Vehicular Fuel Tank Patents (Class 220/4.14)
  • Patent number: 8490821
    Abstract: An apparatus for separately containing fuel and an exhaust gas treatment fluid on a vehicle, such as an SCR reductant, includes a fuel tank having a perimeter wall and at least one end wall defining an internal space for containing fuel, a portion of the perimeter wall extending beyond the at least one end wall to form a rim defining with the at least one end wall a recess, and, a second vessel for containing the reductant or other treatment fluid having a shape conforming to the recess, the second vessel being supported in the recess.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 28, 2008
    Date of Patent: July 23, 2013
    Assignee: Mack Trucks, Inc.
    Inventors: Dennis Tam, Michael B. Stout
  • Patent number: 8490807
    Abstract: A fuel container operating under overpressure and consisting of two shells is to be reinforced by means of an inner column so that, when the two shells are conjoined, a tension resistant connection is created. For this purpose, the column consists of a first and a second part connected to the respective shell, one part having catches, the other part having latching hooks, which catches and latching hooks for a tension resistant snap-in connection when joined together. For this purpose, both parts have latching surfaces and deflecting surfaces and the latching hook is resiliently displaceable.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 5, 2010
    Date of Patent: July 23, 2013
    Assignee: MAGNA STEYR Fuel Systems GesmbH
    Inventor: Laszlo Varga
  • Patent number: 8485386
    Abstract: The invention relates to a fuel tank (1) with at least one filler pipe (2) enclosing a refueling duct and with at least one vent line (6), which comprises at least one first and one second line section (6a, 6b), the first line section (6a) extending from a vent connection (7) of the fuel tank (1) to a connection on the filler pipe (2), and the second line section (6b) extending from a connection on the filler pipe (2) to a fuel vapor filter (10), wherein at least one line section (6a, 6b) opens directly into the filler pipe (2) via a connection fitting.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 10, 2010
    Date of Patent: July 16, 2013
    Assignee: Kautex Textron GmbH & Co. KG
    Inventors: Ibrahim Koukan, Harald Lorenz
  • Patent number: 8381928
    Abstract: A method of reducing fuel vapor permeation through a multi-layer tank includes providing a multi-layer overlay onto at least a portion of a structural layer of the multi-layer tank. The multi-layer overlay preferably comprises at least one structural layer composed of a polymeric material that is compatible with one or more of the polymeric structural layer(s) of the multi-layer tank. The multi-layer overlay further comprises at least one barrier layer composed of a vapor barrier material resistant to hydrocarbon permeation therethrough. The multi-layer overlay may be secured to the multi-layer tank by, for example, applying a suitable amount of heat and pressure thereto or by molding the multi-layer overlay to the tank body during a tank forming process.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 20, 2005
    Date of Patent: February 26, 2013
    Assignee: TI Group Automotive Systems, L.L.C.
    Inventors: Win S. Burrington, James R. Osborne, Steve L. Toth
  • Patent number: 8360027
    Abstract: A fuel tank system, engine employing such a system, and related method of assembly are disclosed. In at least one embodiment, the fuel tank system includes a fuel tank, a mounting bracket, and at least three fastening devices. The tank includes an outer wall that defines an internal cavity, and first and second channels extending between first and second opposed outer surfaces of the wall through the cavity. The bracket has first and second protrusions, where the first and second protrusions respectively extend into the first and second channels, respectively. First and second ones of the fastening devices are respectively fastened to the first and second protrusions, respectively, so as to prevent movement of the protrusions out of the channels, thereby securing the bracket to the tank. A third of the fastening devices allows the bracket to be secured to another engine component.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 20, 2009
    Date of Patent: January 29, 2013
    Assignee: Kohler Co.
