U.S. patent application number 12/012923 was filed with the patent office on 2008-08-07 for fuel tank flange.
Invention is credited to W. Bruce Bosch, Evan Waymire.
Application Number | 20080185491 12/012923 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 39675337 |
Filed Date | 2008-08-07 |
United States Patent
Application |
20080185491 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Bosch; W. Bruce ; et
al. |
August 7, 2008 |
Fuel tank flange
Abstract
Embodiments of a fuel tank flange are disclosed, including a
single fuel tank flange plate having multiple fuel tank system
components secured thereto.
Inventors: |
Bosch; W. Bruce; (Vancouver,
WA) ; Waymire; Evan; (West Linn, OR) |
Correspondence
Address: |
Ingrid McTaggart
3021 SE 56th Ave.
Portland
OR
97206
US
|
Family ID: |
39675337 |
Appl. No.: |
12/012923 |
Filed: |
February 5, 2008 |
Related U.S. Patent Documents
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Application
Number |
Filing Date |
Patent Number |
|
|
60853874 |
Feb 6, 2007 |
|
|
|
Current U.S.
Class: |
248/346.5 ;
220/562; 29/890.14 |
Current CPC
Class: |
B60K 2015/03217
20130101; F02M 37/103 20130101; B60K 15/035 20130101; B60K 15/04
20130101; B60Y 2200/14 20130101; Y10T 29/49428 20150115; F02M
37/0082 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
248/346.5 ;
220/562; 29/890.14 |
International
Class: |
B65D 88/12 20060101
B65D088/12 |
Claims
1. A fuel tank system comprising: a fuel tank including a wall
having a fuel tank aperture formed therein, said fuel tank aperture
extending between an interior and an exterior of said fuel tank; a
flange plate secured over said fuel tank aperture, and including at
least three flange plate apertures formed therein; and at least
three fuel tank system components, wherein individual ones of said
at least three fuel tank system components is secured within an
individual one of said at least three fuel tank flange plate
apertures and extends into said interior of said fuel tank from
said exterior of said fuel tank.
2. The system of claim 1 wherein said at least three fuel tank
system components are chosen from a supply fitting, a return
fitting, a vent fitting, a filler neck fitting, and fuel level
sender assembly.
3. The system of claim 1 wherein said flange plate is secured to
said fuel tank around said fuel tank aperture by a single weld line
on said exterior of said fuel tank.
4. The system of claim 1 wherein said fuel tank includes a drain
aperture formed therein, and wherein said system further includes a
tube support including a tube support wall extending through said
drain aperture and a tube support base secured to said exterior of
said fuel tank and around said drain aperture.
5. The system of claim 1 wherein said flange plate is secured on a
top surface of said fuel tank.
6. The system of claim 1 wherein said exterior of said fuel tank
defines a rounded cross sectional shape and wherein a lower surface
of said flange plate defines a rounded cross sectional shape that
matches said rounded cross sectional shape of said fuel tank.
7. The system of claim 1 comprising at least five fuel tank system
components, wherein individual ones of said at least five fuel tank
system components is secured within an individual one of at least
five fuel tank flange plate apertures and extends into said
interior of said fuel tank from said exterior of said fuel
tank.
8. A method of installing multiple components on a fuel tank,
comprising: forming a fuel tank aperture in a wall of a fuel tank,
said fuel tank aperture extending between an interior and an
exterior of said fuel tank; forming a flange plate sized to be
secured over said fuel tank aperture, and forming at least three
flange plate apertures in said flange plate; securing at least
three fuel tank system components on said flange plate, wherein
individual ones of said at least three fuel tank system components
is secured within an individual one of said at least three fuel
tank flange plate apertures; and securing said flange plate on said
fuel tank aperture such that said at least three fuel tank system
components each extends into said interior of said fuel tank from
said exterior of said fuel tank.
9. The method of claim 8 wherein said at least three fuel tank
system components are chosen from a supply fitting, a return
fitting, a vent fitting, a filler neck fitting, and fuel level
sender assembly.
10. The method of claim 8 wherein said flange plate is secured to
said fuel tank around said fuel tank aperture by a single weld line
on said exterior of said fuel tank.
11. The method of claim 8 further comprising forming a drain
aperture in said wall of said fuel tank, securing a tube in said
tube support, and securing said tube support within said drain
aperture, wherein said tube is a part of one of said at least three
fuel tank system components.
12. The method of claim 8 wherein said flange plate is secured on a
top surface of said fuel tank.
13. The method of claim 8 wherein said forming said flange plate
includes forming said flange plate to have a cross sectional shape
that matches a cross sectional shape of said exterior of said fuel
tank.
14. The method of claim 8 comprising forming at least four flange
plate apertures in said flange plate, and securing at least four
fuel tank system components on said flange plate, wherein
individual ones of said at least four fuel tank system components
is secured within an individual one of said at least four fuel tank
flange plate apertures.
