A gas cylinder shroud

Abstract

The utility model relates to vehicle gas supply technical field discloses a kind of cylinder protective cover, including the side shield extending along the axis of cylinder and the front shield and rear shield respectively installed in the front and rear end of side shield, jointly constitute the non-enclosed shell for accommodating cylinder, and shell whole is rectangular structure;Side shield is formed by left side shield and right side shield assembly and forms clearance along the axis of cylinder in side shield bottom;Left and right side shield all have arc transition structure;At least two mounting grooves are opened in parallel in the bottom of side shield;Mounting groove is perpendicular to clearance along the axis of cylinder;The bottom of side shield is equipped with the first reinforcing plate extending along the axis of cylinder;At least in left side shield, parallelly equipped with several narrow reinforcing bars;At least in right side shield, it is equipped with at least one second reinforcing plate extending along the axis of cylinder.The scheme protective cover structure especially meets the higher requirement of large cylinder vehicle model to ground clearance and passing angle, and adapts the demand of modern vehicle compact layout, assembly efficiency.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] This utility model relates to the field of vehicle gas supply technology, specifically to a gas cylinder cover. Background Technology

[0002] Gas cylinder covers on vehicles are primarily used to protect onboard gas tanks (such as compressed natural gas (CNG) or hydrogen tanks) from damage during daily use and accidental collisions, ensuring driving safety. The stability of the gas cylinder cover is crucial, as it not only relates to the physical protection of the gas tank itself but also directly affects the overall safety performance of the vehicle. A robust cover design effectively resists external impacts, preventing serious accidents such as leaks or even explosions caused by external impacts. Furthermore, a stable cover structure reduces wear on the gas tank caused by vibrations during vehicle operation, extending its service life and reducing maintenance costs.

[0003] However, some existing gas cylinder cover structures have many problems: First, in terms of space utilization, many traditional cover designs fail to fully consider the needs of modern vehicles' compact layout. They are relatively large and adopt an assembly method that wraps around the mounting brackets. In addition, due to structural strength requirements, the bottom of the cover has a vertically downward reinforcing plate. All of these structures result in occupying too much valuable space after installation, affecting the arrangement of other key components, especially failing to meet the higher requirements of large gas cylinder models for ground clearance and approach angle. Second, some covers adopt a fixed design, which lacks flexibility, is inconvenient to install, and is difficult to adapt to changes in different vehicle models and gas tank sizes, limiting their versatility and market applicability. Utility Model Content

[0004] The present invention aims to provide a gas cylinder protective cover to solve the technical problem of the unreasonable structure of existing gas cylinder protective covers.

[0005] The basic solution provided by this utility model is: a gas cylinder cover, including a side cover extending along the axial direction of the gas cylinder, and a front cover and a rear cover respectively installed at the front end and rear end of the side cover, which together form a non-enclosed shell for accommodating the gas cylinder, and the shell as a whole has a rectangular structure. The side shield is assembled from a left side shield and a right side shield, and a gap is formed at the bottom of the side shield along the axial direction of the gas cylinder; the left side shield has an upper arc transition structure and a lower arc transition structure, and the right side shield has a lower arc transition structure; The bottom of the side shield has at least two parallel mounting slots; the mounting slots are perpendicular to the gap along the axial direction of the gas cylinder. The bottom of the side shield is provided with several first reinforcing plates extending along the axial direction of the gas cylinder; several narrow reinforcing ribs are provided parallel to each other on at least the left side shield; and at least one second reinforcing plate extending along the axial direction of the gas cylinder is provided on at least the right side shield.

[0006] The working principle and advantages of this utility model are as follows: Compared with existing technologies, this solution improves the structure of the gas cylinder cover, and has significant benefits in terms of overall size, assembly process, cost, and versatility. Most importantly, it meets the higher requirements of large gas cylinder vehicles for ground clearance and approach angle, and is compatible with the compact layout and high assembly efficiency of modern vehicles.

[0007] The slotted design at the bottom of the gas cylinder cover provides installation space for the gas cylinder bracket. This changes the traditional assembly method of the cover enclosing the cylinder bracket to an embedded assembly method where the cover and the bottom of the cylinder bracket are parallel. The overall height of the cover is simultaneously narrowed, and the overall mounting surface is raised, effectively increasing ground clearance (by up to 13mm). This meets the higher ground clearance and approach angle requirements of vehicles with large gas cylinders, while reducing the space occupied by the cover. Furthermore, the vertical and asymmetrical design of the mounting slot adapts to the structure of the gas cylinder bracket and allows for proper installation.

