Blow molding process and apparatus

1. A blow molding process for making a hollow body, in particular a fuel tank, comprising the following steps:

placing a parison between parts of a blow mold;

at least partially closing the blow mold whereby the end regions of the parison are closed in a gas tight manner;

subjecting the interior space of the parison with a pressure medium whereby the parison is at least partially pressed against the blow mold parts and the hollow body is preformed;

engaging portions of the parison with clamping devices, the clamping devices being associated with the blow mold parts;

moving one or both of the blow mold parts relative to each other or moving at least one clamping device relative to the blow mold parts whereby the parison is torn between the clamping devices; and

placing at least one object between the torn apart pieces of the parison.

2. The process of claim 1 wherein the object is formed as a carrier for at least one fuel system component, such as a fuel pump, attached thereto.

3. The process of claim 1 wherein the clamping devices each comprise a groove into which groove material of the parison is received when the parison is subjected to the pressure medium.

4. The process of claim 3 wherein the clamping devices each comprise a clamping member which is adapted to be displaced relative to the blow mold parts, and a stop surface disposed opposite to the clamping member, wherein the groove is formed between the clamping member and the stop surface and wherein one or both of the clamping member and the stop surface is moved relative to the other to facilitate the clamping of the material of the parison.

5. The process of claim 1 wherein at least one clamping device is moved to tear the parison between two clamping devices without corresponding movement of the mold parts.

6. The process of claim 5 where two clamping devices are moved in opposed directions away from each other to tear a portion of the parison between the clamping devices.

7. The process of claim 1 wherein the torn apart pieces of the parison are placed against the parts of the blow mold and the space between the half-pieces and the parts of the blow mold is evacuated or an interior space of the parison is subjected to a pressure medium while the blow mold is closed, in order to perform a forming of the pieces of the parison which corresponds to the final shape of the hollow body.

8. The process of claim 1 wherein the object is brought into contact, in a form-fitting and/or friction-fitting manner, with the inside of the wall of at least one of the pieces at least at specific locations before the blow mold parts are closed.

9. The process of claim 8 wherein the object is made at least partially of a plastic material which can be welded to at least one piece of the parison.

10. The process of claim 1 wherein a further process step the pieces of the parison are, after being fully formed against the parts of the blow mold, materially fused to each other with opposing edge regions, which regions are still molten-hot or which have been reheated, by moving the blow mold parts against each other.

11. The process of claim 1 , wherein the parison is introduced into the blow mold by a gripping device or an extruder.

12. The process of claim 1 , wherein subjecting the parison to the pressure medium causes the parison to expand.

13. The process of claim 1 , wherein the clamping devices comprise one or more sliders that are movable relative to the parts of the blow mold; wherein parison tearing occurs by movement of one or more of the sliders relative to the parts of the blow mold.

14. The process of claim 13 , wherein the sliders are driven by one or more actuators.

15. The process of claim 1 , wherein the tearing of the parison occurs in a region of the parison that does not form a part of the hollow body.

16. The process of claim 1 , wherein the method further comprises at least one of providing a coating to an interior surface or providing a different contour to at least a portion of the interior surface of the torn apart pieces.

17. A blow molding process for making a fuel tank, comprising the following steps:

placing a parison between parts of a blow mold;

at least partially closing the blow mold whereby the end regions of the parison are closed in a gas tight manner;

subjecting the interior space of the parison with a pressure medium whereby the parison is at least partially pressed against the blow mold parts and the hollow body is preformed;

engaging portions of the parison with clamping devices, the clamping devices being associated with the blow mold parts;

moving one or both of the blow mold parts relative to each other or moving at least one clamping device relative to the blow mold parts whereby the parison is torn between the clamping devices;

placing at least one fuel system component or a carrier for at least one fuel system component between the torn apart pieces of the parison;

placing the torn apart pieces of the parison against the parts of the blow mold and evacuating the space between the half-pieces and the parts of the blow mold or subjecting an interior space of the parison to a pressure medium while the blow mold is closed, in order to perform a forming of the pieces of the parison which corresponds to the final shape of the hollow body; and

fusing opposing edge regions of the formed pieces of the parison to each other, which regions are still molten-hot or which have been reheated, by moving the blow mold parts against each other.

18. The process of claim 17 , wherein the clamping devices each comprise:

a groove into which groove material of the parison is received when the parison is subjected to the pressure medium;

a clamping member which is adapted to be displaced relative to the blow mold parts, and

a stop surface disposed opposite to the clamping member;

wherein the groove is formed between the clamping member and the stop surface and wherein one or both of the clamping member and the stop surface is moved relative to the other to facilitate the clamping of the material of the parison.

19. The process of claim 17 , wherein at least one clamping device is moved to tear the parison between two clamping devices without corresponding movement of the mold parts.