Patent Application
20250170887
The disclosure relates generally to an energy storage unit for a motor vehicle. In particular aspects, the disclosure relates to a fuel storage assembly for a motor vehicle. The disclosure can be applied to heavy-duty vehicles, such as trucks, buses, and construction equipment, among other vehicle types. Although the disclosure may be described with respect to a particular vehicle, the disclosure is not restricted to any particular vehicle.
The propulsion systems of vehicles are continuously developed to meet the demands from the market. A particular aspect relates to the emission of environmentally harmful exhaust gas. Therefore, vehicles propelled by an electric power generated by a fuel cell system have been increasingly popular, both for cars as well as for trucks and other heavy duty vehicles. The fuel cell system receives a fuel e.g. hydrogen to be able to generate the electric power. The fuel is contained in gas tanks connected to the vehicle. As a further alternative, a combustible gas, such as compressed natural gas (CNG), has been found a suitable propulsion fuel for vehicles in the form of trucks. This gas is also contained in gas tanks connected to the vehicle.
Said tanks are generally retained in tank assemblies comprising between 2 and 6 cylindrical tanks, and, preferably, 4 cylindrical tanks. Such tank assemblies may be assembled separately and the thus assembled tank assemblies may thereafter be attached to the vehicle.
An example of vehicle fuel tank assembly is disclosed in WO 2018/030931. In this example, the fuel tanks are held together by a bracket that is fixed to the vehicle chassis and by a tensioning strap mounted around the fuel tanks and fixed at its two ends to the bracket. The space between the fuel tanks is filled by distance elements.
However, in this prior art, the fuel tanks are exposed to the outside, so that there is a risk that the fuel tanks collide with an external object and be damaged, or are in contact with a corrosive material and are corroded, thus leading to fuel leaks from the fuel tanks.
An object of the present disclosure is to provide a fuel storage assembly supporting a plurality of fuel tanks that is capable of protecting the fuel tanks from the outside.
According to a first aspect of the disclosure, the disclosure relates to a fuel storage assembly for a motor vehicle comprising:
The first aspect of the disclosure may seek to provide a fuel storage assembly supporting a plurality of fuel tanks that is capable of protecting the fuel tanks from the outside. A first technical benefit of the disclosure may include the use of a protecting element to cover the fuel tanks. A second technical benefit of the disclosure may include the removable connection of the protecting element to a tensioning strap that presses the fuel tanks together, thus reducing the number of parts of the fuel storage assembly and optimizing the volume of the fuel storage assembly.
Optionally in some examples, including in at least one preferred example, the protecting element is detachably fixed to the at least one tensioning strap through at least two linking elements, respectively a first linking element disposed at the bottom or top side of the tank array and a second linking element disposed at the left or right side of the tank array. A technical benefit of the disclosure may include the use of a limited number of linking elements to connect the protecting element to the tensioning strap, thus reducing the time for mounting the fuel storage assembly.
Optionally in some examples, including in at least one preferred example, each linking element is a bolt adapted to pass through a corresponding through-hole formed in the protecting element and cooperate with a corresponding nut provided in the at least one tensioning strap.
Optionally in some examples, including in at least one preferred example, the at least one tensioning strap extends between a first looped end and a second looped end, the first looped end enclosing a first pin, onto which is screwed a threaded connecting element at a first end thereof, a second end thereof being screwed to a second pin, which fits into bores in a U-shaped portion of the at least one side bracket.
Optionally in some examples, including in at least one preferred example, the second looped end encloses a pin, which fits into bores in a U-shaped portion of the at least one side bracket.
Optionally in some examples, including in at least one preferred example, the at least one side bracket comprises two support surfaces, each of which is adapted to lie against an outer surface of a fuel tank.
Optionally in some examples, including in at least one preferred example, the at least one side bracket has a central portion positioned between an upper portion and a lower portion of said at least one side bracket, said upper and lower portions each including a support surface, said central portion having a greater dimension along a lateral direction than said upper and lower portions.
Optionally in some examples, including in at least one preferred example, the at least one central bracket comprises four support surfaces, each of which is adapted to lie against an outer surface of a fuel tank.
Optionally in some examples, including in at least one preferred example, the at least one central bracket has a X-shaped profile defined by four vertices, two adjacent vertices being linked by a support surface.
Optionally in some examples, including in at least one preferred example, each support surface of the at least one side bracket and/or of the at least one central bracket has a circular arc shape.
Optionally in some examples, including in at least one preferred example, each support surface of the at least one side bracket and/or of the at least one central bracket is covered at least partially by a band-shaped panel adapted to prevent the fuel tanks from slipping.
Optionally in some examples, including in at least one preferred example, the band-shaped panel is formed in a high friction material.
Optionally in some examples, including in at least one preferred example, the high friction material is a rubber material.
According to a second aspect of the disclosure, the disclosure relates to a vehicle comprising a fuel storage assembly as above defined.
Optionally in some examples, including in at least one preferred example, the vehicle is a truck.
