Connection device between a liquid tank made of plastic material and a liquid supply module mounted on a vehicle

Abstract

The present invention relates to a connection device (1) between a liquid tank (2) made of plastic material and a liquid supply module (3) mounted on a vehicle, the connection device (1) comprising a tubular member (10) adapted to be inserted into the liquid tank (2), the tubular member (10) having a first end (100) and a second end (101) adapted to form a swirl pot (4), and a flange (11) arranged on the exterior of the tubular member (10), the surface (110) of the flange (11) being adapted to be welded to the outer surface of the wall of the tank (2). The connection device (1) comprises a connecting means (12) at the first end (100) of the tubular member (10), the first end (101) being adapted to form a swirl pot (4). The end (100) is arranged on the tubular member (10) relative to the flange (11) opposite the flange surface (110) that is provided to be welded to the liquid tank (2), and a connection means (12) is provided for fixing the liquid supply module (3) to the tubular member (10), the second end (101) of the tubular member (10) has an opening (1010) provided to allow liquid to flow into the tubular member (10), and the first end (100) has an opening (1000) provided for insertion of the liquid supply module (3).

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present invention relates to a connecting device between a liquid tank made of a plastic material and a liquid supply module mounted on a vehicle, the connecting device being provided to form a swirl pot. The present invention also relates to a liquid tank made of a plastic material including the connecting device, and a method for manufacturing a liquid tank made of a plastic material including the connecting device.

Background Art

[0002] A liquid supply module (LDM) mounted on a vehicle is usually equipped with a swirl pot for holding liquid near the pump inlet. In automobiles, the swirl pot ensures that the liquid is constantly supplied under severe cornering and braking forces, minimizing the risk of liquid pump failure due to liquid shortage, and guaranteeing the supply of liquid to other parts of the vehicle such as the engine and pollution removal systems.

[0003] Due to the high development cost of the liquid supply module (LDM), manufacturers tend to standardize this component. When standardizing, the swirl pot of the liquid supply module has a fixed design and may not fit the shape of the tank. For example, the height of the tank may be too low compared to the height of the standardized swirl pot. Lowering the height of the swirl pot for these thin tanks will reduce the performance of the liquid supply module (LDM). Or, an LDM without a swirl pot can also be used in combination with an injection tank. In an injection tank, the swirl pot and the tank form a monoblock assembly, and the swirl pot is part of the tank obtained during the manufacture of the tank shell. Nevertheless, the investment in an injection tank is very expensive and is not always a viable option considering the business case.

[0004] Patent Document 1 discloses a specific swirl pot to be inserted into a blow molding method that requires a specific blow molding machine. Unfortunately, the disclosed method and machine would result in a significant investment that would undermine the profitability of such a solution. [Prior art documents] [Patent Documents]

[0005] [Patent Document 1] U.S. Patent Application Publication No. 2009 / 0134175 [Overview of the Initiative] [Problems that the invention aims to solve]

[0006] The present invention aims to provide a swirl pot and a method for manufacturing a tank made of plastic material that includes the swirl pot without exhibiting the above-mentioned problems. [Means for solving the problem]

[0007] In particular, a first object of the present invention is to provide a connecting device between a liquid tank made of plastic material and a liquid supply module mounted on a vehicle, wherein the connecting device is provided to form a swirl pot.

[0008] A second object of the present invention is to provide a liquid tank made of plastic material, including the connecting device.

[0009] A third object of the present invention is to provide a method for manufacturing a liquid tank made of plastic material, including the connecting device.

[0010] According to a first embodiment of the present invention, these objectives are achieved in a connecting device between a liquid tank made of a plastic material and a liquid supply module mounted on a vehicle, the connecting device comprising a tubular member provided for insertion into the liquid tank, the tubular member having a first end and a second end provided for forming a swirl pot, and a flange disposed on the outer portion of the tubular member, the surface of which is provided to be welded to the outer surface of the tank wall, the connecting device comprising connecting means at the first end of the tubular member, the first end disposed on the tubular member relative to the flange on the opposite side of the flange surface provided to be welded to the tank, the connecting means provided for fixing the liquid supply module to the tubular member, the second end of the tubular member having an opening provided to allow liquid to flow into the tubular member, and the first end having an opening provided for insertion of the liquid supply module.

[0011] The connection device according to the present invention makes it possible to create a swirl pot that includes a liquid supply module that can be adapted to various tank dimensions.

[0012] According to a preferred embodiment of the present invention, the connecting means for securing the liquid supply module to the tubular member, provided for securing the liquid supply module to the tubular member, is an assembly means including a seal. Preferably, the assembly means including a seal is selected from a group consisting of Mason jars, cam locks, and inverted cam locks. The connecting means provided for securing the liquid supply module to the tubular member, including the assembly means including a seal, ensures the maintainability of the liquid supply module, as the module can be removed from a tank made of plastic material.

