Abstract:
A base made from plastic material for a motor vehicle tank accessory, including protrusions to be welded to a preform during production of the tank by blowing the preform, wherein: the base includes a solid surface recessed from the protrusions, the solid surface including a part without protrusions and a part taken up by the protrusions, the area of the part of the solid surface without protrusions is at least equal to one times the area of the solid surface taken up by the protrusions, the height of the protrusions relative to the solid surface is between 0.6 mm and 0.8 mm.

Description:
TECHNICAL FIELD TO WHICH THE INVENTION RELATES 
       [0001]    The invention relates to the field of production by blow molding of tanks made of plastic material for motor vehicles. It can involve fuel tanks or tanks for other fluids, in particular for carbamide, in a system for catalytic cleaning of the exhaust gases. 
       PRIOR ART 
       [0002]    A base for securing an internal accessory of a tank is already known from document WO2010/015670. This base comprises a stop surface and a double lip which is welded on a pre-form still in the molten state during the blow molding of the latter, in the course of the production of the tank by means of the method described in application EP 1 110 697 in the name of the applicant. 
         [0003]    On a single-layer pre-form, this method is entirely satisfactory. 
         [0004]    On a multi-layer pre-form, which in particular contains a layer forming a barrier against hydrocarbons or other particularly volatile products, (generally made of EVOH), the penetration of the double lip into the thickness of the pre-form during the welding can give rise to deformation of the pre-form which can draw the barrier layer excessively locally. The barrier layer is then liable to become too fine. It is therefore necessary to measure the pressure on the base during the welding in order to limit the depth of penetration of the lip, and avoid reducing the thickness of the barrier layer excessively. On the other hand, if the pressure is reduced too much, it is no longer possible to ensure good quality welding of the base in the pre-form. 
         [0005]    The present solution therefore requires great accuracy, which necessitates costly and fragile equipment. 
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0006]    The objective of the invention is to eliminate this disadvantage by providing a solution wherein the penetration is limited, without needing to control very accurately the pressure which is exerted on the base. 
         [0007]    According to the invention, a stop surface is provided which is sufficiently large in relation to the parts of the base which are to be welded on the pre-form. 
         [0008]    More specifically, the objective of the invention is a base made of plastic material for a tank accessory for a motor vehicle, comprising protrusions which are designed to be welded on a pre-form during the production of the tank by blow molding of this pre-form, characterized in that:
       the base comprises a solid surface recessed from the protrusions, this solid surface having a part which is without protrusions and part which is occupied by the protrusions;   the area of the part of the solid surface which is without protrusions is at least equal to one times the area of the solid surface which is occupied by the protrusions.       
 
         [0011]    The securing base according to the invention solves the aforementioned problems of making the welding secure without a risk of deterioration of the barrier layer of the pre-form. 
         [0012]    According to a particular embodiment, the area of the part of the solid surface which is without protrusions is at least equal to twice the area of the solid surface which is occupied by the protrusions. 
         [0013]    According to a particular embodiment, the protrusions are ribs, i.e. protrusions which extend longitudinally. 
         [0014]    According to a particular embodiment, the ribs are peripheral to the solid surface. 
         [0015]    According to a particular embodiment, the ribs form closed loops. 
         [0016]    According to a particular embodiment, the solid surface has a circular contour. 
         [0017]    According to a particular embodiment, the solid surface surrounds openings. 
         [0018]    According to a particular embodiment, at least one of the openings is bordered by a protrusion. 
         [0019]    According to a particular embodiment, the protrusion which borders the opening extends longitudinally around the entire periphery of the opening. 
         [0020]    According to a particular embodiment, the height of the protrusions relative to the solid surface is 0.7 mm. 
         [0021]    According to a particular embodiment, the width at the top of the protrusions is 0.5 mm. 
         [0022]    According to a particular embodiment, the solid surface has a flat central portion and a peripheral portion which widens in the direction of the tops of protrusions, ending at the base of the protrusions. 
         [0023]    According to a particular embodiment, the central portion is circular, and the widened peripheral portion is frusto-conical, and, in transverse cross section, forms an angle of 14° with the central portion. 
         [0024]    According to a particular embodiment, the frusto-conical portion has a thickness of 0.7 mm. 
         [0025]    Although the base according to the invention is particularly suitable for carrying out simultaneously the blow molding of a pre-form and the welding of the base on said pre-form during this blow molding, its characteristics also make it possible to weld it on the wall of the tank after the blow molding of the pre-form. In particular, it is possible to weld the base on the outer surface of the wall of a blow molded tank, in order to secure an external accessory on it. 
