Reinforced storage tank for vehicles

Abstract

A storage tank (1) for a vehicle, comprising a wall (2) defining a storage volume (3) for containing liquids and gases, the wall (2) comprising a first wall portion (2a) and a second wall portion (2b) opposed to the first wall portion (2a), the first wall portion (2a) defining a first recess (4) extending towards the second wall portion (2b), the first recess (4) comprising a first opening (4a), a first bottom wall (4b) and a first peripheral side wall (4c) connecting the first bottom wall (4b) to a first flange portion (2a1) of the first opening (4a), The bottom wall (4b) is connected in a leak-tight manner to the second wall portion (2b) at a connection area (6) having a hole (7) through which a connecting rod (8c) of the clamping device (8) passes, the clamping device (8) comprising a first clamping portion (8a) and a second clamping portion (8b) connected to the first clamping portion (8a) by the connecting rod (8c), the first clamping portion (8a) being arranged on the outer surface (4c') of the first peripheral side wall (4c) and the second clamping portion (8b) being arranged on the outer surface (2b') of the second wall portion (2b).

Description

[Technical field]

[0001] The present invention relates to a storage tank for a vehicle. More precisely, the invention relates to a reinforced storage tank for a vehicle, and to a vehicle equipped with such a storage tank. [Background technology]

[0002] Storage tanks for containing liquids and gases, such as fuel and fuel vapor, may experience pressure buildup during certain operating conditions. The pressure buildup may be caused by the expansion of fuel vapor due to increased temperatures within a sealed fuel tank. In hybrid vehicles that use both an electric motor and an internal combustion engine to provide power, the fuel tank may be sealed for longer periods of time compared to vehicles that use only an internal combustion engine to provide power. The longer periods of time may be due, in part, to the irregular use of the internal combustion engine in hybrid vehicles. As a result, the relative pressure within a hybrid vehicle's fuel tank may reach levels many times greater than those experienced in systems where the fuel tank is periodically purged by the engine as needed. In some circumstances, the relative pressure within a hybrid vehicle's fuel tank may be 15 to 20 times greater than the maximum experienced by a fuel tank in a vehicle that relies solely on an internal combustion engine to power the vehicle.

[0003] Fuel tanks for hybrid vehicles therefore need to be stronger than those for vehicles that rely solely on internal combustion engines - this is especially true for fuel tanks made from plastics, such as high density polyethylene (HDPE).

[0004] Solutions have been proposed in the prior art to increase the mechanical strength of plastic fuel tanks.

[0005] A known technique for strengthening plastic fuel tanks is the use of so-called kiss points or tack-off points, as described in US Pat. No. 5,399,363. The principle of this technique is to locally connect the upper and lower walls of the fuel tank through a welded point / area. The main drawback of this technique is that the small size of the kiss points limits the loss of useful volume of the fuel tank, so that when the pressure inside the fuel tank increases, mechanical stresses are concentrated at the kiss points, which may cause cracks or other damage over time.

[0006] Patent document 2 describes a fuel tank having an upper recess in an upper wall and a lower recess in a lower wall that abut against each other to form a joint. The document proposes sealing at least one of the recesses with a cover to prevent fuel from leaking from the cracked recess.

[0007] US Patent No. 5,399,633 proposes to reinforce the kissing points of fuel tanks with external reinforcements. For this purpose, mechanical fasteners are provided that extend through the kissing points. Although the mechanical fasteners act to reduce the mechanical stresses at the kissing points when pressure in the fuel tank increases, they do not prevent the kissing points from cracking or becoming otherwise damaged over time, because the kissing points must remain small in size to limit the loss of useful volume in the fuel tank. To address this problem, washer plates are provided between the mechanical fasteners and the outer surface of the kissing points. Although the washer plates provide a greater load distribution at the kissing points when pressure in the fuel tank increases, they still do not prevent the kissing points from cracking or becoming otherwise damaged over time, because the kissing points must remain small in size to limit the loss of useful volume in the fuel tank. [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0008] [Patent Document 1] US Patent Application Publication No. 2002 / 0100759 [Patent Document 2] US Patent Application Publication No. 2007 / 0228050 [Patent Document 3] US Patent Application Publication No. 2018 / 037105 Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0009] The present invention addresses this problem by providing an externally reinforced storage tank that prevents kissing points from cracking or becoming otherwise damaged over time, regardless of the size of the kissing points. [Means for solving the problem]

