Methods and apparatus to couple components to a fuel tank

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-10227108-B2
Application number	US-201615065118-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Mar 9, 2016
Priority date	Feb 8, 2013
Publication date	Mar 12, 2019
Grant date	Mar 12, 2019

Abstract

Apparatus and methods to couple fuel components to a fuel tank are described. An example method includes coupling a carrier to a guide suspended in a cavity of a fuel tank, where the guide extends in a longitudinal direction between a first end of the guide adjacent a first side wall of the fuel tank and a second end of the guide adjacent a second side wall of the fuel tank opposite the first side wall, and moving the carrier along the guide between the first end of the guide and the second end of the guide.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A method comprising:
coupling a carrier to a guide suspended in a cavity of a fuel tank, the guide extending in a longitudinal direction between a first end of the guide adjacent a first side wall of the fuel tank and a second end of the guide adjacent a second side wall of the fuel tank opposite the first side wall; and
moving the carrier along the guide between the first end of the guide and the second end of the guide after the carrier is coupled to the guide.

2. The method of claim 1 , further comprising coupling a first fuel component to the carrier prior to coupling the carrier to the guide.

3. The method of claim 2 , further comprising coupling a flexible coupling to the first fuel component prior to coupling the carrier to the guide.

4. The method of claim 3 , further comprising coupling the carrier to the guide via an access opening formed in a wall of the fuel tank.

5. The method of claim 4 , further comprising deflecting the wall away from the guide to couple the carrier to the guide.

6. The method of claim 4 , further comprising sliding the carrier away from the access opening to position the fuel component adjacent an end of the cavity opposite the access opening.

7. The method of claim 6 , further comprising fluidly coupling the first fuel component and a second fuel component via the flexible coupling.

8. The method of claim 7 , further comprising coupling the second fuel component to a cover.

9. The method of claim 8 , further comprising coupling the cover to the access opening after the second fuel component is coupled to the flexible coupling.

10. A method comprising:
forming a fuel tank with a guide positioned in a cavity of the fuel tank; and
forming an access opening in a wall of the fuel tank to provide access to the guide, the guide to extend between a first portion of the cavity adjacent the access opening and a second portion of the cavity spaced from the access opening, the guide having a first end accessible via the access opening and a second end opposite the first end, the guide to removably receive a carrier from outside the cavity via the access opening after formation of the fuel tank.

11. The method of claim 10 , further comprising attaching the guide to an interior surface of an upper wall of the fuel tank, the guide extending in a longitudinal direction proximate the upper surface between a first side wall of the fuel tank and a second side wall of the fuel tank.

12. The method of claim 10 , wherein forming the fuel tank with the guide comprises providing a first support adjacent the first end of the guide and a second support adjacent the second end of the guide.

13. The method of claim 10 , further comprising coupling the carrier to the guide via the access opening.

14. The method of claim 13 , further comprising coupling a first fuel component to the carrier.

15. The method of claim 13 , further comprising sliding the carrier on the guide between the first end of the guide and the second end of the guide to position a first fuel component adjacent the second portion of the cavity.

16. The method of claim 15 , further comprising sliding the carrier along the guide until the carrier engages a support of the guide to restrict or prevent movement of the carrier along the guide after the carrier engages the support of the guide.

17. The method of claim 14 , further comprising coupling a first end of a flexible coupling to the first fuel component and a second end of the flexible coupling to a second fuel component.

18. The method of claim 17 , further comprising trimming the second end of the flexible coupling prior to coupling the second end to the second fuel component.

19. A method comprising:
coupling a first fuel component to a carrier;
placing the carrier in to a cavity of a fuel tank via an access opening formed through a wall of the fuel tank;
positioning the carrier on a track formed in the cavity, the track defining a first end adjacent the access opening and a second end opposite the first end and spaced from the access opening; and
sliding the carrier toward the second end of the track and away from the access opening.

20. The method of claim 19 , further comprising attaching a first end of a flexible coupling to the first fuel component prior to coupling the first fuel component to the carrier.

21. The method of claim 20 , further comprising attaching a second end of the flexible coupling to a second fuel component.

22. The method of claim 1 , further including removably coupling the carrier to the guide via an access opening formed in a wall of the fuel tank after assembly of the fuel tank.

23. The method of claim 10 , further including removably positioning a fuel component inside the cavity of the fuel tank via the access opening after forming the fuel tank.

24. A method comprising:
coupling a carrier to a guide suspended in a cavity of a fuel tank, the guide extending in a longitudinal direction between a first end of the guide adjacent a first side wall of the fuel tank and a second end of the guide adjacent a second side wall of the fuel tank opposite the first side wall; and
moving the carrier along the guide between the first end of the guide and the second end of the guide while the carrier is coupled to the guide.

Assignees

• Brunswick Corp

Inventors

• Bostwick Iv Christopher

Classifications

• B63B17/0036

  Arrangements for minimizing pollution by accidents (associated with cargo tanks B63B25/082) · CPC title

• Y10T137/86236

  Tank with movable or adjustable outlet or overflow pipe · CPC title

• B63B17/0027 Primary

  Tanks for fuel or the like (constructional features of bunkers B63B11/04); Accessories therefor, e.g. tank filler caps (fuel tanks for vehicles in general B60K15/03; cargo tanks B63B25/08; cleaning of tanks B63B57/00; handling of liquids for use in power plants B63H21/38) · CPC title

• Y10T137/0402

  Cleaning, repairing, or assembling · CPC title

• F17C3/00

  Vessels not under pressure · CPC title