Vehicle frame with integrated high pressure fuel tank

Abstract

A frame for a gaseous fueled vehicle, said frame comprising: a floor pan, a tunnel positioned centrally and longitudinally in said floor pan extending the full length of said frame, and a tank integrated into said tunnel. The tunnel may also integrate two or more tanks.

1 . A frame for a gaseous fueled vehicle, said frame comprising: 
 a floor pan,    a tunnel positioned centrally and longitudinally in said floor pan, extending the full length of said frame, and    a tank integrated with and extending the full length of said tunnel.    
   
   
       2 . The frame described in  claim 1 , where said tank is axially disposed in said tunnel.  
   
   
       3 . The frame described in  claim 1 , where said tank is a high pressure hydrogen storage tank.  
   
   
       4 . The frame described in  claim 1 , where said tank is a compressed natural gas tank.  
   
   
       5 . The frame described in  claim 1 , where said tank is circular in cross-section.  
   
   
       6 . The frame described in  claim 1 , where said tank is circular in cross-section and has a variable diameter.  
   
   
       7 . The frame described in  claim 1 , where said tank has terminal ends and a central area and said terminal ends have a larger cross-sectional area than said central area.  
   
   
       8 . The frame described in  claim 7 , where said tank has a longitudinal axis and said terminal ends and said central area are centered about said longitudinal axis.  
   
   
       9 . The frame described in  claim 7 , where said tank has a longitudinal axis and said central area is centered about said longitudinal axis and said terminal ends are offset from said longitudinal axis.  
   
   
       10 . A frame for a gaseous fueled hybrid vehicle, said frame comprising: 
 a floor pan,    a tunnel positioned centrally and longitudinally in said floor pan, extending the full length of said frame, and    at least two tanks integrated into said tunnel.    
   
   
       11 . The frame described in  claim 10 , where said at least two tanks are axially disposed side to side in said tunnel.  
   
   
       12 . The frame described in  claim 10 , where said at least two tanks are axially disposed end to end in said tunnel.  
   
   
       13 . The frame described in  claim 10 , where said at least two tanks are high pressure hydrogen storage tanks.  
   
   
       14 . The frame described in  claim 10 , where said at least two tanks are compressed natural gas tanks.  
   
   
       15 . The frame described in  claim 10 , where said at least two tanks are circular in cross-section.  
   
   
       16 . The frame described in  claim 10 , where said at least two tanks are circular in cross-section and each has a variable diameter.  
   
   
       17 . The frame described in  claim 10 , where each of said at least two tanks has terminal ends and a central area and said terminal ends of each have a larger cross-sectional area than said central area of each.  
   
   
       18 . The frame described in  claim 17 , where each of said tanks has a longitudinal axis and said terminal ends of each and said central area of each are centered about said longitudinal axis.  
   
   
       19 . The frame described in  claim 17 , where each of said tanks has a longitudinal axis and said central area of each is centered about said longitudinal axis and said terminal ends of each are offset from said longitudinal axis.