Flexible Fuel Tank For A Vehicle Patents (Class 220/905)
  • Patent number: 8881924
    Abstract: A tank for containing a fluid, such as fuel, oil or gas within a chamber. The walls of the chamber are partially defined by a rigid structure having an opening; and partially defined by an elastomeric diaphragm which is attached around its periphery to the rigid structure and covers the opening in the rigid structure. An attachment frame engages the diaphragm and the rigid structure, and extends around the periphery of the diaphragm. The attachment frame has a first portion which engages the diaphragm, and a second portion which is positioned outside an outer edge of the diaphragm and attached to the rigid structure.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 16, 2010
    Date of Patent: November 11, 2014
    Assignee: Airbus Operations Limited
    Inventors: Colin John West, James Alves, Robert Piper
  • 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
  • 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: 7562633
    Abstract: Ocean-going vessels having a load carrying module supported from a pair of spaced apart hulls by legs. The legs may be articulated in two places to provide control of the spacing of the two hulls and to control the elevation of the module off the water. Dynamic control of the articulation may control the response of the vessel, such as to sea conditions. The legs may include aerodynamic surfaces, fixed or controllable, that may be used to aide buoyancy and/or enhance stability, such as by assuring the bow of the hulls does not rise excessively. The hulls preferably are at least partially inflatable, with techniques for installing flexible fuel tanks within a preexisting inflatable hull being disclosed. Also disclosed are modular pressure control systems for controlling pressures in inflatable hulls having a multiplicity of separate inflatable compartments.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 9, 2005
    Date of Patent: July 21, 2009
    Assignee: Marine Advanced Research, Inc.
    Inventor: Ugo Conti
  • Patent number: 7195285
    Abstract: A connection arrangement for detachably connecting a first flexible tank and a second flexible tank in an aircraft includes a latching device, a first tubular connecting element attached to the first tank, and a second tubular connecting element attached to the second tank. The first and the second connecting elements are detachably connected to each other using the latching device. In a connected state of the connecting elements, fluid exchange can take place between the first and the second tanks via the first and the second connecting elements, the latching device is disposed inside one of the first and second flexible tanks and is actuatable from outside the respective flexible tank.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 2, 2003
    Date of Patent: March 27, 2007
    Assignee: Eurocopter Deutschland GmbH
    Inventors: Eleftherios Rodousakis, Harald Kiowsky
  • Patent number: 6955152
    Abstract: A manually operated tool such as a parting-off grinder, chainsaw or similar device has a tank housing which contains a fuel tank. The tool has an air cleaning unit, the tank housing being connected to the clean air side of the air cleaning unit via a bleed device. A simple design in which leaks are avoided results if a reservoir wall of the tank housing and a housing wall of the air cleaning unit are positioned adjacent to one another and the bleed device comprises a bleed opening which passes through the reservoir wall and the housing wall.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 20, 2004
    Date of Patent: October 18, 2005
    Assignee: Andreas Stihl AG & Co KG
    Inventors: Klaus-Martin Uhl, Sebastian Friedrich
  • Patent number: 6382453
    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: Grant
    Filed: March 3, 1999
    Date of Patent: May 7, 2002
    Assignees: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha, Horie Kinzoku Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Katsuyuki Miura, Takashi Ishikawa, Teijiro Goto, Takuya Ishikawa
  • Patent number: 6223526
    Abstract: A tank for a vehicle having a selective catalytic reduction exhaust gas purification system operating with a reducing agent includes a fuel space for the vehicle fuel and a reducing agent space for the reducing agent. The fuel space and the reducing agent space are combined into a single structural that can be fastened as a whole to the vehicle by brackets on the structural unit. This utilizes the limited space available in any vehicle as efficiently as possible and eliminates the need to provide mounting arrangements for separate fuel and reducing agent tanks.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 24, 1999
    Date of Patent: May 1, 2001
    Assignee: Siemens Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventors: Gerhard Wissler, Günther Pajonk, Manfred Weigl, Lothar Hofmann
  • Patent number: 6047848
    Abstract: A collapsible container comprising a body having a bottom portion, a top portion and an intermediate accordion fold style portion. The top portion has a fill mouth and a vent opening, so that a liquid can be inserted through the fill mouth when the body is in an extended mode. A pour spout engages with the fill mouth in a removable manner, so as to allow the liquid to pour out therefrom. A facility is for holding the body in a collapsed mode being approximately one quarter the height of the extended mode when not in use, for easy storage and transportation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 22, 1998
    Date of Patent: April 11, 2000
    Inventor: Rex C. Davis
  • Patent number: 6036046
    Abstract: A container for fluids comprises an outer casing of flexible, pressure resistant material, a gas tight inner casing of flexible material lying inside of the outer casing and being separated therefrom, and a filling connection for filling the inner casing. As a result, the container is collapsible so that filling the container may take place from the collapsed condition and filling is therefore possible without pressure difference while the fluid does not enter an empty space. The egress of gas from the fluid is substantially reduced.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 25, 1997
    Date of Patent: March 14, 2000
    Assignee: Euro Maintenance Lease Produktie B.V.
