[0001] The present disclosure relates, in general, to the management of an under-body exhaust system during rear impact of a vehicle. In particular, the present disclosure relates to a bracket structure for protecting fuel tank, wherein a muffler pipe extending from front of the vehicle passes from one side of the fuel tank and is connected to a muffler silencer installed rearward of the fuel tank.
BACKGROUND
[0002] Background description includes information that may be useful in understanding the present subject matter. It is not an admission that any of the information provided herein is prior art or relevant to the presently claimed subject matter, or that any publication specifically or implicitly referenced is prior art.
[0003] In recent years, the material for fuel tanks has changed from sheet metal to resin to handle increasingly complicated shapes of fuel tanks and to reduce overall weight of vehicle. Generally, a fuel tank is mounted to the bottom of a vehicle floor on the rear side thereof, and exhaust system components (a muffler pipe, a muffler silencer, and the like) reaching a high temperature are disposed around the fuel tank. Thus, at the time of rear impact of the vehicle, the exhaust system components are deformed forwardly and are likely to collide with the fuel tank.
[0004] Accordingly, in cases where the fuel tank is made of resin, it is necessary to take measures to prevent the exhaust system components from being brought into contact with the fuel tank when the vehicle is involved in an accident such as the rear impact.

OBJECTS OF THE DISCLOSURE
[0005] Some of the objects of the present disclosure, which at least one embodiment herein satisfy, are listed hereinbelow.
[0006] A general object of the present disclosure is to provide a bracket structure for preventing contact of a muffler pipe with a fuel tank during rear impact.
[0007] An object of the present disclosure is to provide a bracket structure to limit forward movement of a muffler pipe during rear impact.
[0008] Another object of the present disclosure is to provide a bracket structure for protecting a fuel tank.
[0009] Another object of the present disclosure is to provide a bracket structure which prevents heat of the high-temperature exhaust system components (a muffler pipe, a muffler silencer, and the like) from being transferred to the fuel tank made of resin during rear impact.
[0010] These and other objects and advantages of the present invention will be apparent to those skilled in the art after a consideration of the following detailed description taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings in which a preferred form of the present invention is illustrated.
SUMMARY
[0011] This summary is provided to introduce concepts related to a bracket structure for protecting a fuel tank during rear impact. The concepts are further described below in the detailed description. This summary is not intended to identify key features or essential features of the claimed subject matter, nor is it intended to be used to limit the scope of the claimed subject matter.

[0012] The present disclosure relates to a bracket structure for protecting a fuel tank. The bracket structure includes an elongated stopper bracket having a stiffer portion and a deformable portion. The stiffer portion, from a first longitudinal end, is connected to a lower side of a muffler silencer of the bracket structure in such a way that a second longitudinal end of the stiffer portion is positioned behind a torsion beam of the vehicle with a clearance gap in-between. The deformable portion of the elongated stopper bracket is in the vicinity of the torsion beam.
[0013] During a rear impact of the vehicle, first the deformable portion engages with the torsion beam and deforms in a way so as to increase its contact surface area with the torsion beam and prevents slippage of elongated stopper bracket from the torsion beam. Upon further intrusion, the stiffer portion of stopper bracket also engages with torsion beam and prevents the muffler pipe forward movement, thereby preventing contact of muffler pipe with fuel tank.
[0014] In an aspect, the deformable portion of the elongated stopper bracket (114) is provided in the vicinity of the torsion beam.
[0015] In an aspect, the stiffer portion limits the forward movement of the elongated stopper bracket towards the torsion beam during a rear impact on the vehicle.
[0016] In an aspect, a longitudinal bead is provided on a flat surface of the elongated stopper bracket to provide stiffness to the stiffer portion of the elongated stopper bracket.
[0017] In an aspect, the deformable portion of the elongated stopper bracket has a diverging flange with increasing cross-section from the point of connection with the second longitudinal end of the stiffer portion to contact surface area facing the torsion beam.
[0018] In an aspect, the deformable portion of the elongated stopper bracket, during rear impact, deforms in such a way to increase the contact surface area of the deformable portion with the torsion beam.

