Abstract:
A synthetic resin tank can prevent being damaged when it expands or contracts by the change of ambient temperature, though it can be easily fixed on the vehicle with fastener such as bolts, without the belts for securing the vehicle. The synthetic resin tank includes a body which defines a storage space for fluid and fixing means which is attached to the body. At least one recess is formed on the surface of the body. The fixing means includes at least one elastically deformable plate portion which covers the recess partially and which has a through hole.

Description:
TECHNICAL FIELD 
       [0001]    The present invention relates to a synthetic resin tank fixed to a vehicle. 
       BACKGROUND ART 
       [0002]    As a tank accommodating liquid and fixed to a vehicle, a synthetic resin tank may be employed instead of a metal tank from the viewpoint of its reduced manufacturing cost, manufacturing easiness where its shape is complicated, or the like. There is a case that a synthetic resin tank expands or shrinks due to a change in ambient temperature or the like. Therefore, in such a case, in order to prevent damage on a tank fixed to a vehicle, there has been employed a technology in which a belt is wound around a groove formed on the front face of the tank and both ends in the longitudinal direction of the belt are fastened to the vehicle to fix the tank to the vehicle (see, for example, PTL 1). 
       CITATION LIST 
     Patent Literature 
       [0003]    [PTL 1] Japanese Patent Application Laid-open No. 2000-64351 
       SUMMARY OF INVENTION 
     Technical Problem 
       [0004]    The technology for fixing a synthetic resin tank to a vehicle disclosed in PTL 1 requires a belt not required where a metal tank is fixed to the vehicle, which gives rise to a problem that the number and cost of components increase and that the operation of assembling the vehicle becomes complicated since the operation requires winding of the belt on the tank. 
         [0005]    The present invention has been made in view of the above facts and has its principal technological problem of providing a synthetic resin tank that does not require a belt for fixing the tank to a vehicle and prevents damage on the tank even when the tank expands or shrinks due to a change in ambient temperature although the tank can be easily fixed to the vehicle by a fastening member such as a bolt. 
       Solution to Problem 
       [0006]    According to the present invention, there is provided, in order to solve the above technological problem, a synthetic resin tank fixed to a vehicle, the tank including: a tank body that defines accommodation space in which liquid is accommodated; and fixation means attached along the tank body, wherein a front face of the tank body has at least one concave part, and the fixation means includes at least one elastically-deformable plate-shaped part that partially covers the concave part and has a through-hole. 
         [0007]    The concave part is preferably formed at an upper part or a lower part of the tank body. The plate-shaped part preferably extends from a fixed end connected to the tank body along an outer edge of the concave part and has a free end. A front face of the plate-shaped part is favorably flush with the front face of the tank body in a region adjacent to the concave part or positioned inside the front face of the tank body in the region adjacent to the concave part. The plate-shaped part preferably has an opening. 
       Advantageous Effects of Invention 
       [0008]    A synthetic resin tank provided according to the present invention can be easily fixed to a vehicle by a fastening member such as a bolt inserted in the through-hole of a plate-shaped part. Therefore, a belt for fixing the tank to the vehicle is not required. In addition, in the synthetic resin tank according to the present invention, stress caused in a tank body and the plate-shaped part is dispersed by the elastic deformation of the plate-shaped part even when the tank expands or shrinks due to a change in ambient temperature after being fixed to the vehicle. Therefore, damage on the tank body and the plate-shaped part is prevented. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS 
         [0009]      FIG. 1  is a perspective view of a tank configured according to the present invention when seen from its front upper side; 
           [0010]      FIG. 2  is a front view of the tank shown in  FIG. 1 ; 
           [0011]      FIG. 3  is a cross-sectional view taken along line A-A in  FIG. 2 ; 
           [0012]      FIG. 4  is a perspective view of the tank shown in  FIG. 1  when seen from its rear upper side; 
           [0013]      FIG. 5  is a left side view of the tank shown in  FIG. 1 , the tank being fixed to a vehicle; 
           [0014]      FIG. 6  is a cross-sectional view taken along line B-B in  FIG. 5 ; 
           [0015]      FIG. 7  is a cross-sectional view of the tank shown in  FIG. 6 , the tank being in an expanded state; 
           [0016]      FIG. 8  is a partially-enlarged view of a first modified example of the tank according to the present invention; 
           [0017]      FIG. 9  is a partially-enlarged view of a second modified example of the tank according to the present invention; 
           [0018]      FIG. 10  is a partially-enlarged view of a third modified example of the tank according to the present invention; 
           [0019]      FIG. 11  is a partially-enlarged view of a fourth modified example of the tank according to the present invention; 
           [0020]      FIG. 12  is a partially-enlarged view of a fifth modified example of the tank according to the present invention; 
           [0021]      FIG. 13  is a partially-enlarged view of a sixth modified example of the tank according to the present invention; and 
           [0022]      FIG. 14  is a partially-enlarged view of a seventh modified example of the tank according to the present invention. 
