Apparatuses, methods, and systems for the disposition of fuel tanks on long-haul trucks

An articulated wing system for a tractor, the system comprising:

• a moveable support structure attached to a first tank and a second tank;
• at least one sensor;
• and
• a controller configured to cause the support structure to translate a position of at least one of the first tank and the second tank a translation distance relative to a longitudinal axis of the vehicle wherein the translation distance is based upon a signal from the at least one sensor and an interference radius associated with the vehicle.

A method for moving at least one tank associated with a vehicle connected to a trailer, the method comprising:

• receiving, from at least one sensor, a signal indicative of at least one of a steering angle of the vehicle and an angle between the vehicle and the trailer;
• generating, based upon the signal and an interference radius associated with the vehicle, a tank position command;
• and
• translating a position of the at least one tank a translation distance relative to the vehicle in response to the tank position command.

A vehicle, comprising:

• a first tank and a second tank containing fuel for the vehicle;
• a pair of frame rails extending parallel to a longitudinal axis of the vehicle;
• and
• an articulated wing system including:
• a moveable support structure attached to the pair of frame rails, the first tank and the second tank;
• at least one sensor;
• and
• a controller configured to cause the support structure to translate, based upon signals from the at least one sensor and an interference radius associated with the vehicle, positions of the first tank and the second tank along a transverse axis intersecting the longitudinal axis.

An articulated wing tank system for a vehicle, the system comprising:

• a first tank;
• a second tank;
• a moveable support structure configured to move the first tank and the second tank, the moveable support structure including a first horizontal translation actuator attached to the first tank and a second horizontal translation actuator attached to the second tank;
• at least one sensor;
• and
• a controller configured to send tank position commands to the first horizontal translation actuator and the second horizontal translation actuator in response to signals from the at least one sensor wherein the tank position commands cause the at least one of the first tank and the second tank to move a translation distance wherein the translation distance is based upon the signals and an interference radius associate with the vehicle.