SE540648C2

SE540648C2 - Adjustable fuel extraction unit for a fuel tank

Info

Publication number: SE540648C2
Application number: SE1651649A
Authority: SE
Inventors: Colling Morgan; Stolth Johannes; JACOBSSON Pierre; RAMFELT Göran
Original assignee: Scania Cv Ab
Priority date: 2016-12-15
Filing date: 2016-12-15
Publication date: 2018-10-09
Also published as: DE102017011250A1; SE1651649A1

Abstract

The invention relates to an adjustable fuel extraction unit (5) for extracting fuel from a tank (3), the tank (3) comprising a tank wall (11) which is provided with a top surface (13) and a bottom surface (15). The extraction unit (5) being arranged to the tank (3) at an opening in the tank wall (11), wherein the extraction unit (5) comprises a valve unit (17) for leading fuel from and into the tank (3), and a pipe element (19) arranged to extend from a first end (21) arranged at the valve unit (17) towards a second end (23) arranged at a distance (d) from the bottom surface (15) of the tank (3). The pipe element (19) having a length (L) which is in the range of about a shortest distance between the valve unit (17) and the bottom surface (15) of the tank (3) to about a longest distance between the valve unit (17) and the bottom surface (15) of the tank (3). The adjustable fuel extraction unit (5) further comprises an adjustable joint element (27) arranged between the valve unit (17) and the pipe element (19), wherein said adjustable joint element (27) is pivotable so that an angle (a) of the pipe element (19) may be adjusted so as to adjust the positioning of the second end (23) of the pipe element (19) within the tank (3). The invention also relates to a fuel tank (3) comprising such an adjustable fuel extraction unit (5), and a vehicle (1) comprising such a fuel tank (3).

Description

ADJUSTABLE FUEL EXTRACTION UNIT FOR A FUEL TANK TECHNICAL FIELD The invention relates to a fuel extraction unit for a fuel tank, a fuel tank with such a fuel extraction unit, and a vehicle with such a fuel tank according to the appended claims.

BACKGROUND AND PRIOR ART Motor vehicles with combustion engines require fuel which generally is stored in a built-in fuel tank of the vehicle. The fuel is thereafter often extracted by means of a pipe or similar which extends down into the tank, wherein it is then distributed to the engine via a piping or tubing system. Such a pipe should ideally not be in contact with the bottom of a fuel tank as it may lead to mechanical failure of said fuel tank due to vibrations, mechanical deformation due to repeated abrasive movement or similar. Such a pipe is therefore generally mounted to be positioned at a short distance above the bottom surface of said fuel tank. However, as different types of vehicles may have fuel tanks of various sizes and/or shapes, such pipes must be of a certain length and shape in accordance to the fuel tank at hand to be able to extract as much fuel as possible. This leads to a need to have a large number of pipes available when assembly of different types of vehicles is being performed at the same manufacturing facility. This in turn increases costs and complexity for such a manufacturing facility where a lot of different pipes need to be manufactured and stored before assembly.

US 2013061951 shows a container for operating liquid or fluid for a motor vehicle which comprises a fuel extraction line for extraction of said liquid or fluid within said container. The extraction line comprises a pipe having a bellows section which enables the pipe to be adjusted in length to be placed at a close distance from the bottom of the container wherein said container could then be of varying size. The extraction line is fastened to the bottom of the container by means of an anchoring mechanism to fixate the length of the extraction line in relation to the size of the container.

There are however drawbacks with the device of according to US 2013061951. As the extraction line is fastened to the container the risk of mechanical failure is increased as vibrations may translate from the bottom of the tank to the extraction line at a higher rate. This also requires a more complex mounting process of the extraction line to the container which is time consuming for an assembly line. Vibrations translating via the extraction line may furthermore be mechanically degenerating to the bellow section of the extraction line as such a construction requires foldable material where a crack in the material is more easily initiated.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION Despite prior art there is a need to develop a fuel extraction unit which may be used for a plurality of fuel tanks having various shapes and sizes. There is also a need for such a fuel extraction unit which is fast and easy to mount to a fuel tank. Furthermore, there is a need for a fuel tank with such a fuel extraction unit and a vehicle with such a fuel tank.

An object of the invention is thus to provide a fuel extraction unit which may be mounted to a plurality of fuel tanks of various shapes and sizes. Another object is to provide a fuel extraction unit which is easy and fast to assemble to a fuel tank. An even further object of the invention is to provide a fuel tank which comprises such a fuel extraction unit, and to provide a vehicle comprising such a fuel tank.

