US20170036626A1 - Fuel tank assembly including inflatable member - Google Patents
Fuel tank assembly including inflatable member Download PDFInfo
- Publication number
- US20170036626A1 US20170036626A1 US14/817,288 US201514817288A US2017036626A1 US 20170036626 A1 US20170036626 A1 US 20170036626A1 US 201514817288 A US201514817288 A US 201514817288A US 2017036626 A1 US2017036626 A1 US 2017036626A1
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- US
- United States
- Prior art keywords
- fuel tank
- inflatable member
- set forth
- airbag assembly
- assembly
- Prior art date
- Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
- Granted
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Classifications
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- B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
- B60—VEHICLES IN GENERAL
- B60K—ARRANGEMENT OR MOUNTING OF PROPULSION UNITS OR OF TRANSMISSIONS IN VEHICLES; ARRANGEMENT OR MOUNTING OF PLURAL DIVERSE PRIME-MOVERS IN VEHICLES; AUXILIARY DRIVES FOR VEHICLES; INSTRUMENTATION OR DASHBOARDS FOR VEHICLES; ARRANGEMENTS IN CONNECTION WITH COOLING, AIR INTAKE, GAS EXHAUST OR FUEL SUPPLY OF PROPULSION UNITS IN VEHICLES
- B60K15/00—Arrangement in connection with fuel supply of combustion engines or other fuel consuming energy converters, e.g. fuel cells; Mounting or construction of fuel tanks
- B60K15/03—Fuel tanks
-
- B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
- B60—VEHICLES IN GENERAL
- B60R—VEHICLES, VEHICLE FITTINGS, OR VEHICLE PARTS, NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR
- B60R19/00—Wheel guards; Radiator guards, e.g. grilles; Obstruction removers; Fittings damping bouncing force in collisions
- B60R19/02—Bumpers, i.e. impact receiving or absorbing members for protecting vehicles or fending off blows from other vehicles or objects
- B60R19/18—Bumpers, i.e. impact receiving or absorbing members for protecting vehicles or fending off blows from other vehicles or objects characterised by the cross-section; Means within the bumper to absorb impact
- B60R19/20—Bumpers, i.e. impact receiving or absorbing members for protecting vehicles or fending off blows from other vehicles or objects characterised by the cross-section; Means within the bumper to absorb impact containing mainly gas or liquid, e.g. inflatable
- B60R19/205—Bumpers, i.e. impact receiving or absorbing members for protecting vehicles or fending off blows from other vehicles or objects characterised by the cross-section; Means within the bumper to absorb impact containing mainly gas or liquid, e.g. inflatable inflatable in the direction of an obstacle upon impending impact, e.g. using air bags
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- B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
- B60—VEHICLES IN GENERAL
- B60K—ARRANGEMENT OR MOUNTING OF PROPULSION UNITS OR OF TRANSMISSIONS IN VEHICLES; ARRANGEMENT OR MOUNTING OF PLURAL DIVERSE PRIME-MOVERS IN VEHICLES; AUXILIARY DRIVES FOR VEHICLES; INSTRUMENTATION OR DASHBOARDS FOR VEHICLES; ARRANGEMENTS IN CONNECTION WITH COOLING, AIR INTAKE, GAS EXHAUST OR FUEL SUPPLY OF PROPULSION UNITS IN VEHICLES
- B60K15/00—Arrangement in connection with fuel supply of combustion engines or other fuel consuming energy converters, e.g. fuel cells; Mounting or construction of fuel tanks
- B60K15/03—Fuel tanks
- B60K15/063—Arrangement of tanks
-
- B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
- B60—VEHICLES IN GENERAL
- B60K—ARRANGEMENT OR MOUNTING OF PROPULSION UNITS OR OF TRANSMISSIONS IN VEHICLES; ARRANGEMENT OR MOUNTING OF PLURAL DIVERSE PRIME-MOVERS IN VEHICLES; AUXILIARY DRIVES FOR VEHICLES; INSTRUMENTATION OR DASHBOARDS FOR VEHICLES; ARRANGEMENTS IN CONNECTION WITH COOLING, AIR INTAKE, GAS EXHAUST OR FUEL SUPPLY OF PROPULSION UNITS IN VEHICLES
- B60K15/00—Arrangement in connection with fuel supply of combustion engines or other fuel consuming energy converters, e.g. fuel cells; Mounting or construction of fuel tanks
- B60K15/03—Fuel tanks
- B60K2015/03328—Arrangements or special measures related to fuel tanks or fuel handling
- B60K2015/03375—Arrangements or special measures related to fuel tanks or fuel handling to improve security
-
- B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
- B60—VEHICLES IN GENERAL
- B60K—ARRANGEMENT OR MOUNTING OF PROPULSION UNITS OR OF TRANSMISSIONS IN VEHICLES; ARRANGEMENT OR MOUNTING OF PLURAL DIVERSE PRIME-MOVERS IN VEHICLES; AUXILIARY DRIVES FOR VEHICLES; INSTRUMENTATION OR DASHBOARDS FOR VEHICLES; ARRANGEMENTS IN CONNECTION WITH COOLING, AIR INTAKE, GAS EXHAUST OR FUEL SUPPLY OF PROPULSION UNITS IN VEHICLES
- B60K15/00—Arrangement in connection with fuel supply of combustion engines or other fuel consuming energy converters, e.g. fuel cells; Mounting or construction of fuel tanks
- B60K15/03—Fuel tanks
- B60K15/063—Arrangement of tanks
- B60K2015/0634—Arrangement of tanks the fuel tank is arranged below the vehicle floor
-
- B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
- B60—VEHICLES IN GENERAL
- B60Y—INDEXING SCHEME RELATING TO ASPECTS CROSS-CUTTING VEHICLE TECHNOLOGY
- B60Y2306/00—Other features of vehicle sub-units
- B60Y2306/01—Reducing damages in case of crash, e.g. by improving battery protection
Definitions
- FMVSS Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standards
- NHSA National Highway and Traffic Safety Administration
- FMVSS 301 One such standard that governs fuel system integrity.
