DESC:FUEL OVERFLOW DRAINAGE SYSTEM
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
[001] The present invention relates to vehicles having fuel lid rearward of vehicle seat and, more particularly to fuel overflow drainage system in vehicles.
BACKGROUND

[002] In conventional scooter-type vehicles, fuel tank is arranged below a seat. A fuel filling port, through which a spout of fuel dispenser is introduced into the fuel tank, is also disposed below the seat. To supply Fuel into the fuel tank, seat is required to be opened. In such arrangement of the scooter-type vehicles, user has to get off the vehicle and then unlock and lift the seat upward for filling fuel into the fuel tank which is a cumbersome operation.
[003] Sometimes, fuel filler neck of the fuel tank is located on the rear side of the vehicle body, behind the seat and above the tail light. A separate lid is used to cover and lock the opening of the fuel filler neck. However, during filling fuel into the fuel tank, or at the time when a fuel gun is bought to or taken away from the fuel tank, some fuel is spilled in the vicinity area of the fuel tank opening, spilled fuel, if get in contact with the body parts of the vehicle, particularly made up of plastic or similar material, such as body cover, reflector of tail light etc, can damage it.
SUMMARY

[004] An objective of the present invention is to provide one or more embodiments of a fuel overflow drainage system in a two-wheeled vehicle. In an embodiment, the fuel overflow drainage system includes a collecting member and a covering member. The collecting member includes a base portion, an annular wall and at least one primary drain outlet. The annular wall is extending from the base portion and the at least one primary drain outlet drains the excess fuel collected in the collecting member. The covering member includes an opening, at least one vent hole, and a groove structure around the opening. The covering member and the collecting member are in fluidic connection through the at least one vent hole. The groove structure includes the at least one vent hole for draining excess fuel collected in the groove structure to the collecting member. The covering member is adapted to be positioned over the collecting member to cover substantially a top portion of a fuel tank of the two-wheeled vehicle. The collecting member and the covering member are adapted to be positioned such that an end portion of a fuel filler neck protrudes through an opening of the base portion and the opening of the covering member. The end portion of the fuel filler neck includes an opening of the fuel filler neck and the opening is fluidically connected to the fuel tank for fuel refill of the fuel tank.
[005] In an embodiment, the fuel overflow drainage system includes an annular flange structure mounted over the covering member to cover a gap between the fuel filler neck and the covering member. The covering member is adapted to be mounted at an angle with a horizontal surface of the two-wheeled vehicle and the at least one vent hole is located at a lowermost point in the groove structure. The groove structure is a circular groove structure. A diameter of the collecting member at an uppermost portion of the annular wall is bigger than a diameter of the groove structure.
[006] In another embodiment, the fuel overflow drainage system includes at least one primary drain tube and at least one secondary drain tube. The at least one primary drain tube is connected to at least one primary drain outlet and the at least one secondary drain tube is connected to at least one secondary drain outlet for discharging the excess fuel. The at least one primary drain outlet is configured in the base portion of the collecting member. The at least one secondary drain outlet is configured in a substantially upper portion of the annular wall. The at least one secondary drain tube is connected to the at least one primary drain tube through a T-joint and a coupler.
[007] In an embodiment, the end portion of the fuel filler neck includes a stay means positioned below the opening of the fuel filler neck and the stay means being of a flange structure is mounted to the top portion of the fuel tank. In an embodiment, the base portion includes a plurality of holes adapted to be engaged with a plurality of protrusions configured on the stay means to secure the collecting member on the stay means. The covering member is adapted to cover a rear portion of the two-wheeled vehicle having the fuel tank such that the covering member covers space between rear portion of a seat and a tail light assembly of the two-wheeled vehicle and a fuel filling cap is accessible from the opening. The fuel filling cap is hingedly coupled to a fuel filler structure and is adapted to openably cover the opening of the fuel filler neck.