         [0026]    The invention also relates to a connector for an internal accessory of a tank with a base as previously described and means for connection to an accessory. 
         [0027]    The invention also relates to a connector for an external accessory of a tank with a base as previously described, and means for connection to an accessory. 
         [0028]    The invention also relates to an accessory for a tank with a base as previously described. 
         [0029]    The invention has a particularly advantageous application when it relates to securing on a side of the pre-form a first accessory which has an aperture in its face which is designed to be secured on the pre-form. This aperture can be designed to communicate with a second accessory subsequently placed on the other side of the pre-form. The first accessory is not necessarily situated on the inner side of the tank. However, if the production of the tank consists of blow molding a pre-form in a mold with two indentations with a core interposed between the indentations, and if the first accessory is inside the tank, it can advantageously be supported by the core during the blow molding of the pre-form. 
         [0030]    For this purpose, a particular embodiment of an accessory according to the invention makes it possible to weld this first accessory on the pre-form by means of a sealed weld. According to this particular embodiment:
       the accessory has a base as previously described;   the base of the accessory has an aperture which is surrounded by the surface of the base designated as the solid surface which is recessed from the protrusions.       
 
         [0033]    It is possible to make a first accessory of this type communicate with an accessory which is placed on the other side of the pre-form. The connection between the two accessories can be sealed by direct connection between them, or by a sealed connection firstly between the first accessory and the pre-form according to the invention, and secondly between the second accessory and the pre-form. However, in all cases, the connection between the first accessory and the pre-form is sealed, so that the volume which surrounds the first accessory does not communicate with the other side of the pre-form. The sealing property of the weld is derived from the characteristics of the base, thanks to the quality of weld which this base makes it possible to obtain. 
         [0034]    A particular application consists of an accessory belonging to a circuit for ventilation of a fuel tank, for discharge of the fuel vapors. This accessory, which can include a liquid/vapor separator, and is or is not provided with an active venting device, comprises an aperture in one of its faces, and at least one connection for connection of a ventilation pipe. According to the invention, the aperture is surrounded by an edge which complies with the aforementioned characteristics. 
         [0035]    Another particular application consists of an open accessory, the opening of which is designed to be shut. The opening is shut by the pre-form. In this case also, the accessory has the aforementioned characteristics, i.e.:
       the accessory has a base as previously described;   the base of the accessory has an aperture which is surrounded by the surface of the base designated as the solid surface which is recessed from the protrusions.       
 
         [0038]    An accessory of this type is incomplete until it has been welded on the pre-form, which completes it by shutting its aperture. 
         [0039]    For example, the accessory can comprise a chamber which must be closed during functioning of the accessory. This chamber is delimited by a bottom and by a lateral wall which ends at the base. It is open opposite the bottom by means of an aperture which is surrounded by the surface of the base designated as the solid surface which is recessed from the protrusions. This aperture is shut by the pre-form after welding of the base of the accessory on the pre-form. 
         [0040]    Another embodiment of the invention makes it possible to weld the first accessory on the pre-form by means of a non-sealed weld, then to clamp the first accessory against the pre-form by means of an added-on clamping means, in order to seal the connection between the first accessory and the pre-form. This embodiment is more particularly indicated when the first accessory is designed to communicate with a second accessory which is situated on the other side of the pre-form. 
         [0041]    The invention also relates to a tank for a motor vehicle, comprising at least one accessory as previously described, the base of which is welded on said wall of the tank. 
         [0042]    According to a particular embodiment, the accessory has an aperture which is surrounded by the base welded on said wall of the tank. 
         [0043]    The invention also relates to a method for securing a base for an internal accessory of a tank for a motor vehicle, as previously described, consisting of:
       fitting the base on a core which is placed between at least two indentations of a mold for blow molding of the tank;   interposing a pre-form which is divided into as many parts as there are indentations, and is in a molten state, between the core and each indentation;   closing the indentations on the core;   injecting a blow-molding gas between the core and each indentation, in order to apply each part of the pre-form against the corresponding indentation;   applying the base against the pre-form by pressing it against the corresponding indentation, so as to transfer part of the heat of the pre-form to the protrusions of the base, so as to weld them on the pre-form;   opening the indentations so as to release the core;   removing the core;   closing the indentations on themselves;   welding the parts of the pre-form together in order to constitute a tank body;   opening the indentations;   removing the tank body from the mold.       
