Fuel tank

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9764635-B2
Application number	US-201414916797-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Sep 10, 2014
Priority date	Sep 18, 2013
Publication date	Sep 19, 2017
Grant date	Sep 19, 2017

Abstract

A first gap to be eliminated at the time of a compressive deformation of a fuel-tank main body is formed between a lower-side reinforcing member and an upper-side reinforcing member in a fuel-tank main body. A second gap to be eliminated at the time of an expansion deformation of the fuel-tank main body is formed between an opposed member of the lower-side reinforcing member and the upper-side reinforcing member.

First claim

The invention claimed is:

1. A fuel tank comprising:
a fuel-tank main body in which to store fuel; and
a structural member provided between two opposing walls of the fuel-tank main body, the structural member including a first contacting member configured to eliminate a first gap so as to achieve contact when the opposing walls come close to each other, the structural member including a second contacting member configured to eliminate a second gap so as to achieve contact when the opposing walls separate from each other,
the structural member includes
a first extension member extended from one of the opposing walls toward the other one of the opposing walls,
a second extension member extended from the other one of the opposing walls toward the one of the opposing walls,
a first fitting hole formed in the first extension member so that the opposed member is fitted to the first fitting hole,
a second fitting hole formed in the second extension member so that the opposed member is fitted to the second fitting hole,
a first slit formed in the first extension member in communication with the first fitting hole so that the first slit is opened outside the first extension member, and
a second slit formed in the second extension member in communication with the second fitting hole so that the second slit is opened outside the second extension member, the first slit and the second slit are open in the same direction,

the second contacting member includes
a second contacting portion provided in the first extension member, and
a second contacted portion provided in that one of the opposing walls which is opposed to the first extension member or the second extension member, the second contacted portion forming the second gap between the second contacted portion and the second contacting portion, and

the second contacted portion is provided in an opposed member provided in that one of the opposing walls which is opposed to the first extension member or the second extension member, the opposed member being opposed to the second contacting portion.

2. The fuel tank according to claim 1 , wherein:
the first contacting member includes
a first contacting portion provided in the first extension member, and
a first contacted portion provided in that one of the opposing walls which is opposed to the first extension member or the second extension member, the first contacted portion forming the first gap between the first contacted portion and the first contacting portion.

3. The fuel tank according to claim 1 , wherein:
the opposed member is fixed to that one of the opposing walls which is opposed to the first extension member or the second extension member.

4. The fuel tank according to claim 1 , wherein:
the structural member includes
a first engaging portion formed in the first extension member,
a second engaging portion formed in the second extension member, and
an engaged member to be engaged with the first engaging portion and the second engaging portion when the fuel moves in the fuel-tank main body.

5. A fuel tank comprising:
a fuel-tank main body in which to store fuel; and
a structural member provided between two opposing walls of the fuel-tank main body, the structural member including a first contacting member configured to eliminate a first gap so as to achieve contact when the opposing walls come close to each other, the structural member including a second contacting member configured to eliminate a second gap so as to achieve contact when the opposing walls separate from each other, wherein
the structural member includes
a first extension member extended from one of the opposing walls toward the other one of the opposing walls,
a second extension member extended from the other one of the opposing walls toward the one of the opposing walls,
a first engaging portion formed in the first extension member,
a second engaging portion formed in the second extension member, and
an engaged member to be engaged with the first engaging portion and the second engaging portion when the fuel moves in the fuel-tank main body,

the second contacting member includes
a second contacting portion provided in the first extension member, and
a second contacted portion provided in that one of the opposing walls which is opposed to the first extension member or the second extension member, the second contacted portion forming the second gap between the second contacted portion and the second contacting portion,

the second contacted portion is provided in an opposed member provided in that one of the opposing walls which is opposed to the first extension member or the second extension member, the opposed member being opposed to the second contacting portion, and
the opposed member is fitted to the first extension member and the second extension member,
the first extension member and the second extension member include overlap portions that overlap with each other when viewed in a direction perpendicular to an extending direction of the first extension member and the second extension member;
the structural member includes
a first through hole serving as the first engaging portion formed in the overlap portion of the first extension member,
a second through hole serving as the second engaging portion formed in the overlap portion of the second extension member,
an opposed member opposed to the overlapping portions and configured to come close to the overlap portions when the fuel moves in the fuel tank, and
an insertion member provided in the opposed member and serving as the engaged member configured to be inserted into the first through hole and the second through hole when the opposed member comes close to the overlap portions in a state where the first through hole and the second through hole align with each other.

6. The fuel tank according to claim 5 , wherein:
the first extension member is a first tubular member having a tubular shape and extending in a direction in which two opposing walls of the fuel-tank main body oppose, and
the second extension member is a second tubular member placed outside the first tubular member or inside the first tubular member.

7. The fuel tank according to claim 6 , wherein:
the structural member is configured such that a plurality of the first through holes is formed in a circumferential direction of the first tubular member and a plurality of the second through holes is formed in a circumferential direction of the second tubular member, and a plurality of opposed members each including the insertion member is provided around the first tubular member and the second tubular member in the circumferential direction.

8. The fuel tank according to claim 5 , wherein:
the structural member includes a spring member configured to bias the opposed member in a direction where the opposed member separates from the overlap portions, so as to maintain a state where the insertion member is not inserted into the first through hole and the second through hole at the time when flow of the fuel is not more than a predetermined amount.

9. A fuel tank comprising:
a fuel-tank main body in which to store fuel; and
a structural member provided between two opposing walls of the fuel-tank main body, the structural member including a first contacting member configured to eliminate a first gap so as to achieve contact when the opposing walls come close to each other, the structural member including a second contacting member configured to eliminate a second gap so as to achieve contact when the opposing walls separate from each other, wherein
the structural member includes
a first extension member extended from one of the opposing walls toward the other one of the opposing walls,
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Assignees

• Toyota Motor Co Ltd

Inventors

• Kataoka Chiaki
• Tanabe Daisuke

Classifications

• B60K2015/03453

  for fixing or mounting parts of the fuel tank together · CPC title

• B60K2015/0346

  by welding · CPC title

• B60K15/03177 Primary

  made of non-metallic material, e.g. plastics, or of a combination of non-metallic and metallic material (B60K15/03006 takes precedence) · CPC title

• B60K15/03 Primary

  Fuel tanks · CPC title