AU2013209327B2

AU2013209327B2 - Resin tank structure for vehicle

Info

Publication number: AU2013209327B2
Application number: AU2013209327A
Authority: AU
Inventors: Yuki Mizukura; Hikaru Yokomura
Original assignee: Honda Motor Co Ltd
Current assignee: Honda Motor Co Ltd
Priority date: 2012-10-31
Filing date: 2013-07-25
Publication date: 2016-04-28
Anticipated expiration: 2033-07-25
Also published as: JP2014091337A; JP6077827B2; BR102013027398A2; BR102013027398B1; AU2013209327A1

Abstract

RESIN TANK STRUCTURE FOR VEHICLE A cock mounting part (53) is formed by inserting a pedestal part (61) at the time of blow molding. The pedestal part (61) includes: a bottom part (62) which forms enveloping parts (62a) enveloping metallic nuts (N) therein and a cock mounting seat surface (56) fronting on the lower side of the tank; an inside part (63) which forms a lower part inside surface (63a) fronting on the inside of the tank, up to a position above the enveloping parts (62a); and an outside part (64) which forms a lower part outside surface (64a) fronting on the outside of the tank, up to a position above the enveloping parts (62a). ,-CL 42a 41 41 a 41 a 52 (51) 48 48 61 (53) 52 (51) 62a 62 N (54) N (54) 73 73 41a -62c 46 (41) 62b r. 61(53) (56 62 65(43) B 68 55a (55) B

Description

1 RESIN TANK STRUCTURE FOR VEHICLE Technical Field [0001] The present invention relates to a resin tank structure for a vehicle. Background Art [0002] Conventionally, there has been a structure wherein in order for metallic nuts for fastening a fuel take-out port to be arranged at a bottom surface of a resin tank formed by blow molding, a pedestal part with the metallic nuts preliminarily enveloped in a resin is formed, and the pedestal part is inserted in the resin tank at the time of the blow molding so as to achieve integral molding (see, for example, Patent Document 1). In the case where a metallic part is directly inserted at the time of blow molding, the adhesion between the metallic part and a parison would be poor. According to the above-mentioned structure, however, the metallic parts are preliminarily enveloped in a resin, whereby the adhesion is enhanced. [0003] [Patent Document 1] Japanese Patent No. 3167424 [0004] Meanwhile, in a so-called saddle-type tank configured astride a main pipe extending in the front-rear direction of a body frame, along the left-right direction, a fuel may be taken out via a lower end portion of one of those parts of the tank which extend downward while avoiding the main frame. In such a situation, a flat seat surface for fastening a fuel cock is provided at the lower end portion. In this case, if it is intended to secure the size of the seat surface, the radius of chamfering at corner portions in the periphery of the seat surface would be reduced. As a result, the parison may fail to follow up to the shape of the chamfered portions at the time of blow molding, or the adhesion between the parison and the pedestal part may be poor. In addition, even if the parison is successfully made to follow up to the shape of the chamfered portions, the radius of chamfering at corner portions on the inside of the parison would be reduced, resulting in that stress concentration is liable to occur. Besides, the parison would be locally extended to be smaller in material thickness, leading to a lowering in strength. If the 2 parison as a whole is increased in material thickness in order to cope with this problem, the weight of the resin tank would be increased. Further, if the position of the seat surface is raised in order to enlarge the radius of chamfering at the corner portions in the periphery of the seat surface and simultaneously to secure the size of the seat surface, the tank capacity would be influenced adversely. Object of the Invention [0005] It is the object of the present invention to substantially overcome or at least ameliorate one or more of the foregoing disadvantages. Summary of the Invention [0006] The present invention provides a resin tank structure for a vehicle, including: a tank body for storing a fuel to be supplied to an engine, the tank body being formed by blow molding and being configured for mounting astride a main frame extending in a front-rear direction of a body frame of the vehicle, along a left-right direction; and a fuel cock mounted to a lower end portion of a part of the tank body, the fuel cock extending downward while avoiding the main frame, and a cock mounting part, for mounting the fuel cock thereto, of the tank body being formed by a method in which a pedestal part with a metallic nut, for bolting the fuel cock, preliminarily enveloped in a resin is inserted at the time of the blow molding, characterized in that the pedestal part includes: a bottom part forming an enveloping part for enveloping the metallic nut therein and a cock mounting seat surface fronting on the lower side of the tank; an inside part forming an inside surface fronting on the inside of the tank, up to a position above top portions of the enveloping part; and an outside part forming an outside surface fronting on the outside of the tank, up to a position above the top portions of the enveloping part. [0007] Preferably, a drooping part, extending downward while avoiding the main frame, of the tank body extends downward while having a section which is elongated in a front-rear direction with a left-right-directional width smaller than a front-rear-directional width, and a front portion and a rear portion of the pedestal part extend in a front-rear direction so as to extend along an outer surface of the tank body. Preferably, the cock mounting part has a shape with a radius smaller than a minimum radius, which can be formed by blow molding, of the tank body.