[0013] According to a particular embodiment of the present invention, the flange of the connector is positioned near the first end of the tubular member. The flange positioned near the first end allows for a compact assembly including the tank, the connector, and the liquid supply module. Furthermore, a liquid supply module with minimal protrusion can be provided on the outside of the tank, which is made of plastic material. The expression "near the first end" means that the flange can be positioned directly on or near the first end of the tubular member.

[0014] According to a particular embodiment of the present invention, the second end of the tubular member includes at least a slit and / or an inclined upper portion. The second end of the tubular member including at least a slit and / or an inclined upper portion allows for the supply of liquid from the tank when the liquid level falls below the second end of the tubular member. The phrase "the second end of the tubular member includes at least a slit" means that the slit begins at the second end of the tubular member, and the slit is not limited to the second end.

[0015] According to a preferred embodiment of the present invention, the tubular member of the connecting device has a circular cross-section. The connecting device having a circular cross-section allows for an ideal fit with circular openings that are conventionally made in tanks made of plastic material. Openings in tanks made of plastic material are usually made by drilling.

[0016] According to a preferred embodiment of the present invention, the liquid supply module includes a pump configured to pump liquid from a swirl pot and deliver it to a supply line, preferably via a hydraulic connector. Preferably, the liquid supply module and / or swirl pot includes a heating element, preferably a flexible heating element. Such a heating element can thaw the liquid contained in the swirl pot if the liquid is frozen. The liquid supply module and / or swirl pot incorporates (i.e., is equipped with) a heating element having at least one flexible portion. The modifier “flexible” is understood to actually mean “easily deformable,” which is generally reversible. Generally, this refers to a bending stiffness of less than 4000 N·m (Eh 3 ) / (12(1-n 2)) is defined as equal to, where E is the Young's modulus of the flexible part as measured according to the ASTM D790-03 standard, h is the thickness, and n is the Poisson's ratio of its constituent materials. Preferably, in the context of the present invention, the stiffness of the flexible part is 1000 N·m or less, or 100 N·m or less, and even more preferably 10 N·m or less, and most preferably 1 N·m or less. Preferably, this flexible part is a flexible heater, i.e., a heater including one or more resistive tracks attached to or placed between two films (i.e., two substantially flat supports such that the material and thickness are flexible). The film is preferably made of plastic (although other insulating materials may be suitable), and is particularly elastomer-based. Hereinafter, several resistive tracks are generally described. In this variation, in the calculation of the bending stiffness defined above, it is preferable that the Poisson's ratio is considered to be the ratio of the constituent materials of one or more films. The resistive tracks can be based on metal, carbon, or a combination of such conductive materials. They are generally made of metal (and most preferably of a urea-resistant metal such as stainless steel). They are generally sandwiched between two flexible films. They are applied to a flexible film (e.g. by jet printing technology) and then covered with another flexible film or overmolded using an insulating (preferably elastomer) material. The two films are then firmly attached (e.g. by vulcanization) to ensure a secure seal around the resistance track. These tracks are preferably connected in parallel so that damage to one track does not interfere with the operation of the other. The flexible films are made of silicone resin, polyolefin (polyethylene or polypropylene), thermoplastic elastomer (or TPE), polyester, polyimide (such as KAPTON® resin), etc. Preferably, they are based on silicone, polyolefin, or TPE, considering the fact that polyester and polyimide have low resistance to urea, especially at high temperatures.Flexible films may also contain several overlapping layers of resistors (resistor tracks). They may also include glass fiber coatings to improve their mechanical strength. A stainless steel resistor track sandwiched between two silicone resin films yields good results because one of them is covered with a glass fiber network.

[0017] According to a preferred embodiment of the present invention, the connecting device, preferably the swirl pot, includes upper mechanical protection means for a flexible heater, preferably a flexible heater of a liquid supply module. Preferably, the upper mechanical protection means includes an abutment.

[0018] According to a preferred embodiment of the present invention, a plurality of ribs are provided between the inner diameter of the first end and the inner diameter of the second end in order to enhance the structural strength of the connecting device.

[0019] According to a preferred embodiment of the present invention, the second end further includes upper mechanical protective means, for example, an abutment or fingers. These upper mechanical protective means are provided to protect a portion of the liquid supply module, which is preferably a heating element, which preferably has at least one flexible portion. Thus, the upper mechanical protective means prevent the portion of the liquid supply module, e.g., the heating element, from moving / vibrating and being damaged.

[0020] A second object of the present invention is also to provide a liquid tank made of plastic material equipped with a connecting device according to the present invention.

[0021] A liquid tank made of plastic material for automotive applications according to the present invention comprises an opening and a swirl pot disposed inside the opening, wherein the swirl pot comprises a connecting device according to any one of the embodiments described above, the flange of the connecting device being welded to the edge of the opening in the wall of the tank on the outside of the tank, the wall of the tank being the bottom wall of the tank, and the tubular member of the connecting device fluidly connects to the tank through an opening at the second end of the tubular member. The tank according to the present invention has the ability to continuously supply small amounts of the liquid contained in the tank (fuel, urea solution) to other parts of the vehicle, such as the engine or decontamination system. The connecting device used in the tank according to the present invention makes it possible to create a swirl pot containing a liquid supply module that can be adapted to various tank dimensions. Furthermore, the tubular swirl pot is more compact.

