DE102017201887A1 - Fuel tank with externally mountable anti-sloshing device - Google Patents

Abstract

The invention relates to a kit of a fuel tank (10) with at least one externally mountable anti-sloshing device (24), comprising a fuel tank (12) with a filling opening and at least one anti-sloshing device (24) with a holding device (30) for holding the Anti-sloshing device (24) on the fuel tank (12). According to the invention, the fuel tank (12) has at least one additional opening (14) through which the anti-sloshing device (24) can be inserted at least partially into the fuel tank (12), and the anti-sloshing device (24) is in the at least partially introduced state by means of the holding device (30) on the fuel tank (12) attachable.

Description

The invention relates to a kit of a fuel tank according to the preamble of claim 1, comprising a fuel tank with a filling opening and at least one anti-sloshing device with a holding device for holding the anti-sloshing device on the fuel tank. The invention further relates to a fuel tank comprising such a kit.

A known problem in the field of automotive engineering is the occurrence of high forces generated in a fuel tank of a motor vehicle by the fuel stored therein in accelerated driving situations, for example when braking, when starting or in fast cornering. These forces must be taken into account when designing the fuel tank. Furthermore, in the aforementioned driving situations, sloshing vibrations of the fuel stored in the fuel tank can be excited, which leads to a noise which can be perceived as disturbing by a driver of the motor vehicle, in particular of a motor vehicle, even of a higher price category.

To solve this problem, fuel tanks are known from the prior art, which are equipped in its interior with a baffle or several baffles. The baffles further allow for complete removal of the fuel from the fuel tank and may at least limit unwanted movement of the fuel stored in the fuel tank and reduce an amplitude of slosh vibrations of the fuel in the fuel tank.

The US 9,168,830 describes a plastic fuel tank having a baffle for noise reduction and engagement portions for suppressing tank deformation in the case of pressurizing the tank with negative pressure. The baffle plate preferably has holes for the passage of the fuel stored in the fuel tank. The engaging portions protrude from an upper surface and a lower surface, respectively, into an inner space of the fuel tank and are arranged to face each other at a predetermined distance substantially. One of the engaging portions is part of a mounting device with which the baffle plate is supported on a wall of the fuel tank.

Another solution for a fuel tank with reduced sloshing of the fuel is in the DE 101 28 308 A1 described. In this case, in a device for reducing sloshing of fuel in a fuel tank of a motor vehicle, a slosh-inhibiting element is movably configured to move from an assembly position in which it can be mounted through a mounting opening of the fuel tank to an operating position in which it is in contact with the wall of the fuel tank is locked. Like in the DE 101 28 308 A1 stated, the Schwapphemmelement should be easy to assemble, and the fuel tank was particularly simple design. In one embodiment, the Schwapphemmelement is designed as a plate with a plurality of recesses and made of a material with shape memory. For mounting, the slosh-inhibiting member is inserted in a rolled-up state through the mounting hole of the fuel tank.

Furthermore, in the JP 2005-170084 proposed a noise removal device for a fuel tank, which can be mounted in an interior of the fuel tank. For this purpose, the noise removal device is inserted through a filling opening of the fuel tank and fixed to an inner wall of the fuel tank. The noise eliminating device is equipped with a baffle plate having at least a first noise eliminating portion and a second noise eliminating portion which are freely foldable with each other by a hinge. The noise eliminating device includes a spring clip for fixing the first noise eliminating portion to the inner wall of the fuel tank, and a shape determining member for holding the first and second noise eliminating portions in an L-shape. The first and second noise elimination portions are inserted in a hinge-folded shape through the opening of the fuel tank, fixed to the inner wall of the fuel tank in a deployed shape by the spring clip, and held in the L shape by the shape-determining member.

In the US Pat. No. 6,408,979 B1 For example, there is described a fuel tank having a baffle plate disposed at an intermediate position between both ends of the tank for preventing noises generated by spitting the fuel in the fuel tank back and forth. In one embodiment, the baffle is constructed of a glass fiber filter material. The baffle plate is collapsible so that it can be manually inserted through an opening in a top of a plastic fuel tank. Thereafter, the baffle plate may be restored to a normal size while being held in a desired position within the tank by a mechanical bias.

