FUEL LID DEVICE FOR MOTORCYCLES Brief Description of the Drawings Figure 1 is a side view of a motorcycle that includes a fuel cap apparatus according to the invention. Figure 2 is an enlarged view of Figure 1 seen in the direction indicated by an arrow 2. Figure 3 is a cross-sectional view taken along line 3-3 in Figure 2. Figure 4 is a cross-sectional view taken along line 4-4 in Figure 3. Figure 5 is a cross-sectional view taken along line 5-5 in Figure 4. Figure 6 is a drawing corresponding to Figure 3, showing a state in which the fuel cap is opened. Figure 7 is a cross-sectional view taken along line 7-7 in Figure 6. Detailed Description of the Invention Technical Field of the Invention The present invention relates to an improvement of a fuel cap apparatus for a motorcycle. which includes a fuel filler window formed in a chassis cover to cover a fuel tank, the fuel filler window exposing a fuel tank fuel filler port supported by a chassis frame of the vehicle through there , a fuel cap for opening and closing the fuel filling window and a locking mechanism for immobilizing the fuel cap in the closed position. Description of the Prior Art In a fuel cap apparatus for a motorcycle in the related art, as disclosed in Patent Document 1, for example, a fuel cap formed of synthetic resin is directly hinged to a chassis cover formed of synthetic resin and an immobilization mechanism is built between the fuel cap and the chassis cover. Patent Document 1 of Japanese Utility Model, Registration Number 2,536,622. Problems Resolving the Invention In this fuel cap apparatus for a motorcycle, it is necessary to ensure sufficient rigidity in a hinge support section and immobilization mechanism in order to prevent the fuel cap from opening by tampering. Therefore, in the fuel cap apparatus in the related art, the thickness of the chassis cover and the fuel cap formed of synthetic resin is relatively thick to ensure rigidity of the support section. However, molding them in a greater thickness causes the increase in weight or costs. In view of these circumstances, an object of the invention is to provide the fuel cap apparatus for a motorcycle which can ensure sufficient stiffness in the support section of the hinge and the immobilization mechanism and the opening of the cap can be prevented. of fuel by improper handling without increasing the thickness of the chassis cover and the fuel cap. Means for Solving Problems In order to achieve the objective described above, in the fuel cap apparatus for a motorcycle including a fuel filling window formed in the chassis cover to cover a fuel tank, the fuel filling window of the fuel by exposing a fuel filler port of the fuel tank supported by a chassis frame of the vehicle through there, the fuel cap to open and close the fuel filler window and the immobilization mechanism to immobilize the fuel cap in the closed position, the first feature of the invention is that a reinforcing member is connected to an inner surface of the fuel cap to improve its rigidity, the reinforcing member is hinged by the chassis frame of the vehicle so that it can be opened and closed and the immobilization mechanism is built between the reinforcing member and the frame or of the vehicle's chassis. According to the first feature, since the stiffness of the fuel cap is increased by the reinforcing member, the deformation of the fuel cap can be limited to a small degree even when an external force is exerted on it and since the reinforcing member and the mechanism of Immobilization are firmly supported on the chassis side of the vehicle chassis and the chassis cover is not involved at all in its support, the fuel cap can keep the tank cap covered normally and prevent a tank lid from opening even When the chassis cover is deformed by improper handling. Because of these reasons, the thickness of the chassis cover and the fuel cap can be reduced and, therefore, the weight and cost can be reduced. In addition to the first feature, the second feature of the invention is that the fuel cap is formed of synthetic resin and the reinforcing member that will be fixed thereto is hinged to one end of a highly rigid base, which is attached to the frame. of the vehicle chassis and the immobilization mechanism is constructed between the other end of the base and the reinforcing member. According to the second characteristic, it is possible to build a fuel cap unit by assembling the fuel cap and the immobilization mechanism to the common base, which is fixed to the chassis frame of the vehicle, by means of which the capacity of assembly is improved. In addition to the first or second feature, the third feature of the invention is that the fuel tank is arranged so that its bottom is beneath a step floor of a scooter-type motorcycle and a chassis cover formed with the window of fuel filling is arranged in the center of the stirrup floor. According to the third feature, since the fuel tank is disposed below the step floor, the center of gravity of the motorcycle can be lowered and even when a user steps on the chassis cover or the fuel cap, opening can be prevented unintentional of the fuel cap. Mode for Carrying Out the Invention One embodiment of the invention will be described based on an example of the invention shown in the accompanying drawings. Figure 1 is a side view of a motorcycle including a fuel cap apparatus according to the