CA2481198C - Fuel tank apparatus of saddle type vehicle - Google Patents
Fuel tank apparatus of saddle type vehicle Download PDFInfo
- Publication number
- CA2481198C CA2481198C CA002481198A CA2481198A CA2481198C CA 2481198 C CA2481198 C CA 2481198C CA 002481198 A CA002481198 A CA 002481198A CA 2481198 A CA2481198 A CA 2481198A CA 2481198 C CA2481198 C CA 2481198C
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- CA
- Canada
- Prior art keywords
- fuel tank
- engine
- type vehicle
- fuel
- saddle type
- Prior art date
- Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
- Expired - Fee Related
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Classifications
-
- F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
- F02—COMBUSTION ENGINES; HOT-GAS OR COMBUSTION-PRODUCT ENGINE PLANTS
- F02M—SUPPLYING COMBUSTION ENGINES IN GENERAL WITH COMBUSTIBLE MIXTURES OR CONSTITUENTS THEREOF
- F02M35/00—Combustion-air cleaners, air intakes, intake silencers, or induction systems specially adapted for, or arranged on, internal-combustion engines
- F02M35/16—Combustion-air cleaners, air intakes, intake silencers, or induction systems specially adapted for, or arranged on, internal-combustion engines characterised by use in vehicles
- F02M35/162—Motorcycles; All-terrain vehicles, e.g. quads, snowmobiles; Small vehicles, e.g. forklifts
-
- B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
- B60—VEHICLES IN GENERAL
- B60K—ARRANGEMENT OR MOUNTING OF PROPULSION UNITS OR OF TRANSMISSIONS IN VEHICLES; ARRANGEMENT OR MOUNTING OF PLURAL DIVERSE PRIME-MOVERS IN VEHICLES; AUXILIARY DRIVES FOR VEHICLES; INSTRUMENTATION OR DASHBOARDS FOR VEHICLES; ARRANGEMENTS IN CONNECTION WITH COOLING, AIR INTAKE, GAS EXHAUST OR FUEL SUPPLY OF PROPULSION UNITS IN VEHICLES
- B60K13/00—Arrangement in connection with combustion air intake or gas exhaust of propulsion units
- B60K13/02—Arrangement in connection with combustion air intake or gas exhaust of propulsion units concerning intake
-
- B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
- B62—LAND VEHICLES FOR TRAVELLING OTHERWISE THAN ON RAILS
- B62J—CYCLE SADDLES OR SEATS; AUXILIARY DEVICES OR ACCESSORIES SPECIALLY ADAPTED TO CYCLES AND NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR, e.g. ARTICLE CARRIERS OR CYCLE PROTECTORS
- B62J35/00—Fuel tanks specially adapted for motorcycles or engine-assisted cycles; Arrangements thereof
-
- F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
- F02—COMBUSTION ENGINES; HOT-GAS OR COMBUSTION-PRODUCT ENGINE PLANTS
- F02B—INTERNAL-COMBUSTION PISTON ENGINES; COMBUSTION ENGINES IN GENERAL
- F02B61/00—Adaptations of engines for driving vehicles or for driving propellers; Combinations of engines with gearing
- F02B61/02—Adaptations of engines for driving vehicles or for driving propellers; Combinations of engines with gearing for driving cycles
-
- F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
- F02—COMBUSTION ENGINES; HOT-GAS OR COMBUSTION-PRODUCT ENGINE PLANTS
- F02M—SUPPLYING COMBUSTION ENGINES IN GENERAL WITH COMBUSTIBLE MIXTURES OR CONSTITUENTS THEREOF
- F02M35/00—Combustion-air cleaners, air intakes, intake silencers, or induction systems specially adapted for, or arranged on, internal-combustion engines
- F02M35/02—Air cleaners
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- Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
- Mechanical Engineering (AREA)
- Chemical & Material Sciences (AREA)
- Combustion & Propulsion (AREA)
- General Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
- Transportation (AREA)
- Automatic Cycles, And Cycles In General (AREA)
- Cooling, Air Intake And Gas Exhaust, And Fuel Tank Arrangements In Propulsion Units (AREA)
Abstract
To prevent as much as possible the entry into the air intake tube of mud or water splashed by the front wheels of a riding-type vehicle having a structure including an engine, an air cleaner arranged adjacent; to, and at the back of, the engine and a fuel tank positioned above the engine mounted in the intermediate portion of a body frame having a front portion suspending the front wheels and a rear portion suspending rear wheels, and an air intake tube is extended from the air cleaner toward the fuel tank. In the rear wall of the fuel tank, there is formed inwardly an accommodation recess extending backward, and the air intake tube has its open top end projecting into the accommodation recess.