 
         [0055]    The invention also relates to a method for securing a base for an external accessory of a tank for a motor vehicle, as previously described, consisting of:
       fitting the base on an indentation of a mold for blow molding of the tank, comprising a core which is placed between at least two indentations;   interposing a pre-form which is divided into as many parts as there are indentations, and is in a molten state, between the core and each indentation;   closing the indentations on the core;   injecting a blow-molding gas between the core and each indentation, in order to apply each part of the pre-form against the corresponding indentation;   applying the base against the pre-form by pressing it against a support which is provided for this purpose on the core, so as to transfer part of the heat of the pre-form to the protrusions of the base, so as to weld them on the pre-form;   opening the indentations so as to release the core;   removing the core;   closing the indentations on themselves;   welding the parts of the pre-form together in order to constitute a tank body;   opening the indentations;   removing the tank body from the mold.       
 
         [0067]    According to a particular embodiment, the base is placed against the pre-form in conditions such that each protrusion is welded on the pre-form at a height of 0.4 mm. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0068]    The invention will be better understood by examining the appended figures, which are provided by way of example, and do not have any limiting nature, in which: 
           [0069]      FIG. 1  is a three-dimensional view of a securing base according to a first embodiment of the invention. 
           [0070]      FIG. 1A  is a view in cross section according to I-I in  FIG. 1 . 
           [0071]      FIG. 2  is a view similar to that of  FIG. 1 , of a securing base according to a second embodiment of the invention. 
           [0072]      FIG. 3  is a view similar to that of  FIGS. 1 and 2  of a securing base according to a third embodiment of the invention, seen from a different angle. 
           [0073]      FIG. 4  represents in a view from above a securing base according to a fourth embodiment. 
           [0074]      FIG. 5  represents in a view from below the securing base in  FIG. 4 . 
           [0075]      FIG. 6  is a cross section according to the plane VI-VI in  FIG. 1 . 
           [0076]      FIG. 7  is a cross section according to the plane VII-VII, positioned in  FIG. 4 , of the securing base in  FIG. 4  assembled on a wall of a tank. 
           [0077]      FIG. 8  is a transverse cross section of a tank provided with three securing bases according to the invention. 
           [0078]      FIG. 9  is a view in perspective of an accessory provided with a base which is designed to be welded in a sealed manner on a pre-form. 
           [0079]      FIG. 10  is a view in cross section according to X-X of the accessory in  FIG. 9 . 
           [0080]      FIG. 11  is a view of the detail XI in  FIG. 10 , 
           [0081]      FIG. 12  is a view similar to  FIG. 9  of a variant of an accessory of the same type. 
           [0082]      FIG. 13  is a view in cross section of an accessory in the form of a bell which must form a sealed volume with the pre-form. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE EMBODIMENTS 
       [0083]    The securing base  1  in  FIG. 1  comprises a seat  3  which is globally in the form of a disk, and four snap-in lugs  5  which extend perpendicularly to the seat  3 . 
         [0084]    A securing base of this type is designed to be welded on the wall of a tank produced by blow molding of a pre-form made of plastic material. The pre-form constitutes a pre-form according to the invention. The seat  3  is welded, via its face opposite the snap-in lugs, on the wall, which is still warm, of the pre-form, during the forming of the latter in a blowing mold. 
         [0085]    The heat of the pre-form is the only source of heat which permits melting of the plastic material of the seat, in its regions which are designed to be welded on the pre-form. These regions are described hereinafter. 
         [0086]    The securing base is used to secure a unit almost always inside the tank. The seat  3  is thus welded against the inner face of the pre-form. However, it is not excluded for the securing base according to the invention to be used to secure a unit on the exterior of the tank, in which case the seat  3  is welded against the outer face of the pre-form. 
         [0087]    During the actual welding operation, the securing base is held in position by a gripper which can either be supported by a core which is present inside the mold whilst the pre-form is put into place, or supported by the indentation of the mold, if the securing base must be rendered integral with the outer face of the tank. 
         [0088]    In the embodiment in  FIG. 1 , the seat  3  is in the form of a flat disk, the diameter of which is 38.5 mm. It comprises a solid surface with a circular contour provided with four openings  7  which are circular through holes opening onto both of the two faces of the seat  3 . The solid surface of the seat surrounds each of the openings  7 . 
         [0089]    Each opening has a diameter of 5 mm. 