According to a first aspect of the invention an adjustable fuel extraction unit for extracting fuel from a tank is provided. Such a tank comprises a tank wall which is provided with a top surface and a bottom surface. The extraction unit is arranged to the tank at an opening in the tank wall, wherein the extraction unit comprises a valve unit for leading fuel from and into the tank, and a pipe element arranged to extend from a first end arranged at the valve unit towards a second end arranged at a distance from the bottom surface of the tank. The pipe element having a length which is in the range of about a shortest distance between the valve unit and the bottom surface of the tank to about a longest distance between the valve unit and the bottom surface of the tank. The adjustable fuel extraction unit further comprises an adjustable joint element arranged between the valve unit and the pipe element. Said adjustable joint element is pivotable so that an angle of the pipe element, said angle being defined as an angle between an extending direction of the pipe element and a normal to the tank wall at the position were the valve extraction unit is arranged in the tank wall, may be adjusted so as to adjust the positioning of the second end of the pipe element within the tank.

This has the advantage that an adjustable fuel extraction unit is provided, wherein the pipe element may be pivoted within the tank so that the second end of the pipe element may be placed at a suitable distance from the bottom of said tank by means of said pivoting. If the adjustable fuel extraction unit is to be mounted to a tank which is small in size, wherein the distance between the top surface and the bottom surface of said tank is larger than the length of the pipe element, the pipe element may be pivoted as a way to decrease a downwards directed extension of the pipe element within the tank. The fuel extraction unit may thereby be used for tanks of various sizes wherein the downwards directed extension of the pipe element is adjusted by means of the adjustable joint element which tilts the pipe element to a suitable angle which corresponds to the second end of the pipe element being positioned at a suitable position relative the bottom surface of the tank. This further has the advantage that a single pipe element may be used for a large variety of tanks having different sizes. This in turn reduces the amount of different pipe elements needed to adapt the fuel extraction unit for tanks having different size and depth. This provides a fuel extraction unit which is cost effective to manufacture and assemble to different fuel tanks. This furthermore provides a fuel extraction unit which is fast and easy to adjust by means of tilting the pipe element of said fuel extraction unit.

According to another aspect of the invention the adjustable joint element comprises a flexible pipe element.

This has the advantage that the pipe element may easily be tilted to a suitable angle by means of simply flexing the flexible pipe element to a suitable angle. A further advantage is that the pipe element may be tilted in any direction due to the flexible pipe element not having any restriction regarding a tilting direction.

According to yet another aspect of the invention the adjustable joint element is a tube element made of a polymeric material.

This has the advantage that the adjustable joint element may be manufactured in a very cheap and thereby cost effective way due to the material used is a common and cheap manufacturing material. Polymeric materials are also easy to shape and manufacture with high accuracy which provides further manufacturing benefits. A further advantage is that a pipe element in the form of a polymeric tube element also does not have any restriction in regards to tilting direction of the pipe.

According to yet another aspect of the invention the adjustable joint element is a bellows tube.

This has the advantage that metallic material may be used for the pipe element and the adjustable joint element as a whole. This is beneficial as the mechanical integrity of the adjustable fuel extraction unit is increased due to reliable material properties of the materials used. A further advantage is that an adjustable joint in the form of a bellows tube element does not have any restriction in regards to tilting direction of the pipe.

According to a further aspect of the invention the adjustable joint element is a hollow swivel.

This has the advantage that the adjustable joint element may be tilted in any direction. A further advantage is that the adjustable joint may be manufactured with very reliable mechanical properties as a hollow swivel may be made of a variety of mechanically reliable types of materials and be manufactured with thick and solid outer walls surrounding the hollow within the swivel providing a very mechanically reliable adjustable joint element.

According to an even further aspect of the invention the adjustable fuel extraction unit further comprises a locking mechanism for fixating the angle of the pipe element.

This has the advantage that the pipe element may be locked in an angle which corresponds to the second end of the pipe being positioned at a correct and suitable location relative the bottom surface of the tank. Thereby mechanical interaction of the pipe element and the bottom surface of the tank may be prevented which is beneficial as mechanical failure thus is avoided, while at the same time positioning the second end of the pipe element in such a way that a maximum amount of fuel can be extracted via said second end of the pipe element, which lowers the amount of wasted fuel within the tank.

According to another aspect of the invention the adjustable joint element comprises two pipe sections, each pipe section comprising a horizontal first end and an angled second end, the angled second end being at an angle ? relative the horizontal first end, wherein the pipe sections are rotationally coupled to each other by the two angled second ends, and the horizontal first end of the pipe section being coupled to the valve unit is rotationally coupled thereto.

