[0001] The present disclosure described herein, in general, relates to a gas cylinder frame structure for a vehicle and in particular, relates 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
[0002] Hybrid vehicles are relatively popular in the market due to clean energy, low pollution, and low cost of use. Such hybrid vehicles, unlike petrol or diesel vehicles, require a gas cylinder, such as a compressed natural gas (CNG) cylinder, to be mounted at the rear side, i.e. in the boot space area of the vehicle. To achieve a firm installation and mounting stability of the gas cylinder, a cylinder frame or structure is usually installed on the floor in the boot space area of the vehicle. By mounting the gas cylinder on the cylinder frame, the gas cylinder is prevented from falling off due to body twisting, braking, bumping, and collision of the vehicle. At the same time, the cylinder frame facilitates the easy loading and unloading of the cylinder.
[0003] However, there are numerous technical problems associated with the existing gas cylinder frames. For instance, the existing gas cylinder frame requires a box-type mounting structure that is heavy and complex in structure. The gas cylinder frame or structure requires a plurality of mounting brackets to mount the gas cylinder frame on the vehicle body which increases the cost and 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 the dimensions of the vehicle. This, in turn, requires new tooling and more development time to make any new layout.
[0004] Moreover, in vehicles that are used nowadays, the packaging of the CNG Cylinder for a given specification on the rear floor is governed by space availability along the width of the vehicle. If the packaging space along the vehicle width is adequate, the CNG cylinder can be laid very close to the Rear floor, thus the Centre of Gravity (CG) of CNG cylinder lies very close to the mounting points on the rear floor & that makes the structure stable, however in the case where the packaging space along the vehicle width is insufficient due to vehicle construction, the CNG cylinder of given specification needs to be lifted to a height where its packaging is feasible. As a result, there is an increase in CG measured from mounting points on the rear floor. To counter the moment generated from increased CG, the mounting structure has to be made more rigid.
[0005] Further, the existing gas cylinder frame is made of metal rods or pipes which increases the weight of the frame, thereby increasing the weight 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 rear floor. Overall, the structure of the existing gas cylinder frame is unable to show good stability, reinforcement, anti-collision, and aesthetic appearance.
[0006] In view of the above, there is a need to have a gas cylinder frame or mounting structure that is light in weight and having a rigid structure that does not affect vehicle performance. Moreover, there is also a need in the art to provide a structure of the gas cylinder frame that is more simple and inexpensive, and which can easily be accommodated in the existing vehicle to eliminate the existing above-mentioned problems.
OBJECTS OF THE DISCLOSURE
[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 frame for tightly holding a gas cylinder, where the gas cylinder frame is lightweight and still provides required structural reinforcement for holding the gas cylinder.
[0009] It is an object of the present disclosure to provide a gas cylinder frame to prevent the torsional deformation of the frame in a transverse direction.
[0010] Another object of the present disclosure is to provide a gas cylinder frame for holding a gas cylinder, where the cylinder frame is made of metal or alloy pipes with proper stiffness, rigidity, and reinforcement.
[0011] Another object of the present disclosure is to provide a gas cylinder frame that can bear high stress generated due to the weight of the gas cylinder under normal vehicle use and vehicle crash condition.
[0012] Another object of the present disclosure is to provide a gas cylinder frame that can tightly hold the gas cylinder under the normal vehicle condition as well as during the crash condition.
[0013] Another object of the present disclosure is to provide a uniform gas cylinder frame for any type of vehicle to mount a gas cylinder with minimal modification or changes in the vehicle frame.
[0014] Another object of the present disclosure is to provide a gas cylinder frame that can easily be accommodated either at a large space or at a small space provided at the boot space of the vehicle.
[0015] Yet another object of the present disclosure is to provide a gas cylinder frame that is simple, inexpensive, and easy to mount on the vehicle body.
[0016] These and other objects and advantages will become more apparent when reference is made to the following description and accompanying drawings.
SUMMARY
[0017] 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 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.
[0018] The present disclosure disclosed herein relates to a gas cylinder frame for holding a gas cylinder in a vehicle.
[0019] In an embodiment, the present disclosure provides a gas cylinder frame for holding the gas cylinder in a vehicle, the gas cylinder frame comprising an upper assembly structure defining a cylindrical area to receive cylindrical surface of the gas cylinder, said upper assembly structure being provided with holder brackets at each longitudinal ends, a pair of lower assembly structures, each consisting of a U-shaped pipe forming leg of the upper assembly structure and having an in-built mounting unit at respective ends of the U-shaped pipe for establishing a connection with the holder brackets for holding the longitudinal ends of the upper assembly structure at respective top ends of the U-shaped pipes.
