Structurally integrated fuel tank

A method of assembling a portion of a front frame of a motor grader, the front frame including a fuel tank and an arm, the method comprising:

• mounting the fuel tank to the arm, the fuel tank including a body and a neck disposed on the body, the body and the neck together defining a chamber configured to store fuel for the motor grader, the body including a cover, the cover including a hitch that defines an upper pivot bore centered about a pivot axis, the hitch configured to receive in the upper pivot bore a pivot fastener that pivotally secures the front frame to a rear frame of the motor grader, the fuel tank and the front frame pivotable about the pivot axis, and the fuel tank configured to receive external loads through the arm and transfer the external loads to the rear frame;
• mounting a rear foundation to the cover between the upper pivot bore and the neck;
• and
• mounting a forward foundation to the cover,
• wherein the rear foundation and the forward foundation are configured to support a roll-over-protection (ROP) apparatus of an operator compartment of the motor grader.

A fuel tank disposed on a motor grader, the motor grader including a rear frame, a front frame that includes an arm and the fuel tank coupled to the arm, and a cab mounted on a cover of the fuel tank, the cab including a roll-over-protection apparatus configured to provide protection to an operator disposed in the cab during a roll-over or overturn condition of the motor grader, the fuel tank comprising:

• a body including:
• the cover that includes a cover hitch, the cover hitch defining an upper pivot bore centered about a pivot axis;
• an endwall disposed below the cover and coupled to the cover;
• a first sidewall disposed between the cover and a base;
• a second sidewall opposite to the first sidewall, the second sidewall disposed between the cover and the base;
• and
• the base having a portion disposed under the endwall, the base including a lower hitch that extends outward from the endwall, the lower hitch defining a lower pivot bore centered about the pivot axis of the upper pivot bore;
• and
• a neck disposed on the body, the neck configured to be coupled to the arm of the front frame of the motor grader,
• a rear foundation mounted to the cover between the upper pivot bore and the neck;
• and
• a forward foundation mounted to the cover,
• wherein the rear foundation and the forward foundation are configured to support the roll-over-protection apparatus,
• wherein the neck and the body together define a chamber configured to store fuel, wherein further the cover is a top of the chamber and the base is the bottom of the chamber, and
• wherein the fuel tank is configured to be pivotable about the pivot axis together with the front frame of the motor grader when a pivot fastener is received in the upper pivot bore and in the lower pivot bore.