SE541564C2 - Vehicle fuel tank for two liquids and vehicle comprising such fuel tank - Google Patents

Abstract

Herein a vehicle fuel tank (1) is disclosed comprising a first compartment (C1) for receiving a fuel and a second compartment (C2) for receiving a further liquid related to combustion engine operation. The first compartment (C1) is provided with a first volume (V1) and the second compartment (C2) is provided with a second volume (V2). The first compartment (C1) and the second compartment (C2) have substantially same extension (E) along a first direction (d1), wherein the first compartment (C1) has a first cross sectional area (A1) and the second compartment (C2) has a second cross sectional area (A2), wherein the first and second cross sectional areas (A1, A2) are substantially constant along the first direction (d1), and wherein an area ratio between the first cross sectional area (A1) and the second cross sectional area (A2) substantially corresponds to the volume ratio between the first volume (V1) and the second volume (V2). The present disclosure also relates to a vehicle (25) comprising a vehicle fuel tank (1).

Description

VEHICLE FUEL TANK FOR TWO LIQUIDS AND VEHICLE COMPRISING SUCH FUEL TANK TECHNICAL FIELD The present invention relates to a vehicle fuel tank for two liquids. The present invention also relates to a vehicle comprising a combustion engine and a fuel tank for two liquids.

BACKGROUND Vehicle fuel tanks are used to accommodate fuel in a vehicle. Environmental concerns, as well as environmental legislations of governments, have led to the development of engines using further liquids related to combustion engine operation, such as reducing agents for diesel, and/or ethanol, exhaust gases. Such reducing agents may comprise an aqueous urea solution and may be used as a consumable in a Selective Catalytic Reduction SCR in order to lower nitrogen oxides NOx concentration in exhaust emissions from the internal combustion engine. Usually a vehicle using such reducing agent comprises a first tank for accommodating the fuel and a second tank for accommodating the further liquid, where the first and second tank each is provided with a certain volume. In many jurisdictions, there is a legislation requiring vehicles to be provided with an electronic shut-down system which makes it impossible to drive the vehicle in case the tank accommodating a reducing agent is emptied. Thus, due to such an electronic shut-down system, it becomes impossible to drive such a vehicle if either the fuel or the reducing agent is emptied. Therefore, when producing a vehicle, it is an advantage if the tanks are provided with a volume ratio therebetween corresponding to a consumption ratio between fuel and the reducing agent. Thereby, an operation range of the vehicle can be optimized, given a total volume of the two tanks.

However, many vehicles today are sold in different configurations with different options regarding engines, vehicle layout, etc. Further, tanks from subcontractors usually come in certain fix volumes making it difficult, and in many cases impossible, to find two tanks having a volume ratio therebetween corresponding to a consumption ratio between fuel and the reducing agent. Further, in a production line, it is an advantage if components of a vehicle, such as vehicle fuel tanks, can be provided in a cost-efficient manner, this to be able to provide a competitive end product.

Attempts have been made to solve at least some of the above mentioned problems. For example, the document DE 102006001699 relates to a system for two liquids for a combustion machine. The system comprises a first tank and a second tank with flexible wall portions. The first tank is arranged within the second tank. The combustion machine requires particular amounts of the two liquids. A ratio between the volumes of the first and second tanks is adaptable to correspond to the particular amounts of the two volumes.

Further, the document US 2014318497 relates to a vehicle fuel tank arrangement provided for a fuel that includes at least a first fluid and a second fluid. The tank arrangement includes a tank and a partition wall arranged inside the tank to create at least a first compartment for storing the first fluid and a second compartment for storing the second fluid. The position of the partition wall inside the tank can be changed to set the volume of the first compartment and the second compartment to predetermined values.

Even further, the document US 2002170621 relates to a system and a method for providing fuel and reductant to a vehicle from a fuel dispensing station. The system allows for providing both fluids to a vehicle. The system comprises a first fluid tank and a second fluid tank. The volume of secondary fluid tank is sized to ensure that secondary fluid is substantially always available. The volume of secondary fluid tank is determined based on the product of the volume of primary fluid tank and the maximum ratio of the consumption rate of secondary fluid divided by the consumption rate primary fluid encountered over a relevant vehicle's operating range.

None of the fuel tanks disclosed in these documents fully solves the above mention problems. Accordingly, there is room for improvements regarding vehicle fuel tanks for two liquids.