3 Preferably, an adhesive surface of the pedestal part for adhesion to the tank body is provided with a plurality of holes and grooves. Preferably, the fuel cock has a structure in which bolt insertion holes for fastening bolts are provided at front and rear portions of a fastening flange brought into contact with the pedestal part in a state where the fuel cock is mounted to the tank body, a cock body is projectingly provided under an intermediate portion of the fastening flange, a channel change-over lever is disposed on a left-right-directionally outer side of the cock body, and a fuel hose joint is disposed on a left-right-directionally inner side of the cock body; and the cock mounting part is attended by a pair of the metallic nuts for screw engagement with the fastening bolts at front and rear portions thereof, with the rear-side metallic nut being disposed on a left-right-directionally outer side than the front-side metallic nut. [0008] According to an embodiment of the present invention, even in the case where the cock mounting part is provided at the lower end portion of the saddle-type shape with a narrow width in the left-right direction of the tank body, a fine shape difficult to form by blow molding can be formed. Therefore, the size of the cock mounting seat surface can be secured, without enlarging the left-right-directional width of the lower portion of the saddle-type shape of the tank body or upwardly moving the level (height) of the lower end. In addition, by extending the lengths of the inside part and the outside part of the pedestal part, the adhesion of the pedestal part to the tank body can be enhanced. [0009] According to an embodiment of the invention, the pedestal part elongated in the front rear direction like the drooping part can be enhanced in adhesive strength for adhesion to the tank body at a front portion and a rear portion thereof. According to an embodiment of the invention, it is possible to restrain air from stagnating between the pedestal part and the tank body, and thereby to enhance the adhesive strength between the pedestal part and the tank body. According to an embodiment of the invention, upon mounting of the fuel cock to the tank body the channel change-over lever is directed in an oblique forward direction, so that the channel change-over lever can be easily confirmed visually by the rider. In addition, with the fuel hose joint located on the left-right-directionally inner side of the cock body, the degree of freedom in setting the directions of the fuel hose and the joint can be enhanced.

4 Brief Description of the Drawings [0010] A preferred form of the present invention will now be described by way of example with reference to the accompanying drawings in which: FIG. 1 is a left side view of a motorcycle in an embodiment of the present invention; FIG. 2 is a left side view of a fuel tank in the motorcycle; FIG. 3 is a front view of a tank body of the fuel tank; FIG. 4 is a bottom view of the tank body; FIG. 5 is a sectional view taken along line V-V of FIG. 4; FIG. 6 is a sectional view taken along line VI-VI of FIG. 4; FIG. 7 is a sectional view taken along line VII-VII of FIG. 4; FIG. 8 is a top plan view of the periphery of the fuel tank in the motorcycle; FIG. 9 is a top plan view of a pedestal part mounted to the tank body; and FIG. 10 is a sectional view taken along line X-X of FIG. 9. Description of Embodiments [0011] Now, an embodiment of the present invention will be described below, referring to the drawings. The forward, rearward, leftward, rightward and the like directions in the following description are the same as the directions in the vehicle described below, unless otherwise specified. In appropriate areas in the figures used in the following description, there are shown arrow FR indicative of the front side of the vehicle, arrow LH indicative of the left-hand side of the vehicle, and arrow UP indicative of the upper side of the vehicle. [0012] FIG. 1 is a side view showing the whole body of a saddle type vehicle in the present embodiment.

