A damping assembly in a vehicle is provided. The damping assembly comprises a rod; a spring disposed along a lengthwise direction of the rod; and a buffer pad including a connection end coupled to the rod and an external end opposing the connection end and including a buffer surface. The spring is coupled with the rod and configured to be retracted and extended with the rod at the lengthwise direction.

An apparatus and a method are provided for an alternative fuel system, comprising a plurality of fuel tank assemblies interconnected with fuel lines; the plurality of fuel tank assemblies comprising a CNG fuel tank and a fuel tank shield; wherein a first and second fuel tank assembly is disposed immediately in front of a rear wheel assembly, and a third fuel tank assembly is disposed immediately behind the rear wheel assembly.

A fuel tank system which has a revised mounting system and a revised location for the fuel system and fuel tanks to improve crashworthiness of the vehicle by reducing the occurrence of tank failure, fuel spillage, fire and/or explosion during and after a collision or similar event, while still providing a sufficient range for the vehicle. The fuel tanks are protected from damage from the side, bottom and between the tanks. The fuel tank mounting system also allows the energy associated with an event to be managed, such as by allowing the fuel tanks to be pushed or moved downwardly and/or laterally by the energy of the impact of a collision or similar event to a position in which the fuel tank is either out of the path of the impact or protected by the chassis or frame of the vehicle.

A self-sealing liquid bladder having a wall including plurality of connected cells each cell having an elastic wall portion and a stiffened wall portion and at least one source of pressure associated with one or more of the plurality of cells.

A baffle system includes a baffle (40) located in a tank (16) for containing liquid (e.g. an aircraft fuel tank). The baffle (40) is a tubular member through which a liquid may flow. The baffle (40) comprises: a first tubular portion (42) providing a tubular outer wall, and a second tubular portion (44) located within the first tubular portion (42) and providing a tubular inner wall. The first and second tubular portions (42, 44) are substantially parallel. The first and second tubular portions (42, 44) are spaced apart to define a chamber (46) therebetween. The baffle (42, 44) further comprises radial side walls between the first and second tubular portions (42, 44) such that the chamber (46) is a sealed chamber. The chamber (46) may be filled with a compressible gas or gaseous mixture.

Disclosed is a liquid storage system having an outer tank (e.g. an aircraft fuel tank) for containing a liquid (e.g. aircraft fuel), the outer tank enclosing a liquid storage space; an inner tank located within the outer tank and enclosing the liquid storage space; and at least one coupling element associated with the outer tank and the inner tank for maintaining the tanks in a spaced apart relationship; wherein the coupling element(s) is/are deformable such that, on application of a force to the inner tank, at least part of the inner tank moves relative to the outer tank.

An apparatus and a method are provided for a compressed natural gas fuel system configured to replace a motor vehicle's fuel system comprising a storage assembly comprising an enclosure, wherein the enclosure contains a plurality of tanks configured to contain compressed natural gas; and a chassis disposed within the enclosure and configured to retain the plurality of tanks, wherein the storage assembly is configured to be mounted to the roof of a motor vehicle.

Disclosed is a liquid storage system comprising a tank for containing a liquid, said tank enclosing a liquid storage space, and a plurality of spaced apart protrusions extending from an internal surface of the tank into the liquid storage space. The protrusions are resistant to deformation and deflection caused by shockwaves within a liquid in the tank resulting from impact of a projectile with the tank, for example, the protrusions may be rigid and be polygonal prisms in shape.

Embodiments of the present invention relate generally to reinforcement materials for use in reinforcing flexible tank walls, and particularly to hybrid textiles and weaving patterns that have been found particularly useful with such hybrid textiles.

A liquid storage tank, for example an aircraft fuel tank, comprising a tank wall enclosing a liquid storage space, and a tie assembly located at least partially within the liquid storage space. The tie assembly comprises an elongate member, for example a wire or cable, and a plurality of attachment devices fixed to an inner surface of the tank wall. The elongate member includes a plurality of spaced part points along its length, each of the spaced apart points being fixed to a respective attachment device such that the tie assembly resists outward deformation of the tank wall.