Vehicular Fuel Tank Patents (Class 220/4.14)
  • Publication number: 20020185492
    Abstract: In the case of a device for reducing sloshing of fuel in a fuel tank of a motor vehicle, a slosh-inhibiting element is of movable design for its movement from an installation position, in which it can be fitted through an installation opening of the fuel tank, into an operational position, in which it is latched to the wall of the fuel tank. The slosh-inhibiting element can therefore be fitted in a simple manner. The fuel tank is of particularly simple construction.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 31, 2002
    Publication date: December 12, 2002
    Inventor: Christian Krogull
  • Patent number: 6491180
    Abstract: A fuel tank for a motor vehicle comprising a wall composed of two shells arranged one above the other. The outer shell of the wall preferably has an inlet orifice and an outlet orifice. A filter element is arranged in front of the outlet orifice. Scavenging air from the inlet orifice thereby passes first into a gap between the shells and subsequently to a filter element. As a result, fuel vapors can no longer diffuse through the wall and pollute the environment.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 18, 1999
    Date of Patent: December 10, 2002
    Assignee: Mannesmann VDO AG
    Inventors: Markus Distelhoff, Karl Eck, Wilfried Fröhlich, Dieter Keller, Justus Klöker, Knut Meyer, Ingo Mohr, Rainer Moser, Bernd Rumpf, Wolfgang Sinz
  • Patent number: 6454114
    Abstract: In order to provide a cost-effective plastic fuel tank and a method for producing same, which can be carried out in a simple way, the plastic tank is produced from two halves which are to be connected to one another. The halves emanate from a plastic casing produced by a blowing method and are severed along a line provided for this purpose.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 13, 2001
    Date of Patent: September 24, 2002
    Assignee: DaimlerChrysler AG
    Inventor: Peter Straetz
  • Publication number: 20020125254
    Abstract: In the fuel tank, a tank wall providing a tank chamber is formed by blow molding. A tank partition is disposed in the tank chamber. The tank partition is positioned in a direction substantially perpendicular to a longitudinal direction of the tank wall, and is clamped between the opposite inner surfaces of the tank wall. A functional component is attached to the tank partition.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 5, 2002
    Publication date: September 12, 2002
    Inventors: Hiroyuki Hagano, Kenichiro Kaneko, Masayuki Nakagawa, Hiroshi Nishi
  • Publication number: 20020121517
    Abstract: A welding joint 10 for a fuel tank reduces the amount of fuel vapor in the fuel tank that escapes into the atmosphere. The fuel tank welding joint 10 a joint main body 20 and a barrier layer laminated on the surface of the joint main body 20. The joint main body 20 is formed of a first resin material weldable to the wall of the fuel tank FT, and the barrier layer 30 is formed of a second resin material that is adhesively and chemically reactive with the first resin material and that is more fuel-impermeable than the first resin material. An end portion 34 formed so as to be exposed to the outside at the end of a tube portion 24 is formed on the barrier layer 30. When the barrier layer 30 is injection molded on the surface of the joint main body 20, the end portion 34 is formed by the flow of the second resin material through the end of the tube portion 24 to increase the adhesive strength of the end face where the parts are joined.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 28, 2002
    Publication date: September 5, 2002
    Inventors: Tomohide Aoki, Hiroaki Kito, Hiroshi Nishi, Masayuki Nakagawa
  • Patent number: 6435557
    Abstract: A fluid tank assembly comprises a first tank half having an upper edge flange with an expanded section or ledge extending outwards. A second mating tank half similarly has a lower edge flange and extending ledge. Both ledges have apertures, with lower ledge aperture having a smaller diameter than the upper ledge aperture. The second aperture has a raised edge or lip, so that an annular groove is formed between the lip and the inner edge of the upper aperture when the surfaces of the mating flanges and ledges are in contact and the apertures are coaxial. The two flange and ledge surfaces are normally welded or otherwise secured together. A binding material is added to the annular groove to substantially fill its volume so that a sealing connection is created. This sealing connection near the bolt aperture overcomes the sealing problem that is normally present in this region, and therefore extends the service life of the tank.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 26, 2001
    Date of Patent: August 20, 2002
    Inventor: Sandor Palvoelgyi
  • Patent number: 6435365
