US 12,459,351 B2
Tailgate with structurally integrated CNG system
Bobby Ray McKinney, Fort Payne, AL (US)
Assigned to The Heil Company, Chattanooga, TN (US)
Filed by The Heil Co., Chattanooga, TN (US)
Filed on Mar. 3, 2025, as Appl. No. 19/068,648.
Application 19/068,648 is a continuation of application No. 18/175,321, filed on Feb. 27, 2023.
Application 18/175,321 is a continuation of application No. 16/137,066, filed on Sep. 20, 2018, granted, now 11,590,839, issued on Feb. 28, 2023.
Application 16/137,066 is a continuation of application No. 15/393,374, filed on Dec. 29, 2016, granted, now 10,081,244, issued on Sep. 25, 2018.
Application 15/393,374 is a continuation of application No. 14/107,789, filed on Dec. 16, 2013, granted, now 9,533,569, issued on Jan. 3, 2017.
Claims priority of provisional application 61/836,378, filed on Jun. 18, 2013.
Prior Publication US 2025/0196622 A1, Jun. 19, 2025
Int. Cl. B60K 15/07 (2006.01); B60J 5/10 (2006.01); B60K 15/063 (2006.01); B62D 33/023 (2006.01); B62D 33/027 (2006.01); B65F 3/00 (2006.01)
CPC B60K 15/07 (2013.01) [B60J 5/108 (2013.01); B62D 33/023 (2013.01); B62D 33/0276 (2013.01); B65F 3/00 (2013.01); B60K 2015/0638 (2013.01); B60Y 2200/144 (2013.01); B60Y 2304/03 (2013.01); B60Y 2410/124 (2013.01)] 30 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. A refuse vehicle tailgate fuel tank assembly comprising:
a frame comprising:
a pair of first and second side beams;
a plurality of cross beams, each of the plurality of cross beams extending across a space between the first and second side beams and structurally connecting the first side beam to the second side beam;
a first plurality of tank-support blocks coupled to and distributed along a length of the first side beam to define a first curved path; and
a second plurality of tank-support blocks coupled to and distributed along a length of the second side beam to define a second curved path that is parallel to the first curved path; and
a plurality of compressed natural gas tanks coupled to and supported by the frame, each of the plurality of compressed natural gas tanks extending across the space between the first and second side beams and connected to a respective one of the first plurality of tank-support blocks and a respective one of the second plurality of tank-support blocks, such that the compressed natural gas tanks are arranged one-after-another and side-by-side along the first and second curved paths from a leading tank of the plurality of compressed natural gas tanks to a trailing tank of the plurality of compressed natural gas tanks.