Tank recess

• US 9,039,063 B2
• Filed: 01/23/2012
• Issued: 05/26/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 02/23/2011
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC (Ford Motor Company)
• Original Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC (Ford Motor Company)
• Inventors: Jakobs, Werner, Pulczynski, Rafal, Brandt, Allen
• Primary Examiner(s): Patel, Kiran B
• Application Number:
  US14/000,732
• Publication Number:
  US 20140070561A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,219 Days
• Field of Search: 296/97.22, 220/86.2
• US Class Current: 296/97.22
• CPC Class Codes: B21D 39/02 of sheet metal by folding, e.g. connecting edges of a sheet to form a cylinder
• 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 15/04 Tank inlets B60K15/077 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 2015/0451 Sealing means in the closure cap
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 2015/0474 Arrangement of fuel filler pipes in relation to vehicle body
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 2015/048 Arrangements for sealing the fuel inlet during filling
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 2015/0487 Means to shield vehicle bodywork from fuel, e.g. during filling
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 2015/0553 Details concerning the inlet box or bowl in the vehicle car body panel
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 29/49915 Overedge assembling of seated part

Abstract

A tank recess for motor vehicles comprising a recess body having a device for fastening to a vehicle body opening from outside and having a tank feed line sealing portion, characterized in that the recess body has a fold-over sealing edge on the base portion, such that a flange on an inner metal plate of the vehicle body opening is encompassed by the fold-over sealing edge, such that in the installed position the sealing edge is able to be placed sealingly around the flange of the vehicle body opening.

Claims

1. A fuel tank recess, mountable within a motor vehicle having an outer plate and an inner plate, for providing access to a fuel tank feed line, said fuel tank recess comprising:

a tank recess body including a rigid first region adapted to be fastened to the outer plate and a flexible base portion connected to the first region, the base portion having a tubular tank feed line seal, adapted to seal against a fuel nozzle, and a fold-over sealing edge; and

a flange mounted on the inner plate for receiving the fold-over sealing edge whereby, when the tank recess body is placed between the outer and inner plates, the fold-over sealing edge is configured to fold over the flange, thereby holding the tank recess body in place.

2. The fuel tank recess as claimed in claim 1, wherein the flange is formed as part of the inner plate.

3. The fuel tank recess as claimed in claim 1, wherein the flange is formed by a connecting part which is separate from the recess body.

4. The fuel tank recess as claimed in claim 1, wherein the tank feed line seal is arranged between the first region and the fold-over sealing edge.