Process for manufacturing hollow plastic bodies

• US 20050104260A1
• Filed: 12/21/2004
• Published: 05/19/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 12/22/1999
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Plastic Omnium Advanced Innovation and Research
• Original Assignee: Joel Op De Beeck, Jules-Joseph Van Schaftingen, Serge Dupont, Stephane Leonard, Yannick Gerard
• Inventors: Op De Beeck, Joel, Leonard, Stephane, Van Schaftingen, Jules-Joseph, Gerard, Yannick, Dupont, Serge
• Granted Patent: US 7,166,253 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 264/515
• CPC Class Codes: B29C 2049/2008 inside the article
• CPC Class Codes: B29C 2791/001 Shaping in several steps
• CPC Class Codes: B29C 2793/0081 before shaping
• CPC Class Codes: B29C 49/04 Extrusion blow-moulding
• CPC Class Codes: B29C 49/0691 using sheet like material, e.g. sheet blow-moulding from joined sheets
• CPC Class Codes: B29C 49/06914 using parallel sheets as a preform
• CPC Class Codes: B29C 49/06916 Means for avoiding parts of the sheets to stick together, e.g. to provide blow opening
• CPC Class Codes: B29C 49/20 of articles having inserts or reinforcements ; Handling of inserts or reinforcements
• CPC Class Codes: B29C 49/22 using multilayered preforms or parisons
• CPC Class Codes: B29C 49/4205 Handling means, e.g. transfer, loading or discharging means handling of inserts or reinforcements B29C49/20; handling of linings or labels B29C49/2408
• CPC Class Codes: B29K 2023/065 HDPE, i.e. high density polyethylene
• CPC Class Codes: B29K 2023/086 EVOH, i.e. ethylene vinyl alcohol copolymer
• CPC Class Codes: B29L 2031/7172 Fuel tanks, jerry cans
• CPC Class Codes: B32B 27/08 of synthetic resin
• CPC Class Codes: B32B 27/30 comprising vinyl (co)polymers; comprising acrylic (co)polymers
• CPC Class Codes: B32B 27/32 comprising polyolefins comprising vinyl (co)polymers or acrylic (co)polymers B32B27/30
• 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 2015/03453 for fixing or mounting parts of the fuel tank together

Abstract

Process for manufacturing hollow plastic bodies, especially motor-vehicle fuel tanks, from an extruded parison of closed cross section, in which at least one cut is made in the parison which is then formed by moulding.

Claims

1-11. -11. (canceled)

12. A process for manufacturing a hollow body using a mould, comprising the steps of:

incorporating at least one of an accessory and a duct within the hollow body;

after said step of incorporating, closing said mould;

wherein said at least one of said accessory and said duct is supported by a preassembled structure which comprises at least one device configured to anchor said preassembled structure to an internal wall of the hollow body such that there is no interface between said at least one of said accessory and said duct and an external atmosphere.

13. A process for manufacturing a hollow body according to claim 12, wherein said device includes tabs and said process further comprises a step of welding said tabs to said internal wall.

14. A process for manufacturing a hollow body according to claim 13, wherein said tabs are supported by an arm.

15. A process for manufacturing a hollow body according to claim 12, further comprising positioning a fastener on the preassembled structure, said fastener being configured to fasten an accessory at a later time.

16. A process for manufacturing a hollow body according to claim 12, further comprising positioning the preassembled structure precisely in the hollow body with means for positioning.

17. A process for manufacturing a hollow body according to claim 12, wherein the hollow body is made of plastic.

18. A process for manufacturing a hollow body according to claim 12, wherein the hollow body is a multilayered structure made of stacked layers.

19. A process for manufacturing a hollow body according to claim 18, wherein said stacked layers include a central layer of EVOH surrounded by two layers of adhesive.

20. A process for manufacturing a hollow body according to claim 19, wherein said adhesive is made of maleic-anydride-grafted PE.

21. A process for manufacturing a hollow body according to claim 20, wherein said stacked layers further include external layers of HDPE.

22. A process for manufacturing a hollow body according to claim 18, wherein said multilayered structure was obtained by coextrusion.

23. A process for manufacturing a hollow body according to claim 12, wherein the hollow body is a fuel tank.

24. A process for manufacturing a hollow body according to claim 12, comprising a step of incorporating said accessory within said hollow body and wherein said accessory is supported by said preassembled structure.

25. A process for manufacturing a hollow body according to claim 12, comprising a step of incorporating said duct within said hollow body, and wherein said duct is supported by said preassembled structure.