The invention relates to a solution to improve the replacement of pressure tank differing in spacing of the openings in a plate for two-point mounting, through the use of a universal method of fastening tank in a vehicle.

Various solutions for mounting toroidal pressure tank in vehicles are known in the prior art. Depending on the design of a given vehicle, appropriate mounting is used, according to the following classification:

a) Internal mounting:

- central (single-point) mounting in the axis of the tank,

- two-point mounting - with a mounting plate installed in the central part of the tank fixed with two screws. In the two-point mounting, the two mounting points, usually in the form of openings, are located at the same distance from the vertical axis of the tank, Rw, wherein the distance between the openings is the spacing of the openings Xw for fastening the tank (see Fig. 1 - prior art).

b) External mounting:

- fastening through feet/lugs welded to the bottoms of the tank fastened with screws,

- peripheral fastening with a band / clamping ring / basket / ring encompassing the tank.

c) Mixed mounting - combination of the two mentioned above:

Each year, hundreds of thousands of pressure tanks are subject to replacement, for example due to damage or when a vehicle has been involved in a collision or accident, and after the operational lifetime of the tank has expired as provided for by regulations (e.g. 10 years).

It is required that a replacement pressure tank installed in the vehicle has the same fastening as the tank pre-assembled on the production line by the vehicle manufacturer. The previously used solutions for the two-point mounting of tanks through a central plate installed in the central part of the tank have that disadvantage that when replacing the tank, a tank from the same manufacturer should be used. This is due to the necessity of using the same tank fastening in the vehicle as that originally used for the tank to be replaced, due to the spacing of the mounting points Xw.

Individual types of vehicles comprise the same tanks - of similar size (similar diameter and capacity), the same series (same diameter, same position of connections to the tank fittings). Depending on the manufacturer, however, these tanks differ in spacing of the mounting openings. This induces the necessity of providing many different tanks of the same sizes with different spacing of the openings for the fastening screws, depending on the opening spacing occurring in the previously installed tank to be replaced. This is troublesome for workshops replacing tanks and their suppliers, as they must ensure availability of tanks with similar dimensions.

The tanks of a given manufacturer are available on the market in the distribution network of that manufacturer, while the distribution networks of different manufacturers do not overlap. As a result, the user of a vehicle with the tank to be replaced must look on the market for exactly the same tank as previously installed in the vehicle or of the same manufacturer. If a tank with required spacing of openings for the fastening screws is not available on the market (e.g. due to stopping the production of a given type of tank by the manufacturer within 10 years from the previous assembly), then, to make possible further vehicle operation, the mounting points in the vehicle are changed, requiring additional openings to be made in the vehicle structure and the tubing connection system for the tank fittings to be reworked.

The objective of the invention is to provide a component for universal mounting of a pressure tank in a motor vehicle, by using a spacing of mounting points in a central mounting plate so as to enable the fastening of the tank in the vehicle in a broad range of spacing of the openings for fastening screws. It is possible thanks to the use of the openings with appropriate geometry in the central mounting plate, installed in the central part of the tank.

A mounting plate for mounting a tank in a vehicle, in particular for two-point mounting, installed in a central part of the tank, comprising two openings for fastening screws, characterized in that the openings for the fastening screws have a geometry such that each of the two openings comprises an inner part and an outer part,

wherein the distance of the inner part of one of the openings, i.e. the one least distant from the centre of the mounting plate, from the centre of the mounting plate is equal to Xwmin/2, and the distance of the outer part of the opening, i.e. the one most distant from the centre of the mounting plate, from centre of the mounting plate is equal to Xwmax/2,

wherein the distance of the inner part of the second of the openings, i.e. the one least distant from the centre of the mounting plate, from the centre of the mounting plate is equal to Xwmin/2, and the distance of the outer part of the opening, i.e. the one most distant from the centre of the mounting plate, from the centre of the mounting plate is equal to Xwmax/2, wherein the distance Xwmax/2 reduced by Xwmin/2 is greater by min. 25% than the thread diameter of the fastening screw used for fastening the mounting plate.

Preferably, the openings are arranged symmetrically with respect to the centre of the mounting plate.

Preferably, the openings for the fastening screws are elongated in shape, wherein the length of each of the openings for the fastening screws is equal to Xwmax/2 - Xwmin/2, and the width of each opening for the fastening screw is close to the thread diameter of the fastening screw used to fasten the mounting plate.

Preferably, the openings for the fastening screws are round.

Preferably, the openings for the fastening screws are in the shape of a polygon, especially a regular polygon.

Preferably, the Xwmin dimension ranges from 40 to 200 mm.

Preferably, the Xwmax dimension ranges from 56 to 206 mm.