- FMVSS 301 defines the fuel spillage requirements for rear impacts up to 50 miles per hour.
- Vehicles may be designed to include structural reinforcements and/or shields in order to absorb and/or deflect these forces away from the fuel tank.
- Additional components may disadvantageously add design and material cost, complexity, and weight to the vehicle. As such, there remains an opportunity to design a fuel tank assembly that satisfies testing such as the FMVSS 301 test while reducing the complexity and weight of structural reinforcements and/or shields in the area around the fuel tank assembly.
- extra reinforcements and structural barriers may be added to the vehicle in an effort to protect the fuel tank from damage or spillage, e.g., due to puncture, especially at higher speeds, e.g., speeds exceeding 70 mph.
- These reinforcements and structural barriers may result in more cost and weight. As such there is an opportunity to design a fuel tank to absorb such impacts while reducing additional structural reinforcements or shields and additional cost and weight associated therewith.
- FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a rear portion of a vehicle including a fuel tank assembly with an airbag assembly in an uninflated position.
- FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the rear portion of the vehicle with the airbag assembly in an inflated position.
- FIG. 3 is a perspective view of the fuel tank assembly with the airbag assembly in the inflated position as seen from a rear of the vehicle.
- FIG. 4 is a perspective view of the fuel tank assembly with the airbag assembly in the inflated position as seen from a front of the vehicle.
- FIG. 5 is an exploded perspective view of the fuel tank assembly showing the airbag assembly and a fuel tank.
- FIG. 6 is a schematic of an impact absorbing system of the vehicle.
- FIGS. 1-2 show a fuel tank assembly 10 for a vehicle 12 that includes a fuel tank 14 and an airbag assembly 16 connected to the fuel tank 14 .
- the fuel tank 14 includes a first portion 18 facing in a first direction, and second portion 20 facing a second direction which is opposite the first direction.
- the fuel tank 14 includes a rear portion 22 extending between the first portion 18 and the second portion 20 and facing in a rear direction transverse to the first and second directions.
- the airbag assembly 16 is connected to the first portion 18 , the second portion 20 , and the rear portion 22 of the fuel tank 14 , as shown in FIGS. 1-5 .
- the airbag assembly 16 may be selectively inflated based on the direction of the impact, as set forth below. For example, as set forth below, during a rear end impact (identified with “F” in FIG. 2 ), and/or side impact of the vehicle 12 , the airbag assembly 16 may inflate causing the airbag assembly 16 to extend along the first portion 18 , the second portion 20 , and the rear portion 22 of the fuel tank 14 as shown in FIGS. 2-4 . In this situation, the airbag assembly 16 may deflect debris away from the fuel tank 14 , which may reduce the likelihood of damage to the fuel tank 14 .
- the airbag assembly 16 may prevent underbody components from deforming into and contacting the fuel tank 14 during the vehicle impact, which may reduce the likelihood of damage to the fuel tank 14 .
- the airbag assembly 16 may allow for reduction or elimination of other reinforcing components, e.g., reinforcing structures and shields, around the fuel tank 14 , which may reduce development time and cost.
- the airbag assembly 16 may be a component of an impact absorbing system 24 .
- the impact absorbing system 24 may include an inflator 26 in communication with the airbag assembly 16 .
- the impact absorbing system 24 may sense an impact of the vehicle 12 and may trigger inflation of the airbag assembly 16 in response to the sensed impact.
- the impact absorbing system 24 may sense the type of impact, e.g., based on direction, magnitude, etc., and may trigger inflation of the airbag assembly 16 in response to the type of impact.
- the inflator 26 may be spaced from the fuel tank assembly 10 and installed forward of the fuel tank 14 toward a front end (not shown) of the vehicle 12 .
- the inflator 26 may be concealed to limit or prevent environmental exposure, for example, water intrusion, salt spray, dust, etc.
- the inflator 26 may be mounted to a bracket (not shown), and the bracket may be mounted to a structural member (not shown) of the vehicle 12 .
- the inflator 26 when activated by the impact absorbing system 24 , is configured to inflate an inflatable member 30 of the airbag assembly 16 to predetermined pressure. More specifically, the inflator 26 when activated by the impact absorbing system 24 may be configure to inflate the inflatable member 30 to a pressure of 10-20 pounds per square inch.
- the impact absorbing system 24 may include a fill tube 32 extending from the inflator 26 to the airbag assembly 16 .
- the inflator 26 may have one or more ports 34 , e.g., two ports 34 as shown in the Figures, in communication with the airbag assembly 16 through the fill tube 32 .
- the fill tube 32 may include a first end 36 fixed to the port 34 of the inflator 26 , and a second end 38 spaced from the first end 36 and fixed to the inflatable member 30 .
- the impact absorbing system 24 may include one or more fill tubes 32 , e.g., two fill tubes 32 as shown in the Figures.
- the inflatable member 30 may include any suitable number of connection points 40 spaced from each other to receive the second end 38 of the fill tube 32 .
- the fill tube 32 may be formed of any suitable high strength flexible material.
- the fill tube 32 may be nitrile rubber, nylon, thermoplastic elastomer (TPE), etc.