[0020] In an aspect, the present disclosure provides a gas cylinder frame in which the upper assembly structure comprising a first longitudinal pipe bend to form a first transverse pipe and a first portion of a second longitudinal pipe, and a second transverse pipe bend on one end to form a second portion of the second longitudinal pipe to make a connection with one end of the second longitudinal pipe and bend on another end to make a connection with one end of the first longitudinal pipe.
[0021] In an aspect, the present disclosure provides the gas cylinder frame in which the gas cylinder frame comprises two flexible bands connected transversely in between the parallel positioned first longitudinal pipe and a second longitudinal pipe at a longitudinal distance on the first longitudinal pipe and the second longitudinal pipe. Also, the two flexible bands define a cylindrical area to receive the cylindrical surface of the gas cylinder.
[0022] In an aspect, the present disclosure provides the gas cylinder frame in which the mounting structure includes a floor bracket fastened to a floor of the vehicle; a U-shaped pipe having an in-built mounting unit at its both ends for establishing a connection with holder bracket affixed to a longitudinal end of the gas cylinder frame, and a horizontal bracket connecting both ends of the U-shaped pipe.
[0023] In an aspect, the present disclosure provides the gas cylinder frame in which the U-shaped pipe is welded at the center of the floor bracket fixed to rear floor of the vehicle.
[0024] In an aspect, the present disclosure provides the gas cylinder frame in which a front curved shaped reinforcement is connected to an external front side of the U-shaped pipe and a front mounting end of the floor bracket.
[0025] In an aspect, the present disclosure provides the gas cylinder frame in which a rear curved shaped reinforcement is connected to an external rear side of the U-shaped pipe and a rear mounting end of the floor bracket.
[0026] In an aspect, the present disclosure provides the gas cylinder frame in which a stay bracket connects a mounting unit, provided at the second portion and the first portion of the second longitudinal pipe of the upper assembly, with the C-shaped bracket lower assembly structure.
[0027] In an aspect, the present disclosure provides the gas cylinder frame in which the horizontal bracket is connected between the inner sides of the U-shaped pipe.
[0028] In an aspect, the present disclosure provides the gas cylinder frame in which the horizontal bracket is provided with a through-hole to receive a stud mounted on a side body of the vehicle.
[0029] 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.
[0030] Various objects, features, aspects, and advantages of the inventive present disclosure 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
[0031] It is to be noted, however, that the appended drawings illustrate only typical embodiments of the present disclosure 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 present disclosure 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 present disclosure as claimed herein, wherein:
[0032] FIG. 1 illustrates a gas cylinder frame in accordance with an embodiment of the present disclosure;
[0033] FIG. 2 illustrates a connection of two pipes of the upper assembly structure in accordance with an embodiment of the present disclosure;
[0034] FIG. 3A illustrates lower assembly structures of the gas cylinder frame, in accordance with an embodiment of the present disclosure;
[0035] FIG. 3B illustrates the section diagram B-B that shows the first connection between the upper assembly structure and the lower assembly structure in accordance with an embodiment of the present disclosure;
[0036] FIG. 4A illustrates the connection between the lower assembly structure and the body of the vehicle in accordance with an embodiment of the present disclosure;
[0037] FIG. 4B illustrates the section diagram C-C that shows the second connection between the upper assembly structure and the lower assembly structure in accordance with an embodiment of the present disclosure;
[0038] FIG. 4C illustrates the section diagram D-D that shows the connection between the mounting structure and the vehicle; and
[0039] FIG. 5 illustrates the mounting of the exemplary gas cylinder over the frame in accordance with an embodiment of the present disclosure.
[0040] The figures depict embodiments of the present disclosure 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 of the disclosure described herein.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION
[0041] 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.
[0042] 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.
[0043] 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 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.
[0044] 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 be executed concurrently or may sometimes be executed in the reverse order, depending upon the functionality/acts involved.
[0045] 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.
[0046] Embodiments described herein relate to a gas cylinder frame made of one or more metal and alloy tubes and sheets that is preferable to be mounted at a rear side of a vehicle to hold a gas cylinder. Although the design of the frame is to be incorporated at the rear side of a vehicle in the vehicles where the boot space is at the front side, the frame can be installed at the front side of the vehicle without deviating from the scope of the present disclosure.