Description
The present. invention relates to a riding-type vehicle, in which an engine, an air cleaner arranged adjacent to, and at the back of, the engine and a fuel tank positioned above the engine are mounted in the intermediate portion of a body frame having its; front portion suspending front wheels and its rear portion suspending rear wheels, and ---in which an air intake tube exter.~ds from the air cleaner toward the fuel tank.
Conventionally, such a riding-type vehicle is already known from, for example, Japanese Utility Model Laid-Open No. 27464/1989 and Japanese Patent Laid-Open No.
214222/1987.
In the case of the vehicle disclosed in the aforementioned Japanese Utility Model Laid-Open No.
27464/1989, the air intake tube is connected to the inside of the frame extending in the central portion of the fuel tank and has its open top end terminating a position corresponding to the front portion of the fuel tank. However, such structure necessitates not only the reduction of the volume of the fuel tank but also the elongation of the air intake tube which results in complicating the structure of the body frame.
Therefore, in the Japanese Patent Laid-Open No.
214222/1987, an inwardly depressed recess is formed in the bottom portion of the fuel tank and the open top end of the air intake tube extending forwardly and. obliquely upward from the air cleaner projects into the recess. However, this structure has had the disadvantage that. there is the possibility that mud and water splashed. by the front wheels 1, J
lying ahead of the fuel tank enters toward the bottom plate of the fuel tank and the open top end of the air intake tube, and in order to prevent this, it is necessary to provide a complicated mechanism.
The present invention has been made in view of the above-mentioned circumstances and has for its object to provide a riding-type vehicle which is provided with an air intake tube so arranged as to prevent the entry thereinto of the mud or water splashed by the front wheels.
In order to achieve the above-specified object, the present invention comprises a riding-type vehicle, in which an engine, an air cleaner arranged adjacent to, and behind, the engine and a fuel tank pasitioned above the engine are mounted in the intermediate portion of a body frame having its front portion suspending front wheels and its rear portion suspending rear wheels, and in which an air intake tube is extended from the air cleaner toward the fuel tank, the fuel tank is provided in its rear wall with an accommodation recess formed inward to extend backward and the air intake tube has its open top end projecting into the accommodation recess.
Further, according to the invention, a shielding plate is arranged between the fuel tank and the engine to cover the lower portion of the accommodation recess and is fixed on said body frame.
One embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to the accompanying drawings.
Figs. 1 to 7 show one embodiment of the present invention whereins 760?3-7 Fig. 1 is a side elevation showing a riding-type vehicle;
Fig. 2 is an enlarged top plan view showing an essential portion of the vehicle of Fig. 1 with a fuel tank cover being removed;
Fig. 3 is a section taken along the 3-3 line of Fig. 2;
Fig. 4 is an enlarged section taken along the 4-4 line of Fig. 2;
Fig. 5 is a section taken along the 5-5 line of Fig. 2;
Fig. 6 is a top plan view of the fuel tank; and Fig. 7 is an enlarged section taken along the 7-7 line of Fig. 6.
Referring first to Fig. 1, the riding-type vehicle is exemplified by an all terrain vehicle which has its body frame B suspending a pair of lefthand and righthand front wheels WF at its front portion and a pair of lefthand and righthand rear whee~.s WR at its rear position. These wheels WF and WR are respectively equipped with balloon type low-pressure tires. Over the body frame B, there are arranged a steering handle 11, a fuel tank 12 and a riding-type driver';s seat 13 in that order.
Referring to Figs. 2 and 3, there are fixed at the center of the lower portion of the body frame B a pair of right and left steps 14L and 14R so as to project toward both sides to support the feet of the driver seated on the driver's CA 02481198 2004-10-20 , __, seat 13. A change pedal 15 is arranged near the left step 14L, and a brake pedal 16 is arranged near the right step 14.R.
