Concrete mixer vehicle having vertically-positioned CNG fuel tanks
First Claim
Patent Images
1. A concrete mixer vehicle, comprising:
- a chassis including a frame member extending in a generally-horizontal direction;
an engine coupled to the chassis;
a drum;
a drum drive transmission coupled to the drum;
a drum pedestal having a lower portion that is coupled to the frame member and an upper portion that is coupled to the drum drive transmission; and
a CNG tank coupled to the engine and configured to provide fuel thereto, wherein the CNG tank is positioned in a generally-vertical orientation relative to the frame member, wherein the CNG tank has a length measured along the generally-horizontal direction, a width measured across the generally-horizontal direction, and a height measured along a central axis, wherein the height is greater than the width and greater than the length such that the CNG tank is elongate, the height and the central axis disposed in the generally-vertical direction, wherein the CNG tank has an upper end and a lower end,wherein the lower end of the CNG tank is directly coupled to the drum pedestal with a support bracket, wherein the upper end of the CNG tank is directly coupled to the drum drive transmission with an intermediate superstructure, wherein the support bracket and the intermediate superstructure are disposed in a generally perpendicular orientation relative to the central axis, wherein the support bracket and the intermediate superstructure have distal ends that attach directly to the lower end and the upper end of the CNG tank, respectively.
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Abstract
A concrete mixer vehicle includes a chassis having a frame member extending in a generally-horizontal direction, an engine coupled to the chassis, and a CNG tank coupled to the engine and configured to provide fuel thereto. The CNG tank is positioned in a generally-vertical orientation relative to the frame member.
96 Citations
13 Claims
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1. A concrete mixer vehicle, comprising:
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a chassis including a frame member extending in a generally-horizontal direction; an engine coupled to the chassis; a drum; a drum drive transmission coupled to the drum; a drum pedestal having a lower portion that is coupled to the frame member and an upper portion that is coupled to the drum drive transmission; and a CNG tank coupled to the engine and configured to provide fuel thereto, wherein the CNG tank is positioned in a generally-vertical orientation relative to the frame member, wherein the CNG tank has a length measured along the generally-horizontal direction, a width measured across the generally-horizontal direction, and a height measured along a central axis, wherein the height is greater than the width and greater than the length such that the CNG tank is elongate, the height and the central axis disposed in the generally-vertical direction, wherein the CNG tank has an upper end and a lower end, wherein the lower end of the CNG tank is directly coupled to the drum pedestal with a support bracket, wherein the upper end of the CNG tank is directly coupled to the drum drive transmission with an intermediate superstructure, wherein the support bracket and the intermediate superstructure are disposed in a generally perpendicular orientation relative to the central axis, wherein the support bracket and the intermediate superstructure have distal ends that attach directly to the lower end and the upper end of the CNG tank, respectively. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9)
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10. A front discharge concrete mixer vehicle, comprising:
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a chassis including a frame member extending in a generally-horizontal direction and having a front end and a rear end; a concrete mixing drum having an opening at the front end of the chassis and coupled to the frame member with a front drum pedestal and a rear drum pedestal; a drum drive transmission coupled to the concrete mixing drum and coupled to an upper portion of the rear drum pedestal; an operator cab positioned at the front end of the chassis; an engine positioned at the rear end of the chassis; and a CNG tank coupled to the engine and configured to provide fuel thereto, wherein the CNG tank is positioned in a generally-vertical orientation relative to the frame member, wherein the CNG tank has a length measured along the generally-horizontal direction, a width measured across the generally-horizontal direction, and a height measured along a central axis, wherein the height is greater than the width and greater than the length such that the CNG tank is elongate, the height and the central axis disposed in the generally-vertical direction, wherein the CNG tank has an upper end and a lower end, wherein the lower end of the CNG tank is directly coupled to the drum pedestal with a support bracket, wherein the upper end of the CNG tank is directly coupled to the drum drive transmission with an intermediate superstructure, wherein the support bracket and the intermediate superstructure are disposed in a generally perpendicular orientation relative to the central axis, wherein the support bracket and the intermediate superstructure have distal ends that attach directly to the lower end and the upper end of the CNG tank, respectively. - View Dependent Claims (11, 12, 13)
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Specification