Deformable bracket for translating vehicle fuel box

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-11801898-B2
Application number	US-202017002630-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Aug 25, 2020
Priority date	Aug 25, 2020
Publication date	Oct 31, 2023
Grant date	Oct 31, 2023

Abstract

A system for reducing risk of fuel leakage of a vehicle during a collision includes a vehicle main body configured to support and at least partially enclose a passenger. The system further includes a fuel inlet box configured to house a fuel inlet. The system further includes a rear bracket coupled to the vehicle main body at a location aft of the fuel inlet box. The system further includes a center shaft coupled to the rear bracket and extending forward from the rear bracket. The system further includes a forward bracket coupled to the vehicle main body at a location forward relative to the rear bracket and coupled to the center shaft, the forward bracket configured to deform in response to a rear collision of the vehicle to actuate the fuel inlet box in order to reduce the likelihood of a fuel leak from the fuel inlet.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A system for reducing risk of fuel leakage of a vehicle during a collision, the system comprising:
a vehicle main body configured to support and at least partially enclose a passenger;
a fuel inlet box configured to house a fuel inlet;
a rear bracket coupled to the vehicle main body at a location aft of the fuel inlet box;
a center shaft coupled to the rear bracket and extending forward from the rear bracket; and
a forward bracket coupled to the vehicle main body at a location forward relative to the rear bracket and coupled to the center shaft, the forward bracket configured to deform in response to a rear collision of the vehicle to actuate the fuel inlet box in order to reduce the likelihood of a fuel leak from the fuel inlet.

2. The system of claim 1 wherein the forward bracket is configured to deform to actuate the fuel inlet box in an outward direction relative to the vehicle main body and to rotate the fuel inlet box relative to the vehicle main body.

3. The system of claim 2 further comprising the fuel inlet configured to be positioned within the fuel inlet box and to receive fuel for refilling the vehicle, wherein the actuation of the fuel inlet box reduces the likelihood of the fuel inlet box contacting the fuel inlet during the collision.

4. The system of claim 2 wherein the forward bracket is at least partially located inward relative to the fuel inlet box.

5. The system of claim 4 wherein the forward bracket includes a hinge location configured to deform in response to the rear collision, and wherein the hinge location is located rearward relative to the fuel inlet box.

6. The system of claim 5 wherein the forward bracket has at least one of a reduced thickness at the hinge location relative to other locations or a reduced width in a direction perpendicular to the center shaft at the hinge location relative to other locations, the at least one of the reduced thickness or the reduced width causing the forward bracket to deform in response to the rear collision.

7. The system of claim 1 wherein the forward bracket defines a beam pocket configured to receive the center shaft such that the forward bracket is coupled to the center shaft via interaction of the beam pocket and the center shaft.

8. The system of claim 7 wherein the rear bracket is permanently coupled to the vehicle main body and to the center shaft, and the forward bracket is permanently coupled to the vehicle main body.

9. The system of claim 1 further comprising a rear wheelhouse configured to at least partially house a rear vehicle wheel, wherein the fuel inlet box is at least partially aligned with the rear wheelhouse.

10. The system of claim 1 wherein the rear bracket, the center shaft, and the forward bracket are combined into an integral component.

11. The system of claim 1 wherein the rear bracket, the center shaft, and the forward bracket are each formed of steel.

12. A system for reducing risk of fuel leakage of a vehicle during a collision, the system comprising:
a vehicle main body configured to support and at least partially enclose a passenger;
a fuel inlet box configured to house a fuel inlet;
a rear bracket coupled to the vehicle main body at a location aft of the fuel inlet box;
a center shaft coupled to the rear bracket and extending forward from the rear bracket; and
a forward bracket coupled to the vehicle main body at a location forward relative to the rear bracket and coupled to the center shaft, the forward bracket configured to deform in response to a rear collision of the vehicle to actuate the fuel inlet box in an outward direction relative to the vehicle main body.

13. The system of claim 12 further comprising the fuel inlet configured to be positioned within the fuel inlet box and to receive fuel for refilling the vehicle, wherein:
the actuation of the fuel inlet box reduces the likelihood of the fuel inlet box contacting the fuel inlet during the collision; and
the forward bracket is at least partially located inward relative to the fuel inlet box.

14. The system of claim 13 wherein the forward bracket includes a hinge location configured to deform in response to the rear collision, and wherein the hinge location is located rearward relative to the fuel inlet box.

15. The system of claim 14 wherein the forward bracket has at least one of a reduced thickness at the hinge location relative to other locations or a reduced width in a direction perpendicular to the center shaft at the hinge location relative to other locations, the at least one of the reduced thickness or the reduced width causing the forward bracket to deform in response to the rear collision.

16. The system of claim 12 wherein:
the rear bracket is permanently coupled to the vehicle main body and to the center shaft; and
the forward bracket is permanently coupled to the vehicle main body and defines a beam pocket configured to receive the center shaft such that the forward bracket is coupled to the center shaft via interaction of the beam pocket and the center shaft.

17. The system of claim 12 further comprising a rear wheelhouse configured to at least partially house a rear vehicle wheel, wherein the fuel inlet box is at least partially aligned with the rear wheelhouse.

18. A system for reducing risk of fuel leakage of a vehicle during a collision, the system comprising:
a vehicle main body configured to support and at least partially enclose a passenger;
a fuel inlet box configured to house a fuel inlet;
a rear bracket permanently coupled to the vehicle main body at a location aft of the fuel inlet box;
a center shaft permanently coupled to the rear bracket and extending forward from the rear bracket; and
a forward bracket permanently coupled to the vehicle main body at a location forward relative to the rear bracket and defining a beam pocket configured to receive the center shaft to couple the center shaft to the forward bracket, the forward bracket configured to deform in response to a rear collision of the vehicle to actuate the fuel inlet box in order to reduce the likelihood of a fuel leak.

19. The system of claim 18 further comprising the fuel inlet configured to be positioned within the fuel inlet box and to receive fuel for refilling the vehicle, wherein:
the forward bracket is configured to deform to actuate the fuel inlet box in an outward direction relative to the vehicle main body and to rotate the fuel inlet box relative to the vehicle main body;
the actuation of the fuel inlet box reduces the likelihood of the fuel inlet box contacting the fuel inlet during the collision; and
the forward bracket is at least partially located inward relative to the fuel inlet box.

20. The system of claim 19 wherein:
the forward bracket includes a hinge location configured to deform in response to the rear collision, wherein the hinge location is located rearward relative to the fuel inlet box;
the forward bracket has at least one of a reduced thickness at the hinge location relative to other locations or a reduced width in a direction perpendicular to the center shaft at the hinge location relative to other locations; and
the at least one of the reduced thickness or the reduced width causing the forward bracket to deform in response to the rear collision.

Assignees

• Toyota Eng & Mfg North America

Inventors

• Gerczak Mitch J
• Clauser Mark D
• Tew Brian L

Classifications

• B62D21/152 Primary

  Front or rear frames · CPC title

• B60K15/04 Primary

  Tank inlets (B60K15/077 takes precedence) · CPC title

• B60K15/05

  Inlet covers · CPC title

• B60K15/063

  Arrangement of tanks · CPC title

• B60K2015/0553

  Details concerning the inlet box or bowl in the vehicle car body panel · CPC title