- the inflator 26 may be, for example, a cold-gas inflator, which, when activated, ignites a pyrotechnic charge that creates an opening for releasing the pressurized inflation medium to the airbag assembly 16 via the fill tube 32 .
- the inflator 26 may be of any suitable type, for example, a hybrid inflator.
- the fuel tank assembly 10 may be received adjacent to the structural member of the vehicle 12 .
- the fuel tank assembly 10 may be attached to the structural member with one or more straps 42 .
- the straps 42 may be disposed between, i.e. sandwiched between, the fuel tank 14 and the airbag assembly 16 .
- the fuel tank 14 includes the first portion 18 facing in the first direction, and the second portion 20 facing in the second direction opposite the first direction.
- the first portion 18 may face a left side 44 of the vehicle 12 and the second portion 20 may face a right side 46 of the vehicle 12 .
- the rear portion 22 may face a rear end 48 of the vehicle 12 .
- the fuel tank 14 may include a front portion 50 facing in a front direction opposite the rear direction. The front portion 50 may face the front end of the vehicle 12 .
- the fuel tank 14 may include a top portion 52 extending between the first portion 18 , the second portion 20 , the rear portion 22 , and the front portion 50 .
- the top portion 52 faces upwardly in a direction transverse to the first direction, the second direction, the rear direction, and the front direction.
- the fuel tank 14 may include at least one flange 54 extending along the first portion 18 , the second portion 20 , the rear portion 22 , and/or the front portion 50 of the fuel tank 14 .
- the fuel tank 14 may include a plurality of flanges 54 spaced from each other along the first portion 18 , the second portion 20 , the rear portion 22 , and/or the front portion 50 of the fuel tank 14 .
- the fuel tank 14 may include any suitable number of flanges 54 , i.e., one or more.
- the flange 54 may define a hole 56 .
- the airbag assembly 16 may include a tab 58 engaged with the hole 56 of the flange 54 by a fastener 72 .
- the fastener 72 may be any suitable type of fastener such as a threaded bolt, rivet, etc.
- the fuel tank 14 may be formed of any suitable material, e.g., metal such as steel, aluminum, etc.
- the fuel tank 14 may be formed of an engineered plastic, e.g., high-density polyethylene (HDPE).
- the fuel tank 14 may have any suitable cross-sectional shape, for example, rectangular ( FIGS. 1-5 ), square, oval, circular, etc.
- the fuel tank 14 may have any suitable three-dimensional shape, for example, cube, elongated cube, cylindrical, sphere, etc.
- the fuel tank 14 may include two separate halves that are formed separately from, for example, a stamped process and may be subsequently fixed together by, e.g., welding, brazing, etc.
- the fuel tank 14 may be of any suitable type for storing any suitable fuel/energy source.
- the fuel tank 14 may store petrochemical fuels such as gasoline, diesel, etc.
- the fuel tank 14 may store a rechargeable battery, fuel cell, hydrogen tank, natural gas tank, etc.
- the airbag assembly 16 may include one or more inflatable members 30 inflatable by the inflation medium.
- the airbag assembly 16 shown in the Figures includes one inflatable member 30 , however, the airbag assembly 16 may include any suitable number of inflatable members 30 .
- the inflatable member 30 in an inflated position may extend continuously across one or more portions of the fuel tank 14 , i.e. the first portion 18 , the second portion 20 , the rear portion 22 , and/or the front portion 50 of the fuel tank 14 .
- the inflatable member 30 may further extend across a left front corner 74 joining the first portion 18 and the front portion 50 , and/or a right front corner 76 joining the second portion 20 and the front portion 50 , and/or a left rear corner 78 joining the first portion 18 and the rear portion 22 , and/or a right rear corner 80 joining the second portion 20 and the rear portion 22 as shown in FIGS. 3-4 .
- each inflatable member 30 may extend across one or more of the first portion 18 , the second portion 20 , the rear portion 22 , and/or the front portion 50 of the fuel tank 14 .
- These individual inflatable members 30 may be fluidly connected to each other, or may be independently inflatable by the inflator 26 .
- the airbag assembly 16 may include an inflatable member 30 and an outer covering 60 on the inflatable member 30 .
- the outer covering 60 houses the inflatable member 30 when the inflatable member 30 is in an uninflated position.
- the inflatable member 30 in the uninflated position may be, for example, folded, rolled, etc. within the outer covering 60 .
- the outer covering 60 may include a tear seam (not shown) that may provide an inflate direction for the inflatable member 30 to inflate.
- the inflatable member 30 may tear the tear seam when the inflatable member 30 inflates from the uninflated position to the inflated position. When the tear seam tears, the inflatable member 30 may be exposed outside the outer covering 60 as shown in FIGS. 2-4 .
- the outer covering 60 may be formed of any suitable material. Specifically, the outer covering 60 may be configured to, i.e., sized, shaped, material, etc., protect the inflatable member 30 from driving conditions when the inflatable member 30 is in the uninflated position.
- the outer covering 60 may be, for example, formed of nylon, polyester, etc.
- the inflatable member 30 may be formed of an auxetic material.
- the auxetic material may include auxetic yarns that may be combined with other yarns and fibers to optimize the performance, e.g., puncture resistance, tear resistance, of the auxetic material.
- the inflatable member 30 may be formed from an ultra-high molecular weight polyethylene (UHMwPE) material.
- UHMwPE ultra-high molecular weight polyethylene
- the fibers of the UHMwPE material may be oriented in a particular pattern to optimize the performance, e.g., puncture resistance, tear resistance, of the UHMwPE material.
- the inflatable member 30 may be unvented for the purpose of containing the inflation medium within the inflatable member 30 for a period of time, for example, greater than one second.