The US 7,946,381 describes a sound absorbing device that generates a noise generated by movement of the fuel in the fuel tank absorbed and diminished. The sound absorbing device is brought into the tank through an opening formed in the tank and attached to the tank. A three-dimensional structure of the sound absorbing device has a narrower width x than a width of the opening and a greater length y than the width of the opening. The sound absorbing device includes a plurality of sound absorbing members joined together by a coupling member disposed at an intermediate position in a longitudinal direction extending along the length y.

In view of the prior art presented, the field of fuel tanks with devices for reducing or avoiding slosh vibrations of the fuel and associated noise still provides room for improvement.

The invention has for its object to provide a fuel tank with at least one anti-sloshing device, the anti-sloshing device can be installed with reduced manufacturing costs.

According to the invention the object is achieved by a kit of a fuel tank with the features of claim 1. The object is further achieved by a fuel tank having the features of claim 8. Further, particularly advantageous embodiments of the invention disclose the respective dependent subclaims.

It is pointed out that the features listed individually in the following description as well as measures can be combined with one another in any technically expedient manner and show further embodiments of the invention. The description additionally characterizes and specifies the invention, in particular in connection with the figures.

The kit according to the invention of a fuel tank with at least one externally mountable anti-sloshing device has a fuel tank with a filling opening and at least one anti-sloshing device with a holding device for holding the anti-sloshing device on the fuel tank. The fuel tank has at least one additional opening, through which the anti-sloshing device can be inserted at least partially into the fuel tank. In this case, the anti-sloshing device can be fastened from the outside in the at least partially introduced state by means of the holding device on the fuel tank.

For the purposes of the invention, a "fuel tank" is to be understood as meaning, in particular, a tank which is suitable for storing a liquid fuel. The fuel may be selected, for example, but not limited to, gasoline, diesel fuel, methanol, ethanol, liquefied natural gas (LNG) or propane / butane mixture (LPG)) or a suitable mixture of these fuels.

In this way, a kit of a fuel tank with an effective anti-sloshing device can be provided, which can be manufactured with a reduced production compared to the known prior art.

Another advantage of the invention is that the at least one anti-sloshing device can be retrofitted in suitable, existing embodiments of the fuel tank. In addition, the invention offers the advantage to leave the same embodiment of a fuel tank either in a version without anti-sloshing device or equip it after attachment of the additional opening with the at least one anti-sloshing device.

The at least one additional opening may be arranged on an upper wall side, a lateral wall side or on a lower wall side. Particularly preferably, the at least one additional opening is arranged on an underside of the fuel tank.

In one embodiment of the kit, the at least one anti-sloshing device has at least one baffle plate, which is arranged in an installed state in the interior of the fuel tank. In this way, an effective reduction of sloshing movements of a liquid fuel stored in the fuel tank can be achieved.

Preferably, the baffle plate is arranged perpendicular to at least one wall side of the fuel tank, which runs parallel to a designated direction of travel of a motor vehicle, in which the assembled kit of the fuel tank is to be installed. As a result, a particularly effective reduction of sloshing movements of the fuel can be achieved. For the purposes of this invention, a "vehicle" is to be understood as meaning in particular a passenger car, a lorry or a motor coach.

In a preferred embodiment, the holding device and the at least one baffle plate are rigidly connected to each other. As a result, a simple construction of the anti-sloshing device and a simple installation of the anti-sloshing device can be achieved.

When the baffle plate has a plurality of through openings, a particularly effective reduction of an amplitude of sloshing movements of the fuel stored in the fuel tank can be achieved.

For the purposes of the invention, the term "plurality" is to be understood in particular as meaning a number of at least two. Preferably, the number of through holes is between five and several hundred, and, more preferably, between ten and 100.

In embodiments of the invention, the at least one baffle plate is formed substantially rectangular. A longer side of the baffle plate is arranged in the installed state of the anti-sloshing device perpendicular to a center line of the at least one additional opening. Thereby, an effective reduction of sloshing movements of the fuel can be achieved over a large part of an expansion of the fuel tank, which is determined in a direction parallel to the baffle plate.