At the intermediate portion of the body frame B and below the fuel tank 12 and the driver's seat 13, there is mounted a power unit: P comprising an engine E and a transmission T having a common casing. The driving force of the power unit P is transmitted to the left and right front wheels WF by a drive shaft 17F extending forward from the power unit P and also to the left and right rear wheels WR by a drive shaft 17R extending backward from the power unit P.
At the back of the engine E, there is mounted on the body frame B an air cleaner 18 which is connected through a carburetor 19 to the back face of a cylinder head 20 of the engine E. An exhaust pipe.2l, as connected to the front face of the cylinder head 20, is extended backward around the lefthand side of the engine E.
Incidentally, the body frame B is equipped with a pair of support frames 22L and 22R which longitudinally extend on both sides of the engine E, respectively. The air cleaner 18, as arranged at t;he back of the engine E, is provided integrally at both sides of the upper portion thereof with flanges 18a, 18a to be placed on the two support frames 22L
and 22R. Thus, the air cleaner 18 is fixedly supported on t:he two support frames 22L and 22R, as shown in Fig. 4, suo.h that clips 23 and 23 which are respectively inserted into the flanges 18a and 18a are elastically engaged with engagement holes 24, - - - formed in the support frames 22L and 22R.
respectively.
Conventionally, such a riding-type vehicle is already known from, for example, Japanese Utility Model Laid-Open No. 27464/1989 and Japanese Patent Laid-Open No.
214222/1987.
In the case of the vehicle disclosed in the aforementioned Japanese Utility Model Laid-Open No.
27464/1989, the air intake tube is connected to the inside of the frame extending in the central portion of the fuel tank and has its open top end terminating a position corresponding to the front portion of the fuel tank. However, such structure necessitates not only the reduction of the volume of the fuel tank but also the elongation of the air intake tube which results in complicating the structure of the body frame.
Therefore, in the Japanese Patent Laid-Open No.
214222/1987, an inwardly depressed recess is formed in the bottom portion of the fuel tank and the open top end of the air intake tube extending forwardly and. obliquely upward from the air cleaner projects into the recess. However, this structure has had the disadvantage that. there is the possibility that mud and water splashed. by the front wheels 1, J
lying ahead of the fuel tank enters toward the bottom plate of the fuel tank and the open top end of the air intake tube, and in order to prevent this, it is necessary to provide a complicated mechanism.
The present invention has been made in view of the above-mentioned circumstances and has for its object to provide a riding-type vehicle which is provided with an air intake tube so arranged as to prevent the entry thereinto of the mud or water splashed by the front wheels.
In order to achieve the above-specified object, the present invention comprises a riding-type vehicle, in which an engine, an air cleaner arranged adjacent to, and behind, the engine and a fuel tank pasitioned above the engine are mounted in the intermediate portion of a body frame having its front portion suspending front wheels and its rear portion suspending rear wheels, and in which an air intake tube is extended from the air cleaner toward the fuel tank, the fuel tank is provided in its rear wall with an accommodation recess formed inward to extend backward and the air intake tube has its open top end projecting into the accommodation recess.
Further, according to the invention, a shielding plate is arranged between the fuel tank and the engine to cover the lower portion of the accommodation recess and is fixed on said body frame.
One embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to the accompanying drawings.
Figs. 1 to 7 show one embodiment of the present invention whereins 760?3-7 Fig. 1 is a side elevation showing a riding-type vehicle;
Fig. 2 is an enlarged top plan view showing an essential portion of the vehicle of Fig. 1 with a fuel tank cover being removed;
Fig. 3 is a section taken along the 3-3 line of Fig. 2;
Fig. 4 is an enlarged section taken along the 4-4 line of Fig. 2;
Fig. 5 is a section taken along the 5-5 line of Fig. 2;
Fig. 6 is a top plan view of the fuel tank; and Fig. 7 is an enlarged section taken along the 7-7 line of Fig. 6.
Referring first to Fig. 1, the riding-type vehicle is exemplified by an all terrain vehicle which has its body frame B suspending a pair of lefthand and righthand front wheels WF at its front portion and a pair of lefthand and righthand rear whee~.s WR at its rear position. These wheels WF and WR are respectively equipped with balloon type low-pressure tires. Over the body frame B, there are arranged a steering handle 11, a fuel tank 12 and a riding-type driver';s seat 13 in that order.