[0022] According to a preferred embodiment, the liquid tank according to the present invention is such that the section of tubular member between the second end and the flange has a diameter substantially equal to the diameter of the opening in the tank wall. The section of tubular member between the second end and the tank wall having a diameter substantially equal to the diameter of the opening in the tank wall allows for an optimized swirl pot capacity.

[0023] According to a preferred embodiment, for the liquid tank according to the present invention, the angle α between the plane including the circumference at the upper part of the second end and the plane including the bottom wall of the tank is in the range of 0° ≦ α ≦ 40°, preferably in the range of 0° ≦ α ≦ 30°, more preferably in the range of 10° ≦ α ≦ 20°, and even more preferably equal to 16.7°. The swirl pot having an inclined upper part at the second end can ensure a minimum amount of liquid near the pump on a specific slope of the vehicle, facilitate the filling of the swirl pot, and maintain the orientation of the highest wall only on the most important slope. Further, the angle α between the plane including the circumference at the upper part of the second end and the plane including the bottom wall of the tank must be 40° or less, preferably 30° or less. By setting such an angle, the effective volume of the swirl pot can be prevented from being wasted. The angle α depends on the diameter of the swirl pot which depends on the diameter of the pump. The angle α further depends on the minimum amount of liquid desired to be held in the swirl pot with respect to a predetermined maximum inclination of the tank.

[0024] According to a preferred embodiment, for the liquid tank according to the present invention, the angle α between the plane including the circumference at the upper part of the second end and the plane including the bottom wall of the tank is in the range of 0° < α ≦ 40°, preferably in the range of 0° < α ≦ 30°, more preferably in the range of 10° ≦ α ≦ 20°, and even more preferably equal to 16.7°. At such an angle, when the tank is inclined perpendicular to the slit, the ability to fill the swirl pot is optimized.

[0025] According to a preferred embodiment, for the liquid tank according to the present invention, the angle α between the plane including the circumference at the upper part of the second end and the plane including the bottom wall of the tank is equal to 0°. At such an angle, the wall of the swirl pot becomes as high as possible, and thus the internal volume of the swirl pot is optimized.

[0026] According to a preferred embodiment, the liquid tank according to the present invention has a volume between 15 and 25 liters.

[0027] According to a preferred embodiment, the liquid tank according to the present invention has an elongated shape, preferably with a length / width ratio greater than 3, a length / height ratio greater than 5, and preferably a length greater than 1 meter. The connecting device according to the present invention is particularly useful in such liquid tanks because it ensures that the swirl pot maintains a minimum amount of liquid available for supply to the pump of the liquid supply module, even if the tank has an elongated shape.

[0028] In a preferred embodiment, the liquid tank according to the present invention is such that the swirl pot has a volume between 0.3 and 5 liters. A swirl pot with a volume in the range of 0.3 to 5 liters contains enough liquid to prevent discoloration of other parts of the vehicle (i.e., the engine or decontamination system) and at the same time allows the weld of the swirl pot to the tank to last for a long time.

[0029] In a preferred embodiment, the liquid tank according to the present invention has a ratio of 0.4 to 0.8, preferably 0.4 to 0.7, between the length of the slit at the second end of the tubular member and the length of the swirl pot wall. The expression "length of the swirl pot wall" refers to the length from the highest point at the top of the second end of the tubular member to the flange. By setting the slit length to 0.4 to 0.8, preferably 0.4 to 0.7, it is possible to select a slit swirl pot that maintains the minimum amount of liquid in the swirl pot at the most important slope while minimizing the required length. Since these requirements may be conflicting, a compromise must be found, and such a compromise may vary from tank to tank.

[0030] In a preferred embodiment, the liquid tank according to the present invention is such that the direction of the slit at the second end of the tubular member is perpendicular to the plane including the bottom wall of the tank. The perpendicular slit makes it possible to obtain a swirl pot in which the efficiency of liquid containment is independent of the slope.

[0031] In a preferred embodiment, the liquid tank according to the present invention is such that the liquid supply module is attached to the first end of a tubular member of a connecting device that forms the base of a swirl pot.

[0032] In a preferred embodiment, the liquid tank according to the present invention is such that the liquid contained in the liquid tank is an aqueous solution. Generally, the aqueous solution is demineralized water or urea solution. Typically, urea solution contains about 32.5% by weight of high-purity urea (CAS number 57-13-6) and about 67.5% by weight of demineralized water. High-purity urea is defined according to ISO 22241. An example of such an aqueous ammonia solution is commercialized as Adblue®. The expression "demineralized water" means a deionized aqueous solution having an conductivity of 1.0 μS / cm or less at 25°C, in accordance with ISO 3696:1987. In fuel tanks, an aqueous solution is preferred over fuel because it is preferable to place the pump entirely inside the tank rather than passing it through the tank wall, in order to avoid fuel leakage from seals that could constitute a fire hazard.

