Pipes and tubular conduits – Combined – With end structure
Reexamination Certificate
2000-03-15
2003-01-21
Hook, James (Department: 3752)
Pipes and tubular conduits
Combined
With end structure
C138S120000, C138S121000, C138S119000, C138SDIG001, C285S290300, C285S290400
Reexamination Certificate
active
06508275
ABSTRACT:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
This invention relates generally to conduits which may be used to handle hydrocarbon fuels, principally gasoline. In particular, the invention relates to a flexible fuel filler pipe which is manufactured as a unitary structure from thermo plastics which are relatively rigid but which has flexibility, typically required in an automotive environment.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
Vehicles having hydrocarbon burning fuels require a tank for containing the fuel. Typically the fuel used is gasoline. Because the gasoline represents a danger for leakage and may be explosive during crash conditions, the fuel tank is contained within a reinforced or otherwise protected area to provide the appropriate crash protection. In order to provide convenient access to the tank, the vehicle is typically fitted with a fuel filler inlet. Thus, there is required a conduit to extend between the fuel filler inlet and the tank. That conduit may be long or short and may be of convoluted configuration depending upon the relative location of the tank and the filler inlet.
Typically the filler inlet location will be defined by body panel structure such as the fender of a vehicle. The tank may be mounted to structural components of the vehicle such as a unibody structure or frame, sub-assembly or the like. To assist in mounting the fuel tank and filler in the vehicle and to provide for movement as may occur under vibration or flexing of the vehicle chassis or the like, some degree of flexibility is normally required so that one end of the conduit may be moved relative to the other end. This flexibility also is utilized during the vehicle assembly process.
Most hydrocarbon containing fuels are relatively volatile. Typically the fuel tank and now the fuel filler conduit are manufactured so as to substantially inhibit passage of vapours from the liquid fuel to ambient atmosphere out the filler pipe.
An example of a means of inhibiting the passage of vapours through the wall of a fuel filler conduit is set out in our co-pending application Ser. No. 09/192,295, filed Nov. 17, 1998 and entitled Multi-Layer Conduit, the disclosure which is herein incorporated by reference.
In the past, fuel tanks have been manufactured from metal and the fuel filler conduit is also manufactured from metal. The metal while having some flexibility does not have the appropriate flexibility and thus some type of flexible component is provided in the fuel filler conduit to provide the desired flexibility in the relative location of the inlet and outlet ends of the conduit. In more recent developments, fuel tanks are being manufactured from thermosettable resins such as polyethylene and fuel filler conduits are also manufactured from such materials. Conduits manufactured from thermosettable resins such as polyethylene and the like are relatively rigid and some degree of flexibility must also be incorporated into such a conduit to provide the desired flexibility of the relative locations of the inlet and outlet ends of the conduit.
In previous conduits this has been achieved by using a length of tubing which is of a flexible rubber material. The more rigid portion of the fuel filler conduit is attached to the flexible component by means of a clamp typically referred to as a hose clamp. In many applications, the flexible component may be attached to a further run of conduit by a second hose clamp. In some other arrangements, the rubber portion is attached directly to a nipple or other fitting on the tank, again using a hose clamp.
Environmental regulations are requiring that the overall permeation of vapours from a vehicle be significantly restricted. These regulations are driving the need for better structures which will reduce or eliminate permeation. The fuel tank may be manufactured from a multi-layer structure incorporating a barrier layer or may be made from modified barrier resins such as polyamides or others which have sufficiently low permeation to be acceptable. With respect to the fuel filler conduit itself, the conduit may also be manufactured from multi-layer materials incorporating a barrier layer so as to very substantially inhibit permeation through the wall of the conduit as set out in application Ser. No. 09/192,259. When a rubber bellows type structure is used, a barrier layer may also be incorporated into the rubber to inhibit permeation through the wall of the bellows portion.
However, one of the areas that is now susceptible to permeation leakage is the joint formed by the bellows section and the more rigid portion of the conduit. The seal maintained by the hose clamp deteriorates over time, particularly with the use of polyethylene structures. Polyethylene tends to “flow” under stress and the seal can open with the passage of time to permit unacceptable amounts of permeation through the connection, even though there may be no liquid loss through such connection.
Accordingly, there is a need for a structure which will further reduce permeation from fuel tank filler conduits.
In accordance with the present invention a fuel filler conduit for use in automotive applications for connecting to a fuel tank comprises a single piece conduit having an inlet end, an outlet end, a first tubular portion and a second portion, wherein the first portion is generally rigid and has a fixed configuration, and the second portion comprises a bellows portion, and the second portion is located intermediate the inlet end and the outlet end, so that the relative location of the inlet end with respect to the outlet end may be changed by deforming the bellows portion.
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Sadr Changize
Shafiee Sam
Bereskin & Parr
Hook James
Salflex Polymers Ltd.
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