FUEL TANK MOUNT

• US 20080078598A1
• Filed: 09/29/2006
• Published: 04/03/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 09/29/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: GM Global Technology Operations LLC (General Motors Company)
• Original Assignee: GM Global Technology Operations Incorporated (General Motors Company)
• Inventors: Guelll, Thomas, Schwan, Mirko, Essinger, Reiner, Schuetz, Thorsten
• Granted Patent: US 7,744,127 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 180/69.4
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 15/067 Mounting of tanks
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 15/07 of gas tanks
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 2015/0638 the fuel tank is arranged in the rear of the vehicle

Abstract

A fuel tank assembly includes a fuel tank, a bracket carried by the fuel tank and having a portion accessible from the outside of the fuel tank to permit the assembly to be mounted to a vehicle, and an outer layer disposed around at least part of the fuel tank and a portion of the bracket to connect the bracket to the fuel tank. In one implementation, the fuel tank includes layers of composite material that have fibers embedded in resin or the like. The bracket is carried or trapped between adjacent layers of the composite material so that the bracket is fixed to the tank. The bracket preferably is connected to the tank at one end and is flexible in at least one direction to accommodate changes in the shape or dimensions of the fuel tank.

Claims

1. A fuel tank assembly, comprising:

a fuel tank defining an interior in which a supply of fuel is stored;

a bracket carried by the fuel tank and having a portion accessible from the outside of the fuel tank to permit the assembly to be mounted to a vehicle; and

an outer layer disposed around at least part of the fuel tank and a portion of the bracket to connect the bracket to the fuel tank.

2. The assembly of claim 1 wherein the fuel tank and outer layer are each defined at least in part by one or more composite layers of fibers and resin, and the bracket is disposed between adjacent composite layers.

3. The assembly of claim 2 wherein the outer layer is wrapped continuously around the periphery of tank along at least a portion of the axial extent of the tank.

4. The assembly of claim 1 wherein the outer layer includes fibers embedded in a resin that rigidly secures the bracket to the fuel tank.

5. The assembly of claim 1 wherein the bracket includes a plurality of brackets each connected to the fuel tank.

6. The assembly of claim 5 wherein each bracket is independently carried by tank.

7. The assembly of claim 1 wherein the bracket includes an arm extending substantially parallel to a longitudinal axis of the fuel tank and overlying a portion of the fuel tank.

8. The assembly of claim 1 wherein the bracket includes two arms extending substantially parallel to a longitudinal axis of the fuel tank and each overlying separate portions of the fuel tank.

9. The assembly of claim 8 wherein the arms are connected together by a bight that is exposed and extends outboard of the outer layer.

10. The assembly of claim 1 which also includes an isolator adapted to be disposed between the bracket and the vehicle when the fuel tank assembly is mounted to the vehicle.

11. The assembly of claim 1 wherein the bracket is generally L-shaped.

12. The assembly of claim 1 wherein the bracket is generally U-shaped.

13. A vehicle, comprising:

a fuel tank assembly including a tank defining an interior in which a supply of fuel is stored, and a bracket carried by the tank;

a frame including one or more structural members to which the fuel tank assembly is mounted and wherein the fuel tank assembly defines at least part of the frame so that the fuel tank assembly is subjected to loads from the vehicle in use.

14. The vehicle of claim 13 wherein the tank assembly spans between and interconnects two adjacent vehicle structural members.

15. The vehicle of claim 14 wherein the structural members include side rails interconnected by at least one cross member and by the tank assembly.

16. The vehicle of claim 13 wherein the bracket is connected directly to a portion of the frame.

17. A fuel tank assembly, comprising:

a fuel tank;

a bracket connected to the fuel tank at one end and having another end accessible from the outside of the fuel tank to permit the assembly to be mounted to a vehicle, said one end of the bracket being displaced with the fuel tank and relative to said another end of the bracket upon deformation of the fuel tank so that changes to the fuel tank dimensions can be accommodated by the bracket.

18. The assembly of claim 17 wherein the bracket includes a plurality of brackets connected to the fuel tank at spaced locations with each being formed of a resilient material to accommodate changes in the fuel tank dimensions in use.

19. The assembly of claim 17 wherein the fuel tank is generally cylindrical with a central axis, each bracket has an arm generally parallel to the axis of the tank and each bracket is connected to the tank along at least a portion of its arm.

20. The assembly of claim 19 wherein the brackets are constructed and arranged so that the brackets more readily flex in one direction than another.

21. The assembly of claim 20 wherein the brackets are thinner in one dimension than another.

22. The assembly of claim 20 wherein the brackets are bent to control the location at and direction in which they flex.

23. The assembly of claim 17 wherein the bracket is generally L-shaped.

24. The assembly of claim 17 wherein the bracket is generally U-shaped.