[0010] To this end, the invention relates to a storage tank for a vehicle, comprising a wall defining a storage volume for containing liquids and gases, the wall comprising a first wall portion and a second wall portion opposite the first wall portion, the first wall portion being formed with a first recess extending towards the second wall portion, the first recess comprising a first opening, a first bottom wall and a first peripheral side wall connecting the first bottom wall to a first flange portion of the first opening, the first bottom wall being connected in a leak-tight manner to the second wall portion in a connecting area having a hole through which a connecting rod of the clamping device passes, the clamping device comprising a first clamping portion and a second clamping portion connected to the first clamping portion by a connecting rod, the first clamping portion being arranged on the outer surface of the first peripheral side wall and the second clamping portion being arranged on the outer surface of the second wall portion.

[0011] By this arrangement, the forces tending to separate the first wall portion from the second wall portion at the bonding area when the internal pressure of the storage tank increases are absorbed by the first peripheral side wall and the second wall portion, thus avoiding the introduction of mechanical stresses in the bonding area. In fact, the first clamping portion cooperates with the second clamping portion to apply a clamping force between the first peripheral side wall and the second wall portion when the internal pressure of the storage tank increases. The clamping force opposes with a substantially equal and opposite force the forces tending to separate the first wall portion from the second wall portion at the bonding area. In comparison with the prior art approach in which the kissing point is reinforced, the bonding area does not undergo mechanical stress, so there is no need to reinforce the bonding area. Thus, the size of the bonding area can be as small as possible without causing cracks or other damage to the bonding area over time. Here, the bonding area is related to the kissing point.

[0012] The expression "a wall defining a storage volume for containing liquids and gases" means a wall forming a hollow body for containing liquids and gases, the wall having an inner surface and an outer surface, the inner surface being the surface in contact with the liquids and gases and the outer surface being the surface not in contact with the liquids and gases.

[0013] The expression "a recess is formed in the wall portion" means that a recessed cavity is formed in the wall portion, the recessed cavity being defined by an opening to a blind hole.

[0014] The expression "opening flange" refers to the contour of the wall surrounding the opening of the recess.

[0015] The expression "the bottom wall is connected in a leak-tight manner to the wall portion" means that a leak tight coupling is provided between the bottom wall and the wall portion. The leak tight coupling may be obtained by welding the bottom wall and the wall portion together to form a welded interface in the joining area. Alternatively, the leak tight coupling may be obtained by arranging a sealing element between the bottom wall and the wall portion. The sealing element is defined by an element which provides a tight contact between the bottom wall and the wall portion in the joining area. Said tight contact avoids leakage of liquids and gases to the outside of the storage tank.

[0016] The expression "the clamping portion is disposed on the outer surface of the peripheral sidewall" means that a contact surface of the clamping portion is applied to the outer surface of the peripheral sidewall such that the clamping portion is removably attached to the peripheral sidewall.

[0017] The expression "the clamping portion is disposed on an outer surface of the wall portion" means that a contact surface of the clamping portion is applied to the outer surface of the wall portion such that the clamping portion is removably attached to the wall portion.

[0018] In one embodiment, the clamping device is removable, so that it can be easily removed from the storage tank. This feature allows the clamping device to be collected and recycled separately, thus improving recycling of the tank.

[0019] In a preferred embodiment, the storage tank is a plastic fuel tank. The term "plastic" means any material that includes at least one synthetic resin polymer.

[0020] Any type of plastic may be suitable. Particularly suitable plastics belong to the category of thermoplastics. In particular, it is possible to use polyolefins, thermoplastic polyesters, polyketones, polyamides and their copolymers. It is also possible to use mixtures of polymers or copolymers, as well as mixtures of polymeric materials with inorganic, organic and / or natural fillers, such as, but not limited to, carbon, salts and other inorganic derivatives, natural or polymeric fibers. It is also possible to use multilayer structures consisting of stacked and bonded layers comprising at least one of the abovementioned polymers or copolymers.