    Abstract: A seal assembly for a fuel tank having a tank opening and a component disposed therein includes a seal adapted to be disposed between the component and a tank surface of the fuel tank. The seal assembly also includes an encapsulated studded ring assembly for attachment to the tank surface and adapted to be disposed about the tank opening. The seal assembly further includes a locking ring cooperating with the encapsulated studded ring assembly for engagement with the component to secure the component to the fuel tank and to seal the tank opening via the seal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 15, 1999
    Date of Patent: August 20, 2002
    Assignee: Delphi Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Mahlon Richard Pachciarz, Gary Francis Stack
  • Publication number: 20020100759
    Abstract: An internal reinforcement structure of a plastic fuel tank resists deformation of opposing walls of the fuel tank and provides an integral, and directionally sensitive, stress relief feature when pre-determined forces are exceeded. The stress relief feature is contained within a fuel chamber of the fuel tank defined by the opposing walls. Each wall has an inward projecting indentation of the structure which engage one-another at their distal ends or bottom portions, preferably, via a welded plastic engagement area. The indentations have a consistent wall thickness which has a higher cross-sectional area than the stress relief feature causing the stress relief feature to tear as opposed to the tank walls thereby assuring fuel tank integrity.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 11, 2002
    Publication date: August 1, 2002
    Inventors: Rainer Schmidt, Klaus Nagler, Hartwig Hartung
  • Publication number: 20020096522
    Abstract: A fuel tank with an opening, on which a lid is mounted in a removable manner by means of thread or bayonet, is intended to provide a sustained and sealed closure under all conditions. For this purpose, two sealing rings are arranged between the sealing surfaces, the inner one being liquid-tight and the outer one being made of an elastomer with high permeation resistance. The sealing surfaces within the outer sealing ring have a narrow gap leading as far as the outer sealing ring, and the fuel tank has a reinforcement surrounding the opening.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 18, 2002
    Publication date: July 25, 2002
    Inventors: Sander Palvoelgyi, Gunther Pozgainer
  • Patent number: 6415942
    Abstract: The fuel tank assembly for an automobile comprises a substantially box-shaped bottom portion having a top peripheral flange; several highly porous filler packets or blocks made from metal foil mesh material received in the tank, each packet being formed from two to ten layers of metal foil mesh material, and some of said packets being folded over, thereby to substantially fill the tank with the highly porous packets or blocks, and a top tank cover plate sealed to the top peripheral flange.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 23, 2000
    Date of Patent: July 9, 2002
    Inventors: Ronald L. Fenton, Wallace Shakun
  • Patent number: 6409040
    Abstract: A fuel tank for a motor vehicle, having a wall (3) which is manufactured from plastic, in particular by injection molding, is provided on its inside with a permeation barrier (4). The permeation barrier (4) is manufactured from a material which is virtually impenetrable for fuel vapors. The permeation barrier (4) is composed of shell parts (5, 6) which are welded to one another.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 6, 2000
    Date of Patent: June 25, 2002
    Assignee: Mannesmann VDO AG
    Inventors: Markus Distelhoff, Karl Eck, Winfried Fröhlich, Dieter Keller, Justus Klöker, Knut Meyer, Ingo Mohr, Bernd Rumpf, Wolfgang Sinz, Rainer Moser
  • Publication number: 20020066737
    Abstract: A fuel tank for a vehicle includes a plastic tank shell having a first half shell and a second half shell. The fuel tank also includes a support structure having a honeycomb configuration disposed between and connected to the first half shell and the second half shell to provide support to the tank shell.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 5, 2000
    Publication date: June 6, 2002
    Inventors: Gary Francis Stack, Kelly L. McGinnis
  • Publication number: 20020063129
    Abstract: Low permeation fittings and low permeation plastic containers using same are constructed by molding an outer component into the wall of a plastic container while it is being formed. This causes the opening of a passageway in the outer component to be covered with wall forming material. The inner component is then inserted into the outer component through the wall forming material thereby trapping the wall material between the internal and external components. The barrier layer of the container wall is therefore continuous from the container to inside the fitting. A new fuel container, fuel neck fitting, and flange for mounting components on a fuel tank are disclosed.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 9, 2001
    Publication date: May 30, 2002
    Applicant: VISTEON GLOBAL TECHNOLOGIES, INC.
