U.S. patent application number 10/897478 was filed with the patent office on 2006-01-26 for safety improvement for a fuel tank.
Invention is credited to Ronald L. Fenton.
Application Number | 20060016813 10/897478 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 35656031 |
Filed Date | 2006-01-26 |
United States Patent
Application |
20060016813 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Fenton; Ronald L. |
January 26, 2006 |
Safety improvement for a fuel tank
Abstract
A fuel tank is improved by the addition of a filler of metallic
mesh, the addition of an outer sleeve of fuel and vapor impervious,
fire resistant, thermoplastic material, and the fuel line outlet
cover is secured against release due to collision. A method of
improving a fuel tank includes the securing of the fuel line outlet
cover, the addition of the outer sleeve and the installation of the
tank into the vehicle. Finally, a tank assembly is described which
includes a tank enclosure, the sleeve surrounding the enclosure, a
reinforced fastening of the fuel line attachment cover to the tank
enclosure, and a filler of explosion suppressing metallic mesh
positioned within the tank.
Inventors: |
Fenton; Ronald L.; (Mt.
Prospect, IL) |
Correspondence
Address: |
Douglas B. White
21 Carrol Lane
Cary
IL
60013
US
|
Family ID: |
35656031 |
Appl. No.: |
10/897478 |
Filed: |
July 23, 2004 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
220/86.1 |
Current CPC
Class: |
B60K 2015/03381
20130101; B60K 15/03 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
220/086.1 |
International
Class: |
B65B 3/00 20060101
B65B003/00 |
Claims
1. A method for improving the safety of a vehicle fuel tank having
an exterior surface defined thereon, an interior defined therein,
and a fuel line attachment cover attached to the tank, the method
comprising the step of: covering said tank exterior surface with a
sleeve of material that is substantially impervious to fuel and
fuel vapor.
2. The method of claim 1 further comprising placing within said
tank interior a filler of metallic mesh, wherein said filler
substantially fills said interior of said tank.
3. The method of claim 2 wherein said filler is comprised of one or
more sheets of expanded aluminum mesh formed into packets.
4. The method of claim 1 wherein said sleeve is comprised of a fire
resistant thermoplastic material.
5. The method of claim 4 further comprising placing within said
tank interior a filler of metallic mesh, wherein said filler
substantially fills said interior of said tank.
6. The method of claim 5 wherein said filler is comprised of one or
more sheets of expanded aluminum mesh formed into packets.
7. The method of claim 1 further comprising the step of adding
fastening means to secure the fuel line attachment cover to said
tank.
8. The method of claim 7 wherein said sleeve is comprised of a fire
resistant thermoplastic material.
9. The method of claim 8 further comprising placing within said
tank interior a filler of metallic mesh, wherein said filler
substantially fills said interior of said tank.
10. The method of claim 9 wherein said filler is comprised of one
or more sheets of expanded aluminum mesh formed into packets.
11. A fuel tank assembly comprising: a tank enclosure having an
exterior surface defined thereon, an interior defined therein, and
having a fuel line attachment cover attached thereto; a sleeve
affixed to said exterior surface of said enclosure, wherein said
sleeve is substantially impervious to fuel and fuel vapor.
12. The fuel tank assembly of claim 11 further comprising a filler
of metallic mesh positioned within said interior of said tank
enclosure, wherein said filler is comprised of expanded aluminum
mesh.
13. The fuel tank assembly of claim 12 wherein said filler is
comprised of packets formed from sheets of expanded aluminum
mesh.
14. The fuel tank assembly of claim 11 wherein said sleeve is
comprised of a fire resistant thermoplastic material.
15. The fuel tank assembly of claim 14 further comprising a filler
of metallic mesh positioned within said interior of said tank
enclosure, wherein said filler is comprised of expanded aluminum
mesh.
16. The fuel tank assembly of claim 15 wherein said filler is
comprised of packets formed from sheets of expanded aluminum
mesh.
17. The fuel tank assembly of claim 11 further comprising fastening
means affixed to the fuel line attachment cover, wherein said
fastening means prevents detachment of said fuel line attachment
cover from said tank during a collision.
18. The fuel tank assembly of claim 17 wherein said sleeve is
comprised of a fire resistant thermoplastic material.
19. The fuel tank assembly of claim 18 further comprising a filler
of metallic mesh positioned within said interior of said tank
enclosure, wherein said filler is comprised of expanded aluminum
mesh.
20. The fuel tank assembly of claim 19 wherein said filler is
comprised of packets formed from sheets of expanded aluminum mesh.
Description
CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS
[0001] Not Applicable
STATEMENT REGARDING FEDERALLY SPONSORED RESEARCH OR DEVELOPMENT
[0002] Not Applicable
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0003] 1. Field of the Invention
[0004] The present invention relates generally to fuel tanks, such
as are currently in use with automobiles. More particularly, this
invention relates to a safety improvement in these tanks which
reduces the risk of fire and explosion of the tank when the vehicle
is involved in a collision.
