US 11,891,774 B2
Structurally integrated fuel tank
Rajkiran Muppavarapu, Savoy, IL (US); Vengadassalam Kalivarathan, Forsyth, IL (US); Nikhil Sharma, Forsyth, IL (US); and Matthew Graham Burnette, Decatur, IL (US)
Assigned to Caterpillar Inc., Peoria, IL (US)
Filed by Caterpillar Inc., Peoria, IL (US)
Filed on Mar. 26, 2021, as Appl. No. 17/213,798.
Prior Publication US 2022/0307223 A1, Sep. 29, 2022
Int. Cl. B60K 15/03 (2006.01); E02F 9/08 (2006.01)
CPC E02F 9/0883 (2013.01) [B60K 15/03 (2013.01); B60K 2015/03388 (2013.01)] 17 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. A fuel tank comprising:
a body including:
a cover that includes a cover hitch, the cover hitch defining an upper pivot bore centered about a pivot axis, the upper pivot bore configured to receive a pivot fastener, about which the fuel tank is pivotable;
an endwall disposed below and coupled to the cover; and
a base coupled to the endwall, the base including a lower hitch that extends outward and away from the endwall;
a neck disposed on the body, the neck configured to be coupled to an arm of a front frame of a machine,
a rear foundation mounted to the cover between the upper pivot bore and the neck; and
a forward foundation mounted to the cover,
wherein the rear foundation and the forward foundation are configured to support a roll-over-protection (ROP) apparatus of an operator compartment of the machine,
wherein the neck and the body together define a chamber configured to store fuel, wherein further the cover is a top of the chamber.