FUEL TANK FOR VEHICLES

• US 3,633,609 A
• Filed: 05/20/1970
• Issued: 01/11/1972
• Est. Priority Date: 05/20/1970
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Frank W. Huxtable Jr, Joseph H. Jones, Robert James Benner
• Original Assignee: Frank W. Huxtable Jr, Joseph H. Jones, Robert James Benner
• Inventors: Benner, Robert James, Huxtable, Frank W. Jr., Jones, Joseph H.
• Primary Examiner(s): Scott, Samuel
• Application Number:
  US05/038,967
• Time in Patent Office: 601 Days
• Field of Search: 137/351,354,590 280/5A,5R,5E,5G,5H 220/86R
• US Class Current: 137/351
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 15/035 characterised by venting means
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 137/6881 Automotive
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 137/86348 Tank with internally extending flow guide, pipe or conduit

Abstract

A pressurized fuel tank, disposed transversely over the rear axle of an automobile, is divided by baffles into three compartments. Large apertures in the baffles interconnect the upper portion of the compartments and a pipe extending through the baffles interconnects the lower portion of the compartments. A fuel pump inlet is located in the center compartment adjacent an opening in the pipe. A pressure relief valve discharges from the center compartment adjacent the vehicle centerline. A filler pipe extends through one of the end walls and one of the baffles to discharge adjacent the vehicle centerline. A cap on the filler pipe is provided with a vacuum relief valve. Pressure in the tank is also released during removal of the cap.

Claims

1. A fuel tank for a vehicle having a centerline extending in the general direction of vehicle travel, said fuel tank comprising a cylindrical housing having a longitudinal axis extending transversely of said vehicle centerline, outwardly convex end caps closing each end of said housing and having peripheral rims secured to said housing and extending longitudinally outwardly of said tank, a pair of baffles disposed within said tank generally parallel to said end caps for restricting fuel surging longitudinally within said tank, said baffles being disposed on opposite sides of said vehicle centerline and being outwardly convex with respect thereto, said baffles having peripheral rims secured to said housing and extending longitudinally outwardly of said tanks with respect to said vehicle centerline, a filler pipe extending through one of said end caps and one of said baffles and having a sole discharge opening disposed adjacent said vehicle centerline, means for receiving a fuel pump inlet member in the center compartment defined between said baffles, and an open-ended pipe extending from the end compartment defined between one of said end caps and the adjacent baffle to the end compartment defined between the other of said end caps and the other baffle, said pipe having a lateral opening disposed adjacent said fuel pump inlet member, said baffles having apertures therethrough in the upper portion of said tank to permit fluid flow between said compartments, said pipe providing the sole fuel passageway between said compartments in the lower portion of said tank whereby liquid fuel may be transferred from said end compartments to said center compartment directly adjacent said fuel pump inlet member when only said lower portion of said fuel tank contains liquid fuel.

2. The fuel tank of claim 1 wherein said housing has a pressure relief opening in the uppermost portion of said tank adjacent said vehicle centerline and which further comprises a pressure relief valve controlling said opening to discharge fluid from said tank when a predetermined pressure in said tank is exceeded.

3. The fuel tank of claim 1 which further comprises a cap on said filler pipe adapted to seal said filler pipe against fluid loss from said tank during normal operation of said vehicle and further adapted to relieve superatmospheric pressure in said tank during removal of said cap from said filler pipe and prior to complete removal of said cap from said filler pipe.

4. A vehicle fuel tank comprising a housing having a pair of end portions and defining an enclosure therewithin, a pair of baffles disposed within said tank generally parallel to said end portions for restricting fuel surging longitudinally within said tank, said baffles dividing said enclosure into a first end compartment defined between one of said baffles and one of said end portions, a center compartment defined between said baffles, and a second end compartment defined between the other of said baffles and the other of said end portions;

means for receiving a fuel pump inlet member in said center compartment, and an open-ended pipe extending from said first end compartment to said second end compartment, said pipe having a lateral opening disposed adjacent said fuel pump inlet member, said baffles having apertures therethrough in the upper portion of said tank to permit fluid flow between said compartments, said pipe providing the sole fuel passageway between said compartments in the lower portion of said tank whereby liquid fuel may be transferred from said end compartments to said center compartment directly adjacent said fuel pump inlet member when only said lower portion of said fuel tank contains liquid fuel.