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US 8,302,997 B2Granted
Vehicle fuel storage system
AssigneeFord Global Technologies, LLC
InventorMichael Jon Veenstra
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A system for integrating and embedding a fuel storage tank in the roof of an automotive vehicle is provided. The automotive vehicle may include a roof assembly having inner roof panels and outer roof panels. The roof panels may define a cavity that protrudes into the passenger compartment below the roof line of the automotive vehicle. A pressurized fuel tank may be disposed within the cavity of the roof assembly.
Claims19
An automotive vehicle having a passenger compartment, the automotive vehicle comprising:
- a vehicle body structure including a pair of side body panels;
- a roof structure connecting the pair of side body panels and defining a roof line therebetween, the roof structure including an outer roof panel disposed above the roof line;
- and
- a fuel tank adapted to store pressurized fuel, the fuel tank embedded in the roof structure such that at least a portion of the fuel tank is disposed below the roof line and protrudes into the passenger compartment, the fuel tank being covered by the outer roof panel.
1 more element
An automotive vehicle having a cabin, the vehicle comprising:
- a roof assembly including inner and outer roof panels defining a housing that protrudes into the cabin;
- and
- a fuel tank disposed within the housing,
- wherein the inner and outer panels include longitudinal concave portions that define the housing along the length of the vehicle.
1 more element
An automotive vehicle comprising:
- a roof structure defining a roof line of a passenger compartment therebelow and having a cavity formed therein;
- and
- a fuel tank disposed within the cavity such that at least a portion of the fuel tank lies below the roof line.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.