FORM 2
THE PATENT ACT 1970 (as amended)
[39 OF 1970]
&
The Patents Rules, 2003
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION
[See Section 10 and Rule 13]
TITLE: “A FUEL TANK OF AN AUTOMOBILE AND METHOD OF
ASSEMBLING THEREOF”
Name and address of the Applicant:
TATA MOTORS LIMITED, an Indian company having its registered office at Bombay house, 24 Homi Mody Street, Hutatma Chowk, Mumbai 400 001, Maharashtra, INDIA.
Nationality: INDIAN
The following specification particularly describes the nature of the invention and the manner in which it is to be performed.

TECHINCAL FIELD
Embodiments of the present disclosure relates to a fuel tank of an automobile. More particularly, embodiments relates to a fuel tank having a baffle members to avoid fuel sloshing on to the walls and other components of the fuel tank.
BACKGROUND OF DISCLOSURE
Baffles have been used for many years in fuel tanks to reduce the effect of the fuel sloshing when the vehicle is in motion. When a vehicle is moving, fuel can flow rapidly from one side of the tank to the other. In a fuel tank without a baffle, the fuel sloshing within a tank can cause instability in the vehicle and reduce control and potentially cause it to swerve or tip over. Additionally, the sloshing of a large amount of fuel against the walls of the tank can cause stress on the tank walls. A correctly placed baffle interrupts the sloshing fuel and slows the fuel wave so the effect of the fuel movement is less, thereby increasing the stability of the vehicle and reducing the stress on the walls of the tank.
Baffles in fuel tanks are becoming more important as larger automobiles are being produced by the automakers. Heavy duty vehicles are now common on the road. These heavy duty vehicles have poor fuel efficiency compared to smaller vehicles and require larger fuel tanks. They also have a higher center of gravity than typical passenger vehicles, which makes them inherently less stable than passenger vehicles. With large volumes of fuel slosh, vehicle stability and control can become an issue. Using effective baffles in these vehicles reduces concerns.
The baffles are very important component fuel tank that controls slosh effect of automotive fuels on subsystem parts like fuel supply module, fuel gauging and also tank structural durability against slosh impact during vehicle acceleration, braking and cornering. The primary function of a fuel tank is to carry the fuel safely during vehicle ruining and in static condition fuel without leakage.

A major consideration of fuel tank design process is the reaction of the fluid slosh against various sub system components for functions and durability. The primary purpose of the baffles is to prevent undesirable movement of the liquid in the tank. A secondary advantage of the baffles is that they will provide some structural support to the tank.
In the existing fuel tanks, baffle members are welded inside the fuel tank by spot welding process. And they have certain limitations such as design is suitable only for simple shape fuel tank and not complex shape fuel tanks and required specific holding fixture to locate the baffle in the tank for different sizes of fuel tank at the time of end cover seam welding. Further, because of spot welding process the stress increases at the welded portions and causes failure due to the fuel sloshing.
In light of forgoing discussion, there is a need for a fuel tank having baffle members which are mounted by a simple method to overcome the limitations stated above.
STATEMENT OF THE DISCLOSURE
Accordingly the present disclosure provides a fuel tank (100) of a vehicle comprising; a top shell (101) and a bottom shell (102) of predetermined shape adapted to form a walls (103 and 106) of the fuel tank (100), wherein said shells (101 and 102) consists of plurality of inwardly projecting portions (105) on their inner wall (106); plurality baffle members (107) of predetermined shape mounted transversely in the fuel tank (100) in between the inwardly projecting portions (105); and a central support (109) adapted to hold the baffle members (107) in the fuel tank (100) and also provides for a method of assembling a fuel tank (100) of a vehicle, said method comprising acts of; holding a top shell (101) and a bottom shell (102) of the fuel tank (100) by suitable means; wherein said shells (101 and 102) consists of plurality of inwardly projecting portions (105) on their inner walls (106); mounting plurality of baffle members (107) inside the fuel tank (100) in between the inwardly projecting portions; connecting plurality of baffle

