Manufacturing process for filler tube

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-10596742-B2
Application number	US-201715596678-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	May 16, 2017
Priority date	Jul 7, 2015
Publication date	Mar 24, 2020
Grant date	Mar 24, 2020

Abstract

A manufacturing process for filler tube includes: a workpiece arrangement step of arranging a workpiece onto an outer peripheral mold not only to axially lock a to-be-locked portion with respect to a locking portion but also so as to make the outer peripheral mold, which is set at a predetermined temperature, support a cylinder-shaped body of the workpiece on the outer peripheral face; and a flare-molding step of flare molding a flange by inserting an inner peripheral mold, which is set at a higher temperature than the predetermined temperature of the outer peripheral mold, into a to-be-molded portion on the inner peripheral side, and by relatively moving the outer peripheral mold and the inner peripheral mold in the axial direction to make a counter-welding-face forming portion and a welding-face forming portion clamp the to-be-molded portion between them in the axial direction.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A manufacturing process for forming a filler tube from a workpiece, the filler tube to be welded to a fuel tank at an opening thereof, the filler tube being made of thermoplastic resin,
the filler tube comprising:
a body with a cylinder shape;
a flange elongating outward radially from the body at an end thereof, the flange having an end face to be welded to the fuel tank; and
a locking portion disposed on the body on an outer peripheral side thereof;

the workpiece for forming the filler tube, the workpiece comprising:
a preformed body;
a to-be-molded portion with a cylindrical shape configured to be flare molded into the flange; and
a preformed locking portion;

the manufacturing process using an outer peripheral mold, and an inner peripheral mold;
the outer peripheral mold comprising:
a counter-welding-face forming portion capable of supporting the preformed body of the workpiece on an outer peripheral face thereof, and capable of forming a counter-welding face in the flange; and
a to-be-locked portion locking with respect to the preformed locking portion of the workpiece in an axial direction thereof;

the inner peripheral mold insertable at least into the to-be-molded portion of the workpiece, the inner peripheral mold comprising:
a welding-face forming portion capable of forming a welding face in the flange;

the manufacturing process comprising:
arranging the workpiece onto the outer peripheral mold to axially lock the to-be-locked portion with respect to the preformed locking portion and to support the preformed body of the workpiece on an outer peripheral face of the outer peripheral mold, the outer peripheral mold being set at a predetermined temperature;
inserting the inner peripheral mold into the to-be-molded portion on an inner peripheral side of the workpiece, the inner peripheral mold being set at a higher temperature than the predetermined temperature of the outer peripheral mold;
forming the flange from the to-be molded portion via flare molding by relatively moving the outer peripheral mold and the inner peripheral mold in an axial direction thereof such that the counter-welding-face forming portion and the welding-face forming portion clamp the to-be-molded portion therebetween in the axial direction; and
warming the to-be-molded portion at a predetermined location where the inner peripheral mold is inserted into the to-be-molded portion on an inner peripheral side thereof for a predetermined period of time with the inner peripheral mold being set at the higher temperature than the predetermined temperature of the outer peripheral mold, wherein:

after the predetermined time, the flange is formed via flare molding.

2. The manufacturing process for forming the filler tube according to claim 1 , wherein the warming comprises warming only the to-be-molded portion of the workpiece, the to-be-molded portion of the workpiece being a portion that separates off from the locking portion in the axial direction.

3. The manufacturing process for forming the filler tube according to claim 1 , wherein the predetermined temperature of the outer peripheral mold is at a room temperature.

4. The manufacturing process for forming the filler tube according to claim 1 , wherein the workpiece and the filler tube formed therefrom have a multi-layered structure in which an innermost layer thereof is formed to have a thickest thickness therein, wherein:
the flare molding includes flare molding the flange while warming the innermost layer in the to-be-molded portion at least by the inner peripheral mold.

