FIELD OF THE INVENTION
[0001] The present disclosure described herein, in general, relates to a gas cylinder frame structure for a vehicle and in particular, to a gas cylinder frame structure for holding a gas cylinder, where the gas cylinder frame is made of metal or alloy pipes and fastened to the floor of the vehicle.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0002] Background description includes information that may be useful in understanding the present disclosure. It is not an admission that any of the information provided herein is prior art or relevant to the presently claimed 10 subject matter, or that any publication specifically or implicitly referenced is prior art.
[0003] Compressed natural gas (CNG) vehicles are relatively popular in the market due to clean energy, low pollution and low cost of use. Such CNG vehicles, unlike petrol or diesel vehicles, require a CNG cylinder or gas cylinder 15 to be mounted at the rear side, i.e., in boot space area of the vehicle. In order to achieve a firm installation and mounting stability of the cylinder, a cylinder frame or structure is usually installed on the floor in the boot space area of the vehicle. By mounting the CNG cylinder on the cylinder frame, the cylinder is prevented from falling off due to body twisting, braking, bumping and collision of the 20 vehicle. At the same time, the cylinder frame facilitates the loading and unloading of the cylinder and removal and placement of the spare tyre.
[0004] However, there are numerous technical problems associated with the existing gas cylinder frames. For instance, existing gas cylinder frame requires a box type mounting structure which is heavy in weight and complex in structure. 25 The mounting frame or structure requires a plurality of mounting brackets to mount the gas cylinder frame on the vehicle chassis which increases the cost and
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assembly time of the gas cylinder frame. Also, with every new design of the vehicle, a new design of the gas cylinder frame is required as per dimensions of the vehicle. This, in turn, requires new tooling and more development time to make any new layout. Further, the existing gas cylinder frame is made of heavy metal rods which increases the weight of the frame, thereby increasing the weight 5 of the vehicle. Further, since the height of the cylinder frame is more with respect to the floor of the vehicle, a plurality of fasteners, for example, six or eight bolts are required for securing the gas cylinder frame to the vehicle body in white (BIW) floor. Overall, the structure is unable to show good stability, reinforcement, anti-collision, and aesthetic appearance. 10
[0005] Further, spare tyre removal from the boot space of the vehicle is very tedious because of the existing gas cylinder frame. A driver has to pull down the passenger seats and apply manual effort to pull out the spare tyre. The gas cylinder frame restricts the movement of the spare tyre. Further, it is not possible to pull out the spare tyre from the rear door of the vehicle in existing gas cylinder 15 frames.
[0006] In view of the above, there is a need to have a gas cylinder frame that is of lightweight and does not affect vehicle performance. Therefore, there is a need in the art to provide a structure of the gas cylinder frame that is more simple and inexpensive, and which can be placed in the existing vehicle to eliminate the 20 existing above mentioned problems.
OBJECTIVES OF THE INVENTION
[0007] Some of the objects of the present disclosure, which at least one embodiment herein satisfy, are listed hereinbelow.
[0008] It is a general object of the present disclosure to provide a gas cylinder 25 frame for holding a gas cylinder, where the gas cylinder frame is of lightweight and still provides required structural reinforcement for holding the gas cylinder.
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[0009] It is an object of the present disclosure to provide a gas cylinder frame to prevent torsional deformation of the frame in a transverse direction.
[0010] Another object of the present subject matter is to provide a gas cylinder frame having less number of mounting locations and fasteners. 5
[0011] Another object of the present subject matter is to provide a gas cylinder frame with differential height in pipes to provide easy access to spare tyre.
[0012] Another object of the present subject matter is to provide a gas cylinder frame for holding a gas cylinder, where the cylinder frame is made of 10 metal or alloy pipes with proper stiffness and reinforcement.
[0013] Another object of the present subject matter is to provide a gas cylinder frame that can bear high pressure of CNG or gas cylinder under normal vehicle use and vehicle crash condition.
[0014] Another object of the present subject matter is to provide a uniform gas 15 cylinder frame for any type of vehicle to mount a gas cylinder with minimal modification or changes in the frame.
