Operating fluid container having a stiffening element

Abstract

The present invention discloses an operating fluid container (10) made of thermoplastic material for a motor vehicle and a method for equipping an operating fluid container with a stiffening element (20). The operating fluid container (10) here has the following features: the operating fluid container (10) has a container opening (12) which is arranged in a container upper shell (11) and is edged by a surround (13); the operating fluid container (10) comprises a tubular stiffening element (20) arranged in the operating fluid container (10); on the end, the stiffening element (20) has a circumferential connecting edge (21) in contact with the container upper shell (11); in a plan view onto the container upper shell (11), the container opening (12) is surrounded by the connecting edge (21); the stiffening element (20) is integrally connected to a container lower shell (14) and by means of the connecting edge (21) to the container upper shell (11); and the stiffening element (20) counteracts deformation caused by the internal pressure of the operating fluid container (10).

Claims

1. An operating fluid container for a motor vehicle, comprising: the operating fluid container formed of thermoplastic material and having a container opening which is arranged in a container upper shell and is edged by a surround; the operating fluid container includes a tubular stiffening element arranged in the operating fluid container inner space; the stiffening element has a circumferential connecting edge in contact with the container upper shell, wherein the connecting edge has a thickened portion in cross section compared to an adjoining portion of the stiffening element; in a plan view onto the container upper shell, the container opening is surrounded by the connecting edge; the stiffening element is connected to a container lower shell by at least one of being welded, adhesively bonded and riveted to the container lower shell; the stiffening element is connected to the container upper shell by the connecting edge being at least one of welded, adhesively bonded and riveted to the container upper shell; and the stiffening element counteracts deformation caused by internal pressure within the operating fluid container.

2. The operating fluid container according to claim 1, wherein the connecting edge has a convex cross-sectional profile.

3. The operating fluid container according to claim 1, wherein the thickened portion of the connecting edge is thicker than a remainder of the stiffening element.

4. The operating fluid container according to claim 1, wherein the operating fluid container comprises a fluid conveying unit arranged in the stiffening element and connected thereto for conveying the operating fluid.

5. The operating fluid container according to claim 1, wherein at least one fluid exchange opening, via which the stiffening element inner space is fluidically connected to the operating fluid container inner space, is provided in the stiffening element.

6. The operating fluid container according to claim 1, wherein at least one ventilation opening, via which the stiffening element inner space is fluidically connected to the operating fluid container inner space, is arranged in the stiffening element.

7. The operating fluid container according to claim 1, wherein the connecting edge consist of thermoplastic material.

8. The operating fluid container according to claim 1, wherein the stiffening element is configured as a two-component structural part.

9. The operating fluid container according to claim 1, wherein the stiffening element has a longitudinal axis and recesses extend along the longitudinal axis.

10. The operating fluid container according to claim 1, wherein a filling level sensor is arranged on the outer side of the stiffening element.

11. The operating fluid container according to claim 10, wherein the filling level sensor comprises at least one float, which is connected to the filling level sensor by a connecting rod.

12. The operating fluid container according to claim 1, further comprising: a filling level sensor is arranged inside the stiffening element; the filling level sensor comprises at least one float and a connecting rod connected to the float; the stiffening element has an opening; and the connecting rod is connected to the filling level sensor and protrudes through the opening in the stiffening element.

13. The operating fluid container according to claim 1, wherein the connecting edge is located inside the operating fluid container beneath the upper shell.

14. The operating fluid container according to claim 1, wherein the connecting edge is integral with the adjoining portion of the stiffening element.

15. The operating fluid container according to claim 1, wherein the cross section of the connecting edge is a longitudinal cross section.

16. The operating fluid container according to claim 1, wherein the tubular stiffening element arranged in the operating fluid container inner space is arranged entirely in the operating fluid container inner space.

17. The operating fluid container according to claim 1, wherein the stiffening element is connected to the container upper shell by the connecting edge being welded to the container upper shell.

