bladder disposed within and substantially conforming to the shape of said shell to define an enclosure adapted to contain liquid fuel, said bladder having an aperture aligned with said aperture in said shell and a stiff collar formed thereabout, a rigid closure member overlying said apertures in said shell and said bladder, means securing said closure member to said shell and said collar, a filler neck extending through said closure member into said enclosure for supplying fuel thereto, a fuel line extending through said closure member from said enclosure for delivering fuel therefrom, a vent line extending through said closure member from said enclosure for delivering air thereto and fuel vapor therefrom, a pressure balance line opening to said vent line from the space defined between said shell and said bladder for minimizing the difference between the pressure in said enclosure and the pressure in said space, a fuel level sensor including a rearwardly extending arm pivotally mounted on said fuel line, said arm having a transversely extending end free for movement along a vertical arcuate path, a float secured about said end of said arm and responsive to the level of fuel within said enclosure for positioning said end of said arm along said path, means responsive to the position of said end of said arm for indicating the fuel level in said enclosure, and a fender having a flange secured to said rigid wall portion, a contoured wall depending from said rigid wall adjacent said arcuate path and extending transversely beyond said end of said arm and said float, and a pair of lateral walls extending forwardly adjacent said end of said arm and said float, said fender preventing interference between said bladder and said sensor arm and float should said bladder collapse, said contoured wall having a plurality of vertically spaced, transversely extending slots formed therethrough to minimize hydraulic effects created by said fender which might affect said sensor.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.