- the airbag assembly 16 extends across at least one of the first portion 18 , the second portion 20 , the rear portion 22 and/or the front portion 50 of the fuel tank 14 in the inflated position. Specifically, the airbag assembly 16 may be connected directly to the first portion 18 , the second portion 20 , the rear portion 22 , and/or the front portion 50 . Alternatively, the airbag assembly 16 may be connected to another component of the fuel tank 14 .
- the airbag assembly 16 may, for example, include tabs 58 connected to and spaced along the inflatable member 30 , as shown in FIG. 5 .
- the tabs 58 may extend through the outer covering 60 .
- the tabs 58 may be connected to the inflatable member 30 in any suitable manner, e.g., stitching, bonding, and/or adhesive, etc.
- the tabs 58 may be connected to the first portion 18 , the second portion 20 , the rear portion 22 , and/or the front portion 50 of the fuel tank 14 .
- the tabs 58 of the inflatable member 30 may be connected to the top portion 52 of the fuel tank 14 . In this configuration, the inflatable member 30 in the inflated position may extend across the first portion 18 , the second portion 20 , the rear portion 22 , and/or the front portion 50 of the fuel tank 14 .
- the top portion 52 may support the airbag assembly 16 around a perimeter 62 of the top portion 52 .
- the inflatable member 30 of the airbag assembly 16 may inflate from the uninflated position to the inflated position.
- the inflatable member 30 may extend from the top portion 52 across the first portion 18 , the second portion 20 , the rear portion 22 and/or the front portion 50 of the fuel tank 14 .
- the impact sensing system 64 may include at least one sensor 66 for sensing impact of the vehicle 12 , and a controller 68 in communication with the sensor 66 and the inflator 26 for activating the inflator 26 , e.g., for providing an impulse to a pyrotechnic charge of the inflator 26 , when the sensor 66 senses an impact of the vehicle 12 .
- the impact sensing system 64 may be configured to sense impact prior to impact, i.e., pre-impact sensing.
- the sensor 66 may be of any suitable type, e.g., using radar, lidar, and/or a vision system.
- the vision system may include one or more cameras, CCD image sensors, and/or CMOS image sensor, etc.
- the controller 68 may be a microprocessor-based controller.
- the sensor 66 is in communication with the controller 68 to communicate data to the controller 68 . Based on the data communicated by the sensor 66 , the controller 68 instructs the inflator 26 to activate.
- the impact sensing system 64 may instruct the inflator 26 to activate on either a front end impact, a rear end impact, or a side impact of the vehicle.
- the controller 68 and the sensor 66 may be connected to a communication bus 70 , such as a controller area network (CAN) bus, of the vehicle 12 .
- the controller 68 may use information from the communication bus 70 to control the activation of the inflator 26 .
- the inflator 26 may be connected to the controller 68 , as shown in FIG. 6 , or may be connected directly to the communication bus 70 .
- the airbag assembly 16 is in the uninflated position, as shown in FIGS. 1 and 5 , under normal operating conditions of the vehicle 12 .
- the impact sensing system 64 triggers the inflator 26 to inflate the inflatable member 30 of the airbag assembly 16 with the inflation medium from the uninflated position to the inflated position.
- the impact sensing system 64 inflates the inflatable member 30 to the inflated position as shown in FIGS. 2-4 .
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- Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
- Mechanical Engineering (AREA)
- Life Sciences & Earth Sciences (AREA)
- Sustainable Development (AREA)
- Sustainable Energy (AREA)
- Chemical & Material Sciences (AREA)
- Combustion & Propulsion (AREA)
- Transportation (AREA)
- Cooling, Air Intake And Gas Exhaust, And Fuel Tank Arrangements In Propulsion Units (AREA)
- Air Bags (AREA)
Abstract
A fuel tank assembly includes a fuel tank, and an airbag assembly connected to a fuel tank. The fuel tank includes a first portion facing in a first direction, a second portion facing a second direction which is opposite the first direction. The fuel tank includes a rear portion extending between the first portion and the second portion and facing in a rear direction transverse to the first and second directions. The airbag assembly is connected to the first portion, the second portion, and the rear portion of the fuel tank. During a vehicle impact, an inflatable member of the airbag assembly in an inflatable position may deflect impact debris away from the fuel tank and/or may prevent underbody components from coming contacting the fuel tank.
Description
- Vehicles are subject to a variety of standardized testing, such as the Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standards (FMVSS) regulated by the National Highway and Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA). One such standard that governs fuel system integrity is FMVSS 301. Specifically, FMVSS 301 defines the fuel spillage requirements for rear impacts up to 50 miles per hour. Some vehicles, for example police vehicles, may be tested at rear impacts up to 70 miles per hour.
- Forces resulting from the rear impact may urge the vehicle to deform, including in areas around the fuel tank. Vehicles may be designed to include structural reinforcements and/or shields in order to absorb and/or deflect these forces away from the fuel tank. These additional components may disadvantageously add design and material cost, complexity, and weight to the vehicle. As such, there remains an opportunity to design a fuel tank assembly that satisfies testing such as the FMVSS 301 test while reducing the complexity and weight of structural reinforcements and/or shields in the area around the fuel tank assembly.
- Additionally for some vehicles, such as the police cars and SUVs, extra reinforcements and structural barriers may be added to the vehicle in an effort to protect the fuel tank from damage or spillage, e.g., due to puncture, especially at higher speeds, e.g., speeds exceeding 70 mph. These reinforcements and structural barriers may result in more cost and weight. As such there is an opportunity to design a fuel tank to absorb such impacts while reducing additional structural reinforcements or shields and additional cost and weight associated therewith.
