The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document.

The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge covers the following: Patent number, Date patent was issued, Date patent was filed, Title of the patent, Applicant, Inventor, Assignee, Attorney firm, Primary examiner, Assistant examiner, CPCs, and Abstract. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document (in Adobe Acrobat format, aka pdf). To download or print any patent click here.

Date of Patent:
Jul. 04, 2017

Filed:

Oct. 09, 2015
Applicant:

Ford Global Technologies, Llc, Dearborn, MI (US);

Inventors:

Aed M. Dudar, Canton, MI (US);

Scott A. Bohr, Novi, MI (US);

Kevin Lucka, Madison Heights, MI (US);

Wolfgang Krings, Kall, DE;

Assignee:

Ford Global Technologies, LLC, Dearborn, MI (US);

Attorneys:
Primary Examiner:
Int. Cl.
CPC ...
B29C 49/20 (2006.01); B60K 15/03 (2006.01); B60K 6/22 (2007.10); G01L 1/22 (2006.01);
U.S. Cl.
CPC ...
B60K 15/03 (2013.01); B60K 6/22 (2013.01); G01L 1/22 (2013.01); B60K 2015/0321 (2013.01); B60K 2015/03072 (2013.01); B60K 2015/03486 (2013.01);
Abstract

A fuel system comprises a fuel tank including at least a top wall, a bottom wall, and one or more stanchions positioned within the fuel tank, each stanchion coupled to the top wall and the bottom wall. A strain gauge is positioned on the outside of the fuel tank, opposite an intersection of a stanchion and the top wall, such that degradation of the stanchion results in results in pressure-dependent deformation of the fuel tank that is registered by the strain gauge. In this way, degradation of deformable fuel tanks, such as polymeric fuel tanks, may be diagnosed and indicated.


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