    Inventors: James Fuller Potter, Duane Allen Fish, Erich James Vorenkamp, John E. Thorn, Link E. Vaughn
  • Publication number: 20020053566
    Abstract: The invention concerns a fuel container of plastic material such as a motor vehicle fuel tank, comprising one or more welded seams as seam locations for the body of the container and/or as connecting or sealing seams between the container wall in the region of openings and closure elements or covers welded thereto. At least some of the welded seams are at least partially penetrated by a duct which extends in the longitudinal direction in the seam and which can be filled with air and vented.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 6, 2001
    Publication date: May 9, 2002
    Applicant: SIG Blowtec GmbH & Co., KG
    Inventors: Martin Balzer, Karsten Friedrichs, Werner Daubenbuechel, Olaf Welland, Peter Kluesener
  • Publication number: 20020053568
    Abstract: A double-wall fuel container of plastic material is composed of at least two shell portions which are welded together. The half-shell portions are each in the form of double-wall blow moldings, with a gap being kept free at least in a region-wise manner between the walls of the blow moldings.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 6, 2001
    Publication date: May 9, 2002
    Applicant: SIG Blowtech GmbH & Co., KG
    Inventors: Martin Balzer, Dieter Hess, Werner Daubenbuechel, Michael Pappert, Roger Stehr, Peter Kluesener
  • Publication number: 20020053567
    Abstract: An in-tank fuel line quick connector assembly for a fuel tank in a vehicle including a first member adapted to be disposed inside of the fuel tank and having a projection extending outwardly. The in-tank fuel line quick connector assembly also includes a second member adapted to be disposed inside of the fuel tank and having a cavity to receive the projection. The in-tank fuel line quick connector assembly further includes a seal ring disposed in the cavity to engage the first member. The second member has opposed latches adjacent the cavity and being movable to engage the projection for retaining the first member and the second member together.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 6, 2001
    Publication date: May 9, 2002
    Inventors: Sharon Elizabeth Beyer, Ulf Sawert, Douglas James Golla, Matthew L. Catlin, William Stuart Zimmerman
  • Patent number: 6382172
    Abstract: The object of this invention is to improve the safety of an engine by preventing fuel which might splash out of the fuel inlet on top of the fuel tank or drip onto the tank during fueling from coming in contact with the hot cylinder or any electrical components. Another object of this invention is to prevent vibration of the fuel tank and the noise which such vibration would cause. The fuel tank according to this invention has an upper and a lower portions joined by a flange, both of which are made from a resin material. The upper portion has a trapezoidal depression in its center which surrounds the fuel inlet and slopes downward toward one side of the tank. The overall surface of the upper portion is convex and also slopes downward toward the same side of the tank. A number of grooves on either side of the central depression run in the same direction and open onto the same side of the tank. The two halves of the tank are welded at the web of a ribbed flange which extends around the entire periphery.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 20, 1999
    Date of Patent: May 7, 2002
    Assignee: Mitsubishi Heavy Industries, Ltd.
