Fluid container for a motor vehicle

{
  "publication_number": "US9975422B2",
  "country": "US",
  "kind": "B2",
  "title": "Fluid container for a motor vehicle",
  "abstract": "The invention concerns a fluid container (1) for a motor vehicle, in particular a fuel tank. The fluid container (1) comprises at least one clamping strap (3) surrounding this to hold it at predefined fixing points of the bodywork (4) of a motor vehicle. The fluid container (1) according to the invention is characterized in that the clamping strap (3) is premounted captively on the fluid container (1) without additional fixing means.",
  "claims": [
    "1. A fluid container for a motor vehicle, comprising: the fluid container formed as a plastic container; at least one clamping strap at least partly surrounding the fluid container to hold the fluid container at predefined fixing points of bodywork of the motor vehicle; wherein the fluid container comprises a container wall defining a container volume and a plurality of protrusions; wherein the fluid container is formed as a plastic container; wherein the fluid container comprises a plurality of shells, each of the shells having a shell wall forming a portion of the container wall and a peripheral flange formed as a monolithic structure with the shell wall, wherein the shells are joined at a peripheral container seam located between the flanges and the protrusions are provided at different points of the peripheral container seam; wherein each protrusion is formed by a portion of the peripheral flange of at least one of the shells; and wherein the clamping strap is premounted captively on the fluid container without additional fixing means by each of the protrusions being engaged in a correspondingly formed opening of the clamping strap.",
    "2. The fluid container according to claim 1, wherein the fluid container is formed of a thermoplastic material.",
    "3. The fluid container according to claim 1, wherein the clamping strap forms a C-shaped or U-shaped, substantially form-stable contour adapted to the fluid container, with legs lying against the fluid container under pretension and partly surrounding the fluid container, wherein the legs are each provided with the openings in which the protrusions engage.",
    "4. The fluid container according to claim 1, wherein each of the protrusions formed by the portion of the peripheral flange of at least one of the shells is formed as a tab or a peg.",
    "5. The fluid container according to claim 1, wherein each of the protrusions extend in a plane of the peripheral flange formed thereby.",
    "6. The fluid container according to claim 1, wherein the fluid container is a fuel tank.",
    "7. The fluid container according to claim 1, wherein the clamping strap is formed of metal.",
    "8. The fluid container according to claim 1, wherein the plurality of shells are two opposing half shells.",
    "9. The fluid container according to claim 8, wherein each protrusion is formed by a portion of the peripheral flange of each of the half shells.",
    "10. The fluid container according to claim 1 wherein the shell wall of each of the shells is formed of a multi-layer extrudate.",
    "11. A fluid container for a motor vehicle, comprising: the fluid container formed as a plastic container; at least one clamping strap at least partly surrounding the fluid container to hold the fluid container at predefined fixing points of bodywork of the motor vehicle; wherein the fluid container comprises a container wall defining a container volume and a plurality of protrusions; wherein the fluid container is formed as a plastic container; wherein the fluid container comprises a plurality of shells forming the container wall and joined at a peripheral container seam, and each protrusion is provided at a different point of the peripheral container seam; wherein each protrusion is formed by a portion of a peripheral flange, wherein the peripheral flange forms a portion of the peripheral container seam and is formed by at least one of the shells; and wherein the clamping strap is premounted captively on the fluid container without additional fixing means by each of the protrusions being engaged in a correspondingly formed opening of the clamping strap.",
    "12. The fluid container according to claim 11, wherein the fluid container is formed of a thermoplastic material.",
    "13. The fluid container according to claim 11, wherein the clamping strap forms a C-shaped or U-shaped, substantially form-stable contour adapted to the fluid container, with legs lying against the fluid container under pretension and partly surrounding the fluid container, wherein the legs are each provided with the openings in which the protrusions engage.",
    "14. The fluid container according to claim 11, wherein each of the protrusions formed by the portion of the peripheral flange of at least one of the shells is formed as a tab or a peg.",
    "15. The fluid container according to claim 11, wherein each of the protrusions extend in a plane of the peripheral flange formed thereby.",
    "16. The fluid container according to claim 11, wherein the fluid container is a fuel tank.",
    "17. The fluid container according to claim 11, wherein the clamping strap is formed of metal.",
    "18. The fluid container according to claim 11, wherein the plurality of shells are two opposing half shells.",
    "19. The fluid container according to claim 18, wherein each protrusion is formed by a portion of the peripheral flange of each of the half shells.",
    "20. The fluid container according to claim 11 wherein the shell wall of each of the shells is formed of a multi-layer extrudate."
  ],
  "description_excerpt": "The invention concerns a fluid container for a motor vehicle, in particular a fuel tank, with at least one clamping strap at least partly surrounding the fluid container to hold the fluid container at predefined fixing points of the body of the motor vehicle. Such a fluid container is known for example from European patent application EP 0 373 143 A1. The fluid container is attached to the underside of a motor vehicle by means of two clamping straps. In order to prevent a sagging or bulging of the container floor without substantial volume loss and with only slight material usage and fitting complexity, the container floor is provided with grooves open at the bottom and extending from clamping strap to clamping strap. In the grooves are inserted profile carriers which rest on the clamping straps. The profile carriers can be pressed into the grooves with slight elastic deformation of the groove flanks, so that together with the container they then form a manipulatable component. The clamping straps can be premounted on the profile carrier. This minimises the risk of sagging of the container filled with fluid, since the load resting on the container floor as a result of the fluid contained is supported by the carriers which in turn rest on the clamping straps.\n\nThis arrangement is admittedly useful in relation to the possible load relief on the container floor and in relation to the ground clearance of a vehicle equipped in this way, however the grooves extending in the floor of the fluid container reduce its interior volume.",
  "cpc": [
    "B60K 15/03",
    "B60K 15/067",
    "B60K 15/07",
    "B62D 27/04",
    "B62D 27/06",
    "B66F 9/07518"
  ],
  "ipc": [
    "B60K 15/03",
    "B60K 15/067",
    "B60K 15/07",
    "B62D 27/04",
    "B62D 27/06",
    "B66F 9/075"
  ],
  "assignees": [
    "KAUTEX TEXTRON GMBH & CO KG"
  ],
  "inventors": [
    "BRUNS ANDREAS",
    "JANICKE STEFAN",
    "LOODEN HARTMUT",
    "OLAF MOHR",
    "SINNING ALFRED"
  ],
  "filing_date": "2012-12-01",
  "publication_date": "2018-05-22",
  "grant_date": "2018-05-22",
  "priority_date": "2012-01-05",
  "application_number": "US-201214370878-A",
  "family_id": "47504792",
  "citations": [
    "CN2578143Y",
    "DE20208040U1",
    "EP0373143A1",
    "FR2724877A1",
    "GB2430183A",
    "US192310A",
    "US2001020622A1",
    "US2002030358A1",
    "US2011174856A1",
    "US3701540A",
    "US4093254A",
    "US4416461A",
    "US4765635A",
    "US4886180A",
    "WO2008003386A1"
  ]
}