TANK ASSEMBLY AND METHOD OF ASSEMBLING THE SAME

Abstract

Tank assembly (1) for a motor vehicle comprising a tank (2) of liquefied petroleum gas, a protective shell (3) for the tank (2), a frame (4) supporting the tank assembly (1), a canister (5) and a dust filter (6) fixed to the frame (4). The frame (4) comprises a platform, fixed to the protective shell (3), to the tank (2) and to the chassis of the vehicle, and means for attaching the canister (5) and the dust filter (6) to the frame (4). Figure for abstract: Fig 1

Description

Title of the invention: TANK ASSEMBLY AND METHOD OF ASSEMBLING THE SAME Technical field

[0001] The present invention relates to the field of liquefied petroleum gas tanks, known as LPG tanks, and in particular the field of assembling an LPG tank with the components with which it is equipped.

[0002] An LPG tank is protected by a protective shell, and works with a canister that allows certain fuel vapors to be recovered to send them to the engine, and a dust filter that has the function of filtering the impurities present in the fuel in the tank. The LPG tank works with an LPG engine equipped with a dual-fuel system composed of gasoline and LPG or diesel and LPG.

[0003] The use of LPG tanks is increasingly important in the automotive sector, particularly due to the ecological and economic aspects of LPG. Indeed, LPG is a fuel with low emissions that are harmful to the environment and health, and is much less expensive than gasoline and diesel.

[0004] Today, LPG tank assemblies are mounted, for example, on specific cross members installed in the vehicle, or in the trunk floor of the converted vehicle.

[0005] These architectures generate complex and time-consuming installations and maintenance of the entire tank and involve specific arrangements capable of accommodating the entire tank. Statement of the invention

[0006] The present invention aims to overcome the aforementioned drawbacks and, in particular, to facilitate the installation and maintenance of the tank assembly of a motor vehicle.

[0007] The invention therefore relates to a tank assembly for a motor vehicle comprising a liquefied petroleum gas tank, a protective shell for the tank, a frame supporting the tank assembly, a canister and a dust filter fixed to the frame. The frame comprises a platform fixed to the protective shell, to the tank and to the chassis of the vehicle, and means for attaching the canister and the dust filter to the frame.

[0008] Optionally, the attachment means include fixing clips.

[0009] Advantageously, holes are made in the frame.

[0010] According to one embodiment, the frame comprises means for attachment to the protective shell, to the tank and to the chassis of the vehicle, comprising bolts.

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[0019] The invention also relates to a motor vehicle comprising a tank assembly as defined above. The invention also relates to a method for assembling a tank assembly as defined above, by means of an assembly station. The method comprises the following steps: • positioning of the protective shell on the assembly station, • positioning of the tank in the protective shell, • positioning of the assembly including the frame, the canister and the dust filter on the tank, • fixing the frame to the tank and the protective shell, • fixing the tank assembly to a plate which includes the parts of the chassis to be fixed under the motor vehicle. Advantageously, the method as defined above comprises, before the step of positioning the assembly comprising the frame, the canister and the dust filter on the tank, an additional step of assembling the canister and the dust filter on the frame by attachment means. Optionally, the step of fixing the frame to the tank and the protective shell includes two phases: • fixing the frame to the tank by fixing means comprising bolts, • fixing the frame to the protective shell by fixing means including bolts. Advantageously, the step of fixing the tank assembly to the plate comprises four phases: • moving the tank assembly on the plate, • fixing the tank assembly to the structure of the plate by fixing means comprising bolts, • fixing the fuel pipes to the frame, • fixing the motor cables to the frame. In one embodiment, the method as defined above comprises a final step of fixing the chassis under the motor vehicle. Brief description of the drawings Other aims, characteristics and advantages of the invention will appear on reading the following description, given solely by way of non-limiting example and made with reference to the appended drawings in which: - [Fig.l] is a schematic view of a tank assembly; - [Fig.2] is a schematic view of the tank assembly frame;

[0020] - [Fig.3] illustrates the steps of the process of assembling the tank assembly;

[0021] - [Fig.4] illustrates the step of positioning the protective shell of the tank assembly on an assembly station;

[0022] - [Fig.5] illustrates the positioning step of the tank of the tank assembly in the protective shell;

[0023] - [Fig.6] illustrates the assembly step of the canister and the dust filter of the tank assembly on the tank assembly frame;

