JPH0335149B2 - - Google Patents

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION The present invention relates to a motorcycle equipped with a sub-fuel tank.

Conventional motorcycles have a V-type engine with cylinders arranged in a V-shape, mounted horizontally on the vehicle body (i.e.
There is one that is attached to the cylinder (the cylinder arrangement looks V-shaped when viewed from the side of the vehicle). In motorcycles with a horizontally mounted V-type engine, if intake system equipment such as a surge tank or air purifier is installed behind the V-type engine, the distance between the front and rear wheels will increase. If the intake system equipment is installed above the V-type engine, the vehicle height will increase and driving stability will deteriorate.

The problem to be solved by this invention is to effectively utilize dead space on the body structure of a motorcycle with a horizontally mounted V-type engine, without increasing the distance between the front wheels and the rear wheels or the height of the vehicle. An object of the present invention is to provide a motorcycle equipped with a sub-fuel tank in which the fuel storage capacity of the fuel tank is increased.

The structure of the present invention is that in a motorcycle in which a V-type engine is installed horizontally on a vehicle body, a main fuel tank having a recessed portion formed in the center of the lower side is mounted on a tank rail of a vehicle body frame, and the recessed portion of the main fuel tank is mounted on a tank rail of a vehicle body frame. A surge tank communicating with an air purifier is housed in the V-type engine, and an intake pipe extending straight upward from the corresponding surface of each cylinder of the V-type engine is connected to the surge tank. A sub-fuel tank, which has a substantially inverted triangular shape in side view, is installed between the rear of the engine and the front of the rear wheels, and the top of the sub-fuel tank is lower than the bottom of the main fuel tank, and the bottom of the sub-fuel tank is lower than the bottom of the main fuel tank. is lower than the intake pipe, the upper part of the sub-fuel tank is connected to the bottom of the main fuel tank, and a pipe for supplying fuel to the engine is connected to a fuel tank provided at the bottom of the sub-fuel tank. This feature is found in motorcycles equipped with a sub-fuel tank.

Hereinafter, preferred embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail using the accompanying drawings.

First, a first embodiment of the present invention will be described using FIGS. 1 to 5.

10 is a main frame, and this main frame 10 includes a steering head pipe 12, and a pair of left and right upper tubes 14 and lower tubes 16 (only one of which is shown in FIG. 1). The first half of the upper tube 14 constitutes a tank rail 14a, and the second half is bent downward into a fishhook shape. 18 is a V-type engine placed front and rear (horizontal);
is the lower tube 16 passing on both left and right sides thereof,
It is supported by the lower end 14b of the upper tube 14. Note that 20 is a front wheel, and 22 is a rear wheel.

Reference numeral 24 denotes a main fuel tank, and the main fuel tank 24 is supported on the back side of the front part between the pair of tank rails 14a (only one is shown in the figure). 1
It bulges downward from between 4a. A recess 25 is formed on the rear back surface of the main fuel tank 24.
A surge tank 26 is disposed in this recess 25. Intake pipes 28, 28 of the engine 18 extend upward from opposing surfaces of each cylinder, and upper ends of the intake pipes 28, 28 are connected to the surge tank 26. 30 is an air cleaner located between each intake pipe 28, 28.

Reference numeral 40 denotes a seat support frame, which is constructed so that its side surfaces are approximately horizontally elongated and inverted triangular. The seat support frame 40 is formed such that its front lower oblique side follows the rear part of the upper tube 14, and is detachably attached to the upper tube 14. A vertically long seat 42 is mounted on the seat support frame 40. Further, a rear fender 44 is attached to the lower part of the rear part of the seat support frame 40, and a tail light 46 is attached to the rear surface of the rear part.

As is clear from FIGS. 2 and 4, the seat support frame 40 has a monocot structure with a closed cross-section. That is, it includes an inner bottom plate 48 that is bent to have an inverted U-shaped cross section, and an outer plate 50 that is bent to cover the outside of this inner bottom plate 48.
The lower peripheral edges 48' and 50' of 8 and 50 are welded together to form a substantially monabar shape. Recesses 52, 52 recessed toward the closed cross-section side are provided on both left and right side surfaces of the outer panel 50.
are formed, and these recesses 52, 52 function to increase the rigidity of the outer panel 50. Further, the inner surface of the inner bottom plate 48, which has an inverted U-shaped cross section, is located opposite to the rear wheels, and also functions as the front part of the rear friender.

A pair of left and right brackets 54, 54 (FIGS. 2 and 3) are welded to the front apexes of the inverted triangle formed by the outer panel 50, and a pair of left and right brackets 56 are welded to the lower apexes of the outer panel 50. , 56 are welded thereto, and small pipes 58, 60 are welded to each of these brackets 54, 56, respectively. The seat support frame 40 is removably attached to the bracket fixed to the upper tube 14 of the main frame 10 as described above by bolts (not shown) passing through the through holes of these small pipes 58, 60. ing.