[0021] One polymer often used is polyethylene. Good results have been obtained with high density polyethylene (HDPE). The tank wall may consist of a single or double layer of thermoplastic. One or more other possible additional layers may advantageously consist of a layer made of a barrier material against liquids and / or gases. The nature and thickness of the barrier layer are preferably selected so as to minimize the permeability of liquids and gases in contact with the inner surface of the tank. This layer is preferably based on a barrier resin, i.e. a resin impermeable to fuels, such as for example EVOH (partially hydrolyzed ethylene-vinyl acetate copolymer). Alternatively, the tank may be subjected to a surface treatment (fluorination or sulfonation) with the aim of making it impermeable to fuels. The tank according to the invention preferably comprises an EVOH-based barrier layer arranged between HDPE-based outer layers.

[0022] In a preferred embodiment, the connecting rods are made from a rigid material with good tensile and impact strength. Particularly suitable rigid materials are, for example, steel, plastics with or without fiber reinforcement such as fiberglass, or Kevlar®.

[0023] In a preferred embodiment, the first clamping portion is disposed on an outer surface of the first bottom wall. This arrangement allows the connecting rod to be shortened.

[0024] In a preferred embodiment, the first clamping portion is arranged on the outer surface of the first flange of the first opening, such that forces tending to separate the first wall portion from the second wall portion at the joining region can also be absorbed by the first flange of the first opening.

[0025] In a preferred embodiment, the first peripheral side wall comprises a first conical side wall and the first clamping part comprises a first clamping conical side wall arranged on the outer surface of the first conical side wall. This arrangement allows a conical fitting of the first clamping part to the first peripheral side wall. Indeed, if the first peripheral side wall does not comprise the first conical side wall but comprises the first cylindrical side wall and the first clamping part does not comprise the first clamping conical side wall but comprises the first clamping cylindrical side wall, the contact surface between the first clamping part and the first peripheral side wall is a cylindrical contact surface, which means that the clamping force is only a friction clamping force and is not very significant in terms of mechanical strength.

[0026] In a preferred embodiment, the second wall portion is formed with a second recess extending towards the first recess, the second recess comprising a second opening, a second bottom wall and a second peripheral side wall connecting the second bottom wall to the second flange of the second opening, the second bottom wall being coupled in a leak-tight manner to the first bottom wall in a coupling region having a hole through which the clamping device passes, and the second clamping portion being arranged on the outer surface of the second peripheral side wall. This arrangement allows forces tending to separate the first wall portion from the second wall portion in the coupling region to be absorbed by the first and second peripheral side walls, where a clamping force is applied between the first and second peripheral side walls.

[0027] The expression "the second bottom wall is connected to the first bottom wall in a leak-tight manner" means that a leak-tight connection is provided between the second bottom wall and the first bottom wall. The leak-tight connection may be obtained by welding the second bottom wall and the first bottom wall together to form a welded interface in the joining area. Alternatively, the leak-tight connection may be obtained by arranging a sealing element between the second bottom wall and the first bottom wall. The sealing element is defined by an element that provides a tight contact between the first bottom wall and the second bottom wall in the joining area. Said tight contact avoids leakage of liquids and gases to the outside of the storage tank.

[0028] In a preferred embodiment, the second clamping portion is disposed on an outer surface of the second bottom wall. This arrangement allows the connecting rod to be shortened.

[0029] In a preferred embodiment, the second clamping portion is disposed on an outer surface of the second flange of the second opening, such that forces tending to separate the first wall portion from the second wall portion at the joining region can also be absorbed by the second flange of the second opening.

[0030] In a preferred embodiment, the second peripheral side wall comprises a second conical side wall and the second clamping part comprises a second clamping conical side wall arranged on the outer surface of the second conical side wall. This arrangement allows a conical fit of the second clamping part to the second peripheral side wall. Indeed, if the second peripheral side wall does not comprise a second conical side wall but comprises a second cylindrical side wall and the second clamping part does not comprise a second clamping conical side wall but comprises a second clamping cylindrical side wall, the contact surface between the second clamping part and the second peripheral side wall is a cylindrical contact surface, which means that the clamping force is only a friction clamping force and is not very significant in terms of mechanical strength.

[0031] In a preferred embodiment, the first peripheral sidewall comprises a first peripheral sidewall portion and a second peripheral sidewall portion connected to the first peripheral sidewall portion by a first shoulder, and the first clamping portion is arranged on an outer surface of the first peripheral sidewall portion and on an outer surface of the second peripheral sidewall portion, this arrangement allows to increase the contact surface between the first clamping portion and the first peripheral sidewall and to reduce mechanical stresses in the first peripheral sidewall.

