VEHICLE TANK

Abstract

A motor vehicle tank comprises a main tank that includes at least one main extraction unit that has a main flow line for extracting fuel from the main tank; an auxiliary tank arranged adjacent to and connected with the main tank, the auxiliary tank including: an auxiliary extraction unit having an auxiliary flow line for extraction of fuel from the auxiliary tank, and a filler connection for direct filling of the auxiliary tank; a partition wall which separates the auxiliary tank from the main tank by a partition wall, the partition wall having a lower partition wall region without an opening in an installation position, and an upper partition wall region having at least one opening to form an overflow between the auxiliary tank and the main tank.

Claims

1. A motor vehicle tank, comprising: a main tank that includes at least one main extraction unit having a main flow line to extract fuel from the main tank; an auxiliary tank connected to the main tank, the auxiliary tank including an auxiliary extraction unit having an auxiliary flow line for extraction of fuel from the auxiliary tank, and a filler connection for direct filling of the auxiliary tank; and a partition wall which separates the auxiliary tank from the main tank by a partition wall, the partition wall having a lower partition wall region without an opening in an installation position, and an upper partition wall region having at least one opening to facilitate fluid overflow between the auxiliary tank and the main tank.

2. The motor vehicle tank of claim 1, further comprising a valve, arranged in the main tank at an end of the main flow line, to close the main flow line when no fuel is present at the valve.

3. The motor vehicle tank of claim 1, wherein the main tank is formed of metal.

4. The motor vehicle tank of claim 3, wherein the auxiliary tank is formed of metal.

5. The motor vehicle tank of claim 3, wherein the partition wall is formed of metal.

6. The motor vehicle tank of claim 1, wherein the main extraction unit comprises a fill level meter and/or a vent.

7. The motor vehicle tank of claim 1, wherein the main flow line and the auxiliary flow line are mechanically connected and fluidically connected outside outer delimiting walls of the motor vehicle tank.

8. The motor vehicle tank of claim 1, wherein the main flow line and the auxiliary flow line are mechanically connected outside outer delimiting walls of the motor vehicle tank.

9. The motor vehicle tank of claim 1, wherein the main flow line and the auxiliary flow line are fluidically connected outside outer delimiting walls of the motor vehicle tank.

10. The motor vehicle tank of claim 1, further comprising a common flow line to fluidically connect the main flow line and the auxiliary flow line inside outer delimiting walls of the motor vehicle tank.

11. The motor vehicle tank of claim 1, wherein the auxiliary extraction unit comprises an auxiliary return line for the return of extracted fuel to the auxiliary tank.

12. The motor vehicle tank of claim 1, further comprising at least one baffle arranged in the main tank to divide the main tank into at least two main tank regions.

13. The motor vehicle tank of claim 1, further comprising a plurality of baffles arranged in the main tank to divide the main tank into a plurality of main tank regions.

14. The motor vehicle tank of claim 1, wherein the main tank does not include a filler connection to facilitate direct filling of the main tank.

15. The motor vehicle tank of claim 1, wherein the main tank can only be filled via the auxiliary tank.

16. A motor vehicle tank, comprising: a main tank that includes at least one main extraction unit having a main flow line to extract fuel from the main tank; an auxiliary tank connected to the main tank, the auxiliary tank including an auxiliary extraction unit having an auxiliary flow line for extraction of fuel from the auxiliary tank, and a filler connection for direct filling of the auxiliary tank; and a partition wall which separates the auxiliary tank from the main tank by a partition wall, the partition wall having a lower partition wall region without an opening in an installation position, and an upper partition wall region having a plurality of openings forming a baffle to facilitate fluid overflow between the auxiliary tank and the main tank.

17. The motor vehicle tank of claim 16, wherein the main flow line and the auxiliary flow line are mechanically connected and fluidically connected outside outer delimiting walls of the motor vehicle tank.

18. The motor vehicle tank of claim 16, further comprising at least one baffle arranged in the main tank to divide the main tank into at least two main tank regions.

19. The motor vehicle tank of claim 16, further comprising a plurality of baffles arranged in the main tank to divide the main tank into a plurality of main tank regions.

20. A motor vehicle tank, comprising: a main tank that includes at least one main extraction unit having a main flow line to extract fuel from the main tank; an auxiliary tank connected to the main tank, the auxiliary tank including an auxiliary extraction unit having an auxiliary flow line for extraction of fuel from the auxiliary tank, and a filler connection for direct filling of the auxiliary tank, wherein the main tank can only be filled via the auxiliary tank; and a partition wall which separates the auxiliary tank from the main tank by a partition wall, the partition wall having a lower partition wall region without an opening in an installation position, and an upper partition wall region having at least one opening to facilitate fluid overflow between the auxiliary tank and the main tank.

Description

DRAWINGS

[0021] One or more embodiments of this disclosure will be illustrated by way of example in the drawings and explained in the description hereinbelow.

