Abstract: A fuel tank having a top shell with an outwardly extending flange about its outer periphery and a bottom shell also having an outwardly extending flange about its outer periphery. The top and bottom shells are dimensioned so that, with the top shell positioned on top of the bottom shell, an outer peripheral portion of the top shell flange flatly abuts against an outer peripheral portion of the bottom shell flange and these outer peripheral portions are secured together. A component support has an outer edge portion sandwiched in between the flanges at a position spaced inwardly from the flange outer peripheral portions. The flanges and the outer edge portion of the component support are then bent to a plane oblique to the component support to thereby mechanically lock the outer edge portion of the component support and the flanges together.

Abstract: An apparatus is disclosed for thermosetting thermoplastic tubes in a predefined shape having at least one bend. The apparatus includes an oven with an interior chamber which is heated to a temperature approaching that at which the tube thermally deforms. An elongated former has a channel dimensioned to receive the tube, and this channel has the predefined shape. A thermally absorbent coating is disposed only on a surface of the former adjacent to and extending across each bend of the former. This thermally absorbent coating locally adds the thermal energy required to reset the memory of the tube at the bend location. A conveyor extends through the oven chamber from an inlet end and to an outlet end of the oven, and the former is attached to the conveyor.

Abstract: An apparatus is disclosed for thermosetting thermoplastic tubes in a predefined shape having at least one bend. The apparatus includes an oven with an interior chamber which is heated to a temperature approaching that at which the tube thermally deforms. An elongated former has a channel dimensioned to receive the tube, and this channel has the predefined shape. A thermally absorbent coating is disposed only on a surface of the former adjacent to and extending across each bend of the former. This thermally absorbent coating locally adds the thermal energy required to reset the memory of the tube at the bend location. A conveyor extends through the oven chamber from an inlet end and to an outlet end of the oven, and the former is attached to the conveyor.