[0032] In a preferred embodiment, the first and second peripheral sidewall portions include a third and fourth conical sidewall, respectively, and the first clamp portion includes a third and fourth conical sidewall, respectively, and the third and fourth clamp conical sidewalls are disposed on an outer surface of the third and fourth conical sidewall, respectively, such that the first clamp portion provides a conical fit with the first peripheral sidewall portion and the associated second peripheral sidewall portion of the first peripheral sidewall.

[0033] In a preferred embodiment, the first clamping portion is disposed on the outer surface of the first shoulder, which arrangement allows the forces tending to separate the first wall portion from the second wall portion at the joining region to also be absorbed by the first shoulder.

[0034] In a preferred embodiment, the second peripheral sidewall comprises a third peripheral sidewall portion and a fourth peripheral sidewall portion connected to the third peripheral sidewall portion by a second shoulder, and the second clamping portion is arranged on an outer surface of the third peripheral sidewall portion and on an outer surface of the fourth peripheral sidewall portion, which arrangement allows to increase the contact surface between the second clamping portion and the second peripheral sidewall and to reduce mechanical stresses in the second peripheral sidewall.

[0035] In a preferred embodiment, the third and fourth peripheral sidewall portions include a fifth and sixth conical sidewall, respectively, and the second clamp portion includes a fifth and sixth conical sidewall, the fifth and sixth conical sidewalls being disposed on an outer surface of the fifth and sixth conical sidewall, respectively, such that the second clamp portion is capable of a conical fit with the third and associated fourth peripheral sidewall portions of the second peripheral sidewall.

[0036] In a preferred embodiment, the second clamping portion is disposed on the outer surface of the second shoulder, which arrangement allows the second shoulder to also absorb forces tending to separate the first wall portion from the second wall portion at the joining region.

[0037] In a preferred embodiment, the connecting rod comprises a connection mechanism selected from the group consisting of a bolted connection, a screw-and-nut connection, a rivet connection, a friction connection, a form-fit connection and a snap connection, This arrangement allows the connecting rod to simply and reliably connect the first clamping part to the second clamping part.

[0038] In a preferred embodiment, the connection mechanism is a snap connection, which provides a simple and cost effective solution for connecting the connecting rod to the first and second clamping parts of the clamping device.

[0039] Preferably the screw-nut connection includes a washer.

[0040] In a preferred embodiment, the clamping device supports at least one accessory or component of a vehicle, for example a valve or a pump, such as a leak detection pump.

[0041] According to the present invention there is also provided a vehicle comprising a storage tank as described above.

[0042] Other features and advantages will become apparent on reading the following description and the accompanying drawings, given by way of illustrative and non-limiting example. [Brief description of the drawings]

[0043] [Figure 1] FIG. 1 is a cross-sectional view of a storage tank according to a first embodiment of the present invention. [Diagram 2] FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view of a storage tank according to a second embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 3a] FIG. 2 is a diagram of the clamping device shown in FIG. [Figure 3b] FIG. 3b shows a variation of the clamping device shown in FIG. 3a. [Figure 4] FIG. 11 is a cross-sectional view of a storage tank according to a third embodiment of the present invention. [Diagram 5] FIG. 11 is a cross-sectional view of a storage tank according to a fourth embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 6] FIG. 10 is a cross-sectional view of a storage tank according to a fifth embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 7] FIG. 10 is a cross-sectional view of a storage tank according to a sixth embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 8] FIG. 5 is a diagram of the clamping device shown in FIG. [Figure 9] FIG. 13 is a cross-sectional view of a storage tank according to a seventh embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 10] FIG. 10 is a diagram of the clamping device shown in FIG. [Figure 11] 1 is an overall view of a vehicle according to the present invention; DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0044] The present invention will be described with respect to particular embodiments and with reference to certain drawings but the invention is not limited thereto but only by the claims. The drawings described are only schematic and are non-limiting. In the drawings, the size of some of the components or elements may be exaggerated and not drawn to scale for illustrative purposes. The dimensions and relative dimensions do not correspond to reductions to actual implementations of the invention.

