[001] The present invention relates to two-wheeled vehicles and, more particularly, relates to fuel pump for two-wheeled vehicles.
BACKGROUND

[002] Now days, two-wheeled vehicles use fuel injector as a fuel supply device in place of carburettor. Typically, such fuel supply device includes fuel pump. The fuel pump transfers fuel from fuel tank through fuel lines or hoses to an engine. Generally, the fuel pump is mounted inside the fuel tank.
[003] The fuel pump mounted inside the fuel tank creates difficulty during serviceability and assembling. Also, if the fuel pump is mounted outside the fuel tank without proper protection, the fuel pump may get damaged.
SUMMARY

[004] In an embodiment, a two-wheeled vehicle is provided. The two-wheeled vehicle comprises a fuel pump fluidically connected between a fuel tank and an engine unit of the two-wheeled vehicle for transferring fuel from the fuel tank to the engine unit. The two-wheeled vehicle further comprises a mounting assembly for mounting the fuel pump to a main frame of the two-wheeled vehicle. The mounting assembly comprises a first mounting arrangement and a second mounting arrangement. The first mounting arrangement is adapted to be fixed to the fuel pump and the second mounting arrangement is adapted to be fixed to the main frame for mounting the fuel pump to the main frame.
[005] In an embodiment, the first mounting arrangement comprises a substantially L-shaped bracket comprising a base portion and a leg portion. The base portion is configured to mount the fuel pump. In an embodiment, the fuel pump comprises at least one extension to engage with at least one projection of the base portion through at least one fastener for fixing the fuel pump with the base portion.
[006] In an embodiment, the second mounting arrangement comprises a substantially Z-shaped bracket configured to be disengagebly engage with the substantially L-shaped bracket. The substantially Z-shaped bracket comprises a first leg portion, a middle base portion and a second leg portion. The first leg portion extends substantially perpendicular from one end portion of the middle base portion and is configured to be engaged with the leg portion of the substantially L-shaped bracket. The second leg portion extends substantially perpendicular from opposite end portion of the middle base portion and is configured to be engaged with the main frame.
[007] In an embodiment, the second leg portion of the substantially Z-shaped bracket is attached to the main frame by welding.
[008] In an embodiment, the fuel pump is positioned below the main frame such that at least one portion of a left down frame member of the two-wheeled vehicle extends beyond a first side extreme of the fuel pump, at least one portion of a right down frame member of the two-wheeled vehicle extends beyond a second side extreme of the fuel pump. The second side extreme being in opposite of the first side extreme. The centre frame members of the two-wheeled vehicle are at a rear side of the fuel pump.
[009] In an embodiment, the two-wheeled vehicle further comprises a first side shroud mounted on a first side of the fuel tank for at least partially covering the fuel pump and the mounting assembly from the first side and a second side shroud mounted on a second side of the fuel tank for at least partially covering the fuel pump and the mounting assembly from the second side.
[0010] In an embodiment, the first side is a left side of a vehicle driver sitting astride on the two-wheeled vehicle and the second side is a right side of the vehicle driver sitting astride on the two-wheeled vehicle. The first side shroud and the second side shroud are mounted to the fuel tank. Alternatively, the first side shroud and the second side shroud are mounted to the main frame.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING

[0011] 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:
[0012] Figure 1 illustrates a side view of a two-wheeled vehicle without shroud, according to an embodiment of the present invention;
[0013] Figure 2 illustrates a side view of a two-wheeled vehicle with shroud, according to another embodiment of the present invention;
[0014] Figure 3 illustrates a body frame of the two-wheeled vehicle, according to an embodiment of the present invention;
[0015] Figure 4 illustrates an exploded view depicting a fuel pump, a main frame and brackets according to an embodiment of the present invention; and
[0016] Figure 5 illustrates an enlarged view of a portion ‘A’ of Figure 1, according to an embodiment of the present invention.
[0017] 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