This has the advantage that the pipe element may be tilted by means of rotating the two pipe sections with regards to each other. By means of such a relative rotation the angle ? of one pipe section may be added to the angle ? of the other pipe section for a maximum tilt of 2?. On the contrary, the two angles may be aligned opposite each other as a means of counteracting each other, wherein the pipe element extends along a vertical line without tilting. By means of adjusting the alignment of the two pipe sections, the angle of the pipe element relative a vertical line may thus be controlled, wherein the direction of the tilting provided may be controlled by means of rotating the pipe element with regards to the extraction valve unit. Thereby an adjustable joint element is provided, which is very easy to adjust both with regards to the angle of a desired tilt, and the direction of said tilt.

According to yet another aspect of the invention the pipe element further comprises a telescopic end portion wherein the length of the pipe element is adjustable in length by means of an additional length of the telescopic end portion.

This has the advantage that the adjustable fuel extraction unit may be used for an even larger variety of tanks with different sizes. This further has the advantage that the telescopic extension by means of the telescopic end portion may also be used as a means to adjust the distance between the second end of the pipe element and the bottom surface of the tank, which is beneficial as the second end of the pipe element may then be positioned in a location where maximum fuel uptake may be further improved.

According to a further aspect of the invention a fuel tank is provided, which fuel tank comprises an adjustable fuel extraction unit according to the invention.

This has the advantage that a fuel tank is provided which is very cost effective to manufacture due to the adjustable fuel extraction unit thereto may be manufactured without the need to modify said extraction unit as a result of varying size and shape of the tank. This further has the advantage that the adjustable fuel extraction unit may be used to improve the fuel uptake from a tank as the pipe element of the fuel extraction unit easily can be adjusted so that the second end of the pipe section is positioned in a way where a minimum amount of fuel is left at the bottom of the tank. This provides a fuel tank with high efficiency which at the same time is very cost effective to manufacture, especially in manufacturing facility producing fuel tanks of varying sizes and designs.

According to an even further aspect of the invention a vehicle is provided, which vehicle comprises a fuel tank which comprises an adjustable fuel extraction unit according to the invention.