       
    
    
     DESCRIPTION OF EMBODIMENTS 
       [0023]    Hereinafter, with reference to the accompanying drawings, a description will be given in detail of an embodiment of a synthetic resin tank configured according to the present invention. 
         [0024]    A description will be given with reference to  FIGS. 1 to 4 . A tank the entirety of which is indicated by reference sign  2  is provided with a tank body  4  and fixation means  6  attached along the tank body  4 . The tank body  4  is provided with a rectangular-shaped upper wall  8 , a rectangular-cylindrical-shaped vertical wall  10  extending downward from the periphery of the upper wall  8 , and a rectangular-shaped lower wall  12  connected to the lower end of the vertical wall  10 , and formed into a cuboid shape as a whole. As shown in  FIG. 3 , the tank body  4  defines accommodation space  13 , in which urea water or liquid such as fuel for reducing nitrogen oxide in exhaust gas is accommodated, by the inner face of the upper wall  8 , the inner face of the vertical wall  10 , and the inner face of the lower wall  12 . 
         [0025]    The tank  2  can be integrally blow-molded or rotationally-molded by an appropriate synthetic resin. Examples of synthetic resin materials for molding the tank  2  include olefin-based resins and fluorine-containing resins. Examples of the olefin-based resins include ethylene-based resins such as high density polyethylene (HDPE), medium density polyethylene (MDPE), low density polyethylene (LDPE), and a cross-linked polyethylene (XLPE) or include propylene-based resins such as polypropylene (PP). Examples of the fluorine-containing resins include tetrafluoroethylene-perfluoro alkylvinyl ether copolymer (PFA), poly vinylidene difluoride (PVDF), and polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE). 
         [0026]    Hereinafter, for convenience of description, it is assumed about the vertical wall  10  in the specification that apart extending to the near side of space in  FIG. 2  is a front part  14 , a part extending to the back side of the space from the right end of the front part  14  in  FIG. 2  is a right side part  16 , a part extending to the back side of the space from the left end of the front part  14  in  FIG. 2  is a left side part  18 , and a part extending between the extending end of the right side part  16  and the extending end of the left side part  18  is a rear part  20  (see  FIGS. 3 and 4 ). In addition, in  FIG. 2 , it is assumed about a front-rear direction and a right-left direction in the specification that the near side of the space is a front side, the back side of the space is a rear side, the right side of the space is a right side, and the left side of the space is a left side. 