[0008] The layout design of the narrow reinforcing ribs, the first reinforcing plate, and the second reinforcing plate on the entire protective cover is adapted to the current slotted design, while achieving an all-round enhancement of installation strength. In particular, while other structures can enhance structural strength, the first reinforcing plate can be installed horizontally, which plays an important role in increasing the ground clearance.

[0009] By incorporating factors such as vehicle space optimization and component variations, the modular design of the gas cylinder cover optimizes the assembly process, improves assembly efficiency and convenience, and allows for flexible adjustments to suit different vehicle models while minimizing the impact on limited vehicle space. Crucially, the gap design at the joints between the two side covers not only helps mitigate the effects of thermal expansion and vibration but also significantly enhances assembly and maintenance ease, as well as adaptability to different vehicle models and gas tank sizes. This design philosophy reflects the wisdom of balancing multiple needs in engineering practice, aiming to ensure the system is both robust and reliable, as well as flexible and efficient.

[0010] The overall rectangular structure of the outer shell ensures effective support for the gas cylinder while occupying a small and suitable space, facilitating a compact layout within the vehicle. The arc-shaped transition structure of the left and right side covers adapts to the installation requirements in compact spaces, while also enhancing the overall structural strength, improving safety and aesthetics. In addition to meeting the structural strength requirements for support and effectively protecting the gas cylinder, the semi-enclosed outer shell also reduces the amount of material used for the cover, contributing to weight reduction and cost reduction. Attached Figure Description

[0011] Figure 1 A schematic diagram of the structure of a gas cylinder cover provided in this embodiment of the utility model. Figure One ; Figure 2 A schematic diagram of the structure of a gas cylinder cover provided in this embodiment of the utility model. Figure Two ; Figure 3 A front view of a gas cylinder cover provided in an embodiment of this utility model; Figure 4 A rear view of a gas cylinder cover provided in an embodiment of this utility model; Figure 5 Right view of a gas cylinder cover provided in an embodiment of this utility model; Figure 6 A top view of a gas cylinder cover provided in an embodiment of this utility model; Figure 7 A top view of a gas cylinder cover provided in an embodiment of this utility model; Figure 8 An assembly diagram of a gas cylinder cover provided in an embodiment of this utility model; The markings in the accompanying drawings include: front cover 1, protrusion 11, flange 12, mounting port 13, rear cover 2, left side cover 3, window 31, right side cover 4, second reinforcing plate 41, second mounting hole 411, heat insulation pad 42, gap 5, mounting groove 6, first reinforcing plate 7, narrow reinforcing rib 8, first mounting hole 9, gas cylinder bracket 10. Detailed Implementation

[0012] The following detailed explanation illustrates the specific implementation methods: The basic implementation examples are as follows: Figure 1 and Figure 2 As shown: A gas cylinder cover, including a side cover extending along the axial direction of the gas cylinder, and a front cover 1 and a rear cover 2 respectively installed at the front and rear ends of the side cover, together forming a non-enclosed shell for accommodating the gas cylinder, and the shell as a whole has a rectangular structure. The side shield is assembled from the left side shield 3 and the right side shield 4, and a gap 5 along the axial direction of the gas cylinder is formed at the bottom of the side shield; the left side shield 3 has an upper arc transition structure and a lower arc transition structure, and the right side shield 4 has a lower arc transition structure. The bottom of the side shield has at least two parallel mounting slots 6; the mounting slots 6 are perpendicular to the gap 5 along the axial direction of the gas cylinder. The bottom of the side shield is provided with a plurality of first reinforcing plates 7 extending along the axial direction of the gas cylinder; at least a plurality of narrow reinforcing ribs 8 are provided parallel to each other on the left side shield 3; at least a second reinforcing plate 41 extending along the axial direction of the gas cylinder is provided on the right side shield 4.

[0013] Specifically: In this scheme, the front, back, left, and right of the protective cover are distinguished only for illustrative purposes. In actual applications, these definitions can be interchanged without affecting the overall structure. In this embodiment, a coordinate system is constructed to clearly define the directions, such as... Figure 1 As shown, the x-axis is the cylinder axis, and the arrow on the x-axis points forward; then the z-axis and y-axis are defined with the x-axis, and the arrow on the y-axis points to the right.