SUMMARY It is an object of the present invention to provide a vehicle fuel tank for two liquids with a given volume ratio between the two liquids, wherein the given volume ratio is easily provided.

According to the invention, the object is achieved by a vehicle fuel tank comprising a first compartment for receiving a fuel and a second compartment for receiving a further liquid related to combustion engine operation. The first compartment is provided with a first volume for accommodating the fuel. The second compartment is provided with a second volume for accommodating the further liquid. There is a volume ratio between the first volume and the second volume. The first compartment and the second compartment have substantially a same extension along a first direction. The first compartment has a first cross sectional area perpendicularly to the first direction and the second compartment has a second cross sectional area perpendicularly to the first direction. The first and second cross sectional areas are substantially constant along the first direction, and an area ratio between the first cross sectional area and the second cross sectional area substantially corresponds to the volume ratio.

Since the first and second cross sectional areas are substantially constant along the first direction, a vehicle fuel tank is provided in which the volume ratio between the first volume and the second volume is independent from the same extension of the first and second compartments, which thereby facilitates the provision of the given volume ratio. For example, a vehicle only having a certain space available for a fuel tank, can be provided with the vehicle fuel tank where the extension of the vehicle fuel tank is adapted to the certain available space. Since the volume ratio between the first volume and the second volume is independent from the same extension of the first and second compartments, the given volume ratio will automatically be obtained.

Accordingly, a vehicle fuel tank for two liquids is provided with a given volume ratio between the two liquids, wherein the given volume ratio is easily provided.

As a result, the above mentioned object is achieved.

As a further result, different vehicle fuel tanks, with different liquid accommodating capabilities, may be provided in an easy manner simply by adapting the same extension of the first and second compartments. Such different vehicle tanks, capable of accommodating different amounts of fuels and further liquids, will be provided with the same volume ratio between the first and second compartments. Thereby, different vehicle fuel tanks with same volume ratios, e.g. for different vehicles and vehicle configurations, can be provided in a cost-efficient manner simply by choosing different same extensions of the first and second compartments.

The area ratio between the first cross sectional area and the second cross sectional area, and thus also the volume ratio between the first and second volumes, may be arranged to match a consumption ratio between the fuel and the further liquid. Thereby, an operation range of the vehicle comprising the vehicle fuel tank can be optimized, given a total volume of the two tanks. Further, weight is saved since the need for a tank accommodating more further liquid than required is circumvented. Even further, a reduction of surplus volume for the further liquid allows for an increase of volume for the fuel.

The vehicle fuel tank comprises a first inlet, a second inlet, a first outlet, and a second outlet, wherein the first inlet and the first outlet communicate with the first compartment, and wherein the second inlet and the second outlet communicate with the second compartment.

The vehicle fuel tank also comprises a first end face module and a second end face module, wherein the first end face module is connected at least to the first compartment at one end of the first and second compartments and the second end face module is connected at least to the second compartment at an opposite end of the first and second compartments opposite to the first end face module seen along the first direction, wherein the first end face module comprises the first inlet and the first outlet, and wherein the second end face module comprises the second inlet and the second outlet. Thereby, a vehicle fuel tank is provided in which connection between the first inlet, as well as the first outlet, and the first compartment easily may be provided by providing one or more openings in an interface between first end face module and the first compartment. Likewise, connection between the second inlet and the second outlet and the second compartment may easily be provided by providing one or more openings in the interface between second end face module and the second compartment. Further, a robust vehicle tank is provided and a vehicle fuel tank having an even weight distribution is provided. Even further, a more user-friendly tank may be provided where the risk of mistakenly filling the wrong liquid into the respective compartment may be reduced, since the first and second inlets are arranged at opposite ends of the vehicle fuel tank.

Optionally, the second compartment is arranged inside the first compartment. Thereby, the second compartment is protected from the environment external to the vehicle fuel tank. Further, visual appearance of the vehicle fuel tank may be improved since the second compartment may not be visible from the outside of the vehicle fuel tank. Even further, external dimensions of the vehicle fuel tank are efficiently used and may even be reduced in comparison to other configurations.

