Heat baffle clip shield

A baffle clip shield for protecting a clip attaching a baffle to a fuel tank to protect the fuel tank from heat from an exhaust chamber located near the fuel tank is disclosed. The clip shield includes a spring foot extending from the rear side of the clip shield, the spring foot having a hook distal end that is pushed radially inward by the inclined wall as the clip shield is installed, the hook distal end of the spring foot being insertable into a hole in the inclined wall of the clip receiving portion, the hook distal end moving radially outward when installed in the hold, the hook distal end creating an interference fit with the inclined wall to prevent removal of the clip shield.

TECHNICAL FIELD

The embodiments described herein relate to the field of heat baffles for fuel tanks of a motor vehicle, and more particularly heat shields for heat baffle clips.

BACKGROUND

Typically, a motor vehicle includes a fuel tank for holding fuel such as gasoline or diesel fuel, and an exhaust system, which includes an exhaust pipe and at least one exhaust chamber for carrying, treating, and muffling exhaust gases from the engine to a tail pipe for emission. Due to the high temperatures of exhaust from a gasoline engine, a metal heat baffle may be attached to the fuel tank to protect the fuel tank from the heat of the exhaust system by a series of plastic clips. However, a need to protect the clips from the exhaust heat has also been identified.

APPLICATION SUMMARY

According to one aspect, a fuel tank for a motor vehicle includes a fuel tank body, a baffle to protect the fuel tank body from heat from an exhaust chamber located near the fuel tank body, a clip for attaching the baffle to the fuel tank body, the clip being inserted through a hole in the baffle and received by a clip receiver in the fuel tank body, and a clip shield secured to the baffle to cover the clip. The baffle includes a clip receiving portion formed in the baffle having a generally frusto-conical shape, the clip receiving portion having a base portion recessed from a planar surface of the baffle, the clip receiving portion having a hole in the base through which a clip is inserted, and an inclined wall extending from the base to the planar surface of the baffle, the inclined wall having a first radius about an axis perpendicular to the base at the base and a second radius about the axis at the planar surface, the second radius being greater than the first radius, the inclined wall having a hole between the planar surface and clip receiving portion. The clip shield includes a solid body having a radius substantially similar to the second radius of the clip receiving portion, a front side facing the exhaust chamber, and a rear side facing the baffle, and a spring foot extending from the rear side of the clip shield, the spring foot having a hook distal end that is pushed radially inward by the inclined wall as the clip shield is installed, the hook distal end of the spring foot being insertable into the hole in the inclined wall of the clip receiving portion, the hook distal end moving radially outward when installed in the hold, the hook distal end creating an interference fit with the inclined wall to prevent removal of the clip shield.

According to another aspect, a baffle for protecting a fuel tank of a motor vehicle from heat from an exhaust chamber of the motor vehicle includes a baffle body, a clip receiving portion formed in the baffle body having a generally frusto-conical shape, the clip receiving portion having a base portion recessed from a planar surface of the baffle, the clip receiving portion having a hole in the base through which a clip is inserted, and an inclined wall extending from the base to the planar surface of the baffle body, the inclined wall having a first radius about an axis perpendicular to the base at the base and a second radius about the axis at the planar surface, the second radius being greater than the first radius, the inclined wall having a hole between the planar surface and clip receiving portion. The baffle further includes a clip for attaching the baffle to the fuel tank body, the clip being inserted through a hole in the baffle and received by a clip receiver in the fuel tank body, and a clip shield secured to the baffle body to cover the clip. The clip shield includes a solid body having a radius substantially similar to the second radius of the clip receiving portion, a front side facing the exhaust chamber, and a rear side facing the baffle body, and a spring foot extending from the rear side of the clip shield, the spring foot having a hook distal end that is pushed radially inward by the inclined wall as the clip shield is installed, the hook distal end of the spring foot being insertable into the hole in the inclined wall of the clip receiving portion, the hook distal end flexing radially outward when installed in the hold, the hook distal end creating an interference fit with the inclined wall to prevent removal of the clip shield.

