Vehicle load mounting systems and methods of securing loads

A load mounting system for a vehicle generally includes a support assembly configured for supporting a load, wherein the support assembly has a first end and a second end, the first end being mountable to a frame of a vehicle at one or more support assembly mounting locations along the frame. The system further includes at least one retaining device configured for securing the load on the support assembly, the at least one retaining device being coupleable to the first and second ends of the support assembly, wherein the at least one retaining device is coupleable to the first end of the support assembly at a different location than the support assembly mounting locations along the frame.

BACKGROUND

Commercial vehicles are generally made to order, each having a custom chassis mounting design for mounted components, such as the battery box, tool box, fuel tanks, exhaust system, and hydraulic components. In order to simplify the custom design process, there exists a need for a fuel tank mounting system that is locatable in a plurality of positions along the chassis, while still providing proper support for the mounted components.

SUMMARY

In accordance with another embodiment of the present disclosure, a load mounting system for a vehicle is provided. The system generally includes a support assembly configured for supporting a load, wherein the support assembly has a first end and a second end, the first end being mountable to a frame of a vehicle at one or more support assembly mounting locations along the frame. The system further includes at least one retaining device configured for securing the load on the support assembly, the at least one retaining device being coupleable to the first and second ends of the support assembly, wherein the at least one retaining device is coupleable to the first end of the support assembly at a different location than the support assembly mounting locations along the frame.

In accordance with another embodiment of the present disclosure, a load mounting system for a vehicle is provided. The system generally includes a support component configured for supporting a load, the support component being mountable to a frame of a vehicle in a plurality of locations along the frame. The system further includes a first attachment member coupleable to the first and second support components at respective first and second attachment positions, and a second attachment member coupleable to the first and second support components at respective third and fourth attachment positions. The system further includes at least one retaining device configured for securing the load on the support brackets, the at least one retaining device being coupleable to the first and second attachment members at locations along the first and second attachment members different from at least two of the first, second, third, and fourth attachment positions.

In accordance with another embodiment of the present disclosure, a method of securing a load on a vehicle frame is provided. The method generally includes attaching a load mounting system to the vehicle frame, the system including a support assembly configured for supporting the load, wherein the support assembly has a first end and a second end, the first end being mountable to a frame of a vehicle at one or more support assembly mounting locations along the frame, and further including at least one retaining device configured for securing the load on the support assembly, the at least one retaining device being coupleable to the first and second ends of the support assembly, wherein the at least one retaining device is coupleable to the first end of the support assembly at a different location than the support assembly mounting locations along the frame. The method further includes placing a load on the support assembly and securing the load on the support assembly by coupling the at least one retaining device to the first and second ends of the support assembly.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Embodiments of the present disclosure are generally directed to mounting systems for mounting a load to a vehicle chassis. Referring toFIGS. 1-4, there is shown a mounting system20constructed in accordance with one embodiment of the present disclosure. The mounting system20generally includes a support assembly22that is coupleable to the frame or chassis24of the vehicle (seeFIG. 1). The support assembly22is configured such that one or more retaining devices30can be attached, for example, to attachment members26and28on the support assembly22, to secure a mountable component or load32, such as a tank, to the vehicle frame24.

The mounting system20can be mounted at any suitable location along the frame24to provide support for a mountable component or load32. As described in greater detail below, the one or more retaining devices30are positionable along the attachment members26and28at a plurality of locations independent of the positioning of the support assembly22on the frame24. Therefore, embodiments of the disclosure are directed to tank mounting systems that have at least two adjustable components to accommodate custom frame mounting designs: (1) the positioning of the support assembly22on the frame24and (2) the positioning of the one or more retaining devices30on the attachment members26and28.

Such adjustability allows for consistent placement of the retaining devices30on the mountable component32(e.g., a tank) to provide proper securement and support for the mountable component32, regardless of the location of the mountable component32relative to the vehicle frame24. For example, some tanks include grooves for retaining devices30to rest. Such adjustability also reduces, for example, tank layouts, frame layouts, part counts, and assembly time, and improves tank aesthetics. Although shown as a tank in the illustrated embodiment, the mountable component32may be any component or load, including but not limited to one or more fuel tanks, battery boxes, tool boxes, exhaust systems, hydraulic components, etc. In addition, other components, for example, cab steps (not shown), may be attached to the support assembly22and/or the retaining devices30. The adjustability of the system20therefore allows for suitable placement of these components relative to the frame24of the vehicle.

Referring toFIGS. 2 and 3, the support assembly22will now be described in greater detail. The support assembly22is shown in the illustrated embodiment as two support components44and46generally configured to provide support for a mountable component32, such as a tank. However, it should be appreciated that the support assembly22may include one support component or more than two support components. The support assembly22is coupleable or mountable to the frame24of the vehicle. It should be appreciated that the support assembly22may be removably coupled to the frame24by removable means, such as fasteners, or permanently coupled to the frame24by more permanent means, such as by welding and/or adhesive.

When mounted, the support assembly22extends outwardly from the frame24of the vehicle in the illustrated embodiment. In that regard, the support assembly22includes first and second ends40and42, wherein the first end40is proximate the vehicle frame24and the second end42is distal from the vehicle frame24. In a preferable embodiment, the support assembly22allows a mountable component32, such as a tank, to be mounted on the support assembly22in a resting position before being secured. In this manner, an operator can mount the tank32in a resting position for ease in securing the tank32to the support assembly22using one or more retaining devices30, as described in greater detail below. Depending on the mountable component, it should be appreciated that the support assembly22need not extend outwardly from the frame24of the vehicle, but may extend inwardly, for example, under the frame24of the vehicle, upwardly or downwardly, or any suitable combination thereof.