         [0090]    The openings  7  are distributed symmetrically around the center  9  of the seat  3 , which to a certain extent makes it possible to maintain the isotropic nature of the securing base, in the sense that rendering it integral with the wall of the tank makes it possible to withstand transverse mechanical stresses (rotation, snapping, shearing) going in all directions. 
         [0091]    It will be appreciated that, according to the invention, another arrangement of the openings, as well as a different number of openings, is possible. 
         [0092]    The seat  3  also comprises four vents  11  arranged between the openings  7 . The vents  11  are also through holes which open onto both of the two faces of the seat  3 . Their diameter is 2 mm. 
         [0093]    The snap-in lugs  5  are in the form of straight rigid tongues with a rectangular cross section, which end, at their end opposite the seat  3 , in the form of a hook  13  comprising an inclined ramp and a shoulder on their side opposite the other snap-in lugs. 
         [0094]    A description will be provided of the form of the peripheral edges of the seat  3  and each of the openings  7 , with reference to  FIG. 6 . 
         [0095]    The vents  11  are delimited simply by the ridge of the flat seat  3 , without any relief, as can be seen in  FIG. 1A . 
         [0096]    The embodiment in  FIG. 2  is distinguished from the preceding embodiment by the length of the snap-in lugs  5 ′, which are shorter. The seat  3 , the openings  7  and the vents  11  are identical to those of the embodiment in  FIG. 1 . 
         [0097]    In the embodiment in  FIG. 3 , the solid surface of the seat  3 ″ also comprises four openings  7 , but it comprises twelve vents  11 , distributed regularly between the openings  7 , in order to maintain the symmetry of the securing base, and, as far as possible, its isotropic nature. 
         [0098]    A description will now be provided of the form of the edges of the openings  7  and of the seats  3  and  3 ′. 
         [0099]    The edges of the openings  7  and the edges of the seats  3  and  3 ″ are identical in the three embodiments in  FIGS. 1 to 3 ″. Their forms and dimensions are different in the fourth embodiment in  FIG. 4 . 
         [0100]    As can be seen clearly in  FIG. 6 , which is a cross section according to VI-VI in  FIG. 1 , the edge of the opening  7  is formed by a protuberance  15  in the form of a continuous peripheral rib, which forms a closed loop extending longitudinally around the entire periphery of the opening. This protuberance  15  rises to a height h=0.7 mm (+/−0.1 mm) above the flat face  17  of the solid surface of the seat. In cross section, it is formed by a trapezium, the side  19  close to the opening  7  of which is perpendicular to the flat face  17  of the seat, and the opposite side  21  of which, distant from the opening, is inclined in the direction of the opening, such that the protuberance  15  has a frusto-conical outer face corresponding to the side  21 , and a cylindrical inner face corresponding to the side  19 . 
         [0101]    The protuberance  15  also has an annular flat upper face  23 , which connects its frusto-conical face  21  to its cylindrical face  19 . This flat annular face  23  constitutes a first area of welding of the securing base  3  on the pre-form during the blow molding of the latter. The width l of the annular face, which is also designated as the width at the top of the rib, is 0.5 mm (+/−0.05 mm), and its inner diameter d is 5 mm, which gives the annular face  23  a surface area of 15.7 mm 2 . 
         [0102]    Along the height h of the protuberance  15 , the difference in radius between the top  21   a  and the bottom  21   b  of the frusto-conical face  21  is 0.07 mm. 
         [0103]    These dimensions of the protuberance  15  are determined such that, taking into account the composition, the temperature and the thickness of the pre-form, as well as the force with which the securing base  1  is applied via its seat  3  against said pre-form during its blow molding, the protuberance  15  melts to a maximum thickness e of 0.4 mm, in order to be welded on the pre-form. 
         [0104]    These particular dimensions are given by way of indication, and do not constitute the only possible embodiment of the invention. However, they give the best result from amongst different antagonistic imperatives:
       ensuring the good mechanical strength of the securing base on the wall of the tank throughout the service life of the vehicle, despite the impacts and vibrations endured;   limiting the quantity of material to be melted on the securing base, in order for the welding operation to be able to take place based only on the heat of the pre-form, i.e. without additional heating;   avoiding penetrating too deeply into the thickness of the pre-form, in order not to damage the barrier layers which guarantee confinement of the (liquid and/or gaseous) product contained in the tank.       
 
         [0108]    The protuberance  15  is the same around each of the openings  7  in the seats  3  and  3 ″. Thus, the securing base  1  is welded on the pre-form by at least the four welding areas constituted by the four annular flat surfaces  23  of the four openings  7 . 
