JP2007091156A - Fuel tank arrangement structure for vehicle - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a fuel tank arrangement structure for a vehicle capable of efficiently arranging a fuel tank and auxiliaries by suppressing restriction by a frame shape. <P>SOLUTION: In the fuel tank arrangement structure for the vehicle provided with a head pipe 6 steerably and pivotally supporting a front wheel; and a main frame 11 extending from the head pipe 6 to a rear side of the vehicle, the fuel tank 34 is arranged at one side of the main frame 11 and the other side is for a storage space 41. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2007,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to a fuel tank arrangement structure for a vehicle such as a motorcycle.

Conventionally, in the above arrangement structure, there is one in which a fuel tank is arranged at a position inward of the frame extending rearward from the head pipe and close to the head pipe (see, for example, Patent Document 1).
Japanese Patent No. 2526032

By the way, in the above arrangement structure, the capacity of the fuel tank is easily restricted by the frame shape, and the degree of freedom of arrangement of other auxiliary machines is also easily restricted by the frame shape.
Accordingly, the present invention provides a fuel tank arrangement structure for a vehicle that can efficiently arrange fuel tanks and auxiliary equipment while suppressing restrictions due to the frame shape.

  As a means for solving the above-mentioned problems, the invention described in claim 1 includes a head pipe (for example, the head pipe 6 of the embodiment) for pivotally supporting a front wheel (for example, the front wheel 2 of the embodiment) and a head pipe. In a fuel tank arrangement structure of a vehicle (for example, the motorcycle 1 of the embodiment) including a main frame (for example, the main frame 11 of the embodiment) extending rearward of the vehicle, a fuel tank (for example of the embodiment of the embodiment) is provided on one side of the main frame. The fuel tank 34) is disposed, and the other side is a storage space (for example, the storage space 41 of the embodiment).

  The invention described in claim 2 is characterized in that auxiliary machines (for example, the electrical component 42, the air cleaner box 43, and the battery 44 of the embodiment) are arranged in the accommodation space.

  According to a third aspect of the present invention, the main frame has at least two upper and lower frame members (for example, the top tube 12 and the down tube 13 in the embodiment), and at least one cross section of each frame member is formed. It is characterized by a rhombus.

  According to a fourth aspect of the present invention, the main frame has a stay (for example, the front and rear stays 53 and 54 in the embodiment) that extends between the frame members, and the inner portion of the fuel tank is attached to the stay. It is characterized by.

  According to the first aspect of the present invention, the space on both sides of the main frame can be utilized without waste. Further, by using the other side of the main frame for the arrangement of the auxiliary machines and the like, the degree of freedom of arrangement of the auxiliary machines and the like in the front-back direction can be improved.

  According to the second aspect of the present invention, it is possible to accommodate a large accessory such as an air cleaner box, and the weight balance with the fuel tank is improved by arranging a relatively heavy battery or the like. Become.

  According to the invention described in claim 3, by making at least one of the frame members a rhombus, the span in the vertical direction and the horizontal direction in the cross-sectional shape of the frame member is widened to ensure strength. Besides, it becomes easy to install a stay or the like for attaching the cover by using the top of the rhombus.

  According to the fourth aspect of the present invention, the fuel tank mounting location is not exposed to the outside of the vehicle body, and the appearance of the vehicle can be improved.

  Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings. In the following description, the directions such as front, rear, left and right are the same as those in the vehicle unless otherwise specified. In the figure, the arrow FR indicates the front of the vehicle, the arrow LH indicates the left side of the vehicle, and the arrow UP indicates the upper side of the vehicle.

  In the motorcycle (vehicle) 1 shown in FIG. 1, the front wheel 2 is pivotally supported at the lower ends of a pair of left and right front forks 3. The upper part of each front fork 3 is pivotally supported by the head pipe 6 at the front end portion of the vehicle body frame 5 via the steering stem 4 so as to be steerable. A steering wheel 7 for steering the front wheels is attached on the steering stem 4, and a front fender 8 is attached under the steering stem 4. From the head pipe 6, a main frame 11 having a relatively gentle inclination extends obliquely downward and rearward.

