GB2239223A

GB2239223A - Vehicle fuel tank supporting strap

Info

Publication number: GB2239223A
Application number: GB8928674A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Ronald Pardy
Original assignee: Ford Motor Co
Current assignee: Ford Motor Co
Priority date: 1989-12-19
Filing date: 1989-12-19
Publication date: 1991-06-26
Also published as: GB8928674D0

Abstract

A strap (12) for supporting a motor vehicle fuel tank against a chassis (10) has a simple metal-to-metal connection at one end (14) and a vibration isolated mounting at the other end (16). Close to the first end (14) of the strap (12) there is an interruption (18) where a vibration isolator is positioned to prevent vibrations transmitted along the strap (12), e.g. from an in-tank fuel pump, from reaching the end (14). The connection at end (14) can be made without the use of tools, e.g. it may comprise a T-bar formation on the end of the strap engaging in a correspondingly shaped slot in the chassis. In assembly, the strap (12) is clipped on to the chassis at its end (14) so that the strap hangs down in position (24), the tank is offered up into position (20) and the strap is lifted up and its end (16) is secured with a bolt. The vibration-isolating interruption may comprise (Fig. 3) one part (12a) of the strap which has a hooked end terminating in a wide tail (32) which passes through a T-shaped slot (30) in the other part 12(b). A rubber isolator (34) is positioned between the two parts. <IMAGE>

Description

A FUEL TANK SUPPORT This invention relates to a fuel tank support in the form of a strap for supporting a fuel tank against the chassis of a motor vehicle.

When a fuel pump is located inside a fuel tank, particularly a metal fuel tank, operation of the pump causes vibrations in the walls of the tank to be set up.

It is desirable to avoid these vibrations being transmitted to the vehicle chassis.

According to the invention, there is provided a fuel tank support in the form of a strap adapted to be fixed at both ends to a vehicle chassis and to pass underneath a fuel tank to support the tank, wherein the strap has a first end which can be connected to the vehicle chassis without the use of tools and which allows the strap to pivot relative to the body, an interruption in the strap adjacent the first end, the interruption comprising a vibration absorbing body placed in the tension path through the strap, and a second end with a vibration absorbing body arranged so that the body is interposed between the second end and the vehicle chassis when the second end is secured to the chassis.

The use of a vibration absorbing body interrupting the tension path through the strap ensures that vibrations arising from the tank are not transmitted to the vehicle chassis through the first end of the strap.

Either one, two or possibly more straps could be used to secure one fuel tank.

The second end of the strap may be secured to the chassis by a threaded bolt.

The interruption in the strap may be formed by interengaging hook formations on two strap parts, with the vibration absorbing body placed between the hook portions.

Alternatively two adjacent strap parts may each have an aperture through them, with a common vibration absorbing body placed through both apertures to provide a tension path through the strap.

The first end of the strap may be in the form of a T-bar shape which can be inserted in a slot in the vehicle chassis and then turned to connect the strap end to the chassis.

The invention will now be further described, by way of example, with reference to the accompanying drawing, in which Figure 1 is a schematic view of a fuel tank support in accordance with the invention; Figures 2a and 2b are detailed views of, respectively, a first end and a second end of the strap; Figure 3 is a detail of an interruption in the strap; Figure 4 is a sectional view of the detail shown in Figure 3, on the lines IV-IV; and Figure 5 is a view corresponding to Figure 4 but showing an alternative embodiment.

Figure 1 shows the underside of a vehicle chassis at 10 and a fuel tank support strap at 12. The strap 12 is secured at a first end 14 to the chassis 10 and also at a second end 16. There is an interruption 18 close to the first end 14 of the strap. In use a fuel tank will be supported by the strap 12 against the underside of the chassis to occupy the space indicated at 20.