[008] These and other aspects of the embodiments herein will be better appreciated and understood when considered in conjunction with the following description and the accompanying drawings. It should be understood, however, that the following descriptions, while indicating preferred embodiments and numerous specific details thereof, are given by way of illustration and not of limitation. Many changes and modifications may be made within the scope of the embodiments herein without departing from the spirit thereof, and the embodiments herein include all such modifications.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE ACCOMPANYING DRAWINGS

[009] 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, with reference to the accompanied drawings wherein like reference numerals represent like elements and in which:
[0010] Figure 1 illustrates a side perspective view of two-wheeled vehicle;
[0011] Figure 2 illustrate an example representation of vehicle body frame of the two-wheeled vehicle;
[0012] Figure 3 is a view of a rear portion of the two-wheeled vehicle, according to an embodiment of the present disclosure;
[0013] Figure 4 is another view of the rear portion of the two-wheeled vehicle, according to an embodiment of the present disclosure;
[0014] Figure 5 is an exploded view of the rear portion of two-wheeled vehicle, according to an embodiment of the present disclosure;
[0015] Figure 6A is a view of a collecting member, according to an embodiment of the present disclosure;
[0016] Figure 6B is another view of the collecting member, according to an embodiment of the present disclosure; and
[0017] Figure 7 is a view of an annular flange structure, according to an embodiment of the present disclosure.
[0018] 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.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0019] While the invention is susceptible to various modifications and alternative forms, specific embodiment thereof has been shown by way of example in the drawings and will be described in detail 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.
[0020] 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.
[0021] An object of the present invention is to at least partly address the aforesaid lacunae. Various embodiments of the fuel overflow drainage system are described herein reference to Figures 1 to 7. For the better understanding of this invention, reference would now be made to the embodiment illustrated in the accompanying figures and description below. Further, in the following figures, the same reference numerals are used to identify the same components in various views.
[0022] The terms “front / forward”, “rear / rearward / back / backward”, “up / upper / upward”, “down / downward / lower / lowerward” that may be used therein represent the directions as seen from a vehicle driver sitting astride and these directions are referred by arrows Fr, Rr, U, Lr in the drawing figures. Further, “left / leftward”, “right / rightward” that may be used herein represent the directions as seen from a vehicle driver sitting astride.
[0023] Further, the terms “two-wheeled vehicle”, “two-wheeled motor vehicle” and “saddle riding type vehicle” have been interchangeably used throughout the description of the invention. Also, the terms “lid cover”, “lid” and “lid member” have been used interchangeably throughout the description of the invention.
[0024] As shown in Figure 1, a two-wheeled vehicle or a saddle riding type vehicle (100) comprises, inter-alia, a front wheel (202) steered by a handle bar (204), a rear wheel (206) driven by a power transmission unit (208). The power transmission unit (208) comprises an engine and a transmission unit. The engine (e.g., internal combustion engine) is preferably, but not limited to a single cylinder engine with a crank shaft placed along the vehicle width direction. The handle bar (204) is steerably supported by a head pipe (110) at a front end of a vehicle body frame (200). The power transmission unit (208) is pivot-supported / swingably supported to the vehicle body frame (200) (shown in Figure 2) so as to be able to swing in a vertical direction. A portion between the handle bar (204) and a seat (212) supported by the vehicle body, whereupon an operator of the two-wheeled vehicle (100) places his feet, is referred to as a step floor (210).
[0025] Further, the two-wheeled vehicle (100) is covered by body cover, generally, made up of resin material, and the leg shield. Generally, the leg shield comprises of an inner leg shield (214a) and an outer leg shield (214b). The inner leg shield (214a) and the outer leg shield (214b) are arranged ahead of the seat (212). The body cover includes a center cover (216), a left side cover (306a) and a right side cover (306b). The center cover (216), left and right side covers (306a, 306b) cover the rear portion of the vehicle body frame (200). The outer leg shield (214b) and the inner leg shield (214a) extend towards right-and-left direction of the vehicle (100). The outer leg shield (214b) and the inner leg shield (214a) are substantially disposed on the lower part from the head tube (110). The inner leg shield (214a) is arranged behind the head tube (110) and the outer leg shield (214b) is arranged from front side of the inner leg shield (214a). Generally, the inner leg shield (214a) and the outer leg shield (214b) are arranged such that the head tube (110) and some portion of the main frame (112) (and the components mounted on these elements) are covered and are not visible from outside. The seat (212) is disposed on an upper side of the center cover (216) and the left and right side covers (306a, 306b).