Preferably, the thread diameter of the fastening screw used for fastening the mounting plate ranges from 3 to 20 mm.

A pressure tank, to be installed in a vehicle, in particular of a toroidal shape, characterized in that it has a mounting plate according to the invention.

The invention is now illustrated in detail in a preferred embodiment with reference to the accompanying drawing, wherein:

Fig. 1 - shows a toroidal pressure tank with a mounting plate in top view and cross-section view, known from the prior art.

Fig. 2a - illustrates an exemplary structure of a central mounting plate irt which the openings for the fastening screws are rectangular.

Fig. 2b - illustrates an exemplary structure of a central mounting plate in which the openings for the fastening screws are oval, in the shape of so-called beans.

Fig. 2c - illustrates an exemplary structure of a central mounting plate in which the openings for the fastening screws are round. Fig. 2d illustrates an exemplary structure of a central mounting plate in which the openings for the fastening screws are triangular.

Fig. 2e illustrates an exemplary structure of a central mounting plate in which the openings for the fastening screws are square.

Fig. 2f illustrates an exemplary structure of a central mounting plate in which the openings for the fastening screws are pentagonal.

Fig. 2g illustrates an exemplary structure of a central mounting plate in which the openings for the fastening screws are hexagonal.

Fig. 2h illustrates an exemplary structure of a central mounting plate in which the openings for the fastening screws are heptagonal.

Preferred embodiment of the invention

The solution according to the invention is shown in Fig. 2a - Fig. 2h, in the form of a tank structure, having a universal spacing of the openings 2 for the fastening screws 3 in the central mounting plate 1 installed in the central part of the toroidal tank. The references Xwmin and Xwmax shown in Fig. 2a - Fig. 2h have the following meaning, respectively:

- Xw in - minimum spacing of the openings 2 for the fastening screws 3 for tank mounting,

- Xwmax - maximum spacing of the openings 2 for the fastening screws 3 for tank mounting.

The minimum and maximum spacing of the openings 2 shall be understood so that the distances Xwmin and Xwmax do not mean the distance measured from the edges of the openings 2, but the distance measured from the parts of the openings 2, in which the fastening screw 3 can be placed. Approximately, it can be considered that the distances Xwmin and Xwmax are measured from the axes of the screws 3 placed at such extreme positions in the openings 2 (in the case of a triangular opening illustrated for example in Fig. 2d, the screw can be placed relatively close to the side of the triangle, but due to the thread diameter of the screw - it will not come into contact with the vertex of the triangle). In view of the above, in the context of the present invention the term "part of the opening" shall mean a part in which the mounting screw 3 can be placed.

The dimension Xwmin has a value ranging from 40 to 200 mm, the dimension Xwmax has a value ranging from 46 to 206 mm, wherein Xwmax is greater than Xwmin, and the thread diameter of the mounting screw 3 used for fastening the mounting plate 1 , has a value ranging from 3 to 20 mm. Preferably, the distance Xwmax - Xwmin is by 25% greater than the thread diameter of the fastening screw 3 used for fastening the mounting plate 1.

The twp-point mounting in the mounting plate 1 installed in the central part of the toroidal tank according to the invention is possible in the range between Xwmin and Xwmax. The aforementioned range represents the universal spacing of the openings 2, comprising the spacings of the screw 3 fasteners provided by individual tank manufacturers.

The openings 2 for the use in universal two-point spacing, enabling the tank to be installed between Xwmin and Xwmax in a vehicle, can assume various shapes, in the form of:

• elongated openings 2 in the mounting plate 1 , in the shape of rectangles, shown in Fig.

2a, so-called beans, shown in Fig. 2b or in any other shape, in which the two opposite edges of the opening 2 are distinctly longer than the side edges adjacent thereto,

• enlarged rounded openings 2, arranged in the mounting plate 1 , according to Fig. 2c, for example circular/round, oval, elliptical, with an opening 2 area greater by min. 30% than the cross-section of the fastening screw 3 used to fasten the tank in a vehicle,

• enlarged polygonal openings 2, in the mounting plate 1 , shown in Figs. 2d, 2e, 2f, 2g and 2h, in the shape of squares, triangles, pentagons, hexagons, and any other shape in which the area of the opening 2 is greater by min. 30% than the cross-section area of the screw 3 used to fasten the tank in a vehicle.

Other configurations of the openings 2 are also possible, e.g. in the form of two arches, symmetrical with respect to the centre of the mounting plate 1.

The use of the present invention makes enables replacing with this tank any tank of similar dimensions with two-point mounting of the tank, regardless of the spacing of the openings 2, i.e. the distance between the mounting openings Xw in the previously used tank in a given vehicle.