Attenuation element and fuel container with attenuation element

Abstract

A fuel tank for motor vehicles is constructed so that the generation of noise in the fuel tank due to sloshing fuel is minimized. For this purpose, a dampener element, which is permeable to the flow of liquid fuel, is attached to the interior of the tank. According to the invention, the dampening element has a dimensionally stable lattice or similar network structure. This dampener element is attached near the bottom wall of the fuel tank and has a generally horizontal orientation.

I claim:  
     
         1 . A dampener assembly for placement in a fluid tank of a motor vehicle, said dampener assembly comprising: 
 a dampener element including a plurality of adjoining base elements, each said base element including at least two connection bars having opposite ends with each said end extending from a junction point such that each said base element forms a closed structure that is permeable to fluid flow.    
     
     
         2 . A dampener assembly according to    claim 2   , wherein at least one of said plurality of base elements forms a polygon.  
     
     
         3 . A dampener assembly according to    claim 3   , wherein at least one of said plurality of base elements forms a four-sided polygon.  
     
     
         4 . A dampener assembly according to    claim 2   , wherein a plurality said junction points have an annular shape with a central aperture.  
     
     
         5 . A dampener assembly according to    claim 2   , including a tank connector supported by said dampener element, said tank connector being adapted for fastening said dampener element to the tank.  
     
     
         6 . A dampener assembly according to    claim 5   , wherein said tank connector has a sleeve adapted to receive a stud extending from the tank.  
     
     
         7 . A dampener assembly according to    claim 6   , wherein said tank connector is adapted to interlock with the stud.  
     
     
         8 . A dampener assembly according to    claim 7    wherein said sleeve includes a locking wedge extending from an inner surface of said sleeve and adapted for being disposed in a locking groove formed in the stud.  
     
     
         9 . A dampener assembly according to    claim 5   , wherein said tank connector defines one of said junction points.  
     
     
         10 . A dampener assembly according to    claim 1    including two or more of said dampener elements, each of said dampener elements adjoining another of said dampener elements in a stacked relationship.  
     
     
         11 . A dampener assembly according to    claim 10   , wherein each of said dampener elements includes a connection socket, said connection sockets of adjoining said dampener elements interfacing with each other so as to align said adjoining dampener elements.  
     
     
         12 . A dampener assembly according to    claim 10   , wherein each of said dampener elements includes a connection socket, said connection sockets of adjoining said dampener elements interconnecting each other so as to attach said adjoining dampener elements together.  
     
     
         13 . A dampener assembly according to    claim 1   , wherein said dampener element is formed from a fuel-resistant and elastic material.  
     
     
         14 . A dampener assembly according to    claim 13   , wherein said dampener element is formed from a high-density polyethylene.  
     
     
         15 . A fluid tank assembly for a motor vehicle, comprising: 
 a tank having an inner surface defining a cavity for receiving a liquid substance; and    a dampener element disposed within said tank and attached to a bottom portion of said inner surface, said dampener element having a lattice structure permeable to fluid flow and oriented generally parallel to a liquid surface defined by the liquid substance.    
     
     
         16 . A fluid tank assembly according to    claim 15   , wherein said dampener element includes a plurality of adjoining base elements, each said base element including at least two connection bars having opposite ends with each said end extending from a junction point such that each said base element forms a closed structure that is permeable to fluid flow.  
     
     
         17 . A fluid tank assembly according to    claim 16   , wherein at least one of said plurality of base elements forms a polygon.  
     
     
         18 . A fluid tank assembly according to    claim 16   , wherein a plurality of said junction points have an annular shape with a central aperture.  
     
     
         19 . A fluid tank assembly according to    claim 16    including a stud extending from said inner surface and a tank connector having a sleeve supported by said dampener element and fastened to said stud whereby said dampener element is attached to said tank.  
     
     
         20 . A fluid tank according to    claim 19    wherein one of said sleeve and said stud includes a locking wedge extending therefrom and the other of said sleeve and said stud includes a locking groove formed thereon complementary to said locking wedge, said locking wedge being disposed in said locking groove so as to interlock said sleeve and said stud.  
     
     
         21 . A fluid tank assembly according to    claim 19   , wherein said tank connector defines one of said junction points.  
     
     
         22 . A fluid tank assembly according to    claim 15    including two or more of said dampener elements, each of said dampener elements adjoining another of said dampener elements in a stacked relationship.  
     
     
         23 . A fluid tank according to    claim 22   , wherein each of said dampener elements includes a connection socket, said connection sockets of adjoining said dampener elements interfacing with each other so as to align said adjoining dampener elements.  
     
     
         24 . A fluid tank according to    claim 23   , wherein each of said dampener elements includes a connection socket, said connection sockets of adjoining said dampener elements interconnecting each other so as to attach said adjoining dampener elements together.