초록 ▼

A composite fuel tank support includes a strap 20 having a U-shape 22, 24, 26. The U-shape 22, 24, 26 includes a base portion 22, a first leg 24, and a second leg 26. An anchor 32 extends transversely from each of the legs 24, 26 and parallel to the base portion 22. The strap 20 defines a plurality

A composite fuel tank support includes a strap 20 having a U-shape 22, 24, 26. The U-shape 22, 24, 26 includes a base portion 22, a first leg 24, and a second leg 26. An anchor 32 extends transversely from each of the legs 24, 26 and parallel to the base portion 22. The strap 20 defines a plurality of layers 34, 36 including a fortification layer 34 and a shield layer 36. The fortification layer 34 includes basalt and a plurality of reinforcement fibers interweaved together. Each of the anchors 32 defines a bore 44 disposed on a center axis A extending through the layers 34, 36. A compression limiter 54 is disposed in the bore 44. A cover 60 is disposed over each of the anchors 32. Each of the covers 60 defines a void 62 disposed concentric to the bore 44 with the compression limiter 54 disposed in the void 62. The shield layer 36 defines an anti-slip surface 70 having a plurality of projections 72 for engaging the fuel tank 28.

대표청구항 ▼

1. A composite fuel tank support comprising; a strap (20) including a base portion (22) and at least one leg extending outwardly from said base portion (22) to define a mounting area (30) extending along said base portion (22) from said leg for engaging a fuel tank (28) of a vehicle,said strap (20)