This has the advantage that a vehicle is provided, which vehicle comprises a fuel tank with a high efficiency due to having an adjustable fuel extraction unit. The adjustable fuel extraction unit being cost effective to manufacture and while also providing a reliable and efficient fuel uptake further provides a vehicle having the same characteristics, namely a reliable and efficient fuel uptake and being cost effective to manufacture.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS Below is a description of, as examples, preferred embodiments of the invention with reference to the enclosed drawings, in which: Figure 1 schematically illustrates a vehicle provided with a fuel tank comprising an adjustable fuel extraction unit according to the invention, Figure 2a-d schematically illustrates fuel tanks of varying geometries provided with adjustable fuel extraction units according to the invention, Figure 3a-c schematically illustrates three examples of adjustable joint elements of an adjustable fuel extraction unit according to the invention, Figure 4a-b schematically illustrates an example of an adjustable joint of an adjustable fuel extraction unit, the adjustable joint being at different angles, according to the invention, Figure 5a-b schematically illustrates two examples of locking mechanisms for fixating the angle of a pipe element according to the invention, Figure 6 schematically illustrates an example of an adjustable fuel extraction unit comprising a telescopic end portion, and Figure 7 schematically illustrates spatial geometry within a hypothetical fuel tank having a cuboid shape and a relationship between lengths of extending directions of a pipe element within said tank according to the invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS OF THE INVENTION Figure 1 schematically illustrates a vehicle 1 provided with a fuel tank 3 comprising an adjustable fuel extraction unit 5 according to the invention. The vehicle 1 comprises a combustion engine 7 which operates with fuel from the fuel tank 3. The fuel extraction unit 5 is arranged to the fuel tank 3 to extract fuel from said tank 3 and provide the engine 7 with said fuel via pipes and/or tubes 9 or similar. The tank 3 comprises a tank wall 11 which is provided with a top surface 13 and a bottom surface 15, wherein the fuel extraction unit 5 is arranged to the tank 3 at an opening in the tank wall 11. In this example the fuel extraction unit 5 is arranged at the top surface 13 of the tank 3, but may be arranged at for example a side surface as well. The fuel extraction unit 5 comprises a valve unit 17 for leading fuel from and into the tank 3, and a pipe element 19 arranged to extend from a first end 21 arranged at the valve unit 17 towards a second end 23 arranged at a distance d from the bottom surface 15 of the tank 3. The tank 3 of the example depicted in figure 1 further comprises a height 25 defined by a distance between the top surface 13 of the tank 3 and the bottom surface 15 of the tank 3. The pipe element 19 as shown has a length L which is longer than the height 25 of the tank 3. Said length L of the pipe element 19 may, according to the invention, be within the range of about a shortest distance between the valve unit 17 and the bottom surface 15 of the tank 3 to about a longest distance between the valve unit 17 and the bottom surface 15 of the tank 3. The adjustable fuel extraction unit 5 further comprises an adjustable joint element 27 arranged between the valve unit 17 and the pipe element 19. The adjustable joint element 27 is pivotable so that an angle ? of the pipe element 19, said angle ? being defined as an angle between an extending direction of the pipe element 19 and a normal N to the tank wall 11 at the position were the valve unit 17 is arranged in the tank wall 11, may be adjusted so as to adjust the positioning of the second end 23 of the pipe element 19 within the tank 3. The second end 23 of the pipe element 19 may thereby be positioned at a suitable distance d from the bottom surface 15 of the tank 3 by means of said pivoting of the adjustable joint element 27, wherein a tilting of the pipe element 19 is provided. This provides a fuel extraction unit 5 which be used for tanks 3 having different heights 25 without the need to replace and/or modify the pipe element 19. If the height 25 of a tank 3 is smaller than the length L of the pipe element 19, said pipe element 19 may still be used for such a tank 3 by means of the adjustable joint element 27 which may tilt the pipe element 19 to elevate the second end 23 of the pipe element 19 from the bottom surface 15 of the tank 3. As long as the length L of the pipe element 19 does not exceed the longest distance between the valve unit 17 and the bottom surface 15 of the tank 3, such an adjustable fuel extraction unit 5 may be arranged to such a tank 3. Thereby a versatile fuel extraction unit 5 is provided, which may be used for tanks 3 of various sizes and shapes, and in the same manner, for vehicles 1 having such tanks 3 of varying sizes and shapes. This thereby provides a fuel extraction unit 5 which is very cost effective to manufacture for tanks 3 and vehicles 1 as the same single model of fuel extraction unit 5 may be arranged to a variety of fuel tanks 3 and vehicles 1 with such fuel tanks 3.

Figure 2a-d schematically illustrates fuel tanks 3 of varying geometries provided with adjustable fuel extraction units 5 according to some embodiments. The geometries shown in figures 2a-d are presented as purely two dimensional, wherein the pipe element 19 of the fuel extraction unit 5 extends substantially along the diagonal of the exemplary fuel tanks 3 depicted. It should however be noted the pipe element 19 may also extend along a space diagonal within a fuel tank 3 as well, which will be expanded upon with reference to figure 7. The exemplary fuel tanks 3 of figures 2a-d are all depicted as rectangular in shape, with rounded corners. However, other geometrical shapes are of course also possible without deviating from the inventive concept of the invention. A fuel tank 3 may for example have a non-horizontal bottom surface 15, or the shape of the fuel tank 3 may be more irregular in shape, such as having a polygonal shape or comprise a round or partly round geometry. The adjustable fuel extraction unit 5 of figures 2a-d may be perceived as the same fuel extraction unit shown in figure 1, comprising a pipe element 19 having a determined length L, the fuel extraction unit 5 being arranged to fuel tanks 3 of various shapes and sizes, wherein the different angles ? shown are achieved by means of an adjustable joint element 27 of the fuel extraction unit 5.

Figure 2a shows a fuel tank 3 comprising a first height H1 and first width W1. As is seen the first height H1 of the fuel tank 3 exceeds the length L of the pipe element 19, wherein no tilting of said pipe element 19 is needed. The second end 23 of the pipe element 19 is positioned at a predetermined distance d from the bottom surface 15 of the fuel tank 3, so as to avoid mechanical contact between the two. The fuel extraction unit 5 may thus extract fuel from the fuel tank 3 as long as the second end 23 of the pipe element 19 is below a fuel surface within the fuel tank 3.