[0026] A rear wheel axle is rotatably supported in a rear end portion of the power transmission unit (208). Further, a rotational power of the crank shaft is transmitted to the rear wheel axle via the power transmission unit (208). As a result, the rear wheel (206) supported by the rear wheel axle is driven, and the two-wheeled vehicle (100) runs. The two-wheeled vehicle (100) further includes an exhaust system. The exhaust system includes an exhaust pipe attached to the engine, and a muffler integral with or connected to the exhaust pipe.
[0027] As illustrated in Figures 2, the vehicle body frame (200) comprises the head tube (110), the main frame (112), a pair of rear seat sub-frame as the left rear seat sub-frame (114a) and a right rear seat sub-frame (114b). In an embodiment, the vehicle body frame (200) further comprises one or more cross frames such as a first cross frame (116) (i.e. rear side cross frame) and a second cross frame (120) (i.e. front side cross frame). The head tube (110) extends frontward and downward from front portion of the vehicle body frame (200). The main frame (112) extends rearward and downward from the head pipe (110) and then becomes approximately horizontally and runs parallel to the ground. The main frame (112) has a cross member (124) which is connected to the rear end of the main frame (112), and is extended in the cross direction of the vehicle. Pair of left and right rear seat sub-frames (114a) and (114b) extend from side ends of the cross member (124) in rearward and upward and then become and extend approximately horizontally. The rear part of the rear seat sub-frames (114a) and (114b) curves at the rear end and connected by a bracket (123). A pair of right and left sub-frames (117a) and (117b) extend back from side ends of the cross pipe. The right and left sub-frames (117a) and (117b) are extended in length direction of the vehicle in the state where it inclined a little in a side view, they are welded on the cross member (124) forming a step floor structure. Further, a first U-shaped frame tube (118a) extends obliquely downward and rearward, the front end of which is welded to the left rear seat sub-frames (114a) at a position near the front side cross frame (120). Similarly, a second U-shaped frame tube (118b) extends obliquely downward and rearward, the front end of which is welded to the right sub-frames (114b) at a position near the front side cross frame (120).
[0028] As illustrated in Figure 1 and 2, a fuel tank (302) is mounted in the space between the rear end portion of the rear seat sub-frames (114a, 114b) and the rear side crossing frame (116). The rear side crossing frame (116), a steel plate (121) and the rear seat sub-frames (114a, 114b) have one or more mounting means such as bracket and the like, for mounting the fuel tank (302). In an embodiment, the steel plate (121) has one or more mounting provisions for mounting the side covers (306a, 306b).
[0029] In an embodiment, a fuel tank (302) is formed from a pair of sheet metal stampings including a lower member and an upper member that are connected to each other by means of peripheral flanges. The fuel tank (302) is fixed and supported by the rear sub-frames (114a) and (114b). The fuel tank (302) is positioned in such a way that it is placed in a rear direction of the storage box and in a space between the rear end of the left and right rear sub-frames (114a) and (114b).
[0030] Referring jointly to Figures 3, 4 and 5, the fuel tank (302) has a fuel filler neck (307) fluidically connected with the fuel tank (302) and having opening (309) at the other end. The fuel filler neck (307) extends rearwardly above the tail light assembly (502) and is accessible from the space above the tail light assembly (502). The fuel filler neck (307) has a stay means (314) at an end portion (e.g., the rear end) having an opening (309). In an embodiment, the stay means (314) is in the form of a flange structure positioned below the opening (309) of the fuel filler neck (307). In an embodiment, the flange structure of the stay means (314) is mounted to a top portion of the fuel tank (302), or rests on/ supported by the top portion of the fuel tank (302). A fuel filler structure (318) is mounted to the stay means (314) such that fuel filler structure (318) surrounds the fuel filler neck (307). Further, a removable fuel filling cap (304) is used to close the opening (309) of the fuel filler neck (307). In an embodiment, the fuel filling cap (304) is hingedly mounted to the fuel filler structure (318).
[0031] The fuel overflow drainage system includes an annular flange structure (312), a covering member (310), a collecting member (402), one or more drain tubes i.e. a primary drain tube (320) and a secondary drain tube (323). The annular flange structure (312) is adapted to cover the fuel filler structure (318) from the top. The covering member (310) is adapted to be positioned over the collecting member (402) to cover substantially a top portion of the fuel tank (302). For example, the covering member (310) is adapted to cover the rear portion of the vehicle (100) having the fuel tank (302) such that the covering member (310) covers the space between rear part of the seat (212) and the tail light assembly (502) and only the fuel filling cap (304) and the fuel filler structure (318) are accessible from an opening (311) provided on the covering member (310).
