"Vehicle Fuel Tank System for Improved Crashworthiness" in Patent Application Approval Process (USPTO 20160068065)
By a News Reporter-Staff News Editor at Politics & Government Week -- A patent application by the inventor SHIPP, Erin Marie (
Charleston, SC
), filed on November 17, 2015, was made available online on March 17, 2016, according to news reporting originating from
Washington, D.C.
, by VerticalNews correspondents.
This patent application has not been assigned to a company or institution.
The following quote was obtained by the news editors from the background information supplied by the inventors: "It is generally known that in configuring a motor vehicle with a fuel tank, it is important to prevent the fuel tank from damage and spillage during the crash. There are several strategies that have been employed in automotive design to meet those desires and requirements.
"Those strategies include, but are not limited to, placing the fuel tank away from the perimeter of the vehicle, ensuring crush space is provided to absorb crash energy before the fuel tank is affected, constructing the fuel tank of materials that are not easily cut or torn, applying shields in areas of the fuel tank that may be vulnerable, routing all supply lines in protected areas, and providing the filler with a check valve to prevent leakage. In addition, many fuel tanks are positioned in large cages or structures which are designed to absorb the impact of a crash or event. Other than attempting to absorb the impact, known systems do not use the energy of the impact to move the fuel tank downwardly and/or laterally to a position in which the fuel tank is either out of the path of the impact or protected by the chassis of the vehicle.
"Automobiles and light trucks must pass standards for fuel tank leakage in all mandated crash tests that range from frontal impacts to side impacts to rear impacts. However, these standards do not require that the fuel tanks be moveable away from the frame of the vehicle during a collision or other such event. In addition, heavy trucks other than school buses have no federal requirements for crashworthiness of the fuel system.
"Currently, most manufacturers of heavy trucks mount thin wall aluminum or steel tanks to the outside of the frame rails for carrying fuel. Due to the location and construction of the fuel tanks in heavy trucks, the tank is exposed to crushing during various crash events, resulting in an increased possibility of fuel spillage, fire and explosion. These risks are a known hazard in fuel storage areas of vehicles and are considered significant if there is an accident causing an object, such as, but not limited to, debris from an accident or guide rail, to penetrate the fuel tank. Rupturing of fuel tanks is believed to be a common reason for fires or explosions.
"It would be desirable to provide a vehicle fuel tank system which overcomes the problems stated above. It would also be desirable to provide for revised placement and protection for the fuel tanks and fuel system, allowing the vehicle and the fuel tanks to manage the energy generated by a collision or event, such as, but not limited to allowing the fuel tank to be moved relative to or away from the frame of the vehicle during a collision or similar event, thereby improving crashworthiness and reducing the occurrence of tank failure, fuel spillage, fire and/or explosion."
In addition to the background information obtained for this patent application, VerticalNews journalists also obtained the inventor's summary information for this patent application: "The invention provides a revised mounting system and a revised location for the fuel system and fuel tanks to improve crashworthiness of the vehicle by reducing the occurrence of tank failure, fuel spillage, fire and/or explosion during and after a collision or similar event, while still providing a sufficient range for the vehicle. The fuel tanks are protected from damage from the side, bottom and between the tanks. The fuel tank mounting system also allows the energy associated with an event to be managed, such as by allowing the fuel tanks to be pushed or moved downwardly and/or laterally by the energy of the impact of a collision or similar event to a position in which the fuel tank is either out of the path of the impact or protected by the chassis or frame of the vehicle.
"In one embodiment, a fuel tank system for use with a vehicle is provided. The fuel tank system includes a fuel tank and a support structure. The support structure provides impact protection to the fuel tank. The support structure has mounting members, a bottom plate and a support member. The mounting members mount to the vehicle. The bottom plate is provided proximate a bottom wall of the fuel tank, wherein the bottom plate protects the fuel tank from being crushed or punctured and serves as a skid plate if ground contact is made. The support member extends between a respective mounting member and the bottom plate. The support member is configured to fail during impact, allowing the fuel tank to be moved downwardly and laterally by the energy of the impact to a position in which the fuel tank is substantially out of the path of the impact or protected by the chassis of the vehicle.
