Truck fuel tank system for improved crashworthiness

摘要

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.

主权项

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; and the 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.