Apparatuses for Mounting Tanks to Vehicles and Related Methods

Abstract

Some of the present apparatuses include a frame defining first and second supports and at least a portion of a rigid tank mount laterally offset from the first and second supports, where the first support is configured to be pivotally coupled to a vehicle such that the frame is movable relative to the vehicle between a first position in which the second support is spaced apart from the vehicle and second position in which the second support is coupled to the vehicle. Some apparatuses include a frame mount having a flange defining a bounded opening configured to receive a fastener and a post extending from the flange and away from the opening, where the first support is configured to be pivotally coupled to the flange via the fastener and the second support is configured to be coupled to the post when the frame is in the second position.

1 . An apparatus for mounting a tank to a vehicle, the apparatus comprising:
 a frame configured to be coupled to a tank, the frame having:
 a first end that includes an opening; and 
 a second end that includes an opening; and 
   a frame mount configured to be coupled between the frame and a vehicle, the frame mount having:
 a first end that includes a flange having:
 a support surface; 
 an opening; and 
 a channel; and 
 
 a second end that includes an opening; 
   wherein the frame is configured to be coupled to the flange such that:
 the frame is received within the channel and the first end of the frame is supported on the support surface; and 
 the frame is movable relative to the frame mount between:
 a first position in which the opening of the second end of the frame is not aligned with the opening of the second end of the frame mount; and 
 a second position in which the opening of the second end of the frame is aligned with the opening of the second end of the frame mount to permit disposal of a fastener therethrough, and the opening of the first end of the frame is aligned with the opening of the first end of the frame mount to permit disposal of a fastener therethrough. 
 
   
     
     
         2 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein:
 the support surface of the flange comprises a first support surface and the flange includes a second support surface; and   the frame is configured to be coupled to the flange such that:
 the frame is received within the channel and the first end of the frame is supported on the first and second support surfaces. 
   
     
     
         3 . The apparatus of  claim 2 , wherein:
 the second end of the frame mount includes two openings.   
     
     
         4 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein:
 the second end of the frame mount includes two openings.   
     
     
         5 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein:
 the frame mount is configured to be coupled to a frame of the vehicle.   
     
     
         6 . The apparatus of  claim 2 , wherein:
 the frame mount is configured to be coupled to a frame of the vehicle.   
     
     
         7 . The apparatus of  claim 3 , wherein:
 the frame mount is configured to be coupled to a frame of the vehicle.   
     
     
         8 . The apparatus of  claim 4 , wherein:
 the frame mount is configured to be coupled to a frame of the vehicle.