    Inventors: Kazuyuki Kobayashi, Hiroyoshi Kouchi, Shogo Nakamura, Shin Mizukami
  • Publication number: 20020036204
    Abstract: According to the invention, a fuel tank for storing a fuel therein is provided. The fuel tank comprises a pair of spaced deformable thin walls and a deformable connecting wall extending between peripheral edges of the thin walls. The connecting wall and the thin walls define a fuel chamber therein. The thin walls and the connecting wall are connected with each other to cause the connecting wall to expand inwardly when the thin walls expand outwardly.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 3, 1999
    Publication date: March 28, 2002
    Inventors: KATSUYUKI MIURA, TAKASHI ISHIKAWA, TEIJIRO GOTO, TAKUYA ISHIKAWA
  • Publication number: 20020020705
    Abstract: A low permeation fuel tank formed with a first half and a second half includes a hydrocarbon barrier and a fuel system module. The hydrocarbon barrier reduces the emission of hydrocarbons from the fuel tank. Minimization of discontinuities in the hydrocarbon barrier is achieved by positioning the fuel system module within the fuel tank. The fuel system module includes a preformed sheet to provide flexible and rigid support to the fuel tank. In addition, the fuel system module may include fuel system components, structural enhancements of the fuel tank and/or functional features of the fuel tank to minimize production of holes or other discontinuities in the hydrocarbon barrier.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 3, 2001
    Publication date: February 21, 2002
    Inventors: Erich James Vorenkamp, Barbara Krell, Duane Fish, Lawrence Eugene Vaughn
  • Patent number: 6347719
    Abstract: A light weight fuel tank for a hydrogen powered airplane used as a platform for communication repeaters for communication services. An outer spherical shell member of a sandwich configuration surrounds an inner thin walled spherical shell member in which the liquid hydrogen is contained. A radial gap between the shell members is evacuated to a high vacuum. The facing surfaces of the shell members are coated with a low emissivity material. Electrical heaters are provided to control the evaporation rate of the hydrogen to match the fuel usage and to prevent icing during ascent and descent of the airplane.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 14, 2000
    Date of Patent: February 19, 2002
    Assignee: Hughes Electronics Corporation
    Inventors: Harold Rosen, Alois Wittmann, Scott Pano
  • Publication number: 20020011491
    Abstract: A light weight fuel tank for a hydrogen powered airplane used as a platform for communication repeaters for communication services. An outer spherical shell member of a sandwich configuration surrounds an inner thin walled spherical shell member in which the liquid hydrogen is contained. A radial gap between the shell members is evacuated to a high vacuum. The facing surfaces of the shell members are coated with a low emissivity material. Electrical heaters are provided to control the evaporation rate of the hydrogen to match the fuel usage and to prevent icing during ascent and descent of the airplane.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 25, 2001
    Publication date: January 31, 2002
    Applicant: Hughes Electronics Corporation
    Inventors: Harold Rosen, Alois Wittmann, Scott Pano
  • Patent number: 6338420
    Abstract: A plastic fuel tank including a hollow plastic tank body and a variable length plastic strut in the hollow tank body. A pair of flat plastic sheets are vacuum formed at a forming temperature in upper and lower mold cavities to the shape of upper and lower plastic shells. The plastic strut includes an upper foot, a lower foot, and a coupling means operable to support the upper foot on the lower foot for back and forth linear translation against a controlled resistance. With the mold cavities separated, the plastic strut is interposed between the upper and lower shells. The mold cavities are closed to form the hollow tank body by fusion bonding the upper and lower shells at respective attachment flanges on each. When the tank body thereafter cures and shrinks, the plastic strut is squeezed between the upper and lower shells against the controlled resistance of the coupling means to fusion bond the upper and lower feet of the strut to the shells.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 23, 2000
    Date of Patent: January 15, 2002