         [0109]    In addition, the securing base is welded on the pre-form by a protuberance  25  which is situated on the periphery of the seat  3 , and extends as a continuous rib all around said seat  3 . In a variant, the rib is interrupted at some locations, for example in four regularly distributed positions  25   a , as illustrated in the embodiment in  FIG. 4 . 
         [0110]    This protuberance  25  also has a flat annular welding face  27 , situated between a cylindrical outer lateral face  29  and a frusto-conical inner face  31 . Some of the dimensions already indicated for the protuberance  15  continue to be valid: elevation of the protuberance  25  to the height h, width l of the flat annular face  27 . 
         [0111]    In the vicinity of the protuberance  25 , the seat  3  has a raised peripheral edge  31  which is delimited by two frusto-conical parallel faces  31   a  and  31   b  spaced by 0.7 mm (+/−0.05 mm), the generatrix of which forms an angle a of 14° with the flat face  17  of the seat  3 . Thus, the solid surface of the seat has a central portion and a peripheral portion  31   b  which widens in the direction of the top of the protuberance  25 , ending at the base of said protuberance  25 . The central portion is circular, and the widened peripheral portion is frusto-conical. Thus, the frusto-conical portion has a thickness of 0.7 mm. 
         [0112]    In particular, this raised peripheral edge  31  fulfils the function of retention of the protuberance  25  in contact with the pre-form during the cooling of the materials and setting of the welding. In fact, the raised peripheral edge  31  provides the seat with a certain resistance to bending, which resistance comes into play during the application of the securing base against the pre-form, since the pre-form can be allowed to penetrate further at right angles to the protuberances  15  which border the openings  7  than at right angles to the protuberance  25 . In this case, bending or curving of the seat  3  is liable to occur, to the detriment of good application of the protuberance  27  against the pre-form, and therefore with the risk of a shallower weld of the protuberance  27  with the pre-form. 
         [0113]    In this case also, the dimensions which are indicated for the protuberance  27  and the raised peripheral edge  31  are indicative, but can be considered as an optimum, taking into account the different antagonistic constraints of the application. 
         [0114]    Thus, outside the welding areas constituted by the protuberances  15  and  25 , the base comprises a flat surface which is recessed from the protuberances, this solid surface having a part which is without protuberances (the flat face  17  and the frusto-conical face  31   b ), and a part which is occupied by the protuberances  15  and  25 . 
         [0115]    By means of a simple calculation, it is found that the area of the part of the solid surface which is without protuberances is equal to four times the area of the solid surface which is occupied by the protuberances. 
         [0116]    In fact, the seats  3  and  3 ″ have an outer diameter D=38.5 mm, the flat part  17  has a diameter P=32.1 mm, and the outer base  21   b  of each protuberance  15  has a diameter B=6.4 mm. 
         [0117]    The fourth embodiment illustrated by  FIGS. 4, 5 and 7  shows once more the openings  7 ′, of which there are also four, the vents  11 ′, of which there are likewise four, and the annular flat welding surfaces  23 ′ and  27 ′ on the periphery respectively of the openings  7 ′ and the seat  3 ′. 
         [0118]    Unlike in the preceding embodiments, the protuberances  15 ′ and  25 ′ do not have a frusto-conical lateral face, but only cylindrical lateral faces, respectively  19 ′ and  21 ′, and  31 ′ and  29 ′. This is why these faces are reduced to circles in the view from above in  FIG. 4 . 
         [0119]    The view from above in  FIG. 5  shows once more the four vents  11 ′, the snap-in lugs  5 ″ and the raised peripheral edge  31   a′.    
         [0120]    The area of the part of the solid surface which is without protuberances is equal to two and a half times the area of the solid surface occupied by the protuberances. 
         [0121]    Thanks to this ratio, the solid part  17 ′ of the seat acts as a stop surface which limits the penetration of the protuberances  15 ′ and  25 ′ into the thickness of the pre-form, which in particular protects its barrier layers against excessive drawing when the protuberances of the seat penetrate into the pre-form. 
         [0122]    This result is illustrated by  FIG. 7 , which shows the securing base in  FIGS. 4 and 5  once it has been welded on the pre-form, and has been rendered integral with the inner wall of a tank  33 . 
         [0123]    This figure clearly shows the role of penetration limiter played by the flat wall  17 ′ when it encounters the material of the pre-form which is still molten. 