Description

(1) Further advantages, details and features of the invention become apparent hereinbelow from the exemplary embodiments explained. In detail:

(2) FIG. 1: shows a cross-sectional illustration of an operating fluid container according to the invention in the form of a fuel container;

(3) FIG. 2: shows an enlarged view of the region encircled by dashed lines in FIG. 1, in which the region of connection between a stiffening element and a container upper shell is shown in more detail;

(4) FIG. 3: shows a three-dimensional illustration of a stiffening element on its own;

(5) FIG. 4: shows a three-dimensional illustration of a stiffening element of alternative configuration; and

(6) FIG. 5: shows a schematic illustration of a stiffening element which is connected to a container base and to a container wall and has longitudinal recesses that produce predetermined breaking points.

(7) In the description which now follows, the same reference signs denote the same structural parts or the same features, and therefore a description which is made with respect to one figure in relation to a structural part also applies to the other figures, such that a repetitive description is avoided.

(8) FIG. 1 shows a cross section of the operating fluid container 10 according to the invention in the form of a fuel container 10. The fuel container 10 is produced from a thermoplastic material and is intended for a motor vehicle. The operating fluid container 10 has a container lower shell 14 or a container base 14 and a container upper shell 11, by means of which the fuel container 10 is delimited in each case. The fuel container 10 has a container opening 12 which is arranged in the container upper shell 11 and is edged by a surround 13, as shown in FIG. 2.

(9) The operating fluid container 10 comprises a tubular stiffening element 20 which is arranged in the inner space thereof and, on the end, has a circumferential upper connecting edge 21 in contact with the container upper shell 11 and, on the end, a circumferential lower connecting edge 22 in contact with the container lower shell 14. The upper circumferential connecting edge 21 in this case surrounds the container opening 12, such that, in a plan view onto the container upper shell 11, the container opening 12 is surrounded by the connecting edge 21.

(10) The stiffening element 20 is integrally connected both to the container lower shell 14 and to the container upper shell 11. The integral connection can be made, for example, by welding and/or adhesive bonding. On account of this connection between the stiffening element 20 and the container upper shell 11 and the container lower shell 14, the stiffening element 20 counteracts deformation caused by the internal pressure of the operating fluid container 10. Furthermore, if there is a negative pressure in the operating fluid container 10, however, the stiffening element 20 also acts as a compression strut, which can absorb compressive forces exerted by the container upper shell 11 and the container lower shell 14.

(11) FIG. 2 shows an enlarged view of the region encircled by dashed lines in FIG. 1, in which the region of connection between the stiffening element 20 and the container upper shell 11 is shown in more detail. It can be seen from FIG. 2 that the connecting edge 21 is in the form of a thickened portion 21 in cross section compared to the rest of the stiffening element 20. In the case that the stiffening element 20 is welded to the container upper shell 11, the thickened portion 21 is used, inter alia, to the effect that the surround 13 is surrounded by sufficient thermoplastic material and is received thereby. Furthermore, the deformation of the thickened portion 21 strengthens the connection between the stiffening element 20 and the container upper shell 11.

(12) It can be seen from FIG. 2 that the container opening 12 is closed off by means of a closure element 27 in the form of a cover 27. The cover 27 is connected to the container wall 11 or to the surround 13 by means of a closure device 29 in the form of a closure ring 29. A seal is arranged between the cover 27 and the container upper shell 11.

(13) It can be seen from FIG. 1 that a fluid conveying unit 16 or an operating fluid pump 16 is arranged in the stiffening element 20, it being possible for said fluid conveying unit or said operating fluid pump to convey the operating fluid to the outer region of the operating fluid container 10 via a fluid line 28 passing through the cover 27.

(14) Furthermore, it can be seen from FIG. 1 that provision is made of at least one electrical line which passes through the cover 27 and to which an electrical structural part arranged in the stiffening element 20 is electrically connected. It is of course also the case that a plurality of electrical lines can be passed through the closure element 27 and can be electrically connected to one or to a plurality of electrical structural parts arranged in the stiffening element 20. The electrical structural parts may be, for example, the operating fluid pump 16 and/or a pressure sensor and/or a temperature sensor and/or a quality sensor for determining the operating fluid quality.

