US 12,434,554 B2
Hydrogen fuel tank mounting system
Khizer Tufail, London (GB); Guenter Grosch, Vettweiß (DE); Krystian Dylong, Cologne (DE); Rainer Kiehn, Frechen (DE); Klaus-Peter Heinig, Aachen (DE); Mauro Giroldo, Brentwood (GB); and Bert Hobein, Aachen (DE)
Assigned to Ford Global Technologies, LLC, Dearborn, MI (US)
Filed by Ford Global Technologies, LLC, Dearborn, MI (US)
Filed on Sep. 21, 2022, as Appl. No. 17/949,425.
Prior Publication US 2023/0091244 A1, Mar. 23, 2023
Int. Cl. B60K 15/03 (2006.01); B60K 15/07 (2006.01)
CPC B60K 15/03006 (2013.01) [B60K 15/07 (2013.01); B60K 2015/03315 (2013.01)] 10 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. A mounting system for a fuel tank, comprising:
a first mount configured to attach a first portion of the fuel tank in a fixed position on a vehicle, wherein the first mount is a bracket comprising:
a first body portion and a first cap portion that, when attached together, form a first aperture to receive the first portion of the fuel tank;
at least one first fastener attaching the first body portion to the first cap portion and rigidly fixing the first portion of the fuel tank in the fixed position; and
a sleeve surrounding at least part of a shaft of the at least one first fastener; and
wherein, when the first body portion is attached to the first cap portion, adjacent surfaces of the first body portion and the first cap portion are separated by a clearance, and the sleeve extends into a part of the first body portion, across the clearance and into a part of the first cap portion, the sleeve distributing shear forces experienced by the at least one first fastener along its shaft due to loading of the first cap portion relative to the first body portion; and
a second mount configured to attach a second portion of the fuel tank on the vehicle and to allow movement of at least part of the second portion relative to the vehicle, wherein the second mount is a bracket comprising:
a second body portion and a second cap portion that, when attached together, form a second aperture to receive the second portion of the fuel tank and allow sliding of the second portion through the second aperture;
at least one second fastener attaching the second body portion to the second cap portion; and
an insert surrounding an inner surface of the second aperture, wherein the insert includes a circumferential groove configured to receive the inner surface of the second aperture; and
wherein the second body portion and the second cap portion are sized to ensure that tightening of the second at least one fastener does not substantially deform an inner opening of the insert upon clamping the second body portion and the second cap portion together.