GB2526198A

GB2526198A - Tank for a vehicle, in particular a commercial vehicle

Info

Publication number: GB2526198A
Application number: GB1506023.9A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Christopher Rieflin
Original assignee: Daimler AG
Current assignee: Mercedes Benz Group AG
Priority date: 2015-04-09
Filing date: 2015-04-09
Publication date: 2015-11-18
Also published as: GB201506023D0

Abstract

A tank 10 for a vehicle, particularly a commercial vehicle, is configured to store at least two liquids, for example fuel and a lubricant. Tank 10 comprises a one-piece plastic shell 12 bounding a first chamber 14 for a first liquid and a second chamber 24 for the second liquid. Second chamber 24 is arranged within and is fluidically separate from first chamber 14, and has an opening 26 on a side 28 of shell 12. A covering element 34 at least partially covers 26, and is connected to shell 12 but formed as a separate component from shell 12; suitably covering element 34 may provide suction, return and fill functions for the secondary cavity formed by second chamber 24. Second chamber 24 may be arranged in a recess in shell 12; alternatively second chamber 24 may form a through opening of shell 12 extending all the way through first chamber 14. Tank 10 provides a lightweight and space-efficient means of storing multiple liquids for use by a vehicle.

Description

Tank for a Vehicle, in particular a Commercial Vehicle The invention relates to a tank for a vehicle, in particular a motor vehicle.

Usually, multiple liquids for a vehicle, in particular a motor vehicle, need to be stored in the vehicle. Thus, in a conventional vehicle multiple individual tanks are used to store the respective liquids. This results in high costs and a large overall installation space required by the respective tanks.

US41 78004 shows a spare fuel tank for a main fuel tank having a fuel inlet and provided with a top wall having an opening therein and a cover plate for covering said opening. The spare tank comprises a vertically elongated container with a bottom, extending vertically inside said main fuel tank and being fixed to said cover plate. The spare fuel tank is of size passable through said opening as a prefabricated entirety.

Moreover, US6886582B2 shows a spare fuel tank having small box geometry installed in a corner of a main fuel tank. The spare fuel tank comprises a fuel inlet, two air filters made of metal sponge, a floating valve, and a solenoid valve physically connected to a fuel injection pipe of the main fuel tank and electrically connected to a manually operated on/off switch on driver's gauge panel.

It is an object of the present invention to provide a tank by means of which multiple liquids can be stored in a particularly space-efficient and cost-effective manner.

This object is achieved by a tank having the features of patent claim 1. Advantageous embodiments with expedient developments of the invention are indicated in the other patent claims.

The invention relates to a tank of a vehicle, in particular a motor vehicle. The tank is configured to store at least two liquids. In other words, the tank is configured to store multiple liquids which are, for example, different from each other.

The tank according to the present invention comprises a shell which is formed in one piece. The shell is made of a plastic material. In other words, the shell is made of a polymer material. The shell bounds at least one first chamber for a first one of the liquids.

This means the first chamber is configured to receive a first one of the liquids. Moreover, the shell bounds at least one second chamber for the second liquid. In other words, the second chamber is configured to receive the second liquid. The second chamber is arranged within the first chamber. Furthermore, the second chamber is fluidically separate from the first chamber so that the liquids contained in the chambers do not mix. The second chamber per se has at least one opening on at least one side of the shell.

Moreover, the tank comprises at least one covering element configured to cover the opening at least partially. Preferably, at least a major portion of the opening is covered by the covering element. The covering element and the shell are configured as individual components connected with each other.

This means the shell and the covering are not formed in one piece but can be separately manufactured parts which are connected with each other when manufacturing the tank.

Since the shell is formed in one piece the costs and the number of parts of the tank as well as the installation space required by the tank can be kept particularly low. Thereby, multiple liquids such as, for example, fuel and oil can be stored by means of the tank according to the present invention in a particularly space-efficient and cost-effective manner. Individual separate vessels which cost more, weigh more and consume more space than the tank according to the present invention can be avoided. This applies to the vessels themselves, the equipment for securing each of the vessels to the vehicle, and the need for space between the vessels. Preferably, the plastic material is compatible with all the liquids to be stored in the tank. Moreover, preferably, the shell is produced by injection or rotationalmoulding so that the shell can be produced in a particularly cost-effective way.

