Modification of an industrial vehicle to include a containment area and mounting assembly for an alternate fuel

摘要

A system and attendant structural components for incorporating an alternate fuel supply, such as of the type used in combination with a conventional distillate fuel, to power a heavy duty industrial vehicle, such as a mine haul dump truck. The system and attendant structure includes a mounting assembly structured for containment and support of the alternate fuel and a containment area disposed on the vehicle and structured and dimensioned to retain the mounting assembly therein. The containment area and the mounting assembly are disposed in laterally adjacent, exposed relation to an operator area of the mine haul truck, wherein the mounting assembly and the containment area are cooperatively disposed and structured to facilitate storage of the alternate fuel and operative communication and distribution thereof with the powering engine of the mine haul vehicle.

主权项

1. A system for mounting an alternate fuel supply on a mine haul vehicle, said system comprising:
the mine haul vehicle comprising a CATERPILLAR 793 model, a mounting assembly structured for containment and support of the alternate fuel supply, a containment area located on the mine haul vehicle in laterally adjacent relation to an operator cab thereof; said mounting assembly disposed in said containment area, said mounting assembly comprising a housing disposed in retaining relation to at least one fuel tank for the alternate fuel supply, said mounting assembly further comprising a base disposed in interconnecting relation between said housing and said containment area, said containment area including an access structure disposed in covering relation to an engine compartment of the mine haul vehicle, a connecting assembly movably connecting said base to said housing; said base movably supporting said housing in said containment area in substantially adjacent relation to the operator cab and the engine compartment; said housing positionalble within said containment area into and between a first orientation and a second orientation, said housing disposed in spaced, non-obstructing relation to an open orientation of said access structure and at least a partial opening of an entrance to the operator cab, said at least one fuel tank retained within said housing and disposed on said mounting assembly in said containment area in adjacent relation to the engine compartment of the mine haul vehicle, a positioning assembly disposable in interconnecting relation between said base and said housing; said positioning assembly operative to dispose said housing between said first and second orientations, and said base comprising a plurality of support members, said housing movably connected to and supported by at least some of said plurality of support members.