Fuel tank and associated controller

• US 7,497,207 B2
• Filed: 01/12/2006
• Issued: 03/03/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 01/21/2005
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Ti Automotive (Fuldabrck) Gmbh (TI Fluid Systems Plc)
• Original Assignee: Ti Automotive (Fuldabrck) Gmbh (TI Fluid Systems Plc)
• Inventors: Winkler, Andreas, Strauss, Rainer, Schreuder, Peter, Lahn, Bernd-Juergen, Henschel, Matthias, Neulen, Dirk
• Primary Examiner(s): Cronin; Stephen K
• Assistant Examiner(s): Castro; Arnold
• Application Number:
  US11/330,462
• Publication Number:
  US 20060162702A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,146 Days
• Field of Search: 123/509, 123/497, 123/514, 123/41.31, 417/366
• US Class Current: 123/497
• 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: B60K 2015/0319 with electronic systems, e.g. for controlling fuelling or venting
• CPC Class Codes: F02D 41/3082 Control of electrical fuel pumps
• CPC Class Codes: F02M 37/106 the pump being installed in a sub-tank

Abstract

A vehicle fuel system having a fuel tank with an opening with a closure disposed adjacent a vehicle component with a service access opening and closure adjacent the tank closure, and an electronic controller carried by the vehicle component closure. At least one electrical device in the tank is connected by an electric wire to the controller. Preferably, a thermal protector is carried by the closure and arranged as a metal heat sink for the controller and dissipates heat to the atmosphere.

Claims

1. A closure assembly covering an opening in a vehicle component positioned adjacent a fuel tank, comprising:

a vehicle component closure constructed for covering the vehicle component opening adjacent to and spaced away from the fuel tank; and

an electronic controller carried by the closure and disposed outside of and spaced away from the fuel tank.

2. The closure assembly of claim 1, further comprising at least one electrical connector in electrical communication with the electronic controller and extending through the closure.

3. The closure assembly of claim 2, further comprising at least one other electrical connector in electrical communication with the electronic controller.

4. The closure assembly of claim 1, wherein the closure has an outside surface on which the controller is carried.

5. The closure assembly of claim 1, wherein the closure has an inside surface on which the controller is carried.

6. The closure assembly of claim 1 further comprising a thermal protector carried by the closure.

7. The closure assembly of claim 6 wherein the thermal protector is composed of metal.

8. The closure assembly of claim 6 wherein the thermal protector is disposed between the closure and the controller.

9. The closure assembly of claim 6 wherein the controller is disposed between the closure and the thermal protector.

10. The closure assembly of claim 1 wherein the closure is at least partially composed of plastic and the closure assembly further comprises:

at least one electrical connector in electrical communication with the controller and extending through the closure; and

a thermal protector carried by the closure and arranged as a metal heat sink for the controller.

11. A fuel system for a vehicle including a vehicle component having a component opening and a component closure covering the component opening, comprising:

a fuel tank disposed adjacent to and spaced away from the vehicle component and having a fuel tank opening adjacent the component opening and a fuel tank closure covering the fuel tank opening; and

an electronic controller disposed outside of and spaced away from the fuel tank and carried by the component closure of the vehicle component.

12. The fuel system of claim 11, further comprising electrical connectors in electrical communication with the electronic controller and at least one of which extends through the closure.

13. The fuel system of claim 11, wherein the closure has an outside surface on which the controller is carried.

14. The fuel system of claim 11, wherein the closure has an inside surface on which the controller is carried.

15. The fuel system of claim 11 further comprising a thermal protector carried by the closure.

16. The fuel system of claim 15 wherein the thermal protector is disposed between the closure and the controller.

17. The fuel system of claim 15 wherein the controller is disposed between the closure and the thermal protector.

18. The fuel system of claim 11 wherein the closure is composed at least partially of plastic.

19. The fuel system of claim 11 wherein the closure is at least partially composed of plastic and the fuel system further comprises:

at least one electrical connector in electrical communication with the controller and extending through the closure; and

a thermal protector carried by the closure and arranged as a metal heat sink for the controller.

20. A vehicle fuel system comprising:

a vehicle component having a component opening;

a component closure covering the component opening;

a fuel tank disposed adjacent to and spaced away from the vehicle component and having a fuel tank opening adjacent the component opening;

a fuel tank closure covering the fuel tank opening;

at least one electrical device disposed within the fuel tank; and

an electronic controller disposed outside of and spaced away from the fuel tank and carried by the component closure of the vehicle component, and being electrically connected to the at least one electrical device by wiring, and being arranged for electrical connection to other electrical devices located externally of the fuel tank.