"In one embodiment, a fuel tank system for use with a vehicle is provided. The fuel tank system includes at least one fuel tank provided proximate frame rail members of the vehicle. The at least one fuel tank has a top wall positioned proximate a drive shaft of the vehicle. A first portion of the at least one fuel tank extends 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 beyond the vertical axis of each of the frame rail members. A support structure has mounting members mounted to the frame rail members. The support structure provides impact protection to the at least one fuel tank. A plate is provided proximate a bottom wall of the at least one fuel tank, wherein the plate protects the at least one fuel tank from being crushed or punctured and serves as a skid plate if ground contact is made. A support member extends between a respective mounting member and the plate, the support member is configured to fail during an impact. Any lateral force applied to the at least one fuel tank or the support structure during the impact will be partially translated to a downward force and a lateral force, causing the at least one fuel tank to be moved in a direction which is both lateral to the direction of a longitudinal axis of the frame rail members and perpendicular to the direction of the longitudinal axis of the frame rail members, allowing the at least one fuel tank to be moved downwardly and laterally by the energy of the impact to a position in which the fuel tanks are out of the path of the impact or protected by a chassis of the vehicle.
"In one embodiment, a fuel tank system for use with a motor vehicle is provided. The fuel tank system includes a fuel tank, a support structure and a guard and a plate. The fuel tank is provided proximate frame rail members of the motor vehicle. At least a first portion of the fuel tank extends between an extension of a vertical axis of each of the frame rail members. A second portion of the fuel tank extends beyond the vertical axis of each of the frame rail members. The fuel tank has a top wall positioned proximate a drive shaft of the vehicle. A support structure has mounting members which are mounted to the frame rail members and which position the fuel tank proximate the frame rail members, the support structure protects the fuel tank during an impact. A guard is positioned between the fuel tank and the drive shaft to provide protection of the fuel tank in an event of a failure of the drive shaft. A plate is provided proximate a bottom wall of the fuel tank. A support member extends between a respective mounting member and the plate. The support member is configured to fail during the impact, allowing the fuel tank to be moved downwardly and laterally by the energy of the impact to a position in which the fuel tank is substantially out of the path of the impact or protected by the chassis of the vehicle.
"In one embodiment, the fuel tanks are provided beneath the frame rail members of the vehicle. A support structure may be provided for support on each side of the vehicle which also acts as a guard for the tank. A bottom plate may also be provided to protect the tanks from intrusion from below and protect the tanks in the event of a front axle attachment failure and the resulting impact and ground contact. Additionally, a guard section may be positioned between the tanks to provide protection for the tanks in the event of a drive shaft or drive line failure.
"The use of the support structure provides both impact and tearing protection for the tank. This support structure also allows mounting of other components such as exhaust, air tanks and emission control systems to the outside of the structure. These mounted components will further act as energy absorbing members, further protecting the tank. The support structure also allows mounting of additional energy absorbing devices or structures as needed.
"The bottom plate will protect the bottom of the tank from crush or puncture and serve as a skid plate if ground contact is made. The front edge of the bottom plate may be turned up to allow for protection to the front side of the tank or tanks. The bottom plate also provides a location for mounting and location hardware and brackets for the tank.
"The support structure may be mounted to tank locating brackets attached to the bottom plate. This may be formed in a U-section with wings which will serve as tank retention brackets.
"Additional protection may be provided by energy absorbing capabilities of accessories mounted outside of the tanks and energy absorbing brackets.
"In one embodiment, the fuel lines are routed within the structure and the frame rails. The tanks would be filled from a tube routed out the rear side of the tanks and structure with an integrated check system in the tank to prevent in the event of failure of this hose.
"Other features and advantages of the present invention will be apparent from the following more detailed description of the preferred embodiment, taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings which illustrate, by way of example, the principles of the invention.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
"FIG. 1 is a perspective view of components of an illustrative embodiment of a fuel system according to the present invention.
"FIG. 2 is a top view of the fuel system of FIG. 1.
"FIG. 3 is a front view of the fuel system of FIG. 1.
"FIG. 4 is a side view of the fuel system of FIG. 1.
"FIG. 5 is a front perspective view of components of an alternate illustrative embodiment of a fuel system according to the present invention, with one of the vehicle frame rail members removed.
"FIG. 6 is a perspective view of the components of the alternate illustrative embodiment of a fuel system shown in FIG. 5 with the fuel tanks removed and both of the vehicle frame rail members shown.
"FIG. 7 is a top view of the fuel system of FIG. 5, with both of the vehicle frame rail members shown.
"FIG. 8 is a back perspective view of the fuel system of FIG. 5 with both of the vehicle frame rail members shown."
URL and more information on this patent application, see: SHIPP, Erin Marie. Vehicle Fuel Tank System for Improved Crashworthiness. Filed November 17, 2015 and posted March 17, 2016. Patent URL: http://appft.uspto.gov/netacgi/nph-Parser?Sect1=PTO2&Sect2=HITOFF&u=%2Fnetahtml%2FPTO%2Fsearch-adv.html&r=5504&p=111&f=G&l=50&d=PG01&S1=20160310.PD.&OS=PD/20160310&RS=PD/20160310
Keywords for this news article include: Patents.
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