Figure 2b shows a fuel tank comprising a second height H2 and second width W2. As is shown in figure 2b, the second height H2 of the fuel tank 3 is lower than the first height H1 of the fuel tank 3 of figure 2a, wherein the pipe element 19 is tilted to a first angle ?1 by means of the adjustable joint element 27 so as to position the second end 23 of the pipe element 19 at a corresponding predetermined distance d from the bottom surface 15 of the fuel tank 3 of figure 2b. If no such tilting would be present, the second end 23 of the pipe element 19 would risk mechanical contact with the bottom surface 15 of the fuel tank 3 which is to be avoided due to an increased risk of mechanical failure and that the second end 23 of the pipe element 19 without tilt would not be able to extract fuel via the second end 23 of the pipe element 19 if said second end 23 would be closed off by means of contact with the bottom surface 15.

Figure 2c shows a fuel tank comprising a third height H3 and third width W3. As is shown in figure 2c, the third height H3 of the fuel tank 3 is even lower than the second height H2 of the fuel tank 3 of figure 2b, wherein the pipe element 19 is tilted to a second angle ?2 by means of the adjustable joint element 27 so as to position the second end 23 of the pipe element 19 at a corresponding predetermined distance d from the bottom surface 15 of the fuel tank 3 of figure 2c. If no such tilting would be present in the example shown in figure 2c, the second end 23 of the pipe element 19 would extend longer than the third height H3 making mounting of the fuel extraction unit 5 to the fuel tank 3 of figure 2c impossible. It is thus shown that the adjustable joint element 27 of the adjustable fuel extraction unit 5 thereby provides a way of making it possible to mount the fuel extraction unit 5 to a larger variety of fuel tanks 3 compared to if the adjustment was not possible, without altering the length L of the pipe element 19.

Figure 2d shows a fuel tank 3 comprising a fourth height H4 and fourth width W4. As is shown in figure 2d, the fourth height H4 of the fuel tank 3 is even lower than the third height H3 of the fuel tank 3 of figure 2c, wherein the pipe element 19 is tilted to a third angle ?3 by means of the adjustable joint element 27 so as to position the second end 23 of the pipe element 19 at a corresponding predetermined distance d from the bottom surface 15 of the fuel tank 3 of figure 2d.

The four examples depicted in figures 2a-d shows examples where the widths W1, W2, W3, W4 do not interfere with the tilting of the pipe element 19. It should also be obvious that said widths W1, W2, W3, W4 may be increased in all four examples without affecting the four above described examples. However, if the second, third or fourth width W2, W3, W4 of the fuel tanks 3 of figures 2b-d respectively, would be decreased in such a way that it would interfere with the tilting of the pipe element 19, the pipe element 19 may also be tilted in a direction substantially along a space diameter of those fuel tanks 3 instead. This will be explained in more detail with reference to figure 7.

Figure 3a-c schematically illustrates three examples of adjustable joint elements 27 of an adjustable fuel extraction unit 5 according to the invention. The adjustable joint elements 27 shown in figures 3a-c are all depicted being mounted to an end portion 29 of a valve unit 17 and the first end 21 of a pipe element 19, wherein the valve unit 17 and the pipe element 19 are only partly shown in the figures.

Figure 3a shows an adjustable joint element 27 in the form of a flexible pipe element 27’. Said flexible pipe element 27’ may for example be a tube element made of a polymeric material. Such a flexible pipe element 27’ may be pivoted in any desired direction and is thereby not restricted geometrically by its design or choice of material. Other known types of flexible pipes or tubes are of course also possible to use to achieve this embodiment of the invention.

Figure 3b shows an adjustable joint element 27 in the form of a bellows tube 27”. Such a bellows tube 27” may be made of a metallic material or a polymeric material, or a composite combination of materials. Such a bellows tube 27” may be manufactured in a wide variety of ways to achieve different properties for the adjustable joint element 27. The separate sections of the bellows construction may for example be of different size, and the wall thickness of the material used may be of different thickness to achieve a larger or smaller resistance in the construction when tilting the pipe element 19. The bellows tube 27” may further be covered and/or coated with an additional protective layer if deemed necessary, such as for example a metallic mesh. A bellows tube 27” may, similar to a flexible pipe or tube element, also be pivoted in any direction needed, which is beneficial as it makes the fuel extraction unit 5 easy to use and adjust when such an adjustment is needed.

Figure 3c shows an adjustable joint element 27 in the form of a hollow swivel 27”’. The hollow swivel 27”’ is shown in a cross sectional view, wherein an inner channel 31 of the hollow swivel 27’” is more clearly shown. Such a hollow swivel 27’” may be manufactured as a sturdy and reliable mechanical component which provides an adjustable joint element 27 which in turn provides accurate and reliable adjustments of a pipe element 19. As should be obvious, the hollow swivel 27’” may also comprise additional seals and/or bushings to prevent leakage from the movable parts of the joint (not shown in figure 3c).

