Patent Application
20200158061
The present application claims priority 35 U.S.C. § 119 to European Patent Publication No. EP 18207032.6 (filed on Nov. 19, 2018), which is hereby incorporated by reference in its complete entirety.
Embodiments relate to a plastic tank having a connection device for the plastic tank, wherein the connection device comprises a connection nipple.
Plastic tanks are increasingly used in the automotive industry, in particular as fuel tanks, and, in recent times, have been designed such that as few emissions as possible, in particular hydrocarbon emissions (HC emissions), can escape from the plastic tank.
To this end, plastic tanks are formed, for example, from high density polyethylene (HDPE) and, to achieve the target emissions, amongst other things, can use tank walls comprising a plurality of layers (multilayer tanks), which contain, for example, a barrier layer against hydrocarbon emissions.
It is known that, to connect lines such as vent lines, for example, connection devices such as nipples or nozzles are used, which are produced as separate components and are then connected, for example welded, to the plastic tank.
Conventional connection devices, however, exhibit relatively high hydrocarbon emissions.
Embodiments are to provide an enhanced plastic tanks having such connection devices in this regard and, in particular, provide a plastic tank having a connection device for the plastic tank which exhibits reduced hydrocarbon emissions. Embodiments are to also provide a method for producing such a plastic tank with reduced emissions.
In accordance with embodiments, a plastic tank includes a connection device for the plastic tank, wherein the connection device comprises a connection nipple which is inserted or attached from the outside into or to an opening of a tank wall of the plastic tank, and a counter-piece, which lies flat against the inside of the tank wall around the opening, wherein the connection nipple is screwed or clipped to the counter-piece, wherein a seal is arranged around the opening between the outside of the tank wall and a sealing face of the connection nipple, which sealing face faces the outside of the tank wall, wherein the connection nipple consists of a low-emission material.
In accordance with embodiments, a connection device is used, which uses a connection nipple made from a low-emission material, in particular, from polyoxymethylene (POM). The connection nipple is screwed or clipped from the outside to a counter-piece lying at least partially inside the plastic tank. A seal is arranged, in particular, clamped, between the counter-piece and the connection nipple, which seal is arranged around the opening on the outside of the tank wall on a sealing face of the connection nipple. As a result of this construction and, in particular, the use of a low-emission connection nipple and a seal arranged between the connection nipple and the counter-piece, the emissions at the connection point can be reduced by comparison with known connection points.
In accordance with embodiments, the plastic tank preferably consists of high density polyethylene (HDPE) and is preferably composed of multiple layers. The tank wall of the plastic tank preferably comprises a barrier layer against hydrocarbon emissions.
In accordance with embodiments, the counter-piece preferably consists of polyoxymethylene (POM) or high density polyethylene (HDPE) or is sheathed with HDPE.
In accordance with embodiments, the connection nipple is preferably designed for connecting a line, for example a vent line, or the connection nipple comprises a temperature sensor, in particular a PT sensor.
In accordance with embodiments, a supporting sleeve is arranged on the inside of the counter-piece for stabilising the counter-piece during the screwing or clipping to the connection nipple.
In accordance with embodiments, the counter-piece is preferably welded flat against the tank wall around the opening on the inside of the tank wall. In this case, both the tank wall, at least on its welded surface, and the counter-piece, at least on its welded surface, preferably consist of HDPE. The welding to the counter-piece can then preferably take place in the course of producing the plastic tank or in the course of moulding the tank walls.
In accordance with embodiments, the counter-piece can be hooked in at the inside of the tank wall. In this case, the counter-piece does not have to be welded to the tank wall and can be clipped into an opening in the tank wall from the outside, for example once the plastic tank has been produced.
In accordance with embodiments, a method is provided for producing an inventive plastic tank having a connection device for the plastic tank can provide that the plastic tank is thermoformed, the counter-piece is welded to the tank wall on the inside of the tank wall in the course of thermoforming the plastic tank and the connection nipple is fitted from outside the plastic tank after the thermoforming procedure, and screwed or clipped to the counter-piece.
An opening is preferably made in the tank wall at the position of the counter-piece, in particular, a circle cut of the tank wall at the position of the counter-piece, after the thermoforming procedure and before the connection nipple is fitted.
A seal is preferably applied to the tank wall at the position of the counter-piece before the connection nipple is fitted.
Embodiments will be illustrated by way of example in the drawings and explained in the description below.
As illustrated in
The connection nipple 1 is designed for fluidically connecting a line, for example, a vent line, and therefore, has a rib 8 extending concentrically around a connection piece 9 to prevent an attached line from sliding down. The connection nipple 1 can alternatively be designed for supporting a PT sensor or other sensor, for example.
In the illustrated embodiment of
In the illustrated embodiment of
The connection nipple 1 is again screwed to the counter-piece 3 via a screw thread 7. In the illustrated embodiment, the connection nipple 1 has internal threading (shown by dashed lines) and the counter-piece 3 has corresponding external threading (shown by dashed lines).
A supporting sleeve 6 is arranged on the inner surface of the counter-piece 3 for stabilizing the counter-piece 3 when connecting (via screwing or clipping) the connection nipple 1 to the counter-piece 3. Such a supporting sleeve 6 can also be used in the illustrated embodiment of
A method for producing a plastic tank having a connection device for the plastic tank in the illustrated embodiment of
Next, after the thermoforming procedure, forming an opening in the tank wall 2 at the position of the counter-piece 3 or a desired position of the counter-piece 3. Forming the opening may be done by cutting out a circle or drilling.
A seal 5 is applied to the tank wall 2 around the opening at this position.
After the plastic tank has been thermoformed and the counter-piece 3 possibly inserted into the opening (for the illustrated embodiment of
The terms “coupled,” “attached,” “fastened,” 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.
| Number | Date | Country | Kind |
|---|---|---|---|
| EP18207032.6 | Nov 2018 | EP | regional |
