COMPRESSED NATURAL GAS FUEL TANK FOR VEHICLES

摘要

A compressed natural gas fuel tank for vehicles employing internal combustion engines. A fuel tank (40, 42) of heavy gauge metal is interposed within the vehicle frame (10) as integral portion thereof. Overlay channel members are welded or otherwise affixed to the tank and then welded or otherwise affixed to the side rails (12, 14) or channel member (36, 38) of the vehicle frame. The tank, of heavy gauge metal and non-circular cross section, is also welded or otherwise appropriately affixed to the vehicle floor (76). The tank is capable of receiving natural gas at high pressure levels, while also serving structurally as a frame element, providing continuity of the side rail members (12, 14) of the frame (10), while also serving to further interconnect the vehicle floor (76) with the side rails (12, 14). Also presented are tank assemblies in which a tank housing receives a plurality of cylindrical pressure tanks of composite material construction (122, 158, 178). The cylindrical tanks (122, 158, 178) are nested within the tank housing (118, 154), which also serves as an integral part of the vehicle frame (100, 140). A manifold (130, 160) with inlet (132, 134) and outlet (162, 164) valves interconnects the cylindrical tanks (122, 158, 178).