JPH0617617Y2 - Plastic fuel tanks for vehicles - Google Patents

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION [Industrial field of application] The present invention relates to a plastic fuel tank for vehicles such as automobiles.

[Conventional technology]

Plastic fuel tanks have various advantages over conventional metal fuel tanks, and thus have been increasingly used in recent years. Since the plastic tank has few restrictions on the shape, it has the advantage that the tank capacity can be increased in the usable space, and besides that it has the advantage that it has corrosion resistance against water such as the bottom of the tank. . An even more important advantage is that it has high resistance to impact and bends without being damaged even when subjected to impact.

[Problems to be solved by the invention]

However, the currently mass-produced plastic tanks are made of blow-molded plastic, which causes a problem that the mass-producible materials are significantly limited. High-density polyethylene is an example of the material, but since polyethylene is porous and the fuel easily exudes, there is a problem that sulfonation of the inner surface is required. Furthermore, when manufacturing a tank with blow-molded plastic, the production cycle takes a considerable amount of time, and since the bent part with a small radius of curvature cannot be formed, the finished tank becomes bulky, and at the same time as the weight of the product tank. A large amount of scrap is generated, and welding is required in a later process because of connection with the external pipe.

[Purpose of device]

An object of the present invention is to provide a plastic fuel tank for a vehicle which solves the above problems.

[Means for solving problems]

To achieve the above object, a plastic fuel tank for a vehicle according to the present invention comprises at least two injection-molded half shells, each of which has a lower edge portion and an upper edge portion adjacent to each other. In a plastic fuel tank for vehicles, the lower and upper edges of which are hermetically fixed by a single plastic outer strip molded onto the lower and upper edges, The molding half shell is made of nylon, and the opening and the outer pipe are formed so as to be integrated with each other. An opening is formed through a portion of a single plastic outer strip.

[Function of device]

According to the present invention, when at least two injection-molded shells are connected along the connecting portion and a plastic outer strip is arranged around the connection portion, a part of the outer strip fits into the opening of the injection-molded shell, and the injection-molded shell is injected. It is possible to firmly connect between the molding shells.

As described above, in the present invention, since the injection molding shell is fixed in a hermetically sealed state, it is possible to form ribs and walls inside, and it is possible to prevent the strength of the tank from increasing and the fluctuation of the internal fuel to be prevented.

[Example of device]

 Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings.

1 and 2, the fuel tank of the present invention, which is designated by the reference numeral 1, includes two pairs of shells 3 and 4.

The shells 3 and 4 respectively form the upper half and the lower half of the tank 1, and are injection-molded from a suitable non-porous material having a hydrocarbon resistance (general nylon 6 or nylon 12). .

The two shells 3, 4 are hermetically fixed to each other along the outer peripheral connecting portion 5 by a plastic outer strip 6 (strip). The strip 6 is made of nylon 6, for example, and is integrally formed with the adjacent lower edge 7 and upper edge 8 (shown clearly in FIGS. 3 and 4) of the shells 3, 4. In more detail, the shells 3, 4 are first injection-molded inside the mould, after which the outer peripheral recess 9 of the edge 8 of the shell 4 is for example a rubber seal or a seal made of a cross-linked plastic material (such as polyurethane foam). It is fitted with 10. Next, shells 3 and 4
Are arranged so that the edge portions 7 and 8 are in contact with each other, and are held at a predetermined position (FIG. 4) by the mold punches 13 and 14.
The mold punch 13 is provided with a continuous protrusion 11 and a plurality of protrusions 12 spaced apart from each other.
Act on. Similarly, the mold punch 14 is provided with a continuous projection 11 ′ and a plurality of spaced projections 12 ′, which act on the edge 8. In the combined state, the mold punches 13 and 14 have the shell 3,
It surrounds the lower end, upper end and outside of the edges 7, 8 of 4,
The strip 6 is injection molded inside thereof. The edge portions 7 and 8 are formed with depressions that are spaced apart in the circumferential direction, and the through openings 17 formed by the depressions are formed.
Inside, the inner part of the strip 6 is molded, so that the strip 6 acts as a reinforcement between the top and bottom of the edges 7,8. As shown in FIG. 3, the edges 7 and 8 are concentrically formed with openings 18 and 18 'through which a clamping element (not shown) is passed through the passage formed by the tank 1 to a suitable support for the vehicle. It is supposed to stick.
As shown in FIG. 2, reinforcing ribs 1 are provided on the inner surfaces of the shells 3 and 4.
9 and the wall portion 20 are integrally formed, and the ribs 19 and the wall portion 20 serve as a separator that prevents the fuel in the tank 1 from shaking. A portion 21 extending downward from the upper wall is integrally formed on the inner surface of the shell 3. The lower end of the portion 21 has a hook portion 22 (see FIG. 5,
(Shown clearly in FIG. 6), the hook portion 22
Engages with the slot 23. The slot 23 is formed at the upper end of a portion 24 integrally extending from the lower wall of the shell 4.

