Abstract: 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.

Abstract: 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.

Abstract: 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.

Abstract: 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.

Abstract: 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.

Abstract: 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.

Abstract: 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.

Abstract: 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.

Abstract: An integral fuel tank fastener having a unitary fastener feature or hollow protuberance carried by and formed into a preferably blow molded multi-layer plastic fuel tank shell. The fuel tank shell preferably has a continuous intermediate layer, or permeation barrier, between continuous inner and outer layers in which the protuberance is formed without producing any discontinuities that could degrade the permeation integrity of the fuel tank. The hollow protuberance projects into a fuel chamber defined by the inner layer and has an enlarged head at its distal end. The outer layer defines a blind cavity of the hollow protuberance which substantially follows the contours of the opposite side. A female clip, independent of the fuel tank, preferably engages the protuberance about the inner layer of the shell.

Abstract: An integral fuel tank fastener having a unitary fastener feature or hollow protuberance carried by and formed into a preferably blow molded multi-layer plastic fuel tank shell. The fuel tank shell preferably has a continuous intermediate layer, or permeation barrier, between continuous inner and outer layers in which the protuberance is formed without producing any discontinuities that could degrade the permeation integrity of the fuel tank. The hollow protuberance projects into a fuel chamber defined by the inner layer and has an enlarged head at its distal end. The outer layer defines a blind cavity of the hollow protuberance which substantially follows the contours of the opposite side. A female clip, independent of the fuel tank, preferably engages the protuberance about the inner layer of the shell.

Abstract: A parison handling device has a pair of opposed arms with each arm having at least a pair of grippers to selectively engage an extruded parison and transfer it to a second location such as to a mold of a blow molding machine. At least one gripper on each arm is both slidably and generally pivotally movable relative to the arm to facilitate initially engaging and gripping the parison and subsequent closing and stretching of a gripped end of the parison to more efficiently distribute the material of the parison such that after blow molding of the parison, the molded product has a substantially uniform wall thickness throughout. Preferably, a follower attached to each movable gripper is responsive to a profile or contour of a cam carried by each arm to guide the movement of the gripper corresponding to the profile of the cam.

Abstract: A parison handling device has a pair of opposed arms with each arm having at least a pair of grippers to selectively engage an extruded parison and transfer it to a second location such as to a mold of a blow molding machine. At least one gripper on each arm is both slidably and generally pivotally movable relative to the arm to facilitate initially engaging and gripping the parison and subsequent closing and stretching of a gripped end of the parison to more efficiently distribute the material of the parison such that after blow molding of the parison, the molded product has a substantially uniform wall thickness throughout. Preferably, a follower attached to each movable gripper is responsive to a profile or contour of a cam carried by each arm to guide the movement of the gripper corresponding to the profile of the cam.