         [0027]    As shown in  FIG. 1 , the upper wall  8  has a horizontal part  22  extending substantially horizontally, a hanging part  24  hanging down from the front end of the horizontal part  22 , and a tilting part  26  tilting and extending downward from the lower end of the hanging part  24  to the front side. The horizontal part  22  has a circular-shaped connection opening  28 . A conduit (not shown) continuing to a suction pump (not shown) for suctioning liquid inside the accommodation space  13 , or the like is connected to the connection opening  28 . A cylindrical-shaped supply port  30  extending perpendicular to the tilting part  26  is disposed at the tilting part  26 . The supply port  30  of which the outer peripheral face has a male screw  31  is fitted with a cylindrical-shaped cover member (not shown) of which the inner peripheral face has a female screw to be threadedly engaged with the male screw  31 . In addition, a protrusion wall  32  protruding upward from each of a front end, a right end, and a left end is disposed at the tilting part  26 . The protrusion wall  32  is formed into a U-shape when seen from its upper side. The right rear end of the protrusion wall  32  is connected to the right end of the hanging part  24 , the left rear end of the protrusion wall  32  is connected to the left end of the hanging part  24 , and the hanging part  24  and the protrusion wall  32  construct a dam covering the periphery of the supply port  30 . As shown in  FIGS. 1 to 3 , a cylindrical-shaped drain port  34  of which the upper and lower sides are opened is disposed at the left lower end of the tilting part  26 . The lower end of the drain port  34  extending downward along a recessed part  38  that will be described later is connected to a drain pipe (not shown) that can be constituted by a rubber or resin hose or the like. 
         [0028]    As shown in  FIGS. 1 and 2 , an observation window  36  extending in a vertical direction is disposed at the front part  14 . The observation window  36  for allowing an operator to confirm a liquid amount inside the accommodation space  13  is integrally molded with the front part  14  by a transparent resin, preferably, a colorless transparent resin. Parts other than the observation window  36  of the tank  2  are molded by a colored non-transparent resin, for example, a black non-transparent resin. The front face of the observation window  36  is favorably flush with the front face of the front part  14 . Note that the observation window  36  may be disposed at the right side part  16 , the left side part  18 , or the rear part  20 . 
         [0029]    As shown in  FIG. 1 , the recessed part  38  extending in the vertical direction is formed at the connection part between the front part  14  and the left side part  18 . As shown in  FIGS. 1 and 4 , the right side part  16  and the left side part  18  have, in the front-rear direction, two vertical grooves  40  extending in the vertical direction so as to be spaced apart from each other. Each of the vertical grooves  40  is formed into a semicircular shape when seen in the vertical direction. In addition, in the illustrated embodiment, as shown in  FIGS. 1 and 4 , the front face of each of right and left lower ends on the rear side of the tank body  4  has a cuboid-shaped concave part  42 . 
         [0030]    In the tank  2  configured according to the present invention, it is important for the fixation means  6  to include at least one elastically-deformable plate-shaped part partially covering the concave parts  42  and having a through-hole. In the illustrated embodiment, as shown in  FIGS. 1 and 4 , the fixation means  6  is constituted by a pair of thick semicircular-shaped flanges  44  attached along the lower ends of the vertical grooves  40  and constituted by a pair of thin plate-shaped parts  46  covering the concave parts  42  on the rear side and elastically deformable. The concave parts  42  are covered by the plate-shaped parts  46  on the rear side and opened outward in the right-left direction and downward. 
         [0031]    In the illustrated embodiment, the flanges  44  are attached along the lower ends of the vertical grooves  40  positioned on the front side of the right and left side parts  16  and  18 . Note that the flanges  44  may be attached along the lower ends of the vertical grooves  40  positioned on the rear side of the right and left side parts  16  and  18 . Alternatively, the flanges  44  may be attached along the lower ends of the vertical grooves  40  positioned on both front and rear sides of the right and left side parts  16  and  18 . It is understood with reference to  FIGS. 1 and 4  that the inner side faces of the flanges  44  in the right-left direction are connected to the semicircular-shaped faces of the vertical grooves  40 . The right side face of the flange  44  positioned at the right side part  16  is flush with the front face of the right side part  16  at parts at which the vertical grooves  40  and the concave part  42  are not formed. The left side face of the flange  44  positioned at the left side part  18  is flush with the front face of the left side part  18  at parts at which the recessed part  38 , the vertical grooves  40 , and the concave part  42  are not formed. As shown in  FIG. 3 , metal cylindrical-shaped collars  48  of which the upper and lower sides are opened are embedded in the flanges  44  by insert molding. 
