Plastic AdBlue Container Anchoring to Fuel Tank Projections

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing fuel tank systems for vehicles, particularly commercial vehicles, face challenges in securely and efficiently attaching plastic containers for chemically aggressive fluids like AdBlue, as existing methods require wide metal collars that increase material costs and risk leaks due to complex mounting and coating processes.

Innovation Solution

A plastic container design with end walls featuring depressions for fuel tank projections and internal indentations, allowing for secure anchoring with minimal additional components, using a combination of welding, gluing, and fastening means like screws or rivets, which can be retrofitted to existing tanks, ensuring stability and leak-proofing.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Strength

If a wide metal collar is used to prevent softening during welding, then welding stability is improved, but material costs increase and handling becomes more difficult

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvewelding stabilityVSAvoidhandling and storage
Core Design Contradiction:
StrengthVSEase of manufacture

Solution Approach 1:

The invention changes the wall thickness parameter of the container from thin to thick (at least 5mm) in the attachment area, eliminating the need for a wide metal collar while maintaining welding stability and preventing softening during the welding process

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

2Stability of the object's composition

If a wide collar is used for stable attachment, then attachment stability is improved, but the dimensions dictate the shape of plastic containers and increase material costs

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveattachment stabilityVSAvoidcontainer shape flexibility
Core Design Contradiction:
Stability of the object's compositionVSAdaptability or versatility

Solution Approach 1:

The invention changes the wall thickness parameter and creates integral attachment areas directly on the container surface, eliminating the need for external collars that would constrain container shape design and increase material costs

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

3Ease of manufacture

If threaded bushes are melted into the container shell for attachment, then attachment is achieved, but leaks occur during vehicle operation due to ongoing load on the threaded bushes

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveattachment processVSAvoidtightness over time
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of manufactureVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The invention creates pre-formed attachment areas with integrated through-bores in the container wall before the attachment process, allowing fastening means to be inserted through both container and fuel tank for secure anchoring, eliminating the need to melt threaded bushes into the shell which creates leak risks

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The invention uses a composite attachment system combining the container wall, attachment area with through-bores, and fastening means (screws, bolts, or rivets) to create a reliable leak-proof connection that can withstand ongoing operational loads

Inventive Principle:
Principle #40Composite materials

4Reliability

If a plastic container is attached using a console or rotolining coating, then chemical resistance is improved, but additional mounting brackets or complex coating processes are required

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvechemical resistanceVSAvoidnumber of additional components
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The invention merges the attachment function directly into the container structure by creating integral attachment areas with through-bores in the container wall, eliminating the need for separate mounting brackets or complex rotolining coating processes while maintaining chemical resistance

Inventive Principle:
Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Applied Scientific Principles

This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.

Function Achieved in This Case

The solution enables a space-saving, flexible, and cost-effective attachment of plastic containers to fuel tanks, providing long-term tightness and stability without the need for additional mounting brackets, while allowing for easy manufacturing and retrofitting, thus addressing the issues of material costs and leak risks.

Implementation Method 1

a side area (18) of the indentation (17) is connected to a bottom area (19) of the depression (16) welded or glued together in a manner that is impervious to operating materials

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectWelding: Welding

Implementation Method 2

a side area (18) of the indentation (17) is connected to a bottom area (19) of the depression (16) welded or glued together in a manner that is impervious to operating materials

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectAdhesive bonding: Adhesive

Implementation Method 3

said areas (18, 19) which are welded or glued together and thus the container (3) are anchored to the respective corresponding projection (15) with the fastening means (21)

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectMechanical fastening: Mechanical Fastener

Data Source

PatentEP3546266B1Combination tank and plastic vessel for same
Publication Date: 2021.01.20 SALZBURGER ALUMINUM AG
  • EP3546266B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP3546266B1 patent drawingFigure 2~3

AI summary

The present invention relates to a plastic container (3) for a vehicle operating component for mounting on a vehicle fuel tank (2), the container (3) having a shell (6) and end walls (7, 8) closing it on both sides, one of the end walls (7, 8) having at least two recesses (16) for receiving a corresponding projection (15) of the fuel tank (2), and the shell (6) having a recess (17) behind each recess (16), wherein a side region (18) of the recess (17) is welded or bonded to a bottom region (19) of the recess (16) in a manner that prevents the seal of the operating component, and the aforementioned regions (18, 19) are penetrated by a bore (20) for the passage of a fastening element (21) for anchoring to the projection (15). The invention further relates to a combination tank (1) comprising a fuel tank (2) and such a container (3).