Figure 4a-b schematically illustrates an example of an adjustable joint element 27 of an adjustable fuel extraction unit 5, the adjustable joint element 27 being at different angles. The adjustable joint element 27 shown in figures 4a-b comprises two pipe sections 33, each pipe section 33 comprising a horizontal first end 35 and an angled second end 37, the angled second end 37 being at an angle ? relative the horizontal first end 35. The pipe sections 33 are rotationally coupled to each other by the two angled second ends 37, and the horizontal first end 35 of the pipe section 33 being coupled to the valve unit 17 is rotationally coupled thereto. The pipe section 33 coupled to the valve unit 17 is coupled thereto via the end portion 29 in a similar manner as the adjustable joint elements 27 described with reference to figures 3a-c.

The adjustable joint element 27 as shown in figure 4a is depicted in an angle neutral position, wherein the angle ? of the two pipe sections 33 cancel each other out and provides an adjustable joint element 27 and a pipe element 19 which both extend in a direction along a normal N to a tank wall where the fuel extraction unit 5 is arranged. The two pipe sections 33 are rotationally coupled to each other wherein they may be rotated in relation to each other about a rotational axis 39, wherein the extending direction 41 of the lower one of the two pipe sections 33 will be altered. If the two pipe sections 33 are rotated so as to achieve the maximum amount of tilt of a pipe element 19 being coupled to the lower pipe section 33, said maximum amount of tilt will correspond to the angle ? multiplied by two relative the normal N, which is shown in figure 4b. As the two pipe sections 33 are rotationally coupled to be rotated about the rotational axis 39 which in turn is tilted at an angle ? relative the normal N, the extending direction 41 of the pipe element 19 when rotated will change to be extending along a circumferential of a cone shape, which cone is spanned by the extending direction 41 of the lower pipe section 33 and the normal N. The pipe element 19 will thus move in a three dimensional space when adjusted. This means that the pipe element 19 may not be merely tilted to its desired position in a two dimensional plane.

However, as the horizontal first end 35 of the pipe section 33 being coupled to the valve unit 17 is rotationally coupled thereto, the adjustable joint element 27 may also be rotated by means of the coupling between the adjustable joint element 27 and the valve unit 17 to adjust the direction of the tilt of the pipe element 19, when a desired angle is achieved by means of the rotation between the two pipe sections 33. Thereby the tilt of the pipe element 19 may be adjusted both with regards to the angle of said tilt, and with regards to the direction of said tilt. This provides an adjustable joint element 27 which may be used to adjust an angle and the direction of said angle in a very reliable and accurate manner, the angle of the tilt provided being in the range of -2? to 2? seen in a two dimensional plane going through the normal N to the fuel extraction unit 5. Said angle ? of the pipe sections 33 may for example preferably be about 22,5° wherein a maximum angle of about 45° may be achieved by the adjustable joint element 27. However, the angle may be as large as 45° so as to be able to provide a 90° angle between the normal N and the extending direction 41 of the pipe element 19 if desired.

Figure 5a-b schematically illustrates two examples of locking mechanisms 43 for fixating the angle ? of a pipe element 19 according to the invention. The locking mechanism 43 shown in figure 5a comprises a first arm member 45 and a second arm member 47, rotationally coupled to each other by means of a pivot joint 49. Said pivot joint 49 further comprises a first adjustable element 51, which may be in the form of a knob, a lever or similar, which when operated will increase or decrease the frictional forces between the first and second arm members 45, 47 so as to lock or unlock said lockable pivot joint 49. The first arm member 45 is coupled to an end portion 29 of the valve unit 17 by means of a first locking device 53, wherein it may be rotated around said end portion 29 about the normal N extending through a center of said end portion 29. Said first locking device 53 may be locked to, and released from, the end portion 29 by means of adjusting a second adjustable element 55, which when operated will increase or decrease the frictional forces between the first locking device 51 and the end portion 29 of the valve unit 17 so as to lock or unlock said first locking device 53.

The locking mechanism 43 shown in figure 5a further comprises a second locking device 57, arranged at the first end 21 of the pipe element 19 in a similar manner as how the first locking device 53 is arranged to the end portion 29 of the valve unit 17. The second locking device 57 may further be perceived to also operate in a similar manner as the first locking device 53 by operating a third adjustable element 59 of the second locking device 57. The locking mechanism 43 of figure 5a may thereby be rotated around the end portion 29, the adjustable joint element 27 and the first end 21 of the pipe element 19, wherein the locking mechanism 43 thereby may be aligned with a desired direction of tilting of the pipe element 19. Then pipe element 19 may thereafter be tilted to a desired angle ?, and the locking mechanism 43 may thereafter be locked so as to lock the desired angle ? in place. Thereby a predetermined distance between the second end of the pipe element and bottom surface of a fuel tank to which the fuel extraction unit is arranged may be set and secured.

