FIELD OF THE INVENTION
[001] The present invention relates to a fuel drainage system in vehicles and, more particularly, relates to fuel drainage system for an evaporated fuel collecting device and other components of a two-wheeled vehicle.
BACKGROUND
[002] There are a variety of components in vehicles such as a two-wheeled vehicle that store, discharge or supply fuel between different parts of the two-wheeled vehicle. Such components may have excess fuel, spilled fuel or evaporated fuel that need to be discharged into the atmosphere. One such example of components includes an evaporated fuel collecting device that collects fuel vapours generated inside a fuel tank of the vehicle. Another example includes the fuel tank that needs to discharge excess fuel spilled around fuel neck while fuel refill or in other such scenarios. Similarly, a carburettor may also need a drain pipe to discharge fuel. Generally separate drainage systems for these components results into extra costs for each of such systems.
SUMMARY
[003] In an embodiment, a fuel drainage system for a vehicle is disclosed. The fuel drainage system includes at least two fuel related systems, at least two drain pipes and a connector. The at least two fuel related systems are adapted to at least one of storing, supplying, discharging fuel in the vehicle. The at least two drain pipes extending from the at least two fuel relating systems are adapted to discharge fuel. The connector includes at least two input ports and at least one output port. The at least two input ports are adapted to be connected to the at least two drain pipes in respective manner. The at least one output port is adapted to discharge fuel collected through the at least two input ports to atmosphere.
[004] In an embodiment, one of the at least two fuel related system is an evaporated fuel collecting device. In an embodiment, one of the at least two fuel related systems is a fuel tank. In an embodiment, one of the at least two fuel related systems is a carburettor. In an embodiment, the vehicle is a two-wheeled vehicle.
[005] In another embodiment, a two-wheeled vehicle is disclosed. The two-wheeled vehicle includes an evaporated fuel collecting device, a first drain pipe, a fuel tank, a second drain pipe and a connector. The evaporated fuel collecting device is disposed on a body frame of the two-wheeled vehicle. The evaporated fuel collecting device includes a drain pipe provision. The first drain pipe is connected to the drain pipe provision for carrying drainage of the evaporated fuel collecting device. The fuel tank includes a drainage provision for draining fuel spilled from the fuel tank or fuel spilled while refilling the fuel tank. The second drain pipe is connected to the drainage provision of the fuel tank for carrying drainage of the fuel tank. The connector includes two inlets and a discharge pipe. The two inlets are connected to the first drain pipe and the second drain pipe, respectively to drain fuel through the discharge pipe.
[006] In an embodiment, the evaporated fuel collecting device further includes a body, a first face, a second face, a charge pipe provision and a purge pipe provision disposed on the first face and an air intake provision and the drain pipe provision disposed on the second face. In an embodiment, the connector is a three way connector.
[007] In yet another embodiment, a two-wheeled vehicle is disclosed. The two-wheeled vehicle includes an evaporated fuel collecting device, a first drain pipe, a fuel tank, a second drain pipe, a third drain pipe and a connector. The evaporated fuel collecting device is disposed on a body frame of the two-wheeled vehicle. The evaporated fuel collecting device includes a drain pipe provision. The first drain pipe is connected to the drain pipe provision for carrying drainage of the evaporated fuel collecting device. The fuel tank includes a drainage provision for draining fuel spilled from the fuel tank or fuel spilled while refilling the fuel tank. The second drain pipe is connected to drainage provision of the fuel tank of the two-wheeled vehicle for carrying drainage of the fuel tank. The third drain pipe is connected to a carburettor of the two-wheeled vehicle for carrying drainage of the carburettor. The connector is adapted to be connected to the first drain pipe, the second drain pipe and the third drain pipe to drain fuel through a discharge pipe.
[008] In an embodiment, the evaporated fuel collecting device further includes a body, a first face, a second face, a charge pipe provision and a purge pipe provision disposed on the first face and an air intake provision and the drain pipe provision disposed on the second face.
[009] In an embodiment, the connector is a four-way connector.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0010] The invention itself, together with further features and attended advantages, will become apparent from consideration of the following detailed description, taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings. One or more embodiments of the present invention are now described, by way of example only wherein like reference numerals represent like elements and in which:
[0011] Figure 1 illustrates a view of a portion of a two-wheeled vehicle according to an embodiment of the present invention;
[0012] Figure 2 illustrates a side view of a portion of the two-wheeled vehicle according to an embodiment of the present invention; and
[0013] Figure 3 illustrates a schematic block diagram of a fuel drainage system according to an embodiment of the present invention.