[0032] As shown in Figures 6A and 6B, the collecting member (402) is in the form of a cup shaped structure having a base portion (412) and an annular wall (408) extending upward and then extending in radial direction to form a disc shape. The base portion (412) of the collecting member (402) has an opening (414) such that the fuel filler neck (307) protrudes from the opening (414). Further, the base portion (412) includes a plurality of holes (416a, 416b, 416c, 416d). The collecting member (402) is adapted to sit on the stay means (314) having a plurality of protrusions (301a, 301b, 301c, 301d) that protrudes through the plurality of holes (416a, 416b, 416c, 416d) provided on the base portion (412) to secure the collecting member (402) on the stay means (314) such that there is no gap between the base portion (412) and the stay means (314).
[0033] As shown in Figures 6A and 6B, the collecting member (402) comprises at least one primary drain outlet (406) configured (e.g., originating from) in the base portion (412). In an embodiment, at least one primary drain tube, for example, the primary drain tube (320) (shown in Figure 5) is connected to the primary drain outlet (406) such that the excess fuel collected in the collecting member (402) is drained out through the primary drain tube (320). The collecting member (402) also comprises a secondary drain outlet (404) preferably configured in (e.g., originating from) upper portion of the annular wall (408).
[0034] The covering member (310) is mounted over the collecting member (402) such that the fuel filler neck (307) protrudes through the opening (311) of the covering member (310). The annular flange structure (312) is then mounted over the covering member (310) such that it covers the gap between the fuel filler neck (307) and the covering member (310). As shown in Figure 7, the annular flange structure (312) includes a lip member (303) to seal the gap. Further, there is a groove structure (315) provided on the covering member (310) around the annular flange structure (312). In an embodiment, the groove structure (315) is a circular groove structure, and is hereinafter referred to as the circular groove structure (315). At least one vent hole (316) is provided in the circular groove structure (315) of the covering member (310). The vent hole (316) enables a fluidic connection between the covering member (310) and the collecting member (402). For example, the excess fuel or any other liquid collected in the circular groove structure (315) is drained out to the collecting member (402) through the vent hole (316) as the covering member (310) is mounted at an angle with the horizontal surface of the vehicle and the vent hole (316) is lowermost point in the circular groove structure (315). The diameter of the collecting member (402) at the uppermost portion of the annular wall (408) is bigger than the diameter of the circular groove structure (315) of the covering member (310). Therefore, the fuel collected in the circular groove structure (315) automatically gets collected in the collecting member (402), which is tightly fitted under the covering member (310) such that the upper edge of the annular wall (408) of the collecting member (402) is in close contact with the under surface of the covering member (310), through the vent hole (316). The fuel collected in the collecting member (402) then drain-out outside the vehicle through one of the primary drain tube (320) and the secondary drain tube (323). In an embodiment, the secondary drain tube (323) may be connected to the secondary drain outlet (404), wherein the secondary drain outlet (404) is formed in the annular wall (408) such that the fuel drained from the vent hole (316) is further passed through the secondary drain outlet (404) to the secondary drain tube (323).
[0035] In another embodiment, the vent hole (316) may be directly connected to the secondary drain tube (323). For example, one end of the secondary drain tube (323) is connected to the vent hole (316) and the other end of the secondary drain tube (323) is disposed at a location away from the engine. In yet another embodiment, the secondary drain tube (323) at one end is connected to the vent hole (316) and the other end of the secondary drain tube (323) is connected to the primary drain tube (320) through a T-joint (322) and a coupler (324).
[0036] During filling of fuel into the fuel tank (302), or at the time when fuel gun is bought to or taken away from the fuel filling cap (304), some fuel may be spilled on area surrounded by the circular groove structure (315) of the covering member (310). This spilled-out fuel may get collected in the circular groove structure (315) and finally drains out to the collecting member (402) through the vent hole (316). Therefore, there is no possibility of the fuel leaking inside the tail light assembly (502) through the gap between the fuel filler structure (318) and the covering member (310). Thus, all other body cover parts, reflector of tail light, etc., are saved from being in contact with the fuel.
