SUPPORT SYSTEM FOR AN ALTERNATIVE FUEL HEAVY VEHICLE

1 . A vehicle having a frame, comprising:

two side members connected together by a cross member;

an alternative fuel module; and

a support system connected to the two side members,

wherein the support system comprises a first support element and a second support element, both the first and second support element fixedly connected to the alternative fuel module via a respective coupling portion,

wherein the second support element comprises the cross member, a pair of lateral elements, and an intermediate member,

wherein the coupling portion of the second support element is part of the intermediate member and is extending orthogonally across a longitudinal axis (A),

wherein the lateral elements comprise, respectively, a cantilevered support portion, a flanged portion, and a fixing portion, and

wherein the fixing portion is fixed to the side member and supports the flanged portion.

2 . The vehicle of claim 1 , wherein the fixing portion comprises a hollow shape and circumferentially extends around the flanged portion.

3 . The vehicle of claim 2 , wherein the flanged portion has a trapezoidal shape.

4 . The vehicle of claim 2 , wherein the fixing portion is elastically connected to the flanged portion via a plurality of ribs.

5 . The vehicle of claim 4 , wherein the ribs are connected to inclined edges of the trapezoidal shape.

6 . The vehicle of claim 4 , wherein the fixing portion, the ribs, and the flanged portion are recognized as one piece.

7 . The vehicle of claim 1 , wherein the intermediate member comprises a coupling plate and a pair of reinforcing plates.

8 . The vehicle of claim 7 , wherein the reinforcing plates are situated in a plane perpendicular to the coupling plate, and wherein the reinforcing plates fix the immediate member to the respective flanged portion via a threaded connection.

9 . The vehicle of claim 7 , wherein the coupling plate comprises a substantially rectangular portion and a pair of tapered portions that decrease in width as each approaches the respective side member.

10 . The vehicle of claim 7 , wherein the reinforcing plates extend from the respective side member and toward a center of the coupling plate.

11 . The vehicle of claim 10 , wherein the reinforcing plates comprise a triangular portion that extends, tapered, from the respective side member and toward the center of the coupling plate.

12 . The vehicle of claim 10 , wherein the reinforcing plates and the coupling plate are recognized as one piece.

13 . The vehicle of claim 1 , wherein the second support element supports the alternative fuel module and the first support element absorbs torques caused by the frame.

14 . A method of supporting an alternative fuel module for a vehicle, comprising:

coupling a first and second support element, respectively, to an alternative fuel module to form a support system;

forming a frame for the vehicle by connecting two side members, at least one cross member, the alternative fuel module, and the support system; and

connecting the first support element to the respective cross member via a moveable connection.

15 . The method of claim 14 , wherein the second support element is connected to the side members via an elastic connection.

16 . The method of claim 14 , wherein the supporting an alternative fuel module comprises configuring the frame with the first support element toward a rear of the frame and the second support element toward a front of the frame.

17 . The method of claim 16 , wherein the first and second support elements are situated perpendicular to a longitudinal axis (A) of the frame.