FIELD OF INVENTION

[0001] The present invention relates to a fuel pipe routing and more particularly to . fuel pipe routing through a provision in utility box along central longitudinal axis.

BACKGROUND OF INVENTION

[0002] A two-wheeler where fuel tank is beneath the rider's or pillion rider's seat is well known. Normally, the fuel tank is equipped with a fuel tank cap and fuel pump. Provisions for fuel tank inlet and fuel pump mounting are provided through different holes made in the fuel tank. Normally fuel pump inlet provision also accommodates electrical supply and signal for both pump and the level measuring device. The fuel pumped by the fuel pump outside the fuel tank is sent to the fuel injector through a pipe called herein as fuel hose or hosepipe.

[0003] The fuel pipe needs to be routed from the fuel pump outlet to the fuel injector across the vehicle body to provide jerk free, vibration free, lesser length and safely. When vehicle accelerates or decelerates, there is an inertia induced in the hosepipe due to which the fuel hose may get detached or loosened at its end connections namely the fuel pump end and the fuel injector end.

[0004] Moreover, if the fuel hose is routed through the sides of the vehicles, a large number of fastening elements are required during the assembly process. Moreover, when hose is routed through the sides of the vehicle, the length of the fuel hose required is larger which eventually increases the cost of manufacturing.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

[0005] To obviate the problems associated with the known ways of hosepipe routing, it is an objective of the current invention to provide a fuel hose routing through the centre of the vehicle by making provision in the utility box and using two clamping mechanisms for hose. The current disclosed method of hose routing uses a lesser length and safe routing of hosepipe since the hose routing route is shortest.

[0006] The current invention provides a fuel hose routing through the centre of the vehicle in the longitudinal direction by making provision in the utility box. The disclosed hose routing method described herein uses two clamping mechanisms for the fuel hose, one at the fuel tank mounting bracket and other on the cylinder head fin.

[0007] As disclosed herein, the hose routing is provided with a slack for giving an ~ extra length so that in case the vehicle accelerates or decelerates then the hosepipe is not brought under tension. This slack thereby reduces the chance of breaking, plucking or loosening of fuel hose at the two ends namely the fuel pump end and the fuel injector end. The current invention uses a lesser length of pipe and since the routing oh hosepipe is not through the vehicle frames near the seat, hence the hose is safer from any possible bends and cuts.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS
Figure 1 illustrates a typical two-wheeler.

Figure 2 illustrates the location of utility box and fuel pump outlet.

Figure 3 illustrates the provision in utility box for hose routing provision.

Figure 4 illustrates routing of hosepipe across the vehicle.

Figure 5 illustrates the hosepipe routing.

Figure 6 illustrates hosepipe routing and clamping mechanism.

Figure 7 illustrates the clamp used for hosepipe routing.

Figure 8 illustrates the clamping mechanism on crankcase.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0008] In the present invention, fuel hose routing is carried out through a provision in the utility box, which is further provided with mechanisms for clamping and holding the fuel hose near to a mounting bracket attached to the fuel tank and another at the cylinder head fin.

[0009] Figure 1 shows a typical two-wheeler 10 with headlamp 1, front fender 2, front wheel 3, centre stand 4, rear wheel 5, rear suspension 6, side cover 7, footboard 8, utility box 15, rider seat 9. The connection between the fuel pump outlet and the fuel injector mounted on the engine is not visible in this diagram. This diagram shows an overview of a two-wheeled vehicle.

[00010] Figure 2 illustrates grab rail 11, fuel tank cap 12, and potentiometer fuel sending unit 13, pump outlet 14, utility box 15 and provision 16 in utility box 15.

Figure 2 shows the rider seat 9 of the two-wheeled vehicle 10 in open position, which thus exposes the utility box 15 having a cutout provision 16 in the utility box, which is used for accommodating a fuel hosepipe.
[00011] Fuel tank cap 12, hand grab rail 11 and fuel pump outlet 14 are also visible. In the current invention, the fuel hosepipe is routed through the provision made in the utility box and beneath the utility box to the fuel injector. The fuel pump outlet 14 is coupled to the fuel hose by using coupling mechanism so that the fuel hose does not get out of the coupling and all the fuel that is pumped by the fuel pump is sent through the fuel hose to the fuel injector.

[00012] Figure 3 illustrates utility box 15, provision in utility box 16, and caved in structure 17. Figure 3 shows the caved in structure 17 made in the utility box 15. The fuel hose is routed through this caved in structure 17 and then routed beneath this utility box. This caved in structure 17 formed in the utility box 15which simultaneously gives rise to a projected portion 16 inside the utility box. The said provision 17 is optimized to accommodate the bent fuel hose through it and at the same time the projection 16 in the utility box 15 is minimized so as to increase the volumetric capacity of the utility box.

