FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The invention generally relates to fuel tank mounting arrangement and the fuel injection system of motorcycles and more particularly to mounting arrangement of fuel filter outside the fuel tank.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Generally in motorcycles, fuel filters which need frequent replacement are placed in such a location, where it is difficult to access for connecting the outlet hose from filter to injector. Also it is difficult to reach filter for replacement/servicing without removal of seat, fuel tank etc. This leads to loss of time & money.

Also, when filters are placed in such un-accessible locations, it is not possible to visually check, inspect & ensure design intended gaps among adjacent vehicle parts. This leads to fouling & consequent failures of vehicle parts.
In order to take care of above mentioned issues a new method of fuel filter mounting is required which should be feasible to check for fitment, leakage or any other issues and replace whenever required.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Main objective of the present invention is to provide a fuel tank in which fuel filter is mounted below the side of bottom cover of fuel tank such that fuel filter is visible from outside and easily accessible to servicing without removing fuel tank.

Mentioned arrangement has a fuel pump module fixed below lower most side of the bottom cover and is used to facilitate fuel flow between fuel pump, located inside fuel tank, and fuel filter.

Fuel flow is facilitated through a number of inlet and outlet ports connected to fuel filter and fuel pump module on opposite ends. One outlet port from the fuel filter is also supplying filtered fuel to the injector.

The fuel filter is mounted below the fuel pump module by means of a bracket having multiple mounting points e.g. screw mounting and insert/push mounting. Said fuel filter can be mounted directly to the left or right bottom of the bottom cover through mentioned bracket.

Mentioned bracket is made up of horizontal portion fixed with the fuel pump module or directly to tank bottom cover and a vertical portion fixed with the fuel filter. Vertical and horizontal portions are divaricated at a predefined angle and integrally connected at one end.

As this arrangement is secured outside the fuel tank thus a cover for safety of the fuel filter and the fuel flow passages is secured on outer side of claimed mounting arrangement through mentioned bracket.

This cover is secured in the parallel direction of the claimed arrangement which provides safety as well as good aesthetics for the vehicle.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The present invention will become more fully understood from the detailed description given herein below and the accompanying drawing which is incorporated in and constitute embodiments of the invention, illustrate several aspects of the invention and together with a description of the embodiments serve to explain the principles of the invention and thus, are not limiting the present invention and a brief description of the drawing is as follows:

Figure 1 is depicting the arrangement of the relevant embodiments in a motorcycle.

Figure 2 is showing the embodiments of the claimed invention.

Figure 3 is showing detailed bottom view of the claimed fuel filter mounting arrangement.

Figure 4 is depicting essential elements of claimed fuel filter mounting arrangement.

Figure 5 (a) and Figure 5 (b) are showing claimed mounting bracket and its essential mounting points in order to enablement of the invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

The embodiments disclosed below are not intended to be exhaustive or to limit the invention to the precise forms disclosed in the following detailed description. Rather, the embodiments are chosen and described for enablement purpose of the invention. The invention may have application to all types of motorcycles. The scope of the invention is entirely based upon the claims provided.

Figure 1 shows a side view of a concerned two wheeled vehicle in the form of a motorcycle capable to incorporate the present invention. The motorcycle M comprises a body frame assembly made up of a number of tubes welded together. The motorcycle M has a steerable front wheel 011 and a driven rear wheel 012. The body frame primarily includes a head pipe 001 disposed at a front end of the body frame, a main tube running across the longitudinal axis of the motorcycle M and enclosed by several motorcycle components, and a down tube 002. A front fork 003 may be connected to the head pipe 001 by any known type of suspension system and rotatably carries the front wheel 011. The head pipe 001 supports a steering shaft (not shown) disposed inside the head pipe 001.
The upper and lower ends of the steering shaft are fixed on an upper bracket and the under bracket. The front end of the main tube and an upper end of the down tube 002 are connected to the head pipe 001. The down tube 002 extends obliquely downward in front of an engine 015 from the head pipe 001 whereas the main tube extends rearward from the front end thereof.