(15) It can furthermore be seen from FIG. 1 that a float 31 of a filling level sensor 30, shown in FIG. 3 but not visible in FIG. 4, is arranged in the operating fluid container 10, with the float 31 being shown in two different positions, specifically in a position adjacent to the container lower shell 14, which the float 31 assumes in the case of a virtually empty operating fluid container 10, and in a position adjacent to the container upper shell 11, which the float 31 assumes in the case of a virtually full operating fluid container 10. The filling level sensor outputs an electrical signal which corresponds to the position of the float 31 and therefore to the filling level of the operating fluid container. The filling level sensor 30 can also be referred to as a resistance card.

(16) It can be seen from FIGS. 3 and 4 that fluid exchange openings 23, via which the stiffening element inner space is fluidically connected to the operating fluid container inner space, are provided in the stiffening element 20. The fluid exchange openings 23 are arranged here in the region of connection of the lower connecting edge 22. The operating fluid located in the operating fluid container inner space can also penetrate into the stiffening element 20 through the fluid exchange opening 23, and therefore the volume of the stiffening element 20 can be utilized optimally for storing the operating fluid.

(17) Furthermore, ventilation openings 24, via which the stiffening element inner space is fluidically connected to the operating fluid container inner space, are arranged in the stiffening element 20. In this respect, the ventilation openings 24 are arranged just beneath the upper connecting edge 21 when the operating fluid container 10 is in the installed position. When the operating fluid container 10 is being filled with the operating fluid, the gas located in the stiffening element 20 can consequently be discharged through the ventilation openings 24 into the operating container inner space and via correspondingly provided valves to the surroundings or to an activated carbon filter.

(18) In the case of the stiffening element shown in FIG. 3, the filling level sensor 30 is arranged on the outer side of the stiffening element 20. The filling level sensor 30 is connected to a float 31 via a connecting rod 32. In FIG. 3, the float 31 and the rod 32 are shown for two different filling levels of the operating fluid container 10.

(19) In FIG. 4, the filling level sensor 30 is arranged inside the stiffening element 20, and therefore the connecting rod 32 protrudes through an opening 25 in the stiffening element 20.

(20) FIG. 5 schematically shows a stiffening element 20 connected to the container lower shell 14 and the container upper shell 11. The stiffening element 20 here has recesses 26 in its wall along the axial longitudinal extent thereof. In the exemplary embodiment shown, the recesses 26 are realized as longitudinal recesses 26. However, the recesses 26 can also have in each case any other desired geometry.

(21) The maximum tensile force which is transferable by the stiffening element 20 can be set by way of the number of longitudinal recesses 26 and by way of the widthwise extent thereof. Predetermined breaking points can thus be introduced into the stiffening element 20 in a targeted manner. Furthermore, the length of the longitudinal recesses 26 can be used to set the ratio between transferable tensile stress and shear rigidity of the stiffening element 20. The minimum web width or the maximum web length is in this respect limited by the buckling under negative pressure loading.

LIST OF REFERENCE SIGNS

(22) 10 Operating fluid container/fuel container

(23) 11 Container upper shell/tank upper shell/container wall

(24) 12 Container opening/inspection opening

(25) 13 Surround (of the container opening)

(26) 14 Container lower shell/container base/tank lower shell

(27) 16 Fluid conveying unit/operating fluid pump

(28) 20 Stiffening element

(29) 21 (Upper) connecting edge/thickened portion

(30) 22 (Lower) connecting edge

(31) 23 Fluid exchange opening

(32) 24 Ventilation opening

(33) 25 Opening/window (in the stiffening element)

(34) 26 Recess/longitudinal recess (in the stiffening element)

(35) 27 Closure element/cover

(36) 28 Fluid line (through the closure element)

(37) 29 Closure device/closure ring

(38) 30 Filling level sensor

(39) 31 Float (of the filling level sensor)

(40) 32 Rod (of a filling level sensor)