[0024] - [Fig.7] illustrates the step of positioning the assembly comprising the tank assembly frame, canister and dust filter on the tank assembly tank;

[0025] - [Fig.8A] illustrates the step of fixing the frame of the tank assembly to the tank assembly reservoir;

[0026] - [Fig.8B] illustrates the step of fixing the frame of the tank assembly to the protective shell of the tank assembly;

[0027] - [Fig.9] illustrates the step of fixing the tank assembly to the structure of the platinum; and

[0028] - [Fig. 10] illustrates the steps of attaching the fuel pipes and cables of the motor to the armature of the tank assembly. Detailed description

[0029] In [Fig. 1], there is shown a tank assembly 1 for a motor vehicle comprising an LPG tank 2, a protective shell 3 for the tank 2, a frame 4 supporting the tank assembly 1, a canister 5 and a dust filter 6.

[0030] The canister 5 is a gas absorber which recovers the fuel vapors when they are too high and sends them to the engine to be burned, and the dust filter 6 has the role of filtering the impurities present in the fuel of the tank 2.

[0031] The protective shell 3 envelops the lower surface and the side surfaces of the tank 2, and the frame 4 is fixed on the upper surface of the tank 2. The canister 5 and the dust filter 6 are fixed to the frame 4, and the frame 4 is fixed to the protective shell 3 and the tank 2. The frame 4 makes it possible to hold all the components of the tank assembly 1 together, and provides protection for the upper surface of the tank 2.

[0032] In [Fig.2] is illustrated the frame 4 which comprises a platform 7 intended to be fixed to the protective shell 3, to the tank 2 and to the chassis of the vehicle, and means 9 for attaching the canister 5 and the dust filter 6 to the frame 4.

[0033] The platform 7 of the frame 4 is here rectangular and is pierced in its center, freeing up access to the upper surface of the tank 2.

[0034] Without limitation, the means 9 for attaching the canister 5 and the dust filter 6 to the frame 4 comprise fixing clips.

[0035] Holes are made in the frame 4 allowing the attachment of said frame 4 to the protective shell 3, to the tank 2, and to the chassis of the vehicle. In the embodiment illustrated in [Fig.2], the platform 7 of the frame 4 comprises holes 10a intended to accommodate means for attaching the frame 4 to the protective shell 3, holes 10b intended to accommodate means for attaching the frame 4 to the tank 2, and holes 10c intended to accommodate means for attaching the frame 4 to the chassis of the vehicle. The protective shell 3 comprises pierced tabs 11 intended to accommodate the means for attaching the frame 4 to the protective shell 3, and the tank 2 comprises holes 12 intended to accommodate the means for attaching the frame 4 to the tank 2.

[0036] The means for fixing the frame 4 to the protective shell 3, to the tank 2 and to the chassis of the vehicle comprise bolts.

[0037] [Fig. 3] illustrates the sequence of steps in the process for assembling the tank assembly 1, which is carried out using an assembly station 13. These steps are preferably carried out by an operator. However, they can be carried out by an automated machine.

[0038] The first step E1 illustrated in [Fig.4] concerns the positioning of the protective shell 3 on the assembly station 13.

[0039] The second step E2 illustrated in [Fig.5] consists of positioning the tank 2 in the protective shell 3. More precisely, the protective shell 3 encompasses the lower surface and the lateral surfaces of the tank 2 when the latter is inserted into the protective shell 3. Advantageously, the protective shell 3 perfectly matches the shape of the tank 2.

[0040] Step E3 illustrated in [Fig.6] is a step which is carried out by an operator outside the assembly station 13 and which consists of the assembly of the canister 5 and the dust filter 6 on the frame 4 by attachment means 9 which comprise fixing clips. The fixing clips make it easier to assemble the canister 5 and the dust filter 6 on the frame 4.

[0041] The method then comprises a step E4 illustrated by [Fig.7] which consists of positioning the assembly comprising the frame 4, the canister 5 and the dust filter 6 on the tank 2 already positioned on the protective shell 3. The holes 10a made on the frame 4 intended to accommodate means for fixing the frame 4 to the protective shell 3 are positioned on the pierced tabs 11 of the protective shell 3, and the holes 10b made on the frame 4 intended to accommodate means for fixing the frame 4 to the tank 2 are positioned on the holes 12 of the tank 2.