[0005] 2. Description of the Prior Art
[0006] Recently fuel tanks installed in automobiles have shown a
tendency to lose their structural integrity when the vehicle is
involved in a collision, allowing dangerous leakage of fuel and
fuel vapor. This leakage is due in part to cracks or breaks in the
wall of the tank and due in part to the separation of the fuel line
attachment cover from the tank wall. Regardless of the source of
the leakage, a catastrophic fire and explosion is often the
result.
[0007] Prior art explosion suppression apparatus has included the
use of a metallic mesh insert, as described in U.S. Pat. No.
6,604,644 and U.S. Pat. No. 6,415,942. Such systems effectively
suppress explosion when an un-ruptured tank is in contact with a
fire, but they do not inhibit the spilling of fuel from a tank
rupture or the venting of fuel vapor. Consequently, the risk of
fire and explosion still persists with prior art tanks.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0008] It is accordingly the principal object of this invention to
improve the safety of vehicle fuel tanks and reduce the risk of
fire or explosion when a vehicle is involved in a collision.
[0009] This and other objects are accomplished by covering the tank
exterior with a sleeve of fuel and vapor impervious material.
Preferably, before the application of the sleeve, the fuel line
attachment cover is secured against collision caused detachment
from the tank by the addition of fastening screws. In a further
aspect of the invention, a filler of metallic mesh is placed within
the tank such that it substantially fills the interior of the tank
and serves to suppress explosion.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0010] FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a stock prior art automobile
fuel tank depicting its metal wall enclosure, the fuel line, and
the fuel line attachment cover.
[0011] FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the stock automobile fuel
tank of FIG. 1 depicting the removal of the fuel line and the fuel
line attachment cover.
[0012] FIG. 3 is a perspective view of the automobile fuel tank of
FIG. 2 showing the reattachment of the fuel line attachment cover
with additional fastening screws.
[0013] FIG. 4 is a perspective view of a portion of a sheet of
expanded metallic foil for use as the mesh filler insert within the
tank.
[0014] FIG. 5 is a perspective view, shown partially cut away, of
the improved tank of the present invention showing filler packets
of metallic foil mesh within the tank and showing a sleeve applied
around the tank exterior.
[0015] FIG. 6 is a perspective view, shown partially cut away, of
the improved tank of the present invention showing a filler of
metallic foil mesh within the tank and showing a sleeve applied
around the tank exterior.
[0016] While the invention will be described in connection with a
preferred embodiment, it will be understood that it is not the
intent to limit the invention to that embodiment. On the contrary,
it is the intent to cover all alternatives, modifications, and
equivalents as may be included within the spirit and scope of the
invention as defined by the appended claims.
DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT
[0017] Turning first to FIG. 1 there is shown a prior art fuel tank
10 comprised of an enclosure wall 12, typically of a metal
composition. Also shown is a fuel line 14, affixed to the tank
enclosure 12 by means of a fuel line attachment cover 16. This
prior art fuel line attachment cover 16 is typically affixed to the
tank enclosure 12 by screws 18.
[0018] According to one aspect of the present invention, the fuel
line 14 and the fuel line attachment cover 16 of the prior art fuel
tank are first removed, as depicted in FIG. 2, and then
reinstalled, as shown in FIG. 3. During the reinstallation of the
attachment cover, additional fastening means is applied, such as
additional screws 20, or the like, to further secure the cover 16
and thereby prevent detachment during a collision.
[0019] In another aspect of the present invention, a filler for the
tank is formed from one or more sheets of expanded metallic sheet
30, a portion of which is shown in FIG. 4. These metallic sheets
are preferably an aluminum mesh and are now well known in the art
as an explosion suppressing filler for tanks of combustible fuel
(See for example U.S. Pat. No. 6,604,644 and U.S. Pat. No.
6,415,942). These mesh sheets may be formed into packets 35, as
described in U.S. Pat. No. 6,604,644, and then inserted into a tank
(see FIG. 5) to substantially fill the interior of the tank.
Alternatively, as shown in FIG. 6, the mesh sheet may be folded,
rolled, or otherwise formed to provide a filler 36 of metallic mesh
which substantially fills the tank.
[0020] In a further aspect of this invention, the tank is covered
with a sleeve 40 of material which is substantially impervious to
liquid fuel and fuel vapor (see FIGS. 5 and 6). This sleeve covers
the entire tank enclosure 12 and substantially seals the tank to
prevent passage of liquid fuel or fuel vapor which may leak from
the tank through any crack or opening caused by a collision. This
sleeve is preferably formed from a fire resistant thermoplastic
material and may be applied to the tank exterior with substantial
effect independent of the other improvements discussed herein.
[0021] The above described tank modification has been directed
toward new stock tanks, prior to installation in a vehicle. When a
used tank from a vehicle is being modified as herein described, the
tank is first removed from the vehicle and drained of fuel prior to
modification. It is then modified as above described and
reinstalled into the vehicle.
[0022] From the foregoing description, it will be apparent that
modifications can be made to the apparatus and method for using
same without departing from the teachings of the present invention.
Accordingly, the scope of the invention is only to be limited as
necessitated by the accompanying claims.
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