Referring to Figs. 2 and 3, there are fixed at the center of the lower portion of the body frame B a pair of right and left steps 14L and 14R so as to project toward both sides to support the feet of the driver seated on the driver's CA 02481198 2004-10-20 , __, seat 13. A change pedal 15 is arranged near the left step 14L, and a brake pedal 16 is arranged near the right step 14.R.
At the intermediate portion of the body frame B and below the fuel tank 12 and the driver's seat 13, there is mounted a power unit: P comprising an engine E and a transmission T having a common casing. The driving force of the power unit P is transmitted to the left and right front wheels WF by a drive shaft 17F extending forward from the power unit P and also to the left and right rear wheels WR by a drive shaft 17R extending backward from the power unit P.
At the back of the engine E, there is mounted on the body frame B an air cleaner 18 which is connected through a carburetor 19 to the back face of a cylinder head 20 of the engine E. An exhaust pipe.2l, as connected to the front face of the cylinder head 20, is extended backward around the lefthand side of the engine E.
Incidentally, the body frame B is equipped with a pair of support frames 22L and 22R which longitudinally extend on both sides of the engine E, respectively. The air cleaner 18, as arranged at t;he back of the engine E, is provided integrally at both sides of the upper portion thereof with flanges 18a, 18a to be placed on the two support frames 22L
and 22R. Thus, the air cleaner 18 is fixedly supported on t:he two support frames 22L and 22R, as shown in Fig. 4, suo.h that clips 23 and 23 which are respectively inserted into the flanges 18a and 18a are elastically engaged with engagement holes 24, - - - formed in the support frames 22L and 22R.
respectively.
Referring to Fig. 5 and 6, the fuel tank 12 comprises a combination of a lower half 12a and an upper half 12b made of a synthetic resin material and is fixed to the body frame B above the engine E, i.e., at a position obliquely upward in front of the air cleaner 18. Further, the fuel tank 12 is provided, at both sides of the front portio-n thereof, with projections 26 and 26 projecting forward.
To the upper surface of the central portion of the upper half 12b of the fuel tank 12, there is integrally connected a mounting member 27 (Fig. 7) when the fuel tank 12 is blow-molded. This mounting member 2;7 is formed by injection-molding with a synthetic resin material and a fuel supply tube 28 which extends upward into the fuel tank 12 is provided integrally with the mounting member 27. This fuel supply tube 28 has its outer circumference externally threaded, as at 29. Thus, the mounting' member 27 is injection-molded independently of the fuel tank 12 so that the accuracy of the external thread-dimension 29 can be improved.
The fuel supply tube 28 is closed by turning a fuel cap 30 (as shown in Fig. 5) onto the external threads 29.
On the other handy the mounting member 27 is provided with a mounting hole 32 leading to a hole 31 which is formed in the upper Half 12b. Nuts 33, - - -, and so on are integrally embedded in the mounting member 27 at two portions across the mounting hole 32. Into the mounting hole 32 and the hole 31, there is inserted a fuel level meter 34 which has its indicator 34a engaging through a seal member 35 with the peripheral edge of the upper end of the mounting hole 32.
To the upper surface of the central portion of the upper half 12b of the fuel tank 12, there is integrally connected a mounting member 27 (Fig. 7) when the fuel tank 12 is blow-molded. This mounting member 2;7 is formed by injection-molding with a synthetic resin material and a fuel supply tube 28 which extends upward into the fuel tank 12 is provided integrally with the mounting member 27. This fuel supply tube 28 has its outer circumference externally threaded, as at 29. Thus, the mounting' member 27 is injection-molded independently of the fuel tank 12 so that the accuracy of the external thread-dimension 29 can be improved.
The fuel supply tube 28 is closed by turning a fuel cap 30 (as shown in Fig. 5) onto the external threads 29.
On the other handy the mounting member 27 is provided with a mounting hole 32 leading to a hole 31 which is formed in the upper Half 12b. Nuts 33, - - -, and so on are integrally embedded in the mounting member 27 at two portions across the mounting hole 32. Into the mounting hole 32 and the hole 31, there is inserted a fuel level meter 34 which has its indicator 34a engaging through a seal member 35 with the peripheral edge of the upper end of the mounting hole 32.
a Further, a cover 36 engaging the indicator 34a through the aforementioned seal member 35 abuts against the mounting member 27, and a pair of screw members 37 and 37 which are fitted into the cover 36 are fitted into the aforementioned individual nuts 33, - - -, respectively, and so on so that the fuel level meter 34 is firmly fastened to the fuel tank 12.