[0042] A step E5 of fixing the frame 4 to the tank 2 and to the protective shell 3 is then carried out. This step is divided into at least two phases E5a, E5b illustrated by Figures 8A and 8B. The first phase E5a consists of fixing the frame 4 to the tank 2 by fixing means comprising bolts, and the second phase E5b consists of fixing the frame 4 to the protective shell 3 by fixing means comprising bolts.

[0043] The tank assembly 1 comprising the protective shell 3, the tank 2, the frame 4, the canister 5 and the dust filter 6 is then fixed to a plate during a step E6. Step E6 comprises four phases E6a, E6b, E6c, E6d illustrated by FIGS. 9 and 10. The first phase E6a consists of moving the tank assembly 1 from the assembly station 13 onto the plate. The plate is a support on which the parts of the chassis 14 to be fixed under the motor vehicle are assembled. This facilitates the assembly of all the elements of the chassis 14 of the vehicle before inserting them under said vehicle. The plate comprises a location in which holes 15 are made to accommodate means for fixing the frame 4 of the tank assembly 1 to the structure of the plate.The holes 10c made on the frame 4 intended to receive means for fixing the frame 4 to the chassis 14 of the vehicle are thus positioned opposite the holes 15 made on the plate intended to receive means for fixing the frame 4 of the tank assembly 1 to the structure of the plate. The second phase E6b consists of fixing the tank assembly 1 to the structure of the plate by fixing means, the third phase E6c consists of fixing the fuel pipes 16 on the frame 4 of the tank assembly 1, and the fourth phase E6d consists of fixing the engine cables 17 on the frame 4 of the tank assembly 1. Advantageously, the means for fixing the tank assembly 1 to the plate comprise bolts.

[0044] Finally, the method of assembling the tank assembly 1 comprises a final step E7 which consists of fixing the chassis 14 under the motor vehicle, involving the integration of the tank assembly 1 into the motor vehicle.

Claims

Claims

1. Tank assembly (1) for a motor vehicle comprising a tank (2) of liquefied petroleum gas, a protective shell (3) for the tank (2), a frame (4) supporting the tank assembly (1), a canister (5) and a dust filter (6) fixed to the frame (4), characterized in that the frame (4) comprises a platform (7) fixed to the protective shell (3), to the tank (2) and to the chassis (14) of the vehicle, and means (9) for attaching the canister (5) and the dust filter (6) to the frame (4).

2. A tank assembly (1) according to claim 1, wherein the attachment means (9) comprise fixing clips.

3. Tank assembly (1) according to one of claims 1 and 2, in which holes (10a, 10b, 10c) are made in the frame (4).

4. Tank assembly (1) according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the frame (4) comprises means for fixing to the protective shell, to the tank (2) and to the chassis (8) of the vehicle, comprising bolts.

5. A motor vehicle comprising a tank assembly (1) according to any one of claims 1 to 4.

6. Method for assembling a tank assembly (1) according to one of claims 1 to 4, by means of an assembly station (13), characterized in that it comprises the following steps (El, E2, E4, E5, E6): • positioning the protective shell (3) on the assembly station (13), • positioning the tank (2) in the protective shell (3), • positioning the assembly comprising the frame (4), the canister (5) and the dust filter (6) on the tank (2), • fixing the frame (4) to the tank (2) and to the protective shell (3), • fixing the tank assembly (1) to a plate which comprises the parts of the chassis (14) to be fixed under the motor vehicle.

7. A method according to claim 6, which comprises, before step (E4) of positioning the assembly comprising the frame (4), the canister (5) and the dust filter (6) on the tank (2), an additional step (E3) of assembling the canister (5) and the dust filter (6) on the frame (4) by attachment means (9).

8. Method according to one of claims 6 and 7, in which the step (E5) of fixing the frame (4) to the tank (2) and to the protective shell (3) comprises two phases (E5a, E5b): • fixing the frame (4) to the tank (2) by fixing means comprising bolts, • fixing the frame (4) to the protective shell (3) by fixing means comprising bolts.

9. Method according to any one of claims 6 to 8, in which the step (E6) of fixing the tank assembly (1) to the plate comprises four phases (E6a, E6b, E6c, E6d): • moving the tank assembly (1) on the plate, • fixing the tank assembly (1) to the structure of the plate by fixing means comprising bolts, • fixing the fuel pipes (16) on the frame (4), • fixing the engine cables (17) on the frame (4).

10. Method according to any one of claims 6 to 9, which comprises a final step (E7) of fixing the chassis (14) under the motor vehicle.

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