According to yet another aspect, a baffle clip shield for protecting a clip attaching a baffle to a fuel tank to protect the fuel tank from heat from an exhaust chamber located near the fuel tank, a clip receiving portion formed in the baffle having a generally frusto-conical shape, the clip receiving portion having a base portion recessed from a planar surface of the baffle, the clip receiving portion having a hole in the base through which a clip is inserted, and an inclined wall extending from the base to the planar surface of the baffle, the inclined wall having a first radius about an axis perpendicular to the base at the base and a second radius about the axis at the planar surface, the second radius being greater than the first radius, the inclined wall having a hole between the planar surface and clip receiving portion includes a solid body having a radius substantially similar to the second radius of the clip receiving portion, a front side facing the exhaust chamber, and a rear side facing the baffle, and a spring foot extending from the rear side of the clip shield, the spring foot having a hook distal end that is pushed radially inward by the inclined wall as the clip shield is installed, the hook distal end of the spring foot being insertable into the hole in the inclined wall of the clip receiving portion, the hook distal end moving radially outward when installed in the hold, the hook distal end creating an interference fit with the inclined wall to prevent removal of the clip shield.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

FIG. 1shows an embodiment of the bottom102of a motor vehicle100. The motor vehicle includes a fuel tank104for holding fuel such as gasoline or diesel fuel, and an exhaust system106, which includes an exhaust pipe108and at least one exhaust chamber110for carrying, treating, and muffling exhaust gases from the engine (not shown) to a tail pipe112for emission. Due to the high temperatures (900-1400° F.) of exhaust from a gasoline engine, a metal heat baffle114is attached to the fuel tank104to protect the fuel tank104from the heat of the exhaust system106.

FIG. 2is a close up bottom view of the heat baffle114that is attached to the fuel tank104to protect the fuel tank104from the heat of the neighboring exhaust chamber110. The heat baffle114shields the fuel tank104from the heat of the exhaust chamber110, and dissipates the heat over a greater surface area to prevent damage to the fuel tank104. As shown inFIG. 2, the heat baffle114is connected to the fuel tank104by a series of clips200that are insertable in one direction through a hole300in the heat baffle104into a clip receiver302in the fuel tank104, illustrated inFIG. 3.

It is preferable that these clips200are made of plastic to maximize performance. However, the plastic clips200may fail if exposed to the exhaust heat. Therefore, as shown inFIG. 4, clips200may be covered by a heat clip shield400that covers the clips200ofFIG. 3.

As illustrated inFIGS. 3-7, a frusto-coninical recess304is formed in the heat baffle114. At the base306of the recess304is the hole300through which the clip200is inserted into the clip receiver302in the fuel tank104. A flat head508of the clip200holds the base306of the heat baffle114to the fuel tank104.

Each recess304of the heat baffle114includes a wall308. The wall308of the recess304is generally circular and inclined, with a radius r1about an axis a1at the base306, and a radius r2about the axis a1at the planar surface310of the heat baffle114, such that r2is greater than r1.

In the wall308of the recess are at least one (1), and preferably four (4) holes312for receiving the distal ends504of spring feet502of the clip heat shield400. While the embodiment shown has four (4) holes312, more or fewer holes may be provided based upon design considerations and performance requirements. The spring feet502extend from the baffle side510of a body506of the clip heat shield400. In the embodiment illustrated inFIGS. 3-7, the body506is planar, although the body506may take additional shapes as design dictates. The distal ends504have an outward hook512that engages the wall308of the recess304as the clip heat shield400is inserted. As inserted, the spring feet502are pushed inwardly until such time as the spring feet502enter the holes312in the wall308. At that time, the spring feet502spring outward, illustrated by arrow A inFIG. 7, and the hooks512at the distal ends504engage a rear side516of the wall308, creating an interference fit that holds the clip heat shield400in place. The heat clip shield400is not unintentionally removable during operation of the motor vehicle100, thereby ensuring the clips200are protected from heat from the exhaust system106. The clips200may be removed by service technician by inwardly actuating the spring feet502to remove engagement of the hooks512with the rear side516of the wall308, thereby allowing the spring feet502to be removed from the holes312. In an alternate embodiment, the holes312may be L-shaped to facilitate entry and removal of the spring feet502from the longer part of the holes312, and the clip heat shield400is slightly rotated so the spring feet are in the shorter part of the holes312to prevent removal from the holes312.

FIG. 6is a view of the clip heat shield400from the exhaust side600of the body506. The clip heat shield400may be constructed of any sufficiently heat resistant material, such as heat resistant plastic or metal.

In addition, the language used in the specification has been principally selected for readability and instructional purposes, and may not have been selected to delineate or circumscribe the inventive subject matter. Accordingly, the disclosure of the embodiments is intended to be illustrative, but not limiting, of the scope of the embodiments, which is set forth in the claims.

While particular embodiments and applications have been illustrated and described herein, it is to be understood that the embodiments are not limited to the precise construction and components disclosed herein and that various modifications, changes, and variations may be made in the arrangement, operation, and details of the methods and apparatuses of the embodiments without departing from the spirit and scope of the embodiments as defined in the appended claims.