Polymeric fuel container

US6719163B1 · kind B1 · utility

Assignee

• TI Group Automative Systems Technology Center GmbH · DE

Inventors

• Pierre Delbarre · Plano, US
• Michael Kloess · Karlsruhe, DE

Key dates

• Filing date: Sep 1, 2000
• Grant date: Apr 13, 2004
• Expiry date: Apr 28, 2021

Classification

• Technology area (CPC B): Performing Operations; Transporting
• CPC primary: B60K2015/03046
• WIPO field: Transport
• WIPO sector: Mechanical engineering

Abstract

A fuel container with a wall of at least two wall shells which are separated at least partially from each other by an air gap between them. The dual shell wall structure helps to substantially improve the mechanical properties of the fuel container. Preferably, each wall shell consists of a plurality of layers of different polymeric or plastic materials. In a preferred embodiment of the invention a four layer co-extruded structure is provided; each shell comprises a layer of high density polyethylene (HDPE), a layer of filler material of treated, recycled plastics material referred to as “re-grind” and a vapor barrier layer of a plastic material substantially impermeable by hydrocarbons. The HDPE-layer may, be one surface layer of each wall shell and the vapor barrier layer is preferably the other surface layer of each wall shell. Depending on the material properties of the vapor barrier layer, an additional adhesive layer may also be necessary for connection with the adjacent layer.