5 The saddle type vehicle in this embodiment is an off-road type motorcycle in which a rear wheel WR is driven by an engine (internal combustion engine) 2. Hereinafter, the saddle type vehicle in the present embodiment will be referred to as "the motorcycle 1." [0013] A body frame F of the motorcycle 1 includes: a head pipe 11 disposed at a front end portion; a main frame 12 extending rearwardly downward from an upper portion of the head pipe 11; a down pipe 13 extending rearwardly downward, more steeply than the main frame 12, from a lower portion of the head pipe 11; a gusset pipe 9 disposed spanningly between an intermediate portion of the down pipe 13 and an intermediate portion of the main frame 12; and a pair of left and right center pipes 14 which are branched to the left and right sides from a lower end portion of a downwardly curved part of a rear portion of the main frame 12 and which extend rearwardly downward. Lower end portions of the left and right center pipes 14 are interconnected through a cross pipe 15 which extends in the vehicle width direction. [0014] The body frame 10 further includes: a pair of left and right seat rails 16 which are branched to the left and right sides from a rear portion (downwardly curved portion) of the main frame 12 and which extend rearward in a substantially horizontal manner (specifically, with a rearwardly upward slight inclination); and a pair of left and right support pipes 17 which extend rearwardly upward from lower portions of the left and right center pipes 14 and are connected to rear portions of the left and right seat rails 16. [0015] On the head pipe 11, left and right front forks 3 are turnably supported through a steering stem 4. A front wheel WF of the motorcycle 1 is rotatably supported on lower end portions of the left and right front forks 3. A steering handle 4b is attached to a top bridge 4a of the steering stem 4. [0016] The engine 2 as a prime mover of the motorcycle 1 is mounted on that part of the body frame F which is surrounded by the main frame 12, the down pipe 13, the center pipes 14 and the like. The engine 2 is, for example, an air-cooled single-cylinder engine, with a cylinder 22 erected on a front upper side of a crankcase 21 constituting a lower portion thereof. A cylinder head 22a is mounted onto the cylinder 22.

