| 摘要 |
An endoskeleton to support a fuel tank body and establish a fuel tank. The endoskeleton may include columns to support fuel system components, first and second beams staggered with respect to one another and having tank contact portions attachable to the tank body, and walls extending between adjacent first and second beams to baffle fuel and to yieldably restrain movement of the body. The fuel tank body may have a wall thickness of about 2 to 4 mm, and a combined weight of the tank body and the endoskeleton may be less than a weight of the fuel tank if the body were about 4 to 6 mm in wall thickness. Also, an endoskeleton-to-tank body contact surface area ratio may be greater than about 4% of a total interior surface area of the tank body. Further, fuel tank may include a strength to weight ratio greater than 250 l-mbar/kg. |
| 主权项 |
1. A fuel tank for a vehicle, comprising:
a tank body having an upper wall, a lower wall, and side walls between the upper and lower walls and defining an interior in which fuel is stored; a plurality of fuel system components disposed in the interior of the tank body and including at least one of a rollover valve, a fuel level vent valve, a fuel tank isolation valve, or a fuel level indicator; and a unitary endoskeleton to reinforce the tank body, baffle fuel in the tank body, and carry the plurality of fuel system components in the tank body, and including:
a plurality of at least partially hollow columns to support the plurality of fuel system components,a plurality of spaced apart generally horizontally extending upper and lower beams being staggered with respect to one another such that the upper beams are not directly above the lower beams, and having tank contact portions attached to the upper and lower walls of the body, anda plurality of walls extending between and interconnecting adjacent upper and lower beams to baffle fuel and to yieldably restrain movement of the upper and lower walls, wherein the tank body has a wall thickness of less than 3 mm but at least 2 mm. |
