Plastic Fuel Tank Reinforcement for Dimensional Variation Resistance
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Solution Overview
Problem
Plastic fuel tanks for motor vehicles experience dimensional variations due to cooling, pressure, thermal expansion, and aging, leading to limited adaptation and low resistance to mechanical stresses, particularly in the vertical direction.
Innovation Solution
A reinforcement system for plastic tanks that includes attachment means with first and second structures to clamp and surround internal reinforcing elements, allowing for increased adaptability and resistance to dimensional changes, while minimizing relative movements and stresses.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Strength
If internal reinforcing elements are inserted within the tank during manufacture to increase mechanical strength, then the tank's ability to withstand mechanical stresses is improved, but the tank undergoes dimensional variations including shrinkage during cooling and stretching during use
Solution Approach 1:
The attachment means incorporates flexible elements and deformable structures that allow the reinforcement assembly to dynamically adapt to dimensional variations of the tank during cooling and pressurization. The attachment means can deform elastically to accommodate shrinkage during cooling and stretching during pressurization, maintaining effective reinforcement throughout the tank's operational cycle.
Solution Approach 2:
The reinforcement assembly utilizes materials and structures with varying stiffness characteristics that can change their effective properties in response to dimensional variations. The attachment means is designed with controlled flexibility parameters that allow it to accommodate tank deformation while maintaining sufficient rigidity to provide reinforcement when needed.
2Stability of the object's composition
If rigid connection elements are used to attach internal reinforcing elements, then the structural stability is improved, but the assembly has limited ability to adapt to dimensional variations of the tank
Solution Approach 1:
The attachment means transitions from purely rigid connections to a hybrid system incorporating flexible elements. These flexible components allow the assembly to adapt to dimensional variations through elastic deformation while maintaining sufficient structural stability to provide reinforcement. The dynamic characteristics enable the attachment means to accommodate tank deformation without compromising overall structural integrity.
Solution Approach 2:
The attachment means incorporates flexible structural elements that can deform to accommodate dimensional variations in the tank. These flexible components act as intermediaries between the rigid reinforcement elements and the deforming tank wall, absorbing dimensional changes through controlled deformation while maintaining the reinforcing function.
3Force
If the reinforcement assembly is designed with high resistance to compression and stretching, then the mechanical support function is improved, but the assembly cannot adequately adapt to tank dimensional changes during manufacture and use
Solution Approach 1:
The attachment means is designed with controlled flexibility parameters that allow it to accommodate tank deformation while maintaining sufficient rigidity to provide reinforcement. By carefully selecting material properties and geometric parameters, the attachment means achieves an optimal balance between resistance to compression/stretching and adaptability to dimensional variations.
Solution Approach 2:
The reinforcement assembly incorporates dynamic characteristics that allow it to respond differently to various types of loads. The flexible elements provide sufficient resistance to compression and stretching forces while allowing controlled deformation to accommodate dimensional variations during cooling and pressurization cycles.
Data Source
AI summary
A reinforcement for a plastic tank for a motor vehicle may include an attachment apparatus or element for attaching an internal reinforcing element of the tank. The attachment apparatus or element for attaching the internal reinforcing element may include at least a first structure configured to at least partially clamp around a first external part of the internal reinforcing element, and at least a second structure configured to surround at least partially a second external part of the internal reinforcing element. An assembly may be obtained after attaching an internal reinforcing element to such a reinforcement and a tank may include this assembly.