-
FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a rear portion of a vehicle including a fuel tank assembly with an airbag assembly in an uninflated position. -
FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the rear portion of the vehicle with the airbag assembly in an inflated position. -
FIG. 3 is a perspective view of the fuel tank assembly with the airbag assembly in the inflated position as seen from a rear of the vehicle. -
FIG. 4 is a perspective view of the fuel tank assembly with the airbag assembly in the inflated position as seen from a front of the vehicle. -
FIG. 5 is an exploded perspective view of the fuel tank assembly showing the airbag assembly and a fuel tank. -
FIG. 6 is a schematic of an impact absorbing system of the vehicle. - With reference to the Figures, wherein like numerals indicate like parts throughout the several views,
FIGS. 1-2 show afuel tank assembly 10 for avehicle 12 that includes afuel tank 14 and anairbag assembly 16 connected to thefuel tank 14. Thefuel tank 14 includes afirst portion 18 facing in a first direction, andsecond portion 20 facing a second direction which is opposite the first direction. Thefuel tank 14 includes arear portion 22 extending between thefirst portion 18 and thesecond portion 20 and facing in a rear direction transverse to the first and second directions. Theairbag assembly 16 is connected to thefirst portion 18, thesecond portion 20, and therear portion 22 of thefuel tank 14, as shown inFIGS. 1-5 . - With reference to
FIGS. 1-2 , during an impact of thevehicle 12, theairbag assembly 16 may be selectively inflated based on the direction of the impact, as set forth below. For example, as set forth below, during a rear end impact (identified with “F” inFIG. 2 ), and/or side impact of thevehicle 12, theairbag assembly 16 may inflate causing theairbag assembly 16 to extend along thefirst portion 18, thesecond portion 20, and therear portion 22 of thefuel tank 14 as shown inFIGS. 2-4 . In this situation, theairbag assembly 16 may deflect debris away from thefuel tank 14, which may reduce the likelihood of damage to thefuel tank 14. In addition, theairbag assembly 16 may prevent underbody components from deforming into and contacting thefuel tank 14 during the vehicle impact, which may reduce the likelihood of damage to thefuel tank 14. Theairbag assembly 16 may allow for reduction or elimination of other reinforcing components, e.g., reinforcing structures and shields, around thefuel tank 14, which may reduce development time and cost. - The
airbag assembly 16 may be a component of animpact absorbing system 24. Theimpact absorbing system 24 may include aninflator 26 in communication with theairbag assembly 16. Specifically, as set forth further below for example, theimpact absorbing system 24 may sense an impact of thevehicle 12 and may trigger inflation of theairbag assembly 16 in response to the sensed impact. In addition, theimpact absorbing system 24 may sense the type of impact, e.g., based on direction, magnitude, etc., and may trigger inflation of theairbag assembly 16 in response to the type of impact. - With reference to
FIGS. 1-2 and as set forth above, theinflator 26 may be spaced from thefuel tank assembly 10 and installed forward of thefuel tank 14 toward a front end (not shown) of thevehicle 12. Theinflator 26 may be concealed to limit or prevent environmental exposure, for example, water intrusion, salt spray, dust, etc. Theinflator 26 may be mounted to a bracket (not shown), and the bracket may be mounted to a structural member (not shown) of thevehicle 12. - The
inflator 26, when activated by theimpact absorbing system 24, is configured to inflate aninflatable member 30 of theairbag assembly 16 to predetermined pressure. More specifically, theinflator 26 when activated by theimpact absorbing system 24 may be configure to inflate theinflatable member 30 to a pressure of 10-20 pounds per square inch. - With reference to
FIGS. 1-2 and 4 , theimpact absorbing system 24 may include afill tube 32 extending from theinflator 26 to theairbag assembly 16. Theinflator 26 may have one ormore ports 34, e.g., twoports 34 as shown in the Figures, in communication with theairbag assembly 16 through thefill tube 32. Thefill tube 32 may include afirst end 36 fixed to theport 34 of theinflator 26, and asecond end 38 spaced from thefirst end 36 and fixed to theinflatable member 30. Theimpact absorbing system 24 may include one ormore fill tubes 32, e.g., twofill tubes 32 as shown in the Figures. Theinflatable member 30 may include any suitable number ofconnection points 40 spaced from each other to receive thesecond end 38 of thefill tube 32. - The
fill tube 32 may be formed of any suitable high strength flexible material. For example, thefill tube 32 may be nitrile rubber, nylon, thermoplastic elastomer (TPE), etc. - The
inflator 26 may be, for example, a cold-gas inflator, which, when activated, ignites a pyrotechnic charge that creates an opening for releasing the pressurized inflation medium to theairbag assembly 16 via thefill tube 32. Alternatively, theinflator 26 may be of any suitable type, for example, a hybrid inflator. - With reference to
FIGS. 1-2 , thefuel tank assembly 10 may be received adjacent to the structural member of thevehicle 12. Thefuel tank assembly 10 may be attached to the structural member with one ormore straps 42. Thestraps 42 may be disposed between, i.e. sandwiched between, thefuel tank 14 and theairbag assembly 16. - As set forth above, the
fuel tank 14 includes thefirst portion 18 facing in the first direction, and thesecond portion 20 facing in the second direction opposite the first direction. Specifically, with reference toFIGS. 1-2 , thefirst portion 18 may face aleft side 44 of thevehicle 12 and thesecond portion 20 may face aright side 46 of thevehicle 12. Therear portion 22 may face arear end 48 of thevehicle 12. Thefuel tank 14 may include afront portion 50 facing in a front direction opposite the rear direction. Thefront portion 50 may face the front end of thevehicle 12. - As shown in
