FORM 2
THE PATENTS ACT 1970
(39 of 1970)
&
THE PATENTS RULES, 2003
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION
(See Section 10; rule 13)
TITLE OF THE INVENTION
Mounting Scheme of CNG Cylinder on Frame Structure Integrated with
Front Seat of Passenger Vehicles.


APPLICANTS
TATA MOTORS LIMITED, an Indian company
having its registered office at Bombay House,
24 Homi Mody Street, Hutatma Chowk,
Mumbai 400 001 Maharashtra, India

INVENTORS
Mr. Abhay Deshpande, Mr. Parag Phirke,
Mr. Tushar Patil & Mr. Umesh Abhyankar
all Indian national of TATA MOTORS LIMITED,
an Indian company having its registered office
at Bombay House, 24 Homi Mody Street, Hutatma Chowk,
Mumbai 400 001 Maharashtra, India
PREAMBLE TO THE DESCRIPTION The following specification particularly describes the invention


FIELD OF INVENTION
The present invention relates to a mounting scheme for supporting and coupling a compressed natural gas cylinder (CNG) to the underside by being an integral structure of front seat of natural gas vehicle without affecting the vehicle driving functionality of Passenger Vehicles.
BACKGROUND OF INVENTION
Installing a CNG cylinder on vehicle has its own constraints that are its heavy weight and space occupied by the CNG cylinder at the front or rear side of the vehicles resulting in high axles Weights. Mostly it is easy to convert commercial vehicle on CNG due to large availability of space for mounting of CNG cylinders (3) but it equally difficult in case of passenger Vehicles due to space and weight distribution constraints. Mostly CNG cylinders (3) are installed at the safe position where there is a possibility of minimum damage to the CNG assembly at the time of crash hence some extra heavy supports or protecting bar need to install for Protecting CNG cylinder which may increase the weight and decrease the fuel economy of Vehicle. As Per the Fitment Norms it is acceptable from the fitment of CNG Cylinder assembly inside the Passenger Vehicle that Leakage of gas should not be happened inside the Passenger's compartment nor CNG cylinder to be placed behind the driver seat which may hinder the driving conditions (driver seat adjustment) of vehicle. According to code of Practices for fitment of CNG cylinder on Vehicle Cylinder Should be away with the specific distance from extremities of Vehicle and Protected to minimize the possibility of damage due to collision, over turning and loose metal or object being thrown up from the road. It is also desirable the cylinder should be away from exhaust system by the distance mentioned in fitment norms of CNG cylinder and Should not affect the ground clearance value. This invention deal with the Mounting of CNG cylinder on passenger Vehicles by eliminating the above illustrates drawbacks. More

specifically, the mounting assembly is especially designed for retrofitting a vehicle with a CNG cylinder such that the mounting assembly adds rigidity to the vehicle.
OBJECTS OF INVENTION
> The Primary objective of this invention is the fitment of CNG cylinder on the cradle (fig:2) which is itself an integral part of the front seat of a passenger vehicle.
> The other objective of this invention is the fitment of CNG cylinder under the front seat (fig:2) without affecting driving functionality of vehicle.
> Yet the another objective of this invention is the packaging of CNG cylinder within the less space available in passenger Vehicles.
> Yet the another objective of this invention is to avoid the use of extra heavy Structure or members for supporting the load of cylinders.
> Yet the another objective of this invention is to avoid the unbalance of axle weight of vehicle.
> Yet the another objective of this invention is to provide Position of CNG
Cylinder cradle capable of Providing safety of CNG cylinder assembly
during collision, overturning & protection against loose metal or object
being thrown up from the road.
> Yet the another objective of his invention is to provide a safe CNG cylinder mounting assembly protecting passenger from leakage of gas by the use of vapors box (1) and corrugated pipe (2) open to the atmosphere.
> Yet the another objective of this invention is to Provide the Position for fitment of CNG cylinder away from exhaust system and not affecting the minimum ground clearance value.
> Yet the another objective of this invention is to Provide the CNG cylinder assembly which is installed permanently and filled in the same position.