    Inventor: Johan Arie Brambach
  • Patent number: 5964204
    Abstract: A fuel vapor emission control system for an automobile includes a fuel filler pipe, a filler cap, a check valve, a fuel tank, a carbon canister or other vapor storage device, a reservoir, and a vapor tube for conducting fuel vapor from one or more tank vent valves located on the fuel tank. The system reduces the amount of vapor mass which exits the fuel tank to the carbon canister by condensing some of the vapor sent to the canister during refueling. Fuel entering the filler pipe is used as a condensing agent. The system also reduces the amount of vapor pumped to the vapor storage device during diurnal cycles by permitting the volume of the fuel tank to change in response to changes in pressure within the tank.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 2, 1998
    Date of Patent: October 12, 1999
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, Inc.
    Inventor: Mark Freeland
  • Patent number: 5913296
    Abstract: A fuel supply system is described which allows the use of a disposable fuel tank prefilled with the required fuel mixture. The system includes a mounting bracket having a fuel coupling, a disposable tank, and a venting manifold.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 30, 1997
    Date of Patent: June 22, 1999
    Assignee: Deere & Company
    Inventor: Paul Edward McNeill
  • Patent number: 5681629
    Abstract: The invention relates to a process for the manufacture of an article comprising a surface treatment step of at least part of the article in the substantial absence of oxygen; the surface of the article which is to be treated consists of a material which comprises at least one polyolefin and which contains less than 5 mg of oxygen per kg (no account being taken of the optional additives).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 29, 1994
    Date of Patent: October 28, 1997
    Assignee: Solvay (Societe Anonyme)
    Inventors: Paul Wouters, Jules-Joseph Van Schaftingen, Philippe Dugois, Marc Obsomer
  • Patent number: 5589241
    Abstract: A polymeric container having a permeation retardant laminate welded to a surface of the container. The laminate comprises a polymeric carrier film and a permeation retardant coating applied to the carrier film. The carrier film welds to the container material to form an integral composite structure. The container may be produced by a method wherein a heated polymeric material is extruded within a mold. Laminate is dispensed adjacent hot polymeric material. The hot polymeric material softens the polymeric film carrier causing the two to weld together.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 14, 1992
    Date of Patent: December 31, 1996
    Assignee: Ford Motor Company
    Inventors: Ernest D. Stiles, Dale L. Hartsock
  • Patent number: 5467889
    Abstract: A fuel tank for aircraft includes a rigid securement for securing the tank to the aircraft, a skin connected to the securement, and a liner inside the skin. The skin includes an elastic fiber and a tensile fiber embedded in a flexible matrix. In one embodiment, the elastic fiber and the tensile fiber are wound in layers within the flexible matrix, and the elastic fiber is wrapped spirally about the tensile fiber. The elastic fiber is preferably an elastomeric fiber such as an elastic, segmented polyurethane fiber. The tensile fiber is preferably an aramid polymer fiber such as an aromatic polycarbonamide fiber. The flexible matrix may be formed of natural rubber or neoprene rubber. When the tank is filled, the elastic fiber lengthens until the tensile fiber resists further stretching. The elastic fiber tends to contract as the tank is emptied, substantially reducing the storage space required by the tank. The tank is nestable when empty, but is nonetheless substantially ready to receive fuel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 12, 1994
    Date of Patent: November 21, 1995
    Assignee: AeroTrans
    Inventors: Larry J. Ashton, Michael G. Allman, Benko Ta-Ala
  • Patent number: 5447110
    Abstract: To store an emergency container in the hub cavity of a spare tire within the trunk compartment of an automobile with a spare tire, the container is collapsible, having a top end and a bottom end with handles on each of said top end and bottom end to permit the container to be expanded. An opening extends along the axis of the container to receive a spindle for holding the collapsed container in the center of the spare tire until needed. The walls of said container containing foldable members to permit collapsing and opening of the container.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 24, 1992
    Date of Patent: September 5, 1995
    Inventor: Wesley J. Brown
  • Patent number: 5310080
    Abstract: Conformal fuel tank which includes an elongate, flexible or rigid, tubular member having a storage chamber therein. The tubular member is bent into a coiled configuration which can conform to a variety of irregular two and three dimensional shapes. Preformed saddle members are provided which include channel members thereon which receive bent portions of the tubular member and maintain them in a bent condition which corresponds to the curved channels. Cap members are provided on the end portions of the tubular members for closing the storage chamber, thereby enabling fuel to be stored therein. The tubular member may include an inner core made of a nylon monomer or copolymer, an intermediate layer around the core made of a fiber-reinforced composite material, and an outer protective layer of polyurethane or the like. The conformal fuel tank is particularly adapted for use in storing fuel such as methane or propane under high pressure in irregular spaces available in a vehicle or the like.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 16, 1993
    Date of Patent: May 10, 1994
    Assignee: Atlantic Research Corporation
    Inventor: Irving E. Figge, Sr.