members (107) by a central support (109) of the fuel tank (100); and joining a top shell (101) and bottom shell (102) by predefined process.
OBJECTIVES OF THE DISCLOSURE
One object of the present disclosure is to improve structural integrity of fuel tank by reducing fluid impact on fuel tank and subsystem components of the fuel tank.
One object of the present disclosure is to obtain a smooth fluid flow inside fuel tank.
One object of the present disclosure is to eliminate joining process such as welding, gluing, fastening of the baffle members inside the fuel tank.
One object of the present disclosure is to provide an strong and durable tank in which the baffles do not tend to break from the tank wall at their point of attachment.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE ACCOMPANYING FIGURES
The novel features and characteristic of the disclosure are set forth in the appended claims. The disclosure itself, however, as well as a preferred mode of use, further objectives and advantages thereof, will best be understood by reference to the following detailed description of an illustrative embodiment when read in conjunction with the accompanying figures. One or more embodiments are now described, by way of example only, with reference to the accompanying figures wherein like reference numerals represent like elements and in which:
FIG. 1 illustrates top shell and bottom shell of the fuel tank having inwardly projecting portions for mounting the baffle members.
FIG. 2 and 3 illustrates perspective view and front view of fuel tank comprising V-shape baffle members.
FIG. 4 illustrates baffle members mounted on centre support of the fuel tank.

FIG. 5 illustrates round shaped baffle members mounted on centre support of the fuel tank.
The figures depict embodiments of the disclosure for purposes of illustration only. One skilled in the art will readily recognize from the following description that alternative embodiments of the structures and methods illustrated herein may be employed without departing from the principles of the disclosure described herein.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION
In the following detailed description, reference is made to the accompanying figures, which form a part hereof. In the figures, similar symbols typically identify similar components, unless context dictates otherwise. The illustrative embodiments described in the detailed description, figures, and claims are not meant to be limiting. Other embodiments may be utilized, and other changes may be made, without departing from the spirit or scope of the subject matter presented herein. It will be readily understood that the aspects of the present disclosure, as generally described herein, and illustrated in the figures, can be arranged, substituted, combined, and designed in a wide variety of different configurations, all of which are explicitly contemplated and make part of this disclosure.
This disclosure is drawn, inter-alia, to a fuel tank of an automobile. More particularly, embodiments relates to a fuel tank having a baffle members to avoid fuel sloshing on to the walls and other components of the fuel tank.
One embodiment of the present disclosure provides a fuel tank (100) of a vehicle comprising; a top shell (101) and a bottom shell (102) of predetermined shape adapted to form a walls (103 and 106) of the fuel tank (100), wherein said shells (101 and 102) consists of plurality of inwardly projecting portions (105) on their inner wall (106); plurality baffle members (107) of predetermined shape mounted

transversely in the fuel tank (100) in between the inwardly projecting portions (105); and a central support (110) adapted to hold the baffle members (107) in the fuel tank (100).
In one embodiment of the present disclosure, plurality of grooves (104) are formed in between the inwardly projecting portions (105) of the inner wall (106) for supporting the baffle members (107).
In one embodiment of the present disclosure, the baffle members (107) are bent at their edges to form channel portions (108) for receiving inwardly projecting portions (105) of the shells (101 and 102).
In one embodiment of the present disclosure, the top shell (101) and the bottom shell (102) of the fuel tank (100) are joined using predefined process.
In one embodiment of the present disclosure, the baffle members (107) is selected from at least one of V-shape baffle, round shape baffle, and straight plates.
In one embodiment of the present disclosure, the baffle members (107) are provided with perforations (110) for allowing flow of fuel in between the baffle members (107) of the fuel tank (100).
The present disclosure is also in relation to a method of assembling a fuel tank (100) of a vehicle, said method comprising acts of; holding a top shell (101) and a bottom shell (102) of the fuel tank (100) by suitable means; wherein said shells (101 and 102) consists of plurality of inwardly projecting portions (105) on their inner walls (106); mounting plurality of baffle members (107) inside the fuel tank (100) in between the inwardly projecting portions (105); connecting plurality of baffle members (107) by a central support (109) of the fuel tank (100); and joining a top shell (101) and bottom shell (102) by predefined process.