Optionally, the second compartment is arranged adjacent to the first compartment and outside of the first compartment. Thereby, a vehicle fuel tank is provided which may better be adapted to adjacent parts of the vehicle comprising the vehicle fuel tank. For example, in cases where the vehicle fuel tank is arranged to be mounted onto a frame of a truck, the second compartment may be arranged to be positioned below the frame when the vehicle fuel tank is mounted laterally to the frame.

Optionally, the first end face module and the second end face module are of identical construction. Thereby, production cost of the vehicle fuel tank may be further reduced. In addition, the weight distribution of the vehicle fuel tank may be even further improved.

Optionally, a volume relationship between the first liquid space and the second liquid space corresponds substantially to the volume ratio. Thereby, a vehicle fuel tank is provided in which the ratio between a total fuel accommodating capability and a total further liquid accommodating capability is not affected by the volumes of first and second liquid spaces.

According to a not claimed embodiment the vehicle fuel tank comprises a closing module connected to the first and second compartments, wherein the first inlet, the second inlet, the first outlet, and the second outlet are arranged in the closing module. Thereby, production cost of the vehicle fuel tank may be further reduced since in these embodiments, the vehicle fuel tank may comprise one closing module instead of two end face modules. Further, all connections to the fuel tank may be provided in one portion of the fuel tank. During production of the fuel tank, the closing module may be checked for leakage or other production errors prior to connecting the closing module to the first and second compartments.

According to a not claimed embodiment, the closing module comprises a primary liquid space communicating with the first compartment and a secondary liquid space communicating with the second compartment. Thereby, easy and reliable connections between the primary and secondary liquid spaces and the first and second compartments are provided.

According to a not claimed embodiment, a volume relationship between the primary liquid space and the secondary liquid space corresponds substantially to the volume ratio.

Thereby, a vehicle fuel tank is provided in which the ratio between a total fuel accommodating capability and a total further liquid accommodating capability is not affected by the volumes of first and second liquid spaces.

A further object of the present invention to provide a vehicle comprising a vehicle fuel tank for two liquids with a given volume ratio between the two liquids, wherein the given volume ratio is easily provided.

According to a further aspect of the invention, the further object is achieved by a vehicle comprising a combustion engine and a fuel tank, the combustion engine requiring a fuel and a further liquid related to combustion engine operation, wherein the fuel tank is a vehicle fuel tank according to some embodiments.

Thereby, a vehicle is provided comprising a vehicle fuel tank for two liquids with a given volume ratio between the two liquids, wherein the given volume ratio is easily provided, as shown above.

As a result, the above mentioned further object is achieved.

Further features of, and advantages with, the present invention will become apparent when studying the appended claims and the following detailed description.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS Various aspects of the invention, including its particular features and advantages, will be readily understood from the example embodiments discussed in the following detailed description and the accompanying drawings, in which: Fig. 1 illustrates a vehicle fuel tank, according to some embodiments, Fig. 2 illustrates a cross section of the vehicle fuel tank illustrated in Fig. 1, Fig. 3 illustrates a cross section of the vehicle fuel tank, according to some further embodiments, Fig. 4 illustrates a cross section of the vehicle fuel tank, according to some further embodiments, Fig. 5 illustrates a cross section of the vehicle fuel tank, according to some further embodiments, Fig. 6 illustrates a perspective view of an end face module, according to some embodiments, Fig. 7 illustrates a perspective view of a second end face module, according to some embodiments, Fig. 8 illustrates a perspective view of a second end face module, according to some further embodiments, Fig. 9 illustrates a vehicle fuel tank comprising a closing module, according to some further embodiments, Fig. 10 illustrates a perspective view of the closing module illustrated in Fig. 9, and Fig. 11 illustrates a vehicle comprising a combustion engine and a vehicle fuel tank, according to some embodiments.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION Aspects of the present invention will now be described more fully. Like numbers refer to like elements throughout. Well-known functions or constructions will not necessarily be described in detail for brevity and/or clarity.

