FORM 2
THE PATENTS ACT 1970
(39 of 1970)
&
THE PATENTS RULES, 2003
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION
(See Section 10; rule 13)
TITLE OF THE INVENTION
A Baffle Structure For Vehicle Fuel Tank
APPLICANTS
TATA MOTORS LIMITED, an Indian company
having its registered office at Bombay House,
24 Homi Mody Street, Hutatma Chowk,
Mumbai 400 001 Maharashtra, India
INVENTORS
Jagdish B. Naik and Sudarshan G. Padnekar
both Indian nationals
of TATA MOTORS LIMITED,
an Indian company having its registered office
at Bombay House, 24 Homi Mody Street, Hutatma Chowk,
Mumbai 400 001 Maharashtra, India
PREAMBLE TO THE DESCRIPTION
The following specification particularly describes the invention and the manner in which it is to be performed.

FIELD OF INVENTION
This invention relates to the sheet metal baffles welded to sheet metal fuel tanks which are common on multi utility vehicles / Sport utility vehicle / motor vehicle.
BACKGROUND OF INVENTION
Typical fuel tank consists of upper half, lower half, baffles, sump and tank unit. Baffles have been used for many years in automotive fuel tanks to reduce the effect of sloshing fuel when the vehicle is running. When the vehicle is moving fuel can flow rapidly from one side of tank to other side. If there are no baffles in tank then it can cause vehicle instability, loss of control. Sloshing can also cause severe stress in side walls of fuel tank which in turn leads to leaking of tank. So the correctly placed baffle in tank at an appropriate distance can reduce sloshing effect in tank, thus the fuel movement in tank, thereby increasing the stability of vehicle and reducing the stress in side walls.
Baffles in fuel tanks are becoming more important for MUV's/ SUV's. As such vehicles have less fuel efficiency as compare to small vehicle, these vehicles need larger fuel tanks. Also CG location for such vehicles is also higher from ground compared to smaller vehicles , such vehicle make themselves unstable compared to smaller vehicles. Therefore for MUV's / SUV's with larger volume of fuel tanks, higher eg, effective baffle is important.
Conventionally flat /plain type of baffles are used, which are spot welded to side wall of fuel tank. But such design causes opening / leakage of spot walls during severe vehicle running or during testing.
OBJECTS OF INVENTION
The main object of this invention is to provide a baffle structure for vehicle fuel tank.


Yet another object of this invention is to provide a baffle structure for a vehicle fuel tank to avoid sloshing of fuel without harming fuel tank in form of leakage.
Yet another object of this invention is to provide a baffle structure for vehicle fuel tank in a "W" shape.
Yet another object of this invention is to provide a baffle structure for a vehicle fuel tank to reduce noise of fuel sloshing back and forth in tank.
Yet another object of this invention is to provide a baffle structure for vehicle fuel tank, which is easy to manufacture and cost effective.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF INVENTION
In accordance with the present invention a baffle structure generally having four sides with open form configuration, refer Fig 1 & Fig 2. Wherein first and second sides rising from connected bottom portion, third and fourth sides rising from connected bottom portion, said first and fourth sides terminating at top and said second and third sides connected at top. The terminating tops of first and fourth sides having flanges and the connected top portion between the second and third sides having flange to connect it to the fuel tank wall. The connected bottom portions between first and second sides and third and fourth sides having round vertex shape. The sides having perforation to allow the fuel to pass from one side to another during sloshing when the vehicle is moving. The flanges are connected to the top shell of the fuel tank.
The above configuration can be a "W" shaped baffle and it is spot welded to top shell of fuel tank.
It is used for metallic fuel tank where tank is made up of two parts upper shell and lower shell both joined together by spot welding process. The invented baffle is spot


welded to top portion of fuel tank from interior. Advantage of present baffle includes its ease of manufacturing. It also serves it purpose of avoiding sloshing without harming fuel tank in form of leakage. This shape of baffle also reduces noise of fuel sloshing back and forth in tank.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS
Fig. 1 shows cross section view of the baffle
Fig. 2 shows isometric view of the baffle
Fig. 3 shows exploded view of upper shell of the fuel tank with baffle
Fig. 4 shows exploded view of lower shell of the fuel tank
DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS OF THE INVENTION
Referring now to the drawings wherein the showings are for the purpose of illustrating a preferred embodiment of the invention only, and not for the purpose of limiting the same,
Referring to Fig 1 to Fig 4,
In accordance with the present invention a baffle structure (A) having four sides (1,2, 3, 4) with open form configuration. Wherein first (1) and second (2) sides rising from connected bottom portion (7a), third (3) and fourth (4) sides rising from connected bottom portion (7b), said first (1) and fourth (4) sides terminating at top (5a, 5b) and said second and third sides connected at top (6). The terminating tops of first and fourth sides having flanges (5a, 5b) and the connected top portion between the second and third sides having flange (6) to connect it to the fuel tank wall. The connected bottom portions between first and second sides and third and fourth sides having round vertex shape (7a, 7b) . The sides (1,2,3,4) having perforation to allow the fuel to pass from one side to another during sloshing when the vehicle is moving. The flanges are connected to the top shell of the fuel tank.


The above configuration can be a "W" shaped baffle and it is spot welded to top shell of fuel tank.
It is used for metallic fuel tank where tank is made up of two parts upper shell (10) and lower shell (11) both joined together by spot welding process. The baffle is spot welded to top portion (Fig 3) of fuel tank from interior. Flanges (5,5a & 6) are welded to the upper shell of the tank.
The foregoing description is a specific embodiment of the present invention. It should be appreciated that this embodiment is described for purpose of illustration only, and that numerous alterations and modifications may be practiced by those skilled in the art without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention. It is intended that all such modifications and alterations be included insofar as they come within the scope of the invention as claimed or the equivalents thereof.


WE CLAIM
1. A baffle structure in a fuel tank of any automobile comprising of at least four sides wherein the first and second sides rising from the connected bottom portion and third and fourth sides rising from the next connected portion; said first and fourth sides terminating at top and said second and third sides connected at top in the middle; the terminating tops of first and fourth sides having flanges and the connected top portion between the second and third sides having flange to connect it to the fuel tank wall.
2. The baffle structure as claimed in claim 1, is attachable to the upper shell of the fuel tank from the interior; said upper shell and lower shell of the fuel tank both joined together.
3. The baffle structure as claimed in claims 1 and 2, wherein connected bottom portion between said first and second sides and said third and fourth sides having round vertex shape.
4. The baffle structure as claimed in claims 1 to 3, wherein the sides of the baffles are provided with perforations.
5. The baffle structure as claimed in claims 1 to 4, wherein the configuration is in the form of a 'W shape or any other similar shape.
6. The baffle structure as claimed in claims 1 to 4, wherein the said baffle structure is spot welded to said top shell of fuel tank.
7. The baffle structure as claimed in claims 1 to 6 substantially as described in the accompanying drawings.


8. An automobile including multi utility vehicles / sports utility vehicles / motor vehicles fitted with the baffle structure in fuel tank as claimed in claim 1 to 7.



ABSTRACT
A Baffle Structure For Vehicle Fuel Tank
It is an apparatus for preventing vehicle instability from sloshing fuel and aiding structural strength of a vehicle fuel tank by using 'W shaped baffle that is welded to upper half of fuel tank at predetermined distance.