FIG. 3-5 , thefuel tank 14 may include atop portion 52 extending between thefirst portion 18, thesecond portion 20, therear portion 22, and thefront portion 50. Thetop portion 52 faces upwardly in a direction transverse to the first direction, the second direction, the rear direction, and the front direction. - With reference to
FIG. 5 , thefuel tank 14 may include at least oneflange 54 extending along thefirst portion 18, thesecond portion 20, therear portion 22, and/or thefront portion 50 of thefuel tank 14. For example, thefuel tank 14 may include a plurality offlanges 54 spaced from each other along thefirst portion 18, thesecond portion 20, therear portion 22, and/or thefront portion 50 of thefuel tank 14. Thefuel tank 14 may include any suitable number offlanges 54, i.e., one or more. - The
flange 54 may define ahole 56. As set forth below, theairbag assembly 16 may include atab 58 engaged with thehole 56 of theflange 54 by afastener 72. Thefastener 72, for example, may be any suitable type of fastener such as a threaded bolt, rivet, etc. - The
fuel tank 14 may be formed of any suitable material, e.g., metal such as steel, aluminum, etc. Alternatively, thefuel tank 14 may be formed of an engineered plastic, e.g., high-density polyethylene (HDPE). Thefuel tank 14 may have any suitable cross-sectional shape, for example, rectangular (FIGS. 1-5 ), square, oval, circular, etc. Thefuel tank 14 may have any suitable three-dimensional shape, for example, cube, elongated cube, cylindrical, sphere, etc. Thefuel tank 14 may include two separate halves that are formed separately from, for example, a stamped process and may be subsequently fixed together by, e.g., welding, brazing, etc. - The
fuel tank 14 may be of any suitable type for storing any suitable fuel/energy source. For example, thefuel tank 14 may store petrochemical fuels such as gasoline, diesel, etc. As another example, thefuel tank 14 may store a rechargeable battery, fuel cell, hydrogen tank, natural gas tank, etc. - The
airbag assembly 16 may include one or moreinflatable members 30 inflatable by the inflation medium. Theairbag assembly 16 shown in the Figures includes oneinflatable member 30, however, theairbag assembly 16 may include any suitable number ofinflatable members 30. - The
inflatable member 30 in an inflated position may extend continuously across one or more portions of thefuel tank 14, i.e. thefirst portion 18, thesecond portion 20, therear portion 22, and/or thefront portion 50 of thefuel tank 14. Theinflatable member 30 may further extend across a leftfront corner 74 joining thefirst portion 18 and thefront portion 50, and/or a rightfront corner 76 joining thesecond portion 20 and thefront portion 50, and/or a leftrear corner 78 joining thefirst portion 18 and therear portion 22, and/or a rightrear corner 80 joining thesecond portion 20 and therear portion 22 as shown inFIGS. 3-4 . - Alternatively, in the configuration where the
airbag assembly 16 includes more than oneinflatable member 30, eachinflatable member 30 may extend across one or more of thefirst portion 18, thesecond portion 20, therear portion 22, and/or thefront portion 50 of thefuel tank 14. These individualinflatable members 30 may be fluidly connected to each other, or may be independently inflatable by theinflator 26. - With reference to
FIGS. 1 and 5 , theairbag assembly 16 may include aninflatable member 30 and anouter covering 60 on theinflatable member 30. The outer covering 60 houses theinflatable member 30 when theinflatable member 30 is in an uninflated position. Theinflatable member 30 in the uninflated position may be, for example, folded, rolled, etc. within theouter covering 60. Theouter covering 60 may include a tear seam (not shown) that may provide an inflate direction for theinflatable member 30 to inflate. Theinflatable member 30 may tear the tear seam when theinflatable member 30 inflates from the uninflated position to the inflated position. When the tear seam tears, theinflatable member 30 may be exposed outside theouter covering 60 as shown inFIGS. 2-4 . - The
outer covering 60 may be formed of any suitable material. Specifically, theouter covering 60 may be configured to, i.e., sized, shaped, material, etc., protect theinflatable member 30 from driving conditions when theinflatable member 30 is in the uninflated position. Theouter covering 60 may be, for example, formed of nylon, polyester, etc. - With reference to
FIGS. 2-5 , theinflatable member 30 may be formed of an auxetic material. For example, the auxetic material may include auxetic yarns that may be combined with other yarns and fibers to optimize the performance, e.g., puncture resistance, tear resistance, of the auxetic material. As another example, theinflatable member 30 may be formed from an ultra-high molecular weight polyethylene (UHMwPE) material. For example, the fibers of the UHMwPE material may be oriented in a particular pattern to optimize the performance, e.g., puncture resistance, tear resistance, of the UHMwPE material. - The
inflatable member 30 may be unvented for the purpose of containing the inflation medium within theinflatable member 30 for a period of time, for example, greater than one second. - As set forth above, the
airbag assembly 16 extends across at least one of thefirst portion 18, thesecond portion 20, therear portion 22 and/or thefront portion 50 of thefuel tank 14 in the inflated position. Specifically, theairbag assembly 16 may be connected directly to thefirst portion 18, thesecond portion 20, therear portion 22, and/or thefront portion 50. Alternatively, theairbag assembly 16 may be connected to another component of thefuel tank 14. - The
airbag assembly 16 may, for example, includetabs 58 connected to and spaced along theinflatable member 30, as shown inFIG. 5 . Thetabs 58 may extend through theouter covering 60. Thetabs 58 may be connected to theinflatable member 30 in any suitable manner, e.g., stitching, bonding, and/or adhesive, etc. Thetabs 58, for example, may be connected to thefirst portion 18, thesecond portion 20, therear portion 22, and/or thefront portion 50 of thefuel tank 14. As another example, thetabs 58 of theinflatable member 30 may be connected to thetop portion 52 of thefuel tank 14. In this configuration, theinflatable member 30 in the inflated position may extend across thefirst portion 18, thesecond portion 20, therear portion 22, and/or thefront portion 50 of thefuel tank 14. - Specifically, the
