U.S. patent application number 12/719570 was filed with the patent office on 2010-09-09 for fuel line.
This patent application is currently assigned to Veritas AG. Invention is credited to Andreas Seyler, Marc VAN HOOREN, Wilfried Zuelich.
Application Number | 20100227099 12/719570 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 42229091 |
Filed Date | 2010-09-09 |
United States Patent
Application |
20100227099 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
VAN HOOREN; Marc ; et
al. |
September 9, 2010 |
FUEL LINE
Abstract
The present invention refers to a fuel line for conveying fuel
from and/or into a fuel tank. To suggest a fuel line for conveying
fuel from and/or into a fuel tank (tank line), which can be
processed easily and shows good mechanical properties and also a
high chemical resistance, it is provided according to the invention
that the fuel line consists essentially of F-TPV.
Inventors: |
VAN HOOREN; Marc;
(Freigericht, DE) ; Seyler; Andreas; (Gruendau,
DE) ; Zuelich; Wilfried; (Gelnhausen, DE) |
Correspondence
Address: |
BUCHANAN, INGERSOLL & ROONEY PC
POST OFFICE BOX 1404
ALEXANDRIA
VA
22313-1404
US
|
Assignee: |
Veritas AG
Gelnhausen
DE
|
Family ID: |
42229091 |
Appl. No.: |
12/719570 |
Filed: |
March 8, 2010 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
428/36.92 ;
138/121 |
Current CPC
Class: |
F02M 37/0088 20130101;
Y10T 428/1397 20150115; F02M 37/0017 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
428/36.92 ;
138/121 |
International
Class: |
B65D 1/02 20060101
B65D001/02 |
Foreign Application Data
Date |
Code |
Application Number |
Mar 9, 2009 |
DE |
102009012311.3 |
Claims
1. A fuel line for conveying fuel from and/or into a fuel tank,
wherein the fuel line consists essentially of F-TPV.
2. The fuel line according to claim 1, wherein the fuel line
consists of more than 90% by wt., preferably of more than 95% by
wt., preferentially of more than 99% by wt., of F-TPV.
3. The fuel line according to claim 1, wherein the fuel line is
configured in a single layer as an F-TPV monotube.
4. The fuel line according to claim 1, wherein the fuel line is
formed at least sectionwise as a plain tube.
5. The fuel line according to claim 1, wherein the fuel line is
configured at least sectionwise as a corrugated tube.
6. A fuel tank comprising a fuel line according to claim 1, wherein
the fuel line is positioned at least sectionwise within the fuel
tank.
7. The fuel tank according to claim 6, wherein the fuel line ends
in the fuel tank.
8. The fuel tank according to claim 6, wherein the material F-TPV
is exposed on an inner periphery (Ui), on an outer periphery (Ua),
and/or on a face of the fuel line.
9. The fuel tank according to claim 6, wherein the fuel line
extends, starting from a connection on the tank wall, into the fuel
tank.
10. The fuel tank according to claim 6, wherein a further fuel line
extends, starting from a connection on the tank wall, outside of
the fuel tank, the further fuel line comprising at least one inner
layer of F-TPV.
11. The fuel line according to claim 2, wherein the fuel line is
configured in a single layer as an F-TPV monotube.
12. The fuel line according to claim 11, wherein the fuel line is
configured at least sectionwise as a corrugated tube.
13. A fuel tank comprising a fuel line according to claim 12,
wherein the fuel line is positioned at least sectionwise within the
fuel tank.
14. The fuel tank according to claim 13, wherein the material F-TPV
is exposed on an inner periphery (Ui), on an outer periphery (Ua),
and/or on a face of the fuel line.
15. The fuel tank according to claim 14, wherein the fuel line
extends, starting from a connection on the tank wall, into the fuel
tank.
16. The fuel tank according to claim 15, wherein a further fuel
line extends, starting from a connection on the tank wall, outside
of the fuel tank, the further fuel line comprising at least one
inner layer of F-TPV.
Description
[0001] The present invention refers to a fuel line for conveying
fuel from and/or into a fuel tank.
[0002] Tank lines, particularly in-tank lines, are employed in fuel
tanks for automotive vehicles and are used for conveying fuel from
the tank to the fuel pump. Due to this special use, the demand is
made on the tubes or lines that both the inside and the outside
must be made resistant to fuel. Moreover, a time- and cost-saving
assembly is desired.
[0003] Publication EP 1 443 205 A discloses an arrangement
comprising such a line. The line serves to connect two tank
sections, which are not interconnected because of the saddle type
design. Due to the permanent discharge of fuel out of the one
portion of the fuel tank, fuel is permanently sucked out of the
other part via the tank line. For an easier laying operation the
line comprises a plurality of flexible bending sections of a
bellows-like structure.
[0004] A fuel line that is highly resistant to aggressive media
from the outside and also shows a high resistance to fuels on the
inside is described in EP 1 635 101 A. To be able to meet this
demand, the line has a complex structure consisting of five layers,
including three main layers and two bonding layers, one main layer
being formed as an intermediate layer of PA 6.