6 [0017] A carburetor 23 is connected to a rear portion of the cylinder head 22a through an insulator 23a. An air cleaner 24 is connected to a rear portion of the carburetor 23 through a connecting tube 24a. An exhaust pipe 25 is connected to a front portion of the cylinder head 22a. The exhaust pipe 25 extends while being curved rearward in an appropriate manner, and is connected to a silencer 25a which is disposed on the right side of a rear portion of the vehicle body. [0018] A front end portion of the crankcase 21 is supported by a bracket 13a fixed onto a lower end portion of the down pipe 13. A rear end portion of the crankcase 21 is supported by left and right pivot plates 14a fixed onto the front side of lower portions of the left and right center pipes 14. With the crankcase 21 thus supported at the front and rear ends thereof, the engine 2 is fixedly supported on the body frame F. [0019] A front end portion of a swing arm 26 is pivotally supported on the left and right pivot plates 14a. The rear wheel WR of the motorcycle 1 is rotatably supported on a rear end portion of the swing arm 26. Onto the lower side of a front portion of the swing arm 26, a lower end portion of a rear cushion 27 extending vertically in the vicinity of the front portion of the swing arm 26 is connected. A transmission (not shown) is accommodated in a rear portion of the crankcase 21. An output shaft 28 of the transmission protrudes to the left side of a rear portion of the crankcase 21. The output shaft 28 and the rear wheel WR are interconnected through, for example, a chain-type power transmission mechanism 29. [0020] On the upper side of the engine 2, a fuel tank 31 in which to store a fuel for the engine 2 is disposed. On the rear side of the fuel tank 31, a seat 32 on which to seat the rider is disposed which is supported on the left and right seat rails 16. In that inverted triangular region under the seat 32 which is surrounded by the seat rail 16, the center pipe 14 and the support pipe 17 in side view, the air cleaner 24 for filtration of air to be sucked into the engine 2 is disposed. [0021] Incidentally, in the drawings, reference sign 33 denotes left and right shrouds which cover the range from the outer sides of a lower portion to the lower front side of the fuel tank 31; reference sign 34 denotes left and right side covers which cover the outer sides to the lower side of the left and right seat rails 16; reference sign 35 denotes a front fender which covers the upper side of the front wheel WF by being spaced upward from the front wheel WF; reference 7 sign 36 denotes a rear fender which covers the upper side of the rear wheel WR by being spaced upward from the rear wheel WR; and reference sign 37 denotes a mud guard disposed between the rear wheel WR and the rear cushion 27. [0022] As shown in FIG. 2, the fuel tank 31 includes: a hollow tank body 41; a tank cap 42 screw engaged with a fuel filler 42a projectingly provided at an upper end portion of the tank body 41; and a fuel cock 43 attached to a left lower end portion of the tank body 41. [0023] The tank body 41 is formed in a hollow integral shape by blow molding in which, for example, high-density polyethylene is used as a raw material. At the outer circumference of the tank body 41 as viewed vertically, a bead 44 along the parting line at the time of molding is formed ranging over the whole circumference. At side portions and a rear portion of the tank body 41, the bead 44 is formed substantially horizontally at a lower portion of the tank body 41; on the other hand, at a front portion of the tank body 41, the bead 44 is formed in an upwardly protuberant portal shape along a front end edge of a saddle-shaped plate part 47 which will be described later (see FIG. 3). Of the tank body 41, the part above the bead 44 will hereafter be referred to as an upper plate part 45, whereas the part below the bead 44 will be referred to as a lower plate part 46. [0024] Referring to FIGS. 3 and 4 together, the tank body 41 is formed in a saddle-like shape configured astride the main frame 12 (which is composed of a circular pipe-shaped member) along the left-right direction. The lower plate part 46 of the tank body 41 includes a saddle shaped plate part 47, left and right bottom plate parts 48, and left and right outside plate parts 49. The saddle-shaped plate part 47 is configured astride the main frame 12 along the left-right direction, with a spacing therebetween, and forms left and right inside plate parts 47a extending vertically on the left and right sides of the main frame 12. The left and right bottom plate parts 48 bently extend from left and right outside edges of the saddle-shaped plate part 47 toward left and right outer sides, and form left and right lower end edge portions of the saddle-like shape of the tank body 41. The left and right outside plate parts 49 bently extend upward from left and right outside edges of the left and right bottom plate parts 48, and reach left and right side portions of the bead 44. The outer sides of the lower plate part 46 are covered by the upper plate part 45, with a fuel supply space therebetween. Hereafter, those portions of the tank body 41 which extend downward while avoiding the main frame 12 will be referred to as drooping parts 41a. Line CL in the drawing is the center line, with respect to the left-right direction, of the 8 vehicle body. The tank body 41 indicated in chain lines in FIG. 2 shows the sectional shape along a plane orthogonal to the left-right direction, at the left and right positions of a pedestal part 61 which will be described later. [0025] The saddle-shaped plate part 47 of the lower plate part 46 is inclined rearwardly downward so as to extend along the inclination of the main frame 12 in side view. Of the saddle-shaped plate part 47, the front end reaches a front surface of the tank body 41, whereas the rear end terminates before reaching the rear end of the tank body 41. At the rear end of the tank body 41, the bead 44 extends outward to form a mount flange 44a. The mount flange 44a is supported on the body frame F through a mount rubber or the like. [0026] At front portions of the left and right bottom plate parts 48 of the lower plate part 46, left and right bracket