Claims:We claim:
1. A fuel tank (100) of a vehicle, said fuel tank (100) is characterized by
at least one partition (104) dividing said fuel tank (100) to a first chamber (106) to store and provide fuel to an engine of said vehicle and a second chamber (108) to store a battery (110).

2. The fuel tank (100) as claimed in claim 1, wherein said first chamber (106) and said second chamber (108) are accessed from at least one first lid (112).

3. The fuel tank (100) as claimed in claim 1, wherein said second chamber (108) is within said first chamber (106).

4. The fuel tank (100) as claimed in claim 1, wherein said vehicle is a two-wheeler.

5. The fuel tank (100) as claimed in claim 1, wherein said vehicle is a motorcycle (102) and said fuel tank (100) is positioned astride on a body frame of a motorcycle (102).

6. The fuel tank (100) as claimed in claim 1, wherein said vehicle is a scooter (202).

7. The fuel tank (100) as claimed in claim 1, wherein said vehicle is an electric hybrid vehicle.

8. The fuel tank (100) as claimed in claim 7, wherein said battery (110) provides electrical energy to drive an electric motor of said electric hybrid vehicle.

9. The fuel tank (100) as claimed in claim 1, wherein said fuel in said first chamber (106) is used to dissipate heat generated by said battery (110) in said second chamber (108).

10. The fuel tank (100) as claimed in claim 1, wherein said at least two chambers are modular.
, Description:
Field of the invention:
[0001] The present invention relates to a fuel tank of a vehicle and particularly relates to a fuel tank for an electric hybrid vehicle.

Background of the invention:
[0002] A patent literature 2530/CHE/2007 discloses a Bi-fuel two wheeler. The subject matter relates to a bi-fuel two-wheeler provided with a fuel tank cover assembly. The fuel tank cover assembly is disposed on the main frame structure of the bi-fuel two-wheeler, along the length of the frame structure. The fuel tank cover assembly houses a gaseous fuel tank, a battery, a liquid fuel tank, and a gas refill and regulation mechanism which includes a gas refill port, a pressure gauge, and preferably an emergency knob. The center cover therein, is detachably adapted to provide an easy access to the parts disposed underneath.

Brief description of the accompanying drawings:
[0003] An embodiment of the disclosure is described with reference to the following accompanying drawing,
[0004] Fig. 1 illustrates fuel tank of a vehicle, according to an embodiment of the present invention, and
[0005] Fig. 2 illustrates fuel tank of an electric hybrid vehicle, according to an embodiment of the present invention.

Detailed description of the embodiments:
[0006] Fig. 1 illustrates fuel tank of a vehicle, according to an embodiment of the present invention. The fuel tank 100 of the vehicle, is characterized by at least one partition 104 dividing the fuel tank 100 to a first chamber 106 to store and provide fuel to an engine of the vehicle and a second chamber 108 to store a battery 110. The first chamber 106 and the second chamber 108 are accessed from at least one lid such as a first lid 112. The partition 104 is such that the all sides of the battery 110 are in contact with wall of the partition 104, i.e. the partition 104 divides the fuel tank 100 to exactly enclose the battery 110. Alternatively, the partition 104 leaves free space between the wall and the all sides of the battery 110. The battery 110 is shown in slant line pattern. The vehicle is a motorcycle 102 and the fuel tank 100 is positioned astride on a body frame (not shown) of the motorcycle 102.

[0007] The Fig. 1 illustrates different embodiments of the fuel tank 100. The fuel tank 100 is shown in the longitudinal direction 1022. A first embodiment 1002 of the fuel tank 100 comprises the second chamber 108 on top of the first chamber 106. A second embodiment 1004 of the fuel tank 100 comprises the partition 104 enclosing the battery 110 towards an end of the fuel tank 100 which is in contact with a seat. Alternatively, the battery 110 is located at top center location of the fuel tank 100. A first lid 112 is shown. The first lid 112 when opened, enables to fill the fuel in the fuel tank 100. Alternatively, the first lid 112 allows the access to both, the second chamber 108 and the first chamber 106. Necessary structural changes are provided so that the fuel is guided to the first chamber 106, when being filled.