  • Patent number: 5298303
    Abstract: A coated fabric comprising a fabric substrate and a coating thereupon, said coating comprising a plurality of layers wherein at least one of the layers comprises a polyester polyurethane having a Shore A hardness of at least 90 durometer, or a linear polyurethane elastomer formed from a polyol; a diisocyanate compound; a first extender component having a molecular weight of below about 500; and a second extender component; wherein the diisocyanate compound is initially reacted with the first extender component in a molar ratio of above 2:1 to form a modified diisocyanate component having a functionality of about 2 prior to reaction with the other components to provide relatively low temperature processing properties to the composition. Preferably, different layers of these polyurethanes are included.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 6, 1991
    Date of Patent: March 29, 1994
    Assignee: Reeves Brothers, Inc.
    Inventors: Richard C. Kerr, John R. Damewood, Jill R. Menzel, Eddie L. Jarvis, Bert A. Ross
  • Patent number: 5199793
    Abstract: A collapsible storage bag for holding large volumes of liquid which can be moved to a desired location where it serves as a temporary liquid storage container, then quickly emptied entirely and then folded up and moved to a new location. The storage bag includes an upper sheet of flexible sheeting, a lower sheet of flexible sheeting whose outer edges are securely joined to the outer edges of the upper sheet of sheeting to form the storage bag, an open vent located at the center of the upper sheet of sheeting, one or more sealable filling and emptying ports located along one side of the upper sheet of sheeting, and a plurality of sealable drain holes equally spaced apart and each located closely adjacent to the outer edge of the lower sheet of sheeting.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 7, 1992
    Date of Patent: April 6, 1993
    Inventor: Chad S. Jackson
  • Patent number: 5186354
    Abstract: A sewage tank comprising an outer shell of plywood which includes a platform for supporting a toilet pan. An inner lining of a compressible plastic material lines the interior of the outer shell and defines a hollow interior region of variable volume for a bladder for storing sewage. The inner lining accommodates expansion and contraction of the bladder in the event of freezing and thawing of the contents thereof. The contents of the toilet pan are discharged into the bladder, and sewage is discharged from the bladder under pressure through a discharge pipe.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 5, 1991
    Date of Patent: February 16, 1993
    Assignee: Harouniya Limited
    Inventors: Manus Coffey, Michael G. McGarry
  • Patent number: 5020687
    Abstract: An improved plastic fuel tank for motor vehicle applications is disclosed. The blow molded plastic fuel tank has at least one reinforcement insert encapsulated at a preselected area on the exterior surface of the fuel tank. The reinforcement insert provides supplemental support, elasticity and fire resistance, or a combination thereof.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 12, 1990
    Date of Patent: June 4, 1991
    Assignee: Solvay Automotive, Inc.
    Inventor: Robert D. Seizert
  • Patent number: 4974743
    Abstract: A fuel tank comprises a container having a chamber adapted to receive a body of liquid fuel and wall means defining said chamber, and a structure with a number of voids, said structure being so constructed and arranged within said chamber as to provide an arrangement wherein when said structure is exposed to the body of liquid fuel, said number of voids work to dissipate energy of waves created on the surface portion of the body of liquid fuel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 22, 1989
    Date of Patent: December 4, 1990
    Assignee: Nissan Motor Company, Ltd.
    Inventors: Michiaki Sasaki, Kinya Omura, Norio Sasaki