This invention relates to combined fuel and oil tanks for a motor vehicle.
A "motor vehicle'* in this specification means and includes two, three and four wheelers which contain a fuel tank and a separate oil tank.
A fuel tank is used to store and supply fuel to the engine. In a
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typical two stroke internal combustion^tbere is a requirement of oil to be mixed with fuel for lubrication. Presently, this is done with separate tanks secured independently on the frame or chassis, as two separate sub-systems.
The existing system has the following components:
1. Fuel tank with inlet and outlet
2. Fuel Tank Lid
3. Oil tank with inlet and outlet
4. Oil tank Lid
The fuel tank and oil tank are placed separately either in the engine compartment or in the cabin area. They are either welded or anchored individually to the chassis or body panels.
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The major drawback with the known system is that 1. It occupies more space (length, width and height) in the engine compartment or cabin area

2. it requires individual mounting fasteners and brackets
This invention, however, proposes combined fuel and oil tanks which are secured together without the use of fasteners, reducing assembly line time. The tanks are also easily detachable from one another for the purpose of cleaning and maintenance.
In the invention proposed herein: There is optim ised use of available space in the vehicle. Both fuel and oil tanks need only a single form of attachment. One of the tanks can accommodate one or more of the other tanks attached together.
Preferably the tanks are made of plastics, which are blow molded, injection molded or roto molded.
Various other features of this invention will be apparent from the following further description.
This invention will now be further described by reference to the accompanying drawings which illustrate by way of example, and not by way of limitation, two embodiments of this invention
Fig. 1 illustrating one embodiment and
Fig.2 illustrating the second embodiment
A first tank 1 for containing fuel has an inlet 2 and an outlet for draining the tank when required.
A second tank 3 for containing oil has an inlet 4 and an outlet for draining the tank when required.
The basis difference between the two embodiments is that in the first embodiment one side of the tank 3 is fully exposed to view while in the second embodiment a portion of one side of the tank 3 is exposed to view.
The tanks may be reversed in use. For instance the first tank may contain oil and the second tank fuel and vice versa, as circum star) ces m ay require or dictate.
The second tank 3 is detachably attached to the first tank 1, by an enclosure CI or an enclosure C2 integrally provided on the exterior of the first tank 1, enclasping the second tank 3 snugly within the tank 1. In the first embodiment the enclosure has lips L which partly surround and enclasp the tank 3, while in the second embodiment the enclosure C2 fully surrounds and enclasps the tank 3 at its base portion.
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The second tank 3 has a tapered exterior at 6. The interior of the enclosures CI and C2 have each an exterior which has a taper, so that when the second tank 3 is slidably inserted into the enclosures CI and C2, the respective tapers cause the tank 3 to be wedged in place, within the said enclosures preventing the tank 3 from being thrust downwards beyond a limit
The exterior of the tank 3 and the interior of the enclosure C2 have a groove 9 and a ridge 8 respectively, which engage with each other as the tank 3is inserted into the enclosure C2. This prevents the tank 3 from being easily pulled out from the enclosure C2, after the tank 3 has been slidably inserted into the enclosure C2. Optionally, a similar provision may be made for the enclosure CI and the tank 3.
The terms and expressions herein are of description and not of limitation, since it is understood that various other embodiments of this invention are possible without departing from the scope and ambit thereof.
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We Claim:
1. Combined fuel and oil tanks for a motor vehicle comprising a first tank having an inlet and an outlet; at least one second tank having an inlet and outlet, characterised in that the second tank is detachably attached to the first tank, by an enclosure provided integrally with the exterior of the first tank for slidably inserting the second tank into the enclosure, to enclasp the second tank snugly within the said enclosure.
2. Combined fuel and oil tanks as claimed in Claim 1 wherein the enclosure has lips which partly surround and enclasp the second tank.
3. Combined fuel and oil tanks as claimed in Claim 1 wherein the enclosure fully surrounds and enclasps the second tank at its base portion.
4. Combined fuel and oil tanks as claimed in any one of the preceding Claims wherein the external periphery of the first t8nk within the enclosure has a taper and the corresponding external periphery of the second tank also has a taper.
5. Combined fuel and oil tanks as claimed in any one of the preceding Claim 1 or Claim 2 wherein the external peripheries of the first and second tanks have a ridge and a cooperating groove, respectively, for causing the said tanks to engage with each other when the second tank is inserted in the enclosure.
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6. Combined fuel and oil tanks for a motor vehicle substantially as herein described with reference to, and as illustrated in, the accompanying drawings.