Fuel tank of thermoplastic material with functional installation fitments for air intake and venting, for fuel take-off and the like

Abstract

The invention concerns a fuel tank of thermoplastic material, comprising functional installation fitments for air intake and venting, for fuel take-off or the like, which is distinguished in that at least one functional installation fitment is connected to the inside wall of the container in material-bonded relationship in such a way that the functional installation fitment defines with the container wall a volume separated from the filling volume of the container in such a way that the inside wall of the container serves directly as a boundary wall of said volume.

1 . A method for forming a container of thermoplastic material, having an inside wall and a filling volume, and including functional installation fitments, comprising:
 connecting one functional installation fitment to said inside wall of the container by melt-bonding in such a way that the functional installation fitment defines with the container wall a second volume separated from the filling volume of the container in such a way that the inside wall of the container serves directly as a boundary wall of said second volume,   wherein said melt-bonding of said at least one installation fitment to said inside wall of said container occurs while said container wall is still plastic and during the operation of shaping the tank.   
     
     
         2 . The method as set forth in  claim 1  wherein profile portions are provided as functional installation fitments, being melt-bonded to the inside wall of the container in such a way that they form volumes or passages which are closed at least in portion-wise manner therewith, wherein said melt-bonding of said profile portions to said inside wall of said container occurs while said container wall is still plastic and during the operation of shaping the tank. 
     
     
         3 . The method as set forth in  claim 2  wherein said profile portions are of semicircular, U-shaped or V-shaped cross-section. 
     
     
         4 . The method as set forth in  claim 1  wherein said at least one functional installation fitment comprises a surge container for a fuel pump, said surge container including a boundary wall and at least one side and is open on the side that in the installation position faces towards the inside wall of the container and said boundary wall is peripherally connected in melt-bonded relationship to the inside wall of the container during the shaping of the tank. 
     
     
         5 . The method as set forth in  claim 4  wherein the surge container is at least partially closed on the side remote from the inside wall of the container. 
     
     
         6 . The method as set forth in  claim 4  wherein the boundary wall of the surge container has a peripherally extending fixing flange at the side facing towards the inside wall of the container in the installation position. 
     
     
         7 . The method as set forth in  claim 6  wherein the joining surface of the fixing flange is profiled. 
     
     
         8 . The method as set forth in  claim 7  wherein the joining surface of the fixing flange is provided with melting projections and/or melting extension portions which melt to form said connection. 
     
     
         9 . The method as set forth in  claim 6  wherein the boundary wall of the surge container is flexible at least in region-wise manner and at least portion-wise with respect to the periphery of the surge container. 
     
     
         10 . The method as set forth in  claim 9  wherein the angle between the fixing flange and the boundary wall is variable. 
     
     
         11 . The method as set forth in  claim 4  wherein said surge container includes one or more of connections, nipples and apertures for lines which are to pass into or out of said surge container. 
     
     
         12 . The method as set forth in  claim 6  wherein said inside wall is provided with one or more inwardly projecting ribs which cooperate with one or more grooves in said joining surface. 
     
     
         13 . The method as set forth in  claim 6  wherein said inside wall is provided with one or more grooves which cooperate with one or more inwardly projecting ribs on said joining surface. 
     
     
         14 . The method as set forth in  claim 1  wherein said connection in melt-bonded relationship of said is at least one functional installation fitment to said inside wall of the container requires no additional thermal energy.