Fig. 1 illustrates a vehicle fuel tank 1, according to some embodiments. The vehicle fuel tank 1 comprises a first compartment C1 for receiving a fuel and a second compartment C2 for receiving a further liquid related to combustion engine operation. The fuel may for example comprise diesel or ethanol, and the further liquid related to combustion engine operation may for example comprise a reducing agent for diesel exhaust gases, or a reducing agent for ethanol exhaust gases. The first compartment C1 is provided with a first volume V1 for accommodating the fuel and the second compartment C2 is provided with a second volume V2 for accommodating the further liquid, wherein there is a volume ratio between the first volume V1 and the second volume V2. The first compartment C1 and the second compartment C2 have substantially same extension E along a first direction d1. According to some embodiments, the first compartment C1 and the second compartment C2 have same extension E along a first direction d1. According to further embodiments the extensions of the first compartment C1 the second compartment C2 differ less than 5 %. The feature that the first compartment C1 and the second compartment C2 have substantially same extension E along the first direction d1 may also be referred to as that the first compartment C1 and the second compartment C2 have substantially same length along the first direction d1. As discussed below, the first compartment C1 and the second compartment C2 are formed by walls. At least one wall member of such walls of the respective first and second compartments C1, C2 may extend along the first direction d1.

Fig. 2 illustrates a cross section A of the vehicle fuel tank 1 illustrated in Fig. 1. As illustrated, the first compartment C1 has a first cross sectional area A1 perpendicularly to the first direction d1 illustrated in Fig. 1. Further, the second compartment C2 has a second cross sectional area A2 perpendicularly to the first direction d1 illustrated in Fig. 1. The first cross sectional area A1 and the second cross sectional areas A2 are substantially constant along the first direction d1, wherein an area ratio between the first cross sectional area A1 and the second cross sectional area A2 substantially corresponds to the volume ratio. According to some embodiments, the area ratio between the first cross sectional area A1 and the second cross sectional area A2 and the volume ratio differ less than 5 %.

Since the first and second cross sectional areas A1, A2 are substantially constant along the first direction, a vehicle fuel tank 1 is provided in which essentially the same volume ratio between the first volume and the second volume is obtained irrespective of the same extension of the first and second compartments C1, C2. Accordingly, a vehicle fuel tank 1 for two liquids is provided with a given volume ratio between the first and second compartments C1, C2, wherein the given volume ratio is easily provided. The given volume ratio between the two liquids, can easily be provided simply by choosing the first and second cross sectional areas A1, A2. The volume ratio between the two liquid may be given by a consumption ratio between the fuel and the further liquid of an engine of a vehicle on which the vehicle fuel tank 1 is arranged to be mounted. The consumption ratio between the fuel and the further liquid of an engine may depend on environmental legislation. Mentioned as an example, in cases where the further liquid is a reducing agent for diesel exhaust gases, or a reducing agent for ethanol exhaust gases, the consumption ratio is such that a consumption rate of the further liquid is somewhere between 2-10% of consumption rate of the fuel. As an example, if the consumption ratio is such that the consumption rate of the further liquid is 10% of consumption rate of the fuel, the first cross sectional area A1 of the first compartment C1 should be made ten times greater than the second cross sectional area A2 of the second compartment C2. As a result, the volume ratio between the first volume V1 of the first compartment C1 and the second volume V2 of the second compartment C2 will be 10:1 ensuring that none of the fuel and the first liquid is emptied well before the other.

Further, due to the above described features, different vehicle fuel tanks provided with different total fuel and further liquid accommodating capabilities, may be provided in an easy manner simply by adapting the extension E of the first and second compartments C1, C2 along a first direction d1. Such different vehicle tanks will be provided with the same volume ratio between the first and second compartments C1, C2 and thus also the same volume ratio between the first and second volumes V1, V2. The extension E of the first and second compartments C1, C2 may for example be between 0.5 metres and 2 meters. The first volume V1 of the first compartment C1 may for example be between 150 litres and 1000 litres, and the second volume V2 of the second compartment C2 may for example be between 15 litres and 150 litres.

According to the embodiments illustrated in Fig. 2, the second compartment C2 is arranged inside the first compartment C1. Thereby, the second compartment C2 is protected from the environment external to the vehicle fuel tank 1.

Fig. 3 illustrates a cross section A of the vehicle fuel tank 1 according to some further embodiments. According to these embodiments, the second compartment C2 is arranged adjacent to the first compartment C2 and outside of the first compartment C1. Thereby, a vehicle fuel tank 1 is provided which may better be adapted to adjacent parts of a vehicle comprising the vehicle fuel tank 1, and which may further be adapted to follow contours of such parts. For example, as is illustrated in Fig. 3, the vehicle fuel tank 1 may be adapted to be mounted onto a frame 13 of a truck. According to the embodiments illustrated, the second compartment C2 is arranged adjacent to the first compartment C2 on the outside of the first compartment C1 in a manner such that when the vehicle fuel tank 1 is mounted onto the frame 13, the first compartment C1 is positioned below the frame 13. Thereby, space may be saved since the area below the frame 13 is usually not utilized for components of the truck.