[0045] It should be noted that the term "comprising" should not be interpreted as being limited to the components, elements or steps listed thereafter. It does not exclude other components, elements or steps. It should therefore be interpreted as indicating the presence of the referenced component, element or step, but without excluding the presence or addition of one or more other components, elements or steps thereof. Thus, the scope of the expression "a device comprising means A and B" should not be limited to a device consisting of elements A and B only. This means that in the context of the present invention, the relevant elements of the device are simply A and B only.

[0046] In the description, it is possible to index a particular element, parameter, or criterion, for example a first element or a second element, and a first parameter and a second parameter, or a first criterion and a second criterion. In this case, it is a simple indexing to distinguish and name similar but not identical elements, parameters, or criteria. This indexing does not imply a priority of one element, parameter, or criterion over another, and such designations can be easily interchanged without departing from the context of this specification. This indexing also does not imply a chronological order.

[0047] In the figures illustrating the present invention, like reference numbers refer to like components or elements. Furthermore, features described in connection with one embodiment are not necessarily limited to that embodiment and may be practiced in conjunction with any other embodiment of the present invention.

[0048] 1 and 2 show a storage tank 1 for a vehicle, comprising a wall 2 defining a storage volume 3 for containing a liquid, such as a fuel, and a gas, such as a mixture of air and fuel vapor. A fill pipe 5 is provided for filling the storage tank 1 with liquid. The wall 2 comprises a first wall portion 2a and a second wall portion 2b. The second wall portion 2b faces the first wall portion 2a. The first wall portion 2a is formed with a first recess 4 extending towards the second wall portion 2b. The first recess 4 comprises a first opening 4a, a first bottom wall 4b and a first peripheral side wall 4c. The first peripheral side wall 4c connects the first bottom wall 4b to the first flange portion 2a1 of the first opening 4a. The first bottom wall 4b is connected in a leak-tight manner to the second wall portion 2b in a connection area 6. The connection area 6 has a hole 7 through which a connecting rod 8c of a clamping device 8 passes. The clamping device 8 comprises a first clamping part 8a and a second clamping part 8b. The second clamping part 8b is connected to the first clamping part 8a by means of a connecting rod 8c. The first clamping part 8a is arranged on the outer surface 4c' of the first peripheral side wall 4c and the second clamping part 8b is arranged on the outer surface 2b' of the second wall part 2b. In the illustrated example, the storage tank 1 is obtained by blow moulding of a plastics material preform and the leaktight connection is obtained by welding together the first bottom wall 4b and the second wall part 2b forming a welded interface in the connection area 6.

[0049] Advantageously, as shown in Fig. 3a, the first peripheral side wall 4c comprises a first conical side wall 4d and the first clamping part 8a comprises a first clamping conical side wall 8a1. The first clamping conical side wall 8a1 is arranged on the outer surface 4d' of the first conical side wall 4d. In the illustrated example, the first clamping part 8a has a cup-like shape with a bottom wall and a peripheral wall which is the first clamping conical side wall 8a1.

[0050] Advantageously, the first clamping cone side wall 8a1 has a crown-like shape as shown in Fig. 3b, this design improves the mechanical stress distribution.

[0051] The embodiment shown in FIG. 2 differs from the embodiment shown in FIG. 1 in that the first clamping part 8a is arranged on the outer surface 4b' of the first bottom wall 4b.

[0052] 4, 5 and 6 show another embodiment of the storage tank 1, in which the second wall portion 2b is formed with a second recess 9 extending towards the first recess 4. The second recess 9 comprises a second opening 9a, a second bottom wall 9b and a second peripheral side wall 9c. The second peripheral side wall 9c connects the second bottom wall 9b with the second flange portion 2b1 of the second opening 9a. The second bottom wall 9b is connected in a leak-tight manner to the first bottom wall 4b in the connection area 6 having a hole 7 through which the connecting rod 8c passes. The second clamping part 8b is arranged on the outer surface 9c' of the second peripheral side wall 9c. In the illustrated example, the storage tank 1 is obtained by blow moulding of a plastic material preform and the leak-tight connection is obtained by welding together the first bottom wall 4b and the second bottom wall 9b forming a welded interface in the connection area 6.