[0018] 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.
[0019] 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.
[0020] 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.
[0021] 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 by 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 by a vehicle driver sitting astride.
[0022] While the present invention is illustrated in the context of a saddle riding type vehicle, however, fuel pump 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.
[0023] Figure 1 illustrates a side view of a two-wheeled vehicle (100) according to an embodiment of the present invention. The two-wheeled vehicle (100) (hereinafter also referred to as 'vehicle (100)') comprises, inter-alia, a front fork (121), a head pipe (122), a front fender (133), a front wheel (123), a headlight (132), a steering handle bar (124), a fuel tank (125), an engine unit (126), a fuel pump (113), a fuel line (114), at least one rear suspension (129), a side stand (119), a swing arm (173), a dress guard (111), a rear wheel (127), a rear fender (116), a tail light (117), and a seat (130). It may be noted that the vehicle (100) is shown to have include above stated parts, however, those skilled in the art would appreciate that the vehicle (100) includes other parts which may not be relevant for explaining the present invention and hence are not shown and described.
[0024] With reference to Figure 1, the front fork (121) is steerably supported by the head pipe (122) enabling free steering, and the front fork (121) extends in a downward direction from the head pipe (122). Lower end of the front fork (121) supports the front wheel (123) and the steering handle bar (124) is attached to an upper end of the front fork (121). The left and right seat rail members (103) and (104) are primarily intended to support the seat (130) (rider and / or pillion) disposed above the rear wheel (127). The dress guard (111), which is connected to the left seat rail member (103), and a pillion step member (not shown) cover a left side of the rear wheel (127). The rear wheel (127) is covered from above by the rear fender (116) which is mounted to a rear end portion of the left seat rail member (103) and the right seat rail member (104). It is understood that the right seat rail member (104) (shown in dashed lines) is not visible, as Figure 1 depicts a left side view of the vehicle (100). The rear wheel suspension section includes the swing arm (173) supporting the rear wheel (127) and at least one rear suspension (129) attached between the swing arm (173) and the left or right seat rail member (103), (104). The tail light (117) is mounted on the rear fender (116).
[0025] A body frame (101) of the two-wheeled vehicle (100) is depicted in Figure 3, wherein the body frame (101) comprises of a main frame (102) which extends obliquely in the rearward and downward direction from the head pipe (122), a pair of a left seat rail member (103) and a right seat rail member (104) extend from a rear end portion of the main frame (102); a pair of a left down frame member (105) and a right down frame member (106) extends downward and then in a rearward direction from a front end portion of the main frame (102); a pair of a left centre frame member (107) and a right centre frame member (108) connected to rear end portions of respective left down frame member (105) and right down frame member(106) in a state that the left centre frame member (107) and the right centre frame member (108) are extended obliquely in the downward and rearward direction from a rear portion of the main frame (102) and thereafter, in a downward direction and a pair of left sub frame member (109) and a right sub frame member (110) which are respectively extended between the left seat rail member (103) with the left centre frame member (107) and the right seat rail member (104) with the right centre frame member (108) respectively. It is understood that Figures 1 and 2 depict a left side view of the vehicle (100), hence the right seat rail member (104), the right down frame member (106), the right centre frame member (108) and the right sub frame member (110) are not visible, as these components are configured same as corresponding left side components, and are shown in form of dashed lines.
[0026] With reference to Figure 1, the engine unit (126) is provided with a crankcase that houses a crankshaft, a cylinder body is provided to a front of crankcase and a cylinder head provided to the cylinder body and the engine unit (126) is located under the main frame (102). The engine unit (126) is placed below the main frame (102). An exhaust pipe extends from the engine unit (126), and a muffler is connected to a rear end of the exhaust pipe. Air to the engine unit (126) is supplied by an air cleaner assembly (141) which is arranged in a space surrounded by the left seat rail member (103), the right seat rail member (104); the left centre frame member (107) and the right centre frame member (108); the left sub frame member (109) and the right sub frame member (110).
[0027] With reference to Figure 2, the fuel tank (125) storing fuel is attached to the main frame (102) so as to straddle the main frame (102) at a position upper than the engine unit (126). As depicted in the Figure 2, the fuel pump (113) is disposed below the main frame (102) such that at least one portion of the left down frame member (105) extends beyond a first side extreme (e.g., extreme left) of the fuel pump (113), and such that at least one portion of the right down frame member (106) extends beyond a second side extreme (e.g., extreme right) of the fuel pump (113), and such that the centre frame members (107, 108) extend from the rear side of the fuel pump (113).
[0028] Also, when seen from the top view of the vehicle (100), the extreme boundaries of the fuel tank (125) extend beyond the extreme boundaries of the fuel pump (113). Thus, when the vehicle (100) topples, the fuel pump (113) is protected.
[0029] The fuel pump (113) is disposed below the main frame (102) and between a first side shroud (140L) and a second side shroud (140R). In an example, the first side shroud (140L) is on a first side (e.g., the left side) of the fuel tank (125), and the first side shroud (140L) is also termed as "the left side shroud (140L)". Similarly, the second side shroud (140R) is on a second side (e.g., the right side) of the fuel tank (125), and the second side shroud (140R) is also termed as the "right side shroud (140R)". It is understood that the right side shroud (140R) fixed opposite to the left side shroud (140L), is not visible because the Figure 2 is a left side view of the vehicle (100).
[0030] The left side shroud (140L) is mounted on a left side of the fuel tank (125). Similarly, the right side shroud (140R) is mounted to a right side of the fuel tank (125). The left side shroud (140L) and the right side shroud (140R) cover fuel pump (113) assembly from both sides, so that it is not visible, and hence, aesthetic look is not denigrated.
