초록 ▼

A revised location for the fuel system and fuel tanks to improve crashworthiness and reduce the occurrence of tank failure, fuel spillage, fire and/or explosion while still providing a sufficient range for the vehicle. The fuel tank system includes at least one fuel tank and a support structure. The

A revised location for the fuel system and fuel tanks to improve crashworthiness and reduce the occurrence of tank failure, fuel spillage, fire and/or explosion while still providing a sufficient range for the vehicle. The fuel tank system includes at least one fuel tank and a support structure. The at least one fuel tank is provided proximate frame rail members of the truck. At least a portion of the at least one fuel tank extends between an extension of a vertical axis of each of the frame rail members. The support structure protects the at least one fuel tank during an event, such as, but not limited to a collision, crash or accident. The support structure includes at least one mounting member which attaches the at least one fuel tank to the frame rail members, rails which extend about the at least one fuel tank, and at least one bottom plate.

대표청구항 ▼

1. A fuel tank system for use with a tractor of a tractor trailer truck or other heavy truck, the fuel tank system comprising: at least one fuel tank provided proximate frame rail members of the tractor, a first portion of the at least one fuel tank extending between an extension of a vertical axis

1. A fuel tank system for use with a tractor of a tractor trailer truck or other heavy truck, the fuel tank system comprising: at least one fuel tank provided proximate frame rail members of the tractor, a first portion of the at least one fuel tank extending between an extension of a vertical axis of each of the frame rail members and a second portion of the at least one fuel tank extending outside the space defined by the vertical axes of the frame rail members;a support structure which protects the at least one fuel tank during an impact, the support structure including mounting members and rails mounted to the mounting members, the mounting members being mounted to the frame rail members; andthe rails having a nonlinear cross-section to provide additional strength to the rails which provides integrity to the system and provides crush resistance for the at least one fuel tank, the nonlinear cross-section of the rails allowing for forces applied to the rails to be dissipated over a surface of the rails, thereby protecting the at least one fuel tank from impact forces during the impact;wherein the at least one fuel tank is disposed below a top side of the frame rail members and is adapted to be horizontally positioned relative to the underside of the tractor, such that a top wall of the at least one fuel tank and a bottom wall of the at least one fuel tank are essentially parallel to a horizontal plane of a longitudinal axis of the frame rail members of the tractor and essentially parallel to a longitudinal axis of a drive shaft of the tractor. 2. The fuel tank system of claim 1, wherein the mounting members have an S-shaped configuration with a first end section, a middle section and a second end section, the first end sections are mounted to the frame rail members. 3. The fuel tank system of claim 1, wherein the rails extend about the at least one fuel tank and at least one bottom plate. 4. The fuel tank system of claim 3, wherein the mounting members are mounted to the at least one bottom plate. 5. The fuel tank system of claim 3, wherein the at least one bottom plate is mounted to the rails. 6. The fuel tank system of claim 3, wherein the frame rail members, the mounting members, the rails and the at least one bottom plate form a protective area which provides a crush-free zone for the at least one fuel tank, providing both impact and tearing protection for the at least one fuel tank. 7. The fuel tank system of claim 3, wherein the at least one bottom plate has a leading edge which is turned up to allow for protection of the at least one fuel tank. 8. The fuel tank system of claim 1, wherein support members connects the mounting members to the at least one bottom plate, the support members configured to fail during the event, allowing the at least one fuel tank to be moveable relative to the tractor during the impact. 9. The fuel tank system of claim 1, wherein the at least one fuel tank has sloped walls extending from the top wall, the sloped walls allow the at least one fuel tank to be installed proximate the drive shaft of the tractor, the sloped walls cause the at least one fuel tank to be pushed downward, away from the drive shaft during the impact, as a force applied to the sloped walls of the at least one fuel tank during the impact causes the force applied to exhibit a partial downward force on the at least one fuel tank, causing the at least one fuel tank to be moved away from the drive shaft. 10. The fuel tank system of claim 9, wherein a guard is positioned between the at least one fuel tank and the drive shaft to provide protection for the at least one fuel tank in an event of a failure of the drive shaft. 11. The fuel tank system of claim 1, wherein the at least one fuel tank has curved outer walls, the mounting members configured to match the curvature and cooperate with the curved outer walls. 12. The fuel tank system of claim 1, wherein longitudinal axes of the rails are parallel to longitudinal axes of the frame rail members. 13. The fuel tank system of claim 12, wherein the rails are disposed about outer walls of the at least one fuel tank. 14. The fuel tank system of claim 1, wherein respective mounting members are positioned on either side of the at least one fuel tank, each respective mounting member being a one piece member which extends along an entire side of the at least one fuel tank. 15. A fuel tank system for use with a heavy truck, the fuel tank system comprising: at least one fuel tank provided proximate frame rail members of the truck, at least a portion of the at least one fuel tank extending between an extension of a vertical axis of each of the frame rail members; anda support structure which protects the at least one fuel tank during an impact, the support structure including mounting members which attach the at least one fuel tank to the frame rail members, rails which are positioned on respective opposing sides of the at least one fuel tank, and at least one bottom plate;respective mounting members positioned on either side of the at least one fuel tank, each respective mounting member being a one piece member which extends along an entire side of the at least one fuel tank;the rails having a nonlinear cross-section allowing for forces applied to the rails to be dissipated over a surface of the rails, thereby protecting the at least one fuel tank from lateral impact forces during the impact;the at least one bottom plate having a nonlinear cross-section allowing for forces applied to the at least one bottom plate to be dissipated over a surface of the at least one bottom plate, thereby protecting the at least one fuel tank during the impact. 