In one embodiment of the present disclosure, the baffle members (107) are bent at their edges to form channel portions (108) for receiving inwardly projecting portions (105) of the shells (101 and 102).
In one embodiment of the present disclosure, the baffle members (107) are assembled inside the fuel tank (100) by male-female interlocking arrangement.
In one embodiment of the present disclosure, the baffle members (107) are supported by grooves (104) formed between the inwardly projecting portions (105).
In one embodiment of the present disclosure, the top and bottom shells (101 and 102) are held together by a means selected from at least one of flanges (111), nuts and bolts, screws, rivets or any other fastener which serve the purpose.
In one embodiment of the present disclosure, the top shell (101) and the bottom shell (102) of the fuel tank (100) are joined by the process selected from at least one of spot welding, seam welding, arc welding, tack welding, brazing and any other process which serve the purpose.
FIG. 1 is an exemplary embodiment which illustrates top shell (101) and bottom shell (102) of the fuel tank (100) having an inwardly projecting portions (105) for mounting the baffle members (107). The top shell (101) and bottom shell (102) forms the outer wall (103) inner wall (106) of the fuel tank (100) and the said shells (101 and 102) are provided with inwardly projecting portions (105) for supporting a baffle member (107) inside the fuel tank (100). The top shell (101) and bottom shell (102) are connected together by end flanges (111) and after wards they are seam welded. Plurality of baffle members (107) are provided inside the fuel tank (100) to avoid sloshing of fuel on walls (103 and 106) and other components of fuel tank (100). The baffle members (107) are bent at their edges to provide the channel portions (108) for receiving the inwardly projecting portions (105) of the shells (101 and 102). The baffle members (107) are assembled to the fuel tank (100) by male-female interlock arrangements.

In one embodiment of the present disclosure, due to plurality of inwardly projecting portions (105) plurality of grooves (104) are formed between the inwardly projecting portions (105) of the inner wall (106) for holding the baffle members (107). And said baffle members (107) are bent at their edges to form channel portions (108) for receiving the inwardly projecting portions (105) of the shells (101 and 102).
In one embodiment of the present disclosure, the inwardly projecting portions (105) formed on the inner wall (106) of the fuel tank (100) by deep drawing process or any process which serve the purpose.
In one embodiment of the present disclosure, the shells (101 and 102) are held together by any members selected from a group but not limited to end flanges, nuts and bolts, screws or any other fastener which serve the same purpose. And said end flanges (111) are tack welded for stability purpose.
In one embodiment of the present disclosure, the shape of the baffle members (107) is selected from a group but not limited to V-shape baffle, round shape baffle and straight plates.
In one embodiment of the present disclosure, the baffle members (107) are placed longitudinally inside the fuel tank (100). And said baffle members (107) are bent at their edges to form the channels (108) for receiving the inwardly projecting portions (105) of the fuel tank (100).
FIG. 2 and 3 are exemplary embodiments illustrates perspective view and front view of a fuel tank (100) comprising V-shape baffle members (107). Plurality of baffle members (107) are assembled to the fuel tank (100) by male-female interlocking arrangement to form different segments in the fuel tank (100). Plurality of perforations (110) are provided in the baffle members (107) to allow free flow of fluid between different segments of baffle members (107) inside the fuel tank (100) and passages are provided at the end of the baffle members