Incidentally, the mounting member 27 has a plurality of gas vents 38 formed in advance at the portion surrounding the fuel supply tube 28 so that when the mounting member 27 is integrally connected with the upper half 12b of the fuel tank 12 by blow-molding, the synthetic resin material enters the gas vents 38 thereby allowing the mounting member 27 to be firmly connected to the upper half 12b of the fuel tank.
Here, the fuel tank 12 is positioned obliquely upward in front of the air cleaner 18 but a synthetic resin air intake tube 40 communicating With the air cleaner 18 is extended upward and forward from into the air cleaner 18 toward the fuel tank 12 so that it can :introduce the outside air into the air cleaner even in relatively deep water.
Further, the air cleaner 18 is provided at its intermediate lower portion with a semicircular elast:Lc fitting portion 41 so that the air intake tube 40 is supported by fitting the elastic fitting portion 41 into a support cylinder 42 which i:>
mounted in the body frame B.
On the other hand, the fuel tank 12 is provided at the lefthand corner of its rear wall with an accommodation recess 43 which is formed inward to extend backward. The air _ 5 _ '7&073-7 CA 02481198 2004-10-20 .
intake tube 40 has its open top end 40a arranged in the accommodation recess 43 and opened forward.
Between the engine E in the power unit P and the fuel tank 12 positioned above the engine E, there is arranged a shielding plate 44 made of a heat-resistant rigid resin so that the lower portion of the accommodation recess 43 is covered thereby. The shielding plate 44 is fixed on the two support frames 22b and 22~ of the body frame B.
To the body frame B, there is attached a fuel tank cover 45 for covering the fuel tank 12. This fuel cover 45 comprises a lefthand cover portion 45b for covering the left side surface of the fuel tank 12, the upper portion of the engine E and the left side of the air meaner 18, a righthand cover portion 45R for covering the right side surface of the fuel tank 12, and an upper cover 45T fur covering the upper surface of the fuel tank 12. The fuel supply tube 28 of the fuel tank 12 is made to project upward through the upper cover portion 45T.
Outside air passages 47L and 47R are individually formed between the left and right cover portions 45L and 45R
of the fuel tank cover 45 and the left and right sides of the fuel tank 12, and outside air intake ports 46L and 46R
respectively communicating with the individual outside air passages 47L and 47R are formed at the front portions of the left and right cover portions 45L and 45R. Thus,.at the running time of the vehicle, the outside air; as introduced from the left outside air inlet port 46L, is introduced via the outside air passage 47L into the open top end 40a of the _ 7 _ 7&073-7 x air intake tube 40, and the outside air, as introduced from the right outside air inlet part 46R., is guided via the outside air passage 47R to cool the carburetor 19, the air cleaner 18 and so on.
To the front end portions of the left and right cover portions 45L and 45R, on the other hand, there are attached rubber plates 48 and 48, throw gh which are extended forward the front projections 26 and 26 of the fuel tank 12.
Thus, the two rubber plates 48 and 48 shut the gaps to be formed between the front portion of the: fuel tank cover 45 arid the fuel tank 12 thereby preventing the mud or water, as splashed by the two front wheels WF, from flying from the aforementioned gaps to the back of the fuel tank 12.
Next, to describe the operation of this embodiment, the air intake tube 40 leading to the a.ir cleaner 18 located at the back of the engine E is extended toward the fuel tank 12 above the engine E and has its open top end 40a arranged in the accommodation recess 43 which is formed at the rear wall of the fuel tank 12 and extends backward, l~s a result, the fuel tank 12 is interposed between the open top end 40a of the air intake tube 40 and the two front wheels WF so that even if mud or water i.s ,splashed by the two front wheels WF toward the bottom plate of the fuel tank 12, the entry thereof into the open top end 40a of the air intake tube 40 is prevented as much as possible. Moreover, as compared with the prior art vehicle (as disclosed in 3apanese Patent Laid-Open No.
214222/1987) in which the fuel tank 12 has, at its bottom plate, a recess for receiving the open top end 40a of the air _ g _ intake tube 40, the shape of the bottom plate of the fuel tank 12 can be more simplified. Especially because the accommodation recess 43 is formed in the lefthand corner of the rear wall of the fuel tank 12, the shape of the fuel tank 12 can be more simplified.