[0033] In a preferred embodiment, the liquid tank according to the present invention is such that it is made of polyethylene (PE) and a connecting device. Thus, the swirl pot can be easily welded to the wall of the liquid tank. Furthermore, the polyethylene swirl pot can withstand temperatures above 100°C without damage. Therefore, it is particularly suitable for liquid tanks configured to contain aqueous solutions. Moreover, this is of particular interest when the liquid supply module is equipped with a heater.

[0034] According to a preferred embodiment, the liquid tank according to the present invention is configured to be obtained by a blow molding process. Thus, since a swirl pot cannot be blown into a tank manufactured by blow molding, it is possible to assemble a connecting device equipped with a swirl pot in a blow-molded tank having an opening.

[0035] A third object of the present invention is to provide a method for manufacturing a liquid tank made of plastic material equipped with the connecting device.

[0036] According to a preferred embodiment, a method for manufacturing a liquid tank made of plastic material for automotive applications according to the present invention includes the following steps: - Provide a tank made of plastic material. - An opening is provided in the tank. - The connecting device according to the present invention is welded to the bottom wall of the tank via a flange. - The liquid supply module is fixed to the connection device according to the present invention.

[0037] The method according to the present invention enables the flexible and adaptable manufacture of liquid tanks made of plastic materials for automotive applications, and provides adaptability of swirl pots to tanks.

[0038] According to a preferred embodiment, the step of providing a tank made of plastic material is achieved by a blow molding process.

[0039] Specific preferred embodiments of the present invention are described in the appended independent and dependent claims. Features of the dependent claims are not merely expressly described in the claims, but can be combined, as necessary, with features of the independent claims and other dependent claims.

[0040] The above and other features, characteristics and advantages of the present invention will become apparent from the following detailed description, together with the accompanying drawings illustrating the principles of the invention as examples. This description is given only as examples and without limiting the scope of the invention. The following reference figures refer to the accompanying drawings. [Brief explanation of the drawing]

[0041] [Figure 1] This is a side view of a first embodiment of the connecting device according to the present invention. [Figure 2]This is a side view of a second embodiment of the connecting device according to the present invention. [Figure 3] This is a side view of a third embodiment of the connection device according to the present invention. [Figure 4] This is a side view of a fourth embodiment of the connecting device according to the present invention. [Figure 5] This is a vertical cross-sectional view of a tank equipped with a liquid supply module having a swirl pot. [Figure 6] This is a vertical cross-sectional view of a tank equipped with a liquid supply module having a swirl pot on a sloping surface. [Figure 7] This is a vertical cross-sectional view of a tank with a liquid supply module without a swirl pot on a sloping surface. [Figure 8] This is a vertical cross-sectional view of a low-profile tank to which a liquid supply module with a fixedly designed swirl pot is fixed. [Figure 9] This is a vertical cross-sectional view of a tank equipped with a liquid supply module having a swirl pot with slits on an inclined surface. [Figure 10] This is a vertical cross-sectional view of a tank equipped with a liquid supply module having a swirl pot with slits on a sloping surface. [Figure 11] This is a vertical cross-sectional view of a first embodiment of a tank according to the present invention, showing the connection between a liquid supply module and a connecting device according to the present invention, and the welding of the connecting device to the tank. [Figure 12] This is a vertical cross-sectional view of a second embodiment of a tank according to the present invention, showing the connection between the liquid supply module and the connecting device according to the present invention, and the welding of the connecting device to the tank. [Figure 13] This is an enlarged fragment showing details of the tank according to the present invention. [Figure 14] This is a fifth embodiment of the connection device according to the present invention and a side view of a part of the liquid supply module. [Modes for carrying out the invention]

[0042] In different diagrams, the same reference symbol refers to the same or similar element.

[0043] The present invention is described with reference to specific embodiments, but is not limited thereto and is described solely by the claims. The drawings provided are schematic and non-limiting. In the drawings, the sizes of some elements may be exaggerated and may not be drawn to scale for illustrative purposes. Dimensions and relative dimensions do not correspond to actual reductions in the implementation of the invention.

[0044] It should be noted that the terms “equipped with” or “including” as used in a claim should not be construed as limiting the means described thereafter, nor as excluding other elements or steps. Therefore, it should be interpreted as specifying the presence of the mentioned feature, integer, step, or component, but not as excluding the presence or addition of one or more other features, integers, steps, or components, or groups thereof. Accordingly, the scope of the expression “apparatus comprising (including) means A and B” should not be limited to an apparatus comprising only components A and B. It means, with respect to the present invention, that A and B are the only relevant components of the apparatus.

[0045] Throughout this specification, any reference to “one embodiment” or “embodiment” means that certain features, structures, or characteristics described in relation to an embodiment are included in at least one embodiment of the present invention. Therefore, occurrences of the phrase “in one embodiment” or “in an embodiment” in various places throughout this specification do not necessarily all refer to the same embodiment, but they may. Furthermore, certain features, structures, or characteristics can be combined in any suitable manner in one or more embodiments, as will be apparent to those skilled in the art from this disclosure.

