Fuel tank slosh absorber
AssigneeGM Global Technology Operations LLC
InventorsKristin M. Demare, William L. Villaire
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A fuel tank includes a structural body and a membrane. The membrane extends vertically between and is attached to a top wall and a bottom wall of the structural body, and substantially extends between a first side wall and a second side wall of the structural body. The membrane defines a plurality of venting apertures operable to allow liquid fuel to move therethrough. The membrane is flexible, and includes a length, measured between a top edge and a bottom edge of the membrane, that is greater than a height of the structural body, which is measured between the top wall and the bottom wall of the structural body. The flexibility of the membrane and the length of the membrane allow the membrane to flex and move to absorb kinetic energy of fuel moving within the structural body.
Claims20
A fuel tank for a vehicle, the fuel tank comprising:
- a structural body having a top wall, a bottom wall disposed vertically below the top wall, a first side wall extending between the top wall and the bottom wall, and a second side wall extending between the top wall and the bottom wall, and disposed opposite the first side wall;
- a membrane having a top edge attached to the top wall and a bottom edge attached to the bottom wall;
- wherein the membrane substantially extends between the first side wall and the second side wall, and defines a plurality of venting apertures operable to allow liquid fuel to move therethrough;
- and
- wherein the membrane is flexible and includes an un-stretched length, measured between the top edge and the bottom edge of the membrane, that is greater than a height of the structural body, measured between the top wall and the bottom wall of the structural body, such that the membrane is operable to flex and move to absorb kinetic energy of moving fuel within the structural body.
A fuel tank comprising:
- a structural body having a top wall, a bottom wall disposed vertically below the top wall, a first side wall extending between the top wall and the bottom wall, and a second side wall extending between the top wall and the bottom wall, and disposed opposite the first side wall;
- and
- a membrane having a top edge attached to the top wall and a bottom edge attached to the bottom wall;
- wherein the membrane substantially extends between the first side wall and the second side wall, and defines a plurality of venting apertures operable to allow liquid fuel to move therethrough;
- wherein the membrane is flexible and includes an un-stretched length, measured between the top edge and the bottom edge of the membrane, that is between 100% and 140% of a height of the structural body, measured between the top wall and the bottom wall of the structural body, such that the membrane is operable to flex and move to absorb kinetic energy of moving fuel within the structural body;
- and
- wherein the membrane is one of a high density polyethylene film material, or a polyoxymethylene co-polymer film material, and includes a cross sectional thickness within the range of 1 mm and 5 mm.
A vehicle comprising:
- a fuel tank including:
- a structural body having a top wall, a bottom wall disposed vertically below the top wall, a first side wall extending between the top wall and the bottom wall, and a second side wall extending between the top wall and the bottom wall, and disposed opposite the first side wall;
- and
- a membrane having a top edge attached to the top wall and a bottom edge attached to the bottom wall;
- wherein the membrane substantially extends between the first side wall and the second side wall, and defines a plurality of venting apertures operable to allow liquid fuel to move therethrough;
- wherein the membrane includes an un-stretched length, measured between the top edge and the bottom edge of the membrane, that is greater than a height of the structural body, measured between the top wall and the bottom wall of the structural body;
- and
- wherein the membrane is flexible and operable to expand to absorb kinetic energy of fuel moving within the structural body, such that the length of the membrane increases from the un-stretched length between 0% and 120% during expansion of the membrane.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.