For the purposes of this invention, "substantially rectangular" is to be understood in particular as meaning that a deviation of an amount of a surface of the baffle plate (possibly including the area of passage openings) from an amount of a minimal rectangular shape enclosing the baffle plate is less than 20%, preferably less than 15%, and, more preferably, less than 10%.

In preferred embodiments of the kit of a fuel tank for attaching the anti-sloshing device, a material connection between the support device and the fuel tank is provided. As a result, a manufacturing technology simple, sealing solution for attachment of the anti-sloshing device can be provided on the plastic tank.

For the purposes of this invention, the term "intended for this purpose" should be understood to mean in particular specifically designed or arranged.

A mechanical connection by material bond can be brought about for example by gluing, and / or welding or other suitable methods. In the case of a material bond by means of a welding process, the materials used in the fixture and the fuel tank at the sites to be joined must be suitable for fusion bonding, for example of the same or similar type (eg metallic (steel or aluminum) ) or of thermoplastic plastic materials). A weld joint formed by the mounting device and the fuel tank may be formed as a lap joint or corner joint.

In preferred embodiments of the kit of a fuel tank, a blind flange connection is provided for attachment of the anti-sloshing device, the mounting device having a base plate forming part of the blind flange connection. Blind flange connections have fastening elements and at least one sealing element. As a result, the production of a detachably fixed, sealing attachment of the anti-sloshing device by means of the holding device on the fuel tank is made possible.

In particular, the base plate can serve as a cover part of the blind flange connection, whereby a compact construction of the attachment of the anti-sloshing device can be achieved.

In advantageous embodiments of the kit, the fuel tank consists to a large extent of a thermoplastic material.

For the purposes of the invention, the term "for the most part" is to be understood as meaning in particular a proportion of more than 50% by volume, preferably more than 70% by volume and, with particular preference, more than 90% by volume. In particular, the term is intended to include the possibility that the plastic tank completely, d. H. to 100 vol.%, Made of the thermoplastic material.

When the fuel tank is predominantly made of a thermoplastic material, as a welding method for producing a material connection between the mounting device and the fuel tank, for example, rotary friction welding or ultrasonic welding, among other suitable plastic welding methods. A weld joint formed by the mounting device and the fuel tank may be formed as a lap joint or corner joint. For example, HDPE (High Density Polyethylene), either alone or, if appropriate, in combination with ethylene-vinyl alcohol copolymer (EVAL), can be used as thermoplastic material.

In preferred embodiments of the kit, the at least one additional opening has an elongated opening cross-section. As a result, with an equally large cross-sectional area of the additional opening, a baffle plate with a larger dimension can be introduced through the additional opening into the fuel tank than in the case of a circular additional opening.

Preferably, the elongated shaped opening cross-section may be formed substantially rectangular. Advantageously, a ratio of a largest dimension of the Opening cross-section to a smallest dimension of the opening cross-section (in the case of a rectangular configuration, the ratio of the long rectangle side to the short rectangle side) between 3: 2 and 5: 1.

In a further aspect of the invention, a fuel tank with at least one anti-sloshing device mounted from the outside is proposed, wherein the fuel tank comprises a previously disclosed kit according to the invention in an assembled state.

The advantages described in connection with the disclosure of the kit of a fuel tank apply to the full extent for the fuel tank with at least one externally mountable anti-sloshing device.

Of course, the invention is also applicable to other containers in which a liquid, viscous or loose content is stored, which may get in motion during travel movements of the transporting vehicle. In this respect, z. As well as drinking water tanks or grain tanks on commercial vehicles of the invention may be included, with several anti-sloshing devices may be provided.

• 1a einen erfindungsgemäßen Bausatz eines Kraftstofftanks zu Beginn eines Montagevorgangs in einer schematisierten Ansicht,
• 1b den erfindungsgemäßen Bausatz des Kraftstofftanks gemäß der 1a zu einem späteren Zeitpunkt des Montagevorgangs,
• 1c den erfindungsgemäßen Bausatz des Kraftstofftanks gemäß der 1a nach einem Abschluss des Montagevorgangs, und
• 2 ein schematisiertes Detail des fertig montierten Kraftstofftanks gemäß den 1a bis 1c,
• 3 den fertig montierten Bausatz des Kraftstofftanks in einer perspektivischen Ansicht von unten.