         [0032]    The elastically-deformable plate-shaped parts  46  preferably extend from a fixed end connected to the tank body  4  along the outer edges of the concave parts  42  and have a free end. In the illustrated embodiment, as shown in  FIG. 4 , the plate-shaped parts  46  formed into a cuboid shape extend outward in the right-left direction from the fixed end connected to the tank body  4  along a part extending in the vertical direction at the reverse L-shaped rear end edges of the concave parts  42 , and use their extending end as a free end. The extending ends of the plate-shaped parts  46  have a circular-shaped through-hole  50 . It is understood with reference to  FIG. 4  that gaps G exist between the upper ends of the plate-shaped parts  46  and parts extending in right-left direction at the reverse L-shaped rear end edges of the concave parts  42 . 
         [0033]    The front faces of the plate-shaped parts  46  are favorably flush with the front face of the tank body  4  in regions adjacent to the concave parts  42 , or favorably positioned inside the front face of the tank body  4  in the regions adjacent to the concave parts  42 . In the illustrated embodiment, as shown in  FIG. 4 , the rear faces of the plate-shaped parts  46  are flush with the front face of the rear part  20  at parts at which the concave parts  42  are not formed. In addition, the extending end face of the plate-shaped part  46  positioned on the right side is flush with the front face of the right side part  16  at parts at which the vertical grooves  40  and the concave part  42  are not formed. As shown in  FIG. 1 , the extending end face of the plate-shaped part  46  positioned on the left side is flush with the front face of the left side part  18  at parts at which the recessed part  38 , the vertical grooves  40 , and the concave part  42  are not formed. 
         [0034]      FIG. 5  shows a fixation part  52  of a vehicle to which the tank  2  is fixed. In the illustrated embodiment, the fixation part  52  of the vehicle includes a plate member  54  extending substantially horizontally and brackets  56  (only one shown) provided to stand on the plate member  54  so as to be spaced apart from each other. The plate member  54  is provided with female screws (not shown) formed so as to be spaced apart from each other, and the brackets  56  have a bolt hole (not shown). In fixing the tank  2  to the fixation part  52  of the vehicle, bolts  58  inserted in the collars  48  of the flanges  44  are threadedly engaged with the female screws of the plate member  54  to fasten the flanges  44  to the plate member  54 . Then, bolts  60  inserted from the rear side of the brackets  56  in the bolt holes of the brackets  56  and the through-holes  50  of the plate-shaped parts  46  are threadedly engaged with nuts  62  disposed on the front side of the plate-shaped parts  46  to fasten the plate-shaped parts  46  to the brackets  56 . Accordingly, since the tank  2  can be easily fixed to the fixation part  52  of the vehicle by the bolts  58  and  60  and the nuts  62 , a belt for fixing the tank  2  to the vehicle is not required. 
         [0035]    A description will be given with reference to  FIGS. 6 and 7 . Even when the tank body  4  expands due to a change in ambient temperature or the like as shown in  FIG. 7  after the tank  2  is fixed to the fixation part  52  of the vehicle as shown in  FIG. 6 , stress caused in the tank body  4  and the plate-shaped parts  46  is dispersed by the elastic deformation of the plate-shaped parts  46 . Thus, damage on the tank body  4  and the plate-shaped parts  46  is prevented, and the tank  2  is kept fixed to the fixation part  52  of the vehicle. In addition, although not shown in the figures, even when the tank body  4  shrinks due to a change in ambient temperature or the like, stress caused in the tank body  4  and the plate-shaped parts  46  is dispersed by the elastic deformation of the plate-shaped parts  46 . Thus, damage on the tank body  4  and the plate-shaped parts  46  is prevented, and the tank  2  is kept fixed to the fixation part  52  of the vehicle. 