As is clear from FIG. 4, the upper surface 62 of the outer panel 50 also serves as a part of the bottom plate of the seat 42. That is, the outer panel 52 has stepped portions 6 on both left and right upper edges.
4 and 64 are formed, and a sheet edge plate 66 formed to extend to the left and right of the upper surface 62 above the stepped portions 64 and 64 is welded to the upper surface 62 of the outer panel 50 66',
66'. In other words, the seat edge plate 66
The center portion of the seat 42 is cut out, and the top surface 62 and the seat edge plate 66 form the bottom plate of the seat 42. The bottom plate formed in this manner is covered with an outer skin 70 with the cushion material 68 sandwiched therebetween.
is locked to the edge of the seat edge plate 66 so as to wrap around the edge of the seat edge plate 66.

The inner bottom plate 48 and the outer plate 50 are welded at their edges 48', 50', and the closed spaces 72, 72 formed between these plates 48, 50 are shown in FIGS. 2 and 4. As shown in FIG.

Closed space 72, 7 between inner bottom plate 48 and outer plate 50
2 constitutes a sub fuel tank. That is, as shown in FIG.
2 and the rear end of the main fuel tank 24 are communicated through a pipe 74. This closed space 7
A pipe 77 with a fuel tank 76 is attached to the bottom of the fuel tank 2, 72, and the fuel in the sub-fuel tank is supplied to the engine through this pipe 77.

In addition, in FIGS. 1 to 3, 78 is a handle welded to the rear end of the seat support frame 40.

Inner bottom plate 48 and outer plate 50 of this seat support frame 40
The closed space 72, 72 between the two can be used as it is as the sub fuel tank 72, but it is possible to install a synthetic resin tank formed by blow molding in this closed space to make the sub fuel tank 72 more liquid-tight. It can also be used as a fuel tank.

FIG. 6 is a cross-sectional view of a second embodiment in which a synthetic resin tank formed by blow molding as described above is installed. A sub-fuel tank 82 made of synthetic resin is fitted through the elastic material 80, and the edge 48' of the inner bottom plate 48 and the edge 5 of the outer plate 50 are fitted together.
0', the synthetic resin sub-fuel tank 82 is held in a closed space. Therefore, the sub-fuel tank 82 is effectively protected from impact by the elastic material 80.

FIG. 7 shows a third embodiment of the present invention, in which sub-fuel tanks 84, 84 are formed separately on the left and right, and each is fitted into the space formed by the outer panel 50 via an elastic material 86. By fitting the end edge 48' of the inner bottom plate 48 and the end edge 50' of the outer plate 50, the sub-fuel tanks 84, 84 are held in the closed space. In addition, in FIGS. 6 and 7, the same parts as in FIG. 4 are given the same reference numerals, so the explanation thereof will be omitted.

In each of the above embodiments, the upper surface 6 of the outer panel 50
2 is used as the bottom plate of the seat 42, but it is also possible to configure the outer plate to be divided into left and right halves and connected by a single bottom plate.

FIG. 8 shows the fourth embodiment, 88
is the bottom plate of the sheet 42 made of one plate-like member, and 90 and 90 are a pair of left and right side plates constituting the outer plate. The upper edges of these side plates 90, 90 are connected to the bottom plate 88.
and is fixed to the lower edge 9 of the side plates 90, 90.
0' is fixed to the edge 48' of the inner bottom plate 48, a space 72 having a closed cross section and serving as a sub-fuel tank is formed within the seat support frame 40. According to this embodiment, the side plates 90, 90 can be easily press-molded, resulting in improved productivity.

In FIG. 8, the same parts as in FIG. 4 are designated by the same reference numerals, and their explanation will be omitted.

Next, a fifth embodiment will be explained using FIGS. 9 to 12.

This fifth embodiment, like the fourth embodiment shown in FIG. An article storage chamber 94 is formed inwardly of the closed cross section (see FIG. 10). This article storage chamber 94 includes, for example, CID
A unit (capacitor discharge type ignition device) 96 is housed therein, and a cover plate 98 is attached to this article storage chamber 94. That is, three small holes 100 (see FIG. 9) are formed in the article storage chamber 94, and annular elastic members 102 are fixed to each of these small holes 100 as shown in FIG. A protrusion 104 with a swollen tip is provided on the back surface of the plate 98 at a position facing the small hole 100. Therefore, when the protrusion 104 of the cover plate 98 is aligned with the small hole 100 and pushed in, the protrusion 104 deforms the elastic material 102, the protrusion 104 penetrates the elastic material 102, and the cover plate 98 becomes as shown in FIG. It is fixed in the state shown in .

Note that the seat support frame 40 in this embodiment
is attached to the main frame 10 so as to open upward. That is, as shown in FIGS. 9 and 11, a stay 106 having a U-shaped cross section is fixed to the front end of the offer plate 48.
The front end of 06 is connected to the pair of left and right tank rails 14.
It is rotatably supported by a bracket 110 welded to a cross pipe 108 extending between a. Further, in FIG. 9, 112 is a cross pipe extending between the upper tubes 14, and 114 is a catch provided on the seat support frame 40.
14 is in contact with the cross pipe 112 when the seat support frame 40 is lowered, and the seat support frame 40
It is used for positioning.