An external fuel supply pipe (not shown) is provided on the outer surface of the shell 3.
A pipe portion 26 connected to the is integrally formed. The central portion 27 of the upper wall of the shell 3 is appropriately lowered,
A unit 29 of a known type as shown by a broken line in FIG. 2 is attached to the opening 28 formed in the portion 27 through a bayonet type connection portion.
The unit 29 includes a fuel level detector, a fuel inlet pipe and a return pipe. Inside the tank 1, the unit 29 is surrounded by a substantially circular wall portion 30. The wall portion 30 integrally extends upward from the shell 4 and forms a steady fuel compartment inside the tank.
Instead of the substantially circular wall portion 30, in the embodiment of FIGS. 7 and 8, a pair of substantially circular wall portions 32 and 33 arranged concentrically.
Is used. The walls 32, 33 have openings 34, 35 at diametrically opposed positions to form a labyrinth in the inner compartment to further stabilize the fuel level in the tank. Providing such a maze is particularly effective when the unit 29 is provided with an electric fuel suction pump.

In the present invention, the two injection-molded pieces are fixed together in the sealed state along the connecting portion to form the tank, so that the following advantages can be obtained. That is, the shells 3 and 4 can be formed of various materials. Especially when nylon is used, the shells 3 and 4 are non-porous and hydrocarbon resistant, so that sulfonation is unnecessary in the post-treatment. The shells 3, 4 can also be made of different materials. For example, the bottom shell 4 may be formed of a self-extinguishing material and, where possible, may incorporate a reinforcing element such as a wire net. Also,
Since the shells 3 and 4 are injection molded products, the production cycle thereof is short, and the shells 3 and 4 can be finished in any shape. In particular, if the upper shell 3 is shaped to fit the bottom of the vehicle and fits snugly inside the fuel tank chamber, the tank capacity can be maximized. Furthermore, by injection molding the shells 3 and 4, even if the radius of curvature is very small,
Since the thickness of the shell can always be maintained at 3 to 3.5 mm, the weight of the tank can be reduced to about 3 kg, the appearance can be improved, scrap can be eliminated, and the pipe can be molded integrally with the tank. Welding can be omitted.

Further, in the present invention, the shells of the two tanks are made airtight to each other in the subsequent process, so it is possible to form ribs and walls inside, which can increase the strength of the tank and prevent swaying of the internal fuel. . Moreover, since the inner portions 21 and 24 of the shell are connected in a hooked state, the portions 21 and 24 act as an internal support portion between the shells 3 and 4, and are fixed at the outer peripheral connection portion 5 of the tank 1. The distortion can be reduced. A known explosion-proof sponge or a fuel suction pump can be fitted inside the tank 1.

The present invention can be implemented in various forms other than the above embodiment.

[Effect of device]

As described above, according to the present invention, there are advantages that the manufacturing is easy, the strength of the tank is increased, and the fluctuation of the internal fuel can be prevented.

[Brief description of drawings]

1 is a plan view of a fuel tank according to the present invention, FIG. 2 is a sectional view taken along line II-II of FIG. 1, and FIG. 3 is a portion A of the tank of FIG.
FIG. 4 is an enlarged cross-sectional view of the tank portion B of FIG. 2 in the middle of the manufacturing process, FIG. 5 is a partial view of the inner surface portion of the tank of FIG. 2, and FIG. 6 is FIG. 6 is a partial sectional view taken along line VI-VI of FIG. 7, a partial sectional view of a tank of another embodiment according to the present invention, and FIG. 8 is a sectional view taken along line VIII-VIII of the portion shown in FIG. 1 ... Fuel tank, 3, 4 ... Shell, 5 ... Connection part, 6 ... Strip, 7, 8 ... Outer edge part, 10 ... Seal.

Claims (2)

[Scope of utility model registration request] 1. At least two injection-molded half-shells (3, 4), each injection-molded half-shell (3, 4) being adjacent to each other by a lower edge and an upper edge (7, 8).
With a lower outer edge and an upper edge edge (7,8) molded on the lower edge and the upper edge edge (7,8) by a single plastic outer strip (6) In a plastic fuel tank for a vehicle fixed in a sealed state, the injection molding half shells (3, 4) are made of nylon, and the opening (28) and the outer pipe (26) are formed integrally. The lower and upper edges (7, 8) are provided with one of the plastic outer single strips (6) for the purpose of closely fitting the injection-molded half shells (3, 4). A plastic fuel tank for vehicles, characterized in that an opening (17) is formed so as to penetrate therethrough. 2. The injection-molded half shells (3, 4) are provided with internal parts (21, 24) which engage with each other in a hooked state when they are joined to each other. A plastic fuel tank for vehicles according to claim 1 of the utility model registration claim.