In an advantageous embodiment of the invention the second chamber per se is configured as an indentation of the shell, the indentation having the opening on one side and being bounded by a bottom on the other side of the shell, wherein the bottom is formed by the shell. This means the shell forms the bottom and lateral walls laterally bounding the second chamber, wherein the bottom and the lateral walls are formed in one piece.

In a further advantageous embodiment of the invention the second chamber per so is configured as a through opening of the shell, the through opening extending all the way through the first chamber. The through opening has the opening on one side and a second opening on the other side of the shell, wherein the tank comprises a second covering element configured to cover the second opening at least partially. The covering elements and the shell are configured as individual components connected with each other. This means the shell forms lateral walls laterally bounding the second chamber.

Moreover, the second chamber can be bounded or covered at least partially by the respective covering elements.

In a further advantageous embodiment of the invention the first chamber has at least one through opening by means of which the first liquid can enter or exit the first chamber.

Further advantages, features, and details of the invention derive from the following description of a preferred embodiment as well as from the drawing. The features and feature combinations previously mentioned in the description as well as the features and feature combinations mentioned in the following description of the figure and/or shown in the figure alone can be employed not only in the respectively indicated combination but also in other combination or taken alone without leaving the scope of the invention.

The drawing shows in the only Fig. a schematic perspective view of a tank for a vehicle, the tank being configured to store at least two liquids and comprising a shell formed in one piece, the shell bounding two chambers for the respective liquids.

The only Fig. shows in a schematic perspective view a tank 10 for a vehicle such as, for example, a motor vehicle. For example, the motor vehicle is a commercial vehicle.

Alternatively, the motor vehicle is a passenger vehicle. As will be described in the following in greater detail the tank 10 is configured to store a first liquid and a second liquid. Preferably, the liquids are different from each other. For example, the first liquid is a liquid fuel, wherein the second liquid is a lubricant such as oil. In order to store said liquids in a particularly space-efficient and cost-effective manner the tank 10 comprises a shell 12 which is formed in one piece. The shell 12 is made of a plastic material, wherein, preferably, the shell 12 is produced by injection or rotational moulding. The shell 12 bounds a first chamber 14 of the tank 10, wherein the first chamber 14 is also referred to as a primary cavity of the tank 10. The first chamber 14 is bounded outwardly by lateral walls 1 6a-d, a bottom 18 and a top wall 20 of the shell 12, wherein the lateral walls 1 6a-d, the bottom 18 and the top wall 20 are formed in one piece. Moreover, the first chamber 14 is bounded inwardly by lateral walls 22 of the shell 12. This means the lateral walls 22, the lateral walls 16a-d, the bottom 18 and the top wall 20 are formed in one piece.

Moreover, the shell 12 bounds a second chamber 24 of the tank 10. The second chamber 24 is bounded outwardly by the lateral walls 22. As can be seen from the Fig. the second chamber 24 is arranged in the first chamber 14, wherein the second chamber 24 is fluidically separate from the first chamber. The first chamber 14 is configured to receive the first liquid, wherein the second chamber 24 is configured to receive the second liquid.

Since the chambers 14 and 24 are fluidically separate from each other the liquids contained in the respective chambers 14 and 24 do not mix.

As can be seen from the Fig. the second chamber 24 per se is configured as a through opening extending or running all the way through the first chamber 14 from the top wall 20 to the bottom 18, wherein the through opening penetrates the top wall 20 and the bottom 18. The second chamber 24 is also referred to as a secondary cavity of the tank 10, wherein the primary cavity has a larger volume than the secondary cavity.

In a preferred embodiment, the second chamber 24 has a first opening or first hole 26 on a first side 28 of the shell 12 as well as a second opening or second hole 30 on the other side 32 of the shell 12, the other side 32 facing away from the first side 28. For example, the second chamber 24 is configured as a moulded-in hole running through the primary cavity. While not shown in the Fig., it can also be contemplated that the second chamber has first and second openings or holes that are not located on opposing sides of shell 12.

For instance, second chamber 24 may be oriented vertically, horizontally or diagonally per design specifications with first and second holes or openings 26, 30 located at opposing sides (e.g. 16b and 16d) of shell 12 or adjacent sides (e.g. 16a and 16d) of shell 12. Shell 12 and first and second chambers 14, 24 can also be formed as various geometric shapes known in the art to meet extraneous design needs.