[0019] In an aspect, during rear impact, the contact surface area of the deformable portion increases so as to prevent slippage of elongated stopper bracket from the torsion beam.
[0020] In an aspect, the stiffer portion is formed from a rectangular frame having U-shaped cross-section.
[0021] In an aspect, the first longitudinal end of the stiffer portion is welded to lower side of the muffler silencer.
[0022] In an aspect, the first longitudinal end of the stiffer portion is welded to front side of the muffler silencer.
[0023] Various objects, features, aspects, and advantages of the inventive subject matter will become more apparent from the following detailed description of preferred embodiments, along with the accompanying drawing figures in which like numerals represent like components.
[0024] It is to be understood that the aspects and embodiments of the disclosure described above may be used in any combination with each other. Several of the aspects and embodiments may be combined to form a further embodiment of the disclosure.
[0025] The foregoing summary is illustrative only and is not intended to be in any way limiting. In addition to the illustrative aspects, embodiments, and features described above, further aspects, embodiments, and features will become apparent by reference to the drawings and the following detailed description.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0026] The illustrated embodiments of the subject matter will be best understood by reference to the drawings, wherein like parts are designated by like numerals throughout. The following description is intended only by way of example, and simply illustrates certain selected embodiments of devices, systems,

and methods that are consistent with the subject matter as claimed herein, wherein:
[0027] FIG. 1 illustrates a bottom view of a rear end of vehicle implemented
with a bracket structure, in accordance with an embodiment of the present disclosure;
[0028] FIGS. 2A-2B illustrate the bracket structure in a normal operating
condition, in accordance with an embodiment of the present disclosure;
[0029] FIGS. 2C-2D illustrate the bracket structure after rear impact condition
in accordance with an embodiment of the present disclosure;
[0030] FIGS. 3A-3C illustrate different orientations of a stopper bracket of the
bracket structure before a rear impact; and
[0031] FIGS. 3D-3F illustrate different orientations of a stopper bracket of the
bracket structure after a rear impact.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION
[0032] The detailed description of various exemplary embodiments of the
disclosure is described herein with reference to the accompanying drawings. It should be noted that the embodiments are described herein in such details as to clearly communicate the disclosure. However, the amount of details provided herein is not intended to limit the anticipated variations of embodiments; on the contrary, the intention is to cover all modifications, equivalents, and alternatives falling within the spirit and scope of the present disclosure as defined by the appended claims.
[0033] It is also to be understood that various arrangements may be devised
that, although not explicitly described or shown herein, embody the principles of the present disclosure. Moreover, all statements herein reciting principles, aspects, and embodiments of the present disclosure, as well as specific examples, are intended to encompass equivalents thereof.
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[0034] The terminology used herein is for the purpose of describing particular
embodiments only and is not intended to be limiting of example embodiments. As used herein, the singular forms “a”, “an” and “the” are intended to include the plural forms as well, unless the context clearly indicates otherwise. It will be further understood that the terms “comprises”, “comprising”, “includes” and/or “including,” when used herein, specify the presence of stated features, integers, steps, operations, elements and/or components, but do not preclude the presence or addition of one or more other features, integers, steps, operations, elements, components and/or groups thereof.
[0035] It should also be noted that in some alternative implementations, the
functions/acts noted may occur out of the order noted in the figures. For example, two figures shown in succession may, in fact, be executed concurrently or may sometimes be executed in the reverse order, depending upon the functionality/acts involved.
[0036] Unless otherwise defined, all terms (including technical and scientific
terms) used herein have the same meaning as commonly understood by one of ordinary skill in the art to which example embodiments belong. It will be further understood that terms, e.g., those defined in commonly used dictionaries, should be interpreted as having a meaning that is consistent with their meaning in the context of the relevant art and will not be interpreted in an idealized or overly formal sense unless expressly so defined herein.
[0037] Embodiments and/or implementations described herein relate to a
structure of an exhaust system of a vehicle. In FIG. 1, a bottom view of a rear end of vehicle implemented with a proposed bracket structure is shown. The rear end of the vehicle includes a fuel tank 102 made of resin mounted to the bottom of the vehicle and a muffler silencer 104 installed rearward of the fuel tank 102. Moreover, a muffler pipe 106 extending from an engine at a front side of the vehicle passes from one side of the fuel tank 102 and is connected to the muffler silencer 104. Further, as can be seen from FIG. 1, a front right portion of the fuel
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tank 102 adjacent to which the muffler pipe 106 passes by, has a recess 108 so that interference with the muffler pipe 106 is avoided.
[0038] Further, a suspension member 112 extending in a width direction of
the vehicle is installed between the fuel tank 102 and the muffler silencer 104. The suspension member 112 is a so-called torsion beam (also referred to as a cross beam) and is coupled to trailing arms at right and left ends of the vehicle.
[0039] In operation, in a case where the vehicle is involved in an accident
such as a rear impact, a load towards the front of the vehicle is applied to the muffler silencer 104 and the muffler silencer 104 may be displaced. Also, with regard to the muffler pipe 106 connected to the muffler silencer 104, the muffler pipe 106 is unlikely to deform because it is formed of a rigid member, and there is the risk that it is displaced together with the muffler silencer 104 towards a rear right portion 110 of the fuel tank 102. This may lead to blast of the fuel tank 102 as the fuel tank 102 is generally made of resin.
[0040] Thus, exhaust system components reaching a high temperature,
namely, the muffler pipe 106 and the muffler silencer 104 are to be prevented from being brought into contact with the fuel tank 102.
[0041] In an embodiment of the present disclosure, the bracket structure