Fig. 4 illustrates a cross section of the vehicle fuel tank 1 according to some further embodiments. According to these embodiments, the vehicle fuel tank 1 comprises a partition wall 14 which separates the volume within the vehicle fuel tank 1 into the first and second compartments C1, C2. Thereby, manufacturing of the vehicle fuel tank 1 may be further facilitated. In addition, the volume ratio between the first volume of the first compartment C1 and the second volume of the second compartment C2 may easily be obtained by the positioning of the partition wall 14.

Fig. 5 illustrates a cross section of the vehicle fuel tank 1 according to some further embodiments. According to these embodiments, the second compartment C2 is formed by a tubular partition wall 16. A tubular partition wall 16 has the advantages of being cheap and easy to produce, e.g. by extrusion, while forming a rigid partition wall 16 for the second compartment C2. In these embodiments, the volume ratio between the first volume of the first compartment C1 and the second volume of the second compartment C2 may easily be obtained by selecting the diameter of the tubular partition wall.

As is illustrated in Fig. 1, the vehicle fuel tank 1 comprises a first inlet 3, a second inlet 5, a first outlet 7, and a second outlet 9, wherein the first inlet 3 and the first outlet 7 communicate with the first compartment C1, and wherein the second inlet 5 and the second outlet 9 communicate with the second compartment C2. Further, the vehicle fuel tank 1 comprises a first end face module 11 and a second end face module 12. The first end face module 11 is connected at least to the first compartment C1 at one end of the first and second compartments C1, C2. The second end face module 12 is connected at least to the second compartment C2 at an opposite end of the first and second compartments C1, C2 opposite to the first end face module 11 seen along the first direction d1. The first end face module 11 comprises the first inlet 3 and the first outlet 7, and the second end face module 12 comprises the second inlet 5 and the second outlet 9. Due to this arrangement, connection between the first inlet 3 and the first outlet 7 and the first compartment C1 may easily be provided by providing one or more openings 18 in the interface between first end face module 11 and the first compartment. Likewise, connection between the second inlet 5 and the second outlet 9 and the second compartment C2 may easily be provided by providing one or more openings 20 in the interface between second end face module 12 and the second compartment C2.

In a manufacturing process of the vehicle fuel tank 1, the first and second compartments C1, C2 may be formed by a respective sheet metal which are cut to a respective length corresponding to the extension E of the first and second compartment C1, C2, wherein the respective sheet metal are bent to such an extent that edges of the respective sheet metal meet and are welded, glued or screwed together to form delimiting walls for the respective first and second compartments C1, C2. The bending of the respective sheet metal may be performed using a rolling machine. Due to these features, vehicle fuel tanks 1 having different tank length i.e. different extensions E of the first and second compartment C1, C2, can easily be provided without having a tool for each tank length. At this stage, the first and second compartments C1, C2 comprise two respective open ends. Instead of using sheet metals which are bent and attached, the delimiting walls for the respective first and second compartments C1, C2, may be provided in an extrusion process or in a moulding process. The first and second compartments C1, C2 may comprise a metallic material, such as steel or aluminium, or may comprise a polymeric material. According to some embodiments, the first compartment C1 comprises a metallic material, such as aluminium, and the second compartment C2 comprises a polymeric material. This may be advantageous especially in embodiments wherein the further liquid comprises a reducing agent comprising aqueous urea solution which may be aggressive to metals such as steel.