Further advantageous embodiments of the invention are disclosed in the subclaims and the following description of the figures. Show it:

• 1a a kit according to the invention of a fuel tank at the beginning of a mounting operation in a schematic view,
• 1b the kit according to the invention of the fuel tank according to the 1a at a later stage of the assembly process,
• 1c the kit according to the invention of the fuel tank according to the 1a after completion of the assembly process, and
• 2 a schematic detail of the fully assembled fuel tank according to the 1a to 1c .
• 3 the finished assembled kit of the fuel tank in a perspective view from below.

In the different figures, the same parts are always provided with the same reference numerals, which is why these are usually described only once.

1a shows a kit according to the invention of a fuel tank 10 at the beginning of an assembly process.

The kit of the fuel tank 10 includes a fuel tank 12 with a filling opening (not shown) arranged on an upper wall side. In 1a are in particular a lower wall side 18 and adjoining, lateral wall sides 20 . 22 of the fuel tank 12 shown. The fuel tank 12 consists to a large extent of a thermoplastic material, eg. HDPE, and was prepared by rotational molding, by way of example. The fuel tank 10 is intended for installation in a motor vehicle designed as a passenger car. The fuel tank 12 In principle has a cuboid shape with a plurality of indentations and bulges, which by a packaging of the fuel tank 10 are conditioned in the motor vehicle. When installed, the fuel tank points 12 in the intended direction of travel of the motor vehicle to a greater extent length than transverse to it. In the 1a the intended direction of travel runs perpendicular to the plane of the drawing.

Further, the kit of the fuel tank points 10 an anti-sloshing device 24 on. The anti-sloshing device 24 includes a baffle plate 26 ( 2 ), which are formed substantially rectangular in shape and with a plurality of z. B. eleven circular through holes 28 Equipped with identical diameter. The flapper 26 can be made of a metal sheet (eg of steel) or of a thermoplastic material, for example of HDPE.

Furthermore, the anti-sloshing device comprises 24 a mounting device 30 used to hold the anti-sloshing device 24 at the fuel tank 12 is provided. The mounting device 30 has a carrier formed substantially in the form of a straight truncated pyramid with a rectangular base 32 on, with the top surface of the truncated pyramid eccentrically with the baffle plate 26 is rigidly connected. For reasons of saving material and to improve the strength with the same use of material, the side surfaces of the truncated pyramid may have a convex curvature and the edges of the side surfaces may be rounded. In the carrier 32 Of course, through holes can be introduced.

At the base of the designed as a truncated pyramid support 32 has the mounting device 30 a base plate 34 on that with the carrier 32 is rigidly connected. An area of the base plate 34 is larger than the base of the carrier 32 , The carrier 32 is centric on the base plate 34 arranged so that the base plate 34 on all sides laterally over the carrier 32 protrudes.

The fuel tank 12 is on its lower wall side 18 with an additional opening 14 Mistake ( 1a ). The additional opening 14 is slit-like and has an elongated shaped, namely formed as a rectangle opening cross section through which the baffle plate 26 and the carrier 32 the anti-sloshing device 24 in the fuel tank 12 are insertable. The insertion takes place as in the 1a indicated with one from the carrier 32 further narrow side of the flapper 26 ahead and by subsequent rotation of the entire anti-sloshing device 24 ,

The base plate 34 the mounting device 30 consists, by way of example, completely, ie 100%, of HDPE ( 2 ). The surface of the base plate 34 is larger than an area of the opening cross section of the additional opening 14 , In an inserted state of the anti-sloshing device 24 in the fuel tank 12 is the base plate 34 therefore outside of the fuel tank 12 arranged while the flapper 26 and a majority of the wearer 32 in an interior of the fuel tank 12 are arranged. Like from the 2 it can be seen a longer side of the baffle plate 26 in the installed state of the anti-sloshing device 24 perpendicular to a center line 16 the additional opening 14 arranged. The flapper 26 is arranged transversely to the intended direction of travel of the motor vehicle.

