Fluid tank

Abstract

A fluid tank for a motor vehicle comprising a housing, wherein the housing has a housing base, a housing cover and at least one side wall. A through-passage is formed inside the side wall, wherein the through-passage extends from a first opening in the housing base in the direction of the housing cover. The through-passage is in fluidic connection with the interior of the fluid tank via a second opening.

Claims

1. A fluid tank for a motor vehicle comprising a housing, wherein the housing has a housing base, a housing cover, and at least one side wall, wherein a through-passage is formed inside the side wall, wherein the through-passage extends from a first opening in the housing base in the direction of the housing cover, wherein the through-passage is in fluidic connection with the interior of the fluid tank via a second opening, wherein the through-passage is in fluidic connection with the interior of the fluid tank via a third opening and wherein the through-passage has a taper portion above the third opening in the direction of the housing cover, wherein the second opening is located in the vicinity of the housing cover.

2. The fluid tank according to claim 1, wherein the housing cover forms a limit to the second opening.

3. The fluid tank according to claim 1, wherein the third opening is located in the vicinity of the housing base.

4. The fluid tank according to claim 3, wherein the housing base forms a limit to the third opening.

5. The fluid tank according to claim 1, wherein in normal operation of the fluid tank in the region of the third opening the through-passage has an annular sleeve around the periphery.

6. The fluid tank according to claim 5, wherein the annular sleeve is configured from a polymer.

7. The fluid tank according to claim 5, wherein the annular sleeve is resiliently deformable.

8. The fluid tank according to claim 1, wherein in the region of the first opening the through-passage has a receiver for a closure element.

9. The fluid tank according to claim 8, wherein a sealing element is arranged between the closure element and the housing, in particular the housing base.

10. A fluid tank of a motor vehicle, comprising: a housing defining an interior and an exterior of the fluid tank, the housing having a housing base, a housing cover, and at least one side wall; a first opening formed in the housing base and leading to the exterior of the fluid tank; a second opening formed in the vicinity of the housing cover, wherein the housing cover forms a limit to the second opening; a third opening located in the vicinity of the housing base, wherein the housing base forms a limit to the third opening; and a through-passage formed within the at least one side wall of the housing and being substantially perpendicular to the housing base, the through-passage extending from the first opening in the housing base in the direction of the housing cover to the second opening, wherein the through-passage has a tapered portion above the third opening in the direction of the housing cover, wherein the through-passage is in fluidic connection with the interior of the fluid tank via the second opening and the third opening, and wherein the through-passage is in fluidic connection with the exterior of the fluid tank via the first opening.

11. The fluid tank of claim 10, wherein the first opening has a receiver and the third opening has an annular sleeve located around the periphery thereof and being resiliently deformable.

12. The fluid tank of claim 11, further comprising: a closure element received by the receiver for sealing the through-passage from the outside to prevent fluid from inadvertently sloshing out during normal operation.

13. The fluid tank of claim 12, wherein the closure element is a screw.

14. The fluid tank of claim 12, wherein the closure element deforms the annular sleeve counter to the taper portion of the through-passage and ensures a seal of the third opening relative to the through-passage.

15. The fluid tank of claim 12, further comprising: a sealing element arranged between the closure element and the housing base for preventing undesired outflow of fluid.

16. The fluid tank of claim 12, wherein the third opening connects the interior of the fluid tank to the first opening through the through-passage, such that fluid flows out of the first opening to the exterior of the fluid tank, when the closure element and the annular sleeve are removed.

17. A fluid tank for a motor vehicle, comprising: a housing defining an interior and an exterior of the fluid tank, the housing having a housing base, a housing cover, and at least one side wall; a first opening formed in the housing base and leading to the exterior of the fluid tank; a second opening formed in the vicinity of the housing cover, wherein the housing cover forms a limit to the second opening; a third opening located in the vicinity of the housing base, wherein the housing base forms a limit to the third opening; and a through-passage formed within the at least one side wall of the housing and being substantially perpendicular to the housing base, the through-passage extending from the first opening in the housing base in the direction of the housing cover to the second opening, wherein the through-passage has a tapered portion above the third opening in the direction of the housing cover, wherein the through-passage is in fluidic connection with the interior of the fluid tank via the second opening and the third opening, and wherein the through-passage is in fluidic connection with the exterior of the fluid tank via the first opening, and wherein the fluid tank is filled with fluid through the second opening and wherein the fluid tank is emptied through the third opening.

18. The fluid tank of claim 17, further comprising: an auxiliary hose for assisting with filling the fluid tank with fluid and being guided via the first opening, the through-passage, and the second opening into the interior of the fluid tank.

19. The fluid tank of claim 17, wherein the location of the second opening indicates the maximum fluid filling state of the interior of the fluid tank.

Description

DRAWINGS

(1) The drawings described herein are for illustrative purposes only of selected embodiments and not all possible implementations, and are not intended to limit the scope of the present disclosure. The invention is described hereinafter by way of example with reference to the drawings, in which:

(2) FIG. 1 shows a fragmented sectional view of the fluid tank according to the invention;

(3) FIG. 2 shows a fragmented sectional view of the fluid tank according to the invention during the fluid filling process; and

(4) FIG. 3 shows a fragmented sectional view of the fluid tank according to the invention during the fluid emptying process.