The locking mechanism 43 shown in figure 5b comprises a first arm member 45’ and a second arm member 47’, rotationally coupled to each other by means of a pivot joint 49’. The second arm member 47’ of this locking mechanism 43 further comprises two branched secondary arm elements 61, comprising a plurality of holes 63 arranged in an arch about the pivot joint 49’ of the arm members 45’, 47’. The first arm member 45’ further comprises a spring loaded protrusion 65 arranged to fit to the size and shape of the plurality of holes 63 of the second arm member 49’. The spring loaded protrusion 65 may be pushed down towards the first arm member 45’ wherein the second arm member 47’ may pivot freely about the pivot joint 49’ of the arm members 45’, 47’. When a desired angle ? is achieved the pressure applied to the spring loaded protrusion 65 is released wherein the protrusion 65 is pushed into one of the holes 63, corresponding to the angle ? to be set. The spring loaded protrusion 65 will thereafter interlock the two arm members 45’, 47’ by means of form fitting with said hole 63, wherein the locking mechanism 43 is locked at the set angle ?. The locking mechanism 43 shown in figure 5b further comprises a first and a second locking device 53, 57, similar to the first and second locking devices 53, 57 of the locking mechanism 43 of figure 5a.

It should be noted however that the first and second locking devices 53, 57, of both figure 5a and figure 5b respectively, also may be made working on the same principle as the interlocking of the two arm members 45’, 47’ of the locking mechanism 43 of figure 5b. Said first and second locking devices 53, 57 may also be locked to the end portion 29 of the valve unit 17 and the first end 21 of the pipe element 19 by means of using additional fastening elements such as screws or similar. This might be beneficial for cases such as when a desired angle ? of the pipe element 19 is known beforehand and no subsequent alterations of said angle ? are to be made at a later point in time. Furthermore, if the adjustable fuel extraction unit 5 is to be used for fuel tanks 3 where the adjustment of the angle ? of the pipe element 19 always will be performed in the same two dimensional plane, the first and second locking devices 53, 57 may not be needed at all, and the arm members 45, 47, 45’, 47’ may be fixed to the end portion 29 of the valve unit 17 and the first end 21 of the pipe element 19 as parts of the respective structural elements.

Figure 6 schematically illustrates an example of an adjustable fuel extraction unit 5 further comprising a telescopic end portion 67. The fuel extraction unit 5 depicted in figure 6 may be perceived as any of the previously described fuel extraction units 5 with reference to figures 1 -5, with the additional feature of comprising the telescopic end portion 67. The telescopic end portion 67 is arranged to the second end 23 of the pipe element 19 wherein it may be pushed into, or out of, the pipe element 19 so as to modify the total length of the pipe element 19. This is beneficial if the fuel extraction unit 5 is to be arranged to a fuel tank 3 having a large size. The telescopic end portion 67 is in this example shown to be a pipe section having a smaller diameter than the pipe element 19 wherein the telescopic end portion 67 is arranged to slide within the pipe element 19. However, as should be obvious, the telescopic end portion 67 may instead have a larger diameter than the pipe element 19 and thus slide on the outer circumference of the pipe element 19 instead. A suitable locking element (not shown) may further be arranged at the pipe element 19 to lock the telescopic end portion 67 to the pipe element 19.

Figure 7 schematically illustrates spatial geometry within a hypothetical fuel tank 3 having a cuboid shape and a relationship between lengths of extending directions of a pipe element 19 within said tank according to the invention. The tank 3 comprises a top surface 13 and a bottom surface 15, wherein the top surface 13 is provided with a point P where a fuel extraction unit 5 is exemplified to be positioned. From said point P a first extending direction 69 is seen, extending straight down from the top surface 13 towards the bottom surface 15, parallel with a normal N to the top surface 13 of the tank 3 at the point P. A second extending direction 71 is also exemplified, extending substantially along a diagonal of a side surface of the cuboid tank 3. Lastly, a third extending direction 73 is exemplified, extending substantially along the space diagonal of the cuboid tank 3. As it is shown in figure 7, the length of the first, second and third extending directions 69, 71, 73 are different dependent on the direction within a cuboid tank 3. However, as should be obvious, if a length of a pipe element of an adjustable fuel extraction unit is held constant, the volume of the tank may instead be seen as dependent on said length of the pipe element, wherein a tank having a much smaller volume may be used if the extending direction is aligned with a space diagonal within said tank instead of for example going straight from a top surface towards a bottom surface.

