Patent Application
20250121679
One or more embodiments relate to a motor vehicle tank comprising a fuel tank for storing a fuel and a withdrawal insert inserted at an opening in a wall of the fuel tank, and a method of manufacturing such a motor vehicle fuel tank.
It is known that a supply line can be used to withdraw fuel from a fuel tank, in particular, to supply the fuel to a consumer such as an internal combustion engine. Unused fuel can then be returned to the fuel tank via a return line.
It is also known that the fill level of a fuel tank is determined by a fill level sensor, for example in order to display the fill level on a display in the interior of the motor vehicle.
Level sensors, supply lines and return lines have sections that must be located inside the tank to access fuel stored there and also have sections that must be accessible outside the tank to conduct the fuel or to provide fluid or electrical signals outside the fuel tank. Therefore, it is known for such components to be mounted on the wall of a fuel tank in the form of an insert, in which case the wall of the fuel tank must have an opening for receiving the respective insert. In most cases, each of the aforementioned parts forms an independent, separate insert.
The problem here is that such a fuel tank is not very strong mechanically in the area of the inserts and that fixing the inserts during the production of the fuel tank is complex and therefore costly.
One or more embodiments provide an enhanced a motor vehicle tank of the type mentioned is provided, and, in particular, a motor vehicle tank which has a high mechanical strength and can be manufactured quickly and inexpensively, and a simple and inexpensive method for manufacturing such a motor vehicle tank.
In accordance with one or more embodiments, a motor vehicle tank comprises one or more of the following: a fuel tank for storing a fuel; and a withdrawal insert member which is inserted at an opening in a wall of the fuel tank, the withdrawal insert member comprising: (i) at least one supply line for withdrawing fuel from the fuel tank for a consumer, (ii) at least one return line for returning fuel withdrawn via the supply line to the fuel tank, and (iii) a level sensor for determining the level of the fuel in the fuel tank; a flange plate fastened to the wall of the fuel tank in the region of the opening of the wall of the fuel tank, the flange plate having a flange plate opening in the region of the opening of the wall, with a thread of a bayonet fastener or a thread of a screw fastener on the end-face edge of the flange plate opening, the withdrawal insert member having a corresponding mating element for the thread of the flange plate opening and being fastened to the flange plate via this bayonet catch or screw closure.
In accordance with one or more embodiments, an extraction insert, i.e., a withdrawal insert member, is used on a fuel tank which combines several functions and combines them in a single component, namely the determination of the fill level via a fill level sensor and the extraction and return of fuel via at least one supply line and one return line in each case. In accordance with one or more embodiments, the insert is designed to be fastened in a simple manner, via a bayonet lock or screw lock, to a flange plate which reinforces the fuel tank in the region of the opening for the withdrawal insert member. The flange plate covers the opening in the tank wall and preferably projects over the opening in the tank wall at all side edges. The flange plate itself has an opening substantially coincident with the opening of the wall of the tank, so that there is access to the interior of the fuel tank. The face of the opening of the flange plate, which extends over the height of the flange plate, is provided with a required element for a bayonet closure or a screw closure. The withdrawal insert member has a preferably cylindrical fastening area, which itself forms the required counter-element for the bayonet catch or screw cap. The withdrawal insert member can thus be joined to the fuel tank in a simple and cost-effective manner and the corresponding area of the fuel tank also has a desired mechanical strength.
In accordance with one or more embodiments, the withdrawal insert member is attached to the top of the fuel tank in the installation position. The supply line, the return line and/or the level sensor may thereby extend substantially vertically, from top to bottom, into the tank. “Top” and “bottom” here denote the usual orientations in a motor vehicle when the motor vehicle tank is installed. For example, fuel returned via the return line can thereby fall into the tank due to the effect of gravity.
In accordance with one or more embodiments, the supply line, the return line, and the level sensor are routed through the opening in the wall of the fuel tank and the flange plate opening, so that they are formed at least partially inside the fuel tank and have at least one access outside the fuel tank. The access can be, for example, an access for a fluid flow or an electrical and/or signaling access.