[0015] Another object of the present subject matter is to provide a gas cylinder frame where pipes of the frame can be easily bent using 3D CNC bending machine. 20
[0016] Yet another object of the present invention is to provide a gas cylinder frame that is simple, inexpensive, and easy to mount on the vehicle chassis.
[0017] These and other objects and advantages will become more apparent when reference is made to the following description and accompanying drawings.
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SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0018] This summary is provided to introduce concepts related to a gas cylinder frame for holding a gas cylinder in a vehicle. The concepts are further described below in the detailed description. This summary is not intended to 5 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.
[0019] The subject matter disclosed herein relates to a gas cylinder frame for holding a gas cylinder in a vehicle. The gas cylinder frame is located at the rear side of the vehicle fixed to the chassis of the vehicle. The gas cylinder frame 10 comprises two longitudinal pipes, i.e., a first longitudinal pipe and a second longitudinal pipe both of which are bent in a downward direction at both of their ends so as to form legs. At each longitudinal end of the gas cylinder frame, a reinforcement pipe is connected with the two legs of the frame and a transverse portion formed by connecting the two legs through perpendicular bending of 15 lower ends of the two legs towards each other for preventing torsional deformation of the frame in a transverse direction. The reinforcement pipe has a first portion connected with one leg of the frame and the transverse portion and a second portion connected with another leg of the frame with the transverse portion. The first portion is shorter in length as compared to the second portion. 20 The leg connected with the first portion of the reinforcement pipe has less height as compared to the leg connected with the second portion of the reinforcement pipe, for facilitating access to spare tyre of the vehicle. In another aspect, leg connected with the second portion of the reinforcement pipe has less height as compared to the leg connected with the first portion of the reinforcement pipe, for 25 facilitating access to spare tyre of the vehicle. The base length of the transverse portion is equal to the transverse distance between the parallel positioned first longitudinal pipe and the second longitudinal pipe. Each transverse portion is
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formed in between the first longitudinal pipe and the second longitudinal pipe at ends to form a ring or closed loop frame structure. The reinforcement pipes are welded on the upper surface of the longitudinal pipes and transverse portion. The first longitudinal pipe has more height as compared to the second longitudinal pipe to allow easy removal of the spare tyre from the front side of the vehicle. In 5 another embodiment, the second longitudinal pipe has more height as compare to the first longitudinal pipe to allow easy removal of the spare tyre from the rear side of the vehicle. In the present gas cylinder frame, the longitudinal pipes are bent using 3D CNC bending machine therefore, no tool is required. In order to vary the dimensions of the gas cylinder frame, dimensions of the pipes are 10 changed without any change in the layout and structure. Further, the dimension of the gas cylinder depends upon the capacity of the gas cylinder. The present gas cylinder frame is welded on the vehicle chassis.
[0020] In an aspect, the presently disclosed frame further comprises additional reinforcement pipes connected with the legs and the longitudinal pipes, 15 respectively, so as to form a triangular connecting structure between connecting points of the additional reinforcement pipes and the respective legs and longitudinal pipes. Furthermore, two mounting brackets are provided at each longitudinal end of the frame for mounting the transverse portion connected with the legs, so as to form a triangular connecting structure at connecting points of 20 four legs with the mounting brackets for preventing torsional deformation of the gas cylinder frame in a transverse direction. The two mounting brackets are fixed to the body in white (BIW) floor of the vehicle.
[0021] In an aspect, the gas cylinder frame comprises two flexible bands connected transversely in between the parallel positioned first longitudinal pipe 25 and the second longitudinal pipe at a longitudinal distance on the first longitudinal pipe and the second longitudinal pipe and wherein the two flexible bands define a cylindrical area to receive cylindrical surface of the gas cylinder.
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[0022] In order to further understand the characteristics and technical contents of the present subject matter, a description relating thereto will be made with reference to the accompanying drawings. However, the drawings are illustrative only but not used to limit the scope of the present subject matter.