    Inventor: Aleko D. Sotiriades
  • Patent number: 8342358
    Abstract: A fuel tank includes a first fuel chamber for receiving liquid fuel; a communication chamber communicated with the first fuel chamber and having a bottom higher than a bottom of the first fuel chamber; and a second fuel chamber communicated with the communication chamber, the second fuel chamber having a bottom lower than the bottom of the communication chamber. The fuel tank also includes a sleeve member having a lower end opening toward the bottom of the communication chamber, and configured so that fuel evaporative emissions are discharged while liquid fuel is supplied to the first fuel chamber. The first fuel chamber, the communication chamber, and the second fuel chamber are all molded integrally by resin blow molding. The communication chamber is provided with a protrusion which is convex when viewed from inside the communication chamber, and a depression which is concave when viewed from outside of the communication chamber.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 12, 2008
    Date of Patent: January 1, 2013
    Assignee: Honda Motor Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Kazuhiro Kobayashi, Takeaki Nakajima, Shoichi Hokazono, Shinya Murabayashi, Yutaka Utsumi
  • Patent number: 8334032
    Abstract: The present invention provides a fuel tank excellent in strength, low fuel permeability and durability in spite of its being light in weight as well as a method of producing such fuel tank by which the tank can be molded in a complicated shape with ease and at low production cost. The present invention is a fuel tank, produced by joining of at least two discrete parts of a tank and each having a laminate structure comprising a fluororesin layer and a thermoplastic resin layer in such a manner that at least the fluororesin layers of the parts are joined together to form the inner surface layer of the fluororesin layer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 28, 2007
    Date of Patent: December 18, 2012
    Assignee: Daikin Industries, Ltd.
    Inventors: Takeshi Inaba, Shigehito Sagisaka
  • Patent number: 8317059
    Abstract: An adjustable fuel tank for a vehicle includes a container body having a first container section and second container section. A container volume is defined by the container body. The first and second container sections are moveable relative to one another for adjusting at least one of an exterior shape of the container body and the container volume of the container body.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 5, 2010
    Date of Patent: November 27, 2012
    Assignee: Honda Motor Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Mark Kisiler, David A. Thompson
  • Patent number: 8235241
    Abstract: A liquid tank assembly for a motor vehicle includes a tank and an absorber assembly. The tank has an inner surface defining a cavity for receiving a liquid substance. The absorber assembly is disposed within the cavity for dampening liquid sloshing noises. The absorber assembly includes a plurality of connected dampener elements. End sections of the absorber assembly are attached to the inner surface of the tank. The absorber assembly is configured to float on a surface of the liquid when a volume of liquid within the tank is between a first critical volume and a second, lower critical volume. The absorber assembly is generally submerged when a volume of liquid within the tank is a generally greater than the first critical volume. The absorber assembly is generally suspended within the cavity when a volume of liquid within the tank is a generally lower than the second critical volume.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 21, 2007
    Date of Patent: August 7, 2012
    Assignee: Honda Motor Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Thomas N. Ramsay
  • Patent number: 8225953
    Abstract: A resin-made fuel tank structure of a vehicle is provided to suppress the formation of a notch in a mounting portion of an insert portion on a tank body. The fuel tank structure includes a tank body. The tank body includes a resin material having fuel permeation resistance. The fuel tank structure includes an insert portion separate from the tank body. The insert portion includes a resin material. The insert portion also includes a mounting portion to mount the insert portion on the tank body and a fuel fill opening. The insert portion is configured to be mounted to an outer layer of the tank body. The outer layer of the tank body is configured to be in close contact with an end portion of the mounting portion of the insert portion. The outer layer is configured to bulge more outward and upward than the mounting portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 4, 2009
    Date of Patent: July 24, 2012
    Assignee: Honda Motor Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Takahiro Matayoshi, Akihito Kobayashi
  • Patent number: 8220654
    Abstract: A partitioning plate, that is positioned between a jet pump and a main suction, is set within a reserve cup of a fuel tank, so as to separate an interior of the reserve cup into a fuel feed-out chamber in which the main suction is disposed, and a fuel introducing chamber in which the jet pump is disposed. The partitioning plate is disposed at an incline with respect to a vehicle longitudinal direction. In cases in which acceleration in any of a forward direction, a rearward direction, a leftward direction and a rightward direction of a vehicle acts on fuel within the reserve cup, some of fuel within the fuel introducing chamber flows into the fuel feed-out chamber. A fuel tank structure is provided that can reliably ensure fuel within the fuel feed-out chamber in a case in which acceleration arises at fuel within a fuel accommodating portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 28, 2009
    Date of Patent: July 17, 2012
    Assignee: Aisan Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Touru Suda, Masayuki Hirose, Toru Shirasaki, Takayuki Usui, Taku Masaki, Hiroaki Suganuma
  • Patent number: 8181808
    Abstract: A container for operating media of motor vehicles which is chemically stable both in respect of the fuel carried and in respect of additives.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 8, 2007
    Date of Patent: May 22, 2012
    Assignee: Erhard & Sohne GmbH
    Inventor: Alexander Kögel
  • Patent number: 8122604
    Abstract: Method for fastening an accessory (2) at at least two points of a wall of a plastic fuel tank, this fastening taking place during the actual manufacture of the tank by molding. According to this method, the accessory (2) is provided, at least at one of its fastening points, with a fastening part (1, 1?) in such a way that the accessory (2) is fastened to the wall of the tank and can move relative to the corresponding fastening point on the wall of the tank (3).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 12, 2007
    Date of Patent: February 28, 2012
    Assignee: Inergy Automotive Systems Research (S.A.)
