Fuel accessory for fuel tank and method for internally attaching same

Abstract

A fuel tank made of a plastic material and fitted with at least one fuel accessory attached to an inside surface of a wall thereof, wherein the fuel accessory is attached to a predetermined site at the inside surface by fusion welding. Further there is disclosed a fuel accessory for attaching to a site at an inside wall portion of a plastic material fuel tank, comprising a housing formed with an engaging surface attachable to the site. The engaging surface is fitted with a fusion melting element for fusion welding the fuel accessory to the fuel tank.

1 - 50 . (canceled) 
     
     
         51 . A method for attaching a fuel system component to a fuel tank made of plastic material, the method comprising the following steps:
 (a) providing a fuel system component having at least a housing portion made of a plastic material, where the housing portion is pre-fitted with a fusion melting element at a top thereof;   (b) providing a manipulator in the form of an arm insertable into an interior space of the fuel tank through an opening formed in the tank;   (c) introducing the fuel system component into the fuel tank via the manipulator;   (d) positioning the fuel system component at predetermined site at an inside surface of the fuel tank via the manipulator; and   (e) adjoining the top of the housing to said predetermined site by applying current through the fusion melting element to heat it to a temperature suitable for melting plastic material and thereby weld the fuel system component to the fuel tank.   
     
     
         52 . A method according to  claim 51 , wherein the fusion melting element is heated by current applied thereto through detachable conductive wires. 
     
     
         53 . A method according to  claim 51 , wherein the fusion melting element is heated by current applied thereto by induction. 
     
     
         54 . A method according to  claim 51 , wherein the fusion melting element is heated by current applied thereto through an electric socket of the manipulator. 
     
     
         55 . A method according to  claim 51 , wherein the housing of the fuel system component is fitted with a magnetizable member for attraction to a wall site at the fuel tank during the fusion welding process. 
     
     
         56 . A method according to  claim 51 , wherein fusion welding is excited by an inductive current generating a magnetic field for attracting and engaging the fuel system component to a wall site within the fuel tank by a magnetizable member fitted within one of the fuel system component and a wall site at the fuel tank. 
     
     
         57 . A method according to  claim 51 , wherein electric current is applied to the fusion melting element via an electric socket of the manipulator, engageable with a corresponding socket member of the fuel system component. 
     
     
         58 . A method according to  claim 51 , wherein the fuel system component is a valve. 
     
     
         59 . A method according to  claim 51 , wherein the fuel system component comprises an outlet nozzle adjacent said top of the housing. 
     
     
         60 . A method according to  claim 51 , wherein the fuel system component is engaged with the wall surface of the tank using a pressure sensing arrangement. 
     
     
         61 . A method according to  claim 60 , wherein the pressure sensing arrangement is selected from the group including a strain gage and a micro-switch. 
     
     
         62 . A method according to  claim 51 , wherein the fuel system component is engaged with the wall site of the fuel tank by a manipulator bearing at one end against a bottom wall portion of the fuel tank extending opposite the wall site of the upper wall portion, and an other end thereof supporting the fuel system component and biasing it against the wall site. 
     
     
         63 . A method according to  claim 51 , further including steps of providing at least one additional fuel system component, and adjoining the additional fuel system component to the fuel tank simultaneously with said fuel system component. 
     
     
         64 . A method for simultaneously attaching at least two fuel accessories to a fuel tank made of plastic material, the method comprising the following steps:
 (a) providing at least two fuel accessories, each having at least a housing portion made of a plastic material, where the housing portion is pre-fitted with a fusion melting element at a top thereof;   (b) providing a manipulator in the form of an arm insertable into an interior space of the fuel tank through an opening formed in the tank;   (c) introducing the at least two fuel accessories into the fuel tank via the manipulator;   (d) positioning each of the at least two fuel accessories at predetermined wall site at an inside surface of the fuel tank;   (e) adjoining an engaging surface of each of the tops to said predetermined wall site; and   (f) applying current through the fusion melting elements to heat them to a temperature suitable for melting plastic material and thereby simultaneously weld the at least two fuel accessories to the fuel tank.   
     
     
         65 . A method for attachment of a fuel system component to a fuel tank made of plastic material, the method comprising the following steps:
 (a) providing a fuel system component having at least a housing portion made of a plastic material;   (b) providing a weldable carrying member having a fusion melting element embedded therein;   (c) providing a manipulator in the form of an arm insertable into an interior space of the fuel tank through an opening formed in the tank;   (d) introducing the fuel system component into the fuel tank via the manipulator;   (e) positioning the fuel system component at predetermined wall site at an inside surface of the fuel tank;   (f) disposing the carrying member intermediate the housing of the fuel system component and the predetermined wall site of the fuel tank; and   (g) adjoining the top portion of the housing to said predetermined site by heating the fusion melting element and melting the carrying member to weld at both faces thereof and form the attachment.   
     
     
         66 . A manipulator for introducing and attaching by fusion welding at least two fuel accessories to a site at an inside wall of a fuel tank, said manipulator configured as an arm for introducing into an interior space of the fuel tank through an opening formed in the tank, and comprising a fuel accessory gripping portion for securely applying a fuel accessory to the wall site and pressurizing it against the wall site during the fusion welding process; the arm being part of a control assembly adapted to control multiple fusion welding attachments of at least two fuel accessories. 
     
     
         67 . A manipulator according to  claim 66 , comprising an electric socket for connecting to a corresponding socket of at least one of the at least two fuel accessories to apply thereby electric current. 
     
     
         68 . A manipulator according to  claim 66 , wherein pressure sensitive arrangements are provided to ascertain that the fuel accessory is tightly and properly engaged with the wall of the fuel tank. 
     
     
         69 . A manipulator according to  claim 68 , wherein the pressure sensitive arrangements are selected from the group including a strain gage and a micro-switch. 
     
     
         70 . A manipulator according to  claim 66 , wherein a pressure sensitive arrangement is provided for determining correct application of the fuel accessory to the wall site and confirming correct pressure application of the fuel accessory against the wall site during the fusion welding process.