Non-slip fuel tank bracket

{
  "publication_number": "US9909535B2",
  "country": "US",
  "kind": "B2",
  "title": "Non-slip fuel tank bracket",
  "abstract": "A fuel holding device is secured to a vehicle by means of straps and brackets, which sits on a system of gaskets to prevent longitudinal sliding and rotation. A gasket system for preventing longitudinal sliding is disposed circumferentially around the tank body, and between the tank body and a circumferential bracket system that includes a U-shaped strap and an L-shaped bracket. The gasket system comprises a wedge-shaped base and a slider portion, with the U-shaped strap secured around the slider portion. A system for preventing rotation of a fuel-holding device has a circumferential wedge gasket segment, or a corrugated segment, positioned at a gap between the U-shaped strap and the L-shaped bracket.",
  "claims": [
    "1. A fuel-holding device comprising: a cylindrical tank body; a circumferential bracket system having a removable U-shaped strap and an L-shaped bracket that are secured at a joint; and a gasket system disposed circumferentially around the tank body and between the tank body and the circumferential bracket system; the gasket system comprising one or more gaskets consisting essentially of one or more thermoplastic, thermosetting plastic, rubber or other elastomeric materials, each gasket comprising: a wedge-shaped base having a cross-section comprising a substantially flat bottom surface and a tapered top surface, with a tapered profile of the tapered top surface formed from two side portions of increased thickness disposed on either side of a central portion of decreased thickness, with the wedge-shaped base having a central channel formed along its length by the tapered top surface of the cross-section, and a slider component positioned on top of the wedge-shaped base in the central channel between the side portions of increased thickness, with the U-shaped strap secured around the slider component.",
    "2. The device of claim 1, wherein the slider component has an upper groove which receives and guides the U-shaped strap.",
    "3. The device of claim 1 wherein the slider component further comprises ridges that protrude radially outwardly and channeling the circumferential bracket system.",
    "4. The device of claim 1, wherein the gasket system is secured to the tank body with the aid of an adhesive or fabric impregnated in epoxy or polyurethane or other resin.",
    "5. The device of claim 1, wherein the U-shaped strap is maintained under tension during expansion and contraction of the tank body by a spring in compression, the spring disposed at the joint between the U-shaped strap and the L-shaped bracket.",
    "6. The device of claim 1, wherein the tank body contains a gaseous fuel therein.",
    "7. A system for preventing rotation of a cylindrical fuel-holding device, comprising: a U-shaped strap and an L-shaped bracket disposed around the circumference of the fuel holding device and secured at a joint; and a circumferential wedge gasket segment consisting essentially of one or more thermoplastic, thermosetting plastic, rubber or other elastomeric materials and positioned between the fuel-holding device and the strap and the bracket at the joint, wherein the gasket segment has a cross-section comprising two portions of decreased thickness disposed on either side of a portion of increased thickness in a central part of the cross-section; wherein the system for preventing rotation further comprises a gasket system disposed circumferentially around the fuel-holding device and between the fuel-holding device and the U-shaped strap, the gasket system comprising one or more gaskets consisting essentially of one or more thermoplastic, thermosetting plastic, rubber or other elastomeric materials, each gasket comprising: a wedge-shaped base having a cross-section comprising a substantially flat bottom surface and a tapered top surface, with a tapered profile of the tapered top surface formed from two side portions of increased thickness disposed on either side of a central portion of decreased thickness, with the wedge-shaped base having a central channel formed along its length by the tapered top surface of the cross-section, and a slider component positioned on top of the wedge-shaped base in the central channel between the side portions of increased thickness, with the U-shaped strap secured around the slider component.",
    "8. The system of claim 7, wherein the gasket segment is shaped as a truncated triangle with a curved base side.",
    "9. The system of claim 7, wherein the gasket segment is shaped as a regular triangle with a curved base side.",
    "10. The system of claim 7, wherein the gasket segment is secured to the fuel-holding device with the aid of an adhesive or fabric impregnated in epoxy or polyurethane or other resin.",
    "11. The system of claim 7, further including a fuel-holding device that contains a gaseous fuel therein.",
    "12. The system of claim 11, wherein the U-shaped strap is maintained under tension during expansion and contraction of the fuel-holding device by a spring in compression, the spring disposed at the joint between the U-shaped strap and the L-shaped bracket."
  ],
  "description_excerpt": "1. Field of the Invention\n\nThis invention relates to storage tanks used for storing compressed gaseous fuels. In particular, the present invention is related to a mechanism for preventing the relative movement of tanks that are attached to vehicles using hoop brackets to safeguard against high pressure line breakages.\n\n2. Description of the Prior Art\n\nCylindrical fuel tanks, such as compressed natural gas and compressed hydrogen gas tanks, are typically secured to the vehicle structure using hoop brackets. The high pressure tanks expand and contract during refueling and engine fuel consumption cycles, and are subject to ‘g’ forces induced by vehicle acceleration, deceleration, extended vibrations and collisions. Tanks that are mounted longitudinally (i.e., parallel to the vehicle axis) are especially prone to movement within the brackets either axially or rotationally, under repeated ‘g’ loads and expansion-contraction cycles.\n\nFor example, cylindrical fuel tanks which are mounted longitudinally on the roofs of buses or on the side of trucks may be prone to longitudinal sliding or hoop spinning within the brackets, causing breakage of high pressure gas lines affixed to the tanks. Any relative movement between a tank and brackets needs to be minimized to eliminate the risk of gas line breakage. This is a challenge especially for heavy tanks since the ‘g’ force is a product of the tank mass and the vehicle acceleration.",
  "cpc": [
    "F02M 21/0221",
    "B60K 15/07",
    "B60K 2015/0638",
    "F02M 21/029",
    "F02M 21/0296",
    "F16B 2/08",
    "Y02T 10/30",
    "Y02T 10/32"
  ],
  "ipc": [
    "B60K 15/063",
    "B60K 15/07",
    "B65D 6/00",
    "F02M 21/02",
    "F16B 2/08"
  ],
  "assignees": [
    "Quantum Fuel Systems LLC"
  ],
  "inventors": [
    "Neel Sirosh",
    "Derrin Lynn Olischefski"
  ],
  "filing_date": "2013-10-04",
  "publication_date": "2018-03-06",
  "grant_date": "2018-03-06",
  "priority_date": "2013-10-04",
  "application_number": "US-201314046601-A",
  "family_id": "52776148",
  "cited_by_count": 19,
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}