FUEL TANK FOR A MOTOR VEHICLE OF THERMOPLASTIC MATERIAL

• US 20090206097A1
• Filed: 02/18/2009
• Published: 08/20/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 02/18/2008
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Kautex Textron GmbH & Company KG (Textron Inc)
• Original Assignee: Kautex Textron GmbH & Company KG (Textron Inc)
• Inventors: Gebert, Klaus, Karsch, Ulrich
• Application Number:
  US12/388,235
• Publication Number:
  US 20090206097A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 220/653
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 15/03177 made of non-metallic material, e.g. plastics, or of a combination of non-metallic and metallic material B60K15/03006 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 2015/03111 Swirl pots

Abstract

The invention relates to a thermoplastic fuel tank (1) for motor vehicles, with at least on stiffening element within the fuel tank (1), wherein the stiffening element extends between two opposite tank walls (4) in such a manner that it counteracts deformation caused by internal pressure of the fuel tank (1). According to the invention, two ends of the stiffening element arranged within the fuel tank (1) engage behind the tank wall (4) from the outside.

Claims

1. Thermoplastic fuel tank for a motor vehicle, with at least one stiffening element within the fuel tank, wherein the stiffening element extends between two opposite tank walls in such a manner that it counteracts deformation caused by internal pressure of the fuel tank, characterized in that two ends of the stiffening element engage behind the tank wall from the outside.

2. Fuel tank according to claim 1, characterized in that the stiffening element passes through two mutually aligned openings in regions of the tank wall lying opposite each other at a distance from each other.

3. Fuel tank according to claim 1, characterized in that the connecting element is supported on both sides against the tank outer wall by a flange-like collar or fastening tongues.

4. Fuel tank according to claim 1, characterized in that at least one end of the stiffening element is welded to the tank outer wall in a gastight and liquid tight manner.

5. Fuel tank according to claim 1, characterized in that at least one end of the stiffening element is braced against the tank wall, with means for providing a seal preferably being arranged between the tank wall and the stiffening element in such a manner that the connection between the stiffening element and tank outer wall is gastight and liquid tight.

6. Fuel tank according to claim 1, characterized in that at least one end of the stiffening element is connected to the tank outer wall by a rotary and latching connection, with the rotary and latching connection preferably comprising means for providing a seal such that the connection between the stiffening element and tank outer wall is gastight and liquid tight.

7. Fuel tank according to claim 1, characterized in that the stiffening element is supported against the tank outer wall under prestress in such a manner that the prestress counteracts deformation of the fuel tank due to a rise in pressure within the fuel tank.

8. Fuel tank according to claim 1, characterized in that the stiffening element comprises at least two parts.

9. Fuel tank according to claim 1, characterized in that the parts of the stiffening element can be connected by means of a screw connection, bayonet connection, plug-in connection, snap-in connection or latching connection.

10. Fuel tank according to claim 1, characterized in that the stiffening element is designed as a feed unit, with the feed unit being arranged between opposite aligned openings in the tank wall.

11. Fuel tank according to claim 1, characterized in that the fuel tank is designed as an extrusion blow-molded tank.