  The main frame 11 is located in the center in the vehicle width direction, and mainly includes a top tube (frame member) 12 constituting the upper stage and a down tube (frame member) 13 constituting the lower stage. Each tube 12 and 13 is arrange | positioned so that the distance between each may be widened toward the rear side. Between the rear end portions of the tubes 12 and 13, a seat post 14 that is relatively steeply inclined backward is provided, and a driver's saddle seat 9 is supported on the seat post 14. The head pipe 6, the tubes 12 and 13, and the seat post 14 form a triangular closed loop structure that is long in the front-rear direction in a side view.

  An engine 15 having a crankshaft along the vehicle width direction (left-right direction) is disposed below the main frame 11. The engine 15 is an air-cooled single-cylinder engine in which one cylinder 17 projects forward from the front end of the crankcase 16 substantially horizontally. An engine hanger 18 that protrudes downward is provided on the lower rear side of the main frame 11 (the rear part of the down tube 13), and the rear part of the crankcase 16 of the engine 15 is supported by the engine hanger 18.

  A pivot plate 19 is connected to the rear portion of the engine hanger 18, and a front end portion of a swing arm 21 is pivotally supported on the pivot plate 19 so as to swing up and down. The swing arm 21 includes a lower arm 22 that is disposed substantially horizontally and an upper arm 23 that is disposed to be tilted forward and upward above the lower arm 22. The rear ends of the arms 22 and 23 are connected via an end plate 24, and the front ends of the arms 22 and 23 are connected by a member 25 extending vertically. Each of the arms 22 and 23, the end plate 24, and the member 25 form a triangular closed loop structure in a side view. A rear wheel 26 of the motorcycle 1 is pivotally supported on the rear end portion (end plate 24) of the swing arm 21.

  The pivot plate 19 supports the front end portion of the lower arm 22 via a pivot shaft 27. A cushion support portion 28 projects upward from the front and rear intermediate portions of the down tube 13. Between the cushion support portion 28 and the front end portion of the upper arm 23, a rear cushion unit 29 that is gently inclined upward is disposed. The lower part of the seat post 14 has a tapered shape that extends downward, and a through hole 29a for the rear cushion unit 29 is formed in the lower part of the seat post 14 (see FIG. 4).

  On both sides of the upper end portion (near the rear end of the top tube 12) and the lower end portion (near the pivot plate 19) of the seat post 14, the upper and lower front end portions of the left and right rear stays 31 forming a truss-like shape are tightened from the outside of the vehicle body. Fastened with bolts. A rear carrier 32 is provided on the rear upper side of the left and right rear stays 31, and a rear fender 33 is attached to a portion surrounded by the left and right rear stays 31 and the rear carrier 32.

  FIG. 2 is a view of the front part of the vehicle body from the vicinity of the driver's viewpoint. The fuel tank 34 is disposed on the right side of the main frame 11 so as to extend in the front and rear of the main frame 11. Is done. The fuel tank 34 has a hollow monaca structure including an outer plate 35 that forms an outer portion in the vehicle width direction and an inner plate 36 that forms an inner portion in the vehicle width direction. The outer plate 35 has a convex curved shape on the outer side of the vehicle body and constitutes a part of the outer surface of the vehicle body, while the inner plate 36 constitutes a portion that is not exposed on the outer surface of the vehicle body (a non-exposed portion to the outer side of the vehicle body). The fuel tank 34 is attached to the vehicle body frame 5 (main frame 11) so that the inner plate 36 is adjacent to the right side portion of the main frame 11.

  A fuel supply port 37 is provided at the front end side of the fuel tank 34, and a fuel outlet is provided at the lower end, and fuel is supplied to a carburetor 38 disposed above the cylinder 17 via a hose extending from the fuel outlet. Supplied. The upstream side of the carburetor 38 is connected via an intake pipe 38a to an air cleaner box 43 for intake air of the engine disposed further above. The intake pipe 38 a passes through the down tube 13 and is connected to the air cleaner box 43.

  The left side of the main frame 11 is an accommodation space 41 that is covered with a cover 45 described later, and the accessories in the motorcycle 1 are arranged in the accommodation space 41. Specifically, an electrical component 42 such as an ECU and a fuse box is arranged in the front part of the accommodation space 41, and the air cleaner box 43 is arranged in the front and rear intermediate part of the accommodation space 41. The rear cushion unit 29 is positioned below the rear portion of the storage space 41, and a battery 44 is disposed above the rear cushion unit 29 (upper rear portion of the storage space 41).