[0046] The description provided herein includes many specific details. However, it will be understood that embodiments of the invention may be carried out without these specific details. In other examples, well-known methods, structures, and techniques are not described in detail so as not to obscure the understanding of this description.

[0047] Next, the present invention will be described by a detailed description of some embodiments of the present invention. Other embodiments of the present invention can be constructed in accordance with the knowledge of those skilled in the art without departing from the true spirit or technical teaching of the present invention, and it will be apparent that the present invention is limited only by the conditions of the appended claims.

[0048] Figure 1 shows a first embodiment of a connection device 1 according to the present invention between a liquid tank made of plastic material and a liquid supply module mounted on a vehicle. The connection device 1 according to the present invention comprises a tubular member 10 provided for insertion into the liquid tank, the tubular member 10 having a first end (not shown in the figure) and a second end 101 provided to constitute a swirl pot, and a flange 11 disposed outside the tubular member 10, the surface 110 of the flange 11 being provided to be welded to the outer surface of the tank wall. The tubular member 10 has a circular cross-section. The connection device 1 includes a connecting means 12 at the first end of the tubular member 10, the first end being positioned on the tubular member 10 relative to the flange 11 on the opposite side of the flange surface 110 provided to be welded to the liquid tank. The flange 11 is located near the first end of the tubular member 10. The connecting means 12 provided for securing the liquid supply module to the tubular member 10 is a cam lock. The second end 101 of the tubular member 10 is provided with an opening 1010 that allows liquid to enter the tubular member 10. The first end includes an opening for inserting a liquid supply module. The second end 101 of the tubular member 10 is provided with at least a slit 1011.

[0049] Figure 2 shows a second embodiment of the connection device 1 according to the present invention between a liquid tank made of plastic material and a liquid supply module mounted on a vehicle. The connection device 1 of the present invention comprises a tubular member 10 provided for insertion into the liquid tank, the tubular member 10 having a first end (not shown in the figure) and a second end 101 provided to constitute a swirl pot, and a flange 11 disposed on the outer surface of the tubular member 10, the surface 110 of the flange 11 being provided to be welded to the outer surface of the tank wall. The tubular member 10 has a circular cross-section. The connection device 1 includes a connecting means 12 at the first end of the tubular member 10, the first end being positioned on the tubular member 10 relative to the flange 11 on the opposite side of the flange surface 110 that is welded to the liquid tank. The flange 11 is located near the first end of the tubular member 10. The connecting means 12 provided for fixing the liquid supply module to the tubular member 10 is a cam lock. The second end 101 of the tubular member 10 includes an opening 1010 that allows liquid to enter the tubular member 10. The first end includes an opening for inserting a liquid supply module. The second end 101 of the tubular member 10 includes at least a slit 1011. The differences between the first embodiment shown in Figure 1 and the embodiment shown in Figure 2 are as follows: - By shortening the length of the second end 101 of the tubular member 10, a swirl pot of lower height can be obtained inside the tank. - The ratio of the distance between the highest point of the second end 101 of the tubular member 10 and the flange 11 to the length of the slit 1011 is smaller than the ratio in the first embodiment.

[0050] Figure 3 shows a third embodiment of the connection device 1 according to the present invention between a liquid tank made of plastic material and a liquid supply module mounted on a vehicle. The connection device 1 of the present invention comprises a tubular member 10 provided for insertion into the liquid tank, the tubular member 10 having a first end 100 and a second end 101 provided to constitute a swirl pot, and a flange 11 disposed on the outer surface of the tubular member 10, the surface 110 of the flange 11 being provided to be welded to the outer surface of the tank wall. The tubular member 10 has a circular cross-section. The connection device 1 includes a connecting means 12 at the first end 100 of the tubular member 10, the first end 100 being positioned on the tubular member 10 relative to the flange 11 on the opposite side of the flange surface 110 to be welded to the liquid tank. The flange 11 is positioned near the first end 100 of the tubular member 10. The connecting means 12 provided for fixing the liquid supply module to the tubular member 10 is a cam lock. The second end 101 of the tubular member 10 has an opening 1010 provided to allow liquid to enter the tubular member 10. The first end 100 includes an opening 1000 for inserting a liquid supply module. The second end 101 of the tubular member 10 has an inclined upper part 1012.