[0005] EP 1 942 296 A shows a fluid line used for
hydrocarbon-containing pressurized fluids. Due to the mechanical
properties that are in the foreground with this application, said
line is made from PA 6.10. Especially the processing speed during
extrusion is relatively high and is about 20 m/min and thus
particularly economic. However, it has been found in practice that
PA-based materials cannot be exposed to fuel impact all the
time.
[0006] It is therefore the object to suggest a fuel line used for
conveying fuel from and/or into a fuel tank (tank line) that can be
processed easily and shows good mechanical properties and also a
high chemical resistance.
[0007] To achieve the aforementioned object, the invention provides
the fuel line for conveying fuel out of and/or into a fuel tank
according to claim 1, wherein the fuel line consists essentially of
F-TPV. The material F-TPV comprises a thermoplastic matrix of a
fluorothermoplast as the continuous phase, having dispersed therein
dynamically vulcanized elastomer particles of fluororubber, wherein
the vulcanized domains form the soft phase. For instance ethylene
tetrafluoroethylene (ETFE), ethylene-fluorinated ethylene-propylene
(EFEP), fluorinated ethylene-propylene (FEP), ethylene
chlorotrifluoroethylene (ECTFE), etc. may be used. Copolymers and
terpolymers of vinylidene fluoride (VDF), tetrafluoroethylene (TFE)
and hexafluoropropylene (HFP) are suited as fluororubber, with a
content of 10-60% by wt., depending on the desired product property
(module, stiffness/flexibility), at a fluorine content of about
66%-71%, wherein the corresponding product properties can vary
within wide limits. In tests the material has turned out to be
highly resistant to fuels of the most different types and
qualities. In contrast to conventional approaches, which
particularly regard multilayered tubes, it is possible to
considerably simplify not only the manufacturing process, but also
the disposal of the fuel line according to the invention for the
reason that substantially only one single material must be
provided, processed and later also disposed of, which turns out to
be advantageous economically and above all ecologically. Especially
in a fully fuel-surrounded state (in-tank application) on the face
the fuel line according to the invention can be designed to be
resistant to fuels of the most different types and qualities, so
that the risk of delamination is considerably reduced.
[0008] It can turn out to be advantageous when the fuel line
consists of more than 90% by wt., preferably of more than 95% by
wt., preferentially of more than 99% by wt, of F-TPV. If the amount
of a material differing from F-TPV is less than 10%, the risk of a
functional failure of the fuel line is minimal even if it is
permanently exposed to aggressive fuels. A certain amount of a
material differing from F-TPV could even be desirable, e.g. in
order to reduce the overall costs of the fuel line or to equip the
fuel line with specific functional sections.
[0009] It may turn out to be helpful when the fuel line is
configured in a single layer as an F-TPV monotube. The fuel line
comprises a single layer extending continuously from the inner
periphery to the outer periphery of the fuel line, which layer
consists of 100% of F-TPV. With such a design of the fuel line the
manufacturing process turns out to be particularly simple.
Moreover, the fuel line with this type of design is without any
layer boundaries owing to the monolayer structure and thus also
without any weak spots with respect to delamination.
[0010] It may turn out to be useful when the fuel line is
configured at least sectionwise as a plain tube. Plain tube
sections are particularly stable and resistant to kinking due to
the constant cross-sectional shape. It may be desirable to provide
the fuel line at suitable places with plain tube sections so as to
prevent, for instance, a reduction of the line cross-section
through which fluid can flow, which reduction is e.g. caused by
kinking of the fuel line.
[0011] It has turned out to be convenient when the fuel line is
configured at least sectionwise as a corrugated tube. On account of
corrugated tube sections the fuel line can be made highly flexible
in a selective way and at the same time highly resistant to
kinking, so that the fuel line can even extend along strongly
curved lines without the risk of a reduction of the line
cross-section through which fluid can flow, which is e.g. caused by
kinking of the fuel line.
[0012] A preferred aspect of the invention refers to a fuel tank
comprising a fuel line according to any one of the preceding
designs, the fuel line being positioned at least sectionwise within
the fuel tank. With such a so-called in-tank application the
advantages of the fuel line according to the invention become
particularly clearly apparent because fuel acts on both the inner
periphery and the outer periphery of the fuel line.
[0013] It may turn out to be advantageous when the fuel line ends
in the fuel tank. In this configuration the advantages of the fuel
line according to the invention become even more clearly apparent.
Especially on the face, the inner layers of a multilayered fuel
line are bound to be exposed to the fuel so that in the
multilayered fuel line there is always the risk of delamination
emanating from the boundary layers. Since the fuel line according
to the invention is however essentially made of F-TPV, which is
highly resistant to fuels of the most different types and
qualities, a delamination of the fuel line can also and above all
be prevented whenever the face of the fuel line is exposed to
fuel.