STATEMENT OF INVENTION
Mounting Scheme of CNG Cylinder on Frame Structure Integrated with Front Seat of Passenger Vehicles Comprises:
- an Integrated structure with Front Seat of Passenger Vehicles
- not affecting drive and co-driver seat functionality such as sliding, reclining and rising.
- Position that provide safety during collision to the CNG cylinder assembly.
- not affecting vehicle performance due to unbalance of axles weight.
- an Effective utilization of space and structure supporting on long members of vehicle without additional reinforcements
- a easy fitment of CNG cylinders and safe assembly during leakage.
As per the statement illustrated above, according the present invention, there is provided mounting Structure which is an Integral Part of the Front Seat Structure on which CNG Cylinder is supported & tightened on the frames (fig:5) with special mounting arrangements (fig:6) without affecting Vehicle driving Functionality and Vehicle Performance. This invention also deal with the positioning of CNG cylinder assembly which is permanently fitted within the less available space and filled in the same position , which is safe from crash point of view , robustly supported on long member of vehicle and also avoid unbalance axles weights of vehicle . It also deals with the safety of passenger during leakage of gas by the use of vapor box (1) and corrugated pipes (2) which are directly vented to the atmosphere.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS
Fig 1 : shows left view for the position of CNG cylinder assembly on the structure integrated with the front seat structure on vehicle.

Fig 2 : shows isometric view of the assembly of the seat over the structural frame
supporting driver and co-driver seat with all seats functionality along with CNG
cylinder assembly.
Fig 3 : shows isometric view of the assembly of CNG cylinder assembly along
with safety arrangement which is supported & tightened with mounting
accessories on structural frame.
Fig 4 : shows the isometric view of the structural frame along with CNG cylinder
assembly supported on long members of vehicle.
Fig 5 : shows the isometric view of the integral structural frame of front seat for
supporting and tightening of CNG cylinder.
Fig 6 : shows detail view of cylinder tightened over frame with supporting belt (9)
. bracket (9) , rubber support (10) , clips (13) , hinge (14), antilocking nut (11) &
bolt (12).
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF INVENTION
Currently, most vehicles operated today use liquid hydrocarbon fuels such as gasoline or diesel fuel. However, these types of fuels have certain drawbacks. One of the main drawbacks of these types of fuels is that these types of fuels are limited in supply throughout the world and are concentrated in certain areas of the world. Another drawback of such liquid hydrocarbon fuels is that the exhaust emissions from the vehicles have an adverse effect on the environment. Moreover, since the number of vehicles being operated in this world is continuing to increase, there has been an increased concern regarding worldwide air pollution from vehicles. In order to control this air pollution problem from vehicles, many countries have begun to regulate the exhaust emissions from vehicles. In fact, the exhaust emissions standards are constantly becoming more strict each year. In view of these increasingly stricter emissions requirement, vehicle manufacturers have begun to develop alternative methods of powering vehicles. For example,

vehicle manufacturers are beginning to develop electric powered vehicles. However, electric powered vehicles have many drawbacks compared to conventional gasoline or diesel powered fuels. One drawback is that electric vehicles typically have a very limited range of travel before their batteries need to be recharged. Another drawback of electric vehicles is that the battery tends to have a very short useful life before requiring expensive refurbishing. Moreover, electric vehicles do not have the performance of conventional gasoline or diesel fuel powered vehicles. In view of these drawbacks, electric vehicles have not become very popular.
Another alternative form of transportation is a natural gas vehicle. Natural gas vehicles have many advantages over liquid hydrocarbon fuels, such as gasoline and diesel, in that they are cheaper to run as well as cleaner to operate. Moreover, natural gas is readily available in the India and can be used to operate most internal combustion engines with certain modifications thereto. Unlike electric vehicles, natural gas vehicles do not significantly differ in performance from gasoline and diesel type vehicles. In fact, most gasoline vehicles can be retrofitted to become a natural gas vehicle.
Due to the relative ease of retrofitting existing gasoline vehicles and due to the cheaper cost of operating a natural gas vehicle over a gasoline type vehicle, many fleet operators have converted their fleet of vehicles from gasoline to natural gas. One problem in converting an existing gasoline vehicle to a natural gas vehicle is the mounting of the compressed natural gas cylinder to the vehicle because of heavy weight, safety during collision and maximum volume occupied by the cylinder and others as per code of practices for the fitment of CNG cylinder .In particularly, the framing of the vehicle must often be cut to accommodate the natural gas cylinder. Of course, cutting the framing of the vehicle comprises the structural integrity of the vehicle. Accordingly, various mounting assemblies have been developed for mounting a natural gas cylinder to the vehicle.

