# US 7,744,127 B2 · Fuel tank mount > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 7,744,127 B2 - Document ID: US7744127B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 11/536,744 - Filed: 2006-09-29 - Published: 2008-04-03 - Granted: 2010-06-29 - Earliest claimed: 2006-09-29 - Assignees: GM Global Technology Operations LLC - Inventors: Reiner Essinger; Thomas Guelll; Thorsten Schuetz; Mirko Schwan - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US7744127B2 ## CPC - B60K 15/07: of gas tanks - B60K 15/067: Mounting of tanks - B60K 2015/0638: {the fuel tank is arranged in the rear of the vehicle} - 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 ## Abstract A fuel tank assembly includes a fuel tank, a bracket carried by the fuel tank and having a portion accessible from the outside of the fuel tank to permit the assembly to be mounted to a vehicle, and an outer layer disposed around at least part of the fuel tank and a portion of the bracket to connect the bracket to the fuel tank. In one implementation, the fuel tank includes layers of composite material that have fibers embedded in resin or the like. The bracket is carried or trapped between adjacent layers of the composite material so that the bracket is fixed to the tank. The bracket preferably is connected to the tank at one end and is flexible in at least one direction to accommodate changes in the shape or dimensions of the fuel tank. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A fuel tank assembly, comprising: a fuel tank including an inner liner and a layer wrapped entirely around the inner liner, the inner liner defining an interior in which a supply of gaseous fuel is stored, the layer encasing the inner liner so that the inner liner and the layer contain the gaseous fuel; and a bracket carried by the fuel tank and having a first portion accessible from the outside of the fuel tank to permit the assembly to be mounted to a vehicle, wherein the layer is wrapped around a second portion of the bracket so that the bracket is carried by the fuel tank. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The assembly of claim 1 wherein the layer is defined at least in part by one or more composite layers of fibers and resin, and the bracket is disposed between adjacent composite layers. ### Claim 3 (depends on 2) The assembly of claim 2 wherein the layer is wrapped continuously around the periphery of the liner along at least a portion of the axial extent of the liner. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The assembly of claim 1 wherein the layer includes fibers embedded in a resin that rigidly secures the bracket to the fuel tank. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The assembly of claim 1 wherein the bracket includes a plurality of brackets each connected to the fuel tank. ### Claim 6 (depends on 5) The assembly of claim 5 wherein each bracket is independently carried by the fuel tank. ### Claim 7 (depends on 1) The assembly of claim 1 wherein the bracket includes an arm extending substantially parallel to a longitudinal axis of the fuel tank and overlying a portion of the fuel tank. ### Claim 8 (depends on 1) The assembly of claim 1 wherein the bracket includes two arms extending substantially parallel to a longitudinal axis of the fuel tank and each overlying separate portions of the fuel tank. ### Claim 9 (depends on 8) The assembly of claim 8 wherein the arms are connected together by a bight that is exposed and extends outboard of the layer. ### Claim 10 (depends on 1) The assembly of claim 1 which also includes an isolator adapted to be disposed between the bracket and the vehicle when the fuel tank assembly is mounted to the vehicle. ### Claim 11 (depends on 1) The assembly of claim 1 wherein the bracket is generally L-shaped. ### Claim 12 (depends on 1) The assembly of claim 1 wherein the bracket is generally U-shaped. ### Claim 13 (depends on 1) The assembly of claim 1 wherein the layer includes a carbon or glass fiber inner layer and a fiberglass outer layer, and wherein the second portion of the bracket is located between the inner layer and the outer layer. ### Claim 14 A fuel tank assembly, comprising: a fuel tank that is generally cylindrical and that has a central axis; a bracket connected to the fuel tank at one end and having another end accessible from the outside of the fuel tank to permit the assembly to be mounted to a vehicle, said one end of the bracket being displaced relative to said another end of the bracket upon deformation of the fuel tank so that changes to the fuel tank dimensions can be accommodated by the bracket, the bracket has an arm generally parallel to the axis of the fuel tank and the bracket is carried by the fuel tank along at least a portion of the arm. ### Claim 15 (depends on 14) The assembly of claim 14 wherein the bracket includes a plurality of brackets connected to the fuel tank at spaced locations with each being formed of a resilient material to accommodate changes in the fuel tank dimensions in use. ### Claim 16 (depends on 15) The assembly of claim 15 wherein the brackets are constructed and arranged so that the brackets more readily flex in one direction than another. ### Claim 17 (depends on 16) The assembly of claim 16 wherein the brackets are thinner in one dimension than another. ### Claim 18 (depends on 16) The assembly of claim 16 wherein the brackets are bent to control the location at and direction in which they flex. ### Claim 19 (depends on 14) The assembly of claim 14 wherein the bracket is generally L-shaped. ### Claim 20 (depends on 14) The assembly of claim 14 wherein the bracket is generally U-shaped. ### Claim 21 A fuel tank assembly comprising: a fuel tank having at least a first layer of material that forms an interior for holding gaseous fuel, and the fuel tank having a second layer of material wrapped entirely around the first layer to form the structure of the fuel tank that holds fuel; and at least one bracket having an end located between the first layer and the second layer, whereby the second layer is also wrapped around the end to secure the bracket to the fuel tank. ### Claim 22 (depends on 21) The assembly of claim 21 wherein the second layer of material is a resinous fiber material. ### Claim 23 A fuel tank assembly, comprising: a fuel tank; a bracket connected to the fuel tank at one end and having another end accessible from the outside of the fuel tank to permit the assembly to be mounted to a vehicle, said one end of the bracket being displaced relative to said another end of the bracket upon deformation of the fuel tank so that changes to the fuel tank dimensions can be accommodated by the bracket; wherein the fuel tank is generally cylindrical with a central axis, each bracket has an arm generally parallel to the axis of the fuel tank and each bracket is carried by the fuel tank along at least a portion of its arm; and wherein the fuel tank is defined at least in part by one or more composite layers of fibers and resin, and the bracket is disposed between adjacent composite layers.