[0051] Figure 4 shows a fourth embodiment of the connection device 1 according to the present invention between a liquid tank made of plastic material and a liquid supply module mounted on a vehicle. The connection device 1 of the present invention comprises a tubular member 10 provided for insertion into the liquid tank, the tubular member 10 having a first end 100 and a second end 101 provided to constitute a swirl pot, and a flange 11 disposed on the outer surface of the tubular member 10, the surface 110 of the flange 11 being provided to be welded to the outer surface of the tank wall. The tubular member 10 has a circular cross-section. The connection device 1 includes a connecting means 12 at the first end 100 of the tubular member 10, the first end 100 being positioned on the tubular member 10 relative to the flange 11 on the opposite side of the flange surface 110 to be welded to the liquid tank. The flange 11 is positioned near the first end 100 of the tubular member 10. The connecting means 12 provided for fixing the liquid supply module to the tubular member 10 is a cam lock. The second end 101 of the tubular member 10 is provided with an opening 1010 that allows liquid to enter the tubular member 10. The first end 100 includes an opening 1000 for inserting a liquid supply module. The second end 101 of the tubular member 10 is provided with an inclined upper part 1012. The differences between the third embodiment shown in Figure 3 and the embodiment shown in Figure 4 are as follows. - An angle α between a plane containing the circumference of the upper part 1012 of the second end 101 and a plane containing the surface 110 of the flange 11 provided for welding to the outer surface of the tank wall flange. - The distance between the highest point of the second end 101 of the tubular member 10 and the flange 11.

[0052] It is clear that the angle α between the plane containing the upper circumference of the second end 101 and the plane containing the bottom wall of the tank 2 is equal to the angle α between the plane containing the upper circumference 1012 of the second end 101 and the plane containing the surface 110 of the flange 11, which is provided to be welded to the outer surface of the tank wall flange.

[0053] In the embodiments shown in Figures 1 and 2, it goes without saying that the angle α between the plane containing the upper circumference of the second end 101 and the plane containing the bottom wall of the tank 2 is equal to 0°.

[0054] Figures 5 and 6 illustrate the role of the swirl pot 4 in the tank 2, which is made of plastic material, and its effect on the sustainability performance of the liquid delivery module 3 to the rest of the vehicle. The liquid delivery module 3 includes a pump configured to pump liquid from the swirl pot 4 and, preferably, to supply it to a supply line via a hydraulic connector. Preferably, the liquid delivery module 3 and / or the swirl pot 4 include a heating element, preferably a flexible heating element. For example, the liquid delivery module 3 and / or the swirl pot 4 incorporates (i.e., is equipped with) a heating element having at least one flexible portion. The level of liquid 5 in the tank 2 depends not only on the slope of the ground but also on the movement of the vehicle. The swirl pot 4, by storing liquid near the liquid delivery module 3 and keeping it readily available, enables liquid delivery that is independent of the orientation of the ground and the movement of the vehicle, as shown in Figure 6. The height of the swirl pot should be as high as possible to ensure good sustainability on slopes and other terrains.

[0055] Figure 7 shows the effect of the absence of a swirl pot on the liquid supply module 3's ability to deliver the liquid contained in tank 2, and the effect of the ground slope on the presence of liquid 5 near the liquid supply module 3.

[0056] Figure 8 illustrates the limitations of using a standardized swirl pot design 4, which includes a liquid supply module 3 that does not fit the dimensions of tank 2, with the height of the swirl pot 4 exceeding the height of tank 2.

[0057] Figures 9 and 10 show a swirl pot 4 including a slit 1011, which includes a liquid supply module 3. The slit 1011 is intended to overcome the problem of the liquid level 5 being lower than the height of the swirl pot 4, where the inside of the swirl pot 4 is no longer fluidly connected to the tank 2. The position and height of the slit 1011 must be adjusted to suit the specific tank application and represent a compromise between sustainable supply performance and limitations on dynamic dead volume, i.e., the volume that cannot be drawn by the pump of the liquid supply module 3 despite the movement of the liquid 5 in the tank 2 generated by vehicle movement and / or ground incline. The slit 1011 should be oriented in a direction that is less critical with respect to the liquid level 5 in the tank 2.

[0058] Figure 11 shows a vertical cross-sectional view of a first embodiment of a tank 2 according to the present invention, showing the connection between the liquid supply module 3 and the connecting device 1 according to the present invention, and the welding of the plastic material of the connecting device 1 to the tank. The flange 11 of the connecting device according to the present invention is welded to the edge of an opening in the bottom wall of the tank 2. The tubular member of the connecting device 1 is in fluid communication with the tank 2 through an opening at a second end of the tubular member. The liquid supply module 3 is attached to the first end of the tubular member of the connecting device 1, which forms the base of the swirl pot 4. The liquid supply module 3 is fixed to a connecting means 12 located at the first end of the tubular member, the first end being positioned relative to the flange 11 on the opposite side of the flange surface provided to be welded to the liquid tank 2. The connecting means comprises an assembly means including a seal, which is an O-ring 120, and an L-ring 121.