mounting parts 51 each with a pair of front and rear metallic nuts N inserted therein are provided. Mount brackets (not shown) are fixed to the left and right bracket mounting parts 51. The mount brackets are each supported on the body frame F through a mount rubber or the like. The left and right bracket mounting parts 51 are each formed integrally with the tank body 41 by, for example, a method in which a pedestal part 52 having the metallic nuts N preliminarily enveloped in the same resin as the material of the tank body 41 is inserted at the time of blow molding of the tank body 41. [0027] The tank body 41 is so formed that its left-right-directional overall width is gradually reduced along the rearward direction, in order to facilitate knee-gripping by the driver. The saddle-shaped plate part 47 is formed with bulging parts 47b (which are protuberant toward left and right outer sides, respectively) at rear portions of the left and right inside plate parts 47a, in order to secure a spacing in relation to upper rear corner portions of the cylinder head 22a located under a rear portion of the saddle-shaped plate part 47. Therefore, the left and right bottom plate parts 48 at rear portions of the tank body 41 tend to be narrowed in the left-right directional width thereof. [0028] At a rear portion of the left bottom plate part 48, a cock mounting part 53 for mounting the fuel cock 43 is provided. The cock mounting part 53 has a pair of front and rear fastening parts 54 including metallic nuts N inserted in the tank body 41, and a filter insertion part 55 provided between the front and rear fastening parts 54. The fuel cock 43 is mounted to the cock mounting part 53 from below. The 9 cock mounting part 53 forms a cock mounting seat surface 56 deviated to below a substantially horizontal lower surface of a rear portion of the left bottom plate part 48. In the drawings, reference sign MF denotes a rod-like filter inserted into the tank body 41 through the filter insertion part 55, and reference sign 55a denotes a counter sinking for fitting thereto of a seal provided at the base end of the filter MF. [0029] Like the bracket mounting parts 51, the cock mounting part 53 is formed integrally with the tank body 41 by, for example, a method in which a pedestal part 61 having the metallic nuts N preliminarily enveloped in the same resin as the material of the tank body 41 is inserted at the time of blow molding of the tank body 41. As shown in FIGS. 4 to 7, the pedestal part 61 includes a bottom part 62, an inside part 63, and an outside part 64. The bottom part 62 forms enveloping parts 62a for enveloping the metallic nuts N, and a cock mounting seat surface 56 fronting on the lower side of the tank. The inside part 63 forms a lower part inside surface 63a flush with an inside surface 47c (of the inside plate part 47a) fronting on the inside of the tank, up to a position above top portions of the enveloping parts 62a. The outside part 64 forms a lower part outside surface 64a flush with an outside surface 49a (of the outside plate part 49) fronting on the outside of the tank, up to a position above top portions of the enveloping parts 62a. [0030] At corner portions in the periphery of the bottom part 62, a chamfered shape R with a comparatively small radius is formed for securing the cock mounting seat surface 56. The pedestal part 61 is, for example, an injection molded part, and can form the chamfered shape R with a radius smaller than a minimum radius shape (indicated by reference sign R' in the drawing) which can be formed by blow molding, with the metallic nuts N inserted therein. [0031] On the left-right-directionally outer side of an upper end portion of the inside part 63, an inner slant surface 63b is formed where the material thickness of the inside part 63 is gradually decreased along the upward direction. This ensures that at the time of blow molding of the tank body 41, a parison forming a portion above the pedestal part 61 and an upper end portion of the inside part 63 join smoothly into continuity. On the left-right-directionally inner side of an upper end portion of the outside part 64, an outer slant surface 64b is formed where the material thickness of the outside part 64 is gradually decreased along the upward direction. This ensures that at the time of blow molding of the tank 10 body 41, the parison and an upper end portion of the outside part 64 join smoothly into continuity, like the upper end portion of the inside plate part 47a. [0032] A front portion 62b and a rear portion 62c of the pedestal part 61 are connected respectively to the front side and the rear side of the bottom part 62. The front portion 62b and the rear portion 62c extend to the front side and the rear side of the bottom part 62 so as to extend along the outer surface of the tank body 41. This enhances adhesive strength between the pedestal part 61 (which is elongated in the front-rear direction like the drooping parts 41a) and the tank body 41 at the front portion 62b and the rear portion 62c. [0033] As shown in FIGS. 9 and 10, an adhesive surface 71 (inclusive of the inner and outer slant surfaces 63b and 64b) of the pedestal part 61 for adhesion to the tank body 41 is formed with a plurality of small holes 72 and extension grooves 73. The small holes 72 each penetrate the pedestal part 61 from the adhesive surface 71 constituting the inner surface of the pedestal part 61 to the outer surface of the pedestal part 61. The small holes 72 restrain air from stagnating between the pedestal part 61 and the tank body 41 (parison) at the time of blow molding. The extension grooves 73 extend some of the plurality of small holes 72 on the adhesive surface 71 side in a straight form along the adhesive surface 71, and open wide the openings of the small holes 72 in the adhesive surface 71. Line C1 in the drawing is the pedestal center line which passes through the axes of both the metallic nuts N and the filter insertion part 55, in plan view of the pedestal part 61. [0034] A fastening flange 65 of the fuel cock 43 is brought into contact with the cock mounting seat surface 56 of the pedestal part 61, from below. Referring to FIG. 8 as well, the fuel cock 43 has bolt insertion holes 66 (for fastening