FORM -2
THE PATENTS ACT, 1970
(39 of 1970)
&
THE PATENTS RULES, 2003
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION
(See Section 10; rule 13)
AN IMPROVED FUEL TANK ASSEMBLY FOR A TWO WHEELED VEHICLE
MAHINDRA TWO WHEELERS LIMITED,
An Indian Company, of Dl Block, Plot No. 18/2 (Part), MIDC, Chinchwad,
Pune-411019 Maharashtra, India.
THE FOLLOWING SPECIFICATION PARTICULARLY DESCRIBES THE INVENTION AND THE MANNER IN WHICH IT IS TO BE PERFORMED.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to two wheeled vehicles and more specifically to a fuel tank assembly for storage and supply of fuel on demand to the internal combustion engine and adapted to receive the fuel dispenser during a refueling event.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
In motorized two wheeled vehicles like scooters and motorcycles, there is provided a hermitically secured fuel tank for storage and delivery of liquid fuels like petrol
*
on board. Owing to packaging constraints, the fuel tanks are typically designed to occupy lesser space and are therefore smaller in size. The smaller size of the fuel tanks in two wheeled vehicles will therefore have reduced storage capacities necessitating frequent refuelling. During a refuelling event, the fuel tank is accessed by removing a cap covering the inlet and a fuel dispenser in the form of a pipe or a barrel is introduced into the fuel tank for transferring the liquefied fuel. The fuel tank besides storing fuel also houses other sensitive components like fuel level sender, fuel filter, fuel pump, and outlets. As the fuel dispenser advances further into the fuel tank, a portion of the fuel dispenser comes in physical contact with the aforementioned components leading to fouling and subsequent damage of these components.
On the other hand, placing the fuel dispenser closer to the inlet and not introducing it optimally into the fuel tank leads to undesirable splash and evaporative losses.

The way to dispense fuel optimally during a refuelling event, is therefore a subject of human skill and experiential knowledge that are prone to inaccuracies in the absence of a suitable mechanism to regulate the travel of fuel dispenser inside the fuel tank.
Attempts have been made in the past to contain the problem of component fouling inside the fuel tank by way of providing a hinged and spring biased plate on an end portion of an inlet covering the inlet passage. The plate is designed to partially obstruct the movement of the fuel dispenser well into the fuel tank thereby saving the components from physical damage. As the plate is spring biased, frequent refuelling events will affect the biasing properties of the spring making way for increased penetration of the fuel dispenser damaging the fuel level sender and other such sensitive components located inside the fuel tank. There is a strong felt need for an improved fuel tank assembly that overcomes the drawbacks associated with the known fuel tank assemblies.
OBJECTS OF THE INVENTION
It is therefore the object of the present invention to provide a fuel tank assembly that is capable of limiting the travel of a fuel dispenser during a refuelling event.
It is another object of the present invention to provide a fuel tank assembly that effectively prevents the fuel dispenser from contacting sensitive components inside the fuel tank during a refuelling event.

It is another object of the present invention to provide a fuel tank assembly that effectively insulates fuel level sender, fuel filter, and outlet from the impact caused by the fuel dispenser during a refuelling event.
It is also an object of the present invention to reduce losses due to splash and evaporation during a refuelling event.
It is yet another object of the present invention to provide a cost effective solution to restrict the fuel dispenser from excessively advancing into the fuel tank during a refuelling event.
It is also an object of the present invention to provide a fuel tank assembly that is easy to manufacture, durable and maintenance free.
It is another object of the present invention to provide a fuel tank assembly that can effectively withstand the impact caused by the fuel dispenser during a refuelling event.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
A fuel tank assembly mounted on a two wheeled vehicle for storage and supply of fuel on demand to an internal combustion engine is disclosed in the present invention. The fuel tank assembly is adapted to receive a fuel dispenser during a refuelling event for transferring the fuel from a fuel filling station. The fuel tank assembly comprises an enclosure for storing the fuel, an inlet for allowing ingress of the fuel dispensed through the fuel dispenser, an outlet for allowing egress of the

fuel to be delivered to the engine, a fuel level sender located inside the enclosure for sensing level of the fuel, a fuel filter connected to the outlet and used for separating impurities from the fuel, and a guide tube disposed inside the inlet. The guide tube comprises an externally flanged end locating with the inlet, and a free end opposing the externally flanged end and having at least a pair of stoppers radially spaced apart so as to restrict travel of the fuel dispenser beyond a predetermined distance inside the enclosure such that the fuel level sender, the fuel filter, and the outlet remain physically separated from the fuel dispenser.
The guide tube is of a cylindrical configuration. The stoppers are projections tending inwardly of the guide tube.
The stoppers are located opposing each other. The stoppers are radially spaced apart by an angle of 120 degrees.
The stoppers are integrally moulded on the guide tube. It is also envisaged to attach stoppers on the guide tube either by means of a fastener or an adhesive.
A two wheeled vehicle having a fuel tank assembly for storage and supply of fuel on demand to an internal combustion engine, and adapted to receive a fuel dispenser is also disclosed.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
The fuel tank assembly of the present disclosure will now be described with the help of accompanying drawings in which:

