Fuel tank

Abstract

A fuel tank for a vehicle includes a plastic tank shell having a first half shell and a second half shell. The fuel tank also includes a support structure having a honeycomb configuration disposed between and connected to the first half shell and the second half shell to provide support to the tank shell.

1 . A fuel tank for a vehicle comprising: 
 a plastic tank shell having a first half shell and a second half shell; and    a support structure having a honeycomb configuration disposed between and connected to said first half shell and said second half shell to provide support to said tank shell.    
     
     
         2 . A fuel tank as set forth in  claim 1  wherein said support structure is made of a plastic material.  
     
     
         3 . A fuel tank as set forth in  claim 1  wherein said plastic material is a thermoformable plastic.  
     
     
         4 . A fuel tank as set forth in  claim 1  wherein said first half shell has a base wall and a side wall extending generally perpendicular to said base wall.  
     
     
         5 . A fuel tank as set forth in  claim 1  wherein said second half shell has a base wall and a side wall extending generally perpendicular to said base wall.  
     
     
         6 . A fuel tank as set forth in  claim 1  wherein said support structure has a plurality of side walls extending axially and generally perpendicular to said first half shell and said second half shell.  
     
     
         7 . A fuel tank as set forth in  claim 6  wherein said support structure has a plurality of cavities extending axially and formed by said side walls.  
     
     
         8 . A fuel tank as set forth in  claim 7  wherein said cavities have a closed cell configuration.  
     
     
         9 . A fuel tank as set forth in  claim 6  wherein said side walls are welded to said first half shell.  
     
     
         10 . A fuel tank as set forth in  claim 6  wherein said side walls are welded to said second half shell.  
     
     
         11 . A fuel tank as set forth in  claim 1  including a band disposed over said tank shell.  
     
     
         12 . A fuel tank for a vehicle comprising: 
 a plastic tank shell having a lower half shell and an upper half shell; and    a plastic support structure having a honeycomb configuration disposed between and connected to said lower half shell and said upper half shell to provide support to said tank shell.    
     
     
         13 . A fuel tank as set forth in  claim 12  wherein said support structure has a plurality of side walls extending axially and generally perpendicular to said lower half shell and said upper half shell.  
     
     
         14 . A fuel tank as set forth in  claim 13  wherein said side walls form a plurality of cavities extending axially.  
     
     
         15 . A fuel tank as set forth in  claim 14  wherein said cavities have a closed cell configuration.  
     
     
         16 . A fuel tank as set forth in  claim 13  wherein said side walls are welded to said lower half shell.  
     
     
         17 . A fuel tank as set forth in  claim 16  wherein said side walls are welded to said upper half shell.  
     
     
         18 . A fuel tank as set forth in  claim 12  including a band disposed over said tank shell.  
     
     
         19 . A fuel tank as set forth in  claim 18  wherein said band is made of a metal material.  
     
     
         20 . A fuel tank for a vehicle comprising: 
 a plastic tank shell having a lower half shell and an upper half shell, wherein said lower half shell has a lower base wall and a lower side wall extending generally perpendicular to said lower base wall, wherein said upper half shell has an upper base wall and an upper side wall extending generally perpendicular to said upper base wall; and    a plastic support structure disposed between and connected to said lower half shell and said upper half shell to provide support to said tank shell, wherein said support structure has a plurality of support side walls extending axially and generally perpendicular to said lower base wall and said upper base wall, said side walls being welded to said lower base wall and said upper base wall.