Patent ID: 6367573
Filing Date: 2002-04-09
Classification: B60K,F17C,Y10T

Abstract:
A CNG fuel tank system for mounting on a roof of a bus, the bus having a length and a width, the system comprising:a support frame to be mounted on the roof of the bus and including a first longitudinal frame wall extending generally parallel to the length of the bus, the first frame wall having a wall height extending vertically from the roof of the bus, and the support frame including a second longitudinal frame wall and first and second transverse walls connecting the longitudinal frame walls to define a rectangular frame; first and second saddles, attached to one side of the first frame wall, each saddle having a base oriented vertically and engaging the first frame wall, and each saddle including an arcuate recess facing sideways from the first frame wall; a first tank cylinder extending parallel to the first frame wall and received in the arcuate recesses of the first and second saddles; first and second strap assemblies, associated with the first and second saddles, respectively, the strap assemblies extending around the first tank cylinder to secure the first tank cylinder to the saddles and thus to the support frame; a second tank cylinder mounted on the first longitudinal frame wall on an opposite side thereof from the first tank cylinder; third and fourth tank cylinders mounted on opposite sides of the second longitudinal frame wall, so that the four tank cylinders lie parallel to each other between the first and second transverse walls, the first and fourth tank cylinders being outer tank cylinders, and the second and third tank cylinders being inner tank cylinders; and wherein each of the strap assemblies associated with the inner tank cylinders includes a longer strap portion underlying its respective tank cylinder and a shorter strap portion overlying its respective tank cylinder, each strap portion having a first end pivotally connected to its associated saddle and having a second free end and each assembly including a releasable connection between the free ends of the strap portions.