top portion 52 may support theairbag assembly 16 around aperimeter 62 of thetop portion 52. In such a configuration, during a vehicle impact, theinflatable member 30 of theairbag assembly 16 may inflate from the uninflated position to the inflated position. In this inflated position, theinflatable member 30 may extend from thetop portion 52 across thefirst portion 18, thesecond portion 20, therear portion 22 and/or thefront portion 50 of thefuel tank 14. - A schematic of the
impact absorbing system 24 which includes animpact sensing system 64, theinflator 26, and theairbag assembly 16 is shown inFIG. 6 . Theimpact sensing system 64 may include at least onesensor 66 for sensing impact of thevehicle 12, and acontroller 68 in communication with thesensor 66 and the inflator 26 for activating the inflator 26, e.g., for providing an impulse to a pyrotechnic charge of the inflator 26, when thesensor 66 senses an impact of thevehicle 12. Alternatively or additionally to sensing impact, theimpact sensing system 64 may be configured to sense impact prior to impact, i.e., pre-impact sensing. Thesensor 66 may be of any suitable type, e.g., using radar, lidar, and/or a vision system. The vision system may include one or more cameras, CCD image sensors, and/or CMOS image sensor, etc. - The
controller 68 may be a microprocessor-based controller. Thesensor 66 is in communication with thecontroller 68 to communicate data to thecontroller 68. Based on the data communicated by thesensor 66, thecontroller 68 instructs the inflator 26 to activate. Theimpact sensing system 64 may instruct the inflator 26 to activate on either a front end impact, a rear end impact, or a side impact of the vehicle. - The
controller 68 and thesensor 66 may be connected to acommunication bus 70, such as a controller area network (CAN) bus, of thevehicle 12. Thecontroller 68 may use information from thecommunication bus 70 to control the activation of theinflator 26. The inflator 26 may be connected to thecontroller 68, as shown inFIG. 6 , or may be connected directly to thecommunication bus 70. - In operation, the
airbag assembly 16 is in the uninflated position, as shown inFIGS. 1 and 5 , under normal operating conditions of thevehicle 12. When thesensor 66 senses an impact of thevehicle 12, theimpact sensing system 64 triggers the inflator 26 to inflate theinflatable member 30 of theairbag assembly 16 with the inflation medium from the uninflated position to the inflated position. In particular, based on the type of impact sensed by theimpact sensing system 64, theimpact sensing system 64 inflates theinflatable member 30 to the inflated position as shown inFIGS. 2-4 . - The disclosure has been described in an illustrative manner, and it is to be understood that the terminology which has been used is intended to be in the nature of words of description rather than of limitation. Many modifications and variations of the present disclosure are possible in light of the above teachings, and the disclosure may be practiced otherwise than as specifically described.
Claims (20)
1. A fuel tank assembly comprising:
a fuel tank having an exterior surface, the fuel tank including a first portion facing in a first direction, a second portion facing a second direction opposite the first direction, and a rear portion extending between the first portion and the second portion and facing in a rear direction transverse to the first and second directions; and
an airbag assembly having an inflatable member on the external surface and being flexible relative to the fuel tank, the airbag assembly connected to the first portion, the second portion, and the rear portion
2. The fuel tank assembly as set forth in claim 1 , wherein the fuel tank includes a front portion facing in a front direction opposite the rear direction and the airbag assembly is connected to the front portion.
3. The fuel tank assembly as set forth in claim 1 , wherein the inflatable member extends continuously across the first portion, the second portion, and the rear portion.
4. The fuel tank assembly as set forth in claim 1 , wherein the inflatable member is formed of an auxetic material.
5. The fuel tank assembly as set forth in claim 1 , wherein the inflatable member is formed of an ultra-high molecular weight polyethylene material.
6. The fuel tank assembly as set forth in claim 1 , wherein the airbag assembly includes tabs spaced along the inflatable member, the tabs being connected to the first portion, the second portion, and the rear portion.
7. The fuel tank assembly as set forth in claim 6 , wherein the fuel tank includes at least one flange extending along the first portion, the second portion, and the rear portion, the tabs being connected to the flange.
8. The fuel tank assembly as set forth in claim 1 , wherein the airbag assembly includes an outer covering on the inflatable member.
9. The fuel tank assembly as set forth in claim 8 , wherein the airbag assembly includes tabs connected to and spaced along the inflatable member and extending through the outer covering, the tabs being connected to the first portion, the second portion, and the rear portion.
10. A system comprising:
a fuel tank having an exterior surface, the fuel tank including a first portion facing in a first direction, a second portion facing a second direction opposite the first direction, and a rear portion extending between the first portion and the second portion and facing in a rear direction transverse to the first and second directions;
an airbag assembly having an inflatable member on the external surface and being flexible relative to the fuel tank, the airbag assembly connected to the first portion, the second portion, and the rear portion; and
an inflator in communication with the airbag assembly.
11. The system as set forth in claim 11 , wherein the inflator is spaced from the fuel tank.
12. The system as set forth in claim 10 , further comprising an impact sensing system in communication with the inflator.