[0014] The overall protective cover can be made of new materials such as high-strength lightweight alloys or composite materials. The application of new materials is also the key to improving the performance of the protective cover, which not only ensures the necessary protection capabilities, but also reduces the weight, which helps to improve the overall fuel economy or driving range of the vehicle.

[0015] The outer shell has a roughly rectangular structure, meaning the top and bottom are parallel, as are the left and right sides. The left side cover 3 has both upper and lower arc-shaped transition structures, while the right side cover 4 has a lower arc-shaped transition structure. This roughly rectangular design ensures effective support for the gas cylinder while minimizing space requirements, facilitating compact vehicle layouts. The arc-shaped transition structures adapt to the needs of installation in tight spaces, enhance overall structural strength, and improve both safety and aesthetics.

[0016] The area of ​​the left protective shield 3 surrounding the gas cylinder is larger than the area of ​​the right protective shield 4 surrounding the gas cylinder. This is understandable. Figure 1 and Figure 2 As shown, the left protective cover 3 and the right protective cover 4 extend from their bottom gap 5, with the left protective cover 3 extending upwards for a greater length than the right protective cover 4. In this embodiment, the left protective cover 3 extends first along the y-direction, then along the z-direction, and finally back along the y-direction; the right protective cover 4 extends first along the y-direction, then along the z-direction, with arc-shaped structures designed at the two adjacent directions. In this embodiment, as... Figure 2 and Figure 5 As shown, along the circumference of the gas cylinder, the left protective cover 3 can surround 40%-48% of the cylinder, while the right protective cover 4 can surround 20%-23%. This design allows the left protective cover 3 to cover a larger area of ​​the cylinder, effectively protecting the cylinder on the visible side. Because the right protective cover 3 needs to be mounted on the vehicle frame, and the entire cylinder also requires the cylinder bracket 10 to be mounted on the frame, this optimized protective cover structure ensures the stability of the connection between the cylinder bracket 10 and the protective cover. Therefore, even though the right protective cover 4 covers a smaller area of ​​the cylinder, it still ensures the overall stability of the cylinder installation, while reducing the amount of protective cover material and lowering costs.

[0017] like Figure 1 , Figure 2 and Figure 6As shown, a window 31 is opened on the left side shield 3. The window 31 extends upward from the middle of the left side shield 3 to the upper arc transition structure, which is used to provide a better view to observe the internal gas cylinder.

[0018] At least a plurality of narrow reinforcing ribs 8 are provided parallel to each other on the left side shield 3, and the narrow reinforcing ribs 8 extend upward from a predetermined point at the bottom of the left side shield 3 to the upper arc-shaped transition structure. In this embodiment, as shown... Figure 2 , Figure 3 and Figure 4 As shown, the narrow reinforcing ribs 8 are installed on the left side of the protective cover 3, symmetrically arranged on both sides of the window 31. The narrow reinforcing ribs 8 in this design are smaller in width along the cylinder axis than the reinforcing ribs in the existing structure, and the number is also reduced. However, by combining the optimization of other structures of the cylinder protective cover in this design, the overall support strength of the protective cover can be ensured to meet the requirements.

[0019] like Figure 1 and Figure 7 As shown, several first reinforcing plates 7 are added because the strength and rigidity at both ends of the protective cover are weak after the groove is cut. Since the gas cylinder bracket 10 will be installed after the groove is cut, and there are many fixing bolts, no reinforcing plate is needed in the middle. The overall strength after installation can meet the requirements, and the area of ​​the reinforcing plate is reduced. At the same time, the several first reinforcing plates 7 are set horizontally, which improves the structural strength compared to the vertical installation in the existing structure and significantly increases the ground clearance. In this embodiment, a first reinforcing plate 7 is installed at the front and rear ends of the bottom of both the left protective cover 3 and the right protective cover 4. Along the extension direction of the mounting groove 6, the width of the first reinforcing plate 7 on the left protective cover 3 is greater than the width of the first reinforcing plate 7 on the right protective cover 4. The width of the first reinforcing plate 7 on the left protective cover 3 needs to make reasonable room for the narrow reinforcing ribs 8 set on the left protective cover 3, so that all the narrow reinforcing ribs 8 and the first reinforcing plates 7 are reasonably arranged while ensuring the structural strength is met.

