Patents by Inventor Brian W. Brandner
Brian W. Brandner has filed for patents to protect the following inventions. This listing includes patent applications that are pending as well as patents that have already been granted by the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO).
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Patent number: 7850890Abstract: A polymeric fuel tank having a first body joined to a second body is constructed having a substantially continuously barrier layer surrounding the tank. The first body has an inner surface terminating at a free edge and a first mating surface adjacent the free edge. A first barrier layer is fixed adjacent the inner surface of the first body. The second body has an inner surface terminating at a free edge and has a second mating surface adjacent to the first mating surface and the free edge of the second body to define a fuel cavity. A second barrier layer is fixed adjacent the inner surface of the second body. At least one weld joint joins the first mating surface to the second mating surface and the first barrier layer to the second barrier layer to provide the continuous barrier layer in the fuel tank.Type: GrantFiled: February 17, 2005Date of Patent: December 14, 2010Assignee: TI Group Automotive Systems, L.L.C.Inventors: Brian W. Brandner, Vladimir Franjo, Masahiro Higashi
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Patent number: 7704440Abstract: A fuel tank that is substantially impermeable to fuel vapor has a shell with an interior for holding fuel, an opening for receiving fuel into the interior, and a fill nipple with a barrier layer. The fill nipple has an outer surface and an inner surface defining a passage extending between a pair of generally opposed ends of the fill nipple. One of the ends is attached to the shell such that the passage is aligned with the opening to allow fuel to flow through the passage and into the interior of the fuel tank. The fill nipple has an inner layer of material forming the inner surface, and an outer layer of material forming the outer surface, and has at least one intermediate layer of material forming the barrier layer. The intermediate layer is formed from a material that is different in composition from the inner and outer layers.Type: GrantFiled: November 30, 2004Date of Patent: April 27, 2010Assignee: TI Group Automotive Systems, L.L.C.Inventors: Brian W. Brandner, Vladimir Franjo, Keith D. Kersey, Harald Knueppel, Ted J. Latouf, James R. Osborne
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Patent number: 7565986Abstract: A fuel tank that is substantially impermeable to fuel vapor has a shell with an interior for holding fuel, an opening for receiving fuel into the interior, and a fill nipple with a barrier layer. The fill nipple has an outer surface and an inner surface defining a passage extending between a pair of generally opposed ends of the fill nipple. One of the ends is attached to the shell such that the passage is aligned with the opening to allow fuel to flow through the passage and into the interior of the fuel tank. The fill nipple has an inner layer of material forming the inner surface, and an outer layer of material forming the outer surface, and has at least one intermediate layer of material forming the barrier layer. The intermediate layer is formed from a material that is different in composition from the inner and outer layers.Type: GrantFiled: December 2, 2003Date of Patent: July 28, 2009Assignee: TI Group Automotive Systems, L.L.C.Inventors: Brian W. Brandner, Vladimir Franjo, Keith D. Kersey, Harald Knueppel
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Patent number: 7097445Abstract: A fuel tank is formed by a blow molding apparatus and method wherein a blow pin provides pressurized gas into an interior of a parison received in a blow mold so the parison may be blown to shape within the mold cavity. When the blow pin is no longer needed, it is retracted from the mold and a pinch plate assembly is used to close off the opening in the molded part created by the blow pin. Thereafter, the mold may be opened and the molded part removed, the pinch plate assembly and moved back to its retracted position, and the blow mold pin may be advanced into the open mold for use with a subsequent parison so that the subsequent parison can be blow molded in the same manner.Type: GrantFiled: September 3, 2003Date of Patent: August 29, 2006Assignee: TI Group Automotive Systems, L.L.C.Inventors: Brian W. Brandner, Keith D. Kersey, Harald Knueppel, Christopher K. Quick