The anti-sloshing device 24 is in the partially inserted state by means of the mounting device 30 at the fuel tank 12 attachable from the outside. For attaching the anti-sloshing device 24 is a material connection between the base plate 34 the mounting device 30 and the fuel tank 12 provided by means of a plastic welding process, between the two components made of HDPE. This form the base plate 34 and an area of the fuel tank 12 around the additional opening 14 around a lap 36 (in 1c dashed bordered region). It can also be provided an adhesive bond, or a combination of adhesive bond.

In an alternative embodiment may be provided for attaching the anti-sloshing device to the fuel tank, a blind flange, wherein the base plate part of the blind flange and between the base plate and the region of the fuel tank to the additional opening a seal is provided.

3 shows the fully assembled fuel tank kit 10 with the anti-sloshing device mounted from the outside 24 in a perspective view from below. A dimension of the longer side of the baffle plate 26 is about 50% of a transversely to the intended direction of travel width of the fuel tank 12 , whereby an effective reduction of sloshing movements of the fuel can be achieved.

LIST OF REFERENCE NUMBERS

10

Fuel tank

12

Fuel tank

14

additional opening

16

center line

18

lower wall side

20

lateral wall side

22

lateral wall side

24

Anti-Schwappvorrichtung

26

flapper

28

Through opening

30

mounting device

32

carrier

34

baseplate

36

lap

QUOTES INCLUDE IN THE DESCRIPTION

This list of the documents listed by the applicant has been generated automatically and is included solely for the better information of the reader. The list is not part of the German patent or utility model application. The DPMA assumes no liability for any errors or omissions.

Cited patent literature

• US 9168830 [0004]
• DE 10128308 A1 [0005]
• JP 2005170084 [0006]
• US 6408979 B1 [0007]
• US 7946381 [0008]

Claims (10)

Kit of a fuel tank (10) with at least one externally mountable anti-sloshing device (24), comprising a fuel tank (12) with a filling opening, and at least one anti-sloshing device (24) with a holding device (30) for holding the anti-sloshing device (24) on the fuel tank (12), characterized in that the fuel tank (12) has at least one additional opening (14) through which the anti-sloshing device (24) at least partially into the fuel tank (12) is insertable, and that the Anti-sloshing device (24) in the at least partially introduced state by means of the holding device (30) on the fuel tank (12) can be fastened from the outside. Kit of a fuel tank (10) after Claim 1 , characterized in that the at least one anti-sloshing device (24) comprises at least one baffle plate (26), which is arranged in an installed state in the interior of the fuel tank (12). Kit of a fuel tank (10) after Claim 1 or 2 , characterized in that the holding device (30) and the at least one baffle plate (26) are rigidly interconnected. Kit of a fuel tank (10) according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the anti-sloshing device (24) on its baffle plate (26) has a plurality of through openings (28). Kit of a fuel tank (10) according to one of Claims 2 to 4 , characterized in that the at least one baffle plate (26) is formed substantially rectangular and a longer side of the baffle plate (26) in the installed state of the anti-sloshing device (24) perpendicular to a center line (16) of the at least one additional opening (14 ) is arranged. Kit of a fuel tank (10) according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that for securing the anti-sloshing device (24) is provided a material connection between the support device (30) and the fuel tank (12). Kit of a fuel tank (10) according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that for attachment of the anti-sloshing device (24) on the fuel tank (12) is provided a blind flange, wherein the mounting device (30) has a base plate (34), the part the blind flange connection is. Kit of a fuel tank (10) according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the fuel tank (12) consists for the most part of a thermoplastic material. Kit of a fuel tank (10) according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the at least one additional opening (14) has an elongated opening cross-section. A fuel tank (10) having at least one anti-sloshing device (24) mounted externally, characterized in that the fuel tank (10) comprises a mounted kit of a fuel tank (10) according to any one of Claims 1 to 9 having.

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