Fuel Tank

Abstract

A fuel tank for a truck, the fuel tank having a fuel tank body with a peripheral wall and end walls that define at least one receptacle to receive a liquid or gaseous medium. At least one baffle is fixedly attached to the inside surface of the peripheral wall via an inner fixing member. An outer fixing member is to fixedly attach the fuel tank body to the chassis of the truck, and is also connected to the inner fixing member through the peripheral wall.

Claims

1. A fuel tank for a truck, the fuel tank comprising: a fuel tank body having a peripheral wall and end walls that collectively define at least one receptacle to receive a liquid or gaseous medium; at least one baffle arranged in the at least one receptacle; an inner fixing member configured to fixedly attach the at least one baffle to an inside surface of the peripheral wall; and an outer fixing member configured to fixedly attach the fuel tank body to the truck, and which is also connected to the inner fixing member through the peripheral wall.

2. The fuel tank of claim 1, wherein the inner fixing member comprises lugs.

3. The fuel tank of claim 1, wherein the at least one baffle is also fixedly attached to the inside surface of the peripheral wall via friction connection at the outer peripheral wall.

4. The fuel tank of claim 1, wherein the outer fixing member and the inner fixing member are arranged above a centre line of the fuel tank body.

5. The fuel tank of claim 1, further comprising a reinforcement strut extending diagonally across the surface of the at least one baffle.

8. The fuel tank of claim 1, wherein the fuel tank body is composed of aluminum.

9. The fuel tank of claim 1, wherein the fuel tank body is composed of steel.

10. The fuel tank of claim 1, wherein the fuel tank body is composed of stainless steel.

11. The fuel tank of claim 1, wherein the fuel tank body is composed of plastic.

12. The fuel tank of claim 1, wherein the outer fixing member is configured to permit the fixed attachment of the at least one baffle to a chassis of the truck.

13. A fuel tank for a truck, the fuel tank comprising: a fuel tank body having a peripheral wall and end walls that collectively define at least one receptacle to receive a liquid or gaseous medium; a plurality of baffles arranged spaced apart in the at least one receptacle, each one of the baffles having a corresponding inner fixing member configured to fixedly attach a corresponding baffle to an inside surface of the peripheral wall; and an outer fixing member configured to fixedly attach the fuel tank body to the truck, and which is also connected to the inner fixing member through the peripheral wall.

14. The fuel tank of claim 13, further comprising longitudinal struts to connect the baffles to each other.

15. The fuel tank of claim 13, wherein the longitudinal struts define the spacing between the baffles.

16. The fuel tank of claim 13, further comprising a reinforcement strut extending diagonally across the surface of the at least one baffle.

17. The fuel tank of claim 13, wherein the outer fixing member is configured to permit the fixed attachment of the baffles to a chassis of the truck.

18. The fuel tank of claim 13, wherein the outer fixing member and the inner fixing member are arranged above a centre line of the fuel tank body.

Description

DRAWINGS

[0021] FIG. 1 illustrates a perspective view of a conventional fuel tank.

[0022] FIG. 2 illustrates a side view of a conventional fuel tank.

[0023] FIG. 3 illustrates a front view of the fuel tank, in accordance with embodiments.

[0024] FIG. 4 illustrates a transparent side view of the fuel tank of FIG. 3.

[0025] FIG. 5 illustrates a top view of the fuel tank of FIG. 3.

[0026] FIG. 6 illustrates the attachment members of the fuel tank of FIG. 3.

DESCRIPTION

[0027] FIGS. 3-6 illustrate a technical solution in accordance with embodiments.

[0028] As illustrated in FIG. 3, a fuel tank 100 includes an end wall 104. Spatially above a theoretical centre line M of the end wall 4, a fixing member 110 is arranged on a corresponding bracket element 109 of the truck. The chassis side member 11 of the vehicle is merely indicated.

[0029] As illustrated in FIG. 4, steps 120 are arranged on the fuel tank 100. The peripheral wall 102 gives a clear view of the baffles 115 arranged inside the tank, i.e., inside the peripheral wall 102. The baffles 115 are connected to each other via a plurality of longitudinal struts 116. The longitudinal struts 116 have the form of bars which extend along the longitudinal axis of the fuel tank 100, and are arranged adjacent to the peripheral wall 102. In accordance with embodiments, four or more longitudinal struts 116 may be used and arranged at the corners of the respective, baffles 115. These are continuous longitudinal struts 115 which are configured to penetrate the center baffle 115 and terminate at the two outer baffles 115. Alternatively, the longitudinal struts 116 are present as longitudinal strut portions which each connect together only two baffles 115. The length of the longitudinal struts 116, and hence, the spacing of the baffles 115 is selected optimally for the respective fuel tank 100. The baffles 115 may be provided with the same spacing from each other or with different spacing from each other.

