Fuel tank

• US 20090276991A1
• Filed: 06/23/2006
• Published: 11/12/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 06/23/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Honda Motor Co., Ltd. (Honda Motor Company)
• Original Assignee: Honda Motor Co., Ltd. (Honda Motor Company)
• Inventors: Saitoh, Teruyuki, Sakamoto, Kazuhiro, Matsubara, Yasunori
• Granted Patent: US 9,162,564 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 29/422
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 15/03 Fuel tanks chassis frame comprising fluid storage compartment B62D21/16 ; Details of the fuel feeding system related to the fuel tank F02M37/0076
• CPC Class Codes: F02M 37/0076 Details of the fuel feeding system related to the fuel tank vehicle fuel tanks B60K15/03
• CPC Class Codes: F02M 37/50 Filters arranged in or on fuel tanks
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 29/49808 Shaping container end to encapsulate material

Abstract

A fuel tank comprises an upper-half tank body (7) and a lower-half tank body (8) which are made of bowl-shaped steel plates and which integrally include a flange (7f) and a flange (8f) in their peripheral edges, respectively, the flanges (7f, 8f) being superposed on and liquid-tightly connected to each other. The flanges (7f, 8f) are connected together by crimping into a roll shape to form an annular thick-walled connection (12), and an annular reinforcing rib (7r, 8r) leading to the connection (12) is formed at least in one of the upper-half and lower-half tank bodies (7, 8). Thus, it is possible to provide a fuel tank in which a sufficient strength can be imparted to portions around a flange connection, without particularly increasing the thickness of a steel plate.

Claims

1. A fuel tank comprising an upper-half tank body (7) and a lower-half tank body (8) which are made from bowl-shaped steel plates and which integrally include a flange (7f) and a flange (8f) in their peripheral edges, respectively, the flanges (7f, 8f) being superposed on and liquid-tightly connected to each other,

characterized in that the flanges (7f, 8f) are connected together by crimping into a roll shape to form an annular thick-walled connection (12);

and an annular reinforcing rib (7r, 8r) leading to the connection (12) is formed at least in one of the upper-half and lower-half tank bodies (7, 8).

2. The fuel tank according to claim 1,

wherein a pair of annular reinforcing ribs (7r, 8r) leading to opposite sides of the connection (12) are formed in the upper-half and lower-half tank bodies (7, 8).

9. The fuel tank according to claim 1,

wherein at least the upper-half tank body (7) comprises a painted steel plate made by prebaking a paint film (11) on a surface of a steel plate.

10. The fuel tank according to claim 2,

wherein at least the upper-half tank body (7) comprises a painted steel plate made by prebaking a paint film (11) on a surface of a steel plate.

3. A fuel tank comprising an upper-half tank body (7) and a lower-half tank body (8) which are made of bowl-shaped steel plates and which integrally include a flange (7f) and a flange (8f) in their peripheral edges, respectively, the flanges (7f, 8f) being superposed on and liquid-tightly connected to each other,

characterized in that the two flanges (7f, 8f) and a flange (9f) which is formed in a peripheral edge portion of a bowl-shaped bottom supporting plate (9) arranged to cover a bottom surface of the lower-half tank body (8), are connected together by crimping into a roll shape to form an annular thick-walled connection (12);

the annular reinforcing ribs (7r, 8r, 9r) leading to the connection (12) are formed in the upper-half tank body (7), the lower-half tank body (8), and the bottom supporting plate (9); and

the bottom supporting plate (9) is provided with a mounting portion (19, 21) for mounting the bottom supporting plate (9) to an engine (E).

4. The fuel tank according to claim 3,

wherein at least the upper-half tank body (7) comprises a painted steel plate made by prebaking a paint film (11) on a surface of a steel plate.

5. A fuel tank comprising:

a tank ceiling portion;

a fuel supply port cylinder (38) which is connected to the tank ceiling portion so as to pass therethrough and which is closed by a tank cap (C);

an annular sealing surface (39) being formed on an upper end surface of the fuel supply port cylinder (38), and a gasket (43) of the tank cap (C) coming into close contact with the annular sealing surface (39),

characterized in that at least an upper-half tank body (7) constituting an upper part of the tank comprises a painted steel plate having a prepainted surface; and

the fuel supply port cylinder (38) comprising a unpainted steel plate is connected to the upper-half tank body (7).

6. The fuel tank according to claim 5,

wherein the upper-half tank body (7) and the fuel supply port cylinder (38) are connected together by crimping so that an upper part of the fuel supply port cylinder (38) is exposed;

and a surface of the exposed upper part of the fuel supply port cylinder (38) comprises the sealing surface (39).

7. The fuel tank according to claim 5,

wherein the sealing surface (39) is formed into a funnel shape.

8. The fuel tank according to claim 6,

wherein fuel supply port cylinder (38) is made from a plated steel plate.

11. The fuel tank according to claim 6,

wherein the sealing surface (39) is formed into a funnel shape.

12. The fuel tank according to claim 7,

wherein fuel supply port cylinder (38) is made from a plated steel plate.