Motor vehicle fuel tank

US4518091A · kind A · utility

Assignee

• Daimler-Benz AG · DE

Inventors

• Dieter Scheurenbrand · Wolfschlugen, DE
• Manfred Stotz · Esslingen am Neckar, DE
• Manfred Distel · Esslingen am Neckar, DE
• Einhard Kleinschmit · Eßlingen, DE

Key dates

• Filing date: Apr 11, 1983
• Grant date: May 21, 1985
• Expiry date: Apr 11, 2003

Classification

• Technology area (CPC B): Performing Operations; Transporting
• CPC primary: B60K15/03
• WIPO field: Transport
• WIPO sector: Mechanical engineering

Abstract

A fuel tank, especially for motor vehicles, includes two shaped shells which include a shell bottom, shell walls and a continuous shell rim, the shell rims of the shaped shells being adapted to be welded together to thereby form a composite fuel tank structure. At least one of the bottoms of one of the shaped shells which forms one of the side walls of the composite fuel tank structure is provided with reinforcing ribs and an outwardly protruding bulge. Additionally, the bottom of the composite tank structure formed by a wall of one of the shaped shells includes a bulge. The bulges form flexurally soft deformation zone extending generally at right angles to the reinforcing ribs and generally parallel to a portion of the shell rim which extends generally parallel to the bottom of the composite tank for absorbing stresses.