A front fender 004 is provided below the under bracket to avoid the motorcycle and its occupants from being splashed with mud. A fuel tank 100 is disposed above the main tube for storing the fuel for propelling the motorcycle M. A seat 006 for a driver and a pillion is further provided, with the said seat 006 being placed behind the fuel tank 100 and rearwardly of the main tube.

The rear wheel 012 revolves about a sprocket splined shaft (or central axle) 013. The axle 013 is supported at each end by a swing arm 014, the swing arm in turn pivotally connected to the body frame of the motorcycle M by a rear suspension 010. Generally a motorcycle may use any of the two arrangements for rear suspensions, namely dual suspension and mono suspension. However the present motorcycle is exemplified through a dual suspension system. The dual suspensions are fixed at their upper ends to the motorcycle frame. Their lower ends are fixed to the swing arm 014.

The anterior portion of the motorcycle placed forward to the fuel tank 100 comprises of a headlamp assembly, the headlamp assembly further comprising a headlamp 008 and a visor 007 placed forward to a handlebar assembly. The handle bar assembly further comprises of a handle bar 009 extending transversely to the vehicle and several control switches for various motorcycle operations.
The said motorcycle M is powered by an internal combustion engine (hereinafter "engine") 015 disposed below the main tube and supported by the down tube 002. The engine may be liquid-cooled or air-cooled. Drive force output from the engine 015 is transmitted to the rear wheel 012 through a transmission system. The transmission system includes a clutch actuated by a clutch lever placed forwardly to one side of the handle bar 009, a gear box and a chain drive. The transfer of power from the engine to the rear wheel takes place generally by disengaging the clutch by pulling the clutch lever and thereafter manually shifting the gears in the gear box through a foot pedal 016 manually operated by the operator of the motorcycle M.

Further, the reference is made to Figure 2, in order to explain assembly of embodiments of the claimed invention over the fuel tank 100. Said fuel tank 100 has two main parts viz. a top cover 101a and bottom cover 101b. Said top cover 101a and bottom cover 101b are fixed together in order to form a closed structure i.e. fuel tank 100.

Further referring to Figure 3, mentioned bottom cover 101b is forming a cavity 101b1 which is facilitating housing space for the frame (not shown in figure) such that the fuel tank 100 is mounted over the frame. Said bottom cover 101b further has two side bottom covers 101b2 & 101b3 referred as left side of bottom cover 101b2 and right side of bottom cover 101b3. Side bottom covers 101b2 & 101b3 and the cavity structure 101b1 are detachably integrated with each other and forming an "ohm" (Q.) type structure.

Referring back to Figure 2, a side cover 103 at the left 101b2 side (preferable location) of the bottom cover 101b of the fuel tank 100 is mounted through mounting points 104, 105. This cover 103 may or may not cover the fuel flow passages 102a, 102b depending upon the requirement of the manufacturer of vehicle.

As shown in Figure 3, mentioned cover 103 is used to protect the fuel filter 106 mounted beneath the extreme left 101b2 or right 101b3 of bottom cover 101b the fuel tank 100.

As shown fuel pump module 108 is fixed on the bottom of the fuel tank 100. As best mode for mounting fuel filter 106 at mentioned location, a bracket 107 is connected with said pump module 108 on one end and holding the fuel filter 106 on other end such that the fuel filter 106 is secured vertically downwards from the fuel tank 100 or the bottom cover 101b of fuel tank 100.

Multiple fuel flow passages 102a, 102b, 102c are connecting fuel filter 106 with the pump module 108 and the injector (not shown in figure(s)).

In Figure 4, a detailed isometric view is shown for more detailed explanation of the claimed fuel filter 106 mounting arrangement. Fuel filter 106 is mounted over the bracket 107.