[0014] The drawings referred to in this description are not to be understood as being drawn to scale except if specifically noted, and such drawings are only exemplary in nature. The coloured drawings, if provided along with this description are only meant to make the details of invention clear and have no effect on the scope of the invention.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION
[0015] While the invention is susceptible to various modifications and alternative forms, an embodiment thereof has been shown by way of example in the drawings and will be described here below. It should be understood, however that it is not intended to limit the invention to the particular forms disclosed, but on the contrary, the invention is to cover all modifications, equivalents, and alternative falling within the spirit and the scope of the invention.
[0016] The terms “comprises”, “comprising”, or any other variations thereof, are intended to cover a non-exclusive inclusion, such that a setup, device or method that comprises a list of components or steps does not include only those components or steps but may include other components or steps not expressly listed or inherent to such setup or device or method. In other words, one or more elements in a system or apparatus proceeded by “comprises… a” does not, without more constraints, preclude the existence of other elements or additional elements in the system or apparatus.
[0017] For the better understanding of this invention, reference would now be made to the embodiment illustrated in the accompanying figures and description here below, further, in the following figures, the same reference numerals are used to identify the same components in various views.
[0018] While the present invention is illustrated in the context of a saddle riding type vehicle, however, arrangement of an evaporated fuel collecting device and other fuel components and aspects and features thereof can be used with other type of vehicles as well. It is to be noted that terms such as “two-wheeled vehicle” and “vehicle” are interchangeably used throughout the description. The term “two-wheeled vehicle” includes vehicles such as motorcycles, scooters, bicycles, mopeds, all terrain vehicles (ATV) and the like.
[0019] Figure 1 illustrates a portion of a vehicle (100) including a fuel related system such as an evaporated fuel collecting device (101) according to an embodiment of the present invention. In an embodiment, the vehicle (100) is a two-wheeled vehicle. The two-wheeled vehicle (100) includes conventional parts and which are not described here for brevity.
[0020] With reference to Figure 1, the evaporated fuel collecting device (101) is mounted to a body frame (102) of the two-wheeled vehicle (100). In an embodiment, the evaporated fuel collecting device (101) is mounted to a main frame (102a) of the two-wheeled vehicle (100). In a preferred embodiment, the evaporated fuel collecting device (101) is mounted to the right side of the main frame (102a) of the two-wheeled vehicle (100). The evaporated fuel collecting device (101) is mounted to the main frame (102a) through a mounting bracket (104). In an embodiment, the mounting bracket (104) is fastened to the main frame (102a). In an embodiment, the mounting bracket (104) is welded to the main frame (102a) of the two-wheeled vehicle (100).
[0021] Apart from the evaporated fuel collecting device (101), an evaporated fuel collecting system of the two-wheeled vehicle (100) may comprise auxiliary elements such as a roll-over valve and an one-way valve.
[0022] In the illustrated embodiment of Figure 1, the evaporated fuel collecting device (101) is shown as rectangular in shape comprising a body (145), a first face (143) and a second face (144). In another embodiment, the evaporated fuel collecting device (101) is circular in shape comprising the body (145), the first face (143) and the second face (144). Alternatively, the evaporated fuel collecting device (101) can be of any other suitable shape. The first face (143) of evaporated fuel collecting device (101) is provided with a charge pipe provision (147) and a purge pipe provision (148). The second face (144) is provided with an air intake pipe provision (149) and a drain pipe provision (150). Figure 1 also illustrates a second drain pipe (188).
[0023] The evaporated fuel collecting device (101) is connected to a fuel tank (such as fuel tank (110) shown in Figure 2) through a charge pipe (137) so as to collect the fuel vapours generated inside the fuel tank and supply them to evaporated fuel collecting device (101) for temporary storage. The evaporated fuel collecting device (101) is connected to a fuel supply system, such as a carburettor (such as carburettor (105) shown in Figure 2) through a purge pipe (138). The evaporated fuel collecting device (101) is configured to supply the collected fuel vapours generated within the fuel tank to the carburettor for combustion through the purge pipe (138).
[0024] The evaporated fuel collecting system has a common drainage system for its components wherein the respective drainage of at least two components are connected or combined through a connector (200). The system of combined or connected drainage system of individual components saves time during the assembly of the two-wheeled vehicle (100).