  The battery 44 is disposed so that the right side portion protrudes toward the fuel tank 34. As a result, among the auxiliary machines, the relatively heavy battery 44 is disposed near the center of the vehicle body, and is disposed so as to straddle both sides of the main frame 11. The weight mass is concentrated in A horn 46 is disposed in front of the electrical component 42 in the accommodation space 41.

  Each accessory is covered with a cover 45 that is symmetrical with the outer plate 35 of the fuel tank 34. That is, the cover 45 forms a convex curved shape on the outer side of the vehicle body and constitutes a part of the outer surface of the vehicle body, and increases the lateral width toward the front and rear center side. The capacity of the air cleaner box 43 is increased by positioning the air cleaner box 43 inside the front and rear intermediate portions of the cover 45. Note that an exposure hole for the main switch 47 is formed in the rear end portion of the cover 45 and is disposed immediately behind the battery 44 in the accommodation space 41 (see FIG. 1).

  As shown in FIG. 4, in the vehicle body frame 5, a front gusset plate 51 is provided at the front end portion of the main frame 11 so as to straddle the front end portions of the tubes 12 and 13 and the rear portion of the head pipe 6. The front gusset plate 51 is a plate that is substantially orthogonal to the vehicle width direction, and is joined to the tubes 12 and 13 and the head pipe 6 by welding. A front mounting hole 52 for supporting the inside of the front end of the fuel tank 34 is formed in the center of the front gusset plate 51.

  A front stay 53 and a rear stay 54 straddling the tubes 12 and 13 are provided at the front and rear intermediate portions of the main frame 11. The stays 53 and 54 are plate-shaped substantially perpendicular to the vehicle width direction, and the front stay 53 is inclined so as to be inclined forward and the rear stay 54 is inclined so as to be inclined downward. The upper and lower ends of the stays 53 and 54 are joined to the tubes 12 and 13 by welding, so that the main frame 11 forms a general truss structure in a side view. For example, holes for positioning at the time of welding are formed above and below each stay 53, 54. Among these holes, for example, those below the rear stay 54 are inside the front and rear intermediate portions of the fuel tank 34. It is used as an intermediate mounting hole 55 for supporting.

  A rear gusset plate 56 straddling the rear end of the main tube and the upper front of the seat post 14 is provided at the rear end of the main frame 11. The rear gusset plate 56 is a plate that is substantially orthogonal to the vehicle width direction, and is joined to the main tube and the seat post 14 by welding. A rear mounting hole 57 for supporting the inside of the rear end of the fuel tank 34 is formed in the center of the rear gusset plate 56.

  Referring to FIG. 3 as well, the top tube 12 is provided so as to have a diamond-shaped cross section using, for example, a square steel pipe, and is gently inclined from the upper rear side of the head pipe 6 toward the diagonally lower rear. It extends in a gently curved shape convex upward in a side view. On the other hand, the down tube 13 is formed using, for example, a circular steel pipe that is slightly thicker than the top tube 12, and extends from the lower rear side of the head pipe 6 obliquely downward to rearward with a slightly steep slope than the top tube 12. .

  Attachment portions 58 corresponding to the attachment holes 52, 55, and 57 of the main frame 11 are respectively provided on the inner side of the fuel tank 34. These mounting portions 58 are arranged so as to abut on the formation portions of the mounting holes 52, 55, 57 of the main frame 11 from the right side. For example, bolts 59 inserted from the left side into the mounting holes 52, 55, 57 are rubber. The fuel tank 34 is rubber-mounted on the main frame 11 by being fastened to the attachment portion 58 via the bush 59a. That is, the fuel tank 34 is attached to the main frame 11 from the side opposite to the fuel tank 34 in the main frame 11.

  An upper support stay 61 that protrudes further leftward from the top of the left end of the rhombus cross-sectional shape is provided at the front and rear intermediate portion of the top tube 12. The upper support stay 61 has a substantially horizontal plate shape, and has a locking hole at the center thereof. A rubber grommet 63 mounted in the locking hole projects from the upper side of the cover 45. By inserting the locking pin 64, the upper portion of the cover 45 is engaged with the main frame 11.

