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US 6,578,727 B2Granted
Mounting for a fuel tank on a motor vehicle
AssigneeTI Group Automotive Systems Technology Center GmbH
InventorsRainer Schmidt, Albert Boecker
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A device for mounting a plastic fuel tank on the body of a motor vehicle with a carrier which is shaped to fit at least partially to the outer contour of the tank and at least one coupling disposed between the carrier and the tank. The coupling is releasably connected with a snap fit to the carrier and preferably is made of a thermoplastic material that is heat welded to the plastic tank.
Claims14
A fuel tank assembly for a motor vehicle, the assembly comprising:
- a motor vehicle fuel tank with an exterior wall of a plastic material, the exterior wall having a bottom portion, a carrier for the fuel tank which conforms to at least part of the outer contour of the bottom portion of the tank, extends across the bottom portion of the tank, has an opening for receiving a finger of a coupling and is configured to be attached to an overlying body of the motor vehicle, and a coupling at least in part made of a thermoplastic material heat welded to the bottom portion of the tank and having at least one finger with an enlarged head with the finger releasably received in the opening of and snap-fitted into the carrier and releasably connected to the carrier at a location generally opposite the portion of the coupling welded to the tank.
A device for mounting a plastic fuel tank on an overlying body of a motor vehicle, the device comprising:
- a carrier for the plastic fuel tank which is shaped to conform to at least part of the outer contour of a bottom of the tank, extends across the bottom of the tank and is configured to be attached to the overlying body of the motor vehicle, at least one coupling disposed in assembly between the carrier and the tank and having at least one finger with an enlarged head, the carrier having at least one opening to receive the at least one finger, the at least one coupling being made at least in part of a thermoplastic material to be welded to the plastic fuel tank, the at least one finger with the enlarged head releasably connected to the carrier at a position generally opposite to a portion of the at least one coupling which in assembly is adjacent the tank, and the enlarged head of the at least one finger is snap-fitted into the at least one opening of the carrier.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.