Device for a fuel tank in vehicles

• US 6,378,823 B1
• Filed: 01/15/1999
• Issued: 04/30/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 07/16/1996
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Volvo Lastvagnar AB (Volvo AB)
• Original Assignee: Volvo Lastvagnar AB (Volvo AB)
• Inventors: Edholm, Anders
• Primary Examiner(s): Ramirez, Ramon O.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Le, Tan
• Application Number:
  US09/214,958
• Time in Patent Office: 1,201 Days
• Field of Search: 248/200, 248/201, 248/205.1, 248/232, 248/233, 248/309.1, 248/310, 248/313, 248/315, 248/316.1, 248/503, 248/230.8, 248/219.4, 280/834, 280/830, 280/838, 180/68.5
• US Class Current: 248/219.4
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 15/067 Mounting of tanks

Abstract

The present invention relates to a device for vehicle fuel tanks, which includes a tank (1) having a rounded rectangular cross section with rounded corners (5-8) and an upper limiting plane (15) which substantially coincides with the upper side (9) of the tank. A lower limiting plane (16) coincides substantially with the bottom side (10) of the tank. Carrying brackets (2) cooperate with a flexible strapping unit (3) for attaching the tank to the vehicle. The carrying brackets (2) are shaped as a substantially vertical cradle, having a web (21) and a support surface (30) facing the inner side (12) of the tank and, at the top, merging into an upper support protrusion (22) and, at the bottom, merging into a lower, laterally pointing support protrusion (23). Both support protrusions have a support surface (31, 32) arranged to bear on respective rounded corner (7, 8) of that tank. The cradle extends vertically so that the upper support protrusion (22) is substantially under the upper limiting plane (15) and the lower support protrusion (11) is substantially above the lower limiting plane (16).

Claims

1. An assembly for mounting a fuel tank in a vehicle, comprising:

a) at least one bracket having an upper end, a lower end, a planar mounting side, and a web extending perpendicularly from said mounting side, said web including a support surface including a first portion of the support surface corresponding to a first corner portion of a fuel tank, a second portion of the support surface corresponding to a second corner portion of a fuel tank, and a vertical portion of the support surface extending vertically between said first portion of the support surface and said second portion of the support surface; and

b) a flexible tightening element adapted to be connected to said upper end and said lower end so that said tightening element is disposed at or below said upper end and at or above said lower end and so that said upper end and said lower end prevent rotation of the tank.

2. The assembly of claim 1, wherein said upper end and said lower end are adapted to connect with said tightening element and said tightening element is connected to said bracket so as to apply a tightening force in a direction towards said bracket.

3. The assembly of claim 1, wherein said support surface includes a vertical support surface shaped to correspond to the shape of a side of a fuel tank.

4. The assembly of claim 3, wherein said upper support surface and said lower support surface are shaped to correspond to the shape of a rounded corner of a fuel tank.

5. The assembly of claim 1, wherein said upper end and said lower end have a length of between about 20% and 30% of a width of said tank.

6. A mounted fuel tank, comprising:

a) a fuel tank having a generally rectangular shape including a top planar side and at least a first rounded corner portion and a second rounded corner portion;

b) at least one bracket having a a planar mounting side, and a web extending perpendicularly from said mounting side, said web having a support surface extending from an upper end of said web to a lower end of said web for connecting to the vehicle,

c) said support surface including a first portion at said upper end corresponding to said first corner portion of said fuel tank so that said upper end does not extend above said top side of said tank a second portion at said lower end corresponding to said second corner portion of said fuel tank, and a vertical support surface extending vertically between said first portion and said second portion; and

d) a flexible tightening element connected to said upper end and said lower end so that said tightening element is disposed at or below said upper end and at or above said lower end, so that said upper end and said lower end prevent rotation of the tank, and so that said upper end does not extend above said top side of said tank when said tank is disposed at or below the upper limiting plane on the vehicle.

7. The assembly of claim 6, wherein said upper end and said lower end are adapted to connect with said tightening element and said tightening element is connected to said bracket so as to apply a tightening force to aid tank in the direction towards said bracket.

8. The assembly of claim 6, wherein said vertical support surface extends along a vertically extending side of said tank.

9. The assembly of claim 6, wherein said support surface includes a vertical support surface shaped to correspond to the shape of a side of said tank.

10. The assembly of claim 9, wherein said upper support surface and said lower support surface are shaped to correspond to the shape of a rounded corner of said tank.

11. The assembly of claim 6, wherein said upper end extends over a top side of said tank and said lower end extends under a bottom side of said tank.

12. The assembly of claim 11, wherein said upper end and said lower end extend between about 20% and 30% of a width of said tank.