In accordance with one or more embodiments, the inlets of the supply line, the return line and the level sensor are preferably formed in a head part of the sampling insert outside the fuel tank. The sampling insert can thus have a preferably cylindrical head part outside the fuel tank and a preferably cylindrical fastening area for the bayonet or screw connection to the fuel tank.
In accordance with one or more embodiments, at least the supply line, and preferably also the return line and/or the level sensor, extends essentially through the entire fuel tank and has a mouth or a free end inside the fuel tank near the bottom of the fuel tank.
In accordance with one or more embodiments, in addition to the supply line, return line and level sensor, the tapping insert can have a vent valve.
In accordance with one or more embodiments, a flat surface is formed in the flange plate in certain areas, preferably by forming, for example by stamping. The flange plate opening is preferably located completely in the flat surface.
In accordance with one or more embodiments, the flat face is outwardly offset from the rest of the flange plate. In another embodiment, the flat surface is offset inward relative to the rest of the flange plate.
In accordance with one or more embodiments, the flat surface is substantially circular, as is the opening in the tank wall and the opening in the flange plate. The flange plate preferably has a substantially oval, elliptical, rectangular, trapezoidal, or diamond shape cross-section, or configuration.
In accordance with one or more embodiments, a method for manufacturing a motor vehicle tank comprises one or more of the following: manufacturing a fuel tank with the opening in the wall, the fuel tank operable for storing fuel; fastening (e.g., via welding and/or mechanical fastening) a flange plate with a flange plate opening in the area of the opening of the wall of the fuel tank to the wall of the fuel tank; inserting a withdrawal insert member in the opening in the wall of the fuel tank and the flange plate opening, and then fastening (e.g., mechanical fastening) the withdrawal insert member to the end edge of the flange plate opening via a thread of the bayonet lock or a thread of a screw lock.
One or more embodiments will be illustrated by way of example in the drawings and explained in the description hereinbelow.
The withdrawal insert member 2 comprises a supply line 3 for withdrawing fuel from the fuel tank 1 for a consumer, a return line 4 for returning fuel previously withdrawn via the supply line 3 to the fuel tank 1, and a level sensor 5 for determining the level of the fuel in the fuel tank 1.
As illustrated in
The withdrawal insert member 2 is attached to the top of the fuel tank 1 in the installed position. The supply line 3, the return line 4 and the level sensor 5 are routed through the opening in the wall of the fuel tank 1 and the flange plate opening 7 so that they extend into the fuel tank 1 and are largely formed inside the fuel tank 1. Each of these functional components of the extraction insert 2 has an access outside the fuel tank 1.
The accesses to the supply line 3 and the return line 4 are formed in a head part 9 of the extraction insert 2, outside the fuel tank 1. The accesses to the supply line 3 and return line 4 of the withdrawal insert member 2 can have connection pieces for the connection of suitable lines.
The supply line 3, the return line 4 and the level sensor 5 run essentially through the entire fuel tank 1. A mouth or a free end of the respective lines or the sensor are located near the bottom of the fuel tank 1.
In addition, the withdrawal insert member 2 has a vent valve 10 in the head part 9.
The flange plate 6 has a substantially round flat surface 11. The likewise round flange plate opening 7 is formed in the flat surface 11. A flat withdrawal insert member 2 and/or a flat seal can be seated tightly against the flat surface 11 in a simple manner relative to the flange plate. The flat surface 11 is offset outwardly relative to the rest of the flange plate 6, in particular by outward forming.
The terms “coupled,” “attached,” or “connected” may be used herein to refer to any type of relationship, direct or indirect, between the components in question, and may apply to electrical, mechanical, fluid, optical, electromagnetic, electromechanical, or other connections. In addition, the terms “first,” “second,” etc. are used herein only to facilitate discussion, and carry no particular temporal or chronological significance unless otherwise indicated.
Those skilled in the art will appreciate from the foregoing description that the broad techniques of the embodiments can be implemented in a variety of forms. Therefore, while the embodiments have been described in connection with particular examples thereof, the true scope of the embodiments should not be so limited since other modifications will become apparent to the skilled practitioner upon a study of the drawings, specification, and following claims.