    Assignee: Delphi Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Mahlon Richard Pachciarz, Gary Francis Stack, Carlos A. Gutierrez
  • Publication number: 20020000439
    Abstract: A plastic container comprising two half-shells which are produced by means of injection molding and have parts of the components integrally formed on them during the injection molding. This does away with the need for fastening said components in the plastic container, with the result that the installation process is simplified to a considerable extent. At the same time, installation errors are largely ruled out.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 1, 1999
    Publication date: January 3, 2002
    Inventors: PETER ANDREAS LOW, CHRISTIAN KOCHSMEIER, DR.THOMAS ZAPP, WOLFGANG PFAHL, DR.JEROME COULTON
  • Publication number: 20010054613
    Abstract: In order to provide a cost-effective plastic fuel tank and a method for producing same, which can be carried out in a simple way, the plastic tank is produced from two halves which are to be connected to one another. The halves emanate from a plastic casing produced by a blowing method and are severed along a line provided for this purpose.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 13, 2001
    Publication date: December 27, 2001
    Inventor: Peter Straetz
  • Patent number: 6332555
    Abstract: A fuel tank for a motor vehicle has a connecting portion which extends around an opening in the tank wall which is closed by a holding cover, with the interposition of a sealing ring. The connection between the connecting portion and the holding cover is made by a fixing means urging the holding cover towards the connecting portion. The sealing ring is disposed in a groove in the connecting portion or the holding cover and the cross-sections of the groove and the sealing ring are so selected that, in its operative position of closing the opening, the holding cover is supported directly by the end surface of the connecting portion, bearing against that end surface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 30, 1997
    Date of Patent: December 25, 2001
    Assignee: Kautex Textron GmbH & Co. KG.
    Inventor: Oskar Stangier
  • Publication number: 20010047993
    Abstract: A fuel tank-mounting structure for a portable power working machine, which has an internal combustion engine as a power source and a fuel tank received in a tank housing portion defined in a two-piece cover housing of the power working machine, includes cushioning members supporting the fuel tank in the tank housing portion of the two-piece cover housing. The cushioning members are interposed in spaces between the tank housing portion and all faces of the fuel tank, namely, the front and rear end faces, the right and left side faces, and the top and bottom faces of the fuel tank. The cushioning members prevent the vibration of the internal combustion engine from being easily transmitted to the fuel tank, thereby avoiding the generation of bubbles in the fuel as well as damage to the fuel tank, and also reduce the manufacturing cost of the fuel tank-mounting structure.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 23, 2001
    Publication date: December 6, 2001
    Inventors: Kazunori Takahashi, Tadashi Kamoshita
  • Publication number: 20010042752
    Abstract: A seal assembly for a fuel tank having a tank opening and a component disposed therein includes a seal adapted to be disposed between the component and a tank surface of the fuel tank. The seal assembly also includes an encapsulated studded ring assembly for attachment to the tank surface and adapted to be disposed about the tank opening. The seal assembly further includes a locking ring cooperating with the encapsulated studded ring assembly for engagement with the component to secure the component to the fuel tank and to seal the tank opening via the seal.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 15, 1999
    Publication date: November 22, 2001
    Inventors: MAHLON RICHARD PACHCIARZ, GARY FRANCIS STACK
  • Patent number: 6293419
    Abstract: A fuel tank cover assembly for a fuel tank of a vehicle includes a cover adapted to close an opening in the fuel tank having a fuel reservoir disposed therein and a universal joint coupling disposed between the cover and the fuel reservoir to allow the cover to be skewed from a bottom of the fuel tank.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 6, 2000
    Date of Patent: September 25, 2001
    Assignee: Delphi Technologies, Inc.