1. A composite fuel tank support comprising; a strap (20) including a base portion (22) and at least one leg extending outwardly from said base portion (22) to define a mounting area (30) extending along said base portion (22) from said leg for engaging a fuel tank (28) of a vehicle,said strap (20) being flexible and including a fortification layer (34) of a plurality of reinforcement fibers interweaved together to provide tensile strength to said strap (20),a shield layer (36) disposed about said fortification layer (34) and into said reinforcement fibers of said fortification layer (34) of said strap (20) and defining an outer surface and an inner surface extending parallel to one another along said leg and said base portion (22) to provide rigidity to said strap (20) to protect said fortification layer (34) of said strap (20),said strap (20) and said shield layer (36) defining a bore (44) disposed on a center axis (A) and extending through said fortification layer (34) and said shield layer (36) of said strap (20) for engaging the vehicle,an anchor (32) extending transversely from said leg for securing said strap (20) to the vehicle,a bracket (46) disposed on said anchor (32) and said outer surface of said shield layer (36),said bracket (46) including a plate (48) disposed on said anchor (32) and defining a hole (50) disposed concentric to said center axis (A) and said bore (44), andcharacterized bysaid bracket (46) including a pair of arms (52) extending in opposite directions from one another and extending in a plane spaced from and parallel to said plate (48) for attaching said strap (20) to the vehicle,a compression limiter (54) disposed on said center axis (A) in said bore (44) and extending between a pair of opposite facing limiter ends (56) respectively at said inner surface and said outer surface of said shield layer (36). 2. A composite fuel tank support as set forth in claim 1 wherein one of said limiter ends (56) adjacent to said inner surface including an annular flange (58) extending radially outwardly from said limiter end (56) and about said center axis (A) for engaging said inner surface to retain said compression limiter (54) in said bore (44). 3. A composite fuel tank support as set forth in claim 1 wherein said compression limiter (54) is of brass. 4. A composite fuel tank support as set forth in claim 1 wherein said compression limiter (54) has a cylindrical shape disposed in said bore (44). 5. A composite fuel tank support as set forth in claim 1 wherein said plate (48) has a rectangular shape disposed on said anchor (32). 6. A composite fuel tank support as set forth in claim 1 further including a cover (60) disposed over said anchor (32) and said bracket (46) to protect said anchor (32) and secure said bracket (46) to said anchor (32). 7. A composite fuel tank (28) support as set forth in claim 6 wherein said cover (60) is of a fiber strengthened material. 8. A composite fuel tank support as set forth in claim 7 wherein said fiber strengthened material includes plastic and a strengthening fiber selected from glass fiber and carbon fiber and aramid fiber and basalt fiber. 9. A composite fuel tank support as set forth in claim 6 wherein said cover (60) defining a void (62) of circular shape disposed concentric to said bore (44) of said anchor (32). 10. A composite fuel tank support as set forth in claim 6 wherein said cover (60) including a pair of retention members (64) disposed spaced apart from one another and adjacent to said arms (52) of said bracket (46) extending outwardly from said cover (60) and around said arms (52) of said bracket (46) to protect said arms (52). 11. A composite fuel tank support as set forth in claim 6 wherein said anchor (32) defines a pair of apertures (66) each of circular shape disposed adjacent to said bore (44) and spaced apart from said bore (44) and one another. 12. A composite fuel tank support as set forth in claim 11 wherein said cover (60) includes a pair of nubs (68) of cylindrical shape disposed spaced apart from one another and extending through said apertures (66) of said anchor (32) to secure said cover (60) to said anchor (32). 13. A composite fuel tank support as set forth in claim 1 wherein said plurality of reinforcement fibers is selected from basalt fiber and carbon fiber and glass fiber and aramid fiber. 14. A composite fuel tank support as set forth in claim 1 wherein said shield layer (36) defining an anti-slip surface (70) disposed on said leg and extending between said anchor (32) and said base portion (22) for inhibiting movement of said strap (20) relative to the fuel tank (28) and the vehicle. 15. A composite fuel tank support as set forth in claim 14 wherein said anti-slip surface (70) includes a plurality of projections (72) of hemispherical shape spaced apart from one another and protruding outwardly from said inner surface for engaging the fuel tank (28). 16. A composite fuel tank support comprising; a strap (20) being elongated and in a U-shape (22, 24, 26) in side view for engaging a fuel tank (28) of a vehicle,said U-shape (22, 24, 26) including a base portion (22) and at least one leg including a first leg (24) and a second leg (26) extending outwardly from said base portion (22) and spaced apart from one another to define a mounting area (30) extending along said base portion (22) from said legs (24, 26) for engaging the fuel tank (28),said first leg (24) extending outwardly from said base portion (22) at an obtuse angle (α) of greater than 90° relative to said base portion (22) and said second leg (26) extending outwardly and at a transverse and perpendicular angle (β) of 90° relative to said base portion (22),an anchor (32) having a rectangular perimeter and extending transversely from each of said legs (24, 26) and in opposite directions from one another and in a parallel relationship with said base portion (22) for securing said strap (20) to the vehicle,said strap (20) being flexible and defining a plurality of layers (34, 36, 38) including a fortification layer (34) having a plurality of reinforcement fibers interweaved together and selected from basalt fiber and carbon fiber and glass fiber and aramid fiber and extending between said anchors (32) to provide tensile strength to said strap (20),said strap (20) including a shield layer (36) of plastic disposed about and into said reinforcement fibers of said fortification layer (34) and extending between and over said anchors (32) and enclosing said fortification layer (34) of said strap (20) and defining an outer surface and an inner surface extending in parallel relationship to one another between and over said anchors (32) for protecting said fortification layer (34) of said strap (20) to provide rigidity to said U-shape (22, 24, 26),said strap (20) including an insert layer (38) of steel disposed in said fortification layer (34) and extending between said anchors (32) to provide additional tensile strength to said strap (20),said base portion (22) including a plurality of studs (40) of metal spaced apart from one another along said base portion (22) and connected by a weld to said insert layer (38) and extending outwardly from said insert layer (38) and through said fortification layer (34) and said shield layer (36) for securing a shell (42) to said strap (20),each of said anchors (32) defining a bore (44) of circular shape disposed on a center axis (A) and extending through said fortification layer (34) and said shield layer (36) and said insert layer (38) of said strap (20) for engaging the vehicle,a bracket (46) having an inverted U-shape (22, 24, 26) of metal disposed on each of said anchors (32) and said outer surface of said shield layer (36),each of said brackets (46) including a plate (48) of rectangular shape disposed on said outer surface of each of said anchors (32) and defining a hole (50) of circular shape disposed concentric to said center axis (A) and said bore (44),each of said brackets (46) including a pair of arms (52) extending in opposite directions from one another and extending in a plane spaced from and parallel to said plate (48) for attaching said strap (20) to a vehicle,and characterized by,a compression limiter (54) of brass and having a cylindrical shape extending between a pair of opposite facing limiter ends (56) respectively at said inner surface and said outer surface of said shield layer (36),one of said limiter ends (56) adjacent to said inner surface including an annular flange (58) extending radially outwardly from said limiter end (56) and about said center axis (A) for engaging said inner surface to retain said compression limiter (54) in said bore (44),a cover (60) of a fiber strengthened polymer including plastic and a strengthening fiber selected from glass fiber and carbon fiber and aramid fiber and basalt fiber and disposed over each of said anchors (32) and said plate (48) of the associated one of said brackets (46) to protect said anchor (32) and secure said bracket (46) to said anchor (32),each of said covers (60) defining a void (62) of circular shape disposed concentric to said bore (44) of each of said anchors (32) with said compression limiter (54) disposed in said void (62),each of said covers (60) including a pair of retention members (64) disposed spaced apart from one another and adjacent to said arms (52) of each of said brackets (46) extending outwardly from each of said covers (60) and around said arms (52) of each of said brackets (46) to protect said arms (52),each of said anchors (32) each further defining a pair of apertures (66) each of circular shape disposed adjacent to said bore (44) and spaced apart from said bore (44) and one another,each of said covers (60) including a pair of nubs (68) disposed spaced apart from one another and extending through said apertures (66) of each of said anchors (32) to secure said covers (60) to said anchors (32),said shield layer (36) defining an anti-slip surface (70) disposed on said first leg (24) and extending between said anchor (32) and said base portion (22) for inhibiting movement of said strap (20) relative to the fuel tank (28) of the vehicle,said anti-slip surface (70) further including a plurality of projections (72) of hemispherical shape spaced apart from one another and protruding outwardly from said inner surface for engaging the fuel tank (28).