Abstract: A gauging method for a plastic fuel tank mounted on a hybrid vehicle, the tank including a reservoir including a gauge for measuring an amount of fuel in the tank, the method including: measuring the amount of fuel in the tank using the gauge; estimating deformation of the tank using at least one sensor onboard the vehicle; and correcting the amount measured by the gauge based on the estimated deformation.

Abstract: A method of controlling pressure of a fuel system of a hybrid vehicle including an engine fed with fuel stored in a tank made of plastics material, and an electric motor, the method including, when the engine is stopped, relaxing pressure inside the fuel tank in full or in part after a given safety duration and as a function of at least one stress accumulation parameter, each stress accumulation parameter being associated with an element of the fuel system and being defined by information concerning temperature, information concerning exposure duration, and information concerning a level of stress on the element.

Abstract: A ventilation device including: a first enclosure including a first passage configured to be connected to a canister outlet and the atmosphere, and a normally closed shutter device configured to open to release the first passage; a second enclosure including a second passage configured to be connected to the canister inlet and a fuel tank, and a normally open shutter device configured to close to shut the second passage, the second passage being separate from and not in communication with the first passage; and a combined pressure/vacuum relief valve or OPR and UPR valve pair situated in or fastened to a bypass of the first passage configured to establish a connection between ends of the first passage when the shutter device is closed and when there is over- or under-pressure in the ends. A fuel system can include the device and a hybrid vehicle can include the fuel system.

Abstract: A method for handling fuel vapors onboard a hybrid vehicle including an internal combustion engine or ICE and a fuel system for the ICE, the method including at least partly condensing fuel vapors generated in the fuel system using an absorption refrigeration device. The absorption refrigeration device includes a regenerator that uses as a heat source, heat of combustion of part of the fuel vapors that are burnt in an adequate device.

Abstract: A fuel tank including two opposite wall portions and at least one reinforcing element connecting the two wall portions, in which the reinforcing element includes a hollow pillar having a ratio of at least 1.8 between the diameter of its cross section at its ends and the diameter of its cross section at least at one intermediate point.

Abstract: A method for manufacturing a plastic fuel tank including a built-in neck, by molding a parison in a mold. The neck is molded by locally deforming the parison using a concave counter-form and a convex form configured to enter the counter-form, these two parts being secured one of them to the mold and the other to a core located inside the mold, or vice versa.

Abstract: Method for stake-fastening an accessory (4) into a plastic fuel tank, whereby: the accessory (4) is equipped with at least one orifice (5) which passes right through the accessory (4); at least some of the plastic of which the wall of the tank (1) is made is melted; and some of the molten plastic is forced through the orifice (5) of the accessory without becoming detached from the remainder of the molten plastic; the protruding molten plastic is given an appropriate shape (8) to obtain a self-formed plastic rivet, and is left to solidify; the size and shape of the orifice (5) and/or of the solidified plastic (8) being such that the accessory (4) is mechanically fastened to the tank by at least some of the solidified plastic (8), the stake-fastening of the accessory (4) occurring at the time of manufacture of the tank (1) through the moulding of a split or at least two-part parison.

Abstract: A plastic fuel tank including an upper wall, a lower wall and at least two compartments, such compartments being established by a dividing wall including a part of the tank upper and lower walls, this dividing wall having at least opening enabling free flow of liquids between the at least two compartments and at least opening enabling free flow of vapors between the at least two compartments, such openings occupying less than 80% of the dividing wall, the at least 20% remaining of the dividing wall being constituted by at least one kiss point formed by welding together a multiplicity of contact points of the upper and lower walls.

Abstract: A process for manufacturing a fuel tank, including: inserting a plastic parison including two distinct parts into an open two-cavity mold; inserting a core inside the parison, the core including two parts of a reinforcing element capable of securing two different locations inside the parison; pressing the parison firmly against the mold cavities; fixing the two reinforcing element parts at the two locations of the parison using the core; withdrawing the core; closing the mold, bringing its two cavities together to grip the two parison parts around their periphery to weld them together; injecting a pressurized fluid into the mold and/or creating a vacuum behind the mold cavities to press the parison firmly against the mold cavities; opening the mold and extracting the tank; making an opening into the tank wall; and through the opening, putting at least a third reinforcing element part to link/connect the two first parts together.

Abstract: Process for manufacturing a plastic fuel tank (FT) equipped with an internal accessory, by molding a parison using a mold comprising two cavities and a core, said process comprising the following steps: the parison is introduced into the mold cavities; the core is introduced inside the parison, the core having first been fitted with the accessory; the mold is closed so that the cavities come into leaktight contact with the core; the parison is pressed against the cavities by blowing through the core and/or applying a vacuum behind the cavities; the accessory is fastened to the parison by snap riveting using a device attached to the core; the mold is opened to withdraw the core; and the final molding of the parison is carried out by blow molding and/or thermoforming.

Abstract: A method for manufacturing a plastic fuel tank including: a) inserting a plastic parison including two distinct parts into an open two-cavity mold; b) inserting a core, bearing at least part of a reinforcing element configured to create a link between the two parison parts, inside the parison; c) pressing the parison firmly against the mold cavities, for example by blowing through the core and/or creating suction behind the cavities; d) fixing the part of the reinforcing element to at least one of the parison parts using the core; e) withdrawing the core; f) closing the mold, bringing its two cavities together to grip the two parison parts around their periphery to weld them together; g) injecting a pressurized fluid into the mold and/or creating a vacuum behind the mold cavities to press the parison firmly against the mold cavities; and h) opening the mold and extracting the tank.