(107) for allowing small amounts of fuel left in the fuel tank (100) to circulate between different segments of the fuel tank (100).
FIG. 4 and FIG. 5 are an exemplary embodiments illustrates baffle members
(107) mounted with a centre support (109) of the fuel tank. The said centre
support (109) is provided to support the baffle members (107) inside the fuel tank
(100).
In one embodiment of the present disclosure a method of assembling a fuel tank (100) is disclosed which fallows the fallowing steps. The top shell (101) and bottom shell (102) having plurality of inwardly projecting potions (105) are held together by a suitable means. Now the baffle members (107) having channel
(108) placed inside the shells (101 and 102) such that the channel (108) receive
the inwardly projecting potions (105) of the shells (101 and 102). Then said baffle
members (107) are held by a central support (109) of the fuel tank (100). Now
shells (101 and 102) are joined by using a predefined process.
In one embodiment of the present disclosure, the shells (101 and 102) are joined by a process selected from a group comprising arc welding, seam welding, tack welding, mig welding, tig welding, fusing, brazing or any other process which serve the purpose.
In one embodiment of the present disclosure, the shape of the baffle members (107) are selected from a group but not limited to V- shape, round shape and straight plate.
In one embodiment of the present disclosure, the shape of the fuel tank (100) is selected from a parabolic shape, square shape, rectangle shape and cylindrical shape.
In one embodiment of the present disclosure, the fuel tank (100) is used for vehicles having low vapor pressure / no vapor pressure.

In one embodiment of the present disclosure radius of the grooves (104) matches with radius channel portions (108) to assemble the baffle members (107) inside the fuel tank (100). Said grooves (104) and channel portions (108) forms the male and female interlocking arrangement. And said baffle members (107) also get support by inwardly projecting portions (105).
In one embodiment of the present disclosure, the grooves (104) are formed throughout the length of shells (101 and 102) except at the curved portions for mounting the baffle members (107).
Advantages:
The present disclosure provides a fuel tank with baffle members mounted inside with male-female interlocking arrangement which is strong and durable and also avoids internal stresses on the walls of the fuel tank.
The present disclosure provides a fuel tank with baffle members mounted inside which avoids the fuel slosh on the components of fuel tank such as fuel sensors, fuel supply meter, and fuel gauging and improves function and durability.
The present disclosure provides a fuel tank with baffle members mounted inside it provide structural support to the fuel tank.
Equivalents
With respect to the use of substantially any plural and/or singular terms herein, those having skill in the art can translate from the plural to the singular and/or from the singular to the plural as is appropriate to the context and/or application. The various singular/plural permutations may be expressly set forth herein for sake of clarity.
It will be understood by those within the art that, in general, terms used herein, and especially in the appended claims (e.g., bodies of the appended claims) are generally intended as "open" terms (e.g., the term "including" should be

interpreted as "including but not limited to," the term "having" should be interpreted as "having at least," the term "includes" should be interpreted as "includes but is not limited to," etc.). It will be further understood by those within the art that if a specific number of an introduced claim recitation is intended, such an intent will be explicitly recited in the claim, and in the absence of such recitation no such intent is present. For example, as an aid to understanding, the following appended claims may contain usage of the introductory phrases "at least one" and "one or more" to introduce claim recitations. However, the use of such phrases should not be construed to imply that the introduction of a claim recitation by the indefinite articles "a" or "an" limits any particular claim containing such introduced claim recitation to inventions containing only one such recitation, even when the same claim includes the introductory phrases "one or more" or "at least one" and indefinite articles such as "a" or "an" (e.g., "a" and/or "an" should typically be interpreted to mean "at least one" or "one or more"); the same holds true for the use of definite articles used to introduce claim recitations. In addition, even if a specific number of an introduced claim recitation is explicitly recited, those skilled in the art will recognize that such recitation should typically be interpreted to mean at least the recited number (e.g., the bare recitation of "two recitations," without other modifiers, typically means at least two recitations, or two or more recitations). Furthermore, in those instances where a convention analogous to "at least one of A, B, and C, etc." is used, in general such a construction is intended in the sense one having skill in the art would understand the convention (e.g., "a system having at least one of A, B, and C" would include but not be limited to systems that have A alone, B alone, C alone, A and B together, A and C together, B and C together, and/or A, B, and C together, etc.). In those instances where a convention analogous to "at least one of A, B, or C, etc." is used, in general such a construction is intended in the sense one having skill in the art would understand the convention (e.g., "a system having at least one of A, B, or C" would include but not be limited to systems that have A alone, B alone, C alone, A and B together, A and C together, B and C together, and/or A, B, and C together, etc.). It will be further understood by those within the

