Fabric reinforcement for plastic fuel tanks
AssigneeSolvay Automotive, Inc.
InventorRobert D. Seizert
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
An improved plastic fuel tank for motor vehicle applications is disclosed. The blow molded plastic fuel tank has at least one reinforcement insert encapsulated at a preselected area on the exterior surface of the fuel tank. The reinforcement insert provides supplemental support, elasticity and fire resistance, or a combination thereof.
Claims20
A blow molded plastic fuel tank for use in motor vehicles comprising at least one reinforcement insert encapsulated on a preselected area of an exterior surface of said tank for providing supplemental support at said preselected area wherein said reinforcement insert comprises a porous fabric material having a weave defining a plurality of openings between interwoven strands in said fabric, said openings being substantially filled with said plastic so as to encapsulate said fabric material in generally flush relation to said exterior surface of said tank.
A plastic fuel tank apparatus comprising:
- a hollow one-piece fuel tank having a continuous wall portion fabricated from a blow molded plastic material;
- and
- a reinforcement insert means for providing supplemental support to said fuel tank at preselected areas thereof, said insert means comprising a woven fabric insert defining a plurality of openings between interwoven strands of said fabric and being encapsulated along an exterior surface of said tank during blow mold fabrication of said tank.
A blow molded plastic fuel tank for use in motor vehicles comprising at least one reinforcement insert encapsulated on a preselected area of an exterior surface of said tank for providing supplemental support at said preselected area, said preselected area comprising a localized area of said tank of a reduced wall thickness relative to the remainder of said tank.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.