It should also be noted that the examples shown in figures 2a-d may be viewed as the pipe element 19 being tilted to extend along space diagonals within a fuel tank 3, wherein the figures 2a-d may be seen as planes taken along said space diagonals. If a variety of fuel tanks 3 are to be manufactured, wherein said tanks 3 vary in size, the same pipe element 19 may thus be used for a large variety of tank volumes. The length L of the pipe element 19 may simply be chosen based on the first extending direction 69 within the largest tank 3 to be manufactured, wherein it is tilted along the second or third extending directions 71, 73 as exemplified in figure 7 if the chosen length would hit the bottom surface 15 of the of the tank 3 if not tilted. Thereby manufacturing costs may be lowered as an adjustable fuel extraction unit 5 is provided which may use the same pipe element 19 instead of having the need for a large variety of pipe elements 19 having different lengths L. If the variation of sizes are so large so the different extending direction are not enough to cover said variations, the fuel extraction unit 5 may further be provided with the telescopic end portion 67 as described with reference to figure 6 so as to be able to cover an even larger span of sizes with the same fuel extraction unit 5.

As should be realized, the components and features specified above may within the framework of the invention be combined between the different embodiments specified.

Claims

1. An adjustable fuel extraction unit (5) for extracting fuel from a tank (3), the tank (3) comprising a tank wall (11) which is provided with a top surface (13) and a bottom surface (15), the extraction unit (5) being arranged to the tank (3) at an opening in the tank wall (11), wherein the extraction unit (5) comprises a valve unit (17) for leading fuel from and into the tank (3), and a pipe element (19) arranged to extend from a first end (21) arranged at the valve unit (17) towards a second end (23) arranged at a distance (d) from the bottom surface (15) of the tank (3), the pipe element (19) having a length (L) which is in the range of about a shortest distance between the valve unit (17) and the bottom surface (15) of the tank (3) to about a longest distance between the valve unit (17) and the bottom surface (15) of the tank (3), characterized in that the adjustable fuel extraction unit (5) further comprises an adjustable joint element (27) arranged between the valve unit (17) and the pipe element (19), wherein said adjustable joint element (27) is pivotable so that an angle (a) of the pipe element (19), said angle (a) being defined as an angle between an extending direction of the pipe element (19) and a normal (N) to the tank wall (11) at the position were the valve unit (17) is arranged in the tank wall (11), may be adjusted so as to adjust the positioning of the second end (23) of the pipe element (19) within the tank (3).

2. The adjustable fuel extraction unit (5) according to claim 1, wherein the adjustable joint element (27) comprises a flexible pipe element (27’).

3. The adjustable fuel extraction unit (5) according to claim 2, wherein the adjustable joint element (27) is a tube element made of a polymeric material.

4. The adjustable fuel extraction unit (5) according to claim 1, wherein the adjustable joint element is a bellows tube (27”).

5. The adjustable fuel extraction unit (5) according to claim 1, wherein the adjustable joint element (27) is a hollow swivel (27”’).

6. The adjustable fuel extraction unit (5) according to any of claims 2-5, wherein the adjustable fuel extraction unit (5) further comprises a locking mechanism (43) for fixating the angle (a) of the pipe element (19).

7. The adjustable fuel extraction unit (5) according to claim 1, wherein the adjustable joint element (27) comprises two pipe sections (33), each pipe section (33) comprising a horizontal first end (35) and an angled second end (37), the angled second end (37) being at an angle (?) relative the horizontal first end (35), wherein the pipe sections (33) are rotationally coupled to each other by the two angled second ends (37), and the horizontal first end (35) of the pipe section (33) being coupled to the valve unit (17) is rotationally coupled thereto.

8. The adjustable fuel extraction unit (5) according to any of the preceding claims, wherein the pipe element (19) further comprises a telescopic end portion (67) wherein the length (L) of the pipe element (19) is adjustable in length in by means of an additional length of the telescopic end portion (67).

9. A fuel tank (3) for a vehicle (1), characterized in that it comprises an adjustable fuel extraction unit (5) according to any of claims 1-8.

10. A vehicle (1), characterized in that it comprises a fuel tank (3) according to claim 9.