[0031] In an embodiment, the left side shroud (140L) and the right side shroud (140R) are mounted to the fuel tank (125). In an embodiment, the shrouds (140L and 140R) can be mounted to the main frame (102) of the two-wheeled vehicle (100). In an embodiment, the shrouds (140L and 140R) can be mounted on both the fuel tank (125) and the main frame (102) of the two-wheeled vehicle (100).
[0032] The present invention provides a mounting assembly for mounting the fuel pump (113) to the main frame (102) of the body frame (101) of the vehicle (100). An example of the mounting assembly such as a mounting assembly (150) along with the fuel pump (113) is shown in Figure 4. However, other configurations of the mounting assembly are also within the spirit of the present invention.
[0033] The mounting assembly (150) includes a first mounting arrangement and a second mounting arrangement, where the first mounting arrangement is adapted to be attached to the fuel pump (113) and the second mounting arrangement is adapted to be attached to the main frame (102) for mounting the fuel pump (113) to the main frame (102).
[0034] In an embodiment, the first mounting arrangement is a substantially L-shaped bracket (134) and the second mounting arrangement is a substantially Z-shaped bracket (135). The L-shaped bracket (134) includes a base portion (155) and a leg portion (154). The base portion (155) includes at least one projection (161) to accommodate a fastening member to mount the fuel pump (113) to the base portion (155) of the L-shaped bracket (134). Figure 4 depicts two such projections (161), (161). The leg portion (154) extends substantially perpendicular from the base portion (155). The leg portion (154) is provided with at least one hole (162) for the purpose of fastening or connecting the L-shaped bracket (134) with the Z-shaped bracket (135). Figure 4 depicts two such holes (162), (162).
[0035] The Z-shaped bracket (135) is having a first leg portion (151), a middle base portion (152) and a second leg portion (153). The first leg portion (151) extends substantially perpendicular from one end portion of the middle base portion (152) and is provided with at least one hole (164) for fastening or connecting the Z-shaped bracket (135) with the L-shaped bracket (134). Figure 4 depicts two such holes (164), (164). A profile of the first leg portion (151) is congruent to a profile of the leg portion (154) of the L-shaped bracket (134). The second leg portion (153) extends substantially perpendicular from an opposite end portion of the middle base portion (152) and is provided with at least one hole (165) for fastening or connecting the Z-shaped bracket (135) with the main frame (102).
[0036] An outer surface of the fuel pump (113) is having at least one extension (163) to fix the fuel pump (113) with the base portion (155) of the L-shaped bracket (134) by fasteners/connecting means or welding. It will be understood that preferably there are two extensions (163), of which only one is visible in Figure 4.
[0037] The mounting scheme of the fuel pump (113) is illustrated in the Figure 5, the fuel pump (113) is mounted to the main frame (102) below the fuel tank (125) using the Z-shaped bracket (135) and the L-shaped bracket (134).
[0038] In an embodiment, the second leg portion (153) of the Z-shaped bracket (135) is extended upwardly and is connected to the main frame (102) by fasteners/connecting means. The leg portion (154) of the L-shaped bracket (134) is bolted to first leg portion (151) of the Z-shaped bracket (135).
[0039] In an embodiment, the second leg portion (153) of Z-shaped bracket (135) is welded and joined to the main frame (102).
[0040] In an embodiment, the leg portion (154) of the L-shaped bracket (134) is welded to the first leg portion (151) of the Z-shaped bracket (135); and both brackets (134), (135) will act as a single unit.
[0041] In an embodiment, the base portion (155) of the L-shaped bracket (134) is connected by welding means to an outer surface of the fuel pump (113). In such embodiments, the L-shaped bracket (134) is an integral part of the fuel pump (113).
[0042] The present invention provides a fuel pump (113) which is outside the fuel tank (125), placed below the main frame (102). As the fuel pump (113) is disposed outside the fuel tank (125), so it can be conveniently accessed during service or repair. In case of any damage or repair, the fuel pump (113) can be serviced easily.
[0043] It is always recommended to keep the length of high pressure line as small as possible. As per the present invention the fuel pump (113) is mounted near to the engine unit (126), thus, reduction in length of high pressure fuel line.
[0044] The present invention describes use of a pair of shrouds (140L and 140R) to protect the fuel pump (113). The shrouds (140L and 140R) mounted outside the fuel tank (125) from both sides, will enclose the fuel pump (113) between them and enhance the safety of the fuel pump (113). As in case of any accident or vehicle (100) topples, first the shroud (140L and 140R) will come in contact with the road surface and hence will get affected or damaged. In this way the fuel pump (113) remains protected.
[0045] The present invention provides a vehicle fuel system without compromising the aesthetics of the two-wheeled vehicle (100). The fuel pump (113) will get covered between the shrouds (140L and 140R) and is not visible from outside. In this invention, the fuel pump (113) is outside the fuel tank (125), but is covered by the shrouds (140L and 140R) on opposite sides, results in easy maintenance.
[0046] 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.
[0047] 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 invention 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
We claim:
1. A two-wheeled vehicle (100), comprising:
a fuel pump (113) fluidically connected between a fuel tank (125) and an engine unit (126) of the two-wheeled vehicle (100) for transferring fuel from the fuel tank (125) to the engine unit (126); and
a mounting assembly for mounting the fuel pump (113) to a main frame (102) of the two-wheeled vehicle (100), the mounting assembly comprising a first mounting arrangement and a second mounting arrangement, the first mounting arrangement adapted to be fixed to the fuel pump (113) and the second mounting arrangement adapted to be fixed to the main frame (102) for mounting the fuel pump (113) to the main frame (102).
2. The two-wheeled vehicle (100) as claimed in claim 1, wherein the first mounting arrangement comprises a substantially L-shaped bracket (134) comprising a base portion (155) and a leg portion (154), wherein the base portion (155) is configured to mount the fuel pump (113).