Moreover, the shield plate 44~ interposed between the fuel tank 12 and the engine E to cover the lower portion of the accommodation recess 43 can more reliably prevent mud or water splashed by the front wheels WF, from reaching the fuel.
tank 12 and accordingly, the entry of such mud or water into the open tap end 40a of the air intake tube 40 can be securely prevented. Moreover, the effect of the radiation of heat from the engine upon the outside air to be introduced into the air intake tube can be eliminated and the temperature of the outside air introduced into the engine E can be prevented from increasing so that the fluctuation of the output of. the engine E can be controlled.
Although the present invention has been described in detail hereinbefore in connection with an embodiment, it should not be limited thereto, but a variety of design changes can be made without departing from the scope of the invention as defined in the scope of the claim.
For example, the accommodation recess 43 should not be limited in its lo<:ation to the lefthand corner of the rear wall of the fuel tank 12 but may be formed in any position in the rear wall of the fuel tank 12.
As described hereinbefore, according to the invention, the fuel tank is provided in its rear wall with the _ g _ accommodation recess formed inwardly to extend backward, and the air intake tube has its open top end projecting into the accommodation recess. Consequently, it is possible to prevent the entry of mud or water splashed by 'the front wheels while at the same time, simplifying the shape of the fuel tank.
Further, according to the in~,rentian, t>:ae shield plate is arranged between the fuel tanlt and the engine to cover the Lower portion of the accommodation recess and is fixed on the body frame. As a result, not only the mud or water, as splashed by the front wheels, can be prevented from entering into the open top end of the air intake tube, but also the temperature of the outside air being introduced into the air intake tube can be prevented from increasing by the radiation of heat from the engine, thereby controlling the output fluctuation of the engine.
Incidentally, the mounting member 27 has a plurality of gas vents 38 formed in advance at the portion surrounding the fuel supply tube 28 so that when the mounting member 27 is integrally connected with the upper half 12b of the fuel tank 12 by blow-molding, the synthetic resin material enters the gas vents 38 thereby allowing the mounting member 27 to be firmly connected to the upper half 12b of the fuel tank.
Here, the fuel tank 12 is positioned obliquely upward in front of the air cleaner 18 but a synthetic resin air intake tube 40 communicating With the air cleaner 18 is extended upward and forward from into the air cleaner 18 toward the fuel tank 12 so that it can :introduce the outside air into the air cleaner even in relatively deep water.
Further, the air cleaner 18 is provided at its intermediate lower portion with a semicircular elast:Lc fitting portion 41 so that the air intake tube 40 is supported by fitting the elastic fitting portion 41 into a support cylinder 42 which i:>
mounted in the body frame B.
On the other hand, the fuel tank 12 is provided at the lefthand corner of its rear wall with an accommodation recess 43 which is formed inward to extend backward. The air _ 5 _ '7&073-7 CA 02481198 2004-10-20 .
intake tube 40 has its open top end 40a arranged in the accommodation recess 43 and opened forward.
Between the engine E in the power unit P and the fuel tank 12 positioned above the engine E, there is arranged a shielding plate 44 made of a heat-resistant rigid resin so that the lower portion of the accommodation recess 43 is covered thereby. The shielding plate 44 is fixed on the two support frames 22b and 22~ of the body frame B.
To the body frame B, there is attached a fuel tank cover 45 for covering the fuel tank 12. This fuel cover 45 comprises a lefthand cover portion 45b for covering the left side surface of the fuel tank 12, the upper portion of the engine E and the left side of the air meaner 18, a righthand cover portion 45R for covering the right side surface of the fuel tank 12, and an upper cover 45T fur covering the upper surface of the fuel tank 12. The fuel supply tube 28 of the fuel tank 12 is made to project upward through the upper cover portion 45T.
Outside air passages 47L and 47R are individually formed between the left and right cover portions 45L and 45R
of the fuel tank cover 45 and the left and right sides of the fuel tank 12, and outside air intake ports 46L and 46R
respectively communicating with the individual outside air passages 47L and 47R are formed at the front portions of the left and right cover portions 45L and 45R. Thus,.at the running time of the vehicle, the outside air; as introduced from the left outside air inlet port 46L, is introduced via the outside air passage 47L into the open top end 40a of the _ 7 _ 7&073-7 x air intake tube 40, and the outside air, as introduced from the right outside air inlet part 46R., is guided via the outside air passage 47R to cool the carburetor 19, the air cleaner 18 and so on.