In the illustrated embodiment, the support assembly22includes first and second support components44and46, which are substantially L-shaped support bars, each having a vertical component50and a horizontal component52(seeFIG. 3). The vertical component50provides a back resting surface for the tank32, while the horizontal component52provides a bottom resting surface for the tank32, so as to properly position the tank32adjacent the frame24prior to securing it in place. As mentioned above, although shown as including two support components44and46in the illustrated embodiment, it should be appreciated that any number of support components are within the scope of the present disclosure.

It should be appreciated that other configurations that allow a mountable component or load to rest without substantial movement prior to securement are also within the scope of the present disclosure. For example, the support components may be designed to conform to various shapes and sizes of mountable components, including but not limited to substantially cylindrical, substantially rectangular, and other polygonal cross-section mountable components. As non-limiting examples, the support components may be configured in substantially V-shaped or substantially U-shaped configurations, or in a substantially C-shaped configuration. Moreover, the support components may include a flat platform, a molded dish designed to correspond with the shape of the mountable component or load, a plurality of supports or support bars (e.g., more than two), a grill, a frame, a net on a frame, any combination thereof, or any other suitable support component to provide adequate support for a mountable component or load.

As seen in the illustrated embodiment, the support assembly22may include first and second attachment members26and28, which will now be described in greater detail. The first attachment member26is located at the first end40of the support assembly22, and the second attachment member28is located at the second end42of the support assembly22. Although shown in the illustrated embodiment as discrete elements for full adjustability, it should be appreciated that the support components44and46and attachment members26and28may be integrated into the support assembly22.

In the illustrated embodiment, the first and second attachment members26and28are substantially bar or rail members that extend substantially perpendicular to the orientation of the support components44and46. The first attachment member26is affixed adjacent the frame24in a substantially parallel orientation to the frame24. The second attachment member28is attached at the second distal end42of the support components44and46and is in a substantially parallel orientation to the frame24. It should be appreciated that the first and second attachment members may also be plates, tubes, chains, or any other suitable attachment member.

The attachment members26and28may provide for adjustable attachment of the support assembly22to the vehicle frame24, as well as adjustable attachment of the one or more retaining devices30to the support assembly22. In that regard, the first and second attachment members26and28may be coupled to the support components44and46at any locations along the lengths of the first and second attachment members26and28. Moreover, the retaining devices30may be coupled to the first and second attachment members26and28at any locations along the lengths of the first and second attachment members26and28. The location of attachment along the attachment members26and28of a support component44or46may coincide or be different than the location of attachment for a retaining device30. In that regard, the system20is adaptable to fit various unique vehicle chassis design. For example, as best seen inFIG. 2, the retaining devices30are attached at the ends of the first and second attachment members26and28, while one support component44is attached at the left end of the first and second attachment members26and28and the other support component46is attached at the center of the first and second attachment members26and28.

As seen in the illustrated embodiment, the support assembly22is coupled to the vehicle frame24along a vertical component50of the support assembly22. Such attachment allows for a reinforced attachment of the support assembly22to the frame24because there may be multiple points of attachment along the vertical component50to the frame24. The points of attachment may be adjustable, for example, by removal fasteners, which may be dependent upon the custom options or design of the vehicle and whether adjustability is required in the vehicle design. Alternatively, the points of attachment may be permanent, for example, by welding and/or adhesive. In other non-limiting embodiments, the support assembly22may be attached to the frame vehicle along a horizontal component52of the support assembly22or by an attachment member, for example, the first or second attachment members26or28.

Also seen in the illustrated embodiment, the second attachment member28is coupled to the second end42of the support assembly22. The second attachment member28provides an attachment mechanism for one or more retaining devices30. In that regard, at least one retaining device30is configured for securing the mountable component32on the support assembly22, with the at least one retaining device30being coupleable to the first and second ends40and42of the support assembly22. Notably, at least one retaining device30is coupleable to the first end40of the support assembly22at a different location than the support assembly mounting locations along the frame24. In addition, two or more retaining devices30may be coupleable to the first end of the support assembly22at different locations than the support assembly22mounting location along the frame24.

The retaining devices30may be flexible or inflexible straps, cables, tie-downs, bands, chains, or other devices capable of securing a load. The retaining devices30may be fixedly or releasably coupled to either or both of the first and second attachment members26and28at a plurality of locations along the first and second attachment members26and28, as seen inFIG. 2. In other embodiments, the retaining devices30may be fixedly coupled to the frame24or the first attachment member26and the frame24. It should be appreciated that a releasable coupling at either the first or second end40or42of the support assembly22allows for quick release of the mountable component32from the support assembly22.

Referring now toFIGS. 4A and 4B, the second attachment member28may include a plurality of strap attachment holes or slots54for selective and releasable attachment of a retaining device30at any location along the second attachment member28. In that regard, the retaining device30may be slidably received within the attachment slot54and can be positioned at various positions along the length of the attachment slot54.

It should be appreciated that the retaining devices30may be attached to the attachment tracks26and28by any suitable attachment method, including but not limited to sliding attachment (seeFIGS. 4A and 4B), bolted or fastener attachment (not shown), and turn buckle attachment (not shown). It should further be appreciated that the turn buckle attachment allows for straps of different sized widths to be used with the strap attachment track.