    Inventors: Frederic Jannot, Bjorn Criel, Hugues Masse, Barbara Mabed, Herve Lemoine
  • Publication number: 20120043320
    Abstract: A multivalve with a storage bag and a storage bag configured for temporarily accommodating a liquid gas fuel around a discharge for a liquid gas fuel store formed from a deformable memory material, wherein the storage bag has a temporary, size-reduced position, an outer diameter of the storage bag then being less than 48 mm, and a second, operative position, the storage bag having a sufficient volume. A multivalve with a storage bag includes a storage bag having a bottom with sides rising from the bottom, a one-way valve being placed in or close to the bottom and connected to an inlet in the storage bag, the one-way valve being welded to the plastic of the storage bag.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 26, 2010
    Publication date: February 23, 2012
    Applicant: VIALLE ALTERNATIVE FUEL SYSTEMS B.V.
    Inventor: Bob Alexander Beem
  • Patent number: 8105484
    Abstract: According to one representative embodiment, a fluid storage device for storing a first fluid in a second fluid storage container fillable with a second fluid includes a first fluid storage container, a first fluid inlet coupled to the first fluid storage container, and a first fluid outlet coupled to the first fluid storage container. The first fluid storage container is flexible. The first fluid inlet is communicable in fluid receiving communication with a first fluid source. The first fluid in the first fluid storage container is caused to drain from the first fluid outlet based on at least one of a first fluid level, a first fluid storage container pressure, a second fluid storage container pressure, the second fluid storage container filling with the second fluid, the first fluid outlet being opened for first fluid egress, and a first fluid outlet pressure.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 19, 2008
    Date of Patent: January 31, 2012
    Assignee: Cummins Filtration IP, Inc.
    Inventors: Gerard Malgorn, Arnaud Le Ven, Emmanuel Page, Jean-Yves Picard, J. Bruce Schelkopf, Barry Verdegan
  • Publication number: 20120006815
    Abstract: The invention relates to a vehicle tank for liquid fuels, including at least two compartments separated by a baffle, one compartment having a withdrawal line and the baffle having an opening which is close to the bottom and has a valve, and the valve opening independently of a pressure and/or fill level difference in the compartments when the fuel is on the side of the valve facing away from the withdrawal line.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 4, 2010
    Publication date: January 12, 2012
    Applicant: ALUTECH GESELLSCHAFT M.B.H.