[0059] Figure 11 shows a vertical cross-sectional view of a second embodiment of a tank 2 according to the present invention, showing the connection between the liquid supply module 3 and the connecting device 1 according to the present invention, and the welding of the plastic material of the connecting device 1 to the tank. The flange 11 of the connecting device according to the present invention is welded to the edge of an opening in the bottom wall of the tank 2. The tubular member of the connecting device 1 is in fluid communication with the tank 2 through an opening at the second end of the tubular member. The liquid supply module 3 is attached to the first end of the tubular member of the connecting device 1, which forms the base of the swirl pot 4. The liquid supply module 3 is fixed to a connecting means 12 located at the first end of the tubular member, the first end being positioned relative to the flange 11 on the opposite side of the flange surface provided to be welded to the liquid tank 2. The connecting means comprises an assembly means including a seal which is an O-ring 120 and a lock nut 123.

[0060] Figure 13 is an enlarged fragment showing details of a tank 2 according to the present invention. The liquid tank 2, made of an automotive plastic material, has an opening 5, a swirl pot located inside the opening 5, and the swirl pot comprises a connecting device 1 according to the present invention. The connecting device 1 comprises a tubular member 10 provided to be inserted into the liquid tank 2. The tubular member 10 has a first end and a second end provided to constitute a swirl pot, and a flange 11 located on the external portion of the tubular member 10, the surface of which the flange 11 is provided to be welded to the outer surface of the tank wall 2. The connecting device 1 comprises a connecting means 12 at the first end of the tubular member, the first end being located on the tubular member relative to the flange 11 on the opposite side of the flange surface provided to be welded to the liquid tank 2. The connecting means 12 is provided for securing a liquid supply module 3 to the tubular member 10, and the second end of the tubular member 10 has an opening provided to allow liquid to flow into the tubular member. The first end includes an opening provided for inserting the liquid supply module 3.

[0061] Figure 14 shows a fifth embodiment of the connection device 1 according to the present invention between a liquid tank made of plastic material and a liquid supply module mounted on a vehicle. The connection device 1 of the present invention comprises a tubular member 10 provided for insertion into the liquid tank, a tubular member 10 having a first end 100 and a second end 101 provided to constitute a swirl pot 4, and a flange disposed outside the tubular member 10, the surface 110 of the flange 11 being provided to be welded to the outer surface of the tank wall. The tubular member 10 has a circular or substantially circular cross-section. The connection device 1 includes a connecting means 12 at the first end 100 of the tubular member 10, the first end 100 being positioned on the tubular member 10 relative to the flange 11 on the opposite side of the flange surface 110 to be welded to the liquid tank. The flange 11 is positioned near the first end 100 of the tubular member 10. The connecting means 12 provided for securing the liquid supply module to the tubular member 10 is a cam lock. The second end 101 of the tubular member 10 is provided with an opening 1010 that allows liquid to enter the tubular member 10. The first end 100 includes an opening 1000 for inserting a liquid supply module. The second end 101 of the tubular member 10 is provided with a slit 1011 and an inclined upper part 1012. The angle α between the plane containing the circumference of the upper part 1012 of the second end 110 and the plane containing the surface 110 of the flange 11 provided for welding to the outer surface of the tank wall flange is equal to 16.7°. Furthermore, the inner diameter of the first end 100 is smaller than the inner diameter of the swirl pot, i.e., the second end 101. The inner diameter of the swirl pot is, for example, about 128 mm, and the inner diameter of the first end is, for example, about 121 mm. A plurality of ribs 1030 are provided between the inner diameter of the first end and the inner diameter of the second end 101. The second end 101 further comprises upper mechanical protective means, for example, an abutment or finger 1032. These upper mechanical protective means are provided to protect a portion of the liquid supply module 3, which is preferably a heating element 3010, which preferably has at least one flexible portion.

[0062] The method used to manufacture the tank 2 according to the present invention shown in Figure 13 includes the following steps: - A tank 2 made of plastic material is provided by a blow molding process or the like. - An opening 5 is provided in the tank 2. - The connecting device 1 according to the present invention is welded to the bottom wall of the tank 2 via the flange 11. - The liquid supply module 3 is fixed to the connection device 1 according to the present invention.

[0063] In the previous embodiment, the liquid tank 2 is preferably made of polyethylene (PE) and the connecting device 1.

[0064] Liquid tank 2 is such that the liquid it contains is an aqueous solution. Generally, the aqueous solution is demineralized water or urea solution. The capacity of liquid tank 2 is, for example, 15 to 25 liters. For example, liquid tank 2 is preferably elongated in shape, with a length / width ratio greater than 3, a length / height ratio greater than 5, and a length greater than 1 meter.

[0065] In the previous embodiment, the swirl pot 4 may include a heating means.

[0066] For example, the swirl pot 4 may include an electric heating element embedded in the material of the swirl pot 4, thus enabling heating of the liquid inside and outside the swirl pot 4. Thus, the swirl pot 4 is multilayered, with one layer housing the electric heating element, or the electric heating element being embedded in at least one layer. For example, the plastic layer with the heating conductor material is extruded and coated with polyethylene (PE) material. If the plastic layer is also made of polyethylene, there is a secure connection between the plastic layer and the extruded coating, optimizing the required heat transfer. For example, the electric heating conductor is fixed to the plastic layer by embroidery. In this regard, the heating conductor may be a fiber.