5. The manufacturing process for forming the filler tube according to claim 1 , further comprising an overall heat-treating the filler tube after flare molding the flange while the filler tube remains clamped between the outer peripheral mold and the inner peripheral mold.

6. The manufacturing process for forming the filler tube according to claim 1 , wherein the inner peripheral mold is arranged up above with respect to the outer peripheral mold, and is capable of moving relative, in a direction of gravity, with respect to the outer peripheral mold.

7. A manufacturing process for forming a filler tube from a workpiece, the filler tube to be welded to a fuel tank at an opening thereof, the filler tube being made of thermoplastic resin,
the filler tube comprising:
a body with a cylinder shape;
a flange elongating outward radially from the body at an end thereof, the flange having an end face to be welded to the fuel tank; and
a locking portion disposed on the body on an outer peripheral side thereof;

the workpiece for forming the filler tube, the workpiece comprising:
a preformed body;
a to-be-molded portion with a cylindrical shape configured to be flare molded into the flange; and
a preformed locking portion;

the manufacturing process using an outer peripheral mold, and an inner peripheral mold;
the outer peripheral mold comprising:
a counter-welding-face forming portion capable of supporting the preformed body of the workpiece on an outer peripheral face thereof, and capable of forming a counter-welding face in the flange; and
a to-be-locked portion locking with respect to the preformed locking portion of the workpiece in an axial direction thereof;

the inner peripheral mold insertable at least into the to-be-molded portion of the workpiece, the inner peripheral mold comprising:
a welding-face forming portion capable of forming a welding face in the flange;

the manufacturing process comprising:
arranging the workpiece onto the outer peripheral mold to axially lock the to-be-locked portion with respect to the preformed locking portion and to support the preformed body of the workpiece on an outer peripheral face of the outer peripheral mold, the outer peripheral mold being set at a predetermined temperature;
inserting the inner peripheral mold into the to-be-molded portion on an inner peripheral side of the workpiece, the inner peripheral mold being set at a higher temperature than the predetermined temperature of the outer peripheral mold; and
forming the flange from the to-be molded portion via flare molding by relatively moving the outer peripheral mold and the inner peripheral mold in an axial direction thereof such that the counter-welding-face forming portion and the welding-face forming portion clamp the to-be-molded portion therebetween in the axial direction,

wherein the workpiece and the filler tube formed therefrom have a multi-layered structure in which an innermost layer thereof is formed to have a thickest thickness therein, and
wherein the flare molding includes flare molding the flange while warming the innermost layer in the to-be-molded portion at least by the inner peripheral mold.

8. The manufacturing process for forming the filler tube according to claim 7 , wherein the predetermined temperature of the outer peripheral mold is at a room temperature.

9. The manufacturing process for forming the filler tube according to claim 7 , further comprising an overall heat-treating the filler tube after flare molding the flange while the filler tube remains clamped between the outer peripheral mold and the inner peripheral mold.

10. The manufacturing process for forming the filler tube according to claim 7 , wherein the inner peripheral mold is arranged up above with respect to the outer peripheral mold, and is capable of moving relative, in a direction of gravity, with respect to the outer peripheral mold.

11. A manufacturing process for forming a filler tube from a workpiece, the filler tube to be welded to a fuel tank at an opening thereof, the filler tube being made of thermoplastic resin,
the filler tube compr

Assignees

• Sumitomo Riko Co Ltd

Inventors

• Fukuyasu Tomoyuki
• Shimojo Makoto
• Miyajima Atsuo
• Hatanaka Kazuki

Classifications

• B29C57/04

  using mechanical means {(B29C57/025 takes precedence)} · CPC title

• B29L2031/7172

  Fuel tanks, jerry cans · CPC title

• B29K2023/06

  PE, i.e. polyethylene · CPC title

• B60K15/01

  Arrangement of fuel conduits · CPC title

• B29L2023/22

  Tubes or pipes, i.e. rigid (bent tubes not for use as pipe couplings B29L2023/004) · CPC title