In view of the above noted problems with existing liquid hydrogen vehicles and with retrofitting such vehicles with a natural gas cylinder, there exists a need for a compressed gas cylinder mounting assembly which provides additional rigidity to the vehicle. This invention addresses this need in the prior art as well as other needs and problems which will become apparent those skilled in the art from this disclosure.
According the present invention which eliminated the above drawbacks, there is
provided a mounting Structure(fig:5) which is an Integral Part of the Front Seat
Structure (6,7) on which CNG Cylinder (3) is supported & tightened on the frames
Horizontal (16) & Vertical (17) members with adjustable tightening belts (8),
supporting bracket (9), rubber support (10) , Hinge (14) , pin (12) , clip (13)
antilocking nuts (11) and bolt (12). As it is mounted underside of the front seat
(fig:2) and do not affect the functionality of the driver seat (6) and co driver seat
(7) such as sliding, reclining and rising mechanism of seat.
Being attached with the front seat structure (fig:2) it becomes an rigid structure which is supported on the side (4) and center (5) long members of the vehicle itself and hence disturbed weight effectively without requirement of any additional reinforcement as a result of which saving the cost and weight over additional reinforcement for supporting the CNG cylinders. Mostly Passenger vehicles are either rear or front engine. In case of front engine Passenger vehicles fitment of CNG cylinder assembly (fig:3) is mostly done in the luggage compartment or behind the rear seat where there is provision of spare wheel. Hence fitment of CNG cylinder either of the two places stated above will eliminate one the Provision. And in case of rear engine passenger vehicle it is not possible to install CNG cylinder (3) due to less space available, causes unbalance of vehicle weight and near to exhaust system on rear side and it could not be installed toward front side which is not safe from crash point of view. Hence Position illustrated in this invention is the most appropriate position for installation of CNG cylinder (3)

satisfying the above requirements which is safe during collision and over turning of vehicle. As cylinders are mounted above the firewall hence protected assembly from impact and damage from loose metal and other objects being thrown up from the road and also not affect the ground clearance value. As the position specified for the fitment of CNG cylinder assembly (fig3) which is almost at the center of the vehicle (fig:l) hence distributing the weight equally toward front and rear side of vehicle therefore avoid the unbalance of vehicle axle weight and also far away from the exhaust system. At the Present invention CNG cylinder assembly is provided with a vapor box (1) and corrugated pipe (2) which are directly vented to the atmosphere from the down side of vehicle for easy removal of gas at the time of leakage for Safety of passengers. And being near to the doors can also be possible to escape the gas to the atmosphere by opening the door at the time of emergency also adds an additional advantage hence avoiding the need of separated sub compartment for the fitment of assembly, according to the present invention CNG cylinders is fixed and covered with the horizontal and vertical members of the structural frame at the centre of vehicle (fig:l) are being protected during collision from the front and rear side of the vehicle and toward left and right side collision they are covered by B-Pillar and long members (4)of vehicle.
Dated this 25th day of March 2009
TATA MOTORS LIMITED By their Agent & Attorney

Karuna Goleria of DePENNING & DePENNING