bolts B) at front and rear portions of the fastening flange 65 which is in an elliptic shape elongated in the front-rear direction, in the condition where the fuel cock 43 is mounted to the tank body 41. The fuel cock 43 is fastened and fixed to the tank body 41 by a method in which the fastening bolts B are inserted and passed in the front and rear portions of the fastening flange 65, and the fastening bolts B are engaged with and fastened to the front and rear metallic nuts N of the pedestal part 61. [0035] On the lower side of the center with respect to the front-rear direction of the fastening flange 65, a cock body 68 in which inside channels can be changed over by an operation of a 11 channel change-over lever 67 is disposed in a connected manner. On the left side (tank outer side) of the direction (flange orthogonal direction) orthogonal to the longitudinal axis (t) of the fastening flange 65 of the cock body 68, the channel change-over lever 67 is disposed which is turned about a substantially horizontal axis. On the right side (tank inner side) of the flange orthogonal direction of the cock body 68, an L-shaped fuel hose joint 69 is disposed to which a fuel hose extending to the carburetor 23 is attached. [0036] The front and rear metallic nuts N of the cock mounting part 53 are so arranged that the rear-side metallic nut N is located on the left-right-directionally outer side than the front-side metallic nut N. This ensures that in the condition where the fuel cock 43 is mounted to the tank body 41, the channel change-over lever 67 on the tank outer side is directed in an oblique forward direction, and the fuel hose joint 69 on the tank inner side is directed in an oblique rearward direction. [0037] When the driver peeps into the periphery of the fuel cock 43, the fuel cock 43 is visually confirmed from a front outer side. Therefore, the above-mentioned arrangement of the channel change-over lever 67 ensures that the channel change-over lever 67 can be easily confirmed visually by the driver. The carburetor 23 is located on a rear inner side of the fuel cock 43, and, due to the above-mentioned arrangement of the fuel hose joint 69, hose connection between the fuel hose joint 69 and the carburetor 23 can be facilitated. [0038] As above-described, the resin tank structure for a vehicle in the above embodiment includes: the tank body 41 for storing a fuel to be supplied to the engine 2, the tank body 41 being formed by blow molding and being configured astride the main frame 12 extending in the front-rear direction of the body frame F, along the left-right direction; and the fuel cock 43 mounted to a lower end portion of one of those portions of the tank body 41 which extend downward while avoiding the main frame 12. In the resin tank structure, besides, the cock mounting part 53 of the tank body 41 to which to mount the fuel cock 43 is formed by a method in which the pedestal part 61 with the metallic nuts N, for bolting the fuel cock 43, preliminarily enveloped with a resin is inserted at the time of blow molding. In the resin tank structure, further, the pedestal part 61 includes: the bottom part 62 forming the enveloping parts 62a for enveloping the metallic nuts N and the cock mounting seat surface 56 fronting on the lower side of the tank; the inside part 63 forming the lower part inside surface 63a fronting on the tank inner side, up to a position above the enveloping parts 62a; and the outside part 64 forming the 12 lower part outside surface 64a fronting on the tank outer side, up to a position above the enveloping parts 62a, wherein the cock mounting part 53 has a chamfered shape R with a radius smaller than the minimum radius (which can be formed by blow molding) of the tank body 41. [0039] According to this configuration, even in the case where the cock mounting part 53 is provided at one of lower end portions of the saddle-like shape, which are narrow in left-right directional width, of the tank body 41, fine shapes ordinarily difficult to form by blow molding can be formed. Therefore, the size of the cock mounting seat surface 56 can be secured, without enlarging the left-right-directional width of the lower end portions of the saddle-like shape of the tank body or upwardly moving the level (height) of the lower ends. In addition, by enlarging the lengths of the inside part 63 and the outside part 64 of the pedestal part 61, the adhesion of the pedestal part 61 to the tank body 41 can be enhanced. [0040] In the resin tank structure for a vehicle as above-described, the fuel cock 43 is provided with the bolt insertion holes 66 (for the fastening bolts B) at front and rear portions of the fastening flange 65 put in contact with the pedestal part 61 in the state where the fuel cock 43 is mounted to the tank body 41. In addition, the cock body 68 is projectingly provided under an intermediate portion of the fastening flange 65. The channel change-over lever 67 is disposed on the left-right-directionally outer side of the cock body 68. The fuel hose joint 69 is disposed on the left-right-directionally inner side of the cock body 68. The cock mounting part 53 is provided at front and rear portions thereof with the pair of metallic nuts N for screw engagement with the fastening bolts B, wherein the rear-side metallic nut N is disposed on the left-right directionally outer side than the front-side metallic nut N. This ensures that when the fuel cock 43 is mounted to the tank body 41, the channel change-over lever 67 is directed toward an oblique front side, so that the channel change-over lever 67 can be easily confirmed visually by the rider. Besides, the fuel hose joint 69 is located on the left-right-directionally inner side than the cock body 68, whereby the degree of freedom in setting the directions of the fuel hose and the joint can be enhanced. [0041] Incidentally, the present invention is not to be restricted to the above-described embodiment. For example, the vehicle to which the present invention is applied is not limited to motorcycles (inclusive of motorbikes and scooter type vehicles) but includes three-wheel vehicles (inclusive of not only one-front-wheel two-rear-wheel vehicles but also two-front wheel one-rear-wheel vehicles) and four-wheel vehicles.

