Method for forming a molded tank and tank

Abstract

A method of forming a molded tank (100, 600, 700, 800, 900), the molded tank (100, 600, 700, 800, 900) configured to contain liquid (112) in a vehicle, the method comprising: providing a tank shell (102, 602, 702) made of a first material; and fabricating a composite shell using a skeletal structure (104, 604, 704, 804, 904) comprising a second material on the tank shell (102, 602, 702), the second material being different from the first material; characterized in that the second material has a maximum operating temperature that is greater than the maximum operating temperature of the first material, the first material comprising high density polyethylene and the second material comprising polybutylene terephthalate.

Claims

[1] A method of forming a shaped tank (100, 600, 700, 800, 900), the shaped tank (100, 600, 700, 800, 900) being configured to contain liquid (112) in a vehicle, the method comprising: Providing a tank shell (102, 602, 702) made of a first material; and Producing a composite shell using a skeletal structure (104, 604, 704, 804, 904) with a second material on the tank shell (102, 602, 702), the second material being different from the first material; characterized by , that the second material has a maximum operating temperature that is greater than the maximum operating temperature of the first material, wherein the first material comprises high density polyethylene and the second material comprises polybutylene terephthalate. [2] The method of claim 1, wherein providing the tank shell (102, 602, 702) with the first material comprises molding the tank shell (102, 602, 702). [3] The method of claim 2, wherein forming the composite shell comprises sequentially overmolding the skeletal structure (104, 604, 704, 804, 904) on the tank shell (102, 602, 702) to mix the second material and the first material. [4] Tank (100, 600, 700, 800, 900) designed to hold liquid (112) in a vehicle, the tank (100, 600, 700, 800, 900) comprising: a tank shell (102, 602, 702) having an inner side (106) and an outer side (108) opposite the inner side (106), the tank shell (102, 602, 702) defining a reservoir (110) configured to receive liquid (112) in the vehicle; and a skeleton structure (104, 604, 704, 804, 904) overmolded onto the tank shell (102, 602, 702); wherein the tank shell (102, 602, 702) is formed from a first material and the skeleton structure (104, 604, 704, 804, 904) is formed from a second material which is different from the first material, characterized by , that the second material has a maximum operating temperature that is greater than a maximum operating temperature of the first material, wherein the first material comprises high density polyethylene and the second material comprises polybutylene terephthalate. [5] A method of forming a shaped tank (100, 600, 700, 800, 900), the shaped tank (100, 600, 700, 800, 900) being configured to contain liquid (112) in a vehicle, the method comprising: Providing a tank shell (102, 602, 702) made of high density polyethylene; characterized by, that the method further comprises molding a skeletal structure (104, 604, 704, 804, 904) of polybutylene terephthalate on an inner side (106) or an outer side (108) of the tank shell (102, 602, 702). [6] The method of claim 5, wherein forming the skeletal structure (104, 604, 704, 804, 904) comprises overmolding the skeletal structure (104, 604, 704, 804, 904) on the inside (106) or the outside (108) of the tank shell (102, 602, 702). [7] The method of claim 5, wherein: the tank shell (102, 602, 702) comprises at least two sections (114, 116); and the method further comprises welding together the at least two sections (114, 116) of the tank shell (102, 602, 702).

Images