art that virtually any disjunctive word and/or phrase presenting two or more alternative terms, whether in the description, claims, or drawings, should be understood to contemplate the possibilities of including one of the terms, either of the terms, or both terms. For example, the phrase "A or B" will be understood to include the possibilities of "A" or "B" or "A and B."
While various aspects and embodiments have been disclosed herein, other aspects and embodiments will be apparent to those skilled in the art. The various aspects and embodiments disclosed herein are for purposes of illustration and are not intended to be limiting, with the true scope and spirit being indicated by the following claims.
Referral Numerals:

Reference number Description
100 Fuel tank
101 Top shell
102 Bottom shell
103 Outer wall
104 Grooves
105 Inwardly projecting portions
106 Inner walls
107 Baffle members
108 Channel portions
109 Central support
110 Perforations
111 End flanges

We claim:
1. A fuel tank (100) of a vehicle comprising;
a top shell (101) and a bottom shell (102) of predetermined shape adapted to form a walls (103 and 106) of the fuel tank (100), wherein said shells (101 and 102) consists of plurality of inwardly projecting portions (105) on their inner wall (106);
plurality baffle members (107) of predetermined shape mounted transversely in the fuel tank (100) in between the inwardly projecting portions (105); and
a central support (109) adapted to hold the baffle members (107) in the fuel tank (100).
2. The fuel tank as claimed in claim 1, wherein plurality of grooves (104) are formed in between the inwardly projecting portions (105) of the inner wall (106) for supporting the baffle members (107).
3. The fuel as claimed in claim 1, wherein the baffle members (107) are bent at their edges to form channel portions (108) for receiving inwardly projecting portions (105) of the shells (101 and 102).
4. The fuel tank as claimed in the claim 1, wherein the top shell (101) and the bottom shell (102) of the fuel tank (100) are joined using predefined process.
5. The fuel tank as claimed in calim 1, wherein the baffle members (107) is selected from at least one of V-shape baffle, round shape baffle, and straight plates.
6. The fuel tank as claimed in claim 1, wherein the baffle members (107) are provided with perforations (110) for allowing flow of fuel in between the baffle members (107) of the fuel tank (100).

7. A method of assembling a fuel tank (100) of a vehicle, said method
comprising acts of;
holding a top shell (101) and a bottom shell (102) of the fuel tank (100) by suitable means; wherein said shells (101 and 102) consists of plurality of inwardly projecting portions (105) on their inner walls (106);
mounting plurality of baffle members (107) inside the fuel tank (100) in between the inwardly projecting portions (105);
connecting plurality of baffle members (107) by a central support (109) of the fuel tank (100); and
joining a top shell (101) and bottom shell (102) by predefined process.
8. The method as claimed in claim 7, wherein the baffle members (107) are bent at their edges to form channel portions (108) for receiving inwardly projecting portions (105) of the shells (101 and 102).
9. The method as claimed in claim 6, wherein the baffle members (107) are assembled inside the fuel tank (100) by male-female interlocking arrangement.
10. The method as claimed in claim 6, wherein the baffle members (107) are supported by grooves (104) formed between the inwardly projecting portions (105).
11. The method as claimed in claim 6, wherein the top and bottom shells (101 and 102) are held together by a means selected from at least one of flanges (111), nuts and bolts, screws, rivets or any other fastener which serve the purpose.
12. The method as claimed in claim 6, wherein the top shell (101) and the bottom shell (102) of the fuel tank (100) are joined by the process selected from at least one of spot welding, seam welding, arc welding, tack welding, brazing and any other process which serve the purpose.

13. A vehicle comprising a fuel tank (100) assembly as claimed in claim 1.
14. A fuel tank (100) of a vehicle and method of assembling a fuel tank (100) of a vehicle are substantially as herein above described and as illustrated in accompanying drawings.