This invention relates to an LPG cylinder installation assembly for a motor vehicle, more particularly, though not
exclusively, for three wheeler motor vehicles, such as, the auto rickshaw.

It is common knowledge that many motor vehicles, such as, auto rickshaws run on LPG, because this fuel is less
expensive than petrol and is more pollution free.

The LPG cylinder which is mounted on the body of such vehicle has a metal band encircling each of the two ends of
the cylinder for fastening the cylinder securely to the body.

Interposed between the metal bands (which are, usually, steel bands) and the cylinder body are rubber packings for
preventing contact between the cylinder body and the bands; and between the cylinder body and the body of the vehicle on which the cylinder is mounted. The packings are made of hard rubber impervious to moisture.

Each rubber packing is of predetermined dimensions suited to fit in place between a band at each end of the cylinder and the cylinder body.. Each packing will therefore be endless and have a fixed diameter for tightly encircling the cylinder body at each end. While fitting each packing, it will however have to be inserted over and along the cylinder for being sandwiched in place between the cylinder body and band.

The foregoing description relates to the known art which has the following drawbacks:

The packing is of the endless type so much so that it can only be slid along the cylinder from each end for being positioned in place

Cylinder dimensions can vary from case to case, some cylinders having a larger diameter than others, which means that the packings will have to be selected to have the necessary dimensions to match.

The requisite tightness of the packing around the cylinder body cannot be assured, on account of manufacturing flaws.

Predetermined dimensions of the packing to suit dimensions of the cylinder body would mean hunting for the right size of packing which may not be readily available in the market, entailing down time during repair and maintenance of the installation of the cylinder on the vehicle.

It is therefore an object of this invention to propose an installation assembly for an LPG cylinder on a motor vehicle which not only largely obviates the foregoing drawbacks, but also furnishes other advantages which will be clear from the following description.

The LPG cylinder installation assembly for a motor vehicle, according to this invention, comprises metal bands surrounding the said cylinder at two ends; two open ended flexible members, one end of each of which members is provided with a plurality of spaced apertures while the other end is provided with at least one mating stud for engaging with at least one such aperture, for enabling the said members to diametrically encircle the cylinder at its ends, with stud-aperture in engagement, whenever each member is located between the corresponding band and cylinder.

This invention will now be described with reference to the accompanying drawings which illustrate in

Figs. 1 and 2 the known LPG cylinder installation assembly And

Figs 3 and 4 a preferred embodiment of the cylinder installation assembly according to this invention, by way of example and not by way of limitation.

Referring to Figs 1 and 2, the known installation assembly has metal bands 4 and 5 surrounding the cylinder 1 at its two ends for fastening the cylinder 1 to the vehicle body 2.

An endless rubber packing 3 made of hard rubber, which is impervious to moisture, is located between each band and the cylinder 1 to prevent contact between the cylinder and band; and between the cylinder and vehicle body This packing 3 is of predetermined diameter matching the diameter of the cylinder and will have to be inserted over the cylinder, that is, slid from an end of the cylinder, in the direction of the arrow Z for being sandwiched between the corresponding band and the cylinder. The drawbacks of this arrangement have already been discussed above.

Referring to Figs 3 and 4 a preferred embodiment of this invention illustrated therein will have metal bands 4 and 5 surrounding the said cylinder 1 at two ends as in the case of the known arrangement. However, instead of the endless packing 3, an open ended flexible member 11, made of hard rubber impervious to moisture, is employed at each end of the cylinder 1.

One end of this member 11 is provided with a plurality of spaced apertures while the other end is provided with at least one mating stud for engaging with at least one such aperture, for enabling the said member to diametrically encircle and be fastened around the cylinder when located between the corresponding band and cylinder.

In the embodiment illustrated the spaced apertures 12 are arranged in pairs for engaging with a mating pair of the studs 13. Any pair of the apertures 12 engaging with the appropriate pair of studs 13 would enable the flexible member 11 to diametrically encircle the cylinder 1 tightly, when located between the corresponding band and the cylinder. Thus, the diameter of the member 11 can be made to vary depending upon the diameter of the cylinder to
provide a tight fit between the member and the cylinder, by engaging the studs 13 with the right pair of apertures 12. It is noteworthy that the member 11 with the stud-aperture in engagement to provide the right diameter can be inserted over the cylinder 1 (as in the case of the known assembly) to be placed between the cylinder and band or, if need be, the member can be located in situ, diametrically encircling the cylinder, and then tightened in place by stud-
aperture engagement so as to be interposed between the cylinder and the corresponding band.

The studs are, preferably, frusto-conical in shape with ridged edges 15 engaging with the sides of the apertures 12 so that after insertion in the apertures 12, the studs 13 are not easily removable therefrom.

The flexible members 11 will have to be thick enough to serve as buffers between the cylinder 1 and the bands 4,5 as well as between the cylinder 1 and the vehicle body 2. At the same time the said members will ideally have to be sufficiently lightweight without sacrificing their thickness. Accordingly the said members along their length are provided with spaced holes 14 to remove unnecessary material and reduce weight.

It will be appreciated that various other embodiments of this invention are possible without departing from its scope and ambit.

We Claim:

1. An LPG/CNG cylinder installation assembly for a motor vehicle, comprising metal bands surrounding the said cylinder at two ends; two open ended flexible members, one end of each of which members is provided with a plurality of spaced apertures while the other end is provided with at least one mating stud for engaging with at least one such aperture, for enabling the said members to diametrically encircle the cylinder at its ends, with stud- aperture in engagement, whenever each member is located between the corresponding band and cylinder.

2. An LPG/CNG cylinder installation assembly for a motor vehicle as claimed in Claim 1 wherein the spaced apertures are arranged in pairs for engaging with a mating pair of the studs.

3. An LPG/CNG cylinder installation assembly for a motor vehicle as claimed in Claim 1 or Claim 2 wherein the flexible member has spaced holes along its length.

4. An LPG/CNG cylinder installation assembly for a motor vehicle as claimed in any one of the preceding Claims wherein the studs are frusto-conical in shape with ridged edges engaging with the sides of the apertures such that after insertion in the apertures, the studs are not easily removable therefrom.

5. An LPG/CNG cylinder installation assembly for a motor vehicle substantially as herein described with reference to, and as illustrated in, Figs. 3 and 4 of the accompanying drawings.