3. The two-wheeled vehicle (100) as claimed in claim 2, wherein the fuel pump (113) comprises at least one extension (163) to engage with at least one projection (161) of the base portion (155) through at least one fastener for fixing the fuel pump (113) with the base portion (155).

4. The two-wheeled vehicle (100) as claimed in claim 2, wherein the second mounting arrangement comprises a substantially Z-shaped bracket (135) configured to be disengagebly engaged with the substantially L-shaped bracket (134), the substantially Z-shaped bracket (135) comprising a first leg portion (151), a middle base portion (152) and a second leg portion (153), the first leg portion (151) extending substantially perpendicular from one end portion of the middle base portion (152) and configured to be engaged with the leg portion (154) of the substantially L-shaped bracket (134), the second leg portion (153) extending substantially perpendicular from opposite end portion of the middle base portion (152) and configured to be engaged with the main frame (102).

5. The two-wheeled vehicle (100) as claimed in claim 4, wherein the second leg portion (153) of the substantially Z-shaped bracket (135) is attached to the main frame (102) by welding.

6. The two-wheeled vehicle (100) as claimed in claim 1, wherein the fuel pump (113) is positioned below the main frame (102) such that:
at least one portion of a left down frame member (105) of the two-wheeled vehicle (100) extends beyond a first side extreme of the fuel pump (113);
at least one portion of a right down frame member (106) of the two-wheeled vehicle (100) extends beyond a second side extreme of the fuel pump (113), the second side extreme being in opposite of the first side extreme; and
centre frame members (107, 108) of the two-wheeled vehicle (100) are at a rear side of the fuel pump (113).

7. The two-wheeled vehicle (100) as claimed in claim 1, further comprising:
a first side shroud (140L) mounted on a first side of the fuel tank (125) for at least partially covering the fuel pump (113) and the mounting assembly from the first side; and
a second side shroud (140R) mounted on a second side of the fuel tank (125) for at least partially covering the fuel pump (113) and the mounting assembly from the second side.

8. The two-wheeled vehicle (100) as claimed in claim 7, wherein the first side is a left side of a vehicle driver sitting astride on the two-wheeled vehicle (100), and the second side is a right side of the vehicle driver sitting astride on the two-wheeled vehicle (100).

9. The two-wheeled vehicle (100) as claimed in claim 7, wherein each of the first side shroud (140L) and the second side shroud (140R) is mounted to the fuel tank (125).

10. The two-wheeled vehicle (100) as claimed in claims 7 or 9, wherein each of the first side shroud (140L) and the second side shroud (140R) is mounted to the main frame (102).