Abstract: Process and device for manufacturing a plastic fuel tank equipped with at least one communication component, by molding a parison using a mold comprising two impressions and a core, said process comprising the pressing of the parison against the impressions and formation of a pocket in this parison, the communication component being fastened in this pocket by welding of at least one portion of its side wall to at least one portion of the side wall of the pocket.

Abstract: A method for manufacturing a plastic fuel tank including: a) inserting a plastic parison including two distinct parts into an open two-cavity mold; b) inserting a core, bearing at least part of a reinforcing element configured to create a link between the two parison parts, inside the parison; c) pressing the parison firmly against the mold cavities, for example by blowing through the core and/or creating suction behind the cavities; d) fixing the part of the reinforcing element to at least one of the parison parts using the core; e) withdrawing the core; f) closing the mold, bringing its two cavities together to grip the two parison parts around their periphery to weld them together; g) injecting a pressurized fluid into the mold and/or creating a vacuum behind the mold cavities to press the parison firmly against the mold cavities; and h) opening the mold and extracting the tank.

Abstract: Method for stake-fastening an accessory (4) into a plastic fuel tank, whereby : the accessory (4) is equipped with at least one orifice (5) which passes right through the accessory (4); at least some of the plastic of which the wall of the tank (1) is made is melted; and some of the molten plastic is forced through the orifice (5) of the accessory without becoming detached from the remainder of the molten plastic; the protruding molten plastic is given an appropriate shape (8) to obtain a self-formed plastic rivet, and is left to solidify; the size and shape of the orifice (5) and/or of the solidified plastic (8) being such that the accessory (4) is mechanically fastened to the tank by at least some of the solidified plastic (8), the stake-fastening of the accessory (4) occurring at the time of manufacture of the tank (1) through the moulding of a split or at least two-part parison.

Abstract: A method for manufacturing a plastic fuel tank including: a) inserting a plastic parison including two distinct parts into an open two-cavity mold; b) inserting a core, bearing at least part of a reinforcing element configured to create a link between the two parison parts, inside the parison; c) pressing the parison firmly against the mold cavities, for example by blowing through the core and/or creating suction behind the cavities; d) fixing the part of the reinforcing element to at least one of the parison parts using the core; e) withdrawing the core; f) closing the mold, bringing its two cavities together to grip the two parison parts around their periphery to weld them together; g) injecting a pressurized fluid into the mold and/or creating a vacuum behind the mold cavities to press the parison firmly against the mold cavities; and h) opening the mold and extracting the tank.

Abstract: A process for manufacturing a plastic fuel tank including at least one component, by molding a parison using a mold including two impressions and a core, the process including: introducing a parison into the mold impressions; introducing a core inside the parison, the core having a moving device including the at least one component closing the mold so that the impressions come into leaktight contact with the core; pressing the parison against the impressions by blowing through the core and/or applying a vacuum behind the impressions; fastening the at least one component on an inner wall of the parison; opening the mold to withdraw the core; and final molding the parison by blow-molding and/or thermoforming; and to enable its fastening to the parison, the component is moved away from the core by the moving device through a combination of a rotational motion and a linear motion.

Abstract: Method for stake-fastening an accessory (4) into a plastic fuel tank, whereby:—the accessory (4) is equipped with at least one orifice (5) which passes right through the accessory (4); —at least some of the plastic of which the wall of the tank (1) is made is melted; and—some of the molten plastic is forced through the orifice (5) of the accessory without becoming detached from the remainder of the molten plastic; —the protruding molten plastic is given an appropriate shape (8) to obtain a self-formed plastic rivet, and is left to solidify; the size and shape of the orifice (5) and/or of the solidified plastic (8) being such that the accessory (4) is mechanically fastened to the tank by at least some of the solidified plastic (8), the stake-fastening of the accessory (4) occurring at the time of manufacture of the tank (1) through the moulding of a split or at least two-part parison.

Abstract: Process for fastening an accessory to a hollow body obtained by molding a molten plastic parison and using a plastic connector comprising coupling means for the accessory and a stop surface intended to limit the penetration of the connector into the molten plastic, according to which the stop surface is provided with a curved double lip (or one-piece part having two concentric curved edges, i.e., two protuberances located preferably at its periphery, which are concentric and are in relief relative to the remainder of the part) and the connector is welded to the inner wall of the parison using this double lip.

Abstract: It is proposed a method for detecting a presence of a leak in a fuel system mounted on board of a vehicle. The method is such that it comprises the steps of: a) obtaining (S1,S6) temperatures and pressures in the fuel system at a first time and at a second later time; b) calculating (S8) a pressure expected in the fuel system at the second time, on the basis of at least one of the temperatures and pressures obtained at the first and second times, and a coefficient that represents the natural evolution of pressure in the fuel system over time; c) detecting (S9) a leak by comparing the calculated expected pressure and the pressure obtained at the second time to at least one predetermined threshold.

Abstract: Method for producing a fuel tank provided with internal accessories and having a wall made of plastic made in a single piece by moulding a split parison or a parison in at least two parts, said method comprising the following steps: a) the parison is introduced in the heat-softened state into a mould comprising dies; b) a core on which the accessories are placed is introduced inside the parison; c) the parison is pressed onto the dies of the mould; d) the accessories are fastened to the parison with the aid of the core in an ideal layout; e) the core is withdrawn and the mould is closed; f) the tank is moulded from the parison; and g) the tank is removed from the mould.