[00013] Figure 4 illustrates fuel tank cap 12, potentiometer fuel sending unit 13, fuel hose 31, fuel pump clamp-1 32, fuel injector inlet 33, and fuel pump clamp-2 34. Figure 4 shows the fuel hose routing wherein the fuel hose 31 starts from the fuel pump outlet 14 which passes through a first clamping mechanism 34 mounted on the tank body called as fuel tank mounting bracket 52 (Shown in Figure 6). This clamping mechanism 34 is used to restrict the motion of the fuel hose sideways and in the longitudinal direction of the vehicle and is used to fix the fuel hose to avoid unplugging of the fuel hose from the fuel pump outlet due to sudden jerk during vehicle acceleration or deceleration.

[00014] Figure 4 also shows a second clamping mechanism 32 used to hold the fuel hosepipe by providing a predetermined length of slack in the fuel hose between the said first clamping mechanism 34 and the second clamping mechanism 32 thereby to avoid the unplugging of the fuel hose from the fuel injector inlet port during sudden vehicle acceleration or deceleration.

[00015] Figure 5 illustrates rider seat 9, potentiometer fuel sending unit 13 and fuel hose 31. Figure 5 shows another perspective view of the two-wheeled vehicle with the hosepipe 31 visible along with the utility box 15 and the provision through the said utility box 15. The potentiometer 13 for measuring the fuel level in the fuel tank is shown.

[00016] Figure 6 illustrates rider seat 9, utility box 15, fuel hose 31, a fuel hosepipe second clamping mechanism 32, a fuel hosepipe first clamping mechanism 34, pump outlet 14, fuel injector inlet 33, fuel tank mounting bracket 52, fuel tank bracket 54 and fuel tank 61. Figure 6 shows another embodiment of the invention illustrating the hosepipe routing. In this drawing the hosepipe is being supported by a clamping mechanism, has been shown. The clamping mechanism in this position near the fuel injector comprises of a metal sheet mounted to the cylinder head fin of the engine and the fuel hose being supported through a curled wire mechanism attached to the said mounting bracket.

[00017] Figure 6 also shows the rider seat 9, utility box 15, the first fuel hose clamping mechanism is shown as 34 and second fuel hose clamping mechanism is shown as 32, fuel tank 61, fuel tank mounting bracket 52, cylinder head mounting bracket 61, fuel injector 33. The second clamping mechanism 32 is attached on a mounting arrangement 61 on crankcase of the engine of the two-wheeler.

[00018] Hence, the fuel flowing from the fuel pump outlet 14 travels through the fuel hose across the path with first clamping mechanism 34 attached to the mounting bracket on fuel tank, then to the second clamping mechanism 32 with mounting bracket on the cylinder head and finally to the fuel injector.

[00019] The current invention utilizes the space beneath the utility box used to route the fuel hosepipe for feeding fuel to the engine. The main embodiments of this invention are the cave like provision in the utility box 17, two clamping mechanisms 32 and 34 and two mounting brackets 61 and 52 namely on the fuel tank and the crank case respectively.

[00020] Figure 7 shows the second clamping structure 32 with the hosepipe retainer bend 71, metal brackets 75 and mounting hole 74. This clamping structure 32 is used for mounting on the cylinder head and to hold the fuel hose.

[00021] Figure 8 illustrates the second clamping structure 32 mounted on to the crankcase of the engine. This clamping structure 32 when fastened to the crankcase reduces the tension in the fuel pipe and avoids any direct jerk to the fuel injector inlet thereby avoiding unplugging of the fuel pipe from the fuel injector.

We claim:
1. A method for routing fuel hose (31) in a two-wheeled vehicle comprising of:
a fuel sending unit (13);
a fuel hose (31) which carries fuel;
a utility box(15),
a first clamping mechanism (34) mounted on a mounting bracket further attached to a fuel tank(61);
a second clamping mechanism (32) attached to a crank case (81) of an engine of the two wheeler (10);
wherein the said utility box(15) consists of a cave like provision(17) and the said fuel hose (31) is routed through the said cave like provision (17) of the said utility box(15).

2. The method for routing fuel hose (31) in a two-wheeled vehicle (10) as claimed in Claim 1 wherein the said fuel hose (31) is clamped to the said first clamping mechanism (34) on the mounting bracket attached to the fuel tank (61) and to the second clamping mechanism (32) on the crank case (81).

3. The method for routing fuel hose (31) in a two-wheeled vehicle (10) as claimed in claim 1 wherein an extra length is provided in between the two clamping mechanisms namely the first clamping mechanism (34) on mounting bracket attached to fuel tank (61) and the second clamping mechanism (32) attached to the crank case (81).

4. The method for routing fuel hose (31) in a two-wheeled vehicle (10) as claimed in Claim 1 wherein the cave like provision (17) is made on the periphery of the said utility box (15).