    Inventors: Gernot Sendlhofer, Christoph Lind
  • Publication number: 20110315690
    Abstract: A container that provides for control of fluid flow in the event of a failure of the container is disclosed. In accordance with embodiments of the present invention, a container is presented that includes a container wall; and one or more flow impeding structures coupled to the container wall, wherein at least one of the one or more flow impeding structures is a multi-sheet layer that deforms to impede flow in a failure of the container wall. In some embodiments, the multi-sheet layer includes cavities formed between individual sheets.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 29, 2011
    Publication date: December 29, 2011
    Inventor: Andrew Harlan WEISBERG
  • Publication number: 20110315682
    Abstract: The invention relates to an insert element (13) for a diesel fuel container, which can be installed in the filling opening (10) of the container, in particular in a filler neck, for the purpose of filling with diesel fuel using a pump nozzle at the gas station, wherein the insert element (13) comprises an elongated, substantially tubular holding element (16), which can be fitted into the container opening and comprises an inlet side and an outlet side and in which a molded part (18) is held, which is elongated in parallel to the holding element (16) and the free face of which projecting toward the inlet side has an outside diameter that is smaller than the inside diameter of an outlet tube (12) of a diesel pump nozzle, however that is larger than the inside diameter of an outlet tube of a gas pump nozzle.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 23, 2010
    Publication date: December 29, 2011
    Applicant: KT PROJEKTENTWICKLUNGS-GMBH
    Inventor: Konstantinos Tsiberidis
  • Patent number: 8074819
    Abstract: A multi-chamber reservoir includes an upper and a lower body welded into unitary reservoir. A pressure relief device is interposed between a pressure chamber and the overflow chamber of the reservoir. A snap-in siphon tube is mounted into the reservoir and includes an orientation feature enforcing a desired alignment. A snap lock feature retentively mounts the siphon tube in alignment during reservoir welding.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 9, 2008
    Date of Patent: December 13, 2011
    Assignee: Mann + Hummel GmbH
    Inventors: David J. Dexter, David Hewkin
  • Publication number: 20110290793
    Abstract: A fuel introducing member is connected to an opening end of a siphon pipe forming a fuel tank. The fuel introducing member has an opening for introducing fuel within the tank, and the opening is formed in the upper surface of a cover section. A lid body is pivotably mounted to the upper surface. When the opening is above the level of fuel, the lid body closes the opening by the weight of the lid body, and when the opening is below the level of the fuel, the lid body floats in the fuel to open the opening. The opening is located below the upper end of the inner diameter of the opening end of the siphon pipe.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 2, 2010
    Publication date: December 1, 2011
    Applicant: HONDA MOTOR CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Shinya Murabayashi, Takeaki Nakajima, Kiyofumi Shida, Hiroaki Watanabe, Yutaka Utsumi, Kengo Kobayashi
  • Publication number: 20110278286
    Abstract: A fuel tank that is composed of plastic and that has installations. In order to functionally improve the fuel tank and to simplify the manufacturing, a shaped piece (15) is attached to the inside of the wall (1) of the fuel tank and connected to the fuel tank in a bonded manner. The shaped piece (15) is a flat component that has an open three-dimensional shape and forms at least one channel (17) and/or tank together with the plastic shell (1). The shaped piece (15) is welded all around to the plastic shell (1), wherein a welding flange (20) forming a closed curve follows the contour of the channel (17). The shaped piece (15) has at least one mouth part (16) that is open toward the tank interior and is integral with the shaped piece.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 22, 2010
    Publication date: November 17, 2011
    Applicant: MAGNA STEYR FUEL SYSTEMS GESMBH
    Inventors: Mario Drebes, Mark Polifke
  • Patent number: 8042523
    Abstract: A fuel supply system for a vehicle may include a fuel tank including a mounting portion protruding downwards from an upper inner surface of the fuel tank, a fuel limit vent valve and a rollover valve that is connected with the fuel limit vent valve within the fuel tank, and a mounting plate connecting the fuel limit vent valve and the rollover valve and configured to be mounted onto the mounting portion of the fuel tank.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 19, 2009
    Date of Patent: October 25, 2011
    Assignees: Hyundai Motor Company, Kia Motors Corporation
    Inventor: Sungwon Lee
  • Patent number: 8020718
    Abstract: A filler tube assembly for vehicles is disclosed. The filler tube assembly includes a fuel supply tube made of aluminum for injecting a fuel into a fuel tank of the vehicle, a gas circulation tube having one end coupled to a front end of the fuel supply tube and the other end coupled to the fuel tank, so as to circulate a gas when the fuel is supplied, a tube cap made of aluminum and fixed to the front end of the fuel supply tube, and a shutter fixed to an inner portion of the front end of the fuel supply tube to prevent reverse current of the fuel supplied in the fuel tank.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 1, 2008