[0047] FIG. 1 shows a gas cylinder frame 100, or frame 100, for holding a gas cylinder in a vehicle and in particular to hold a compressed natural gas (CNG) cylinder in a CNG vehicle.
[0048] The frame 100 comprises mainly of two structures, namely an upper assembly structure 200 and a pair of lower assembly structure 300A, 300B (collectively referred to as 300). The upper assembly structure 200 of the frame 100 is made of pipes such that the upper assembly structure 200 defines a cylindrical area to receive a cylindrical surface of the gas cylinder. The lower assembly structures 300 are formed as legs of the upper assembly structure 200 and, on their top ends, hold or support the longitudinal ends of the upper assembly structure 200.
[0049] Further, as shown in FIG. 2, the upper assembly structure 200 consists of a first longitudinal pipe 206 that is bent to form a first transverse pipe 208 and a first portion 210 of a second longitudinal pipe 212. The upper assembly structure 210 further includes a second transverse pipe 214 which is bent on one end to form a second portion 216 of the second longitudinal pipe 212. The second transverse pipe 214 is bent on one end to make a connection with one end of the first longitudinal pipe 206 and is bent on another end to make a connection with one end of the second longitudinal pipe 212.
[0050] Further, each of the transverse pipes 208 and 214 is provided with separate holder brackets 218 at each of the longitudinal ends of the upper assembly structure 200. In other words, the separate holder brackets 218 are provided at the edges of the transverse pipes 208 and 214 for establishing a connection of the upper assembly structure 200 with the lower assembly structure 300. The brackets 218 placed at the edges of the transverse pipes 208 and 214 are provided with a hole for establishing a connection of the upper assembly structure 200 with the lower assembly structure 300 through a weld nut joint.
[0051] Yet further, the upper assembly structure 200 includes two flexible bands 220A and 220B connected transversely in between the parallel positioned the first longitudinal pipe 206 and the second longitudinal pipe 212 at a longitudinal distance on the first longitudinal pipe 206 and the second longitudinal pipe 212. The two flexible bands 220A and 220B define a cylindrical area to receive a cylindrical portion of the gas cylinder. In an aspect, the two flexible bands 220A and 220B are formed from metallic strips; however, without departing from the scope of the present disclosure, the two flexible bands 220A and 220B can be formed from any other suitable material.
[0052] In an embodiment, the upper assembly structure 200 is made of metal or alloy pipes having the same thickness. In an alternative embodiment, the upper assembly structure 200 is formed of two metal or alloy pipes of different thickness joined together by the swaging process.
[0053] Referring now to FIG. 3A, the first lower assembly structure 300A that is similar to the second lower assembly structure 300B placed opposite to one another and at a certain distance. Both the first and the second lower assembly structure in combination forms a mounting structure 300 that supports the upper assembly 200. Each of the lower assembly structures 300A, 300B includes a U-shaped pipe 302 welded at the center of a floor bracket 304.
[0054] Also, the U-shaped pipe 302 of the lower assembly structure includes an in-built mounting unit 310 at the upper ends of the U-shaped pipe 302. The in-built mounting units 310 are used to attach the holder brackets 218 provided at the longitudinal ends of the upper assembly structure 200 through the weld nut joint for holding the upper assembly structure 200 over the lower assembly structure 300. Although the in-built mounting unit 310 is provided with flange nut including washer that helps in building a strong connection between the upper assembly structure 200 and the lower assembly structure 300, the in-built mounting unit 310 can be any other mounting unit without deviating from the scope of the present disclosure.
[0055] Moreover, in the lower assembly structure 300A, a horizontal bracket 306 is provided in between the inner sides of the U-shaped pipe 302. This horizontal bracket 306 connects the parallel tubes of the U-shaped pipe 302. The horizontal bracket 306 is also provided with a through-hole 308 to receive a stud mounted on a side body of the vehicle, to distribute the stresses to side body in addition to rear floor and also to restrict the longitudinal movement of the frame 100.
[0056] Further, as mentioned above, the second lower assembly structure 300B has a configuration similar to the first lower assembly structure 300A and in combination forms a mounting structure 300.