The second compartment C2 may be inserted into the first compartment C1 and may be welded, glued or screwed towards the first compartment C1. A cross section of such first and second compartments C1, C2, may for example look like the cross section of the vehicle fuel tank 1, illustrated in Fig. 2. As an alternative, the second compartment C2 may be arranged adjacent to the first compartment C1 on an outside thereof, and may be welded, glued or screwed towards the first compartment C1. A cross section of such first and second compartments C1, C2, may for example look like the cross section of the vehicle fuel tank 1, illustrated in Fig. 3. Then, the first end face module 11 may be mounted onto an open end of the first and second compartments C1, C2, and the second end face module 12 may be mounted onto an opposite open end of the first and second compartments C1, C2, for example by using welding, gluing and/or by using threaded fastening elements such as screws or bolts. Accordingly, in such embodiments, a wall 23 of the first end face module 11 facing the first and second compartments C1, C2 will function as a delimiting wall for the first and second compartments C1, C2 at one end of the first and second compartments C1, C2, and a wall 24 of the second end face module 12 facing the first and second compartments C1, C2 will function as a delimiting wall for the first and second compartments C1, C2 at an opposite end of the first and second compartments C1, C2. Further, in these embodiments, the interface between first end face module 11 and the first compartment C1, in which the one or more openings 18, 20 may be provided, is formed by the wall 23 of the first end face module 11. Similarly, the interface between second end face module 12 and the second compartment C1, in which the one or more openings 20 may be provided, is formed by the wall 24 of the second end face module 12.

Fig. 6 illustrates a perspective view of the first end face module 11, according to some embodiments. The first end face module 11 may be arranged to be mounted onto one open end of the first and second compartments, with the wall 23 facing the open end of the first and second compartments. In such embodiments, the wall 23 will serve as a delimiting wall for the first and second compartments at one open end thereof. The first end face module 11 comprises a first liquid space 15. Further, as seen in Fig. 6, the first end face module 11 comprises the first inlet 3 and the first outlet 7 which communicates with the first liquid space 15. The first liquid space 15 communicates with the first compartment, via an opening 18 in the wall 23 of the first end face module 11, when the first end face module 11 is mounted onto one open end of the first and second compartments. This can for example be seen by comparing Fig. 6 with the cross section illustrated in Fig. 2. That is, when the first end face module 11 illustrated in Fig. 6 is mounted onto one open end of the first and second compartments C1, C2, as is illustrated in Fig. 1, of a vehicle fuel tank 1 having a cross section as illustrated in Fig. 2, the opening 18 will face an open end of the first compartment C1 of the vehicle fuel tank 1.

Fig. 7 illustrates a perspective view of the second end face module 12, according to some embodiments. The second end face module 12 is arranged to be mounted onto an opposite end of the first and second compartments, opposite to the first end face module 11, with the wall 24 facing the open end of the first and second compartments. The wall 24 may serve as a delimiting wall for the first and second compartments at the opposite end. The second end face module 12 comprises a second liquid space 17. The second liquid space 17 communicates with the second compartment, via an opening 20 in the wall 24 of the second end face module 12, when the second end face module 12 is mounted onto the opposite end of the first and second compartments. This can for example be seen by comparing Fig. 6 with the cross section illustrated in Fig. 2. That is, when the first end face module 11 illustrated in Fig. 6 is mounted onto the opposite open end of the first and second compartments C1, C2, as is illustrated in Fig. 1, of a vehicle fuel tank 1 having a cross section as illustrated in Fig. 2, the opening 20 will face an end of the second compartment C2 of the vehicle fuel tank.

The first end face module 11 and the second end face module 12 illustrated in Fig. 2 are of identical construction. The above described functions are still obtained since the openings 18, 20 are arranged at positions of the first and second end face modules 11,12 differing from a centre line of the first and second end face module 11, 12, and since the second compartment is arranged at a position towards the first compartment differing from a centre line of the first compartment.

According to the embodiments illustrated in Fig. 6 and Fig. 7, volumes of the first liquid space 15 and the second liquid space 17 may be made small enough so as to essentially not affecting a ratio between a total fuel accommodating capability and a total further liquid accommodating capability of the vehicle fuel tank. The feature that volumes of the first liquid space 15 and the second liquid space 17 may be made small enough may encompass that the volumes of the first liquid space 15 and the second liquid space 17 are below 5 litres.

Fig. 8 illustrates a perspective view of the second end face module 12, according to some further embodiments. The second end face module 12 according to these embodiments comprises the same functions and features as the second end face module 12 illustrated in Fig. 7, except that the second liquid space 17 according to these embodiments is provided with a smaller volume than the second liquid space 17 of the second end face module 12 illustrated in Fig. 1. The second end face module 12 illustrated in Fig. 8 is arranged to be mounted onto at an opposite end of the first and second compartments opposite to a first end face module 11 as illustrated in Fig. 6. A volume relationship between the first liquid space 15 of the first end face module 11 illustrated in Fig. 6 and the second liquid space 17 of the second end face module 12 illustrated in Fig. 8 corresponds substantially to the volume ratio between the first volume of the first compartment and the second volume of the second compartment. As a result, a vehicle fuel tank is provided in which the ratio between a total fuel accommodating capability and a total further liquid accommodating capability is not affected by the volumes of first liquid space 15 and second liquid space 17.