    Date of Patent: September 20, 2011
    Inventor: Ho Soon Jung
  • Publication number: 20110155727
    Abstract: A plastic fuel tank is disclosed including polyethylene layers laminated respectively onto an upper surface and a lower surface of an ethylene/vinyl alcohol layer for preventing fuel seepage. The outermost polyethylene layer laminated onto the upper surface is a high-density polyethylene layer colored black so as to minimize transmission of ultraviolet light.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 3, 2010
    Publication date: June 30, 2011
    Applicant: HONDA MOTOR CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Kazutake Koyama, Masahiro Yonemura, Yutaka Tabata, Teruyuki Saitoh
  • Patent number: 7967980
    Abstract: A rear half part of a surface of a main body of a working oil tank installed in line with a control valve opposing to the valve is dented in an inclining surface shape in the direction moving away from the valve so that between both the tank and the valve, is formed a working space for attaching and detaching a pressure compensating spool, while return tubes are separately connected to the upper and the lower side of a filter case side wall within the body. Within the body, is provided a cylindrical filter case having a bottom in which a return filter for return oil is housed, and the return tubes are connected to the case side wall in a state of communicating with the inside of the filter case.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 31, 2007
    Date of Patent: June 28, 2011
    Assignee: Kobelco Construction Machinery Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Isao Miyachi
  • Patent number: 7937936
    Abstract: An exhaust component arrangement is provided for an off-road vehicle having an engine, a cab, a transmission connected to the engine, and a fuel tank adjacent the transmission. A portion of the fuel tank is positioned below a portion of the cab. The exhaust component arrangement includes a particulate filter unit, a NOx reduction unit, and an oxidation catalyst unit, all connected in series. The fuel tank has a recess formed in an upper surface thereof. A lower portion of one of the units is received in the recess. Preferably, a lower portion of the NOx reduction unit is received in the recess.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 16, 2007
    Date of Patent: May 10, 2011
    Assignee: Deere & Company
    Inventors: Robert James Recker, Christopher Adam Bering, Kirby Jon Baumgard
  • Patent number: 7896121
    Abstract: An automotive fuel tank storage system includes a fuel storage tank installed in a vehicle and a barrier fluid tank containing a supply of barrier fluid. A distribution system connected with the barrier fluid tank and with the fuel storage tank distributes barrier fluid about the outer periphery of the fuel contained within the storage tank in the event of a collision event, creating a boundary layer of more viscous fluid which inhibits exfiltration of the fuel from the fuel storage tank.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 10, 2007
    Date of Patent: March 1, 2011
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies
    Inventors: Robert Thompson, Joseph Dierker, Jr.
  • Patent number: 7861885
    Abstract: The invention concerns a fuel tank (1) of thermoplastic material, comprising functional installation fitments for air intake and venting, for fuel take-off or the like, which is distinguished in that at least one functional installation fitment is connected to the inside wall (3) of the container in material-bonded relationship in such a way that the functional installation fitment defines with the container wall a volume separated from the filling volume of the container in such a way that the inside wall (3) of the container serves directly as a boundary wall of said volume.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 17, 2007
    Date of Patent: January 4, 2011
    Assignee: Kautex Textron GmbH & Co. KG
    Inventors: Matthias Borchert, Gerd Wolter, Harald Lorenz, Dirk Eulitz, Timo Kramer, Klaus Gebert
  • Patent number: 7857351
    Abstract: An auxiliary fuel tank for use with a motorcycle. The auxiliary fuel tank can be mounted in a saddlebag. The fuel tank can include a container that defines a reservoir for holding fuel. The container can be shaped such that the container can fit inside the saddlebag. A mounting mechanism is coupled with the container. The mounting mechanism can be connected with the motorcycle in order to support the container and the saddlebag.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 10, 2007
    Date of Patent: December 28, 2010
    Inventor: Jerry A. Edwards
  • Patent number: 7854288
    Abstract: An automotive fuel storage system includes a fuel storage tank and a binder fluid tank containing a supply of binder fluid. A mixer system connected with the binder fluid tank and the fluid storage tank mixes binder fluid throughout fuel contained within the storage tank, so as to increase the bulk viscosity of the fuel stored within the tank restricting the ability of the fuel to flow from the tank in the event of a collision of the vehicle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 10, 2007
    Date of Patent: December 21, 2010
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Robert Thompson, Joseph Dierker, Jr.