[0053] Advantageously, as shown in Fig. 8, the second peripheral side wall 9c comprises a second conical side wall 9d and the second clamping part 8b comprises a second clamping conical side wall 8b1. The second clamping conical side wall 8b1 is arranged on an outer surface 9d' of the second conical side wall 9d. In the illustrated example, the first clamping part 8a has a cup-like shape consisting of a bottom wall and a peripheral wall, which is the first clamping conical side wall 8a1, and the second clamping part 8b has a cup-like shape consisting of a bottom wall and a peripheral wall, which is the second clamping conical side wall 8b1.

[0054] Advantageously, the first clamping cone-shaped side wall 8a1 and / or the second clamping cone-shaped side wall 8b1 have a crown-like shape as shown in FIG. 3b.

[0055] The embodiment shown in FIG. 5 differs from the embodiment shown in FIG. 4 in that the second clamping part 8b is arranged on an outer surface 9b' of the second bottom wall 9b.

[0056] Figures 6 and 7 show an embodiment of the storage tank 1 in which the first clamping part 8a is arranged on the outer surface 2a1' of the first flange part 2a1 of the first opening 4a.

[0057] 7 shows an embodiment of the storage tank 1 in which the second clamping portion 8b is arranged on the outer surface 2b1' of the second flange portion 2b1 of the second opening 9a. In the shown example, the storage tank 1 is obtained by injection molding of the top and bottom shells of the tank, rather than by blow molding of a plastics material preform.

[0058] 9 shows another embodiment of the storage tank 1, in which the first peripheral side wall 4c comprises a first peripheral side wall portion 4c1 and a second peripheral side wall portion 4c2. The second peripheral side wall portion 4c2 is connected to the first peripheral side wall portion 4c1 by a first shoulder 4c3. The first clamping portion 8a is arranged on an outer surface 4c1' of the first peripheral side wall portion 4c1 and on an outer surface 4c2' of the second peripheral side wall portion 4c2.

[0059] Advantageously, as shown in Fig. 10, the first peripheral sidewall portion 4c1 comprises a third conical sidewall 4c4 and the first clamping portion 8a comprises a third clamping conical sidewall 8a2. The third clamping conical sidewall 8a2 is disposed on an outer surface 4c4' of the third conical sidewall 4c4. Similarly, as shown in Fig. 10, the second peripheral sidewall portion 4c2 comprises a fourth conical sidewall 4c5 and the first clamping portion 8a comprises a fourth clamping conical sidewall 8a3. The fourth clamping conical sidewall 8a3 is disposed on an outer surface 4c5' of the fourth conical sidewall 4c5.

[0060] The first clamping portion 8a is arranged on an outer surface 4c3' of the first shoulder 4c3.

[0061] The second peripheral side wall 9c has a third peripheral side wall portion 9c1 and a fourth peripheral side wall portion 9c2 connected to the third peripheral side wall portion 9c1 by a second shoulder 9c3, and the second clamp portion 8b is arranged on an outer surface 9c1' of the third peripheral side wall portion 9c1 and on an outer surface 9c2' of the fourth peripheral side wall portion 9c2.

[0062] Advantageously, as shown in Fig. 10, the third peripheral sidewall portion 9c1 comprises a fifth conical sidewall 9c4 and the second clamping portion 8b comprises a fifth clamping conical sidewall 8b2. The fifth clamping conical sidewall 8b2 is arranged on an outer surface 9c4' of the fifth conical sidewall 9c4. Similarly, as shown in Fig. 10, the fourth peripheral sidewall portion 9c2 comprises a sixth conical sidewall 9c5 and the second clamping portion 8b comprises a sixth clamping conical sidewall 8b3. The sixth clamping conical sidewall 8b3 is arranged on an outer surface 9c5' of the sixth conical sidewall 9c5.

[0063] The second clamping portion 8b is disposed on an outer surface 9c3' of the second shoulder 9c3.

[0064] The connecting rod 8c is provided with a connection mechanism selected from the group consisting of a bolted connection, a screw-nut connection, a rivet connection, a friction connection, a form-fit connection and a snap connection. In a preferred embodiment, the connection mechanism is a screw-nut connection. The screw-nut connection includes a washer.

[0065] The clamping device supports at least one accessory or component of the vehicle, for example a valve or a pump, such as a leak detection pump (not shown).