[0057] Referring now to FIG.3B that illustrates a line diagram along a section B-B (FIG. 3A) which shows an initial connection between the upper assembly structure 200 and the lower assembly structure 300. The lower assembly structure 300 that supports the upper assembly structure 200 includes an in-built mounting unit 310 at the upper ends of the U-shaped pipe 302 that are connected to the holder brackets 218 provided at the longitudinal ends of the upper assembly structure 200 through the weld nut joint 312. Moreover, the front curved shaped–reinforcement bracket 402 is used to attach the lower assembly structure 300 to the vehicle body.
[0058] FIG.4A illustrates various attachments between the components of the lower assembly structure 300 and the upper assembly structure 200. In the upper assembly structure 200, each of the transverse pipes 208 and 214 is provided with separate holder brackets 218 at each of the longitudinal ends of the upper assembly structure 200. In other words, the separate holder brackets 218 are provided at the edges of the transverse pipes 208 and 214 for establishing a connection of the upper assembly structure 200 with the lower assembly structure 300. The brackets 218 placed at the edges of the transverse pipes 208 and 214 are provided with a hole for establishing a connection of the upper assembly structure 102 with the lower assembly structure 104 through the weld nut joint 312.
[0059] Similarly, the lower assembly structure 300 that supports the upper assembly structure 200 includes an in-built mounting unit 310 at the upper ends of the U-shaped pipe 302 that are connected to the holder brackets 218 provided at the longitudinal ends of the upper assembly structure 200 through the weld nut joint 312.
[0060] The above-stated connection is the first built-up connection between the upper assembly structure 200 and the lower assembly structure 300.
[0061] Further, a front curved shaped reinforcement bracket 402 is connected to an external front side of the U-shaped pipe 302 through welding and to a front mounting end of the floor bracket 304 through weld nut joint, to prevent torsional deformation of the frame in a transverse direction.
[0062] Similar to the front curved shaped reinforcement bracket 402, a rear curved shaped reinforcement bracket 410 is connected to an external rear side of the U-shaped pipe 302 through welding and to a rear mounting end of the floor bracket 304 through weld nut joint. The front mounting end and the rear mounting end of the floor bracket 304 are fixed to the rear floor of the vehicle through the weld nut joint.
[0063] Moreover, the front curved shaped reinforcement bracket 402 and the rear curved shaped reinforcement bracket 410 of the lower assembly structure 300A have I–shaped hollow cross-sections which are efficient in bearing the bending and torsional loads. As can be appreciated by those skilled in the art that the reinforcement brackets 402 and 410 can have any other shape or profile without deviating from the scope of the present disclosure. Also, the reinforcement bracket 402 is covered by a C-Shaped bracket 404 that helps in establishing the connection between the upper assembly structure 200 and the lower assembly structure 300.
[0064] Furthermore, a hat-shaped section of stay bracket 406 is attached to the C- shaped bracket 404 through a nut bolt joint that helps in supporting the upper assembly structure 200 over the lower assembly structure 300 and also considered as a second built-up connection. The hat shape section of stay bracket 406 provides stiffness to the bracket which helps in sharing load from upper structure to lower mounting structure through an additional path and reduces the stress concentration on the in-built mounting unit 310.
[0065] Moreover, in each of the lower assembly structures 300A, 300B, a horizontal bracket 306 is provided in between inner sides of the U-shaped pipe 302. This horizontal bracket 306 connects the parallel tubes of the U-shaped pipe 302. The horizontal bracket 306 is also provided with a through-hole 308 to receive a stud mounted on a side body of the vehicle, to distribute the stresses to side body in addition to rear floor and to restrict the longitudinal movement of the frame 100.
[0066] FIG. 4B illustrates a line diagram along a section C-C shown in FIG. 4A to show the connection between the upper assembly structure 200 and the lower assembly structure 300. Further, the front curved shaped–reinforcement bracket 402 that is used to attach the lower assembly structure 300 to the vehicle body can also be utilized to connect the upper assembly structure 200 to the lower assembly structure 300. The front curved shaped-reinforcement bracket 402 that is hollow in the configuration is connected to an external front side of the U-shaped pipe 302 through welding and to a front mounting end of the floor bracket 304 through weld nut joint.
[0067] A C-shaped bracket 404 is provided to cover the front curved shaped-reinforcement bracket 402. After that, the stay bracket 406 is attached to the C-shaped bracket 404 through nut bolt joint 408b and is used to connect a mounting unit 414 provided on the upper assembly structure 200 to the lower assembly structure 300. The above stated two types of connection between the upper assembly structure 200 and the lower assembly structure 300 give strength to the cylinder holding frame that handles different types of stresses produced inside the vehicle.
