Vehicle tank mounting assembly

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-12005773-B2
Application number	US-202117386941-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Jul 28, 2021
Priority date	Jul 28, 2021
Publication date	Jun 11, 2024
Grant date	Jun 11, 2024

Abstract

A mounting assembly for a vehicle is provided. The vehicle has a chassis with a first frame rail and a second frame rail extending longitudinally. The mounting assembly has a bracket with a concave region to receive and attach to a compressed gas tank to move the compressed gas tank away from an external force applied to an outer surface of the tank and in a first direction towards and beneath the first frame rail. The bracket has a first end region connected to the first frame rail to position the tank on an outboard side of the first frame rail.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A vehicle comprising:
a chassis with a first frame rail and a second frame rail, each frame rail extending longitudinally; and
a mounting assembly having a bracket with a concave region to receive and attach to a compressed gas tank to move the compressed gas tank away from an external force applied to an outer surface of the tank and in a first direction towards and beneath the first frame rail, the bracket having a first end region connected to the first frame rail to position the tank on an outboard side of the first frame rail.

2. The vehicle of claim 1 wherein the bracket defines a stress riser positioned between the concave region and the first end region to plastically deform without fracturing in response to the external force on the tank.

3. The vehicle of claim 2 wherein a corrugated shape defined by the bracket forms the stress riser.

4. The vehicle of claim 2 further comprising a stop limit connected to the first frame rail, the stop limit positioned to limit movement of the tank in the first direction.

5. The vehicle of claim 2 further comprising a dive plate connected to the first frame rail, the dive plate positioned to guide movement of the tank in the first direction and along an outer face of the dive plate.

6. The vehicle of claim 1 wherein the first end region of the bracket is connected to the first frame rail via a hinge and a locking element, the locking element to fracture in response to the external force on the tank such that the bracket rotates relative to the first frame rail via the hinge.

7. The vehicle of claim 1 wherein the first end region of the bracket has a first mounting tube connected thereto, and the first frame rail has a second mounting tube connected thereto, one of the first and second mounting tubes slidably received within the other of the first and second mounting tubes; and
wherein the first and second mounting tubes are connected via a locking element to fracture in response to the external force on the tank such that the first mounting tube slides relative to the second mounting tube.

8. The vehicle of claim 1 wherein the vehicle is without a frame positioned outboard of the compressed gas tank.

9. The vehicle of claim 1 comprising a secondary rail having a first end and a second end, the first and second ends each connected to the first frame rail, the secondary rail extending outwardly from the first frame rail on the outboard side thereof and surrounding the compressed gas tank.

10. The vehicle of claim 9 wherein the first end region of the bracket is connected to the first frame rail via a hinge; and
wherein the bracket has a second end region opposite to the first end region, the concave region positioned between the first and second end regions, the second end region of the bracket connected to the secondary rail via a locking element, the locking element to fracture in response to the external force on the tank such that the bracket rotates relative to the first frame rail via the hinge.

11. The vehicle of claim 1 wherein the mounting assembly further comprises an outer frame connected to the bracket, the outer frame defining a recessed area to receive the tank and the concave region of the bracket; and
wherein the outer frame is rotatably connected to the first frame rail via a hinge and a locking element such that the recessed area is positioned between the outer frame and the first frame rail.

12. The vehicle of claim 11 wherein the outer frame and the bracket rotate relative to the first frame rail via the hinge in response to fracturing of the locking element.

13. The vehicle of claim 11 further comprising:
a sensor connected to the tank; and
a controller in communication with the sensor and the locking element, the controller opening the locking element in response to receiving a signal from the sensor indicative of the external force exceeding a threshold value to allow the outer frame and the bracket to rotate relative to the first frame rail via the hinge.

14. The vehicle of claim 1 wherein the mounting assembly further comprises a dive plate connected to the first frame rail, the dive plate having an outer face extending in a plane parallel to the first direction and facing away from the first frame rail, the outer face defining a track;
wherein the first end region of the bracket is slidably engaged with the track such that the dive plate connects the bracket to the first frame rail; and
wherein the mounting assembly further comprises a locking element releasably connecting the bracket to the dive plate.

15. The vehicle of claim 1 further comprising a compressed gas tank having a circular outer perimeter;
wherein the concave region of the bracket extends about a portion of the circular outer perimeter.

16. The vehicle of claim 15 further comprising a fuel line connected to the compressed gas tank via a normally closed solenoid valve, the fuel line fluidly connecting the compressed gas tank to a prime mover of the vehicle.

17. The vehicle of claim 15 further comprising at least one strap extending about the compressed gas tank and the bracket to maintain the compressed gas tank within the concave region of the bracket.

18. A mounting assembly for a compressed gas fuel tank, the mounting assembly comprising:
an outer frame supporting the compressed gas fuel tank, the outer frame defining a recessed area to receive at least a portion of the compressed gas fuel tank therein;
a hinge connected to the outer frame to rotatably connect the outer frame to a longitudinal frame rail of a vehicle chassis and support the compressed gas fuel tank on an outboard side thereof such that the recessed area is positioned between the outer frame and the frame rail; and
a locking element connected to the outer frame, the locking element maintaining a position of the outer frame relative to the hinge in a first state, and releasing the hinge in a second state such that the outer frame and tank rotate away from an external force applied to an outer surface of the tank and in a first direction towards and beneath the frame rail.

19. A mounting assembly for a compressed gas fuel tank, the mounting assembly comprising:
a bracket extending from a first end region to a second end region, the first end region to connect to a longitudinal frame rail of a vehicle chassis to support the compressed gas fuel tank on an outboard side thereof, the bracket defining a concave region positioned between the first and second end regions, the concave region sized to receive the compressed gas fuel tank and extend about at least a portion of an outer perimeter of the tank;
wherein the mounting assembly plastically deforms without fracture to move the compressed gas fuel tank away from an external force applied to an outer surface of the tank and in a first direction towards and beneath the frame rail.

20. The mounting assembly of claim 19 , wherein the bracket further comprises a corrugation positioned between the first end region and the concave region, the corrugation formed by first and second side walls that are angled relative to the first end region and an end wall connecting the side walls, wherein the end wall connects the first end region to the concave region via the first and second side walls, and wherein the corrugation provides a stress riser for the mounting assembly that plastically deforms without fracturing in response to the external force on the tank.

Assignees

• Ford Global Tech Llc

Inventors

• Mathie Craig Michael
• Veenstra Michael Jon
• Conrad Ii Joseph Michael

Classifications

• B62D21/02 Primary

  comprising longitudinally or transversely arranged frame members · CPC title

• B60K2015/03118

  Multiple tanks, i.e. two or more separate tanks · CPC title

• B60Y2306/01

  Reducing damages in case of crash, e.g. by improving battery protection · CPC title

• B60Y2200/14

  Trucks; Load vehicles, Busses · CPC title

• B60K2015/0636

  the fuel tank being part of the chassis or frame · CPC title