[0020] like Figure 4 As shown, at least one second reinforcing plate 41 extending along the cylinder axis is provided on the right side of the protective cover 4. This design makes the narrow reinforcing ribs 8, the first reinforcing plate 7, and the second reinforcing plate 41 on the entire protective cover reasonably arranged, achieving enhanced installation strength in all directions. In this embodiment, one second reinforcing plate 41 is provided, located on the upper outer side of the right side of the protective cover 4 and above the mounting groove 6, along the cylinder axis. The length of the second reinforcing plate 41 is less than the length of the right side of the protective cover 4, accounting for 85%-95% of the length of the right side of the protective cover 4, thereby improving installation strength.

[0021] The second reinforcing plate 41 is also equipped with a heat insulation pad 42, which is installed on... Figure 4 As shown by the dotted line, the heat insulation pad 42 is designed to effectively block heat transfer to the gas cylinder cover, ensuring the safe use of the gas cylinder.

[0022] like Figure 7As shown, in this embodiment, two mounting slots 6 are provided. The width of the mounting slots 6 along the axial direction of the gas cylinder is 85-95mm, preferably 90mm, to accommodate various widths of existing gas cylinder brackets and ensure reasonable and effective structural strength. The formation of the mounting slots 6 can be understood as follows: at least two slots are opened parallel to each other at the bottom of the left protective cover 3 and the right protective cover 4; after the gap 5 is assembled, each slot of the left protective cover 3 and each slot of the right protective cover 4 are assembled one-to-one and pass through the gap 5 to form at least two mounting slots 6.

[0023] like Figure 1 , Figure 3 and Figure 4 As shown, both ends of the mounting groove 6 extend to the lower arc-shaped transition structure of the corresponding side cover, providing a more suitable installation space for the gas cylinder bracket 10 and improving assembly portability. Furthermore, the length of the mounting groove extending on the left side cover is shorter than the length extending on the right side cover, which allows for better adaptation to the gas cylinder bracket structure and installation clearance.

[0024] like Figure 6 and Figure 7 As shown, first mounting holes 9 are provided along both sides of the mounting groove 6 and along the extension direction of the mounting groove 6 on the right side cover 4 for mounting the gas cylinder bracket 10. Second mounting holes 411, corresponding to the first mounting holes 9 on both sides of the mounting groove 6, and corresponding to the mounting holes along the extension direction of the mounting groove 6 on the right side cover 4, are provided on several first reinforcing plates 7 for mounting the gas cylinder bracket 10 and the first reinforcing plates 7 simultaneously. Similarly, second mounting holes 411 are provided on the second reinforcing plates 41 and the heat insulation pad 42, corresponding to the first mounting holes 9 along the extension direction of the mounting groove 6 on the right side cover 4, for mounting the gas cylinder bracket 10, the second reinforcing plate 41, and the heat insulation pad 42 simultaneously. This design simplifies the assembly process of multiple components and improves assembly efficiency.

[0025] like Figure 1 , Figure 2 and Figure 5 As shown, both the front shield 1 and the rear shield 2 have a protrusion 11 in the middle, and the edges of both the front shield 1 and the rear shield 2 have flanges 12 that bend towards the protrusion 11; each protrusion 11 has an installation port 13. The middle protrusion 11 is for mounting the protrusions 11 at the front and rear ends of the gas cylinder. The flange 12 design improves the stable and portable installation of the front shield 1 and the rear shield 2 with the side shields. The installation port 13 is for the passage of gas cylinder-related pipelines. In this embodiment, the front shield 1 and the rear shield 2 have the same structure. In other embodiments, the design can be customized according to the front and rear end structures of the gas cylinder.

[0026] In practical use, first install the right-side protective cover 4 onto the frame, with the second reinforcing plate 41 close to the frame; then, install a gas cylinder bracket 10 in each slot at the bottom of the right-side protective cover 4, and simultaneously fix the gas cylinder onto the gas cylinder bracket 10 using other fasteners; next, align each slot at the bottom of the left-side protective cover 3 with the gas cylinder bracket 10, while leaving a 9-10mm gap 5 along the gas cylinder axis between the bottom of the left-side protective cover 3 and the bottom of the right-side protective cover 4, allowing mud, water, or foreign objects inside the protective cover to drain; then, bolt the gas cylinder bracket 10 and the first reinforcing plate 7 onto the left and right-side protective covers 4 simultaneously; finally, install the front protective cover 1 and the rear protective cover 2. Figure 8 As shown, the dashed line represents the mounting surface after installation using the traditional structure, located below the existing mounting surface. This solution improves the ground clearance through structural optimization.