The disclosed aspects, examples (including any preferred examples), and/or accompanying claims may be suitably combined with each other as would be apparent to anyone of ordinary skill in the art. Additional features and advantages are disclosed in the following description, claims, and drawings, and in part will be readily apparent therefrom to those skilled in the art or recognized by practicing the disclosure as described herein.
An example is described in more detail below with reference to the appended drawings.
The detailed description set forth below provides information and examples of the disclosed technology with sufficient detail to enable those skilled in the art to practice the disclosure.
The invention will be described below for a vehicle in the form of a truck such as the truck 1 illustrated in
As illustrated in
The assembly 10 may include two side brackets 13, which are spaced apart from each other along a longitudinal direction and disposed between the first pair P1 of fuel tanks 12 and the side beam 3. The side brackets 13 may be made of metal, preferably of steel. Each side bracket 13 is adapted to be fixed to the side beam 3 and is configured to stably support the fuel tanks 12 of the first pair P1 such that any movement of said fuel tanks 12 relative to each one of the side brackets 13 is prevented. Thus, each side bracket 13 may have a central portion 13b positioned between an upper portion 13a and a lower portion 13c, the central portion 13b having a greater dimension along a lateral direction than the upper and lower portions 13a, 13c. The upper and lower portions 13a, 13c each include a support surface 131 facing a fuel tank 12. Said support surface 131 may advantageously be formed so as to correspond to the outer circumferential surface of the fuel tank 12. That is, when the fuel tank 12 is formed in a cylindrical shape, the support surface 131 may be formed in a curved surface bent in a circular arc shape in a circumferential direction of the fuel tank 12.
As illustrated in
The assembly 10 may also comprise two central brackets 14, which are spaced apart from each other along a longitudinal direction and disposed between the two pairs P1, P2 of fuel tanks 12. The central brackets 13 may be made of metal, preferably of steel. Each central bracket 14 is configured to stably support the fuel tanks 12 of the first and second pairs P1, P2 such that any movement of the fuel tanks 12 relative to each other is prevented. As illustrated in
As illustrated in
The fuel tanks 12 are pressed together against the side brackets 13 and the central brackets 14 via two tensioning straps 15, which are spaced apart from each other along a longitudinal direction. The tensioning straps 15 may be made of metal, preferably of steel, the side thereof facing the fuel tanks 12 being advantageously covered by a high friction material, such as a rubber material, which is adapted to prevent the fuel tanks 12 from slipping. Each tensioning strap 15 is disposed around the four fuel tanks 12, one first end 151 thereof being secured to a top part of one side bracket 13 and one second end 152 thereof being secured to a bottom part of said side bracket 13.
As illustrated in
As illustrated in
In the tightened state of the tensioning straps 15, illustrated in
As illustrated in
The terminology used herein is for the purpose of describing particular aspects only and is not intended to be limiting of the disclosure. As used herein, the singular forms “a,” “an,” and “the” are intended to include the plural forms as well, unless the context clearly indicates otherwise. As used herein, the term “and/or” includes any and all combinations of one or more of the associated listed items. It will be further understood that the terms “comprises,” “comprising,” “includes,” and/or “including” when used herein specify the presence of stated features, integers, actions, steps, operations, elements, and/or components, but do not preclude the presence or addition of one or more other features, integers, actions, steps, operations, elements, components, and/or groups thereof.
It will be understood that, although the terms first, second, etc., may be used herein to describe various elements, these elements should not be limited by these terms. These terms are only used to distinguish one element from another. For example, a first element could be termed a second element, and, similarly, a second element could be termed a first element without departing from the scope of the present disclosure.
Relative terms such as “below” or “above” or “upper” or “lower” or “horizontal” or “vertical” may be used herein to describe a relationship of one element to another element as illustrated in the Figures. It will be understood that these terms and those discussed above are intended to encompass different orientations of the device in addition to the orientation depicted in the Figures. It will be understood that when an element is referred to as being “connected” or “coupled” to another element, it can be directly connected or coupled to the other element, or intervening elements may be present. In contrast, when an element is referred to as being “directly connected” or “directly coupled” to another element, there are no intervening elements present.
Unless otherwise defined, all terms (including technical and scientific terms) used herein have the same meaning as commonly understood by one of ordinary skill in the art to which this disclosure belongs. It will be further understood that terms used herein should be interpreted as having a meaning consistent with their meaning in the context of this specification and the relevant art and will not be interpreted in an idealized or overly formal sense unless expressly so defined herein.
It is to be understood that the present disclosure is not limited to the aspects described above and illustrated in the drawings; rather, the skilled person will recognize that many changes and modifications may be made within the scope of the present disclosure and appended claims. In the drawings and specification, there have been disclosed aspects for purposes of illustration only and not for purposes of limitation, the scope of the disclosure being set forth in the following claims.
| Number | Date | Country | Kind |
|---|---|---|---|
| 23212646.6 | Nov 2023 | EP | regional |