The tank 10 comprises a first covering element 34 configured to cover the first hole 26 at least partially. As can be seen from the Fig. the first covering element 34 and the shell 12 are configured as individual components connected with each other or configured to be connected with each other. Preferably, the covering element 34 is configured as a multi- function device configured to seal off the top hole 26 of the secondary cavity, the multi-function device providing suction, return, fill, etc. functions for the secondary cavity which is also referred to as an auxiliary cavity. Preferably, the multi-function device provides for refilling, suction flow and filtration, return flow, heating, level sensing, temperature sensing, and/or any other functions demanded by application. It is contemplated but not shown in the Fig. that perhaps due to space limitations the functions of the multi-function device may have to be split amongst multiple devices. For instance, the refill cap may have to be placed at a different location on shell 12 that is not directly connected to opening 26, e.g. on shell 12 lateral wall 1 6a. In this scenario a separate fill line would need to be installed from this new lateral wall 16a opening, formed through cavity 14, and connected to cavity 24.

Moreover, the tank 10 comprises a second covering element in the form of a cap 36 configured to cover and seal the bottom hole 30 so that the second chamber 24 is covered or closed on the second side 32 by means of the cap 36. In other words, the bottom of the through opening forming the second chamber 24 is sealed with the cap 36 to create at least one separate and integral fluid cavity within a main body formed by the shell 12. This can be a permanent or non-permanent seal. The seal is obtained by known methods such as a gasket, an 0-ring or welding of the cap 36 directly to the shell 12. The covering element 34, the shell 12 and the cap 36 are configured as individual components connected with each other. This means the shell 12, the covering element 34 and the cap 36 are not formed in one piece, but as individual components configured to be connected with each other.

The shell 12 further forms a port 38 of the tank 10, the port 38 bounding a through opening of the first chamber 14. For example, the first chamber 14 can be supplied by the first liquid by the through opening formed by the port 38. The tank 10 further comprises a third covering element in the form of a filler cap 40 configured to be reversibly connected to the shell 12, in particular the port 38 thereby covering the through opening bounded by the port 38. In other words, the filler cap 40 can be mounted on and dismounted from the port 38 in a non-destructive manner.

Since the shell 12 is formed in one piece multiple liquids can be stored by the tank 10 in a particularly cost-effective and space-efficient way. Moreover, the number of parts, the weight of the tank 10 as well as the installation space required by the tank 10 can be kept particularly low.

List of reference signs tank 12 shell 14 first chamber 1 Sa-d lateral wall 18 bottom top wall 22 lateral walls 24 second chamber 26 first hole 28 side second hole 32 side 34 covering element 36 cap 38 port filler cap

Claims

Claims A tank (10) for a vehicle, the tank (10) being configured to store at least two liquids and comprising: -a shell (12) formed in one piece, the shell being made of a plastic material and bounding: o at least one first chamber (14) for a first one of the liquids; and o at least one second chamber (24) for a second liquid, the second chamber (24) being arranged in and fluidically separate from the first chamber (14) and having at least one opening (26) on at least one side (28) of the shell (12); and -at least one covering element (34) configured to cover the opening (26) at least partially, the covering element (34) and the shell (12) being configured as individual components connected with each other.
2. The tank (10) according to claim 1, wherein the second chamber (24) per se is configured as an indentation of the shell (12), the indentation having the opening (26) on one side (28) and being bounded on another side (32), the another side (32) being formed by the shell (12).
3. The tank (10) according to claim 1 wherein the second chamber (24) per se is configured as a through opening of the shell, the through opening extending all the way through the first chamber (14) and having: -the opening (26) on one side (28); and -a second opening (30) on another side (32)Swherein the tank (10) comprises a second covering element (36) configured to cover the second opening (30) at least partially, and wherein the covering elements (34, 36) and the shell (12) are configured as individual components connected with each other.
4. The tank (10) according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the shell (12) is produced by rotational moulding or injection moulding.
5. The tank (10) according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the first chamber (14) has at least one through opening.
6. A vehicle, in particular a motor vehicle, having at least one tank (10) according to any one of the preceding claims.