[0030] As illustrated in FIG. 5, each baffle 115 have a plurality of openings 118 extending completely through the outer surface 125, and through which fuel is permitted to flow inside the fuel tank 100. To further reinforce the baffles 115, secondary struts 117 are provided on the surfaces 125 of the baffles 115. Each secondary strut 117 is configured to extend diagonally (e.g., in a star shape) across the outer surface 125 of each corresponding baffle 115. The reinforcements of the baffles 115 are produced to ensure optimal stiffening and maintain the structural integrity of the fuel tank 100. Embodiments are not limited thereto, however, and may include framework struts or linear arrangements that permit practice of embodiments.

[0031] As illustrated in FIG. 6, the baffles 115 also comprise attachment members in the form of lugs 119 which extend vertically from the surface 125 of a corresponding baffle 115 parallel to the peripheral wall 102. The lugs 119 are configured to connect the baffles 115 to the inside surface of the peripheral wall 102. The lugs 119 are arranged on the baffles 115, preferably integrally, above a theoretical centre line M of the fuel tank 100. The outer peripheral sidewalls 124 of the baffle 115 may also serve as an attachment member for connect the baffles 115 to the inside surface of the peripheral wall 102.

[0032] FIG. 6 further illustrates outer fixing members 110 that are arranged, for example, in an X-shape. Screw holes 121, 122 are provided at the ends of the fingers of the fixing members 110. The first screw holes 121 serve to mechanically fix, via the lugs 119, the fuel tank 100 to the fixing members 110. The second screw holes 122 serve to mechanically fix the fuel tank 100 via bolts, screws or the like to the chassis side member 111 of the vehicle. The peripheral wall 102 is perforated only at the screw hole and may easily be sealed via corresponding bolts, screws or the like. Alternative fixing methods are also conceivable. The baffles 115 themselves may also serve as connections for the external fixing members 110. The widening created by the lugs 119 is therefore not always necessary. The proposed fixing members 110 is merely one example and many different types of fixings are conceivable. The important factor is only that the fixing takes place above the theoretical centre line M of the fuel tank. A further example is possible with the use of a dovetail guide, wherein a receiver is attached to the truck and the fuel tank according to the invention need merely be inserted via a dovetail guide.

[0033] The fuel tank 100 may also comprise many different receptacles, such as, for example, a receptacle for urea in addition to the diesel receptacle.

[0034] The term 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. In addition, the terms first, second, etc. are used herein only to facilitate discussion, and carry no particular temporal or chronological significance unless otherwise indicated.

[0035] This written description uses examples to disclose the invention, including the preferred embodiments, and also to enable any person skilled in the art to practice the invention, including making and using any devices or systems and performing any incorporated methods. The patentable scope of embodiments is defined by the claims, and may include other examples that occur to those skilled in the art. Such other examples are intended to be within the scope of the claims if they have structural elements that do not differ from the literal language of the claims, or if they include equivalent structural elements with insubstantial differences from the literal languages of the claims. Aspects from the various embodiments described, as well as other known equivalents for each such aspects, may be mixed and matched by one of ordinary skill in the art to construct additional embodiments and techniques in accordance with principles of this application.

LIST OF REFERENCE SYMBOLS

[0036] 1 Fuel tank [0037] 2 Peripheral wall [0038] 3 Receptacle [0039] 4 End wall [0040] 8 Bracket [0041] 9 Bracket element [0042] 10 Clamping straps [0043] 11 Chassis side member [0044] 12 Filler neck [0045] 15 Baffle [0046] 100 Fuel tank [0047] 102 Peripheral wall [0048] 104 End wall [0049] 108 Bracket [0050] 109 Bracket element [0051] 110 Fixing member (Outer) [0052] 111 Chassis side member [0053] 112 Filler neck [0054] 115 Baffle [0055] 116 Longitudinal strut [0056] 117 Secondary Strut [0057] 118 Opening [0058] 119 Outer Fixing member [0059] 120 Step [0060] 121 Screw holes [0061] 122 Screw holes [0062] 124 Outer peripheral sidewall of baffle [0063] 125 Outer surface of baffle [0064] M Centre line