Figure 1 illustrates a schematic representation of a two wheeled vehicle having a frame, internal combustion engine and a fuel tank assembly.
Figure 2 illustrates a sectional view of the fuel tank assembly.
Figure 3 A illustrates perspective view of the guide tube.
Figure 3B illustrates a guide tube with stoppers as viewed from the top.
Figure 4A illustrates a sectional view of the fuel tank assembly with the stoppers operatively restricting the fuel dispenser.
Figure 4B illustrates a top sectional view of the fuel tank assembly with the stoppers operatively restricting the fuel dispenser.
Figure 5 A illustrates perspective view of the alternative guide tube.
Figure 5B illustrates an alternative guide tube with stoppers as viewed from the top.
Figure 6 illustrates a sectional view of the alternative fuel tank assembly with the stoppers operatively restricting the fuel dispenser.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
Hereinafter the invention will be described in more detail with reference to an embodiment of the present invention.

Referring to Figure 1, there is shown a two wheeled vehicle 10 having an internal combustion engine 12 mounted on a frame 14. The frame 14 extends from an operative front end to an operative rear end of the two wheeled vehicle 10. The frame 14 as well as a multitude of other components securely mounted on the frame 14 are enclosed by a plurality of body covers 16 thereby bringing the much needed aesthetic appeal to the two wheeled vehicle 10. There is provided a fuel tank assembly 20 on the operative rear end of the vehicle 10. The fuel tank assembly 20 is imperative for storage and supply of fuel on demand to the internal combustion engine 12.
The fuel tank assembly 20 comprises an enclosure 22, an inlet 24, an outlet 26, a fuel level sender 28, a fuel filter 29, and a guide tube 30 as shown in Figure 2. There is also provided a locating portion P on the inlet 24. Locking means L in the form of threading are provided on the outer side of the inlet 24.
Further constructional details of guide tube 30 will be explained with specific reference to Figure 3A and Figure 3B. The guide tube 30 is of cylindrical configuration. The guide tube 30 comprises a flanged end 32 having one or more flanges F, and a free end 34 having at least a pair of stoppers 36.
The interrelationship among various elements of the invention outlined so far will hereinafter be explained with reference once again to Figure 2, Figure 3A and Figure 3B. The locking means L on the inlet 24 mate with the threading on the fuel tank cap (not shown) thereby preventing the ingress of dust and egress of the fuel through the inlet 24 communicating with the enclosure 22 of the fuel tank assembly

20. The fuel level sender 28 having a float O is suspended from the upper ceiling of the enclosure 22. The fuel filter 29 provided inside the enclosure 22 is in fluid communication with the outlet 26 allowing the fuel to reach the outlet 26 after passing through the fuel filter 29. The outlet 26 provided on the floor of the enclosure 22 enables the delivery of the fuel by virtue of gravity to the internal combustion engine 12. The flanges F are located external to the guide tube 30. As shown in Figure 2, the guide tube 30 is disposed inside the inlet 24. The locating portion P is provided on the inner side of the inlet 24. The flange F provided on the guide tube 30 firmly locates within the locating portion P provided on the inner side of the inlet 24 so as to tightly secure the guide tube 30 inside the inlet 24 such that the guide tube 30 is located coaxial to the inlet 24. As the flange F locks against the locating portion P, the free end 34 of the guide tube 30 projects into the enclosure 22 where the fuel is stored. The stoppers 36 provided on the free end 34 of the guide tube 30 are radially spaced apart. In the current embodiment, the stoppers 36 are located opposing each other such that the stoppers 36 are radially spaced apart by an angle of 180 degrees. It is envisaged to configure the stoppers 36 as projections extending inwardly of the guide tube 30. The stoppers 36 can be formed into a variety of geometrical constructs of regular and irregular shapes.
The working of the invention will hereinafter be described in detail with reference to Figures 4A and 4B. During a refilling event, the fuel tank assembly 20 is accessed by swiveling or removing the saddle (not shown) of the two wheeled vehicle 10. Access to the inlet 24 is gained by unlocking the fuel tank cap (not shown). The fuel dispenser 40 is introduced into the enclosure 22 through the inlet