[0025] In a first embodiment as depicted by Figure 1, the drainage of the evaporated fuel collecting device (101) is connected to the drainage of fuel tank through the connector (200). The drainage of the evaporated fuel collecting device (101) includes the drain pipe provision (150) connected to a first drain pipe (185). The drainage provision of the fuel tank is generally provided on to the metallic fuel filler of the fuel tank and is connected to the second drain pipe (188). In an embodiment, the connector (200) is a three-way connector. The first drain pipe (185) of the evaporated fuel collecting device (101) and the second drain pipe (188) of the fuel tank are connected to the connector (200). The connection of the first drain pipe (185) and the second drain pipe (188) to the connector (200) constitutes the inlet of the connector (200). The outlet of the connector (200) is connected to a discharge pipe (189) which is supported to the body frame (102) of the two-wheeled vehicle (100). The discharge pipe (189) is exposed to the atmosphere (surroundings) so as to facilitate the removal of drain from fuel tank and the evaporated fuel collecting device (101).
[0026] Figure 2 illustrates an example embodiment of a portion of the two-wheeled vehicle (100) showing a fuel drainage system that is common for three fuel related systems, in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention. Examples of the fuel related systems may be any component that is used for storage, supply or discharge of the fuel within the two-wheeled vehicle (100). In this illustrated embodiment, the examples of the fuel related systems include the evaporated fuel collecting device (101), the carburettor (105) and the fuel tank (110).
[0027] With reference to Figure 2, the fuel tank (110) is disposed on the body frame (102) of the two-wheeled (100) and the carburettor (105) is disposed in close vicinity to the fuel tank (110). The evaporated fuel collecting device (101) is mounted to the body frame (102) of the two-wheeled vehicle (100).
[0028] The evaporated fuel collecting device (101) includes the body (145), the first face (143) and the second face (144). The first face (143) of the evaporated fuel collecting device (101) is provided with the charge pipe provision (147) and the purge pipe provision (148). The second face (144) is provided with the air intake pipe provision (149) and the drain pipe provision (150). The drainage of evaporated fuel collecting device (101) includes the drain pipe provision (150) connected to the first drain pipe (185).
[0029] The drainage provision of the fuel tank (110), generally provided on to the metallic fuel filler of the fuel tank (110), is connected to the second drain pipe (188).
[0030] The drainage of the carburettor (105) is connected to a third drain pipe (190).
[0031] The first drain pipe (185) of the evaporated fuel collecting device (101), the second drain pipe (188) of the fuel tank (110) and the third drain pipe (190) of the carburettor (105) are connected to a connector (250). In an embodiment, the connector (250) is a four-way connector. The connection of the first drain pipe (185), the second drain pipe (188) and the third drain pipe (190) to the connector (250) constitutes the inlet of connector (250). The outlet of connector (250) is connected to the discharge pipe (189) which is supported to the body frame (102) of the two-wheeled vehicle (100). The discharge pipe (189) is exposed to the atmosphere (surroundings) so as to facilitate the removal of drain from fuel tank (110), carburettor (105) and evaporated fuel collecting device (101).
[0032] In an embodiment, the drainage of evaporated fuel collecting device (101) is connected to the drainage of fuel supply system such as a carburettor (105) through the connector (250).
[0033] Figure 3 illustrates a schematic block diagram of a fuel drainage system (300) for the two-wheeled vehicle (100). The fuel discharge system (300) includes fuel relating systems (310; 320; 330), drain pipes (315; 325; 335), a connector (350) and an output port (380).
[0034] In an embodiment the fuel relating system (310) is a carburettor. In an embodiment the fuel relating system (320) is a fuel tank. In an embodiment the fuel relating system (330) is a fuel breathing device such as an evaporated fuel collecting device (101) as shown in Figures 1 and 2.
[0035] The connector (350) includes input ports (355; 365; 375) for receiving fuel to be discharged. The drain pipe (315) is connected to the fuel relating system (310) on one end and connected to the input port (355) on the other end for carrying the drainage from the fuel relating system (310) to the connector (350). The drain pipe (325) is connected to the fuel relating system (320) on one end and connected to the input port (365) on the other end for carrying the drainage from the fuel relating system (320) to the connector (350). The drain pipe (335) is connected to the fuel relating system (330) on one end and connected to the input port (375) on the other end for carrying the drainage from the fuel relating system (320) to the connector (350).
[0036] The connection of drain pipes (315; 325; 335) to the input ports (355; 365; 375) respectively, constitutes an inlet of the connector (350). The connector further includes at least one output port (380). The output port (380) of connector (350) is exposed to the atmosphere (surroundings) so as to facilitate the discharge of fuel collected through the input ports (355; 365; 375).
[0037] As stated in the foregoing, the present invention provides an advantage of keeping the layout of a two-wheeled vehicle compact by connecting the drain tube of the evaporated fuel collecting device with those of fuel tank and/or the carburettor.