[0066] As shown in FIG. 11, the present invention also relates to a vehicle 10 equipped with a storage tank 1 .

[0067] The above embodiments are illustrative and not restrictive. Clearly, many modifications and variations of the present invention are possible in light of the above teachings without departing from the inventive concept thereof. It is therefore to be understood that the present invention may be embodied in other ways than as specifically described. [Explanation of symbols]

[0068] 1. Storage tank 2. Wall 2a First wall section 2a1 First flange portion 2a1' Outer surface of the first flange portion 2b Second wall section 2b' Outer surface of second wall section 2b1 Second flange part 2b1' Outer surface of second flange 3 Storage volume 4 First recess 4a First opening 4b First bottom wall 4b' Outer surface of first bottom wall 4c First peripheral side wall 4c' Outer surface of first peripheral side wall 4c1 first peripheral side wall portion of the first peripheral side wall 4c1' Outer surface of the first peripheral side wall portion 4c2 second peripheral side wall portion of the first peripheral side wall 4c2' Outer surface of second peripheral side wall portion 4c3 First shoulder 4c3' Outer surface of first shoulder 4c4 third conical side wall of the first peripheral side wall portion 4c4' Outer surface of third conical side wall 4c5 fourth conical side wall of second peripheral side wall portion 4c5' Outer surface of fourth conical side wall 4d. First conical side wall of the first peripheral side wall 4d' Outer surface of first conical side wall 5 Filling tube 6 Combined area 7 Hole 8 Clamping device 8a First clamp part 8a1 first clamping cone-shaped side wall of first clamping part 8a2 third clamping cone-shaped side wall of the first clamping part 8a3 fourth clamping cone side wall of first clamping part 8b Second clamp part 8b1 second clamping cone-shaped side wall of the second clamping part 8b2 Fifth clamping cone side wall of second clamping part 8b3 sixth clamping cone side wall of second clamping part 8c Connecting rod 9 Second recess 9a Second opening 9b Second bottom wall 9b' Outer surface of second bottom wall 9c Second peripheral side wall 9c' Outer surface of second peripheral side wall 9c1 third peripheral side wall portion of the second peripheral side wall 9c1' outer surface of the third peripheral side wall portion 9c2 fourth peripheral side wall portion of the second peripheral side wall 9c2' outer surface of the fourth peripheral side wall portion 9c3 Second shoulder 9c3' Outer surface of second shoulder 9c4 fifth conical side wall of the third peripheral side wall portion 9c4' Outer surface of fifth conical side wall 9c5 sixth conical side wall of fourth peripheral side wall portion 9c5' Outer surface of sixth conical side wall 9d. Second conical side wall of the second peripheral side wall 9d' Outer surface of second conical side wall 10 Vehicles

Claims

1. A storage tank (1) for a vehicle, comprising a wall (2) defining a storage volume (3) for containing liquids and gases, The wall (2) comprises a first wall portion (2a) and a second wall portion (2b) opposite to the first wall portion (2a); The first wall portion (2a) is formed with a first recess (4) extending toward the second wall portion (2b); The first recess (4) comprises a first opening (4a), a first bottom wall (4b), and a first peripheral side wall (4c) connecting the first bottom wall (4b) to a first flange portion (2a1) of the first opening (4a); said first bottom wall (4b) being connected in a leak-tight manner to said second wall portion (2b) in a connection area (6) having a hole (7) through which a connecting rod (8c) of a clamping device (8) passes; A storage tank (1) for a vehicle, the clamping device (8) comprising a first clamping part (8a) and a second clamping part (8b) connected to the first clamping part (8a) by means of the connecting rod (8c), 1. A storage tank for a vehicle, characterized in that the first clamping portion (8a) is arranged on an outer surface (4c') of the first peripheral side wall (4c) and the second clamping portion (8b) is arranged on an outer surface (2b') of the second wall portion (2b).

2. 2. A storage tank for a vehicle according to claim 1, wherein the first clamping portion (8a) is arranged on an outer surface (4b') of the first bottom wall (4b).

3. 3. The storage tank for a vehicle according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the first clamping portion (8a) is arranged on an outer surface (2a1') of the first flange portion (2a1) of the first opening (4a).