To the front end portions of the left and right cover portions 45L and 45R, on the other hand, there are attached rubber plates 48 and 48, throw gh which are extended forward the front projections 26 and 26 of the fuel tank 12.
Thus, the two rubber plates 48 and 48 shut the gaps to be formed between the front portion of the: fuel tank cover 45 arid the fuel tank 12 thereby preventing the mud or water, as splashed by the two front wheels WF, from flying from the aforementioned gaps to the back of the fuel tank 12.
Next, to describe the operation of this embodiment, the air intake tube 40 leading to the a.ir cleaner 18 located at the back of the engine E is extended toward the fuel tank 12 above the engine E and has its open top end 40a arranged in the accommodation recess 43 which is formed at the rear wall of the fuel tank 12 and extends backward, l~s a result, the fuel tank 12 is interposed between the open top end 40a of the air intake tube 40 and the two front wheels WF so that even if mud or water i.s ,splashed by the two front wheels WF toward the bottom plate of the fuel tank 12, the entry thereof into the open top end 40a of the air intake tube 40 is prevented as much as possible. Moreover, as compared with the prior art vehicle (as disclosed in 3apanese Patent Laid-Open No.
214222/1987) in which the fuel tank 12 has, at its bottom plate, a recess for receiving the open top end 40a of the air _ g _ intake tube 40, the shape of the bottom plate of the fuel tank 12 can be more simplified. Especially because the accommodation recess 43 is formed in the lefthand corner of the rear wall of the fuel tank 12, the shape of the fuel tank 12 can be more simplified.
Moreover, the shield plate 44~ interposed between the fuel tank 12 and the engine E to cover the lower portion of the accommodation recess 43 can more reliably prevent mud or water splashed by the front wheels WF, from reaching the fuel.
tank 12 and accordingly, the entry of such mud or water into the open tap end 40a of the air intake tube 40 can be securely prevented. Moreover, the effect of the radiation of heat from the engine upon the outside air to be introduced into the air intake tube can be eliminated and the temperature of the outside air introduced into the engine E can be prevented from increasing so that the fluctuation of the output of. the engine E can be controlled.
Although the present invention has been described in detail hereinbefore in connection with an embodiment, it should not be limited thereto, but a variety of design changes can be made without departing from the scope of the invention as defined in the scope of the claim.
For example, the accommodation recess 43 should not be limited in its lo<:ation to the lefthand corner of the rear wall of the fuel tank 12 but may be formed in any position in the rear wall of the fuel tank 12.
As described hereinbefore, according to the invention, the fuel tank is provided in its rear wall with the _ g _ accommodation recess formed inwardly to extend backward, and the air intake tube has its open top end projecting into the accommodation recess. Consequently, it is possible to prevent the entry of mud or water splashed by 'the front wheels while at the same time, simplifying the shape of the fuel tank.
Further, according to the in~,rentian, t>:ae shield plate is arranged between the fuel tanlt and the engine to cover the Lower portion of the accommodation recess and is fixed on the body frame. As a result, not only the mud or water, as splashed by the front wheels, can be prevented from entering into the open top end of the air intake tube, but also the temperature of the outside air being introduced into the air intake tube can be prevented from increasing by the radiation of heat from the engine, thereby controlling the output fluctuation of the engine.
Claims (10)
PROPERTY OR PRIVILEGE IS CLAIMED ARE DEFINED AS FOLLOWS:
1. A fuel tank apparatus of a saddle type vehicle having a body frame with a pair of longitudinally extending support frames with a front wheel mounted at a front portion of said body frame and a rear wheel mounted at a rear portion of said body frame at an intermediate portion;
said body frame supporting an engine having an air cleaner disposed rearwardly of the engine;
said fuel tank apparatus including a fuel tank positioned above the engine with an accommodation recess provided on a bottom side of said fuel tank adjacent a rear wall of said fuel tank;
said air cleaner including an intake tube extending from said air cleaner to said accommodation recess with an open top of said intake tube positioned within said accommodation recess; and a pair of projections (26, 26) projecting forwardly and above said pair of support frames provided on both sides of said fuel tank at a front edge thereof, and wherein said fuel tank comprises a lower half and an upper half made of synthetic resin material, and said upper half is molded by blow-molding.
said body frame supporting an engine having an air cleaner disposed rearwardly of the engine;
said fuel tank apparatus including a fuel tank positioned above the engine with an accommodation recess provided on a bottom side of said fuel tank adjacent a rear wall of said fuel tank;
said air cleaner including an intake tube extending from said air cleaner to said accommodation recess with an open top of said intake tube positioned within said accommodation recess; and a pair of projections (26, 26) projecting forwardly and above said pair of support frames provided on both sides of said fuel tank at a front edge thereof, and wherein said fuel tank comprises a lower half and an upper half made of synthetic resin material, and said upper half is molded by blow-molding.