    Inventor: Robert Lee Farrar
  • Patent number: 6276201
    Abstract: In a fuel tank (1) for a motor vehicle, a carrier (12) of a fuel level sensor (8) is manufactured in one piece with a wall of the baffle (4). As a result, the fuel tank (1) is composed of a very small number of components and can be mounted in a particularly simple way. In the region of a mounting for a lever arm (9) carrying a float (10), the carrier (12) is spaced from the baffle (4). The lever arm (9) can thereby engage round the mounting. The filling level sensor (8) has high stability as a result.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 15, 1999
    Date of Patent: August 21, 2001
    Assignee: Mannesmann VDO AG
    Inventors: Christophe Gette, Stéphane Bouton, Otto Korst
  • Patent number: 6235407
    Abstract: A highly corrosion resistant steel sheet for fuel tank comprising a lowermost layer of Zn or Zn-based plating layer deposited on each side of the steel sheet; a chemical conversion film deposited on each of the Zn or Zn-based plating layer; a metal powder-containing organic resin film deposited on one of the chemical conversion film, said metal powder-containing organic resin film containing Al and Ni metal powders and an amine modified epoxy resin; and a silica-containing organic resin film deposited on the other chemical conversion film, said silica-containing organic resin film containing at least one resin having at least one functional group selected from hydroxyl group, isocyanate group, carboxyl group, glycidyl group, and amino group; silica; and a lubricant.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 23, 1998
    Date of Patent: May 22, 2001
    Assignees: Kawasaki Steel Corporation, Mitsubishi Motors Corporation
    Inventors: Hiroyuki Ogata, Sachiko Suzuki, Kazuo Mochizuki, Takashi Isogai, Shigeru Usuda, Toru Sano
  • Patent number: 6209594
    Abstract: In the case of a filling pipe for a fuel tank a branching element is arranged in a section of the filling pipe. The flow of the inflowing fuel preferably runs along an outer wall of the filling pipe, so that a subflow is in each case conducted directly to the antisurge tower through a lower cross-sectional area. Larger volume flows, which completely fill the cross section, pass for the most part directly into the fuel tank. By this means, a sufficient basic supply of the antisurge tower is ensured irrespective of the volume flow produced during filling.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 9, 1999
    Date of Patent: April 3, 2001
    Assignee: Mannesmann VDO AG
    Inventors: Knut Meyer, Peter Andreas Löw
  • Patent number: 6189716
    Abstract: A seal assembly for a fuel tank having a tank opening therein includes an access cover adapted to close the tank opening. The seal assembly also includes a first seal made of a compressible material adapted to be disposed between the access cover and a tank surface of the fuel tank. The seal assembly includes a second seal made of a non-permeating material adapted to be disposed between the access cover and the tank surface. The seal assembly further includes an attachment plate for attachment to the tank surface and adapted to be disposed about the tank opening. The seal assembly includes at least one attachment fastener cooperating with the attachment plate to secure the access cover to the attachment plate and to seal the tank opening via the first seal and the second seal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 15, 1999
    Date of Patent: February 20, 2001
    Assignee: Delphi Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Michael Paul Lawrukovich, David Howard Burke, Mahlon Richard Pachciarz, Edward A. Beutler
  • Patent number: 6179145
    Abstract: A serviceable sealed fuel tank includes a tank shell having a first half shell and a second half shell connected to the first half shell. The serviceable sealed fuel tank also includes at least one internal component disposed inside the tank shell between the first half shell and the second half shell. The serviceable sealed fuel tank further includes an inspection tower extending outwardly from the second half shell and being sealed. A portion of the inspection tower is removed to allow access to the at least one component after the first half shell and the second half shell are connected together.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 20, 1999
    Date of Patent: January 30, 2001
    Assignee: Delphi Technologies, INC
    Inventor: Robert A. Roth
  • Patent number: 6170180
    Abstract: An excavator comprises a substructure and a superstructure pivoted on the substructure with an engine compartment and a valve box of the excavator being formed in the superstructure; and at least one fluid tank disposed between the engine compartment and the valve box essentially extending over the width of the superstructure. An excavator includes a first and a second fluid tank abutting each other with one positive and complementary side wall each to provide a particularly simple installation of the tanks in a wedge-like manner while utilizing the room in an optimum manner, for example, in the frame of the superstructure.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 12, 1999
    Date of Patent: January 9, 2001
    Assignee: Karl Schaeff GmbH & Co., Maschinenfabrik
    Inventor: Hans Schaeff