Modular liquid reservoir

• US 20070235458A1
• Filed: 04/10/2007
• Published: 10/11/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 04/10/2006
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Mann+Hummel GmbH (Hummel Familien-Beteiligungsgesellschaft mbH + Co. KG)
• Original Assignee: MANN + Hummel GmbH (Hummel Familien-Beteiligungsgesellschaft mbH + Co. KG)
• Inventors: Hewkin, David
• Application Number:
  US11/783,597
• Publication Number:
  US 20070235458A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 220/612
• CPC Class Codes: F01P 11/029 Expansion reservoirs

Abstract

A modular liquid reservoir comprises a plurality of shell sections that in an assembled state define a fluid tight reservoir volume. Each shell section includes a plurality of flow apertures that are adapted to fixedly engage a variety of interchangeable, insertable attachments.

Claims

1. A liquid reservoir comprising:

a plurality of shell sections assembled along annular mating surfaces and defining an interior region for storing fluids; and

a plurality of attachment members;

wherein the annular mating surfaces are formed in an axial end surface of the shell sections and each shell section comprises a plurality of apertures, each aperture adapted to fixably engage a respective one of said attachment members.

2. The liquid reservoir of claim 1, wherein the interior region has a substantially circular or oval cross section.

3. The liquid reservoir of claim 1-, wherein the shell sections are formed from a synthetic resin material.

4. The liquid reservoir of claim 1, wherein shell sections are welded together along a respective pair of annular mating surfaces.

5. The liquid reservoir of claim 1, wherein shell sections are clamped or bolted together along a respective pair of annular mating surfaces.

6. The liquid reservoir of claim 5, further comprising a circumferential seal forming member between each respective pair of annular mating surfaces.

7. The liquid reservoir of claim 1, wherein the attachment members are formed from a synthetic resin material.

8. The liquid reservoir of claim 1, wherein each attachment member is engaged with a respective one of each aperture using a weld.

9. The liquid reservoir of claim 1, wherein each attachment member is engaged with a respective one of each aperture using a clamp or a plurality of bolts.

10. The liquid reservoir of claim 1, wherein the shell sections comprise two end cap shell sections.

11. The liquid reservoir of claim 1, wherein the shell sections comprise two end cap shell sections and at least one expansion shell sections.

12. A method of forming a fluid storage reservoir, said method comprising the acts of:

joining a plurality of shell sections along annular mating surfaces to define a reservoir volume, and

joining a plurality of attachment members to apertures formed in the shell sections, wherein the annular mating surfaces are formed in an axial end surface of the shell sections.

13. The method of claim 12 wherein the shell sections are made of a synthetic resin and are joined together by hot plate melting.

14. The method of claim 12 wherein the shell sections and the attachment members are made of a synthetic resin and are joined together by hot plate melting.

15. A synthetic resin shell section adapted to form a fluid tight reservoir, said shell section comprising at least one annular mating surface formed in an axial end surface thereof, and a plurality of apertures formed in an outer wall of the shell section, each aperture adapted to fixedly engage a synthetic resin attachment member thereto.

16. The shell section of claim 15, wherein the shell section is an end cap shell section.

17. The shell section of claim 15., wherein the shell section is an expansion shell section.

18. The shell section of claim 17, wherein an interior region of the expansion shell section comprises a structural reinforcing member.