includes an elongated stopper bracket 114 so that the muffler silencer 104 and the muffler pipe 106 can be prevented from being displaced such that they do not come in contact with the fuel tank 102 in the event of an accident such as a rear impact. The elongated stopper bracket 114 is connected, from a first longitudinal end of stiffer portion, to a lower side of the muffler silencer 104 in such a way that a second longitudinal end of the stiffer portion is positioned behind the suspension member or torsion beam 112. In other words, the elongated stopper bracket 114 is disposed in a position between the muffler silencer 104 and the torsion beam 112.
[0042] Thus, in the event of an accident such as a rear impact, the muffler
silencer 104 moves in forward direction of vehicle. As the muffler silencer 104 moves in forward direction, the elongated stopper bracket 114 also moves in
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forward direction and engages with the torsion beam 112. As the elongated stopper bracket 114 engages with the torsion beam 112, the forward movement of muffler silencer 104 is limited. Due to the limited forward movement of muffler silencer 104, the muffler pipe 106 which is connected with the muffler silencer 104 also has limited movement, which in turn prevents the contact of the muffler pipe 106 with the fuel tank 102.
[0043] FIG. 2A shows a side view of bracket structure, while FIG. 2B shows a
bottom view of bracket structure in normal operating condition, in accordance with an embodiment of the present disclosure. As can be seen in FIGS. 2A and 2B, the elongated stopper bracket 114 is composed of a stiffer portion 114-1 and a deformable portion 114-2. The stiffer portion 114-1, from its first longitudinal end, is suspended from, and/or welded to, the bottom side of the muffler silencer 104 and having a shape extending towards the torsion beam 112 of the vehicle. The stiffer portion 114-1 is formed from a steel frame having U-shaped cross-section. Also, the material is not limited to steel, any other material that has suitable stiffness may be used. It should be noted that although the first longitudinal end of the stiffer portion 114-1 is shown coupled to the lower side of the muffler silencer 104 by being welded to the muffler silencer 104, the stiffer portion 114-1 may also be welded to front side of the muffler silencer 104 depending on the mounting orientation of the muffler silencer 104.
[0044] Further, on the second longitudinal end of the stiffer portion 114-1, a
deformable portion 114-2 is connected. The deformable portion 114-2 is positioned at a clearance gap of “A” mm from the torsion beam 112. Also, in an aspect, length of the deformable portion 114-2 is selected in such a way that the sum of the length (“B” mm) of the deformable portion 114-2 and the length (“A” mm) of the clearance gap is less than the length (“C” mm) of a distance between the muffler pipe 106 and the fuel tank 102. With these length sizes configuration, during the rear impact of the vehicle, the deformable portion 114-2 engages with the torsion beam 112 and limits forward movement of muffler silencer 104 and muffler pipe 106 towards vehicle front thus avoiding contact of muffler pipe 106
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with the fuel tank 102. Further, during the rear impact of the vehicle, the deformable portion 114-2 engages with the torsion beam 112 so as to deform in a way to increase its contact surface area with the torsion beam 112 for preventing slippage of the stopper bracket 114 from torsion beam 112. Also, as shown in FIGS. 2C and 2D, even when the rear impact takes place, it is ensured that the forward movement of the exhaust system components, such as the muffler silencer 104, muffler pipe 106, and the like, is limited by the elongated stopper bracket 114.
[0045] FIGS. 3A-3C illustrate different exemplary orientations of the
elongated stopper bracket 114 (114-1, 114-2) of the bracket structure before a rear impact, while FIGS. 3D-3F illustrate different exemplary orientations of the elongated stopper bracket 114 (114-1, 114-2) of the bracket structure after a rear impact.
[0046] Further, as shown in FIGS. 3A and 3D, a longitudinal bead 302 is
provided on a flat surface of the elongated stopper bracket 114 to provide stiffness to the elongated stopper bracket 114.
[0047] Furthermore, as shown in FIGS. 3A-3F, the deformable portion 114-2
of the elongated stopper bracket 114 has a diverging flange with a cross-section which increases from the point of connection with the second longitudinal end of the stiffer portion 114-1 to contact surface area facing the torsion beam 112. Such configuration of the deformable portion 114-2 ensures reduction in weld failure chances of the elongated stopper bracket 114 with the muffler silencer 114.
[0048] The terminology used herein is for the purpose of describing particular
embodiments only and is not intended to be limiting of the present disclosure. It will be appreciated that several of the above-disclosed and other features and functions, or alternatives thereof, may be combined into other systems or applications. Various presently unforeseen or unanticipated alternatives, modifications, variations, or improvements therein may subsequently be made by
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those skilled in the art without departing from the scope of the present disclosure as encompassed by the following claims.
[0049] The claims, as originally presented and as they may be amended, encompass variations, alternatives, modifications, improvements, equivalents, and substantial equivalents of the embodiments and teachings disclosed herein, including those that are presently unforeseen or unappreciated, and that, for example, may arise from applicants/patentees and others.
[0050] While the foregoing describes various embodiments of the invention, other and further embodiments of the invention may be devised without departing from the basic scope thereof. The scope of the invention is determined by the claims that follow. The invention is not limited to the described embodiments, versions or examples, which are included to enable a person having ordinary skill in the art to make and use the invention when combined with information and knowledge available to the person having ordinary skill in the art.
TECHNICAL ADVANTAGES
[0051] The present disclosure provides a bracket structure for preventing contact of a muffler pipe with a fuel tank.
[0052] The present disclosure provides a bracket structure having an elongated stopper bracket connected with a muffler silencer in such a way that it engages with the torsion beam so as to deform in a way to increase its contact surface area with the torsion beam to prevent slippage of the stopper bracket on the torsion beam.
[0053] The present disclosure provides a bracket structure having elongated stopper bracket connected with a muffler silencer in such a way that it limits the forward movement towards the torsion beam during a rear impact on the vehicle.