  • Publication number: 20100282746
    Abstract: The invention relates to a novel composition comprising at least one polyphthalamide reactively extruded with at least one other polyamide, a polyester, and a modifier. The composition can be further modified with fillers to add increased strength. Other additives such as colorants, flame retardants, and UV degradation inhibitors are also contemplated. This composition exhibits superior barrier to organic vapors, impact strength and heat distortion temperatures. Also disclosed are articles using this novel composition such as fuel tanks for gasoline engines used to power lawn mowers and garden machinery.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 19, 2010
    Publication date: November 11, 2010
    Inventors: Nishant Satish Negandhi, Jin Zhu
  • Patent number: 7810666
    Abstract: The invention concerns a fuel tank (1) of thermoplastic material comprising at least one peripherally extending seam (3) in the form of a welded or squeeze seam, at least one filling opening, air intake and venting means and means for delivering and removing fuel in relation to an internal combustion engine of a motor vehicle, wherein the fuel tank has at least one lead-through means (5) for lines which are to be passed out of the tank. The fuel tank (1) according to the invention is distinguished in that the lead-through means (5) passes through the seam (3) of the tank and extends at an angle relative to the course of the seam (3).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 6, 2007
    Date of Patent: October 12, 2010
    Assignee: Kautex Textron GmbH & Co. KG
    Inventors: Matthias Borchert, Gerd Wolter, Harald Lorenz, Dirk Eulitz, Timo Kramer
  • Patent number: 7731238
    Abstract: A straddle-type vehicle that reliably leads fuel that overflows from a fuel fill opening away to a safe area without specialist components. A fuel tank includes a recess portion that is formed around a fuel fill opening, and a raised section that is formed to the outer side of the recess portion and that is at a higher position than the recess portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 20, 2007
    Date of Patent: June 8, 2010
    Assignee: Yamaha Hatsudoki Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Yasuyuki Otsubo, Yasuo Okamoto
  • Publication number: 20100108687
    Abstract: A tank for a cryogenic liquid is fitted with a conduit assembly that provides for flow of the cryogenic liquid into and out of the tank, venting of the tank and control of the fill level in the tank. The conduit assembly includes serpentine tubes that extend into an upper region within the inner shell. Within the inner shell, one of the tubes extends downwardly to a lower opening and provides for liquid flow into and out the tank; the other tube has an end with a downwardly facing opening in the upper region whereby vapor can be conducted out of the tank and the fill level is established. A system for effecting pressure management of the cryogenic liquid in the tank includes a conduit network that provides for pressure build as pressure in the conduit network drops and provides for delivery of liquid only to, e.g., a vehicle engine.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 4, 2008
    Publication date: May 6, 2010
    Applicant: Cryogenic Fuels Inc.
    Inventors: Roy E. Adkins, Harold E. Sutton
  • Patent number: 7656642
    Abstract: The invention relates to a means for preventing build-up of electrostatic potential in a fluid container during filling and/or discharging. The fluid container comprises electrical insulating materials and a valve means through which filling and/or discharging occurs. Means for reducing and/or eliminating electrical and/or electrostatic potential build-up during filling or discharging of the container is arranged in conjunction with the container walls. Such means may for example be arranged in conjunction with the valve means, reducing and/or changing the flow velocity of the fluid and/or the flow direction of the fluid during the filling operation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 14, 2005
    Date of Patent: February 2, 2010
    Assignee: Ragasco AS
    Inventors: Rune Ulekleiv, Arild Hansen
  • Publication number: 20090308865
    Abstract: The invention relates to a fuel container of plastics material with functional components arranged inside the container which are fastened to the container wall and at least some of which are connected to electric or hydraulic lines and/or are interconnected via such lines. The invention further relates to a method for maintenance of such a fuel container. The functional components are provided with fastening means for receiving a functionally identical functional component. In the event of maintenance, the fuel container is opened. An exchange component is fastened to the functional component to be serviced, the functional component to be serviced serving as a mounting for the exchange component. The lines connected to the functional component are plugged into the other functional component and the container is closed again while the component to be serviced remains in the fuel container.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 11, 2009
    Publication date: December 17, 2009
    Applicant: KAUTEX TEXTRON GMBH & CO. KG
    Inventors: Sonke Auer, Klaus Gebert, Timo Kraemer, Ulrich Mayer