15. A fuel tank flange comprising: a flange plate including at
least three flange plate apertures formed therein, said flange
plate adapted to be secured in a single fuel tank aperture; and at
least three fuel tank system components, wherein individual ones of
said at least three fuel tank system components is secured within
an individual one of said at least three fuel tank flange plate
apertures, and wherein individual ones of said at least three fuel
tank system components is chosen from a supply fitting, a return
fitting, a vent fitting, a filler neck fitting, and fuel level
sender fitting.
16. The flange of claim 15 wherein said flange plate defines a
lower surface having a curved shape.
Description
[0001] This application claims priority on a provisional patent
application filed Feb. 6, 2007, in the name of the same inventor,
in the United States Patent Office and assigned application Ser.
No. 60/853,874.
TECHNICAL FIELD
[0002] The present invention relates to an improved fuel tank
flange for use on a fuel tank.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0003] Fuel tanks may include separate apertures in the fuel tank
for supporting various components of a fuel system that may be
positioned within the fuel tank. These components may each be
separately secured within the fuel tank, which may be a costly,
labor intensive process and may not provide a desired stability for
the components.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0004] The present invention provides a fuel tank flange which
supports several fuel system components through a single aperture
of the fuel tank. The fuel tank flange may allow installation of
the device with a reduced number of welds. Moreover, the flange may
be welded to the fuel tank from the outside such that no weld may
be conducted inside the fuel tank, thereby decreasing the cost and
complexity of the assembly process of the fuel tank.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0005] FIG. 1 is an isometric view of one embodiment of the fuel
tank flange of the present invention.
[0006] FIG. 2 is a side view of the fuel tank flange secured on a
tank.
[0007] FIG. 3 is an isometric view of the fuel tank flange secured
on a fuel tank.
[0008] FIG. 4 is a front view of the fuel tank flange secured on a
fuel tank.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT
[0009] FIG. 1 is an isometric view of one embodiment of the fuel
tank flange 10 of the present invention including a flange plate
12. Several components may be supported by flange plate 12
including: a supply fitting 14; a return fitting 16; a vent fitting
18; a filler neck fitting 20; and, a fuel level sender assembly
22.
[0010] FIG. 2 is a side view of the fuel tank flange 10 secured
within a tank 28, show cutaway so that an interior 26 of the fuel
tank 28 is visible. Each of components 14-22 may be secured to the
single flange plate 12 such that a single aperture 24 may allow
placement of each of components 14-22 into interior 26 of fuel tank
28.
[0011] Referring to FIGS. 1 and 2, supply fitting 14 may be secured
to a supply tube 30 that may extend downwardly within interior 26
of fuel tank 28 such that an end 32 of supply tube 30 may be
received within a supply tube support 34. Due to placement of
supply fitting 14 on flange 10, which may be secured on the top
side 36 of fuel tank 28, end 32 of supply tube 30 may be positioned
at the bottom 38 of fuel tank 28. Placement of end 32 at the bottom
38 of fuel tank 28 may allow supply tube support 34 to be secured
within fuel tank 28 through a drain opening 40 of fuel tank 28.
Fuel tanks generally include a drain opening 40 on the bottom 38 of
the fuel tank 28. Accordingly, the drain opening 40 may allow
placement of supply tube support 34 to be secured to the fuel tank
28 at drain opening 40 without forming an additional aperture
within the fuel tank 28. By placing supply fitting 14 on a single
flange plate 12 at top 36 of fuel tank 28, the installation of
supply tube 30 is simplified, thereby reducing the cost of the
assembly process of a fuel tank.
[0012] Supply tube support 34 may include an upwardly extending
tube support cylinder 42 and a base 44. Tube support cylinder 42
may define an outside diameter 46 that may be smaller than an
inside diameter 48 of drain opening 40. Base 44 may define an
outside diameter 50 that may be larger than the inside diameter 48
of drain opening 40. Accordingly, tube support base 44 may be
welded to the outside of fuel tank 28 along a single weld line 78
without use of an interior welding operation, thereby further
simplifying assembly of fuel tank 28, and reducing the time and
expense of the tank assembly process.
[0013] In contrast, prior art fuel tanks may position supply
fittings on a side 76 of a fuel tank such that a supply tube
support device may not be positioned through a drain opening in the
bottom of a fuel tank. Accordingly, prior art fuel tank assembly
processes generally include forming an aperture, in addition to a
drain aperture, so as to secure a supply tube in place. The prior
art assembly process of a fuel tank, therefore, is more complex,
time consuming and expensive when compared with the fuel tank
assembly process of the present invention.
