Method of manufacturing a tank of thermoplastic material including a portion in relief for mounting an attachment, and a tank manufactured thereby

Abstract

A method provides a tank out of blown, thermoformed, or rotomolded thermoplastic material with a portion in relief for enabling mounting of an attachment inside the tank. The method includes making the portion in relief on the inside of the tank, the portion in relief enabling an attachment to be mounted inside the tank. The portion in relief is made by mounting a mounting member on the wall of the tank. Preferred mounting is by heat-sealing. The wall of the tank includes at least a layer of thermoplastic material and preferably includes a layer that forms a barrier against hydrocarbons. A tank with a portion in relief mounted on an inside wall is also provided.

1 . A method of providing a tank out of blown, thermoformed, or rotomolded thermoplastic material with a mounting member for enabling mounting of an attachment inside the tank, the method comprising: 
 mounting a mounting member on an inside wall of the tank that defines a permanent housing for receiving at least a portion of the attachment.    
     
     
         2 . The method according to  claim 1 , wherein the mounting member is mounted on the inside wall of the tank by heat-sealing.  
     
     
         3 . The method according to  claim 1 , in which the attachment is a pipe, a filter, a pump, a fuel gauge, or a support member.  
     
     
         4 . The method according to  claim 1 , in which the attachment is a valve.  
     
     
         5 . The method according to  claim 1 , in which the mounting member is mounted on a top wall of the tank.  
     
     
         6 . The method according to  claim 1 , in which the housing is defined inside an annular wall of the mounting member.  
     
     
         7 . The method according to  claim 6 , further comprising abutting an axial end of the annular wall against the inside wall of the tank and providing a transverse wall situated away from the axial end of the annular wall.  
     
     
         8 . The method according to  claim 6 , comprising forming an annular bead on the annular wall and providing the attachment with elastically deformable tabs suitable for deforming elastically to go past the annular bead to mount the attachment.  
     
     
         9 . The method according to  claim 1 , further comprising mounting the attachment onto the mounting member by snap-fastening.  
     
     
         10 . The method according to  claim 1 , further comprising placing the attachment in the housing along an axial direction of the housing.  
     
     
         11 . The method according to  claim 1 , in which the inside wall of the tank is formed with at least one layer of thermoplastic material and a layer that forms a barrier against hydrocarbons.  
     
     
         12 . The method according to  claim 1   1 , in which the wall of the tank has two layers of thermoplastic material and, sandwiched between them, a layer forming a barrier against hydrocarbons.  
     
     
         13 . The method according to  claim 1 , further comprising subjecting the inside wall of the tank to treatment to form a barrier against hydrocarbons.  
     
     
         14 . The method according to  claim 1 , in which the mounting member is mounted on the inside wall without piercing the wall of the tank.  
     
     
         15 . A method of providing a tank out of blown, thermoformed, or rotomolded thermoplastic material with a mounting member for enabling mounting of an attachment inside the tank, the method comprising: 
 mounting a mounting member on an inside wall of the tank,    the inside wall of the tank comprising at least a layer of thermoplastic material and a layer that forms a barrier against hydrocarbons.    
     
     
         16 . The method according to  claim 15 , wherein the mounting member is mounted on the inside wall of the tank by heat-sealing.  
     
     
         17 . The method according to  claim 15 , in which the attachment is a pipe, a filter, a pump, a fuel gauge, or a support member.  
     
     
         18 . The method according to  claim 15 , further comprising mounting the attachment onto the mounting member by snap-fastening.  
     
     
         19 . A tank, comprising: 
 an inside wall of blown, thermoformed, or rotomolded thermoplastic material; and    a mounting member mounted on the inside wall of the tank,    wherein the mounting member enables an attachment to be mounted inside the tank and defines a permanent housing for receiving at least a portion of the attachment.    
     
     
         20 . The tank according to  claim 19 , wherein the mounting member is heat-sealed to the inside wall of a tank.