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Patent number: 6877627Abstract: A polymeric fuel tank having a first body joined to a second body is constructed having a substantially continuously barrier layer surrounding the tank. The first body has an inner surface terminating at a free edge and a first mating surface adjacent the free edge. A first barrier layer is fixed adjacent the inner surface of the first body. The second body has an inner surface terminating at a free edge and has a second mating surface adjacent to the first mating surface and the free edge of the second body to define a fuel cavity. A second barrier layer is fixed adjacent the inner surface of the second body. At least one weld joint joins the first mating surface to the second mating surface and the first barrier layer to the second barrier layer to provide the continuous barrier layer in the fuel tank.Type: GrantFiled: January 28, 2003Date of Patent: April 12, 2005Assignee: TI Group Automotive Systems, L.L.C.Inventors: Brian W. Brandner, Vladimir Franjo, Masahiro Higashi
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Publication number: 20040144780Abstract: A polymeric fuel tank having a first body joined to a second body is constructed having a substantially continuously barrier layer surrounding the tank. The first body has an inner surface terminating at a free edge and a first mating surface adjacent the free edge. A first barrier layer is fixed adjacent the inner surface of the first body. The second body has an inner surface terminating at a free edge and has a second mating surface adjacent to the first mating surface and the free edge of the second body to define a fuel cavity. A second barrier layer is fixed adjacent the inner surface of the second body. At least one weld joint joins the first mating surface to the second mating surface and the first barrier layer to the second barrier layer to provide the continuous barrier layer in the fuel tank.Type: ApplicationFiled: January 28, 2003Publication date: July 29, 2004Inventors: Brian W. Brandner, Vladimir Franjo, Masahiro Higashi
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Patent number: 6702974Abstract: An injection molded component having at least one structural layer of material and at least one fuel vapor barrier layer carried by the structural layer, and a method of making it utilizing separately injection molded structural and fuel vapor barrier layers. The vapor barrier layer may be trapped between two other interconnected layers, or may be bonded to a structural layer by an adhesive. In one form, a fuel vapor barrier layer and a structural layer are separately molded onto a preformed adhesive layer. Desirably, the heat generated during the steps of molding both the vapor barrier layer and the structural layer onto the adhesive layer is sufficient to activate the adhesive and bond the layers together. In another form, a fuel vapor barrier layer is bonded to a layer comprised of a blend of structural and adhesive materials. In yet another form, a fuel vapor barrier layer is disposed and captured between two interconnected structural layers.Type: GrantFiled: March 26, 2001Date of Patent: March 9, 2004Assignee: Walbro CorporationInventors: Brian W. Brandner, Paul Michael McDonald, Christopher K. Quick, Robert L. Walter
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Patent number: 6533288Abstract: A flange seal assembly for a multi-layered plastic fuel tank having a wall with a permeation barrier layer encapsulated by inner and outer layers. The wall is blow molded about a ring so that the outer layer alone is in actual contact with the ring. The permeation barrier layer is exposed and engaged by a resilient seal. A locking member is located outboard of a flange which engages the seal. Engagement of the locking member with the ring produces a force compressing the seal against the flange and the permeation barrier layer.Type: GrantFiled: June 16, 2000Date of Patent: March 18, 2003Assignee: Walbro CorporationInventors: Brian W. Brandner, Keith D. Kersey, Harald Knueppel, Christopher K. Quick, Jeffery L. Yager
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Publication number: 20020136864Abstract: An injection molded component having at least one structural layer of material and at least one fuel vapor barrier layer carried by the structural layer, and a method of making it utilizing separately injection molded structural and fuel vapor barrier layers. The vapor barrier layer may be trapped between two other interconnected layers, or may be bonded to a structural layer by an adhesive. In one form, a fuel vapor barrier layer and a structural layer are separately molded onto a preformed adhesive layer. Desirably, the heat generated during the steps of molding both the vapor barrier layer and the structural layer onto the adhesive layer is sufficient to activate the adhesive and bond the layers together. In another form, a fuel vapor barrier layer is bonded to a layer comprised of a blend of structural and adhesive materials. In yet another form, a fuel vapor barrier layer is disposed and captured between two interconnected structural layers.Type: ApplicationFiled: March 26, 2001Publication date: September 26, 2002Inventors: Brian W. Brandner, Paul Michael McDonald, Christopher K. Quick, Robert L. Walter