System for fastening two components, method of fastening by means of this fastening system, and fuel system

• US 20070181582A1
• Filed: 03/03/2005
• Published: 08/09/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 03/04/2004
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Inergy Automotive Systems Research (Societe Anonyme) (Solvac SA)
• Original Assignee: Inergy Automotive Systems (Burelle)
• Inventors: Plissart, Paul, Gerard, Yannick
• Application Number:
  US10/591,293
• Publication Number:
  US 20070181582A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 220/562
• CPC Class Codes: F16B 11/004 by cold pressure welding

Abstract

A system for fastening, by welding, a component having a portion with a conical surface profile to a motor vehicle fuel tank that includes an opening whose perimeter has a conical surface profile. The welding is carried out between at least one portion of the conical surface of the perimeter of the opening in the tank and at least one portion of the conical surface of the component.

Claims

1-10. -10. (canceled)

11. A system for fastening, by welding, a component having a portion with a conical surface profile to a motor vehicle fuel tank comprising an opening, a perimeter of which has a conical surface profile, the welding being carried out between at least one portion of the conical surface of the perimeter of the opening in the tank and at least one portion of the conical surface of the component.

12. The fastening system according to claim 11, wherein the tank and the component are based on one or more plastics.

13. The fastening system according to claim 12, wherein at least one of the two components has a multilayer structure that includes a layer made of a barrier material.

14. The fastening system according to claim 13, wherein the two components are formed from a multilayer structure and, at a point where the first component is fastened to the second component, a number of superposed layers is at most equal to a sum of a number of layers in the first component and a number of layers in the second component.

15. The fastening system according to claim 14, wherein the multilayer structure includes at least two layers of high-density polyethylene (HDPE) between which a layer made of an ethylene/vinyl alcohol copolymer (EVOH) is inserted.

16. The fastening system according to claim 11, wherein the component is chosen from a plate, a delivery tube, a fitting, a spout, a valve, or any other accessory of the fuel tank.

17. A fuel system comprising a fuel tank and at least one accessory fastened to the fuel tank by the fastening system according to claim 11.

18. A method of manufacturing a fuel system, comprising:

manufacturing a tank comprising an opening, a perimeter of which has a conical surface profile;

manufacturing a component having a part with a conical surface profile; and

welding at least one portion of the conical surface of the perimeter of the opening in the tank to at least one portion of the conical surface of the component.

19. The method according to claim 18, wherein the tank and the component are manufactured by molding by using one or more molds having impressions corresponding to the conical surfaces.

20. The method according to claim 18, wherein the welding is hot-plate welding using self-centring hot plates or a robotic system optionally controlled by a camera.