13 Besides, the configuration in the above embodiment is merely one example of the present invention, and, naturally, various modifications are possible within the scope of the gist of the invention. Description of Reference Symbols [0042] 1: Motorcycle 2: Engine 12: Main frame 31: Fuel tank 41: Tank body 41a: Drooping part 43: Fuel cock 53: Cock mounting part 56: Cock mounting seat surface 61: Pedestal part 62: Bottom part 62a: Enveloping part 62b: Front part 62c: Rear part 14 63: Inside part 63a: Lower part inside surface (Inside surface) 64: Outside part 64a: Lower part outside surface (Outside surface) 65: Fastening flange 66: Bolt insertion hole 67: Channel change-over lever 68: Cock body 69: Fuel hose joint 71: Adhesive surface 72: Small hole (hole) 73: Extension groove (groove) F: Body frame N: Metallic nut B: Fastening bolt

Claims

1. A resin tank structure for a vehicle, comprising: a tank body for storing a fuel to be supplied to an engine, the tank body being formed by blow molding and being configured for mounting astride a main frame extending in a front-rear direction of a body frame of the vehicle, along a left-right direction; and a fuel cock mounted to a lower end portion of a part of the tank body, the fuel cock extending downward while avoiding the main frame; and a cock mounting part, for mounting the fuel cock thereto, of the tank body being formed by a method in which a pedestal part with a metallic nut, for bolting the fuel cock, preliminarily enveloped in a resin is inserted at the time of the blow molding, wherein the pedestal part includes: a bottom part forming an enveloping part for enveloping the metallic nut therein and a cock mounting seat surface fronting on the lower side of the tank; an inside part forming an inside surface fronting on the inside of the tank, up to a position above top portions of the enveloping part; and an outside part forming an outside surface fronting on the outside of the tank, up to a position above the top portions of the enveloping part.

2. The resin tank structure for the vehicle according to claim 1, wherein a drooping part of the tank body extends downward while having a section which is elongated in a front-rear direction with a left-right-directional width smaller than a front-rear directional width the drooping part extending downward while avoiding the main frame of the vehicle, and a front portion and a rear portion of the pedestal part extend along an outer surface of the tank body in a front-rear direction.

3. The resin tank structure for the vehicle according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the cock mounting part has a shape with a radius smaller than a minimum radius of the tank body that can be formed by blow molding.

4. The resin tank structure for the vehicle according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein an adhesive surface of the pedestal part is provided with a plurality of holes and grooves for adhesion to the tank body. 16

5. The resin tank structure for the vehicle according to any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein the fuel cock has: a structure in which bolt insertion holes for fastening bolts are provided at front and rear portions of a fastening flange brought into contact with the pedestal part in a state where the fuel cock is mounted to the tank body; a cock body is projectingly provided under an intermediate portion of the fastening flange; a channel change-over lever is disposed on a left-right-directionally outer side of the cock body; and a fuel hose joint is disposed on a left-right-directionally inner side of the cock body; and wherein the cock mounting part is attended by a pair of the metallic nuts for screw engagement with the fastening bolts at front and rear portions thereof, with the rear-side metallic nut being disposed on a left-right-directionally outer side than the front-side metallic nut. Honda Motor Co., Ltd. Patent Attorneys for the Applicant/Nominated Person SPRUSON & FERGUSON