[0023] Various objects, features, aspects, and advantages of the inventive 5 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.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0024] It is to be noted, however, that the appended drawings illustrate only 10 typical embodiments of the present subject matter and are therefore not to be considered for limiting of its scope, for the invention may admit to other equally effective embodiments. The detailed description is described with reference to the accompanying figures. The illustrated embodiments of the subject matter will be best understood by reference to the drawings, wherein like parts are designated by 15 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:
[0025] FIG. 1 illustrates the structure of an existing gas cylinder frame; 20
[0026] FIGS. 2A-2C illustrate different perspective views of a gas cylinder frame, in accordance with a first embodiment of the present disclosure;
[0027] FIG. 3 illustrates a gas cylinder mounted or secured on a gas cylinder frame, in accordance with a first embodiment of the present disclosure;
[0028] FIG. 4 illustrates a view of connecting joints in a gas cylinder frame, in 25 accordance with a first embodiment of the present disclosure;
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[0029] FIG. 5A and 5B illustrate different perspective views of a gas cylinder frame, in accordance with a second embodiment of the present disclosure;
[0030] FIG. 6 illustrates a gas cylinder mounted or secured on a gas cylinder frame, in accordance with a second embodiment of the present disclosure; and
[0031] FIG. 7 illustrates a view of connecting joints in a gas cylinder frame, in 5 accordance with a second embodiment of the present disclosure.
[0032] The figures depict embodiments of the present subject matter for the purposes of illustration only. A person skilled in the art will easily recognize from the following description that alternative embodiments of the structures and methods illustrated herein may be employed without departing from the principles 10 of the disclosure described herein.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
[0033] 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 15 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. 20
[0034] 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. 25
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[0035] 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 5 “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.
[0036] It should also be noted that in some alternative implementations, the 10 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.
[0037] Unless otherwise defined, all terms (including technical and scientific 15 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 20 formal sense unless expressly so defined herein.
[0038] Embodiments and/or implementations described herein relate to a gas cylinder frame for holding a gas cylinder in a vehicle. Existing gas cylinder frames, such as CNG gas cylinder frames, are shown in FIG. 1. As can be seen from FIG. 1, the existing gas cylinder frame 100 has a plurality of pipes 101, 102, 25 103, 104, collectively referred to as pipes 101-104 hereinafter, which are connected with each other to form a rectangular receiving space to receive gas cylinder. The pipes 101-104 are mounted on mounting brackets 107 at two ends.
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These mounting brackets 107 are further mounted on the vehicle chassis with a plurality of additional mounting brackets 108 at several locations. Each of the mounting brackets 107 is a box-type structure to hold the gas cylinder on the rectangular frame. Further, the height of the gas cylinder frame 100 depends on the height of the mounting brackets 107. However, there are numerous technical 5 problems associated with the existing gas cylinder frames because the structure is complicated and lacks, reinforcement, anti-collision, and aesthetic appearance. Further, since the height of the cylinder frame 100 is more with respect to the floor of the vehicle, a plurality of fasteners are required for securing the gas cylinder frame 100 to the vehicle body in white (BIW) floor. 10
[0039] Accordingly, there is a need to have a gas cylinder frame that provides lightweight for vehicle performance. Therefore, there is a need in the art to provide a structure of the gas cylinder frame that is more simple and inexpensive, and which can be placed in the existing vehicle to eliminate the existing above mentioned problems. 15
First Exemplary Embodiment
[0040] Embodiments described herein relate to a gas cylinder frame which is made of steel tubes and steel sheets welded by metal-gas (MG) welding to achieve strength requirements with reduced tooling cost and weight.