DESCRIPTION

(5) Example embodiments of a fluid tank for motor vehicles are provided so that this disclosure will be thorough, and will fully convey the scope to those who are skilled in the art. Numerous specific details are set forth such as examples of specific components, devices, and methods, to provide a thorough understanding of embodiments of the present disclosure. It will be apparent to those skilled in the art that specific details need not be employed, that example embodiments may be embodied in many different forms and that neither should be construed to limit the scope of the disclosure. In some example embodiments, well-known processes, well-known device structures, and well-known technologies are not described in detail.

(6) A fragmented sectional view of a fluid tank 1 according to the present disclosure is shown in FIG. 1. A housing 2 comprises a housing base 3, a housing cover 4, and at least one side wall 5. A through-passage 6 is formed inside the side wall 5. The through-passage 6 extends from a first opening 7 in the housing base 3 at least partially parallel to the side wall 5 in the direction of the housing cover 4 and is in fluidic connection with an interior 9 of the fluid tank 1 via a second opening 8. Thus the interior 9 of the fluid tank 1 is in fluidic connection with the exterior via the second opening 8, the through-passage 6 and the first opening 7.

(7) In the embodiment shown in FIG. 2, the second opening 8 is located in the vicinity of the housing cover 4, wherein the housing cover 4 forms a limit to the second opening 8. The closer the second opening 8 is configured to the housing cover 4, the higher a maximum possible fluid filling level 17 in the fluid tank 1.

(8) The through-passage 6 is also in fluidic connection with the interior 9 of the fluid tank 1 via a third opening 10. The third opening is preferably located in the vicinity of the housing base 3, wherein the housing base 3 forms a limit to the third opening 10. The closer the third opening 10 is configured to the housing base 3, the more completely the fluid tank 1 is able to be emptied of fluid during the emptying process (see also FIG. 3).

(9) The through-passage 6 has a tapered portion 16 above the third opening 10 in the direction of the housing cover 4.

(10) In order to prevent undesired emptying, in normal operation, i.e. in the state filled with fluid, the fluid tank 1 is configured such that the through-passage 6 of the fluid tank 1 in the region of the third opening 10 has an annular sleeve 11 around the periphery. This annular sleeve 11 is formed from a polymer and is resilient.

(11) The through-passage 6 has, in the region of the first opening 7, a receiver 12 for a closure element 13. By means of the closure element 13, the through-passage 6 may be closed toward the exterior and during normal operation, i.e. in the state filled with fluid, the fluid may be prevented from inadvertently sloshing out.

(12) By means of the resilient design, the annular sleeve 11 in normal operation may be additionally pressed by the closure element 13 against a tapered portion 16 of the through-passage 6 and this ensures a sufficient seal of the third opening 10 relative to the through-passage 6.

(13) A sealing element 14 is arranged between the closure element 13 and the housing 2, in particular the housing base 3.

(14) FIG. 2 and FIG. 3 show a fragmented sectional view of the fluid tank according to the present disclosure during the fluid filling process (FIG. 2) and the fluid emptying process (FIG. 3). Elements which are the same and have the same function are provided in FIG. 2 and FIG. 3 with the same reference numerals as in FIG. 1, so that in this respect reference is made to the above description.

(15) An auxiliary hose 15 which may be used to assist with filling the fluid tank 1 with fluid is shown in FIG. 2. The auxiliary hose 15 is guided via the first opening 7, the through-passage 6 and the second opening 8 into the interior 9 of the fluid tank 1. Via the auxiliary hose 15 fluid is filled into the interior 9 of the fluid tank 1 until the fluid flows out again from the interior 9 of the fluid tank 1 via the second opening 8, the through-passage 6 and the first opening 7then the maximum fluid filling state 17 should be achieved.

(16) The arrows in FIG. 2 describe schematically the path of fluid when the fluid tank 1 is filled.

(17) In FIG. 3, the fluid emptying process is shown schematically. By removing the closure element 13 and the annular sleeve 11, the third opening 10 is opened up and connects the interior 9 of the fluid tank 1 to the through-passage 6. In this manner, fluid is able to flow out of the fluid tank 1 via the through-passage 6 and the first opening 7. The arrows in FIG. 3 describe schematically the path of the fluid when the fluid tank 1 is emptied.

(18) The foregoing description of the embodiments has been provided for purposes of illustration and description. It is not intended to be exhaustive or to limit the disclosure. Individual elements or features of a particular embodiment are generally not limited to that particular embodiment, but, where applicable, are interchangeable and can be used in a selected embodiment, even if not specifically shown or described. The same may also be varied in many ways. Such variations are not to be regarded as a departure from the disclosure, and all such modifications are intended to be included within the scope of the disclosure.

LIST OF REFERENCE SIGNS

(19) 1 Fluid tank 2 Housing 3 Housing base 4 Housing cover 5 Side wall 6 Through-passage 7 First opening 8 Second opening 9 Interior 10 Third opening 11 Annular sleeve 12 Receiver 13 Closure element 14 Sealing element 15 Auxiliary hose 16 Tapered portion 17 Maximum fluid filling level