GB2070536A - A fuel tank - Google Patents

Abstract

In a fuel tank consisting of two shaped parts 1 and 2 which are connected along their margins with their insides facing each other, each of the said parts is saddle-shaped and the two parts are joined together with their shanks 3 and 4, displaced in relation to each other, engaged in one another. Advantageously at least one of the two parts is provided with a continuous marginal strip or flange and at least one of the two parts is provided with stiffening formations. <IMAGE>

Description

SPECIFICATION A fuel tank The invention relates to a fuel tank, especially but not exclusively for a motor vehicle, consisting of two shaped parts which are connected along their margins with their insides facing each other.

Fuel tanks for motor vehicies are known in practice which are composed of two troughshaped moulded parts welded to each other along continuous projecting margins bearing one against the other. The said parts are deep-drawn, which requires the use of materials capable of being deep-drawn.

The present invention seeks to provide a fuel tank, consisting of two shaped parts, such that it can be made also of material which is not capable of being deep-drawn.

According to the invention in a fuel tank consisting of two shaped parts which are connected along their margins with their insides facing each other, each of the said parts is saddleshaped and the two parts are joined together with their shanks, displaced in relation to each other, engaged in one another. With this form of construction, there is a substantially free choice of material and consequently it is, in particular, also possible to make a fuel tank of light metal or alloy in order to reduce its weight.

At least one of the two parts may be provided with a continuous bent-out edge strip or flange.

Such a marginal formation is not necessary for the other part. A marginal portion may be flush with the adjoining wall. The two parts may be connected by welding along their margins.

At least one of the two parts can be provided with stiffen-formations in the form of elongate depressions, ribs or the like.

One embodiment of the invention by way of example will now be more fully described with reference to the accompanying diagrammatic perspective drawing: The motor-vehicle fuel tank 1 illustrated is composed of two shaped, for example moulded, parts 2 and 3. Of these parts, which are of saddleshape as seen in end view, one part 2 is U-shaped as seen in side view and consists of an elongate bottom portion 4 and upstanding shanks 5 and 6 which are located on its narrower sides and are rounded at their upper ends. The margin of the part 2 is provided with a continuous, outwardly bent strip or flange 7. The other, cover, part 3 is of inverted V-shaped cross-section and conforms, with its upper connecting portion 8 curved at 9 and adjoining downwardly extending shanks 10, 11, to the shape of the edges of the shanks 5, 6 of the part 2.The bottom part 2 and cover part 3 are placed one on the other with their insides facing each other and with the shanks 5, 6 and 10, 11 interengaged in their relatively displaced positions and are connected in liquidtight manner, at their continuous margins bearing on each other, by a continuous all-round seam weld. To stiffen the tank 1, the walls of the bottom part 2 and the walls formed by the shanks 10 and 11 of the cover part 3 are provided with stiffening formations 1 2 in the form of elongate depressions, ribs or the like, which may be impressed in the respective walls.

1. A fuel tank consisting of two shaped parts which are connected along their margins with their insides facing each other, v'herein each of the said parts is saddle-shaped and the two parts are joined together with their shanks, displaced in relation to each other, engaged in one another.

2. A tank according to Claim 1, wherein at least one of the two said parts is provided with a continuous marginal strip or flange.

3. A tank according to Claim 1 or 2, wherein at least one of the two parts is provided with stiffening formations.

4. A fuel tank substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to the accompanying drawing.

**WARNING** end of DESC field may overlap start of CLMS **.

Claims (4)

**WARNING** start of CLMS field may overlap end of DESC **. SPECIFICATION A fuel tank The invention relates to a fuel tank, especially but not exclusively for a motor vehicle, consisting of two shaped parts which are connected along their margins with their insides facing each other. Fuel tanks for motor vehicies are known in practice which are composed of two troughshaped moulded parts welded to each other along continuous projecting margins bearing one against the other. The said parts are deep-drawn, which requires the use of materials capable of being deep-drawn. The present invention seeks to provide a fuel tank, consisting of two shaped parts, such that it can be made also of material which is not capable of being deep-drawn. According to the invention in a fuel tank consisting of two shaped parts which are connected along their margins with their insides facing each other, each of the said parts is saddleshaped and the two parts are joined together with their shanks, displaced in relation to each other, engaged in one another. With this form of construction, there is a substantially free choice of material and consequently it is, in particular, also possible to make a fuel tank of light metal or alloy in order to reduce its weight. At least one of the two parts may be provided with a continuous bent-out edge strip or flange. Such a marginal formation is not necessary for the other part. A marginal portion may be flush with the adjoining wall. The two parts may be connected by welding along their margins. At least one of the two parts can be provided with stiffen-formations in the form of elongate depressions, ribs or the like. One embodiment of the invention by way of example will now be more fully described with reference to the accompanying diagrammatic perspective drawing: The motor-vehicle fuel tank 1 illustrated is composed of two shaped, for example moulded, parts 2 and 3. Of these parts, which are of saddleshape as seen in end view, one part 2 is U-shaped as seen in side view and consists of an elongate bottom portion 4 and upstanding shanks 5 and 6 which are located on its narrower sides and are rounded at their upper ends. The margin of the part 2 is provided with a continuous, outwardly bent strip or flange 7. The other, cover, part 3 is of inverted V-shaped cross-section and conforms, with its upper connecting portion 8 curved at 9 and adjoining downwardly extending shanks 10, 11, to the shape of the edges of the shanks 5, 6 of the part 2.The bottom part 2 and cover part 3 are placed one on the other with their insides facing each other and with the shanks 5, 6 and 10, 11 interengaged in their relatively displaced positions and are connected in liquidtight manner, at their continuous margins bearing on each other, by a continuous all-round seam weld. To stiffen the tank 1, the walls of the bottom part 2 and the walls formed by the shanks 10 and 11 of the cover part 3 are provided with stiffening formations 1 2 in the form of elongate depressions, ribs or the like, which may be impressed in the respective walls. CLAIMS

1. A fuel tank consisting of two shaped parts which are connected along their margins with their insides facing each other, v'herein each of the said parts is saddle-shaped and the two parts are joined together with their shanks, displaced in relation to each other, engaged in one another.

2. A tank according to Claim 1, wherein at least one of the two said parts is provided with a continuous marginal strip or flange.

3. A tank according to Claim 1 or 2, wherein at least one of the two parts is provided with stiffening formations.

4. A fuel tank substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to the accompanying drawing.