[0041] FIG. 2A-2C illustrate different perspective views of a gas cylinder 20 frame 200, in accordance with a first embodiment of the present disclosure. Fig. 2A illustrates a side view of the gas cylinder frame 200 mounted with a cylinder, wherein one of the longitudinal ends of the gas cylinder frame 200 is shown. At the shown longitudinal end of the gas cylinder frame 200, a reinforcement pipe 201 is connected with two legs 202a, 203a of the gas cylinder frame 200 and a 25 transverse portion 204 formed by connecting the two legs (202a, 203a) through perpendicularly bending of lower ends of the two legs (202a, 203a) for preventing torsional deformation of the frame 200 in a transverse direction. In an aspect, the
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reinforcement pipe 201 has a first portion 201a connected with the leg 202a of the frame 200 and the transverse portion 204 and has a second portion 201b connected with the leg 203a of the frame 200 with the transverse portion 204, such that the first portion 201a is shorter in length as compared to the second portion 201b. 5
[0042] In an aspect, the reinforcement pipe 201 is welded with the legs 202a, 203a and the transverse portions 204, say, using MG welding. The leg 202a connected with the first portion 201a of the reinforcement pipe 201 has less height as compared to the leg 203a connected with the second portion 201b of the reinforcement pipe 200, for facilitating easy access to spare tyre of the vehicle. In 10 an alternate embodiment, the leg 202a connected with the first portion 201a of the reinforcement pipe 201 has more height as compared to the leg 203a connected with the second portion 201b of the reinforcement pipe 200, for facilitating easy access to spare tyre of the vehicle. In such an embodiment, the first portion 201a is longer in length as compared to the second portion 201b. The embodiments can 15 be summarised in general that the leg with less height than the other leg will be connected with a shorter portion of the reinforcement pipe and the leg with more height than the other leg will be connected with a greater portion of the pipe reinforcement.
[0043] FIG. 2B illustrates a perspective view of the gas cylinder frame 200. 20 The gas cylinder frame 200 comprises a first longitudinal pipe 202 which is positioned parallel to a second longitudinal pipe 203. The pipes 202 and 203 are bent in a downward direction at both of their ends so as to form the legs 202a and 203a, respectively. The legs 202a and 203a at the longitudinal ends of the pipes 202 and 203 are joined or connected with each other to form transverse portions 25 204. The base length of the transverse portions 204 is equal to the transverse distance between the parallel positioned first longitudinal pipe 202 and the second longitudinal pipe 203. The transverse distance between the parallel positioned first longitudinal pipe 202 and the second longitudinal pipe 203 depends on the
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capacity and size or diameter of the gas cylinder. The formation of the transverse portions 204 by connection of the legs 202a and 203a prevents the torsional deformation of the pipes in the transverse direction. The legs 202a and 203a, the transverse portions 204, and the longitudinal pipes 202 and 203, together form a ring or closed loop structure which is rigid but at the same time light in weight. 5 This ring or closed loop structure of the frame 200 greatly improves the load carrying the strength of the frame 200. In the gas cylinder frame 200, the pipes 202, 203 and 204 may be bent using 3D CNC bending machine, therefore no additional tool is required. In order to vary the dimensions of the gas cylinder frame 200, dimensions of the pipes are changed without any change in the layout 10 and structure.
[0044] In an aspect, the first longitudinal pipe 202 has less height as compared to the second longitudinal pipe 203 for facilitating access to spare tyre of the vehicle. In another aspect, the second longitudinal pipe 203 has less height as compared to the first longitudinal pipe 202 for facilitating access to the spare tyre. 15 The reinforcement pipe 201 provided at the longitudinal ends of the gas cylinder frame 200 connects the two legs 202a and 203a of the frame 200. The reinforcement pipe 201 has a first portion 201a connected with the leg 202a and the transverse portion 204 and has the second portion 201b connected with the leg 203a of the frame 200 with the transverse portion 204. The gas cylinder frame 20 further comprises two mounting brackets 205 at each longitudinal end of the gas cylinder frame 200 for mounting the transverse portion 204 connected with the legs 202a and 203a. The two mounting brackets 205 are fixed to body in white (BIW) floor of the vehicle. Since, the design of the present gas cylinder frame 200 is such that the legs are near to the vehicle floor because of which height of the 25 frame reduces, there is a reduction in the number of mounting locations and fasteners used to secure the gas cylinder frame 200 with the vehicle floor body.