As shown in Figure 5(a) and 5(b) said bracket 107 has a vertical side 114 and a horizontal side 113 integrally fixed with each other at joint 115. The vertical side 114 has multiple mounting points 104,105,109,111 including screw mountings 104,105,109 as well as press fit/insertion type mounting(s) 111 depending upon the design requirement of the fuel filter 106. Horizontal side 113 of the bracket 107 also has multiple mounting points 110,112 generally for screw mounting.
Further, referring back to Figure 4, as shown mounting points 110,112 of the horizontal side 113 are fixed with the fuel pump module 108 with the help of screws. Mounting points 104,105,109 are fixed with fuel filter 106 with the help of screws fitted through said mounting points 104,105,109.

A design specific extension over the fuel filter 106 is inserted into mounting point 111. Said insertion type mounting point 111 (or any other kind of mounting points) may vary in number depending upon the design requirement of the fuel filter 106 to be used.

As another embodiment, said bracket 107 can be fixed directly over the fuel tank 100 without any contact with the fuel pump module 108.

As shown in Figure 4, an inlet fuel flow passage 102a is connecting the fuel pump module 108 and the fuel filter 106 through which fuel reaches to the fuel filter 106 from the fuel pump module 108. After processing through the fuel filter 106, fuel reaches to the injector (not shown in figure(s)) from the fuel filter 106 through fuel flow passage 102b.

In order to maintain fuel pressure in the injector, excess fuel from the fuel filter 106 is re-circulated to the fuel pump module 108 through the fuel flow passage 102c.

Described arrangement of the fuel filter 106 ensures the location beneath the extreme left 101b2 or right 101b3 side of the bottom cover 101b of the fuel tank 100 with safety cover 103 ensuring easy accessibility of the fuel filter 106 for the vehicle user. Thus whenever required, fuel filter 106 can be checked, repaired or replaced without any difficulty.

WHAT IS CLAIMED IS

1) A fuel tank for a motorcycle comprising atleast one top cover fixed with a bottom cover forming a close structure mounted over a frame such that the bottom cover comprises a cavity in the centre facilitating frame housing below said fuel tank and a plurality of side bottom cover configured to ensure mounting around the frame, wherein a fuel pump module is fixed with the plurality of side bottom cover configured to facilitate connection between a fuel pump secured inside the fuel tank through a plurality of fuel flow channels, wherein the fuel filter is mounted beneath the side bottom cover through a bracket having a plurality of mounting points wherein the bracket has a horizontal portion fixed with the plurality of side bottom cover and a vertical potion fixed with the fuel filter such that vertical and horizontal portions are integrally connected at one end and divaricated at a predefined angle and wherein a filter cover is covering the fuel filter beneath the plurality of side bottom cover.

2) The fuel tank, as claimed in claim 1, wherein the plurality of side bottom cover is defining a right side bottom cover and a left side bottom cover.

3) The fuel tank, as claimed in claim 1 and claim 2, wherein the right side bottom cover and the left side bottom cover the integrally fixed with the centre part such that the bottom cover is forming an "ohm" (Q) structure.

4) The fuel tank, as claimed in claim 1, wherein the fuel bracket is fixed directly with the plurality of side bottom cover.

5) The fuel tank, as claimed in claim 1, wherein the bracket is secured beneath the plurality of side bottom cover through the fuel pump module.

6) The fuel tank, as claimed in claim 1, wherein the plurality of fuel flow channels are defining atleast one inlet and atleast one outlet.

7) The fuel tank, as claimed in claim 6, wherein the inlets and outlets are connected to the fuel filter, fuel pump module and an injector.

8) The fuel tank, as claimed in claim 1, wherein the bracket is configured to ensure the location of fuel filter in proximity to the plurality of side bottom cover ensuring visibility of the fuel filter cover from side of the fuel tank.

9) The fuel tank, as claimed in claim 1, wherein the filter cover is fixed with the bracket in the parallel arrangement with said fuel filter.