[0027] The gas cylinder cover provided in this embodiment has significant benefits in terms of overall size, assembly process, cost, versatility and flexibility compared with the prior art. In particular, it meets the higher requirements of large gas cylinder vehicles for ground clearance and approach angle, and is compatible with the compact layout and high assembly efficiency of modern vehicles.

[0028] The above descriptions are merely embodiments of this utility model. Commonly known structures and characteristics are not described in detail here. Those skilled in the art are aware of all common technical knowledge in the field prior to the application date or priority date, are knowledgeable of all existing technologies in that field, and possess the ability to apply conventional experimental methods prior to that date. Therefore, those skilled in the art can, based on the guidance provided in this application, improve and implement this solution in conjunction with their own capabilities. Typical known structures or methods should not be obstacles for those skilled in the art to implement this application. It should be noted that those skilled in the art can make several modifications and improvements without departing from the structure of this utility model. These modifications and improvements should also be considered within the scope of protection of this utility model, and will not affect the effectiveness of the implementation of this utility model or the practicality of the patent.

Claims

1. A gas cylinder protective cover, characterized in that, It includes a side shield extending along the axial direction of the gas cylinder, and a front shield and a rear shield installed at the front and rear ends of the side shield respectively, which together form a non-enclosed shell for accommodating the gas cylinder, and the shell as a whole has a rectangular structure. The side shield is assembled from a left side shield and a right side shield, and a gap is formed at the bottom of the side shield along the axial direction of the gas cylinder; the left side shield has an upper arc transition structure and a lower arc transition structure, and the right side shield has a lower arc transition structure; The bottom of the side shield has at least two parallel mounting slots; the mounting slots are perpendicular to the gap along the axial direction of the gas cylinder. The bottom of the side shield is provided with several first reinforcing plates extending along the axial direction of the gas cylinder; several narrow reinforcing ribs are provided parallel to each other on at least the left side shield; and at least one second reinforcing plate extending along the axial direction of the gas cylinder is provided on at least the right side shield.

2. The gas cylinder cover according to claim 1, characterized in that, The area of ​​the left protective cover surrounding the gas cylinder is larger than the area of ​​the right protective cover surrounding the gas cylinder.

3. A gas cylinder protective cover according to claim 1, characterized in that, Several narrow reinforcing ribs on the left side shield extend upwards from the preset point at the bottom of the left side shield to the upper arc-shaped transition structure.

4. A gas cylinder protective cover according to claim 1, characterized in that, A window is opened on the left side of the protective cover, which extends upward from the middle of the left side of the protective cover to the upper arc-shaped transition structure.

5. A gas cylinder protective cover according to claim 1, characterized in that, Several first reinforcing plates are arranged on both sides of the gap, in front of the foremost mounting slot and behind the last mounting slot.

6. A gas cylinder protective cover according to claim 1, characterized in that, Along the direction of the mounting groove, the width of the first reinforcing plate on the left side of the protective cover is greater than the width of the first reinforcing plate on the right side of the protective cover.

7. A gas cylinder protective cover according to claim 1, characterized in that, The second reinforcing plate is equipped with a heat insulation pad.

8. A gas cylinder protective cover according to claim 1, characterized in that, Both ends of the mounting groove extend to the lower arc transition structure of the corresponding side shield, and the length of the mounting groove extending on the left side shield is less than the length extending on the right side shield.

9. A gas cylinder protective cover according to claim 1, characterized in that, Several first mounting holes are provided along both sides of the mounting groove and along the extension direction of the mounting groove on the right side of the protective cover; several second mounting holes are provided on several first reinforcing plates at the positions of the first mounting holes on both sides of the mounting groove, and on the second reinforcing plates at the positions of the mounting holes along the extension direction of the mounting groove on the right side of the protective cover, to match the corresponding first mounting holes.

10. A gas cylinder protective cover according to claim 1, characterized in that, Both the front and rear guards have protruding structures in the middle, and the edges of both the front and rear guards have flanges that bend towards the protrusions; the protruding structures have mounting openings.

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