13. The system as set forth in claim 10 , wherein the inflator is configured to inflate the airbag assembly to 10-20 pounds per square inch.
14. The system as set forth in claim 10 , wherein the airbag assembly is unvented.
15. The system as set forth in claim 10 , wherein the fuel tank includes a front portion facing in a front direction opposite the rear direction and the airbag assembly is connected to the front portion.
16. The system as set forth in claim 10 , wherein the inflatable member extends continuously across the first portion, the second portion, and the rear portion.
17. The system as set forth in claim 10 , wherein the inflatable member is formed of an auxetic material.
18. The system as set forth in claim 10 , wherein the inflatable member is formed of an ultra-high molecular weight polyethylene material.
19. The system as set forth in claim 10 , wherein the airbag assembly includes tabs spaced along the inflatable member, the tabs being connected to the first portion, the second portion, and the rear portion.
20. A fuel tank assembly comprising:
a fuel tank having an exterior surface, the fuel tank including a first portion facing in a first direction, a second portion facing a second direction opposite the first direction, and a rear portion extending between the first portion and the second portion and facing in a rear direction transverse to the first and second directions; and
an airbag assembly having an inflatable member on the external surface and being flexible relative to the fuel tank, the inflatable member supported by the fuel tank and inflatable to an inflated position extending across the first portion, the second portion, and the rear portion.
Priority Applications (5)
Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
---|---|---|---|
US14/817,288 US9561765B1 (en) | 2015-08-04 | 2015-08-04 | Fuel tank assembly including inflatable member |
RU2016131051A RU2016131051A (en) | 2015-08-04 | 2016-07-28 | FUEL TANK ASSEMBLY (OPTIONS) AND SYSTEM |
CN201610620698.6A CN106427541B (en) | 2015-08-04 | 2016-08-01 | Fuel tank assembly comprising an expandable element |
DE102016114302.2A DE102016114302A1 (en) | 2015-08-04 | 2016-08-02 | FUEL TANK ASSEMBLY WITH INFLATABLE ELEMENT |
MX2016010125A MX2016010125A (en) | 2015-08-04 | 2016-08-04 | Fuel tank assembly including inflatable member. |
Applications Claiming Priority (1)
Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
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US14/817,288 US9561765B1 (en) | 2015-08-04 | 2015-08-04 | Fuel tank assembly including inflatable member |
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US9561765B1 US9561765B1 (en) | 2017-02-07 |
US20170036626A1 true US20170036626A1 (en) | 2017-02-09 |
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Family Applications (1)
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US14/817,288 Active US9561765B1 (en) | 2015-08-04 | 2015-08-04 | Fuel tank assembly including inflatable member |
Country Status (5)
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US (1) | US9561765B1 (en) |
CN (1) | CN106427541B (en) |
DE (1) | DE102016114302A1 (en) |
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Cited By (4)
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WO2021107901A1 (en) * | 2019-11-28 | 2021-06-03 | Bahcesehir Universitesi | An airbag mechanism |
US11274791B2 (en) * | 2019-09-12 | 2022-03-15 | Michael Francis Pelc | Vehicular fluid capture system |
US11975669B1 (en) | 2023-01-20 | 2024-05-07 | Joon Bu Park | Negative Poisson's ratio materials for impact protection devices |
US11975604B2 (en) | 2022-09-15 | 2024-05-07 | Ford Global Technologies, Llc | Vehicle frame assembly |
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ES2727928T3 (en) * | 2014-04-01 | 2019-10-21 | Guangdong Huachan Research Institute Of Intelligent Transp System Co Ltd | Anti-collision structure of vehicle body |
US10696123B2 (en) * | 2018-02-23 | 2020-06-30 | Ford Global Tehcnologies, LLC | Systems for a fuel tank |
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CN113071307A (en) * | 2021-04-30 | 2021-07-06 | 奇瑞汽车股份有限公司 | Automobile-mounted fuel storage tank protection system and control method thereof |
CN113479159B (en) * | 2021-09-07 | 2021-11-26 | 常州大连理工大学智能装备研究院 | Active protection system and protection method for protecting automobile from overall impact |
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-
2015
- 2015-08-04 US US14/817,288 patent/US9561765B1/en active Active
-
2016
- 2016-07-28 RU RU2016131051A patent/RU2016131051A/en not_active Application Discontinuation
- 2016-08-01 CN CN201610620698.6A patent/CN106427541B/en active Active
- 2016-08-02 DE DE102016114302.2A patent/DE102016114302A1/en active Pending
- 2016-08-04 MX MX2016010125A patent/MX2016010125A/en unknown
Cited By (5)
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US11274791B2 (en) * | 2019-09-12 | 2022-03-15 | Michael Francis Pelc | Vehicular fluid capture system |
WO2021107901A1 (en) * | 2019-11-28 | 2021-06-03 | Bahcesehir Universitesi | An airbag mechanism |
EP4084996A4 (en) * | 2019-11-28 | 2024-03-20 | Bahcesehir Ueniversitesi | An airbag mechanism |
US11975604B2 (en) | 2022-09-15 | 2024-05-07 | Ford Global Technologies, Llc | Vehicle frame assembly |
US11975669B1 (en) | 2023-01-20 | 2024-05-07 | Joon Bu Park | Negative Poisson's ratio materials for impact protection devices |
Also Published As
Publication number | Publication date |
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US9561765B1 (en) | 2017-02-07 |
CN106427541A (en) | 2017-02-22 |
DE102016114302A1 (en) | 2017-02-09 |
CN106427541B (en) | 2021-08-06 |
RU2016131051A (en) | 2018-02-01 |
MX2016010125A (en) | 2017-02-03 |
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