[0008] A third embodiment 1006 comprises the partition 104 towards one side, i.e. left of the fuel tank 100. A fourth embodiment 1008 comprises the partition 104 towards the right side of the fuel tank 100. The second lid 114 is shown for the third embodiment 1006 and the fourth embodiment 1008. In all the four embodiments, a second lid 114 (not shown in the first embodiment 1002 and the second embodiment 1004) is used to access the second chamber 108 for repair or replacement of battery 110. The battery 110 is secured with necessary clamps and fixtures, and thus is steady and stable within the compartment. The partition 104 need not be in a rectilinear shape as shown in the exemplary embodiments illustrated in Fig 1. It can also be in a curved shape similar to the shape of the fuel tank 100. The shape of the battery 100 can also be curved so that it gets accommodated well within the fuel tank 100 and maximum capacity can be obtained from the battery 100. Numerous other embodiments are also possible where the fuel tank 100 accommodates both the battery chamber 106 as well as the fuel chamber 108. Further, aesthetics of a two-wheeler is not changed or affected as per the fuel tank 100 of the present invention. The size and/or shape of the fuel tank 100 with or without the second chamber 108 is maintained similar to existing fuel tanks with minimal, necessary or no adjustments/modifications.

[0009] The existing fuel tank 100 is now shared between the fuel and the battery 110. The sharing of fuel tank 100 enables efficient heat dissipation of the battery 110 by the fuel. The vehicle is a two-wheeler. Alternatively, the vehicle is a scooter.

[0010] Fig. 2 illustrates fuel tank of an electric hybrid vehicle, according to an embodiment of the present invention. The battery 110 provides electrical energy to drive an electric motor of the electric hybrid vehicle. The electric hybrid vehicle shown in Fig. 2 is a scooter 202. The scooter 202 comprises a hybrid topology with an Internal Combustion Engine (not shown) and the electric motor (not shown). The fuel tank 100 is shown with two dotted box. Either of the one location is used for fuel storage. The two locations of fuel tank 100 is shown for better understanding and must not be understood in limiting sense. Similar to Fig. 1, the partition 104 divides the fuel tank 100 into a first chamber 106 and the second chamber 108. In a fifth embodiment 1010, the battery 110 is placed in the second chamber 108 at top center of the fuel tank 100. In the fifth embodiment 1010, the top figure illustrates a front view, the middle figure illustrates a top view and the bottom figure illustrates a side view. The second chamber 108 is within the first chamber 106.

[0011] A sixth embodiment 1012 shows the partition 104 to be a vertical plane dividing the fuel tank 100 in longitudinal direction. The top figure illustrates a front view and the bottom figure illustrates a top view. A seventh embodiment 1014 shows the partition 104 is a vertical plane dividing the fuel tank 100 in transverse direction of the vehicle. The top figure illustrates a top view and the bottom figure illustrates a side view. An eighth embodiment 1016 illustrates the partition 104 to be at a corner of the fuel tank 100. The figure in the eighth embodiment 1016 illustrates a front view. The partition 104 is not shown in the figure to make the Fig. 2 clear. Further, a first lid 112 is shown but not marked in the Figure to make the Fig. 2 clear.

[0012] In accordance to another embodiment of the present disclosure, the fuel in the first chamber 106 is used to dissipate heat generated by the battery 110 in the second chamber 108.

[0013] In accordance to yet another embodiment of the present invention, the second chamber 108 is within the first chamber 106. The at least two chambers are modular. By being modular, the first chamber 106 and the second chamber 108 are removable from each other and are standalone fuel tank 100 fixed to each other. The fuel tank 100 is designed in the shape and size of the fuel tanks 100 of the conventional two wheeler vehicles.

[0014] In accordance to an embodiment, the battery 110 supplies power to electrical components of a conventional vehicle with internal combustion engine. Alternatively, the battery 110 supplies power to the electric motor along with the other electrical components of the vehicle. In yet another alternative, the battery 110 supplies power to all the electrical components in a hybrid electric vehicle and also receives energy during recharging through engine on-board or the plug-in charging. The advantage of such a system is to enable efficient cooling system which increases the usable range of the battery (State of Charge) and hence allows use of smaller capacity battery 110 in place of traditionally oversized considering the safety buffer to compensate for increased temperature and deterioration due to it.

[0015] It should be understood that embodiments explained in the description above are only illustrative and do not limit the scope of this invention. Many such embodiments and other modifications and changes in the embodiment explained in the description are envisaged. The scope of the invention is only limited by the scope of the claims.