[0022] FIG. 1 illustrates a perspective view of a motor vehicle tank, in accordance with one or more embodiments.

[0023] FIG. 2 illustrates a perspective view of the auxiliary tank of the motor vehicle tank of FIG. 1.

[0024] FIG. 3 illustrates a side view of the motor vehicle tank of FIG. 1.

[0025] FIG. 4 illustrates a view of the auxiliary tank of FIG. 1 from the inside.

[0026] FIG. 5 illustrates a view of the auxiliary tank of FIG. 1 from the outside.

DESCRIPTION

[0027] FIGS. 1 and 3 illustrate a motor vehicle tank in accordance with one or more embodiments. FIGS. 2, 4, and 5 illustrate the auxiliary tank alone.

[0028] The motor vehicle tank comprises a substantially cuboid main tank 1, that includes a main extraction unit having a main flow line 2 for extraction of fuel from the main tank 1. A valve 8 such as a float valve which closes the main flow line 2 when no fuel is present at the valve 8, is arranged at the end of the main flow line 2 situated in the main tank 1. The main extraction unit 2 also comprises a fill level meter and a vent.

[0029] A plurality of vertical baffles 10, each with several openings, are arranged in the main tank 1 to divide the main tank 1 into several regions or chambers.

[0030] The motor vehicle tank further comprises an auxiliary tank 3 arranged at the side of the main tank 1 and tightly connected (e.g., via weld) to the main tank 1. The auxiliary tank 3 comprises a filler connection 5 to facilitate direct filling of the auxiliary tank 3 and also indirect filling of the main tank 1. The main tank 1 does not have its own filler connection for direct filling of the main tank 1, so the main tank 1 can only be filled via the auxiliary tank 3 and the opening 7 in the partition wall 6. The auxiliary tank 3 is separated from the main tank 1 by a partition wall 6. The auxiliary tank 3 may be tightly welded to the main tank 1 in the region of the partition wall 6 by weld seams extending around the motor vehicle tank on the outside.

[0031] In an installation position, the partition wall 6 includes a lower partition region or portion that does not have an opening, and an upper partition region or portion that has at least one opening 7 or a plurality of openings 7 to form an overflow between the auxiliary tank 3 and the main tank 1.

[0032] The auxiliary tank 3 further comprises an auxiliary extraction unit that has an auxiliary flow line 4 for extraction of fuel from the auxiliary tank 3. The auxiliary tank 3 further comprises an auxiliary return line 9 for return of extracted fuel to the auxiliary tank 3. The main flow line 2 and the auxiliary flow line 4 are fluidically connected outside the outer delimiting walls of the motor vehicle tank in that they lead into a common flow line.

[0033] The main tank 1, the auxiliary tank 3 and the partition wall 6 may be formed of metal.

[0034] In accordance with an embodiment, the main flow line 2 and the auxiliary flow line 4 are mechanically connected and fluidically connected inside the outer delimiting walls of the motor vehicle tank. The fluidic connection is realized via a common flow line arranged in the main tank. The auxiliary flow line 4 branches off the common flow line, as does a short main flow line 2 with a float valve. The auxiliary flow line 4 branching off the common flow line is guided into the auxiliary tank through the partition wall. The common flow line is guided outward to a consumer through the delimiting walls of the motor vehicle tank.

[0035] By use of an auxiliary tank, which is separated from a main tank by a combination of baffle and partition wall, the necessary first fill quantity can be reduced, wherein the first fill quantity can be structured variably via the hole pattern of the partition wall. An improved extraction under certain driving situationssuch as on a lateral slope, uphill and downhill travelduring use of the fuel tank by the end customer is also possible, as is a true increase in range of the motor vehicle since the switch points of the extraction unit can be designed more efficiently.

[0036] The terms coupled, attached, or connected may be used herein to refer to any type of relationship, direct or indirect, between the components in question, and may apply to electrical, mechanical, fluid, optical, electromagnetic, electromechanical, or other connections. Additionally, the terms first, second, etc. are used herein only to facilitate discussion, and carry no particular temporal or chronological significance unless otherwise indicated. The terms cause or causing means to make, force, compel, direct, command, instruct, and/or enable an event or action to occur or at least be in a state where such event or action may occur, either in a direct or indirect manner.

[0037] Those skilled in the art will appreciate from the foregoing description that the broad techniques of the embodiments may be implemented in a variety of forms. Therefore, while the embodiments have been described in connection with particular examples thereof, the true scope of the embodiments should not be so limited since other modifications will become apparent to the skilled practitioner upon a study of the drawings, specification, and following claims.

LIST OF REFERENCE SYMBOLS

[0038] 1 Main tank [0039] 2 Main flow line of main extraction unit [0040] 3 Auxiliary tank [0041] 4 Auxiliary flow line [0042] 5 Filler connection [0043] 6 Partition wall [0044] 7 Opening [0045] 8 Valve [0046] 9 Auxiliary return line [0047] 10 Baffle