Receptacles – Vehicle mountable tank
Reexamination Certificate
2000-10-06
2001-09-25
Moy, Joseph M. (Department: 3727)
Receptacles
Vehicle mountable tank
C220S004140, C220S023890
Reexamination Certificate
active
06293419
ABSTRACT:
TECHNICAL FIELD
The present invention relates generally to fuel tanks for vehicles and, more particularly, to a fuel tank cover assembly for a fuel tank of a vehicle.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
It is known to provide a fuel tank such as a plastic fuel tank in a vehicle to hold fuel to be used by an engine of the vehicle. In such a fuel tank, a cover is provided for a fuel reservoir to close a tank opening in the fuel tank. The cover typically has fuel tubes, electrical connector, and rollover valve rigidly attached thereto. Typically, the mounting surface surrounding the tank opening in the fuel tank is not parallel to a bottom of the fuel tank, thereby affecting low fuel indication accuracy. Also, the fuel tank covers are rigidly mounted to the fuel reservoir, which can cause cracks to occur in the fuel tank cover during a severe vehicle impact.
Therefore, it is desirable to provide a fuel tank cover assembly for a vehicle that compensates for the uneven or unparallel condition between the tank opening and the bottom of the fuel tank. It is also desirable to provide a fuel tank cover assembly that allows the bottom referencing of the fuel reservoir while allowing for an unparallel cover position.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
It is, therefore, one object of the present invention to provide a new fuel tank cover assembly for a fuel tank of a vehicle.
It is another object of the present invention to provide a fuel tank cover assembly with a universal joint coupling between a fuel tank cover and a fuel reservoir of a fuel tank.
To achieve the foregoing objects, the present invention is a fuel tank cover assembly for a fuel tank of a vehicle including a cover adapted to close an opening in the fuel tank having a fuel reservoir disposed therein and a universal joint coupling disposed between the cover and the fuel reservoir to allow the cover to be skewed from a bottom of the fuel tank.
One advantage of the present invention is that a new fuel tank cover assembly is provided for fuel tank of a vehicle that allows a fuel tank cover to be skewed from a bottom of the fuel tank. Another advantage of the present invention is that the fuel tank cover assembly has a universal joint coupling that compensates for the unparallel condition between the tank opening and the bottom of the fuel tank, thereby allowing the bottom referencing of the fuel reservoir. Yet another advantage of the present invention is that the fuel tank cover assembly provides mounting flexibility and controlled failure of the fuel reservoir relative to the fuel tank cover. Still another advantage of the present invention is that the fuel tank cover assembly allows the fuel reservoir to be used in less than perfect blow-molded plastic fuel tanks and decrease the incidents of poor low fuel indications. A further advantage of the present invention is that the fuel tank cover assembly increases the robustness of the low fuel level indication.
Other objects, features, and advantages of the present invention will be readily appreciated, as the same becomes better understood, after reading the subsequent description taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings.
REFERENCES:
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patent: 3426937 (1969-02-01), Boschi et al.
patent: 4444366 (1984-04-01), Limoncelli
patent: 5107949 (1992-04-01), Gotoh et al.
patent: 5398839 (1995-03-01), Kleyn
patent: 5934618 (1999-08-01), Kari et al.
patent: 6135306 (2000-10-01), Clayton et al.
patent: 6179145 (2001-01-01), Roth
Cichosz Vincent A.
Delphi Technologies Inc.
Moy Joseph M.
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