[0037] 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.
[0038] 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.

CLAIMS:
What is claimed is:
1. A fuel overflow drainage system in a two-wheeled vehicle (100), comprising:
a collecting member (402) comprising a base portion (412) and an annular wall (408) extending from the base portion (412), the base portion (412) comprising an opening (414); and
a covering member (310) comprising an opening (311) and at least one vent hole (316), the covering member (310) adapted to be positioned over the collecting member (402) to cover substantially a top portion of a fuel tank (302) of the two-wheeled vehicle (100), and
wherein the collecting member (402) and the covering member (310) are adapted to be positioned such that an end portion of a fuel filler neck (307) protrudes through the opening (414) of the base portion (412) and the opening (311) of the covering member (310), the end portion of the fuel filler neck (307) comprising an opening (309) of the fuel filler neck (307) fluidically connected to the fuel tank (302) for fuel refill of the fuel tank (302), and
wherein the covering member (310) and the collecting member (402) are in fluidic connection through the at least one vent hole (316).
2. The fuel overflow drainage system as claimed in claim 1, further comprising an annular flange structure (312) mounted over the covering member (310) to cover a gap between the fuel filler neck (307) and the covering member (310).
3. The fuel overflow drainage system as claimed in claim 1, wherein the covering member (310) comprises a groove structure (315) around the opening (311), the groove structure (315) comprising the at least one vent hole (316) for draining excess fuel collected in the groove structure (315) to the collecting member (402).
4. The fuel overflow drainage system as claimed in claims 1 or 3, wherein the covering member (310) is adapted to be mounted at an angle with a horizontal surface of the two-wheeled vehicle (100) and the at least one vent hole (316) is located at a lowermost point in the groove structure (315).
5. The fuel overflow drainage system as claimed in claim 3, wherein the groove structure (315) is a circular groove structure.
6. The fuel overflow drainage system as claimed in claim 5, wherein a diameter of the collecting member (402) at an uppermost portion of the annular wall (408) is bigger than a diameter of the groove structure (315).
7. The fuel overflow drainage system as claimed in claim 3, wherein the collecting member (402) comprises at least one primary drain outlet (406) for draining the excess fuel collected in the collecting member (402).
8. The fuel overflow drainage system as claimed in claim 7, further comprising at least one primary drain tube (320) connected to the at least one primary drain outlet (406) for discharging the excess fuel, the at least one primary drain outlet (406) configured in the base portion (412).
9. The fuel overflow drainage system as claimed in claim 8, further comprising at least one secondary drain tube (323) connected to at least one secondary drain outlet (404) for discharging the excess fuel.
10. The fuel overflow drainage system as claimed in claim 9, wherein the at least one secondary drain outlet (404) is configured in a substantially upper portion of the annular wall (408).
11. The fuel overflow drainage system as claimed in claim 9, wherein the at least one secondary drain tube (323) is connected to the at least one primary drain tube (320) through a T-joint (322) and a coupler (324).
12. The fuel overflow drainage system as claimed in claim 1, wherein the end portion of the fuel filler neck (307) comprises a stay means (314) positioned below the opening (309) of the fuel filler neck (307), the stay means (314) being of a flange structure mounted to the top portion of the fuel tank (302).
13. The fuel overflow drainage system as claimed in claim 12, wherein the base portion (412) includes a plurality of holes (416a, 416b, 416c, 416d) adapted to be engaged with a plurality of protrusions (301a, 301b, 301c, 301d) configured on the stay means (314) to secure the collecting member (402) on the stay means (314).
14. The fuel overflow drainage system as claimed in claim 1, wherein the covering member (310) is adapted to cover a rear portion of the two-wheeled vehicle (100) having the fuel tank (302) such that the covering member (310) covers space between rear portion of a seat (212) and a tail light assembly (502) of the two-wheeled vehicle (100), and a fuel filling cap (304) is accessible from the opening (311).
15. The overflow drainage system as claimed in claim 14, wherein the fuel filling cap (304) is hingedly coupled to a fuel filler structure (318) and is adapted to openably cover the opening (309) of the fuel filler neck (307).