4. 4. A storage tank for a vehicle according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the first peripheral side wall (4c) comprises a first conical side wall (4d) and the first clamping portion (8a) comprises a first clamping conical side wall (8a1) arranged on an outer surface (4d') of the first conical side wall (4d).

5. 5. The storage tank for a vehicle according to claim 1, wherein the second wall portion (2b) is formed with a second recess (9) extending towards the first recess (4), the second recess (9) comprising a second opening (9a), a second bottom wall (9b) and a second peripheral side wall (9c) connecting the second bottom wall (9b) to a second flange portion (2b1) of the second opening (9a), the second bottom wall (9b) being connected in a leak-tight manner to the first bottom wall (4b) in the connection region (6) having the hole (7) through which the connecting rod (8c) passes, and the second clamping portion (8b) is arranged on an outer surface (9c') of the second peripheral side wall (9c).

6. 6. A storage tank for a vehicle according to claim 5, wherein said second clamping portion (8b) is arranged on an outer surface (9b') of said second bottom wall (9b).

7. 7. A storage tank for a vehicle as claimed in claim 5 or 6, wherein the second clamping portion (8b) is arranged on an outer surface (2b1') of the second flange portion (2b1) of the second opening (9a).

8. 8. A storage tank for a vehicle according to any one of claims 5 to 7, wherein the second peripheral side wall (9c) comprises a second conical side wall (9d) and the second clamping portion (8b) comprises a second clamping conical side wall (8b1) arranged on an outer surface (9d') of the second conical side wall (9d).

9. 9. A storage tank for a vehicle according to any one of claims 1 to 8, wherein the first circumferential side wall (4c) comprises a first circumferential side wall portion (4c1) and a second circumferential side wall portion (4c2) connected to the first circumferential side wall portion (4c1) by a first shoulder (4c3), and the first clamping portion (8a) is arranged on an outer surface (4c1') of the first circumferential side wall portion (4c1) and on an outer surface (4c2') of the second circumferential side wall portion (4c2).

10. 10. A storage tank for a vehicle according to claim 9, wherein the first peripheral side wall portion (4c1) and the second peripheral side wall portion (4c2) respectively comprise a third conical side wall (4c4) and a fourth conical side wall (4c5), and the first clamping portion (8a) comprises a third clamping conical side wall (8a2) and a fourth clamping conical side wall (8a3), the third clamping conical side wall (8a2) and the fourth clamping conical side wall (8a3) being arranged on an outer surface (4c4') of the third conical side wall (4c4) and an outer surface (4c5') of the fourth conical side wall (4c5).

11. Storage tank for a vehicle according to claim 9 or 10, wherein the first clamping portion (8a) is arranged on an outer surface (4c3') of the first shoulder (4c3).

12. 12. A storage tank for a vehicle according to claim 9, wherein the second peripheral side wall (9c) comprises a third peripheral side wall portion (9c1) and a fourth peripheral side wall portion (9c2) connected to the third peripheral side wall portion (9c1) by a second shoulder (9c3), and the second clamping portion (8b) is arranged on an outer surface (9c1') of the third peripheral side wall portion (9c1) and on an outer surface (9c2') of the fourth peripheral side wall portion (9c2).

13. 13. A storage tank for a vehicle according to claim 12, wherein the third peripheral side wall portion (9c1) and the fourth peripheral side wall portion (9c2) respectively comprise a fifth conical side wall (9c4) and a sixth conical side wall (9c5), and the second clamping portion (8b) comprises a fifth clamping conical side wall (8b2) and a sixth clamping conical side wall (8b3), the fifth clamping conical side wall (8b2) and the sixth clamping conical side wall (8b3) being arranged on an outer surface (9c4') of the fifth conical side wall (9c4) and an outer surface (9c5') of the sixth conical side wall (9c5).

14. Storage tank for a vehicle according to claim 12 or 13, wherein the second clamping portion (8b) is arranged on an outer surface (9c3') of the second shoulder (9c3).

15. 15. A storage tank for a vehicle according to any one of claims 1 to 14, wherein the connecting rod (8c) comprises a connection mechanism selected from the group consisting of a bolted connection, a screw-nut connection, a rivet connection, a friction connection, a form-fit connection and a snap connection.

16. A vehicle equipped with a storage tank (1) according to any one of claims 1 to 15.

Images