16. The fuel tank system of claim 15, wherein the at least one fuel tank has sloped walls extending from a top wall, the sloped walls allow the at least one fuel tank to be installed proximate a drive shaft of the truck, the sloped walls cause the at least one fuel tank to be pushed downward, away from the drive shaft during the impact, as a force applied to the sloped walls of the at least one fuel tank during the impact causes the force applied to exhibit a partial downward force on the at least one fuel tank, causing the at least one fuel tank to be moved relative to the truck during the impact. 17. The fuel tank system of claim 15, wherein a guard is positioned between the at least one fuel tank and a drive shaft of the truck to provide protection for the at least one fuel tank in an event of a failure of the drive shaft. 18. The fuel tank system of claim 15, wherein the at least one fuel tank is adapted to be horizontally attached to the underside of the truck, such that a top wall of the at least one fuel tank and a bottom wall of the at least one fuel tank are essentially parallel to a horizontal plane of a longitudinal axis of the frame rail members of the truck and essentially parallel to a longitudinal axis of a drive shaft of the truck. 19. The fuel tank system of claim 15, wherein at least one support member connects the at least one mounting member to the at least one bottom plate, the support member configured to fail during the impact, causing the at least one bottom plate and the at least one fuel tank move relative to the frame rail members and a drive shaft. 20. The fuel tank system of claim 15, wherein the at least one fuel tank has curved outer walls, the mounting members configured to match the curvature and cooperate with the curved outer walls. 21. The fuel tank system of claim 15, wherein the rails are mounted to the mounting members, longitudinal axes of the rails are parallel to longitudinal axes of the frame rail members. 22. The fuel tank system of claim 21, wherein the rails are disposed about outer walls of the at least one fuel tank. 23. A fuel tank system for use with a heavy truck, the fuel tank system comprising: a fuel tank positioned proximate an underside of the heavy truck, the fuel tank positioned between a first side of the heavy truck and a second side of the heavy truck;a support structure which protects the fuel tank during an impact, the support structure including mounting members which attaches the fuel tank to the underside of the heavy truck, rails which are positioned on respective opposing sides of the fuel tank, and at least one bottom plate;respective mounting members positioned on either side of the fuel tank, each respective mounting member being a one piece member which extends along an entire side of the fuel tank; andthe rails having a nonlinear cross-section allowing for forces applied to the rails to be dissipated over a surface of the rails to protect the fuel tank during the impact. 24. The fuel tank system of claim 23, wherein the fuel tank has curved outer walls, the mounting members configured to match the curvature and cooperate with the curved outer walls. 25. The fuel tank system of claim 23, wherein the rails are mounted to the mounting members, longitudinal axes of the rails are parallel to longitudinal axes of the frame rail members. 26. The fuel tank system of claim 25, wherein the rails are disposed about outer walls of the fuel tank. 27. A fuel tank system for use with a tractor of a tractor trailer truck or other heavy truck, the fuel tank system comprising: at least one fuel tank provided proximate frame rail members of the tractor, a first portion of the at least one fuel tank extending between an extension of a vertical axis of each of the frame rail members and a second portion of the at least one fuel tank extending outside the space defined by the vertical axes of the frame rail members;a support structure which protects the at least one fuel tank during an impact, the support structure including mounting members and rails mounted to the mounting members, the mounting members being mounted to the frame rail members;the at least one fuel tank has curved outer walls, the mounting members configured to match the curvature and cooperate with the curved outer walls; andthe rails having a nonlinear cross-section to provide additional strength to the rails which provides integrity to the system and provides crush resistance for the at least one fuel tank, the nonlinear cross-section of the rails allowing for forces applied to the rails to be dissipated over a surface of the rails, thereby protecting the at least one fuel tank from impact forces during the impact. 28. A fuel tank system for use with a tractor of a tractor trailer truck or other heavy truck, the fuel tank system comprising: at least one fuel tank provided proximate frame rail members of the tractor, a first portion of the at least one fuel tank extending between an extension of a vertical axis of each of the frame rail members and a second portion of the at least one fuel tank extending outside the space defined by the vertical axes of the frame rail members;a support structure which protects the at least one fuel tank during an impact, the support structure including mounting members and rails mounted to the mounting members, the mounting members being mounted to the frame rail members;respective mounting members are positioned on either side of the at least one fuel tank, each respective mounting member being a one piece member which extends along an entire side of the at least one fuel tank; andthe rails having a nonlinear cross-section to provide additional strength to the rails which provides integrity to the system and provides crush resistance for the at least one fuel tank, the nonlinear cross-section of the rails allowing for forces applied to the rails to be dissipated over a surface of the rails, thereby protecting the at least one fuel tank from impact forces during the impact.