Fuel tank with a carrier for carrying functional components and said carrier

Abstract

In a fuel tank of plastic material with functional components contained therein for implementing functions such as operational venting, refuelling, refuelling venting and drawing off fuel, the functional components are pre-mounted on a carrier which equipped therewith was fitted into the tank or which was already integrated into the tank upon shaping thereof. The carrier is in the form of a hollow body through which fuel can circulate within the tank.

What is claimed is:  
     
         1 . A fuel tank of plastic material comprising 
 a tank body,    a carrier accommodated in the tank body,    a plurality of functional components for implementing operational functions of the tank, said functional components being pre-mounted on the carrier,    wherein said functional component carrier is in the form of a hollow body through which fuel can flow.    
     
     
         2 . A fuel tank as set forth in  claim 1   wherein the carrier equipped with said functional components was introduced into the tank body.    
     
     
         3 . A fuel tank as set forth in  claim 1   wherein the carrier equipped with said functional components was integrated into said tank body upon shaping thereof.    
     
     
         4 . A fuel tank as set forth in  claim 1  including 
 means for supporting said carrier yieldingly against the inside wall surface of the tank body.  
 
     
     
         5 . A fuel tank as set forth in  claim 4   wherein said carrier has resiliently yielding support feet formed integrally in the wall thereof.    
     
     
         6 . A fuel tank as set forth in  claim 5   wherein said support feet are bellows-shaped outwardly formed portions of said carrier.    
     
     
         7 . A fuel tank as set forth in  claim 1   wherein said carrier has a wall including openings for receiving said functional components.    
     
     
         8 . A fuel tank as set forth in  claim 7   wherein said openings are at least partially turned out in a collar-like shape.    
     
     
         9 . A fuel tank as set forth in  claim 7   wherein said openings are provided with fixing collars integrally formed thereon.    
     
     
         10 . A fuel tank as set forth in  claim 1   wherein said carrier has a wall including orifices adapted to reduce the stiffness thereof.    
     
     
         11 . A fuel tank as set forth in  claim 1   wherein said tank body has a free internal volume, and    wherein said carrier forms a means for dividing the free volume of the tank body into a plurality of intercommunicating sub-volumes.    
     
     
         12 . A fuel tank as set forth in  claim 1   wherein said carrier is produced from recycled material.    
     
     
         13 . A fuel tank as set forth in  claim 7   wherein said carrier is in the form of an extrusion blow-molded container, the openings thereof being produced after the molding operation.    
     
     
         14 . A fuel tank as set forth in  claim 10   wherein said carrier is in the form of an extrusion blow-molded container, the orifices thereof being produced after the molding operation.    
     
     
         15 . A fuel tank as set forth in  claim 1   wherein said carrier has tubes which as an integral constituent part thereof are formed integrally with said carrier.    
     
     
         16 . A fuel tank as set forth in  claim 1   wherein said carrier has chambers which as an integral constituent part thereof are formed integrally with said carrier.    
     
     
         17 . A carrier for functional components for implementing operational functions of a motor vehicle fuel tank 
 which carrier is in the form of an extrusion blow-molded hollow body with openings therein.    
     
     
         18 . A carrier as set forth in claim including 
 means for supporting said carrier yieldingly against an inside wall surface of a tank.    
     
     
         19 . A carrier as set forth in  claim 17   wherein said carrier has resiliently yielding support feet formed integrally in the wall thereof.    
     
     
         20 . A carrier as set forth in  claim 19   wherein said support feet are bellows-shaped outwardly formed portions of said carrier.    
     
     
         21 . A carrier as set forth in  claim 17   wherein said carrier has a wall with openings for receiving said functional components.    
     
     
         22 . A carrier as set forth in  claim 21   wherein said openings are at least partially turned out in a collar-like shape.    
     
     
         23 . A carrier as set forth in  claim 21   wherein said openings are provided with fixing collars integrally formed thereon.    
     
     
         24 . A carrier as set forth in  claim 17   wherein said carrier has a wall with orifices adapted to reduce the stiffness thereof.    
     
     
         25 . A carrier as set forth in  claim 17   wherein said carrier is adapted to divide the internal volume of the tank into a plurality of intercommunicating sub-volumes.    
     
     
         26 . A carrier as set forth in  claim 17  produced from recycled material.  
     
     
         27 . A carrier as set forth in  claim 21  in the form of an extrusion blow-molded container, the openings thereof being produced after the molding operation.  
     
     
         28 . A carrier as set forth in  claim 24  in the form of an extrusion blow-molded container, the orifices thereof being produced after the molding operation.  
     
     
         29 . A carrier as set forth in  claim 17  including 
 tubes which as an integral constituent part thereof are formed integrally with said carrier.  
 
     
     
         30 . A carrier as set forth in  claim 17  including 
 chambers which as an integral constituent part thereof are formed integrally with said carrier.