[0014] Placement of supply tube fitting 14 on the single flange
plate 12 of the present invention may also provide safety
advantages when compared with prior art fuel tanks. In particular,
placement of supply fitting 14 and return fitting 16 on flange
plate 12, which may be positioned on top 36 of fuel tank 28, may
position the supply and return fittings 14 and 16 away from an
exhaust system (not shown) of a semi tractor, which may be mounted
adjacent the side of a fuel tank. In particular, low-emissions
exhaust systems now in use may be heated to higher temperatures
than prior art exhaust systems, such that the importance of moving
the supply and return fuel lines away from the improved exhaust
system at the side of the fuel tank may prevent overheating of the
supply and return tubes. Prior art fuel tanks, which may include a
supply tube fitting and return tube fitting each secured in a
separate aperture on a side 76 of a fuel tank may place the prior
art supply and return fuel lines very close to the high temperature
exhaust system of a semi tractor. Accordingly, the use of a single
flange to place multiple components on top surface 36 of fuel tank
28 may increase the safety features of the fuel tank.
[0015] Placement of supply tube fitting 14 and return tube fitting
16 on a single flange plate 12 positioned on a top surface 36 of
fuel tank 28 may also position the fittings 14 and 16 for easy
access during routine maintenance and repair operations.
[0016] Referring still to FIGS. 1 and 2, flange plate 12 may be
secured on a single aperture 24 of fuel tank 28 thereby reducing
the complexity, time and cost of the fuel tank assembly process
because only one aperture, instead of multiple smaller apertures,
is utilized for installation of multiple fuel system components.
Moreover, aperture 24 may be larger than each of several individual
apertures of prior art fuel tanks, such that larger aperture 24 may
allow ease of placement of fuel tank components 14-22 through
aperture 24. For example, a return tube 52 secured on return
fitting 16 may include a ninety degree bend 54 in a midsection 56
of the return tube 52. The end region 58 of return tube 52 that
extends from an end 60 of the return tube 52 to ninety degree bend
54 may be easily placed through aperture 24 during installation
without damaging the fuel tank 28 or the return tube 52.
[0017] Large aperture 24 may also allow other large components to
be placed through aperture 24 without damage to the fuel tank 28 or
to the component. For example, fuel level sender assembly 22 may
extend downwardly into interior 26 of fuel tank 28. The fuel level
sender assembly 22 may include a bracket 62, a movable arm 64
mounted thereon, having a float 66 secured to an end thereof. In
the figures as shown, movable arm 64 and float 66 are shown in
three different positions, a low fuel level 68, a medium fuel level
70 and a high fuel level 72. The long movable arm 64 and float 66
may easily be passed through aperture 24 during installation of
flange plate 12 on fuel tank 28 without damaging the sensitive
movable arm 64 and float 66 of the fuel level sending unit.
[0018] Accordingly, the advantages of securing multiple components
14-22 on a single flange plate 12 include the reduced time and
complexity of the installation process that includes securing
multiple components 14-22, for example, on a single flange plate
12, and then securing the single flange plate 12 on a single
aperture 24 with a single weld line 74. Cutting of a single
aperture 24 and use of a single weld line 74 to secure a single
flange plate 12 to the single aperture 24 reduces the cutting time,
reduces the welding time, and allows welding from the outside of
the fuel tank 28. Moreover, use of a large single aperture24 may
reduce damage to the fuel tank 28 and to the components 14-22
secured to the flange plate 12 because the individual components
14-22 may fit more easily through the large single aperture 24.
Additionally, placement of the supply and return tube fittings 14
and 16 to the single flange plate 12 on a top surface 36 of the
fuel tank 28 positions the supply and return fittings 14 and 16 and
the attached supply and return tubes 30 and 52 away from high
temperature exhaust systems at the side of a fuel tank, thereby
improving the safety of the present fuel tank design.
[0019] FIGS. 3 and 4 show additional views of the fuel tank flange
10 secured on a fuel tank 28.
[0020] In other embodiments, supply fitting 14 and return fitting
16 may include shutoff valves to disable fuel flow to and/or from
the fuel tank 28. Fuel tank flange 10 may include more than one
supply fitting 14 and supply tube 30 in order to supply fuel to
more than one engine or other fuel consuming accessory on the
truck. Fuel tank flange 10 may include more than one return fitting
16 in order to return fuel from more than one engine or other fuel
consuming accessory on the truck. Fuel tank flange 10 may include
more than one return tube 52. Some installations may not require
supply tube support 34. In such installations supply tube 30 may
simply terminate near the bottom 38 of the fuel tank 28.
Alternatively, installations not requiring a tube support 34 may
include a ninety degree bend 54, or any other angle as may be
desired for a particular application, in a midsection of supply
tube 30 and an end region 58 or supply tube 30. Installations
including ninety degree bend 54 and end region 58 as part of supply
tube 30 may be easily placed through aperture 24 during
installation without damaging the fuel tank 28, return tube 52, or
supply tube 30.
* * * * *