In FIGS. 9 and 10, 116 is a locking mechanism. This locking mechanism 116 includes an upper bracket 118 having a U-shaped cross section that is welded to the lower end of the seat support frame 40, and a lower bracket 120 that enters between the U-shaped portion of the upper bracket 118 that is welded to the upper tube 14. , a latch 122 welded to the upper bracket 118, and a lower bracket 120.
a lock ring 12 that is attached to a lock lever 124 rotatably supported on a shaft and engaged with the latch 122;
6. And lock lever 124
9 and 10, the lock ring 126 crosses the pivot point, that is, the pivot point of the lock lever 124, and the upper bracket 118 and lower bracket 120 are locked, and the seat support frame is rotated. 40 is locked in the lowered position. As shown in FIG. 10, an elastic material 128 is loaded inside the upper bracket 118, and when the bracket is locked, the elastic material 128 is interposed between the upper bracket 118 and the lower bracket 120 to maintain the locked state. It's summery.

In the above description of the fifth embodiment, nothing was explained about the structure inside the closed space of the seat support frame 40, but it is possible to hold a sub-fuel tank as shown in FIG. 7 in the closed space. If so, the closed space becomes a sub-fuel tank.
This will be clear to those skilled in the art.

In FIGS. 9 to 12, the same parts as in the embodiment shown in FIGS. 1 to 8 are given the same reference numerals, and their explanations will be omitted.

The present invention provides the following effects (a) to (e).

(a) Since the surge tank is housed in the recess of the main fuel tank, the main fuel tank can be lowered even if the surge tank is installed above the V-type engine. At the same time, the space under the seat is effectively used to provide a sub-fuel tank, so even if the tank capacity is increased for long-distance drives, the main fuel tank will not become larger, making the entire motorcycle more compact. It can be done. Therefore, since the main fuel tank is not in the way, the rider can easily reach the steering wheel even when sitting upright, making long-distance drives easier.

(b) By lowering the main fuel tank and installing the sub-fuel tank under the seat, the entire motorcycle has a lower center of gravity and the weight is concentrated in the center, improving maneuverability.

(c) Fuel is supplied from the bottom to the top of the sub-fuel tank against gravity, so it is under pressure and is less likely to cause vapor lock in the pipe compared to a natural fall type supply.

(d) Since the intake pipes extend upward in a straight line from the corresponding surfaces of each cylinder of the V-type engine, the intake pipes can be easily routed, reducing intake resistance and improving output.

(e) Since the sub-fuel tank, which has an approximately inverted triangular shape when viewed from the side, is placed under the seat, the wind that hits the hypotenuse of the inverted triangle is guided downward, preventing hot air from hitting the rider. .

[Brief explanation of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a partially sectional side view of an embodiment of the invention of this application, FIG. 2 is a side view of the seat support frame and seat of the embodiment, with only the seat portion of the embodiment sectioned, and FIG. 3 4 is a plan view of the seat support frame with the seat removed, FIG. 4 is a sectional view taken along the - line in FIG. 2, and FIG. 5 is a - line in FIG. 2.
6, 7, and 8 are cross-sectional views showing the same parts as FIG. 4 of other embodiments;
10 is a sectional view taken along the - line in FIG. 9, FIG. 11 is a sectional view taken along the line XI--XI in FIG. 9, and FIG. FIG. 12 is a sectional view taken along line XII-XII in FIG. 9. In the figure, 10 is a main frame, 14a is a tank rail, 22 is a rear wheel, 24 is a main fuel tank, 40 is a seat support frame, 42 is a seat, 6
2 is the upper surface of the outer plate forming the seat bottom plate, 72, 8
2 and 84 are sub fuel tanks, 74 is a pipe,
88 is a bottom plate of the seat, and 94 is an article storage chamber.

Claims (1)

[Claims] 1. In a motorcycle with a V-type engine installed horizontally on the body, the main fuel tank with a recess formed in the center of the lower side is mounted on the tank rail of the body frame, and the air purifier is installed in the recess of the main fuel tank. A communicating surge tank is housed, and an intake pipe extending upward in a straight line from the corresponding surface of each cylinder of the V-type engine is connected to the surge tank, and the intake pipe is connected to the rear of the V-type engine below the seat. A sub-fuel tank having a substantially inverted triangular shape in side view is disposed between the front of the rear wheels, the upper part of the sub-fuel tank is lower than the lower part of the main fuel tank, and the bottom of the sub-fuel tank is lower than the intake pipe. The sub-fuel tank is lowered so that the upper part of the sub-fuel tank communicates with the bottom part of the main fuel tank, and a pipe for supplying fuel to the engine is connected to a fuel tank provided at the bottom of the sub-fuel tank. A motorcycle with a tank.