         [0124]      FIG. 8  illustrates different positions of a securing base according to the invention. 
         [0125]    This base is used substantially inside the tank, in order to secure in it accessories  35  which are well known to persons skilled in the art, in different positions, three of which are represented in the drawing. 
         [0126]      FIG. 9  represents an external accessory  40 , which serves the purpose of connecting piping (not represented) which is connected on the exterior of a tank (not represented). 
         [0127]    The accessory  40  comprises a chamber  42  which opens firstly onto the exterior of the accessory via an aperture  44 , and secondly onto a connection of the piping  46 . 
         [0128]    The precise form of the accessory  40  will not be described here, since it does not illustrate the essential characteristics of the invention. The important aspect of the accessory  40  is for it to have a base so that it can be welded on a multilayer pre-form during the forming of the latter by means of blow molding. This base is constituted by a flange  48  which surrounds the aperture  44 . 
         [0129]    According to the invention, the flange  48  comprises protuberances  50  in the form of annular ribs which are designed to be welded on the pre-form during the production of the tank by blow molding of this pre-form, with a solid surface  52  which is recessed from the protuberances  50 , this solid surface  52  having a part which is without protuberances and a part which is occupied by the protuberances, the area of the part of the solid surface which is without protuberances being at least equal to one times the area of the solid surface which is occupied by the protuberances. 
         [0130]    In addition, the solid surface  52  comprises vents  54  for the discharge of air between said surface and the pre-form during the welding. 
         [0131]    Thanks to these characteristics, the accessory  40  can be welded in a sealed manner on the pre-form, without penetrating excessively into the thickness of the pre-form, and therefore without damaging the sealed layer of the pre-form. 
         [0132]    In the variant illustrated in  FIG. 13 , the elements which bear the same reference numbers are identical to those described with reference to the preceding figures. 
         [0133]    The accessory  40 ′ has a flange  48 ′ constituting a base comprising a solid surface  52 ′, from which there extends a protuberance  50 ′ in the form of an annular rib. Vents  54  are provided in the solid surface  52 ′. 
         [0134]    Like the accessory  40 , the accessory  40 ′ can be welded on a pre-form during its blow molding. 
         [0135]    An advantage of the accessory  40 ,  40 ′ is that it can be rendered integral with the tank during the blow molding of the latter, without an operation of resumption or intervention inside the tank. It is therefore possible to provide a tank with an accessory of this type, including in inner regions of said tank which are inaccessible after production of the tank. 
         [0136]      FIG. 13  represents another embodiment of an accessory  60  according to the invention. This accessory  60  is globally in the form of a bell, which is why it is schematized in the figure with a cross section in the form of a “U”. 
         [0137]    The accessory  60  has a bottom  62  and a lateral wall  64  which delimit an inner chamber  66  open at the top (in the direction shown in  FIG. 13 ). Thus, the inner chamber  66  is open opposite the bottom  62  by means of an aperture  68  which is surrounded by a base  70  in the form of a flange. 
         [0138]    Like the base  48 ,  48 ′ in the two preceding embodiments, the base  70  comprises one or a plurality of annular grooves forming protuberances extending from a solid surface which is recessed from the protuberances. In  FIG. 13 , the protuberances are not represented, since the base  70  has been welded on the wall  72  of a tank during blow molding of a pre-form, and the welding is schematized by a thick line  74 . Once the welding has been carried out, the chamber  66  is closed in a sealed manner by the wall  72  of the tank (except for the functional inlets and outlets), and remains closed throughout the service life of the tank, i.e. during the functioning of the accessory. Thus, there is no need to have to create a partition on the accessory on the side of the tank wall, whilst a means is provided for securing the accessory on the wall  72  reliably, and in a manner which does not destroy the barrier layer of the multilayer pre-form. If the accessory is designed to communicate with the exterior of the tank, the wall  72  can easily be pierced in its region which is situated opposite the aperture  68 , and the connection between the accessory  60  and an external accessory (not represented) can be formed without having to enter the tank. The connection between the two accessories can:
       either take advantage of the sealing of the weld  70 , in which case it is sufficient for the external accessory also to be welded in a sealed manner on the wall  72 ;   or be a connection by direct sealed contact between the two accessories.       
 
         [0141]    In all cases, the sealing of the weld  70  makes it possible to prevent the liquids and gases contained in the tank from penetrating into the chamber  66 . 
         [0142]    The invention is not limited to the embodiments presented, and other embodiments will become clearly apparent to persons skilled in the art.