Figure 2a shows a T-bar or "fishtail" formation 22 at the first end of the strap. This formation can be engaged in a correspondingly shaped slot on the chassis 10 and then rotated through 900 so that the strap is retained. There will then be a direct metal-to-metal contact between the first end of the strap and the chassis. Because of the use of this simple T-bar engagement, no tools are required to connect the first end to the chassis and when the first end only is connected to the chassis, the strap can pivot about the T-bar connection and will naturally take up the position indicated in Figure 1 in dotted lines at 24.

On a vehicle assembly line, the strap will be mounted on the vehicle in the way just described. A fuel tank will then be offered up to the underside of the vehicle and the second end 16 of the strap will be lifted up under the fuel tank and then secured at the second end in the manner shown in Figure 2b with a threaded bolt 26 through a rubber isolator 28 connecting the strap end 16 to the chassis 10.

The tank will then be held in place.

Where the tank is of metal and the strap 12 is also of metal, iny vibrations caused in the tank for example by operation of an in-tank fuel pump will be transmitted along the length of the strap. At the second end of the strap these vibrations will be prevented from being transmitted to the chassis 10 by the isolator 28. At the other end of the strap, transmission of the vibrations is prevented by the interruption 18 in the strap, and the construction of this interruption will be described first of all with reference to Figures 3 and 4.

The strap is in fact divided at the interruption 18 into two parts. One part 12a forms the first end of the strap, and the other part 12b extends to the second end 16. The part 12b has a T-shaped slot 30, and the part 12a has a hooked end ending in a wide tail 32. The tail 32 can be passed through the slot 30 if the parts 12a and 12b are first turned at 900 to one another and then the two parts hook together as illustrated in Figure 4, and a rubber isolator 34 is positioned between them. The force or tension path between the parts 12a and 12b therefore passes through the rubber isolator 34.

Figure 5 shows an alternative embodiment where the parts 12a and 12b are each formed with a matching aperture, with flanged over edges 36. The two strap parts are placed so that the holes register with one another, and then a rubber isolator bush 38 is inserted between them, with a reinforcing stud 40 to provide the necessary shear resistance between the two strap parts. Again, the force transmission path between the parts 12a and 12b passes through the isolator 38.

The fuel tank support described here helps the assembly process because the first end 14 can be simply clipped onto the underside of the car without using any tools, and only one fixing 26 has to be tightened with a tool to secure the tank in lace. The assembly of the interruption 18 either in accordance with Figures 3 and 4 or in accordance with Figure 5 will be carried out separately, apart from the assembly line. The support described also reliably prevents transmission of vibrations arising in the tank to the vehicle chassis.

Claims

1. A fuel tank support in the form of a strap adapted to be fixed at both ends to a vehicle chassis and to pass underneath a fuel tank to support the tank, wherein the strap has a first end which can be connected to the vehicle chassis without the use of tools and which allows the strap to pivot relative to the body, an interruption in the strap adjacent the first end, the interruption comprising a vibration absorbing body placed in the tension path through the strap, and a second end with a vibration absorbing body arranged so that the body is interposed between the second end and the vehicle chassis when the second end is secured to the chassis.

2. A fuel tank support as claimed in Claim 1, wherein two or more straps are used to secure the fuel tank.

3. A fuel tank support as claimed in Claim 1 or Claim 2, wherein the second end of the strap is secured to the chassis by a threaded bolt.

4. A fuel tank support as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein the interruption in the strap is formed by interengaging hook formations on two strap parts, with the vibration absorbing body placed between the hook portions.

5. A fuel tank support as claimed in any one of Claims 1 to 3, wherein two adjacent strap parts each have an aperture through them, with a common vibration absorbing body placed through both apertures to provide a tension path through the strap.

6. A fuel tank support as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein the first end of the strap is in the form of a T bar shape which can be inserted in a slot in the vehicle chassis and then turned to connect the strap end to the chassis.

7. A fuel tank support for a motor vehicle fuel tank, substantially as herein described with reference to the accompanying drawing.