Fig. 9 illustrates a vehicle fuel tank 1, according to some embodiments. The vehicle fuel tank 1 illustrated in Fig. 9 comprises the same features and aspects as the vehicle fuel tank 1 illustrated in Fig. 1, except that instead of the first and second end face modules, the vehicle fuel tank 1 according to these embodiments comprises a closing module 19 connected to the first and second compartments C1, C2. In addition, the vehicle fuel tank 1 illustrated in Fig. 9 comprises a first end wall 29 arranged at one end the first and second compartments C1, C2 forming a delimiting wall for the first and second compartments C1, C2.

Fig. 10 illustrates a perspective view of the closing module 19 illustrated in Fig. 9. As illustrated, the first inlet 3, the second inlet 5, the first outlet 7, and the second outlet 9 are arranged in the closing module 19. The closing module 19 comprises a primary liquid space 21 arranged to communicate with the first compartment C1 of the vehicle tank 1 illustrated in Fig. 9 via a first opening 26 in a wall of the closing module 19. The closing module 19 further comprises a secondary liquid space 22 arranged to communicate with the second compartment C2 of the vehicle tank 1 illustrated in Fig. 9 via a second opening 28 in the wall of the closing module 19.

A volume relationship between the primary liquid space 21 and the secondary liquid space 22 corresponds substantially to the volume ratio between the first volume of the first compartment and the second volume of the second compartment. Thereby, the volumes of the primary liquid space 21 and the secondary liquid space 22 will not affect the ratio between a total fuel accommodating capability and a total further liquid accommodating capability of the vehicle fuel tank 1.

The first and second end face modules and the closing module 19 may comprise a metallic material such as steel or aluminium, or may comprise a polymeric material. According to some embodiments, the vehicle fuel tank comprises a first and a second compartment made of an aluminium material and a first and second end face module made of a polymeric material. According to some further embodiments, the vehicle fuel tank comprises a first and a second compartment made of an aluminium material and a closing module 19 made of a polymeric material.

In all the above described embodiments, the first end face module 11, the second end face module 12 and/or the closing module 19 may comprise one or more of filler pipes, filler caps, connections for fuel and further liquid pipes, liquid level sensors, arrangements for venting and cleaning of incoming air, pumps for transferring fuel and/or further liquid out of the vehicle fuel tank 1, for example to a catch tank. According to some embodiments, the first end face module 11, the second end face module 12 and/or the closing module 19 may comprise one or more catch tanks.

Further, in all the above described embodiments, the first and second compartments C1, C2 may comprise a first end wall arranged at one end and a second end wall arranged at an opposite end, opposite to the first end wall. According to such embodiments, a wall of a first end face module 11, a wall of second end face module 12 and/or a wall of the closing module 19, may not necessary function as a delimiting wall for the first and second compartments C1, C2. Instead, such first end face module, second end face module 12, and/or closing module 19 may be attached onto one of the first or second end walls. In such embodiments, openings for providing fluid communication into and out of the first and second compartments C1, C2 may be provided through a wall of a module and an end wall. Such openings may for example be provided by drilling through the wall of the module and the end wall.

According to some embodiments, the fuel is a diesel fuel and the further liquid is a reducing agent for diesel exhaust gases, such as an aqueous urea solution, being used in in a Selective Catalytic Reduction SCR catalyst. According to further embodiments, the fuel is an ethanol fuel and the further liquid is a reducing agent for ethanol exhaust gases, such as an aqueous urea solution, being used in in a Selective Catalytic Reduction SCR catalyst.

Fig. 11 illustrates a vehicle 25 comprising a combustion engine 27 and a fuel tank 1, the combustion engine 27 requiring a fuel and a further liquid related to combustion engine operation, wherein the fuel tank 1 is a vehicle fuel tank 1, according to some embodiments.

