Fuel tank and method for its production
AssigneeTI Group Automotive Systems Technology Center GmbH
InventorAlbert Boecker
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A fuel tank has a plurality of fuel system components therein and is formed by incorporating the fuel system components into the fuel tank as it is being formed. The fuel system components may be mounted on a carrier and then disposed with the carrier within a parison subsequently molded to form the fuel tank around the components and carrier. Desirably, all electrical, fuel and vapor lines may extend out of a single opening of the fuel tank to reduce openings in the formed fuel tank.
Claims32
A plastic fuel tank for a vehicle having at least one fuel system component therein, comprising:
- a body of a polymeric material defining an interior space constructed and arranged to store a quantity of liquid fuel therein and having an opening communicating with the interior space;
- a carrier forming a baffle carried by the body and disposed within the interior space with the carrier oriented so that it lies generally perpendicular to the direction of travel of the vehicle in which the fuel tank is mounted;
- and
- at least one fuel system component carried by the carrier within the interior space with the carrier with the fuel system component thereon having a size preventing its insertion into the interior space through any opening in the body, and the carrier providing a baffle retarding the surging and splashing of fuel in the tank when the vehicle is moving.
A method of making a vehicle fuel tank having at least one fuel system component therein, comprising the steps of:
- providing a carrier constructed and arranged to form a baffle and to carry at least one fuel system component;
- disposing at least one fuel system component on the carrier;
- and thereafter
- forming the fuel tank of a polymeric material to its final shape around the carrier with the carrier oriented so that it lies generally perpendicular to the direction of travel of the vehicle in which the fuel tank is mounted and with said at least one fuel system component thereon to provide a fuel tank with at least one fuel system component therein and the carrier providing a baffle retarding the surging and splashing of fuel in the tank when the vehicle is moving.
A method of making a vehicle fuel tank, comprising the steps of:
- providing a parison of polymeric material suitable to be molded into the fuel tank;
- disposing a plurality of fuel system components in the parison before the parison is molded into the fuel tank, at least two of the fuel system components each having one of a fuel line, vapor line and an electric connector;
- and
- forming the parison into the fuel tank with said at least one fuel system component therein to provide a fuel tank with the plurality of fuel system components therein and at least two of the lines and connectors passing through the formed fuel tank to the exterior of the formed fuel tank with all of the lines and connectors which pass through the formed fuel tank doing so in essentially the same area and closely adjacent each other and each opening to communication exteriorly of the formed fuel tank when forming of the parison is completed.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.