         [0036]    In supplying liquid into the accommodation space  13  of the tank  2  fixed to the vehicle using a general-purpose supply container having no automatic supply stop function, an operator supplies the liquid while confirming a liquid amount inside the accommodation space  13  through the observation window  36 . Thus, the liquid can be prevented from spilling out of the supply port  30 . Even when the liquid spills out of the supply port  30 , the spilling-out liquid is dammed on the tilting part  26  by the hanging part  24  and the protrusion wall  32  of the upper wall  8 , and the dammed liquid is discharged outside the vehicle via the drain port  34  and the drain pipe. Thus, the liquid is prevented from being splashed on the horizontal part  22  of the upper wall  8 , the front face of the vertical wall  10  or the like, equipment disposed adjacent to the tank  2  in the vehicle, or the like, and contamination, corrosion, or the like caused by the splashed liquid is prevented. 
         [0037]    The present invention is not limited to the embodiment described above but may be modified in various ways. For example, as in a first modified example shown in  FIG. 8 , a plate-shaped part  64  may extend downward from a fixed end connected to the tank body  4  along a part extending in the right-left direction at the reverse L-shaped rear end edge of the concave part  42 . Alternatively, as in a second modified example shown in  FIG. 9 , a plate-shaped part  66  may extend downward and outward in the right-left direction from a fixed end connected to the tank body  4  along the reverse L-shaped rear end edge of the concave part  42 . The plate-shaped part  66  preferably has an opening  68 . The opening  68  for facilitating the elastic deformation of the plate-shaped part  66  is formed into a rectangular shape in  FIG. 9 , but may be formed into a triangular shape, a circular shape, or the like. As in a third modified example shown in  FIG. 10 , a concave part  72  having a triangular prism shape may be formed. A plate-shaped part  70  shown in  FIG. 10  extends downward and outward in the right-left direction from a fixed end connected to the tank body  4  along the obliquely-extending rear end edge of the concave part  72 . Note that  FIGS. 8 to 10  are enlarged views of parts each corresponding to a part indicated by X in  FIG. 4 . 
         [0038]    As in a fourth modified example shown in  FIG. 11 , a concave part  74  may be formed ranging from the right side part  16  to the left side part  18 . A plate-shaped part  76  shown in  FIG. 11  extends downward from a fixed end connected to the tank body  4  along the rear end edge of the concave part  74 . The plate-shaped part  76  preferably has a rectangular-shaped opening  78  extending in the right-left direction. Note that the one plate-shaped part  76  extending downward is shown in  FIG. 11 , but a plurality of plate-shaped parts extending downward so as to be spaced apart from each other in the right-left direction may be formed. 
         [0039]    Moreover, a concave part is not necessarily formed at a rear lower end so long as it is formed at the front face of the tank body  4 . For example, as shown in  FIGS. 12 to 14 , a concave part  80  maybe formed at the connection part between the upper wall  8  and the right side part  16 . In a fifth modified example shown in  FIG. 12 , a plate-shaped part  82  is connected to the tank body  4  along the U-shaped right outer edge of the concave part  80 . In a sixth modified example shown in  FIG. 13 , a plate-shaped part  84  extends upward from a fixed end connected to the tank body  4  along a part extending in the front-rear direction at the U-shaped right outer edge of the concave part  80 . In a seventh modified example shown in  FIG. 14 , a plate-shaped part  86  is connected to the tank body  4  along a part extending in the vertical direction at the U-shaped right outer edge of the concave part  80  and has a rectangular-shaped opening  88  at its lower part. Note that  FIGS. 12 to 14  are enlarged views of parts each corresponding to a part indicated by Y in  FIG. 4 . 
       REFERENCE SIGNS LIST 
       [0000]    
       
           2  Tank 
           4  Tank body 
           6  Fixation means 
           13  Accommodation space 
           42  Concave part 
           46  Plate-shaped part 
           50  Through-hole