[0045] The gas cylinder frame 200 has lower semicircular bands 206 connected transversely in between the parallel positioned first longitudinal pipe
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202 and the second longitudinal pipe 203 at a longitudinal distance. One end of the two lower semicircular bands 206 is joined or attached with the first longitudinal pipe 202 and another end of the semi-circular bands 206 is joined or attached with the second longitudinal pipe 203 with the help of brackets 207. The two semicircular bands 206 define a semi-cylindrical area to receive cylindrical 5 surface of the gas cylinder.
[0046] FIG. 2C illustrates the front side view of the gas cylinder frame 200. As can be seen from FIG. 2C, additional reinforcement brackets 208 are connected with the four legs 202a and 203a and the longitudinal pipes 202, 203, respectively, so as to form a triangular connecting structure between connecting 10 points of the additional reinforcement brackets 208, the respective legs 202a and 203a, and longitudinal pipes 202, 203. These reinforcement brackets 208 are welded, preferably using metal gas welding, at the connecting points so as to provide additional stiffness to the gas cylinder frame 200.
[0047] Further, with the present design of the gas cylinder frame 200, it is 15 possible that different layout can be made just by changing pipe length and positions of the same. Since the pipe bending is done using 3D CNC bending machines, no tool is required for making a new gas cylinder frame. Further, heights of the first longitudinal pipe 202 and the second longitudinal pipe 203 can be changed without any tooling impact. A CNG cylinder can be placed at multiple 20 heights as per vehicle layout. The present gas cylinder frame 200 is made of metal or alloy pipes preferably steel pipes which are bent through 3D CNC bending machine.
[0048] Referring to FIG. 3, a gas cylinder 209 is mounted or secured on the gas cylinder frame 200 by two upper semi-circular bands 210 that are provided 25 from the upper side of the gas cylinder 209. The two lower semi-circular bands 206 has extended flanges with mounting holes to engage with the bent flanges of the upper semicircular band 210 with mounting screws. The mounting screws are
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tightened to hold the gas cylinder 209 in the gas cylinder frame 200. With the present gas cylinder frame, a uniform layout is achieved which can be implemented in any vehicle with different configurations. It is easy to change the dimensions of the gas cylinder frame 200 by changing the dimensions of the steel pipes. The present gas cylinder frame 200 is light in weight and more efficient in 5 performance parameters. Therefore, the present gas cylinder frame 200 improves vehicle performance due to weight reduction. The present gas cylinder frame 200 is easy and fast to manufacture without high tooling cost.
[0049] FIG. 4 illustrates the view of connecting joints in the gas cylinder frame 200. At each longitudinal end of the frame 200 the leg 202a, transverse 10 portion 204, the first portion 201a of the reinforcement pipe 201 along with the mounting bracket 205 forms a triangular connecting structure ‘A1’. Similarly, the leg 203a, transverse portion 204, the second portion 201b of the reinforcement pipe 201 along with the mounting bracket 205 forms the triangular connecting structure ‘A2’ which is bigger than the triangular connecting structure ‘A1’. The 15 reinforcement brackets 208 that are connected with the four legs 202a and 203a, two at each longitudinal end and the longitudinal pipes 202, 203 respectively also forms a triangular connecting structure ‘B’. The triangular connecting structures ‘A1’, ‘A2’ and ‘B’ helps to prevent torsional deformation and lead to a weight reduction of gas cylinder frame 200. The formation of these triangular connecting 20 structures ‘A1’, ‘A2’ and ‘B’ provides strength and stiffness to the gas cylinder frame 200.