invention; Figure 2 is an enlarged view of Figure 1 observed in the direction indicated by an arrow 2; Figure 3 is a cross-sectional view taken along line 3-3 in Figure 2; Figure 4 is a cross-sectional view taken along line 4-4 in Figure 3; Figure 5 is a cross-sectional view taken along the line 5-5 in Figure 4; Figure 6 is a drawing corresponding to Figure 3, showing a state in which the fuel cap is opened; Figure 7 is a cross-sectional view taken along line 7-7 in Figure 6. In the description given below, the terms "forward (a)", "rear (a)", "left (a)" and "right (a)" represent addresses based on a motorcycle S. In Figure 1 and Figure 2, a chassis frame of the vehicle 1 of the motorcycle type S includes an inlet conduit lh to support in an adjustable manner a front fork 9, a main frame lm extending backwards from the end lower of the arrival pipe lh and which is bifurcated from the middle section towards the rear end, a pair of U-shaped frames ls, ls on the left and right side, welded at the front and rear ends thereof to the lateral surface of the lower end of the arrival duct Ih and the lateral surface of the middle section of the main frame lm and diverted downwards from the main frame lm. A fuel tank 2 and a pair of running boards 3, 3 protruding from the fuel tank 2 towards the left and right sides are mounted on the frames Is, Is on the left and right side and a cover of the chassis 4 formed of resin Synthetic is connected between both footboard floors 3, 3 to cover the front portion of the main frame lm and the fuel tank 2 in a tunnel shape. In this case, the fuel tank 2 is arranged in such a way that the bottom is located below the step floors 3, 3 in order to lower the center of gravity of the motorcycle S.
A tubular fuel filling port 6 of the fuel tank 2, in which a tank cover 5 is screwed, is arranged on one side of the upper surface of the fuel tank 2 to avoid interference with the main frame lm and a Fuel filling window 7 opening to the fuel filling port 6 is formed in the cover of the chassis 4. The fuel filling window 7 is provided with a fuel cover 8 formed of synthetic resin to open and close the fuel. same As shown in Figure 3 to Figure 5, the fuel cap 8 is integrally formed with a plurality of flanges 8a, 8a on its rear surface and a reinforcing member 10 formed of a steel plate to reinforce the fuel cap 8. is connected to the flanges 8a, 8a with screws 11, 11. The main frame lm is integrally connected with a mounting seat 12 on one side with welding and a highly rigid base 13 formed of a steel plate is fixed to the mounting seat 12 with a plurality of bolts 14, 14 and nuts 15, 15. The nuts 15, 15 are welding nuts, which are already welded in advance to the mounting seat 12. The base 13 includes a front end portion.
13a and a rear end portion 13b bent to sandwich the fuel filling port 6 on one side thereof from the front and rear and a hinge shaft 16 is attached to the front end portion 13a. A hinge arm 17, which is integrally connected to one end of the reinforcing member 10, is supported rotatably by the hinge shaft 16. When the hinge arm 17 rotates about the hinge axis 16, the fuel cap 8 rotates between a closed position C (see Figure 3 and Figure 4) where the fuel filling window 7 is closed and an open position 0 where the fuel filling window 7 is open (see Figure 6 and Figure 7) ). An opening spring 18, being a spiral torsion spring, for pushing the hinge arm 17 in the direction to open the fuel cap 8, is installed on the hinge shaft 16. A U-shaped angular latch 20 which The downwardly projecting protrusion is fixed to the other end of the reinforcing member 10. A base plate 22 of a latch nose 21 for immobilizing the fuel cap 8 in its closed position C in cooperation with the latch 20 is secured to the rear end portion. 13b of the base 13 with a plurality of bolts 23, 23. The latch 20 and the latch nose 21 constitute the immobilization mechanism 19. The latch nose 21 is known in the related art and includes the base plate 22 having a U-shaped slit 25 for receiving the latch 20 and an immobilizing hook member 26 rotatably hinged by the base plate 22 to hold the latch 20 in cooperation with the slit 25 in shape U. The immobilizing hook member 26 is urged by the spring in the locking direction to hold the latch 20 and is connected to the operating wire 27 so as to rotate in the unlocking direction to release the latch 20 by pulling the wire. of operation 27. The operating wire 27 is locked with a combined switch (not shown), which is operated by a motor key, in order to be pulled when the switch is operated to a predetermined position of OPEN FUEL COVER . Therefore, the base 13 and the fuel cap 8 and the locking mechanism 19 attached thereto constitute a fuel cap unit 28 and after the unit 28 is assembled, the base 13 is secure in the seat of the vehicle. assembly 12. The reinforcing member 10 faces the upper surface of the tank lid 5 when the fuel cap 8 is maintained in the closed position C and restricts the opening of the tank lid 5 by itself. Therefore, even when the fuel cap 8 is broken by some chance, the lid of the tank 5 is prevented from opening by tampering. In the drawing, the reference number 29 is a fuel tank attached to a neck portion of the fuel filling port 6 of the fuel tank 2 to receive fuel spilled from the fuel filling port 6 during filling and evacuation to a discharge pipe (not shown).
