Arrangement of a fuel tank in the rear region of a motor vehicle

Abstract

A fuel tank configured for universal use in the rear region of motor vehicles beneath the vehicle floor is mounted so that it can yield in the case of a rear deformation caused by an accident. The fuel tank is connected firmly to parts fixed to the vehicle in the forward region of the fuel tank in the direction of travel and is retained laterally in the rear region of the fuel tank in the direction of travel by guide bolts or the like in guides with slots open towards the rear, the guides being fixed to the vehicle frame and extending horizontally in the longitudinal direction of the vehicle, so that upon rear impact, foreshortening of the vehicle frame causes the guide bolts to leave the guide slots resulting in downward rotation of the rear part of the fuel tank.

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.