[0067] Alternatively, the swirl pot 4 may preferably be made of a PTC (positive temperature coefficient) plastic material, and thus the liquid inside and outside the swirl pot 4 can be heated. By providing electrodes such that the PTC plastic material is at least partially placed between the two electrodes, the PTC plastic material can provide heat by supplying electricity to the electrodes. [Explanation of symbols]

[0068] 1. Connection device 2 liquid tanks 3. Liquid supply module 4 Swirl Pots 5 Openings 10 Tubular member 11 Flange 12 Connection means 100 First end 101 Second end 110 Flange surface 120 O-rings 121 L-ring 123 Lock Nut 1000 openings 1010 Opening 1011 Slit 1012 Top 1030 Rib 1032 Finger 3010 heating element

Claims

1. A connection device (1) configured to attach a liquid supply module (3) to a liquid tank (2) made of plastic material mounted on a vehicle, comprising: The connection device (1) a tubular member (10) adapted to be inserted into the opening (5) of the liquid tank (2), the tubular member (10) having a second end (101) with an opening (1010) for allowing liquid to enter the tubular member (10) and a first end (100) with an opening (1000) for inserting the liquid supply module (3), the tubular member (10) forming a swirl pot (4) between the first end (100) and the second end (101); a flange (11) arranged on the exterior of the first end (100), a first surface (110) of the flange (11) provided for welding to an outer surface of the wall of the liquid tank (2) around the opening (5), and a second surface of the flange (11) opposite the first surface (110) of the flange (11) provided with connection means (12); the connecting means (12) is provided to fix the liquid supply module (3) to the first end (100) of the tubular member (10) of the connecting device (1) to form the base of the swirl pot (4); A connection device (1) characterized in that the connection means (12) is an assembly means provided with a seal so that the liquid supply module can be removed from the liquid tank.

2. 2. The connection device of claim 1, wherein the assembly means including the seal is selected from the group consisting of a cam lock and a lock nut (123).

3. 3. A connection device according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the flange (11) is located near the first end (100) of the tubular member (10).

4. The connecting device according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the second end (101) of the tubular member (10) comprises at least a slit (1011) and / or a sloping top (1012).

5. A connection device according to any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein the tubular member (10) has a circular cross section.

6. A liquid tank (2) made of plastic material for automotive applications, an opening (5) in the bottom wall of the liquid tank; a swirl pot (4) configured by the connection device (1) according to any one of claims 1 to 5 and arranged inside the opening (5); Equipped with the first surface (110) of the flange (11) of the connecting device (1) is welded to the edge of the opening (5) in the bottom wall of the liquid tank (2) outside the liquid tank (2); the tubular member (10) of the connection device (1) is in fluid communication with the liquid tank through the opening (1010) of the second end (101) of the tubular member (10); A liquid supply module (3) is attached to the first end (100) of the tubular member (10) of the connection device (1) by the connection means (12) to form the base of a swirl pot (4) liquid tank.

7. 7. The liquid tank of claim 6, wherein the portion of the tubular member (10) between the second end (101) and the flange (11) has a diameter approximately equal to the diameter of the opening in the wall of the liquid tank (2).

8. 8. The liquid tank according to claim 6 or 7, wherein an angle α between a plane including the circumference of the upper part of the second end (101) and a plane including the bottom wall of the liquid tank (2) is in the range of 0°<α≦40°, preferably in the range of 10°≦α≦20°.

9. 8. The liquid tank according to claim 6 or 7, wherein an angle α between a plane containing the circumference of the upper part of the second end (101) and a plane containing the bottom wall of the liquid tank (2) is equal to 0°.

10. The liquid tank according to any one of claims 6 to 9, wherein the volume of the swirl pot (4) is between 0.3 liters and 5 liters.

11. The liquid tank according to any one of claims 6 to 10, wherein the ratio of the length of the slit (1011) at the second end (101) of the tubular member (10) to the wall length of the swirl pot (4) is in the range of 0.4 to 0.

8.

12. A liquid tank according to any one of claims 6 to 11, wherein the direction of the slit (1011) at the second end (101) of the tubular member (10) is perpendicular to a plane including the bottom wall of the liquid tank.

13. A method for manufacturing a liquid tank (2) made of plastic material for automotive applications, comprising the steps of: Providing a liquid tank (2) made of plastic material; providing an opening (5) in the bottom wall of the liquid tank (2); inserting the connection device (1) according to any one of claims 1 to 5 into the opening (5) of the liquid tank (2) until a first surface (110) of the flange (11) abuts against the bottom wall of the liquid tank; welding the first surface (110) of the flange (11) to the bottom wall of the liquid tank (2) to form a swirl pot (4) between the first end (100) and the second end (101) of the tubular member (10) of the connection device (1); inserting the liquid supply module (3) into the opening (1010) of the first end (100); fixing the liquid supply module (3) to the first end (100) of the tubular member (10) of the connection device (1) by means of the connection means (12) to form the base of a swirl pot (4); A method for providing the above.

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