The operation of the present embodiment will be described. First, during the fuel supply to the fuel tank 2, the latch 20 is unlocked by operating the combined switch to a predetermined position of OPEN FUEL COVER by the engine key to pull the operating wire 27 and rotate the operating member. immobilizer hook 26 to the open position. Then, as shown in Figure 6 and Figure 7, the fuel cap 8 is opened and turned upwards by a pushing force of the opening spring 18, so that the fuel filling window 7 can be opened. When the tank lid 5 is removed from the fuel filling port 6, the fuel can be supplied to the fuel tank 2 from the fuel filling port 6 through the fuel filling window 7. After refueling, the latch 20 is received in the U-shaped slit 25 in the base plate 22 of the latch nose 21 and held by the immobilizing hook member 26 by placing the tank lid 5 in the fuel filling port 6 and closing the fuel cap 8 against the pushing force of the opening spring 18 as shown in Figure 3 and Figure 4 and the immobilization state is achieved.
Since the cap of the fuel 8 formed of synthetic resin has greater rigidity by the reinforcing member 10 secured on the rear surface thereof, when an external force is exerted, for example, when stepped on by the user, the deformation can be minimized. Further, since the hinge arm 17 which integrally continues to the reinforcing member 10 is hinged to the highly rigid base 13 secured to the main frame lm and the locking mechanism 19 is constructed between the base 13 and the reinforcing member 10, the cover of the chassis 4 having the fuel filling window 7 is not involved at all in the support of the fuel cap 8 and the locking mechanism 19 and therefore even when the cover of the chassis 4 is deformed by being stepped on by the user or by tampering, the unintentional opening of the fuel cap 8 can be prevented. Accordingly, the fuel cap 8 can keep the tank cover 5 covered normally and prevent the tank lid 5 from opening. Accordingly, the thickness of the chassis cover 4 and the fuel cap 8 can be reduced, which contributes to the reduction of weight and costs. The invention is not limited to the above-described embodiment and can be modified in various ways without departing from the scope of the invention.
Advantage of the Invention As described above, in a fuel cap apparatus for a motorcycle that includes a fuel filler window formed in the chassis cover to cover the fuel tank, the fuel filler window exposing the fuel port filling of fuel from the fuel tank supported by a frame of the vehicle chassis through there, a fuel cap to open and close the fuel filling window and a locking mechanism to immobilize the fuel cap in the closed position, The first feature of the invention is that the reinforcing member is connected to an inner surface of the fuel cap to improve its stiffness, the reinforcing member is articulated by the frame of the vehicle chassis so that it can be opened and closed and the immobilization mechanism it is constructed between the reinforcing member and the chassis frame of the vehicle. Therefore, since the rigidity of the fuel cap is increased by the reinforcing member, the deformation of the fuel cap can be limited to a small degree even when the external force is exerted therein and since the reinforcing member and the immobilization mechanism are firmly supported on the chassis side of the vehicle chassis and the chassis cover is not involved at all in its support, the fuel cap can keep the tank lid covered normally and prevent the tank lid from opening even when the chassis cover is deformed by tampering. Because of these reasons, the thickness of the chassis cover and the fuel cap can be reduced and, therefore, the weight and cost can be reduced. In addition to the first feature, the second feature of the invention is that the fuel cap is formed of synthetic resin and the reinforcing member that will be fixed thereto is hinged to one end of a highly rigid base, which is attached to the frame. of the vehicle chassis and the immobilization mechanism is constructed between the other end of the base and the reinforcing member. Therefore, it is possible to build the fuel cap unit by assembling the fuel cap and the locking mechanism to the common base, which is fixed to the frame of the vehicle chassis, by means of which the assembly capacity is improved . In addition to the first or second feature, the third feature of the invention is that the fuel tank is arranged so that its bottom is beneath the footboard of a scooter-type motorcycle and the chassis cover formed with the window of Fuel filling is arranged in the center of the stirrup floor. Therefore, the center of gravity of the motorcycle can be lowered and even when the user steps on the chassis cover or the fuel cap, the unintentional opening of the fuel cap can be prevented. Reference numbers 1 vehicle chassis frame 2 fuel tank 3 step floor 4 chassis cover 6 fuel filler port 7 fuel filler window 8 fuel filler 10 reinforcer member 13 base 19 locking mechanism C closed position a fuel cap O open position of a fuel cap 5 motorcycle