Second Exemplary Embodiment
[0050] FIGS. 5A and 5B illustrate a perspective side view and a top view of the gas cylinder frame 500 in accordance with another embodiment of the present 25 disclosure. The gas cylinder frame 500 comprises a pipe having a first longitudinal portion 501 and a second longitudinal portion 502 positioned parallel to the first longitudinal portion 501, wherein each of the first longitudinal portion
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501 and the second longitudinal portion 502 is bent towards each other so as to form a first and a second transverse portion 503 in order to form a closed loop or ring structure of the pipe which is rigid but at the same time light in weight. The transverse distance between the parallel positioned first longitudinal portion 501 and the second longitudinal portion 502 depends on the capacity and size or 5 diameter of gas cylinder. This ring or closed loop structure of the frame 500 greatly improves the load carrying the strength of the frame 500. In the gas cylinder frame 500, the pipe is bent using 3D CNC bending machine therefore, no tool is required.
[0051] The gas cylinder frame 500 further includes two mounting brackets 10 504 for mounting or supporting the first and the second transverse portions 503, respectively, at four corners of the closed loop or ring structure for preventing torsional deformation of the gas cylinder frame 500 in a transverse direction. The two mounting brackets 504 are fixed to body in white (BIW) floor of the vehicle. The gas cylinder frame 500 further includes two flexible bands 505 connected 15 transversely in between the parallel positioned first longitudinal portion 501 and the second longitudinal portion 502 at a longitudinal distance. One end of the two lower semicircular bands 505 is joined or attached with the first longitudinal portion 501 and another end of the semi-circular bands 505 is joined or attached with the second longitudinal portion 502 with the help of brackets 506. The two 20 flexible bands 505 define a cylindrical area to receive cylindrical surface of a gas cylinder.
[0052] With the present design of the gas cylinder frame 500, it is possible that different layout can be made just by changing pipe length and positions of the same. The present gas cylinder frame 500 is made of metal or alloy pipe 25 preferably steel pipe which is bent through a 3D CNC bending machine. Since the design of the present gas cylinder frame 500 is such that the gas cylinder frame 500 is at ground level or at no height from the vehicle floor, there is a reduction in
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the number of mounting locations and fasteners used to secure the gas cylinder frame 500 with the vehicle floor body.
[0053] Referring to FIG. 6, a gas cylinder 507 is shown mounted or secured on the gas cylinder frame 500 by two upper semi-circular bands 508 that are provided from the upper side of the gas cylinder 507. The two lower semi-circular 5 bands 505 has extended flanges with mounting holes to engage with the bent flanges of the upper semi-circular band 508 with mounting screws. The mounting screws are tightened to hold the gas cylinder 507 in the gas cylinder frame 500. With the present gas cylinder frame 500, a uniform layout is achieved which can be implemented in any vehicle with different configurations. It is easy to change 10 the dimensions of the gas cylinder frame 500 by changing the dimensions of the steel pipes. The present gas cylinder frame 500 is light in weight and more efficient in performance parameters and therefore increases the vehicle performance due to weight reduction. The present gas cylinder frame 500 is easy and fast to manufacture without high tooling cost. 15
[0054] FIG. 7 illustrates a view of connecting joints in the gas cylinder frame 500. The first and the second transverse portion 503 of the gas cylinder frame 500 is mounted or supported on the two mounting brackets 504, respectively, so as to form a triangular connecting structure ‘C’ at four corners of the closed loop or ring structure for preventing torsional deformation of the gas cylinder frame 500. 20 The triangular connecting structures ‘C’ further prevents weight reduction of gas cylinder frame 500. The formation of connecting structures ‘C’ provides strength to the gas cylinder frame 500.
TECHNICAL ADVANTAGES
[0055] The present disclosure provides a gas cylinder frame for holding a gas 25 cylinder in a vehicle which has less number of mounting locations and fasteners.
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[0056] The present disclosure provides a gas cylinder frame for holding a gas cylinder in a vehicle which can bear high pressure of CNG or gas cylinder under normal vehicle use and vehicle crash condition.
[0057] The present disclosure provides a gas cylinder frame for holding a gas cylinder in a vehicle which can be mounted in any type of vehicle with minimal 5 modification or changes in the frame.
[0058] The present disclosure provides a gas cylinder frame for holding a gas cylinder in a vehicle which is light in weight, simple and inexpensive, and easy to mount on the vehicle chassis or body in white (BIW) floor.
