초록 ▼

In a two piece valve assembly comprising a non-weldable lower valve body portion inserted into the fuel tank through an opening in the tank wall, and an upper valve body portion or cover made from a weldable material and designed to be connected to the lower valve body portion and welded to the uppe

In a two piece valve assembly comprising a non-weldable lower valve body portion inserted into the fuel tank through an opening in the tank wall, and an upper valve body portion or cover made from a weldable material and designed to be connected to the lower valve body portion and welded to the upper surface of the fuel tank wall, an improved assembly structure comprising a plurality of circumferentially-spaced support/retention tabs formed on the upper end of the lower valve body portion to provide a self-supporting option for the lower valve body so that it may rest with the tabs on the upper surface of the fuel tank when inserted into the fuel tank opening, and/or further to be securely sandwiched between the upper valve body/cover and the upper surface of the fuel tank wall when a weldable portion of the cover is welded to the tank and melts over the tabs, thereby strengthening the connection between the upper and lower valve body portions. In a preferred form the tabs interact with a plurality of downwardly-extending lock fingers on the upper valve body to help rotationally align and secure the lower valve body with the upper valve body when they are assembled.

대표청구항 ▼

[ I accordingly claim:] [1.] A method for securing an automotive fuel tank valve to the upper surface of a fuel tank, the fuel tank valve being of the type having a valve body inserted through an opening in the fuel tank, and a separately formed weldable cover connected to the valve body and adapted

[ I accordingly claim:] [1.] A method for securing an automotive fuel tank valve to the upper surface of a fuel tank, the fuel tank valve being of the type having a valve body inserted through an opening in the fuel tank, and a separately formed weldable cover connected to the valve body and adapted to be welded to the surface of the fuel tank around the opening, the method comprising the following steps:providing retaining means on the valve body for resting on the upper surface of the fuel tank when the valve body is inserted through the opening in the fuel tank;mating the cover to the valve body with the retaining means located in a weld-engaging position relative to a weldable portion of the cover; and,welding the weldable portion of the cover to the upper surface of the fuel tank such that the retaining means is secured in contact with the surface of the fuel tank. [6.] A retaining structure for an automotive fuel tank valve of the type having a valve body inserted through an opening in the fuel tank, and a separately formed weldable cover connected to the valve body and welded to the surface of the fuel tank around the opening, comprising:retaining means on the valve body for resting on the upper surface of the fuel tank, the retaining means being located relative to a weldable portion of the cover when the cover and valve body are connected such that the welding operation which welds the weldable portion of the cover to the fuel tank also secures the retaining means in contact with the surface of the fuel tank.