Fuel tank device

Abstract

A fuel tank device for a vehicle that includes a plastic fuel tank having a conductive outer layer, a plastic filler pipe for filling the fuel tank, at least one metallic component, and an electrical connector to connect the metallic component to the conductive outer layer of the filler pipe. The metallic component is grounded via the electrical connector and the conductive outer layer of the filler pipe.

Claims

1. A fuel tank device for a vehicle, comprising: a fuel tank, composed of plastic and having a conductive outer layer; a filler pipe, composed of plastic with an electrically conductive outer laver, for filling the fuel tank; at least one metallic component; and an electrical connector to connect the metallic component to the conductive outer layer of the filler pipe, the electrical connector including a connection lug member composed of metal that extends out of the filler pipe to establish an electrically conducting connection between the connection lug member and the electrically conductive outer layer of the filler pipe, wherein the metallic component is grounded via the electrical connector and the electrically conductive outer layer of the filler pipe.

2. The fuel tank device of claim 1, wherein the connection lug member is integrated into the plastic of the filler pipe.

3. The fuel tank device of claim 1, wherein the connection lug member is formed at an end of the filler pipe which is remote from a refuelling opening.

4. The fuel tank device of claim 1, wherein the electrically conductive outer layer of the filler pipe is arranged at an end of the filler pipe which faces a refuelling opening.

5. The fuel tank device of claim 4, wherein the electrically conductive outer layer of the filler pipe is connected to a body of the vehicle in an electrically conducting manner.

6. The fuel tank device of claim 1, wherein the electrically conductive outer layer of the filler pipe, at an end of the filler pipe which faces a refuelling opening, is connected in an electrically conducting manner to a closure base composed of metal.

7. The fuel tank device of claim 6, wherein the electrically conductive outer layer is connected in an electrically conducting manner to the closure base via a press connection.

8. The fuel tank device of claim 7, further comprising a plurality of ribs formed on an outside of the filler pipe in a region of the press connection.

9. The fuel tank device of claim 1, wherein the at least one metallic component comprises a tension band.

10. The fuel tank device of claim 1, wherein the at least one metallic component comprises a heat-shielding plate.

11. The fuel tank device of claim 1, wherein the at least one metallic component comprises a reinforcing ring of a service opening of the fuel tank.

12. The fuel tank device of claim 1, wherein the at least one metallic component is connected to the electrical connector via a grounding cable in an electrically conducting manner.

13. A fuel tank device for a vehicle, comprising: a fuel tank, composed of plastic and having a conductive outer layer; a filler pipe, composed of plastic with an electrically conductive outer laver, for filling the fuel tank; at least one metallic component; and a connection lug member, composed of metal, to connect the metallic component to the conductive outer layer of the filler pipe, the electrical connector including a connection lug member composed of metal that extends out of the filler pipe to establish an electrically conducting connection between the connection lug member and the electrically conductive outer layer of the filler pipe, wherein the metallic component is grounded via the connection lug member and the electrically conductive outer layer of the filler pipe.

14. The fuel tank device of claim 13, wherein the electrically conductive outer layer of the filler pipe is arranged at an end of the filler pipe which faces a refuelling opening, and is connected to a body of the vehicle in an electrically conducting manner.

15. The fuel tank device of claim 13, wherein the electrically conductive outer layer of the filler pipe is arranged at an end of the filler pipe which faces a refuelling opening, is connected to a closure base composed of metal in an electrically conducting manner.

16. The fuel tank device of claim 15, wherein the electrically conductive outer layer is connected to the closure base via a press connection in an electrically conducting manner.

17. The fuel tank device of claim 16, further comprising a plurality of ribs formed on an outside of the filler pipe in a region of the press connection.

18. A fuel tank device for a vehicle, comprising: a vent line; a filler pipe, having a multi-layered configuration that includes plastic with an electrically conductive outer layer, for filling a fuel tank of the vehicle, the filler pipe having a line clip to fasten the vent line to the filler pipe; a closure base, to receive a pump nozzle, composed of metal and connected in an electrically conducting manner to the electrically conductive outer layer; and an electrical connector, composed of metal that is integrated into the line clip at an end of the filler pipe which is remote from a refuelling opening, to establish an electrically conducting connection between the electrical connector and the electrically conductive outer layer.

19. The fuel tank device of claim 18, wherein the line clip is composed of an electrically conductive plastic material.

20. The fuel tank device of claim 18, further comprising electrically conductive ribs formed on the filler pipe in the region of the connection between the filler pipe and the closure base.

Description

DRAWINGS

(1) One or more embodiments will be illustrated by way of example in the drawings and explained in the description hereinbelow.

(2) FIG. 1 illustrates a three-dimensional view of the bottom end of a filler pipe of a fuel tank device in accordance with one or more embodiments.

(3) FIG. 2 illustrates a three-dimensional view of the bottom end of the filler pipe of FIG. 1, with a connected grounding cable.

(4) FIG. 3 illustrates a three-dimensional view of the top end of a filler pipe of a fuel tank device in accordance with one or more embodiments.

DESCRIPTION

(5) FIG. 1 illustrates the bottom end of a filler pipe 1 (as seen in the installation position) of an inventive fuel tank device, which bottom end is remote from the filler opening of the filler pipe 1.

(6) The filler pipe 1 is manufactured from a plastic and has a conductive outer layer. An electrical connector 2, namely a connection lug member composed of metal, extends out of the filler pipe 1. The electrical connector 2 is connected to the outer layer of the filler pipe 1 in an electrically conducting manner.

(7) The electrical connector 2, in particular, the connection lug member, is formed at the end of the filler pipe 1 which is remote from the refuelling opening, i.e., in a region of the filler pipe which is located at the bottom in the installation position.

(8) The connection lug is also injected into a plastic structure of the filler pipe 1, namely, into a line clip 3, into which one or more vent lines 7 can be clipped. The line clip 3 comprises a conductive material, preferably of conductive plastic.

(9) As illustrated in FIG. 2, a metallic component of the fuel tank device, for example, a tension band, a heat-shielding plate, or a reinforcing ring of a service opening of the fuel tank, which is likewise arranged near to the bottom end of the filler pipe, at least in some sections, is connected to the electrical connector 2, in particular, to the connection lug member, in an electrically conducting manner via a short grounding cable 6. The metallic component is grounded via the electrical connector 2 and the conductive outer layer of the filler pipe 1.

(10) After the electrical connector 2 and the conductive outer layer of the filler pipe 1, the grounding of the component takes place via the body of the vehicle at the end of the filler pipe 1 (illustrated in FIG. 3) which faces the refuelling opening. To this end, the filler pipe 1 is connected to the vehicle body via an electrically conductive connecting part 8.

(11) The electrically conducting outer layer of the filler pipe 1 is also connected in an electrically conducting manner to a closure base 4 composed of metal at the end of the filler pipe which faces the refuelling opening.

(12) The electrically conducting outer layer of the filler pipe 1 is connected in an electrically conducting manner to the closure base 4 composed of metal via a press connection, which closure base abuts against the outside of the filler pipe 4. Electrically conductive ribs 5 are formed on the outside of the filler pipe 1 in the region of the press connection.

(13) 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. 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.

(14) Those skilled in the art will appreciate from the foregoing description that the broad techniques of the embodiments can 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

(15) 1 Filler pipe

(16) 2 Electrical connector

(17) 3 Line holder

(18) 4 Closure base

(19) 5 Ribs

(20) 6 Grounding cable

(21) 7 Vent line

(22) 8 Connecting part