FUEL TANK COMPONENT AND ITS MANUFACTURING PROCESS

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To install a component onto a fuel tank so that wicking of liquid fuel or fuel vapor from the fuel tank is eliminated (by hydrocarbon permeation barrier). SOLUTION: The component 100 is connected to a polymer fuel tank. The connector 104 and housing 102 that constitute the constituent part 100 are each formed of an arbitrary suitable polymer material. A bondable film 110 is disposed between the housing 102 and connector 104 for both of them to be mutually welded. The film 110 is made of micro-porous polymer film, and may have a form of a ring, a dot, a rectangle, or a strip, etc. Even if the materials of the component can not be directly connected, the presence of the film 110 enables a bonding between the housing 102 and connector 104, and hinders the permeation of liquid or vapor. The use of the film 110 as an interface between the housing 102 and the connector 104 eliminates the requirement of their compatibility, and results in an increase in the range of their selectable materials. COPYRIGHT: (C)2007,JPO&INPIT