  • Publication number: 20090250458
    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.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 13, 2005
    Publication date: October 8, 2009
    Applicant: INERGY AUTO. SYSTEMS RESEARCH (SOCIETE ANONYME)
    Inventors: Bjorn Criel, Stephane Leonard, Thierry Ferracin, Frederic Jannot
  • Publication number: 20090242551
    Abstract: A resin-made fuel tank structure of a vehicle is provided to suppress the formation of a notch in a mounting portion of an insert portion on a tank body. The fuel tank structure includes a tank body. The tank body includes a resin material having fuel permeation resistance. The fuel tank structure includes an insert portion separate from the tank body. The insert portion includes a resin material. The insert portion also includes a mounting portion to mount the insert portion on the tank body and a fuel fill opening. The insert portion is configured to be mounted to an outer layer of the tank body. The outer layer of the tank body is configured to be in close contact with an end portion of the mounting portion of the insert portion. The outer layer is configured to bulge more outward and upward than the mounting portion.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 4, 2009
    Publication date: October 1, 2009
    Inventors: Takahiro Matayoshi, Akihito Kobayashi
  • Publication number: 20090218353
    Abstract: A motor vehicle outer tank for a cryogenic fuel which is situated in an inner tank which is positioned within the outer tank is, for space and weight-saving purposes, characterized in that it is of flat design, and is designed in particular as a parallelepiped, and in that planar side walls of the outer tank are at least partially of sandwich design or are reinforced with sandwich plates.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 6, 2006
    Publication date: September 3, 2009
    Applicant: MAGNA STEYR FAHRZEUGTECHNIK AG & CO KG
    Inventors: Klaus Hausberger, Marius Meinert, Christian Döller, Bernd Rauchegger
  • Publication number: 20090194529
    Abstract: A partitioning plate, that is positioned between a jet pump and a main suction, is set within a reserve cup of a fuel tank, so as to separate an interior of the reserve cup into a fuel feed-out chamber in which the main suction is disposed, and a fuel introducing chamber in which the jet pump is disposed. The partitioning plate is disposed at an incline with respect to a vehicle longitudinal direction. In cases in which acceleration in any of a forward direction, a rearward direction, a leftward direction and a rightward direction of a vehicle acts on fuel within the reserve cup, some of fuel within the fuel introducing chamber flows into the fuel feed-out chamber. A fuel tank structure is provided that can reliably ensure fuel within the fuel feed-out chamber in a case in which acceleration arises at fuel within a fuel accommodating portion.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 28, 2009
    Publication date: August 6, 2009
    Applicant: Aisan Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Touru Suda, Masayuki Hirose, Toru Shirasaki, Takayuki Usui, Taku Masaki, Hiroaki Suganuma
  • Patent number: 7568592
    Abstract: A vehicle fuel tank made of a resin for storage of fuel is made by forming a substantially hexahedron by erecting left, right, front and rear wall surfaces from a bottom portion and connecting distal ends of the left, right, front and rear walls to an upper surface, wherein at least one of the suppressor walls extending longitudinally and perpendicularly is formed on at least one of the bottom portion and the upper surface for suppressing movement of the fuel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 5, 2005
    Date of Patent: August 4, 2009
    Assignee: Honda Motor Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Kunio Miyauchi, Hideharu Suwa
  • Publication number: 20090152263
    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.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 27, 2005
    Publication date: June 18, 2009
    Applicant: INERGY AUTO SYSTEMS RESEARCH (SOCIETE ANONYME)
    Inventors: Bjorn Criel, Serge Dupont
  • Publication number: 20090090726
    Abstract: A pressure vessel is configured such that a plurality of liners 1 are juxtaposed with one another. Each liner 1 includes a tubular trunk 4, and end plates 5 for closing opposite end openings of the tubular trunk 4. Two adjacent liners 1 are integrally connected together via a connection member 2 provided therebetween. The interiors of the integrally connected two adjacent liners 1 communicate with one another via a communication path 3 formed in the liners 1 and in the connection member 2. The ends of connection-member-forming projections 16 provided respectively on the two adjacent liners 1 are butt-joined together, thereby forming the connection member 2. The two adjacent liners 1 have respective through-holes 17 extending from the inner surfaces of the two adjacent liners to the ends of the connection-member-forming projections 16, and the through-holes 17 of the two adjacent liners 1 establish communication therebetween, thereby forming the communication path 3.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 4, 2006
    Publication date: April 9, 2009
    Applicant: SHOWA DENKO K.K.