According to some embodiments, the vehicle fuel tank 1 is a road vehicle fuel tank, thus a road vehicle fuel tank for road vehicles. The vehicle 25 illustrated in Fig. 11 is a truck.

However, the vehicle fuel tank 1 may be arranged to be fitted onto other types of manned or unmanned vehicles for land based propulsion such as lorries, construction vehicles, tractors, cars etc.

It is to be understood that the foregoing is illustrative of various example embodiments and that the invention is defined only by the appended claims. A person skilled in the art will realize that the example embodiments may be modified, and that different features of the example embodiments may be combined to create embodiments other than those described herein, without departing from the scope of the present invention, as defined by the appended claims. For instance, according to some embodiments, the first and second compartments may comprise plain delimiting walls at both ends of the first and second compartments and the inlets, the outlets and other connections are arranged to extend directly into the first and second compartments, respectively. Further, since the vehicle fuel tank 1 described in embodiments herein may comprise different compartments, end face module(s), at least one closing module and various other components, it may alternatively be referred to as a vehicle tank assembly.

Claims (9)

1. A vehicle fuel tank (1) comprising a first compartment (C1) for receiving a fuel and a second compartment (C2) for receiving a further liquid related to combustion engine operation, wherein the first compartment (C1) is provided with a first volume (V1) for accommodating the fuel and the second compartment (C2) is provided with a second volume (V 2) for accommodating the further liquid, and wherein there is a volume ratio between the first volume (V1) and the second volume (V2), the first compartment (C1) and the second compartment (C2) have substantially same extension (E) along a first direction (d1), wherein the first compartment (C1) has a first cross sectional area (A1) perpendicularly to the first direction (d1) and the second compartment (C2) has a second cross sectional area (A2) perpendicularly to the first direction (d1), wherein the first and second cross sectional areas (A1, A2) are substantially constant along the first direction (d1), and wherein an area ratio between the first cross sectional area (A1) and the second cross sectional area (A2) substantially corresponds to the volume ratio characterized in that the vehicle fuel tank (1) comprises a first inlet (3), a second inlet (5), a first outlet (7), and a second outlet (9), wherein the first inlet (3) and the first outlet (7) communicate with the first compartment (C1), and wherein the second inlet (5) and the second outlet (9) communicate with the second compartment (C2) and that the vehicle fuel tank (1) comprises a first end face module (11) and a second end face module (12), wherein the first end face module (11) is connected at least to the first compartment (C1) at one end of the first and second compartments (C1, C2) and the second end face module (12) is connected at least to the second compartment (C2) at an opposite end of the first and second compartments (C1, C2) opposite to the first end face module (11) seen along the first direction (d1), wherein the first end face module (11) comprises the first inlet (3) and the first outlet (7), and wherein the second end face module (12) comprises the second inlet (5) and the second outlet (9).

2. The vehicle fuel tank (1) according to claim 1, wherein the second compartment (C2) is arranged inside the first compartment (C1).

3. The vehicle fuel tank (1) according to claim 1, wherein the second compartment (C2) is arranged adjacent to the first compartment (C2) and outside of the first compartment (C1).

4. The vehicle fuel tank (1) according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the first end face module (11) comprises a first liquid space (15) communicating with the first compartment (C1), and wherein the second end face module (12) comprises a second liquid space (17) communicating with the second compartment (C2).

5. The vehicle fuel tank (1) according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the first end face module (11) and the second end face module (12) are of identical construction.

6. The vehicle fuel tank (1) according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein a volume relationship between the first liquid space (15) and the second liquid space (17) corresponds substantially to the volume ratio.

7. The vehicle fuel tank (1) according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the first compartment (C1) is arranged for receiving a diesel fuel and the and the second compartment (C2) is arranged for receiving a further liquid in form of a reducing agent for diesel exhaust gases.

8. The vehicle fuel tank (1) according to any one of the claims 1-6, wherein the first compartment (C1) is arranged for receiving an ethanol fuel and the and the second compartment (C2) is arranged for receiving a further liquid in form of a reducing agent for ethanol exhaust gases.

9. A vehicle (25) comprising a combustion engine (27) and a fuel tank (1), the combustion engine (27) requiring a fuel and a further liquid related to combustion engine operation, characterised in that the fuel tank is a vehicle fuel tank (1) according to any one of the preceding claims.