2. A fuel tank apparatus of saddle type vehicle as set forth in claim 1, wherein said upper half includes a secured mounting member having a fuel supply tube.
3. A fuel tank apparatus of saddle type vehicle as set forth in claim 2, wherein a fuel level meter is disposed near said fuel supply tube.
4. A fuel tank apparatus of saddle type vehicle as set forth in claim 3, wherein said fuel level meter is inserted into a hole formed in said mounting member.
5. In a saddle type vehicle having a body frame supporting an engine at an intermediate portion of said body frame and supporting an air cleaner apparatus connected to the engine rearwardly of the engine, an improved fuel tank apparatus supported above the engine and including a fuel tank, said fuel tank including an accommodation recess provided in a rear wall of the fuel tank and receiving an open end of an intake tube of said air cleaner; said fuel tank including projections on both sides of said fuel tank; and wherein said fuel tank comprises an upper half and a lower half formed of a synthetic resin material and wherein said upper half is formed by blow-molding.
6. In a saddle type vehicle as claimed in claim 5, wherein said body frame has a pair of longitudinally extending support frames and each projection is above and over lies one of said support frames.
7. In a saddle type vehicle as claimed in claim 6, including plate members mating with said projections to seal said projections from ambient conditions during operation of the vehicle.
8. In a saddle type vehicle as claimed in claim 5, wherein said fuel tank includes a fuel supply tube provided in said upper half of said fuel tank.
9. In a saddle type vehicle as claimed in claim 8, including a fuel level meter disposed near said fuel supply tube.
10. In a saddle type vehicle as claimed in claim 9, wherein said fuel supply tube and said fuel lever meter are provided in a mounting member secured about a port provided in said upper half of said fuel tank.
Applications Claiming Priority (1)
| Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
|---|---|---|---|
| CA002153630A CA2153630C (en) | 1994-07-12 | 1995-07-11 | Riding-type vehicle |
Related Parent Applications (1)
| Application Number | Title | Priority Date | Filing Date |
|---|---|---|---|
| CA002153630A Division CA2153630C (en) | 1994-07-12 | 1995-07-11 | Riding-type vehicle |
Publications (2)
| Publication Number | Publication Date |
|---|---|
| CA2481198A1 CA2481198A1 (en) | 1996-01-13 |
| CA2481198C true CA2481198C (en) | 2006-01-03 |
Family
ID=33569431
Family Applications (1)
| Application Number | Title | Priority Date | Filing Date |
|---|---|---|---|
| CA002481198A Expired - Fee Related CA2481198C (en) | 1995-07-11 | 1995-07-11 | Fuel tank apparatus of saddle type vehicle |
Country Status (1)
| Country | Link |
|---|---|
| CA (1) | CA2481198C (en) |
Families Citing this family (3)
| Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| AU2005200455B2 (en) * | 2004-02-06 | 2010-10-28 | Honda Motor Co., Ltd. | A fuel injection system for a saddle ride type four-wheel vehicle |
| JP2005335464A (en) | 2004-05-25 | 2005-12-08 | Honda Motor Co Ltd | Vehicular fuel feed structure |
| CN112963274B (en) * | 2021-03-22 | 2022-10-28 | 重庆隆鑫机车有限公司 | Air filter intake pipe mounting structure and all-terrain vehicle |
-
1995
- 1995-07-11 CA CA002481198A patent/CA2481198C/en not_active Expired - Fee Related
Also Published As
| Publication number | Publication date |
|---|---|
| CA2481198A1 (en) | 1996-01-13 |
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Legal Events
| Date | Code | Title | Description |
|---|---|---|---|
| EEER | Examination request | ||
| MKLA | Lapsed |
Effective date: 20140711 |