[0038] The present invention provides an advantage of shortening the length of drain tubes of evaporated fuel collecting device, fuel tank and carburettor thereby saving material used during the assembly sequence of the two-wheeled vehicle.
[0039] While few embodiments of the present invention have been described above, it is to be understood that the invention is not limited to the above embodiments and modifications may be appropriately made thereto within the spirit and scope of the invention.
[0040] While considerable emphasis has been placed herein on the particular features of this invention, it will be appreciated that various modifications can be made, and that many changes can be made in the preferred embodiments without departing from the principles of the invention. These and other modifications in the nature of the invention or the preferred embodiments will be apparent to those skilled in the art from the disclosure herein, whereby it is to be distinctly understood that the foregoing descriptive matter is to be interpreted merely as illustrative of the invention and not as a limitation.

We claim:
1. A fuel drainage system (300) for a vehicle (100), the fuel drainage system (300) comprising:
at least two fuel related systems (310;320;330) for at least one of storing, supplying, discharging fuel in the vehicle (100);
at least two drain pipes (315;325;335) extending from the at least two fuel relating systems (310;320;330) for discharging fuel; and
a connector (350) comprising:
at least two input ports (355; 365; 375) adapted to be connected to the at least two drain pipes (315;325;335) in respective manner; and
at least one output port (380) for discharging fuel collected through the at least two input ports (355; 365; 375) to atmosphere.
2. The fuel discharge system (300) as claimed in claim 1, wherein one of the at least two fuel related systems (310; 320; 330) is an evaporated fuel collecting device.
3. The fuel discharge system (300) as claimed in claim 1, wherein one of the at least two fuel related systems (310; 320; 330) is a fuel tank.
4. The fuel drainage system (300) as claimed in claim 1, wherein one of the at least two fuel related systems (310; 320; 330) is a carburettor.
5. The fuel discharge system (300) as claimed in claim 1, wherein the vehicle (100) is a two-wheeled vehicle.

6. A two-wheeled vehicle (100), comprising:
an evaporated fuel collecting device (101) disposed on a body frame (102) of the two-wheeled vehicle (100), the evaporated fuel collecting device (101) comprising a drain pipe provision (150);
a first drain pipe (185) connected to the drain pipe provision (150) for carrying drainage of the evaporated fuel collecting device (101) ;
a fuel tank (110) comprising a drainage provision for draining fuel spilled from the fuel tank (110) or fuel spilled while refilling the fuel tank (110);
a second drain pipe (188) connected to the drainage provision of the fuel tank (110) for carrying drainage from the drainage provision; and
a connector (200) comprising two inlets and a discharge pipe (189), the two inlets connected to the first drain pipe (185) and the second drain pipe (188), respectively to drain fuel through the discharge pipe (189).
7. The two-wheeled vehicle (100) as claimed in claim 6, wherein the evaporated fuel collecting device (101) further comprises:
a body (145);
a first face (143);
a second face (144);
a charge pipe provision (147) and a purge pipe provision (148) disposed on the first face (143); and
an air intake provision (149) and the drain pipe provision (150) disposed on the second face (144).

8. The two-wheeled vehicle (100) as claimed in claim 6, wherein the connector (200) is a three way connector.

9. A two-wheeled vehicle (100), comprising:
an evaporated fuel collecting device (101) disposed on a body frame (102) of the two-wheeled vehicle (100), the evaporated fuel collecting device (101) comprising a drain pipe provision (150);
a first drain pipe (185) connected to the drain pipe provision (150) for carrying a drainage of the evaporated fuel collecting device (101) ;
a fuel tank (110) comprising a drainage provision for draining fuel spilled from the fuel tank (110) or fuel spilled while refilling the fuel tank (110);
a second drain pipe (188) connected to the drainage provision of the fuel tank (110) for carrying drainage from the drainage provision;
a third drain pipe (190) connected to a carburettor (105) of the two-wheeled vehicle (100) for carrying drainage of the carburettor (105); and
a connector (250) adapted to be connected to the first drain pipe (185), the second drain pipe (188) and the third drain pipe (190) to drain fuel through a discharge pipe (189).
10. The two-wheeled vehicle (100) as claimed in claim 9, wherein the evaporated fuel collecting device (101) further comprises:
a body (145);
a first face (143);
a second face (144);
a charge pipe provision (147) and a purge pipe provision (148) disposed on the first face (143);and
an air intake provision (149) and the drain pipe provision (150) disposed on the second face (144).

11. The two-wheeled vehicle (100) as claimed in claim 9, wherein the connector (250) is a four-way connector.