Process for manufacturing filler tube and filler tube

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-2018304741-A1
Application number	US-201816019747-A
Country	US
Kind code	A1
Filing date	Jun 27, 2018
Priority date	Jan 27, 2017
Publication date	Oct 25, 2018
Grant date	—

Abstract

A filler tube including a cylindrical body and flange is manufactured using a cylindrical workpiece. A material forms an outermost layer in the cylindrical body and flange of the cylindrical workpiece. Dividable molds move at a first speed upon adhering the cylindrical workpiece onto the site for forming the cylindrical body, thereby giving the cylindrical body a predetermined diametrical thickness; and then move at a second speed being slower than the first speed upon adhering the cylindrical workpiece onto the other site for forming the flange, thereby filling up the flange with the material and other materials for forming the flange over a diametrical range to be welded onto the fuel tank while making the diametrical thickness of the flange greater than that of the cylindrical body.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1 . A process for manufacturing filler tube to be welded onto a fuel tank, the filler tube made of thermoplastic resin, the process comprising the steps of:
extruding a cylindrical workpiece comprising multiple layers by an extruder; and forming the filler tube by adhering the cylindrical workpiece onto an inner peripheral face, which a plurality of dividable molds form, while moving each of the dividable molds sequentially, thereby giving the filler tube a configuration copying the inner peripheral face; the filler tube having an end comprising a cylindrical body, and a flange elongating outward diametrically from the cylindrical body at one of opposite ends thereof; the flange including a first end face to be welded onto an outer face of the fuel tank, an outer peripheral face, and a second end face making a rear-face side of the first end face; the first end face, the outer peripheral face, and the second end face formed of a material for forming an outermost layer of the cylindrical workpiece; the step of forming the filler tube including moving the dividable molds at a movement speed, which is set at a first speed, upon adhering the cylindrical workpiece onto a site in the dividable molds for molding the cylindrical body, thereby giving the cylindrical body a predetermined diametrical thickness; and the step of forming the filler tube further including moving the dividable molds at another movement speed, which is set at a second speed being slower than the first speed, upon adhering the cylindrical workpiece onto another site in the dividable molds for molding the flange, thereby making a diametrical thickness of the flange greater than the predetermined diametrical thickness of the cylindrical body in conjunction with filling up the flange with the material for forming the outermost layer and other materials for forming the flange over a diametrical range thereof to be welded onto the outer face of the fuel tank.

2 . The process for manufacturing filler tube according to claim 1 , wherein:
the end of the filler tube further comprising a leading-end cylindrical portion disposed on a more leading end side thereof than is the flange, and having an outside diameter being smaller than an outside diameter of the flange; the first end face of the flange is welded onto a circumferential rim around an opening with which the fuel tank is provided in the outer face; and the leading-end cylindrical portion is located within the opening of the fuel tank.

3 . The process for manufacturing filler tube according to claim 1 , wherein:
the dividable molds comprise a suction groove for attracting the cylindrical workpiece to the inner peripheral face formed by the dividable molds; and the second end face of the flange is formed as an inclined configuration, and is formed over a range in which the dividable molds are provided with the suction groove.

4 . A filler tube to be welded onto a fuel tank, the filler tube made of thermoplastic resin, and comprising:
a cylindrical body including multiple layers; and a flange including multiple layers of sorts identical with those of the cylindrical body, and elongating outward diametrically from one of opposite end sides of the cylindrical body; the flange further including a first end face to be welded onto an outer face of the fuel tank, an outer peripheral face, and a second end face making a rear-face side of the first end face, the first end face, outer peripheral face and second end face formed of an outermost layer making the flange; the flange having a diametrical thickness being greater than another diametrical thickness which the cylindrical portion has; and the flange filled up with the material for forming the outermost layer and other materials for forming the flange over a diametrical range to be welded onto the outer face of the fuel tank.

5 . The filler tube according to claim 4 further comprising a leading-end cylinder portion disposed on a more leading end side thereof than is the flange, and having an outside diameter being smaller than an outside diameter of the flange, wherein:
the first end face of the flange is welded onto a circumferential rim around an opening with which the fuel tank is provided in the outer face; and
the leading-end cylindrical portion is located within the opening of the fuel tank.

Assignees

• Sumitomo Riko Co Ltd

Inventors

• Wakazono Yukinori
• Fukuyasu Tomoyuki
• Mizuno Fumiya
• Shimojo Makoto
• Jiang Lin
• Miyajima Atsuo

Classifications

• B29K2023/086

  EVOH, i.e. ethylene vinyl alcohol copolymer · CPC title

• B29K2995/0069

  non-permeable · CPC title

• B29C66/7392

  characterised by the material of at least one of the parts being a thermoplastic · CPC title

• B60K15/04 Primary

  Tank inlets (B60K15/077 takes precedence) · CPC title

• B29C66/53246

  said single elements being spouts, e.g. joining spouts to containers · CPC title