[0014] It may turn out to be helpful when the material F-TPV is
exposed on the inner periphery, on the outer periphery and/or on
the face of the fuel line. With this design there are no weak spots
on the parts of the fuel line on which the fuel acts and from which
a delamination of the fuel line might ensue.
[0015] It may turn out to be advantageous when the fuel line
extends, starting from a connection of the tank wall, into the fuel
tank. Particularly inside the tank it is useful when the fuel line
consists of 100% of F-TPV and the material F-TPV is exposed on the
inner periphery, on the outer periphery and on the face of the fuel
line because the fuel acts on the inner periphery, on the outer
periphery and on the face of the fuel line.
[0016] It may turn out to be convenient when a further fuel line
extends, starting from a connection on the tank wall, outside of
the fuel tank, the further fuel line comprising at least one inner
layer of F-TPV. Outside the tank, in cases where the fuel is passed
in the interior of the fuel line to a fuel pump, or the like, it
suffices that the material F-TPV is only exposed on the inner
periphery because the fuel only acts on the inner periphery of the
fuel line, but not on the outer periphery or the face of the fuel
line, so that the risk of delamination of the fuel line emanating
from the face does not exist. The single-layer F-TPV monotube made
from solid material is perhaps more expensive than a fuel line with
only one inner layer of F-TPV, so that a division of the fuel line
on the tank wall seems to be quite reasonable for saving costs.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0017] FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a fuel line according to the
invention.
[0018] FIG. 2 is a schematic view of a fuel tank according to the
invention with the fuel line according to the invention.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
[0019] FIG. 1 is a perspective view of the fuel line 1 according to
the invention, which is particularly provided for conveying fuel
from and/or into a fuel tank. The fuel line 1 according to the
invention is characterized in that it consists essentially of
F-TPV, which means within the scope of this invention that the fuel
line 1 consists of more than 90% by wt., preferably more than 95%
by wt., preferentially more than 99% by wt., of F-TPV. It is
particularly preferred when the fuel line 1 consists of 100% by wt.
of F-TPV and is configured in a single layer as an F-TPV monotube.
However, small fractions of other materials may also be present,
for instance in order to provide the fuel line 1 with different
functional sections, such as connections, markings, couplings, etc.
It is important that the fuel line 1 is not in a position to
delaminate, particularly owing to the material F-TPV which is very
resistant to the most different fuels, whereby the risk of
functional failures is considerably reduced.
[0020] The material F-TPV for the tank applications described
within the scope of this invention comprises a thermoplastic matrix
of a fluorothermoplast, such as ethylene tetrafluoroethylene
(ETFE), ethylene-fluorinated ethylene-propylene (EFEP), fluorinated
ethylene-propylene (FEP), ethylene chlorotrifluoroethylene (ECTFE),
etc. as the continuous phase, having dispersed therein vulcanized
elastomer particles of fluororubber (FPM), wherein the vulcanized
domains of FPM form the soft phase. Copolymers and terpolymers of
vinylidene fluoride (VDF), tetrafluoroethylene (TFE) and
hexafluoropropylene (HFP) are suited as fluororubber (fluorine
content of 66%-71%), with a content of 10-60% by wt., depending on
the desired product property (module, stiffness/flexibility, and
the corresponding product properties may vary within wide
limits).
[0021] The fuel line 1 shown in FIG. 1 is formed over the whole
length between two faces 10 in a single layer as an F-TPV monotube
and comprises one single layer that is continuously extending from
the inner periphery Ui to the outer periphery Ua and consists of
100% of F-TPV, so that the material F-TPV is exposed on the inner
periphery Ui, on the outer periphery Ua, and on the faces 10 of the
fuel line 1. Since there are no layer boundaries whatsoever, there
is also no risk of delamination. Moreover, the fuel line 1
comprises a corrugated tube section 11 arranged between two plain
tube sections 12. Depending on the desired flexibility, the fuel
line 1 can be configured at least sectionwise as a plain tube and
at least sectionwise as a corrugated tube. An outer diameter of the
fuel line 1 is e.g. between 5 mm and 20 mm, preferably between 8 mm
and 12 mm, preferentially 10 mm. A wall thickness of the fuel line
1 is e.g. between 0.5 mm and 5 mm, preferably between 1 mm and 3
mm, preferentially 2 mm.
[0022] FIG. 2 shows a fuel tank 2 according to the invention with a
fuel line 1 of the invention particularly positioned on the inside,
which is configured in a single layer as an F-TPV monotube.
Starting from a connection 3 on the tank wall 20, the fuel line 1
extends into the fuel tank 2 and ends in the fuel tank 2. Starting
from the connection 3 on the tank wall 20, a further fuel line 4
extends outside of the fuel tank 2 to a fuel pump (not shown), the
further fuel line 4 comprising an inner layer of F-TPV and the
remaining layers of said fuel line 4 being made of a material
differing from F-TPV. The fuel line 4 need not be made of F-TPV
solid material because the fuel outside the fuel tank 2 acts
neither on an outer periphery nor on the faces of the fuel line 4
in a direct way.
* * * * *