Fluid vessel assembly with adhesive connection

Abstract

A fluid vessel assembly is provided with a first vessel body with a first mating surface and a first adherent surface nonparallel with the first mating surface. The first vessel body forms a first portion of a fluid cavity. A second vessel body with a second mating surface is sized to engage the first mating surface. A second adherent surface is sized to cooperate with the first adherent surface. The second vessel body forms a second portion of the fluid cavity. An adhesive is applied to the first adherent surface and the second adherent surface to bond the first vessel body and the second vessel body together.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A fluid vessel assembly comprising:
 a first vessel body with a first mating surface and a first adherent surface nonparallel with the first mating surface, the first vessel body forming a first portion of a fluid cavity;   a second vessel body with a second mating surface sized to engage the first mating surface, a second adherent surface sized to cooperate with the first adherent surface, the second vessel body forming a second portion of the fluid cavity; and   an adhesive applied to the first adherent surface and the second adherent surface to bond the first vessel body and the second vessel body together.   
     
     
         2 . The fluid vessel assembly of  claim 1  wherein the first vessel body further defines a third adherent surface extending from and intersecting the first adherent surface. 
     
     
         3 . The fluid vessel assembly of  claim 2  wherein the second vessel body further defines a fourth adherent surface extending from and intersecting the second adherent surface. 
     
     
         4 . The fluid vessel assembly of  claim 3  wherein the first vessel body further defines a fifth adherent surface extending from and intersecting the third adherent surface, and generally parallel and offset from the first adherent surface. 
     
     
         5 . The fluid vessel assembly of  claim 4  wherein the second vessel body further defines a sixth adherent surface extending from and intersecting the fourth adherent surface, and generally parallel and offset from the second adherent surface to bond with the fifth adherent surface. 
     
     
         6 . The fluid vessel assembly of  claim 1  wherein the first vessel body includes a channel formed therein about a periphery, defining the first adherent surface. 
     
     
         7 . The fluid vessel assembly of  claim 6  wherein the second vessel body includes a peripheral projection extending from a periphery and sized to be received within the channel, defining the second adherent surface. 
     
     
         8 . The fluid vessel assembly of  claim 7  wherein the fluid cavity has a depth of five to thirty-five millimeters; and
 wherein the peripheral projection has a thickness in a range of five millimeters to eight millimeters. 
 
     
     
         9 . The fluid vessel assembly of  claim 1  wherein the first vessel body is formed of aluminum; and
 wherein the second vessel body is formed of aluminum. 
 
     
     
         10 . The fluid vessel assembly of  claim 1  wherein the adhesive comprises a structural adhesive. 
     
     
         11 . An assembly to cool a vehicle on-board battery charger, the assembly comprising the fluid vessel assembly of  claim 1 , wherein the first vessel body defines a cooling cavity body and the second vessel body defines a cover plate. 
     
     
         12 . The fluid vessel assembly of  claim 1  wherein the fluid vessel assembly does not comprise any threaded fasteners attaching the first vessel body to the second vessel body. 
     
     
         13 . The fluid vessel assembly of  claim 1  wherein the fluid vessel assembly does not comprise an additional gasket in the first mating surface or in the second mating surface between the first vessel body and the second vessel body. 
     
     
         14 . The fluid vessel assembly of  claim 1  wherein the assembly withstands an internal pressure of up to five atmospheric bars. 
     
     
         15 . The fluid vessel assembly of  claim 1  wherein the assembly withstands an internal pressure of up to ten atmospheric bars. 
     
     
         16 . The fluid vessel assembly of  claim 1  wherein the assembly withstands up to two hundred thermal shocks in a range of negative forty degrees Celsius to one hundred and five degrees Celsius. 
     
     
         17 . The fluid vessel assembly of  claim 1  wherein the assembly withstands up to one thousand thermal shocks in a range of negative forty degrees Celsius to one hundred and five degrees Celsius. 
     
     
         18 . A method for assembling a fluid vessel assembly, the method comprising:
 providing the first vessel body according to  claim 1 ;   disposing the adhesive upon the first adherent surface;   providing the second vessel body; and   mating the second adherent surface to the first adherent surface so that the adhesive bonds the first adherent surface and the second adherent surface together.   
     
     
         19 . A fluid vessel assembly comprising:
 a first vessel body with a first adherent surface, the first vessel body forming a first portion of a fluid cavity;   a second vessel body with a second adherent surface sized to cooperate with the first adherent surface, the second vessel body forming a second portion of the fluid cavity, wherein the first adherent surface and the second adherent surface extend in a direction toward the first vessel body and the second vessel body; and   an adhesive applied to the first adherent surface and the second adherent surface to bond the first vessel body and the second vessel body together.   
     
     
         20 . A fluid vessel assembly comprising:
 a first vessel body with a first plurality of adherent surfaces, the first vessel body forming a first portion of a fluid cavity;   a second vessel body with a second plurality of adherent surfaces sized to cooperate with the first plurality of adherent surfaces, the second vessel body forming a second portion of the fluid cavity; and   an adhesive applied to the first plurality of adherent surfaces and the second plurality of adherent surfaces to bond the first vessel body and the second vessel body together; and   wherein the first plurality of adherent surfaces and the second plurality of adherent surfaces are aligned such that upon application of a fluid pressure to the fluid cavity the adhesive is primarily under shear stress.