    Inventor: Yasuji Kawamata
  • Publication number: 20090085342
    Abstract: A fuel tank has a primary sump and secondary sump. A first vent valve and a second vent valve are disposed within the fuel tank. The first vent valve is closed when a level of fuel in the primary sump is equal to or higher than a first predetermined filling level, and the second vent valve is closed when a level of fuel in the secondary sump is equal to or higher than a second predetermined filling level in a refueling procedure.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 25, 2008
    Publication date: April 2, 2009
    Inventors: Minoru CHINO, Naoaki Tanimura, Masashi Kamei, Junichi Hanai
  • Patent number: 7473451
    Abstract: A fuel container with high fuel barrier properties is provided. The fuel container is a coextrusion blow-molded fuel container having a container body made of a layered structure. The layered structure comprises: a barrier layer made of a barrier resin (A); and an inner layer and an outer layer made of a thermoplastic resin (B) that is different from the barrier resin (A); wherein a ratio (X/Y) of a distance (X) between end portions of the barrier layer at a pinch-off part of the fuel container and an average thickness (Y) of the container body is at least 1/10000 and at most 1/10; and wherein a ratio (Y1/Y) between a total thickness (Y1) of the layers of the container body that are located on the inside with respect to the barrier layer and an average thickness (Y) of the container body is at least 3/10 and at most 7/10.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 10, 2004
    Date of Patent: January 6, 2009
    Assignee: Kuraray Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Keizo Michihata, Nahoto Hayashi
  • Patent number: 7455190
    Abstract: A mounting apparatus for an internalized fuel system of a fuel tank. The apparatus comprises a support portion and a valve retainer arm attached about the support portion. The support portion has a body and first and second ends. The first end has a connecting flange configured to engage the fuel tank and the second end has a reduced cross-sectional portion attached thereto to provide flexibility to the fuel tank from pressure and vacuum forces. The valve retainer arm has an attachment end attached about the support portion. The attachment end extends to a valve retainer end for retaining the internalized fuel system within the fuel tank.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 15, 2004
    Date of Patent: November 25, 2008
    Assignee: Automotive Components Holdings, LLC
    Inventors: James F. Potter, Cory Borghi
  • Patent number: 7427000
    Abstract: A compressed gas tank for a motor vehicle includes a metallic gas container having opposite container walls which are constructed with a profiling to increase rigidity, and at least one tie element extending across the gas container. The profiling is realized by stamping a plurality of wall portions from the plane of the container walls to assume a convex and/or concave configuration.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 1, 2004
    Date of Patent: September 23, 2008
    Assignee: Benteler Automobiltechnik GmbH
    Inventors: Norbert Austerhoff, Joachim Perske, Jens Bendler, Rafael Peters
  • Publication number: 20080164639
    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.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 20, 2005
    Publication date: July 10, 2008
    Applicant: INERGY AUTO. SYSTEMS RESEARCH (SOCIETE ANONYME)
    Inventors: Bjorn Criel, Jules-Joseph Van Schaftingen, Pascal De Henau
  • Patent number: 7377559
    Abstract: The tank flap of an automobile is locked via a wire spring with which an extension connected to the tank flap will cooperate. A spring-biased locking body keeps the wire spring in the releasing position when the tank flap initially is forced inwards.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 7, 2005
    Date of Patent: May 27, 2008
    Assignee: ITW Automotive Products GmbH & Co. KG
    Inventors: Rainer Gramss, Carsten Albracht
  • Patent number: 7261323
    Abstract: A device for dampening fuel movement in a tank having an aperture is provided. The device includes a fuel pump and a baffle connected to the pump so that the baffle is permitted to move from a retracted configuration to a deployed configuration. Further, when the device is in a retracted configuration, the device may be inserted into or passed through the aperture.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 31, 2005
    Date of Patent: August 28, 2007
    Assignee: Nissan Technical Center North America, Inc.
    Inventor: David Grant