We claim:

A bracket structure for protecting fuel tank (102), the bracket structure comprising:
an elongated stopper bracket (114) having a stiffer portion (114-1) and a deformable portion (114-2),
wherein a first longitudinal end of the stiffer portion (114-1) is connected to a muffler silencer (104) of the bracket structure and a second longitudinal end of the stiffer portion (114-1) is connected to the deformable portion (114-2), and
wherein the elongated stopper bracket (114) is positioned behind a torsion beam (112) of the vehicle with a clearance gap in-between.
The bracket structure as claimed in claim 1, wherein the deformable portion (114-2) of the elongated stopper bracket (114) is provided in the vicinity of the torsion beam (112).
The bracket structure as claimed in claim 1, wherein the stiffer portion (114-1) limits the forward movement of the elongated stopper bracket (114) towards the torsion beam (112) during a rear impact on the vehicle.
The bracket structure as claimed in claim 1, wherein a longitudinal bead (302) is provided on a flat surface of the elongated stopper bracket (114) to provide stiffness to the stiffer portion (114-1) of the elongated stopper bracket (114).
The bracket structure as claimed in claim 1, wherein the deformable portion (114-2) of the elongated stopper bracket (114) has a diverging flange with increasing cross-section from the point of connection with the second longitudinal end of the stiffer portion (114-1) to contact surface area facing the torsion beam (112).

The bracket structure as claimed in claim 5, wherein the deformable portion (114-2) of the elongated stopper bracket (114), during rear impact, deforms in such a way to increase the contact surface area of the deformable portion (114-2) with the torsion beam (112).
The bracket structure as claimed in claim 6, wherein, during rear impact, the contact surface area of the deformable portion (114-2) increases so as to prevent slippage of elongated stopper bracket (114) from the torsion beam (112).
The bracket structure as claimed in claim 1, wherein the stiffer portion (114-1) is formed from a rectangular frame having U-shaped cross-section.
The bracket structure as claimed in claim 1, wherein the first longitudinal end of the stiffer portion (114-1) is welded to lower side of the muffler silencer (104).
The bracket structure as claimed in claim 1, wherein the first longitudinal end of the stiffer portion (114-1) is welded to front side of the muffler silencer (104).