APPARATUS AND METHODS FOR MOUNTING FUEL DELIVERY SYSTEM COMPONENTS TO FUEL TANKS

• US 20110084073A1
• Filed: 06/03/2010
• Published: 04/14/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 10/09/2009
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Brunswick Corporation
• Original Assignee: Brunswick Corporation
• Inventors: Whelan, Sean, Scott, Brian, Tate, Robert
• Granted Patent: US 8,833,346 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 220/288
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 15/03519 Valve arrangements in the vent line
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 15/0406 Filler caps for fuel tanks
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 2015/03585 by gas pressure
• 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: Y10T 29/49826 Assembling or joining
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 29/4998 Combined manufacture including applying or shaping of fluent material

Abstract

Apparatus and methods for mounting fuel delivery system components to fuel tanks are described herein. An example fuel tank includes a housing having a cavity to store a liquid fuel and a boss integrally formed with and protruding from a surface of the housing to receive a fuel delivery system component. The boss receives a threaded fastener to couple the fuel delivery system component to the surface of the fuel tank.

Claims

1. A fuel tank, comprising:

a housing having a cavity to store a liquid fuel; and

a boss integrally formed with and protruding from a surface of the housing to receive a fuel delivery system component, wherein the boss is to receive a threaded fastener to couple the fuel delivery system component to the surface of the fuel tank.

2. A fuel tank of claim 1, wherein the boss includes an internally threaded aperture that is to receive the threaded fastener.

3. A fuel tank of claim 1, wherein the boss is integrally formed with the housing of the fuel tank via blow molding.

4. A fuel tank of claim 1, wherein the fuel delivery system component comprises a vapor collection apparatus.

5. A fuel tank of claim 4, wherein the vapor collection apparatus comprises a canister disposed between ends having flanged portions.

6. A fuel tank of claim 5, wherein at least one of the flanged portions is to couple the canister to the fuel tank via the boss.

7. A fuel tank of claim 1, wherein the surface of the housing includes a plurality of bosses integrally formed with the housing.

8. A fuel tank of claim 1, wherein the boss protrudes from an uppermost surface of the fuel tank.

9. A fuel tank, comprising:

a housing having a cavity to store a liquid fuel; and

a recessed portion integrally formed with a surface of the housing to receive a vapor collection apparatus, wherein the recessed portion includes a fastener integrally formed with the recessed portion to couple the vapor collection apparatus to the surface of the fuel tank.

10. A fuel tank of claim 9, wherein the fastener is integrally formed with the recessed portion via blow molding.

11. A fuel tank of claim 9, wherein the fastener comprises a boss that protrudes from the recess portion of the fuel tank.

12. A fuel tank of claim 9, wherein the vapor collection apparatus couples to the surface of the fuel tank via snap fit or interference fit.

13. A method of mounting a fuel delivery system component to a fuel tank, comprising:

integrally forming a fastener with a surface of the fuel tank via blowmolding, wherein the fastener protrudes from the surface of the fuel tank; and

mounting the fuel delivery system component to the surface of the fuel tank via the fastener.

14. A method of claim 13, wherein the fastener comprises an internally threaded boss.

15. A method of claim 13, wherein mounting the fuel delivery system component comprises mounting a vapor collection apparatus to the surface via the fastener.

16. A method of claim 13, further comprising integrally forming the fastener on an uppermost surface of the fuel tank.

17. A method of claim 13, further comprising integrally forming a plurality of fasteners with the surface of the fuel tank.