[0068] FIG.4C illustrates a line diagram along the section D-D shown in FIG. 4A for showing the connection between the lower assembly structure 300 to the body of the vehicle to improve the strength of lower assembly structure anchoring points on rear floor. As can be seen, nut bolt joint 412 is established through joining the front curved-shaped reinforcement bracket 402 and the floor bracket 304 to the rear floor, thereby establishing a box section. The anchorage points above the box section are highly stressed zone. With the creation of box section, the bending moment is highly reduced. Also, with this arrangement, the resting face for the nut bolt joint 412 is also reinforced in the required zone only. As a result, significant weight reduction in the lower assembly structure is achieved.
[0069] FIG. 5 illustrates the frame 100 mounted inside a vehicle and receives an exemplary gas cylinder 502.
TECHNICAL ADVANTAGES
[0070] The present disclosure provides a gas cylinder frame for holding a gas cylinder in a vehicle which has less number of mounting locations and fasteners.
[0071] 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 modification or changes in the frame.
[0072] The present disclosure provides a gas cylinder frame for holding a gas cylinder in a vehicle which is light in weight, rigid in structure, simple and inexpensive, and easy to mount on the vehicle body.
[0073] The present disclosure provides a gas cylinder frame for holding a gas cylinder in a vehicle that prevents the torsional deformation of the frame in the transverse direction.
[0074] The present disclosure provides a gas cylinder frame that counters the loads that occurred during the acceleration / deceleration / cornering / bump of a vehicle and makes it a stable structure.
[0075] 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 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.

Claims:1. A gas cylinder frame (100) for holding a gas cylinder in a vehicle, the gas cylinder frame (100) comprising:
an upper assembly structure (200) defining a cylindrical area to receive cylindrical surface of the gas cylinder (502), said upper assembly structure (200) being provided with holder brackets (218) at each longitudinal ends;
a pair of lower assembly structures (300A,300B) in combination form a mounting structure (300), each consisting of a U-shaped pipe (302) forming leg of the upper assembly structure (200) and having an in-built mounting unit (310) at respective ends of the U-shaped pipe (302) for establishing a connection with the holder brackets (218) for holding the longitudinal ends of the upper assembly structure (200) at respective top ends of the U-shaped pipes (302).

2. The gas cylinder frame (100) as claimed in claim 1, wherein the upper assembly structure (200) comprising:
a first longitudinal pipe (206) bend to form a first transverse pipe (208) and a first portion (210) of a second longitudinal pipe (212); and
a second transverse pipe (214) bend on one end to form a second portion (216) of the second longitudinal pipe (212) to make a connection with one end of the second longitudinal pipe (212) and bend on another end to make a connection with one end of the first longitudinal pipe (206).

3. The gas cylinder frame (100) as claimed in claim 1, wherein each of the lower assembly structure (300A) comprising a U-shaped pipe (302) having an in-built mounting unit (310) at its both ends for establishing a connection with holder bracket (218) affixed to a longitudinal end of the gas cylinder frame (200).

4. The gas cylinder frame (100) as claimed in claim 4, wherein the lower assembly structure (300A) comprises a front curved shaped reinforcement bracket (402) connecting an external front side of the U-shaped pipe (302) and a front mounting end of the floor bracket (304).

5. The gas cylinder frame (100) as claimed in claim 4, wherien the lower assembly structure (300A) comprises a C-shaped bracket (404) placed over the front curved shaped reinforcement bracket (402).

6. The gas cylinder frame (100) as claimed in claim 5, wherein the C-shaped bracket (404) is connected to a mounting unit (414), provided on the second portion (216) and the first portion (210) of the second longitudinal pipe (212) of the upper assembly (200), through a stay bracket (406) .

7. The gas cylinder frame (100) as claimed in claim 3, wherein the lower assembly structure (300A) comprises a rear curved shaped reinforcement bracket (410) connecting an external rear side of the U-shaped pipe (302) and a rear mounting end of the floor bracket (304).

8. The gas cylinder frame (100) as claimed in claim 5, wherien the lower assembly structure (300A) comprises a horizontal bracket (306) connected between inner sides of the U-shaped pipe (302), and wherein the horizontal bracket (306) is provided with a through-hole (308) to receive a stud mounted on a side body of the vehicle.