  A lower support stay 65 protruding downward is provided at the front and rear intermediate portion of the down tube 13. The lower support stay 65 is a plate-like one that is substantially orthogonal to the vehicle width direction, and has a nut hole at the center thereof. On the other hand, a fixing flange 67 to the main frame 11 protrudes from the lower portion of the cover 45, the cover 45 is disposed so that the fixing flange 67 contacts the lower support stay 65, and a bolt 68 that penetrates the fixing flange 67. The lower part of the cover 45 is fixed to the main frame 11 by tightening in the nut hole. In addition, in the cover 45, each auxiliary machine except the horn 46 and the main switch 47 is further covered with the inner cover 45a (refer FIG. 2).

  As described above, the fuel tank arrangement structure in the above embodiment is a motorcycle 1 including the head pipe 6 that pivotally supports the front wheel 2 so as to be steerable, and the main frame 11 that extends from the head pipe 6 to the rear of the vehicle. The fuel tank 34 is disposed on one side of the main frame 11 and the accommodation space 41 is provided on the other side.

  According to this configuration, the space on both sides of the main frame 11 can be utilized without waste. In addition, by using the other side of the main frame 11 for arranging auxiliary machines, the degree of freedom in arranging the auxiliary machines in the front-rear direction can be improved.

  That is, in the fuel tank arrangement structure, auxiliary equipment such as the electrical component 42, the air cleaner box 43, and the battery 44 is arranged in the accommodation space 41, so that large auxiliary equipment such as the air cleaner box 43 can be accommodated. In addition, the weight balance with the fuel tank 34 is improved by arranging the battery 44 and the like having a relatively heavy weight.

  Furthermore, in the fuel tank arrangement structure, the main frame 11 has a top tube 12 and a down tube 13 arranged in the vertical direction, and the top tube 12 has a rhombus cross section. The span in the cross-sectional shape of the tube 12 in the vertical direction and the horizontal direction is wide, and it is easy to secure the strength. In addition, by using the top of the rhombus, it is easy to install a stay or the like to which the cover 45 is attached.

  In the fuel tank arrangement structure, the main frame 11 has front and rear stays 53 and 54 extending between the tubes 12 and 13, and the inner part of the fuel tank 34 is attached to the front and rear stays 53 and 54. The mounting location of the fuel tank 34 is not exposed to the outside of the vehicle body, and the appearance of the motorcycle 1 can be improved.

In addition, this invention is not restricted to the said Example, For example, the main frame 11 may consist of three or more frame members up and down. Further, a frame member other than the top tube 12 (upper frame member) may have a rhombus cross section. Furthermore, a part or all of the storage space 41 may be used as an article storage unit other than the auxiliary machine. Furthermore, the inner part of the fuel tank 34 may be coupled to the main frame 11 by contacting the main frame 11 in the vertical direction or the front-rear direction, or may be coupled by contacting with the inclined surface.
And the structure in the said Example is an example of this invention, and it does not deviate from the summary of this invention of course that arrangement | positioning of a fuel tank and accommodation space may be replaced by right and left, and it may apply to vehicles other than a motorcycle. It goes without saying that various changes can be made within the range.

1 is a side view of a motorcycle according to an embodiment of the present invention. It is A arrow directional view of FIG. It is BB sectional drawing of FIG. It is a side view of the main frame of the motorcycle.

Explanation of symbols

1 Motorcycle (vehicle)
2 Front wheel 6 Head pipe 11 Main frame 12 Top tube (frame member)
13 Down tube (frame member)
34 Fuel tank 41 Storage space 42 Electrical parts (auxiliary equipment)
43 Air cleaner box (auxiliary machine)
44 Battery (auxiliary machine)
53 Previous Stay
54 Rear Stay (Stay)

Claims (4)

In a fuel tank arrangement structure for a vehicle comprising a head pipe pivotally supporting a front wheel and a main frame extending rearward from the head pipe, a fuel tank is arranged on one side of the main frame, and A fuel tank arrangement structure characterized in that the side is an accommodation space. The fuel tank arrangement structure according to claim 1, wherein an auxiliary machine is arranged in the accommodation space. 3. The fuel tank arrangement structure according to claim 1, wherein the main frame includes at least two upper and lower frame members, and at least one cross section of each of the frame members is formed into a rhombus. . 4. The fuel tank arrangement structure according to claim 3, wherein the main frame has a stay extending between the frame members, and an inner portion of the fuel tank is attached to the stay.

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