[0059] The present disclosure provides a gas cylinder frame for holding a gas 10 cylinder in a vehicle which prevents torsional deformation of the frame in the transverse direction.
[0060] While the foregoing describes various embodiments of the present disclosure, other and further embodiments of the present disclosure may be devised without departing from the basic scope thereof. The scope of the 15 invention is determined by the claims that follow. The present disclosure 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 present disclosure when combined with information and knowledge available to the person having ordinary skill in the art.

We claim:
1. A gas cylinder frame (200) for holding a gas cylinder in a vehicle, the gas cylinder frame (200) comprising:
at each longitudinal end of the gas cylinder frame (200),
a reinforcement pipe (201) connected with two legs (202a, 203a) of 5 the gas cylinder frame (200) and a transverse portion (204) formed by connecting the two legs (202a, 203a) through perpendicular bending of lower ends of the two legs (202a, 203a) towards each other for preventing torsional deformation of the gas cylinder frame (200) in transverse direction, wherein the reinforcement pipe (201) having a 10 first portion (201a) connected with one leg (202a) of the gas cylinder frame (200) and the transverse portion (204) and having a second portion (201b) connected with another leg (203a) of the gas cylinder frame (200) with the transverse portion (204), the first portion (201a) being shorter in length as compared to the second portion (201b). 15
2. The gas cylinder frame (200) as claimed in claim 1, wherein the leg (202a) connected with first portion (201a) of the reinforcement pipe (201) has less height as compared to the leg (203a) connected with the second portion (201b) of the reinforcement pipe (201), for facilitating access to spare tire of the vehicle. 20
3. The gas cylinder frame (200) as claimed in claim 2, wherein the leg (202a) connected with first portion (201a) of the reinforcement pipe (201) is formed by downward bending of a first longitudinal pipe (202) of the gas cylinder frame (200), and the leg (203a) connected with second portion (201b) of the reinforcement pipe (201) is formed by downward bending of 25 a second longitudinal pipe (203) of the gas cylinder frame (200).
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4. The gas cylinder frame (200) as claimed in claim 3, wherein the first longitudinal pipe (202) is positioned parallel to the second longitudinal pipe (203).
5. The gas cylinder frame (200) as claimed in claim 3, wherein the first 5 longitudinal pipe (202) has less height as compared to the second longitudinal pipe (203) for facilitating access to spare tire of the vehicle.
6. The gas cylinder frame (200) as claimed in claim 3, wherein the legs (202a, 203a), the transverse portions (204), and the longitudinal pipes (202, 203) form a ring structure or a closed loop structure. 10
7. The gas cylinder frame (200) as claimed in claim 3, comprises additional reinforcement brackets (208) connected with the legs (202a, 203a) and the longitudinal pipes (202, 203), respectively, so as to form a triangular connecting structure (B) between connecting points of the additional reinforcement brackets (208), the respective legs (202a, 203a), and 15 longitudinal pipes (202, 203), for providing stiffness to the gas cylinder frame (200).
8. The gas cylinder frame (200) as claimed in claim 1, comprises two mounting brackets (205) for mounting the transverse portions (204) connected with the legs (202a, 203a) so as to form a triangular connecting 20 structure (A1, A2) at connecting points of the four legs (202a, 203a) with the mounting brackets (205) for preventing torsional deformation of the gas cylinder frame (200) in transverse direction.
9. The gas cylinder frame (200) as claimed in claim 7, wherein the two mounting brackets (205) are fixed to body in white (BIW) floor of the 25 vehicle.
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10. The gas cylinder frame (200) as claimed in claim 3, wherein the gas cylinder frame (200) comprises two flexible bands (206) connected transversely in between the parallel positioned first longitudinal pipe (202) and the second longitudinal pipe (203) at a longitudinal distance on the 5 first longitudinal pipe (202) and the second longitudinal pipe (203), and wherein the two flexible bands (206) define a cylindrical area to receive cylindrical surface of the gas cylinder.