24. As the guide tube 30 is coaxially located with the inlet 24, the fuel dispenser 40 enters the guide tube 30 through the flanged end 32. The fuel dispenser 40 advances inside the guide tube and travels towards the free end 34 till the tip of the fuel dispenser 40 comes in physical contact with the stoppers 36. The size of the stoppers 36 is so designed to maintain the cross sectional area of the opening on the free end below or lesser than the cross sectional area of the tip of the fuel dispenser 40. Such an arrangement restricts the travel of the fuel dispenser 40 beyond a predetermined distance inside the enclosure 22. The distance of travel of the fuel dispenser 40 inside the enclosure 22 is determined based on the position of the stoppers 36 inside the guide tube 30.
In an alternative embodiment as shown in Figure 5A and Figure 5B, there is provided a fuel tank assembly 201 with a fuel tank inlet 24l The free end 341 of the guide tube 301 is provided with at least three stoppers 361. In a preferred way, the stoppers 36' are radially spaced apart by an angle of 120 degrees. The material on the free end 34' interspersed between one stopper 36' and its adjoining stopper 36' is removed so as to optimize the overall weight of the guide tube 34' besides reducing the cost of molding. In a preferred way, the stoppers 361 are integrally molded on the free end 341 of the guide tube 30'. It is also envisaged to attach stoppers 361 on the free end 34' of the guide tube 301 by means of a fastener .or an adhesive. It is to be noted that the cross sectional area of the opening on the free end 341 formed in between the stoppers 361 is lesser than the cross sectional area of the fuel dispenser 401. Such an arrangement restricts the travel of the fuel dispenser 40' beyond a predetermined distance inside the enclosure 22' during a refueling

event as shown in Figure 6. The distance of travel of the fuel dispenser 40' inside the enclosure 221 is determined based on the position of the stoppers 361 inside the guide tube 30l The problem of splash is avoided due to minimal obstruction created by the stoppers 361 to the flow of fuel from the fuel dispenser 401 during a refueling event.
TECHNICAL ADVANTAGES AND ECONOMIC
SIGNIFICANCE
The proposed fuel tank assembly mounted on the two wheeled vehicle for storage and supply of fuel on demand to the internal combustion engine and adapted to receive the fuel dispenser during a refuelling event has several technical as well as commercial advantages including but not limited to the realization of:
A fuel tank assembly that is capable of limiting the travel of a fuel dispenser during a refuelling event.
A fuel tank assembly that effectively prevents the fuel dispenser from contacting sensitive components inside the fuel tank during a refuelling event.
A fuel tank assembly that effectively insulates fuel level sender, fuel filter and outlet from the impact caused by the fuel dispenser during a refuelling event.
A fuel tank assembly that reduces losses due to splash and evaporation during a refuelling event.

A cost effective solution that restricts the fuel dispenser from excessively advancing into the fuel tank during a refuelling event.
A fuel tank assembly that is easy to manufacture, durable and maintenance free.
A fuel tank assembly that can effectively withstand the impact caused by the fuel dispenser during a refuelling event.
Certain modifications and improvements in the proposed invention will become readily apparent to a person of ordinary skill in the art. Such changes must be treated as equivalents to the elements of the present invention. Conceivable changes, modifications and improvements in the claimed invention by the use of substitutes and alternatives in terms of material, method, manufacturing process, configuration, arrangement, duplication etc., will render them fall very well within the scope of the claimed invention.

WE CLAIM:
1. A fuel tank assembly mounted on a two wheeled vehicle for storage and supply
of fuel on demand to an internal combustion engine, and adapted to receive a
fuel dispenser during a refueling event, said fuel tank assembly comprising:
- an enclosure for storing said fuel;
- an inlet for allowing ingress of said fuel dispensed through said fuel dispenser;
- a fuel filter for separating impurities from said fuel;
- an outlet for allowing egress of said fuel to be delivered to said engine;
- a fuel level sender located inside said enclosure for sensing level of said fuel;
- a guide tube disposed inside said inlet;
wherein said guide tube comprises an externally flanged end locating with said inlet, and a free end opposing said externally flanged end and having at least a pair of stoppers radially spaced apart so as to restrict travel of said fuel dispenser beyond a predetermined distance inside said enclosure such that said fuel level sender, said fuel filter, and said outlet remain physically separated from said fuel dispenser.
2. The fuel tank assembly of claim 1, wherein said guide tube is of cylindrical
configuration.

3. The fuel tank assembly of claim 1, wherein said stoppers are projections tending inwardly of said guide tube.
4. The fuel tank assembly of claim 1, wherein said stoppers are located opposing each other.
5. The fuel tank assembly of claim 1, wherein said stoppers are radially spaced apart by an angle of 120 degrees.
6. The fuel tank assembly of claim 1, wherein said stoppers are integrally molded on said guide tube.
7. A two wheeled vehicle having a fuel tank assembly for storage and supply of fuel on demand to an internal combustion engine, and adapted to receive a fuel dispenser as claimed in claim 1.